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Nickel nanoparticles (NiNPs) have been the subject of extensive research over the past decade for a wide range of possible applications due to their exceptional strong catalytic activity, high compressive strength, free radical scavenging, and antibacterial property. In consequence of this, there has been a significant advancement in the methods of producing NiNPs, as well as in the suggested reaction processes and applications of these particles. The production, reaction mechanisms, and practical uses of NiNPs are reviewed in this work. NiNPs with sizes ranging from 1 to 100 nm can be manufactured in a number of different ways for use in both scientific and commercial contexts. Synthesis methods are divided into two categories: top-down methods and bottom-up methods which are subdivided into physical, chemical, and biological strategies. Extensive description has been given for the chemical processes involved in the creation of NiNPs, in particular those involved in biosynthesis approaches. The latest developments in the use of NiNPs in industries such as biomedicine, dye absorption, catalysis, supercapacitors, and dye-sensitized solar cells are reviewed. This work also provides examples of the benefits and functions of NiNPs in catalyzing various processes.

Extraordinary progress has been made over the past decade in the chemical synthesis of many stilbene oligomers (>2) as well as in biotechnological methods for the production of these compounds.

Brain cancer is an aggressive type of cancer with poor prognosis. While the immune system protects against cancer in the early stages, the tumor exploits the healing arm of inflammatory reactions to accelerate its growth and spread. Various immune cells penetrate the developing tumor region, establishing a pro-inflammatory tumor milieu. Additionally, tumor cells may release chemokines and cytokines to attract immune cells and promote cancer growth. Inflammation and its associated mechanisms in the progression of cancer have been extensively studied in the majority of solid tumors, especially brain tumors. However, treatment of the malignant brain cancer is hindered by several obstacles, such as the blood-brain barrier, transportation inside the brain interstitium, inflammatory mediators that promote tumor growth and invasiveness, complications in administering therapies to tumor cells specifically, the highly invasive nature of gliomas, and the resistance to drugs. To resolve these obstacles, nanomedicine could be a potential strategy that has facilitated advancements in diagnosing and treating brain cancer. Due to the numerous benefits provided by their small size and other features, nanoparticles have been a prominent focus of research in the drug-delivery field. The purpose of this article is to discuss the role of inflammatory mediators and signaling pathways in brain cancer as well as the recent advances in understanding the nano-carrier approaches for enhancing drug delivery to the brain in the treatment of brain cancer.

Background: The development of digital technologies and the evolution of open innovation approaches have enabled the creation of diverse virtual organizations and enterprises coordinating their activities primarily online. The open innovation platform titled "International Natural Product Sciences Taskforce" (INPST) was established in 2018, to bring together in collaborative environment individuals and organizations interested in natural product scientific research, and to empower their interactions by using digital communication tools. Methods: In this work, we present a general overview of INPST activities and showcase the specific use of Twitter as a powerful networking tool that was used to host a one-week "2021 INPST Twitter Networking Event" (spanning from 31st May 2021 to 6th June 2021) based on the application of the Twitter hashtag #INPST. Results and conclusion: The use of this hashtag during the networking event period was analyzed with Symplur Signals (https://www.symplur.com/), revealing a total of 6,036 tweets, shared by 686 users, which generated a total of 65,004,773 impressions (views of the respective tweets). This networking event's achieved high visibility and participation rate showcases a convincing example of how this social media platform can be used as a highly effective tool to host virtual Twitter-based international biomedical research events.

Though the incidence of several cancers in Western societies is regulated wisely, some cancers such as breast, lung, and colorectal cancer are currently rising in many low- and middle-income countries due to increased risk factors triggered by societal and development problems. Surgery, chemotherapy, hormone, radiation, and targeted therapies are examples of traditional cancer treatment approaches. However, multiple short- and long-term adverse effects may also significantly affect patient prognosis depending on treatment-associated clinical factors. More and more research has been carried out to find new therapeutic agents in natural products, among which the bioactive compounds derived from plants have been increasingly studied. Naringin and naringenin are abundantly found in citrus fruits, such as oranges and grapefruits. A variety of cell signaling pathways mediates their anti-carcinogenic properties. Naringin and naringenin were also documented to overcome multidrug resistance, one of the major challenges to clinical practice due to multiple defense mechanisms in cancer. The effective parameters underlying the anticancer effects of naringenin and naringin include GSK3β inactivation, suppression of the gene and protein activation of NF-kB and COX-2, JAK2/STAT3 downregulation, downregulation of intracellular adhesion molecules-1, upregulation of Notch1 and tyrocite-specific genes, and activation of p38/MAPK and caspase-3. Thus, this review outlines the potential of naringin and naringenin in managing different types of cancers.

Background. Diabetes mellitus is one of the most notable health dilemmas. Analyzing plants for new antidiabetic remedies has become an impressive territory for life science researchers. Gynura procumbens has long been used to treat diabetes. Thus, we strived to ascertain the hypoglycemic potentiality of extract of leaves of G. procumbens by in vivo and in silico approaches. Methods. Fresh leaves of G. procumbens were collected and shade-dried to prepare ethanolic extracts to evaluate pharmacological parameters. Diabetes was induced in rats via injecting alloxan through the intraperitoneal route at a dose of 150 mg/kg body weight. Humalyzer 3000 was used to perform a biochemical assay of collected samples from rats. Anti-hyperglycemic activity study along with overdose toxicity test was performed. The pharmacological activity of this plant was also evaluated through a molecular docking study. This in silico study investigated the binding affinity of natural ligands from G. procumbens against glycoside hydrolase enzymes. Results. We detected a peak plasma concentration of G. procumbens at 3 hours 45 minutes that is roughly similar to the peak plasma concentration of metformin. Again, in OGTT and anti-hyperglycemic tests, it has been ascertained that both plant extract and metformin can exert significant P < 0.05 and highly significant P < 0.01 hypoglycemic activity in a dose-dependent manner. Metformin exhibited better therapeutic efficacy than that of plant extract, but it possessed null statistical significance. Also, our safety profile expressed that, similar to metformin, the plant extract can restore the disturbed pathological state in a dose-oriented approach with a wide safety margin. In silico study also validated the potentialities of natural constituents of G. procumbens. Conclusion. This study suggested that G. procumbens can be considered as potential antidiabetic plant. Robust and meticulous investigation regarding plant chemistry and pharmacology in the future may bring about a new dimension that will aid in discovering antidiabetic drugs from this plant in the diabetes management system.

