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The tumor suppressor gene TP53 and its downstream genes P21 and MDM2 play crucial roles in combating DNA damage at the G1/S cell cycle checkpoint. Polymorphisms in these genes can lead to the development of various diseases. This study was conducted to examine a potential association between tobacco substance usage (TSU) and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at the exon regions of the P53, P21, and MDM2 genes by comparing populations of smokers and non-smokers from Saudi Arabia. P53 rs1042522 (C/G), P21 rs1801270 (A/C), and MDM2 rs769412 (A/G) were investigated by genotyping 568 blood specimens: 283 from male/female smokers and 285 from male/female non-smokers. The results obtained from the smokers and their control non-smokers were compared according to age, sex, duration of smoking, and type of TSU. Heterozygous CG, homozygous GG, and CG+GG genotypes, as well as the G allele of rs1042522 were significantly associated with TSU in Saudi smokers compared with non-smokers. The C allele frequency of rs1801270 was also associated with TSU in smokers (OR = 1.33, p = 0.049) in comparison with non-smokers, in younger smokers (≤29 years) (OR = 1.556, p = 0.03280) in comparison with non-smokers of the same age, in smokers who had smoked cigarettes for seven years or less (OR = 1.596, p = 0.00882), and in smokers who had consumed shisha (OR = 1.608, p = 0.04104) in comparison with the controls. However, the genotypic and allelic frequencies for rs769412 did not show significant associations with TSU in Saudis. The selected SNP of P53 was strongly associated with TSU and may be linked to TSU-induced diseases in the Saudi Arabian population.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a multifactorial disease, where the host genetics play a significant role in determining the disease outcome. The immunological role of anti-inflammatory cytokine, Interleukin 10 (IL10), has been well-documented in parasite infections and considered as a key regulatory cytokine for VL. Although VL patients in India display high level of IL10 in blood serum, no genetic study has been conducted to assess the VL susceptibility / resistance. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the role of IL10 variations in Indian VL; and to estimate the distribution of disease associated allele in diverse Indian populations.All the exons and exon-intron boundaries of IL10 were sequenced in 184 VL patients along with 172 ethnically matched controls from VL endemic region of India.Our analysis revealed four variations; rs1518111 (2195 A>G, intron), rs1554286 (2607 C>T, intron), rs3024496 (4976 T>C, 3' UTR) and rs3024498 (5311 A>G, 3' UTR). Of these, a variant g.5311A is significantly associated with VL (χ2=18.87; p =0.00001). In silico approaches have shown that a putative micro RNA binding site (miR-4321) is lost in rs3024498 mRNA. Further, analysis of the above four variations in 1138 individuals from 34 ethnic populations, representing different social and linguistic groups who are inhabited in different geographical regions of India, showed variable frequency. Interestingly, we have found, majority of the tribal populations have low frequency of VL ('A' of rs3024498); and high frequency of leprosy ('T' of rs1554286), and Behcet's ('A' of rs1518111) associated alleles, whereas these were vice versa in castes. Our findings suggest that majority of tribal populations of India carry the protected / less severe allele against VL, while risk / more severe allele for leprosy and Behcet's disease. This study has potential implications in counseling and management of VL and other infectious diseases.

A laboratory experiment was designed for undergraduate students, in which the outcome of an easy single-step organic synthesis with well-defined conditions was not elucidated until the end of the exercise. In class, students predict and discuss the possible products using their knowledge of reaction mechanisms. In the laboratory, they learn how to carry out a reaction safely with gaseous isobutene, and to isolate and identify the two main products. The class and the laboratory components are completed in 10 h, including laboratory time of 6 to 7 h, divided in two sessions. The class-component could also be implemented independently as a theoretical exercise in a "virtual experiment" simply by presenting the methods and results to students using a guided-inquiry approach, appropriate for a standard 3 h undergraduate class. The finding that the simple reaction leads to a largely unexpected product, together with open discussions with students covering several theoretical aspects applicable to this reaction, helps to promote critical thinking and to provide an effective educational tool to better understand the process of scientific research in chemistry.

This study aims to investigate the antioxidant characteristics of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized using Ixora flower extract (IFE). The IFE-AgNPs were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Ultraviolet (UV)–Visible and Fourier-transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy techniques. The UV–Visible spectrum result indicated the surface plasmonic resonance (SPR) band at 410 nm, which is a characteristic band of AgNPs. The FT-IR spectroscopy results demonstrate that, the formation of IFE-AgNPs is caused by phytochemicals found in the Ixora flower extract. Computational studies by Monte Carlo (MC) simulation and density functional theory (DFT) confirms the electron donation property of Ixora flower extract molecules to the silver cations (Ag+). SEM and XRD results show that, the prepared Ixora flower extract-silver nanoparticles (IFE-AgNPs) nanoparticles had a spherical shape and ranged in size from 30 to 70 nm. The antioxidant capacity of IFE-AgNPs was confirmed through both DPPH and hydrogen peroxide method. The antioxidant activity enhances with increment in the IFE-AgNPs concentration and highest antioxidant activity observed at 40 mg/ml. The robust antioxidant activity of IFE-AgNPs suggests that, the prepared AgNPs is a great candidate for various biological applications. The results of this study might pave the way for the development of novel antioxidant qualities.