Aloe-Emodin Protects RIN-5F (Pancreatic β-cell) Cell from Glucotoxicity via Regulation of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine and Downregulation of Bax and Caspase 3

To determine the protective effect of aloe-emodin (AE) from high glucose induced toxicity in RIN-5F (pancreatic β-cell) cell and restoration of its function was analyzed. RIN-5F cells have been cultured in high glucose (25 mM glucose) condition, with and without AE treatment. RIN-5F cells cultured in high glucose decreased cell viability and increased ROS levels after 48 hr compared with standard medium (5.5 mM glucose). Glucotoxicity was confirmed by significantly increased ROS production, increased pro-inflammatory (IFN-γ, IL-1β,) & decreased anti-inflammatory (IL-6&IL-10) cytokine levels, increased DNA fragmentation. In addition, we found increased Bax, caspase 3, Fadd, and Fas and significantly reduced Bcl-2 expression after 48 hr. RIN-5F treated with both high glucose and AE (20 μM) decreased ROS generation and prevent RIN-5F cell from glucotoxicity. In addition, AE treated cells cultured in high glucose were transferred to standard medium, normal responsiveness to glucose was restored within 8hr and normal basal insulin release within 24 hr was achieved when compared to high glucose.     

Synthetic Pyrethroid effect on blood plasma biomarker enzymes and histological changes in Catla catla

Alpha‐cypermethrin is an isoform of cypermethrin; it is an active pyrethroid used extensively to control a wide range of pests in agriculture and animal breeding. In this study four groups of six fish were examined. The first group served as a control in fresh water alone, with no pyrethroid. The second, third and fourth groups were exposed to alpha‐cypermethrin for 4, 8 and 96 h respectively. At the end of the each exposure period, the fish were sacrificed, and the required muscle tissues were collected for histological examination. The blood was drawn with heparinized needles and processed for serum enzymatic studies. Serum enzymes such as aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), amylase, acid phosphatase (ACP) and gamma‐glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) were measured at 4, 8 and 96 h. AST enzyme activity was significantly increased at 4 h, whereas ALT and amylase enzyme activities were significantly reduced at all the time points. ACP enzyme activity was significantly reduced at 4 and 8 h, whereas GGT enzyme activity was significantly increased at all the time points. Hepatocyte cytoplasmic vacuolisation and degeneration, rupture of blood vessels, and necrosis was found at all time points. Congestion of blood vessels, bulging, distortion of filaments, erosion and disintegration of blood corpuscles and hyperplasia of epithelium were found in treated gills at 4, 8 and 96 h. Breakdown of muscle fibres, vacuolation and accumulation of lipids and melanin in white muscle were observed in treated fish muscle at 4, 8 and 96 h.     

Beneficial Antioxidative and Antiperoxidative Effect of Cinnamaldehyde Protect Streptozotocin-Induced Pancreatic β-Cells Damage in Wistar Rats

The present study was aimed to evaluate the antioxidant defense system of cinnamaldehyde in normal, diabetic rats and its possible protection of pancreatic β-cells against its gradual loss under diabetic conditions. In vitro free radical scavenging effect of cinnamaldehyde was determined using DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-dipicrylhydrazyl), superoxide radical, and nitric oxide radical. Streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats were orally administered with cinnamaldehyde at concentrations of 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg body weight for 45 days. At the end of the experiment, the levels of plasma lipid peroxides and antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, ceruloplasmin, catalase, superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione and glutathione peroxidase were determined. A significant increase in the levels of plasma glucose, vitamin E, ceruloplasmin, and lipid peroxides and significant decrease in the levels of plasma insulin and reduced glutathione were observed in the diabetic rats. Also the activities of pancreatic antioxidant enzymes were altered in the STZ-induced diabetic rats. The altered enzyme activities were reverted to near-normal levels after treatment with cinnamaldehyde and glibenclamide. Histopathological studies also revealed a protective effect of cinnamaldehyde on pancreatic β-cells. Cinnamaldehyde enhances the antioxidant defense against reactive oxygen species produced under hyperglycemic conditions and thus protects pancreatic β-cells against their loss and exhibits antidiabetic properties.     

