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To mitigate the spread of the global COVID-19 pandemic, various regions, including India, implemented stringent measures such as nationwide lockdowns to curb the spread of the virus. The air quality dynamics during the COVID-19 lockdown period revealed diverse trends across various pollutants all over the world. This study explores the impact of these lockdowns on air quality in Delhi, one of India’s megacities, across distinct phases: pre-lockdown, during lockdown, and post-lockdown periods. PM 10 was observed to show a substantial decline in concentration, particularly in April 2020, serving as a testament to the immediate effectiveness of implementing lockdown measures to control particulate matter concentrations. However, these levels returned to their previous peak in subsequent years post lockdown. PM 2.5 followed a similar pattern, experiencing an initial decline during the lockdown, but as industries and factories resumed their activities post June 2020, the levels shot up back to their original baseline, highlighting the transient nature of low PM concentrations. Other pollutants like Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), and Carbon Monoxide (CO) levels showed varying degrees of mild to steep decline during the lockdown, but they too returned to their original concentrations as few months after the lockdown was lifted. There was, contrary to expectations, an increase in ozone (O3) concentrations after the implementation of lockdown, challenging our assumptions. Spatial mapping was done to observe the variation of concentration in different tehsils of Delhi.

The vehicle emission is an important effectiveness measurement of any sustainable transportation development. Geometric and surface characteristics of pavement play an important role in reduction in fuel-economy and greenhouse gas emission. Deterioration of pavement surface is considered as the basic problem, which increases in fuel consumption, which leads to increase in emissions. The aim of the present research work is to provide better understanding on the role of pavement characteristics in green transportation initiates. Evaluating the effects of these emissions based on the roughness characteristics and the effect of gradient is the objective of the research. The field data collection surveys were conducted on two stretches in and around OU campus, viz., (i) OUCT road and (ii) DD colony A-lane. Roughness measurement surveys were conducted on these selected stretches by using MERLIN. The vehicular emissions of ALTO and SWIFT petrol cars were measured by using AVL Di-gas 444 analyzer. Comparisons were made for emissions on these different stretches against roughness and gradient of these two roads. The comparisons show considerable percentage increase in emissions on the stretches with higher roughness and gradient. As the objectives intended, the impact of pavement roughness on vehicular emission is related to roughness and gradient and the regression equations were developed to estimate four types of vehicular emissions. Based on the impact of gradient on vehicular emissions, the geometric design engineer can adopt the minimum level of gradient to be used while designing new roads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examined the influence of culture media on in-vitro fertilization of goat oocytes. Ovaries were obtained from local abattoir and transported within four hours to the laboratory in warm saline containing 100 IU penicillin-G and 100 micrograms streptomycin sulphate/milliliter. Cumulus oocyte complexes retrieved by follicle puncture technique were chosen for in-vitro maturation of which 489 were subsequently utilized for in-vitro fertilization and culture. The study concluded that the utilization of modified Tyrode's albumin lactate pyruvate medium (mTALP) as fertilization medium have significantly increased the cleavage rate of in-vitro matured goat oocytes as compared to Brackett and Oliphant (BO) and modified synthetic oviductal fluid (mSOF) medium.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that causes atrophy of brain cells, leading to their death, and has become a leading cause of death in aging populations worldwide. AD is characterized by β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition and tau phosphorylation in neural tissues, but the precise pathophysiology of the disease is still obscure. Autophagy is an evolutionarily targeted mechanism that is necessary for the elimination of neuronal and glial misfolded proteins as well as proteins. It also plays an essential role in synaptic plasticity. The aberrant autophagy primarily influences the process of aging and neurodegeneration. Autophagy significantly influences how Aβ and tau function physiologically, therefore, atypical autophagy is expected to perform an important role in Aβ deposition and tau phosphorylation characteristic in the development of AD. Bioactive phytoconstituents could majorly contribute as a natural yet effective alternative approach to slow down the progression of neurodegeneration and promote the active aging process in elderly patients. Over the recent years, it is well evidenced that