Recent Progress and Prospect of Metal-Organic Framework-Based Nanozymes in Biomedical Application.

A nanozyme is a nanoscale material having enzyme-like properties. It exhibits several superior properties, including low preparation cost, robust catalytic activity, and long-term storage at ambient temperatures. Moreover, high stability enables repetitive use in multiple catalytic reactions. Hence, it is considered a potential replacement for natural enzymes. Enormous research interest in nanozymes in the past two decades has made it imperative to look for better enzyme-mimicking materials for biomedical applications. Given this, research on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as a potential nanozyme material has gained momentum. MOFs are advanced hybrid materials made of inorganic metal ions and organic ligands. Their distinct composition, adaptable pore size, structural diversity, and ease in the tunability of physicochemical properties enable MOFs to mimic enzyme-like activities and act as promising nanozyme candidates. This review aims to discuss recent advances in the development of MOF-based nanozymes (MOF-NZs) and highlight their applications in the field of biomedicine. Firstly, different enzyme-mimetic activities exhibited by MOFs are discussed, and insights are given into various strategies to achieve them. Modification and functionalization strategies are deliberated to obtain MOF-NZs with enhanced catalytic activity. Subsequently, applications of MOF-NZs in the biosensing and therapeutics domain are discussed. Finally, the review is concluded by giving insights into the challenges encountered with MOF-NZs and possible directions to overcome them in the future. With this review, we aim to encourage consolidated efforts across enzyme engineering, nanotechnology, materials science, and biomedicine disciplines to inspire exciting innovations in this emerging yet promising field.

HLA gene variations and mycotoxin toxicity: Four case reports.

Mycotoxins are produced by certain molds that can cause many health effects. We present four human cases of prolonged consistent mycotoxins exposure linked to genetic variations in human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles. The HLA-DR/DQ isotype alleles are linked to mycotoxins susceptibility due to the lack of proper immune response; individuals with these alleles are poor eliminators of mycotoxins from their system. Four subjects with variations in their HLA-DR alleles were exposed to mycotoxins from living in mold-infested houses and experienced persistent mold-related symptoms long after moving out from the mold-infested houses and only exposed to the levels of molds found in the ambient air. From one of the subjects, two urine samples were collected ~ 18 months apart after the cessation of exposure. Urinary elimination rate was extremely slow for two of the mycotoxins (ochratoxin A [OTA] and mycophenolic acid [MPA]) detected in both samples. In 18 months, decline in OTA level was only ~ 3-fold (estimated t½ of ~ 311 days) and decline in MPA level was ~ 11-fold (estimated t½ of ~ 160 days), which was ~ 10- and ~ 213-fold slower than expected in individuals without HLA-DR alleles, respectively. We estimated that ~ 4.3 and ~ 2.2 years will be required for OTA and MPA to reach < LLQ in urine, respectively. Three other subjects with variations in HLA-DR alleles were members of a family who lived in a mold-infested house for 4 years. They kept experiencing mold-related issues >2 years after moving to a non-mold-infested house. Consistent exposure was confirmed by the presence of several mycotoxins in urine >2 years after the secession of higher than background (from outdoor ambient air) exposure. This was consistent with the extremely slow elimination of mycotoxins from their system. Variations in HLA-DR alleles can, consequently, make even short periods of exposure to chronic exposure scenarios with related adverse health effects. It is, therefore, important to determine genetic predisposition as a reason for prolonged/lingering mold-related symptoms long after the cessation of higher than background exposure. Increased human exposure to mycotoxins is expected from increased mold infestation that is anticipated due to rising CO2, temperature, and humidity from the climate change with possibly increased adverse health effects, especially in individuals with genetic susceptibility to mold toxicity.

