Naringin and temozolomide combination suppressed the growth of glioblastoma cells by promoting cell apoptosis: network pharmacology, assays and metabolomics based study.

Glioblastoma, which affects a large number of patients every year and has an average overall lifespan of around 14.6 months following diagnosis stands out as the most lethal primary invasive brain tumor. Currently, surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy with temozolomide (TMZ) are the three major clinical treatment approaches.

A Study of Serum Adiponectin Levels in Patients with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and its Correlation with Various Cardiometabolic Risk Markers.

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most common metabolic disorder in the reproductive age group, the pathogenesis of which is constantly evolving with the discovery of novel molecules and the lookout for potential therapeutic targets.

Aims: The aim of the present study was to estimate the circulating levels of serum adiponectin in patients with PCOS compared to controls and to find its correlation with markers of cardiovascular risk, with special emphasis on circulating levels of oxidised low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL).

Settings And Design: In this cross-sectional observational study recently diagnosed, PCOS subjects were compared with age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched controls.

4-Methylesculetin ameliorates LPS-induced depression-like behavior through the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome.

The pathophysiology of depression is heavily dependent on inflammation. Evidence suggests that the etiology of depression is linked with NLRP3 inflammasome-induced inflammation. Therefore, blocking the activated NLRP3 inflammasome may be beneficial for treating depression.

Isolation, antibacterial screening, and identification of bioactive cave dwelling bacteria in Fiji.

Bacteria are well known producers of bioactive secondary metabolites, including some of the most effective antibiotics in use today. While the caves of Oceania are still largely under-explored, they form oligotrophic and extreme environments that are a promising source for identifying novel species of bacteria with biologically active compounds. By using selective media that mimicked a cave environment, and pretreatments that suppressed the growth of fast-growing bacteria, we have cultured genetically diverse bacteria from a limestone cave in Fiji.

Simultaneous Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction and Determination of Different Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Surface Water.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a class of persistent organic pollutants of water, and their determination at trace levels in the aquatic ecosystems is essential. In this work, an ultrasound-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) procedure was suggested utilizing a binary dispersive agent for recovery of different molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from waters. The detection was carried out by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) as well as high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence and diode-array detection (HPLC-FD/PDA).

Mechanistic insight into the role of mevalonate kinase by a natural fatty acid-mediated killing of Leishmania donovani.

We evaluated the anti-leishmanial efficacy of different saturated medium-chain fatty acids (FAs, C8-C18) where FA containing C8 chain, caprylic acid (CA), was found to be most potent against Leishmania donovani, the causative agent for visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Different analogs of CA with C8 linear chain, but not higher, along with a carboxyl/ester group showed a similar anti-leishmanial effect. Ergosterol depletion was the major cause of CA-mediated cell death.

Antibiogram guided optimized medical treatment in chronic otitis media: A useful interventional strategy before surgery?

Background: Chronic otitis media is a middle ear cleft disease presenting with tympanic membrane perforation and discharge. Wet ear after tympanoplasty and discharging mastoid cavity are problematic in clinical practice.

Material And Methods: 1050 patients of age 10 to 50 years presenting with active ear discharge and clinically diagnosed with unilateral chronic suppurative otitis media were included in the study.

Fabrication of α-FeO Nanostructures: Synthesis, Characterization, and Their Promising Application in the Treatment of Carcinoma A549 Lung Cancer Cells.

In the present work, iron nanoparticles were synthesized in the α-FeO phase with the reduction of potassium hexachloroferrate(III) by using l-ascorbic acid as a reducing agent in the presence of an amphiphilic non-ionic polyethylene glycol surfactant in an aqueous solution. The synthesized α-FeO NPs were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, dynamic light scattering, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry. The powder X-ray diffraction analysis result confirmed the formation of α-FeO NPs, and the average crystallite size was found to be 45 nm.

Design, Synthesis of Biaryl Piperidine Derivatives and Their Evaluation as Potential Antileishmanial Agents against Leishmania donovani Strain Ag83.