Over the last few decades, the global prevalence of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative illnesses has risen rapidly. Although the aetiology remains unclear, evidence is mounting that exposure to persistent hydrocarbon pollutants is a substantial risk factor, predisposing a person to neurological diseases later in life. Epidemiological studies correlate environmental hydrocarbon exposure to brain disorders including neuropathies, cognitive, motor and sensory impairments; neurodevelopmental disorders like autism spectrum disorder (ASD); and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). Particulate matter, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and endocrine-disrupting chemicals have all been linked to neurodevelopmental problems in all class of people. There is mounting evidence that supports the prevalence of petroleum hydrocarbon becoming neurotoxic and being involved in the pathogenesis of AD and PD. More study is needed to fully comprehend the scope of these problems in the context of unconventional oil and natural gas. This review summarises in vitro, animal and epidemiological research on the genesis of neurodegenerative disorders, highlighting evidence that supports inexorable role of hazardous hydrocarbon exposure in the pathophysiology of AD and PD. In this review, we offer a summary of the existing evidence gathered through a Medline literature search of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of the most important epidemiological studies published so far.

Model pharmacy has been adopted recently to upgrade the healthcare delivery system in Bangladesh. This study was aimed to analyze and compare the effectiveness of drug dispensing patterns, practices, and knowledge of both clients and dispensers of model pharmacies over traditional retail medicine shops. Two established methods, namely, client simulated method (CSM) and provider interview method (PIM), were employed to determine the practice differences in 90 retail medicine shops and 90 model pharmacies in and around Dhaka city. The results are represented primarily in comparison with corresponding percentages. The survey results did not fully support the findings obtained from the observations of the CSM as PIM contrasted these to some extent, and the differences are statistically significant ( p < 0.0001 ). According to CSM, the presence of A-grade pharmacists during working hours in retail medicine shops was 0%, and 63% in model pharmacies. As reported by PIM, in the retail medicine shops, 36% of clients were ignorant of visiting doctors before purchasing medicine. On the other hand, only 18% of clients could visit doctors. As per CSM, 40% of clients did not follow doctors' recommendations for completion of the full dose of antibiotics bought from retail medicine shops and 51% did not finish full antibiotic courses collected from model pharmacies. Additionally, CSM revealed that 28% of the clients administered leftover drugs following old and obsolete prescriptions of retail medicine shops and 21% of clients followed the same practices in terms of model pharmacies. The report of CSM revealed that 95% of dispensers of retail medicine shops sold medicine without prescription except over-the-counter (OTC), and in the model pharmacies, the percentage was 77%. The qualitative findings revealed substandard practices and dispensing pattern too. Model pharmacies were established to prevent aberrant medicine dispensing patterns and ensure proper medication dispensing practices and medicine intake. This research could not verify the situation that pharmacists or owners of model pharmacies were fully abiding by the guidelines set for them by the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA).

Hydrogen fuel cell technology is now being researched extensively globally to provide a stable renewable energy source in the future. New research is aiding in improving performance, endurance, cost-efficiency, and the elimination of fuel cell limitations. Throughout the development process, the many aspects impacting the features, efficiency, durability, and cost of a fuel cell must be examined in a specific method. This review study looked at the impact of several variables on hydrogen fuel cell durability (HFC). In every sphere of fuel cell application, long-term operation is a must to make this electrochemical cell work. The major durability-enhancing aspects of a fuel cell include temperature, catalytic decay, contaminants, thermal energy and water maintenance, and fuel cell component design.

Microglia (MG) are resident phagocytes in the brain responsible for neuronal maintenance. The regulation of MG necroptosis is required for protecting neurons during neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, this study proposed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying microglia necroptosis during long-time apoptotic stimuli (lipopolysaccharide, LPS). The protective role of plasmalogens (PLS) was also investigated against LPS insult in MG cells (including BV2 and MG6 cell lines). LPS produced time-dependent decreases in the survival of BV2 and MG6 cells mediated by the caspase signaling pathway. Interestingly, MG death was mediated by caspase-8 and 9 signaling pathways suggesting that MG necroptosis was actively attributed to long-time LPS treatment through intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. Notably, caspase signaling was markedly inhibited in the PLS-pretreated cells; thereby, PLS were capable of maintaining the MG cell population and inhibit the MG necroptosis against the longtime of LPS administration via its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

The biological and therapeutic properties of seaweeds have already been well known. Several studies showed that among the various natural marine sources of antioxidants, seaweeds have become a potential source of antioxidants because of their bioactive compounds. Most of the metabolic diseases are caused by oxidative stress. It is very well known that antioxidants have a pivotal role in the treatment of those diseases. Recent researches have revealed the potential activity of seaweeds as complementary medicine, which have therapeutic properties for health and disease management. Among the seaweeds, brown seaweeds (Phaeophyta) and their derived bioactive substances showed excellent antioxidant properties than other seaweeds. This review focuses on brown seaweeds and their derived major bioactive compounds such as sulfated polysaccharide, polyphenol, carotenoid, and sterol antioxidant effects and molecular mechanisms in the case of the oxidative stress-originated disease. Antioxidants have a potential role in the modification of stress-induced signaling pathways along with the activation of the oxidative defensive pathways. This review would help to provide the basis for further studies to researchers on the potential antioxidant role in the field of medical health care and future drug development.

