Mannosylated thiolated polyethylenimine nanoparticles for the enhanced efficacy of antimonial drug against Leishmaniasis

AIM

Our aim was to inhibit trypanothione reductase (TR) and P-gp efflux pump of Leishmania by the use of thiolated polymers. Thus, increasing the intracellular accumulation and therapeutic effectiveness of antimonial compounds.

METHODS

Mannosylated thiolated chitosan and mannosylated thiolated chitosan-polyethyleneimine graft were synthesized and characterized. Meglumine antimoniate-loaded nanoparticles were prepared and evaluated for TR and P-gp efflux pump inhibition, biocompatibility, macrophage uptake and antileishmanial potential.

RESULTS

Thiomers inhibited TR with Ki 2.021. The macrophage uptake was 33.7- and 18.9-fold higher with mannosylated thiolated chitosan-polyethyleneimine graft and mannosylated thiolated chitosan nanoparticles, respectively, as compared with the glucantime. Moreover, the in vitro antileishmanial activity showed 14.41- and 7.4-fold improved IC₅₀ for M-TCS-g-PEI and M-TCS, respectively as compared with glucantime.

CONCLUSION

These results encouraged the concept that TR and P-gp inhibition by the use of thiomers improves the therapeutic efficacy of antimonial drugs.

Postpartum endocrine activities, metabolic attributes and milk yield are influenced by thermal stress in crossbred dairy cows

This study was conducted on 30 freshly parturated multiparous crossbred dairy cows possessing three levels of Holstein Frisian genetic makeup (62.5, 75.0, and 87.5%). Data on temperature humidity index (THI) were classified into comfortable (≤ 71), mild stress (72-79), moderate stress (80-89), and stressful (≥90) zone. Results showed that serum cortisol concentration increased significantly (P < 0.05) in cows during stressful condition irrespective of genetic makeup compared to the other zones. Daily milk yield (DMY) was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in cows during stressful condition. Triglyceride was significantly higher in cows with genetic makeup 87.5% compared to the others, while total serum protein was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in cows during both moderate and stressful conditions. The mean concentration of cortisol and protein increased linearly from comfort to the stressful condition, while mean serum triglyceride, glucose, progesterone (P₄), and luteinizing hormone (LH) decreased by moving from comfort to stressful conditions. Results also indicated that higher cortisol level in higher grade crossbred cows was adversely associated with LH concentration and milk yield under thermal stress conditions. Greater triglyceride in high-grade crossbred (87.5%) cows indicates higher fat mobilization reflecting a negative energy balance. We concluded that heat stress increased blood cortisol and protein, and reduced milk yield in dairy cows irresptive of the genetic makeup. In addition, there was no significant difference in blood metabolites and daily milk yield in the different levels of genetic makeup cows.

Synthesis, antinociceptive activity and structure activity relationship of flavone derivatives

Flavonoids are phenolic compounds that have always attracted pharmaceutical researchers and food manufacturers. Nature has indirectly provided us flavones in our daily diet i.e. tea, fruits, juices and vegetables. Flavones have got special position in research field of natural and synthetic organic chemistry due to their biological capabilities. Flavone derivative has been synthesized in good yield from ketone and corresponding aldehydes. The structures have been established by different spectroscopic techniques like ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR and elemental analysis. The compounds were then screened for its acute toxicity and antinociceptive response in mice models with writhings induced by acetic acid, tail immersion and formalin-induced nociception assay procedures and structure activity relationship was established. The compounds were safe up to a maximum dose of 1200 mg/kg body weight in mice. The effects following pretreatment with naloxone were also studied to reveal the involvement of opioid receptors in the antinociceptive action. The flavone derivatives showed significant reduction in number of abdominal constrictions, increase in paw licking response time in both phases and a significant raise in latency time in nociception models. Moreover, the antinociceptive response was significantly attenuated by pretreatment with naloxone suggesting the involvement of opioid system in the antinociceptive action. The promising effects were shown by halogenated flavone. The flavone derivatives showed analgesic response in all models of nociception suggesting the involvement of opioid system in the antinociceptive action.