different secondary metabolites including polyphenols, alkaloids, terpenes, and phenols exhibited neuroprotective effects, and attenuated brain damage, and cognitive impairment in vitro as well as in vivo. Additionally, the underlying mechanism of action shared by them is the regulation of competent autophagy via the removal of aggregated protein and mitochondrial dysfunction. The present article is structured as a reference for researchers keen to investigate and assess the new natural compound-mediated therapeutic approach for AD treatment through the modulation of autophagy., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Increasing incidences of fungal infections and prevailing antifungal resistance in healthcare settings has given rise to an antifungal crisis on a global scale. The members of the genus Candida, owing to their ability to acquire sessile growth, are primarily associated with superficial to invasive fungal infections, including the implant-associated infections. The present study introduces a novel approach to combat the sessile/biofilm growth of Candida by fabricating nanofibers using a nanoencapsulation approach. This technique involves the synthesis of tyrosol (TYS) functionalized chitosan gold nanocomposite, which is then encapsulated into PVA/AG polymeric matrix using electrospinning. The FESEM, FTIR analysis of prepared TYS-AuNP@PVA/AG NF suggested the successful encapsulation of TYS into the nanofibers. Further, the sustained and long-term stability of TYS in the medium was confirmed by drug release and storage stability studies. The prepared nanomats can absorb the fluid, as evidenced by the swelling index of the nanofibers. The growth and biofilm inhibition, as well as the disintegration studies against Candida, showed 60-70 % biofilm disintegration when 10 mg of TYS-AuNP@PVA/AG NF was used, hence confirming its biological effectiveness. Subsequently, the nanofibers considerably reduced the hydrophobicity index and ergosterol content of the treated cells. Considering the challenges associated with the inhibition/disruption of fungal biofilm, the fabricated nanofibers prove their effectiveness against Candida biofilm. Therefore, nanocomposite-loaded nanofibers have emerged as potential materials that can control fungal colonization and could also promote healing., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Antibiotic resistance presents a significant global health threat to modern medicine. The awareness and attitude of future doctors undergoing training may play a crucial role in addressing this important issue, influencing the control of resistance and promoting responsible antibiotic stewardship. This study aimed to estimate knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding antibiotic usage and antimicrobial resistance among tertiary care teaching hospital medical interns., Methodology: The questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 123 MBBS interns from multiple medical institutions. Intern's knowledge, attitudes, and self-reported practices regarding antibiotic use were recorded., Results: Based on survey responses from 123 participants, 116 (94.31%) were aware of the adverse effects of indiscriminate antibiotic use, recognizing the risks of ineffective treatment, increased adverse effects, prolonged illness, bacterial resistance, and higher medical costs. Most (106, 86.18%) acknowledged the challenges of treating antibiotic-resistant infections, and 69 (56.10%) correctly identified that bacteria are not a cause of the common cold and flu. Most (115, 93.5%) recognized antibiotic resistance as a significant global health problem. In attitude, 90 (73%) believed antibiotics should be avoided for colds, but 80 (65%) thought they hastened fever recovery. Only 48 (39%) recognized that antibiotics contribute to resistance, while 102 (83%) agreed skipping doses fosters resistance. Most support hospital policies (118, 96%) and curriculum courses (112, 91%) for rational antibiotic use. Regarding practice, 12 (9.76%) interns admitted to overusing antibiotics, 68 (55.28%) consulted a doctor before starting antibiotics, and 87 (70.73%) checked expiry dates. Additionally, 62 (50.41%) preferred antibiotics for cough and sore throat symptoms., Conclusions: The study highlights that while interns have a good knowledge and awareness of the harms of antibiotic misuse, they are not translating this knowledge into practice. This indicates a disconnect between understanding and application. Therefore, there is a need to add a rational antibiotic prescription and stewardship module to the medical curriculum to ensure that knowledge is effectively translated into changing beliefs and practices., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Institutional Ethics Committee for Human Research issued approval MAMC/IEC/2023/79, dated November 22, 2023. The study was carried out from December 2023 to March 2024 after obtaining approval from the Scientific Research Committee and the Institutional Ethics Committee for Human Research (MAMC/IEC/2023/79, dated November 22, 2023. Written informed consent was obtained from each participant. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Bano et al.)