Application of a count regression model to identify the risk factors of under-five child morbidity in Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND: Bangladesh has seen a significant decline in child mortality in recent decades, but morbidity among children <5 y of age remains high. The aim of this analysis was to examine trends and identify risk factors related to child morbidity in Bangladesh. METHODS: This analysis is based on data from four successive cross-sectional Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys for the years 2007, 2011, 2014 and 2017-18. Several count regression models were fitted and the best model was used to identify risk factors associated with morbidity in children <5 y of age. RESULTS: According to the results of the trend analysis, the prevalence of non-symptomatic children increased and the prevalence of fever, diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections (ARIs) decreased over the years. The Vuong's non-nested test indicated that Poisson regression could be used as the best model. From the results of the Poisson regression model, child age, sex, underweight, wasted, stunting, maternal education, wealth status, religion and region were the important determinants associated with the risk of child morbidity. The risk was considerably higher among women with a primary education compared with women with a secondary or greater education in Bangladesh. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis concluded that child morbidity is still a major public health problem for Bangladesh. Thus it is important to take the necessary measures to reduce child morbidity (particularly fever, diarrhoea and ARI) by improving significant influencing factors.

Amino Acid-Coated Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework for Delivery of Genetic Material in Prostate Cancer Cell.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are currently under progressive development as a tool for non-viral biomolecule delivery. Biomolecules such as proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids can be encapsulated in MOFs for therapeutic purposes. The favorable physicochemical properties of MOFs make them an attractive choice for delivering a wide range of biomolecules including nucleic acids. Herein, a green fluorescence protein (GFP)-expressing plasmid DNA (pDNA) is used as a representative of a biomolecule to encapsulate within a Zn-based metal-organic framework (MOF) called a zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF). The synthesized biocomposites are coated with positively charged amino acids (AA) to understand the effect of surface functionalization on the delivery of pDNA to prostate cancer (PC-3) cells. FTIR and zeta potential confirm the successful preparation of positively charged amino acid-functionalized derivatives of pDNA@ZIF (i.e., pDNA@ZIFAA). Moreover, XRD and SEM data show that the functionalized derivates retain the pristine crystallinity and morphology of pDNA@ZIF. The coated biocomposites provide enhanced uptake of genetic material by PC-3 human prostate cancer cells. The AA-modulated fine-tuning of the surface charge of biocomposites results in better interaction with the cell membrane and enhances cellular uptake. These results suggest that pDNA@ZIFAA can be a promising alternative tool for non-viral gene delivery.

Targeting telomerase utilizing zeolitic imidazole frameworks as non-viral gene delivery agents across different cancer cell types.

Telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein coded by the hTERT gene, plays an important role in cellular immortalization and carcinogenesis. hTERT is a suitable target for cancer therapeutics as its activity is highly upregulated in most of cancer cells but absent in normal somatic cells. Here, by employing the two Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), viz. ZIF-C and ZIF-8, based biomineralization we encapsulate Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat (CRISPR)/Cas9 plasmid system that targets hTERT gene (CrhTERT) in cancer cells. When comparing the two biocomposites, ZIF-C shows the better loading capacity and cell viability. The loaded plasmid in ZIF-C is highly protected against enzymatic degradation. CrhTERT@ZIF-C is efficiently endocytosed by cancer cells and the subcellular release of CrhTERT leads to telomerase knockdown. The resultant inhibition of hTERT expression decreases cellular proliferation and causing cancer cell death. Furthermore, hTERT knockdown shows a significant reduction in tumour metastasis and alters protein expression. Collectively we show the high potential of ZIF-C-based biocomposites as a promising general tool for gene therapy of different types of cancers.

Computational approach in searching for dual action multitarget inhibitors for osteosarcoma.

Osteosarcoma is a common primary malignant bone tumor that typically manifests in the second decade of life. This study aimed to identify osteogenic compounds that potentially serve as multitarget inhibitors for osteosarcoma. The study was a molecular docking study of nine Food and Drug Administration-approved compounds with osteogenic properties to the key membrane proteins of osteosarcoma. The ligands used were raloxifene, simvastatin, dexamethasone, risedronate, ibandronate, zoledronic acid, ascorbic acid, alendronate, and ß-glycerophosphate, whereas the target proteins used were RET, fibroblast growth factor receptor 1, KIT, PDGFRA, VEGFR1, and VEGFR2. Chem3D version 15.0.0.106 was used for ligand preparation, and AutoDockTools version 1.5.6 was used for protein preparation, whereas molecular docking was conducted using AutoDock Vina. Raloxifene, simvastatin, and dexamethasone had the lowest binding activity to the target proteins. The binding affinity of raloxifene was from -8.4 to -10.0 kcal mol-1, that of simvastatin was -8.3 to -9.2 kcal mol-1, whereas dexamethasone ranged from -6.9 to -9.1 kcal mol-1. Most types of interactions were hydrophobically followed by hydrogen bonding. The current study suggests that raloxifene, simvastatin, and dexamethasone have the potential to act as multitarget inhibitors for osteosarcoma with the ability to induce bone remodeling.

