DNA methylation in wheat: current understanding and future potential for enhancing biotic and abiotic stress tolerance.

Unlabelled: DNA methylation is a paramount epigenetic mark that helps balance gene expression post-transcriptionally. Its effect on specific genes determines the plant's holistic development and acclimatization during adversities. L.

The Effects of Electronic Cigarettes on Oral Microbiome and Metabolome in 3D Tissue-Engineered Models.

Background And Aim: Recent studies have shown that electronic cigarettes (ECs) use disrupts the oral microbiome composition and diversity, impairing the metabolic pathways of the mucosal cells. However, to date, no reports have evaluated the role of EC exposure in the context of oral metabolome. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate the role of EC aerosol exposure in the dysregulation of the oral microbiome and metabolome profile using in vitro 3D organotypic models of human oral mucosa.

Physicochemical features of subunit interfaces and their role in self-assembly across the ferritin superfamily.

Ferritins are ubiquitous and play a critical role in iron homeostasis. They are classified into four main subfamilies: classical, bacterial, bacterioferritin, and Dps. These are characterized by subunits with a four-helical bundle domain and interact through three distinct regions-one antiparallel interface (IntA) and two perpendicular interfaces (IntB and IntC), collectively forming a cage-like structure.

Solid lipid nanoparticles for increased oral bioavailability of acalabrutinib in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

Acalabrutinib (ACP) is a first-line treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia but suffers from poor and variable oral bioavailability due to its pH-dependent solubility, CYP3A4 metabolism, and P-gp efflux. Thus, the objective of this study was to improve the solubility and dissolution behaviour, in turn enhancing bioavailability, by formulating solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs). ACP loaded SLNs (ACP-SLNs) were prepared via solvent-free hot emulsification followed by a double sonication process.

Influence of soil characteristics and agricultural practices on microplastic concentrations in sandy soils and their association with heavy metal contamination.

Microplastics (MPs) seriously threaten soil quality and crop health, particularly in agricultural systems using plastic mulch and sewage sludge, with their abundance being strongly influenced by soil properties such as texture, structure, and chemical content. Considering this, the present study assessed MP contamination in arid agricultural soils, focusing on their abundance, morphology, composition, and association with heavy metals to evaluate environmental risks. Soil samples were collected from ten plastic-mulched fields and a control site across a 50 sq.

Exploring heavy metal dynamics and risks from dust and soil in urban cities of Jharkhand, India.

Jharkhand is a minerally prosperous state with geogenic and industrial origins of metals. This study assesses the seasonal variation of pseudo-total metal contents (Cr, Ni, Pb, Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe, Mg, Al) and related contamination and risks in indoor dust, street dust, and soils of four major cities of Jharkhand. Across cities and seasons, Zn, Cu, and Pb were the most common pollutants.

Stability enhancement of Amphotericin B using 3D printed biomimetic polymeric corneal patch to treat fungal infections.

Amphotericin B eye drops (reconstituted from lyophilized Amphotericin B formulation indicated for intravenous use) is used off-label for fungal keratitis. However, the reconstituted formulation is stable only for a week, even after refrigeration. Moreover, a high dosing frequency makes it an inconvenient treatment practice.

Beyond Metabolic Messengers: Bile Acids and TGR5 as Pharmacotherapeutic Intervention for Psychiatric Disorders.

Psychiatric disorders pose a significant global health challenge, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and insufficiently addressed by the current treatments. This review explores the emerging role of bile acids and the TGR5 receptor in the pathophysiology of psychiatric conditions, emphasizing their signaling within the gut-brain axis. We detail the synthesis and systemic functions of bile acids, their transformation by gut microbiota, and their impact across various neuropsychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder, general anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, and bipolar disorder.

Self-propelling, protein-bound magnetic nanobots for efficient in vitro drug delivery in triple negative breast cancer cells.

