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Natural products have been the focus of biomedical and pharmaceutical research to develop new therapies in recent years. 2-methoxy-6-acetyl-7-methyljuglone (2-methoxystypandrone, MAM) a natural bioactive juglone derivative, is known to have various levels of pharmacotherapeutic efficacies as an anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-HIV activities. MAM fights cancer progression by inducing apoptosis, necroptosis and deregulating signaling pathways through H2O2-induced JNK/iNOS/NO and MAPK, ERK1/2 pathways, JNK activation, and the RIP1/RIP3 complex. In this review, we summarize the pharmacological importance of MAM in the field of drug discovery. Furthermore, this review not only emphasizes the medicinal properties of MAM, but also discusses its potential efficacy in future medicinal products.

Cancer proteomics is a diverse and challenging field. It provides the promising tool that aids in the understanding of the disease, yet early-stage diagnosis is still a question and crucial for successful treatment of cancer. Genomics aided with proteomics has emerged as a larger platform for understanding the disease spread, proliferation, metastasis, genomic aberrations, mutational changes, therapeutics, design drug delivery system, proteomic anomalies, structural changes, and signaling pathways and moving toward personalized approach. Biomarker identification and development of the panel are very precious in cancer treatment. Generally, biomarker identification, validation, and clinical examination are specific tools for accurate diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutics. Present-day advances in proteomics and computational sciences have opened a gateway for the identification and quantitative analysis of protein variations associated with the complexities and heterogeneity of tumor development. Concept of personalized medicine is an emerging approach for cancer patient treatment, yet it has many challenges to overcome before its clinical application. Translational research in oncology still needs lots of quality research to overcome many challenges and for improvement in biomedical application and cancer patient care.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease that is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It has affected the entire world. The clinical course of infection varies from asymptomatic to mild symptoms to life threatening conditions in affected individuals. An unbalanced immune response is responsible for many complications and even death in severe cases. Poor nutritional status is a major risk factor for infection as it makes the patient immunocompromised. A good dietary pattern boost immune system in combating infections. In this review, the role of various dietary patterns, individual vitamins and trace elements will be considered. The link between diet and COVID-19 has yet to be established. However, findings from previous studies on respiratory tract infections have shown that diet plays an important role in the management and prevention of infections.

Since the outbreak, COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) has affected more than 24 million people. COVID-19 pandemic appears to lack any effective antiviral drug or vaccine therapy. Previously, it has been reported that medicinal plants are effective against pneumonia caused by coronavirus (SARS-CoV). Secondary metabolites derived from medicinal plants also play pivotal role in strengthening the immune system as well as the killing of pathogens or viruses. The present review summarized the medicinal plants and their secondary metabolites that have antiviral potentials. Further studies are required to evaluate these medicinal plants and their secondary metabolites for possible treatment of COVID-19.

Worldwide the infectious diseases are a major threat to the human population. However, the most important parameter is the prompt and sensitive diagnosis of pathogens. Therefore, tremendous efforts have been made for the development of rapid and portable detection techniques. The identification and treatment of infectious diseases at the nano and molecular levels is a hard task to achieve because of the scarcity of effective probes for characterization and recognition of biomarkers of these pathogens. Nonetheless, if it made possible simultaneous diagnosis and treatment at the specific spot, i.e., theranostics can be beneficial for treating the disease at a cellular level and can be helpful to understand the disease system. However, for theranostics a sensing system should be able to detect and measure biomarkers quickly. In this regard, aptamers (oligonucleotide polymers consist of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) or RNA) have displayed the ability to be used as probes for the recognition of various targets at molecular level. DNA and RNA have the capacity of doing much lot than just keeping genetic information and therefore are also known as functional nucleic acids. Aptamer-based biosensors would be an attractive format because they can be developed for various molecules using the same sensing format. Therefore, the aptasensors utilizing aptamers for various bacterial infections have stimulating theranostic potential as well. In this chapter, the potential of aptamers as theranostic agent for bacterial infections has been discussed. The advantages and limitations of aptamer-based theranostics for the development of personalized medicine are also discussed.

