Myocardial Bridging in Patients Undergoing Coronary Angiography for Coronary Artery Disease.

Introduction Myocardial bridge is a rare, benign, normal anatomical variant of the coronary artery that puts the patient at risk for significant cardiac symptoms, resulting in myocardial ischemia, arrhythmia, and sudden cardiac death. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and characteristics of myocardial bridging (MB) in patients with chest pain undergoing coronary angiography. Methodology A total of 1301 patients presenting with chest pain suggestive of acute coronary syndrome with associated non-invasive supportive cardiac evaluation were subjected to coronary angiography by Philips Allura Xper FD10 Cath Lab (Philips Healthcare, Andover, MA) and evaluated. Results Out of 1301 patients, the mean age was 54.70 ± 11.41 years with a male-to-female ratio of 1.9:1. Tobacco use and diabetes mellitus were the most common associated risk factors (49% and 44%, respectively). MB was seen in 51 patients, making the prevalence 3.9%, with male predominance over females in the ratio of 3.9:1. The most common clinical presentation was unstable angina (UA) (n = 22, 43.1%), followed by stable angina (SA) (n = 11, 21.6%), non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) (n = 10, 19.6%), and ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) (n = 8, 15.7%). Myocardial bridges were more common among patients with stable coronary artery disease. The left anterior descending artery (n = 51, 3.9%) was involved in all the cases and the middle segment was affected in all patients with MB. Among patients with myocardial bridge, 26 patients (51%) had atherosclerosis and 25 patients had a normal artery. Among patients with myocardial bridge with atherosclerosis, 17 patients (65%) had atherosclerosis in the same artery in which the myocardial bridge was present. Among patients with myocardial bridge with atherosclerosis, nine patients (52%) had atherosclerosis proximal to the bridge, three patients (17%) had atherosclerosis distal to the bridge, and five patients (31%) had atherosclerosis both proximal and distal to the bridge. Conclusion The prevalence of MB in the Indian population is significantly lower than in the Western populations, and it is significantly higher in the male population with patients diagnosed as normal coronaries on coronary angiography.

An Update on the Potential of Tangeretin in the Management of Neuroinflammation-Mediated Neurodegenerative Disorders.

Neuroinflammation is the major cause of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Currently available drugs present relatively low efficacy and are not capable of modifying the course of the disease or delaying its progression. Identifying well-tolerated and brain-penetrant agents of plant origin could fulfil the pressing need for novel treatment techniques for neuroinflammation. Attention has been drawn to a large family of flavonoids in citrus fruits, which may function as strong nutraceuticals in slowing down the development and progression of neuroinflammation. This review is aimed at elucidating and summarizing the effects of the flavonoid tangeretin (TAN) in the management of neuroinflammation-mediated neurodegenerative disorders. A literature survey was performed using various resources, including ScienceDirect, PubMed, Google Scholar, Springer, and Web of Science. The data revealed that TAN exhibited immense neuroprotective effects in addition to its anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ agonistic effects. The effects of TAN are mainly mediated through the inhibition of oxidative and inflammatory pathways via regulating multiple signaling pathways, including c-Jun N-terminal kinase, phosphoinositide 3-kinase, mitogen-activated protein kinase, nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2, extracellular-signal-regulated kinase, and CRE-dependent transcription. In conclusion, the citrus flavonoid TAN has the potential to prevent neuronal death mediated by neuroinflammatory pathways and can be developed as an auxiliary therapeutic agent in the management of neurodegenerative disorders.

Steroidal lactones from Withania somnifera effectively target Beta, Gamma, Delta and Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2 and reveal a decreased susceptibility to viral infection and perpetuation: a polypharmacology approach.

Prevention from disease is presently the cornerstone of the fight against COVID-19. With the rapid emergence of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants, there is an urgent need for novel or repurposed agents to strengthen and fortify the immune system. Existing vaccines induce several systemic and local side-effects that can lead to severe consequences. Moreover, elevated cytokines in COVID-19 patients with cancer as co-morbidity represent a significant bottleneck in disease prognosis and therapy. Withania somnifera (WS) and its phytoconstituent(s) have immense untapped immunomodulatory and therapeutic potential and the anticancer potential of WS is well documented. To this effect, WS methanolic extract (WSME) was characterized using HPLC. Withanolides were identified as the major phytoconstituents. In vitro cytotoxicity of WSME was determined against human breast MDA-MB-231 and normal Vero cells using MTT assay. WSME displayed potent cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 cells (IC50: 66 µg/mL) and no effect on Vero cells in the above range. MD simulations of Withanolide A with SARS-CoV-2 main protease and spike receptor-binding domain as well as Withanolide B with SARS-CoV spike glycoprotein and SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease were performed using Schrödinger. Stability of complexes followed the order 6M0J-Withanolide A > 6W9C-Withnaolide B > 5WRG-Withanolide B > 6LU7-Withanolide A. Maximum stable interaction(s) were observed between Withanolides A and B with SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV spike glycoproteins, respectively. Withanolides A and B also displayed potent binding to pro-inflammatory markers viz. serum ferritin and IL-6. Thus, WS phytoconstituents have the potential to be tested further in vitro and in vivo as novel antiviral agents against COVID-19 patients having cancer as a co-morbidity. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40203-023-00184-y.

