Role of Bilastine in Allergic Rhinitis: A Narrative Review.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is considered a trivial disease and is often self-treated with over-the-counter drugs and home remedies. However, AR is a contributing risk factor for asthma associated with complications, including chronic cough, eosinophilic esophagitis, and otitis media with effusion. In AR, inflammation is primarily mediated by histamines.

Mechanism of Protease Resistance of D-Amino Acid Residue Containing Cationic Antimicrobial Heptapeptides.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been an alternate promising class of therapeutics in combating global antibiotic resistance threat. However, the short half-life of AMPs, owing to protease degradability, is one of the major bottlenecks in its commercial success. In this study, we have developed all-D-amino acid containing small cationic peptides P4C and P5C, which are completely protease-resistant, noncytotoxic, nonhemolytic, and potent against the ESKAPE pathogens in comparison to their L analogues.

INDIan Consensus on the mAnagemenT of cOugh at pRimary care setting (INDICATOR).

Background: Cough has a prevalence of 9.6% globally and 5-10% in India. Though it is a reflex action, it affects an individual's quality of life (QoL) when uncontrolled.

Delineating the Mechanism of Action of a Protease Resistant and Salt Tolerant Synthetic Antimicrobial Peptide against .

Rapidly growing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) against antibiotics has propelled the development of synthetic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as potential antimicrobial agents. An antimicrobial peptide Nle-Dab-Trp-Nle-Dab-Dab-Nle-CONH (; Nle = norleucine, Dab = diaminobutyric acid, Trp = tryptophan) potent against () has been developed in the present study. Rational design strategy adopted in this study led to the improvisation of the therapeutic qualities such as activity, salt tolerance, cytotoxicity, and protease resistance of the template peptide , which was earlier reported from our group.

Effect of monovalent salt concentration and peptide secondary structure in peptide-micelle binding.

Recently, we reported a cationic 14 residue peptide LL-14 (LKWLKKLLKWLKKL) with salt-sensitive broad-spectrum antimicrobial potency. However, the mechanism of its salt (NaCl) sensitivity remained unclear. In this study, we have reported computational (∼14.

Effect of Differential Geminal Substitution of γ Amino Acid Residues at the ( + 2) Position of αγ Turn Segments on the Conformation of Template β-Hairpin Peptides.

The effect of insertion of three geminally dimethyl substituted γ amino acid residues [γ (4-amino-2,2-dimethylbutanoic acid), γ (4-amino-3,3-dimethylbutanoic acid), and γ (4-amino-4,4-dimethylbutanoic acid)] at the ( + 2) position of a two-residue αγ C turn segment in a model octapeptide sequence Leu-Phe-Val-Aib-Xxx-Leu-Phe-Val (where Xxx = γ amino acid residues) has been investigated in this study. Solution conformational studies (NMR, CD, and IR) and ab initio calculations indicated that γ and γ residues were well accommodated in the β-hairpin nucleating αγ C turns, which gave rise to well-registered hairpins, in contrast to γ, which was unable to form a tight C β-hairpin nucleating turn and promote a well-registered β-hairpin. Geminal disubstitution at the C carbon in γ led to unfavorable steric contacts, disabling its accommodation in the αγ C hairpin nucleating turn unlike the γ and γ residues.

Effect of Secondary Structure and Side Chain Length of Hydrophobic Amino Acid Residues on the Antimicrobial Activity and Toxicity of 14-Residue-Long de novo AMPs.

Herein we report the efficacy and toxicity of three de novo designed cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) LL-14, VV-14 and ββ-14, where side chains of the hydrophobic amino acids were reduced gradually. The AMPs showed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against three pathogens from the ESKAPE group and two fungal strains. This study showed that side chains which are either too long or too short increase toxicity and lower antimicrobial activity, respectively.

Peptide Hydrogels as Platforms for Sustained Release of Antimicrobial and Antitumor Drugs and Proteins.