We have developed a new series of simple biaryl piperidine derivatives (11-19) based on biaryl naphthylisoquinoline alkaloid Ealamine-A. The target compounds were synthesized, analyzed by spectral data, and evaluated for antileishmanial activity against Leishmania donovani strain Ag83 by MTT assay. The compounds have shown the best to moderate antileishmanial activity.

Hybrid DNA-Carbon Dot-Poly(vinylpyrrolidone) Hydrogel with Self-Healing and Shape Memory Properties for Simultaneous Trackable Drug Delivery and Visible-Light-Induced Antimicrobial Photodynamic Inactivation.

A two-step methodology for simultaneous conjugation of DNA and poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) polymer to a single carbon quantum dot (CD) is demonstrated for the first time to fabricate a pH-responsive DNA-CD-PVP hybrid hydrogel. Cross-linking in the hydrogel was achieved using CD as the common nucleus through the formation of DNA I-motif conformation at neutral to acidic pH and noncovalent interaction of PVP that infuse self-healing and shape memory properties in the hydrogel. The hydrogel is capable of loading and sustained delivery of drugs for more than 2 weeks as demonstrated using a model drug, Hemin.

Assessment of biodegradable chelating agents in the phytoextraction of heavy metals from multi-metal contaminated soil.

A pot incubation experiment under natural conditions was designed to investigate the effects of three biodegradable chelating agents, namely; the [S,S]-isomer of ethylenediamine disuccinate (EDDS), citric acid (CA), and tetrasodium N,N-Bis(carboxymethyl)-L-glutamate acid (GLDA), on two plant species (Brassica juncea and Brassica rapa) in terms of plant foliar growth, dry matter yield, and heavy metal (HM) accumulation. Both plant species exhibited diminished growth and symptoms of phytotoxicity under HM stress. The application of EDDS and CA affected plant foliar growth, biomass production, and led to the development of chlorotic lesions on leaves.

A micellar mediated novel method for the determination of selenium in environmental samples using a chromogenic reagent.

A novel, simple, sensitive and rapid spectrophotometric method for the determination of selenium(iv) in an acidic medium using rhodamine B hydrazide (RBH) has been developed. The method is based on the micellar mediated oxidation of RBH by Se(iv) in an acidic medium to produce a pinkish violet color of rhodamine B, which was monitored spectrophotometrically at λmax 585 nm. The sensitivity of the method was found to increase when the reaction was performed in a micellar medium.

Determination and comparison of selected heavy metal concentrations in seawater and sediment samples in the coastal area of Suva, Fiji.

The coastal area of Suva, Fiji is exposed to high degree of metals input from different sources such as land-based industrial activities like metal fabrication and construction, paint manufacturing, petroleum storage and garment manufacturing, food processing and fish cannery as well as activities of bottling plants. It is therefore essential to have continuous monitoring and environmental management for the coastal area. Thus, to assess the degree of contamination of metals, selected metals (Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu and Ni) concentrations were analysed in seawater and sediment samples collected from ten sites in the coastal area of Suva, Fiji.

A novel catalytic kinetic method for the determination of mercury(ii) in water samples.

Mercury(ii) ions act as catalyst in the substitution of cyanide ion in hexacyanoruthenate(ii) by pyrazine (Pz) in an acidic medium. This property of Hg(ii) has been utilized for its determination in aqueous solutions. The progress of reaction was followed spectrophotometrically by measuring the increase in absorbance of the yellow colour product, [Ru(CN)Pz] at 370 nm ( , = 4.

Correlation of Tympanic Membrane Perforation with Hearing Loss and Its Parameters in Chronic Otitis Media: An Analytical Study.

Chronic otitis media is one of the commonest illnesses in otorhinolaryngological practice which requires medical attention. Intact tympanic membrane acts as a shield for round window niche to create a phase difference in sound wave conduction. 700 patients of age 10-70 years with inactive mucosal chronic otitis media were included in the study.

