Exposure to Waterpipe Smoke Disrupts Erythrocyte Homeostasis of BALB/c Mice.

The prevalence of waterpipe tobacco smoking (WPS) is increasing worldwide and is relatively high among youth and young adults. It has been shown, both experimentally and clinically, that WPS exposure adversely affects the cardiovascular and hematological systems through the generation of oxidative stress and inflammation. Our study aimed to evaluate the impact of WPS exposure on erythrocytes, a major component of the hematological system, of BALB/c mice. Here, we assessed the effect of nose-only WPS exposure for four consecutive weeks on erythrocyte inflammation, oxidative stress, and eryptosis. The duration of the session was 30 min/day, 5 days/week. Control mice were exposed to air. Our results showed that the levels of C-reactive protein, lipid peroxidation (LPO), superoxide dismutase, and total nitric oxide (NO) were significantly increased in the plasma of WPS-exposed mice. The number of erythrocytes and the hematocrit were significantly decreased in WPS-exposed mice compared with the control group. Moreover, there was an increase in the erythrocyte fragility in mice exposed to WPS compared with those exposed to air. The levels of lactate dehydrogenase, LPO, reduced glutathione, catalase, and NO were significantly increased in the red blood cells (RBCs) of WPS-exposed mice. In addition, erythrocytes of the WPS-exposed group showed a significant increase in ATPase activity, Ca2+, annexin V binding, and calpain activity. Taken together, our findings suggest that WPS exposure elevated inflammation and oxidative stress in the plasma and induced hemolysis in vivo. It also caused alterations of RBCs oxidative stress and eryptosis in vitro. Our data confirm the detrimental impact of WPS on erythrocyte physiology.

Awareness of HPV vaccine and its socio-demographic determinants among the parents of eligible daughters in Bangladesh: A nationwide study.

Background: Vaccination against Human papillomavirus (HPV) is recommended to avoid HPV infections and its associated diseases, including cervical cancer. However, there is no awareness study among Bangladeshi population. Hence, this nationwide study was conducted to explore HPV vaccine awareness and its determinants among parents of eligible adolescent girls. Methods: This study was conducted among the parents of daughters aged 9-15 years from 42 out of 64 randomly selected districts of Bangladesh between June 28 to August 2, 2023. A multistage sampling method was used to enroll 2151 study participants from all eight divisions of Bangladesh. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for face-to-face interviews in this study. The statistical software Stata (Version 17) was used for statistical analyses. Results: The average age of the participants was 38.18 (±5.86) years. Only 22.32 % of the participants were aware of the HPV vaccine. Every additional year of age increased the likelihood of being aware of the HPV vaccine by 3 % (AOR: 1.03; 95%CI: 1.00-1.06). Participants residing in the urban area had 3.56 times higher odds of awareness than rural and semi-urban people. Businessmen and housewives had 60 % (AOR: 0.40; 95 % CI: 0.22-0.69) and 77 % (AOR: 0.23; 95 % CI: 0.16-0.33) lower odds in comparison to job holders. The lower-income group exhibited significantly higher odds of awareness (AOR: 0.25, 95%CI: 0.16-0.39) compared to the middle and the higher-income group. Participants who never went through routine health check-ups had 77 % lower odds of being aware than those who availed of regular routine check-ups (AOR: 0.23; 95%CI: 0.16-0.34). Conclusion: Awareness of the HPV vaccine among the general population of Bangladesh is very low. Age, residence, occupation, monthly income, and routine medical check-ups were associated with HPV vaccine awareness. A nationwide awareness campaign would increase this awareness level among the Bangladeshi population, especially among the parents of daughters.

Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination and Health Risk Associated with Cultivated Vegetables along Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway, Bangladesh.

