Association of the Serum Levels of the Nucleocapsid Antigen of SARS-CoV-2 With the Diagnosis, Disease Severity, and Antibody Titers in Patients With COVID-19: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study.

Several types of laboratory tests for COVID-19 have been established to date; however, the clinical significance of the serum SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) antigen levels remains to be fully elucidated. In the present study, we attempted to elucidate the usefulness and clinical significance of the serum N antigen levels. We measured the serum N antigen levels in 391 serum samples collected from symptomatic patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 and 96 serum samples collected from patients with non-COVID-19, using a fully automated chemiluminescence immunoassay analyzer.

Uniform deposition method of monodispersed SiO nanoparticles on a 300-mm Si wafer surface.

A study of the uniform deposition of nanoparticles across a 300-mm wafer was conducted to assess the uniformity of the wafer center-to-edge cleaning technique. A new method of particle deposition was devised different from the conventional method using electrostatic force. The strategy implements wafer rotation and deposition through principles of convection and diffusion.

In vitro immuno-stimulatory and anticancer activities of Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz.: An evidence for substitution of aerial parts for conservation.

Background: In Ayurveda, "Dashamoolarishta" is one of the important composite herbal formulations. Mainly, the root and root bark of Oroxylum indicum are used as one of the ingredients in its preparation. This leads to over exploitation of medicinal plants owing, to excessive demand due to population expansion and its perceived importance in traditional herbal remedies.

Anti-Photoaging and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Ginsenoside Rk3 During Exposure to UV Irradiation.

Ginseng is a widely cultivated perennial plant in China and Korea. Ginsenoside Rk3 is one of the major active components of ginseng and is a promising candidate to regulate skin pigments and exert anti-photoaging effects on skin physiology. Ginsenoside Rk3 was mixed with a cream (G-Rk3 cream) and smeared on the skin of mice.

Scopoletin and umbelliferone from Cortex Mori as protective agents in high glucose-induced mesangial cell as model of diabetic glomerulosclerosis.

Two known coumarins, scopoletin (SP) and umbelliferone (UB), were isolated from Cortex Mori (CM). Their structures were elucidated by various spectroscopic analyses. Then, their effects on rat glomerular mesangial cells (RGMCs, HBZY-1) proliferation, hypertrophy, extracellular matrix (ECM) proliferation, expression of fibronectin, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) induced by high glucose were studied in vitro model of diabetic glomerulosclerosis.

Recent advances in biotechnology for marine enzymes and molecules.

The marine environment is the most biologically and chemically diverse habitat on Earth, and provides numerous marine-derived products, including enzymes and molecules, for industrial and pharmaceutical applications. Marine biotechnology provides important biological resources from marine habitat conservation to applied science. In recent years, advances in techniques in interdisciplinary research fields, including metabolic engineering and synthetic biology have significantly improved the production of marine-derived commodities.

CPNE7-Induced Autophagy Restores the Physiological Function of Mature Odontoblasts.

Dentin, which composes most of the tooth structure, is formed by odontoblasts, long-lived post-mitotic cells maintained throughout the entire life of the tooth. In mature odontoblasts, however, cellular activity is significantly weakened. Therefore, it is important to augment the cellular activity of mature odontoblasts to regenerate physiological dentin; however, no molecule regulating the cellular activity of mature odontoblasts has yet been identified.

Transforming Growth Factor-β3/Recombinant Human-like Collagen/Chitosan Freeze-Dried Sponge Primed With Human Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells Promotes Bone Regeneration in Calvarial Defect Rats.

Patients with a skull defect are at risk of developing cerebrospinal fluid leakage and ascending bacterial meningitis at >10% per year. However, treatment with stem cells has brought great hope to large-area cranial defects. Having found that transforming growth factor (TGF)-β3 can promote the osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs), we designed a hybrid TGF-β3/recombinant human-like collagen recombinant human collagen/chitosan (CS) freeze-dried sponge (TRFS) loading hPDLSCs (TRFS-h) to repair skull defects in rats.

Comparisons of various anthropometric indexes with localized Stage II/III periodontitis in young adults: The CHIEF oral health study.

Background: A J-shaped relationship of body mass index (BMI) with severe periodontitis has been reported. However, it is unknown for other anthropometric indexes in young adults.

