Psiguanol, a novel α-pyrone derivative from Psidium guajava leaves and vasorelaxant activity in rat aorta cells through intracellular cGMP-dependent opening of calcium-activated potassium channels

The phytochemical investigation of Psidium guajava leaves led to the isolation of total nineteen compounds which belongs to meroterpenoids, flavonoid, phenolics, and triterpenoids. The compounds were isolated using extensive chromatography techniques and identified as psiguanol (4), as new compound along with guajadial (1), psidial A (2), β-caryophyllene (3), quercetin (5), avicularin (6), guaijaverin (7), hyperin (8), rutin (9), ursolic acid (10), corosolic acid (11), asiatic acid (12), β-sitosterol (13), β-sitosterol-D-glucoside (14), ellagic acid (15), 3,3',4'-trimethylellagic acid 4-O-glucoside (16), protocatechuic acid (17), gallic acid (18), and tricosanoic acid (19) as known molecules. The compound 16 was isolated for the first time from this plant. The isolated compounds were evaluated for vasorelaxation activity in rat aorta cells and it was observed that compound 4 exhibited the most potent vasorelaxation response in the ex-vivo model in isolated rat aorta cells. Mechanistically, the vasorelaxation activity of 4 was mediated through cGMP-dependent BKCa channel opening.

Progress in appended calix[4]arene-based receptors for selective recognition of copper ions

In the past two decades, there has been significant progress in the design and development of synthetic receptors for molecular recognition as they find application in the field of chemical, biological, medical, and environmental sciences. Synthetic receptors based on calix systems appended with fluorogenic and chromogenic groups have gained considerable attention for sensing and recognition of ions and molecules. Copper (Cu2+) is an essential element required in trace amounts in all living organisms to carry out various biological processes. The aim of this review is to summarize advancement in π-conjugated fluorogenic and chromogenic groups appended to calix[4]arene motifs for detection and quantitation of Cu2+ ion. The focus is to present a comprehensive account of extended calix[4]arene systems with different linkers and highlight the unique design and binding characteristics for the recognition and sensing of Cu2+ ions.

Salt & Splice: DGCR14L, A new player in mRNA splicing

This article has been retracted. Please see: https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiae028

Evaluation of Stem Cell Laden Collagen + Polycaprolactone + Multi-Walled Carbon Nano-Tubes Nano-Neural Scaffold with and Without Insulin Like Growth Factor-I For Sciatic Nerve Regeneration Post Crush Injury in Wistar Rats

BACKGROUND/AIMS

All body functions are activated, synchronized and controlled by a substantial, complex network, the nervous system. Upon injury, pathophysiology of the nerve injury proceeds through different paths. The axon may undergo a degenerative retraction from the site of injury for a short distance unless the injury is near to the cell body, in which case it continues to the soma and undergoes retrograde neuronal degeneration. Otherwise, the distal section suffers from Wallerian degeneration, which is marked by axonal swelling, spheroids, and cytoskeleton degeneration. The objective of the study was to evaluate the potential of mesenchymal stem cell laden neural scaffold and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in nerve regeneration following sciatic nerve injury in a rat model.

METHODS

The animals were anaesthetized and a cranio-lateral incision over left thigh was made. Sciatic nerve was exposed and crush injury was introduced for 90 seconds using haemostat at second locking position. The muscle and skin were sutured in routine fashion and thus the rat model of sciatic crush injury was prepared. The animal models were equally distributed into 5 different groups namely A, B, C, D and E and treated with phosphate buffer saline (PBS), carbon nanotubes based neural scaffold only, scaffold with IGF-I, stem cell laden scaffold and stem cell laden scaffold with IGF-I respectively. In vitro scaffold testing was performed. The nerve regeneration was assessed based on physico-neuronal, biochemical, histopathological examination, and relative expression of NRP-1, NRP-2 and GAP-43 and scanning electron microscopy.

RESULTS

Sciatic nerve injury model with crush injury produced for 90 seconds was standardized and successfully used in this study. All the biochemical parameters were in normal range in all the groups indicating no scaffold related changes. Physico-neuronal, histopathological, relative gene expression and scanning electron microscopy observations revealed appreciable nerve regeneration in groups E and D, followed by C and B. Restricted to no regeneration was observed in group A.

CONCLUSION

Carbon nanotubes based scaffold provided electro-conductivity for proper neuronal regeneration while rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells were found to induce axonal sprouting, cellular transformation; whereas IGF-I induced stem cell differentiation, myelin synthesis, angiogenesis and muscle differentiation.

Benzene Sulfonyl Linked Tetrasubstituted Thiacalix[4]arene for Selective and Sensitive Fluorometric Sensing of Sulfosulfuron along with Theoretical Studies

Herein, we designed two fluorescent tetrasubstituted benzene sulfonyl appended Thiacalix[4]arene receptors named L1 and L2, which sensitively and selectively detect Sulfosulfuron among other herbicides and pesticides. The detection limit (LOD) was found to be 0.21 ppm and 0.35 ppm, and the enhancement constant (Ks) was determined to be 7.07 X 104 M-1 and 5.55 X 104 M-1 for L1 and L2, respectively. Using the non-linear regression method, the association constant was obtained as 2.1 X 104 M-1 and 2.23 X 104 M-1 whereas, the binding ratio was found to be 1:1 for both L1 and L2, respectively. Additionally, the interference studies show the selective nature of receptors for Sulfosulfuron among its sulfonylurea family. To further confirm the interaction mechanism, 1H-NMR spectroscopy, and a computational investigation were carried out, which validates the 1:1 binding ratio. The receptors were found to be recyclable in nature with simple acid-base treatment. This new approach of using supramolecules as fluorescent probes for sensitive and selective detection of herbicides is rare in the literature.

