Tri-armed Schiff base fluorescent sensor for the rapid recognition of Zn(II): application in live cell imaging, test strips and TLC.

Various metal ions exist in nature and human beings and play limitless vital roles in both the atmosphere and biology. A fundamental and useful aspect is the qualitative and quantitative assessment of Zn(II) at concentration levels as low as parts per billion (ppb). Thus, the design and development of novel fluorescent turn-on receptors have gained significant interest because of their potential for use in live cell imaging to detect biologically relevant metal ions with high selectivity and sensitivity. The present research illustrates the design and synthesis of a novel fluorescent sensor [(1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl)tris(hydrazine-2-yl-1-ylidene)tris(methaneylylidene)]tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenol) (THDBP) for the selective and sensitive probing of Zn(II). The sensor exhibited a fluorescence turn-on mechanism upon treatment with Zn(II) ions at λemi. 503 nm in aq. acetonitrile. The formation of a 1 : 3 complex between THDBP and Zn(II) is confirmed from the Job plot and ESI-MS spectrum. The evaluated limit of detection (LOD) and association constant (Ka) of the sensor THDBP for Zn(II) were found to be 1.03 × 10-10 M and 2.33 × 108 M-1, respectively. Further research demonstrates the practical application of the sensor for the detection of Zn(II) ions in live cells. The sensing ability of the sensor THDBP was also explored through inexpensive test strips and TLC sheets.

Citric acid cross-linked pomegranate peel extract-loaded pH-responsive ß-cyclodextrin/carboxymethyl tapioca starch hydrogel film for diabetic wound healing.

Pomegranate peel extract (PPE) hydrogel films filled with citric acid (CA) and ß-cyclodextrin-carboxymethyl tapioca starch (CMS) were designed mainly to prevent wound infections and speed up the healing process. FTIR and NMR studies corroborated the carboxymethylation of neat tapioca starch (NS). CMS exhibited superior swelling behavior than NS. The amount of CA and ß-CD controlled the physicochemical parameters of developed PPE/CA/ß-CD/CMS films. Optimized film (OF) exhibited acceptable swellability, wound fluid absorptivity, water vapor transmission rate, water contact angle, and mechanical properties. Biodegradable, biocompatible, and antibacterial films exhibited pH dependence in the release of ellagic acid for up to 24 h. In mice model, PPE/CA/ß-CD/CMS hydrogel film treatment showed promising wound healing effects, including increased collagen deposition, reduced inflammation, activation of the Wingless-related integration site (wnt) pathway leading to cell division, proliferation, and migration to the wound site. The expression of the WNT3A gene did not show any significant differences among all the studied groups. Developed PPE-loaded CA/ß-CD/CMS film promoted wound healing by epithelialization, granulation tissue thickness, collagen deposition, and angiogenesis, hence could be recommended as a biodegradable and antibacterial hydrogel platform to improve the cell proliferation during the healing of diabetic wounds.

Treatment avenues for age-related macular degeneration: Breakthroughs and bottlenecks.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a significant factor contributing to serious vision loss in adults above 50. The presence of posterior segment barriers serves as chief roadblocks in the delivery of drugs to treat AMD. The conventional treatment strategies use is limited due to its off-targeted distribution in the eye, shorter drug residence, poor penetration and bioavailability, fatal side effects, etc. The above-mentioned downside necessitates drug delivery using some cutting-edge technology including diverse nanoparticulate systems and microneedles (MNs) which provide the best therapeutic delivery alternative to treat AMD efficiently. Furthermore, cutting-edge treatment modalities including gene therapy and stem cell therapy can control AMD effectively by reducing the boundaries of conventional therapies with a single dose. This review discusses AMD overview, conventional therapies for AMD and their restrictions, repurposed therapeutics and their anti-AMD activity through different mechanisms, and diverse barriers in drug delivery for AMD. Various nanoparticulate-based approaches including polymeric NPs, lipidic NPs, exosomes, active targeted NPs, stimuli-sensitive NPs, cell membrane-coated NPs, inorganic NPs, and MNs are explained. Gene therapy, stem cell therapy, and therapies in clinical trials to treat AMD are also discussed. Further, bottlenecks of cutting-edge (nanoparticulate) technology-based drug delivery are briefed. In a nutshell, cutting-edge technology-based therapies can be an effective way to treat AMD.