Methods: A cross-sectional study examined the relationships in 325 military men and women, aged 20 to 45 years in Taiwan.

Tubular Dentin Regeneration Using a CPNE7-Derived Functional Peptide.

We aim to examine the effects of a newly developed peptide derived from CPNE7 (Cpne7-DP) in tertiary dentin formation and peritubular space occlusion, and comprehensively evaluate its potential as a bioactive therapeutic agent. Human dental pulp cells (HDPCs) and a mouse pre-odontoblast cell line, MDPC-23, were chosen for in vitro studies to characterize lineage-specific cell responses after Cpne7-DP treatment. Whether Cpne7-DP reproduces the dentin regenerative potential of CPNE7 was tested using a beagle dog model by generating dentinal defects of various degrees in vivo.

Molecular docking analysis of Withaferin A from Withania somnifera with the Glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP78) receptor and the SARS-CoV-2 main protease.

Design and development of an effective compound to combat COVID-19 is clearly critical in the current circumstances. Therefore, it is of interest to document the molecular docking analysis data of the cellular receptor Glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP78) with Withaferin A from Withania somnifera in the context of COVID-19 pandemic for further consideration. Here, we report the optimal interaction features of withaferin A, artemisinin, curcumin and andrographolide with the GRP78 receptor having low binding energies (-8.

In Silico computational screening of Kabasura Kudineer - Official Siddha Formulation and JACOM against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.

Background: Siddha Medicine is a valuable therapeutic choice which is classically used for treating viral respiratory infections, this principle of medicine is proven to contain antiviral compounds.

Objective: The study is aimed to execute the In Silico computational studies of phytoconstituents of Siddha official formulation Kabasura Kudineer and novel herbal preparation - JACOM which are commonly used in treating viral fever and respiratory infectious diseases and could be affective against the ongoing pandemic novel corona virus disease SARS-CoV-2.

Method: Cresset Flare software was used for molecular docking studies against the spike protein SARS-CoV-2 (PDB ID: 6VSB).

Turmeric based oral rinse "HTOR-091516" ameliorates experimental oral mucositis.

Background: Prevalence and incidence of oral mucositis (OM) are rigorously increasing and there is no effective treatment. The herbal formulation "HTOR-091516" containing , and honey were evaluated for the treatment of OM.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of HTOR-091516, employing cellular model, human gingival fibroblasts-1 (HGF-1), and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced mucositis model in rats.

Efficacy and Mechanism of Polymerized Anthocyanin from Grape-Skin Extract on High-Fat-Diet-Induced Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

We investigated the therapeutic potential of polymerized anthocyanin (PA) on a nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) model in mice. C57BL/6 mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks to establish the NAFLD mouse model and randomly divided into four groups: control diet (con), NAFLD mice treated with saline (NAFLD), NAFLD mice treated with PA (PA), and NAFLD mice treated with orlistat (Orlistat) for four weeks. Mice were euthanized at the end of the four weeks.

Effect of ultrasonication and thermal and pressure treatments, individually and combined, on inactivation of Bacillus cereus spores.

Bacillus cereus spores are a concern to the food industry due to their high resistance to processing and their ability to germinate to vegetative cells under suitable conditions. This research aimed to elucidate the mechanisms of Bacillus cereus spore inactivation under ultrasonication (US) combined with thermal (thermosonication, TS) treatments, with pressure (manosonication, MS) treatments, and with thermal and pressure (manothermosonication, MTS) treatments. Electronic microscopy, dipicolinic acid (DPA) release, and flow cytometric assessments were used to investigate the inactivation effect and understand the inactivation mechanisms.

An open-label, interventional, single-center, prospective clinical study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of "AHPL/AYTAB/1514" in patients suffering from halitosis.

Objectives: The main objective of the study was to assess the efficacy and safety of AHPL/AYTAB/1514 tablet in patients suffering from halitosis.

Methodology: Fifty four patients were recruited in the study. Patients were advised to take maximum two tablets or at least one tablet four times a day (depending on tolerability of the drug) orally for 60 days.

Comparative characteristics of rice wine fermentations using koji and rice nuruk.

