Calcifediol boosts efficacy of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine by upregulating genes promoting memory T cell responses.

The ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (COVISHIELD) vaccine has emerged as a pivotal tool in the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. In our previous study eligible subjects were supplemented with calcifediol, a direct precursor to the biologically active form of vitamin D, calcitriol with an objective to enhance the immunogenicity of the COVISHIELD vaccine. Herein we investigated the effects of calcifediol supplementation on gene expression profiles in individuals who received the COVISHIELD vaccine.

Recent advances, challenges and updates on the development of therapeutics for malaria.

Malaria has developed as a serious worldwide health issue as a result of the introduction of resistant species strains. Because of the common chemo resistance to most of the existing drugs on the market, it poses a severe health problem and significant obstacles in drug research. Malaria treatment has evolved during the last two decades in response to drug sensitivity and a return of the disease in tropical areas.

Normative Data for Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 in Healthy Children and Adolescents From India.

Background: Serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is an important biochemical tool to diagnose and monitor growth hormone (GH)-related disorders. However, ethnicity-specific Indian data, following consensus criteria for the establishment of normative data, are not available. Our objective was to generate chronological age (CA)-, bone age (BA)- and Tanner stage-specific normative data for IGF-1 in healthy Indian children and adolescents.

Emerging synthetic strategies and pharmacological insights of 1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives: a comprehensive review.

This review meticulously examines the synthesis techniques for 1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives, focusing on cyclization, condensation reactions and functional group transformations. It enhances the understanding of these chemical methods that re crucial for tailoring derivative properties and functionalities. This study is considered to be vital for researchers, detailing established effects such as antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer activities, and revealing emerging pharmacological potentials such as neuroprotective, antiviral and antidiabetic properties.

Synthesis, biological evaluation and studies of some new analogues of 3,5-vdisubstituted thiazolidin-2,4-dione.

A new series of 3,5-disubstituted thiazolidin-2,4-dione molecules were derived and characterized using various spectral techniques (H NMR, IR, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, etc.) and physicochemical parameters. The molecules were derived using Knoevenagel condensation followed by Mannich reaction and further synthesized analogues were screened for their antioxidant and antimicrobial potential using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging method and serial tube dilution method, respectively, along with studies (docking and absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion parameters) to explore the drug-receptor interaction and druglikeness.

Efficacy, safety, and dose-response effects of calcifediol supplementation on 25-hydroxyvitamin D, parathyroid hormone, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels in healthy adults: An open-label, interventional pilot study.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is highly prevalent across the globe. Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) fails to attain sufficient serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) in a significant proportion of supplemented individuals. Calcifediol (25-hydroxyvitamin D3) is less studied in healthy adults and its effects on 25(OH)D, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) at higher doses are not well known.

Normative Data on Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulphate (DHEAS) and its Attributes in Healthy Indian Children and Adolescents.

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), the biochemical indicator of adrenarche and pubarche, is of paramount importance in the evaluation of puberty-related disorders. The reference range of DHEAS should be ethnicity, age, sex, pubarche and Tanner stage specific. Anthropometry, puberty assessment and hormonal parameters were estimated using electrochemiluminescence assay.

An Understanding of Mechanism-Based Approaches for 1,3,4-Oxadiazole Scaffolds as Cytotoxic Agents and Enzyme Inhibitors.

The world's health system is plagued by cancer and a worldwide effort is underway to find new drugs to treat cancer. There has been a significant improvement in understanding the pathogenesis of cancer, but it remains one of the leading causes of death. The imperative 1,3,4-oxadiazole scaffold possesses a wide variety of biological activities, particularly for cancer treatment.

An open-label, randomized, crossover study to evaluate the bioavailability of nanoemulsion versus conventional fat-soluble formulation of cholecalciferol in healthy participants.

Background: Nanoemulsion preparations of cholecalciferol available in the market claim to have better bioavailability than the conventional fat-soluble cholecalciferol. However, limited data are available in humans for such preparations. We, therefore, compared the relative bioavailability of two formulations of 60,000 IU cholecalciferol (nanoemulsion oral solution, water-miscible vitamin D3 [test] vs soft gelatin capsules [reference]) in healthy adult participants.

Thiazolidin-2,4-Dione Scaffold: An Insight into Recent Advances as Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and Hypoglycemic Agents.

Heterocyclic compounds containing nitrogen and sulfur, especially those in the thiazole family, have generated special interest in terms of their synthetic chemistry, which is attributable to their ubiquitous existence in pharmacologically dynamic natural products and also as overwhelmingly powerful agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals. The thiazolidin-2,4-dione (TZD) moiety plays a central role in the biological functioning of several essential molecules. The availability of substitutions at the third and fifth positions of the Thiazolidin-2,4-dione (TZD) scaffold makes it a highly utilized and versatile moiety that exhibits a wide range of biological activities.

Synthesis, biological evaluation and in-silico ADME studies of novel series of thiazolidin-2,4-dione derivatives as antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer agents.

