Role of miRNAs in Brain Development.

Non-coding RNAs that are small in size, called microRNAs (miRNAs), exert a conse-quence in neutralizing gene activity after transcription. The nervous system is a massively ex-pressed organ, and an expanding body of research reveals the vital functions that miRNAs play in the brain's growth and neural activity. The significant benefit of miRNAs on the development of the central nervous system is currently shown through new scientific methods that concentrate on targeting and eradicating vital miRNA biogenesis pathways the elements involving Dicer and DGCR8. Modulation of miRNA has been associated with numerous essential cellular processes on neural progenitors, like differentiation, proliferation, and destiny determination. Current re-search discoveries that emphasize the significance of miRNAs in the complex process of brain development are included in this book. The miRNA pathway plays a major role in brain devel-opment, its operational dynamics, and even diseases. Recent studies on miRNA-mediated gene regulation within neural discrepancy, the circadian period and synaptic remodeling are signs of this. We also discussed how these discoveries may affect our comprehension of the fundamental processes behind brain diseases, highlighting the novel therapeutic opportunities miRNAs pro-vide for treating various human illnesses.

Trigeminal and Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia.

Trigeminal neuralgia and glossopharyngeal neuralgia are craniofacial pain syndromes characterized by recurrent brief shock-like pains in the distributions of their respective cranial nerves. In this article, the authors aim to summarize each condition's characteristics, pathophysiology, and current pharmacotherapeutic and surgical interventions available for managing and treating these conditions.

Impact of NF-κB Signaling and Sirtuin-1 Protein for Targeted Inflammatory Intervention.

This detailed review disclosed the NF-κB pro-inflammatory gen's activity regulation and explored the therapeutic significance, activation, and inhibition. This study uncovers the structural intricacies of the NF-κB proteins and highlights the key role of SIRT1 in NF-kB signaling pathway regulation. Particularly the Rel Homology Domain (RHD), elucidating interactions and the regulatory mechanisms involving inhibitory proteins like IκB and p100 within the NF-κB signaling cascade. Disruption of the pathway is important in uncontrolled inflammation and immune disorders. This study extensively describes the role connections of canonical and non-canonical signaling pathways of NF-κB with inflammatory and cellular responses. SIRT1 belongs to the class III histone deacetylase, via RelA/p65 deacetylation, it regulates the activity of NF-κB, closely linked with the NAD+/NADH cellular ratio, influencing stress responses, aging processes, gene regulation, and metabolic pathways. This detailed study reveals SIRT1 as a crucial avenue for uncovering the role of imbalanced NF-κB in diabetes, obesity, and atherosclerosis. This study provides valuable knowledge about the therapeutic targets of inflammatory disorders.

Biobased Nanomaterials: Pioneering Innovations for Biomedical Advancements.

The purpose of this review article is to provide a complete overview of the fastdeveloping topic of biobased nanomaterials and the various uses that they have. An extensive study into the utilization of biological resources for nanotechnology has been motivated by the growing demand for materials that are both sustainable and favorable to the environment. In this review, the different uses of biobased nanomaterials across a variety of fields are investigated. When it comes to drug delivery systems, biosensors, nanocarriers, and catalysts, biobased nanomaterials are interesting choices because of their unique qualities. These properties include biocompatibility, programmable surface chemistry, and inherent functionality. Also, in the biomedical field, biobased nanomaterials offer promising prospects for revolutionizing medical diagnostics and therapies. Their biocompatibility, tunable surface chemistry, and inherent functionalities make them attractive candidates for applications such as targeted drug delivery, imaging contrast agents, and tissue engineering scaffolds. In addition, the study discusses the current difficulties and potential future developments in the industry, emphasizing the necessity of interdisciplinary collaboration and ongoing innovation. The incorporation of nanomaterials derived from biological sources into conventional applications holds tremendous potential for the advancement of sustainable development and provides solutions to global concerns. For the purpose of providing researchers, scientists, and professionals with a complete grasp of the synthesis, characterization, and applications of biobased nanomaterials, the purpose of this review is to serve as a helpful resource.

