Development of Amphotericin B Decorated Gold Nanoparticles as a Promising Antileishmanial Nanoconjugate.

Leishmaniasis, attributed to the protozoan parasite , manifests in diverse clinical forms, including cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral leishmaniasis; VL constitutes a significant global health menace. Prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions, this affliction disproportionately impacts individuals below the poverty threshold, transmitted through the bite of female sandflies. Existing treatments, such as pentavalent antimony, miltefosine, and Amphotericin B, exhibit limitations.

A Review of the Impact of Maternal Prenatal Stress on Offspring Microbiota and Metabolites.

Maternal prenatal stress exposure affects the development of offspring. We searched for articles in the PubMed database and reviewed the evidence for how prenatal stress alters the composition of the microbiome, the production of microbial-derived metabolites, and regulates microbiome-induced behavioral changes in the offspring. The gut-brain signaling axis has gained considerable attention in recent years and provides insights into the microbial dysfunction in several metabolic disorders.

Treatment With LAU-7b Complements CFTR Modulator Therapy by Improving Lung Physiology and Normalizing Lipid Imbalance Associated With CF Lung Disease.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common autosomal recessive genetic disease in Caucasians, affecting more than 100,000 individuals worldwide. It is caused by pathogenic variants in the gene encoding , an anion channel at the plasma membrane of epithelial and other cells. Many CF pathogenic variants disrupt the biosynthesis and trafficking of CFTR or reduce its ion channel function.

Single allele loss-of-function mutations select and sculpt conditional cooperative networks in breast cancer.

The most common events in breast cancer (BC) involve chromosome arm losses and gains. Here we describe identification of 1089 gene-centric common insertion sites (gCIS) from transposon-based screens in 8 mouse models of BC. Some gCIS are driver-specific, others driver non-specific, and still others associated with tumor histology.

CFTR Correctors and Antioxidants Partially Normalize Lipid Imbalance but not Abnormal Basal Inflammatory Cytokine Profile in CF Bronchial Epithelial Cells.

A deficiency in cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) function in CF leads to chronic lung disease. CF is associated with abnormalities in fatty acids, ceramides, and cholesterol, their relationship with CF lung pathology is not completely understood. Therefore, we examined the impact of CFTR deficiency on lipid metabolism and pro-inflammatory signaling in airway epithelium using mass spectrometric, protein array.

Novel corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic: current status and possible strategies for detection and treatment of the disease.

Introduction: In December 2019, a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak occurred and caused the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), which affected ~ 190 countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared COVID-19 a pandemic on 11 March 2020.

Area Covered: In the review, a comprehensive analysis of the recent developments of the COVID-19 pandemic has been provided, including the structural characterization of the virus, the current worldwide status of the disease, various detection strategies, drugs recommended for the effective treatment, and progress of vaccine development programs by different countries.

The role of essential fatty acids in cystic fibrosis and normalizing effect of fenretinide.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common autosomal-recessive disease in Caucasians caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane regulator (CFTR) gene. Patients are usually diagnosed in infancy and are burdened with extensive medical treatments throughout their lives. One of the first documented biochemical defects in CF, which predates the cloning of CFTR gene for almost three decades, is an imbalance in the levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs).

Differential expression of interferon-lambda receptor 1 splice variants determines the magnitude of the antiviral response induced by interferon-lambda 3 in human immune cells.

Type III interferons (IFN-lambdas(λ)) are important cytokines that inhibit viruses and modulate immune responses by acting through a unique IFN-λR1/IL-10RB heterodimeric receptor. Until now, the primary antiviral function of IFN-λs has been proposed to be at anatomical barrier sites. Here, we examine the regulation of IFN-λR1 expression and measure the downstream effects of IFN-λ3 stimulation in primary human blood immune cells, compared with lung or liver epithelial cells.

Age-Dependent Progression in Lung Pathophysiology can be Prevented by Restoring Fatty Acid and Ceramide Imbalance in Cystic Fibrosis.

