3CL hydrolase-based multiepitope peptide vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 using immunoinformatics

The present study provides the first multiepitope vaccine construct using the 3CL hydrolase protein of SARS-CoV-2. The coronavirus 3CL hydrolase (Mpro) enzyme is essential for proteolytic maturation of the virus. This study was based on immunoinformatics and structural vaccinology strategies. The design of the multiepitope vaccine was built using helper T-cell and cytotoxic T-cell epitopes from the 3CL hydrolase protein along with an adjuvant to enhance immune response; these are joined to each other by short peptide linkers. The vaccine also carries potential B-cell linear epitope regions, B-cell discontinuous epitopes, and interferon-γ-inducing epitopes. Epitopes of the constructed multiepitope vaccine were found to be antigenic, nonallergic, nontoxic, and covering large human populations worldwide. The vaccine construct was modeled, validated, and refined by different programs to achieve a high-quality three-dimensional structure. The resulting high-quality model was applied for conformational B-cell epitope selection and docking analyses with toll-like receptor-3 for understanding the capability of the vaccine to elicit an immune response. In silico cloning and codon adaptation were also performed with the pET-19b plasmid vector. The designed multiepitope peptide vaccine may prompt the development of a vaccine to control SARS-CoV-2 infection.     

Classification of HHV-6A and HHV-6B as distinct viruses

Shortly after the discovery of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), two distinct variants, HHV-6A and HHV-6B, were identified. In 2012, the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) classified HHV-6A and HHV-6B as separate viruses. This review outlines several of the documented epidemiological, biological, and immunological distinctions between HHV-6A and HHV-6B, which support the ICTV classification. The utilization of virus-specific clinical and laboratory assays for distinguishing HHV-6A and HHV-6B is now required for further classification. For clarity in biological and clinical distinctions between HHV-6A and HHV-6B, scientists and physicians are herein urged, where possible, to differentiate carefully between HHV-6A and HHV-6B in all future publications.     

Massive expansile ossifying fibroma of the mandible with osteomyelitis

An ossifying fibroma is a benign odontogenic tumor of mesenchymal origin that belongs to the spectrum of fibro-osseous lesions afflicting the craniofacial complex. Although benign, it can be potentially aggressive, reaching very large sizes. The authors report a rare case of an aggressive ossifying fibroma in the mandible of a 30-year-old male patient that reached gigantic proportions with superimposed osteomyelitis, mimicking a malignancy. Differentiation of ossifying fibroma from other fibro-osseous lesions and benign and malignant neoplasms is important for the correct management of this lesion. Proper radiological evaluation and interpretation aids for arriving at a definitive diagnosis are required. The paper also highlights the radiological features of this entity.     

Achieving highly efficient and selective cesium extraction using 1,3-di-octyloxycalix[4]arene-crown-6 in n-octanol based solvent system: experimental and DFT investigation

Due to the long half-life of ¹³⁷Cs (t_1/2 ∼ 30 years), the selective extraction of cesium (Cs) from high level liquid waste is of paramount importance in the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle to avoid long term surveillance of high radiotoxic waste. As 1,3-di-octyloxycalix[4]arene-crown-6 (CC6) is suggested to be a promising candidate for selective Cs extraction, the improvement in the Cs extraction efficiency by CC6 has been investigated through the optimization of the effect of dielectric media on the extraction process. The effects of the feed acid (HNO₃, HCl, and HClO₄) and the composition of the diluents for the ligand in the organic phase on the extraction efficiency of Cs have been investigated systematically. In 100% n-octanol medium, Cs is found to form a 1 : 1 ion-pair complex with CC6 (0.03 M) providing a very high distribution ratio of D_Cs ∼ 22, suggesting n-octanol as the most suitable diluent for Cs extraction. No significant interference of other relevant cations such as Na, Mg and Sr was observed on the D_Cs value in the optimized solvent system. Density functional theory (DFT) based calculations have been carried out to elucidate the reason of ionic selectivity and enhanced Cs extraction efficiency of CC6 in the studied diluent systems. In addition to the ionic size-based selectivity of the crown-6 cavity, the polarity of the organic solvent system, the hydration energy of the ion, and the relative reorganization of CC6 upon complexation with Cs are understood to have roles in achieving the enhanced efficiency for the extraction of Cs by the CC6 extractant in nitrobenzene medium.

