Benzyl-isoquinoline alkaloids rich extract of Coptis teeta Wall., exhibit potential efficacy in calcium-oxalate and uric-acid linked metabolic disorders.

Coptis teeta Wall., an endangered but valuable medicinal species having various folklore uses in Indian and Chinese Traditional system of medicine. Its distribution is restricted to India, China and Tibet.

TORC1 mediated regulation of mitochondrial integrity and calcium ion homeostasis by Wat1/mLst8 in S. pombe.

The mTOR complexes play a fundamental role in mitochondrial biogenesis and cellular homeostasis. Wat1, an ortholog of mammalian Lst8 is an important component of TOR complex and is essential for the regulation of downstream signaling. Earlier we reported the role of Wat1 in oxidative stress response.

Spatio-temporal variation of fluoride in groundwater and agricultural soil and crops of Unnao district, UP: Monitoring and assessment.

Fluoride (F) contamination in groundwater of Unnao district, Uttar Pradesh was reported for the first time in 1994, however comprehensive monitoring of F in different environmental matrices remains to be undertaken. The presented study reports spatio-temporal monitoring of F content in groundwater, crops and soil from F affected district Unnao, in pre-monsoon (PRM), monsoon (MO) and post-monsoon (PMO), to establish F groundwater-soil-plant continuum. More than 80% of groundwater samples were contaminated with F> 1.

Chemical Characterization, Evaluation, and Molecular Docking Analysis of Antiproliferative Compounds Isolated from the Bark of Miq.

Aims: The present study aimed to isolate and characterize chemical compounds from Anthocephalus cadamba Miq. bark and evaluate their anticancer activity by in silico, molecular docking, and in vitro studies.

Background: Anthocephalus cadamba is a traditionally used Indian medicinal plant.

Elevated advanced glycation end products are associated with subfoveal ellipsoid zone disruption in diabetic macular edema.

Purpose: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs), due to increased production and a slow turnover rate, serve as mediators of "metabolic memory" even after the resolution of hyperglycemia. A prospective study was undertaken to evaluate the association of AGEs with subfoveal ellipsoid zone (EZ) disruption in diabetic macular edema (DME).

Methods: A tertiary-care-center-based cross-sectional study included 40 consecutive cases with DME and 20 healthy controls in the age group of 40-65 years.

Resource recovery through bioremediation of wastewaters and waste carbon by microalgae: a circular bioeconomy approach.

Microalgal biomass-based biofuels are a promising alternative to fossil fuels. Microalgal biofuels' major obstacles are the water and carbon sources for their cultivation and biomass harvest from the liquid medium. To date, an economically viable process is not available for algal based biofuels.

Correction to: Plasma Fibrinogen Is a Natural Deterrent to Amyloid β-Induced Platelet Activation and Neuronal Toxicity.

Following publication of the original article [1], the author reported an error in Figure 1. The correct version of Figure 1 is as follows.

Thermostable cellulases: Current status and perspectives.

It is envisaged that the utilization of lignocellulosic biomass for ethanol production for transport sector, would make cellulases the most demanded industrial enzyme. The greatest potential of cellulolytic enzymes lies in ethanol production from biomass by enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose but low thermostability and low titer of cellulase production resulting into high cost of the enzyme which is the major set-back. A number of research groups are working on cellulase to improve its thermostability so as to be able to perform hydrolysis at elevated temperatures which would eventually increase the efficiency of cellulose hydrolysis.

Preparation and optimization of a dry powder for inhalation of second-line anti-tuberculosis drugs.

A spray drying process was standardized to prepare an inhalable powder comprising d-cycloserine and ethionamide, two "second line" drugs employed for treating multi-drug resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB). The aim of the process development effort was to maximize product yield. Contour plots were generated using a small central composite design (CCD) with face centered (α = 1) to maximize the process yield as the response criterion.

Synthesis and in vitro studies of PLGA-DTX nanoconjugate as potential drug delivery vehicle for oral cancer.

Advances in nanotechnology have led to the design of multifunctional nanoparticles capable of cellular imaging, targeted drug delivery, and diagnostics for early cancer detection. We synthesized poly(lactic--glycolic acid) nanoparticles encapsulating a model radiosensitizing drug docetaxel accomplishing localized in situ delivery of the sensitizer to the tumor site. The synthesized nanoparticles have been characterized for their physicochemical properties.

Isolation and characterization of a novel Gram-negative bacterium Chromobacterium alkanivorans sp. nov., strain IITR-71T degrading halogenated alkanes.

The taxonomic position of a Gram-stain negative, non-violaceinpigmented bacterium isolated from an insecticide-contaminated site was characterized by a polyphasic approach. The bacterium was able to grow on three different halogenated compounds namely 1-hlorobutane, 1-hloropropane and 1,2-ichloroethane. As a critical step in the degradation of these haloalkanes, stoichiometric amounts of dechlorination were estimated.

Airborne foliar transfer of PM bound heavy metals in Cassia siamea: A less common route of heavy metal accumulation.

In order to investigate possible foliar transfer of toxic heavy metals, concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Fe were measured in samples of: Cassia siamea leaves (a common tree) Cassia siamea foliar dust, nearby road dust, and soil (Cassia siamea tree roots) at six different sites in/around the Bilaspur industrial area and a control site on the university campus. Bilaspur is located in a subtropical central Indian region. The enrichment factor (EF) values of Pb and Cd, when derived using the crustal and measured soil Fe data as reference, indicated significant anthropogenic contributions to Pb and Cd regional pollution.