In Silico Insight to Identify Potential Inhibitors of BUB1B from Mushroom Bioactive Compounds to Prevent Breast Cancer Metastasis

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among women worldwide, and its metastasis is a significant cause of mortality. Therefore, identifying potential inhibitors of proteins involved in breast cancer metastasis is crucial for developing effective therapies. BUB1 mitotic checkpoint serine/threonine kinase B (BUB1B) is a key regulator of mitotic checkpoint control, which ensures the proper segregation of chromosomes during cell division. Dysregulation of BUB1B has been linked to a variety of human diseases, including breast cancer. Overexpression of BUB1B has been observed in various cancer types, and its inhibition has been shown to induce cancer cell death. Additionally, BUB1B inhibition has been suggested as a potential strategy for overcoming resistance to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Given the importance of BUB1B in regulating cell division and its potential as a therapeutic target, the development of BUB1B inhibitors has been the focus of intense research efforts. Despite these efforts, few small molecule inhibitors of BUB1B have been identified, highlighting the need for further research in this area. In this study, the authors aimed to identify potential inhibitors of BUB1B from mushroom bioactive compounds using computational methods, which could ultimately lead to the development of new treatments for breast cancer metastasis.

METHODS

This study has incorporated 70 bioactive compounds (handpicked through literature mining) of distinct mushrooms that were considered and explored to identify a suitable drug candidate. Their absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) properties were obtained to predict the drug-likeness of these 70 mushroom compounds based on Lipinski's rule of 5 (RO5). Screening these bioactive compounds and subsequent molecular docking against BUB1B provided compounds with the best conformation-based binding affinity. The best two complexes, i.e., BUB1B-lepitaprocerin D and BUB1B-peptidoglycan, were subjected to molecular dynamic simulations. Both complexes were assessed for their affinity, stability, and flexibility in protein-ligand complex systems.

RESULTS

The molecular dynamic (MD) simulation studies revealed that lepitaprocerin D has an energetically favorable binding affinity with BUB1B. Results showed that the formation of a hydrogen bond between residues ASN123 and SER157, and lepitaprocerin D had strengthened the affinity of lepitaprocerin D with BUB1B.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified lepitaprocerin D as a potential and novel inhibitor for BUB1B that could be a plausible drug candidate for identifying and controlling the spread of breast cancer metastasis.

Vasorelaxant property of 2-phenyl ethyl alcohol isolated from the spent floral distillate of damask rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) and its possible mechanism

ETHNOBOTANICAL RELEVANCE

Rosa damascena Mill. (Rosaceae), commonly known as damask rose, is an ancient medicinal and perfumery plant used in Traditional Unani Medicine due to various therapeutic effects, including cardiovascular benefits.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to evaluate the vasorelaxant effect of the 2-phenyl ethyl alcohol (PEA) isolated from the spent flowers of R. damascena which remain after the extraction of essential oil.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The freshly collected flowers of R. damascena were hydro-distilled in a Clevenger's type apparatus to extract the rose essential oil (REO). After removing the REO, the spent-flower hydro-distillate was collected and extracted with organic solvents to yield a spent-flower hydro-distillate extract (SFHE), which was further purified by column chromatography. The SFHE and its isolate were characterized by gas chromatography (GC-FID), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques. The PEA, isolated from SFHE, was evaluated for vasorelaxation response in conduit blood vessels like rat aorta and resistant vessels like mesenteric artery. The preliminary screening of PEA was done in aortic preparation pre-constricted with phenylephrine. Further, a concentration-dependent relaxation response to PEA has been elicited in both endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded arterial rings, and the mode of action was explored.

RESULTS

The SFHE revealed the presence of PEA as the main constituent (89.36%), which was further purity by column chromatography to a purity of 95.0%. The PEA exhibited potent vasorelaxation response both in conduit vessels like the rat aorta and resistance vessels like the mesenteric artery. The relaxation response is mediated without any involvement of vascular endothelium. Further, TEA sensitive BKca channel was found to be the major target for PEA-induced relaxation response in these blood vessels.

CONCLUSIONS

The spent flowers of R. damascena, which remain after the extraction of REO, could be used to extract PEA. The PEA possessed marked vasorelaxation properties in both aorta and mesenteric artery and showed promise for development into an herbal product against hypertension.