Objective: This study aimed to assess the frequency with which orthodontic patients decided to shift to another type of orthodontic appliance, among conventional metal brackets, ceramic brackets, lingual brackets and clear aligner, based on their personal experiences of pain, ulcers, bad breath, hygiene issues and social difficulties., Material and Methods: This study comprises of patients seeking orthodontic treatment. The sample (n = 500; age group = 19-25 years) was divided equally into four groups based on the treatment modality: conventional metal brackets, ceramic brackets, lingual brackets and clear aligner. Patients rated the questionnaire using a visual analogue scale, to assess variables (such as pain, ulcer etc) that impact various treatment modalities. Subsequently, patients from all groups provided feedback regarding their treatment experiences, and expressed their preference for an alternative modality. Intergroup comparison among the four groups was done using one-way analysis of variance with Tukey's HSD post-hoc test (p ≤ 0.05)., Results: Patients who received lingual brackets reported higher levels of pain and ulceration, as compared to those who received clear aligners. All four groups showed statistically significant differences for ulcers during treatment (p ≤ 0.05). Of the 125 patients who received conventional metal brackets, 28% expressed a preference for clear aligner therapy, while 20% preferred ceramic brackets. In the lingual group, 56% of 125 patients preferred clear aligner therapy, and 8% preferred ceramic brackets to complete their treatment. In the ceramic group, 83% did not want to switch, whereas 17% desired to switch to clear aligner, while in aligner group no patient desired to switch., Conclusions: A higher percentage of patients from lingual brackets group chose to shift to clear aligners, followed by conventional metal brackets group and by ceramic brackets group, in this descending order. The clear aligner group demonstrated fewer issues than the other treatment modalities.

Low-molecular-mass gelators, due to their excellent biocompatibility, low toxicological profile, innate biodegradability and ease of fabrication have garnered significant interest as they self-assemble through non-covalent interactions. In this study, we have designed and synthesized a series of six α-amidoamides by varying the hydrophobic alkyl chain length (C 12 -C 22 ), which were well characterized using different spectral techniques. These α-amidoamides formed self-assembled aggregates in a DMSO/water solvent system affording organo/hydrogels at 0.66% w/v, which is the minimum gelation concentration (MGC) making them as remarkable supergelators. The various functionalities present in these gelators such as amides and alkyl chain length pave the way toward excellent gelation mechanism through hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interaction as evidenced from FTIR spectroscopy. Notably, as the chain length increased, organo/hydrogels became more thermally stable. Rheological results showed that the stability and strength of these gelators were considerably impacted by variations in chain length. The SEM morphology revealed dense sheet architectures of the organo/hydrogel samples. Organo/hydrogels have a significant impact on the advancement of innovative drug delivery systems that respond to various stimuli, ushering in a new era in pharmaceutical technology. Inspired by this, we encapsulated curcumin, a chemopreventive medication, into the gel core and further released via gel-to-sol transition induced by pH variation at 37 °C, without any alteration in structure-activity relationship. The drug release behavior was observed by UV-vis spectroscopy. Moreover, cell viability and cell invasion experiments demonstrate that the gel formulations exhibit high biocompatibility and low cytotoxicity. Among the tested formulations, 5e+Cur exhibited remarkable efficacy in controlling A549 cell migration, suggesting significant potential for applications in the pharmaceutical industry.

