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Sangiliyandi Gurunathan, Min-Hee Kang, Muniyandi Jeyaraj, Jin-Hoi Kim Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, KoreaCorrespondence: Jin-Hoi KimDepartment of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, KoreaTel +82 2 450 3687Fax +82 2 544 4645Email jhkim541@konkuk.ac.krBackground: Exosomes are endosome-derived nano-sized vesicles that have emerged as important mediators of intercellular communication and play significant roles in various diseases. However, their applications are rigorously restricted by the limited secretion competence of cells. Therefore, strategies to enhance the production and functions of exosomes are warranted. Studies have shown that nanomaterials can significantly enhance the effects of cells and exosomes in intercellular communication; however, how palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) enhance exosome release in human leukemia monocytic cells (THP-1) remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to address the effect of PdNPs on exosome biogenesis and release in THP-1 cells.Methods: Exosomes were isolated by ultracentrifugation and ExoQuickTM and characterized by dynamic light scattering, nanoparticle tracking analysis system, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, EXOCETTM assay, and fluorescence polarization. The expression levels of exosome markers were analyzed via quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results: PdNP treatment enhanced the biogenesis and release of exosomes by inducing oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, apoptosis, and immunomodulation. The exosomes were spherical in shape and had an average diameter of 50– 80 nm. Exosome production was confirmed via total protein concentration, exosome counts, acetylcholinesterase activity, and neutral sphingomyelinase activity. The expression levels of TSG101, CD9, CD63, and CD81 were significantly higher in PdNP-treated cells than in control cells. Further, cytokine and chemokine levels were significantly higher in exosomes isolated from PdNP-treated THP-1 cells than in those isolated from control cells. THP-1 cells pre-treated with N-acetylcysteine or GW4869 showed significant decreases in PdNP-induced exosome biogenesis and release.Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study showing that PdNPs stimulate exosome biogenesis and release and simultaneously increase the levels of cytokines and chemokines by modulating various physiological processes. Our findings suggest a reasonable approach to improve the production of exosomes for various therapeutic applications.Keywords: exosomes, biogenesis, human leukemia monocytic cells, palladium nanoparticles, oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress

Sangiliyandi Gurunathan, Min-Hee Kang, Muniyandi Jeyaraj, Jin-Hoi Kim Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, KoreaCorrespondence: Sangiliyandi Gurunathan; Jin-Hoi KimDepartment of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, KoreaTel +82 2 450 3687Fax + 82 2 544 4645Email gsangiliyandi@yahoo.com; jhkim541@konkuk.ac.krBackground: Several studies have demonstrated various molecular mechanisms involved in the biogenesis and release of exosomes. However, how external stimuli, such as platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs), induces the biogenesis and release of exosomes remains unclear. To address this, PtNPs were synthesized using lutein to examine their effect on the biogenesis and release of exosomes in human lung epithelial adenocarcinoma cancer cells (A549).Methods: The size and concentration of isolated exosomes were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and nanoparticle tracking analysis system (NTA). Morphology and structure of exosomes were examined using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. Quantification of exosomes were analyzed by EXOCETTM assay and fluorescence polarization (FP). The expression of typical markers of exosomes were analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results: A549 cells cultured with PtNPs enhance exosome secretion by altering various physiological processes. Interestingly, A549 cells treated with PtNPs increases total protein concentration, biogenesis and release of exosomes associated with PtNPs-induced oxidative stress. GW4869 inhibits PtNPs induced biogenesis and release of exosomes and also acetylcholinesterase (AChE), neutral sphingomyelinase activity (n-SMase), and exosome counts. A549 cells pre-treated with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) significantly inhibited PtNPs induced exosome biogenesis and release. These findings confirmed that PtNPs-induced exosome release was due to the induction of oxidative stress and the ceramide pathway. These factors enhanced exosome biogenesis and release and may be useful in understanding the mechanism of exosome formation, release, and function.Conclusion: PtNPs provide a promising agent to increase exosome production in A549 cells. These findings offer novel strategies for enhancing exosome release, which can be applied in the treatment and prevention of cancer. Importantly, this is the first study, to our knowledge, showing that PtNPs stimulate exosome biogenesis by inducing oxidative stress and the ceramide pathway.Keywords: exosome, platinum nanoparticle, cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, acetylcholinesterase activity, neutral sphingomyelinase activity

