Mechanistic role of Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels in glycation induced diabetic nephropathy via RAGE-NF-κB pathway and extracellular proteins modifications: A molecular approach.

Ethnopharmacology Relevance: Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels (SC), an ancient medicinal plant, is used as a complementary and alternative medicine for treating diabetes mellitus and its associated complications, such as diabetic nephropathy (DN). Phytochemicals present in SC homeopathic formulations possess anti-glycemic, anti-glycation, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.

HIV-1 capsid and viral DNA integration.

HIV-1 capsid protein (CA)-independently or by recruiting host factors-mediates several key steps of virus replication in the cytoplasm and nucleus of the target cell. Research in the recent years have established that CA is multifunctional and genetically fragile of all the HIV-1 proteins. Accordingly, CA has emerged as a validated and high priority therapeutic target, and the first CA-targeting antiviral drug was recently approved for treating multi-drug resistant HIV-1 infection.

Xanthium strumarium seed extract boosts osteogenesis in human dental pulp stem cell model.

Background: In traditional medicine, Xanthium strumarium is used as an anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic plant-based medicine. Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells (hDPSCs) are an ideal in vitro model for drug and bioactive compound screening. This study assessed the potential of X.

Smart Magnetic Nanocarriers for Codelivery of Nitric Oxide and Doxorubicin for Enhanced Apoptosis in Cancer Cells.

Extremely short half-life therapeutic molecule nitric oxide (NO) plays significant roles in the functioning of various physiological and pathological processes in the human body, whereas doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) is a clinically important anticancer drug widely used in cancer chemotherapy. Thus, the intracellular delivery of these therapeutic molecules is tremendously important to achieve their full potential. Herein, we report a novel approach for the development of highly water-dispersible magnetic nanocarriers for codelivery of NO and DOX.

Insights into the Potential Role of Plasmids in the Versatility of the Genus Pantoea.

In the past two decades, 25 different species of the genus Pantoea within the Enterobacteriaceae family, have been isolated from different environmental niches. These species have a wide range of biological roles. Versatility in functions and hosts indicate that this genus has undergone extensive genetic diversification, which can be attributed to the different extra-chromosomal genetic elements or plasmids found across this genus.

Unlocking the Therapeutic Potential of Bertoni: A Natural Antiglycating Agent and Non-Toxic Support for HDF Cell Health.

Sugar carbonyl groups interact with protein amino groups, forming toxic components referred to as advanced glycation end products (AGEs). The glycation system (BSA, a model protein, and fructose) was incubated for five weeks at 37 °C in the presence and absence of Stevia leaf extract. The results indicated that the leaf extract (0.

At the Crossroads of TNF α Signaling and Cancer.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) is a pleiotropic pro-inflammatory cytokine of the TNF superfamily. It regulates key cellular processes such as death, and proliferation besides its well-known role in immune response through activation of various intracellular signaling pathways (such as MAPK, Akt, NF-κB, etc.) via complex formation by ligand-activated TNFα receptors.

Selenium-Methionine-Folic Acid Nanoparticles (SeMetFa NPs) and Its In Vivo Efficacy Against Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Selenium nanoparticles can be beneficial against rheumatoid arthritis, with limitations in dosage formulation due to their toxicity and low bioavailability. In the present study, we investigated the bioavailability and in vivo efficiency of selenium-methionine-folic acid nanoparticles (SeMetFa NPs) in chronic inflammatory arthritis in rats. The purpose of this study was to develop a therapeutic agent that is of low toxicity and readily available for the maintenance of rheumatoid arthritis.

Senescence in cancer: Advances in detection and treatment modalities.

Senescence is a form of irreversible cell cycle arrest. Senescence plays a dual role in cancer, as both a tumor suppressor by preventing the growth of damaged cells and a cancer promoter by creating an inflammatory milieu. Stress-induced premature senescence (SIPS) and replicative senescence are the two major sub-types of senescence.

Designing a Multi-Epitope Subunit Vaccine against VP1 Major Coat Protein of JC Polyomavirus.

The JC polyomavirus virus (JCPyV) affects more than 80% of the human population in their early life stage. It mainly affects immunocompromised individuals where virus replication in oligodendrocytes and astrocytes may lead to fatal progressive multifocal encephalopathy (PML). Virus protein 1 (VP1) is one of the major structural proteins of the viral capsid, responsible for keeping the virus alive in the gastrointestinal and urinary tracts.

A turn-on fluorescence sensor for detection of heparinase with heparin templated aggregation of tetracationic porphyrin derivative.