The purpose of this research work is to evaluate the degree of eight heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Cr, and Ni) contamination and health risks of three regularly consumed vegetables (papaya, bottle gourd, and esculent) near one of Bangladesh's busiest roadways, the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway. The heavy metal concentrations in 45 vegetable samples were analyzed using an atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS). These samples were collected from five different sampling sites based on various land use patterns adjacent to the highway. The average concentrations (mg/kg) of Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cr, and Ni were found to be 9.86, 246.8, 16.9, 28.0, 9.02, and 2.02, respectively, for papaya; 14.9, 281.2, 387.6, 49.0, 10.1, and 2.92, respectively, for bottle gourd; and 17.6, 183.4, 107.2, 80.7, 7.98, and 2.34, respectively, for esculent. The mean concentrations of Cr, Zn, and Mn in papaya, bottle gourd, and esculent were higher than the acceptable limit. Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between Fe-Cu, Zn-Fe, Cu-Fe, and Fe-Zn in papaya; Cu-Zn, Fe-Cr, Zn-Ni, and Cr-Fe in bottle gourd; and Mn-Cr, Mn-Ni, Mn-Fe, and Cr-Ni in esculent, thereby indicating their common anthropogenic sources like agricultural activities, waste from the commercial area, filling station, and vehicular emissions. Health risk assessment through target hazard quotient (THQ) revealed the highest THQ of 9.52 for Cr in bottle gourd, which poses a high non-carcinogenic health risk to the localities upon the intake of these contaminated vegetables. Target cancer risk (TCR) was found to be highest for Cr in papaya (0.013) and bottle gourd (0.014). TCR trends were found for Cr in the following order: bottle gourd > esculent > papaya. This study contributed the greatest concern for both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health impacts through ingesting contaminated vegetables.

Exploring the mechanism of action of spirooxindoles as a class of CDK2 inhibitors: a structure-based computational approach.

Cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) regulates cell cycle checkpoints in the synthesis and mitosis phases and plays a pivotal role in cancerous cell proliferation. The activation of CDK2, influenced by various protein signaling pathways, initiates the phosphorylation process. Due to its crucial role in carcinogenesis, CDK2 is a druggable hotspot target to suppress cancer cell proliferation. In this context, several studies have identified spirooxindoles as an effective class of CDK2 inhibitors. In the present study, three spirooxindoles (SOI1, SOI2, and SOI3) were studied to understand their inhibitory mechanism against CDK2 through a structure-based approach. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed to explore their interactions with CDK2 at the molecular level. The calculated binding free energy for the spirooxindole-based CDK2 inhibitors aligned well with experimental results regarding CDK2 inhibition. Energy decomposition (ED) analysis identified key binding residues, including I10, G11, T14, R36, F82, K89, L134, P155, T158, Y159, and T160, in the CDK2 active site and T-loop phosphorylation. Molecular mechanics (MM) energy was identified as the primary contributor to stabilizing inhibitor binding in the CDK2 protein structure. Furthermore, the analysis of binding affinity revealed that the inhibitor SOI1 binds more strongly to CDK2 compared to the other inhibitors under investigation. It demonstrated a robust interaction with the crucial residue T160 in the T-loop phosphorylation site, responsible for kinase activation. These insights into the inhibitory mechanism are anticipated to contribute to the development of potential CDK2 inhibitors using the spirooxindole scaffold.

Predicting FFAR4 agonists using structure-based machine learning approach based on molecular fingerprints.