The article investigates the purification and remediation of reverse osmosis concentrate (ROC) using the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris. The study examines the efficacy of Chlorella vulgaris in eliminating heavy metals, nutrients and other substances from ROC. It analyzes the physico-chemical characteristics of wastewater, including alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, potential of hydrogen (pH), total solids and concentrations of heavy metals, before and after treatment with Chlorella vulgaris.

In the present study, a sustainable green chemistry approach was established to fabricate magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles (Fe3O4NPs) using the aqueous fruit extract of edible C. guianensis (CGFE). Synthesized NPs were further confirmed with different high-throughput characterization techniques such as UV-visible spectroscopy, FT-IR, XPS, DLS and zeta potential analysis. Additionally, XRD, AFM, HRTEM and SQUID VSM demonstrate the generation of crystalline CGFe3O4NPs with mean diameter of 17 ± 10 nm. Interestingly, CGFe3O4NPs exhibit a stupendous bactericidal action against different human pathogens which depicts its antimicrobial value. A significant dose-dependent cytotoxic effect of CGFe3O4NPs was noticed against treated human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Childhood obesity is a global health problem. A percentage of 2.3 of Indian boys and 2.5 of Indian girls are obese. Childhood obesity is associated with many morbidities like diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, musculoskeletal problems, and increased mortality. Aims: The aim of this study is to estimate burden of metabolic complications of obesity in child and parents of obese children and compare it with normal-weight children. Settings and Design: The study was done at a tertiary health center in northern India. It was a cross-sectional study. Methods and Material: We enrolled 60 obese children and age- and sex-matched 26 controls, based on Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) 2015 body mass index (BMI) charts. Anthropometric parameters and metabolic complications in family were compared between cases and controls. Clinical markers of metabolic derangements and laboratory metabolic profile were assessed for obese children. Statistical Analysis Used: Descriptive statistics was used to describe frequencies. Chi-square test and Mann–Whitney test and Spearman correlation were used for comparison. Results: The prevalence of obesity and obesity-related complications was high in families of obese children. Ten percent of obese children had impaired fasting glucose and 30% had Haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in prediabetes category. Forty percent of obese children had dyslipidemia, 45% had transaminitis, and 46.7 were vitamin D deficient. A percentage of 41.7 of obese children had fatty liver on ultrasound. Conclusions: The family health and child weight are linked through home environment and genetics. The metabolic complications of obesity prediabetes, dyslipidemia, fatty liver, and lower vitamin D level are common in childhood obesity. Regular screening and interventions of metabolic complications are essential for saving child's future health.

We investigated the biodiversity of some insect fauna in different coastal habitat of Tamil Nadu, Southeast coast of India and also tried to clarify the relationship between surrounding coastal environmental ecosystem of three coastal habitats (station-I estuarine complex, station-II mangrove area and station-III sandy beach), in order to, eventually, contribute to biodiversity conservation as well as to management of coastal habitat in India. Insect were collected from the three sites, from January 2008 to December 2008. Studies regarding diversity of insects available on coastal environments are very few. A total of 929 insects belong to 23 families and 6 orders were recorded from the 3 sites. Among them, 487 species are from station-II 259 species from station-I and 183 species are from station-III were recorded. Statistical tools PRIMER (Ver. 6.1.11) were employed to find the species diversity, richness and evenness were calculated.

