Computational Exploration of Naturally Occurring Flavonoids as TGF-β Inhibitors in Breast Cancer: Insights from Docking and Molecular Dynamics Simulations and In-vitro Cytotoxicity Study

Breast cancer is a global health concern, demanding innovative treatments. Targeting the Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway, pivotal in breast cancer, is a promising approach. TGF-β inhibits proliferation via G1 phase cell cycle arrest, acting as a suppressor initially, but in later stages, it promotes progression by enhancing motility, invasiveness, and metastasis formation. This study explores naturally occurring flavonoids' interactions with TGF-β. Using molecular docking against the protein's crystal structure (PDB Id: 1PY5), Gossypin showed the highest docking score and underwent molecular dynamics simulation, revealing complex flexibility and explaining how flavonoids impede TGF-β signaling in breast cancer. ADMET predictions adhered to Lipinski's rule of Five. Insights into flavonoid-TGF-β binding offer a novel angle for breast cancer treatment. Flavonoids having a good docking score like gossypin, morin, luteolin and taxifolin shown potent cytotoxic effect on breast cancer cell line, MCF-7. Understanding these interactions could inspire flavonoid-based therapies targeting TGF-β to halt breast cancer growth. These findings pave the way for personalized, targeted breast cancer therapies, offering hope against this formidable disease.

Electrospun nanofibers as advanced wound dressing materials: comparative analysis of single-layered and multilayered nanofibers containing polycaprolactone, methylcellulose, and polyvinyl alcohol

The dressing materials that provide surface protection, bacteriostatic activities, and tissue regeneration are important for the treatment and management of complex wounds. This study aimed to evaluate the wound-healing properties of electrospun nanofibers containing a blend of methylcellulose (MC) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The nanofibers were tested in single-layered (S-NFs) and multilayered (M-NFs) forms (PCL/MC-PVA/PCL). In vitro scratch assay using L929 cells and in vivo experiments on Wistar rats were conducted. The results showed that both S-NFs and M-NFs significantly accelerated wound closure by promoting cell migration. M-NFs demonstrated superior wound healing activity compared to S-NFs. Additionally, M-NFs exhibited faster skin epithelization compared to S-NFs. Histopathological evaluation confirmed the absence of irritation or lesions on the healed wound surface. Overall, the study concluded that these polymeric nanofibers have the potential to be used as self-wound healing dressings. They are safe, non-toxic, biodegradable, and biocompatible.

Nanomaterials as drug delivery agents for overcoming the blood-brain barrier: A comprehensive review

Background and Purpose

The blood-brain barrier (BBB), a critical interface of specialized endothelial cells, plays a pivotal role in regulating molecular and ion transport between the central nervous system (CNS) and systemic circulation.

Experimental Approach

This review aims to delve into the intricate architecture and functions of the BBB while addressing challenges associated with delivering therapeutics to the brain. Historical milestones and contemporary insights underscore the BBB's significance in protecting the CNS.

Key Results

Innovative approaches for enhanced drug transport include intranasal delivery exploiting olfactory and trigeminal pathways, as well as techniques like temporary BBB opening through chemicals, receptors, or focused ultrasound. These avenues hold the potential to reshape conventional drug delivery paradigms and address the limitations posed by the BBB's selectivity.

Conclusion

This review underscores the vital role of the BBB in maintaining CNS health and emphasizes the importance of effective drug delivery through this barrier. Nanoparticles emerge as promising candidates to overcome BBB limitations and potentially revolutionize the treatment of CNS disorders. As research progresses, the application of nanomaterials shows immense potential for advancing neurological therapeutics, albeit with careful consideration of safety aspects.