Infections caused by bacteria are the primary cause of illness and death globally, and antibiotics are the most commonly used medications to treat them. However, there are certain inherent problems in administering these drugs without any changes to their effectiveness. In order to sustain the targeted dosage over time, the use of a biocompatible local drug delivery system using low molecular mass gelators is preferred as a potential approach to reduce its side effects. Low molecular weight organic gelators (LMWOGs) have drawn a lot of attention due to their numerous and varied applications in multiple fields. But nowadays its quite a challenging task to synthesize new types of LMWOGs that can fill the significant gap towards potential applications. In this work, we have explored a multicomponent pathway for the synthesis of a small repertoire of peptoids from simple building blocks by a one-pot Ugi reaction. A variety of novel effective low molecular weight organic gelators have been synthesized, leading to the formation of stable self-assembled aggregates in various solvents such as DMSO, aqueous DMSO, and methanol. Consequently, these aggregates give rise to the creation of organogels and organo/hydrogels. The gels have a minimum gelation concentration (MGC) of 1-2% w/v with high thermal stability. Furthermore, successful encapsulation and release of metronidazole (MZ) were achieved within the gel matrix under physiological pH conditions at 37 °C, ensuring the preservation of its structural and functional properties. The results demonstrated that the release rate of MZ from the organo/hydrogels is contingent on pH, exhibiting a gradual and regulated release in mild alkaline environments. Moreover, the devised system displayed noteworthy antimicrobial efficacy against E. coli , underscoring the potential of these novel low molecular weight organic gels (LMWOGs) as effective drug delivery systems in the pharmaceutical industry. The gel formulations exhibit biocompatibility and negligible cytotoxicity, as evidenced by cell viability studies conducted using the MTT assay.

Large size epitaxial thin films of ferromagnetic Co 2 MnGe full Heusler alloy are grown over MgO(100) substrate by using pulsed laser deposition technique under optimized growth conditions. Metallic behavior is confirmed from the longitudinal resistivity-temperature data, while a minimum in the resistivity at ∼25 K is attributed to the disorder-induced weak localization effect. Importantly, a dominating intrinsic anomalous Hall conductivity value of ∼21 S cm -1 against an overall anomalous Hall conductivity value of ∼36 S cm -1 at the room temperature has been estimated for the epitaxial Co 2 MnGe film. The dominating intrinsic mechanism is also evident from the near temperature-independent behavior of the overall anomalous Hall conductivity., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interests., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

A set of ruthenium(II)-protic-N-heterocyclic carbene complexes, [Ru(NNC H )(PPh 3 ) 2 (X)]Cl (1, X=Cl and 2, X=H) and their deprotonated forms [Ru(NNC)(PPh 3 ) 2 (X)] (1', X=Cl and 2', X=H), in which NNC is a new unsymmetrical pincer ligand, are reported. The four complexes are interconvertible by simple acid-base chemistry. The combined theoretical and spectroscopic investigations indicate charge segregation in anionic-NHC complexes (1' and 2') and can be described from a Lewis pair perspective. The chemical reactivity of deprotonated complex 1' shows cooperative small molecule activation. Complex 1' activates H-H bond of hydrogen, C(sp 3 )-I bond of iodomethane, and C(sp)-H bond of phenylacetylene. The activation of CO 2 using anionic NHC complex 1' at moderate temperature and ambient pressure and subsequent conversion to formate is also described. All the new compounds have been characterized using ESI-MS, 1 H, 13 C, and 31 P NMR spectroscopy. Molecular structures of 1, 2, and 2' have also been determined with single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The cooperative small molecule activation perspective broadens the scope of potential applications of anionic-NHC complexes in small molecule activation, including the conversion of carbon dioxide to formate, a much sought after reaction in the renewable energy and sustainable development domains., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Inhaled toxic chemicals and particulates are known to disrupt lung homeostasis causing pulmonary toxicity and tissue injury. However, biomarkers of such exposures and their underlying mechanisms are poorly understood, especially for emerging toxicants such as engineered nanoparticles and chemical threat agents such as chlorine gas (Cl 2 ). Aquaporins (AQPs), commonly referred to as water channels, are known to play roles in lung homeostasis and pathophysiology. However, little is known on their regulation in toxicant-induced lung injuries. Here, we compared four lung toxicity models namely, acute chemical exposure (Cl 2 )-, chronic particulate exposure (carbon nanotubes/CNT)-, chronic chemical exposure (cigarette smoke extract/CSE)-, and a chronic co-exposure (CNT + CSE)- model, for modulation of lung aquaporins (AQPs 1, 3, 4, and 5) in relation to other pathophysiological endpoints. These included markers of compromised state of lung mucosal lining [mucin 5b (MUC5B) and surfactant protein A (SP-A)] and lung-blood barrier [protein content in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and, cell tight junction proteins occludin and zona-occludens]. The results showed toxicity model-specific regulation of AQPs measured in terms of mRNA abundance. A differential upregulation was observed for AQP1 in acute Cl 2 exposure model (14.71-fold; p = 0.002) and AQP3 in chronic CNT exposure model (3.83-fold; p = 0.044). In contrast, AQP4 was downregulated in chronic CSE model whereas AQP5 showed no significant change in any of the models. SP-A and MUC5B expression showed a decreasing pattern across all toxicity models except the acute Cl 2 toxicity model, which showed a highly significant upregulation of MUC5B (25.95-fold; p = 0.003). This was consistent with other significant pathophysiological changes observed in this acute model, particularly a compromised lung epithelial-endothelial barrier indicated by significantly increased protein infiltration and expression of tight junction proteins, and more severe histopathological (structural and immunological) changes. To our knowledge, this is the first report on lung AQPs as molecular targets of the study toxicants. The differentially regulated AQPs, AQP1 in acute Cl 2 exposure versus AQP3 in chronic CNT nanoparticle exposure, in conjunction with the corresponding differentially impacted pathophysiological endpoints (particularly MUC5B) could potentially serve as predictive markers of toxicant type-specific pulmonary injury and as candidates for future investigation for clinical intervention., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The handling editor FM declared a shared affiliation with the author EY at the time of review., (Copyright © 2022 Bhattacharya, Yadav, Yadav, Hus, Yadav, Kaur, Rosen, Jandarov and Yadav.)

Most polyphenols can cross blood-brain barrier, therefore, they are widely utilized in the treatment of various neurodegenerative diseases (ND). Resveratrol, a natural polyphenol contained in blueberry, grapes, mulberry, etc., is well documented to exhibit potent neuroprotective activity against different ND by mitochondria modulation approach. Mitochondrial function impairment is the most common etiology and pathological process in various neurodegenerative disorders, viz. Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Nowadays these ND associated with mitochondrial dysfunction have become a major threat to public health as well as health care systems in terms of financial burden. Currently available therapies for ND are limited to symptomatic cures and have inevitable toxic effects. Therefore, there is a strict requirement for a safe and highly effective drug treatment developed from natural compounds. The current review provides updated information about the potential of resveratrol to target mitochondria in the treatment of ND., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Yadav, Yadav, Khan, Singh and Verma.)

Objectives: Hepatic osteodystrophy (HOD) is a well-recognized complication of chronic liver diseases (CLD), but the influential factors associated with this complication were studied scarcely in a rural Indian population. The study aims to evaluate the prevalence of HOD and variables that might influence it among cases diagnosed with CLD., Materials and Methods: It is a cross-sectional observational design survey that was performed in a hospital among the two-hundred cases and controls with a 1:1 ratio who were age (>18 years) and gender matched in a period between April and October 2021. They were subjected to etiological workup, hematological and biochemical investigations, and Vitamin D levels. Then, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to measure the bone mineral densitometry (BMD) for whole-body, lumbar spine (LS), and hip. HOD was diagnosed according to the WHO criteria. Then, the Chi-square test and conditional logistic regression analysis were used to investigate the influential factors of HOD in CLD patients., Results: The whole-body, LS-spine, and hip BMDs in CLD cases were found to be significantly lower as compared to controls. When the participants among both groups were stratified by age and gender, a significant difference in LS-spine and hip BMD was observed in elderly patients (>60 years), and in both the male and female patients. HOD was found in 70% of CLD patients. After multivariate analysis in CLD patients, we identified that being a male patient (odds ratio [OR] = 3.03), older age (OR = 3.54), duration of illness for more than 5 years (OR = 3.89), decompensated liver dysfunction with Child-Turcotte-Pugh-B and C grading (OR = 8.28), and low level of Vitamin D (OR = 18.45) were the risk factors for HOD., Conclusion: This study concludes that severity of illness and lower level of Vitamin D were the main influential factors for HOD. Supplementation of Vitamin D and calcium in the patients can abate the risk of fractures in our rural communities., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2022 Tzu Chi Medical Journal.)

