Utilizing a Fe3O4 Magnetite Nanoparticle for Anode Modification in a Microbial Desalination Cell to Treat Saltwater

The microbial desalination cell (MDC) is a bio-electrochemical system that exhibits the ability to oxidize organic compounds, produce energy, and decrease the saline concentrations within the desalination chamber. The selective removal of ions from the desalination chamber is significantly influenced by the anion and cation exchange membranes. In this study, a three-chamber microbial desalination cell was developed to treat seawater using a synthesize Fe3O4 magnetite nanoparticle (MNP)-modified anode. The impact of different performance parameters, such as temperature, pH, and concentrations of NPs, has been investigated in order to assess the performance of three-chamber MDCs in terms of energy recovery and salt removal. The evaluation criteria of the system included multiple factors such as chemical oxygen demand (COD), Coulombic efficiency (CE), desalination efficiency, as well as system aspects including voltage generation and power density. The highest COD% removal efficiency was 74% at 37 °C, pH = 7, and 30 g/L salt concentration with an optimized NPs concentration of 2.0 mg/cm2 impregnated on anode. The maximum Coulombic efficiency was 10.3% with the maximum power density of 4.3 W/m3. The effect of the nanoparticle concentration impregnated on the anode was clarified by the primary factor of analysis. This research has revealed consistent patterns in the enhancement of voltage generation, COD, and Coulombic efficiencies when incorporating higher concentrations of nanoparticles on the anode at a certain point.

Genetic variants associated with dengue hemorrhagic fever. A systematic review and meta-analysis

Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is a severe condition resulting from the dengue virus, with four serotypes known as DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, and DEN-4. Genetic variations play a crucial role in influencing susceptibility to DHF. Therefore, this investigation conducted a meta-analysis to uncover genetic changes that might have remained undetected in individual studies due to small sample sizes or methodological differences. Among 2212 initially identified studies, 23 were deemed suitable for analysis based on PRISMA guidelines. Toll-like receptors (TLR) and CD209 showed significant association with DHF (odds ratios: TLR=0.56, CD209 =0.55), indicating protective effects. However, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) did not exhibit a statistically significant relationship with DHF. This study emphasizes the relevance of TLR and CD209 in DHF susceptibility and resistance across diverse geographical locations.

Alkaline protease functionalized hydrothermal synthesis of novel gold nanoparticles (ALPs-AuNPs): A new entry in photocatalytic and biological applications

Researchers are consistently investigating novel and distinctive methods and materials that are compatible for human life and environmental conditions This study aimed to synthesize gold nanoparticles (ALPs-AuNPs) using for the first time an alkaline protease (ALPs) derived from Phalaris minor seed extract. A series of physicochemical techniques were used to inquire the formation, size, shape and crystalline nature of ALPs-AuNPs. The nanoparticles' ability to degrade methylene blue (MB) through photocatalysis under visible light irradiation was assessed. The findings demonstrated that ALPs-AuNPs exhibited remarkable efficacy by destroying 100 % of MB within a mere 30-minute irradiation period. In addition, the ALPs-AuNPs demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in inhibiting the growth of gram-positive (S. aureus) and gram-negative (E. coli) bacteria. The inhibition zones examined against the two bacterial strains were 23(±0.3) mm and 19(±0.4); 13(±0.3) mm and 11(±0.5) mm under light and dark conditions respectively. The ALPs-AuNPs exhibited significant antioxidant activity by effectively scavenging 88 % of stable and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals. As a result, the findings demonstrated that the environmentally friendly ALPs-AuNPs showed a strong potential for MB degradation and bacterial pathogen treatment.

Application of nanomaterials as potential quorum quenchers for disease: Recent advances and challenges

Chemical signal molecules are used by bacteria to interact with one another. Small hormone-like molecules known as autoinducers are produced, released, detected, and responded to during chemical communication. Quorum Sensing (QS) is the word for this procedure; it allows bacterial populations to communicate and coordinate group behavior. Several research has been conducted on using inhibitors to prevent QS and minimize the detrimental consequences. Through the enzymatic breakdown of the autoinducer component, by preventing the formation of autoinducers, or by blocking their reception by adding some compounds (inhibitors) that can mimic the autoinducers, a technique known as "quorum quenching" (QQ) disrupts microbial communication. Numerous techniques, including colorimetry, electrochemistry, bioluminescence, chemiluminescence, fluorescence, chromatography-mass spectroscopy, and many more, can be used to test QS/QQ. They all permit quantitative and qualitative measurements of QS/QQ molecules. The mechanism of QS and QQ, as well as the use of QQ in the prevention of biofilms, are all elaborated upon in this writing, along with the fundamental study of nanoparticle (NP)in QQ. Q.

Isoform switching leads to downregulation of cytokine producing genes in estrogen receptor positive breast cancer

Objective: Estrogen receptor breast cancer (BC) is characterized by the expression of estrogen receptors. It is the most common cancer among women, with an incidence rate of 2.26 million cases worldwide. The aim of this study was to identify differentially expressed genes and isoform switching between estrogen receptor positive and triple negative BC samples. Methods: The data were collected from ArrayExpress, followed by preprocessing and subsequent mapping from HISAT2. Read quantification was performed by StringTie, and then R package ballgown was used to perform differential expression analysis. Functional enrichment analysis was conducted using Enrichr, and then immune genes were shortlisted based on the ScType marker database. Isoform switch analysis was also performed using the IsoformSwitchAnalyzeR package. Results: A total of 9,771 differentially expressed genes were identified, of which 86 were upregulated and 117 were downregulated. Six genes were identified as mainly associated with estrogen receptor positive BC, while a novel set of ten genes were found which have not previously been reported in estrogen receptor positive BC. Furthermore, alternative splicing and subsequent isoform usage in the immune system related genes were determined. Conclusion: This study identified the differential usage of isoforms in the immune system related genes in cancer cells that suggest immunosuppression due to the dysregulation of CXCR chemokine receptor binding, iron ion binding, and cytokine activity.

Green Synthetic Methods of Oxazine and Thiazine Scaffolds as Promising Medicinal Compounds: A Mini-Review

Medical researchers have paid close attention to the green synthesis of oxazine and thiazine derivatives since they provided a lead molecule for the creation of numerous possible bioactive compounds. This review provides more information on green synthesis, which will be very helpful to researchers in creating the most effective, affordable, and clinically significant thiazine and oxazine derivatives that are anticipated to have strong pharmacological effects. This has resulted in the identification of several substances with a wide range of intriguing biological functions. This article's goal is to examine the numerous green chemical processes used to create oxazine and thiazine derivatives and their biological activity. We anticipate that researchers interested in oxazine and thiazine chemicals will find this material to be useful. We anticipate that medicinal chemists looking for new active medicinal components for drug discovery and advance progress will find this review of considerable interest.

Eco-friendly synthesized nanoparticles as antimicrobial agents: an updated review

Green synthesis of NPs has gained extensive acceptance as they are reliable, eco-friendly, sustainable, and stable. Chemically synthesized NPs cause lung inflammation, heart problems, liver dysfunction, immune suppression, organ accumulation, and altered metabolism, leading to organ-specific toxicity. NPs synthesized from plants and microbes are biologically safe and cost-effective. These microbes and plant sources can consume and accumulate inorganic metal ions from their adjacent niches, thus synthesizing extracellular and intracellular NPs. These inherent characteristics of biological cells to process and modify inorganic metal ions into NPs have helped explore an area of biochemical analysis. Biological entities or their extracts used in NPs include algae, bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, viruses, yeasts, and plants, with varying capabilities through the bioreduction of metallic NPs. These biosynthesized NPs have a wide range of pharmaceutical applications, such as tissue engineering, detection of pathogens or proteins, antimicrobial agents, anticancer mediators, vehicles for drug delivery, formulations for functional foods, and identification of pathogens, which can contribute to translational research in medical applications. NPs have various applications in the food and drug packaging industry, agriculture, and environmental remediation.

