Complete tumor regression with exclusive Ayurvedic rasayana regimen in high‐grade diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma: A case report

We are presenting a case of 51‐year‐old female patient, diagnosed with high‐grade NHL‐DLBCL by PET‐CT scan. Immediately, she was started with Rasayana therapy, a specially designed anti‐cancer treatment regimen by our clinic. We observed significant clinical improvement and regression in tumor size in this patient after treatment.     

Unique hierarchical SiO2@ZnIn2S4 marigold flower like nanoheterostructure for solar hydrogen production

The novel marigold flower like SiO₂@ZnIn₂S₄ nano-heterostructure was fabricated using an in situ hydrothermal method. The nanoheterostructure exhibits hexagonal structure with marigold flower like morphology. The porous marigold flower assembly was constructed using ultrathin nanosheets. Interestingly, the thickness of the nanopetal was observed to be 5–10 nm and tiny SiO₂ nanoparticles (5–7 nm) are decorated on the surface of the nanopetals. As the concentration of SiO₂ increases the deposition of SiO₂ nanoparticles on ZnIn₂S₄ nanopetals increases in the form of clusters. The optical study revealed that the band gap lies in the visible range of the solar spectrum. Using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), the chemical structure and valence states of the as-synthesized SiO₂@ZnIn₂S₄ nano-heterostructure were confirmed. The photocatalytic activities of the hierarchical SiO₂@ZnIn₂S₄ nano-heterostructure for hydrogen evolution from H₂S under natural sunlight have been investigated with regard to the band structure in the visible region. The 0.75% SiO₂@ZnIn₂S₄ showed a higher photocatalytic activity (6730 μmol⁻¹ h⁻¹ g⁻¹) for hydrogen production which is almost double that of pristine ZnIn₂S₄. Similarly, the hydrogen production from water splitting was observed to be 730 μmol⁻¹ h⁻¹ g⁻¹. The enhanced photocatalytic activity is attributed to the inhibition of charge carrier separation owing to the hierarchical morphology, heterojunction and crystallinity of the SiO₂@ZnIn₂S₄.

The novel marigold flower like SiO₂@ZnIn₂S₄ nano-heterostructure was fabricated using an in situ hydrothermal method.     

In silico design of peptides with binding to the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 and their utility in bio-sensor development for SARS-CoV-2 detection

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has infected millions of people across the globe and created not only a health emergency but also a financial crisis. This virus attacks the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor situated on the surface of the host cell membrane. The spike protein of the virus binds to this receptor which is a critical step in infection. A molecule which can specifically stop this binding could be a potential therapeutic agent. In this study, we have tested 12 potential peptides which can bind to the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein of the virus and thus can potentially inhibit the binding of the latter on ACE2 receptors. These peptides are screened based on their binding with the RBD of the spike protein and aqueous stability, obtained using several atomistic molecular dynamic simulations. The potential of mean force calculation of peptides confirmed their binding to the RBD of the spike protein. Furthermore, two potential peptides were tested for use in a biosensing application for SARS-CoV-2 detection. Two types of biosensing platforms, a graphene sheet and a carbon nano tube (CNT) were tested. The peptides were modified in order to functionalize the graphene and CNT. Based on the interaction between the substrate, peptide and spike protein, the utility of the screened peptide for a given bio sensing platform is discussed and recommended.

The protocol for peptide design and testing for its usage as a sensor.     

Modulation in the activity of lactate dehydrogenase and level of c-Myc and c-Fos by modified base queuine in cancer

