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Biofilm formation associated with quorum sensing (QS) is a community behaviour displayed by many gram-negative pathogenic bacteria that provide survival advantages in hostile conditions. The inhibitors of QS interrupt bacterial communication and coordinated cell signalling for community aggregation in the biofilm. Thymol, a natural monoterpenoid, was tested against QS in Chromobacterium violaceum. As the first step, the interaction of thymol with cviR protein was investigated using in silico approach followed by validation using detailed in vitro experiments. The QS and biofilm studies were performed using the wild type of strain C. violaceum ATCC 12,472 and a mini-Tn5 mutant CV026. The MIC of thymol was established by the broth micro-dilution method, and IC

Diabetic wound management is a serious health care challenge due to higher rates of relapse, expensive treatment approaches, and poor healing outcomes. Among cell-based therapies, use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been shown to be effective for diabetic wounds, but its poor shelf-life limits its clinical use. Here, we demonstrate a simple but effective polymer system to increase the shelf-life of PRP by developing a polyelectrolyte complex with dropwise addition of chitosan solution containing PRP by simple mixing at room temperature. Thus, prepared chitosan-fucoidan (CF) carrier complex encapsulated more than 95% of the loaded PRP. The resulting CF/PRP colloids were spherical in shape and ensured extended PRP release up to 72 h at 37 °C. Routine characterization (FT-IR, XRD, SEM) showed the material properties. The biological assays showed that CF complexes were biocompatible while CF/PRP enhanced the proliferation of fibroblasts and keratinocytes via higher Ki67 expression and fibroblast migration. Further investigations using a diabetic mouse model demonstrated significantly higher wound contraction and histopathological observations showed increased fibroblast migration, and collagen and cytokeratin deposition in treatment groups. The results are suggestive of the efficacy of CF/PRP as a cost-effective topical formulation for the sustained delivery of growth factors in treating chronic diabetic wounds.

The marine bacterial exopolysaccharides (EPS) have transfigured the biotech sector with their myriad applications and prospects. This work was carried out to characterize and analyze the functional and biochemical properties of an EPS (EPS-DR3A) produced by a marine bacterium, Pseudoalteromonas sp. YU16-DR3A. The bacterium was cultured in Zobell marine broth for the production of EPS. The extracted EPS designated as EPS-DR3A was composed of 69% carbohydrates and 7.6% proteins with a molecular weight of 20 kDa. FT-IR spectra showed the presence of different functional groups. The monosaccharide analysis performed using GC-MS showed the presence of fucose, erythrotetrose, ribose, and glucose as monomers. EPS-DR3A showed excellent emulsifying activity against the tested hydrocarbons and food oils with stable emulsions. Rheological analysis of EPS-DR3A revealed the pseudoplastic behavior. The EPS-DR3A displayed good thermal stability with a degradation temperature of 249 °C and a melting point at 322 °C. Further, it had the ability to scavenge DPPH and nitric oxide free radicals with good total antioxidant activity. The in vitro biocompatibility study of EPS-DR3A showed high degree of biocompatibility with human dermal fibroblast cells at the tested concentrations. Taken together, the findings such as thermostability, emulsifying activity, pseudoplasticity, antioxidant activity, and biocompatibility of EPS-DR3A make this biomolecule an important candidate for a wide range of biomedical applications.