Trofinetide for Rett Syndrome: Highlights on the Development and Related Inventions of the First USFDA-Approved Treatment for Rare Pediatric Unmet Medical Need

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a rare disability causing female-oriented pediatric neurodevelopmental unmet medical need. RTT was recognized in 1966. However, over the past 56 years, the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has authorized no effective treatment for RTT. Recently, Trofinetide was approved by the USFDA on 10 March 2023 as the first RTT treatment. This article underlines the pharmaceutical advancement, patent literature, and prospects of Trofinetide. The data for this study were gathered from the PubMed database, authentic websites (Acadia Pharmaceuticals, Neuren Pharmaceuticals, and USFDA), and free patent databases. Trofinetide was first disclosed by Neuren Pharmaceuticals in 2000 as a methyl group containing analog of the naturally occurring neuroprotective tripeptide called glycine-proline-glutamate (GPE). The joint efforts of Acadia Pharmaceuticals and Neuren Pharmaceuticals have developed Trofinetide. The mechanism of action of Trofinetide is not yet well established. However, it is supposed to improve neuronal morphology and synaptic functioning. The patent literature revealed a handful of inventions related to Trofinetide, providing excellent and unexplored broad research possibilities with Trofinetide. The development of innovative Trofinetide-based molecules, combinations of Trofinetide, patient-compliant drug formulations, and precise MECP2-mutation-related personalized medicines are foreseeable. Trofinetide is in clinical trials for some neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including treating Fragile X syndrome (FXS). It is expected that Trofinetide may be approved for treating FXS in the future. The USFDA-approval of Trofinetide is one of the important milestones for RTT therapy and is the beginning of a new era for the therapy of RTT, FXS, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), brain injury, stroke, and other NDDs.

Computational Studies and Antimicrobial Activity of 1-(benzo[d]oxazol-2-yl)-3,5-Diphenylformazan Derivatives

BACKGROUND

Due to the biological importance of the benzoxazole derivatives, some 1-(benzo[d]oxazol-2-yl)-3,5-diphenyl-formazans (4a-f) were synthesized and screened for in-silico studies and in-vitro antibacterial activity.

METHODS

The benzo[d]oxazole-2-thiol (1) was prepared by reacting with 2-aminophenol and carbon disulfide in the presence of alcoholic potassium hydroxide. Then 2-hydrazinylbenzo[d]oxazole (2) was synthesized from the reaction of compound 1 with hydrazine hydrate in the presence of alcohol. Compound 2 was reacted with aromatic aldehydes to give Schiff base, 2-(2-benzylidene-hydrazinyl)benzo[d]oxazole derivatives (3a-f). The title compounds, formazan derivatives (4a-f), were prepared by a reaction of benzene diazonium chloride. All compounds were confirmed by their physical data, FTIR, 1H-NMR, and 13CNMR spectral data. All the prepared title compounds were screened for in-silico studies and in-vitro antibacterial activity on various microbial strains.

RESULTS

Molecular docking against the 4URO receptor demonstrated that molecule 4c showed a maximum dock score of (-) 8.0 kcal/mol. MD simulation data reflected the stable ligand-receptor interaction. As per MM/PBSA analysis, the maximum free binding energy of (-) 58.831 kJ/mol was exhibited by 4c. DFT calculation data confirmed that most of the molecules were soft molecules with electrophilic nature.

CONCLUSION

The synthesized molecules were validated using molecular docking, MD simulation, MMPBSA analysis, and DFT calculation. Among all the molecules, 4c showed maximum activity. The activity profile of the synthesized molecules against tested micro-organisms was found to be 4c>4b>4a>4e>4f>4d.

Computational formulation of a multiepitope vaccine unveils an exceptional prophylactic candidate against Merkel cell polyomavirus

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare neuroendocrine skin malignancy caused by human Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV), leading to the most aggressive skin cancer in humans. MCV has been identified in approximately 43%-100% of MCC cases, contributing to the highly aggressive nature of primary cutaneous carcinoma and leading to a notable mortality rate. Currently, no existing vaccines or drug candidates have shown efficacy in addressing the ailment caused by this specific pathogen. Therefore, this study aimed to design a novel multiepitope vaccine candidate against the virus using integrated immunoinformatics and vaccinomics approaches. Initially, the highest antigenic, immunogenic, and non-allergenic epitopes of cytotoxic T lymphocytes, helper T lymphocytes, and linear B lymphocytes corresponding to the virus whole protein sequences were identified and retrieved for vaccine construction. Subsequently, the selected epitopes were linked with appropriate linkers and added an adjuvant in front of the construct to enhance the immunogenicity of the vaccine candidates. Additionally, molecular docking and dynamics simulations identified strong and stable binding interactions between vaccine candidates and human Toll-like receptor 4. Furthermore, computer-aided immune simulation found the real-life-like immune response of vaccine candidates upon administration to the human body. Finally, codon optimization was conducted on the vaccine candidates to facilitate the in silico cloning of the vaccine into the pET28+(a) cloning vector. In conclusion, the vaccine candidate developed in this study is anticipated to augment the immune response in humans and effectively combat the virus. Nevertheless, it is imperative to conduct in vitro and in vivo assays to evaluate the efficacy of these vaccine candidates thoroughly. These evaluations will provide critical insights into the vaccine's effectiveness and potential for further development.

In Silico Identification of Natural Product-Based Inhibitors Targeting IL-1β/IL-1R Protein-Protein Interface

IL-1β mediates inflammation and regulates immune responses, cell proliferation, and differentiation. Dysregulation of IL-1β is linked to inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Elevated IL-1β levels are found in patients with severe COVID-19, indicating its excessive production may worsen the disease. Also, dry eye disease patients show high IL-1β levels in tears and conjunctival epithelium. Therefore, IL-1β signaling is a potential therapeutic targeting for COVID-19 and aforementioned diseases. No small-molecule IL-1β inhibitor is clinically approved despite efforts. Developing such inhibitors is highly desirable. Herein, a docking-based strategy was used to screen the TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) database to identify possible IL-1β inhibitors with desirable pharmacological characteristics by targeting the IL-1β/IL-1R interface. Primarily, the docking-based screening was performed by selecting the crucial residues of IL-1β interface to retrieve the potential compounds. Afterwards, the compounds were shortlisted on the basis of binding scores and significant interactions with the crucial residues of IL-1β. Further, to gain insights into the dynamic behavior of the protein-ligand interactions, MD simulations were performed. The analysis suggests that four selected compounds were stabilized in an IL-1β pocket, possibly blocking the formation of an IL-1β/IL-1R complex. This indicates their potential to interfere with the immune response, making them potential therapeutic agents to investigate further.