Free Fatty Acid Receptor 4 (FFAR4), a G-protein-coupled receptor, is responsible for triggering intracellular signaling pathways that regulate various physiological processes. FFAR4 agonists are associated with enhancing insulin release and mitigating the atherogenic, obesogenic, pro-carcinogenic, and pro-diabetogenic effects, normally associated with the free fatty acids bound to FFAR4. In this research, molecular structure-based machine-learning techniques were employed to evaluate compounds as potential agonists for FFAR4. Molecular structures were encoded into bit arrays, serving as molecular fingerprints, which were subsequently analyzed using the Bayesian network algorithm to identify patterns for screening the data. The shortlisted hits obtained via machine learning protocols were further validated by Molecular Docking and via ADME and Toxicity predictions. The shortlisted compounds were then subjected to MD Simulations of the membrane-bound FFAR4-ligand complexes for 100 ns each. Molecular analyses, encompassing binding interactions, RMSD, RMSF, RoG, PCA, and FEL, were conducted to scrutinize the protein-ligand complexes at the inter-atomic level. The analyses revealed significant interactions of the shortlisted compounds with the crucial residues of FFAR4 previously documented. FFAR4 as part of the complexes demonstrated consistent RMSDs, ranging from 3.57 to 3.64, with minimal residue fluctuations 5.27 to 6.03 nm, suggesting stable complexes. The gyration values fluctuated between 22.8 to 23.5 nm, indicating structural compactness and orderliness across the studied systems. Additionally, distinct conformational motions were observed in each complex, with energy contours shifting to broader energy basins throughout the simulation, suggesting thermodynamically stable protein-ligand complexes. The two compounds CHEMBL2012662 and CHEMBL64616 are presented as potential FFAR4 agonists, based on these insights and in-depth analyses. Collectively, these findings advance our comprehension of FFAR4's functions and mechanisms, highlighting these compounds as potential FFAR4 agonists worthy of further exploration as innovative treatments for metabolic and immune-related conditions.

A deep learning-based theoretical protocol to identify potentially isoform-selective PI3Kα inhibitors.

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase alpha (PI3Kα) is one of the most frequently dysregulated kinases known for their pivotal role in many oncogenic diseases. While the side effects linked to existing drugs against PI3Kα-induced cancers provide an avenue for further research, the significant structural conservation among PI3Ks makes it extremely difficult to develop new isoform-selective PI3Kα inhibitors. Embracing this challenge, we herein designed a hybrid protocol by integrating machine learning (ML) with in silico drug-designing strategies. A deep learning classification model was developed and trained on the physicochemical descriptors data of known PI3Kα inhibitors and used as a screening filter for a database of small molecules. This approach led us to the prediction of 662 compounds showcasing appropriate features to be considered as PI3Kα inhibitors. Subsequently, a multiphase molecular docking was applied to further characterize the predicted hits in terms of their binding affinities and binding modes in the targeted cavity of the PI3Kα. As a result, a total of 12 compounds were identified whereas the best poses highlighted the efficiency of these ligands in maintaining interactions with the crucial residues of the protein to be targeted for the inhibition of associated activity. Notably, potential activity of compound 12 in counteracting PI3Kα function was found in a previous in vitro study. Following the drug-likeness and pharmacokinetic characterizations, six compounds (compounds 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 11) with suitable ADME-T profiles and promising bioavailability were selected. The mechanistic studies in dynamic mode further endorsed the potential of identified hits in blocking the ATP-binding site of the receptor with higher binding affinities than the native inhibitor, alpelisib (BYL-719), particularly the compounds 1, 2, and 11. These outcomes support the reliability of the developed classification model and the devised computational strategy for identifying new isoform-selective drug candidates for PI3Kα inhibition.

Synthesis of Competitive and Noncompetitive Inhibitors of Alpha-Glucosidase and Anticancer Agents.

Imidazoles and phenylthiazoles are an important class of heterocycles that demonstrate a wide range of biological activities against various types of cancers, diabetes mellitus and pathogenic microorganisms. The heterocyclic structure having oxothiazolidine moiety is an important scaffold present in various drugs, with potential for enzyme inhibition. In an effort to discover new heterocyclic compounds, we synthesized 26 new 4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazole, phenylthiazole, and oxothiazolidine heterocyclic analogues that demonstrated potent α-glucosidase inhibition and anticancer activities. Majority of the compounds noncompetitively inhibited α-glucosidase except for two that exhibited competitive inhibition of the enzyme. Docking results suggested that the noncompetitive inhibitors bind to an apparent allosteric site on the enzyme located in the vicinity of the active site. Additionally, the analogues also exhibited significant activity against various types of cancers including non-small lung cancer. Since tubulin protein plays an important role in the pathogenesis of non-small lung cancer, molecular docking with one of the target compounds provided important clues to its binding mode. The current work on imidazoles and phenylthiazole derivatives bears importance for designing of new antidiabetic and anticancer drugs.

