Nano-engineered flavonoids for cancer protection.

Diet and environment are two critical regulators that influence an individual's epigenetic profile. Besides the anterograde signaling, mitochondria act as a key regulator of epigenetic alterations in cancer either by controlling the concentration of the cofactors, activity of vital enzymes or by affecting the transcription of NF-kappaB and associated signaling molecules. As epigenetic modifications are the major drivers of aberrant gene expression, designing novel nutri-epigenomic strategies to modulate reversible epigenetic modifications will be important for effective cancer protection.

Nanobiosensors: Point-of-care approaches for cancer diagnostics.

Early cancer diagnosis is of prime importance as it paves the way for effective treatment and possible patient survival. The recent advancements in the field of biosensorics have facilitated the development of functionalized nanobiosensors which have the potential to provide a cost-effective, reliable and rapid diagnostic strategy for cancers. These nanoscaled sensing systems utilize electrochemical, optical, mass and calorimetric sensing mechanisms to specifically identify the disease-specific biomarkers.

Reappraisal of morphological and immunohistochemical spectrum of intracranial and spinal solitary fibrous tumors/hemangiopericytomas with impact on long-term follow-up.

Background: Hemangiopericytomas (HPCs) and solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) are unique entities in the central nervous system (CNS) and even rarer in the spine with propensity to recurrence and metastasis. Both these tumors were detected to share the NAB2-STAT6 fusion gene with frequent morphologic overlap that necessitated the need for the combined term SFT/HPC in the CNS by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2016.

Aims: This study aims to describe the clinical outcome of intracranial and spinal SFT/HPCs based on detailed histomorphologic and immunohistochemical features.

Quantum Dot Based Nano-Biosensors for Detection of Circulating Cell Free miRNAs in Lung Carcinogenesis: From Biology to Clinical Translation.

Lung cancer is the most frequently occurring malignancy and the leading cause of cancer-related death for men in our country. The only recommended screening method is clinic based low-dose computed tomography (also called a low-dose CT scan, or LDCT). However, the effect of LDCT on overall mortality observed in lung cancer patients is not statistically significant.

Fast-Acting Small Molecules Targeting Malarial Aspartyl Proteases, Plasmepsins, Inhibit Malaria Infection at Multiple Life Stages.

The eradication of malaria remains challenging due to the complex life cycle of Plasmodium and the rapid emergence of drug-resistant forms of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. New, effective, and inexpensive antimalarials against multiple life stages of the parasite are urgently needed to combat the spread of malaria. Here, we synthesized a set of novel hydroxyethylamines and investigated their activities in vitro and in vivo.

Correction to: Current scenario and future strategies to fight artemisinin resistance.

Author Atul Yadav would like to present his name as Atul only to be the same with his previous publications. The original article has been corrected.

Anti-proliferative and anti-malarial activities of spiroisoxazoline analogues of artemisinin.

A series of spiroisoxazoline analogues of artemisinin was synthesized by employing 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between various in situ generated nitrile oxides and artemisitene. All the synthesized compounds were tested for their anti-proliferative and anti-malarial activities. Among the compounds tested, compound 11a was found to be potent against the HCT-15 cancer cell line with IC  = 4.

Air pollution associated epigenetic modifications: Transgenerational inheritance and underlying molecular mechanisms.

Air pollution is one of the leading causes of deaths in Southeast Asian countries including India. Exposure to air pollutants affects vital cellular mechanisms and is intimately linked with the etiology of a number of chronic diseases. Earlier work from our laboratory has shown that airborne particulate matter disturbs the mitochondrial machinery and causes significant damage to the epigenome.

Current scenario and future strategies to fight artemisinin resistance.

Despite several setbacks in the fight against malaria such as insecticide and drug resistance as well as low efficacy of available vaccines, considerable success in reducing malaria burden has been achieved in the past decade. Artemisinins (ARTs and their combination therapies, ACTs), the current frontline drugs against uncomplicated malaria, rapidly kill plasmodial parasites and are non-toxic at short exposures. Though the exact mode of action remains unclear, the endoperoxide bridge, indispensable for ART activity, is thought to react with heme released from hemoglobin hydrolysis and generate free radicals that alkylate multiple protein targets, thereby disrupting proteostasis pathways.