Cancer is characterized by uncontrolled cell growth, which results from unlimited proliferation and disturbs various cellular activities. Queuine is a highly modified base analogue of guanine found at first anti-codon position of specific tRNAs i.e. tRNA(Tyr), tRNA(His), tRNA(Asp) and tRNA(Asn). These tRNAs are known as Q-family of tRNA. The tRNAs of Q-family are completely modified to Q-tRNAs in terminally differentiated somatic cells, however hypomodification of Q-tRNA is closely associated with cell proliferation and malignancy. Queuosine modification of tRNAs may be essential for normal development, differentiation and cellular functions. Physiological role of queuine remains ill defined but direct or indirect evidences suggest that queuine or Q-tRNA participates in many cellular functions such as regulation of cell proliferation, control of glycolytic metabolism, alteration in expression of proto-oncogenes, modulation of signal transduction pathways but the mechanism is not well known. Increase in LDH-A expression regulated by c-myc is well documented in a variety of tumor cells. Overexpression of proto-oncogenes cause deregulated cellular responses which may lead to development of cancer. The cellular proto-oncogenes like c-myc and c-fos have important role in cell growth, proliferation and differentiation. The present study is aimed to investigate queuine mediated modulation in the activity of lactate dehydrogenase and expression of proto-oncogenes like c-myc and c-fos in T-cell lymphoma (DLAT) induced cancerous mouse. The results indicate that elevated lactate dehydrogenase activity is brought down by queuine treatments and the elevated levels of c-Myc and c-Fos in DLAT cancerous mouse are down-regulated, suggesting that queuine inhibits anaerobic metabolism and cell proliferation.     

Cervical muscle response to whiplash-type right anterolateral impacts

Frontal impacts are a common cause of whiplash injury. Yet, volunteer studies of the cervical muscular response and head–neck kinematics to frontal impacts are uncommon, and specifically, the effect of an offset (anterolateral) frontal impact on the resultant muscle responses is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the response of the cervical muscles to increasing low-velocity frontal impacts offset by 45° to the right, and to compare the quantitative effects of expected and unexpected impact. Ten healthy volunteers were subjected to frontal impacts, offset by 45° to the subjects right, of 5.1-, 8.7-, 12-, and 13.7-m/s² peak acceleration at two levels of expectation: expected and unexpected. Bilateral electromyograms of the sternocleidomastoids, trapezii, and splenii capitis were recorded. Triaxial accelerometers recorded the acceleration of the chair, torso at the shoulder level, and head of the participant. At a peak acceleration of 13.7 m/s², with an unexpected impact, the contralateral trapezius (i.e., left trapezius in a right anterolateral impact) generated 83% of its maximal voluntary contraction electromyogram, whereas all other muscles generated 50% or less of this variable. Although it generated less EMG, the splenius capitis muscle also tended to show an asymmetric EMG response, with the left (contralateral) splenius capitis generating a higher percentage (46%) of its maximal voluntary contraction electromyogram than the ipsilateral (right) splenius capitis. In comparison, the sternocleidomastoid muscles behaved symmetrically and generated 25% or less of this variable under all impact conditions. Similarly, the times to onset and times to peak electromyogram for the contralateral (left) splenius capitis and (left) trapezius progressively decreased with increasing levels of acceleration (p<0.01). Subjects exhibited lower levels of their maximal voluntary contraction electromyogram when the impact was expected (p<0.01). The kinetic variables and the electromyographic variables regressed significantly on the acceleration (p<0.01). In response to right anterolateral impacts, muscle responses were greater with higher levels of acceleration, and more specifically, when a frontal impact is offset to the subjects right, it results in not only increased EMG generation in the contralateral trapezius, but the splenius capitis contralateral to the direction of impact also bears part of the force of the neck pertubation. Expecting or being aware of imminent impact plays a role in reducing muscle responses in low-velocity anterolateral impacts.     

纳米铂金颗粒Bioplatin的绿色合成、特征及其抗肿瘤作用

目的：研究纳米铂金颗粒的抗癌作用并分析其与小牛胸腺DNA及蜂蜜的相互作用。 方法：使用绿色纳米技术合成纳米铂金颗粒Bioplatin并确定其物理特性如颗粒大小、电动电位及表面形态学。使用圆二色光谱分光光度法及傅里叶变换红外光谱技术以小牛胸腺DNA和蜂蜜作为靶点检测药物-DNA相互作用。使用噻唑蓝、荧光显微镜及DNA片段分析法检测其对外周血单核细胞及A375细胞的体外抗癌作用。 结果：Bioplatin的纳米直径为137.5 nm,表面电荷为－35.8 mV。Bioplatin与DNA相互作用后对DNA的结构产生了明显的作用,使其发生改变,并形成了一种能够提高DNA稳定性的新的化合物。体外实验表明Bioplatin能够抑制细胞增殖,引起细胞核染色质凝固和DNA核小体断裂。 结论：Bioplatin能够引起肿瘤细胞凋亡,因此具有一定的抗肿瘤作用。它能够与DNA相互作用,增加DNA的稳定性,从而抑制DNA的复制。     

Nosocomial Infections and Outcomes after Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Population-Based Study

Background

Infections after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) may be associated with worse outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the association between nosocomial infections (>48 h) and outcomes of ICH at a population level.