Syntheses and Properties of Hole-Transporting Biindenofluorenes.

Described herein is a straightforward approach to synthesizing three biindenofluorene (BIF) derivatives, composed of antiaromatic indenofluorene units, which are the first non-alternant congeners of known bipentacene. Dimerization of indeno[1,2-b]fluorene and indeno[2,1-c]fluorene units by connecting carbons 3 and 3' and carbons 2 and 2', respectively, is shown to influence the highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy levels of the resulting BIFs, affording band gaps (1.5-1.6 eV) that are smaller than that of a known indenofluorene polymer (2.3 eV). The hole mobilities of BIFs were determined to be ∼10-2 cm2 V-1 s-1.

The prognostic utility of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in spinal surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is reportedly an effective prognostic tool across various medical and surgical fields, but its value in spinal surgery is unestablished. We aim to investigate the relationship between elevated baseline/postoperative NLR and patient outcomes in spinal surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a systematic search in PubMed, EMBASE, and SCOPUS databases for studies investigating the prognostic value of NLR in spine patients.Odds ratios (ORs) and hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were analysed on the RevMan 5.4 software. Where meta-analysis was not possible, we vote-counted the direction of the effect of elevated NLR. The GRADE framework for prognostic factor research was utilised to assess the certainty of the evidence for each outcome measure. RESULTS: Five outcome measures (overall survival, mortality, disease-free survival, functional recovery and complications) were assessed across 16 studies involving 5471 patients. Elevated baseline NLR was associated with reduced overall survival (HR: 1.63, 95 % CI: 1.05 - 2.54) (GRADE: low) and worsened functional recovery (OR: 0.93, 95 % CI: 0.87 - 0.98) (GRADE: low). There was no association between baseline NLR and disease-free survival (HR: 2.42, 95 % CI: 0.49 - 11.83) (GRADE: very low) or mortality (OR: 1.39, 95 % CI: 0.41 - 4.75) (GRADE: very low). Elevated NLR levels measured on days 3-4 and days 6-7 postoperatively, but not NLR measured at baseline or on days 1-2 postoperatively, were associated with greater risks of complications (GRADE: low). CONCLUSIONS: NLR is an objective tool with the potential to identify the patients that would benefit from surgery and facilitate shared decision-making.

Unraveling the Emerging Niche Role of Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

Extracellular vesicles or exosomes, often known as EVs, have acquired significant attention in the investigations of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and have a distinct advantage in actively researching the fundamental mechanisms underlying various clinical symptoms and diagnosing the wide range of traumatic brain injury cases. The mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can produce and release exosomes, which offer therapeutic benefits. Exosomes are tiny membranous vesicles produced by various cellular entities originating from endosomes. Several studies have reported that administering MSC-derived exosomes through intravenous infusions improves neurological recovery and promotes neuroplasticity in rats with traumatic brain damage. The therapeutic advantages of exosomes can be attributed to the microRNAs (miRNAs), which are small non-coding regulatory RNAs that significantly impact the regulation of posttranscriptional genes. Exosome-based therapies, which do not involve cells, have lately gained interest as a potential breakthrough in enhancing neuroplasticity and accelerating neurological recovery for various brain injuries and neurodegenerative diseases. This article explores the benefits and drawbacks of exosome treatment for traumatic brain injury while emphasizing the latest advancements in this field with clinical significance.

Size Matters: Computational Insights into the Crowning of Noble Gas Trioxides.

In pursuit of enhancing the stability of the highly explosive and shock-sensitive compound XeO3, we performed quantum chemical calculations to investigate its possible complexation with electron-rich crown ethers, including 9-crown-3, 12-crown-4, 15-crown-5, 18-crown-6, and 21-crown-7, as well as their thio analogues. Furthermore, we expanded our study to other noble gas trioxides (NgO3), namely, KrO3 and ArO3. The basis set superposition error (BSSE) corrected interaction energies for these adducts range from -13.0 kcal/mol to -48.2 kcal/mol, which is notably high for σ-hole-mediated noncovalent interactions. The formation of these adducts was observed to be more favorable with the increase in the ring size of the crowns and less favorable while going from XeO3 to ArO3. A comprehensive analysis by various computational tools such as the mapping of the electrostatic potential (ESP), Wiberg bond indices (WBIs), Bader's theory of atoms-in-molecules (AIM), natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis, noncovalent interaction (NCI) plots, and energy decomposition analysis (EDA) revealed that the C-H···O interactions, as well as dispersion interactions, play a pivotal role in stabilizing adducts involving larger crowns. A noteworthy outcome of our study is the revelation of a coordination number of 9 for xenon in the complex formed between XeO3 and the thio analogue of 18-crown-6, which is higher than the largest number reported to date.