Allosteric Site Inhibitor Disrupting Auto-Processing of Malarial Cysteine Proteases.

Falcipains are major haemoglobinases of Plasmodium falciparum required for parasite growth and development. They consist of pro- and mature domains that interact via 'hot-spot' interactions and maintain the structural integrity of enzyme in zymogen state. Upon sensing the acidic environment, these interactions dissociate and active enzyme is released.

Nanomedicine in cancer stem cell therapy: from fringe to forefront.

Nanomedicine is the spin-off of modern medicine and nanotechnology and aims to prevent and treat diseases using nanoscale materials such as biocompatible nanoparticles and nanorobots. Targeted cellular and tissue-specific clinical applications with maximal therapeutic effects and insignificant side effects could be achieved by the pursuit of nanotechnology in medicine and healthcare regimen. The majority of conventional cancer therapies eliminate the cells of the tumor but not the cancer stem cells (CSCs).

An aptasensor for rapid and sensitive detection of estrogen receptor alpha in human breast cancer.

The analysis of estrogen receptor (ER) expression in breast carcinomas plays a crucial role in determining the endocrine responsiveness of tumors for systemic adjuvant therapy. Conventionally, the ER levels in breast carcinomas had been detected using the dextran-coated charcoal assay and radioimmunoassay, which are now substituted with safer and economic antibody-based assays such as immunohistochemistry (IHC) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Despite a gold (Au) standard method, the IHC has been criticized for factors such as tissue fixation, antibody selection, and threshold staining for result interpretation that could falsify test accuracy and reproducibility.

Psychiatric Burden in the Morbidly Obese in Multidisciplinary Bariatric Clinic in South India.

Background: Obesity is a global epidemic. Bariatric surgery is being considered as the treatment of choice in morbid obesity. Psychiatric comorbidity affects outcomes in this population.

inhibits bone loss and increases bone heterogeneity in osteoporotic mice via modulating Treg-Th17 cell balance.

Osteoporosis is one of the most important but often neglected bone disease associated with aging and postmenopausal condition leading to bone loss and fragility. Probiotics have been associated with various immunomodulatory properties and have the potential to ameliorate several inflammatory conditions including osteoporosis. (LA) was selected as probiotic of choice in our present study due its common availability and established immunomodulatory properties.

Lipid based nanocarriers: a translational perspective.

Over the recent couple of decades, pharmaceutical field has embarked most phenomenal noteworthy achievements in the field of medications as well as drug delivery. The rise of Nanotechnology in this field has reformed the existing drug delivery for targeting, diagnostic, remedial applications and patient monitoring. The convincing usage of nanotechnology in the conveyance of medications that prompts an extension of novel lipid-based nanocarriers and non-liposomal systems has been discussed.

Invasive pneumococcal disease in Indian adults: 11 years' experience.

Purpose: To investigate the epidemiology of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), prevalent serotypes, and pattern of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Indian adults.

Methods: Prospective laboratory based surveillance of IPD was carried out in >18 years age group between January 2007 and July 2017, from a tertiary care hospital in South India. All Streptococcus pneumoniae culture positives from blood, CSF and sterile body fluids were characterized to identify the serotypes and AMR.

A Synergistic Transcriptional Regulation of Olfactory Genes Drives Blood-Feeding Associated Complex Behavioral Responses in the Mosquito .

Decoding the molecular basis of host seeking and blood feeding behavioral evolution/adaptation in the adult female mosquitoes may provide an opportunity to design new molecular strategy to disrupt human-mosquito interactions. Although there is a great progress in the field of mosquito olfaction and chemo-detection, little is known about the sex-specific evolution of the specialized olfactory system of adult female mosquitoes that enables them to drive and manage the complex blood-feeding associated behavioral responses. A comprehensive RNA-Seq analysis of prior and post blood meal olfactory system of mosquito revealed a minor but unique change in the nature and regulation of key olfactory genes that may play a pivotal role in managing diverse behavioral responses.