Neuroprotective effects of Bauhinia variegata in ameliorating diabetic neuropathy and neurodegeneration

INTRODUCTION

In diabetic neuropathy with neurodegeneration (DNN), a serious diabetes consequence, extreme hyperglycemia destroys neurons in the brain and limbs. The main therapies for this condition are glucose control and pain management. Phytopharmacology is thought to be more successful in addressing the pain and blood sugar management issues associated with DNN. The objective of this study was to investigate how Bauhinia variegata (BV) could offer protection against streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic neuropathy.

METHODOLOGY

STZ-associated DNN was induced in rats, and these diabetic rats were treated with BV at 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg doses for 28 days. Blood glucose (BG), serum nitrite, lipid peroxidation, antioxidants, C-reactive protein, behavioral, and histopathological parameters were assessed.

RESULTS

BV dramatically reduced BG and HbA1c levels in diabetic rats, according to the findings. The levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase both rose significantly. Both lipid peroxidation and serum nitrite levels were drastically decreased with BV treatment. In this study, it was found that BV has anti-hyperglycemic and anti-inflammatory effects on DNN. This was shown by a significant drop in C-reactive protein in diabetic rats, which was a key factor in diabetic neuropathy. Thermal hyperalgesia was significantly alleviated after BV therapy, and diabetic rats' pain thresholds improved.

CONCLUSION

Present study concluded that BV treatment has excellent glycemic control, a high antioxidant status, and relevant pain-relieving potential in diabetic neuropathy with neurodegeneration by reversing thermal hyperalgesia and decreasing hypeglycemia in diabetic rats.

Unraveling the mechanisms of trans-cinnamic acid in ameliorating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing significantly due to high amounts of fat and fructose in the diet. Phytochemicals present in herbal plants and nutrients present in food play vital roles in the management of NAFLD. One of these is trans-cinnamic acid (TCA). We are evaluate the role of TCA in NAFLD induced by a high-fat, high-fructose diet.

METHODOLOGY

Rats fed a high-fat, high-fructose (HFHF) diet for ten weeks exhibited distinct signs of NAFLD. Rats were given TCA (10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg, and 40 mg/kg) and pioglitazone (10 mg/kg) for four weeks along with a HFHF diet. At the end, body weight, food intake, liver, lipid measurements, TNF-α, antioxidants, and histopathology were evaluated.

RESULTS

TCA significantly decreased serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic pyruvic transaminase in rats. Serum cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipid levels were substantially decreased in TCA-treated rats compared to diseased controls. Superoxide dismutase, glutathione, and malondialdehyde were significantly decreased in rats treated with a high dose of TCA (40 mg/kg) compared to HFFD-fed rats. HFFD-fed rats exhibited fatty liver alterations, whereas rats treated with TCA exhibited significantly fewer morphologic changes associated with fatty liver disease. TCA at a high dose exhibited decreased TNF-α levels, thereby decreasing hepatic inflammation.

CONCLUSION

TCA proved its role in the treatment of NAFLD by substantially reducing liver enzymes, pro-inflammatory markers (TNF-α), and lipid markers. Inclusion of TCA as a therapeutic regimen alongside diet-based treatment undoubtedly has therapeutic potential in NAFLD and related diseases.

Prominent Targets for Cancer Care: Immunotherapy Perspective

Objective:

Recent scientific advances have expanded insight into the immune system and its response to malignant cells. In the past few years, immunotherapy has attained a hallmark for cancer treatment, especially for patients suffering from the advanced-stage disease. Modulating the immune system by blocking various immune checkpoint receptor proteins through monoclonal antibodies has improved cancer patients' survival rates.

Methods:

The scope of this review spans from 1985 to the present day. Many journals, books, and theses have been used to gather data, as well as Internet-based information such as Wiley, PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, EBSCO, SpringerLink, and Online electronic journals.

Key findings:

Current review elaborates on the potential inhibitory and stimulatory checkpoint pathways which are emerged and have been tested in various preclinical models, clinical trials, and practices. Twenty-odd such significant checkpoints are identified and discussed in the present work.