Ultrastructural insights into the microsporidian infection apparatus reveal the kinetics and morphological transitions of polar tube and cargo during host cell invasion.

During host cell invasion, microsporidian spores translocate their entire cytoplasmic content through a thin, hollow superstructure known as the polar tube. To achieve this, the polar tube transitions from a compact spring-like state inside the environmental spore to a long needle-like tube capable of long-range sporoplasm delivery. The unique mechanical properties of the building blocks of the polar tube allow for an explosive transition from compact to extended state and support the rapid cargo translocation process. The molecular and structural factors enabling this ultrafast process and the structural changes during cargo delivery are unknown. Here, we employ light microscopy and in situ cryo-electron tomography to visualize multiple ultrastructural states of the Vairimorpha necatrix polar tube, allowing us to evaluate the kinetics of its germination and characterize the underlying morphological transitions. We describe a cargo-filled state with a unique ordered arrangement of microsporidian ribosomes, which cluster along the thin tube wall, and an empty post-translocation state with a reduced diameter but a thicker wall. Together with a proteomic analysis of endogenously affinity-purified polar tubes, our work provides comprehensive data on the infection apparatus of microsporidia and uncovers new aspects of ribosome regulation and transport.

Potential Impact of Bioactive Compounds as NLRP3 Inflammasome Inhibitors: An Update.

The inflammasome NLRP3 comprises a caspase recruitment domain, a pyrin domain containing receptor 3, an apoptosis-linked protein like a speck containing a procaspase-1, and an attached nucleotide domain leucine abundant repeat. There are a wide variety of stimuli that can activate the inflammasome NLRP3. When activated, the protein NLRP3 appoints the adapter protein ASC. Adapter ASC protein then recruits the procaspase-1 protein, which causes the procaspase- 1 protein to be cleaved and activated, which induces cytokines. At the same time, abnormal activation of inflammasome NLRP3 is associated with many diseases, such as diabetes, atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. As a result, a significant amount of effort has been put into comprehending the mechanisms behind its activation and looking for their specific inhibitors. In this review, we primarily focused on phytochemicals that inhibit the inflammasome NLRP3, as well as discuss the defects caused by NLRP3 signaling. We conducted an in-depth research review by searching for relevant articles in the Scopus, Google Scholar, and PubMed databases. By gathering information on phytochemical inhibitors that block NLRP3 inflammasome activation, a complicated balance between inflammasome activation or inhibition with NLRP3 as a key role was revealed in NLRP3-driven clinical situations.

Functional annotation of a divergent genome using sequence and structure-based similarity.

BACKGROUND: Microsporidia are a large taxon of intracellular pathogens characterized by extraordinarily streamlined genomes with unusually high sequence divergence and many species-specific adaptations. These unique factors pose challenges for traditional genome annotation methods based on sequence similarity. As a result, many of the microsporidian genomes sequenced to date contain numerous genes of unknown function. Recent innovations in rapid and accurate structure prediction and comparison, together with the growing amount of data in structural databases, provide new opportunities to assist in the functional annotation of newly sequenced genomes. RESULTS: In this study, we established a workflow that combines sequence and structure-based functional gene annotation approaches employing a ChimeraX plugin named ANNOTEX (Annotation Extension for ChimeraX), allowing for visual inspection and manual curation. We employed this workflow on a high-quality telomere-to-telomere sequenced tetraploid genome of Vairimorpha necatrix. First, the 3080 predicted protein-coding DNA sequences, of which 89% were confirmed with RNA sequencing data, were used as input. Next, ColabFold was used to create protein structure predictions, followed by a Foldseek search for structural matching to the PDB and AlphaFold databases. The subsequent manual curation, using sequence and structure-based hits, increased the accuracy and quality of the functional genome annotation compared to results using only traditional annotation tools. Our workflow resulted in a comprehensive description of the V. necatrix genome, along with a structural summary of the most prevalent protein groups, such as the ricin B lectin family. In addition, and to test our tool, we identified the functions of several previously uncharacterized Encephalitozoon cuniculi genes. CONCLUSION: We provide a new functional annotation tool for divergent organisms and employ it on a newly sequenced, high-quality microsporidian genome to shed light on this uncharacterized intracellular pathogen of Lepidoptera. The addition of a structure-based annotation approach can serve as a valuable template for studying other microsporidian or similarly divergent species.