It is believed that the future of medicine lies in nanotechnology where the medicines would be tailor-made according to the requirement of the individual. With the amassed recognition of the potential of nanomaterials they are not only used in medicines but in many other consumer products. Nanomaterials exists in nature everywhere and many others are engineered. Because of the omnipresence of these nanoparticles human beings are blatantly exposed to them. Nevertheless, our knowledge about health and environmental risks of these engineered nanomaterials still remains limited and largely incomplete. Many studies confer their toxicity in animal models where they can lead to teratogenicity, genotoxicity and also defects in organs like liver, lungs, kidneys and immune system. However, the toxic responses depends upon many variables including size, shape, charge, composition and surface area. Nanoparticles (NPs) of same compositions can diverge in term of toxicity by changing the size, shape and charge of NPs. Likewise the time of exposure also plays very vita role in toxicity. Many available studies provide incomplete information by conducting few in vitro analyses. However, the process is so intricate that the in vitro studies are not sufficient to provide enough information to elucidate the full toxic potential. Therefore, in vivo studies are pre-requisite. This chapter provides an insight from toxicologist`s perspective on the matter, outlining possible routes of uptake by humans, known or suspected toxic effects, and the possible practical implication for human health risk assessment and public perception.

We report for the first time the influence of ANXA7 gene on human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HCC). We down-regulated ANXA7 in human HCC cell line (HepG2) using siRNA method. By Western Blot analysis, we confirmed about 70% down-regulation of the gene in the shRNA-ANXA7 transfected cells (shRNA-ANXA7-HepG2) compared to the non-specific sequence shRNA transfected cells (control-shRNA-HepG2) and the un-manipulated-HepG2 cells. We used CCK-8 cell proliferation kit and observed about 65% reduction in the shRNA-ANXA7-HepG2 cells where the two controls exhibited comparable cell proliferation rates. Also, by using PI staining followed by flow cytometry, we noticed a cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 with more than one fold reduction of shRNA-ANXA7-HepG2 cell population in the S-phase of the cell cycle. Also of particular note was a significant aneuploidy in the controls compared to zero aneuploidy in the ANXA7 down-regulated cells. Migration of the cells was detected using Boyden's transwell chamber and scratch wound healing assay which showed 50% and 30% respective reductions in shRNA-ANXA7-HepG2 cells migration. Furthermore, the control-shRNA-HepG2 cells and the un-manipulated-HepG2 cells invaded through the ECM-coated transwell plates two times more than the shRNA-ANXA7-HepG2 cells. We have found ANXA7 to be functioning like a tumour promoter in HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells and could have a potential as a therapeutic window into the management of liver cancer.

Purpose: Cervicaland Lumbar degenerative disc diseases (DDD) are a common disease of advanced age characterized by progressive changes in the intervertebral disc and associated structures. There have been great efforts for years to explain its pathophysiological mechanism(s). This study aims to provide the expression of IL-8 in a population of patients with lumbar disc herniation, cervical stenosis and vertebral fracture. Material and methods: We compared the level of IL-8 expression in the non-degenerated and degenerated intervertebral disc samples obtained from patients who underwent surgery for vertebral fracture (non degenerated disc), lumbar disc herniation and cervical stenosis (degenerated disc), whose clinical and radiological features were suggestive of disc degeneration. IL-8 expression was studied by using the western blot, immunohistochemistry and enzyme linked immune absorbent assay methods. This study includes comparison of IL-8 concentration in groups based on patient’s age and diagnosis. Results: Significantly higher levels of IL-8 expressions were found in patient with advance age, more in vertebral fracture as compared to lumbar disc herniationand cervical stenosis patients. Conclusion: The findings suggest that both local inflammatory responses occur in lumbar disc herniation, cervical stenosis and vertebral fracture patients. Using specific cytokines either by local or systemic application may reverse the degenerative process.

Background Subcellular fractionation and proteomics form an ideal partnership when it comes to specific location and analysis of intracellular organelles and expression levels of multiprotein complexes. Lymphatic metastasis is the major complicated system involving multiple factors. However, to date lymphatic metastatic mechanism is poorly understood. Aim To specifically locate expression site by subcellular fractionation, based on expression levels, interpret the involvement of different lymphatic metastasis associated proteins in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines with different lymphatic metastasis potential. Method Mouse hepatocellular cell lines Hca-F and Hca-P are used to evaluate the location and expression levels of some lymphatic metastasis-associated proteins in the cell by using subcellular fractionation kit and Western blot analysis. The proteins under studies were Gelsolin, JNK and Annexin 7. Results Gelsolin was sequestered in cytoplasm, membrane and cytoskeleton in F-cells but in P-cells, it was found in cytoplasm and cytoskeleton .JNK was located in nuclear fraction and cytoskeleton in F and P cells, Annexin7 was in cytoplasm with its two isoforms only at this location, cell membrane and cytoskeleton in F and P cells. With the high expression level of Gelsolin, JNK and Annexin 7 in Hca-F cell line than Hca-P cell line. Conclusion With subcellular fractionation specific location of Gelsolin, JNK and Annexin 7 at various cell sites during lymphatic metastasis were determined. High expression levels were found in high lymphatic metastasis potential cell lines which indicate their roles according to different expression sites in the disease.