Bacillus clausii inhibits bone loss by skewing Treg-Th17 cell equilibrium in postmenopausal osteoporotic mice model.

Objectives: Postmenopausal osteoporosis is one of most commonly occurring skeletal diseases leading to bone loss and fragility. Probiotics have been associated with various immunomodulatory properties and thus can be exploited to enhance bone health. In the present study, we report, to our knowledge for the first time, that oral administration of Bacillus clausii (BC) in postmenopausal osteoporotic (OVX) mice model enhances bone health.

Effect of age at exposure on chromosome abnormalities in MIC-exposed Bhopal population detected 30 years post-disaster.

Follow-up cytogenetic study was carried out on 145 individuals from areas stratified by Indian Council of Medical Research, for evaluation of the effect of age-at-exposure and its interaction with exposure status on chromosomal aberrations (CA) in blood-lymphocytes. CA was presented as abnormal cell (Abc), aberrations (Abn) and number of aberration/abnormal cell (Abn/Abc), and correlated with age-at-exposure (childhood: <1-10 years; young: 11-26 years; adult: >27 years). Age related increase in abnormalities (Abc, Abn, Abn/Abc) was observed in all exposure strata, except moderately exposed adult-group, which has exhibited lower Abn/Abc than similarly exposed childhood and young age-groups.

Immunoporosis: Immunology of Osteoporosis-Role of T Cells.

The role of immune system in various bone pathologies, such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis is now well established. This had led to the emergence of a modern field of systems biology called as osteoimmunology, an integrated research between fields of immunology and bone biology under one umbrella. Osteoporosis is one of the most common inflammatory bone loss condition with more than 200 million individuals affected worldwide.

Microcystin-leucine arginine (MC-LR) induces bone loss and impairs bone micro-architecture by modulating host immunity in mice: Implications for bone health.

Osteoporosis or enhanced bone loss is one of the most commonly occurring bone conditions in the world, responsible for higher incidence of fractures leading to increased morbidity and mortality in adults. Bone loss is affected by various environmental factors including diet, age, drugs, toxins etc. Microcystins are toxins produced by cyanobacteria with microcystin-LR being the most abundantly found around the world effecting both human and animal health.

Occupational Health and Role of Gender: A Study in Informal Sector Fisheries of Udupi, India.

Background: Fisherwomen are informal sector workers involved in post-harvest operations and are mostly engaged in peeling, trading, and processing of fish. High degree of wage disparity and gender inequalities results in different socioeconomic status of fisherwomen and fishermen. This study aimed to identify gender issues and their effect on the health status of fisherwomen.

Interorgan Molecular Communication Strategies of "Local" and "Systemic" Innate Immune Responses in Mosquito .

Mosquitoes that transmit many deadly infectious diseases also need to keep fighting against many microbial infections. Constitutive expression of multiple antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in almost all body tissues is believed to facilitate the effective management of these local infections. When any infection breaches the local barrier, AMPs are induced rapidly in non-target tissues such as hemocytes (HCs) and establish their co-ordination with systemic immune effectors to clear off the body infection.

Medicosocial characteristics as predictors of school achievements in students with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A follow-up study in ujjain and shajapur districts of Madhya Pradesh, India.

Background: For a long time, there have been arguments about which factors influence the skill development of students with intellectual disability in rehabilitation centers.

Objective: The present follow-up study was thus planned to analyze the effect of the demographic variables related to disabled child, his/her parents and the family; their schooling pattern and types of study settings and the associated comorbidities on improvement in the performance score of students attending these study settings in one academic year.

Methods: The study was conducted among children (n = 204) with intellectual disability receiving rehabilitation services in centers run by a nongovernmental organization in two districts of Central India.

High dietary salt intake correlates with modulated Th17-Treg cell balance resulting in enhanced bone loss and impaired bone-microarchitecture in male mice.

Osteoporosis is associated with reduced density and quality of bone leading to weakened skeleton thereby increasing the risk of fractures responsible for increased morbidity and mortality. Due to preference for western food style the consumption of salt intake in our diets has increased many folds. High dietary salt intake has recently been linked with induction of Th17 cells along with impairment of Treg cells.