Advanced implications of nanotechnology in disease control and environmental perspectives.

Nanotechnology encompasses a wide range of devices derived from biology, engineering, chemistry, and physics, and this scientific field is composed of great collaboration among researchers from several fields. It has diverse implications notably smart sensing technologies, effective disease diagnosis, and sometimes used in treatment. In medical science, the implications of nanotechnology include the development of elements and devices that interact with the body at subcellular (i.e., molecular) levels exhibiting high sensitivity and specificity. There is a plethora of new chances for medical science and disease treatment to be discovered and exploited in the rapidly developing field of nanotechnology. In different sectors, nanomaterials are used just because of their special characteristics. Their large surface area of them enables higher reactivity with greater efficiency. Furthermore, special surface chemistry is displayed by nanomaterials which compare to conventional materials and facilitate the nanomaterials to decrease pollutants efficiently. Recently, nanomaterials are used in some countries to reduce the levels of contaminants in water, air, and soil. Moreover, nanomaterials are used in the cosmetics and medical industry, and it develops the drug discovery (DD) system. Among a huge number of nanomaterials, Cu, Ag, TiO2, ZnO, Fe3O4, and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are extensively used in different industries for various purposes. This extensive review study has introduced the major scientific and technical features of nanotechnology, as well as some possible clinical applications and positive feedback in environmental waste management and drug delivery systems.

Investigation of Antimicrobial Activity and Biocompatibility of Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized using Syzigyum cymosum Extract.

Nanotherapeutics has emerged as the most sought after approach to tackle the menace of drug-resistant pathogenic bacteria. Among others, biogenic silver nanoparticles (bAgNPs) synthesized using medicinal plant extracts demonstrate promising antibacterial propensity with excellent biocompatibility. Herein, bAgNPs were synthesized through the green chemistry approach using Syzygium cymosum leaf extract as a reducing agent at different pH values (i.e., 5, 7, 8, and 10). The average size of bAgNPs synthesized at pH 5, 7, 8, and 10 was 23.3, 21.3, 17.2, and 35.3 nm, respectively, and all the nanoparticles were negatively charged. Their antibacterial potential was investigated against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli DH5α, E. coli K12, enteropathogenic E. coli, and Salmonella typhi. The highest antibacterial activity was exhibited by bAgNPs synthesized at pH 8 against all the tested bacterial strains, which can be attributed to their small size and greater surface area to volume ratio. The bAgNPs demonstrated the highest zone of inhibition (29.5 ± 0.8 mm) against B. subtilis through oxidation of membrane fatty acids that resulted in the formation of the malondialdehyde-thiobarbituric acid (MDA-TBA) adduct. However, bAgNPs demonstrated excellent hemocompatibility with rat and human red blood cells. Biogenic AgNPs synthesized at pH 8 also exhibited biocompatibility in terms of liver and kidney function biomarkers. Furthermore, hematoxylin and eosin staining of the tissue sections of vital organs (i.e., liver, kidneys, lungs, heart, spleen, and brain) also confirmed the biocompatibility of bAgNPs.