Recombinant expression and preliminary characterization of Peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans-isomerase Rrd1 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Sacchromycescerevisiae Peptidyl-prolylcis/trans-isomerase Rrd1 has been linked to DNA repair, bud morphogenesis, advancement of the G1 phase, DNA replication stress, microtubule dynamics and is also necessary for the quick decrease in Sgs1p levels in response to rapamycin. In present study, Rrd1 gene was amplified by standard PCR and subsequently cloned downstream to bacteriophage T7 inducible promoter and lac operator of expression vector pET21d(+). Additionally, immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) was used to purify the protein upto its homogeneity, and its homogeneous purity was further confirmed through western blotting. Size exclusion chromatography implies that Rrd1 is existing as monomer in its natural state. Foldwise Rrd1 protein belongs to PTPA-like protein superfamily. Rrd1 showed characteristic negative minima at 222 and 208 nm represent protein typically acquired α helix in the far-UV CD spectra. Fluorescence spectra showed properly folded tertiary structures of Rrd1 at physiological conditions. Rrd1protein can be identified from different species using a fingerprint created by PIPSA analysis. The protein's abundance could aid in its crystallization, biophysical characterization and identification of other-interacting partners of Rrd1 protein.

PEGylated Graphene Oxide as a Nanodrug Delivery Vehicle for Podophyllotoxin (GO/PEG/PTOX) and In Vitro α-Amylase/α-Glucosidase Inhibition Activities

This study aims to develop a nanodrug delivery system containing podophyllotoxin (PTOX), a known anticancer drug, loaded on graphene oxide (GO). The system's ability to inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes was also investigated. PTOX was isolated from Podophyllum hexandrum roots with a yield of 2.3%. GO, prepared by Hummer's method, was converted into GO-COOH and surface-mobilized using polyethylene glycol (PEG) (1:1) in an aqueous medium to obtain GO-PEG. PTOX was loaded on GO-PEG in a facile manner with a 25% loading ratio. All the samples were characterized using FT-IR spectroscopy, UV/visible spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In FT-IR spectral data, GO-PEG-PTOX exhibited a reduction in acidic functionalities and there was an appearance of the ester linkage of PTOX with GO. The UV/visible measurements suggested an increase of absorbance in 290-350 nm regions for GO-PEG, suggesting the successful drug loading on its surface (25%). GO-PEG-PTOX exhibited a rough, aggregated, and scattered type of pattern in SEM with distinct edges and binding of PTOX on its surface. GO-PEG-PTOX remained potent in inhibiting both α-amylase and α-glucosidase with IC₅₀ values of 7 and 5 mg/mL, closer to the IC₅₀ of pure PTOX (5 and 4.5 mg/mL), respectively. Owing to the 25% loading ratio and 50% release within 48 h, our results are much more promising. Additionally, the molecular docking studies confirmed four types of interactions between the active centers of enzymes and PTOX, thus supporting the experimental results. In conclusion, the PTOX-loaded GO nanocomposites are promising α-amylase- and α-glucosidase-inhibitory agents when applied in vitro and have been reported for the first time.

Efficient photodegradation of methyl red dye by kaolin clay supported zinc oxide nanoparticles with their antibacterial and antioxidant activities

Kaolin clay-supported Zinc oxide (ZnO/KC) and ZnO NPs nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by a chemical reduction process and used for the photodegradation of methyl red (MR) dye as a photocatalyst. Due to the interlayered porous structure of the KC, we achieved an extremely good association between ZnO NPs and KC. The product confirmation was conducted by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-Ray (EDX), and Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR). SEM showed the irregular morphology of ZnO NPs, while ZnO/KC NCs were predominately round-shaped. Moreover, in both cases, NPs were present in both dispersed as well as agglomerated forms with an average particle size below 100 nm. The results acquired from photodegradation analyses show that ZnO NPs and ZnO/KC NCs degraded about 90 and 99% of MR dye respectively, under UV light in a short irradiation time of 10 min. The recovered and re-recovered ZnO NPs and ZnO/KC NCs also considerably photodegraded MR dye in an aqueous medium. The same NPs also exhibit promising bioactivities against two pathogenic bacteria, i.e., Citrobacter and Providencia. The antioxidant activity of ZnO/KC NCs reached to reasonable 70% compared to the 88% activity of the standard ascorbic acid.

Highlights on the Development, Related Patents, and Prospects of Lenacapavir: The First-in-Class HIV-1 Capsid Inhibitor for the Treatment of Multi-Drug-Resistant HIV-1 Infection

The multidrug-resistant (MDR) human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) infection is an unmet medical need. HIV-1 capsid plays an important role at different stages of the HIV-1 replication cycle and is an attractive drug target for developing therapies against MDR HIV-1 infection. Lenacapavir (LEN) is the first-in-class HIV-1 capsid inhibitor approved by the USFDA, EMA, and Health Canada for treating MDR HIV-1 infection. This article highlights the development, pharmaceutical aspects, clinical studies, patent literature, and future directions on LEN-based therapies. The literature for this review was collected from PubMed, authentic websites (USFDA, EMA, Health Canada, Gilead, and NIH), and the free patent database (Espacenet, USPTO, and Patent scope). LEN has been developed by Gilead and is marketed as Sunlenca (tablet and subcutaneous injection). The long-acting and patient-compliant LEN demonstrated a low level of drug-related mutations, is active against MDR HIV-1 infection, and does not reveal cross-resistance to other anti-HIV drugs. LEN is also an excellent drug for patients having difficult or limited access to healthcare facilities. The literature has established additive/synergistic effects of combining LEN with rilpivirine, cabotegravir, islatravir, bictegravir, and tenofovir. HIV-1 infection may be accompanied by opportunistic infections such as tuberculosis (TB). The associated diseases make HIV treatment complex and warrant drug interaction studies (drug-drug, drug-food, and drug-disease interaction). Many inventions on different aspects of LEN have been claimed in patent literature. However, there is a great scope for developing more inventions related to the drug combination of LEN with anti-HIV/anti-TB drugs in a single dosage form, new formulations, and methods of treating HIV and TB co-infection. Additional research may provide more LEN-based treatments with favorable pharmacokinetic parameters for MDR HIV-1 infections and associated opportunistic infections such as TB.

Role of Natural Products in the Management of COVID-19: A Saudi Arabian Perspective

The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented circumstance that has never previously occurred. This has caused the Saudi Arabian people to recognize the necessity of preventive measures and explore alternative systems, such as using natural products (NPs), for treating their infection. Therefore, the specific objectives of this study were to explore the factors that influence the selection of NPs for COVID-19 management and to know the outcome of using NPs in COVID-19 infection management. This observational cross-sectional study was conducted in Saudi Arabia between February and April 2022. The validated pretested questionnaire was distributed among different regions of the country via a purposive snowball sampling procedure. Both descriptive statistics and stepwise regression analyses were carried out to evaluate the parameters related to the use of medicinal plants for the prevention of COVID-19 and the treatment of respiratory symptoms during the pandemic. The data obtained were statistically analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 25 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Of the 677 participants, 65% reported using NPs for themselves or family members during COVID-19. Utilizing NPs is always given priority by a significant (p < 0.001) percentage of survey respondents. Further, a highly significant (p < 0.001) percentage of participants felt that using NPs reduced their COVID-19 symptoms without having any remarkable (p < 0.001) adverse effects. Family and friends (59%) were the most frequent sources of information about utilizing NPs, followed by personal experience (41%). Honey (62.7%) and ginger (53.8%) were the most utilized NP among participants. Moreover, black seeds, garlic and turmeric were used by 40.5%, 37.7% and 26.3% of the surveyors, respectively. Those who used NPs before COVID-19 were 72.9% more likely to use them during COVID-19. NPs are more likely to be used by 75% of people who live in the central part of the country and whose families prefer it. This is true even if other factors are considered, such as the practice of using NPs along with traditional therapies and the fact that some participants' families prefer it. Our findings show that NPs were commonly used to treat COVID-19 infection among Saudi Arabian residents. Close friends and family members mainly encouraged the use of NPs. Overall, the use of NPs was high among those who participated in our study; such practices are strongly impacted by society. It is essential to promote extensive studies to improve the recognition and accessibility of these products. Authorities should also educate the people about the benefits and risks of using commonly used NPs, especially those reported in this study.