Genome-wide identification of the fibrillin gene family in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and its response to drought stress

Fibrillin family members play multiple roles in growth, development, and protection against abiotic stress. In this study, we identified 12 potential CaFBNs that are ranging from 25 kDa-42.92 kDa and are mostly basic. These proteins were hydrophilic in nature and generally resided in the chloroplast. The CaFBN genes were located on different chromosomes like 1, 4, 5, and 7. All FBNs shared conserved motifs and possessed a higher number of stress-responsive elements. For evolutionary analysis, a phylogenetic tree of CaFBNs with other plants' FBNs was constructed and clustered into 11 FBN subgroups. For expression analysis, 21 day old chickpea seedling was exposed to dehydration stress by withholding water. We also performed various physiological and biochemical analyses to check that plant changes at the physiological and cellular levels while undergoing stress conditions. The transcript expression of CaFBNs was higher in aerial parts, especially in stems and leaves. Dehydration-specific transcriptome and qPCR analysis showed that FBN-1, FBN-2, and FBN-6 were highly expressed. In addition, our study provides a comprehensive overview of the FBN protein family and their importance during the dehydration stress condition in Cicer arietinum.

Demystifying the Role of Prognostic Biomarkers in Breast Cancer through Integrated Transcriptome and Pathway Enrichment Analyses

Breast cancer (BC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of death in women. Researchers have discovered an increasing number of molecular targets for BC prognosis and therapy. However, it is still urgent to identify new biomarkers. Therefore, we evaluated biomarkers that may contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of BC. We searched TCGA datasets and identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by comparing tumor (100 samples) and non-tumor (100 samples) tissues using the Deseq2 package. Pathway and functional enrichment analysis of the DEGs was performed using the DAVID (Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery) database. The protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was identified using the STRING database and visualized through Cytoscape software. Hub gene analysis of the PPI network was completed using cytohubba plugins. The associations between the identified genes and overall survival (OS) were analyzed using a Kaplan–Meier plot. Finally, we have identified hub genes at the transcriptome level. A total of 824 DEGs were identified, which were mostly enriched in cell proliferation, signal transduction, and cell division. The PPI network comprised 822 nodes and 12,145 edges. Elevated expression of the five hub genes AURKA, BUB1B, CCNA2, CCNB2, and PBK are related to poor OS in breast cancer patients. A promoter methylation study showed these genes to be hypomethylated. Validation through genetic alteration and missense mutations resulted in chromosomal instability, leading to improper chromosome segregation causing aneuploidy. The enriched functions and pathways included the cell cycle, oocyte meiosis, and the p53 signaling pathway. The identified five hub genes in breast cancer have the potential to become useful targets for the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.

Can training over phone calls help improve outcomes for COVID-19 positive patients under home isolation? An analysis of the COVID-19 Care Companion Program in Punjab, India

Background

Phone-supported recovery of COVID-19 patients in home isolation could be an effective way of addressing COVID-19 in contexts with limited resources. The COVID-19 Care Companion Program (CCP) is one such intervention, designed to support patients and their caregivers in remote, evidence-based management of COVID-19 symptoms.

Objective

To estimate the effect of providing phone-based training to COVID-19 patients and their caregivers on the likelihood of hospitalizations and mortality.

Methods

A pragmatic randomized trial was conducted to assess the effect of a novel phone-based training program on COVID-19 home-isolated patient outcomes. The analysis compared the outcomes of death and hospitalizations in the teletraining intervention group (CCP) to those receiving standard of care (SoC).

Results

Logistic regression models adjusted for age, gender, education, occupation, and poverty, as measured by family possession of Below Poverty Line (BPL) card, were used to look at the effect of intervention on hospitalization and mortality. While the CCP intervention had no effect on 21-day mortality (OR 0.64; 95% CI, 0.19 to 2.12), it was associated with a 48% reduction in 21-day hospitalization (OR 0.52; 95% CI, 0.31 to 0.90).

Conclusion

COVID-19 CCP teletraining intervention reduced the rate of hospitalization, potentially reducing the burden on hospitals.

How pink is too pink: A tussle between plant and nature

Everyone likes to add color to their life, and plants use them too. However, unlike humans, plants contain natural pigments to add color to fruits, leaves, and vegetables. Plants produce a variety of phytopigments, such as flavonoids, carotenoids, and anthocyanins, which play essential roles in plant stress tolerance. Leveraging natural phytopigments to develop stress-resilient crops will require an in-depth understanding of pigment formation and function. In this context, Zhang et al. (2023) studied the role of MYB6 and bHLH111 in enhancing anthocyanin biosynthesis in petals during drought.

A systematic review of complications following selective dorsal rhizotomy in cerebral palsy

PURPOSE

The literature lacks a concise overview of complications secondary to selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR). The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature regarding post-SDR complications, and to present them concisely.

METHODS

The protocol of the review was registered on Open Science Framework. Studies on SDR in cerebral palsy were included. The studies to be included used SDR for management of spasticity in patients with cerebral palsy. The long-term complications of SDR mentioned in the articles were inventoried.

RESULTS

Thirty studies were included for qualitative review. Twenty-one types of complication were identified. Structural complications were the commonest: scoliosis (214/1,043, 20.5%), hyperlordosis (101/552, 18.2%), spondylolysis (55/574, 9.5%) and kyphosis (67/797, 8.4%). Neurological complications comprised constipation (70/485, 14.4%), hip subluxation (3/29, 10.3%), spastic syndrome (4/47, 8.5%), sensory changes (106/1290, 8.2%) and urinary incontinence (61/1013, 6%).

CONCLUSION

This review should help surgeons and parents alike to know about the potential complications of SDR. Complications may affect quality of life and should be weighed. Although the majority of these complications were managed conservatively, there would still be a physical, psychological and financial burden which should be taken into account. Screening should be continued vigorously throughout skeletal growth and at reduced frequency thereafter, for timely intervention in case of structural complications.

