Paraoxonase 2 protects against the CML mediated mitochondrial dysfunction through modulating JNK pathway in human retinal cells.

Background: Paraoxonase 2 (PON2) a known anti-apoptotic protein, has not been explored against N-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML), induced mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in human retinal cells. Hence this present study aims to investigate the potential role of PON2 in mitigating CML-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in these cells.

Methods: PON2 protein was quantified in HRECs (Human retinal endothelial cells), ARPE-19 (Retinal pigment epithelial cells) cells upon CML treatment and also in cadaveric diabetic retina vs respective controls.

Support vector machine-based prediction of pore-forming toxins (PFT) using distributed representation of reduced alphabets.

Bacterial virulence can be attributed to a wide variety of factors including toxins that harm the host. Pore-forming toxins are one class of toxins that confer virulence to the bacteria and are one of the promising targets for therapeutic intervention. In this work, we develop a sequence-based machine learning framework for the prediction of pore-forming toxins.

Dysregulated expression of microRNAs in aqueous humor from intraocular tuberculosis patients.

Background: Systemic Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection alters microRNA's expression that controls cellular processes and modulates host defense mechanisms. However, the role of miRNAs in intraocular tuberculosis (IOTB) remains unknown. Therefore, this study aims to identify dysregulated miRNAs in the aqueous humor (AH) of patients with IOTB.

Modified Falling Mass Impact Test Performance on Functionally Graded Two Stage Aggregate Fibrous Concrete.

This research examined the performance of functionally graded two-stage fibrous concrete (FTSFC) against modified repeated falling-mass impacts. This study led to the concept of creating improved multiphysics model of fibre composites with better impact resistance for potential protective constructions. FTSFC was developed based on the bio-inspiring strength of turtle shells.

Reduced apoplastic barriers in tissues of shoot-proximal rhizomes of Oryza coarctata are associated with Na+ sequestration.

Oryza coarctata is the only wild rice species with significant salinity tolerance. The present work examines the role of the substantial rhizomatous tissues of O. coarctata in conferring salinity tolerance.

Design, synthesis, and molecular docking study of some 2-((7-chloroquinolin-4-yl) amino) benzohydrazide Schiff bases as potential Eg5 inhibitory agents.

In Search of new microtubule-targeting compounds and to identify a promising Eg5 inhibitory agents, a series of 2-((7-chloroquinolin-4-yl) amino) benzohydrazide Schiff bases molecules (6 a-r) were synthesized using appropriate synthetic method. The synthesized compounds were characterized by using FTIR, Proton NMR, Carbon NMR and mass spectral analysis. All eighteen compounds were evaluated for their Eg5 inhibitory activity.

Repurposing of gastric cancer drugs against COVID-19.

Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become a global pandemic. Additionally, the SARS-CoV-2 infection in the patients of Gastric Cancer (GC; the third leading cause of death in the world) pose a great challenge for the health management of the patients. Since there have been uncertainties to develop a new drug against COVID-19, there is an urgent need for repurposing drugs that can target key proteins of both SARS-CoV-2 and GC.

Exogenous administration of hydrogen sulfide alleviates homocysteine induced inflammation in ARPE-19 cells.

Plasma homocysteine (Hcy) is an independent risk factor for Age related macular degeneration (AMD) and an inducer of inflammation. Homocysteine catabolism releases hydrogen sulfide (HS). HS has controversial effects on inflammation.

Development of an Antibiotic Resistance Breaker to Resensitize Drug-Resistant : and Approach.

Efflux pumps are one of the predominant microbial resistant mechanisms leading to the development of multidrug resistance. In , overexpression of NorA protein enables the efflux of antibiotics belonging to the class of fluoroquinolones and, thus, makes resistant. Hence, NorA efflux pumps are being extensively exploited as the potential drug target to evade bacterial resistance and resensitize bacteria to the existing antibiotics.

Antibody therapy against antibiotic-resistant diarrheagenic : a systematic review.

Over four billion episodes of diarrhea occur annually in developing countries with diarrheagenic (DEC) outbreaks also being reported, until now bacterial diarrhea is conventionally addressed by the antibiotic treatment regimes. In recent decades, the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant strains has become a major obstacle in diarrheal treatment; hence, novel and ideal therapeutics are needed. Notably, 80% of DEC is resistant to first-class antibiotics.

Statistical optimization of thermostable alkaline protease from Bacillus cereus KM 05 using response surface methodology.

Objectives: Proteases have gained great attention due to their enormous applications in food, tannery, detergent, photography and many other industries. Proteases rank third position in the production of enzymes. This paper targets to isolate a bacterium with high alkaline protease activity and optimization of its production conditions using Response Surface Methodology (RSM).

Whole-exome sequencing identifies multiple pathogenic variants in a large South Indian family with primary open-angle glaucoma.

Purpose: To identify the pathogenic variants associated with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) using whole-exome sequencing (WES) data of a large South Indian family.

Methods: We recruited a large five-generation South Indian family (n = 84) with a positive family history of POAG (n = 19). All study participants had a comprehensive ocular evaluation.

Dynamicity in Host Metabolic Adaptation Is Influenced by the Synergistic Effect of Eugenol Oleate and Amphotericin B During Infection .

