Effects of Wearing Personal Protective Equipment on Serum Cortisol Levels and Physiological Variables in Healthcare Workers: A Randomised Controlled Trial in a Simulated Pandemic Environment.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated the widespread use of personal protective equipment (PPE), particularly in high-risk environments. Full-body PPE is favoured for its comprehensive protection against the virus but poses challenges to the body's thermoregulatory system as it inhibits air exchange. This randomised trial was undertaken to investigate the effects of wearing a commonly used gown-type full-body PPE kit in a simulated environment. METHODS: Initially, 65 healthy males were recruited and randomly divided into two groups: a study group wearing a full-body PPE kit (gown-type, full-body PPE kit with trousers, a gown-type shirt with a hood, a shoe cover, an N95 face mask, and an optional face shield) and a control group without PPE. They remained seated for three hours while wearing the PPE kit. Room conditions mimicked non-air-conditioned hospital scenarios, with temperature and humidity recorded and ventilation provided through open doors and windows, along with ceiling fan cooling. Activities with minimal physical exertion were allowed, and access to the toilet was kept to a minimum. Subjects underwent assessments of heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, blood pressure, heart rate variability (HRV), and blood samples for serum cortisol before donning the PPE kit and entering a simulated ICU/WARD environment and after doffing. RESULTS: A total of 60 participants completed the study (30 in each group). Compared to the controls, serum cortisol levels significantly increased in the PPE groups, and HRV data indicated increased sympathetic activity in the PPE group. CONCLUSION:  Wearing a full-body PPE kit (gown-type upper garment with trousers) was found to have a significant impact on cortisol levels and physiological variables in a simulated environment. This suggests that in situations like the COVID-19 pandemic that warrant the use of such PPE kits, appropriate measures should be taken to provide better thermal stability for maintaining the well-being of healthcare workers.

Protein-polysaccharide nanoconjugates: Potential tools for delivery of plant-derived nutraceuticals.

Protein-polysaccharide nanoconjugates are covalently interactive networks that are currently the subject of intense research owing to their emerging applications in the food nanotechnology field. Due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability properties, they have played a significant role as wall materials for the formation of various nanostructures to encapsulate nutraceuticals. The food-grade protein-polysaccharide nanoconjugates would be employed to enhance the delivery and stability of nutraceuticals for their real use in the food industry. The most common edible polysaccharides (cellulose, chitosan, pectin, starch, carrageenan, fucoidan, mannan, glucomannan, and arabic gum) and proteins (silk fibroin, collagen, gelatin, soy protein, corn zein, and wheat gluten) have been used as potential building blocks in nano-encapsulation systems because of their excellent physicochemical properties. This article broadens the discussion of food-grade proteins and polysaccharides as nano-encapsulation biomaterials and their fabrication methods, along with a review of the applications of protein-polysaccharide nanoconjugates in the delivery of plant-derived nutraceuticals.

Bacterial glycobiotechnology: A biosynthetic route for the production of biopharmaceutical glycans.

The recent advancement in the human glycome and progress in the development of an inclusive network of glycosylation pathways allow the incorporation of suitable machinery for protein modification in non-natural hosts and explore novel opportunities for constructing next-generation tailored glycans and glycoconjugates. Fortunately, the emerging field of bacterial metabolic engineering has enabled the production of tailored biopolymers by harnessing living microbial factories (prokaryotes) as whole-cell biocatalysts. Microbial catalysts offer sophisticated means to develop a variety of valuable polysaccharides in bulk quantities for practical clinical applications. Glycans production through this technique is highly efficient and cost-effective, as it does not involve expensive initial materials. Metabolic glycoengineering primarily focuses on utilizing small metabolite molecules to alter biosynthetic pathways, optimization of cellular processes for glycan and glycoconjugate production, characteristic to a specific organism to produce interest tailored glycans in microbes, using preferably cheap and simple substrate. However, metabolic engineering faces one of the unique challenges, such as the need for an enzyme to catalyze desired substrate conversion when natural native substrates are already present. So, in metabolic engineering, such challenges are evaluated, and different strategies have been developed to overcome them. The generation of glycans and glycoconjugates via metabolic intermediate pathways can still be supported by glycol modeling achieved through metabolic engineering. It is evident that modern glycans engineering requires adoption of improved strain engineering strategies for creating competent glycoprotein expression platforms in bacterial hosts, in the future. These strategies include logically designing and introducing orthogonal glycosylation pathways, identifying metabolic engineering targets at the genome level, and strategically improving pathway performance (for example, through genetic modification of pathway enzymes). Here, we highlight current strategies, applications, and recent progress in metabolic engineering for producing high-value tailored glycans and their applications in biotherapeutics and diagnostics.

