Immunohistochemical study of transient receptor potential Vanilloid (TRPV1-4) channels expression in human and rat corneas.

Transient Receptor potential Vanilloid (TRPV) channels are a group of cation channels that are expressed in a wide variety of tissues and are involved in regulating several cellular processes. An alteration in their expression and cellular localization is associated with various pathologies. In this study, we investigated the expression and localization of TRPV1-4 channels in human and rat corneas.

Peroxiredoxin Depletion and Oxidative Stress by Cyclometalated Ir(III)-Isatin Complexes Renders Ferroptosis and Autophagic Cell Death in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

The ability to induce nonapoptotic cell death is critical to fight apoptosis-resistant cancers. Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) can promote nonapoptotic cell death. We report six potent cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes derived from isatin-hydrazone Schiff bases with nanomolar IC values against pancreatic (MIA-PaCa-2, PANC-1) and breast (MDA-MB-231, MCF-7) cancer cells.

Isoflurane and urethane impact neuronal and astroglial metabolic activity differentially in mouse brain: An ex vivo H-[C]-NMR study.

Background And Purpose: Isoflurane and urethane are among the most routinely used anaesthetics to immobilise rodents in functional studies. However, the quantitative significance of their impacts on neuronal and astroglial activity is not very clear. This study evaluated the impacts of isoflurane and urethane on the metabolic activity of glutamatergic neurons, GABAergic neurons and astrocytes in different brain regions.

Elucidating neural molecular mechanisms underlying metabolic disorders-induced neuropsychiatric disorders in mice on prolonged high fructose diet.

Metabolic disorders (MetDs), driven mostly by lifestyle changes are growing at an alarming rate, and have cardiovascular and cerebrovascular consequences, eventually leading to various neuropsychiatric disorders. Considering a dearth of studies, we modeled MetDs-like conditions in C57BL/6 Ncrl mice on prolonged 60% high fructose diet (Hfr) for 56 weeks. The metabolic assessments revealed significant changes in various MetDs-related physiological and biochemical parameters in the Hfr group compared to the control (Ctrl) group such as reduced lean mass, hyperlipidemia, elevated liver function markers (SGPT, SGOT), and kidney function markers (creatinine, alkaline phosphatase).

Strategic Design and Optimization of Umifenovir Analogues: Balancing Antiviral Efficacy and hERG Toxicity against SARS-CoV-2.

Arbidol (ARB, Umifenovir), a broad-spectrum antiviral from Russia, lacks Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval due to insufficient clinical data and undocumented toxicity concerns. Its indole scaffold, with six unique substitutions, enables optimization for improved efficacy. This study optimized ARB's antiviral potency and safety by modifying the N1, C2, C3, and C4 positions.

Doxycycline-integrated silk fibroin hydrogel: preparation, characterizations, and antimicrobial assessment for biomedical applications.

Background: Tooth extraction, a common dental procedure, is often accompanied by pain, trismus, and swelling due to alveolitis caused by oral bacteria. Doxycycline is prescribed to alleviate infection and improve socket healing, but its immediate absorption in the bloodstream makes the treatment less effective at oral sites. This emphasizes the importance of a drug delivery system to gradually slow its release at the oral wound site and increase its bioavailability to make the treatment effective over time.

Single-Nuclei Sequencing Reveals a Robust Corticospinal Response to Nearby Axotomy But Overall Insensitivity to Spinal Injury.

The ability of neurons to sense and respond to damage is crucial for maintaining homeostasis and facilitating nervous system repair. For some cell types, notably dorsal root ganglia and retinal ganglion cells, extensive profiling has uncovered a significant transcriptional response to axon injury, which influences survival and regenerative outcomes. In contrast, the injury responses of most supraspinal cell types, which display limited regeneration after spinal damage, remain mostly unknown.

Developing a model for aqueous deficient dry eye secondary to periglandular cicatrizing conjunctivitis.

Purpose: The current study used various techniques to develop a rabbit animal model of lacrimal gland damage caused by scarring conjunctivitis in the periglandular area.

Methods: Left eyes of New Zealand white rabbits were injected with 0.1 ml of 1M NaOH subconjunctivally around superior and inferior lacrimal gland orifices (Group 1, n = 4), touched with 1M NaOH for 100 s to the superior and inferior fornices with conjunctival denuding (Group 2; n = 4), and electrocauterization to the ductal opening area (Group 3; n = 4).

Human cornea-derived extracellular matrix hydrogel for prevention of post-traumatic corneal scarring: A translational approach.

Corneal scarring and opacification are a significant cause of blindness affecting millions worldwide. The current standard of care for corneal blindness is corneal transplantation, which suffers from several drawbacks. One alternative approach that has shown promise is the use of xenogeneic corneal extracellular matrix (ECM), but its clinical applicability is challenging due to safety concerns.

Measures of Adrenal and Gonadal Hormones in Relation to Biological and Management Factors among Captive Red Pandas in Indian Zoos.

Animals in human care are affected by stressors that can ultimately reduce fitness. When reproduction is affected, endangered species conservation programs can be severely compromised. Thus, understanding factors related to stress and reproduction, and related hormones, is important to ensure captive breeding success.

Clinical Profile of Patients with Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON): An Ambispective Study of North Indian Cohorts.

Background: Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a maternally inherited disease resulting in irreversible visual loss usually in patients belonging to the age group of 15-35 years. Clinically, the patients present with sequential or bilateral, painless, progressive visual loss with central (or ceco-central) scotomas. Although the three mutations, namely, G11778A, T14484C, and G3460A contribute to >95% of LHON cases globally, the relative frequency of each mutation varies.

