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A passive wireless sensor system integrated with capacitive fluidic flow detection is proposed and developed based on the printed circuit board (PCB) technique. The capacitive sensing structure consists of PCB-based electrodes enclosing an insulating pipe that contains the fluidic flow of interest. The conductivity of the fluidic flow and the appearance of foreign objects within the flow can be determined by analysing the resonant frequency of the detection path in the proposed system. Experimental results demonstrate that the resonant frequency increases according to the increase in electrical conductivity of the fluidic flow. In addition, the sensing performance is also confirmed by the detection of sizes and electrical conductivities of NaCl droplets passing through the detection zone. Furthermore, this work indirectly verifies the effectiveness and feasibility of the integration of passive wireless sensing technique into the fluidic flow detector by using the PCB fabrication technique and demonstrates great potential for use in various applications in biomedical and chemical fields, especially in biomedical applications.

The COVID-19 pandemic causing acute respiratory syndrome is a significant public health problem. Drugs that can treat this disease are currently a high priority. The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and human ACE2 enzyme receptor, which both play important roles in virus entry into the host cell, are promising therapeutic targets for inhibiting viral infection. This research evaluates the potential of chalcone compounds to inhibit the spike proteins and ACE2 enzymes through molecular docking in silico approaches. Based on the ChemFaces database, we collected 92 chalcone compounds. These compounds were further docked to target the active sites of spike protein and human ACE2. After comparing the binding energies of the 92 compounds to artemisinin, ribavirin, and lopinavir, which have inhibitory activity to these protein targets of SARS-CoV-2, we chose 20 out of the 92 compounds that had a higher ability to inhibit the protein targets than the reference inhibitors. Next, five phytochemical compounds with the best binding energy were selected, which included flavanomarein, sarcandrone B, sarcandrone A, calyxin H, and sieboldin. Then, Lipinski’s 5 rule was used to evaluate the druglike properties of these compounds. Predictive ADME/tox filtering tests were also applied to the top docked compounds. The results suggest that sarcandrone B has good pharmacokinetic properties, which should be further explored as an anti-SARS-CoV-2. To confirm these findings, experimental studies are recommended.

Objectives: the COVID-19 pandemic triggering acute respiratory syndrome has become a major global health concern. After one year into this pandemic, special therapies for COVID-19 remain an unprecedented challenge to mankind and finding drugs to treat this disease is extremely urgent. The SARS-CoV-2 RNAdependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) enzyme that regulates viral replication has been examined as a potential therapeutic target for the inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this study, the authors evaluated the ability of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase drug inhibitors by using an in silico molecular docking model. Methods: the 3D structure of RdRp enzyme (PDB ID:6M71, resolution of 2.90 Å) was derived from the Protein Data Bank RCSB. The ligand structures were collected from DrugBank for the RdRp target. Molecular docking was done by AutoDock Vina software. Lipinski’s rule of five is used to compare compounds with drug-like and nondrug-like properties. Pharmacokinetic parameters of potential compounds were evaluated using the pkCSM tool. Results: based on the DrugBank database, we collected 192 antiviral molecules and compared them to remdesivir, which has inhibitory activity with this protein target. Results showed that 26 out of 192 compounds have a higher ability to inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 RdRp enzyme than remdesivir. Next, 6 drugs were selected by visually inspecting the docking results with focus on the main interaction between crucial residues at the binding site of the SARS-CoV-2 RdRp enzyme. For the visual inspection, the existence of polar interactions with ASP760 and ASP761 were utilised as the preference criterion. Finally, Lipinski’s rule of 5 criteria and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMET) profile analysis suggested five drugs that have good pharmacokinetic properties. Conclusions: these drugs were dihydroergotamine, sofosbuvir, nilotinib, tipranavir, and darunavir and may be used as anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents.