Conclusion:

A large number of ongoing studies reveal that combination therapies that target more than one signaling pathway may become effective in order to maximize efficacy and minimize toxicity. Moreover, these immunotherapy targets can be a part of integrated therapeutic strategies in addition to classical approaches. It may become a paradigm shift as a promising strategy for cancer treatment.

Atorvastatin's Reduction of Alzheimer's Disease and Possible Alteration of Cognitive Function in Midlife as well as its Treatment

Over the past 20 years, advances in the field of pathogenesis have inspired researchers to look into novel pharmacological therapeutics that are more focused on the pathophysiological events of the disease (AD). This review article discussed the prior use of statins for the prevention of Alzheimer's disease, which can help prevent the disease. Other drugs, such as memantine and donepezil, are available, but they cannot prevent the onset of AD in middle age. Based on available clinical data, the valuable effects of statins are mediated by alteration of β-amyloid (Aβ) and tau metabolism, genetic and lifestyle risk factors, along with other clinical aspects of AD. These findings suggested that using statins in middle age may help to prevent Alzheimer's disease by modifying genetic and non-genetic risk factors in later stages of life. In the present review, we elaborated upon the modification of risk factors and amyloid metabolism in the development and progression of AD and their modulation through atorvastatin. Future directions in the research and treatment of Alzheimer's disease patients include the use of antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) to change target expression, and researchers discovered decreased markers of oxidative stress in tissues affected by tau pathology in response to RNA interference treatment.

Review on Analytical Methodologies, Chemical and Therapeutic Perspectives of Curcumin: A Ubiquitous Natural Molecule

Abstract:

Curcumin is a lipophilic polyphenolic yellow compound extracted from Curcuma longa Linn. (turmeric) rhizome with a broad spectrum of pharmacological and medicinal properties as propounded by several in vivo, in vitro and clinical studies. Considerable research over the past century has been extensively studied on chemical, biological, and analytical perspectives of curcumin. Nowadays, curcumin is widely used in food and pharmaceutical formulation due to excellent health benefit. Therefore, characterization and quantification of curcuminoids in nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals are required to measure their quality control parameters to address issues related to processing and storage. This review article specifies current exploration on analytical methodologies used to extract and quantify curcuminoids in different matrices. Moreover, this review offers phytochemistry, synthetic and biosynthetic pathways, extraction methodologies, degradation and metabolism pathways and health benefits of the curcumin, scurrying from the kitchen shelf toward the clinic.

Xenobots: Applications in Drug discovery

This review work discusses the applications of xenobots in drug discovery. These are the world's first tiny robots that are living. Robots are built of metals and other things that benefit humans to solve various issues; however, in this case, small xenobots were built utilizing Xenopus laevis, frog embryonic stem cells in the blastocyte stage. Xenobots were created by combining bioscience, artificial intelligence, and computer science. Artificial intelligence constructs several forms of design in an in vitro In-silico model, after which the structure is analyzed by software; the most substantial and most noticeable forms are filtered out. Later in vivo development create the design of the Petri plate using the MMR solution and make the same form as the in silico approach. Ultimately evaluation done based on the behavior, movement, function, and features of xenobots. Xenobots are employed in medical research, pharmaceutical research to create novel dosage forms, also useful for biotechnological and environmental research. Xenobots can be utilized to cure neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, and cancer-related issues because of their self-repairing properties, which allow them to repair normal damaged cells, convey drugs to its specific target, and reduce cytotoxicity in mostly malignancy circumstances. In the future, new approaches will be employed to treat chronic illnesses and their complications.

Effectiveness and safety assessment of beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and angiotensin receptor blockers in hypertensive patients: a prospective study

BACKGROUND

Hypertension is most common prevailing cardiovascular disease worldwide. In this condition the effectiveness and safety of already available and many time-tested medications should be regularly reviewed.

