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Hands are the primary mode of transmission of microbe-based infections, as they harbor normal microbiota and pathogenic microbes. SARS-CoV-2 has endangered lives worldwide, and WHO has recommended good hygiene practices, especially hand hygiene. In addition, other infectious diseases like diphtheria, measles, tuberculosis, HIV, malaria, etc. are spreading in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. The anti-microbial efficiency of two in-house developed herbal-alcohol based hand sanitizers containing Azadirachta indica, Citrus limon, Zingiber officinale, and Aloe vera (HS1) and Zingiber officinale replaced with Ocimum sanctum (HS2) was evaluated. HS1, with Zingiber officinale, and HS2, with Ocimum sanctum, herbal sanitizers showcased in-vitro anti-viral activity on MDCK cells using the reference strain of influenza A virus, A/PR/8/34 (H1N1), and reduced 99.99% of microbial load within 30 s of contact time, estimated by the Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing Method. On volunteers, HS1 and HS2 were more effective than alcohol-based WHO sanitizers. Moreover, HS2 sanitizer is more effective against viruses and has better efficiency and hedonic qualities in volunteers than HS1. These sanitizers don’t irritate or dry up the skin and have a longer shelf life. Overall, findings reveal that herbal-alcohol-based sanitizers are promising hand hygiene products with the capability of reducing microbial load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microfluidic based sensors are one of the emerging alternatives for bringing solutions studies on paper platforms. Microfluidic paper assisted platform was developed over here through a simple, easy, cost effective and instrument free process. The self‐same method of waxing through crayoning, was estimated thoroughly on different paper platforms. Varied parameter including type of crayoning, way of patterning, color effect, wicking rate and channel optimization was performed on paper milieus. Optimized time of baking for obtaining controlled penetration ranges from 2 min to 8 min depending on the type of paper used. Wax crayoning was preferred over oil pasteling for making hydrophobic barriers uniformly, solid as well fully penetrated within paper inner layers. Fabrication through this easy cost‐effective route allows a formation of hydrophilic reaction or sensing zone of 0.25 cm2 with sufficient reactive area. Further sensing of dopamine on paper platform was carried using paper chip adsorbed with fluorescent modified graphene quantum dots as sensing material. The patterned paper showed advantage as only few microliter (5 μl to 10 μl) range of sample volume was required for testing. Fluorescence quenching with increase of concentration was witnessed where around 25–75 μM dopamine concentration was positively tested through naked eye; which for the first time was demonstrated here via robust wax crayoning method for developing paper based biosensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NP) are commonly used engineered NPs with extensive usage in consumer products, thus leading to direct exposure to humans. The direct route of exposure is through inhalation. Once inhaled, these particles accumulate in the lungs, increasing the chances of respiratory tract illness through cellular organelle damage. Zinc oxide nanoparticle-treated lung cells are reported to display cytotoxicity, increase DNA damage, and induce oxidative stress. The current study focused on the effects of ZnO NPs on mitochondrial dynamics (fission and fusion) in human lung epithelial cells (A549). The lung cells were exposed to ZnO NPs at 50 and 100 μg/ml concentrations, and their mitochondrial dynamics were assessed to understand the effects of the NPs. Treatment with ZnO NPs reduced the activity of mitochondrial complex I and complex III and altered mitochondrial structural and functional characteristics in a concentration-dependent manner. Zinc oxide nanoparticles exposure showed an increase in small and round-shaped mitochondria. The expression of various fission proteins (Drp1 and Fis1) and fusion proteins (Mfn1, Mfn2, and OPA1) was altered upon exposure to ZnO NPs. Our studies showed dysfunction of the mitochondria induced by ZnO NPs. In fibroblast mitochondrial dynamics, fission symbolizes threshold damage. In this paper, we have shown that the mitochondrial fission phenotype increased upon exposure to ZnO NPs. The paper emphasizes that these particles enter mitochondria, triggering a stress response that results in the removal of mitochondria via fission. It provides relevant data for safety guidelines to ensure the safer use of these particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine how involvement in a responsible fatherhood program affected participants' perceptions of masculinity and coparenting communication. Background: Responsible fatherhood programs emphasize the importance of being a nurturing and emotionally expressive father, challenging norms of hegemonic masculinity. This study examined how fathers described this hybrid masculinity and its impact on coparenting communication. Method: Thematic analysis of 37 semistructured in‐depth interviews with a racially diverse sample of men enrolled in a responsible fatherhood program was conducted. Multiple investigators, researcher reflexivity, and an audit trail enhanced credibility, transferability, and dependability of the findings. Results: Fathers reported three types of communication with the mothers of their child(ren): confrontation, detachment, and engaged perspective‐taking. The latter approaches were learned in the fatherhood program. Fathers described several beliefs and skills affecting