Generation of a new human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) line from a South Asian Indian with a MYBPC3 variant.

Myosin binding protein C3 (MYBPC3) is a thick filament contractile protein that interacts with myosin, titin and actin and regulates cardiac muscle contraction. Genetic variations in the MYBPC3 gene are known causal factors for cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Previously, we identified a recurrent MYBPC3 deletion (25 base pairs) among South Asians associated with cardiomyopathy and heart failure.

Theaflavin 3-gallate inhibits the main protease (M) of SARS-CoV-2 and reduces its count in vitro.

The main protease (M) of SARS-CoV-2 has been recognized as an attractive drug target because of its central role in viral replication. Our previous preliminary molecular docking studies showed that theaflavin 3-gallate (a natural bioactive molecule derived from theaflavin and found in high abundance in black tea) exhibited better docking scores than repurposed drugs (Atazanavir, Darunavir, Lopinavir). In this study, conventional and steered MD-simulations analyses revealed stronger interactions of theaflavin 3-gallate with the active site residues of M than theaflavin and a standard molecule GC373 (a known inhibitor of M and novel broad-spectrum anti-viral agent).

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 potential of Cissampelos pareira L. identified by connectivity map-based analysis and in vitro studies.

Background: Viral infections have a history of abrupt and severe eruptions through the years in the form of pandemics. And yet, definitive therapies or preventive measures are not present. Herbal medicines have been a source of various antiviral compounds such as Oseltamivir, extracted using shikimic acid from star anise (Illicium verum) and Acyclovir from Carissa edulis are FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved antiviral drugs.

Corrigendum: Intrauterine Viral Infections: Impact of Inflammation on Fetal Neurodevelopment.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.

Ribosomal protein S6 kinase beta-1 gene variants cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic heart muscle disease with preserved or increased ejection fraction in the absence of secondary causes. Mutations in the sarcomeric protein-encoding genes predominantly cause HCM. However, relatively little is known about the genetic impact of signalling proteins on HCM.

Intrauterine Viral Infections: Impact of Inflammation on Fetal Neurodevelopment.

Intrauterine viral infections during pregnancy by pathogens such as Zika virus, Cytomegalovirus, Rubella and Herpes Simplex virus can lead to prenatal as well as postnatal neurodevelopmental disorders. Although maternal viral infections are common during pregnancy, viruses rarely penetrate the trophoblast. When they do cross, viruses can cause adverse congenital health conditions for the fetus.

Antimicrobial silver nanoparticle-photodeposited fabrics for destruction.

Surfaces containing antiviral nanoparticles could play a crucial role in minimizing the virus spread further, specifically for COVID-19. Here in, we have developed a facile and durable antiviral and antimicrobial fabric containing photodeposited silver nanoparticles. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy, UV-VIS spectroscopy, and XPS are used to characterize the silver nanoparticles deposited cloth.

Rapid and accurate nucleobase detection using FnCas9 and its application in COVID-19 diagnosis.

Rapid detection of DNA/RNA pathogenic sequences or variants through point-of-care diagnostics is valuable for accelerated clinical prognosis, as witnessed during the recent COVID-19 outbreak. Traditional methods relying on qPCR or sequencing are tough to implement with limited resources, necessitating the development of accurate and robust alternative strategies. Here, we report FnCas9 Editor Linked Uniform Detection Assay (FELUDA) that utilizes a direct Cas9 based enzymatic readout for detecting nucleobase and nucleotide sequences without trans-cleavage of reporter molecules.

Adhatoda Vasica attenuates inflammatory and hypoxic responses in preclinical mouse models: potential for repurposing in COVID-19-like conditions.

Background: COVID-19 pneumonia has been associated with severe acute hypoxia, sepsis-like states, thrombosis and chronic sequelae including persisting hypoxia and fibrosis. The molecular hypoxia response pathway has been associated with such pathologies and our recent observations on anti-hypoxic and anti-inflammatory effects of whole aqueous extract of Adhatoda Vasica (AV) prompted us to explore its effects on relevant preclinical mouse models.

Methods: In this study, we tested the effect of whole aqueous extract of AV, in murine models of bleomycin induced pulmonary fibrosis, Cecum Ligation and Puncture (CLP) induced sepsis, and siRNA induced hypoxia-thrombosis phenotype.

Long term observation of ocular surface alkali burn in rabbit models: Quantitative analysis of corneal haze, vascularity and self-recovery.

Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency (LSCD), caused due to corneal injury, primarily by chemical/alkali burns, leads to compromised vision. Recently, several animal models of corneal alkali burn injury have become available. The majority of the studies with these animal models start interventions soon after the injury.

Adiponectin receptor 1 variants contribute to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy that can be reversed by rapamycin.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a heterogeneous genetic heart muscle disease characterized by hypertrophy with preserved or increased ejection fraction in the absence of secondary causes. However, recent studies have demonstrated that a substantial proportion of individuals with HCM also have comorbid diabetes mellitus (~10%). Whether genetic variants may contribute a combined phenotype of HCM and diabetes mellitus is not known.

Activation of Su(Hw)-Controlled Genes Is Associated with Increase in GAF Binding.

The interaction of the GAF protein with the promoters of neuron-specific genes during activation and repression of transcription was studied. We showed that, while the Su(Hw) protein remains stably associated with the promoters of these genes at different transcriptional state, the GAF protein level is significantly higher when transcription is activated.