<b> Introduction:</b> Post-operative seroma formation is one of the most common complications following modified radical mastectomy (MRM). Quilting is a technique where the mastectomy flaps are sutured to the underlying chest wall muscles with sutures, obliterating the dead space. The authors hypothesised that post-mastectomy dead space obliteration by intermittent mastectomy flap fixation leads to decreased drain output and seroma formation. </br></br> <b> Material and methods: </b> A double-blinded randomised control trial with two arms was conducted from November 2019 to March 2021 in our institute located in India. Patients with non metastatic breast carcinoma planned for MRM were randomly categorised into two groups of 35 patients each. In the test group, each flap was fixed to the underlying muscle using four intermittent 3-0 polyglactin sutures, which was followed by skin closure, and only skin closure was done in the control group. </br></br> <b>Results:</b> The test and control groups did not differ significantly with respect to demographic and tumour characteristics. The average drain output of the test group (155.43 ml) was significantly less than of the control group (206.29 ml). The overall incidence of seroma formation is lower in the test group (5.7%) when compared to the control group (28.6%). The duration of hospital stay in the test group (4.63 days) was significantly shorter when compared to the control group (6.66 days). There was no significant increase in the overall operating time or complications like surgical site infection or skin dimpling due to flap fixation. </br></br> <b>Conclusions:</b> Fixation of MRM flaps is associated with better post-operative outcomes related to drain output and seroma formation without a significant increase in other morbidities or usage of resources.

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is a very rare diagnosis with about 200 cases reported in literature. DSRCT is a recently described histopathological entity by Gerald and Rosai in 1989. Abdominopelvic cavity especially peritoneum is the most common site. We report a case of a huge omental DSRCT with lymph node metastasis which was initially misdiagnosed as gastrointestinal stromal tumor on radiology. A 26-year-old male presented with complaints of upper abdominal swelling associated with constant dull pain. On examination there was a large 15 × 12 cm intraabdominal mass in the epigastric and umbilical region. Imaging studies were suggestive of neoplastic mesenchymal etiology. Image-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was suggestive of mesenchymal neoplastic etiology. On laparotomy, there was a huge 20 × 15 cm mass arising from omentum with multiple omental and mesenteric seedlings and mesenteric, peripancreatic and perigastric lymphadenopathy. The patient underwent debulking surgery with uneventful post-operative recovery. Histopathological examination with immunohistochemistry revealed a diagnosis of DSRCT of omentum and small bowel mesentery with lymph node metastasis. Patient then received adjuvant chemotherapy with multiple chemotherapeutic drugs as per P6 protocol and has stable disease at 1 year follow up., Competing Interests: None

Rich amount of phenolic compounds are available in Trianthema portulacastrum L. (TP) leaves and are traditionally utilized as a wound dressing material. Oxidative stress and inflammation affect the Wnt/β-catenin pathway by modulating the glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK) activity subjected to delay in wound healing. The objective of the current study was to explore the wound healing effect of ferric oxide nanoparticles biosynthesized with fractionated TP extract (FeTP). The ability of TP active components (polyphenols) to inhibit the GSK was explored by using molecular docking studies. FeTP were synthesized, characterized, utilized to prepare an ointment and its efficacy was investigated against full-thickness dermal wounds. Different wound healing parameters, level of enzymatic antioxidants, hydroxyproline content and tissue cytokines level were analyzed. Histopathology was performed to confirm the healing by newly formed tissue architecture. Rats treated with FeTP showed significantly swift healing with faster wound contraction rate, high tensile strength and hydroxyproline content along with the utilization of less time for epithelialization. Histopathological study also validated the potential wound healing effect of FeTP with complete re-epithelialization. The results of the present study cumulatively revealed that the green synthesized FeTP ointment approach may serve as a potential tool for dermal wound healing., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Yadav, Yadav and Verma.)