A pyrene-induced PET-based chemosensor for biologically important Zn(II) ions: application in test strips and live cell imaging studies.

Cation and anion sensing is vital owing to their universal dispersion in ecosystems and biological functions. It has been shown that fluorescent receptors based on organic platforms are efficient for detecting a number of ions and have many advantages such as low cost, superior sensitivity and simplicity in installation. This study demonstrates the design and synthesis of a novel receptor (E)-3-[(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxybenzylidene)amino]-2-(pyren-1-yl)-2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-one (DTQ) for the rapid recognition of Zn(II) ions. DTQ exhibited a significant fluorometric "turn-on" characteristic towards Zn(II) at λmax 444 nm in aqueous acetonitrile by inhibiting the photo-induced electron transfer (PET) and -CN- process. The ESI-MS analysis and Job's plot experimental results confirmed stoichiometric 1 : 1 complex formation between DTQ and Zn(II). Fluorometric investigations revealed the detection limit and association constant of DTQ towards Zn(II), which were found to be 13.4 nM and 1.47 × 105 M-1, respectively. DTQ was employed to sense Zn(II) on low-cost test strips. The present research findings imply that DTQ can function as an effective sensor for Zn(II).

Manilkara zapota L. extract topical ointment application to skin wounds in rats speeds up the healing process.

Poor circulation, unresolved inflammation, neuropathy, and infection make wound care difficult. Manilkara zapota (M. zapota) antibacterial and antioxidant properties may help speed up the healing process. The present investigation aimed to evaluate the wound healing activity of M. zapota bark ethanolic extract (MZE) by employing in-vitro migration scratch assay and in-vivo animal models. Wistar albino rats were used for the in-vivo wound healing models. No treatment was given to Group I; Group II received povidone-iodine (5% W/W); Group III received MZE (5% W/W); and Group IV received MZE (10% W/W). Linear incision models and excision wound models were used to induce injury. The ointments were applied immediately to the wounds after causing the injury. The percentage of wound contraction, the length of the epithelization period, and the wound's tensile strength were all calculated. The scratch assay assessed the test drug's potential for wound healing in-vitro. H2O2 and DPPH scavenging assays were used to measure antioxidant activity. A p < 0.05 was used to define statistical significance. On days 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20, the wound contraction potential of animals treated with MZE ointment was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than that of the control group. On day 20, the proportion of wound contraction in MZE-treated animals was 99.88%, compared to 83.86% in untreated animals. The test group had a significantly (p < 0.01) faster time to full epithelization than the control group. In the incision model, the control group had considerably lower mechanical strength (p < 0.001) than animals treated with MZE. In addition, MZE caused a significant increase (p < 0.001) in total protein and hydroxyproline levels. In the scratch experiment, test drug-treated cells showed a higher rate of cell migration than untreated cells. Furthermore, animals treated with MZE showed increased levels of epithelial tissue, collagen proliferation, and keratinization. To summarize, the current study found that M. zapota improved wound healing activity both in vitro and in vivo, as evidenced by the study results. M. zapota extract has significant wound-healing potential and could be a viable source of wound-healing nutraceuticals.

Coumarin-4-yl-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl-methyl-thiazolidine-2,4-diones: Synthesis, glucose uptake activity and cytotoxic evaluation.

Thiazolidinedione (TZD) based medications have demonstrated to enhance the insulin sensitivity control, hyperglycemia, and lipid metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes. Hence, in this study, a new series of novel coumarin-4-yl-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl-methyl-thiazolidine-2,4-diones (TZD1-TZD18) were synthesized via copper (I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition "Click Chemistry". The synthesized compounds were evaluated for their glucose uptake assay and in vitro cytotoxicity against HEK-293 (human embryonic kidney) cells which were compared with the standard drug Pioglitazone. Further, molecular docking analysis of these compounds was carried out to explain the in vitro results with PPARγ (PDB ID: 3CS8) and to better understand the bonding interactions with the target protein. The outcomes of in vitro assessment, molecular docking, and pharmacokinetics of the title compounds were revealed to be highly correlated. Interestingly, the compounds TZD4, TZD10, TZD14 and TZD16 were most efficient in lowering the blood glucose level compared with standard drug.