these approaches, including the importance of fatherhood, modeling effective communication, controlling one's emotions, and listening and speaking respectfully. Conclusion: Participation in the fatherhood program was useful in deescalating negative interactions and improving communication; however, beliefs about essential gender differences permeated participants' narratives. Implications: Future programming for fathers should include curricula and peer mentoring to challenge norms of traditional masculinity and encourage multiple forms of egalitarian coparenting communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is conducted to understand the association of mood profile with the kynurenine pathway (KP) metabolites, and cerebral hemodynamics in freshly recruited central armed forces personnel. Profile of Mood States questionnaire was utilized to assess mood profile, and Total Mood Disturbance (TMD) score was calculated. Transcranial Doppler was used to record blood flow velocity bilaterally of the middle cerebral artery. Chromatographic profile of the kynurenine metabolites was obtained in serum. Further, personnel were stratified according to sociodemographic variables (gender, age and diet) to observe the changes in their KP metabolic status. An activation of the kynurenic acid branch of the KP and the reduction in the mean blood flow velocity, and an increase in Gosling pulsatility index (PI) were observed in females having high TMD score. On gender comparative analysis, kynurenine metabolites of quinolinic acid branch and serotonin were significantly high in males. In males, with increase in age, a significant increase in the quinolinic acid branch of the KP was observed. Furthermore, a significant difference in level metabolites of the KP among the vegetarian and non-vegetarian groups was also observed. In conclusion we observed that increased TMD score was associated with cerebral hypoperfusion and higher vascular resistance along with activation of the KP. Our findings highlighted the importance of multi-facet brain function to showcase the close interaction of various dimensionalities and true picture of the assessee. • Mood disturbance associated with cerebral hypoperfusion and high vascular resistance. • Activation of the kynurenine pathway in females with disturbed mood score. • Psychology links with physiology, and neuroactive metabolites. • Kynurenine metabolites of quinolinic acid branch and serotonin were high in males. • Metabolites of quinolinic acid branch increased with age in case of the males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The model biological organism Drosophila melanogaster has been utilized to assess the effect of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) on locomotion, longevity, developmental dynamics, cell viability and oxidative stress. Developmental stages of Drosophila melanogaster (Oregon R strain) individually exposed to ELF-EMF (75 Hz, 550 µT) for 6 h once for acute exposure. For chronic exposure, complete life cycle of fly, that is, egg to adult fly was exposed to ELF-EMF for 6 h daily. The effect of exposure on their crawling and climbing ability, longevity, development dynamics, cellular damage and oxidative stress (generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS)) was evaluated. The crawling ability of larvae was significantly (p <.05) reduced on acute (third stage instar larvae) as well as chronic exposure (F0 and F1 larvae). When locomotion of flies was tested using climbing assay, no alteration was observed in their climbing ability under both acute and chronic exposure; however, when their speed of climbing was compared, a significant decrease in speed of F1 flies was observed (p =.0027) on chronic exposure. The survivability of flies was significantly affected under chronic and acute exposure (at third stage instar larvae). In case of acute exposure of the third stage instar larvae, although all the flies were eclosed by the 17th day, there was a significant decline in the number of flies (p =.007) in comparison to control. While in case of chronic exposure apart from low number of flies eclosed in comparison to control, there was delay in eclosion by one day (p =.0004). Using trypan blue assay, the internal gut damage of third stage instar larvae was observed. Under acute exposure condition at third stage instar larvae, 30% larvae has taken up trypan blue, while only 10% larvae from acute exposure at adult stage. On chronic exposure, 50% larvae of the F1 generation have taken up trypan blue. On evaluation of oxidative stress, there is a significant rise in ROS in case of acute exposure at third stage instar larvae (p =.0004), adult fly stage (p =.0004) and chronic exposure (p =.0001). ELF-EMF has maximum effects on acute exposure of third stage instar larvae and chronic exposure (egg to adult fly stage). These results suggest that electromagnetic radiations, though, have become indispensible part of our lives but they plausibly affect our health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver nanomaterials (AgNMs) ubiquitously known for their biological applications are studied here in terms of their shape-dependent antibacterial and anti-biofilm effect. Chemically synthesized nano-cubes (AgNCs) with size range around 150–200 nm were compared for their biological activity with commercial nano-sphere (AgNS) of comparable size (~160 nm). The antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus showed higher activity for nano-cubes compared with nano-spheres.The synergistic role of AgNMs with antibiotic ampicillin was also found promising. A four times enhancement and an increase of nearly 25% of antibiotic activity at 0.0625 mg ml–1 concentration was found with 0.05 