Objective: To investigate the antioxidant, cytotoxic, thrombolytic, and phytochemical properties of the methanolic extracts of Ampelocissus barbata (Wall.) leaves for the exploration of potential components that effectively counteract the oxidative stress in living organisms. Methods and Material: The antioxidant activity of the extract was measured in vitro using the DPPH radical scavenging assay, reducing power capacity and total phenolic content. The thrombolytic activity was determined through clot disintegration and qualitative examination of potential phytochemical activities. Conclusions: The assessment of Ampelocissus barbata for in vitro antioxidant and thrombolytic activities revealed promising attributes with significant phytoconstituents, demanding further research to isolate and assess the active components.

Acanthus ilicifolius Linn. (Acanthaceae) is a popular mangrove ethnomedicinal plant that cures several ailments, including asthma, diabetes, cancer, and many others. Our experiment was aimed at evaluating the anti-atherogenic effect of A. ilicifolius (leaf and stem) on a high-fat diet-induced atherogenic rat model. Atherosclerosis was developed in 12 weeks. Treatment with the standard drug (3 mg/kg b.w./day, p.o. of Simvastatin), separate doses of methanolic and ethanolic extracts of A. ilicifolius leaf (250 and 500 mg/kg b.w./day, p.o.), and stem (200 and 400 mg/kg b.w./day, p.o.) was subsequently conducted for additional 15 days. The anti-atherogenic effect was evaluated by estimating the change in body weight, systolic blood pressure, and lipid profile. Histopathology of aorta, liver, and kidney of atherogenic models was done for further evaluation. The antioxidant effect of different extracts was performed via DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay using ascorbic acid as standard. The anticoagulant effect was determined after 15 days of treatment with the same doses of the plant extracts and the standard Warfarin (2 mg/kg b.w./day, p.o.). When compared with atherogenic control, treatment with A. ilicifolius significantly reduced ( p p

International audience; Diabetic neuropathy (DN) is a common and serious diabetes-associated complication that primarily takes place because of neuronal dysfunction in patients with diabetes. Use of current therapeutic agents in DN treatment is quite challenging because of their severe adverse effects. Therefore, there is an increased need of identifying new safe and effective therapeutic agents. DN complications are associated with poor glycemic control and metabolic imbalances, primarily oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation. Various mediators and signaling pathways such as glutamate pathway, activation of channels, trophic factors, inflammation, OS, advanced glycation end products, and polyol pathway have a significant contribution to the progression and pathogenesis of DN. It has been indicated that polyphenols have the potential to affect DN pathogenesis and could be used as potential alternative therapy. Several polyphenols including kolaviron, resveratrol, naringenin, quercetin, kaempferol, and curcumin have been administered in patients with DN. Furthermore, chlorogenic acid can provide protection against glutamate neurotoxicity via its hydrolysate, caffeoyl acid group, and caffeic acid through regulating the entry of calcium into neurons. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate treatment can protect motor neurons by regulating the glutamate level. It has been demonstrated that these polyphenols can be promising in combating DN-associated damaging pathways. In this article, we have summarized DN-associated metabolic pathways and clinical manifestations. Finally, we have also focused on the roles of polyphenols in the treatment of DN.

Medicinal plants are precious gifts of nature, which may serve as a source of food and medicine to humans. Phyllanthus emblica L has held a unique position in the Indian (Ayurvedic), Turkish, Unani, and Tibetan medicinal systems for centuries. Its nutritional, therapeutic and healing potentials have made it a valid research option for the development of novel drug formulations with few side effects. The presence of vitamin C, alkaloids, ellagitannins, gallic acid, emblicanin A and emblicanin B, flavonoids (especially rutin and quercetin), and a variety of biological molecules, makes P. emblica, a valued medicinal plant. This review article summarizes the recent literature relevant to the nutritional, health, and therapeutic benefits of P. emblica, such as potential chemo-preventive, anti-diabetic, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-mutagenic, antioxidant, diuretic, aphrodisiac, UV protectant, and anti-aging activities. Its applications in memory enhancing, respiratory, skin and ophthalmic disorders, and detoxification including that of snake venom, are also highlighted. It additionally reviews retrospective studies on P. emblica at the molecular level, for disease management and control. P. emblica is an important medicinal plant with many benefits. It has been used for centuries and generations as a source of food because of its unique restorative and rejuvenating potential. Thus, in light of the sum of these investigations, new studies could be designed to explore valuable bioactive compounds present throughout in nature in the form of plants

