Insights into the challenging multi-country outbreak of Mpox: a comprehensive review.

Human monkeypox virus (hMpoxV) is of zoonotic origin and is closely related to the once-dreaded smallpox virus. It is largely endemic to the African continent but has moved out of the endemic regions as sporadic clusters in the past 20 years, raising concerns worldwide. Human Mpox is characterized by a mild to severe, self-limiting infection, with mortality ranging from less than 1% to up to 10% during different outbreaks caused by different clades of MpoxV. Bushmeat hunting is one of the primary reasons for its transmission from animals to humans. Various international and national health regulatory bodies are closely monitoring the disease and have laid down guidelines to manage and prevent hMpox cases. Emergency Use Status has been granted to Tecovirimat and Brincidofovir to treat severe cases and vaccination with the smallpox vaccine is recommended for high-risk group individuals. Strategies to repurpose and discover novel therapeutics and vaccines to control the outbreak are being researched. The current Mpox outbreak that has mainly affected men as approximately 96% of all cases are reported in men, is probably the result of a complex intersection of various factors. This necessitates a strong One Health response coordination involving human, animal and environmental health institutions. This review is an attempt to provide an all-inclusive overview of the biology, history, epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of hMpox in context to the recent 2022-2023 multi-country outbreak which is termed by WHO a 'Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)'.

Mesoporous carbon nanospheres derived from agro-waste as novel antimicrobial agents against gram-negative bacteria.

Porous carbon nanospheres were synthesized from agro-waste garlic peels by a one-pot facile and easy to scale-up pyrolysis method. Surface morphology and structural features of the nanospheres have been studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and N2 adsorption desorption experiments were explored to detect surface functionality, surface area, and porosity. Average particle diameter of the synthesized nanospheres was 31 ± 6.3 nm and zeta potential of - 25.2 mV ± 1.75 mV. Nanoscale carbon was mesoporous in nature with type IV isotherms, mean pore diameter of 15.2 nm, and total pore volume of 0.032 cm3/g. Minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration values of carbon nanospheres against Escherichia coli are 480 ± 0.5 µg/ml and 495 ± 0.5 µg/ml, respectively. Synthesized nanospheres exhibited gram-selective antimicrobial action against Escherichia coli probably linked to membrane deformity due to interaction of nanocarbon with the bacterial membrane. Carbon nanospheres resulting from waste to wealth transformation emerged as promising candidates for antibacterial application. Graphical abstract.

Breaking the Barrier of Cancer through Papaya Extract and their Formulation.

BACKGROUND: In the last decade, many new avenues of cancer treatment have opened up but the costs of treatment have sky-rocketed too. Hence, screening of indigenously available plant and animal resources for anti-carcinogenic potential is an important branch of anticancer research. The effort has been made through this comprehensive review to highlight the recent developments of anticancer therapies using different parts of papaya plant extract. METHODS: In search of the naturally existing animals and plants for anticarcinogenic potential, papaya plant has been exploited by the scientist working in this research field. A widespread literature search was performed for writing this review. RESULTS: Different constituents of Carica papaya responsible for anticancer activities have been discussed. Papaya extract for the treatment of breast, liver, blood, pancreas, skin, prostate, and colon cancer have also been reported. Finally, the various formulation approach using Carica papaya extract have been highlighted. CONCLUSION: The information provided in this review might be useful for researchers in designing of novel formulation of Carica papaya extract for the treatment of cancer.

Extraction of levetiracetam for therapeutic drug monitoring by transdermal reverse iontophoresis.

Recently, transdermal reverse iontophoresis across the skin has been investigated as a novel technology for the purpose of diagnosis as well as therapeutic drug monitoring. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to investigate ex vivo and in vivo transdermal extraction of levetiracetam, an antiepileptic drug, across the pig ear skin by reverse iontophoresis. Reverse iontophoresis experiments were performed using three chambered diffusion cells. Extractions profiles were generated in phosphate buffers at different current intensities, pH and ionic strength as well donor drug concentrations. This was followed by ex vivo extraction in gels and in vivo extractions using New Zealand rabbits. Results indicate that levetiracetam was extracted at both anode and cathode. Flux values were unaffected by increase in current intensities (0.5 mA and 0.6 mA) but affected by pH and ionic strength. Neither in cathodal nor in anodal extraction, flux values did show a proportional relationship with the donor drug concentration. At low and medium concentration levels, flux values did not show any major change but the extraction flux at high donor concentration was much higher. In contrast, in vivo experiment with rabbits resulted in wide variation of fluxes with very high fluxes recorded at the cathodal end. Reasons attributed to this difference may include lower current intensity, and species variation. The most significant finding of this study is that measurable amounts of the levetiracetam were extracted at both the ends indicating its feasibility for non-invasive drug monitoring.