Immune metabolic adaptation in macrophages by intracellular parasites is recognized to play a crucial role during infection. However, there is little accessible information about changes in a metabolic switch in infected macrophages. In previous studies, we have reported on the anti-leishmanial synergic effect of eugenol oleate with amphotericin B.

Fly Ash-Based Eco-Efficient Concretes: A Comprehensive Review of the Short-Term Properties.

Development of sustainable concrete as an alternative to conventional concrete helps in reducing carbon dioxide footprint associated with the use of cement and disposal of waste materials in landfill. One way to achieve that is the use of fly ash (FA) as an alternative to ordinary Portland cement (OPC) because FA is a pozzolanic material and has a high amount of alumina and silica content. Because of its excellent mechanical properties, several studies have been conducted to investigate the use of alkali-activated FA-based concrete as an alternative to conventional concrete.

Multifunctional Traceable Liposomes with Temperature-Triggered Drug Release and Neovasculature-Targeting Properties for Improved Cancer Chemotherapy.

Poor distribution of nanocarriers at the tumor site and insufficient drug penetration into the tissue are major challenges in the development of effective and safe cancer therapy. Here, we aim to enhance the therapeutic effect of liposomes by accumulating doxorubicin-loaded liposomes at high concentrations in and around the tumor, followed by heat-triggered drug release to facilitate low-molecular-weight drug penetration throughout the tumor. A cyclic RGD peptide (cRGD) was incorporated into liposomes decorated with a thermosensitive polymer that allowed precise tuning of drug release temperature (i.

A preliminary analysis of AI based smartphone application for diagnosis of COVID-19 using chest X-ray images.

The COVID-19 outbreak has catastrophically affected both public health system and world economy. Swift diagnosis of the positive cases will help in providing proper medical attention to the infected individuals and will also aid in effective tracing of their contacts to break the chain of transmission. Blending Artificial Intelligence (AI) with chest X-ray images and incorporating these models in a smartphone can be handy for the accelerated diagnosis of COVID-19.

Oral combination of eugenol oleate and miltefosine induce immune response during experimental visceral leishmaniasis through nitric oxide generation with advanced cytokine demand.

Conventional therapy of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) remains challenging with the pitfall of toxicity, drug resistance, and expensive. Hence, urgent need for an alternative approach is essential. In this study, we evaluated the potential of combination therapy with eugenol oleate and miltefosine in Leishmania donovani infected macrophages and in the BALB/c mouse model.

Sustainable valorization of meat processing wastewater with synergetic eutectic mixture based purification of R-Phycoerythrin from porphyrium cruentium.

Wastewater effluent from meat processing industries are enriched with nutrients but remain underutilized. Therefore, an efficient method was administered by employing this resource for the cultivation of Porphyreum cruentium. The cultured biomass was exposed to a one-step disruption and selective purification method using a protic deep eutectic solvent to obtain a commercially significant pigment, R-Phycoerythrin (R-PE).

Self-Standing Photo-Crosslinked Hydrogel Construct: in vitro Microphysiological Vascular Model.

Modeling of the human vascular microphysiological system (MPS) has gained attention due to precise prediction of drug response and toxicity during drug screening process. Developing a physiologically equivalent vascular MPS still remains complex as it demands the recapitulation of dynamic structural and biological microenvironment similar to native vasculature. Hence, an ideal MPS would involve developing perfusable 3D in vitro models with multilayered human vascular cells encapsulated in a matrix to regulate the vascular tone resembling the native.

Differently sized drug-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles elicit differential gene expression in MCF-7 cancer cells.

This study investigates the effects of different sized unmodified and chemo-responsive mesoporous silica nanocarriers on MCF-7 cancer cells. Unmodified and thiol-functionalized large and small-sized mesoporous MCM-41 silica nanoparticles prepared using templated sol-gel process were characterized for their physicochemical properties and and anticancer efficacy. Microarray analysis was carried out to assess their differential effect on gene expression.

An appraisal of the hydro-mechanical behaviour of polysaccharides, xanthan gum, guar gum and β-glucan amended soil.

The study aims to investigate the hydro-mechanical behaviour of the polysaccharide amended sand-clay mixture and analyse the soil - biopolymer interaction. Parameters like permeability, strength and heavy metal attenuation capacity of the amended soil were characterized and studied particularly for its use in landfill applications. The permeability of the soil was investigated for a period of one year.

One-pot green synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles from Bauhinia tomentosa: Characterization and application towards synthesis of 1, 3 diolein.

The green synthesis of NPs through plant extracts can be a modest, one-pot alternative synthesis to the conventional physical or chemical method. The prime focus of this study is to produce MNPs by the reducing effect of Bauhinia tomentosa leaf extract, and it was immobilized in porcine pancreatic lipase (PPL). Synthesized NPs were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy, UV-Vis Spectrometry, Thermogravimetry, and Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC), Zeta potential test, VSM, BET and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR).

Targeting the viral-entry facilitators of SARS-CoV-2 as a therapeutic strategy in COVID-19.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, which has emerged as a global pandemic causing serious concerns. Lack of specific and effective therapeutics for the treatment of COVID-19 is a major concern and the development of vaccines is another important aspect in managing the infection effectively. The first step in the SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis is the viral entry and it is mediated by its densely glycosylated spike protein (S-protein).