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The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was one of the first countries in the Middle East to take strict measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19. The present study aimed to identify the degree of application of social distancing and its relationship to psychological well-being among members of Saudi society in relation to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The study sample consisted of 564 individuals chosen by a convenience sampling method from Najran, the Southern region of Saudi Arabia, from April 1 to April 30, 2021. The data collection process employed two tools include social distancing scale and psychological well-being scale. Relation and correlation between variables were investigated using the Fisher exact test; the P-value was significant at 40 years) and the scientific qualification in favor of the university qualification holders. However, there were no statistically significant differences on the gender variable.

Background. When the skin and tissues within the body are injured, the healing process begins. Medicinal herbs have been used to cure wounds since time immemorial. The antimicrobial and antioxidant activity possessed by P. integrifolia may accelerate wound healing. Objectives. To assess the wound healing activity of Premna integrifolia extract (PIE) by employing in-vivo experimental animal models and an in-vitro migration scratch assay. Furthermore, to assess its cytotoxicity using the MTT assay. Methods. Wistar albino rats were used for the in vivo wound healing models. The animals were divided into four groups at random: Group I was untreated. Group II was vehicle control (ointment base). Group III was PIE ointment (5% W/W). Group IV was standard (povidone-iodine ointment) (5% W/W). The ointments were applied directly to the wounds as described above until they healed completely. The wound contraction percentage and tensile strength were calculated. The MTT test was used to determine the viability of the test extract against the fibroblast cells. The scratch assay was used in vitro to determine the wound healing potential of the test drug. P ≤ 0.05 values were considered statistically significant. Results. Premna integrifolia extract did not possess any noticeable cytotoxicity to the cell line and showed an IC50 of 185.98 μg/ml. The wound contraction potential of PIE ointment-treated animals was considerably greater ( P ≤ 0.001 ) on days 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 when compared to the control group. The percentage of wound contraction on day 20 was 99.92% in PIE-treated animals compared to 83.23% in untreated animals. Compared to the untreated group, the duration of full epithelization was significantly ( P ≤ 0.01 ) shorter in the test group. When compared to the incision control group, the animals treated with PIE ointment had significantly higher ( P ≤ 0.001 ) tensile strength. In addition, animals given the test drug had a significant ( P ≤ 0.001 ) increase in total protein and hydroxyproline. In the in vitro scratch assay, test drug-treated cells demonstrated greater cell migration. Histology images confirmed that the test drug-treated group had epithelial tissue proliferation and keratinization. Conclusion. The current study found that Premna integrifolia improved wound healing activity both in vitro and in vivo. These findings indicate that Premna integrifolia extract has wound-healing potential and could be a viable source of nutraceuticals with wound-healing properties.

Enzymes are the keystone for metabolism or the chemical reactions in biological systems. They help to build certain substances and break others down. Enzymes play a critical role in our bodies, industries and corporate sectors. Protease is an enzyme that helps break the peptide bonds present in the protein and separates the amino acids. Microbial proteases are the ones where the bacteria can produce the protease enzyme. Among many industrial enzymes, microbial protease has a versatile role in many fields like laundry, leather preparation, feather degradation, detergent preparation, biocontrol agents, optical lens cleaners, tannery, deproteinization of prawn shell, prevention of putrefaction of cutting oil, food preservatives, chelating agents, fodder additives, removal and degradation of polymeric substances (EPS), removal of hairs in buffalo hide, waste treatment, bioremediation process, reduction of waste-activated sludge and biofilm formation, degumming of silk, cosmetics (to remove glabellar-frown lines), cheese making, Meat tenderization, rehydration of goat skins and reduced water quantity, fibrin degradation, photographic, silver recovery from X-ray films, dairy industry, control harmful nematodes, fruit juice, and bakery, soybean paste, and sauce industry, pulp mills, alcohol production, fish processing wastes, prion degradation. Microbial protease is popularly used in the detergent industry, leather industry, textile industry, food industry, dairy industry, meat processing industry, bakery industry, pharmaceutical industry, etc.