One-carbon homologation-functionalization in organic synthesis is a quite challenging and difficult task in terms of atom economy, ease of reaction, selectivity and number of steps involved. Due to the reactivity associated with most classes of carbonyls, these groups have always attracted a great deal of attention from synthetic chemists to transform them into various functionalities. In this context various researchers developed new methods for one-carbon extension-functionalization of carbonyls that serve as effective synthetic methodologies and are widely used in target-oriented and natural product synthesis. On account of the vast applicability associated with these transformations, herein we seek to summarize and highlight the important synthetic achievements in this advancing arena for various one-carbon homologation cum functionalization reactions of aldehydes and deep dive into some modern approaches adopted by organic chemists.

Current work was designed to explore the effect of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnONP) biofabricated by using Trianthema portulacastrum (TP) leaves extract on mice brain hippocampus. ZnO nanoparticles of TP leaves (ZnOTP) were synthesized by co-precipitation method and further characterized by using various techniques such as UV-Vis spectrophotometer, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX). ZnOTP were evaluated for in vitro antioxidant activity, in vivo behavior models (for assessment of cognitive ability), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity along with other neurotransmitters content determination, estimation of various oxidative stress parameters and analysis of zinc content in the brain as well as plasma. Histopathological evaluation of the brain hippocampus of each group was performed to corroborate the statistical results. Spherical ZnOTP of 10 to 20 nm size embedded with different phytoconstituents of TP was confirmed. Results of our study revealed a significant memory deficit in mice treated with ZnOTP. Neuronal degeneration was also observed via a significant increase in AChE activity and oxidative stress levels in the brain of mice administered with ZnOTP. Exposure of ZnOTP was also found responsible for modulation of neurotransmission in hippocampus area. Further, ZnOTP disturbed the zinc homeostasis in hippocampus via elevation of zinc content in brain as well as plasma. Histopathology of hippocampus supported the damaging impact of ZnOTP by an increase in vacuolated cytoplasm and focal gliosis in groups treated with ZnOTP. Results demonstrated the neurotoxic effect of ZnOTP on brain hippocampus via cognitive impairment by alteration of neurotransmitter level, zinc content and oxidative stress., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objective: Madhuca longifolia has been used for the treatment of renal cancer. Therefore, the current study describes the protective effects of biofabricated silver nanoparticles (MLAg- NPs) using Madhuca longifolia aqueous leaves extract against diethylnitrosamine (DEN) induced Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) in rats., Methods: Animals were categorized into five groups and treated with doses of silver nanoparticles for 16 weeks. Antineoplastic effect in renal cancer was dose dependent to control the macroscopical variations when compared to DEN induced group. Significant changes were observed in biochemical parameters and dose graded improvement in the level of antioxidants parameters were accountable for its protective nature., Results: Silver nanoparticles in dose dependent manner was effective to modify the raised levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory mediators during renal cancer. Alteration in renal histopathology were also detected in the silver nanoparticles treated group, which show its safety concern. Biofabricated silver nanoparticles (MLAgNPs) using Madhuca longifolia can convey significant chemo-protective effect against renal cancer by suppressing the IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β by nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway., Conclusion: Our outcomes implicates that biofabricated MLAgNPs exhibited a chemoprotective potential in the prevention and intervention of RCC., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Aquaporins (AQPs) aka water channels are a family of conserved transmembrane proteins (~30 kDa monomers) expressed in various organ systems. Of the 13 AQPs (AQP0 through AQP12) in the human body, four (AQPs 1, 