A global perspective on a new paradigm shift in bio-based meat alternatives for healthy diet.

A meat analogue is a casserole in which the primary ingredient is something other than meat. It goes by various other names, such as meat substitute, fake meat, alternative meat, and imitation meat. Consumers growing interest in improving their diets and the future of the planet have contributed to the move towards meat substitutes. This change is due to the growing popularity of low-fat and low-calorie diets, the rise of flexitarians, the spread of animal diseases, the loss of natural resources, and the need to cut down on carbon emissions, which lead to greenhouse effects. Plant-based meat, cultured meat, algal protein-based meat, and insect-based meat substitutes are available on the market with qualities like appearance and flavor similar to those of traditional meat. Novel ingredients like mycoprotein and soybean leg haemoglobin are mixed in with the more traditional soy proteins, cereals, green peas, etc. Plant-based meat is currently more popular in the West, but the growing interest in this product in Asian markets indicates the industry in this region will expand rapidly in the near future. Future growth in the food sector can be anticipated from technologies like lab-grown meat and its equivalents that do not require livestock breeding. Insect-based products also hold great potential as a new source of protein for human consumption. However, product safety and quality should be considered along with other factors such as marketability and affordability.

Tetrahydrocannabinols: potential cannabimimetic agents for cancer therapy.

Tetrahydrocannabinols (THCs) antagonize the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors, whose signaling to the endocannabinoid system is essential for controlling cell survival and proliferation as well as psychoactive effects. Most tumor cells express a much higher level of CB1 and CB2; THCs have been investigated as potential cancer therapeutic due to their cannabimimetic properties. To date, THCs have been prescribed as palliative medicine to cancer patients but not as an anticancer modality. Growing evidence of preclinical research demonstrates that THCs reduce tumor progression by stimulating apoptosis and autophagy and inhibiting two significant hallmarks of cancer pathogenesis: metastasis and angiogenesis. However, the degree of their anticancer effects depends on the origin of the tumor site, the expression of cannabinoid receptors on tumor cells, and the dosages and types of THC. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge on the molecular processes that THCs target for their anticancer effects. It also emphasizes the substantial knowledge gaps that should be of concern in future studies. We also discuss the therapeutic effects of THCs and the problems that will need to be addressed in the future. Clarifying unanswered queries is a prerequisite to translating the THCs into an effective anticancer regime.

Effect of 1% curcumin gel on myeloperoxidase activity in GCF and periodontal status in the initial phase of orthodontic tooth movement.

AIM: To explore the potential effect of locally applied 1% Curcumin on myeloperoxidase (MPO) enzymatic activity in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and on the periodontal status during the initial phase of orthodontic tooth movement. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Forty patients (26 females and 14 males) aged 12-25 years who required fixed orthodontic treatment were randomly divided into two equal groups. The control and test groups were similar in the various baseline parameters, including standard oral hygiene protocol. Moreover, 1% Curcumin gel was applied around mandibular anterior teeth in the test group twice daily, from three days before to 14 days after the placement of archwires. MPO activity and periodontal status were recorded at five different time points; before placement of archwire (baseline), immediately after placement of archwire, 2 hours, 7 days, and 14 days later. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The data were analyzed using the paired t-test for intra-group differences and the unpaired t-test for intergroup differences at five different time points. Statistical significance in the intragroup and intergroup difference of Plaque and Gingival index was calculated using the unpaired t-test. RESULTS: Maximum MPO enzymatic activity in GCF was observed two hours after the placement of the archwire. MPO activity decreased slightly on the seventh day, but values were still elevated as compared to baseline. However, MPO activity came back to the values similar to baseline on day 14 in the control group and significantly lower than the baseline in the test group. The inter-group differences in clinical periodontal parameters were non-significant. CONCLUSIONS: The locally applied 1% Curcumin gel appears to decrease the MPO activity in GCF on the 14th day after placement of the archwires. However, clinical periodontal status in the initial phase of tooth movement is unaffected by curcumin if patients adhere to good plaque control.