We are exposed to various chemical compounds present in the environment, cosmetics, and drugs almost every day. Mutagenicity is a valuable property that plays a significant role in establishing a chemical compound's safety. Exposure and handling of mutagenic chemicals in the environment pose a high health risk; therefore, identification and screening of these chemicals are essential. Considering the time constraints and the pressure to avoid laboratory animals' use, the shift to alternative methodologies that can establish a rapid and cost-effective detection without undue over-conservation seems critical. In this regard, computational detection and identification of the mutagens in environmental samples like drugs, pesticides, dyes, reagents, wastewater, cosmetics, and other substances is vital. From the last two decades, there have been numerous efforts to develop the prediction models for mutagenicity, and by far, machine learning methods have demonstrated some noteworthy performance and reliability. However, the accuracy of such prediction models has always been one of the major concerns for the researchers working in this area. The mutagenicity prediction models were developed using deep neural network (DNN), support vector machine, k-nearest neighbor, and random forest. The developed classifiers were based on 3039 compounds and validated on 1014 compounds; each of them encoded with 1597 molecular feature vectors. DNN-based prediction model yielded highest prediction accuracy of 92.95% and 83.81% with the training and test data, respectively. The area under the receiver's operating curve and precision-recall curve values were found to be 0.894 and 0.838, respectively. The DNN-based classifier not only fits the data with better performance as compared to traditional machine learning algorithms, viz., support vector machine, k-nearest neighbor, and random forest (with and without feature reduction) but also yields better performance metrics. In current work, we propose a DNN-based model to predict mutagenicity of compounds.

Background: Dillenia indica (Family: Dilleniaceae) is an antioxidant-rich edible fruitbearing medicinal plant. The fruit of this plant (known as elephant apple) has many uses in traditional medicine. Objective: By considering its antioxidant content and ameliorating effects, this study aimed to evaluate the anti-adipogenic effects of D. indica fruit extract (DIFE) on high-fat diet (HFD) fed obese rats. Methods: Male Wistar rats were fed with a standard diet (SD), or high-fat diet (HFD), or HFD with 100 mg/kg or 200 mg/kg or 400 mg/kg DIFE for 8 weeks. The fruit extract was given orally by feeding gavage. The body weight, liver weight, visceral fat weight, plasma lipids, and oxidative stress-related parameters were measured. The mRNA level of different adipogenesis related transcription factors, lipogenic and lipolytic enzymes was also evaluated. Results: Consumption of DIFE daily (400 mg/kg) for 8 weeks resulted in a significant reduction of high-fat diet-induced body weight, liver weight, visceral fat weight, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol level. High-fat diet-mediated elevation of oxidative stress markers was also lowered, with a parallel augmentation of the activities of antioxidant enzymes, due to 400 mg/kg DIFE feeding. DIFE also down-regulated the mRNA level of important pro-adipogenic factors like PPARγ, LXRα, and SREBP1c which consequently downregulated the transcript levels of lipogenic enzymes: ACC, FAS, HMGCR, and DGAT. The transcript level of lipolytic enzyme, HSL was also down-regulated in 400 mg/kg DIFE-fed rats. Conclusion: These findings indicate that the antioxidant-rich ethanolic extract of D. indica fruit can down-regulate the gene expression of pro-adipogenic transcription factors and lipid metabolizing enzymes and thus can suppress diet-induced obesity in Wistar rat.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia in the elderly and this complex disorder is associated with environmental as well as genetic factors. Early-onset AD (EOAD) and late-onset AD (LOAD, more common) are major identified types of AD. The genetics of EOAD is extensively understood, with three gene variants such as APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2 leading to the disease. Some common alleles, including APOE, are effectively associated with LOAD identified, but the genetics of LOAD is not clear to date. It has been accounted that about 5-10% of EOAD patients can be explained through mutations in the three familiar genes of EOAD. The APOE ε4 allele augmented the severity of EOAD risk in carriers, and the APOE ε4 allele was considered as a hallmark of EOAD. A great number of EOAD patients, who are not genetically explained, indicate that it is not possible to identify disease-triggering genes yet. Although several genes have been identified by using the technology of next-generation sequencing in EOAD families, including SORL1, TYROBP, and NOTCH3. A number of TYROBP variants are identified through exome sequencing in EOAD patients and these TYROBP variants may increase the pathogenesis of EOAD. The existence of the ε4 allele is responsible for increasing the severity of EOAD. However, several ε4 allele carriers propose the presence of other LOAD genetic as well as environmental risk factors that are not identified yet. It is urgent to find out missing genetics of EOAD and LOAD etiology to discover new potential genetic facets which will assist in understanding the pathological mechanism of AD. These investigations should contribute to developing a new therapeutic candidate for alleviating, reversing and preventing AD. This article, based on current knowledge, represents the overview of the susceptible genes of EOAD, and LOAD. Next, we represent the probable molecular mechanism that might elucidate the genetic etiology of AD and highlight the role of massively parallel sequencing technologies for novel gene discoveries.

Graphical abstract, Highlights • The antidiarrheal activity of C. reflexa was evaluated in pigeons using the juice, aqueous, and methanol extracts. • The antidiarrheal effect of C. reflexa was evaluated using different reported research models. • The juice, aqueous, and methanol extract of C. reflexa exhibit significant anti-motility and anti-secretory potential., Background Cuscuta reflexa (dodder) belonging to the family Convolvulaceae has many ethno-medicinal uses such as antidiarrheal and antiemetic. This plant has been employed to treat diarrhea, where the antidiarrheal use of this plant is well established in different communities around the world without scientific bases. In addition, the antibacterial, anthelmintic, anticholinergic, and antihistaminic effects of this parasitic vine are partly responsible for the folkloric antidiarrheal use of this plant. In the present study, the antidiarrheal activity of C. reflexa was evaluated in pigeons (Columba livia) using the juice (JCR), aqueous (CRAE), and methanol (CRME) extracts. Methods The antidiarrheal effect of C. reflexa was evaluated using different reported research models, with few modifications. In pigeons, diarrhea was induced by administration of castor oil (6 mL/kg, PO), ampicillin (250 mg/kg, IP), magnesium sulfate (2 gm/kg, PO), and cisplatin (6 mg/kg, IV). In these experiments, loperamide (2 mg/kg, IM) was used as a positive control, whereas JCR (1 mL/kg (1%) and 1 mL/kg (2%), CRAE (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) and CRME (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) were administered intramuscularly at different doses into each pigeon in the test groups. Results In addition to cisplatin-induced diarrhea, all paradigms tested gave significant results (P < 0.01). The JCR, at different doses, exhibited a significant (p < 0.01) a dose-dependent antidiarrheal effect on both the frequency and the onset of diarrhea. Similarly, CRAE and CRME, at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg, showed considerable (p < 0.001) inhibition against the onset and frequency of diarrhea. On the other hand, JCR, CRAE, and CRME exerted significant effects (p < 0.001) on the percentage inhibition (PI) of diarrhea and gastrointestinal charcoal transit in a dose-dependent manner. In this respect, the maximum PI (p < 0.01) of JCR, CRAE, and CRME in different experimental paradigms was 43.13, 49.14, and 55.99 %, respectively. Conclusions Taken all together, results from this study reveal that the juice, aqueous, and methanol extract of C. reflexa exhibit significant anti-motility and anti-secretory potential. These findings may explain the medicinal use of C. reflexa in folk medicine as an antidiarrheal medicinal plant.