Purpose: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a progressive disease which causes a continuous decline in lung capacity with age. Our study aimed to investigate the age-dependent deterioration in lung function and the effects of treatment with Fenretinide formulation (LAU-7b) in Cftr knockout (KO) mice.

Methods: Non-invasive whole-body plethysmography (WBP) was done to measure the baseline lung functions of KO and wild-type (WT) mice at the ages of 2 and 4 months.

Treatment of Allergic Asthma with Fenretinide Formulation (LAU-7b) Downregulates ORMDL Sphingolipid Biosynthesis Regulator 3 () Expression and Normalizes Ceramide Imbalance.

Zona pellucida binding protein 2 () and ORMDL sphingolipid biosynthesis regulator 3 (), mapped downstream of , were identified as two genes associated with airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR). gene product has been shown to regulate the biosynthesis of ceramides. Allergic asthma was shown to be associated with an imbalance between very-long-chain ceramides (VLCCs) and long-chain ceramides (LCCs).

Fenretinide favorably affects mucins (MUC5AC/MUC5B) and fatty acid imbalance in a manner mimicking CFTR-induced correction.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common genetic disease in Caucasians. CF is manifested by abnormal accumulation of mucus in the lungs, which serves as fertile ground for the growth of microorganisms leading to recurrent infections and ultimately, lung failure. Mucus in CF patients consists of DNA from dead neutrophils as well as mucins produced by goblet cells.

Biochemistry of very-long-chain and long-chain ceramides in cystic fibrosis and other diseases: The importance of side chain.

Ceramides, the principal building blocks of all sphingolipids, have attracted the attention of many scientists around the world interested in developing treatments for cystic fibrosis, the most common genetic disease of Caucasians. Many years of fruitful research in this field have produced some fundamentally important, yet controversial results. Here, we aimed to summarize the current knowledge on the role of long- and very-long- chain ceramides, the most abundant species of ceramides in animal cells, in cystic fibrosis and other diseases.

Biochemistry of very-long-chain and long-chain ceramides in cystic fibrosis and other diseases: The importance of side chain.

Ceramides, the principal building blocks of all sphingolipids, have attracted the attention of many scientists around the world interested in developing treatments for cystic fibrosis, the most common genetic disease of Caucasians. Many years of fruitful research in this field have produced some fundamentally important, yet controversial results. Here, we aimed to summarize the current knowledge on the role of long- and very-long- chain ceramides, the most abundant species of ceramides in animal cells, in cystic fibrosis and other diseases.

The Effects of Gestational Psychological Stress on Neonatal Mouse Intestinal Development.

Background: Psychological stress during pregnancy has been shown to cause subsequent harm to the fetus and newborn. Many studies focus on neurodevelopmental outcomes, but little is known about the effect of gestational stress on intestinal immunity and development. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of psychological stress during pregnancy on intestinal architecture and growth in newborns.

Biomimetic polycaprolactone-chitosan nanofibrous substrate influenced cell cycle and ECM secretion affect cellular uptake of nanoclusters.

Biomimetic cell culture substrates are developed as an alternative to the conventional substrates. They provide necessary biochemical and biophysical cues to the cells from their surrounding environment for their optimal growth, behaviour and physiology. Changes in physiology of cells growing on biomimetic substrate can essentially affect results of biological experiments such as drug cytotoxicity, nanoparticle internalization or signalling pathways.

Depletion of BAFF cytokine exacerbates infection in Pseudomonas aeruginosa infected mice.

Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease characterized by chronic inflammation of the lungs that is ineffective at clearing pathogens. B-cell activating factor (BAFF), a cytokine involved in the development of B-cells, is known to be elevated in CF patients with subclinical infections. We postulate that the elevated BAFF levels in CF patients might be triggered by Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection and it might play a protective role in the regulation of lung responses to infection.