Copper nanoparticles anchored onto boron-doped graphene nanosheets for use as a high performance asymmetric solid-state supercapacitor

There is a high demand for high energy and power density in the field of energy storage devices. To rectify these limitations, a novel asymmetric solid-state supercapacitor (ASSC) was designed and fabricated using a copper anchored boron doped graphene nanosheet (CuBG) as a negative electrode and reduced graphene nanoplatelets as a positive electrode with H₂SO₄/PVA as the quasi-solid electrolyte. The CuBG was prepared using a two step hydrothermal process followed by pyrolysis at different temperatures using chemical vapour deposition (CVD), using copper sulphate (CuSO₄) and boron-trioxide (B₂O₃) as precursors, for doping in graphene oxide. Owing to the remarkable structure and morphology of Cu nanoparticles on nanosheets of boron intercalated with graphene oxide, the nanosheets exhibit a high specific capacitance of 483 Fg⁻¹ at 1 Ag⁻¹ with a capacitance retention of 96% after 5000 cycles, respectively, in a two-electrode system. In addition, the designed and fabricated solid state ASSC device of rGO//CuBG exhibited a high energy and power density of 132.5 W h kg⁻¹ and 1000 W kg⁻¹, respectively, in a wide potential window of 2.0 V, with an excellent stability, retaining 91% of its initial specific capacitance after 5000 cycles. The electrochemical capacitance of CuBG was also evaluated in a three and two electrode system using a KOH and KOH/PVA solid electrolyte respectively. A specific capacitance of 87.5 Fg⁻¹ was achieved at 1 Ag⁻¹ using the fabricated asymmetric device with a 31.1 W h kg⁻¹ energy density at a corresponding power density of 800 W kg⁻¹ and an 85% capacitance was retained after 5000 cycles. The kinetics of the interfacial charge transport phenomena were analysed using a Nyquist plot of the electrochemical impedance analysis.

There is a high demand for high energy and power density in the field of energy storage devices.     

Histological characterization and development of mesial surface sulci in the human brain at 13–15 gestational weeks through high-resolution histology

Cellular-level anatomical data from early fetal brain are sparse yet critical to the understanding of neurodevelopmental disorders. We characterize the organization of the human cerebral cortex between 13 and 15 gestational weeks using high-resolution whole-brain histological data sets complimented with multimodal imaging. We observed the heretofore underrecognized, reproducible presence of infolds on the mesial surface of the cerebral hemispheres. Of note at this stage, when most of the cerebrum is occupied by lateral ventricles and the corpus callosum is incompletely developed, we postulate that these mesial infolds represent the primordial stage of cingulate, callosal, and calcarine sulci, features of mesial cortical development. Our observations are based on the multimodal approach and further include histological three-dimensional reconstruction that highlights the importance of the plane of sectioning. We describe the laminar organization of the developing cortical mantle, including these infolds from the marginal to ventricular zone, with Nissl, hematoxylin and eosin, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunohistochemistry. Despite the absence of major sulci on the dorsal surface, the boundaries among the orbital, frontal, parietal, and occipital cortex were very well demarcated, primarily by the cytoarchitecture differences in the organization of the subplate (SP) and intermediate zone (IZ) in these locations. The parietal region has the thickest cortical plate (CP), SP, and IZ, whereas the orbital region shows the thinnest CP and reveals an extra cell-sparse layer above the bilaminar SP. The subcortical structures show intensely GFAP-immunolabeled soma, absent in the cerebral mantle. Our findings establish a normative neurodevelopment baseline at the early stage.     