Atorvastatin and Fluvastatin Potentiate Blood Pressure Lowering Effect of Amlodipine through Vasorelaxant Phenomenon

Background and Objectives: We have recently reported that stains have calcium channel blocking activity in isolated jejunal preparations. In this study, we examined the effects of atorvastatin and fluvastatin on blood vessels for a possible vasorelaxant effect. We also studied the possible additional vasorelaxant effect of atorvastatin and fluvastatin, in the presence of amlodipine, to quantify its effects on the systolic blood pressure of experimental animals. Materials and Methods: Atorvastatin and fluvastatin were tested in isolated rabbits' aortic strip preparations using 80mM Potassium Chloride (KCl) induced contractions and 1 micro molar Norepinephrine (NE) induced contractions. A positive relaxing effect on 80 mM KCl induced contractions were further confirmed in the absence and presence of atorvastatin and fluvastatin by constructing calcium concentration response curves (CCRCs) while using verapamil as a standard calcium channel blocker. In another series of experiments, hypertension was induced in Wistar rats and different test concentrations of atorvastatin and fluvastatin were administered in their respective EC₅₀ values to the test animals. A fall in their systolic blood pressure was noted using amlodipine as a standard vasorelaxant drug. Results: The results show that fluvastatin is more potent than amlodipine as it relaxed NE induced contractions where the amplitude reached 10% of its control in denuded aortae. Atorvastatin relaxed KCL induced contractions with an amplitude reaching 34.4% of control response as compared to the amlodipine response, i.e., 39.1%. A right shift in the EC₅₀ (Log Ca++ M) of Calcium Concentration Response Curves (CCRCs) implies that statins have calcium channel blocking activity. A right shift in the EC₅₀ of fluvastatin with relatively less EC₅₀ value (-2.8 Log Ca++ M) in the presence of test concentration (1.2 × 10^-7 M) of fluvastatin implies that fluvastatin is more potent than atorvastatin. The shift in EC₅₀ resembles the shift of Verapamil, a standard calcium channel blocker (-1.41 Log Ca++ M). Conclusions: Atorvastatin and fluvastatin relax the aortic strip preparations predominantly through the inhibition of voltage gated calcium channels in high molar KCL induced contractions. These statins also inhibit the effects of NE induced contractions. The study also confirms that atorvastatin and fluvastatin potentiate blood pressure lowering effects in hypertensive rats.

Identification of Small Molecule Inhibitors of Human Cytomegalovirus pUL89 Endonuclease Using Integrated Computational Approaches

Replication of Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) requires the presence of a metal-dependent endonuclease at the C-terminus of pUL89, in order to properly pack and cleave the viral genome. Therefore, pUL89 is an attractive target to design anti-CMV intervention. Herein, we used integrated structure-based and ligand-based virtual screening approaches in combination with MD simulation for the identification of potential metal binding small molecule antagonist of pUL89. In this regard, the essential chemical features needed for the inhibition of pUL89 endonuclease domain were defined and used as a 3D query to search chemical compounds from ZINC and ChEMBL database. Thereafter, the molecular docking and ligand-based shape screening were used to narrow down the compounds based on previously identified pUL89 antagonists. The selected virtual hits were further subjected to MD simulation to determine the intrinsic and ligand-induced flexibility of pUL89. The predicted binding modes showed that the compounds reside well in the binding site of endonuclease domain by chelating with the metal ions and crucial residues. Taken in concert, the in silico investigation led to the identification of potential pUL89 antagonists. This study provided promising starting point for further in vitro and in vivo studies.

QcrB inhibition as a potential approach for the treatment of tuberculosis: A review of recent developments, patents, and future directions

The unmet medical need for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DRTB) is a significant concern. Accordingly, identifying new drug targets for tuberculosis (TB) treatment and developing new therapies based on these drug targets is one of the strategies to tackle DRTB. QcrB is an innovative drug target to create treatments for DRTB. This article highlights QcrB inhibitors and their therapeutic compositions for treating TB. The literature for this article was gathered from PubMed and free patent databases utilizing different keywords related to QcrB inhibitor-based inventions. The data was collected from the conceptualization of telacebec (2010) QcrB to December 2022. A little interesting and encouraging research has been performed on QcrB inhibitors. Telacebec and TB47 are established QcrB inhibitors in the clinical trial. The inventive QcrB inhibitor-based drug combinations can potentially handle DRTB and reduce the TB therapy duration. The authors anticipate great opportunities in fostering QcrB inhibitor-based patentable pharmaceutical inventions against TB. Drug repurposing can be a promising strategy to get safe and effective QcrB inhibitors. However, developing drug resistance, drug tolerance, and selectivity of QcrB inhibitors for Mtb will be the main challenges in developing effective QcrB inhibitors. In conclusion, QcrB is a promising drug target for developing effective treatments for active, latent, and drug-resistant TB. Many inventive and patentable combinations and compositions of QcrB inhibitors with other anti-TB drugs are anticipated as future treatments for TB.

g-C3N4 Based Photocatalyst for the Efficient Photodegradation of Toxic Methyl Orange Dye: Recent Modifications and Future Perspectives

Industrial effluents containing dyes are the dominant pollutants, making the drinking water unfit. Among the dyes, methylene orange (MO) dye is mutagenic, carcinogenic and toxic to aquatic organisms. Therefore, its removal from water bodies through effective and economical approach is gaining increased attention in the last decades. Photocatalytic degradation has the ability to convert economically complex dye molecules into non-toxic and smaller species via redox reactions, by using photocatalysts. g-C₃N₄ is a metal-free n-type semiconductor, typical nonmetallic and non-toxici polymeric photocatalyst. It widely used in photocatalytic materials, due to its easy and simple synthesis, fascinating electronic band structure, high stability and abundant availability. As a photocatalyst, its major drawbacks are its limited efficiency in separating photo-excited electron-hole pairs, high separated charge recombination, low specific surface area, and low absorption coefficient. In this review, we report the recent modification strategies adopted for g-C₃N₄ for the efficient photodegradation of MO dye. The different modification approaches, such as nanocomposites and heterojunctions, as well as doping and defect introductions, are briefly discussed. The mechanism of the photodegradation of MO dye by g-C₃N₄ and future perspectives are discussed. This review paper will predict strategies for the fabrication of an efficient g-C₃N₄-based photocatalyst for the photodegradation of MO dye.

Multi-objective deep learning framework for COVID-19 dataset problems

Background

It has been reported that a deadly virus known as COVID-19 has arisen in China and has spread rapidly throughout the country. The globe was shattered, and a large number of people on the planet died. It quickly became an epidemic due to the absence of apparent symptoms and causes for patients, confusion appears due to the lack of sufficient laboratory results, and its intelligent algorithms were used to make decisions on clinical outcomes.

Methods

This study developed a new framework for medical datasets with high missing values based on deep-learning optimization models. The robustness of our model is achieved by combining: Data Missing Care (DMC) Framework to overcome the problem of high missing data in medical datasets, and Grid-Search optimization used to develop an improved deep predictive training model for patients with COVID-19 by setting multiple hyperparameters and tuning assessments on three deep learning algorithms: ANN (Artificial Neural Network), CNN (Convolutional Neural Network), and Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN).