Evaluation of essential and trace metals/metalloids distribution and probable human health risk implications from branded liquid and powder milks available in Dhaka City, Bangladesh.

The processed forms of milk, branded liquid, and power milk available in Dhaka city, the capital of Bangladesh, were investigated for essential and trace metal/metalloids regarding nutritional and human health risk aspects. For this, the potential nutritional contribution, estimated daily intake (EDI) and non-carcinogenic risk for six different life stages with male and female categories, as well as the carcinogenic risk for children and adults of both genders, were addressed. In total, 46 branded liquid and powder milk samples were considered for this analysis employing atomic absorption spectroscopy. The concentration of essential elements showed the trends of K > Ca > Na > Mg > Fe > Zn > Mn > Cu and K > Ca > Na > Mg > Fe > Cu > Mn > Zn for liquid and powder milk samples, respectively, but the potentially hazardous one showed the same trends (Cr > Pb > Hg > As > Cd) for both items. Except for Cr, Hg, and Fe, the elemental compositions of both milk categories differed considerably (< 0.05). Compared to the threshold values for milk samples (liquid and powder), Fe (19% and 27%), Mn (100% and 63%), Cu (0% and 23%), Zn (94% and 0%), Pb (25% and 13%), and Cr (0% and 3%) showed above the permissible limits. The nutrient input was the highest for Ca (27.2% and 18.7%), followed by Mg, K, and Na. The EDI of studied elements was within the daily permissible limit in both the milk category (except age group (≤ 3) and the female category). The non-carcinogenic risk assessment showed that the age groups ≤ 3 for liquid milk and ≤ 3 and 3 < X ≤ 14 with female categories for powder milk exceeded the threshold level (> 1) in the case of Cr, Cd, As, Zn, and Mn. The probable carcinogenic risks indicated an unacceptable risk level (< 1.00E-04) for the ingestion of Cr through powder milk samples for children in male and female categories. Finally, it believes that green cow farming practices and green milk processing technology, as well as continuous monitoring of toxic metals, can limit the ultimate risk worldwide.

Assessing Trace Metal-Based Human Health Risks for Commonly Used Body Soaps in Bangladesh.

In Bangladesh, body soaps are very popular among consumers due to their flavors and low alkali content. The current study assesses the contamination of several trace metals (TMs) such as iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) in some of the body soaps most commonly used in Bangladesh. The concentrations of Fe, Cu, Zn, Cr, and Mn were found within the acceptable limits stipulated by the World Health Organization (WHO); however, in contrast, the concentrations of Ni, Cd, and Pb remained below the detection limit. Notably, the concentration of Cr in two soap samples (S-2, S-3) out of twenty-one soap samples exceeded the permissible limit stipulated by the WHO. Health risks associated with the TM intake via dermal routes were evaluated in terms of chronic daily intake (CDI) and hazard quotient (HQ). The results indicated that no non-carcinogenic risks (NCR) are likely to occur owing to the use of those body soaps. The carcinogenic risk (CR) estimated for Cr revealed no possibility of probable carcinogenic diseases. Though the NCR and CR are unlikely to occur resulting from the long-term uses of these soaps, the present study provides baseline information on the possible contaminations of TMs in the beauty soaps that do not seem to have been reported so far in Bangladesh. In light of the above information, it can be concluded that the presence of TMs in the body soaps could be a warning for people in general thereby suggesting continuous monitoring.

Exploration of Toxic and Essential Metals in Popular Rice Grains of Bangladesh and Associated Human Health Risk Implications.

