Metallo-protease Peptidase M84 from Bacillusaltitudinis induces ROS-dependent apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells by targeting PAR-1.

We have purified Peptidase M84 from Bacillus altitudinis in an effort to isolate anticancer proteases from environmental microbial isolates. This metallo-protease had no discernible impact on normal cell survival, but it specifically induced apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells. PAR-1, a GPCR which is reported to be overexpressed in ovarian cancer cells, was identified as a target of Peptidase M84. We observed that Peptidase M84 induced PAR-1 overexpression along with activating its downstream signaling effectors NF-κB and MAPK to promote excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. This evoked apoptotic death of the ovarian cancer cells through the intrinsic route. In in vivo set-up, weekly intraperitoneal administration of Peptidase M84 in syngeneic mice significantly diminished ascites accumulation, increasing murine survival rates by 60%. Collectively, our findings suggested that Peptidase M84 triggered PAR-1-mediated oxidative stress to act as an apoptosis inducer. This established Peptidase M84 as a drug candidate for receptor mediated targeted-therapy of ovarian cancer.

Enhancement in medication adherence amidst COVID-19 using active reminders.

The aim of this study is to enhance medication adherence amidst COVID-19 with the help of active reminders. Effect of: patients' perception of side effect, importance of physicians' instructions, and their beliefs, on medication adherence were measured. Sample size was 583. The study was conducted in the state of Sikkim in India. Responses were analyzed and a structural equation model was framed to test the paths. It was found that reminders had a significant impact on patients' perception about importance given to physician instruction ( ß = 0.433 ) and their beliefs ( ß = 0.224 ). These mediators helped to increase the adherence rate of patients. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1140/epjs/s11734-022-00532-7.

Impact of reminder on medication adherence: a structural equation model, based on study in Sikkim, India

The problem of medication non-adherence has persisted over decades. The rate of adherence decreases with time and improvement in health condition. When patients cannot follow their prescribed medication regime, it leads to deterioration of their health condition and increases their financial costs. This research aims to find the effect of reminder on medication adherence behaviour of patients when "Acceptance of Side Effect", "Quality of Life" and "Medication Beliefs" act as mediators. The sample size of the research was 505. Sampling units comprised patients suffering from different diseases in Central Referral Hospital, Sikkim, India. By developing a Structural Equation Model, the effect of reminder on the mediators and adherence was analysed. The results show a significant positive association between reminder and the three mediators. Reminder has a significant positive effect on adherence (ß=0.637, e=0.055, p=0.001). The effect is higher in the presence of mediators (ß=0.7, e=0.037, p=0.001).

"Fullarazirman" Nano Water Soluble Fullerene C60-Manganese (II) Tri-Adduct Complex with Anti-Cancer Activity Comparable to Doxorubicin.

There is continued interest in Nano Carbon Materials (NCMs) and two of these, Fullerene C60 and Graphene have received Nobel prizes. Low solubility in most solvents has been a stumbling block in their industrial use. We report here the successful synthesis of a new water soluble tri-adduct of Fullerene C60 using a two-step procedure to obtain the water soluble s-Tri-(1-aziridino-2, 3-dimethoxy-benzene-5-carboxylato-6-carboxylic acid)-H-Fullerene C60-Manganese (II) Complex ( III ). Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-MS) and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) studies critically helped recognize the presence of an atom of Manganese in the complex. The new complex was also characterized by Ultra violet-Visible (UV-Vis.). Fourier Transform-Infra Red (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), and powder X-ray diffraction. The new compound has been shown to possess anti-cancer activity comparable to Doxorubicin, currently the most used anti-cancer drug. This new water soluble Fullerene C60-Manganese (II) tri-adduct complex ( III ) thus holds much promise for the fields of biology, biochemistry, medicine, and materials science.