Results

The experiment results conducted on three medical datasets showed the effectiveness of our hybrid approach and an improvement in accuracy and efficiency since all the evaluation metrics were close to ideal for all deep learning classifiers. We got the best evaluation in terms of accuracy 98%, precession 98.5%, F1-score 98.6%, and ROC Curve (95% to 99%) for the COVID-19 dataset provided by GitHub. The second dataset is also Covid-19 provided by Albert Einstein Hospital with high missing data after applying our approach the accuracy reached more than 91%. Third dataset for Cervical Cancer provided by Kaggle all the evaluation metrics reached more than 95%.

Conclusions

The proposed formula for processing this type of data can replace the traditional formats in optimization while providing high accuracy and less time to classify patients. Whereas, the experimental results of our approach, supported by comprehensive statistical analysis, can improve the overall evaluation performance of the problem of classifying medical data sets with high missing values. Therefore, this approach can be used in many areas such as energy management, environment, and medicine.

The Effects of Moxifloxacin and Gemifloxacin on the ECG Morphology in Healthy Volunteers: A Phase 1 Randomized Clinical Trial

Moxifloxacin and gemifloxacin are the two newer broad-spectrum 8-methoxy-quinolone derivatives that are used to treat various bacterial infections in cardiac patients. In this research study, we assessed the impact of moxifloxacin and gemifloxacin on the QT intervals of electrocardiograms in normal adult doses and draw a comparison, in a controlled environment, on healthy volunteers. Additionally, the effect of both test drugs on the QRS complex was checked. Sixty healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to two groups via R-software, and each respectively received moxifloxacin and gemifloxacin for five days. The research ethics committee approved the research, and it was registered for clinical trial under NCT04692623. The participants' electrocardiograms were obtained before the start of the dose (baseline) and on the fifth day. Significant prolongation of QT interval was noted in moxifloxacin (p < 0.0001) as compared to gemifloxacin treated groups. There were no cases of QTc prolongation over the usual limits (450-470 ms) in the gemifloxacin-treated group, however, QTc prolongations at the rate of 30 and 60 ms from the baseline were noted, interpreted as per the EMEA guidelines. These findings indicate that moxifloxacin caused significant (p < 0.0001) QT interval prolongation (QTIP) as compared to gemifloxacin. In contrast to the previously reported literature, the prominent effect of moxifloxacin on the widening of the QRS-complex was noted with no such effect on QRS-widening in the gemifloxacin-treated group. It is concluded that both drugs have the potential for considerable QT interval prolongation (QTIP) effects, which is one of the risk factors for developing torsade de pointes (TdPs) in cardiac patients. Thus, clinicians should exercise caution when prescribing moxifloxacin and gemifloxacin to cardiac patients and should consider alternate treatment options.

Assessing the adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccine in different scenarios in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

To assess the different side effects of COVID-19 vaccines at different scenarios in Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study sought to investigate the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines through an online survey of 2,718 participants in Saudi Arabia.

RESULTS

People can manage their expectations about vaccine side effects and deal with symptoms better by knowing beforehand that they are likely to experience mild side effects for a short period, symptoms that are manifested regardless of age, and infection before or after vaccination. There are certain uncommon side effects that affect more people who got infected, and not before vaccination; there are side effects that disproportionately impact women, and also the side effects that wane after the second dose.

CONCLUSION

These findings can assist in evaluating the concerns regarding vaccine acceptance. The public should be made aware that they are likely to experience at least one side effect, with temporary post-injection inflammation, musculoskeletal pain, fever, and headache as the most commonly reported side effects across the board. However, the common symptoms are mild to moderate, and the side effects last for a short period for most people.

Green synthesis of MgO nanoparticles and its antibacterial properties

Magnesium oxide nanostructured particles (NP) were prepared using a simple solution combustion technique using different leaf extracts such as Mangifera indica (Mango - Ma), Azadirachta indica (Neem-Ne), and Carica papaya (Papaya-Pa) as surfactants. The highly crystalline phase of MgO nanostructures was confirmed by PXRD and FTIR studies for 2 h 500°C calcined samples. To analyze the characteristics of obtained material-MaNP, NeNP, and PaNP for dosimetry applications, thermoluminescence (TL) studies were carried out for Co-60 gamma rays irradiated samples in the dose range 10-50 KGy; PaNP and NeNP exhibited well-defined glow curve when compared with MaNP samples. In addition, it was observed that the TL intensity decreases, with increase in gamma dose and the glow peak temperature is shifted towards the higher temperature with the increase in heating rate. The glow peak was segregated using glow curve deconvolution and thermal cleaning method. Kinetic parameters estimated using Chen's method, trap depth (E), and frequency factor (s) were found to be 0.699, 7.408, 0.4929, and 38.71, 11.008, and 10.71 for PaNP, NeNP, and MaNP respectively. The well-resolved glow curve, good linear behavior in the dose range of 10-50, KGy, and less fading were observed in PaNP as compared with MaNP and NeNP. Further, the antibacterial activity was checked against human pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A visible zone of clearance was observed at 200 and 100 μg/mL by the PaNP and NeNP, indicating the death of colonies by the nanoparticles. Therefore, PaNP nanomaterial is a potential phosphor material for dosimetry and antibacterial application compared to NeNP and MaNP.

β Pore-forming Protein-based Evolutionary Divergence of Gnathostomata from Agnatha

INTRODUCTION

The first vertebrates were jawless fish, or Agnatha, whose evolution diverged into jawed fish, or Gnathostomes, around 550 million years ago.

METHODS

In this study, we investigated β PFT proteins' evolutionary divergence of lamprey immune protein from Agnatha, reportedly possessing anti-cancer activity, into Dln1 protein from Gnathostomes. Both proteins showed structural and functional divergence, and shared evolutionary origin. Primary, secondary and tertiary sequences were compared to discover functional domains and conserved motifs in order to study the evolution of these two proteins. The structural and functional information relevant to evolutionary divergence was revealed using hydrophobic cluster analysis.

RESULTS

The findings demonstrate that two membrane proteins with only a small degree of sequence identity can have remarkably similar hydropathy profiles, pointing towards conserved and similar global structures. When facing the lipid bilayer or lining the pore lumen, the two proteins' aerolysin domains' corresponding residues displayed a similar and largely conserved pattern. Aerolysin-like proteins from different species can be identified using a fingerprint created by PIPSA analysis of the pore-forming protein.

CONCLUSION

We were able to fully understand the mechanism of action during pore formation through structural studies of these proteins.

Phytochemical and pharmacological profiling of Trewia nudiflora Linn. leaf extract deciphers therapeutic potentials against thrombosis, arthritis, helminths, and insects

The objective of the current study was to examine the phytochemical and in vitro thrombolytic, anti-arthritic, anthelmintic, and insecticidal effects of Trewia nudiflora (TN) methanolic leaf extract with its methanol (MTN), chloroform (CTN), and ethyl acetate (ETN) fractions. Pheretima posthuma and Tribolium castaneum were employed for evaluating the antihelmintic and insecticidal properties, respectively. All the tested extracts showed the presence of copious potential constituents in phytochemical analysis. Among all extracts, MTN extract exhibited the utmost clot lysis (35.95 ± 4.81%) property compared to standard streptokinase (SK) (53.77 ± 7.52%). All samples displayed striking protein denaturation activity in a dose-dependent manner (100–500 µg/mL), where the highest inhibition was observed for MTN (67.26 ± 6.39% at 500 µg/mL). Each extract demonstrated considerable anthelmintic activity at 25–75 mg/mL dose ranges. ETN showed the strongest anthelmintic activity at the highest dose. Among all samples, the CTN extract displayed the utmost mortality rate (77.22%) in the insecticidal test. The results of the study suggest that T. nudiflora leaf extracts may have potential against thrombosis, arthritis, helminths, and insects, which warrants the necessity of extensive isolation and identification of bioactive compounds to develop newer effective drugs upon preclinical and clinical investigations.