In order to evaluate the benefits as well as the impacts of essential and toxic metals regarding human health, the six common rice grains (katarivhog, bashful, banglamoti, najirshail, branded miniket and loose miniket) were collected from four wholesale markets in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, and were analyzed with different atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) techniques. The mean concentrations of the toxic metals Pb, Cd, Cr, and As had 0.299 ± 0.017, 0.157 ± 0.012, 1.33 ± 0.084, and 0.120 ± 0.006 mg/kg, respectively, while those of the essential metals Fe, Cu, Zn, Na, Ca, and Mg had 7.90 ± 0.447, 3.11 ± 0.097, 10.6 ± 0.340, 37.4 ± 0.622, 90.1 ± 7.70, and 115.8 ± 1.61 mg/kg, respectively. Among them, the mean concentrations of toxic metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, and As) exceeded the maximum allowable concentration in rice set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC). Risk assessment of the heavy metals Pb, Cd, Cr, As, Fe, Cu, and Zn showed that their estimated daily intakes were below the daily reference doses for adults. However, Cd and Cr individually were found to have the target hazard quotient value close to 1 (threshold limit), indicating that they alone are capable of potential health hazards from continuous rice consumption, while the hazard index has surpassed three units signifying greater danger associated with the current trend of consumption. A very high chance of developing cancer in the near future is predicted by incremental lifetime carcinogenic risk (ILCR) analysis for continued intake of Cr (ILCR > 1E-03), and a moderate to high risk is predicted for other carcinogenic substances (Pb, Cd, and As) (ILCR in between 1E-03 and 1E-05) with present rice consumption. The contribution of the essential metals to the RNI revealed that Cu from rice contributes more than 100% in most samples, and the overall contribution is in the following order: Cu > Zn > Fe > Mg > Ca > Na. To ensure the safety of staple foods for human health, it ought to be necessary to design a plan to measure the budget of hazardous metals from all sources with proper surveillance by relevant authorities.

Case report: Successful treatment with daratumumab for pure red cell aplasia in a patient with mixed lymphoid chimerism after ABO-mismatched stem cell transplant for sickle cell disease.

Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) is a serious complication after ABO-mismatched allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Following HSCT, persistent anti-donor isohemagglutinins against donor ABO antigens are considered the immunological cause of PRCA. Patients with post-transplant PRCA are at risk for graft rejection and prolonged red blood cell transfusion dependency. No standard treatment exists. Recently however, the anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody daratumumab has been reported to be an effective treatment for post-transplant PRCA in patients with complete donor chimerism. Here, we describe the first case of PRCA in a patient with mixed lymphoid patient/donor chimerism that was successfully treated with daratumumab. This is also the first report of a transplant recipient with sickle cell disease who was treated with this relatively new approach. Fourteen months post-transplantation and twelve months after treatment with daratumumab, our patient has a normal complete blood count and the anti-donor isohemagglutinins remain undetectable despite mixed lymphoid chimerism. Mixed chimerism is a common manifestation in adult patients with sickle cell disease transplanted with non-myeloablative conditioning and a matched sibling donor. The application of non-myeloablative HSCT for patients with sickle cell disease is steadily increasing. Therefore, the incidence of PRCA in this setting might also increase. As the risk of graft rejection due to PRCA can be especially high in patients with mixed chimerism, clinicians should be aware that daratumumab can be an effective treatment in the setting of mixed chimerism.

Pollution Characteristics, Source Identification, and Health Risk of Heavy Metals in the Soil-Vegetable System in Two Districts of Bangladesh.