Evaluation of Presence of Enterococcus faecalis in Root Canals of Deciduous Molars with Necrotic Pulp by Agar Culture and Polymerase Chain Reaction.

Objective: To assess the presence of Enterococcus faecalis in root canals of deciduous molars with necrotic pulp by agar culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Materials and methods: This is an experimental study, where a total of 120 endodontic samples were taken from deciduous molars with necrotic pulps. The presence of Enterococcus faecalis was assessed by culture, using Enterococcus confirmatory agar, and by PCR assay. Statistical analysis of the results was performed using McNemar's test. Results: The presence of Enterococcus faecalis was detected in 20 samples (16.67% of total) by microbial culture and in 45 samples (37.5% of total) by PCR assay, with a statistically significant difference between the two methods (p < 0.001). Microbial culture and PCR both detect Enterococcus faecalis, with the latter detecting an additional 25 positive samples. Conclusion: In this study, PCR assay was significantly more sensitive than agar culture method in detecting the presence of Enterococcus faecalis in root canals of deciduous molars with necrotic pulp, that is, 37.5% of all samples. Clinical significance: Importance of presence of Enterococcus faecalis in necrotic pulps of deciduous teeth, as it is primarily responsible for failure of endodontic treatment, thus helping clinicians to advocate the use of local drug delivery in primary teeth endodontics and also aids clinicians in choosing the most effective intracanal medication. How to cite this article: Nalawade TM, Bhat KG, Kale AD, et al. Evaluation of Presence of Enterococcus faecalis in Root Canals of Deciduous Molars with Necrotic Pulp by Agar Culture and Polymerase Chain Reaction. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2023;16(6):816-819.

Synthesis, crystal structure and biological properties of a fluorophore-labelled mixed-ligand copper(II) complex incorporating N-hydroxynaphthalene-1,8-dicarboximide.

The mixed-ligand fluorophore-labelled copper(II) complex aqua[2,4-dioxo-3-azatricyclo[7.3.1.05,13]trideca-1(12),5,7,9(13),10-pentaen-3-olato-κ2O2,O3](1,10-phenanthroline-κ2N,N')copper(II) nitrate, [Cu(C12H6NO3)(C12H8N2)(H2O)]NO3·CH3OH or [Cu(L)(phen)(H2O)]NO3·CH3OH (where phen is 1,10-phenanthroline and HL is N-hydroxynaphthalene-1,8-dicarboximide), (1), was synthesized and structurally characterized. The structure of (1) was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray structure determination. The complex crystallized in the triclinic space group P-1. The geometry around the copper centre is distorted square pyramidal, with the apical position occupied by a water molecule. The complex is highly fluorescent in organic and aqueous solutions. It has good anticancer activity, with an IC50 value of 17 µM, which is almost five times greater than cisplatin (IC50 = 82 µM) under identical experimental conditions.

Pazopanib-laden lipid based nanovesicular delivery with augmented oral bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy against non-small cell lung cancer.

The present investigation deals with the pazopanib-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (Pazo-SLNs) and their in-vitro and in-vivo assessments. Quality by design approach employing the Plackett-Burman and central composite design was used to identify the formulation variables, including drug/lipid ratio, organic/aqueous phase ratio, and surfactant concentration with a significant impact on the process and to fabricate a safe and efficacious novel oral dosage form of pazopanib. Particle size, drug loading, entrapment efficiency, and zeta potential of optimal Pazo-SLNs formulation were 210.03 ± 7.68 nm, 13.35 ± 0.95 %, 79.05 ± 2.55 % and -18.29 ± 1.89 mV (n = 3) respectively. FTIR study affirmed the absence of incompatibilities between the drug and the excipients. DSC and XRD measurements substantiated the amorphous form of pazopanib entrapped within the SLNs. Pazo-SLNs demonstrated high cellular uptake, showed substantial cytotoxicity to A-549 lung cancer cells due to apoptotic mode and inhibited tyrosine kinase in-vitro. Pazo-SLNs were found to be stable for three months. SLNs greatly ameliorated the pharmacokinetic behavior and bioavailability (9.5 folds) of pazopanib with a sustained-release pattern (92.67 ± 4.68 % within 24 h). A biodistribution study corroborated the lung targeting potential of Pazo-SLNs. Thus, SLNs could potentially boost the oral route efficacy of pazopanib against cancer cells.

Synthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles from Rhizophora apiculata and Studies on Their Wound Healing, Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Cytotoxic Activity.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have recently gained interest in the medical field because of their biological features. The present study aimed at screening Rhizophora apiculata secondary metabolites, quantifying their flavonoids and total phenolics content, green synthesis and characterization of R. apiculata silver nanoparticles. In addition, an assessment of in vitro cytotoxic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and wound healing activity of R. apiculata and its synthesized AgNPs was carried out. The powdered plant material (leaves) was subjected to Soxhlet extraction to obtain R. apiculata aqueous extract. The R. apiculata extract was used as a reducing agent in synthesizing AgNPs from silver nitrate. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized by UV-Vis, SEM-EDX, XRD, FTIR, particle size analyzer and zeta potential. Further aqueous leaf extract of R. apiculata and AgNPs was subjected for in vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, wound healing and cytotoxic activity against A375 (Skin cancer), A549 (Lung cancer), and KB-3-1 (Oral cancer) cell lines. All experiments were repeated three times (n = 3), and the results were given as the mean ± SEM. The flavonoids and total phenolics content in R. apiculata extract were 44.18 ± 0.086 mg/g of quercetin and 53.24 ± 0.028 mg/g of gallic acid, respectively. SEM analysis revealed R. apiculata AgNPs with diameters ranging from 35 to 100 nm. XRD confirmed that the synthesized silver nanoparticles were crystalline in nature. The cytotoxicity cell viability assay revealed that the AgNPs were less toxic (IC50 105.5 µg/mL) compared to the R. apiculata extract (IC50 47.47 µg/mL) against the non-cancerous fibroblast L929 cell line. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxicity tests revealed that AgNPs had significantly more activity than the plant extract. The AgNPs inhibited protein denaturation by a mean percentage of 71.65%, which was equivalent to the standard anti-inflammatory medication diclofenac (94.24%). The AgNPs showed considerable cytotoxic effect, and the percentage of cell viability against skin cancer, lung cancer, and oral cancer cell lines was 31.84%, 56.09% and 22.59%, respectively. R. apiculata AgNPs demonstrated stronger cell migration and percentage of wound closure (82.79%) compared to the plant extract (75.23%). The overall results revealed that R. apiculata AgNPs exhibited potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, and cytotoxic properties. In future, R. apiculata should be further explored to unmask its therapeutic potential and the mechanistic pathways of AgNPs should be studied in detail in in vivo animal models.

Curcumin-Encapsulated Nanomicelles Improve Cellular Uptake and Cytotoxicity in Cisplatin-Resistant Human Oral Cancer Cells.

Oral cancer has a high mortality rate, which is mostly determined by the stage of the disease at the time of admission. Around half of all patients with oral cancer report with advanced illness. Hitherto, chemotherapy is preferred to treat oral cancer, but the emergence of resistance to anti-cancer drugs is likely to occur after a sequence of treatments. Curcumin is renowned for its anticancer potential but its marred water solubility and poor bioavailability limit its use in treating multidrug-resistant cancers. As part of this investigation, we prepared and characterized Curcumin nanomicelles (CUR-NMs) using DSPE-PEG-2000 and evaluated the anticancer properties of cisplatin-resistant cancer cell lines. The prepared CUR-NMs were sphere-shaped and unilamellar in structure, with a size of 32.60 ± 4.2 nm. CUR-NMs exhibited high entrapment efficiency (82.2%), entrapment content (147.96 µg/mL), and a mean zeta potential of -17.5ζ which is considered moderately stable. The cellular uptake and cytotoxicity studies revealed that CUR-NMs had significantly higher cytotoxicity and cellular uptake in cisplatin drug-resistant oral cancer cell lines and parental oral cancer cells compared to plain curcumin (CUR). The DAPI and FACS analysis corroborated a high percentage of apoptotic cells with CUR-NMs (31.14%) compared to neat CUR (19.72%) treatment. Conclusively, CUR-NMs can potentially be used as an alternative carrier system to improve the therapeutic effects of curcumin in the treatment of cisplatin-resistant human oral cancer.

Detection and comparison of prevalence of Porphyromonas gingivalis through culture and Real Time-polymerase chain reaction in subgingival plaque samples of chronic periodontitis and healthy individuals.