The emergence of self-propelling magnetic nanobots represents a significant advancement in the field of drug delivery. These magneto-nanobots offer precise control over drug targeting and possess the capability to navigate deep into tumor tissues, thereby addressing multiple challenges associated with conventional cancer therapies. Here, Fe-GSH-Protein-Dox, a novel self-propelling magnetic nanobot conjugated with a biocompatible protein surface and loaded with doxorubicin for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), is reported.

Computational and biochemical characterization of the immobilized esterase of Salinicoccus roseus for pesticide degradation.

The continuous exposure of chemical pesticides in agriculture, their contamination in soil and water pose serious threat to the environment. Current study used an approach to evaluate various pesticides like Hexaconazole, Mancozeb, Pretilachlor, Organophosphate and λ-cyhalothrin degradation capability of esterase. The enzyme was isolated from Salinicoccus roseus.

LncRNA MALAT1 as a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target in kidney diseases.

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript1 (MALAT1) has emerged as a crucial biomarker and therapeutic target for kidney diseases, including acute kidney injury (AKI), chronic kidney disease (CKD), diabetic kidney disease (DKD), lupus nephritis (LN), and renal cell carcinoma (RCC). LncRNAs are non-coding RNAs that have more than 200 nucleotides that play a crucial role in gene regulation at the post-translational stage, transcriptional, and epigenetic levels. LncRNA MALAT1 regulates gene expression and modulates cellular functions such as proliferation, inflammation, apoptosis, and fibrosis, which are key pathophysiology of kidney diseases.

Tuning Fluorescence Properties of BIM Probes via Clay Integration: Targeting Rifampicin with improved selectivity.

The incorporation of photoactive organic dyes into layered inorganic materials enhances their optical and chemical properties, making them ideal for sensing applications. In this study, Bisindolyl methane (BIM)-based neutral probes were integrated with bentonite clay to explore their sensing capabilities. Probe 1 (unoxidized BIM) and Probe 2 (oxidized BIM) generally exhibited quenched luminescence in solution due to intramolecular rotations.

Breaking the resistance: integrative approaches with novel therapeutics against Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a leading cause of anti-microbial resistance in healthcare-associated infections that have posed a severe threat to neonatal and wider community. The escalating crises of antibiotic resistance have compelled researchers to explore an innovative arsenal beginning from natural resources to chemical modifications in order to overcome the ever-increasing resistance issues. The present review highlights the drug discovery efforts with a special focus on cutting-edge strategies in the hunt for potential drug candidates against MDR/XDR Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Machine Learning Prediction of Physicochemical Properties in Lithium-Ion Battery Electrolytes With Active Learning Applied to Graph Neural Networks.

Accurate prediction of physicochemical properties, such as electronic energy, enthalpy, free energy, and average vibrational frequencies, is critical for optimizing lithium-ion battery (LIB) performance. Traditional methods like density functional theory (DFT) are computationally expensive and inefficient for large-scale screening. In this study, we apply active learning on top of graph neural networks (GNNs) to efficiently predict these properties.

Drug release potential of polyacrylamide grafted-Assam Bora rice polysaccharide graft copolymer (ABRS-g-PAM) as effective controlled release polymer.

The research focuses on the characterization and evaluation of drug delivery efficiency of a microwave-assisted, free-radical synthesized polyacrylamide-grafted Assam Bora rice starch (ABRS) graft copolymer (ABRS-g-PAM). Percentage grafting efficiency (% GE) and intrinsic viscosity were chosen as the optimization parameters. The optimized ABRS-g-PAM Grade Formulation 4 (GF4) was found to be the best grade.

Efficacy of umbelliferone-loaded nanostructured lipid carrier in the management of bleomycin-induced idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: experimental and network pharmacology insight.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a severe and progressive lung disorder with an average survival rate of 3 to 5 years. IPF presents a significant challenge in clinical management, necessitating novel therapeutic approaches. Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) have proven to be promising vehicles for targeted drug delivery to the lung tissues.

Preeminent designing of complementary TRANSFER and COMPLEMENT alongside excitation modulated molecular logic systems.