The consequences of climate change, food security, and self-sufficiency goals are driving excessive human activity onto vegetable farms in Bangladesh, and harmful heavy metal exposure is spreading. So, the study assessed the toxic metals (Pb, Cd, and Cr) exposure, characteristics, and human health risk regarding the soil-vegetable system of two distinct locations in Bangladesh using atomic absorption spectrometry. The average concentration of metals in soil and fertilizer/pesticide samples followed the same order (Cr > Pb > Cd), but for vegetable samples, the order was Pb > Cr > Cd, with some extra Pb compared to the World Health Organization (WHO) allowable limit (0.3 mg/kg). Low levels of pollution with negligible ecological concerns were predicted for both locations by the soil quality indexing. But industrial influence boosted the Pb content in location B, and common sources (fertilizer/pesticide) for both locations might be responsible for a moderate level of Cd. The toxic metals transferred to vegetables followed the trend of Cd > Pb > Cr. However, the human health risks arising from harmful metals exposure at both locations were ineffective (< 1) in evaluating noncarcinogenic risk patterns through the target hazard quotient (THQ), total THQ, and hazard index (HI). Again, considering probable carcinogenic risk patterns, vegetable consumption with studied exposure levels of toxic metals followed within the acceptable range (between 1.0E-04 and 1.0E-06). Overall, location B is slightly more vulnerable than location A by considering metal exposure, pollution distribution, and risk evaluation in the study area (significant at p < 0.05). So, systematic monitoring and protective measures are required to ensure food safety and sustainable vegetable production.

Lead Exposure of Four Biologically Important Common Branded and Non-branded Spices: Relative Analysis and Health Implication.

Technological advances and socioeconomic development of Bangladesh are leading to the best choice between branded and non-branded powdered spices. But toxic metal issues can be another factor to elect them. So lead (Pb) exposure and its consequence on the human body for these two categories of four common spices have been ascertained here. A validated laboratory method using hot plate digestion and flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) has been used for that. The obtained mean concentration of Pb in branded and non-branded spice powders followed the decreasing order of turmeric > coriander > red chili > cumin powder and turmeric > red chili > cumin > coriander powder, respectively, where, in any analysis mode, the non-branded items are potentially ahead of Pb exposure. The market-based mean concentration between these two categories was not a significant difference (t-test). Approximately 90% of the spice samples have shown within the maximum allowable limit by Bangladesh Standard. The sum of estimated daily intake indicated that most of the city market (67%) for non-branded items and some branded (33%) samples have crossed the maximum tolerable daily intake (> 0.21 mg/kg). So, the human health risk assumption for the inhabitant of studied areas suggests there is no significant level of risk for them due to the consumption of spices regarding non-carcinogenic risk factor (THQ and total THQ) and carcinogenic risk factor (CR). But the development of a quality control process for loose spice powders as well as toxic metal screening from raw materials to finish products urgently needed and continuous monitoring with identifying the source of toxic metal is highly recommended.

Does perinatal period pelvic floor muscle exercises affect sexuality and pelvic muscle strength? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to systematically review the effect of pelvic floor exercises on female sexual function and pelvic floor strength in the prenatal and postnatal periods and to conduct a meta-analysis of available evidence. METHODS: Published archives, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and ULAKBİM databases, were scanned using keywords based on MeSH. Only randomized controlled trials were included. The data were analyzed using the Review Manager computer program (version 5.3). RESULTS: Pooled standardized differences in means of sexual function in both pelvic floor exercise and control group were 6.33 (95%CI 5.27-7.40, p<0.00001) during pregnancy. The pooled standardized differences in means in sexual function after postpartum intervention was 1.19 (95%CI 0.08--2.30, p=0.04). CONCLUSION: Evidence has shown a little effect on the pelvic floor muscle training on sexual function in pregnancy and postpartum period in primipara women, and it is a safe strategy that can improve postpartum sexual function.

The anti-oxidative, anti-cell proliferative and anti-microbial efficacies of cold-adapted Crepis flexuosa: HPTLC and GC/MS analyses.