Separation scheme was developed for selective extraction of long-lived fission product ¹³⁷Cs using substituted calix crown 6 ether from aqueous acidic solution.     

An overview of metal-free synthetic routes to isoxazoles: the privileged scaffold

In the field of drug discovery, isoxazole is a five-membered heterocyclic moiety commonly found in many commercially available drugs. In view of their enormous significance, it is always imperative to unleash new eco-friendly synthetic strategies. Among various novel synthetic techniques in use for isoxazole synthesis, most synthetic methods employ Cu(i) or Ru(ii) as catalysts for (3 + 2) cycloaddition reaction. The particular disadvantages associated with metal-catalyzed reactions are high costs, low abundance, toxicity, a significant generation of waste, and difficulty to separate from the reaction mixtures. In view of these drawbacks, it is always imperative to develop alternate metal-free synthetic routes. This review article highlights a comprehensive overview on the potential application of metal-free synthetic routes for the synthesis of isoxazoles with significant biological interests.

Isoxazole, a five-membered heterocyclic moiety commonly found in many commercially available drugs. This review article presents a comprehensive overview on metal-free synthetic routes for the synthesis of isoxazoles with significant bioactivities.     

Alveolar soft part sarcoma of the retroperitoneum: A case report

Alveolar soft part sarcoma is a rare soft tissue tumor with uncertain histogenesis. It is a slow growing tumor with a high rate of metastasis. The tumor is not easily identified as clinical symptoms are not pronounced. The retroperitoneum is a rare location of tumor, with a few cases published in literature. Surgical excision is the mainstay of treatment. Here we describe a rare case of a large retroperitoneal Alveolar soft part sarcoma in a young female with radiological and histopathological findings.     

Nutritional Status of Indian Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Cross-sectional Study

Indian Journal of Pediatrics -     

Synthesis and study of some new N-substituted imide derivatives as potential anticancer agents

A new series of N-substituted imide derivatives have been synthesized by treating phthalic anhydride, naphthalic anhydride and their substituted derivatives with 2-hydrazino-1-imidazoline hydrobromide, various para-substituted aryl amines, aminoglutethimide and 2,4-dinitrophenyl hydrazine. Compounds 9, 10, 12, 18, 19, 23, 24 and 34-36 have been selected and screened for antineoplastic activity by National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, USA. Some newer aminoglutethimide derivatives 37-39 have also been prepared in order to study the effect of N-substitution on its pharmacological profile for the treatment of carcinoma. These compounds (37-39) have exhibited weak inhibition of human placental aromatase as compared to aminoglutethimide.     

The Effect of Water Absorption on Acrylic Surface Properties

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to determine whether an increased water content during thermal cycling of hot water-treated acrylic was associated with a reduction in surface hardness and an increased opacity or whitening of the surface. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten acrylic samples were treated with 30 soak cycles (cycle duration, 24 hours), using warm water (40 degrees C) and an alkaline peroxide tablet (Efferdent control group); a further ten samples were treated with boiling water (100 degrees C) and one Efferdent tablet (experimental group). Indentation hardness of the acrylic specimens was measured prior to and immediately following the completion of the warm and hot water treatments, using an automated micro-indentation system. The hydrated acrylic specimens were then allowed to air dry at room temperature (20 degrees C) and were weighed weekly until they had obtained a constant dry weight. The loss in weight of the acrylic specimens represented the maximum water absorption. RESULTS: The hot water-treated specimens were much whiter than the warm water-treated specimens. The mean reduction in hardness (H(IT)) of the acrylic specimens following the treatment with hot water and alkaline peroxide tablet was 12.9%. Treatment with warm water and alkaline peroxide resulted in a slight increase in mean hardness (2.63%). There was a significant correlation between the water content of the acrylic specimens after treatment and the percentage of change in indentation hardness (r= 0.495, p= 0.026). CONCLUSIONS: The hot water treatment of the acrylic was associated with a significant reduction in hardness. We attribute the whitening and reduction in the hardness of the hot water-treated specimens to absorption of water and a disruption of the acrylic surface structure.