Heavy metals contamination and risk assessment in sediments of Laucala Bay, Suva, Fiji.

Spatial distribution of metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn) were studied in the surficial sediments from 20 sampling sites of Laucala Bay Suva, Fiji to assess the significance of wastewater effluent discharged from Kinoya Wastewater Treatment Plant (KWWTP) into Laucala Bay as a major source. The bioavailability of these metals was also assessed using the fractionation technique. The total concentrations of individual metals varied from 1.

Carbon dot cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidone hybrid hydrogel for simultaneous dye adsorption, photodegradation and bacterial elimination from waste water.

The creation of a polymeric hydrogel from polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) cross-linked by Carbon Quantum Dots (CD) for the adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of both cationic and anionic dyes. PVP, an important biocompatible constituent and often surplus in cosmetic industry, was carboxylated through NaOH refluxing and covalently conjugated to surface amine functionality of CD derived from lemon juice and Cysteamine. The hybrid hydrogel was obtained from PVP-CD covalent conjugate by careful manipulation of pH and found to possess better rheological properties than only carboxylate-PVP.

Chronic Otitis Media and its Correlation with Unilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss in a Tertiary Care Centre of North India.

Relation between chronic otitis media and sensorineural hearing loss is controversial. Otitis media can cause threshold shift in high frequency range. Also this correlation with patient's age, disease duration and normal ear is of importance for early prevention of hearing loss.

Synthesis, characterization, and mechanistic studies of a gold nanoparticle-amphotericin B covalent conjugate with enhanced antileishmanial efficacy and reduced cytotoxicity.

Background: Amphotericin B (AmB) as a liposomal formulation of AmBisome is the first line of treatment for the disease, visceral leishmaniasis, caused by the parasite . However, nephrotoxicity is very common due to poor water solubility and aggregation of AmB. This study aimed to develop a water-soluble covalent conjugate of gold nanoparticle (GNP) with AmB for improved antileishmanial efficacy and reduced cytotoxicity.

Bovine Serum Albumin Amplified Reactive Oxygen Species Generation from Anthrarufin-Derived Carbon Dot and Concomitant Nanoassembly for Combination Antibiotic-Photodynamic Therapy Application.

Amplification of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation through covalent conjugation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) with newly synthesized, ROS-producing carbon dots (CDs) upon visible light irradiation is reported for the first time. Derivatization of surface carboxyl functional groups of Anthrarufin-derived, green-emitting CD with the amine functionality of BSA ushers distinct changes in the photophysics of CD including an unprecedented ∼50 nm shift in its excitation maxima, decrease in fluorescence lifetime, and concomitant increase in ROS generation. Substantial conformational changes of BSA were witnessed upon conjugation with CD, rendering the BSA-CD conjugate resistant to pepsinolysis.

First Assessment of Metals Contamination in Road Dust and Roadside Soil of Suva City, Fiji.

Studies have claimed that road dust and roadside soil are potential banks of pollutants generally in urban areas. Thus, quantifying the concentrations of metals in an urban area is a prerequisite for assessing pollution and their health effects. Hence, this study reports the concentration of the metals, such as Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, Cu, Pb, Zn, and Fe, in the road dust and the roadside soil of Suva City.

Estimated dietary intake of nitrate and nitrite from meat consumed in Fiji.

To assess the risk posed by meat consumption to the Fiji and Pacific populace, the present study reports nitrate and nitrite in meat. Twelve commercially available meat products, with a total of 210 fresh and processed meat samples, were analysed for nitrate and nitrite by an optimised RP-HPLC technique with isocratic elution using n-octylamine in 20.0% methanol at pH 6.

Bioavailability of Fe and Zn in selected legumes, cereals, meat and milk products consumed in Fiji.

The present study reports contents and the bioavailability of Fe and Zn from 25 selected raw and cooked food samples. The results showed highest variation of Fe content in raw food samples ranging from 2.19 ± 0.