Plasma Fibrinogen Is a Natural Deterrent to Amyloid Beta-Induced Platelet Activation.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by extensive loss of neurons, and deposition of amyloid beta (Aβ) in the form of extracellular plaques. Aβ is considered to have critical role in synaptic loss and neuronal death underlying cognitive decline. Platelets contribute to 95% of circulating amyloid-precursor protein that releases Aβ into circulation.

Taxonomic description and genome sequence of Rheinheimera mesophila sp. nov., isolated from an industrial waste site.

A novel Gram-staining-negative gammaproteobacterium, designated IITR-13T, was isolated from a pesticide-contaminated soil and characterized using a polyphasic approach. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the strain showed the closest similarity (98.7 %) to Rheinheimera tangshanensis JA3-B52T followed by Rheinheimera texasensis A62-14BT (97.

The influence of organophosphate and carbamate on sperm chromatin and reproductive hormones among pesticide sprayers.

This study is aimed at evaluating the association between occupational exposure to organophosphate (OP) and carbamate (CB) pesticides and semen quality as well as levels of reproductive and thyroid hormones of pesticide sprayers in Malihabad, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. Thirty-five healthy men (unexposed group) and 64 male pesticide sprayers (exposed group) were recruited for clinical evaluation of fertility status. Fresh semen samples were evaluated for sperm quality and analyzed for DNA fragmentation index (DFI) by flow cytometry.

Bacillus mesophilum sp. nov., strain IITR-54T, a novel 4-chlorobiphenyl dechlorinating bacterium.

The taxonomic position of a Gram-positive, endospore-forming bacterium isolated from soil sample collected from an industrial site was analyzed by a polyphasic approach. The strain designated as IITR-54T matched most of the phenotypic and chemical characteristics of the genus Bacillus and represents a novel species. It was found to biodegrade 4-chlorobiphenyl through dechlorination and was isolated through enrichment procedure from an aged polychlorinated biphenyl-contaminated soil.

TNF-α gene expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue associated with HOMA in Asian Indian postmenopausal women.

The present study determines the fat depot-specific expression of leptin and TNF-α and its association with biochemical parameters in postmenopausal women. A total of 108 postmenopausal women were recruited prospectively; 54 were with metabolic syndrome (cases) and 54 were without metabolic syndrome (controls). Leptin and TNF-α mRNA expression in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) were done by Real Time-RT PCR.

Nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomics for prediction of gastric damage induced by indomethacin in rats.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have side effects including gastric erosions, ulceration and bleeding. In this study, pattern recognition analysis of the (1)H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of urine was performed to develop surrogate biomarkers related to the gastrointestinal (GI) damage induced by indomethacin in rats. Urine was collected for 5 h after oral administration of indomethacin (25 mg kg(-1)) or co-administration with cimetidine (100 mg kg(-1)), which protects against GI damage.

Protein-ligand interaction studies of retinol-binding protein 3 with herbal molecules using AutoDock for the management of Eales' disease.

Eales' disease is an idiopathic retinal vasculitis of the eye. The disease is predominantly characterized by recurrent vitreous hemorrhage. Interphotoreceptor retinol-binding protein 3 plays a significant role in the etiopathogenesis of this condition.

Evaluating risks of acquired clinical vulnerability among subjects exposed to E-waste.

Acquired clinical vulnerability (ACV) results from insults that produce consequential pathophysiological changes and predispose exposed subjects to future disease. ACV comprises a complex biological process that is manifested by exposure to toxicants, generally over the course of many years, and results from subtle changes that occur at the cellular and molecular level. A large proportion of the world's population has already been, or will be, exposed to toxicants emanating from E-waste during the course of their lives.

Nitratireductor lucknowense sp. nov., a novel bacterium isolated from a pesticide contaminated soil.

A straw-yellow pigmented bacterium, strain IITR-21(T) was isolated from a pesticide contaminated site and characterized by using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The organism had morphological and chemotaxonomic properties consistent with its classification in the genus Nitratireductor. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the strain IITR-21(T) belongs to the genus Nitratireductor and was moderately related to Nitratireductor indicus C115(T) (97.

Bile acid receptor agonist GW4064 regulates PPARγ coactivator-1α expression through estrogen receptor-related receptor α.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) is induced in energy-starved conditions and is a key regulator of energy homeostasis. This makes PGC-1α an attractive therapeutic target for metabolic syndrome and diabetes. In our effort to identify new regulators of PGC-1α expression, we found that GW4064, a widely used synthetic agonist for the nuclear bile acid receptor [farnesoid X receptor (FXR)] strongly enhances PGC-1α promoter reporter activity, mRNA, and protein expression.

IL-6, VEGF, KC and RANTES are a major cause of a high irritant dermatitis to phthalic anhydride in C57BL/6 inbred mice.

Background: In previous studies, several strains of mice were used as chemical-induced skin irritation models to identify immunological hazards and elucidate the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which irritant dermatitis disease occur. BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice have been used for most of these experiments. Although there are some differences in the immune response to chemical allergens between these strains, few studies have been conducted to determine what regulatory factors contribute to these variations.

Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers Orally Administration to Mice Were Tansferred to Offspring during Gestation and Lactation with Disruptions on the Immune System.

Background: The present study was undertaken to examine the immunological effects of pentabrominated diphenyl ether (penta-BDE) and decabrominated diphenyl ether (deca-BDE) on the immune system of the dams and the developmental immune system of the offsprings.

Methods: In this study, mated female C57BL/6J mice were orally administered penta-BDE, deca-BDE or corn oil for 5 weeks, from gestational day 6 to lactational day 21.

Results: The body weight of PND21 exposed to penta-BDE was significantly decreased relative to control mice, but that of post-natal day 63 (PND63) were recovered.