Wine fermentations using rice media containing either koji or rice nuruk were performed and fermentative characteristics based on the koji type were investigated. Cultivations were performed in a 20 °C room in a 20 L bottle with the rice media that included rice koji at both 20 and 30%, or rice nuruk at 20%. After 22 days of cultivation, the ethanol yield reached 14.

Uromodulin mRNA from Urinary Extracellular Vesicles Correlate to Kidney Function Decline in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Background: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) enclose mRNA derived from their cell of origin and are considered a source of potential biomarkers. We examined urinary EV mRNA from individuals with diabetic kidney disease (DKD), chronic kidney disease, type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and obese and healthy controls to determine if such biomarkers had the potential to classify kidney disease and predict patients at higher risk of renal function decline.

Methods: A total of 242 participants enrolled in this study.

Comparison of benign peritoneal fluid- and ovarian cancer ascites-derived extracellular vesicle RNA biomarkers.

Background: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are considered as a new class of resources for potential biomarkers. We analyzed expression of specific mRNA and miRNA in EVs derived from ovarian cancer ascites and the ideal controls, peritoneal fluids from benign patients for potential early detection and prognostic biomarkers.

Methods: Fluids were collected from subjects with benign cysts or endometrioma (n = 10), or low/high grade serous ovarian carcinoma (n = 8).

Pharmacological Evaluation of Hepatoprotective Activity of AHPL/AYTAB/0613 Tablet in Carbon Tetrachloride-, Ethanol-, and Paracetamol-Induced Hepatotoxicity Models in Wistar Albino Rats.

Background: Hepatotoxicity ultimately leads to liver failure. Conventional treatment options for hepatotoxicity are limited and not safe.

Objective: Formulation AHPL/AYTAB/0613 is developed to provide safer and effective hepatoprotective drug of natural origin.

Improved short-term drought response of transgenic rice over-expressing maize C phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase via calcium signal cascade.

To understand the link between long-term drought tolerance and short-term drought responses in plants, transgenic rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants over-expressing the maize Cpepc gene encoding phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PC) and wild-type (WT) rice plants were subjected to PEG 6000 treatments to simulate drought stress. Compared with WT, PC had the higher survival rate and net photosynthetic rate after 16days of drought treatment, and had higher relative water content in leaves after 2h of drought treatment as well, conferring drought tolerance.

An Open Label, Randomized, Comparative, Parallel Group, Multicenter, Prospective, Interventional, Clinical Study to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety of "AHPL/AYTOP/0113" in Comparison with "Framycetin Sulphate Cream" in Acute Wounds.

Objectives: The main objective of the present study was to assess efficacy and safety of AHPL/AYTOP/0113 cream, a polyherbal formulation in comparison with Framycetin sulphate cream in acute wounds.

Methodology: It was an open label, randomized, comparative, parallel group and multi-center clinical study. Total 47 subjects were randomly assigned to Group-A (AHPL/AYTOP/0113 cream) and 42 subjects were randomly assigned to Group-B (Framycetin sulphate cream).

Surface modification of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane via radiation grafting: novel mechanisms underlying the interesting enhanced membrane performance.

This study provided the first attempt of grafting hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane with hydrophilic hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) monomer via a radiation grafting method. This grafted membrane showed an enhanced hydrophilicity (10° decrease of water contact angle), water content ratio, settling ability and wettability compared to the control membrane. Interestingly, filtration tests showed an improved dependence of water flux of the grafted membrane on the solution pH in the acidic stage.

Preparation and evaluation of 1-deoxynojirimycin sustained-release pellets vs conventional immediate-release tablets.

1-Deoxynojirimycin sustained-release pellets, which exhibit known release and absorption profiles, are used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. In this study, a fluidised bed coater was employed to prepare new, drug-loaded pellets. In the dissolution test, it was found that 1-DNJ pellets exhibited a sustained release effect after being coated with hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose phthalate-55 S.

Ex vivo 2D and 3D HSV-2 infection model using human normal vaginal epithelial cells.

Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infects human genital mucosa and establishes life-long latent infection. It is unmet need to establish a human cell-based microphysiological system for virus biology and anti-viral drug discovery. One of barriers is lacking of culture system of normal epithelial cells in vitro over decades.