mg ml–1 of AgNCs in agar and broth media, respectively. Anti-biofilm effect towards E. coli and S. aureus was also evaluated. AgNCs showed equal importance in biofilm disruption with 20% inhibition activity, which was yet again found better in-comparison with AgNSs. The study shows that AgNCs with distinct faces and edges could show efficient anti-bacterial effect and so such intelligently designed material could pave path for imminent medical challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two sugar PEG-based amphiphilic copolymers have been synthesized by Novozym®-435-catalyzed greener solvent free transesterification reaction of diastereomeric 2,6-anhydro-3,4,5-tri-O-benzyl-glucoheptitol and 2,6-anhydro-3,4,5-tri-O-benzyl-mannoheptitol with PEG-1000 diethyl ester in 80 and 76% yields, respectively. It has been observed that the configurational change at one of the carbons of diastereomeric 2,6-anhydro-heptitols has significant bearing on the degree of polymerization and characteristics of the synthesized polymers. Thus, the study of physico-chemical characteristics of synthesized anhydroglucoheptitol- and anhydromannoheptitol-PEG copolymers revealed that their aqueous solution forms spherical micelles of hydrodynamic diameters 11.2 and 6.4 nm, respectively. Micelles derived from both the amphiphilic copolymers have the potential to solubilize the hydrophobic dye, Nile red. Furthermore, a fluorescence microscopy study revealed that Nile red encapsulated micelles of synthesized amphiphilic copolymers uniformly internalized in A549 cells and thus can be used as a cargo carrier in biological systems. The viability of A549 cells was found to be very high even at a concentration of 500 μg mL−1 of copolymer indicating that they are cyto-compatible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminum oxide (Al2O3) nanoparticles (NPs) have a wide number of applications which cause intentional and unintentional exposure to humans, making it important to understand the nano-bio interaction. In this study, we made an attempt to evaluate the toxic effects of Al2O3 NPs chronic exposure on Drosophila melanogaster. Flies were exposed to Al2O3 NPs at concentration 0.1 and 1 mM via ingestion throughout their lifespan and progeny flies were screened for behavioral and phenotypic abnormalities. Behavioral abnormalities in flies were recorded through larval crawling, climbing in flies and two taste testing. Chronic exposure of Al2O3 NPs resulted in the loss of appendages in flies resulting in five legs flies, four legs flies and absence of haltere. Exposure to Al2O3 NPs caused renal failure in flies as observed by swollen abdomen. Our observations clearly showed that these NPs could cause detrimental health ailments which relate to human birth deformities and kidney failure. Damage at the cellular level was studied through proteomic profiling. Three hundred and seven unique proteins were expressed on exposure to Al2O3 NPs and 51 proteins were differentially expressed. Enrichment analysis of differentially expressed proteins showed significant alteration in striated muscle cell differentiation, digestive tract morphogenesis, phototransduction, regulation of chromatin organization and DNA duplex unwinding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systemic hypobaric hypoxia is reported to cause renal damage; nevertheless the exact pathophysiological mechanisms are not completely understood. Therefore, the present study aims to explore renal pathophysiology by using proteomics approach under hypobaric hypoxia. Six to eight week old male Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to hypobaric hypoxia equivalent to altitude of 7628 metres (pO2-282mmhg) at 28°C and 55% humidity in decompression chamber for different time intervals; 1, 3, and7 days. Various physiological, proteomic and bioinformatic studies were carried out to examine the effect of chronic hypobaric hypoxia on kidney. Our data demonstrated mild to moderate degenerative tubular changes, altered renal function, injury biomarkers and systolic blood pressure with increase in duration of hypobaric hypoxia exposure. Renal proteomic analysis showed 38 differential expressed spots, out of which 25 spots were down regulated and 13 were up regulated in 7 dayhypobarichypoxic exposure group of rats as compared to normoxia control. Identified proteins were involved in specific molecular changes pertinent to endogenous redox pathways, cellular integrity and energy metabolism. The study provides an empirical evidence of renal homeostasis under hypobaric hypoxia by investigating both physiological and proteomics changes. The identification of explicit key proteins provides a valuable clue about redox signalling mediated renal damage under hypobaric hypoxia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are widely used engineered nanomaterials. Due to induced genotoxicity, increased oxidative stress, and teratogenicity, these NPs have been reported to be toxic. In the present study, we emphasise the role of vital proteins in regulating ZnO NP-induced abnormal phenotypes, particularly the deformed thorax and single wing in the Drosophila melanogaster progeny fed on 0.1–10 mM ZnO NPs. To understand how protein expression regulates this particular phenotype on ZnO NPs exposure, toxicoproteomics profile of control and abnormal phenotype flies was generated using LC/MS/MS. Gene ontology enrichment studies of proteomics data were carried out using CLUEGO and STRAP software. The bioinformatics tool STRING was used to generate a protein–protein interaction map of key proteins of enrichment analysis. Following ZnO NP exposure, the differential expression of key proteins of the Wnt pathway was prominent. Altered expression