Microbe-fabricated nanoparticles as potent biomaterials for efficient food preservation.

In recent years, cutting-edge nanotechnology research has revolutionized several facets of the food business, including food processing, packaging, transportation, preservation, and functioning. Nanotechnology has beginning to loom large in the food business as the industry's demand for biogenic nanomaterial grows. The intracellular and extracellular synthesis of metal, metal oxide, and other essential NPs has recently been explored in a variety of microorganisms, including bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, yeasts, microalgae, and viruses. These microbes produce a variety extracellular material, exopolysaccharides, enzymes, and secondary metabolites which play key roles in synthesizing as well as stabilizing the nanoparticle (NPs). Furthermore, genetic engineering techniques can help them to improve their capacity to generate NPs more efficiently. As a result, using microorganisms to manufacture NPs is unique and has a promising future. Microbial-mediated synthesis of NPs has lately been popular as a more environmentally friendly alternative to physical and chemical methods of nanomaterial synthesis, which require higher prices, more energy consumption, and more complex reaction conditions, as well as a potentially dangerous environmental impact. It is critical to consider regulatory measures implemented at all stages of the process, from production through refining, packaging, preservation, and storage, when producing bionanomaterials derived from culturable microbes for efficient food preservation. The current review discusses the synthesis, mechanism of action, and possible food preservation uses of microbial mediated NPs, which can assist to minimize food deterioration from the inside out while also ensuring that food is safe and free of contaminants. Despite the numerous benefits, there are looming debates concerning their usage in food items, particularly regarding its aggregation in human bodies and other risks to the environment. Other applications and impacts of these microbe-fabricated NPs in the context of future food preservation prospects connected with regulatory problems and potential hazards are highlighted.

Cinnamomum verum-derived bioactives-functionalized gold nanoparticles for prevention of obesity through gut microbiota reshaping.

Existing drugs have limited success in managing obesity in human due to their low efficacy and severe side-effects. Surface-modified gold nanoparticles have now received considerable attention of researchers for efficient biomedical applications owing to their superior uptake by cells, biocompatibility, hydrophilicity and non-immunogenicity. Here we prepared Cinnamomum verum derived bioactives-functionalized gold nanoparticles (Au@P-NPs) and assessed their impact on obesity and related immune-metabolic complications in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice using metabolic experiments along with 16S RNA gene-based gut microbial profiling and faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). Au@P-NPs treatment prevented weight gain, decreased fat deposition, reduced metabolic inflammation and endotoxaemia in HFD-fed mice. Au@P-NPs-treated group exhibited better glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity than HFD-fed control mice, and got completely protected against hepatic steatosis. These impacts were related to increased energy expenditure and enhanced Ucp1 expression in the brown adipose tissues of Au@P-NPs-administered animals, which strongly linked with the mRNA expression of the membrane bile acid receptor TGR5. Treatment of HFD-fed animals with Au@P-NPs altered plasma bile acid profile, and increased Akkermansia muciniphila and decreased Lactobacillus populations in the faeces. Au@P-NPs-treated animals revealed altered plasma bile acid profile, and increased Akkermansia muciniphila and decreased Lactobacillus populations in the faeces. FMT experiments showed lesser weight gain and greater energy expenditure in the mice fed with faecal suspension from Au@P-NPs-treated animals than that from HFD-fed mice. These results clearly establish that gold nanoparticles functionalized with bioactive compounds of C. verum have high potential to be an anti-obesity drug.

Nanocurcumin Potently Inhibits SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein-Induced Cytokine Storm by Deactivation of MAPK/NF-κB Signaling in Epithelial Cells.