3, 4, and 5) are expressed in the respiratory system. These channels are conventionally known for mediating transcellular fluid movements. Certain AQPs (aquaglyceroporins) have the capability to transport glycerol and potentially other solutes. There is an emerging body of literature unveiling the non-conventional roles of AQPs such as in cell proliferation and migration, gas permeation, signal potentiation, etc. Initial gene knock-out studies established a physiological role for lung AQPs, particularly AQP5, in maintaining homeostasis, by mediating fluid secretion from submucosal glands onto the airway surface liquid (ASL) lining. Subsequent studies have highlighted the functional significance of AQPs, particularly AQP1 and AQP5 in lung pathophysiology and diseases, including but not limited to chronic and acute lung injury, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), other inflammatory lung conditions, and lung cancer. AQP1 has been suggested as a potential prognostic marker for malignant mesothelioma. Recent efforts are directed toward exploiting AQPs as targets for diagnosis, prevention, intervention, and/or treatment of various lung conditions. Emerging information on regulatory pathways and directed mechanistic research are posited to unravel novel strategies for these clinical implications. Future considerations should focus on development of AQP inhibitors, blockers, and modulators for therapeutic needs, and better understanding the role of lung-specific AQPs in inter-individual susceptibility to chronic lung diseases such as COPD and cancer., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study reports covalent immobilization of β-glucosidase (BGL) from Bacillus subtilis PS on magnetically recyclable iron nanoparticles for enhancing robustness, facile recovery and reuse of enzyme. Immobilized BGL iron nanoparticles (BGL-INPs) were characterized by various biophysical techniques viz. TEM, DLS, FTIR and CD spectroscopy. The efficiency and yield of immobilization were 89.78 and 84.80%, respectively. After immobilization, optimum pH remained 6.0 whereas optimum temperature upraised to 70 °C whereas apparent K m and V max shifted from 0.819 mM to 0.941 mM and 54.46 to 57.67 μmole/min/mg, respectively. Immobilization conferred lower activation energy and improved pH and thermal stabilities. The BGL-INPs retained 85% activity up to 10th cycle of reuse and hydrolyzed more than 90% of cellobiose to glucose within 30 min. Conclusively, improved pH, thermal stability and excellent reusability over free enzyme make BGL-INPs a promising candidate for sustainable bioethanol production and other industrial applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Oxidative stress and inflammation play a pivotal role in the expansion and progression of hepatic cancer. Nanoparticle-based drug delivery can quickly enhance the restorative capability of hepatic cancer. Silver nanoparticles synthesized from plant source are of great importance due to their small size, economic, non-hazardous and different biomedical applications. In the current study, we have evaluated the impacts of oxidative stress and proinflammatory markers of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles of Phyllanthus emblica (PE) leaves against diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in wistar rats till 16 weeks with its underlying mechanism. The physico-chemical properties of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles were determined by ultra-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction studies. Biofabricated silver nanoparticles (PEAgNPs) significantly enhanced the process of recovery from hepatic cancer in animal models, which was ascertained by increased body weight, reduced hepatic knobs on the outer surface of liver, downregulated serum biochemical parameters (ALT: 134.66 ± 2.60; AST: 120.33 ± 3.18; ALP: 153.33 ± 4.25; AFP: 167.33 ± 3.38), decreased hepatic lipid peroxidation (20.22 ± 1.74), increased membrane-bound enzymes (Na + /K + ATPase: 4.18 ± 0.20; Ca 2+ ATPase: 6.24 ± 0.12), increased antioxidants parameters (CAT: 64.89 ± 4.13; SOD: 6.01 ± 0.11; GPx: 8.55 ± 0.05), alteration in the level of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α: 90.15 ± 5.77; NF-κB: 173.29 ± 7.26; IL-6: 178.11 ± 3.16; IL-1β: 48.26 ± 1.89) and histopathological studies. Our outcomes implicate successfully biofabrication of silver nanoparticles and exhibited a chemoprotective potential in the prevention and intervention of hepatocellular carcinoma.