Background: A novel series of thiazolidine-2,4-dione molecules was derived and their chemical structures were established using physiochemical parameters and spectral techniques (H-NMR, IR, MS etc.). The synthesized molecule were then evaluated for their antioxidant, anticancer and antimicrobial potential.

Efficacy and safety of various oral regimens (three oral doses) and schedules (daily . monthly) of cholecalciferol in North Indian adults with low vitamin D status: evidence from a randomised controlled trial.

Vitamin D (VD) deficiency (serum 25 hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration of < 20 ng/ml), in endemic proportions, demands a supplementation strategy with optimal dosing regimens. A randomised parallel-group, active-controlled trial was conducted among apparently healthy, VD-deficient subjects, aged 18-60 years who received 600 μg/d (Group A), 1000 μg/d (Group B), 2000 μg/d (Group C) and 60 000 μg/month (Group D) of oral cholecalciferol. The intervention was carried in two phases (I and II) of 12 weeks each, with same dose, separated by a washout phase of 12 weeks.

Daily . weekly oral vitamin D therapy for nutritional rickets in Indian children: a randomised controlled open-label trial.

The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of daily . weekly oral vitamin D therapy in radiological healing of nutritional rickets. Children 6 months to 12 years ( 132) diagnosed with nutritional rickets were randomised into three groups ( 44): group A - 2000 IU daily vitamin D for 12 weeks, B - 60 000 IU weekly for 3 weeks, C - 60 000 IU weekly for 6 weeks.

Indian Academy of Pediatrics Revised (2021) Guidelines on Prevention and Treatment of Vitamin D Deficiency and Rickets.

Justification: The emerging literature on prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in India, prevention and treatment strategies of rickets, and extra-skeletal benefits of vitamin D suggest the need for revising the existing guidelines for prevention and treatment of vitamin D deficiency in India.

Objectives: To review the emerging literature on vitamin D prevalence and need for universal vitamin D supplementation. To suggest optimum vitamin D therapy for treatment of asymptomatic and symptomatic vitamin D deficiency, and rickets.

Quinoxaline: A Chemical Moiety with Spectrum of Interesting Biological Activities.

Quinoxaline (C8H6N2), commonly called 1,4-diazanaphthalene, 1,4-benzodiazine, or benzopyrazine, is a very potent nitrogenous heterocyclic moiety consisting of a benzene ring fused with the pyrazine ring. A number of different methods for the synthesis of quinoxaline derivatives have been reported in the literature, but the most effective method, commonly used for the synthesis of quinoxaline analogues involves the condensation of substituted o-phenylenediamines with 1, 2- dicarbonyl compounds in the presence of different catalyst(s). The presence of different types of catalysts and their concentration affects the overall yield of the product.

Efficacy of Daily Supplementation of Milk Fortified With Vitamin D2 for Three Months in Healthy School Children: A Randomized Placebo Controlled Trial.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of daily supplementation of 200 mL milk fortified with 240 IU of vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol).

Design: Double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Settings: School-based study in Delhi between October and December, 2019.

Inherited Bleeding Disorders in North Indian Children: 14 years' Experience from a Tertiary Care Center.

Inherited bleeding disorders are not uncommon in pediatric practice: most of them being chronic, require lifelong replacement therapy. To frame a management policy, it is essential to assess the load and pattern of bleeding disorders in the local population. However, there is paucity of data reporting the clinical spectrum of coagulation and platelet function disorders in Indian children.

Design, synthesis, in silico studies and biological evaluation of 5-(()-4-(()-(substituted aryl/alkyl)methyl)benzylidene)thiazolidine-2,4-dione derivatives.

Background: Looking at the extensive biological potential of thiazolidine-2,4-dione (TZD) moiety, a new series of thiazolidine-2,4-dione analogues was synthesized. Different spectral techniques (H-NMR, IR, MS etc.) were used to confirm the chemical structures of the synthesized analogues.

Comparison of plasma adipocytokines & C-reactive protein levels in healthy schoolgoing adolescents from private & government-funded schools of Delhi, India.

Background & Objectives: Obesity-mediated chronic inflammatory state is primarily governed by lifestyle and food habits in adolescents and marked by alterations in the level of various inflammatory markers. This cross-sectional study was aimed to compare the inflammatory status of healthy Indian adolescents vis-à-vis their obesity profile. The inflammatory state of urban adolescents attending private and government-funded schools, and the relationship between inflammatory marker levels and anthropometric indices in the study participants from both groups were examined.

Bioavailability of nanoemulsion formulations vs conventional fat soluble preparations of cholecalciferol (D3) - An overview.

Vitamin D deficiency is recognized as a pandemic affecting all ages and strata of population. The endogenous cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D is insufficient to maintain normal body requirement which necessitates the need for vitamin D supplementation or food-fortification. Conventional fat-soluble preparations of vitamin D have been traditionally used for prevention and therapeutic purposes.