CRISPR-Cas Genome Editing Technique for Fish Disease Management: Current Study and Future Perspective

Scientists have discovered many ways to treat bacteria, viruses, and parasites in aquaculture; however, there is still an impossibility in finding a permanent solution for all types of diseases. In that case, the CRISPR-Cas genome-editing technique can be the potential solution to preventing diseases for aquaculture sustainability. CRISPR-Cas is cheaper, easier, and more precise than the other existing genome-editing technologies and can be used as a new disease treatment tool to solve the far-reaching challenges in aquaculture. This technique may now be employed in novel ways, such as modifying a single nucleotide base or tagging a location in the DNA with a fluorescent protein. This review paper provides an informative discussion on adopting CRISPR technology in aquaculture disease management. Starting with the basic knowledge of CRISPR technology and phages, this study highlights the development of RNA-guided immunity to combat the Chilodonella protozoan group and nervous necrosis virus (NNV) in marine finfish. Additionally, we highlight the immunological application of CRISPR-Cas against bacterial diseases in channel catfish and the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in shrimp. In addition, the review summarizes a synthesis of bioinformatics tools used for CRISPR-Cas sgRNA design, and acceptable solutions are discussed, considering the limitations.

Core Proteomics and Immunoinformatic Approaches to Design a Multiepitope Reverse Vaccine Candidate against Chagas Disease

Chagas disease is a tropical ailment indigenous to South America and caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which has serious health consequences globally. Insect vectors transmit the parasite and, due to the lack of vaccine availability and limited treatment options, we implemented an integrated core proteomics analysis to design a reverse vaccine candidate based on immune epitopes for disease control. Firstly, T. cruzi core proteomics was used to identify immunodominant epitopes. Therefore, we designed the vaccine sequence to be non-allergic, antigenic, immunogenic, and to have better solubility. After predicting the tertiary structure, docking and molecular dynamics simulation (MDS) were performed with TLR4, MHC-I, and MHC-II receptors to discover the binding affinities. The final vaccine design demonstrated significant hydrogen bond interactions upon docking with TLR4, MHC-I, and MHC-II receptors. This indicated the efficacy of the vaccine candidate. A server-based immune simulation approach was generated to predict the efficacy. Significant structural compactness and binding stability were found based on MDS. Finally, by optimizing codons on Escherichia coli K12, a high GC content and CAI value were obtained, which were then incorporated into the cloning vector pET2+ (a). Thus, the developed vaccine sequence may be a viable therapy option for Chagas disease.

A study on green synthesis, characterization of chromium oxide nanoparticles and their enzyme inhibitory potential

The conventional chemical methods of nanoparticles synthesis have been effectively replaced by nanoparticle synthesis mediated by plants. The current study describes the environmental friendly synthesis of chromium oxide nanoparticles (Cr₂O₃ NPs) using Erythrophleum guineense plant extract. The synthesis of Cr₂O₃ NPs was validated by UV/VIS spectroscopy, Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. The appearance of the Sharpe peak at 460 nm in the UV/Vis spectrum and the colour change caused by surface plasma resonance confirmed the formation of Cr₂O₃ NPs. The EDX spectrum of Cr₂O₃ nanoparticles revealed the presence of carbon, oxygen, and chromium, while SEM analysis revealed an irregular round morphology (with a size below 400 nm). In addition, XRD studies suggested their crystalline nature by the characteristic peaks at 34° and 36° and 42° (2Ɵ), respectively. The green synthesized Cr₂O₃ NPs showed promise as in-vitro cholinesterase inhibitor at tested concentrations (62.5–1,000 μg/ml), with IC₅₀ values of 120 and 100 μg/ml against Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), respectively. The results suggested that the green synthesized Cr₂O₃ NPs could be used in the future to stop enzyme from working and for other biological activities.

An insight into the discovery, clinical studies, compositions, and patents of macozinone: A drug targeting the DprE1 enzyme of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Decaprenyl-phosphoryl-ribose 2'-epimerase (DprE1) inhibitors are an innovative and futuristic orally active group of antituberculosis agents. A few DprE1 inhibitors are in the clinical trial for tuberculosis (TB), including macozinone. This review highlights the discovery, developmental status, clinical studies, patents, and prospects of macozinone (MCZ). The patent and non-patent literature search was done by entering keywords such as macozinone; MCZ; PBTZ169; PBTZ-169 in Pubmed, Espacenet, Patentscope, and the USPTO databases. However, data on Sci-Finder was searched using CAS registry number: 1377239-83-2. MCZ clinical trial studies were retrieved from the clinicaltrials.gov database using the exact keywords. The chemical structure of MCZ was disclosed in 2009. Accordingly, patents/patent applications published from 2009 to June 12, 2022, have been discussed herein. MCZ and MCZ hydrochloride salt patents were granted in 2014 and 2019, respectively, in the USA. The patent literature and the clinical trial studies suggest capsule, tablet, and suspension formulations of crystalline MCZ and its hydrochloride salt as the possible and prospective dosage forms to treat TB. Some combinations of MCZ with other drugs (chloroquine, telacebec, tafenoquine, TBI-166, and sanfetrinem) with improved anti-TB efficacy have been documented. Based on the literature covered in this review article on the clinical studies and patents applied/granted to MCZ, it can be inferred that MCZ seems to be a promising DprE1 inhibitor and could help to tackle the emerging dilemma of drug-resistant either as a monotherapy or in combination with additional anti-TB agents. Furthermore, the authors anticipate the development of new combinations, salts, and polymorphs of MCZ as anti-TB agents shortly. This review article might prove beneficial to the scientific community as it summarizes chemistry, pharmacology and provides an update on the clinical studies and patents/patent applications of one of the emerging anti-TB drugs in one place.

Association of Vitamin D Deficiency, Dyslipidemia, and Obesity with the Incidence of Coronary Artery Diseases in Type 2 Diabetic Saudi Patients

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disease associated with vascular complications. We aimed to evaluate the relationship of vitamin D deficiency, dyslipidemia, and obesity with the incidence of coronary artery disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

The study included 200 Saudi adult subjects, aged 40 - 60 years, of both genders, attending King Abdulaziz Specialist Hospital in Taif city. Subjects were divided into four groups; 50 subjects each: Control group, type 2 diabetic, type 2 diabetic with coronary artery disease, and type 2 diabetic obese patients having body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2. Serum vitamin D (25-OH-D), fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG), and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were estimated.

RESULTS

Serum vitamin D and HDL-C in the three diabetic patient groups were significantly decreased (p < 0.001) compared to the control group. Among patient groups, the levels in the diabetic coronary and diabetic obese patients were significantly decreased as compared to the diabetic patient group (p < 0.001). FBG levels, HbA1c%, TC, TG, LDL-C levels, and BMI in all diabetic patient groups were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in comparison to control. Significant negative correlations were observed between serum vitamin D and FBG, HbA1c%, TC, TG, LDL-C levels, and BMI whereas positive correlations with HDL-C in all diabetic patient groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The deficiency status of 25-OH-D is associated with dyslipidemia in type 2 Saudi diabetic patients, specifically those complicated with obesity and coronary artery diseases.