Interleukin-mediated deep cytokine storm, an aggressive inflammatory response to SARS-CoV-2 virus infection in COVID-19 patients, is correlated directly with lung injury, multi-organ failure, and poor prognosis of severe COVID-19 patients. Curcumin (CUR), a phenolic antioxidant compound obtained from turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), is well-known for its strong anti-inflammatory activity. However, its in vivo efficacy is constrained due to poor bioavailability. Herein, we report that CUR-encapsulated polysaccharide nanoparticles (CUR-PS-NPs) potently inhibit the release of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors associated with damage of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (CoV2-SP)-stimulated liver Huh7.5 and lung A549 epithelial cells. Treatment with CUR-PS-NPs effectively attenuated the interaction of ACE2 and CoV2-SP. The effects of CUR-PS-NPs were linked to reduced NF-κB/MAPK signaling which in turn decreased CoV2-SP-mediated phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, p42/44 MAPK, and p65/NF-κB as well as nuclear p65/NF-κB expression. The findings of the study strongly indicate that organic NPs of CUR can be used to control hyper-inflammatory responses and prevent lung and liver injuries associated with CoV2-SP-mediated cytokine storm.

Tailored enzymes as next-generation food-packaging tools.

Enzymes have the potential for biotransformation in the food industry. Engineering tools can be used to develop tailored enzymes for food-packaging systems that perform well and retain their activity under adverse conditions. Consequently, novel tailored enzymes have been produced to improve or include new and useful characteristics for intelligent food-packaging systems. This review discusses the protein-engineering tools applied to create new functionality in food-packaging enzymes. The challenges in applications and anticipated directions for future developments are also highlighted. The development and discovery of tailored enzymes for smart food packaging is a promising way to ensure safe and high-quality food products.

Microbial polysaccharides: An emerging family of natural biomaterials for cancer therapy and diagnostics.

Microbial polysaccharides (MPs) offer immense diversity in structural and functional properties. They are extensively used in advance biomedical science owing to their superior biodegradability, hemocompatibility, and capability to imitate the natural extracellular matrix microenvironment. Ease in tailoring, inherent bio-activity, distinct mucoadhesiveness, ability to absorb hydrophobic drugs, and plentiful availability of MPs make them prolific green biomaterials to overcome the significant constraints of cancer chemotherapeutics. Many studies have demonstrated their application to obstruct tumor development and extend survival through immune activation, apoptosis induction, and cell cycle arrest by MPs. Synoptic investigations of MPs are compulsory to decode applied basics in recent inclinations towards cancer regimens. The current review focuses on the anticancer properties of commercially available and newly explored MPs, and outlines their direct and indirect mode of action. The review also highlights cutting-edge MPs-based drug delivery systems to augment the specificity and efficiency of available chemotherapeutics, as well as their emerging role in theranostics.

Persons with Co-Existing Neurological Disorders: Risk Analysis, Considerations and Management in COVID-19 Pandemic.

Increasing reports of neurological symptoms in COVID-19 patient's warrant clinicians to adopt and define the standardized diagnostic and managing protocols in order to investigate the linkage of neurological symptoms in COVID-19. Encephalitis, anosmia, acute cerebrovascular disease and ageusia are some of the emerging neurological manifestations which are reported in several cohort studies on hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Although the COVID-19 pandemic is primarily associated with infection of the respiratory tract system, but measures like lockdown and restricted physical movements to control the spread of this infection will certainly have neurobehavioural implications. Additionally, some of the patients with pre-existing neurological manifestations like epilepsy, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease are more prone to infection and demand extra care as well as improvised treatment. In this review, we have focused on the neurovirological clinical manifestations associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the prevalence of neurovirological manifestations is rare increasing reports cannot be ignored and needs to be discussed thoroughly with respect to risk analysis and considerations for developing a management strategy. This also helps in defining the burden of neurological disorders associated with COVID-19 patients.

Cyclic Nucleotides Signaling and Phosphodiesterase Inhibition: Defying Alzheimer's Disease.