Methods

We identified patients with ICH using ICD-9-CM codes in the 2002–2011 Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Demographics, comorbidities, surgical procedures, and hospital characteristics were compared between patients with and without concomitant nosocomial infections. Primary outcomes were in-hospital mortality and home discharge. Secondary outcome was permanent cerebrospinal shunt placement. Logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the association between infections and outcomes.

Results

Among 509,516 ICH patients, infections occurred in 117,636 (23.1 %). Rates of infections gradually increased from 18.7 % in 2002–2003 to 24.1 % in 2010–2011. Pneumonia was the most common nosocomial infection (15.4 %) followed by urinary tract infection (UTI) (7.9 %). Patients with infections were older (p < 0.001), predominantly female (56.9 % vs. 47.9 %, p < 0.001), and more often black (15.0 % vs. 13.4 %, p < 0.001). Nosocomial infection was associated with longer hospital stay (11 vs. 5 days, p < 0.001) and a more than twofold higher cost of care (p < 0.001). In the adjusted regression analysis, patients with infection had higher odds of mortality [odds ratio (OR) 2.11, 95 % CI 2.08–2.14] and cerebrospinal shunt placement (OR 2.19, 95 % CI 2.06–2.33) and lower odds of home discharge (OR 0.49, 95 % CI 0.47–0.51). Similar results were observed in subgroup analyses of individual infections.

Conclusions

In a nationally representative cohort of ICH patients, nosocomial infection was associated with worse outcomes and greater resource utilization.

     

Effect of trunk flexion on cervical muscle EMG to rear impacts.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of occupant positioning on the response of the cervical muscles to whiplash-type posterolateral impacts. METHODS: Twenty healthy volunteers underwent left posterolateral whiplash-type impacts with the volunteers seated "out-of-position". Electromyograms of the cervical muscles were recorded. RESULTS: Whether having the trunk flexed to the left or right at the time of impact, the muscle responses were low in magnitude, showing a trend to increasing EMG responses with increasing acceleration (P>0.05). The time to onset and time to peak electromyogram for most muscles showed a trend to progressively decrease with increasing levels of acceleration. With the subject flexed to the left, all muscles generated 31% or less of the maximal voluntary contraction electromyogram. With the subject flexed to the right, all muscles generated 27% or less of their maximal electromyogram. In both positions, the trapezii were the most active (P<0.05). Thus, having the trunk flexed out of neutral posture at the time of impact produces a very low magnitude cervical muscle response compared to impacts with the trunk in neutral posture. CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of bodily impact, the flexed trunk posture appears to produce a biomechanical response that would probably decrease the likelihood of cervical muscle injury in low velocity posterolateral impacts.     

Novel fatty acid‐thiadiazole derivatives as potential antimycobacterial agents

The discovery of antibiotics around the middle twentieth century led to a decrease in the interest in antimycobacterial fatty acids. In order to re‐establish the importance of naturally abundant fatty acid, a series of fatty acid‐thiadiazole derivatives were designed and synthesized based on molecular hybridization approach. In vitro antimycobacterial potential was established by a screening of synthesized compounds against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv strain. Among them, compounds 5a , 5d , 5h , and 5j were the most active, with compound 5j exhibiting minimum inhibitory concentration of 2.34 μg/ml against M.tb H37Rv. Additionally, the compounds were docked to determine the probable binding interactions and understand the mechanism of action of most active molecules on enoyl‐acyl carrier protein reductases (InhA), which is involved in the mycobacterium fatty acid biosynthetic pathway.