A charged synthetic peptide-based noncytotoxic hydrogelator was employed in encapsulation, storage, and sustainable release of different kinds of drugs, namely, ciprofloxacin (CP), an antibiotic; 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), an anticancer drug and proteins like lysozyme and bovine serum albumin (BSA). Hydrogelation of the peptide and its coassembly with the drug molecules were studied to obtain mechanistic details. All of the different cargos were capable of sustained and efficient release from the delivery platform.

Rationally designed antimicrobial peptides: Insight into the mechanism of eleven residue peptides against microbial infections.

The widespread abuse of antibiotics has led to the use of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as a replacement for the existing conventional therapeutic agents for combating microbial infections. The broad-spectrum activity and the resilient nature of AMPs has mainly aggrandized their utilization. Here, we report the design of non-toxic, non-hemolytic and salt tolerant undecapeptides (AMP21-24), derived by modification of a peptide P5 (NH2-LRWLRRLCONH) reported earlier by our group.

Genome wide molecular evolution analysis of begomoviruses reveals unique diversification pattern in coat protein gene of Old World and New World viruses.

Begomoviruses (Family-) are plant infecting single stranded DNA viruses known to evolve very fast. Here, we have analysed the DNA-A sequences of 302 begomoviruses reported as 'type isolates' from different countries following the list of International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses till 2017. Phylogenetic analysis was performed which revealed two major evolutionarily distinct groups namely Old World (OW) and New World (NW) viruses.

Environmental distribution and ecotoxicological concerns of phthalic acid esters in creek ecosystem.

The long-term ecological risk of synthetic organic contaminants, exclusively endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) such as phthalates has threatened reclaimed seawater quality in marine environment. In this study, environmental distributions of 14 phthalic acid esters (PAEs) in seawater, and biota (fish and crab) across Thane Creek, Mumbai India is reported. Identification and quantifications of phthalates in environmental matrices was carried out using GC-MS technique.

Selective detection of fluoride via amplified donor-acceptor interaction of 6H-indolo[2,3-b]quinoline.

In this report, 6H-indolo[2,3-b]quinoline (hereafter 2a) was synthesized and employed as an optical chemosensor for fluoride. The sensitivity of 2a towards fluoride was established from the change in both the absorption and emission signals. The various in-situH NMR, UV-Vis, and density functional studies indicate that the 1:2 binding interaction between 2a and fluoride followed by deprotonation to its corresponding di-anion (2a), which in turn boosted the donor-acceptor interaction between indole and quinoline moiety in 2avia expansion of torsion angle by 10.

The Study of Coagulation Parameters in Polytrauma Patients and Their Effects on Outcome.

Background: Mortality from trauma remains a major public health issue as it is the leading cause of death in persons aged 5 - 44 years. There is a dearth of information on polytrauma from developing countries such as ours. Hence, this topic was studied at our institute.

Insights into the Mechanism of Antimicrobial Activity of Seven-Residue Peptides.

Antimicrobial peptides have gained widespread attention as an alternative to the conventional antibiotics for combating microbial infections. Here, we report a detailed structure-function correlation of two nontoxic, nonhemolytic, and salt-tolerant de novo designed seven-residue leucine-lysine-based peptides, NHLKWLKKLCONH (P4) and NHLRWLRRLCONH (P5), with strong antimicrobial and antifungal activity. Biological experiments, low- and high-resolution spectroscopic techniques in conjunction with molecular dynamics simulation studies, could establish the structure-function correlation.

Self-Assembly Mechanism of a Peptide-Based Drug Delivery Vehicle.

We report the mechanism of the concentration-dependent self-assembly of a tetrapeptide. Peptide Boc-Trp-Leu-Trp-Leu-OMe self-assembles to form discrete nanospheres at a low concentration. Tryptophan side chains point outwards of the nanospheres while leucine side chains point towards the core of the nanospheres.

Rate of sediment accumulation and historic metal contamination in a tidewater glacier fjord, Svalbard.