PLA2G6 -associated neurodegeneration (PLAN) is a complex heterogenous group of neurodegenerative diseases that results from mutations in a gene known as PLA2G6 . PLAN comprises three phenotypes with overlapping clinical and radiologic features: (1) Infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy (INAD), (2) Atypical neuroaxonal dystrophy (ANAD), and (3) PLA2G6 -related dystonia-parkinsonism complex (PLAN-DPC). The onset of PLA2G6 -related DPC occurs in adulthood, and patients often have normal birth and development. These patients show clinical manifestations of Parkinsonian syndrome, characterized by bradykinesia and tremors with dystonia, in addition to cognitive regression as well as gait instability. Here, we report a case of PLAN-DPC phenotype in a 20-year-old girl. This case report highlights the detection of a novel variant of PLA2G6 gene mutation, c.757G>A, which has an allelic frequency of 0.001% in the gene database., (© Journal of The Association of Physicians of India 2025.)

An enhanced vaccine is immediately required to swap the more than 100 year-old bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine against tuberculosis. Here, trimethyl chitosan-loaded inactivated Mycobacterium smegmatis (MST), along with potent adenovirus hexon protein (AdHP), and toll-like receptor (TLR)-1/2 as a nanovaccine, was developed against tuberculosis (TB). The nanoformulation increased the bioavailability of MST and elicited the targeting ability. Nanovaccines have a size range of 183.5 ± 9.5 nm with a spherical morphology and uniform distribution. The nanovaccine exhibited a higher release of antigen in acidic pH, and this is mainly due to protonation of ionizable groups in polymeric materials. The nanovaccine facilitated the effective cellular uptake of bone-marrow-derived dendritic cells and progressive endosomal escape in a shorter period. In vitro analyses indicated that the nanovaccine activated cytokine and T-cell production and also assisted in humoral immunity by producing antibodies. The nanovaccine was able to induce more cellular and humoral memory cells and a better protective immune response. Nanomaterials effectively delivered the MST, AdHP, and TLR1/2 antigens to the major histocompatibility complex class I and II pathways to generate protective cytotoxic CD8 + and CD4 + T-cells. In vivo experiments, compared with free MST and BCG, showed that mice immunized with the nanovaccine induced more specific CD4 + , CD8 + , and memory T-cell activations. Overall, the fabricated nanovaccine was able to control the release of antigens and adjuvants and enhance memory cell activation and humoral immunity against TB.

Diabetic foot ulcers/chronic wounds are difficult to treat because of dysfunctional macrophage response and decreased phenotype transition from the M1 to M2 status. This causes severe inflammation, less angiogenesis, microbial infections, and small deformation in wound beds, affecting the healing process. The commercial wound dressing material has limited efficacy, poor mechanical strength, extra pain, and new granulated tissue formed in a mesh of gauze. It is desired to create tough, skin-adhesive, antifouling, sustainable M2 phenotype-enabling, and mechanoresponsive drug-releasing hydrogel. To resolve this, zwitterionic poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (SB) incorporated with keratin-exfoliated MoS 2 and bee-wax nanoparticles were developed to deliver phenytoin upon application of mechanical forces. Human hair keratin was used for exfoliation of MoS 2 , and bee-wax nanoparticles loaded with phenytoin were used as cross-linkers of SB hydrogel. The cross-linked SB-MO 15 -B hydrogel has high mechanical properties, with more tensile strength and strain of 118 kPa and 1485%. Under external mechanical force, hydrogel deformed to release phenytoin of 38% (tensile) and 24% (compressive), which was higher compared to static condition (12%). The penetration of phenytoin into skin tissue was also improved by the mechanical force applied to the hydrogel. SB-MO 15 -B hydrogel effectively activates the polarization of macrophages toward the M2 phenotype, promotes cell proliferation, and also shows superior antibacterial properties. In vivo results demonstrate that hydrogel rapidly promotes diabetic wound repair through fast antiinflammation and M2 macrophage polarization. Therefore, a robust mechanoresponsive hydrogel would provide a new strategy to deliver the drug and also tune the M2 macrophage polarization for chronic wound healing.