The open innovation hub Digital Health and Patient Safety Platform (DHPSP) was recently established with the purpose to invigorate collaborative scientific research and the development of new digital products and personalized solutions aiming to improve human health and patient safety. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of a Twitter-based campaign centered on using the hashtag #DHPSP to promote the visibility of the DHPSP initiative. Thus, tweets containing #DHPSP were monitored for five weeks for the period 20.10.2020–24.11.2020 and were analyzed with Symplur Signals (social media analytics tool). In the study period, a total of 11,005 tweets containing #DHPSP were posted by 3020 Twitter users, generating 151,984,378 impressions. Analysis of the healthcare stakeholder-identity of the Twitter users who used #DHPSP revealed that the most of participating user accounts belonged to individuals or doctors, with the top three user locations being the United States (501 users), the United Kingdom (155 users), and India (121 users). Analysis of co-occurring hashtags and the full text of the posted tweets further revealed that the major themes of attention in the #DHPSP Twitter-community were related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), medicine and health, digital health technologies, and science communication in general. Overall, these results indicate that the #DHPSP initiative achieved high visibility and engaged a large body of Twitter users interested in the DHPSP focus area. Moreover, the conducted campaign resulted in an increase of DHPSP member enrollments and website visitors, and new scientific collaborations were formed. Thus, Twitter campaigns centered on a dedicated hashtag prove to be a highly efficient tool for visibility-promotion, which could be successfully utilized by healthcare-related open innovation platforms or initiatives.

The occurrence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) worldwide has been progressively accelerating at an alarming rate, without any successful therapeutic strategy for the disease mitigation. The complexity of AD pathogenesis needs to be targeted with an alternative approach, as provided by the superfamily of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, which constitutes an extensive range of proteins, capable of transporting molecular entities across biological membranes. These protein moieties have been implicated in AD, based upon their potential in lipid transportation, resulting in maintenance of cholesterol homeostasis. These transporters have been reported to target the primary hallmark of AD pathogenesis, namely, beta-amyloid hypothesis, which is associated with accumulation of beta-amyloid (Aβ) plaques in AD patients. The ABC transporters have been observed to be localized to the capillary endothelial cells of the blood-brain barrier and neural parenchymal cells, where they exhibit different roles, consequently influencing the neuronal expression of Aβ peptides. The review highlights different families of ABC transporters, ABCB1 (P-glycoprotein), ABCA (ABCA1, ABCA2, and ABCA7), ABCG2 (BCRP; breast cancer resistance protein), ABCG1 and ABCG4, as well as ABCC1 (MRP; multidrug resistance protein) in the CNS, and their interplay in regulating cholesterol metabolism and Aβ peptide load in the brain, simultaneously exerting protective effects against neurotoxic substrates and xenobiotics. The authors aim to establish the significance of this alternative approach as a novel therapeutic target in AD, to provide the researchers an opportunity to evaluate the potential aspects of ABC transporters in AD treatment.

Zinc (Zn) is an essential trace element for most organisms, including human beings. It plays a crucial role in several physiological processes such as catalytic reaction of enzymes, cellular growth, differentiation and metabolism, intracellular signaling, and modulation of nucleic acid structure. Zn containing above 50 metalloenzymes is responsible for proteins, receptors, and hormones synthesis and has a critical role in neurodevelopment. Zn also regulates excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters such as glutamate and GABA and is found in high concentration in the synaptic terminals of hippocampal mossy fibers that maintains cognitive function. It regulates LTP and LTD by regulation of AMPA and NMDA receptors. But an excess or deficiency of Zn becomes neurotoxic or cause impairment in growth or sexual maturation. There is mounting evidence that supports this idea of Zn becoming neurotoxic and being involved in the pathogenesis of AD. Zn dyshomeostasis in AD is an area that needs attention as moderate concentration of Zn is involved in the memory regulation via regulation of amyloid plaque. Dyshomeostasis of Zn is involved in the pathogenesis of diseases like AD, ALS, depression, PD, and schizophrenia.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, which is progressively affecting elderly people. The dyshomeostasis of biometals and accumulation of toxic metals are usually observed in numerous neurodegenerative diseases including AD. In the central nervous system, metal imbalance–caused neurotoxic activities are usually linked with decreased enzymatic activities, increased aggregation of proteins, and oxidative stress, where a series of processes can result in neurodegeneration and cell death. Even though the relations between neurodegenerative diseases and biometal imbalance are still elusive, there is a growing interest in a group of major endogenous proteins that are associated with the transports of metals. Aberrant expression of these endogenous proteins is associated with the biometal imbalance and AD pathogenesis. Indeed, heavy metals are extremely toxic to the nervous system. Various studies have demonstrated that the toxic effects of heavy metals can result in amyloid beta (Aβ) aggregation, neurofibrillary tangles, and even loss of neurons. In this article, we have focused on the molecular processes through which exposure to biometals and toxic metals can play roles in AD pathogenesis.