The sedimentation rates in Arctic fjords are influenced by the changes in the glacial inputs. The recent studies have indicated the retreat of glaciers due to climate change and subsequent increase in melt water outflow with high content of debris. The debris may contain natural and anthropogenically originated contaminants.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in core sediments from creek ecosystem: occurrence, geochronology, and source contribution.

The levels of 15 polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners in grab sediment and sediment cores from the Thane creek were monitored for their spatial and temporal distribution. Total PBDE (ΣPBDE) concentrations in grab sediments were ranging from 15.98 to 132.

Multi-element detection in sea water using preconcentration procedure and EDXRF technique.

A method was optimized for detecting trace elements in sea water using Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) technique. Sea water samples were pre-concentrated using ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (APDC) as chelating agent and methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) as organic phase. The preconcentrated samples were dried to form thin films on mylar substrate and analysed using EDXRF spectrometer.

Distribution of PAHs in different compartment of creek ecosystem: Ecotoxicological concern and human health risk.

We report levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediment, seawater, fish and crab samples from Thane creek, India. Concentrations of sixteen USEPA PAH in sediments varies from 874 to 1925ngg, dry weight (dw) in winter, between 219-495ngg in summer. In seawater Σ PAHs concentration during winter was recorded 706±193ngL, and during summer 337±79ngL.

Determination of Traces of Pb, Cu and Cd in Seawater around Thane Creek by Anodic Stripping Voltammetry Method.

Trace metals (Pb, Cu and Cd) in seawater samples were pre-concentrated for the simultaneous quantitative determination using solvent extraction procedure in the presence of ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (APDC) as complexing agent and methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) as organic phase and acid exchange back - extraction followed by its determination by Differential Pulse Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (DPASV). Concentrations of Pb, Cu and Cd vary from 3.0 to 9.

Leaching Behavior of Selected Trace and Toxic Metals in Coal Fly Ash Samples Collected from Two Thermal Power Plants, India.

Studies on leaching behavior of metals associated with coal fly ash (FA) are of great concern because of possible contamination of the aquatic environment. In the present study, leaching behavior of metals (As, Se, Cr, Pb, V, Zn, etc.) in two different FA samples (FA1 and FA2) was investigated at various pH (2-12), temperatures of leachate solution and using TCLP.

Distribution and estrogenic potential of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in estuarine sediments from Mumbai, India.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are responsible for inappropriate development and they alter the hormonal and homeostatic systems of organism. Phthalates (PAEs), bisphenol A (BPA) and other EDCs were monitored in surface sediments at different stations across Thane Creek, India. Analysis of PAEs was carried out using GC-MS technique, while BPA and other EDCs were analyzing on UPLC-PDA instrument.

Polonium in size fractionated mainstream cigarette smoke, predicted deposition and associated internal radiation dose.

In this study, size fractionated mass and Po activity concentrations in mainstream cigarette smoke (MCS) were monitored for three popular cigarette brands. Size segregated collection of MCS was carried out using a cascade type impactor, while mass and Po activity concentration were analyzed gravimetrically and alpha spectrometry (following the radiochemical separation) respectively. Multiple-Path Particle Dosimetry (MPPD V2.

Distribution and ecotoxicological concerns of persistent organic pollutants in sediment from creek ecosystem.

In order to study the distribution and ecotoxicological concerns of persistent organic pollutants, grab sediment samples were collected from different locations across Thane creek, India. Analyses of samples were carried out using gas chromatography (GC)-electron capture detector and GC-mass spectrometry techniques. In organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), DDT (1,1,1,-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl) ethane), DDE (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl) ethylene), DDD (1-chloro-4-(2,2-dichloro-1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl) benzene) and α, β, and γ conformer of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), and 9 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) congeners were analyzed in surface sediment samples.

Congenital pulmonary airway malformation: A report of two cases.

Congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM), previously known as congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation is a congenital disorder of the lung similar to bronchopulmonary sequestration. In CPAM, usually an entire lobe of lung is replaced by a non-working cystic piece of abnormal lung tissue. This abnormal tissue will never function as normal lung tissue.