Redox biology of Leishmania and macrophage targeted nanoparticles for therapy

Intramacrophage parasite ‘Leishmania’ has developed various mechanisms for proficient uptake into macrophages and phagosome regulation to avoid macrophage's oxidative burst induced by peroxide, hydroxyl radical, hypochlorous acid and peroxynitrite production. One major barrier for impairing the accession of old fashioned anti-Leishmanial drugs is intrinsic incapability to pass through cell membranes and limiting their abilities to ultimately destroy intracellular pathogens. Receptor-mediated targeted drug delivery to the macrophages by using nanoparticles emerges as promising strategy to improve therapeutic efficacy of old-fashioned drug. Receptor-mediated targeted nanoparticles can migrate across the cell membrane barriers and release enclosed drug cargo at sites of infection. This review is focusing on Leishmania-macrophage signaling alterations, its association with drug resistance and role of nanoparticles for receptor mediated macrophage targeting.

Spiritual quotient towards organizational sustainability: the Islamic perspective

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of spiritual quotient (SQ) on the organisational sustainability from the Islamic perspective. Till date, many organisations around the world are facing environmental, social and economic issues affecting their organisational sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

The present paper is conceptual paper based on literature review on employee’s behavioural issues and role of SQ for organisational sustainability.

Findings

This present paper argues that SQ must be considered as the important factor for employee development in the organisation. It develops spiritual awareness among employees which enhances their productivity within the organisation. Furthermore, SQ is necessary means of identifying and harnessing deeper inner resources with the capacity to care for the well-being of the organisation and advance its development.

Research limitations/implications

The paper suggests SQ and its multi-dimensions with the implication for future research in organisational sustainability.

Originality/value

The paper discusses the development of the concept of SQ from the Islamic perspective.

Isolation of isoflavones from Iris kashmiriana Baker as potential anti proliferative agents targeting NF-kappaB

Cancer is possibly one of the most devastating and complex disease and therefore involves chemotherapy as one of the frontline strategies in its therapy. However, expected toxicity and resistance with chemotherapeutic agents encourage us to use the plant derived natural chemotherapeutic sources at the clinical stage of cancer therapy. In view of this strategy, herein new glycosides and isoflavonoids were isolated from Iris kashmiriana Baker and subjected to structure elucidation followed by their biological evaluation. Isolated compounds and their derivatives were purified by the column chromatography and structural identification was made by a combination of various spectroscopic technique vis. UV, IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, DEPT, 2-D NMR and mass spectrometry coupled with chemical analysis. Furthermore, an in silico library of isolated isoflavones and its analogues were designed. NF-kappaB (transcription factor that facilitates angiogenesis, inflammation, invasion and metastasis) was selected as a target to evaluate the anticancer and antioxidant activity of isoflavones and its analogues. Designed library of isoflavones and analogues were docked into the active site of NF-kappa B and the most active 15 analogues were selected for synthesis. Finally, all compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against various cell lines and antioxidant activity with different methods that demonstrate their anti-cancer and anti-oxidant potential. The cell cycle specificity of the cytotoxicity was further analyzed by corresponding analysis, using flow cytometer. Most of the compounds exhibit moderate activity, whereas the 5,7,8-trihydroxy-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4H-chromen-4-one, 5,7,8-trihydroxy-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4H-chromen-4-one, 5,7,8-triacetoxyoxy-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4H-chromen-4-one and 6,7-diacetoxyoxy-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4H-chromen-4-one showed distinct broad-spectrum anticancer activity with IC₅₀ values ranges between 3.8 and 5.6 μg/mL. Cell cycle analysis indicates that these compounds induced cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase.

Pattern of first- and second-line drug resistance among pulmonary tuberculosis retreatment cases in Pakistan

BACKGROUND

Drug resistance in general, and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in particular, threatens global tuberculosis (TB) control efforts. Population-based estimates of drug resistance are needed to develop strategies for controlling drug-resistant TB in Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE

To obtain population-based data on Mycobacterium tuberculosis drug resistance in Pakistan.

METHODS

To obtain drug resistance data, we conducted a population-based study of TB cases in all provinces of Pakistan. We performed culture and drug susceptibility testing on M. tuberculosis isolates from patients with a prior history of anti-tuberculosis treatment (retreatment cases) from all over the country.

RESULTS

Of 544 isolates from previously treated cases, 289 (53.1%) were susceptible to all first-line drugs, 255 (46.9%) were resistant to at least one anti-tuberculosis drug and 132 (24.3%) were MDR-TB. Among MDR-TB isolates, 47.0% were ofloxacin (OFX) resistant. Extensively drug-resistant TB was found in two (0.4%) isolates.

CONCLUSION

Prevalence of drug resistance in retreatment isolates was high. The alarmingly high prevalence of OFX resistance among MDR-TB isolates may threaten the success of efforts to control and treat MDR-TB.