Faculty-or senior resident-led SNAPPS for postgraduate teaching in pediatrics

This was an educational intervention on postgraduates using SNAPPS (Summarize narrow, analyze, probe, plan, self-directed learning) showing comparable median (interquartile range) satisfaction scores with faculty or senior residents as 4 (3,5) and 4 (4, 4.25); respectively, P = 0.79. Further training of senior residents in medical education will enable them to participate efficiently and actively in postgraduate teaching.

Computational Approaches to Designing Antiviral Drugs against COVID-19: A Comprehensive Review

The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 necessitates innovative strategies for the rapid development of effective treatments. Computational methodologies, such as molecular modelling, molecular dynamics simulations, and artificial intelligence, have emerged as indispensable tools in the drug discovery process. This review aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of these computational approaches and their application in the design of antiviral agents for COVID-19. Starting with an examination of ligand-based and structure-based drug discovery, the review has delved into the intricate ways through which molecular modelling can accelerate the identification of potential therapies. Additionally, the investigation extends to phytochemicals sourced from nature, which have shown promise as potential antiviral agents. Noteworthy compounds, including gallic acid, naringin, hesperidin, Tinospora cordifolia, curcumin, nimbin, azadironic acid, nimbionone, nimbionol, and nimocinol, have exhibited high affinity for COVID-19 Mpro and favourable binding energy profiles compared to current drugs. Although these compounds hold potential, their further validation through in vitro and in vivo experimentation is imperative. Throughout this exploration, the review has emphasized the pivotal role of computational biologists, bioinformaticians, and biotechnologists in driving rapid advancements in clinical research and therapeutic development. By combining state-of-the-art computational techniques with insights from structural and molecular biology, the search for potent antiviral agents has been accelerated. The collaboration between these disciplines holds immense promise in addressing the transmissibility and virulence of SARS-CoV-2.

Biosynthesis and Bioapplications of Nanomaterials from Mushroom Products

The production of nanoparticles (NPs) from chemical and physical synthesis has ended due to the involvement of toxic byproducts and harsh analytical conditions. Innovation and research in nanoparticle synthesis are derived from biomaterials that have gained attention due to their novel features, such as ease of synthesis, low-cost, eco-friendly approach, and high water solubility. Nanoparticles obtained through macrofungi involve several mushroom species, i.e., Pleurotus spp., Ganoderma spp., Lentinus spp., and Agaricus bisporus. It is well-known that macrofungi possess high nutritional, antimicrobial, anti-cancerous, and immune-modulatory properties. Nanoparticle synthesis via medicinal and edible mushrooms is a striking research field, as macrofungi act as an eco-friendly biofilm that secretes essential enzymes to reduce metal ions. The mushroom-isolated nanoparticles exhibit longer shelf life, higher stability, and increased biological activities. The synthesis mechanisms are still unknown; evidence suggests that fungal flavones and reductases have a significant role. Several macrofungi have been utilized for metal synthesis (such as Ag, Au, Pt, Fe) and non-metal nanoparticles (Cd, Se, etc.). These nanoparticles have found significant applications in advancing industrial and bio-medical ventures. A complete understanding of the synthesis mechanism will help optimize the synthesis protocols and control the shape and size of nanoparticles. This review highlights various aspects of NP production via mushrooms, including its synthesis from mycelium and the fruiting body of macrofungi. Also, we discuss the applications of different technologies in NP high-scale production via mushrooms.

Phosphonomethyl iminodiacetic acid functionalized metal organic framework supported PAN composite beads for selective removal of La(III) from wastewater: Adsorptive performance and column separation studies

The rare earth elements being toxic in nature are being accumulated in water bodies as their industrial usage is growing exponentially, thus their efficient separation holds an immense significance. Herein, ligand functionalized metal organic framework (MOF), Phosphonomethyl iminodiacetic acid coordinated at Fe-BTC, was synthesized post-synthetically and incorporated subsequently in polyacrylonitrile polymer to prepare the composite beads via nonsolvent induced-phase-inversion technique for selective adsorption of La(III) from the wastewater in batch and dynamic column mode. XPS NMR, and FTIR were used to establish the interaction between functionalized ligand and unsaturated metal nodes of MOF. The adsorption capacity was 232.5 mg/g and 77.51 mg/g at 298 K of the functionalized MOF and composite beads respectively. Adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second order rate equation, and isotherm indicated the best fitting with Langmuir model. The dynamic behavior of the adsorption column packed with MOF/Polymer beads was fairly described by the Thomas model. The breakthrough time of 23.2 h could be attained with 12 cm of bed height and 10 ml/min of flow rate. These MOF/Polymer beads shown the selectivity of La over transitional metals were recycled over 5 times with about 15% loss of adsorption capacity. The findings provide suggestive insights of the potential use of functionalized MOF towards the separation of the rare earth element.

2-Benzyllawsone protects against polymicrobial sepsis and vascular hyporeactivity in swiss albino mice

BACKGROUND

Novel naphthoquinone, 2-benzyllawsone (LT-9) was evaluated against vascular hyporeactivity and sepsis in cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model in mice in view of its preliminary antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and to explore whether pretreatment with the molecule could restore vascular tone and contractile response to norepinephrine.

