Modulation of Insulin Resistance by Silybum marianum Leaves, and its Synergistic Efficacy with Gymnema sylvestre, Momordica charantia, Trigonella-foenum graecum Against Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B.

Prolonged insulin resistance is considered one of the reasons for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Upregulation of Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), a negative regulator of insulin signalling, has been well studied as a key regulator in prognosis to insulin resistance. It has been widely studied as a desirable molecular therapeutic target.

Prospects of microbial cellulase production using banana peels wastes for antimicrobial applications.

Microorganisms have been extensively studied and used to produce a wide range of enzymes and bioactive substances for a number of uses. Cellulases have also been widely used for a variety of bioprocessing and biotransformation purposes and are acknowledged as the essential enzymes for industrial applications. Broad industrial applications and huge demand essentially require mass-scale and low-cost production of cellulase enzyme.

Combined effect of ipilimumab and nivolumab improves oncology endpoints in metastatic melanoma patients.

Metastatic melanoma has less frequency, but considered as the most dreaded cancer. The combination of nivolumab & ipilimumab is proving their mettle in treating metastatic melanoma. The patients when administered with the combination of nivolumab & ipilimumab have shown improved median progression free survival, objective response rate and overall survival rate compared with nivolumab and ipilimumab monotherapy.

Diet as a modifiable factor in tumorigenesis: Focus on microbiome-derived bile acid metabolites and short-chain fatty acids.

Several lines of evidences have implicated the resident microbiome as a key factor in the modulation of host physiology and pathophysiology; including the resistance to cancers. Gut microbiome heavily influences host lipid homeostasis by their modulatory effects on the metabolism of bile acids (BAs). Microbiota-derived BA metabolites such as deoxycholic acid (DCA), lithocholic acid (LCA), and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) are implicated in the pathogeneses of various cancer types.

Ursolic acid: a pentacyclic triterpenoid that exhibits anticancer therapeutic potential by modulating multiple oncogenic targets.

The world is currently facing a global challenge against neoplastic diseases. Chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, surgery, and radiation therapy are some approaches used to treat cancer. However, these treatments are frequently causing side effects in patients, such as multidrug resistance, fever, weakness, and allergy, among others side effects.

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4 (CTLA4) polymorphisms are linked to systemic lupus erythematosus: an updated meta-analysis.

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) molecule controls T cell immune response. Functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CTLA-4 gene have been associated with several autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).  However, the genetic association of the CTLA-4 variants with vulnerability to SLE remained contradictory.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor G196A (rs6265) gene polymorphism increases Turner syndrome susceptibility.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a member of the nerve growth factor family. It plays a significant role in the regulation of brain metabolic activity, modification of synaptic efficacy, and enhances neuronal survival. A common naturally occurring allelic variation, i.

Network-based approach for targeting human kinases commonly associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and cancer.

Background: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a rare progressive and chronic motor neuron degenerative disease for which at present no cure is available. In recent years, multiple genes encode kinases and other causative agents for ALS have been identified. Kinases are enzymes that show pleiotropic nature and regulate different signal transduction processes and pathways.

Synthesis, Structural Investigations, and In Vitro/In Silico Bioactivities of Flavonoid Substituted Biguanide: A Novel Schiff Base and Its Diorganotin (IV) Complexes.

Quercetin is one of the most powerful bioactive dietary flavonoids. The in vivo biological study of quercetin is extremely difficult due to its very low solubility. However, diorganotin complexes of quercetin are more useful when contrasted with quercetin due to increased solubility.

Phloretin, as a Potent Anticancer Compound: From Chemistry to Cellular Interactions.

Phloretin is a natural dihydrochalcone found in many fruits and vegetables, especially in apple tree leaves and the Manchurian apricots, exhibiting several therapeutic properties, such as antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor activities. In this review article, the diverse aspects of the anticancer potential of phloretin are addressed, presenting its antiproliferative, proapoptotic, antimetastatic, and antiangiogenic activities in many different preclinical cancer models. The fact that phloretin is a planar lipophilic polyphenol and, thus, a membrane-disrupting Pan-Assay Interference compound (PAIN) compromises the validity of the cell-based anticancer activities.

A Bioengineered Quercetin-Loaded 3D Bio-Polymeric Graft for Tissue Regeneration and Repair.

Phytochemicals extracted from plant sources have potential remedial effects to cure a broad range of acute to severe illnesses and ailments. Quercetin is a flavonoid isolated from different dietary sources such as vegetables and fruits, exhibiting strong anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and non-toxic effects on the biological system. However, the direct uptake or administration of quercetin results in loss of functionality, poor activity, and reduced shelf-life of the bioactive component.

Use of a focus group-based cognitive interview methodology to validate a cooking behavior survey among African-American adults.

Disparities in diet-related diseases persist among African-Americans despite advances in risk factor identification and evidence-based management strategies. Cooking is a dietary behavior linked to improved dietary quality and cardiometabolic health outcomes. However, epidemiologic studies suggest that African-American adults report a lower frequency of cooking at home when compared to other racial groups, despite reporting on average cooking time.

Impact of nanomaterials on sustainable pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass for biofuels production: An advanced approach.

