Effectiveness of a School Based Smokeless Tobacco Intervention: A Cluster Randomized Trial.

To assess the effectiveness of intervention in improving knowledge, attitude and perception regarding smokeless tobacco (SLT) use and its harmful effects and intention to quit SLT among school going adolescents. A school-based cluster randomized control trial was carried out in 18 secondary schools targeting male and female students from grades 6 to 10 in Karachi. Primary outcome was knowledge about hazards of smokeless tobacco (SLT) and secondary outcomes were attitude and Perception about hazards of SLT, and intention to quit SLT. We enrolled 738 participants in intervention group and 589 in the control group. Mean score of knowledge significantly improved in intervention as compared to control group (P value < 0.01). Intention to quit was found to be proportionately higher (33%) in the intervention group as compared to control group. Generalized estimating equations were used to assess the association of factors with knowledge regarding harmful effects of SLT use. Significant predictors of increase in knowledge score were found in children: who had seen any anti SLT messages on social media in the past 30 days, who were getting information regarding harmful effects of SLT use in school or textbooks and who had friends using SLT. A school-based intervention was effective in increasing knowledge regarding the harmful effects of SLT use and intention to quit SLT use among school adolescents. Introduction of such educational programmes on a regular basis in schools or as part of school curriculum can have an impact on reducing prevalence of SLT use.Trial Registration NCT03418506. https://register.clinicaltrials.gov/NCT03418506 .

Structural investigation of human dectin-1 receptor; A novel gateway in drug discovery.

Stimulation of C-type lectin domain of human dectin-1 receptor by fungal ß-glucans causes conformational changes in its cytoplasmic domain which initiates various cellular responses mediated by downstream signaling components. We aimed to build the three-dimensional structures of the cytoplasmic domain as well as C-type lectin domain of human Dectin-1along with their potential ligands through homology modeling.The overall three-dimensional fold of cytoplasmic domain was found to consist of mixed ß-sheet whereas,in case of C-type lectin domain antiparallel ß-sheets flanked by α-helices were observed. Protein-protein docking strategy was utilized to monitorkey interactions between cytoplasmic domainof dectin-1 receptor and PKCδ, as a prime regulator of Dectin-1 signaling. The interface was observed to have both hydrophilic and hydrophobic amino acid residues maintaining crucial contacts between the two proteins. The given three dimensional structural information can be implicated in structure-based drug designing to discover potential immunomodulators that can interfere with the immune responses and phagocytosis during inflammatory and infectious conditions.

Investigation of wound healing potential of photo-active curcumin-ZnO-nanoconjugates in excisional wound model.

Wound healing, being a dynamic process consisting of hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling, involves the complicated interplay of various growth mediators and the cells associated repair system. Current wound healing therapies usually fail to completely regain skin integrity and functionality. Traditionally, curcumin is considered a potent natural wound healing agent as it possesses antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. It is also known that zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) have photocatalytic properties, including the generation of reactive oxygen species. ZnO nanoaprticles are also Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved as safe substances. While ZnO oxide requires illumination with ultraviolet light to become photocatalytically active, dye-sensitized ZnO can be activated by illumination with visible light. In the present study, we explored the wound healing potential of ZnO nanoparticles sensitized with curcumin (Cu+ZnO Nps) and illuminated with visible (blue) light generated by an array of high power LEDs. We studied the antibacterial effect of our conjugates by percentage reduction in bacterial growth and biofilm formation. The wound healing potential was analyzed by percentage wound contraction, biochemical parameters, and histopathological analysis of the wounded site. Additionally, angiogenesis and wound associated cytokines was evaluated by immunohistochemistry of CD31 and gene expression analysis of IL-1ß, TNF-α, and MMP-9 after 16 days of post-wound treatment, respectively. Our study suggests that the therapeutic effect of Cu+ZnO NPs with LED illumination increases its wound healing potential by producing an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect. Moreover, the treatment strategy of using a nano formulation in combination with LED illumination further increases its efficacy. It was concluded that the anti-inflammatory and bactericidal effects of the LED illuminated Cu+ZnO Np showed accelerated wound healing with increased wound contraction, collagen deposition, angiogenesis, and re-epithelialization.

Elucidation of correlation between SARS-CoV-2 RdRp and N gene cycle threshold (Ct) by RT-PCR with age and gender.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19) caused by the new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV2) is a global public health emergency. Age and gender are two important factors related to the risk and outcome of various diseases. Cycle threshold (Ct) value is believed to have relation with age and gender. OBJECTIVE: This study has been conducted to investigates the association between SARS-CoV-2 cycle threshold to age and gender of COVID-19 patients, to investigate whether the population-wide change of SARSCoV2 RTPCR Ct value over time is corelated to the number of new COVID19 cases and to investigate the dynamic of RdRp and N genes. METHODS: 72,811 individuals from second wave of COVID19, were observed in current study at Pure Health Lab, Mafraq Hospital, Abu Dhabi, UAE. RESULTS: 15,201/72,811 (21 %) positivity was observed. COVID-19 were more prevalent in males (59.35%) as compared to female (40.65%). The Positivity rate were significantly higher in Male than in Female cases (p-Value = 0.04). The Ct values for both targets of all the samples were ranged from 4.57 to 29.73. Longitudinal analysis showed significant increased during the study period from starting to end as were hypothesized. Interestingly, both the targets (RdRp and N) were present in age < 1 year. Which may indicate that mutated strains are not prevalent in children's < 1 year. CONCLUSION: There was no statistically significant difference in viral loads in between age-groups. Males were tending to higher viral load compared to females. The findings have implications for preventive strategies.