METHODS

Evaluation of LT-9 against vascular hyporeactivity, hypotension, and sepsis-related inflammation and infection was carried out in the CLP model in Swiss albino mice and aortic smooth muscle cells in vitro.

RESULTS

LT-9 showed potent reversal of the vascular hyporeactivity in CLP mice aorta. The increased contraction response to norepinephrine in CLP mouse aorta by LT-9 was mediated by opening of L-type voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCC) verified by ex vivo experiment where LT-9 enhanced contraction response to CaCl₂ in the aorta while abolishing the contraction response of known VDCC opener Bay K8644. LT-9 in aortic smooth muscle cells showed Fluo-4 mediated increase in calcium fluorescence. Oral administration of LT-9 at 50 and 100 mg kg^-1 day^-1 for 15 days significantly enhanced the mean survival time, improved hemodynamic and Electrocardiogram (ECG) profile, and aortic tissue reactivity in CLP mice. Further, LT-9 significantly reversed the perturbation of the expression profile of inflammatory cytokines, reduced the splenic microbial load, and was well tolerated in oral toxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

LT-9 showed potent biological activity against sepsis and was found to be well tolerated in the toxicity study in Swiss albino mice and showed promise for the benzyllawsone class of molecules against sepsis for the development of novel pharmacophore.

CRISPR guides induce gene silencing in plants in the absence of Cas

BACKGROUND

RNA-targeting CRISPR-Cas can provide potential advantages over DNA editing, such as avoiding pleiotropic effects of genome editing, providing precise spatiotemporal regulation, and expanded function including antiviral immunity.

RESULTS

Here, we report the use of CRISPR-Cas13 in plants to reduce both viral and endogenous RNA. Unexpectedly, we observe that crRNA designed to guide Cas13 could, in the absence of the Cas13 protein, cause substantial reduction in RNA levels as well. We demonstrate Cas13-independent guide-induced gene silencing (GIGS) in three plant species, including stable transgenic Arabidopsis. Small RNA sequencing during GIGS identifies the production of small RNA that extend beyond the crRNA expressed sequence in samples expressing multi-guide crRNA. Additionally, we demonstrate that mismatches in guide sequences at position 10 and 11 abolish GIGS. Finally, we show that GIGS is elicited by guides that lack the Cas13 direct repeat and can extend to Cas9 designed crRNA of at least 28 base pairs, indicating that GIGS can be elicited through a variety of guide designs and is not dependent on Cas13 crRNA sequences or design.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, our results suggest that GIGS utilizes endogenous RNAi machinery despite the fact that crRNA are unlike canonical triggers of RNAi such as miRNA, hairpins, or long double-stranded RNA. Given similar evidence of Cas13-independent silencing in an insect system, it is likely GIGS is active across many eukaryotes. Our results show that GIGS offers a novel and flexible approach to RNA reduction with potential benefits over existing technologies for crop improvement and functional genomics.

Therapeutic Potential of Vital Transcription Factors in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease With Particular Emphasis on Transcription Factor EB Mediated Autophagy

Autophagy is an important cellular self-digestion and recycling pathway that helps in maintaining cellular homeostasis. Dysregulation at various steps of the autophagic and endolysosomal pathway has been reported in several neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and Huntington disease (HD) and is cited as a critically important feature for central nervous system (CNS) proteostasis. Recently, another molecular target, namely transcription factor EB (TFEB) has been explored globally to treat neurodegenerative disorders. This TFEB, is a key regulator of autophagy and lysosomal biogenesis pathway. Multiple research studies suggested therapeutic potential by targeting TFEB to treat human diseases involving autophagy-lysosomal dysfunction, especially neurodegenerative disorders. A common observation involving all neurodegenerative disorders is their poor efficacy in clearing and recycle toxic aggregated proteins and damaged cellular organelles due to impairment in the autophagy pathway. This dysfunction in autophagy characterized by the accumulation of toxic protein aggregates leads to a progressive loss in structural integrity/functionality of neurons and may even result in neuronal death. In recent years TFEB, a key regulator of autophagy and lysosomal biogenesis, has received considerable attention. It has emerged as a potential therapeutic target in numerous neurodegenerative disorders like AD and PD. In various neurobiology studies involving animal models, TFEB has been found to ameliorate neurotoxicity and rescue neurodegeneration. Since TFEB is a master transcriptional regulator of autophagy and lysosomal biogenesis pathway and plays a crucial role in defining autophagy activation. Studies have been done to understand the mechanisms for TFEB dysfunction, which may yield insights into how TFEB might be targeted and used for the therapeutic strategy to develop a treatment process with extensive application to neurodegenerative disorders. In this review, we explore the role of different transcription factor-based targeted therapy by some natural compounds for AD and PD with special emphasis on TFEB.

Assessment of anaemia and nutritional status of antenatal women attending a tertiary care hospital

Aim:

The aim of this study was to assess and grade anaemia in antenatal women at a tertiary care hospital.

Materials and Methods:

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 151 participants over 4 months at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh, a tertiary care hospital in Uttarakhand, India. Extensive work on quantifying daily nutritional intake and requirement was done to estimate antenatal women’s nutritional status suffering from anaemia.

