β-1,3-glucan from : a promising epidrug targeting epigenetic regulators PRMTs and SIRTs for therapeutic applications in ovarian cancer.

Natural products serve as a valuable resource in drug discovery and the identification of bioactive molecules in the field of epimedicine, which targets epigenetic regulator enzymes through epidrugs. In this study, β-1,3-glucan (BG), a natural storage polysaccharide in a well-known immunostimulatory agent, is propounded as a promising epidrug. To elucidate the therapeutic efficacy of BG against ovarian cancer, the molecular interactions between BG and epigenetic regulators, Protein Arginine Methyltransferases (PRMTs) and Sirtuins (SIRTs) were investigated using computational methods followed by gene expression studies in SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cell line.

Nanophytosome formulation of β-1,3-glucan and extract for drug delivery applications.

(EG) is a unicellular freshwater alga known for its high β-1,3-glucan (BG) content with well-known biological properties and immune response. The high molecular weight structure of BG traditionally poses a challenge in terms of its size and absorption. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a novel drug delivery mechanism of BG and EG to nanophytosomes (NPs) by converting the heavy molecular weight of BG and EG into lipid phosphatidylcholine (PC), which plays an important role in improving their bioavailability and entrapment in captivity.

Mobile colistin resistance (mcr) genes and recent developments in colistin resistance detection.

The peptide antibiotic colistin has been reserved as a last resort antibiotic treatment option for cases where other antibiotics including carbapenems have failed. Recent emergence of colistin resistance and discovery of mobile colistin resistance (mcr) genes, which encode the cell wall modifying phosphoethanolamine transferase enzyme, complicates the issue. The mcr genes have been associated with conjugative plasmids and can be horizontally transferred between different bacterial species.

Comparative evaluation of the efficacy of nicotine chewing gum and nicotine patches as nicotine replacement therapy using salivary cotinine levels as a biochemical validation measure.

Background: Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and habit cessation counseling are considered the mainstay treatment for high nicotine dependence smokers. However, adherence to NRT is very poor. Among the NRTs, nicotine gums and nicotine patches are the most widely available.

Age-related changes in serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-II and its binding proteins correlate with calcaneal bone mineral density among post-menopausal South-Indian women.

Background: Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system components are important regulators of bone metabolism, which have a predominant role in determining bone mineral density (BMD). While the serum levels of IGF-I are regulated by various systemic hormones and growth factors, IGF-II levels reflect the skeletal production relative to physical activity, mechanical loading, aging, race etc. Though various studies have been carried out among women of different ethnic groups to understand the relationship between serum levels of IGF-II and BMD, the results seem to be quite inconclusive.