Development of mannose-anchored thiolated amphotericin B nanocarriers for treatment of visceral leishmaniasis

AIM

Our goal was to improve treatment outcomes for visceral leishmaniasis by designing nanocarriers that improve drug biodistribution and half-life. Thus, long-acting mannose-anchored thiolated chitosan amphotericin B nanocarrier complexes (MTC AmB) were developed and characterized.

MATERIALS & METHODS

A mannose-anchored thiolated chitosan nanocarrier was manufactured and characterized. MTC AmB was examined for cytotoxicity, biocompatibility, uptake and antimicrobial activities.

RESULTS

MTC AmB was rod shaped with a size of 362 nm. MTC AmB elicited 90% macrophage viability and 71-fold enhancement in drug uptake compared with native drug. The antileishmanial IC50 for MTC AmB was 0.02 μg/ml compared with 0.26 μg/ml for native drug.

CONCLUSION

These studies show that MTC can serve as a platform for clearance of Leishmania in macrophages.

Determination of an Optimal Membrane-permeable Cryoprotectant Addition and Dilution Protocol for Water Buffalo Spermatozoa

BACKGROUND

There is a possibility to reduce the toxicity of glycerol and osmotic stress of DMSO by lowering their concentrations in freezing extenders.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of glycerol and DMSO in tris-citric acid based extender on post- thaw quality of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) bull spermatozoa.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Semen was collected from five adult buffalo bulls with artificial vagina. Five aliquots of semen per bull were separated for dilution with the treatment extenders. The first aliquot was diluted at 37C with 6 percent glycerol (T1). The second aliquot was diluted at 37C with extenders containing 4.5 percent glycerol and 1.5 percent DMSO (T2). The third aliquot was diluted with extenders containing 4.5 percent glycerol at 37C and 1.5 percent DMSO at 4С (T3). The fourth aliquot was diluted with extenders containing 1.5 percent DMSO at 37C and 4.5 percent glycerol at 4С (T4). The fifth aliquot was diluted with extender containing 2.5percent DMSO at 37 as well as at 4C (T5). The final concentration of spermatozoa was 50×10⁶/ml in all the treatment groups. Semen was cooled from 37 to 4C in 2 h and equilibration was done at 4 C for 4 h. Later on, packing of cooled semen was undertaken in 0.54 ml French straws and frozen in a programmable cell freezer.

RESULTS

At post thawing, treatment groups T1 and T2 yielded significant (P < 0.05) outcome for CASA parameters, longevity, acrosomal integrity, plasma membrane integrity, mitochondrial transmembrane potential and DNA integrity.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that by decreasing glycerol concentration (4.5 percent) and combining it with DMSO (1.5 percent) at 37C (T2) in tris-citric acid based extender provided similar results to those observed when glycerol (6 percent) alone is used at 37C (T1) for improving the post-thaw quality of buffalo bull spermatozoa.

Amplicon-Based RNA Interference Targeting V2 Gene of Cotton Leaf Curl Kokhran Virus-Burewala Strain Can Provide Resistance in Transgenic Cotton Plants

The conserved coat or V2 gene of begomoviruses is responsible for viral movement in the plant cells. RNAi technology was used to silence V2 gene for resistance against these viruses in transgenic plants. The transformation of the RNAi-based gene construct targeting V2 gene of CLCuKoV-Bur, cloned under 35S promoter, was done in two elite cotton varieties MNH-786 and VH-289 using shoot apex cut method of gene transformation. The transformation efficiency was found to be 3.75 and 2.88 % in MNH-786 and VH-289, respectively. Confirmation of successful transformation was done through PCR in T 0, T 1, and T 2 generations using gene-specific primers. Transgenic cotton plants were categorized on the basis of the virus disease index in T 1 generation. Copy number and transgene location were observed using FISH and karyotyping in T 2 generation which confirmed random integration of V2 RNAi amplicon at chromosome 6 and 16. Real-time quantitative PCR analyses of promising transgenic lines showed low virus titer compared to wild-type control plants upon challenging them with viruliferous whiteflies in a contained environment. From the results, it was concluded that amplicon V2 RNAi construct was able to limit virus replication and can be used to control CLCuV in the field.