Role of resveratrol supplementation in regulation of glucose hemostasis, inflammation and oxidative stress in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to determine the effects of resveratrol supplementation on glucose homeostasis, oxidative stress, inflammation and microRNAs expression in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 on oral hypoglycemic drugs. METHOD: This was a randomized, double blinded placebo-controlled parallel group trial. The diabetic patients (n = 110) were randomly assigned either to resveratrol (n = 55) and placebo (55) groups after informed consent and given once daily resveratrol 200 mg and cellulose capsules respectively for 24 weeks. Fasting glucose, insulin, HbA1c, lipid profile, TNF- α, IL-6, hs-CRP, MDA & circulatory microRNAs were measured at start and end of 24- week intervention. RESULTS: Out of 110 patients recruited, 94 patients completed the study comprising of 45 in resveratrol and 46 in placebo group. The resveratrol supplementation after 24 weeks was resulted in significant reduction [mean difference (95%CI)] of plasma glucose[- 0.50(-0.94 to -0.06)], insulin[- 1.31(-2.24 to -0.38)], homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance[- 0.83(-1.37 to -0.29)], malondialdehyde[- 0.36(-0.61 to -0.11)], high sensitive-C-reactive protein[- 0.35(-0.70 to -0.01)], tumor necrosis factor-alpha[- 1.25(-1.90 to -0.61)] and interleukin-6[- 1.99(-3.29 to -0.69)]. More than two-fold down regulation in miRNA-34a, miRNA-375, miRNA-21, miRNA-192 and up regulation in miRNA-126 and miRNA-132 expression was noted in patients receiving resveratrol as compared to placebo. No side effects were reported during the trial. CONCLUSION: Resveratrol supplementation contributes in improvement of glycemic control by reducing insulin resistance. It has significant beneficial impact on chronic inflammation, oxidative stress and associated microRNA expression in diabetic patients. Thus, supplementation of resveratrol along with oral hypoglycemic agents may be useful in the reduction of diabetic associated complications.

Reconstruction options in pediatric population with hemi or total mandibulectomy defects: A systematic review.

Purpose: Mandibular pathologies causing extensive defects in pediatrics is relatively rare, and sparse literature is available for the reconstructive options of the same. The main aim is to provide optimum esthetics and function. Materials and methods: PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, Embase, MEDLINE and Scopus databases were searched for articles published only in English language up to May 2021, involving reconstruction of hemi or total mandibulectomy defects in patients with the age of 8 years or less, associated with benign or malignant pathology. Primary outcome variable was the success of reconstruction. Qualitative analysis was performed using a microsoft excel-sheet. Results: Of the 2201 articles reviewed, only fourteen were selected for data extraction. 22 patients were included. Fifteen were benign, six were malignant pathologies, and one was not defined. Hemi-mandibulectomy was performed in twenty-one cases, while one underwent total mandibulectomy. Condyle was preserved in five cases, while was removed in nine. Single-stage reconstruction was done in nineteen cases, while second-stage reconstruction was done in the other three. Reconstruction was done with fibular graft in thirteen cases, while CCG was used in others with variable follow-up time. Though minor complications were observed, success was observed in all cases post reconstruction with either fibula or CCG graft, defined either by function, or growth. Conclusion: Irrespective of the age-group, nature of pathology and size of the defect, reconstruction should be considered with either fibula or CCG in single-stage, as they are equally efficacious, with minor complications. Well-defined reconstructive paradigm should be developed for pediatric mandibular reconstruction.

Functionalized Concave Cube Gold Nanoparticles as Potent Antimicrobial Agents against Pathogenic Bacteria.

Gold (Au) is an inert metal in a bulk state; however, it can be used for the preparation of Au nanoparticles (i.e., AuNPs) for multidimensional applications in the field of nanomedicine and nanobiotechnology. Herein, monodisperse concave cube AuNPs (CCAuNPs) were synthesized and functionalized with a natural antioxidant lipoic acid (LA) and a tripeptide glutathione (GSH) because different crystal facets of AuNPs provide binding sites for distinct ligands. There was an ∼10 nm bathochromic shift of the UV-vis spectrum when CCAuNPs were functionalized with LA, and the size of the as-synthesized monodisperse CCAu nanoparticles was 76 nm. The LA-functionalized CCAu nanoparticles (i.e., CCAuLA) showed the highest antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis. Both fluorescence images and scanning electron microscopy images confirm the damage of the bacterial cell wall as the mode of antibacterial activity of CCAuNPs. CCAuNPs also cause the oxidation of bacterial cell membrane fatty acids to produce reactive oxygen species, which pave the way for the death of bacteria. Both CCAu nanoparticles and their functionalized derivatives showed excellent hemocompatibility (i.e., percentage of hemolysis is <5% at 80 µg of AuNPs) to human red blood cells and very high biocompatibility to HeLa, L929, and Chinese hamster ovary-green fluorescent protein (CHO-GFP) cells. Taken together, LA and GSH enhance the antibacterial activity and biocompatibility, respectively, of CCAu nanoparticles that interact with the bacteria through Coulomb as well as hydrophobic interactions before demonstrating antibacterial propensity.