Introduction and Importance: Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) is a significant cause of drug-resistant epilepsy, often necessitating surgical intervention. Type IIb FCD poses challenges due to its strong association with drug-resistant seizures. Effective management involves advanced imaging, intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring, and precise surgical techniques. This case study illustrates these strategies in an 11-year-old female with drug-resistant epilepsy attributed to Type IIb FCD., Case Presentation: The patient, an 11-year-old female, had drug-resistant seizures despite various anticonvulsant treatments. Preoperative 3 Tesla (3T) MRI revealed an ill-defined lesion in the right frontal operculum. The surgical team used neuro-navigation for intraoperative guidance and electrocorticography for lesionectomy. Pathology confirmed Type IIb FCD with rare concentric calcifications., Clinical Discussion: Drug-resistant seizures in FCD often require surgery when medications fail. This case highlights the importance of comprehensive preoperative evaluations and advanced imaging, such as 3T MRI, to accurately identify lesions. Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring, including electrocorticography, ensures precise resection of the epileptogenic zone. The unusual finding of concentric calcifications in Type IIb FCD is noteworthy, suggesting the need for further research to understand their impact on the disease., Conclusion: Microsurgical lesionectomy is crucial for managing drug-resistant seizures in Type IIb FCD. Combining advanced imaging with intraoperative monitoring improves surgical precision and outcomes. The rare pathological finding of calcifications highlights the diversity of FCD manifestations, warranting further study. These techniques can significantly enhance seizure control and quality of life in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Introduction: Raised intracranial pressure (ICP) can be due to varied etiology. Differentiating among these various etiologies is crucial in making appropriate therapeutic decisions. A patient with a known past history of the primary or secondary headache of any etiology, when presenting with new onset severe headache, needs to be evaluated with imaging to rule out an alternative diagnosis., Discussion: Here, we describe the case details of a young lady who presented with recurrent raised ICP headaches due to three different etiologies. At her third visit, isolated intracranial hypertension (IH) was the only manifestation of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), which could have been missed if a repeat magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain and venogram were not done., Conclusion: Our case highlights the importance of having a high degree of suspicion for CVST in the clinical setting of raised ICP headache in view of its crucial therapeutic implications., (© Journal of the Association of Physicians of India 2023.)

Currently, bone tuberculosis (TB) treatment largely involves lifelong drug prescriptions and surgical intervention, resulting in poor quality of life for patients. Therefore, the fabrication of injectable scaffolds to form a solid framework around the defective bone region is gaining importance over the extensive use of antimicrobial inhibitors. Herein, we synthesized a novel bone-adhesive and thermoresponsive hydrogel via conjugation of poly( N -isopropylacrylamide- co -glycidyl methacrylate) (PNIPAM- co -GMA) and cysteine (CYS). Thiolation of the polymer enables chemical cross-linking with the bone glycoprotein, enhancing bone adhesion and permitting control of scaffold retention time. The PNIPAM- co -GMA-CYS hydrogel shows higher cross-linking behavior at 37 °C, forms a strong gel in 260 s, and has 151 kPa adhesion strength on cortical bone. The lead compounds 5-methyl-5H-[1,2,4]triazino[5,6- b ]indole-3-thiol (MTIT) and N - tert -butyl-4-methyl-6-(5-methyl-5H-[1,2,4]triazino[5,6- b ]indol-3-ylthio)pyrimidin-2-amine (TMTIPA) were identified by a high-throughput screening method. Effective MTIT and TMTIPA are encapsulated in bone-adhesive hydrogel separately, and both have a high release rate above >70% in 180 h. The MTIT- and TMTIPA-loaded PNIPAM- co -GMA-CYS showed an excellent bactericidal effect, reducing the relative intracellular bacterial survival in macrophages. Furthermore, the as-synthesized hydrogel has outstanding mechanical and biocompatibility properties to become a bone-replacing material and provide support to promote bone repair. This work presents a novel bone-adhesive PNIPAM- co -GMA-CYS for the sustained release of lead compounds toward promising alternative bone TB treatment.