Anti-Alzheimer and Antioxidant Effects of Nelumbo nucifera L. Alkaloids, Nuciferine and Norcoclaurine in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Albino Rats

The present study is aimed to determine the efficacy and dose response of the nuciferine (1), norcoclaurine (2) and crude extract of Nelumbo nucifera in managements of diabetes, Alzheimer disease and related allergies. Experimentally, alloxan (100 mg/kg body weight (b.w.))-induced diabetic rats (200−250 g) were divided into seven groups (n = 6). Group I: normal control, Group II: diabetic control, Group III: standard treated with glibenclamide and Group lV-VII: treated with methanolic crude extracts (100, 200 mg/kg), nuciferine and norcoclaurine (10 mg/kg b.w.) for 15 days. Different tests were performed, including blood glucose, body weights and antioxidant enzyme assays, i.e., superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase test (CAT), lipid peroxidation assay (TBARS), glutathione assay (GSH) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) assay. Nuciferine and norcoclaurine significantly reduced blood glucose (p < 0.05) and restored body weight in diabetic rats. Moreover, nuciferine and norcoclaurine (10 mg/kg) significantly recovered the antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPx and GSH) which decreased during induced diabetes. Significant increase in TBARS was also observed in the diabetic group and nuciferine as well as norcoclaurine (10 mg/kg) inhibited the increase in TBARS in diabetic animals (p < 0.05), as compared to glibenclamide. AChE activity was significantly recovered by nuciferine and norcoclaurine (10 mg/kg) both in the blood and brain of the diabetic group (p < 0.05). Nuciferine and norcoclaurine showed potent inhibitory effects against α-glucosidase and α-amylase with IC50, 19.06 ± 0.03, 15.03 ± 0.09 μM and 24.07 ± 0.05, 18.04 ± 0.021 μM, as confirmed by molecular docking studies. This study concludes that nuciferine and norcoclaurine significantly improve memory and could be considered as an effective phytomedicine for diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and oxidative stress.

Investigation of Antistress and Antidepressant Activities of Synthetic Curcumin Analogues: Behavioral and Biomarker Approach

Depression is a serious psychiatric disorder that affects millions of individuals all over the world, thus demanding special attention from researchers in order to investigate its effective remedies. Curcumin, along with its synthetic derivatives, is recognized for its incredible pharmacological activities. In this study, methyl, methoxy and chloro-substituent synthetic curcumin analogues C1-C3 were respectively tested for free radical-scavenging activity. Behavioral studies were performed using chemical-induced and swimming endurance tests as stress models, and forced swim tests (FSTs) and tail suspension tests (TSTs) as depression mice models. Biochemical examinations were performed after a scopolamine-induced stress model by decapitating the mice, and brain tissues were isolated for biochemical assessment of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA). The curcumin analogue C2 exhibited higher DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2'-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazo-line-6-sulphonate) free radical-scavenging potential, having IC50 values of 45.18 µg/mL and 62.31 µg/mL, respectively, in comparison with reference curcumin and tocopherol. In the chemical-induced test, C2 (80.17%), C3 (72.79%) and C1 (51.85%) revealed higher antistress responses by significantly reducing the number of writhes, whereas the immobility time was significantly reduced by C2 and C3 in the swimming endurance test, indicating excellent antistress potential. Similarly, C2 and C3 significantly reduced the immobility times in FST and TST, demonstrating their antidepressant properties. The biomarkers study revealed that these compounds significantly enhanced hippocampus CAT, SOD and GSH, and reduced MDA levels in the scopolamine-induced stress mice model. These findings suggest the potential of curcumin analogues (C2 and C3) as antistress and antidepressant agents.

Vancomycin as an Antibacterial Agent Capped with Silver Nanoparticles: An Experimental Potential Analysis

For the treatment of various infections, a variety of antimicrobial drugs are formulated. Nevertheless, many bacterial infections now exhibit antibiotic resistance due to the widespread utilization antibiotics. Methicillin-resistant among the most dangerous multidrug-resistant bacteria is Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Vancomycin became a viable therapy option due to MRSA resistance to methicillin medicines. One of the well-informed antibacterial compounds with wideband antibacterial activity is silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). AgNPs are thus suitable candidates for usage in conjunction alongside vancomycin to increase its antibacterial effect. The goal of the present research work is to boost the antibacterial potency of the glycopeptide antibiotic vancomycin towards Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) but also Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria. The chemical reduction approach is used to create a colloidal solution of silver nanoparticles utilizing silver nitrate as a precursor in the environment of the ionic surfactant trisodium citrate that serves as covering including reducing reagent. Vancomycin was used to functionalize the synthesized nanoparticles and create the nanodrug complex (Van@AgNPs). The synergistic antibacterial potential of silver nanoparticles coated with vancomycin on both test pathogens was investigated using the agar well diffusion technique. The antibacterial potency for both classes of bacteria has significantly increased, according to the well diffusion test. It has been noted that this improvement is synergistic instead of additive.

Isolation, crystal structure, DFT calculation and molecular docking of uncinatine-A isolated from Delphinium uncinatum

The main objective of our present research work was to explore molecular insight for potentially active new acetylcholinesterase inhibitor from the aerial parts of Delphinium uncinatum. New norditerpenoid alkaloids, uncinatine-A, was isolated from the basic alkaloidal fraction of D. uncinatum, based on bioactivity guided isolation. The structure of uncinatine-A was determined through latest spectroscopic techniques including single X-Ray diffraction technique. The structural data and electronic properties of uncinatine-A was also calculated by Density Functional Theory (DFT) using B3LYP/6-31þ G (p) basis set. The isolated natural product was evaluated for their acetyl cholinesterase inhibitory potential in dose dependent protocol (62.5-1000 μg/mL), followed by molecular docking studies. Significant competitive type inhibition activity (IC_{50 =} 207.73 ± 0.3) was shown by isolated natural norditerpenoid against cholinesterase targets in comparison with standard drugs available in the market such as galanthamine. The molecular docking results showed that isolated natural product was well accommodated by AChE in the active site with docking scores -11.0326. This is the first report indicating uncinatine-A as a potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitor and can be used as a target drug in cerebral dementia and Alzheimer diseases.

Association of vitamin D deficiency and inflammatory cytokines with the clinicopathological features of breast cancer in female Saudi patients

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death among women in Saudi Arabia. Many studies have suggested a strong correlation between vitamin D and multiple types of cancer. This study included 100 female Saudi patients with early or locally advanced breast cancer. Patients were recruited from King Faisal Hospital in Taif City, Saudi Arabia, from January 2020 to September 2020. We aimed to study the association between serum vitamin D, calcium, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and chemerin and breast cancer progression. The control group consisted of 100 healthy individuals. Serum levels of vitamin D, calcium, IL-6, TNF-α and chemerin were measured in all participants. Vitamin D was significantly decreased in patients with high-grade tumours ( p < 0.0001), obesity ( p = 0.013), negative oestrogen receptors ( p < 0.0001), negative progesterone receptors ( p < 0.0001) and positive HER2 receptors ( p < 0.0001). Vitamin D was also decreased in patients with large tumours ( p < 0.0001), axillary lymph node involvement ( p < 0.0001) and advanced-stage cancers ( p < 0.0001). Moreover, higher levels of IL-6, TNF-α and chemerin were significantly associated with the presence of breast cancer, particularly in its advanced stages. Vitamin D deficiency and elevated levels of IL-6, TNF- α and chemerin were associated with adverse clinicopathological features of breast cancer. Vitamin D deficiency and elevated inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α and chemerin) were associated with the clinicopathological features of breast cancer in female Saudi patients.