Introduction: The micro-flora of oral cavity is a myriad of micro-organism. Any infection of oral cavity leads to diseased condition which is a transitional transformation of the micro-organism in a specific paradigm depending upon the diseased condition. Periodontitis is one of the predominant chronic diseases which is a multifactorial infection. Porphyromonas gingivalis is a key etiological agent in causing periodontitis. To study the predominance of these bacteria in the diseased condition is important to detect, quantify and to find its efficacy by comparing different methods for identification. Aim and Objectives: The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence of P. gingivalis by anerobic culture and by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from subgingival plaque samples of chronic periodontitis and healthy individual and to compare efficacy of two methods. Materials and Methods: A total of 400 subjects were considered, and subgingival plaque was collected using paper points. Individual were equally divided into two groups: chronic periodontitis (200) and healthy individuals (200). Each plaque sample collected was divided into two aliquots of which the first aliquot was subjected for anerobic culture to isolate P. gingivalis. Phenotypical identification was done morphologically and biochemically further quantification of P. gingivalis was done by colony-forming unit. The second aliquot was subjected for DNA extraction and real-time PCR was conducted to detect and quantify P. gingivalis using specific primer. Results: Out of 400 samples, 73% showed detection of P. gingivalis by culture method and through reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR), the detection was 75%. Individual detection of P. gingivalis by culture in chronic periodontitis was 89.5% and 54.4% in healthy individuals, while detection by RT-PCR was found to be 91.5% in chronic periodontitis and 58% in healthy individuals. However, comparison between two techniques in detection of P. gingivalis was statistically insignificant. Conclusion: When we compared RT-PCR with culture RT-PCR showed higher positivity. RT-PCR is more sensitive and requires less time to detect. However, in the present study, culture also showed good positivity, suggesting proper dilution and with extended incubation, the specificity of culture can be improved to a great extent.

Comparison of culture and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism for identification of various Capnocytophaga species from subgingival plaque samples of healthy and periodontally diseased individuals.

Introduction: Capnocytophaga are facultative anaerobic Gram-negative bacilli and recognized as opportunistic pathogens of various extraoral infections. Only a few studies attempted to identify all the seven species of Capnocytophaga phenotypically and genotypically in healthy individuals and patients with chronic periodontitis. Studies to determine the prevalence of Capnocytophaga in subgingival plaque samples from healthy individuals, chronic gingivitis and periodontitis among Indian population are lacking. Aim: The aim of this study was to identify and compare the presence of Capnocytophaga species phenotypically through microbial culture and biochemical tests and genotypically through polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in subgingival plaque of healthy individuals and patients with chronic gingivitis and chronic periodontitis. Materials and Methods: A total of 300 subjects, 100 each with gingivitis, periodontitis and periodontally healthy gingiva subjected, were included. Subgingival plaque was collected and was cultured for phenotypic identification (microbial culture and biochemical test), and for genotypic identification, DNA extraction was done and PCR-RFLP analysis was performed to identify the genus Capnocytophaga and also to identify different species of Capnocytophaga. Results: Of 300 individuals, Capnocytophaga species were identified from 237 (79%) individuals by PCR and 82 (27.33%) by culture. The prevalence of Capnocytophaga ochracea was found to be higher with both the methods followed by Capnocytophaga gingivalis and Capnocytophaga granulosa. Capnocytophaga genospecies, Capnocytophaga leadbetteri and Capnocytophaga Sputigena were isolated only by culture with very low prevalence that is 1.33%, 1.33% and 0.66%, respectively. We could not get any isolate of Capnocytophaga haemolytica by any of the two methods. Conclusion: Capnocytophaga species could be found in gingival sulci as well as periodontal pockets and can be detected by culture and PCR-RFLP. However, higher prevalence of these species in healthy compared to disease requires further analysis to determine their role in healthy and diseased periodontium.

Cancer Stem Cell Traits in Tumor Spheres Derived from Primary Laryngeal Carcinoma Cell Lines.