Results:

The proportion of anaemia among pregnant women was 37.09%, with mean haemoglobin of 11 g/dl, mode and median of 11.3 g/dl with higher and moderate anaemia than mild. It was in direct proportion with the number of abortions, gravid status and trimester of pregnancy. There was a protein deficit of 30–60% in 73.2% of the anaemic patients. Iron tablets were taken regularly by 85.5% of anaemic patients and 87.1% of non-anaemic patients. None of the anaemic patients met their 100% calorie requirement. The least calorie deficit was found to be 14.4%. A calorie deficit of 30–60% was found in 75% of the anaemic patients. Patients with severe anaemia had a calorie deficit of 40–60%.

Discussion:

Poverty, ignorance and non-availability of resources are the key factors underlying this condition. The lacunae in the delivery chain of beneficence to antenatal women offered by the government need to be looked at. Family planning has a pivotal role in controlling anaemia, as a high frequency of abortions and pregnancies were associated with anaemia.

Medical Cannabis Certification Is Associated With Decreased Opiate Use in Patients With Chronic Pain: A Retrospective Cohort Study in Delaware

Background

Opioid medications are commonly used to treat chronic pain around the world. While these medications are quite effective at reducing pain, they can create opioid dependence and lead to further drug addiction. Long-term opioid use has significantly contributed to the “opioid epidemic” that is currently ravaging the United States, leading to opioid overdoses and unintentional deaths, particularly in Delaware.

Objective

To determine if medical marijuana certification helps patients in Delaware with chronic pain reduce their opiate use.

Methods

In this study, we examined individuals who were provided with legal; medical cannabis certifications in the state of Delaware between June 2018 and October 2019 and were concurrently being treated with opioid medications for chronic pain at a private pain management practice. Using a posthoc analysis, we conducted a retrospective cohort study on the individuals (n = 81) to determine if there was a decrease in their opioid use following medical cannabis certification. Opioid use was measured in morphine milligram equivalent (MME) through the Delaware prescription monitoring program (PMP) database.

Results

Overall, the average change in prescribed opioid use was found to be -12.3 morphine milligram equivalent (MME) units when including all individuals (p < 0.00001). Among the included individuals with baseline opioid use, medical cannabis certification was associated with a 31.3% average decrease in opioid use (n = 63). When examining subgroups based upon pain location, individuals with neck pain displayed a 41.5% average decrease in MME (n = 27), while individuals with low back pain were observed to have a 29.4% decrease in opioid use (n = 58). Similarly, individuals with knee pain (n = 14) reduced their opioid use by 32.6%.

Conclusion

The results display an association between medical cannabis certification and a decrease in opiate use among the study group individuals. This study suggests that medical cannabis use may help individuals to reduce their opiate requirements along with physician intervention. More research is needed to validate these findings with appropriate controls and verification of cannabis use.

Neonatal intussusception secondary to intestinal duplication cyst: A case report

Background: Intussusception is a rare cause of bleeding per rectum in neonates. Duplication cyst as a pathological lead point for intussusception is rarer too. Case Presentation: A female neonate presented with bilious vomiting and bleeding per rectum. Ultrasonography diagnosed it as intussusception. Intraoperatively, on reduction of intussusception, a mass was found which on histopathological examination (HPE) revealed a duplication cyst. Conclusion: A high index of suspicion is required for an early diagnosis of neonatal intussusception, which is essential for preventing complications and mortality.

Handling missing data in a rheumatoid arthritis registry using random forest approach

Missing data in clinical epidemiological research violate the intention-to-treat principle, reduce the power of statistical analysis, and can introduce bias if the cause of missing data is related to a patient's response to treatment. Multiple imputation provides a solution to predict the values of missing data. The main objective of this study is to estimate and impute missing values in patient records. The data from the Kuwait Registry for Rheumatic Diseases was used to deal with missing values among patient records. A number of methods were implemented to deal with missing data; however, choosing the best imputation method was judged by the lowest root mean square error (RMSE). Among 1735 rheumatoid arthritis patients, we found missing values vary from 5% to 65.5% of the total observations. The results show that sequential random forest method can estimate these missing values with a high level of accuracy. The RMSE varied between 2.5 and 5.0. missForest had the lowest imputation error for both continuous and categorical variables under each missing data rate (10%, 20%, and 30%) and had the smallest prediction error difference when the models used the imputed laboratory values.

Erratum: Azimuthal Anisotropy at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider: The First and Fourth Harmonics [Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 062301 (2004)]

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.92.062301.

A systematic review evaluating HIV prevalence among conflict-affected populations, 2005-2020

Historically, there has been concern that conflict may exacerbate the HIV epidemic. We conducted a systematic review to examine HIV prevalence in conflict-affected populations compared to district-level or countrywide HIV prevalence. Following PRISMA guidelines, studies presenting original HIV prevalence data published between 2005 and 2020 were drawn from PubMed, Scopus, and Embase. Data extracted included HIV prevalence, methods, dates, location, and population type. Studies were assessed for bias. Ten met criteria for data extraction; all focused on populations in sub-Saharan African. Most of the studies reported on mixed population settings while one was in a refugee camp. Six reported HIV prevalence higher than district- or country-level prevalence, while four reported lower HIV prevalence. Seven demonstrated moderate-to-high likelihood of bias in sampling, and five used methods limiting their comparability with local HIV prevalence. The relationship between armed conflict and HIV prevalence remains difficult to evaluate and likely varies by socioeconomic indicators.