of various proteins of the Wnt pathway (CaMKII), cytoskeleton (Actin), and calponin resulted in developmental defects in drosophila progeny. In addition, immunohistology studies showed a significant deviation in the expression of wingless protein of ZnO NPs treated larvae in comparison to control. According to these findings, the interaction of the wnt pathway and cytoskeletal proteins with ZnO NPs caused developmental abnormalities in the subsequent generation of drosophila, highlighting the transgenerational toxic effects of these nanoparticles. [Display omitted] • ZnO NPs alters wnt signaling pathway in Drosophila melanogaster. • Interaction of ZnO NPs with cytoskeleton proteins caused developmental deformities. • Transgenerational toxicity profile of flies shows lethal effects of ZnO NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are commonly used nanomaterials (NMs) with versatile applications from high-end technologies to household products. This pervasive utilisation has brought human in the close interface with nanoparticles (NPs), hence questioning their safety prior to usage is a must. In this study, we have assessed the effects of chronic exposure to ZnO NPs (<50 nm) on the model organism Drosophila melanogaster . Potential toxic effects were studied by evaluating longevity, climbing ability, oxidative stress and DNA fragmentation. Ensuing exposure, the F0 (parent), F1, F2, F3 and F4 generation flies were screened for the aberrant phenotype. Flies exposed to ZnO NPs showed distinctive phenotypic changes, like deformed segmented thorax and single or deformed wing, which were transmitted to the offspring’s in subsequent generations. The unique abnormal phenotype is evident of chronic toxicity induced by ZnO NPs, although appalling, it strongly emphasize the importance to understand NPs toxicity for safer use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain is predominantly susceptible to oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction during hypobaric hypoxia, and therefore undergoes neurodegeneration due to energy crisis. Evidences illustrate a high degree of association for mitochondrial fusion/fission imbalance and mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondrial fusion/fission is a recently reported dynamic mechanism which frequently occurs among cellular mitochondrial network. Hence, the study investigated the temporal alteration and involvement of abnormal mitochondrial dynamics (fusion/fission) along with disturbed mitochondrial functionality during chronic exposure to hypobaric hypoxia (HH). The Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to simulated high altitude equivalent to 25000 ft for 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. Mitochondrial morphology, distribution within neurons, enzyme activity of respiratory complexes, Δψm, ADP: ATP, and expression of fission/fusion key proteins were determined. Results demonstrated HH induced alteration in mitochondrial morphology by damaged, small mitochondria observed in neurons with disturbance of mitochondrial functionality and reduced mitochondrial density in neuronal processes manifested by excessive mitochondrial fragmentation (fission) and decreased mitochondrial fusion as compared to unexposed rat brain hippocampus. The study suggested that imbalance in mitochondrial dynamics is one of the noteworthy mechanisms occurring in hippocampal neurons during HH insult. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypobaric Hypoxia (HH) is known to cause oxidative stress in the brain that leads to spatial memory deficit and neurodegeneration. For decades therapeutic hypothermia is used to treat global and focal ischemia in preserving brain functions that proved to be beneficial in humans and rodents. Considering these previous reports, the present study was designed to establish the therapeutic potential of hypothermia preconditioning on HH induced spatial memory, biochemical and morphological changes in adult rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to HH (7620 m, ~ 282 mmHg) for 1, 3 and 7 days with and without hypothermic preconditioning. Spatial learning memory was assessed by Morris water maze (MWM) test along with evaluation of hippocampal pyramidal neuron damage by histological study. Oxidative stress was measured by studying the levels of nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation (LPO), oxidized and reduced glutathione (GSSG and GSH). Results of MWM test indicated prolonged path length and latency to reach the platform in HH groups that regained to normal in cold pre-treated groups. A likely neurodegeneration was evident in HH groups that lessen in the cold pre-treated groups. Hypothermic preconditioning prevented spatial memory impairment and neurodegeneration in animals subjected to HH via decreasing the NO, ROS and LPO compared to control animals. The GSH level and GSH/GSSG ratio was found to be higher in preconditioned animals as compared to respective HH exposed animals, indicative of redox scavenging and restoration of hippocampal neuronal structure as well as spatial memory. Therefore, hypothermic preconditioning improves spatial memory deficit by reducing HH induced oxidative stress and hippocampal neurodegeneration, hence can be used as a multi-target prophylactic measure to combat HH induced neurodegeneration. [Display omitted] • High altitude visitors show poor cognitive function and mental performance. • Hypobaric hypoxia exposure compromises spatial learning memory in rats. • Hypothermia preconditioning minimized hypoxia induced neurodegeneration. • Hypothermia resulted in low oxidative stress, improved spatial memory and hippocampal structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]