A highly sensitive magnetic measurement system was successfully developed using a modified commercial giant magnetometer resistance (GMR) sensor. The device was placed in a highly uniform magnetic field that was generated by two Helmholtz coil pairs which emit magnetic fields in perpendicular directions to magnetize the SPMNPs and bias the GMR sensor to a linear operating range. The system was used to quantitatively determine the concentrations of superparamagnetic nanoparticles in continuous flow. The characteristics of the proposed system were investigated using three types of superparamagnetic nanoparticles: CoFe2O4, CoFe2O4@Fe3O4, and Fe3O4 with different average particle sizes and magnetic saturation. Coupled with the lock-in measurements, the limit of detection (LOD) for the Fe3O4 nanoparticles was 15.5 μg/mL. The limits of detection for CoFe2O4 and CoFe2O4@Fe3O4 were 74 μg/mL and 96.5 μg/mL, respectively. The results show that Fe3O4 is suitable for this system for the separation and quantification of biomarkers in diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD), which relates to nervous degeneration, is the most popular form of memory loss. The pathogenesis of AD is not fully understood, and there are no therapies for this disorder. Some drugs have been used in clinical applications for preventing and treating AD, but they have significant adverse reactions. Therefore, there is a need to develop treatment for AD. Traditional medicine has used many medicinal plants to alleviate the symptoms of AD. Medicinal plants may reduce neurodegenerative disorders with fewer side effects than chemical drugs, and they are promising drug candidates for AD therapy. This review is the summary of the pathogenesis and treatments of AD and includes information about the chemistry and bioactivities of some medicinal plants from the Huperzia species, such as Huperzia saururus, Huperzia selago, Huperzia phlegmaria, Huperzia fargesii, Huperzia serrata, Huperzia reflexa and Huperzia quadrifariata, that are used for the treatment of AD. We searched literature, including Medline, Embase, Google Scholar and PubMed database, and did a bibliographic review of relevant articles. Key words included Huperzia species, huperzine, huperin, Huperzia and Alzheimer's disease. We found that the main bioactive compounds of the Huperzia species are alkaloids, which have shown significant effects on preventing the development of AD. They are new promising compounds against AD due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities in the neural system. Our conclusion from this review is that the Huperzia species are potential source containing various pharmaceutical compounds for the treatment of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the phytochemicals and antidiabetic effect of the aqueous extract of the fruit of Punica granatum Linn. in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. The fruit of P. granatum was extracted with water. The phytochemicals of the water extract were investigated by the liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. The water extract of P. granatum at doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg body weight (bw) was administered to mice for 21 days, and blood glucose level, triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) enzyme were estimated. Analyzed phytochemicals showed the fruit of P. granatum Linn has a high amount of phenolic and flavonoid compounds, which provide beneficial effect for this plant. The oral administration of the fruit extract of P. granatum at doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg bw for 21 days significantly reduced blood glucose level, triglycerides, serum cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, AST and ALT enzyme. Our results suggested that the fruit extract of P. granatum has strong antidiabetic effect in STZ-induced diabetic mice. The fruit of this plant might be a potential source of drug for treatment of diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is related to increasing age. It is mainly characterized by progressive neurodegenerative disease, which damages memory and cognitive function. Natural products offer many options to reduce the progress and symptoms of many kinds of diseases, including AD. Meanwhile, natural compound structures, including lignans, flavonoids, tannins, polyphenols, triterpenes, sterols, and alkaloids, have antiinflammatory, antioxidant, anti-amyloidogenic, and anticholinesterase activities. In this review, we summarize the pathogenesis and targets for treatment of AD. We also present several medicinal plants and isolated compounds that are used for preventing and reducing symptoms of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the formation of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) was studied. A gold thin film was first deposited by E-beam Evaporation method followed by rapid thermal annealing (RTA) to create nanoparticles with many different sizes and shapes. The localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect was also determined. By proper engineering of these metallo-dielectric structures, light can be concentrated and “folded” into a thin semiconductor layer, thereby the absorption can be increased. This approach provides a new development for improving light trapping in thin-film solar cells (TFSCs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigated the protective potential of