An improved synthesis of indanocine and antiproliferative activity of 2-benzylindanocine via microtubule destabilization

Indanocine, a potent anticancer investigational drug of National Cancer Institute-USA, has been much discussed in recent years. Present communication aimed at total synthesis of indanocine and its close analogues. Total synthesis was improved by double yields than previously reported yields. Some of the benzylidene and 2-benzyl derivatives with free rotation at C2 position exhibited potential cytotoxicities against various human cancer cell lines. Five such analogues exhibited potential antiproliferative effect against HCT-116 and MIA PACA-2 cell lines. Benzylindanocine 12i induced microtubule destabilization by occupying colchicine binding pocket of β-tubulin. It also exhibited anti-inflammatory activity by down-regulating IL-6 and TNF-α. In Ehrlich ascites carcinoma model, 12i reduced 78.4% of EAC tumour in Swiss albino mice at 90 mg/kg (i.p.) dose. Further, in in vivo safety studies, 12i was found to be safe to rodents up to 1,000 mg/kg dose. Concomitant anticancer and anti-inflammatory activity of benzylindanocine is distinctive, which suggests its further optimization for better efficacy and druggability.

Comprehensive analysis of structural, functional, and evolutionary dynamics of Leucine Rich Repeats-RLKs in Thinopyrum elongatum

Leucine Rich Repeats-receptor-like protein kinases (LRR-RLKs) regulate several critical biological processes ranging from growth and development to stress response. Thinopyrum elongatum harbours many desirable traits such as biotic and abiotic stress resistance and therefore commonly used by wheat breeders. In the present investigation, in-silico analysis of LRR-RLKs yielded 589 genes of which 431 were membrane surface RLKs and 158 were receptor like cytoplasmic kinases. An insight into the gene and protein structure revealed quite a conserved nature of these proteins within subgroups. A large expansion in LRR-RLKs was due to tandem and segmental duplication event. Maximum number of tandem and segmentally duplicated pairs was observed in LRR-VI and LRR-XII subfamily, respectively. Furthermore, syntenic analyses revealed that chromosome 6 harboured more (48) tandem duplicated genes while chromosome 7 possessed more (47) segmentally duplicated genes. A detailed analysis about the gene duplication events coupled with expression profiles during Fusarium graminearum infection and water deficiency unravelled the expansion of the gene family with sub functionalization and neofunctionalization. Interaction network analysis showed that LRR-RLKs can heterodimerize upon ligand binding to perform various plant functional attributes.

Antihypertensive Effect of a Novel Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker Fluorophenyl Benzimidazole: Contribution of cGMP, Voltage-dependent Calcium Channels, and BKCa Channels to Vasorelaxant Mechanisms

Background: The current study presents the novel angiotensin II receptor blocker fluorophenyl benzimidazole (FPD) as an antihypertensive agent in the SHR model of hypertension. We investigated the role of cGMP, voltage-dependent L-type calcium channels, and BK_Ca channels in the vasorelaxant mechanisms of FPD in the rat superior mesenteric artery.

Methods: The antihypertensive effect of FPD was examined using an invasive technique measuring blood pressure in SHR animals. Using a myograph, tension measurement was completed in the superior mesenteric artery to elucidate the mechanisms of vasorelaxation involving AT1 receptors, the NO/cGMP pathway, L-type calcium channels, and BK_Ca channels. Ion flux (Ca²⁺, K⁺) studies were conducted in aortic smooth muscle cells. Putative targets proteins were determined by in silico docking studies. A safety evaluation of FPD was carried out using Swiss albino mice.

Results: FPD significantly decreased blood pressure in SHR. It relaxed superior mesenteric arteries in a concentration-dependent manner and significantly inhibited angiotensin II-induced contraction. The relaxation response was also mediated by an increase in tissue cGMP levels, inhibition of L-type calcium channels, and the opening of BK_Ca channels. FPD further enhanced efflux of K⁺ and inhibited Bay K8644-stimulated Ca²⁺ influx in aortic smooth muscle cells and docked well in an in silico study with the targets. It was well tolerated in the toxicity study.

Conclusion: The present study reports the antihypertensive activity of novel AT-1 receptor blocker FPD at 50 and 100 mg kg⁻¹ with cGMP, L-type calcium channels, and BK_Ca channels as putative targets of vasorelaxation, and was found safe in oral toxicity.

Chest shielding in preterm neonates under phototherapy-a randomised control trial

Shielding the precordium can effect manifestation of haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA). Preterm neonates born at ≤ 32 weeks of gestation if needed phototherapy within 72 h of birth and had no echocardiographically proven hsPDA were eligible to be enrolled in this open-label randomised controlled trial. In chest shielding group, in addition to the standard care, left side of the chest was covered using food grade aluminium foil during phototherapy while control group received standard care. Mean gestational age (weeks; 30.1 ± 1.5 vs 30.1 ± 1.6) was comparable in the two groups. However, neonates in the chest shield group had lower birth weight (g; 1281 ± 259 vs 1422 ± 307) and were more likely to be small-for-gestational age (21.6% vs 8.0%). It was seen that 4 (7.8%) babies in the chest shield group and 5 (10%) babies in the standard group developed hsPDA after starting phototherapy with relative risk (RR) of 0.78 (95% CI 0.22-2.75). The left atrium to aortic ratio was significantly different in the two groups with 1.5 ± 0.1 in the chest shield group and 1.8 ± 0.2 in standard group (p value 0.03).Conclusion: Chest shielding of preterm babies during phototherapy has no effect on the incidence of haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus.Trial registration: Trial was registered with Clinical trial registry of India (CTRI/2018/01/011069). What is Known: • Chest shielding in preterm neonates under phototherapy has inconclusive effect on the manifestation of patent ductus arteriosus. What is New: • Preterm neonates under phototherapy have no significant difference in manifestation of haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus if precordium is shielded.