Influence of electrolyte imbalance on regional wall motion abnormalities in STEMI patients of North Indian origin.

Assessing regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMA) in the myocardium may provide early diagnosis and treat chronic remodeling in STEMI patients. We assessed RWMA in 217 subjects with anterior STEMI admitted to Era University Hospital in Lucknow, UP, India. Besides abnormalities in the LAD territory, sub-sets of patients exhibited diffuse regional myocardial dysfunction. Interestingly, variations in serum electrolytes, specifically sodium and potassium, significantly affected the distribution and frequency of RWMA. Notably, RWMA occurred in the basal septum, apical septum, apex, and lateral wall in the anterior STEMI group. Additionally, the rate of regional dysfunction varied with serum urea and creatinine levels. This suggests that anterior STEMI can manifest myocardial abnormalities beyond the LAD territory. These findings indicate that ST-segment elevation might not be specific, possibly influenced by electrolyte changes affecting cardiac rhythm. Therefore, diagnosing and correcting region-specific wall motion abnormalities and electrolyte imbalances may improve outcomes in STEMI patients.

Psoriasis and skin cancer - Is there a link?

A chronic auto-immune-mediated disease Psoriasis is associated with manycoexisting or co-occurringconditions, which include a significant risk of malignancies, especiallyskin tumours. Numerous studies were done to understand whether psoriasis itself, comorbidities related to psoriasis, or psoriasis treatment might increase the risk of neoplasms. We reviewed the relation between psoriasis and cancer risk, also the significance of inflammation in cancer The various classes of drugs used to treat psoriasis, including biologics like tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors; and how they increase cancer risk are deliberated. Literature was collated for the past five years from the data bases like PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar, etc. Literatures discussing the skin cancer linked to psoriasis were reviewed. Possible mechanisms associated between inflammation and psoriasis; skin cancer was explained in the context of the several psoriasis medications that increase the likelihood of skin cancer. The risk of cancer in other cutaneous auto-inflammatory diseases is also elucidated. It is frequently observed that increased doses of PUVA therapy, immunosuppressive medications, and lifestyle changes alter the aetiology of the tumours. This review is conceptualized to shed the light on probable mechanisms involved in these connections as well as the chance of cancer in psoriasis patients.

Recent advances in anticancer and antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles synthesized using phytochemicals and organic polymers.

Development of eco-friendly synthetic methods has resulted in the production of biocompatible Ag NPs for applications in medical sector. To overcome the prevailing antibiotic resistance in bacteria, Ag NPs are being extensively researched over the past few years due to their broad spectrum and robust antimicrobial properties. Silver nanoparticles are also being studied widely in advanced anticancer therapy as an alternative anticancer agent to combat cancer in an effective manner. Keeping this backdrop in consideration, this review aims to provide an extensive coverage of the recent progresses in the green synthesis of Ag NPs specifically using plant derived reducing agents such phytochemicals and numerous other biopolymers. Current development in antimicrobial activity of Ag NPs against various pathogens has been deliberated at length. Recent advances in potent anticancer activity of the biogenic Ag NPs against various cancerous cell lines has also been discussed in detail. Mechanistic details of the synthesis of Ag NPs, their anticancer and antimicrobial action has also been highlighted.

Gold Nanoparticles as Efficient Catalysts in Organic Transformations.

This review summarizes the utilization of gold nanoparticles as efficient catalysts for a variety of chemical transformations like oxidation, hydrogenation, and coupling reactions as compared to conventional catalytic materials. This review explores the gold nanoparticles-based catalysts for the liquid phase chemo-selective organic transformations which are proving to be evergreen reactions and have importance for industrial applications. Apart from organic transformation reactions, gold nanoparticles have been found to be applicable in removing the atmospheric contaminants and improving the efficiency of the fuel cells by removing the impurities of carbon monoxide.