The primary goal of this study is to convert waste cooking oil into biodiesel using immobilized lipase enzyme from Bacillus halotolerans. The used cooking oil acid quantity is 3.95 mg KOH/g. In the optimal settings of enzymatic transesterification, methanol:oil ratio 6:1, reaction time 120 min, lipase enzyme concentration 0.6 mg/ml, and temperature 32 °C, the biodiesel yield was 29.64 mg/kg. ANOVA analysis revealed that enzyme concentration and methanol:oil ratios are the two most dominating factors affecting biodiesel yield. The high R2 99.87 and R2 adj 99.56 values indicate that the fitted model agrees with the predicted biodiesel and actual experimental values. Bio-supported beads could preserve up to 76.62 percent of original activity after six cycles of immobilized lipase enzyme reusability testing. Furthermore, the characteristics of biodiesel were assessed and confirmed using the glycerol assay method and FTIR analysis. The proposed technique has the potential to reduce biodiesel production costs and make waste cooking oil disposal easier. Additionally, this study found that the optimization process improves and enhances the process of converting waste cooking oil to biodiesel.

This study focuses on proving the importance of In-Silico drug discovery in treating diseases that do not have a dependable and viable treatment. A disease of concern is Rotavirus; this spherical virus is responsible for causing diarrhoea like infection in infants. But it is not limited to infants and can occur in adults too. An intensive literature review provided evidence of how the currently available vaccines fail to protect a whole section of the population against this death-causing disease. The current study explores a protein targeted by a ligand that could be potentially developed as a drug. The protein considered is VP4 which is involved in the pathogenesis of the rotavirus. The ligand considered is 2-{[2-(4-phenyl-3,6-dihydro-1(2H)-pyridinyl) ethyl] amino}-4(3H)-quinazolinone with a chemical formula C21H22N4O and molecular weight 346.3 Da. The protein’s physiochemical and stereochemical analysis was conducted, followed by the ligand-protein interaction studies, molecular docking, ADMET studies and MD simulation. The docking results show that the above-mentioned molecule has the least binding affinity value. ADMET studies showed the possibility of the ligand being utilized as an oral drug. On the other hand, MD simulation showed the RMSD value, which reflected the stability of ligand-protein interaction. To conclude, this ligand can be employed to create an anti-rotavirus medication and, in the future, a treatment.

To find a cure for Covid-19 has been a constant struggle, and one field that goes unexplored is the possibility of using fungal metabolites as a remedy. As fungal metabolites are known to showcase a wide range of biological activities, with this set insight, the present research goes on to explore fungal metabolites as a means to find a drug for treating Covid-19. With protease enzyme as the main focus, many antiviral compounds/metabolites from various fungal species were screened, then made to undergo various In Silico activities. In this study, 18 fungal metabolites with antiviral properties were extracted from the antibiotic database and then put through molecular docking with the help of software such as AutoDock Vina and PyRx. The drug-likeness properties were analyzed using pkCSM. There were five likely chemicals against the Mpro enzyme of COVID-19, which are (Chromophilone I, iso, F13459, Stachyflin, acetyl, Chromophilone II, iso and A-108836). Molecular Dynamics simulations helped achieve a hit, Chromophilone I. Naturally obtained Phyto-compounds will help establish a dependable medication or support lead identification, which was achieved by utilizing existing strategies. In Vitro and in Vivo studies can be conducted to analyze further the effectiveness of the identified hit against Covid-19.

Super small secreted glycoprotein (ssGP) is a virulent protein that plays a vital role during the Ebola viral infection. This study entails in silico structural and finding inhibitor compound for the secreted glycoprotein of Reston ebola virus (strain Philippines-96). The physical and stereochemical properties and the protein's secondary and tertiary structure were predicted initially. Later, as the predicted model was evaluated to be a reliable structure, binding pockets were predicted, and known binding ligands to similar proteins were identified. Analogue compounds to known ligands were collected and docked against ssGP. The compound with the least binding energy was identified and recommended as a potent inhibitor towards ssGP. From this study, in-vitro and in-vivo analysis was computed for the selected ligand for designing effective drugs against Reston ebolavirus.

This study was aimed to seek out the awareness and knowledge about the covid-19 during the onset of the pandemic among the urban population of the Saudi arabia. This study was carried out for a period of three months from 01.04.2020 to 31.07.2020 and a sample of 1000 participants. The significant difference of P-value obtained by performing the Pearson Chi-Square test for all he questionnaires to analyse the study of assessment. This study was a small attempt for conducting such valuable studies in preventive medicine. Thus, this study suggests that the community's overall satisfactory report is well aware of the preventive measure procedures and well prepared to tackle the covid-19 pandemic.