Coinhibition of the deubiquitinating enzymes, USP14 and UCHL5, with VLX1570 is lethal to ibrutinib- or bortezomib-resistant Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia tumor cells

The survival of Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM) tumor cells hinges on aberrant B-cell receptor (BCR) and MYD88 signaling. WM cells upregulate the proteasome function to sustain the BCR-driven growth while maintaining homeostasis. Clinically, two treatment strategies are used to disrupt these complementary yet mutually exclusive WM survival pathways via ibrutinib (targets BTK/MYD88 node) and bortezomib (targets 20 S proteasome). Despite the success of both agents, WM patients eventually become refractory to treatment, highlighting the adaptive plasticity of WM cells and underscoring the need for development of new therapeutics. Here we provide a comprehensive preclinical report on the anti-WM activity of VLX1570, a novel small-molecule inhibitor of the deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs), ubiquitin-specific protease 14 (USP14) and ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase isozyme L5 (UCHL5). Both DUBs reside in the 19 S proteasome cap and their inhibition by VLX1570 results in rapid and tumor-specific apoptosis in bortezomib- or ibrutinib-resistant WM cells. Notably, treatment of WM cells with VLX1570 downregulated BCR-associated elements BTK, MYD88, NFATC, NF-κB and CXCR4, the latter whose dysregulated function is linked to ibrutinib resistance. VLX1570 administered to WM-xenografted mice resulted in decreased tumor burden and prolonged survival (P=0.0008) compared with vehicle-treated mice. Overall, our report demonstrates significant value in targeting USP14/UCHL5 with VLX1570 in drug-resistant WM and carries a high potential for clinical translation.

Active Carbon as an Adsorbent for Lead Ions

A commercial active carbon has been tested as an adsorbent for the removal of lead ions from aqueous solutions. Optimum conditions for maximum adsorption in terms of shaking time, lead ion concentration, temperature and concentration of different acids were established. The results obtained reveal that the adsorption of lead ions on active carbon is athermic (ΔH = 0) in nature and follows first-order kinetics. The first-order rate constant was evaluated as 0.049 min−1 and the intraparticle diffusion rate as 3.07 × 10−4 (g/g min1/2). The data also obey the Freundlich, Langmuir and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherm equations over the concentration range studied. The magnitude of the adsorption energy, 7.61 kJ/mol, calculated from the β-constant of the D-R equation lies in the energy range for physical adsorption which is attributed to weak bonding between the lead ions and the active carbon.

Prevalence of Type II diabetes in District Dir Lower in Pakistan

Objective:

To investigate the prevalence of type II diabetes and pre-diabetes and its risk factors in the District Dir Lower Pakistan.

Methods:

This study was a population based cross--sectional analysis of 1650 individuals of age 20--80 years, using cluster random sampling technique. After an overnight fast, diabetes and pre-diabetes were analyzed according to the World Health Organization recommendation.

Results:

The prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes was 11.1% and 16.0%, respectively. Type II diabetes was found 11.0% in female and 11.2% in male subjects. Stepwise multiple logistic regression showed that growing age, positive family history, body mass index (obesity), hypertension, exercise (less physical activates), education, monthly income, are statistically significant risk factors with type II diabetes.

Conclusion:

Our results suggest that type II diabetes has become a main health problem in District Dir Lower and better strategies are required to handle this problem.

Scientific investigation of crude alkaloids from medicinal plants for the management of pain

BACKGROUND

Tissue damage is associated with pain, which is an alarming sign. Aspirin and morphine have been widely used in recent decades for management of pain. Medicinal herbs have been in use for treatment of different diseases for centuries. Many of these herbs possess analgesic activity with relatively less incidences of adverse effects. The strong positive correlation of alkaloids in medicinal plants for analgesic activity persuades an intention to determine possible analgesic activity of total alkaloids extracted from the selected medicinal plants using animal models to answer its possible mechanisms.

METHODS

Crude alkaloids from selected medicinal plants (Woodfordia fruticosa, Adhatoda vasica, Chenopodium ambrosioides, Vitex negundo, Peganum harmala and Broussonetia papyrifera) were extracted as per reported literature. The test crude alkaloids were screened foracute toxicity study. Writhings induced by acetic acid, tail immersion method and formalin-induced nociception assay procedures were used for possible analgesic effects of the crude alkaloids.

RESULTS

Crude alkaloids were safe up to dose of 1250 mg/kg body weight in mice. The alkaloids significantly reduced the abdominal constrictions, and increased the time for paw licking response in both phases with a significant raise in latency time in nociception models (P ≤ 0.05). Moreover, the antinociceptive response was significantly attenuated by pretreatment with naloxone suggesting involvement of the opioid receptors for possible antinociceptive action.

CONCLUSIONS

Crude alkaloids of Woodfordia fruticosa and Peganum harmala showed prominent analgesic potentials through inhibition of peripheral as well as central nervous system mechanisms. Further work is required for isolation of the pharmacologically active constituents.