The genus Crepis constitutes cold-adapted plant spp., of these some are traditionally used in folk medicine against inflammation or fungal infections without scientific validations. Here, we report the biological activities of Crepis flexuosa total ethanol-extract (CF-EtOH) and its hexane (CF-Hex), ethyl acetate (CF-EtOA), butanol (CF-ButOH), and aqueous (CF-Aqua) fractions. Our in vitro DPPH and ABTS radical-scavenging assays showed CF-EtOH, CF-ButOH and CF-Aqua with maximal, CF-EtOA with moderate, and CF-Hex with mild anti-oxidant activities. When tested on human cancer cell lines, high cytotoxicity was demonstrated by CF-EtOH (IC50: 42.45 µg/ml) and CF-Aqua (IC50: 46.37 µg/ml) on HepG2, followed by CF-Hex (IC50: 63.24 µg/ml) and CF-ButOH (IC50: 65.32 µg/ml) on MCF7 cells. The human primary cell line (HUVEC) had comparatively lower cytotoxicity for the tested samples. Moreover, when assessed for anti-microbial efficacy, CF-ButOH and CF-Aqua exhibited the strongest activity (MIC: 156.25 µg/ml) against S. aureus, E. faecalis and C. albicans. Further, while the developed RP-HPTLC identified the bioactive flavonoid luteolin-7-O-glucoside (17.58 mg/g), GS/MS analysis revealed sixteen compounds in C. flexuosa extract. In conclusion, we for the first time show the promising anti-oxidative, anti-cell proliferative and anti-microbial efficacies of C. flexuosa. This warrants further phytochemical and bio-efficacy studies towards isolations and identifications of active principles.

Organophosphorus insecticides mineralizing endophytic and rhizospheric soil bacterial consortium influence eggplant growth-promotion.

This study was aimed to evaluate eggplant's growth-enhancing activity of chlorpyrifos and diazinon-degrading endophytic and rhizospheric soil bacteria isolated from cauliflower and tomato roots and the rhizospheric soil of rice roots, respectively. The identified endophytes belong to the Acinetobacter, Enterobacter and Klebsiella genera, while rhizospheric soil isolates belong to Pantoea, Acinetobacter, Kosakonia, Morganella, Enterobacter, and Klebsiella genera with species variation and genetic distances. All the strain's consumed 100% (50 mg/5 mL) chlorpyrifos and diazinon after 14 days of exposure, except for Pantoea sp. HSTU-Sny4 (84%) and Kosakonia sp. HSTU-ASn39 (42%). The strain's exhibited N-fixation, P-solubilization, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and ACC-deaminase production capabilities. The individual strain's and consortium treatment enhanced eggplant growth at germination, seedling, vegetative and reproductive stages. Plant growth-promoting genes, e.g., nif-cluster, chemotaxis, phosphates, sulfur, abiotic stress, chemotaxis, biofilm formation and organophosphorus insecticide-degrading genes were annotated in Klebsiella sp. HSTU-Sny5 and Morganella sp. HSTU-ASny43 genomes. Importantly, the mixed consortium supplemented with 40% urea-treated eggplants demonstrated similar growth parameters compared to the 100% urea eggplants. Plenty of insecticide-degrading proteins belonged to HSTU-Sny5 and HSTU-ASny43 strain's and had interacted with 100 different insecticides as confirmed in virtual screening. This research has a significant role in reducing the application of chemical fertilizer and bioremediation of pesticides in agriculture.

Lack of knowledge is the leading key for the growing cervical cancer incidents in Bangladesh: A population based, cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Cervical cancer is the second most common gynecological cancer in Bangladesh. Lack of awareness of screening methods, risk factors, and symptoms may lead to presenting most cervical cancers at an advanced stage. We investigated knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer (CCa) among females at the Sheikh Hasina Medical College (SHMC) of Tangail district in Bangladesh. METHODS: A cross sectional survey was conducted to collect data via a structured questionnaire from SHMC during the period of February 2019 to January 2020. Data on socio-demographic characteristics and knowledge of cervical cancer were collected. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with having heard and knowledge of cervical cancer. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant. RESULT: Of all the interviews conducted, only 45.2% (493/1090) had heard of cervical cancer as a disease. Women were more likely to be aware of CCa if they were lived in urban areas, had higher education (university level education) and belong to high income families. The study revealed evidence of significant association between marital, literacy, residence and socio-economic status with women's knowledge on cervical cancer (p< 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study serves to highlight that there was impoverished knowledge about cervical cancer among Bangladeshi women. Hence, this indicates the government should take proper steps to raise awareness and knowledge levels via educational programs and health counseling.

