Correction and removal of expression of concern: Enhancement of anti-leukemic potential of 2-hydroxyphenyl-azo-2'-naphthol (HPAN) on MOLT-4 cells through conjugation with Cu(ii).

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/C3RA44765K.].

Determination of five-parameter grain boundary characteristics in nanocrystalline Ni-W by scanning precession electron diffraction tomography.

Determining the full five-parameter grain boundary characteristics from experiments is essential for understanding grain boundaries impact on material properties, improving related models, and designing advanced alloys. However, achieving this is generally challenging, in particular at nanoscale, due to their 3D nature. In our study, we successfully determined the grain boundary characteristics of an annealed nickel-tungsten alloy (NiW) nanocrystalline needle-shaped specimen (tip) containing twins using Scanning Precession Electron Diffraction (SPED) Tomography.

Stiff morphing composite beams inspired from fish fins.

Morphing materials are typically either very compliant to achieve large shape changes or very stiff but with small shape changes that require large actuation forces. Interestingly, fish fins overcome these limitations: fish fins do not contain muscles, yet they can change the shape of their fins with high precision and speed while producing large hydrodynamic forces without collapsing. Here, we present a 'stiff' morphing beam inspired from the individual rays in natural fish fins.

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Procalcitonin in Sepsis Patients: Do They Have Any Prognostic Significance?

Introduction: Biomarkers like white blood cells, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and interleukin-1 are used in patients with sepsis for early diagnosis, differentiating various infections, making decisions to start antibiotics and evaluate their response, and to prognosticate morbidity and mortality. Despite the availability of these biomarkers, the prognosis of patients with sepsis in the ICU remains poor. Hence, this study was carried out to test the efficacy of procalcitonin and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) to prognosticate mortality and morbidity in terms of incidence of organ dysfunction and length of ICU stay in sepsis patients.

Gradients of properties increase the morphing and stiffening performance of bioinspired synthetic fin rays.

State-of-the-art morphing materials are either very compliant to achieve large shape changes (flexible metamaterials, compliant mechanisms, hydrogels), or very stiff but with infinitesimal changes in shape that require large actuation forces (metallic or composite panels with piezoelectric actuation). Morphing efficiency and structural stiffness are therefore mutually exclusive properties in current engineering morphing materials, which limits the range of their applicability. Interestingly, natural fish fins do not contain muscles, yet they can morph to large amplitudes with minimal muscular actuation forces from the base while producing large hydrodynamic forces without collapsing.

Utilizing coordination chemistry through formation of a Cu-quinalizarin complex to manipulate cell biology: An in vitro, in silico approach.

Quinalizarin, an analogue of anthracycline anticancer agents, is an anticancer agent itself. A Cu complex was prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, UV-Vis & IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, EPR and DFT. The intention behind the preparation of the complex was to increase cellular uptake, compare its binding with DNA against that of quinalizarin, modulation of semiquinone formation, realization of human DNA topoisomerase I & human DNA topoisomerase II inhibition and observation of anticancer activity.

Mechanics and properties of fish fin rays in nonlinear regimes of large deformations.

Fins from ray-finned fishes do not contain muscles, yet fish can change the shape of their fins with high precision and speed, while producing large hydrodynamic forces without collapsing. This remarkable performance has been intriguing researchers for decades, but experiments have so far focused on homogenized properties, and models were developed only for small deformations and small rotations. Here we present fully instrumented micromechanical tests on individual rays from Rainbow trout in both morphing and flexural deflection mode and at large deflections.

An insight into the mixed quantum mechanical-molecular dynamics simulation of a Zn-Curcumin complex with a chosen DNA sequence that supports experimental DNA binding investigations.

An important aspect of research pertaining to Curcumin (HCur) is the need to arrest its degradation in aqueous solution and in biological milieu. This may be achieved through complex formation with metal ions. For this reason, a complex of HCur was prepared with Zn, that is not likely to be active in redox pathways, minimizing further complications.