Prevalence of malnutrition in children under five years' age in District Tharparkar Sindh, Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of malnutrition in children aged <5 years, and find out the risk factors associated with malnutrition in a rural setting. METHODS: The survey-based cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2017 to March 2018 in four Tehsils of district Tharparkar, Sindh, Pakistan, and comprised children of either gender aged <5 years who were randomly selected and assessed for weight and height using the World Health Organisation Anthro-2007 tool to obtain Z-score. Data was analysed using SPPS Version 18. RESULTS: Of the 597 subjects, 299(50.1%) were girls and 298(49.9%) were boys. Overall, 219(36.7%) were aged 12-23 months and 63(10.5%) were aged 48-59 months. Stunting was found in 485(81.1%) subjects, wasting 112(18.2%) and 342(57.3%) were underweight. The causes of malnutrition included age 6-11 months, number of siblings, monthly income <6000 rupees and duration of breast feeding <12 months (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Higher prevalence of malnutrition was found in children aged <5 years in district Tharparkar.

Outcomes of sequestrectomy and buccal fat pad reconstruction in the management of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of buccal fat pad (BFP) in the reconstruction of surgical defects following sequestrectomy in medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ). A total of ten patients with MRONJ underwent sequestrectomy and reconstruction using BFP. There were 3 males and 7 females. The age range was 20-70 years. Two patients were diagnosed with stage 2, and eight patients were diagnosed with stage 3 disease. Eight defects were present in the maxilla and two in the posterior mandible. Oro-antral communication was present in 8 cases. All patients have undergone sequestrectomy, debridement and reconstruction using BFP under local anaesthesia. Postoperatively, the patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months and evaluated for complete epithelisation of defect, infection, pain and recurrence of the lesion. Complete epithelisation with closure of the defect was achieved in all the cases. None of the patients had residual pain or inflammation at the surgical site. There was no case of postoperative infection. Reconstruction using buccal fat pad is an effective treatment modality to provide symptomatic relief and to prevent further progression of disease in MRONJ patients.

Targeted in vitro gene silencing of E2 and nsP1 genes of chikungunya virus by biocompatible zeolitic imidazolate framework.

Chikungunya fever caused by the mosquito-transmitted chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a major public health concern in tropical, sub-tropical and temperate climatic regions. The lack of any licensed vaccine or antiviral agents against CHIKV warrants the development of effective antiviral therapies. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) mediated gene silencing of CHIKV structural and non-structural genes serves as a potential antiviral strategy. The therapeutic efficiency of siRNA can be improved by using an efficient delivery system. Metal-organic framework biocomposits have demonstrated an exceptional capability in protecting and efficiently delivering nucleic acids into cells. In the present study, carbonated ZIF called ZIF-C has been utilized to deliver siRNAs targeted against E2 and nsP1 genes of CHIKV to achieve a reduction in viral replication and infectivity. Cellular transfection studies of E2 and nsP1 genes targeting free siRNAs and ZIF-C encapsulated siRNAs in CHIKV infected Vero CCL-81 cells were performed. Our results reveal a significant reduction of infectious virus titre, viral RNA levels and percent of infected cells in cultures transfected with ZIF-C encapsulated siRNA compared to cells transfected with free siRNA. The results suggest that delivery of siRNA through ZIF-C enhances the antiviral activity of CHIKV E2 and nsP1 genes directed siRNAs.

Mycoremediation of reactive red HE7B dye by Aspergillus salinarus isolated from textile effluents.