An estimated 35% of the world's population depends on wheat as their primary crop. One fifth of the world's wheat is utilized as animal feed, while more than two thirds are used for human consumption. Each year, 17-18% of the world's wheat is consumed by China and India. In wheat, spot blotch caused by

Manganese neurotoxicity has been reported to cause a neurodegenerative disease known as parkinsonism. Previous reports have shown that the expression of the KH-type splicing regulatory protein (KHSRP), a nucleic acid-binding protein, and NLRP3 is increased upon Mn exposure. However, the relation between these two during Mn toxicity has not been fully deduced. The mouse neuroblastoma (N2a) and SD rats are treated with LPS and MnCl2 to evaluate the expression of KHSRP and NLRP3. Further, the effect of the NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 is checked on the expression of NLRP3, KHSRP and pro-inflammatory markers (TNFα, IL-18 and IL-1β) as well as the caspase-1 enzyme. Our results demonstrated an increment in NLRP3 and KHSRP expression post-MnCl2 exposure in N2a cells and rat brain, while on the other hand with LPS exposure only NLRP3 expression levels were elevated and KHSRP was found to be unaffected. An increased expression of KHSRP, NLRP3, pro-inflammatory markers and the caspase-1 enzyme was observed to be inhibited with MCC950 treatment in MnCl2-exposed cells and rats. Manganese exposure induces NLRP3 and KHSRP expression to induce neuroinflammation, suggesting a correlation between both which functions in toxicity-related pathways. Furthermore, MCC950 treatment reversed the role of KHSRP from anti-inflammatory to pro-inflammatory.

Microbial lipases are the biocatalyst of choice for the present and future because of their characteristics, including their ability to remain active as an enzyme throughout a broad pH, temperature, and substrate range. The goal of the current investigation was to find novel sources of substrates and isolates from soil contaminated by oil for the synthesis of lipase. On tributyrin media, 10 lipolytic bacterial strains that were isolated from oil-contaminated soil were grown. Using the zone of clearance, it was possible to identify the isolates with the highest activity. Following phylogenetic tree analysis, molecular characterization of the 16S rRNA sequence of the bacterial isolates revealed that it was Bacillus halotolerans (VSH 09). The enzyme was purified to near homogeneity. The enzyme activity was found to be optimum at a pH of 7.0 and a temperature of 35 °C. While Ni2+ and Cu2+ had no effect, the presence of Mg2+ and Ca2+ exhibited the highest levels of enzyme activity. At 1%, tributyrin as a substrate exhibited its highest level of activity. The molecular weight, as determined by SDS-PAGE, was found to be 38 kDa. The kinetics of the enzyme were found to be 41.66 and 9.37 mg/mL for Vmax and Km, respectively. The high yield of lipase produced by this method suggests that it holds potential for production on a large scale and could be used for various biotechnological applications.

The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed various stresses on individuals and communities Coping with sudden, tense, demanding situations during an infectious disease outbreak requires self-efficacy Increasing the public's self-efficacy for preventive and control measures is important in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic This research was aimed at evaluating the self-efficacy and associated factors of students at a public university in the southwest region of Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic This was a cross-sectional study, and a snowball sampling method was used to recruit participants Data were collected from the beginning of April to the end of June 2020 using an online questionnaire A total of 761 students were included in the study The participants' demographic data were collected, and self-efficacy was analyzed using the General Self-efficacy Scale The results showed that self-efficacy for dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic was moderate in almost half of the students but was low in approximately 25% of the participants There were statistically significant associations between self-efficacy regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and gender, college type, marital status, and family income (p < 0 05) However, the participants' self-efficacy was not associated with age, residence, or history of chronic illness In dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, most students had either moderate or low self-efficacy Certain demographic variables were positively associated with self-efficacy as perceived by the students These findings provide data central to the development of self-efficacy initiatives They may also be useful for the effective implementation of public health preventive behavior programs during the COVID-19 pandemic [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Pure & Applied Microbiology is the property of Dr M N Khan and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use This abstract may be abridged No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract (Copyright applies to all Abstracts )

