MicroRNA therapeutics: Discovering novel targets and developing specific therapy

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression in diverse biological process. They act as intracellular mediators that are necessary for various biological processes. MicroRNAs targeting pathways of human disease provide a new and potential powerful candidate for therapeutic intervention against various pathological conditions. Even though, the information about miRNA biology has significantly enriched but we still do not completely understand the mechanism of miRNA gene regulation. Various groups across the globe and pharmaceutical companies are conducting research and developments to explore miRNA based therapy and build a whole new area of miroRNA therapeutics. Consequently, few miRNAs have entered the preclinical and clinical stage and soon might be available in the market for use in humans.

Micronome revealed miR-19a/b as key regulator of SOCS3 during cancer related inflammation of oral squamous cell carcinoma

Although significant advances have been established in molecular biology of Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), innovative strategies are still required to further understand detailed molecular mechanisms. Using bioinformatic approach, we aim to explore the potential miRNA-mRNA pairs in cancer related inflammatory response and investigate their potential roles as signature miRNA and proteins in the signaling pathway. Firstly, the differentially expressed genes of OSCC were selected which then underwent gene ontology to identify genes engaged in inflammatory response and its regulation. Validated miRNAs were retrieved and miRNAs with complete complementarily with their targets were visualized for miRNA-mRNA regulatory network. Protein-protein interactions of inflammatory and its regulatory genes were analyzed for interacting genes involved in signaling pathway. Eight universal miRNAs were obtained for inflammation and its regulation. miRNA-19a/b showed significant influence in controlling inflammatory response in OSCC. Therefore, micronome on deregulated genes in inflammation identifies miRNA-mRNA pairs which have high potential to be targeted for diagnostic and treatment applications in OSCC.

Emerging role of bioinformatics tools and software in evolution of clinical research

Clinical research is making toiling efforts for promotion and wellbeing of the health status of the people. There is a rapid increase in number and severity of diseases like cancer, hepatitis, HIV etc, resulting in high morbidity and mortality. Clinical research involves drug discovery and development whereas clinical trials are performed to establish safety and efficacy of drugs. Drug discovery is a long process starting with the target identification, validation and lead optimization. This is followed by the preclinical trials, intensive clinical trials and eventually post marketing vigilance for drug safety. Softwares and the bioinformatics tools play a great role not only in the drug discovery but also in drug development. It involves the use of informatics in the development of new knowledge pertaining to health and disease, data management during clinical trials and to use clinical data for secondary research. In addition, new technology likes molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, proteomics and quantitative structure activity relationship in clinical research results in faster and easier drug discovery process. During the preclinical trials, the software is used for randomization to remove bias and to plan study design. In clinical trials software like electronic data capture, Remote data capture and electronic case report form (eCRF) is used to store the data. eClinical, Oracle clinical are software used for clinical data management and for statistical analysis of the data. After the drug is marketed the safety of a drug could be monitored by drug safety software like Oracle Argus or ARISg. Therefore, softwares are used from the very early stages of drug designing, to drug development, clinical trials and during pharmacovigilance. This review describes different aspects related to application of computers and bioinformatics in drug designing, discovery and development, formulation designing and clinical research.

Nutraceuticals in prevention of cataract - An evidence based approach

Cataract is a principal cause of blindness in the world and is characterized by clouding of eye's natural lens. Surgery is the major therapeutic step taken to cure cataract; however, it is having its own limitations and complications such as iris prolapse, raised IOP, infection, cystoid macular edema and posterior capsular opacification (PCO). So world is looking toward more robust and natural ways to prevent cataract. One of the important factors that can play a role in prevention of any and many diseases is diet of the people. The inclusion of certain naturally occurring food and nutraceuticals is coming up as a best alternative for curing cataract because of their presumed safety, potential nutritional and therapeutic effects. Some nutraceuticals can act as an anticataract agent through some or the other molecular mechanism if consumed by normal population deliberately or inadvertently.

A cross-sectional study: Need of equal respect for all professionals in the Institutional Ethics Committees' composition

Background:

The composition of the Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) with an equal respect plays a major role in evaluating research proposals to ensure the safety of the subjects and ethical quality of research project. It is mandatory that all research projects with an involvement of human subjects should be approved by the IEC before commencement.

Aim:

To find out the equality of respect to members of IEC irrespective of nature of their profession.

Materials and Methods:

Methods include a cross-sectional study, the general information and member composition, multidisciplinary nature, independent performance, competence, decision capability, professionally biased of IECs in health research institutions of Punjab, India. A structured self-administered questionnaire was developed and provided to all health/research institutions providing the graduate/postgraduate education in medical sciences under the jurisdiction of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot, Punjab, India.

Results:

Of the total 142 institutes, only 80 (56% response rate) institutes responded to the questionnaire. Of the 80 institutes which responded, 65 institutes (81.25%) had IEC, while 15 (18.75%) institutes lacked IEC. The compositions of only 22% IECs were in compliance to Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) guidelines and only nine (14%) institutes of the state of Punjab had approval from the DCGI.

Conclusion:

Study clearly indicates the carelessness of regulatory bodies and lack of fair practices toward constitution of the IEC. The ratio of nonscientific members (ethicist, philosopher, and layperson) in the IEC composition was incredibly low. This study also reveals the professionally biased and noncompliance with schedule Y guideline in relation to the representation of lawyers, ethicists, and nonscientific members.

Kitchen phytochemicals from Allium cepa - their role in multidrug resistance

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is increasingly becoming a concern to public health. Current antibiotics have failed to bring desirable results to many bacterial infections due to multi-resistant strains. So, concerted efforts are being made to curve this with the help of dietary phytohemicals. A number of dietary phytochemical are being put to trials for antimicrobial activity; however it is worthwhile to search such a part of diet that is very frequently used by major population. Keeping this view in mind an effort has been made to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of most common vegetable component Allium cepa. Methanolic and aqueous extracts were prepared from Allium cepa and antibacterial activity was tested on four pathogenic bacteria (Gram-positive and Gram negative) Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus Subtilis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using Disc diffusion method and Minimum inhibitory concentration by the Microtitre well plate method. Conventional antibiotic discs of Tetracycline and Gentamycin were used as positive control. Among the two extracts, methanolic extract exhibited a significant antimicrobial activity on the test organisms Ps. aeruginosa (17.5mm) and B. subtilis (11.3mm). The minimum inhibitory concentration value for Ps. aeruginosa was 500μl and for B. subtilis was 250μl for methanolic extract. The growth of other two bacteria i.e. E. coli and S. aureus were not inhibited by methanolic as well as aqueous extract that indicates non susceptibility to aqueous and methanol extract of Allium cepa. From the study, it was concluded that the commonly used Allium cepa possess potent antibacterial property against Bacillus Subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.