OBJECTIVE: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) belong to a subpopulation of undifferentiated cells present within tumors that have the potential to regenerate, differentiate, maintenance of pluripotency, drug resistance, and tumorigenicity when transplanted into an innate host. These can influence the growth and behavior of these tumors and are used to investigate the initiation, progression, and treatment strategies of laryngeal cancer. Research on CSC science and targeted therapies were hinge on their isolation and/or enrichment procedures. The object of the study is to isolate cancer stem cells from primary laryngeal carcinoma (CSCPLC) by tumor spheres enrichment. We checked the properties of self-renewal, stemness, clonogenicity, and chemotherapeutic resistance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed tumor sphere formation assay (primary, secondary, and tertiary) chemotherapy resistance by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay were performed to evaluate the CSC cells. Immunofluorescence for stem cell markers (CD133+, CD44+) and gene expression of stem cell markers for CD133+, CD44+, OCT4, SOX2, and NANOG was done using the real-time polymerase chain reaction technique. RESULTS: We were able to isolated CSC subpopulations from PLC cell lines by the tumor sphere method. These cells exhibited good primary, secondary, and tertiary tumor sphere formation efficiency and also disclosed a resistant index of more than 2. Immunofluorescence for stem cell markers (CD133+ and CD44+) confirms the presence of CSC. There was significantly higher mRNA expression of stem cell markers in CSC enriched subpopulations compared to the parental cell lines. CONCLUSION: We conclude that tumor spheres enrichment is an efficient, economical, and reliable approach for the isolation and characterization of CSC from PLC cell lines. These cells demonstrated the properties of self-renewal, stemness, clonogenicity, and chemotherapeutic resistance.

Solitary Median Maxillary Central Incisor: A Case Report with 3-Year Follow-Up and Literature Review.

A solitary median maxillary central incisor (SMMCI) is a rare anomaly that can occur alone or be associated with other systemic abnormalities. Early diagnosis of SMMCI is crucial as it might indicate the presence of an associated congenital or developmental abnormality. The prevalence of live-born children with SMMCI is determined to be 1:50,000 and is more common among females. The purpose of this paper was to report an unusual case of a 9-year-old girl with SMMCI who had no growth deficiency or any other systemic involvement. Since pediatricians and dentists are the first professionals to evaluate an SMMCI's patient in most cases, it is important that they be aware of the possibility of other related systemic problems that require systemic care. Appropriate treatment, diagnosis, and referral should also include neuropediatric evaluation, genetic testing, and craniofacial profile analysis along with multidisciplinary approach.

Conventional Risk Factors, Telomere Length, and Ischemic Heart disease: Insights into the Mediation Analysis.

Telomere length is regarded as a potential biomarker of biological ageing and is associated with various age-related diseases, such as ischemic heart disease (IHD), myocardial infarction, peripheral vascular disease, and cancer. As there is a paucity of study that deals with this influence, this study aimed to assess how the cardiovascular risk factors influence the risk of IHD by performing mediation analysis. A total of 407 males were included in the study. IHD was diagnosed through echocardiography and coronary angiography by determining the number of coronary vessels involved. Demographic data, clinical history, and laboratory investigations such as random blood sugar (RBS), fasting lipid profile, serum creatinine, and serum urea levels of all the subjects were measured and recorded. Serum uric acid and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were significantly higher in IHD subjects compared to non-IHD subjects (P < 0.05). Body mass index (BMI), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), RBS, serum uric acid, serum creatinine, BUN, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and telomere length significantly differed between subjects with and without IHD (P < 0.05). Further, telomere length (P < 0.001), BMI (P < 0.001), and total cholesterol level (P < 0.001) were risk factors that significantly affected the incidence of IHD, as proved by logistic regression. It indicates that shorter telomeres contribute to increased risk of IHD, influenced by BMI, HbA1c, BUN, total cholesterol levels, and RBS (P < 0.001). The study established a link between telomere shortening, conventional risk factors, and IHD; moreover, the study takes care in the role of mediation analysis which is a novel idea as little is done in this area of biostatistics with telomere length. Overall, this further establishes that telomeres length might serve as the promising biomarkers in predicting the risk of IHD.

8-Hydroxyquinoline derived p-halo N4-phenyl substituted thiosemicarbazones: Crystal structures, spectral characterization and in vitro cytotoxic studies of their Co(III), Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes.