Communities play an important and active role in preventing and controlling the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Reduction of COVID-19-related barriers and threats perceived by the public should be the top priority in promoting positive preventive behaviors among people This cross-sectional study aimed at identifying the barriers and threats perceived by public university students in the southwestern part of Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic The students were recruited through a snowball sampling technique, and data were collected using a web-based questionnaire Data on socio-demographic aspects, perceived barriers, and perceived threats were collected Perceived barriers were estimated using the Health Belief Model (HBM) questionnaire, and perceived threats were estimated using the patient threat perceptions in the emergency department scale This study was conducted between March and June 2020 Approximately 50% of the study participants had a high level of perceived barriers and a moderate level of total perceived threats Notable factors associated with participants' perceived barriers and threats were age, college type, and monthly income Perceived barriers, participants' residence location, and sex were also significantly related to each other Moreover, perceived barriers were significantly correlated with perceived threats COVID-19-related perceived barriers and threats ranged from a moderate level to a high level among most of the participating students Perceived barriers were associated with some of the demographic variables The findings from this study may help the government in formulating strategies for planning interventions to reduce COVID-19 pandemic propagation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Pure & Applied Microbiology is the property of Dr M N Khan and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use This abstract may be abridged No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract (Copyright applies to all Abstracts )

Objectives: To determine the influence of caffeine on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of pioglitazone (PIO) in diabetic rats. Methods: This was a preclinical study conducted in the College of Pharmacy, Najran University, Saudi Arabia, using 5 groups of Wistar rats: normal rats, untreated diabetic rats, diabetic rats + caffeine (20 mg/kg), diabetic rats + PIO (10 mg/kg), and diabetic rats + PIO (10 mg/kg) + caffeine (20 mg/kg). The drugs were administered for 14 days, and fasting plasma glucose concentrations were determined on the first day, and thereafter at weekly intervals. On day 14, rat sacrifice was followed with assay of levels of biomarkers. To estimate the pharmacokinetic parameters, the diabetic animals were assigned to 2 groups: one group received PIO (10 mg/kg), while the other received PIO + caffeine (20 mg/kg). Blood samples were drawn from the retro-orbital plexus at different time intervals, and pharmacokinetic parameters were measured using high performance liquid chromatography. Results: Caffeine caused statistically marked increases in area under the curve, Cmax, Tmax, and half-life of PIO, and decreased clearance. Combination of PIO and caffeine produced a synergistic effect on percentage reduction in blood glucose, with 67.1% reductions observed on day 7 and 68.9% reductions observed on day 14. Liver and cardiac biomarkers were significantly decreased, suggesting cardioprotective and hepatoprotective effects. Conclusion: Co-administration of PIO with caffeine enhances its antidiabetic effect, probably due to enhanced bioavailability of PIO, leading to clinical benefits in diabetic patients.

The aim of this investigation was to explore the neuroprotective and memory-enhancing effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. ethanolic extract on scopolamine-induced learning and memory deficit in young mice. The nootropic and neuroprotective potential of the extract in scopolamine induced amnesic mice was evaluated by elevated plus maze, step-down avoidance, and Morris water maze tests after 14 days of daily administration. The extract significantly enhanced learning, memory function, improved spatial recognition, as well as successfully reversed scopolamine-induced amnesia. Also, it significantly decreased the brain acetylcholinesterase activity and optimized brain catecholamine levels. Histopathological results confirmed the protective effect of the extract on hippocampal and cortical neurons. These findings suggest that ethanolic extract of H. sabdariffa can confer neuroprotection and augment memory. In conclusion, H. sabdariffa can be used in the management of amnesia and neurodegenerative diseases involving learning, memory, and cognitive dysfunctions.

A fungal species was screened from a forest soil by enrichment agar plating method with longifolene as only carbon source. It was identified as Penicillium europium. The isolated fungus transformed...

