Promising Potential of Curcumin and Related Compounds for Antiviral Drug Discovery.

Viruses are acellular, microscopic, and mobile particles containing genetic particles, either DNA/RNA strands as nucleoproteins, responsible for 69,53,743 deaths till the year 2023. Curcumin and related compounds are among the areas of pivotal interest for researchers because of their versatile pharmacological profile. Chemically known as diferuloylmethane, which is a main constituent of turmeric along with demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin, they have a broad spectrum of antiviral activity against viruses such as human immunodeficiency virus, herpes simplex virus, influenza virus (Avian influenza) and Hepatitis C virus HIV. The possible role of curcumin as an antiviral agent may be attributed to the activation of the 20S proteasome, a cellular machinery responsible for degrading unfolded or misfolded proteins in a ubiquitin-independent manner. It shows suppression of HBV entry at various infection stages by inhibiting cccDNA replication by inhibiting the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway to attenuate IAV-induced myocarditis.

Anti-Amyloid-ß Immunotherapy: A Leading Novel Avenue for Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease or senile dementia is principally acknowledged by the gradual accumulation of neurotoxic amyloid- ß protein in the brain and is considered as the initial event of the phenomenon of this asymptomatic ailment. It prompts the decline in cognitive performance, standard psychiatric functioning, and neuronal transmission across the brain. Significant inferences were withdrawn by utilizing the recently introduced disease-modifying anti- amyloid- ß immunotherapy developed after performing the clinical and preclinical controlled trials to cure the neurodegenerative malady. This strategy is worthwhile because of the clinical relevance and specific targeted approach that exhibited the quenched immunotherapeutic effects and encouraged clinical findings. In vitro fabricated, anti- amyloid- ß recombinant monoclonal antibodies are passively employed to promote clearance and antagonize the aggregation and synthesis of neurotoxic and degenerative aggregates of amyloid-ß. Thus, passive immunotherapy has an adequate impact on treating this disorder, and currently, some other monoclonal pharmacological molecules are under clinical trials to defeat this severe exacerbation with more efficacy and clinical benefits. This review compendiously discusses the anti-amyloid-ß immunotherapy, which will provide a more proficient framework to be employed as a potential therapeutic approach.

Second hand smoke exposure in pregnant women in Dehradun, Uttarakhand: A cross sectional study.

Aim: The aim of this study was to estimate the percentage and sources of secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure among non-smoking pregnant women. It was a cross-sectional study conducted among the non-smoking pregnant women registered at the primary health center (PHC) under the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), Rishikesh. Materials and Methods: All registered pregnant women at sub-center in the field practice area (Raiwala) of the Department of Community and Family Medicine, AIIMS Rishikesh were recruited in the study. In this study, a questionnaire was used for measuring the exposure of SHS. Mean and standard deviation (SD), median, minimum, and maximum were used for continuous variables. A Chi-square test was used to compare the association of categorical variables. Results: Out of the total participants, 62% were exposed to SHS. 33% of participants were exposed to SHS at home only, 24% at public places only, and 5% were the ones exposed both at home and public places. More than half (69%) of the participants were having inadequate knowledge about the harms caused by SHS. Conclusions: More than half of the participants were exposed to SHS. Inadequate knowledge among the participants about adverse effects of SHS exposure and insufficient practices and action were observed.

Circumstantial Insights into the Potential of Traditional Chinese Medicinal Plants as a Therapeutic Approach in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

The advanced era has invited a plethora of chronic and autoimmune infirmities unmistakably dominated by rheumatoid arthritis, occurring because of equivocal causes, including ecological factors, genetic variations, etc. Unfortunately, it is winning pretty much in every stratum of the society in the undefined age group of the population. Engineered drugs are accessible for the treatment; however, they do experience adverse effects as the treatment requires a prolonged duration worsened by noncompliance. To overwhelm it, certain pharmacological and molecular pathways are explored in the wake of Chinese herbs that prompted the prevention of this deteriorating autoimmune disease. The alcoholic extracts and decoctions are procured from Chinese herbs, such as Paeonia lactiflora, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Tripterygium wilfordii, etc., which have been proved to manifest constructive pharmacological actions. The activities that were exhibited by extracts are significantly innocuous, non-toxic, and potent to fix the affliction in contrast with the chemosynthetic drugs. Therefore, these Chinese herbs bring forth potent anti-inflammatory, immune-suppressing, anti-nociceptive, anti-neovascularizing, free radical scavenging activities, and various other benefits to withstand several pathological events that usually endure infirmity. It can be abridged that Chinese herbs possess assorted and selective therapeutic properties with profound safety and viability to treat this rheumatic disorder. Thus, this review aims to shed light on naturally originated treatment that is pertinent to providing invulnerable therapy exonerating from adverse effects by restraining joint deformities, production of auto-antibodies, and inflammation.

Exposure of second hand smoke in women and children: A narrative review.

Second-hand smoke is a neglected public health issue. Every year 1.2 million people die due to this exposure. Second-hand smoke is also related to various other diseases like cardiovascular diseases, lung diseases, low birth weight, maternal depression, etc. The purpose of this review is to look over various studies and to gain an understanding of existing research about second-hand smoke and its adverse effects. In addition, we tried to identify the barriers behind creating a smoke-free environment at home and successful strategies employed and suggestion given in various studies. A comprehensive search of the recent literature related to Second-hand smoke was undertaken using electronic databases like MEDLINE, PUBMED, Google Scholar, and Research gate. Keyword searches were conducted for publications published since 2004 or later on Second-hand smoke exposure in pregnant women. Prevalence of SHS among pregnant women ranged from 24% 92%. Lack of knowledge, absence of comprehensive smoking ban, low status of women was among the main contributing factors. Community awareness and counseling by primary health-care physician was found to be successful strategies. There are various cultural and social barriers behind a smoke-free home for pregnant women. Interventional approaches like focused counseling by primary care physicians can help to overcome this issue. There is a need for behavioral interventions and community awareness to be done in this aspect.

Rational use of face mask in a tertiary care hospital setting during COVID-19 pandemic: An observational study.

Masks play a role in the protection of health-care workers (HCWs) from acquiring respiratory infections, including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in health-care settings. This observational study was conducted among 382 HCWs in a tertiary care setting over a period of 1 month. Descriptive analysis was done to assess the rational and recommended use of masks/respirators during COVID-19 pandemic using a structured observation checklist as a survey tool. A total of 374 HCWs were included, 64.9% of whom were using face masks rationally as mentioned per risk area categorization with a predominance of triple-layered mask during all 4 weeks. Overall, 64.1% used masks correctly. Clear guidelines and strategies can help to increase the compliance of HCWs with rational use of face masks.