METHODOLOGY

Ethical approval of study was obtained from human research ethics committee of the hospital. 180 patients were enrolled with three groups of antihypertensive medication groups as calcium channel blocker (amlodipine), beta blocker (metoprolol) and angiotensin receptor blocker (telmisartan) over a span of eight months. The data was obtained from week zero to twelve (SBP: Systolic Blood Pressure and DBP: Diastolic Blood Pressure). Safety of Beta blocker, calcium channel blocker and angiotensin receptor blocker were investigated.

RESULTS

Comparison of efficacy between the beta blocker, calcium channel blocker and angiotensin blocker receptor blocker were shown to be non-significant. It indicated that all drug therapies have the same successful reduction of SBP (P-0.4819). No significant adverse reactions were observed in either class of the medicines.

CONCLUSION

The study showed the efficacy of Calcium Channel Blocker, Beta Blocker and Angiotensin Receptor Blocker in reduction of SBP & DBP was same, while Calcium Channel Blockers were superior to other two medications.

Pharmacological study of A3 Adenosine receptor agonist (AB Meca) in xenograft lung cancer model in mice through in silico and in vivo approach: Targeting TNF-α

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer is the leading cause of mortality in India. Adenosine receptor (AR) has emerged as a novel cancer-specific target. A3AR levels are upregulated in various tumor cells, which may mean that the specific AR may act as a biological marker and target specific ligands leading to cell growth inhibition.

AIM

Our aim was to study the utility of the TNF-α agonist, AB MECA, by in silico (molecular docking) and in vitro (human cancer cells in xenografted mice) studies.

METHOD

Molecular docking on the AB-meca and TNF-α was performed using AutoDock. A549 Human lung cancer 2 ×106 cells per microliter per mouse injected via intrabronchial route. Rat TNF-α level was assessed by ELISA method.

RESULT

AB Meca's predicted binding energy (beng) with TNF-α was 97.13 kcal/mol, and the compatible docking result of a small molecular inhibitor with TNF-α native ligand beng was 85.76 kcal/mol. In vivo, a single dose of lung cancer cell A549 is being researched to potentiate tumor development. Doxorubicin and A3AR agonist therapies have lowered TNF-alpha levels that were associated with in silico function. The A3AR Agonist myeloprotective effect was also found in groups treated with doxorubicin.

CONCLUSION

AB MECA's higher binding energy (beng) with TNF-α mediated reduction of tumor growth in our lung cancer in vivo model suggests that it may be an effective therapy for lung cancer.

Review and Analysis of Massively Registered Clinical Trials of COVID-19 using the Text Mining Approach

OBJECTIVE

Immediately after the outbreak of nCoV, many clinical trials are registered for COVID-19. The numbers of registrations are now raising inordinately. It is challenging to understand which research areas are explored in this massive pool of clinical studies. If such information can be compiled, then it is easy to explore new research studies for possible contributions in COVID-19 research.

METHODS

In the present work, a text-mining technique of artificial intelligence is utilized to map the research domains explored through the clinical trials of COVID-19. With the help of the open-- source and graphical user interface-based tool, 3007 clinical trials are analyzed here. The dataset is acquired from the international clinical trial registry platform of WHO. With the help of hierarchical cluster analysis, the clinical trials were grouped according to their common research studies. These clusters are analyzed manually using their word clouds for understanding the scientific area of a particular cluster. The scientific fields of clinical studies are comprehensively reviewed and discussed based on this analysis.

RESULTS

More than three-thousand clinical trials are grouped in 212 clusters by hierarchical cluster analysis. Manual intervention of these clusters using their individual word-cloud helped to identify various scientific areas which are explored in COVID19 related clinical studies.

CONCLUSION

The text-mining is an easy and fastest way to explore many registered clinical trials. In our study, thirteen major clusters or research areas were identified in which the majority of clinical trials were registered. Many other uncategorized clinical studies were also identified as "miscellaneous studies". The clinical trials within the individual cluster were studied, and their research purposes are compiled comprehensively in the present work.