Purpose: To investigate the neuroprotective and memory-boosting properties of ethanol extract of Vateria indica bark on scopolamine-mediated defects in learning and memory in young mice. Methods: The ethanol extract of V. indica bark was prepared via Soxhlet extraction and subjected to qualitative and quantitative phytochemical assessment. The acute toxicity of the extract was also evaluated in mice. Six groups of 3-month-old Swiss albino mice (6 per group) were used: normal control, negative control, piracetam group, 250 mg/kg V. indica extract alone group, 500 mg/kg V. indica extract alone group, 250 mg/kg V. indica extract + scopolamine group and 500 mg/kg V. indica extract + scopolamine group. The mice were pretreated with piracetam (standard nootropic drug) or varied doses of the extract for 14 days prior to induction of amnesia. With the exception of normal control group, amnesia induction using scopolamine (3 mg/kg) i.p. on day 14 at 1½ h after the last extract dose. Mice in normal and negative control groups received 0.5 % tragacanth orally at a dose of 10 mL/kg. Cognitive deficit was assessed using elevated plus maze (EPM), step-down avoidance, and Morris water maze (MWM) tests. Results: Qualitative phytochemical screening of V. indica bark extract showed flavonoids, phenolics, glycosides, tannins, carbohydrate, saponins and steroids. The total phenol and total flavonoid contents were 580.96 ± 0.95 mg GAE/g extract and 66.89 ± 0.56 mg RE/g extract, respectively. The mice tolerated the extract up to 5000 mg/kg bwt. They all survived during and after the acute toxicity study and no significant changes in appearance or general behavior were noticed. The extract significantly enhanced learning and memory, and improved spatial recognition in scopolamine-induced amnesic mice (p < 0.05). Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and levels of dopamine and noradrenaline were markedly higher in negative control mice than in normal control, but were significantly reduced after pretreatment with ethanol extract of V. indica bark (p < 0.05). The results of histopathological examination provided evidence in support of the protective effect of the extract on hippocampal and cortical neurons. Conclusion: Pretreatment with ethanol extract of V. indica bark confers neuroprotection and enhances memory in young amnesic mice. Therefore, the extract of the plant can potentially be develpoed for the management of degenerative brain conditions. Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, Cognitive deficit, Neuroprotection, Phytochemicals, Vateria indica

The present study aimed to determine the susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from patients with nosocomial infections to standard synthetic chemical antibiotics and organic ethanoic acids derived from local produce. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the standard synthetic antibiotics determined from standard e-test results and antibiotic sensitivity tests showed many multidrug-resistant strains among the isolates. We compared the susceptibility of these strains to organic ethanoic acids derived from different sources using standard microbiological assays. All strains of P. aeruginosa isolated from the patients were susceptible to the organic ethanoic acids with a satisfactory MIC and minimum bactericidal concentrations. Therefore, organic ethanoic acids were more effective against P. aeruginosa than standard synthetic antibiotics.

Antinociceptive activity of honey and Nigella sativa (N. sativa) oil are well known. Therefore, aim of this study was to investigate the antinociceptive effect of N. sativa oil and its concurrent administration with honey in rats. The tested animals were randomized into 5 groups: Group (1) Normal saline (0.2ml, p.o.); Group (2) N. sativa oil (1gm/kg, p.o.); Group (3) honey (1gm/kg, p.o.); Group (4) N. sativa oil (1gm/kg, p.o.) + honey (1gm/kg, p.o.): Group (5) pethidine (20mg/kg, S.C.) as positive standard. The antinociceptive activity was tested using radiant heat and tail immersion tests. Antioxidant potential was determined by using in-vitro antioxidant assays. Our findings showed that N. sativa oil and honey have antinociceptive effect, the antinociceptive effect appeared after 30 and 60min of administration and declined after 120 and 180 min. Combined administration of N. sativa oil with Honey increased the antinociceptive effect by 20 to 30% in all models. In addition, the antinociceptive effect of the combination reduced the time for onset of action as well as prolonged its duration of action. In conclusion, combined treatment of N. sativa oil with honey increased its antinociceptive activity, showed faster onset of action and prolonged its duration, the fact that can be utilized in the management of painful conditions in humans.

When the skin and tissues within the body are injured, the healing process begins. Medicinal herbs have been used to cure wounds since time immemorial. The antimicrobial and antioxidant activity possessed byTo assess the wound healing activity of Premna integrifolia extract (PIE) by employing in-vivo experimental animal models and an in-vitro migration scratch assay. Furthermore, to assess its cytotoxicity using the MTT assay.Wistar albino rats were used for theThe current study found that