ethanol extracts of Scutellaria baicalensis ( S. baicalensis ) against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced liver injury. Methods Dried roots of S. baicalensis were extracted with ethanol and concentrated to yield a dry residue. Mice were administered 200 mg/kg of the ethanol extracts orally once daily for one week. Animals were subsequently administered a single dose of LPS (5 mg/kg of body weight, intraperitoneal injection). Both protein and mRNA levels of cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6 in liver tissues were evaluated by ELISA assay and quantitative PCR. Cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and nuclear factor-κB protein levels in liver tissues were analyzed by western blotting. Results Liver injury induced by LPS significantly increased necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and nuclear factor-κB in liver tissues. Treatment with ethanol extracts of S. baicalensis prevented all of these observed changes associated with LPS-induced injury in liver mice. Conclusions Our study showed that S. baicalensis is potentially protective against LPS-induced liver injury in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the protective potential of ethanolic extracts of Tetracera scandens L. ( T. scandens ) against CCl 4 induced oxidative stress in liver tissues. Methods Dried leaf powder of T. scandens was extracted with ethanol and concentrated to yield a dry residue. Rats were administered with 100 mg/kg of ethanolic extracts orally once daily for one week. Animals were subsequently administered with a single dose of CCl 4 (1 mL/kg body weight, intraperitoneal injection). Various assays, such as serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation (carbonyl protein group), tumor necrosis factor alpha, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase, were used to assess damage caused by CCl 4 and the protective effects of the ethanol extract on liver tissues. Results Hepatotoxicity induced by CCl 4 was evidenced by a significant increase in serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase level, lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl group, and tumor necrosis factor alpha, as well as decreased activity of the hepatic antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase). Treatment with ethanolic T. scandens extracts prevented all of these typically observed changes in CCl 4 -treated rats. Conclusions Our findings indicate that T. scandens has a significant protective effect against CCl 4 induced hepatotoxicity in rat, which may be due to its antioxidant properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability of amphipathic peptides to arrange themselves in aqueous solutions, known as self-assembly, has been found to reduce the effectiveness of these peptides in interacting with cell membranes. Therefore, minimizing their tendency to self-assemble could be a potential strategy for enhancing the pharmacological properties of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). To explore this idea, this study prepared a series of natural peptides mastoparan C ( MPC ) with increased net charge and hydrophilicity via alanine-to-lysine substitution and investigated the impact on the biological activity. The preliminary data suggested the influence of both the overall positive charge and the position of a lysine residue on the self-assembly of MPC and its derivatives. Besides, the analogue MPC-A5K,A8K displayed higher anticancer activity and comparable antimicrobial activity with significantly lower hemolysis than MPC . Hence, reducing self-assembly by expanding the cationic area could be a promising approach for developing potent and selective AMPs., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 American Chemical Society.)

Alzheimer's disease (AD), which relates to nervous degeneration, is the most popular form of memory loss. The pathogenesis of AD is not fully understood, and there are no therapies for this disorder. Some drugs have been used in clinical applications for preventing and treating AD, but they have significant adverse reactions. Therefore, there is a need to develop treatment for AD. Traditional medicine has used many medicinal plants to alleviate the symptoms of AD. Medicinal plants may reduce neurodegenerative disorders with fewer side effects than chemical drugs, and they are promising drug candidates for AD therapy. This review is the summary of the pathogenesis and treatments of AD and includes information about the chemistry and bioactivities of some medicinal plants from the Huperzia species, such as Huperzia saururus, Huperzia selago, Huperzia phlegmaria, Huperzia fargesii, Huperzia serrata, Huperzia reflexa and Huperzia quadrifariata, that are used for the treatment of AD. We searched literature, including Medline, Embase, Google Scholar and PubMed database, and did a bibliographic review of relevant articles. Key words included Huperzia species, huperzine, huperin, Huperzia and Alzheimer's disease. We found that the main bioactive compounds of the Huperzia species are alkaloids, which have shown significant effects on preventing the development of AD. They are new promising compounds against AD due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities in the neural system. Our conclusion from this review is that the Huperzia species are potential source containing various pharmaceutical compounds for the treatment of AD.