Association of COL4A1 (rs605143, rs565470) and CD14 (rs2569190) genes polymorphism with coronary artery disease.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death worldwide and it is basically caused by atherosclerosis. The atherosclerotic process includes complex events and each one involves a specific biological pathway and different genes. According to World Health Organization report, Cardiovascular diseases will be the largest cause of death and disability by 2020, with an estimated 2.6 million Indians predicted to die due to CAD predominantly with myocardial infarction. Genetic factors are estimated to contribute 30-60% of the CAD risk. The aim of this study is to investigate the association of COL4A1 and CD14 genes polymorphism with CAD. This study included 345 subjects, 185 CAD cases and 160 healthy controls. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. Alleles and genotype frequencies between cases and controls were compared using χ2 and Student's t tests. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated by logistic regression to assess the relative association between disease and genotypes. In this study, CD14 (rs2569190), CC (P = 0.008) genotypes, and C allele (P = 0.007) were found to be a positive risk factor, while TT genotype (P = 0.045) and T allele (P = 0.007) as negative risk factor for CAD. Significant differences were not observed in COL4A1 (rs605143 and rs565470) gene polymorphism with CAD. It seems that CD14 gene polymorphism might be associated with the risk of CAD, whereas COL4A1 gene polymorphism was not found to confer any risk of CAD.

Biosynthesis, structural characterization and antimicrobial activity of gold and silver nanoparticles.

An eco friendly simple biosynthetic route was used for the preparation of monodisperse and highly crystalline gold and silver nanoparticles using cell free extract of fungus, Candida albicans. Transmission electron microscopic studies show the formation of gold and silver nanocrystals of average size of 5 nm and 30 nm with the specific surface areas of 18.9 m(2)/g and 184.4 m(2)/g respectively. The interaction of gold and silver nanoparticles with proteins has been formulated by FT-IR spectroscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis. The formation of gold and silver nanoparticles was also confirmed by the appearance of a surface plasmon band at 540 nm and 450 nm respectively. The antimicrobial activity of the synthesized gold and silver nanoparticles was investigated against both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The results suggest that these nanoparticles can be used as effective growth inhibitors against the test microorganisms. Greater bactericidal activity was observed for silver nanoparticles. The E. coli, a gram negative bacterium was found to be more susceptible to gold and silver nanoparticles than the S. aureus, a gram positive bacterium.

Structural characterization and antimicrobial properties of silver nanoparticles prepared by inverse microemulsion method.

Silver nanoparticles have been synthesized in the inverse microemulsions formed using three different surfactants viz., cetyl-trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), Tergitol and Triton X-100. We have done a systematic study of the effect of the surfactants on the particle size and properties of the silver nanoparticles. Microscopic studies show the formation of spheres, cubes and discs shaped silver nanostructures with the size in the range from 8 to 40 nm. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak was observed around 400 nm and 500 nm. In addition to SPR some extra peaks have also been observed due to the formation of silver metal clusters. The surface area increases from 3.45 to 15.06 m(2)/g with decreasing the size of silver nanoparticles (40-8 nm). To investigate the antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles, the nanoparticles were tested against the yeast, Candida albicans and the bacterium, E. coli. The results suggest very good antimicrobial activity of the silver nanoparticles against the test microbes. The mode of action of the antimicrobial activity was also proposed.

Size and shape dependant antifungal activity of gold nanoparticles: a case study of Candida.

A simple and economical sonochemical approach was employed for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles. The effect of the reducing agents has been studied on the particle size, morphology and properties at the same ultrasonic frequency under ambient conditions. Gold nanodiscs of average diameter of 25 nm were obtained using tinchloride (SnCl(2)) as a reducing agent, while sodium borohydride (NaBH(4)) produced polyhedral structures of the average size of 30 nm. The time evolution of the UV-visible absorption spectra of the gold nanostructures shows the origin of peaks due to higher order quadrupolar modes apart from the peaks of the in plane and out plane dipolar surface plasmon modes. Surface area studies reveal the much higher surface area of the gold nanodiscs (179.5 m(2)/g), than the gold nanoparticles (150.5m(2)/g) prepared by the sodium borohydride as the reducing agent. The gold nanoparticles exhibit excellent antifungal activity against the fungus, Candida. We investigated the effect of the gold nanoparticles on the H(+)-ATPase mediated H(+) pumping by various Candida species. Gold nanodiscs displayed the stronger fungicidal activity compared to the gold polyhedral nanoparticles. The two types of gold nanoparticles inhibit H(+)-ATPase activity at their respective MIC values.