Biomass to biofuels production technology appears to be one of the most sustainable strategies among various renewable energy resources. Herein, pretreatment is an unavoidable and key step to increase free cellulose availability and digestibility to produce green fuels. Various existing pretreatment technologies of lignocellulosics biomasses (LCBs) face distinct challenges e.

Pesticide Toxicity Associated with Infertility.

Pesticides have benefited mankind in many ways like agriculture, industrial and health sectors. On the other hand, conversely their deleterious effects in both, humans and animals are also alarming. Pesticides including organophosphates, organochlorines, carbamates, pyrethrins and pyrethroids are found sufficiently in the environment resulting in everyday human exposure.

Current Status and Associated Factors of Health Information Literacy Among the Community Elderly in Central China in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: COVID-19 posed a threat to the public's physical and mental health, and under outbreak control, the opportunities to go outside of the elderly have been reduced and making it more difficult to access health information and detrimental to their health management. This study aims to assess the current status of health information literacy (HIL) among older adults in the community in the context of COVID-19 and to identify its associated factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from April to July, 2021, for which 617 community elderly members were recruited in Chenzhou, China.

Green synthesis of nanostructures from rice straw food waste to improve the antimicrobial efficiency: New insight.

Applications for nanotechnology, which is constantly gaining prominence, have been found in a variety of industrial applications. Due to the multiple benefits associated with it, including an eco-friendly, pollution-free, cost-effective, and non-toxic synthesis method, the green way to synthesize nanostructures utilizing waste biomasses has become one of the key focuses of the current researches globally. Additionally, lignocellulasic biomass (LCB), which is a waste of the food crops, can be used as one of the potential substrates for the synthesis of a variety of nanostructures.

Exercise modulates APOE expression in brain cortex of female APOE3 and APOE4 targeted replacement mice.

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is the main cholesterol carrier of the brain and the ε4 gene variant (APOE4) is the most prevalent genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), increasing risk up to 15-fold. Several studies indicate that APOE4 modulates critical factors for neuronal function, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α). Both proteins show exercise-induced upregulation, which is presumed to mediate many of the beneficial effects of physical activity including improved cognition; however, there is variability in results between individuals potentially in-part due to genetic variations including APOE isoform.

Gut Microbiota-Assisted Synthesis, Cellular Interactions and Synergistic Perspectives of Equol as a Potent Anticancer Isoflavone.

It is well known that, historically, plants have been an important resource of anticancer agents, providing several clinically approved drugs. Numerous preclinical studies have shown a strong anticancer potential of structurally different phytochemicals, including polyphenolic constituents of plants, flavonoids. In this review article, suppressing effects of equol in different carcinogenesis models are unraveled, highlighting the mechanisms involved in these anticancer activities.

National Institutes of Health diversity supplements: Perspectives from administrative insiders.

Background: The NIH Diversity Administrative Supplement is a funding mechanism that provides support for diverse early-stage researchers. There is limited guidance on how to apply for these awards.

Purpose: We describe perspectives of NIH program/diversity officers and university research administrators offering recommendations for diversity supplement submission.

Demystifying the National Institutes of Health diversity supplement: Mentee and mentor experiences and recommendations.

Background: The National Institutes of Health supports professional development of diverse researchers through diversity supplements. Limited awareness and understanding of the application process have hindered utilization of this funding mechanism.

Purpose: We describe perspectives and recommendations of mentee and mentor recipients of diversity supplements.

In silico evaluation of the inhibitory potential of nucleocapsid inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2: a binding and energetic perspective.

The COVID-19 outbreak brought on by the SARS-CoV-2 virus continued to infect a sizable population worldwide. The SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein is the most conserved RNA-binding structural protein and is a desirable target because of its involvement in viral transcription and replication. Based on this aspect, this study focused to repurpose antiviral compounds approved or in development for treating COVID-19.

Ferulic Acid: A Natural Phenol That Inhibits Neoplastic Events through Modulation of Oncogenic Signaling.

Despite the immense therapeutic advances in the field of health sciences, cancer is still to be found among the global leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Ethnomedicinally, natural bioactive compounds isolated from various plant sources have been used for the treatment of several cancer types and have gained notable attention. Ferulic acid, a natural compound derived from various seeds, nuts, leaves, and fruits, exhibits a variety of pharmacological effects in cancer, including its proapoptotic, cell-cycle-arresting, anti-metastatic, and anti-inflammatory activities.

Smart Nanoformulations for Brain Cancer Theranostics: Challenges and Promises.

Despite their low prevalence, brain tumors are among the most lethal cancers. They are extremely difficult to diagnose, monitor and treat. Conventional anti-cancer strategies such as radio- and chemotherapy have largely failed, and to date, the development of even a single effective therapeutic strategy against central nervous system (CNS) tumors has remained elusive.

Luteolin, a Potent Anticancer Compound: From Chemistry to Cellular Interactions and Synergetic Perspectives.

Increasing rates of cancer incidence and the toxicity concerns of existing chemotherapeutic agents have intensified the research to explore more alternative routes to combat tumor. Luteolin, a flavone found in numerous fruits, vegetables, and herbs, has exhibited a number of biological activities, such as anticancer and anti-inflammatory. Luteolin inhibits tumor growth by targeting cellular processes such as apoptosis, cell-cycle progression, angiogenesis and migration.