Antibacterial Effects of Commiphora gileadensis Methanolic Extract on Wound Healing

Commiphora gileadensis (CG) is a small tree distributed throughout the Middle East. It was traditionally used in perfumes in countries in this area. In Saudi Arabia, it was used to treat wounds burns and as an antidote to scorpion stings. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity and cutaneous wound healing efficiency of the CG extracts using microbiological tests, rate of wound contraction and histopathological changes. CG plant were extracted using the methanol extraction technique; then, the methanolic extract was characterized using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC−MS). Afterwards, a six-millimetre (mm) excision wound was induced in 60 male Balb/c mice. Mice were classified into two classes; each class consisted of three groups of 10 mice. In the non-infected wound class, the group I was assigned as control and received normal saline. Group II received gentamicin treatment, and group III treated with CG-methanolic extract. In the Staphylococcus aureus-infected class, group IV received normal saline, and groups V and VI were treated with gentamicin and CG-methanolic extract, respectively. The colonization of infected wounds was determined using colony-forming units (CFUs), and the percentage of wound contraction was measured in all groups. Finally, the histopathologic semi-quantitative determination of wound healing was evaluated by inflammatory cell infiltration, the presence of collagen fibres and granulation tissue, and the grade of re-epithelization. Composition analysis of the methanolic extract confirmed the presence of a high amount of ceramide (69%) and, to a lesser extent, hexosylceramide (18%) and phosphatidylethanolamine (7%) of the total amount. Additionally, there was a statistically significant difference between the percentage of wound contraction in the CG-treated and control groups in both Staphylococcus aureus-infected and non-infected wounds (p < 0.01). The colonization of the infected wounds was lower in the group treated with CG than in the control group (p < 0.01). In both non-infected and infected wounds, the CG-treated group showed significant statistical differences in inflammatory cell infiltration, collagen fibres, re-epithelization and granulation tissue formation compared with the control group (p < 0.01). The CG extract possesses antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that induce wound healing.

Repositioning therapeutics for SARS-CoV-2: Virtual screening of plant-based Anti-HIV compounds as possible inhibitors against COVID-19 viral RdRp

Background:

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused a global pandemic with a high mortality rate and infecting people worldwide. The COVID-19 vaccines that are currently in development or already approved are expected to provide at least some protection against the emerging variants of the virus but the mutations may reduce the efficacy of the existing vaccines. Purified phytochemicals from medicinal plants provide a helpful framework for discovering new therapeutic leads as they have long been employed in traditional medicine to treat many disorders.

Objective:

The objectives of the study are to exploit the anti-HIV bioactive compounds against SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) through molecular docking studies and perform the Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion and Toxicity (ADMET) properties of potential compounds.

Methods:

Molecular docking was performed to study the interaction of ligands with the target sites of RdRp protein (PDB: 6M71) using AutoDock Vina. The ADMET properties of potential compounds were predicted using the pkCSM platform.

Results:

A total of 151 phytochemicals derived from the medicinal plants with recognized antiviral activity and 18 anti-HIV drugs were virtually screened against COVID-19 viral RdRp to identify putative inhibitors that facilitate the development of potential anti-COVID-19 drug candidates. The computational studies identified 34 compounds and three drugs inhibiting viral RdRp with binding energies ranging from -10.2 to -8.5 kcal/ mol. Among these, five compounds, namely Michellamine B, Quercetin 3-O-(2'',6''-digalloyl)-beta-D-galactopyranoside, Corilagin, Hypericin, and 1,2,3,4,6-Penta-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose residues bound efficiently with the binding site of RdRp. Besides, Lopinavir, Maraviroc, and Remdesivir drugs also inhibited SARS-CoV-2 polymerase. In addition, the ADMET properties of top potential compounds were also predicted in comparison to the drugs.

Conclusion:

The present study suggested that these potential drug candidates can be further subjected to in vitro and in vivo studies that may help develop effective anti-COVID-19 drugs.

Vitamin D and Hypoxia-Inducible Factor (HIF-1α) Serum Levels as Markers for Progression of Nephropathy in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

BACKGROUND

Vitamin D is a locally acting hormone, which plays a major role in skeletal health. Previous studies reported an important role of vitamin D in modulation of inflammatory response. We aimed to investigate the role of vitamin D deficiency and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1α) as markers for the progression of diabetic nephropathy in Saudi patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

We included 174 Saudi patients with T2DM in addition to 60 healthy control subjects. Patients were classified according to urinary Albumin to Creatinine Ratio (ACR) into three groups: Group AI: ACR < 30 µg/mg, Group AII: ACR levels of 30 - 300 µg/mg and Group AIII: ACR > 300 µg/mg. We estimated fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, lipid profile, serum creatinine, hemoglobin concentration (Hb), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), urine albumin/creatinine ratio, serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D, calcium, parathyroid hormone (PTH), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), C- reactive protein (CRP), and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1α).

RESULTS

There was a significant difference among studied groups regarding serum levels of vitamin D, calcium, PTH, TNF-α, CRP, and HIF-1α levels. The level of vitamin D was lower in diabetic patients in comparison to the controls and was significantly related to the severity of renal nephropathy as indicated by the level of albumin in urine. Moreover, vitamin D levels showed significant negative correlation with the inflammatory markers: TNF-α, CRP, and HIF-1α levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Vitamin D deficiency and elevated HIF-1α serum levels showed a significant correlation to progression of nephropathy in Saudi patients with T2DM.

Green synthesis of gold nanaoparticles using Delphinium Chitralense tuber extracts, their characterization and enzyme inhibitory potential

Green synthesis has been introduced as an alternative to chemical synthesis due to the serious consequences. Metal nanoparticles synthesized through green approach have different pharmaceutical, medical and agricultural applications. The present study followed a green and simple route for the preparation of potentially bioactive gold nanoparticles (Au NPs). Au NPs were prepared via green synthesis approach using crude basic alkaloidal portion of the tuber of Delphinium chitralense. The green synthesized Au NPs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and UV-Visible spectrophotometer. Morphological analysis shows that Au NPs have cubic geometry with different sizes. UV-Vis spectroscopic analysis confirmed the synthesis of Au NPs while XRD proved their pure crystalline phase. The Au NPs showed promising dose dependent inhibition of both AChE and BChE as compared to the crude as well as standard drug.

Seroprevalence of IgM and IgG in Serum of COVID-19 Diabetic Patients After Recovery

BACKGROUND

Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) is an infection caused by SARS-CoV-2. Patients experience several symptoms in the respiratory tract following infection. Developing an immunity is essential to protect the host from future infection. In this study we will investigate the seropositivity of IgM and IgG in recovered COVID-19 diabetic patients compared to prediabetic, and non-diabetic.

METHODS

Three hundred and eighty-four recovered COVID-19 patients were enrolled in this study and subdivided according to their glycemic status, 156 diabetic, 77 prediabetic, and 151 non-diabetic included. VivaDiagTM CO-VID-19 IgM/IgG Rapid Test was used to detect the IgM and IgG in the serum of the study group.

RESULTS

Seroprevalence of IgM and IgG was detected in the study group, IgM seroprevalence was 84% of diabetic, 60% of prediabetic, and 92% of non-diabetic. IgG seroprevalence was 93% of diabetic, 62% of prediabetic, and 87% of non-diabetic study group. HbA1c was positively correlated with both immunoglobins indicating capability of producing one or both immunoglobins even with high HbA1c. After an additional 40 days, non-diabetic participants have double the positive immunoglobins compared to the other groups indicating optimal vaccination time for those groups is less than 50 days following recovery.

CONCLUSIONS

Glycemic status has not affected the seroprevalence of IgM or IgG. The optimal vaccination time for diabetic patients is 40 days after the recovery from Covid-19.