Awad Mohammed Al-Qahtani,1 Ibrahim Ahmed Shaikh,2 Mohammed Ashique K Shaikh,3 Basheerahmed Abdulaziz Mannasaheb,4 Faisal Saeed Al-Qahtani5 1Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia; 3Pharmacy Services Division, Najran University Hospital, Najran, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, AlMaarefa University, Riyadh, 13713, Saudi Arabia; 5Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Awad Mohammed Al-Qahtani, Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966 530540450, Email awadresearch17@gmail.comBackground: Self-medication (SM) is a customary practice around the globe. Appropriate SM comes with many advantages, yet irrational SM is a concern and could lead to adverse drug events and poor health outcomes.Methods: This college-based cross-sectional study was carried out from January to March 2021 among Najran University undergraduate medical students to investigate the prevalence and practice of, and attitudes towards SM. Data were collected using a bilingual self-administered online questionnaire, which was categorized into sections, such as socio-demographic details, attitude towards SM, and practice of SM during the last six months, along with students’ opinions and suggestions regarding SM. The three-item scale was used to assess the students’ attitude. IBM SPSS was used to perform the cross-tabulation, chi-squared test, and binary logistic regression.Results: Overall, 205 undergraduate medical students (58.6%) responded to the survey. The overall prevalence of SM was 60%, of which 25% used antibiotics as SM drugs. Headache (65.9%), fever (30.2%), cold/flu (31.2%), and gastric acidity (28.3%) were common illnesses for which SM was sought, using analgesics and NSAIDs (52.7%), antipyretics (13.7%), and antacid (12.7%) medications. Among the reasons for SM, the illness being minor and quick relief were frequently reported. To rationalize and improve the practice of SM, about half (48.3%) of the students suggested spreading awareness and education regarding the implications of SM and dispensing the medications with prescriptions (46.8%).Conclusion: Overall, the attitude towards SM was satisfactory. The prevalence of SM during the last six months was 60%, and antibiotics were used by 25% of students. A significant negative correlation was observed between attitudes towards and practice of SM. Although medical students of Najran University displayed responsible behavior towards SM, efforts should be made to educate them about the adverse consequences of SM, especially with antibiotics.Keywords: self-medication, students, practice, prevalence, Saudi Arabia

The demand for microbial pectinase has increased due to its vast applications in different industries. The current study dealt with the synthesis of pectinase by a novel native strain Aspergillus cervinus ARS2 using agro-industrial waste. Comparative studies conducted on pectinase production by submerged fermentation (SmF) and solid-state fermentation (SSF) showed that pectinase activity was more increased in SSF (44.51 ± 1.33 IU/mL) than in SmF (40.60 ± 1.15 IU/mL) when using orange peel as a substrate. Using SSF, one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) studies were conducted, considering different process variables such as inoculum size, initial pH, incubation time, moisture content, incubation temperature, and substrate particle size, all of which affected the pectinase activity. OFAT results showed the highest pectinase activity at an inoculum size of 106 spores/mL (43.11 ± 1.06 U/mL), an incubation time of 6 days (43.81 ± 1.21 U/mL), a moisture content of 100% (44.30 ± 1.69 U/mL), a substrate particle size of 1.7 mm (42.06 ± 1.20 U/mL), an incubation temperature of 37 °C (45.90 ± 1.33 U/mL), and an initial pH of 4 (43.31 ± 0.89 U/mL). The identified significant process variables were then optimized by response surface methodology (RSM)-central composite design (CCD). The results showed optimum pectinase activity of 107.14 ± 0.71 IU/mL for a substrate particle size of 2 mm, an incubation temperature of 31.5 °C, an initial pH of 4.9, and a moisture content of 107%, which was obtained from the Minitab optimizer. By using statistical optimization, the pectinase production from the isolated novel fungal strain A. cervinus ARS2 was increased 2.38-fold. Therefore, the A. cervinus ARS2 strain can be further explored for large-scale pectinase production which could meet the growing industrial demands.

Thymoquinone is a natural bioactive with significant therapeutic activity against multiple ailments including wound healing. The poor aqueous solubility and low skin permeability limit its therapeutic efficacy. The present investigation aimed to improve the biopharmaceutical attributes of thymoquinone to enhance its topical efficacy in wound healing. A nanoemulsion-based hydrogel system was designed and characterized as a nanotechnology-mediated drug delivery approach to improve the therapeutic efficacy of thymoquinone, utilizing a high-energy emulsification technique. The black seed oil, as a natural home of thymoquinone, was utilized to improve the drug loading capacity of the developed nanoemulsion system and reduced the oil droplet size to &lt, 100 nm through ultrasonication. The influence of formulation composition, and the ultrasonication process conditions, were investigated on the mean globule size and polydispersity index of the generated nanoemulsion. Irrespective of surfactant/co-surfactant ratio and % concentration of surfactant/co-surfactant mixture, the ultrasonication time had a significant (p &lt, 0.05) influence on the mean droplet size and polydispersity index of the generated nanoemulsion. The developed nanoemulgel system of thymoquinone demonstrated the pseudoplastic behavior with thixotropic properties, and this behavior is desirable for topical application. The nanoemulgel system of thymoquinone exhibited significant enhancement (p &lt, 0.05) in skin penetrability and deposition characteristics after topical administration compared to the conventional hydrogel system. The developed nanoemulgel system of thymoquinone exhibited quicker and early healing in wounded Wistar rats compared to the conventional hydrogel of thymoquinone, while showing comparable healing efficacy with respect to marketed silver sulfadiazine (1%) cream. Furthermore, histopathology analysis of animals treated with a developed formulation system demonstrated the formation of the thick epidermal layer, papillary dermis along with the presence of extensive and organized collagen fibers in newly healed tissues. The outcome of this investigation signifies that topical delivery of thymoquinone through nanoemulgel system is a promising candidate which accelerates the process of wound healing in preclinical study.