Brønsted acid- and Ni(II)-catalyzed C-H oxidation/rearrangement of cyclotriveratrylenes (CTVs) to cyclic and acyclic quinones as potential anti-cancer agents.

This paper describes a simple and practical protocol for the direct synthesis of acyclic and cyclic quinone derivatives via an acid-promoted nickel(II)-catalyzed inner rim C-H oxidation of cyclotriveratrylene (CTV) and its analogues. The cyclic quinone derivatives resulted from trimethoxy-cyclotriveratrylene (TCTV) through C-C bond formation via intramolecular ipso substitution followed by subsequent anionic rearrangement containing stereo-vicinal quaternary centers. The DFT calculations strongly support the experimental findings and reveal the role of Brønsted acids in the C-H bond activation of CTV. All the newly synthesized compounds were screened for their in vitro anti-cancer activity using colorimetric SRB assay analysis. Among them, compounds 3a, 3d, 3h, 4a, 4b, 4c and 4e exhibited moderate anticancer activity against A549, HCT-116, PC-3, MDA-MB-231, HEK-293 and SW620 human cancer cell lines.

Genome-wide identification of microsatellites for mapping, genetic diversity and cross-transferability in wheat (Triticum spp).

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a crucial global staple crop, and is consistently being improved to enhance yield, disease resistance, and quality traits. However, the development of molecular markers is a challenging task due to its hexaploid genome. Molecular marker system such as simple sequence repeat (SSR) and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) are helpful for breeding, but SNP has limitations due to its development cost and its conversion to breeder markers. The study proposed an in-silico approach, by utilizing the low-cost transcriptome sequencing of two parental lines, 'TAC 75' and 'WH 1105', to identify polymorphic SSRs for mapping in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population. This study introduces a new approach to bridge wheat genetics intricacies and next-generation sequencing potential. It presents a comprehensive genome-wide SSR distribution using IWGSC CS RefSeq v2.1 genome assembly and to identify 189 polymorphic loci through in-silico strategy. Of these, 54.76% showed polymorphism between parents, surpassing the traditional low polymorphic success rate. A RIL population screening validated these markers, demonstrating the fitness of identified markers through chi-square tests. The designed SSRs were also validated for genetic diversity analysis in a subset of 37 Indian wheat genotypes and cross-transferability in the wild/relative wheat species. In diversity analysis, a subset of 38 markers revealed 95 alleles (2.5 allele/locus), indicating substantial genetic variation. Population structure analysis unveiled three distinct groups, supported by phylogenetic and PCoA analyses. Further the polymorphic SSRs were also analyzed for SSR-gene association using gene ontology analysis. By utilizing the developing seed transcriptome data within parental lines, the study has enhanced the polymorphic SSR identification precision and facilitated in the RIL population. The undertaken study pioneers the use of transcriptome sequencing and genetic mapping to overcome challenges posed by the intricate wheat genome. This approach offers a cost-effective, less labour-intensive alternative to conventional methods, providing a platform for advancing wheat breeding research.

A computer vision-based system for real-time component identification from waste printed circuit boards.