Reconstructing dual-phase nanometer scale grains within a pearlitic steel tip in 3D through 4D-scanning precession electron diffraction tomography and automated crystal orientation mapping.

The properties of polycrystalline materials are related to their microstructures and hence a complete description, including size, shape, and orientation of the grains, is necessary to understand the behavior of materials. Here, we use Scanning Precession Electron Diffraction (SPED) in the Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) combined with a tilt series to reconstruct individual grains in 3D within a polycrystalline dual-phase cold wire-drawn pearlitic steel sample. Nanoscale ferrite grains and intragranular cementite particles were indexed using an Automated Crystallographic Orientation Mapping (ACOM) tool for each tilt dataset.

In Situ Reactivity of Electrochemically Generated Nitro Radical Anion on Tinidazole and Its Monomeric and Dimeric Cu Complexes on Model Biological Targets with Relative Manifestation of Preventing Bacterial Biofilm Formation.

Formation of nitro radical anion (-NO ) and other reduction products of 5-nitroimidazoles, although important for antimicrobial activity, makes the drugs neurotoxic. Hence, an appropriate generation and their role in the free radical pathway needs proper realization. This was attempted by studying the action of tinidazole and its Cu complexes on model targets (nucleic acid bases and calf thymus DNA).

A Co(III) Complex of 1-Amino-4-hydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone Exhibits Apoptotic Action against MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cells.

A Co(III) complex of 1-amino-4-hydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone (QH) (Scheme-1) having the molecular formula CoQ (Scheme-2) was prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. In the absence of a single crystal, the energy-optimized molecular structure of CoQ was determined by employing computational methods that was validated using spectroscopic evidences, elemental analysis, and mass spectrometry data. The electrochemical properties of the complex were analyzed using cyclic voltammetry and indicate a substantial modification of the electrochemical properties of the parent amino-hydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone.

Free radical induced activity of an anthracycline analogue and its Mn complex on biological targets through electrochemical generation of semiquinone.

Cytotoxicity by anthracycline antibiotics is attributed to several pathways. Important among them are formation of free-radical intermediates. However, their generation makes anthracyclines cardiotoxic which is a concern on their use as anticancer agents.

How Robust are the Evidences that Formulate Surviving Sepsis Guidelines? An Analysis of Fragility and Reverse Fragility of Randomized Controlled Trials that were Referred in these Guidelines.

Objectives: "Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock: 2016" provides guidelines in regard to prompt management and resuscitation of sepsis or septic shock. The study is aimed to assess the robustness of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that formulate these guidelines in terms of fragility index and reverse fragility index.

Method: RCTs that contributed to these guidelines having parallel two-group design, 1:1 allocation ratio, and at least one dichotomous outcome were included in the study.

Enhanced efficacy of a Cu complex of curcumin against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria: Attributes of complex formation.

Curcumin is a tantalizing molecule with multifaceted therapeutic potentials. However, its therapeutic applications are severely hampered because of poor bioavailability, attributed to its instability and aqueous insolubility. In an attempt to overcome this inherent limitation and develop curcumin-based antibacterials, we had earlier synthesized and characterized a metal complex of Cu(II) with curcumin, having the formula [Cu(Curcumin)(OCOCH)(HO)], hereafter referred to as Cu(Cur).

Utilization of Guanidine-Based Ancillary Ligands in Arene-Ruthenium Complexes for Selective Cytotoxicity.

A family of three water-soluble half-sandwich arene-ruthenium complexes, depicted as - , having the general formula [Ru(-cymene)(L)Cl]Cl has been synthesized, where L represents (1-benzo[]imidazol-2-yl)guanidine ( ) or (benzo[]oxazol-2-yl)guanidine ( ) or (benzo[]thiazol-2-yl)guanidine ( ). The crystal structure of complex has been determined. The complexes show several absorption bands in the visible and ultraviolet regions, and they also show prominent emission in the visible region while excited near 400 nm.

Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of the Existing Repurposed Pharmacological Agents for Treating COVID-19: A Meta-analysis and Systematic Review of Clinical Trials.

Purpose: The present study systematically searched important medical databases, assessed the quality of available pieces of evidence, and performed a meta-analysis to test the efficacy of different therapeutic options currently available for treating COVID-19.

Materials And Methods: PubMed, CNKI, LILACS, Koreamed, WHO clinical trial registry, and medRxiv were searched since December 2019. Any observational or controlled study that tested the efficacy of any pharmacological intervention in COVID-19 patients either prospectively or retrospectively was included in the qualitative analysis.

Radio-Sensitizing Effects of Cu and Zn Complexes of Ornidazole: Role of Nitro Radical Anion.

The treatment of malignant cells that are deficient in oxygen due to the insufficient flow of blood is often seen as a major hindrance in radiotherapy. Such cells become radio-resistant because molecular oxygen, the natural and best radio-sensitizer, is depleted. Hence, to compensate this deficiency in oxygen, there is a need for agents that enhance radiation-induced damage of cells (radio-sensitizers) in a manner that normal cells are least affected.

Mottling, Lactate, and the Microcirculation in Sepsis: Are We Back to Bedside Clinical Assessment after the Honeymoon with Technology?

Das S, Ray S. Mottling, Lactate, and the Microcirculation in Sepsis: Are We Back to Bedside Clinical Assessment after the Honeymoon with Technology? Indian J Crit Care Med 2020;24(8):615-616.

Multitargeting Antibacterial Activity of a Synthesized Mn Complex of Curcumin on Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacterial Strains.

Curcumin is an important molecule with a plethora of pharmacological activities and therapeutic potentials. Despite its efficacy, it remained a potential drug candidate owing to hydrolytic instability and poor aqueous solubility. To overcome the limitations related to low solubility, low bioavailability, and the fact that curcumin is never present in solution as a "single unit", its complex was prepared with Mn with the idea that binding to a metal ion might help to resolve these issues.

A Zn complex of ornidazole with decreased nitro radical anions that is still highly active on .

A monomeric complex of Zn with ornidazole [Zn(Onz)Cl] decreases formation of the nitro-radical anion (R-NO˙), and this is realized by recording it in an enzyme assay using xanthine oxidase, which is a model nitro-reductase. Although the formation of R-NO˙ is essential for drug action, as it is also associated with neurotoxic side effects, it is imperative to control its generation in order to avoid excess presence. With a decrease in R-NO˙, while the neurotoxic side effects should decrease, it can be expected that a compromise with regard to therapeutic efficacy will be seen since the complex will be less active in the free radical pathway.

Radioprotection of thymine and calf thymus DNA by an azo compound: mechanism of action followed by DPPH radical quenching & ROS depletion in WI 38 lung fibroblast cells.

Purpose: To explain the observed radio-protection properties of an azo compound, 2-(2-hydroxyphenylazo)-indole-3-acetic acid (HPIA).

Materials And Methods: Mechanism of radioprotection by HPIA was attempted using the stable free radical 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) using UV-Vis and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The radical destroying ability of HPIA was studied by depletion of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in WI 38 lung fibroblast cells.

Evaluation of wound healing activity of ethanol extract of L. leaf both and in diabetic mice model.

Background And Aim: The leaves of Linn (niú x ınguǒ; Bullock's heart), a member of Annonaceae family, have been used extensively in folk medicine; however, its wound healing potential is yet to be explored. Our aim was to investigate the wound healing ability of leaf extract and in streptozotocin induced diabetic mice model.

Material And Methods: We observed the plant extract induced proliferation and migration of primary human dermal fibroblast (HDF), human skin fibroblast cell line (GM00637) and human keratinocyte cell line (HACAT).

Hemostatic Agents in Critically Ill Patients.

Das SK, Reddy MM, Ray S. Hemostatic Agents in Critically Ill Patients. Indian J Crit Care Med 2019;23(Suppl 3):S226-S229.