Cdh1 and Pik3ca Mutations Cooperate to Induce Immune-Related Invasive Lobular Carcinoma of the Breast.

CDH1 and PIK3CA are the two most frequently mutated genes in invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) of the breast. Transcription profiling has identified molecular subtypes for ILC, one of which, immune-related (IR), is associated with gene expression linked to lymphocyte and macrophage infiltration. Here, we report that deletion of Cdh1, together with activation of Pik3ca in mammary epithelium of genetically modified mice, leads to formation of IR-ILC-like tumors with immune cell infiltration, as well as gene expression linked to T-regulatory (Treg) cell signaling and activation of targetable immune checkpoint pathways.

Unveiling the role of ATP in amplification of intrinsic peroxidase-like activity of gold nanoparticles.

Peroxidase enzyme-like activity of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) is currently being investigated for the potential application in the several realms of biomedicines. However, little is explored about the peroxidase activity of AuNPs decorated with different surface charges. It is well-documented that the catalytic activity and the interaction with mammalian cells are significantly different among AuNPs carrying different surface charges.

Asymmetry of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer and Posterior Pole Asymmetry Analysis Parameters of Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography in Children.

Purpose: To determine inter- and intraocular differences in the retinal nerve fiber (RNFL) and posterior pole asymmetry analysis (PPAA) macular thickness parameters in children using spectral domain optical coherence tomography.

Method: A prospective, cross-sectional study involving 126 subjects between the age group of 5-15 years received a standardized eye examination including spectral domain optical coherence tomography for retinal nerve fiber layer and macular thickness measurements. Asymmetry was calculated as the difference between the right and left eyes as well as the superior and inferior area of one randomly selected eye for each subject.

Diagnostic accuracy of posterior pole asymmetry analysis parameters of spectralis optical coherence tomography in detecting early unilateral glaucoma.

Purpose: To report the diagnostic ability of posterior pole asymmetry analysis (PPAA) parameters of spectralis optical coherence tomography (OCT) in detecting early unilateral glaucoma.

Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional study which included 80 eyes of 80 normal subjects and 76 eyes of 76 patients with unilateral early primary open-angle glaucoma by Hodapp-Anderson-Parrish classification. All subjects were of age more than 18 years, best-corrected visual acuity 20/40 or better, and a refractive error within ± 5 diopter (D) sphere and ± 3 D cylinder.

ATP-enhanced peroxidase-like activity of gold nanoparticles.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are known to possess intrinsic biological peroxidase-like activity that has applications in development of numerous biosensors. The reactivity of the Au atoms at the surface of AuNPs is critical to the performance of such biosensors, yet little is known about the effect of biomolecules and ions on the peroxidase-like activity. In this work, the effect of ATP and other biologically relevant molecules and ions over peroxidase-like activity of AuNPs are described.

Applicability of ISNT and IST rules to the retinal nerve fibre layer using spectral domain optical coherence tomography in early glaucoma.

Background: To report the applicability of ISNT (inferior>superior>nasal>temporal) and IST (inferior>superior>temporal) rules on the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) for detecting early glaucoma.

Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional study which included 80 eyes of 80 normal subjects and 76 eyes of 76 patients with early glaucoma by Hodapp-Anderson-Parrish classification. All subjects were of age more than 18 years, best corrected visual acuity 20/40 or better and a refractive error within ±5 dioptres (D) sphere and ±3 D cylinder.

Applicability of the ISNT and IST rules on retinal nerve fiber layer measurement on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography in normal Indian children.

Background: To determine the applicability of the ISNT (inferior>superior>nasal>temporal) and IST (inferior>superior>temporal) rules on retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) measurement on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in normal children.

Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional study including consecutive subjects between the ages of 5-18 years who were born at term (≥37 weeks gestational age) and with a normal birth weight (≥2500 g) presenting to the out-patient department for refractive error examination. RNFL measurement was done on Spectralis SD-OCT.