Graphical abstract, Cuscuta reflexa has been traditionally used as an antiemetic. Additionally, it has been used in various herbal formulations for the treatment of emesis. So far, there is no scientific evidence of the plant extract as antiemetic. Therefore, this study was intended to assess the antiemetic activity of Juice (JCR), aqueous (CRAE) and methanolic extract (CRME) of C. reflexa in pigeons. Emesis was induced through GIT irritants like ampicillin (300 mg/kg, IM), copper sulphate (100 mg/kg, PO), conc. sodium chloride solution (1600 mg/kg, PO) and cisplatin (5-HT3 receptor stimulator) (6 mg/kg, IM). Dimenhydrinate acted as a positive control (2 mg/kg; IM). JCR [(1 ml/kg (1 %) and 1 ml/kg (2 %)], CRAE, and CRME were administered intramuscularly at different doses (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) to each pigeon (n = 6). In each group, calculation of total number of jerks & vomiting episodes, and vomiting-weight was carried out to evaluate its antiemetic activity. The JCR exhibited a significant (p < 0.05) antiemetic impact on both the frequency and onset of emesis at 1 ml/kg (2 %) against various emesis mediator, except sodium chloride. Similarly, CRAE and CRME elicited marked dose dependent inhibition both on onset and frequency of emesis with highly significant (p < 0.001) effect at 200 mg/kg. The study reflects that juice, aqueous and methanolic extract of C. reflexa have significant antiemetic potential and possess pharmacological active constituent(s) that interfered with the emetic mediators by acting through GIT irritation and 5-HT3 receptor stimulations. Results of this study provide a scientific background to its traditional antiemetic uses.

Hydrogen fuel cell technology is now being extensively researched around the world to find a reliable renewable energy source. Global warming, national calamities, fossil-fuel shortages have drawn global attention to environment friendly and renewable energy source. The hydrogen fuel cell technology most certainly fits those requisites. New researches facilitate improving performance, endurance, cost-efficiency, and overcoming limitations of the fuel cells. The various factors affecting the features and the efficiency of a fuel cell must be explored in the course of advancement in a specific manner. Temperature is one of the most critical performance-changing parameters of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC). In this review paper, we have discussed the impact of temperature on the efficiency and durability of the hydrogen fuel cell, more precisely, on a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC). We found that increase in temperature increases the performance and efficiency, power production, voltage, leakage current, but decreases mass crossover and durability. But we concluded with the findings that an optimum temperature is required for the best performance.

Diospyros lotus, also known as date-plum, belongs to theEbenaceaefamily and is mostly recognized as a rootstock forD.kaki. Similar classes of naphthoquinones inD.lotusare investigated against cancer and inflammation and have antimicrobial, sedative, and analgesic properties. Six chemical constituents (1-6) were isolated fromDiospyros lotusand tested for anti-inflammatory effects at the dose of 2.5 and 5 mg/kg, i.p., using carrageenan (1%, 0.05 ml)-induced paw edema. The maximum protection against carrageenan-induced edema was observed for compounds 1 and 2. Both studied compounds demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory effect after the 3rdhour of posttreatment. The maximum anti-inflammatory effect of compound 1 was 85.96%, while that of compound 2 was 81.44%, followed by compounds 5 and 6, which exhibited 80.11% and 82.45% effect, respectively. Similarly, histamine-induced inflammation was significantly antagonized by 1, 2, 5, and 6 with 87.99%,82.18±1.8,80.40±1.59, and 77.44% effects, respectively, at 5 mg/kg after the 2ndhour of posttreatment. The rest of the tested compounds did not show any significant effect as compared to the negative control. Interestingly, no toxicity was observed at higher doses. Moreover, the extracted compounds showed remarkable antibacterial activity against the Gram-positive bacteria and no effect against the Gram-negative bacteria. Docking studies on target cyclooxygenases showed that all the compounds established interactions with the key amino acid residues present in the additional pocket of COX-2. Hence, these compounds may act as selective COX-2 inhibitors. In conclusion, the findings of the current study suggest that the roots ofDiospyros lotusmay contain some anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agents with minimal toxicological effects and accordingly this plant product is recommended for further investigations.

Catalysts are well-known to convert alkylbenzenes at high thermal condition to a number of useful products. However, the current schemes of transformation are not suitable for the hazard-free industrial applications because their reactive intermediates are transformed to a variety of side products that often retard the optimum yield and cause environmental pollutions. It is also observed that the formation of products depends on a wide range of parameters which are extremely difficult to control and often incur extra cost. Recently, heterogeneous catalysts have received huge commercial interests for the oxidation of alkylbenzene into carbonyl compounds which are platform chemicals in various synthetics and fine chemicals. This review is an up-to-date documentary on various catalysts used for the oxidation of alkyl-substituted benzenes along with their reaction condition and selectivity profiles. This work updates our knowledge for the selection and/or design of novel catalysts for the chemists and engineers in the industrial and academic settings.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlations between nursing staff’s mental health, number of years worked, night shifts performed, and pleasant activities at the workplace. One hundred forty-three subjects who had no missing data were analyzed. Questions consisted of basic attributes, subjective happiness scale (SHS), and pleasant activities conducted at the workplace. Denouements of SHS indicated a significant trend for the main effect, with more pleasant activities in the high SHS group than the low SHS group. The interaction was significant, with fewer pleasant activities in participants in the low SHS group who worked the night shift compared with those who worked the night shift regardless of work experience. The outcomes of this study suggest that it is essential to expand the repertoire of pleasant activities at the workplace to increase the subjective happiness of nursing staff for older individuals.