Opuntioside, opuntiol and its metallic nanoparticles attenuate adjuvant-induced arthritis: Novel suppressors of Toll-like receptors -2 and -4.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease of synovial inflammation and joint destruction. This study reports anti-arthritic potential of opuntioside-I opuntiol, and its gold and silver nanoparticles (NPs) against Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritic rats. The mechanistic studies were performed targeting TLRs (TLR-2 and TLR-4) and cytokines (IL-1ß and TNF-α) expressions to validate their anti-inflammatory and immuno-modulatory response. The nano-formulations were successfully characterized employing Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) analysis. Opuntiol and opuntioside (OP and OPG: 10, 50 and 100 mg/kg) and opuntiol-coated silver and gold NPs (OP-AgNPs and OP-AuNPs: 0.5, 1 and 3 mg/kg) treatments in arthritic rat have shown minimal arthritic score exhibiting mild to moderate articular changes and tissue swelling in ankle joints. Radiographic examination reveals significant reduction in synovitis with improvement in joints degenarative changes in the presence of aforementioned treatments. Likewise, histology of rat ankle joints depicted comparatively lesser influx of inflammatory cells and diminished granulamatous inflammation. Moreover, treatment groups suppressed protein and mRNA expressions of TLRs (TLR-2 and TLR-4) and cytokines (IL-1ß and TNF-α) levels were also significantly declined in the presence of OPG, OP and its NPs comparing to arthritic control. This investigation concludes, the tested compounds and nano-formulations successfully restored the disease progression in CFA-induced arthritic rat owing to their immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory potentials and can be considered for RA targeted therapy to address the utmost challenges of the disease.

Bergenin loaded gum xanthan stabilized silver nanoparticles suppress synovial inflammation through modulation of the immune response and oxidative stress in adjuvant induced arthritic rats.

Bergenin (BG) is a naturally occurring C-glycoside with demonstrated anti-arthritic potential. Its therapeutic efficacy is compromised due to its lower absorption and instability at neutral-basic pH. The present study reports fabrication of gum xanthan (GX) stabilized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with BG for anti-arthritic activity in a CFA-induced arthritis model targeting ROS, cytokines and TLR expression. NPs were characterized through UV-vis, zetasizer, FT-IR and AFM. Oral administration of BG loaded NPs (1 mg kg-1) exhibited potent anti-arthritic activity with a minimal arthritic score, mild to moderate paw tissue swelling, reduced degenerative changes along with mild articular changes and less influx of inflammatory cells in macroscopic X-ray and histological examination. Administration of BG and its NPs suppressed the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) significantly as compared to the arthritic control group. Moreover, increased production of O2˙- in human neutrophils, stimulated by opsonized zymosan (OZ) and phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) was also suppressed. BG and its loaded NPs were revealed to antagonize the oxidative stress via interference with the NADPH oxidase metabolic pathway. Their anti-oxidant activity was further assessed by their inhibitory effect against TLR (TRL-2 & -4) and cytokine (IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α) production. The current investigation validates GX stabilized AgNPs as stable and promising multi-targeted therapeutic nano-cargo for BG delivery with efficient treatment of RA.

Gum acacia stabilized silver nanoparticles based nano-cargo for enhanced anti-arthritic potentials of hesperidin in adjuvant induced arthritic rats.

Nanomedicines anticipate drug delivery to inflamed tissues in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with greater efficacy and lesser side effects. This study investigates the anti-arthritic potentials of Hesperidin (HP) loaded in gum acacia (GA) stabilized green silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Synthesized GA-AgNPs were characterized through UV-vis spectrophotometer, zetasizer and atomic force microscope (AFM). The HP and its loaded NPs were tested for RA in Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) induced arthritis model. GA-AgNPs were found in nano-range size with negative charge, spherical shape and loaded increased HP amount. HP loaded GA-AgNPs showed minimal arthritic score exhibiting mild to moderate tissue swelling, reduced degenerative changes along with mild articular changes. Histopathological analysis revealed comparatively lesser influx of inflammatory cells and diminished granulamatous inflammation in ankle joints tissues in the presence of HP loaded GA-AgNPs. RT-PCR revealed that HP loaded GA-AgNPs significantly reduced the TLRs mRNA expression. Results validate GA stabilized green AgNPs as stable nano-cargos for targeted delivery of HP for restoring the progression of RA.