Protocatechuic Acid and its Derivatives: Synthesis, Antioxidant Properties, and Potential In Vivo Wound Healing Applications.

Treatment of chronic wounds is a potential healthcare problem, affecting people globally. Traditional methods of wound healing are prone to several limitations, like infections, oxidative stress, and development of secondary wounds. Management of oxidative stress is an interesting platform to deal with chronic wounds.

Impact of CYP19A1 genetic variations on polycystic ovary syndrome: findings from a case-control study.

Objective: To study the association between CYP19A1 genetic variants and the risk of developing polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The study explored the relationship between the candidate gene CYP19A1 and hyperandrogenism, as well as its interplay with obesity, in PCOS patients compared with healthy controls.

Design: A case-control study with genetic association analysis by tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction and biochemical analysis.

Design, synthesis, and docking study of saccharin N-triazolyl glycoconjugates.

To achieve better-repurposed motifs, saccharin has been merged with biocompatible sugar molecules via a 1,2,3-triazole linker, and ten novel 1,2,3-triazole-appended saccharin glycoconjugates were developed in good yield by utilizing modular CuAAC click as regioselective triazole forming tool. The docking study indicated that the resulting hybrid molecules have an overall substantial interaction with the CAXII macromolecule. Moreover, the galactose triazolyl saccharin analogue 3h has a binding energy of -8.

Design, Synthesis, and Docking Study of Quinine-9-Triazolyl Conjugates.

To develop a better chemotherapeutically potential candidate for lung cancer treatment and cure with repurposed motifs, quinine has been linked with biocompatible CuAAC-inspired regioselective 1,2,3-triazole linker and a series of ten novel 1,2,3-triazolyl-9-quinine conjugates have been developed by utilizing click conjugation of glycosyl ether alkynes with 9-epi-9-azido-9-deoxy-quinine under standard click conditions. In parallel, the docking study indicated that the resulting conjugates have an overall appreciable interaction with ALK-5 macromolecules. Moreover, the mannose-triazolyl conjugate exhibited the highest binding interactions of -7.

Click inspired synthesis of piperazine-triazolyl sugar-conjugates as potent anti-Hela activity.

To imbibe the aim of synthesizing water-soluble and biocompatible motif, a click-inspired piperazine glycoconjugate has been devised up. In this report, we present a focused approach to design and synthesis of versatile sugar-appended triazoles through 'Click Chemistry' along with their pharmacological studies on cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and cell cytotoxicity on cancer cells using in silico and in vitro approaches, respectively. The study has inclusively recognized the galactose- and mannose-derived piperazine conjugates as the promising motifs.

Epigenetic malleability at core promoter initiates tobacco PR-1a expression post salicylic acid treatment.

Background: Tobacco's PR-1a gene is induced by pathogen attack or exogenous application of salicylic acid (SA). Nucleosome mapping and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay were used to delineate the histone modifications on the PR-1a promoter. However, the epigenetic modifications of the inducible promoter of the PR-1a gene are not fully understood yet.

Altered Levels of Negative Costimulatory Molecule V-Set Domain-Containing T-Cell Activation Inhibitor-1 (VTCN1) and Metalloprotease Nardilysin (NRD1) are Associated with Generalized Active Vitiligo.

Background: Vitiligo is characterized by depigmented macules on the skin caused due to autoimmune destruction of melanocytes. V-set domain-containing -cell activation inhibitor-1 (VTCN1) is a negative costimulatory molecule that plays a vital role in suppressing autoimmunity and tuning immune response. Nardilysin (NRD1), a metalloproteinase, cleaves membrane-tethered VTCN1 resulting in the shedding of soluble-VTCN1 (sVTCN1).

Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha affects melanocyte survival and melanin synthesis via multiple pathways in vitiligo.

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a major mediator of inflammation and its increased levels have been analyzed in vitiligo patients. Vitiligo is a depigmentary skin disarray caused due to disapperance of functional melanocytes. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of TNF-α in melanocyte biology, analyzing candidate molecules of melanocytes and immune homeostasis.

Investigation of the Role of Interleukin 6 in Vitiligo Pathogenesis.

Unlabelled: Interleukin-6 (IL6) is involved in pathogenesis of several autoimmune disorders including vitiligo. Hence, we aimed to investigate the association of IL6 -174 G/C and -572 G/C polymorphisms and its transcript levels with vitiligo; to evaluate the effect of IL-6 on normal human melanocyte (NHM) viability and expression of IL6R, MITF and TYR. IL6 -174 G/C and -572 G/C polymorphisms were genotyped by ARMS-PCR and PCR-RFLP respectively in 343 controls and 322 vitiligo patients.

Phosphodiesterase 8B Polymorphism rs4704397 Is Associated with Infertility in Subclinical Hypothyroid Females: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) remains largely unnoticed as a major cause of infertility due to asymptomatic. Polymorphisms of phosphodiesterase 8B gene have been linked with various diseases, including female infertility. Hence, we aimed to study prevalence of SCH, in infertile females, explore association of rs4704397 A/G and rs6885099 G/A polymorphisms with infertility in females suffering from SCH and genotype-phenotype correlation of the polymorphisms with thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in Gujarat population.

Benzotriazole as an Efficient Ligand in Cu-Catalyzed Glaser Reaction.

Benzotriazole has been established as an efficient ligand in Cu-catalyzed cross-coupling of terminal alkynes to form 1,3-dialkynes using CuI as the catalyst and KCO as the base at room temperature in an open round-bottom flask. The established protocol has the following notable advantages: simple to handle, easy work-up, mild reaction condition, high substrate scope, requirement of less quantity of ligand and also Cu-catalyst, less expensive, and high reaction yield.