Inflammation is a natural protective mechanism that occurs when the body’s tissue homeostatic mechanisms are disrupted by biotic, physical, or chemical agents. The immune response generates pro-inflammatory mediators, but excessive output, such as chronic inflammation, contributes to many persistent diseases. Some phenolic compounds work in tandem with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to inhibit pro-inflammatory mediators’ activity or gene expression, including cyclooxygenase (COX). Various phenolic compounds can also act on transcription factors, such as nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) or nuclear factor-erythroid factor 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2), to up-or downregulate elements within the antioxidant response pathways. Phenolic compounds can inhibit enzymes associated with the development of human diseases and have been used to treat various common human ailments, including hypertension, metabolic problems, incendiary infections, and neurodegenerative diseases. The inhibition of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) by phenolic compounds has been used to treat hypertension. The inhibition of carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzyme represents a type 2 diabetes mellitus therapy, and cholinesterase inhibition has been applied to treat Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Phenolic compounds have also demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties to treat skin diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease. Plant extracts and phenolic compounds exert protective effects against oxidative stress and inflammation caused by airborne particulate matter, in addition to a range of anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-aging, antibacterial, and antiviral activities. Dietary polyphenols have been used to prevent and treat allergy-related diseases. The chemical and biological contributions of phenolic compounds to cardiovascular disease have also been described. This review summarizes the recent progress delineating the multifunctional roles of phenolic compounds, including their anti-inflammatory properties and the molecular pathways through which they exert anti-inflammatory effects on metabolic disorders. This study also discusses current issues and potential prospects for the therapeutic application of phenolic compounds to various human diseases.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that usually develops slowly and progressively worsens over time. Although there has been increasing research interest in AD, its pathogenesis is still not well understood. Although most studies primarily focus on neurons, recent research findings suggest that glial cells (especially microglia and astrocytes) are associated with AD pathogenesis and might provide various possible therapeutic targets. Growing evidence suggests that microglia can provide protection against AD pathogenesis, as microglia with weakened functions and impaired responses to Aβ proteins are linked with elevated AD risk. Interestingly, numerous findings also suggest that microglial activation can be detrimental to neurons. Indeed, microglia can induce synapse loss via the engulfment of synapses, possibly through a complement-dependent process. Furthermore, they can worsen tau pathology and release inflammatory factors that cause neuronal damage directly or through the activation of neurotoxic astrocytes. Astrocytes play a significant role in various cerebral activities. Their impairment can mediate neurodegeneration and ultimately the retraction of synapses, resulting in AD-related cognitive deficits. Deposition of Aβ can result in astrocyte reactivity, which can further lead to neurotoxic effects and elevated secretion of inflammatory mediators and cytokines. Moreover, glial-induced inflammation in AD can exert both beneficial and harmful effects. Understanding the activities of astrocytes and microglia in the regulation of AD pathogenesis would facilitate the development of novel therapies. In this article, we address the implications of microglia and astrocytes in AD pathogenesis. We also discuss the mechanisms of therapeutic agents that exhibit anti-inflammatory effects against AD.

Melatonin and novel melatonin-based therapies such as melatonin-containing hybrid molecules, melatonin analogues, and melatonin derivatives have been investigated as potential therapeutics against Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. In this review, we examine the developmental trends of melatonin therapies for AD from 1997 to 2021. We then highlight the neuroprotective mechanisms of melatonin therapy derived from preclinical studies. These mechanisms include the alleviation of amyloid-related burden, neurofibrillary tangle accumulation, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, and impaired neuroplasticity and neurotransmission. We further illustrate the beneficial effects of melatonin on behavior in animal models of AD. Next, we discuss the clinical effects of melatonin on sleep, cognition, behavior, psychiatric symptoms, electroencephalography findings, and molecular biomarkers in patients with mild cognitive impairment and AD. We then explore the effectiveness of novel melatonin-based therapies. Lastly, we discuss the limitations of current melatonin therapies for AD and suggest two emerging research themes for future study.

Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is a transcription factor that regulates various genes that mediate various cellular activities, including propagation, differentiation, motility, and survival. Abnormal activation of NF-κB is a common incidence in several cancers. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive brain cancer described by high cellular heterogeneity and almost unavoidable relapse following surgery and resistance to traditional therapy. In GBM, NF-κB is abnormally activated by various stimuli. Its function has been associated with different processes, including regulation of cancer cells with stem-like phenotypes, invasion of cancer cells, and radiotherapy resistance identification of mesenchymal cells. Even though multimodal therapeutic approaches such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapeutic drugs are used for treating GBM, however; the estimated mortality rate for GBM patients is around 1 year. Therefore, it is necessary to find out new therapeutic approaches for treating GBM. Many studies are focusing on therapeutics having less adverse effects owing to the failure of conventional chemotherapy and targeted agents. Several studies of compounds suggested the involvement of NF-κB signaling pathways in the growth and development of a tumor and GBM cell apoptosis. In this review, we highlight the involvement of NF-κB signaling in the molecular understanding of GBM and natural compounds targeting NF-κB signaling.