Bariatric surgery presently is the best possible intervention for treatment of severe obesity and its related conditions. This study presents retrospective data on the pregnancy outcomes of Indian patients who underwent bariatric surgery before conception. This is a single-centre retrospective, observational study. Data on demographics, pre-surgery weight, body mass index (BMI), types of bariatric surgery, weight at conception, weight gain during pregnancy, type of delivery and the health of the baby were collected and analysed to study the weight loss pattern and pregnancy outcomes in female patients of childbearing potential. The study included 34 women of childbearing potential (BMI>30 kg/m2) who underwent bariatric surgery. The study population was followed up from the time of surgery until 1-year post-delivery of the baby. The mean weight gain during the pregnancy was 14.9±5.4 kg. Twenty-three underwent LSCS, and the rest had normal delivery with mean baby weight of 2.5±0.4 kg. Six babies required neonatal intensive care. In our series, only 4 of 35 cohorts that are only 11% had substantial weight retention (range 5–13 kg) at the end of 12 months which is significantly lower than the normal cohorts who did not undergo bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgery improves fertility with safe pregnancy and its outcomes in terms of preeclampsia, eclampsia, gestational diabetes, premature rupture of the membranes (PROM), postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) and puerperal sepsis in women with childbearing potential and safe for offspring in terms of shoulder dystocia, macrosomia, birth asphyxia and perinatal mortality. However, they should be well aware of the risks associated with bariatric surgery especially the mal-absorptive procedures.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen, having complicated quorum sensing (QS) system utilizing multiple signals and receptors to coordinate virulence and pathogenicity. N-acyl-homoserine-lactones (AHLs) are the most common autoinducers responsible for regulation of QS mediated virulence gene expression. There are two interrelated QS systems in P. aeruginosa namely, LasI/R and RhlI/R, which are regulated by 3-oxo-C12-HSL and C4-HSL respectively and well explored in host-associated pathogenesis. The LasR and RhlR binding specificity to cognate or non-cognate HSLs influences the QS mediated responses. In the current study, using computational approaches we aimed to consolidate the interaction of different types of HSLs which are produced during P. aeruginosa infection with LasR and RhlR receptors. To explore the binding affinity, fourteen different AHLs were subjected for molecular docking analysis with LasR and RhlR receptors. The RhlR was modelled using MMseqs2 in ColabFold: Alpha fold 2. Further, to validate the stability and interaction mechanism, molecular dynamic simulations was performed with the top docked six HSLs for 100 ns. In docking results, apart from 3-oxo-C12-HSL and C4-HSL, other HSLs such as C16-HSL and C6-HSL showed better binding affinity towards LasR and RhlR respectively. Further validation by molecular dynamic simulations showed that 3-oxo-C10-HSL has a stable complex formation with LasR and 3-oxo-C6-HSL with RhlR. Our comprehensive Insilco study results may provide promising targets for development of anti-QS drugs against Las/Rhl QS systems.

Human gut microbiota exists in a complicated symbiotic relationship which postulates to impact health and disease conditions on the host. Interestingly, the gut microbiome shows different mechanisms to regulate host physiology and metabolism including cell-to-cell communications. But microbiota imbalance is characterized to change in the host normal functioning and lead to the development and progression of major human diseases. Therefore, the direct cross talk through the microbial metabolites or peptides suggests the evidence of host health and disease. Recent reports highlight the adaptation signals/small molecules promoting microbial colonization which allows modulating immunity of host and leads to pathogen colonization. Moreover, quorum sensing peptides are also evident in the involvement of host disease conditions. Here, we review the current understanding of the gut microbiota cross talk with mammalian cells through metabolites and peptides. These studies are providing insight into the prediction of signature molecules which significantly provide information for the understanding of the interaction for precision medicine applications.

Defined with a dual-mode of action, the hybrid molecule synthesis is an attractive strategy to endure the scientific challenges in drug discovery. Besides worthy development in cancer therapy, it is still a leading cause of death across the globe. Failure in terms of efficacy, selectivity and toxicity, the statistics of a potential drug to concrete the cancer is rather in bleak. In the present study, synthesized hybrid molecules were well characterized by spectroscopy techniques. The single-crystal X-ray crystallography study revealed the monoclinic crystal system of Dimethyl 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-(5-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1H-pyr azol-4-yl)pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate (5 b) with spacegroupC2/c. MTT assay provided the anticancer property of the compounds Diethyl1,4-dihydro-3,5-dimethyl-4-(3-(5-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl) -1H-pyrazol-4-yl)pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate (5 a) and 5-methyl-1-phenyl-4-(4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)- 1H-pyrazole (6 a) against A549 cell lines with the IC(50)values of 42.79 mu M and 55.13 mu M respectively. The AO-EB staining assay for cell death analysis confirmed the selective action of both5 aand6 a. Further, molecular docking confirmed the effective binding with cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK2) protein, suggesting that the target compounds are remarkable inhibitors in dysregulating the CDK2 protein in cancer cells.