Synthesis of Benz-Fused Azoles via C-Heteroatom Coupling Reactions Catalyzed by Cu(I) in the Presence of Glycosyltriazole Ligands.

Glycosyl triazoles are conveniently accessible and contain multiple metal-binding units that may assist in metal-mediated catalysis. Azide derivatives of d-glucose have been converted to their respective aryltriazoles and screened as ligands for the synthesis of 2-substituted benz-fused azoles and benzimidazoquinazolinones by Cu-catalyzed intramolecular Ullmann type C-heteroatom coupling. Good to excellent yields for a variety of benz-fused heterocyles were obtained for this readily accessible catalytic system.

Cytokines: the yin and yang of vitiligo pathogenesis.

Dysregulation of melanocyte function is associated with vitiligo, an idiopathic autoimmune hypopigmentary skin disorder, caused by the selective destruction of melanocytes. Cytokines, the key mediators of immune response, which are pivotal in maintaining immune homeostasis, are crucial in vitiligo pathogenesis. Several studies indicate that there is an imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the skin and serum of vitiligo patients.

Association of interleukin 1 receptor antagonist intron 2 variable number of tandem repeats polymorphism with vitiligo susceptibility in Gujarat population.

Background: Vitiligo is a multifactorial, polygenic, autoimmune skin disorder caused by selective destruction of melanocytes. Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist intron 2 polymorphism was found to be associated with various autoimmune disorders.

Aims: We aimed to investigate the association of interleukin 1 receptor antagonist intron 2 variable number of tandem repeats polymorphism (rs2234663) with vitiligo to assess interleukin 1 receptor antagonist transcript levels and to perform possible genotype-phenotype correlation.

Association of elevated homocysteine levels and Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 1298 A > C polymorphism with Vitiligo susceptibility in Gujarat.

Background: Several studies have reported hyperhomocysteinemia in vitiligo patients, suggesting the potential role of elevated homocysteine levels in precipitating vitiligo.

Objectives: We aimed to estimate homocysteine and vitamin B levels, and to investigate the role of MTHFR 677 C > T and 1298 A > C polymorphisms in vitiligo susceptibility in Gujarat population.

Methods: Homocysteine and vitamin B levels were estimated in plasma of 55 vitiligo patients and 60 controls by Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA).

A case-control study on association of proteasome subunit beta 8 (PSMB8) and transporter associated with antigen processing 1 (TAP1) polymorphisms and their transcript levels in vitiligo from Gujarat.

Background: Autoimmunity has been implicated in the destruction of melanocytes from vitiligo skin. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class-II linked genes proteasome subunit beta 8 (PSMB8) and transporter associated with antigen processing 1 (TAP1), involved in antigen processing and presentation have been reported to be associated with several autoimmune diseases including vitiligo.

Objectives: To explore PSMB8 rs2071464 and TAP1 rs1135216 single nucleotide polymorphisms and to estimate the expression of PSMB8 and TAP1 in patients with vitiligo and unaffected controls from Gujarat.

Poly ADP-ribose polymerase-1: Beyond transcription and towards differentiation.

Gene regulation mediates the processes of cellular development and differentiation leading to the origin of different cell types each having their own signature gene expression profile. However, the compact chromatin structure and the timely recruitment of molecules involved in various signaling pathways are of prime importance for temporal and spatial gene regulation that eventually contribute towards cell type and specificity. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1), a 116-kDa nuclear multitasking protein is involved in modulation of chromatin condensation leading to altered gene expression.

Abstracts from the 3rd International Genomic Medicine Conference (3rd IGMC 2015) : Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 30 November - 3 December 2015.

O1 Regulation of genes by telomere length over long distances Jerry W. Shay O2 The microtubule destabilizer KIF2A regulates the postnatal establishment of neuronal circuits in addition to prenatal cell survival, cell migration, and axon elongation, and its loss leading to malformation of cortical development and severe epilepsy Noriko Homma, Ruyun Zhou, Muhammad Imran Naseer, Adeel G. Chaudhary, Mohammed Al-Qahtani, Nobutaka Hirokawa O3 Integration of metagenomics and metabolomics in gut microbiome research Maryam Goudarzi, Albert J.

miRNA signatures and transcriptional regulation of their target genes in vitiligo.

Background: miRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression. We have earlier reported the skin miRNA expression profiling in patients with non-segmental vitiligo.

Objective: In the present study, we show the expression of previously identified skin miRNAs signatures in blood and their target genes in whole blood and PBMCs as well as skin micro-environment of vitiligo patients and controls.

Association of Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Antigen 4 (CTLA4) and Thyroglobulin (TG) Genetic Variants with Autoimmune Hypothyroidism.

Autoimmune hypothyroidism is known to be caused by immune responses related to the thyroid gland and its immunological feature includes presence of autoimmune antibodies. Therefore the aim was to analyze presence of anti-TPO antibodies in hypothyroidism patients in Gujarat. Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Antigen 4 (CTLA4) is one of the susceptibility genes for various autoimmune diseases.

N-Alkyl/aryl-4-(3-substituted-3-phenylpropyl)piperazine-1-carbothioamide as dual-action vaginal microbicides with reverse transcriptase inhibition.

The growing population and health-care burden (due to STIs and HIV) imposes a particular economic crisis over resource-poor countries. Thus a novel approach as vaginal microbicides emerges as integrated tool to control both population and anti-STIs/HIV. Our continued efforts in this field led to the synthesis of fifteen N-alkyl/aryl-4-(3-substituted-3-phenylpropyl) piperazine-1-carbothioamide (12-26) derivatives as topical vaginal microbicides which were evaluated for anti-Trichomonas, spermicidal, antifungal and reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitory activities.