Heparinase is the only mammalian endoglycosidase that breaks down the commonly used blood-anticoagulant heparin into therapeutically relevant low-molecular-weight-heparin. Importantly, heparinase has been considered a malignant disease diagnostic marker. Thus, it is essential to develop detection scheme for heparinase.

POT1 mutations cause differential effects on telomere length leading to opposing disease phenotypes.

The protection of telomere protein (POT1) is a telomere-binding protein and is an essential component of the six-membered shelterin complex, which is associated with the telomeres. POT1 directly binds to the 3' single-stranded telomeric overhang and prevents the activation of DNA damage response at telomeres thus preventing the telomere-telomere fusions and genomic instability. POT1 also plays a pivotal role in maintaining telomere length by regulating telomerase-mediated telomere elongation.

Optimization of Performance Parameters of the TAGGG Telomere Length Assay.

Telomeres are repetitive sequences which are present at chromosomal ends; their shortening is a characteristic feature of human somatic cells. Shortening occurs due to a problem with end replication and the absence of the telomerase enzyme, which is responsible for maintaining telomere length. Interestingly, telomeres also shorten in response to various internal physiological processes, like oxidative stress and inflammation, which may be impacted due to extracellular agents like pollutants, infectious agents, nutrients, or radiation.

Identifying novel risk conferring genes involved in glycosylation processes with familial schizophrenia in an Indian cohort: Prediction of ADAMTS9 gene variant for structural stability.

Schizophrenia is a complex neuropsychiatric disorder and heritability is as high as 80 % making it the most heritable mental disorder. Although GWAS has identified numerous variants, the pathophysiology is still elusive. Here, an attempt was made to identify genetic risk factors in familial cases of schizophrenia that are associated with a common causative pathway.

Molecular Milieu of Autophagy in Cervical Cancer and its Therapeutic Implications.

Cervical cancer is a common death-causing cancer among women in developing countries. Majority of the cases are triggered by persistent infections with high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV16 and 18). Metastasis, disease relapse, and drug resistance are common among patients in advanced stages of cancer despite the available therapies.

Exploration of the inhibitory effect of on quorum sensing mediated virulence factor production and biofilm activity in : an study in model organism .

Resistance to antibiotics is leading to challenges in the treatment of microbial diseases. One amongst the various approaches to control these pathogens is quorum sensing (QS), which is used to rectify resistance issues. Blocking the bacterial QS circuit is the most reliable anti-virulence therapy to control pathogenicity-associated genes.

Resolving colistin resistance and heteroresistance in Enterobacter species.

Species within the Enterobacter cloacae complex (ECC) include globally important nosocomial pathogens. A three-year study of ECC in Germany identified Enterobacter xiangfangensis as the most common species (65.5%) detected, a result replicated by examining a global pool of 3246 isolates.

Advanced nanomaterials for highly efficient CO photoreduction and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

At present, CO photoreduction to value-added chemicals/fuels and photocatalytic hydrogen generation by water splitting are the most promising reactions to fix two main issues simultaneously, rising CO levels and never-lasting energy demand. CO, a major contributor to greenhouse gases (GHGs) with about 65% of the total emission, is known to cause adverse effects like global temperature change, ocean acidification, greenhouse effects, etc. The idea of CO capture and its conversion to hydrocarbons can control the further rise of CO levels and help in producing alternative fuels that have several further applications.

Physico-Chemical and Antimicrobial Efficacy of Encapsulated Dhavana Oil: Evaluation of Release and Stability Profile from Base Matrices.

Essential oils (EOs) are naturally occurring volatile aromatic compounds extracted from different parts of plants. They are made up of components like terpenes, phenols, etc., and are chemically unstable and susceptible to oxidative deterioration, leading to reduced shelf-life and overall degradation of the product.

Retinoic acid signaling is critical for generation of pancreatic progenitors from human embryonic stem cells.

Retinoic acid (RA) is essential for gut endoderm development and has been extensively used for pancreatic differentiation from human pluripotent stem cells. However, the gene regulatory network triggered by RA signaling remains poorly addressed. Also, whether RA signals control histone modifiers such as the Polycomb group proteins during pancreatic specification remains to be explored.

Telomerase inhibitor MST-312 and quercetin synergistically inhibit cancer cell proliferation by promoting DNA damage.

Quercetin is a natural flavonoid with well-established anti-proliferative activities against a variety of cancers. Telomerase inhibitor MST-312 also exhibits anti-proliferative effect on various cancer cells independent of its effect on telomere shortening. However, due to their low absorption and toxicity at higher doses, their clinical development is limited.