Reactive dyes are widely utilized in the textile industry due to their advantageous properties of vivid color, water-fastness, and simple application procedures with minimal energy usage. The toxicity of most azo dyes is a significant environmental concern, as effluents from dye processing and manufacturing sectors are known to be carcinogenic and mutagenic to numerous species. These issues are more grievous in Bangladesh, one of the largest exporters of apparel. This study aimed to isolate and identify potential fungal strains from textile effluent that are capable of degrading Reactive Red HE7B dye (a sulphonated reactive azo dye), a widely used dye in local thread dyeing industries. Dye degradation assay was performed in potato dextrose broth supplemented with 50 mg/l Reactive Red HE7B and the degradation rate was measured by a UV spectrophotometer. DNA extraction, quantification, PCR, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis were performed to identify the selected fungi. Among the isolates, the three best performing strains TEF -3, TEF -4, and TEF -5 showed 97.41%, 93.12%, and 82.89% dye degrading efficacy after 96 h of incubation, respectively. All three strains, TEF-3, TEF-4, and TEF-5 showed similarity with Aspergillus salinarus (accession no. NR_157473.1) and the similarity percentages were 97.02, 96.95, and 95.28 respectively. Interestingly, this study probably the very first indication of textile dye degradation by Aspergillus salinarus strains. Thus, these fungal strains possess the prospectiveness to be utilized in the textile wastewater treatment plants, since the isolates demonstrated the substantial capacity (>80%) to degrade Reactive Red dye after 96 h of incubation.

Candidate antiviral drugs for COVID-19 and their environmental implications: a comprehensive analysis.

Emerging from Wuhan, China, SARS-CoV-2 is the new global threat that killed millions of people, and many are still suffering. This pandemic has not only affected people but also caused economic crisis throughout the world. Researchers have shown good progress in revealing the molecular insights of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis and developing vaccines, but effective treatment against SARS-CoV-2-infected patients are yet to be found. Several vaccines are available and used in many countries, while many others are still in clinical or preclinical studies. However, this involves a long-term process, considering the safety procedures and requirements and their long-term protection capacity and in different age groups are still questionable. Therefore, at present, the drug repurposing of the existing therapeutics previously designed against other viral diseases seems to be the only practical approach to mitigate the current situation. The safety of most of these therapeutic agents has already been tested. Recent clinical reports revealed promising therapeutic efficiency of several drugs such as remdesivir, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, azithromycin, lopinavir/ritonavir, chloroquine, baricitinib, and cepharanthine. Besides, plasma therapies were used to treat patients and prevent fatal outcomes. Thus, in this article, we have summarized the epidemiological and clinical data from several clinical trials conducted since the beginning of the pandemic, emphasizing the efficiency of the known agents against SARS-CoV-2 and their harmful side effects on the human body as well as their environmental implications. This review shows a clear overview of the current pharmaceutical perspective on COVID-19 treatment.

Antimicrobial Peptides from Plants: A cDNA-Library Based Isolation, Purification, Characterization Approach and Elucidating Their Modes of Action.

Even in a natural ecosystem, plants are continuously threatened by various microbial diseases. To save themselves from these diverse infections, plants build a robust, multilayered immune system through their natural chemical compounds. Among the several crucial bioactive compounds possessed by plants' immune systems, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) rank in the first tier. These AMPs are environmentally friendly, anti-pathogenic, and do not bring harm to humans. Antimicrobial peptides can be isolated in several ways, but recombinant protein production has become increasingly popular in recent years, with the Escherichia coli expression system being the most widely used. However, the efficacy of this expression system is compromised due to the difficulty of removing endotoxin from its system. Therefore, this review suggests a high-throughput cDNA library-based plant-derived AMP isolation technique using the Bacillus subtilis expression system. This method can be performed for large-scale screening of plant sources to classify unique or homologous AMPs for the agronomic and applied field of plant studies. Furthermore, this review also focuses on the efficacy of plant AMPs, which are dependent on their numerous modes of action and exceptional structural stability to function against a wide range of invaders. To conclude, the findings from this study will be useful in investigating how novel AMPs are distributed among plants and provide detailed guidelines for an effective screening strategy of AMPs.