Wheat 2-Cys peroxiredoxin plays a dual role in chlorophyll biosynthesis and adaptation to high temperature

The molecular mechanism of high-temperature stress (HTS) response, in plants, has so far been investigated using transcriptomics, while the dynamics of HTS-responsive proteome remain unexplored. We examined the adaptive responses of the resilient wheat cultivar 'Unnat Halna' and dissected the HTS-responsive proteome landscape. This led to the identification of 55 HTS-responsive proteins (HRPs), which are predominantly involved in metabolism and defense pathways. Interestingly, HRPs included a 2-cysteine peroxiredoxin (2CP), designated Ta2CP, presumably involved in stress perception and adaptation. Complementation of Ta2CP in yeast and heterologous expression in Arabidopsis demonstrated its role in thermotolerance. Both Ta2CP silencing and overexpression inferred the involvement of Ta2CP in plant growth and chlorophyll biosynthesis. We demonstrated that Ta2CP interacts with protochlorophyllide reductase b, TaPORB. Reduced TaPORB expression was found in Ta2cp-silenced plants, while upregulation was observed in Ta2CP-overexpressed plants. Furthermore, the downregulation of Ta2CP in Taporb-silenced plants and reduction of protochlorophyllide in Ta2cp-silenced plants suggested the key role of Ta2CP in chlorophyll metabolism. Additionally, the transcript levels of AGPase1 and starch were increased in Ta2cp-silenced plants. More significantly, HTS-treated Ta2cp-silenced plants showed adaptive responses despite increased reactive oxygen species and peroxide concentrations, which might help in rapid induction of high-temperature acclimation.

Therapeutic applications of mushrooms and their biomolecules along with a glimpse of in silico approach in neurodegenerative diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) represent a common neurological pathology that determines a progressive deterioration of the brain or the nervous system. For treating NDs, comprehensive and alternative medicines have attracted scientific researchers' attention recently. Edible mushrooms are essential for preventing several age-based neuronal dysfunctions such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. Mushroom such as Grifola frondosa, Lignosus rhinocerotis, Hericium erinaceus, may improve cognitive functions. It has also been reported that edible mushrooms (basidiocarps/mycelia extracts or isolated bioactive compounds) may reduce beta-amyloid-induced neurotoxicity. Medicinal mushrooms are being used for novel and natural compounds that help modulate immune responses and possess anti-cancer, anti-microbial, and anti-oxidant properties. Compounds such as polyphenols, terpenoids, alkaloids, sesquiterpenes, polysaccharides, and metal chelating agents are validated in different ND treatments. This review aims to assess mushrooms' role and their biomolecules utilization for treating different kinds of NDs. The action mechanisms, presented here, including reducing oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and modulation of acetylcholinesterase activity, protecting neurons or stimulation, and regulating neurotrophins synthesis. We also provide background about neurodegenerative diseases and in-silico techniques of the drug research. High costs associated with experiments and current ethical law imply efficient alternatives with limited cost value. In silico approaches provide an alternative method with low cost that has been successfully implemented to cure ND disorders in recent days. We also describe the applications of computational procedures such as molecular docking, virtual high-throughput screening, molecular dynamic (MD) simulation, quantum-mechanical methods for drug design. They were reported against various targets in NDs.

Forecast and prediction of COVID-19 using machine learning

COVID-19 outbreaks only affect the lives of people, they result in a negative impact on the economy of the country. On Jan. 30, 2020, it was declared as a health emergency for the entire globe by the World Health Organization (WHO). By Apr. 28, 2020, more than 3 million people were infected by this virus and there was no vaccine to prevent. The WHO released certain guidelines for safety, but they were only precautionary measures. The use of information technology with a focus on fields such as data Science and machine learning can help in the fight against this pandemic. It is important to have early warning methods through which one can forecast how much the disease will affect society, on the basis of which the government can take necessary actions without affecting its economy. In this chapter, we include methods for forecasting future cases based on existing data. Machine learning approaches are used and two solutions, one for predicting the chance of being infected and other for forecasting the number of positive cases, are discussed. A trial was done for different algorithms, and the algorithm that gave results with the best accuracy are covered in the chapter. The chapter discusses autoregressive integrated moving average time series for forecasting confirmed cases for various states of India. Two classifiers, random forest and extra tree classifiers, were selected; both have an accuracy of more than 90%. Of the two, the extra tree classifier has 93.62% accuracy. These results can be used to take corrective measures by different governmental bodies. The availability of techniques for forecasting infectious disease can make it easier to fight COVID-19.