BackgroundThe exact molecular mechanisms of the progression of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection remain unclear. The current investigation strived to understand and functionally analyze the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between SARS-CoV-2 infection and mock samples applying extensive bioinformatics analyses.MethodsGSE148729 dataset was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and investigated utilising the limma package in R software to identify DEGs. Pathway and gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis of the up and down-regulated genes were performed in ToppGene. The HIPPIE database was applied to estimate the interactions of up and down-regulated genes and to construct a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network using Cytoscape software. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was utilized for validation.ResultsA total of 928 DEGs (461 up-regulated genes and 467 down-regulated genes) were identified between SARS-CoV-2 infection and mock samples. The up and down-regulated genes were significantly enriched in cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, and ascorbate and aldarate metabolism. Several significant GO terms, including the response to biotic stimulus and oxoacid metabolic process, were identified. The top hub genes and target genes included JUN, FBXO6, PCLAF, CFTR, TXNIP, PMAIP1, BRI3BP, FAHD1, PROX1, CXCL11, SERHL2 and CFI. ROC curve analysis showed that messenger RNA levels of these ten genes (DDX58, IFITM2, IRF1, PML, SAMHD1, ACSS1, CYP2U1, DDC, PNMT and UGT2A3) exhibited better diagnostic efficiency between SARS-CoV-2 infection and mock.ConclusionsThe current investigation distinguished vital genes and pathways that may be implicated in the progression of SARS-CoV-2 infection, providing a new understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The purpose of this study was to explore the potential contracting effect of leptin on isolated guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle (TSM), the possible mechanism, and the impact of epithelium denudation or allergen sensitization, respectively. An in vitro experiment investigated the effect of leptin at a concentration of 250–1000 nmol/L on isolated guinea pig TSM with an intact or denuded epithelium. Ovalbumin and IgE were used to test the impact of active and passive sensitization. The isolated TSM strips were incubated in Krebs solution and aerated with carbogen (95% O2 and 5% CO2) via an automated tissue organ bath system (n = 4 for each group). Isometric contractions were recorded digitally using iox2 data acquisition software. The possible mechanism of leptin-induced TSM contraction was examined by preincubation with leptin receptor (Ob-R) antagonist. Leptin had significant concentration-dependent contraction effects on guinea pig TSM (p < 0.05). Epithelium denuding and active or passive sensitization significantly increased the potency of the leptin. Preincubation with a leptin receptor (Ob-R) antagonist significantly reduced the contraction effects, suggesting an Ob-R-mediated mechanism. Leptin had a contracting effect on airway smooth muscles potentiated by either epithelium denuding or sensitization, and the Ob-R mechanism was a possible effect mediator.

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is an end-stage hormonal syndrome. Although profound attempts have been made to illuminate the pathogenesis, the molecular mechanisms of ACC remain to be clarified. To identify the important genes in the progression of ACC, microarray datasets GSE19775 was downloaded from the gene expression omnibus database. The differentially-expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, and pathway and GO enrichment analyses were performed. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed and the module analysis was performed using the protein interaction network analysis and Cytoscape. Also constructed target genes-miRNA regulatory network and target genes-TF regulatory network. Correlation of the hub genes were analyzed in The Cancer Genome Atlas. The prognostic values of hub genes were further validated by online tool UALCAN. Mutation analysis was done by online tool CBio Cancer Genomics Portal. A total of 884 DEGs were identified, with 441 in up regulation and 443 in down regulation. Pathways in catecholamine biosynthesis, aldosterone synthesis and secretion, pyrimidine deoxyribonucleosides salvage and systemic lupus erythematosus were the most significantly enriched for DEGs (up and down regulated). Blood vessel morphogenesis and cell cycle phase transition were the most significantly enriched term in biological processes, while extracellular matrix and chromosome, centromeric region were in cellular component and heparin binding and protein dimerization activity were in molecular function. Among the PPI networks and its module, target genes-miRNA regulatory network and target genes-TF regulatory network, hub genes were YWHAZ, FN1, GRK5, VCAM1, GATA6, TXNIP, HSPA1A, and F11R. Hub genes such as YWHAZ, STAT1, ICAM1, SH3BP5, CD83, FN1, TK1, HIST1H1C, CABLES1, and MCM3 were associated with poor overall survival, while hub genes such as STAT1, ICAM1, CD83, FN1, TK1, HIST1H1C, and MCM3 were highly expressed in stage 4. In conclusion, DEGs and hub genes diagnosed in this study may deepen our understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying the progression of ACC, and provide important targets for diagnosis and treatment of ACC.