Comparison of outcomes with the single-puncture and double-puncture techniques of arthrocentesis of the temporomandibular joint: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare intra-operative and postoperative outcomes between the single-puncture and the standard double-puncture techniques of arthrocentesis. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, ScienceDirect and CENTRAL databases were searched from inception up to 31st August 2020. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs), prospective and retrospective studies conducted on patients with temporomandibular joint disorders comparing any type of single-puncture arthrocentesis with standard double-puncture arthrocentesis and reporting intra-operative/postoperative outcomes were included. Assessment of the risk of bias was done with the Cochrane Collaboration risk assessment tool. RESULTS: Thirteen studies were included (12 were RCTs). Analysis of a limited number of studies indicated no difference in pain or maximal mouth opening (MMO) between the single-puncture type-1 or type-2 and the double-puncture technique at various follow-up intervals. Pooled analysis (four studies) demonstrated that the single-puncture type-2 technique requires significantly less operating time as compared to the double-puncture method. No such difference was noted between single-puncture type-1 and double-puncture techniques. Analysis of two studies indicated significantly reduced intra-operative needle relocations with the single-puncture techniques. Studies were not of high quality with concerns of bias in randomisation, allocation concealment and blinding. CONCLUSIONS: Limited data indicate no difference in pain or MMO with single- or double-puncture techniques of arthrocentesis. Amongst the three techniques, the single-puncture type-2 technique has the advantages of significantly lower operating time and reduced intra-operative needle relocations and it may be the preferred method of TMJ arthrocentesis in clinical practice.

Comparative proteomic analysis to annotate the structural and functional association of the hypothetical proteins of S. maltophilia k279a and predict potential T and B cell targets for vaccination.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a multidrug-resistant bacterium with no precise clinical treatment. This bacterium can be a vital cause for death and different organ failures in immune-compromised, immune-competent, and long-time hospitalized patients. Extensive quorum sensing capability has become a challenge to develop new drugs against this pathogen. Moreover, the organism possesses about 789 proteins which function, structure, and pathogenesis remain obscured. In this piece of work, we tried to enlighten the aforementioned sectors using highly reliable bioinformatics tools validated by the scientific community. At first, the whole proteome sequence of the organism was retrieved and stored. Then we separated the hypothetical proteins and searched for the conserved domain with a high confidence level and multi-server validation, which resulted in 24 such proteins. Furthermore, all of their physical and chemical characterizations were performed, such as theoretical isoelectric point, molecular weight, GRAVY value, and many more. Besides, the subcellular localization, protein-protein interactions, functional motifs, 3D structures, antigenicity, and virulence factors were also evaluated. As an extension of this work, 'RTFAMSSER' and 'PAAPQPSAS' were predicted as potential T and B cell epitopes, respectively. We hope our findings will help in better understating the pathogenesis and smoothen the way to the cure.

Facial Reanimation by Modified Intraoral Temporalis Tendon Transfer With Ancillary Procedures.

ABSTRACT: Facial nerve palsy is an exceedingly debilitating condition, incapacitating functional and aesthetic facets of the face. Orthodromic transfer of temporalis muscle is an easy and predictable technique which offers early animation of oral commissure and lower face. A retrospective chart review of 6 patients of facial palsy treated with orthodromic temporalis tendon transfer for facial reanimation is presented. The technique consisted of intra-oral coronoidectomy followed by attachment of fascia lata grafts from the coronoid to the commissure, the upper and lower lips via small cutaneous incisions. Contraction of the temporalis, pulls the fascia lata extensions thereby reanimating the lower face. 4 male and 2 female patients with an age range of 25 to 49 years were treated. Simultaneous fat grafting (2 patients), depressor labi inferioris muscle resection (2 patients) and wedge excision of nasolabial fold (2 patients) was done as ancillary procedures. Post-operative smile evaluation was carried out using the Terzis and Noah facial grading system. Patients were asked to smile with and without biting, and photographs and video were taken. The results were graded from 1 to 5 based on a 5-point scale (ie, poor, fair, moderate, good, and excellent) by an independent observer. The results were excellent in 1 patient (Terzis grading 5/5) and good in the remaining 5 patients (Terzis grading 4/5). Excursion of the oral commissure ranged from 6 to 10 mm. Our experience indicates that temporalis tendon transfer for facial reanimation has a short learning curve and provides early predictable outcome without significant complications. This single-stage, day-care procedure can be easily incorporated by maxillofacial surgeons to expand their surgical spectrum.