Spectroscopic investigation of hydrogen bond network stability and microplastic leaching in ethanol-based potentised medicines at extreme dilutions during prolonged plastic storage.

The quality and efficacy of pharmaceutical products stored under proper conditions are critical. This study examined the effects of long-term plastic storage on extremely diluted ethanol-based potentised (EP) medicines using advanced spectroscopic techniques. Four medicines, Arnica montana, Rhus toxicodendron, Conium maculatum, and Belladonna, at ultra-high (200C, 1 M) and moderate-high (30C, 200C) potencies, were stored in glass and plastic containers for one month.

Ion-Pairing Propensity in Guanidinium Salts Dictates Their Protein (De)stabilization Behavior.

Since the proposition of the Hofmeister series, guanidinium (Gdm) salts hold a special mention in protein science owing to their contrasting effect on protein(s) depending on the counteranion(s). For example, while GdmCl is known to act as a potential protein denaturant, GdmSO offers minimal effect on protein structure. Despite the fact that theoretical studies reckon the formation of ion-pairing to be responsible for such behavior, experimental validation of this hypothesis is still in sparse.

Solvation Plays a Key Role in Antioxidant-Mediated Attenuation of Elevated Creatinine Level: An In Vitro Spectroscopic Investigation.

An elevated level of creatinine (CRN) is a mark of kidney ailment, and prolonged retention of such condition could lead to renal failure, associated with severe ischemia. Antioxidants are clinically known to excrete CRN from the body through urine, thereby reducing its level in blood. The molecular mechanism of such an exclusion process is still illusive.

Chemical characterizations of neurotransmission receptors of human and plant to unfold the evolutionary relationships among them.

Vertebrates have very well defined nervous systems. A group of researchers hypothesize that plant also has an alternative sort of sensitive nervous system. They find a close relationship of the neurotransmission mechanism of animal with that of the plant and suspect a close relationship in amino acid transport mechanism among both the organisms.

A scheme for inferring viral-host associations based on codon usage patterns identifies the most affected signaling pathways during COVID-19.

Understanding the molecular mechanism of COVID-19 pathogenesis helps in the rapid therapeutic target identification. Usually, viral protein targets host proteins in an organized fashion. The expression of any viral gene depends mostly on the host translational machinery.

On-chip estimation of hematocrit level for diagnosing anemic conditions by Impedimetric techniques.

An on-chip device has been fabricated on Si platform for precise estimation of the hematocrit (Hct) level of human blood with rapid turn out. Impedance/capacitance spectroscopy and current-voltage (I-V) measurements have been employed to observe the variation of electrical parameters of erythrocyte suspensions with varying Hct level. Experimentally obtained values of capacitance, impedance and conductance with Hct level suggests a linear variation.

Role of Apolipoprotein E, Cathepsin D, and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Parkinson's Disease: A Study from Eastern India.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with complex etiology. Both genetic and environmental factors play significant role. Apart from candidate genes, some modifier genes have been reported to be associated with the altered risk of PD.

Dielectric properties of plasma membrane: A signature for dyslipidemia in diabetes mellitus.

Dielectric properties of a living biological membrane play crucial role indicating the status of the cell in pathogenic or healthy condition. A distinct variation in membrane capacitance and impedance was observed for peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) suspensions for diabetic and diabetic-dyslipidemic subjects compared to healthy control. Low frequency region were explicitly considered in electrical analysis to address complex membrane dielectric factors that alter the system capacitance of a PBMC suspension.

FT-MIR supported Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy based study of sugar adulterated honeys from different floral origin.

This study sought to detect the presence of sucrose as an adulterant in selected honey varieties from different floral origins by employing Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) technique which has been simultaneously supported by Fourier Transform-Mid Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-MIR) measurements to provide a rapid, robust yet simple platform for honey quality evaluation. Variation of electrical parameters such as impedance, capacitance and conductance for 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60% and 70% (w/w) sucrose syrup (SS) adulterated honey samples are analyzed and their respective current-voltage (I-V) characteristics are studied. Capacitance, conductance and net current flowing through the system are observed to decrease linearly whereas system impedance has been found to increase similarly with the increase in adulterant content.

Evaluation of the IL1 Gene Cluster Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Pathogenesis.

Aims: Dysregulation of the immune system has previously been implicated in glaucoma pathogenesis. In this study, we investigated the potential association of SNPs in the IL1 gene cluster, consisting of nine genes, with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) cases. These cases presented with low to normal intraocular pressures (<20 mmHg), and are referred to as non-high tension glaucoma (non-HTG) cases.

Functional and Structural Analyses of CYP1B1 Variants Linked to Congenital and Adult-Onset Glaucoma to Investigate the Molecular Basis of These Diseases.

Glaucoma, the leading cause of irreversible blindness, appears in various forms. Mutations in CYP1B1 result in primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) by an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance while it acts as a modifier locus for primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). We investigated the molecular basis of the variable phenotypes resulting from the defects in CYP1B1 by using subclones of 23 CYP1B1 mutants reported in glaucoma patients, in a cell based system by measuring the dual activity of the enzyme to metabolize both retinol and 17β-estradiol.

Evaluation of genetic association of the INK4 locus with primary open angle glaucoma in East Indian population.

INK4 locus at chromosome 9p21 has been reported to be associated with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and its subtypes along with the associated optic disc parameters across the populations of European, Japanese and African ancestries. The locus encodes three tumor suppressor genes namely CDKN2A, ARF, CDKN2B and a long non-coding RNA CDKN2B-AS1 (also known as ANRIL). Here, we report association study of 34 SNPs from INK4 locus with POAG in a population of Indo-European ancestry from the eastern part of India (350 patients and 354 controls).

Gene-rich large deletions are overrepresented in POAG patients of Indian and Caucasian origins.

Purpose: Large copy number variations (CNV) can contribute to increased burden for neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we analyzed the genome-wide burden of large CNVs > 100 kb in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), a neurodegenerative disease of the eye that is the largest cause of irreversible blindness.

Methods: Genome-wide analysis of CNVs > 100 kb were analyzed in a total of 1720 individuals, including an Indian cohort (347 POAG cases and 345 controls) and a Caucasian cohort (624 cases and 404 controls).

Analysis of COCH and TNFA variants in East Indian primary open-angle glaucoma patients.

Glaucoma represents a heterogeneous group of optic neuropathies with a complex genetic basis. It is the second-largest cause of blindness in the world that reduces vision without warning and often without symptoms. Among 3 major subtypes of glaucoma, primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is the most common form.

WDR36 variants in East Indian primary open-angle glaucoma patients.

Purpose: Glaucoma is a heterogeneous group of optic neuropathies with a complex genetic basis. To date, only the following four genes have been identified: viz. myocilin (MYOC), optineurin (OPTN), WD repeat domain 36 (WDR36), and neurotrophin 4 (NTF4).

Association of IL1A and IL1B loci with primary open angle glaucoma.

Background: Recent studies suggest that glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease in which secondary degenerative losses occur after primary insult by raised Intraocular pressure (IOP) or by other associated factors. It has been reported that polymorphisms in the IL1A and IL1B genes are associated with Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG). The purpose of our study was to investigate the role of these polymorphisms in eastern Indian POAG patients.