Defects in brain functions associated with aging and neurodegenerative diseases benefit insignificantly from existing options, suggesting that there is a lack of understanding of pathological mechanisms. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is such a nearly untreatable, allied to age neurological deterioration for which only the symptomatic cure is available and the agents able to mould progression of the disease, is still far away. The altered expression of phosphodiesterases (PDE) and deregulated cyclic nucleotide signaling in AD has provoked a new thought of targeting cyclic nucleotide signaling in AD. Targeting cyclic nucleotides as an intracellular messenger seems to be a viable approach for certain biological processes in the brain and controlling substantial. Whereas, the synthesis, execution, and/or degradation of cyclic nucleotides has been closely linked to cognitive deficits. In relation to cognition, the cyclic nucleotides (cAMP and cGMP) have an imperative execution in different phases of memory, including gene transcription, neurogenesis, neuronal circuitry, synaptic plasticity and neuronal survival, etc. AD is witnessed by impairments of these basic processes underlying cognition, suggesting a crucial role of cAMP/cGMP signaling in AD populations. Phosphodiesterase inhibitors are the exclusive set of enzymes to facilitate hydrolysis and degradation of cAMP and cGMP thereby, maintains their optimum levels initiating it as an interesting target to explore. The present work reviews a neuroprotective and substantial influence of PDE inhibition on physiological status, pathological progression and neurobiological markers of AD in consonance with the intensities of cAMP and cGMP.

CREB: A Multifaceted Target for Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a persistent neuropathological stipulation manifested in the form of neuronal/synapse demise, the formation of senile plaques, hyperphosphorylated tau tangles, neuroinflammation, and apoptotic cell death. The absence of a therapeutic breakthrough for AD has continued the quest to find a suitable intervention. Apart from various candidates, the cyclic AMPprotein kinase A-cAMP response element-binding protein (cAMP/PKA/CREB) pathway is the most sought-after drug target AD as the bulk of quality literature documents that there is downregulation of cAMP signaling and CREB mediated transcriptional cascade in AD. cAMP signaling is evolutionarily conserved and can be found in all species. cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) is a ubiquitous and integrally articulated transcription aspect that regulates neuronal growth, neuronal differentiation/ proliferation, synaptic plasticity, neurogenesis, maturation of neurons, spatial memory, longterm memory formation as well as ensures neuronal survival. CREB is a central part of the molecular machinery that has a role in transforming short-term memory to long-term. Besides AD, impairment of CREB signaling has been well documented in addiction, Parkinsonism, schizophrenia, Huntington's disease, hypoxia, preconditioning effects, ischemia, alcoholism, anxiety, and depression. The current work highlights the role and influence of CREB mediated transcriptional signaling on major pathological markers of AD (amyloid ß, neuronal loss, inflammation, apoptosis, etc.). The present work justifies the continuous efforts being made to explore the multidimensional role of CREB and related downstream signaling pathways in cognitive deficits and neurodegenerative complications in general and AD particularly. Moreover, it is reaffirmed that cyclic nucleotide signaling may have vast potential to treat neurodegenerative complications like AD.

Neurotrophin mediated HPA axis dysregulation in stress induced genesis of psychiatric disorders: Orchestration by epigenetic modifications.

Apart from their established role in embryonic development, neurotrophins (NTs) have diverse functions in the nervous system. Their role in the integration of physiological and biochemical aspects of the nervous system is currently attracting much attention. Based on a systematic analysis of the literature, we here propose a new paradigm that, by exploiting a novel role of NTs, may help explain the genesis of stress-related psychiatric disorders, opening new avenues for better management of the same. We hypothesize that NTs as an integrated network play a crucial role in maintaining an indivdual's psychological wellbeing. Given the evidence that stress can induce chronic disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis which, in turn, is causally linked to several psychiatric disorders, this function may be mediated through the homeostatic mechanisms governing regulation of this axis. In fact, NTs, such as nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are known to participate in neuroendocrine regulation. Recent studies suggest epigenetic modification of NT-HPA axis interplay in the precipitation of psychiatric disorders. Our article highlights why this new knowledge regarding NTs should be considered in the etiogenesis and treatment of stress-induced psychopathology.