Probing the mechanism of peptide binding to REV response element RNA of HIV-1; MD simulations and free energy calculations.

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) of HIV-1 contains a 350 nucleotide, highly structured, cis-acting element called RRE (REV-response-element RNA), essential for virus replication. REV is a natural peptide that binds to RRE and transports it from the nucleus to cytoplasm where it is expressed into a new virus. The synthetic peptide known as RSG-1.2 also binds the RRE element and competes with REV. The purpose of study is to rationally design novel peptides such as RSG peptide with improved binding affinity to prevent the transport of HIV-1 RNA and so replication of virus. Herein, we performed MD simulation and free energy calculations to evaluate the interactions and binding free energies of REV (PDB ID: 4PMI) and RSGs peptides (PDB IDs: 1G70 and 1I9F) with RRE. The protein-RNA interactions were analyzed using the MM-PBSA method. Results suggest that REV has more binding free energy -188.41 kcal/mol than two RSG peptides with total binding free energy -120.97 and -141.46 kcal/mol. The ARG and ASN were found to be important residues of REV. In the RRE sequence, the nucleotides 62-67 and 78-84 were found to be important contributors in binding free energy. This study play a major role in elaboration of binding REV and RSG1-2 with RRE element and pave the way for further synthesis of peptide that can bind with RRE element and can be selected as therapeutic agent for HIV.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Neither glutamate nor alanine but arginine sensitizes BY-2 cells to arsenate.

Arsenic is toxic for plants. Our previous results showed that the application of proline enhanced the sensitivity of tobacco BY-2 cells to arsenate. In order to clarify the enhancement mechanism, we investigated the effects of other amino acids on the arsenate-stressed BY-2 cells. Glutamate at up to 10 m m did not affect the cell growth in the absence or presence of arsenate. Arginine at up to 10 m m did not affect the growth in the absence of arsenate but arginine at 10 m m enhanced the inhibition of the cell growth by arsenate. Alanine at up to 10 m m did not affect the cell growth under nonstressed condition but alanine at 10 m m significantly improved the cell growth under arsenate stress. These results suggest that alanine mitigates arsenate stress in BY-2 cells and that arginine like proline enhances the sensitivity of BY-2 cells to arsenate.

Evaluation of knowledge, awareness and attitudes towards breast cancer risk factors and early detection among females in Bangladesh: A hospital based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BCa) is a leading cause of mortality among women in Bangladesh. Many young women in Bangladesh have poor knowledge about breast cancer screening, including risk factors, warning signs/symptoms, diagnosis and early detection. We investigated awareness about breast cancer risk factors as a screening tool among women at the Sheikh Hasina Medical College (SHMC) of Tangail district in Bangladesh. METHODS: A cross sectional survey was conducted to collect data via a structured questionnaire from SHMC during the period of February to December 2019. A total of 1,007 participants (aged 33.47 (±12.37 years)) was considered for data analysis. RESULTS: Of the 1,007 women, about 50% were knowledgeable about the risk factors. Pain in the breast was identified as the most commonly warning sign/symptom of breast cancer. Only 32.2% of respondents knew at least one breast cancer screening method. The mean knowledge was scored 3.43 ± 2.25 out of a total possible score of 8. Awareness of BCa was associated with residence, family history of breast cancer, marital, literacy and socio-economic status (p <0.05). Only 14.7% of women who knew about BSE said they were conducting regular breast self-examination. Unmarried women (aOR: 2.971; 95% CI: 1.108-7.968) were more likely to have performed BSE compared to married women (p <0.05). CONCLUSION: Although most participants were aware of breast cancer; knowledge about risk factors, warning signs/symptoms, early diagnosis and detection was relatively poor. Knowledge about performing BSE was particularly low. This highlights the importance of increasing awareness about breast cancer risk factors and early detection among young women in Bangladesh.