Depression is a major health burden associated with poor quality of life and impaired functioning. Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide and is associated with profound economic costs. Depression is usually treated with antidepressant medications and psychological therapy or combination of both. However, there are lot of limitations associated with these therapies and as a result, a number of alternative or adjunctive therapies have been sought for. Exercise is one such option with a lot of substantial supportive research. The objective of the article was to review the beneficial effects of exercise in depression. An electronic search of literature from inception till 06/2017 highlighting the effects of exercise on depression and the possible mechanistic pathways involved was conducted using PubMed/ Medline, Google scholar and Scopus and relevant articles were utilized for this review. The results of this review confirmed the beneficial role of exercise in depression as evidenced by the improvement in the outcomes and the various psychobiological parameters measured. Thus exercise can be considered as a treatment option for the management of depression.Keywords: Depression, Exercise, Physical activity, Mechanistic pathways, BDNF

Objective There is a growing demand for colourants of natural origin in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and textile sectors. Previously, our group has screened a fungal species from forest soil, identified as Penicillium europium. The isolated fungus transformed the longifolene into various metabolites, of which 12 were isolated in pure form, with potential to be utilized in the perfumery industry. This study aimed to isolate and identify novel fungal pigments from Penicillium europium. Methods The current study showcases the extraction and identification of fungal pigment from Penicillium europium using different spectral studies. The strain was isolated from forest soil, Western Ghats, India, and was found to be capable of using longifolene as the sole carbon source. The yellowish pink coloured pigment-producing fungal strain was identified as Penicillium europium. Further, the pinkish pigment was extracted, purified, and using spectral studies like UV, IR, NMR and Mass, the structure of the pure pigment was identified. Results The pure pigment structure was analyzed and tentatively confirmed as 2-(1,5, dimethyl hexyl)-3,5-dimethyl-6-hydro-1,4-benzoquinone having the molecular formula C16H24O3. Toxicity study using LD50 on Albino rats revealed that the pigment had no toxic effect on rats. Conclusion Penicillium europium synthesized pigments could contribute to biotechnology and add value to the food, feed, and pharmaceutical industries. They can be used for various industrial applications, for example, as dyes for textile and non-textile substrates such as paper, leather, coatings and paints, in cosmetics, and food additives. Negative cytotoxicity result inferred that the pigment could be a potential replacement for hazardous synthetic dyes.

Levetiracetam (LEV) is a unique, effective, relatively safe antiepileptic drug that preferentially interacts with synaptic vesicle protein 2A (SV2A). This study aimed to explore the effect of combined treatment of LEV with omega 3 (OM3) on cognitive impairment and hippocampal oxidative stress and DNA damage induced by seizures in the PTZ-kindled young rat model. Cognitive functions, biomarkers of oxidative stress, and DNA damage were assessed in PTZ-kindled young rats pretreated with single and combined treatment of LEV (30mg/kg, i.p.) and OM3 (200mg/kg, p.o.). Pretreatment with LEV and OM3 at the tested doses significantly attenuated PTZ-induced seizures and decreased cognitive impairment in both passive avoidance and elevated plus maze tests in the PTZ-kindled rats. Moreover, the increase in hippocampal glutamate, malondialdehyde and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels, as well as the decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and GSH-peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities induced by PTZ kindling, significantly decreased. These effects were higher with combined treatment of LEV with OM3 and significantly more than the observed effects of single LEV or OM3. In conclusion, the combined treatment of LEV with OM3 is more effective in seizure control and alleviating the cognitive impairment induced by PTZ kindling in the young rat model, the effects that result from the decrease in hippocampal oxidative stress and DNA damage which can be attributed to the antioxidant properties of both LEV and OM3. These results may be promising for the use of LEV and OM3 combination in the treatment of epileptic children.