With an exponential increase in consumers' need for electronic products, the world is facing an ever-increasing economic and environmental threat of electronic waste (e-waste). To minimize their adverse effects, e-waste recycling is one of the pivotal factors that can help in minimizing the environmental pollution andto increase recovery of valuable materials. For instance, Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs), while they have several valuable elements, they are hazardous too; and therefore, they form a large chunk of e-waste being generated today. Thus, in recycling PCBs, Electronic Components (ECs) are segregated at first, and separately processed for recovering key elements that could be re-used. However, in the current recycling process, especially in developing nations, humans manually screen ECs, which goes on to affect their health. It also causes losses of valuable materials. Therefore, automated solutions need to be adopted for both to classify and to segregate ECs from waste PCBs. The study proposes a robust EC identification system based on computer vision and deep learning algorithms (YOLOv3) to automate sorting process which would help in further processing. The study uses a publicly available dataset, and a PCB dataset which reflect challenging recycling environments like lighting conditions, cast shadows, orientations, viewpoints, and different cameras/resolutions. The outcome of YOLOv3 detection model based on training of both datasets presents satisfactory classification accuracy and capability of real-time competent identification, which in turn, could help in automatically segregating ECs, while leading towards effective e-waste recycling.

Phenotype and fate of liver-resident CD8 T cells during acute and chronic hepacivirus infection.

Immune correlates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) clearance and control remain poorly defined due to the lack of an informative animal model. We recently described acute and chronic rodent HCV-like virus (RHV) infections in lab mice. Here, we developed MHC class I and class II tetramers to characterize the serial changes in RHV-specific CD8 and CD4 T cells during acute and chronic infection in C57BL/6J mice. RHV infection induced rapid expansion of T cells targeting viral structural and nonstructural proteins. After virus clearance, the virus-specific T cells transitioned from effectors to long-lived liver-resident memory T cells (TRM). The effector and memory CD8 and CD4 T cells primarily produced Th1 cytokines, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2, upon ex vivo antigen stimulation, and their phenotype and transcriptome differed significantly between the liver and spleen. Rapid clearance of RHV reinfection coincided with the proliferation of virus-specific CD8 TRM cells in the liver. Chronic RHV infection was associated with the exhaustion of CD8 T cells (Tex) and the development of severe liver diseases. Interestingly, the virus-specific CD8 Tex cells continued proliferation in the liver despite the persistent high-titer viremia and retained partial antiviral functions, as evident from their ability to degranulate and produce IFN-γ upon ex vivo antigen stimulation. Thus, RHV infection in mice provides a unique model to study the function and fate of liver-resident T cells during acute and chronic hepatotropic infection.

Cyclodextrin Nanosponges: A Revolutionary Drug Delivery Strategy.

Nanosponges are porous solid cross-linked polymeric nanostructures. This study focuses on cyclodextrin-based nanosponges. Nanosponges based on cyclodextrin can form interactions with various lipophilic or hydrophilic compounds. The release of the entrapped molecules can be altered by altering the structure to obtain either a longer or faster release kinetics. The nanosponges might increase the aqueous solubility of weakly water-soluble compounds, develop long-lasting delivery systems, or construct novel drug carriers for nanomedicine. CD-NS (cyclodextrin-based nanosponges) are evolving as flexible and promising nanomaterials for medication administration, sensing, and environmental cleanup. CD-NS are three-dimensional porous structures of cyclodextrin molecules cross-linked by a suitable polymeric network, resulting in a large surface area. This overview covers CD-NS synthesis methods and applications.

Review on Nutritional Potential of Underutilized Millets as a Miracle Grain.