Inhibitory Effect of Artemisinin on Testosterone Propionate Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

BACKGROUND

Benign prostate hyperplasia [BPH] is an abnormal growth of prostate observed commonly in elderly males. Artemisinin has been reported to reduce the levels of testosterone.

OBJECTIVE

This study is designed to evaluate the efficacy of Artemisinin on testosterone propionate [TP] induced benign prostate hyperplasia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Male Wistar albino rats [n=24] were separated into four groups of six rats each. Group I served as control and distilled water using tween 80 as an emulsifying agent was administered subcutaneously. BPH was induced by testosterone propionate 3mg/kg [Group II], S.C. daily for 28 days. Group III was BPH + Finasteride treated group (10mg/kg orally for 28 days) and BPH + Artemisinin treated group (Group IV) (50 mg/kg orally for 28 days).

RESULT

The study results showed significantly high levels of serum prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and an elevation in prostate weight and prostatic index in Group II (BPH) when compared with Group I. The histopathological examination showed an increase in the epithelial proliferation of prostatic cells with involutions protruding into the lumen in BPH group when compared to the normal group. Treatment with Artemisinin (50 mg/kg) reduced the levels of PAP, LDH, prostate weight and prostatic index to a significant extent and restored the histoarchitectural features of the cells.

CONCLUSION

The present study concludes that Artemisinin is efficacious in testosterone propionate induced BPH. This could be attributed, at least partly, to its anti-inflammatory property or its role in testosterone level reduction or as a Vitamin D receptor modulator.

Young onset colorectal cancer: How does it differ from its older counterpart?

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer in the young has been a debated topic in literature with conflicting reports as to its pattern of occurrence and survival as compared to the older age group.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Retrospective study to analyze the clinicopathological characteristics, treatment modalities and survival of sporadic young-onset colorectal cancer (YOCR) patients (<40 years) and compare them with the older group (>40 years).

RESULTS

Of 172 patients managed, 72 (42%) were in the YOCR group. Among 72 patients, six were excluded because of hereditary syndromes. Incontinence (P = 0.02) and obstruction at time of presentation (P = 0.03) was significantly more common in the YOCR group. Left sided disease was more common in YOCR group (47/66) compared to the older group (65/100), but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.45). The proportion of rectal cancers was significantly more in the YOCR group (39/47) compared to the older group (39/65) (P = 0.01). Significant difference in resectability was noted in the left sided (YOCR 26/47 vs. older 49/65 P = 0.04) and the rectal cancers (YOCR 18/39 vs. Older 29/39 P = 0.02). The survival was similar among the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Sporadic colorectal cancers in the young are more advanced and less resectable when compared to older population. Genetic studies are needed to elaborate the reasons for left sided predominance and aggressiveness of sporadic colorectal cancers in the younger subgroups.

Myocardial infarction-induced ventricular aneurysm in the presence of complete left bundle branch block: a case report suggesting a new electrocardiographic diagnostic criterion

A 65-year-old man who had suffered an anterior myocardial infarction (MI) 10 years ago, complicated by a ventricular aneurysm (VA), and subsequently many years later developed complete left bundle branch block (LBBB), is described, with main emphasis on the feasibility of the electrocardiographic (ECG) diagnosis of VA in the presence of this conduction abnormality. Ventricular aneurysm in our patient was repeatedly confirmed by echocardiography over the intervening years. During the time the patient maintained normal intraventricular conduction, the ECG showed persisting ST-segment elevations in the precordial leads. After the development of LBBB, the ECG displayed accentuated ST-segment elevations in the precordial leads with predominantly negative QRS complexes, and ST elevation in V5, despite its primarily positive QRS complex. The authors extend the findings from the previous literature on the diagnosis of acute MI in patients with LBBB or right intraventricular pacing, and the concept of primary and secondary repolarization changes, to the diagnosis of VA in the presence of LBBB.