Background Diabetes mellitus is one of the most notable health dilemmas. Analyzing plants for new antidiabetic remedies has become an impressive territory for life science researchers. Gynura procumbens has long been used to treat diabetes. Thus, we strived to ascertain the hypoglycemic potentiality of extract of leaves of G. procumbens by in vivo and in silico approaches. Methods Fresh leaves of G. procumbens were collected and shade-dried to prepare ethanolic extracts to evaluate pharmacological parameters. Diabetes was induced in rats via injecting alloxan through the intraperitoneal route at a dose of 150 mg/kg body weight. Humalyzer 3000 was used to perform a biochemical assay of collected samples from rats. Anti-hyperglycemic activity study along with overdose toxicity test was performed. The pharmacological activity of this plant was also evaluated through a molecular docking study. This in silico study investigated the binding affinity of natural ligands from G. procumbens against glycoside hydrolase enzymes. Results We detected a peak plasma concentration of G. procumbens at 3 hours 45 minutes that is roughly similar to the peak plasma concentration of metformin. Again, in OGTT and anti-hyperglycemic tests, it has been ascertained that both plant extract and metformin can exert significant (P < 0.05) and highly significant (P < 0.01) hypoglycemic activity in a dose-dependent manner. Metformin exhibited better therapeutic efficacy than that of plant extract, but it possessed null statistical significance. Also, our safety profile expressed that, similar to metformin, the plant extract can restore the disturbed pathological state in a dose-oriented approach with a wide safety margin. In silico study also validated the potentialities of natural constituents of G. procumbens. Conclusion. This study suggested that G. procumbens can be considered as potential antidiabetic plant. Robust and meticulous investigation regarding plant chemistry and pharmacology in the future may bring about a new dimension that will aid in discovering antidiabetic drugs from this plant in the diabetes management system.

Implementation of novel and biocompatible polymers in drug design is an emerging and rapidly growing area of research. Even though we have a large number of polymer materials for various applications, the biocompatibility of these materials remains as a herculean task for researchers. Aptamers provide a vital and efficient solution to this problem. They are usually small (ranging from 20 to 60 nucleotides, single-stranded DNA or RNA oligonucleotides which are capable of binding to molecules possessing high affinity and other properties like specificity. This review focuses on different aspects of Aptamers in drug discovery, starting from its preparation methods and covering the recent scenario reported in the literature regarding their use in drug discovery. We address the limitations of Aptamers and provide valuable insights into their future potential in the areas regarding drug discovery research. Finally, we explained the major role of Aptamers like medical imaging techniques, application as synthetic antibodies, and the most recent application, which is in combination with nanomedicines.

Quercetin belongs to the flavonoids family, which is present in most of the plants including fruits, vegetables, green tea and even in red wine having antioxidant activities. It is available as a food supplement in the market and has physiological health effects. Quercetin has anti-inflammatory, anticancer and anti-prostate activities along with its beneficial effects on high cholesterol, kidney transplantation, asthma, diabetes, viral infections, pulmonary, schizophrenia and cardiovascular diseases. Quercetin possesses scavenging potential of hydroxyl radical (OH-), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and superoxide anion (O2-). These reactive oxygen species (ROS) hampers lipid, protein, amino acids and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) processing leading to epigenetic alterations. Quercetin has the ability to combat these harmful effects. ROS plays a vital role in the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and we propose that quercetin would be the best choice to overcome cellular and molecular signals in regulating normal physiological functions. However, data are not well documented regarding exact cellular mechanisms of quercetin. The neuroprotective effects of quercetin are mainly due to potential up- and/or down-regulation of cytokines via nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2), Paraoxonase-2, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), Protein kinase C, Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling cascades, and PI3K/Akt pathways. Therefore, the aim of the present review was to elaborate on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the quercetin involved in the protection against AD.

The stem bark ofOroxylum indicum(O. indicum) was aimed at testing for anti-inflammatory, antiulcerative, antihyperglycemic, and antidyslipidemic activities. Liver enzyme concentration (SGPT, SGOT) had also been assessed. After being extracted in organic solvent, 3 distinct doses, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg b.w. (p.o.), were used. For edema formation 0.1 ml carrageenan at a dose of 1% w/v was injected into paw of left hind. It showed a fall of edemas 37.50%, 48.34%, and 55.83% while used doses were 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg b.w. (p.o.) individually. The EtOH extract ofO. indicum(50%) and its fractions PET, CLF, EtOAc, and nBUT were studied against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage. Only PET and n-BuOH exhibited the highest percentage of protection and were 96% and 99%, respectively, persuaded by ethanol. In OGTT glibenclamide revealed reduction of glucose level to 7.55 ± 0.22 mmol/L from 10.57 ± 0.32 mmol/L after 30 minutes. Antihyperglycemic activities were assessed for 8- and 12-week duration in diabetic rats. Glibenclamide reduced glucose level from 33.50±0.31 to 7.90±0.19 mmol/L in 12 weeks. In 12 and 8 weeks, combination therapy lowered blood glucose level to a normal extent by 79% and 61% individually. In antidyslipidemic activities after 12-week treatment, it revealed simvastatin; MEOI (400 mg/kg b.w.) and combination of both reduced TC level by 44%, 28%, and 48% consequently followed by TG and LDL. In 8-week treatment, HDL levels were increased by 34%, 13%, and 36%, and in 12 weeks increased by 36%, 8%, and 38% consequently. Liver enzyme concentration after 12 weeks of treatment with glibenclamide, 400 mg/kg b.w. (p.o.) of MEOI and combination of both, exhibited the fact that concentration of SGPT showed downturn by 43.23%, 8.01%, and 54.86% and SGOT by 42.40%, 5.31%, and 44.85%. This study remarked thatO. indicumhas anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, antidiabetic, and antidyslipidemic potentials but has no ameliorative effect on liver enzyme.