The current situation, which includes changes in eating habits, an increasing population, and the unrestricted use of natural resources, has resulted in a lack of resources that could be used to provide nourishing food to everyone. Natural plant resources are quickly being depleted, so it is necessary to consider new alternatives. In addition to the staple grains of rice and wheat, many other crops are being consumed that need to be utilized to their full potential and have the potential to replace the staple crops. Millets are one of the most important underutilized crops that have the potential to be used as a nutricereal. Millets have a high nutritional value, do not produce acids, do not contain gluten, and can contribute to a healthy diet. Due to a lack of awareness regarding the nutritional value of millets, their consumption is still restricted to the population that adheres to conventional diets and is economically disadvantaged even though millets contain a significant amount of nutrients. Millets are becoming increasingly unpopular due to a lack of processing technologies, food subsidies, and the inconvenience of preparing food with millets. Millets are a Nutricereal rich in carbohydrates, dietary fibers, energy, essential fatty acids, proteins, vitamin B, and minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. These nutrients help to protect against post-translational diseases such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and celiac disease, among others. Millets are beneficial for controlling blood pressure, blood sugar level, and thyroid function; however, despite these functional properties, millets consumption has declined. Utilizing millets and other staple food crops to develop alternative food sources has become a new area of focus for businesses in the food industry. In addition, millet consumption can help foster immunity and health, which is essential in strengthening our fight against malnutrition in children and adolescents. In this article, the authors examine the potential of millets in terms of their nutricereal qualities.

Hydrogel-based Drug Delivery System in Diabetes Management.

BACKGROUND: It is estimated that there are over 200 million people living with diabetes mellitus (DM) all over the world. It is a metabolic condition caused by decreased insulin action or secretion. Diabetes Mellitus is also known as Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Type 1 diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes mellitus are the two most common types of DM. Treatment for type 1 diabetes often consists of insulin replacement therapy, while treatment for type 2 diabetes typically consists of oral hypoglycemics. OBJECTIVE: Conventional dosing schedules for the vast majority of these medications come with a number of drawbacks, the most common of which are frequent dosing, a short half-life, and low bioavailability. Thus, innovative and regulated oral hypoglycemic medication delivery methods have been developed to reduce the limitations of standard dose forms. METHODS: The studies and reviews published under the title were looked up in several databases (including PubMed, Elsevier, and Google Scholar). RESULTS: Hydrogels made from biopolymers are three-dimensional polymeric networks that can be physically or chemically crosslinked. These networks are based on natural polymers and have an inherent hydrophilic quality because of the functional groups they contain. They have a very high affinity for biological fluids in addition to a high water content, softness, flexibility, permeability, and biocompatibility. The fact that these features are similar to those of a wide variety of soft living tissues paves the way for several potentials in the field of biomedicine. In this sense, hydrogels offer excellent platforms for the transport of medications and the controlled release of those drugs. Additionally, biopolymer-based hydrogels can be put as coatings on medical implants in order to improve the biocompatibility of the implants and to prevent medical diseases. CONCLUSION: The current review focuses on the most recent advancements made in the field of using biopolymeric hydrogels that are physically and chemically crosslinked, in addition to hydrogel coatings, for the purpose of providing sustained drug release of oral hypoglycemics and avoiding problems that are associated with the traditional dosage forms of oral hypoglycemics.

Seizure outcomes after resection of primary brain tumors in pediatric patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Primary brain neoplasms are the most common solid tumors in pediatric patients and seizures are a common presenting symptom. Surgical intervention improves oncologic outcomes and seizure burden. A better understanding of factors that influence seizure outcomes in the surgical management of primary brain tumors of childhood can guide treatment approach thereby improving patient quality of life. METHODS: We performed a systematic analysis using articles queried from PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane published from January 1990 to August 2022 to determine predictors of seizure outcomes in pediatric patients undergoing resection of primary brain tumors. RESULTS: We identified 24 retrospective cohort studies, one prospective cohort study, and one mixed retrospective and prospective study for the systematic analysis. A total of 831 pediatric patients were available for analysis. 668 (80.4%) patients achieved seizure freedom after surgery. Complete tumor resection increased the likelihood of a seizure-free (Engel I) outcome compared to subtotal resection (OR 7.1, 95% CI 2.3-21.9). Rates of Engel I seizure outcomes did not significantly differ based on factors such as age at seizure onset, duration of epilepsy, gender, tumor laterality, or age at surgery, but trended towards significance for improved outcomes in temporal lobe tumors. CONCLUSION: Primary brain tumors in the pediatric population are commonly associated with seizures. Resection of these lesions reduces seizure burden and is associated with high rates of seizure freedom. Complete resection, compared to subtotal resection, significantly increases the likelihood of seizure-free outcomes.