This article describes an optically adjustable, dual complementary molecular TRANSFER and COMPLEMENT logic gate as well as an extremely rare design of excitation-modulated logic systems using a pyrene coupled bis(indolyl)methane derivative (1) in Brij-58 micelles, triggered by different chemical stimuli. We have looked into the optical response of the probe molecule towards variety of analytes, including OH, CN, Hg, EDTA ., at various excitation channels, in order to achieve this goal.

An overview of matrix metalloproteinase-12 in multiple disease conditions, potential selective inhibitors, and drug designing strategies.

Matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) are the proteolytic enzymes accountable for extracellular matrix (ECM) modification through their Zn-dependent catalytic activity. Among these, MMP-12 is one of the crucial MMPs that contributes to various disease states including different types of cancers and other major pathophysiological conditions including COPD, asthma, emphysema, skin diseases, arthritis, vascular diseases, and neurological disorders. The majority of the MMP-12 inhibitors should have three constitutional pharmacophoric features (i.

Derivatives of D(-)-glutamine-based MMP-2 inhibitors as an effective remedy for the management of chronic myeloid leukemia-Part-III: Synthesis, biological screening and in silico binding interaction analysis.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have markedly improved the overall survival rate of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), enabling them to achieve a normal life expectancy. However, toxicity, relapse, and drug resistance continue to pose major challenges in the clinical treatment of CML. The progression of leukemia is directly connected to higher expression levels and enzymatic actions of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2).

Optimizing whole grain rice fortification using microwave-assisted screw conveying spraying and drying setup: Exploring solution absorption, gelatinization, and micronutrient retention.

This study presents a novel gelatinization-induced whole-grain rice fortification (GIWGRF) technology using a microwave-assisted screw conveying spraying and drying setup (MASCSD). The process involves microwave-assisted soaking of pregelatinized rice in a micronutrient solution, followed by steam-assisted gelatinization and drying. Rice with an initial degree of gelatinization (DG) of 58.

Inhibiting brushite crystal growth: molecular docking exploration of phytoconstituents and their interaction with human serum albumin.

In our preliminary studies, the extract demonstrated inhibition of calcium phosphate (brushite) crystals. Human serum albumin (HSA) is known to act as a promoter of brushite crystal growth. Therefore, the present study aims to explore the molecular mechanisms involved in brushite crystal nephrolithiasis by conducting molecular docking of phytoconstituents from with HSA.

Investigating CuO-ZrO Mixed Metal Oxide Nanocomposites for Electrochemical Sensing of Food Colors.

A fast and highly sensitive electrochemical sensor (ECS) is crucially desirable for observing synthetic dyes in foodstuffs, as excessive consumption of these colorants can pose risks to human health, including toxicity and pathogenicity. This research introduces the creation of an ECS comprising a CuO-ZrO nanocomposite for detecting Sunset Yellow (SY) dye in beverage and food items. The synthesized CuO-ZrO material underwent thorough characterization using various physicochemical and electroanalytical methods.

CLOCK gene 3'UTR and exon 9 polymorphisms show a strong association with essential hypertension in a North Indian population.

Background: Hypertension (HTN) is a medical condition characterized by persistent systolic and diastolic blood pressures of ≥ 140 mmHg and ≥ 90 mmHg, respectively. With more than 1200 million adult patients aged 30-79 years worldwide according to the latest WHO data, HTN is a major health risk factor; more importantly, 46% of patients are unaware of this condition. Essential hypertension (EH), also known as primary hypertension, is the predominant subtype and has a complex etiology that involves both genetic and non-genetic factors.

Insights of Zinc Ion Storage in Chilli-Stem Derived Porous Carbon Enabling Ultrastability and High Energy Density of Zinc-Ion Hybrid Supercapacitors.

Aqueous zinc ion hybrid supercapacitors (ZIHSCs) are promising as low-cost and safe energy storage devices for next-generation applications. Still, their energy-power performance and durability are far from satisfactory. Here, we present an energy-dense, and ultrastable ZIHSC realized using activated porous carbons derived from chilli-stems.