The current paper deals with 8-hydroxyquinoline derived p-halo N4-phenyl substituted thiosemicarbazones, their crystal structures, spectral characterization and in vitro cytotoxic studies of Co(III), Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes. The molecular structures of the ligands, (E)-4-(4-halophenyl)-1-((8-hydroxyquinoline-2-yl)methylene)thiosemicarbazones (halo = fluoro/chloro/bromo) are determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction method. The crystal structures reveal that the ligands are non-planar and exist in their thioamide tautomeric forms. The various physicochemical investigations of the synthesized complexes reveal metal to ligand stoichiometry to be 1:2 in Co(III) complexes whereas 1:1 in Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes. The ligands coordinate in a tridentate NNS fashion around Co(III) centers to form an octahedral geometry and square planar geometry around Ni(II) and Cu(II) metal centers. The oxidation of Co(II) to Co(III) is observed on complexation. The synthesized compounds are subjected to in vitro cytotoxicity studies. When compared to bare ligands, the complexes show enhancement of the antiproliferative activity against MCF-7, breast cancer cell lines. The Co(III) complexes of fluoro and bromo derivatives of ligands have displayed remarkable results with roughly two fold increase in their activity in correlation to the standard drug, Paclitaxel. Moreover, the fluorescence microscopy images of cells stained with acridine orange-ethidium bromide suggest an apoptotic mode of cell death.

Green synthesis of therapeutically active 1,3,4-oxadiazoles as antioxidants, selective COX-2 inhibitors and their in silico studies.

A modest, competent and green synthetic procedure for novel coumarinyl-1,3,4-oxadiazolyl-2-mercaptobenzoxazoles 8i-t has been reported. Analysis of the docked (PDB ID: 5IKR; A-Chain) poses of the compounds illustrated that they adopt identical conformations to the extremely selective COX-2 inhibitor. The biological outcomes as well as computational study suggested that the compounds originated to have elevated resemblance towards COX-2 enzyme than COX-1. The compounds 8i, 8l, 8q, 8r, 8s and 8t emerged as most potent and selective COX-2 inhibitors in contrast with Mefenamic acid. The selectivity index of 8l, 8n and 8r was respectively found to be 33.95, 20.25 and 24.98 which manifested their high selectivity against COX-2. Interestingly, the compounds which were active as COX-2 inhibitors were also active as antioxidant agents.

Microwave assisted regioselective synthesis of quinoline appended triazoles as potent anti-tubercular and antifungal agents via copper (I) catalyzed cycloaddition.

Quinolin-3-yl-methyl-1,2,3-triazolyl-1,2,4-triazol-3(4H)-ones 8j-v were synthesized by click chemistry as an ultimate tactic where [3 + 2] cycloaddition of azides with terminal alkynes has been evolved. Herein, we are inclined to divulge the implication and prevalence of CuSO4·5H2O and THF/water promoted [3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions. The foremost supremacy of this method are transitory reaction times, facile workup, excellent yields (88-92%) with exorbitant purity and regioselective single product formation both under conventional and microwave method. Docking studies illustrated strong binding interactions with enzyme InhA-D148G (PDB ID: 4DQU) by means of high C-score values. The anti-tubercular and antifungal screening of synthesized compounds proclaimed promising activity. The in vitro and in silico studies imply that these triazoles appended quinolines may acquire the ideal structural prerequisites for auxiliary expansion of novel therapeutic agents.

Effect of curcumin on growth, biofilm formation and virulence factor gene expression of Porphyromonas gingivalis.

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a keystone pathogen and major colonizer in host tissue which plays a pivotal role in periodontitis among the other polymicrobial infections. Increasing facts demonstrate that curcumin has antibacterial activity and anti-biofilm effect against the periodontopathogens through diverse mechanisms that have a positive impact on periodontal health. The present study was aimed to elucidate the effect of curcumin on biofilm formation and virulence factor gene expression of P. gingivalis. By using gene expression studies, we exploited the mechanism of anti-biofilm effects of curcumin on P. gingivalis. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of curcumin for both ATCC and clinical strains of P. gingivalis were found to be 62.5 and 125 µg ml-1 respectively. Curcumin prevented bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation in a dose-dependent manner. Further, curcumin attenuated the virulence of P. gingivalis by reducing the expression of genes coding for major virulence factors, including adhesions (fimA, hagA, and hagB) and proteinases (rgpA, rgpB, and kgp). The results indicated that curcumin has shown anti-biofilm as well as antibacterial activity against P. gingivalis. Further, curcumin because of its pleiotropic actions could be a simple and inexpensive therapeutic strategy in the treatment of periodontal disease.