In vitro cytotoxic potential of friedelin in human MCF-7 breast cancer cell: Regulate early expression of Cdkn2a and pRb1, neutralize mdm2-p53 amalgamation and functional stabilization of p53

We aimed to explore the cytotoxic and apoptotic effect of friedelin on breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Cytotoxic effect of friedelin on MCF-7 cells was analyzed using MTT, cell and nuclear morphology. The apoptosis mechanism of friedelin on MCF-7 cells was analyzed using real-time PCR. Friedelin potentially inhibit 78% of MCF-7 cell’s growth, the IC₅₀ value was 1.8 μM in 24 h and 1.2 μM in 48 h. Friedelin increased ROS significantly and DNA damage was confirmed by tunel assay. We found characteristically 52% apoptotic cells and 6% necrotic cells in PI, AO/ErBr staining after 48 h treatment with 1.2 μM of friedelin. Apoptosis was confirmed by significantly (p ≤ 0.001) increased tumor suppressor gene Cdkn1a, pRb2, p53, Nrf2, caspase-3 and decreased Bcl-2, mdm2 & PCNA expression after 48 h. In conclusion, friedelin effectively inhibit breast cancer MCF-7 cell growth, it was associated with early expression of Cdkn1a, pRb2 and activation of p53 and caspases.     

Effect of cypermethrin, carbendazim and their combination on male albino rat serum

Alpha-cypermethrin and carbendazim are synthetic; α-cypermethrin belongs to a class of synthetic pyrethroids and carbendazim belongs to the class of carbamate fungicides. The current study was carried out to evaluate the low-dose exposure of individual and mixed forms of cypermethrin and carbendazim. α-cypermethrin was used at 0.06, 0.12, 0.30 and 0.60 mg/kg body weight (bw), carbendazim was at 0.48, 0.96, 2.4 and 4.8 mg/kg bw and combined doses (cypermethrin: 0.06, 0.12, 0.30 and 0.60 mg/kg.bwt + carbendazim: 0.48, 0.96, 2.4 and 4.8 mg/kg.bwt) for 12 h and 24 h. The biochemical parameters and serum markey enzymes were analysed. The biochemical parameters include serum total protein, glucose, cholesterol, urea, uric acid, calcium, phosphorous, albumin and creatinine and serum marker enzymes such as alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and amylase were ascertained. Results indicated simultaneous changes in serum marker enzyme activity (ALT, AST, ALP, GGT and amylase) and biochemical markers (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 and ***P < 0.001). The experimental results indicate that even low-dose use of the synthetic pyrethroid carbamate and their combined form results in consequential negative effects on cell function.     

Immunological characterization of recombinant Wuchereria bancrofti cuticular collagen(COL-4)as putative vaccine candidate for human lymphatic filariasis

Objective:To elucidate immunoprophylactic potential of recombinant Wuchereria bancrofti(W.bancrofti)cuticular collagen(COL-4)in BALB/c mice and filarial clinical samples.Methods:col-4 gene was PCR amplified from W.bancrofti L3 cDNA library and cloned in pRSET B vector.Recombinant COL-4 was over expressed in salt inducible system and was purified by nickel afiinity chromatography.Humoral and cellular responses were measured by EUSA and peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC)of various filarial clinical samples respectively using purified recombinant COL-4 antigen.Then the protective immune responses of COL-4 immunized BALB/c mice were characterized.Results:Sequence analysis of COL-4 with human host proteins reveals lack of homology.The recombinant COL-4 was found to be at 15 kDa fusion protein.The affinity purified COL-4 showed significant reactivity with putatively immune sere and in a similar fashion it demonstrated marked proliferation in PBMC samples.Immunization studies in experimental filarial host(mice)elicited significant liters with protective antibody isotype profile(IgM and IgG).Cellular immune responses were also significant in terms of splenocytes proliferation assay on mice samples.Conclusions:Our immunological findings in experimental host suggest Th2mediated immune response.Hence,we propose that W.bancrofti COL-4 could be an efficacious vaccine candidate against lymphatic filariasis.