Next-Generation Peptide Nucleic Acid Chimeras Exhibit High Affinity and Potent Gene Silencing.

We present a new design of mixed-backbone antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) containing both DNA and peptide nucleic acid (PNA). Previous generations of PNA-DNA chimeras showed low binding affinity, reducing their potential as therapeutics. The addition of a 5'-wing of locked nucleic acid as well as the combination of a modified nucleotide and a PNA monomer at the junction between PNA and DNA yielded high-affinity chimeras. The resulting ASOs demonstrated high serum stability and elicited robust RNase H-mediated cleavage of complementary RNA. These properties allowed the chimeric ASOs to demonstrate high gene silencing efficacy and potency in cells, comparable with those of LNA gapmer ASOs, via both lipid transfection and gymnosis.

Novel Cluster and Monomer-Based GalNAc Structures Induce Effective Uptake of siRNAs in Vitro and in Vivo.

GalNAc conjugation is emerging as a dominant strategy for delivery of therapeutic oligonucleotides to hepatocytes. The structure and valency of the GalNAc ligand contributes to the potency of the conjugates. Here we present a panel of multivalent GalNAc variants using two different synthetic strategies. Specifically, we present a novel conjugate based on a support-bound trivalent GalNAc cluster, and four others using a GalNAc phosphoramidite monomer that was readily assembled into tri- or tetravalent designs during solid phase oligonucleotide synthesis. We compared these compounds to a clinically used trivalent GalNAc cluster both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, cluster-based and phosphoramidite-based scaffolds show a similar rate of internalization in primary hepatocytes, with membrane binding observed as early as 5 min. All tested compounds provided potent, dose-dependent silencing, with 2-4% of injected dose recoverable from liver after 1 week. The two preassembled trivalent GalNAc clusters showed higher tissue accumulation and gene silencing relative to di-, tri-, or tetravalent GalNAc conjugates assembled via phosphoramidite chemistry.

Oligonucleotides targeting TCF4 triplet repeat expansion inhibit RNA foci and mis-splicing in Fuchs' dystrophy.

Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is the most common repeat expansion disorder. FECD impacts 4% of U.S. population and is the leading indication for corneal transplantation. Most cases are caused by an expanded intronic CUG tract in the TCF4 gene that forms nuclear foci, sequesters splicing factors and impairs splicing. We investigated the sense and antisense RNA landscape at the FECD gene and find that the sense-expanded repeat transcript is the predominant species in patient corneas. In patient tissue, sense foci number were negatively correlated with age and showed no correlation with sex. Each endothelial cell has ∼2 sense foci and each foci is single RNA molecule. We designed antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to target the mutant-repetitive RNA and demonstrated potent inhibition of foci in patient-derived cells. Ex vivo treatment of FECD human corneas effectively inhibits foci and reverses pathological changes in splicing. FECD has the potential to be a model for treating many trinucleotide repeat diseases and targeting the TCF4 expansion with ASOs represents a promising therapeutic strategy to prevent and treat FECD.

Activation of Frataxin Protein Expression by Antisense Oligonucleotides Targeting the Mutant Expanded Repeat.

Friedreich's Ataxia (FA) is an inherited neurologic disorder caused by an expanded GAA repeat within intron 1 of the frataxin (FXN) gene that reduces expression of FXN protein. Agents that increase expression of FXN have the potential to alleviate the disease. We previously reported that duplex RNAs (dsRNAs) and antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) complementary to the GAA repeat could enhance expression of FXN protein. We now explore the potential of a diverse group of chemically modified dsRNAs and ASOs to define the breadth of repeat-targeted synthetic nucleic acids as a platform for therapeutic development for FA. ASOs and dsRNAs can activate FXN protein expression in FA patient-derived cell lines that possess varied numbers of GAA repeats. Increased FXN protein expression was achieved by ASOs incorporating diverse chemical modifications with low nanomolar potencies, suggesting substantial flexibility in choosing compounds for further chemical optimization and animal studies. Our data encourage further development of ASOs as agents to treat FA.