Enterobacter cloacae is normally considered to be an opportunistic human pathogen. Here, we report on the whole-genome sequence of an endophytic E. cloacae, strain "Ghats1", isolated from leaves of the medicinal plant Coscinium fenestratum Gaertn. Functional analysis of the Ghats1 genome revealed an enrichment for genes involved in the uptake and exchange of nutrients, for chemotaxis and for plant colonization. Unexpectedly though, there were no ORFs belonging to the "virulence factors and antibiotic resistance". Moreover, the presence of hydrolytic enzymes and motility functions reveals the characteristics of an endophyte lifestyle of a bacterium that can colonize and adapt to plant environment. These results provide a better understanding of an endophytic lifestyle through plant-microbe interaction, which can be further exploited as a biocontrol agent.

Urea is one of the major components of the human urine and its breakdown by the uropathogens occurs mainly through the activity of the enzyme urease. However, a few reports suggest the presence of an alternate enzyme system for urea breakdown namely urea carboxylase (UC) and allophanate hydrolase (AH). We have previously reported the UC and AH system in the genome of a urease-negative uropathogen Kalamiella piersonii YU22 of the novel genus Kalamiella (reclassified recently as Pantoea).To validate the UC and AH activity in the presence of urea, we investigated the growth and urea utilization patterns of this bacterium. Growth kinetics, variations in media pH, NH

12 páginas.- 2 figuras.- referencias, Actinobacteria have been known to the world since the mid-eighteenth century, when Ferdinand Cohn portrayed them as ropy critters. In the nineteenth century, these unidentified morphons became famous for their broad array of applications and for causing maladies. Over the last five decades, actinomycetes have been classified and their names have been validly published as representative taxa. Actinobacteria have preserved their overall genetic integrity and kept newer genes that code for bioactive substances, as evidenced by their capacity to produce a myriad of bioactive compounds. As of today, we have hardly cultured 1% of existing microorganisms including Actinobacteria. Some Streptomyces strains were exploited for enhanced production of new bioactive compounds. In times of the bioinformatics era, insufficient and developing laboratory methods for enumeration of potential species are acting as a barrier to obtaining the maximum product in downstream processing. This issue may be addressed by using the reserve-engineering approach. Published reports indicate that new or high production can be achieved through either strain improvement or the remaining microbial dark matter consists of growing hidden gems for an awaited potential application. Reverse engineering of microorganisms, on the other hand, improves the efficacy of a specific target gene to obtain high product value, which can be seen in the expression of the tylosin biosynthetic gene cluster. Hidden gems among the phylum Actinobacteria need to be discovered and reverse engineered for antibiotics and novel drugs. Therefore, advancement in research machine learning and artificial intelligence seems to be incredible tools. Hence, uncultivated Actinobacteria can be used for the benefit of mankind by combining reverse engineering with machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI).

Carvone is a natural monoterpenoid and in this study it was tested for its role in attenuating quorum sensing (QS) controlled biofilm formation in

Objective To study the effect of radiation therapy on the structural and elemental composition of permanent teeth enamel in vitro. Methods Sections from 21 noncarious healthy human teeth were exposed to a cumulative radiation dose of 20–80 Gy. The sections were subjected to electron dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis to study the elemental composition, the ratio of inorganic and organic content, and the mineralization and crystalline properties of the hydroxyapatite crystal structure respectively. All measures were taken on specified areas of enamel surface before and after radiation exposure and compared. Results In FTIR and EDS studies, the calcium to phosphorus (Ca/P) and carbonate to phosphate (CO32−/PO3-4) ratios were significantly different (P Conclusions Radiotherapy can induce significant variations in the inorganic and organic functional groups constituting the tooth enamel surface; and these variations are dose dependent. The mechanism responsible for delamination and radiation caries needs to be explored by studying the protein lysis pattern, which might be a leading factor causing the enamel degradation and radiation caries.

Gallstones (GS) are formed as a result of impaired metabolic regulation and can be reflected in serum parameters. This study was focused on classifying GS based on spectral microanalysis and identifying the possible role of serum hepatic parameters on GS of different compositions. The study included a total of 126 GS from 80 consecutive patients who underwent cholecystectomy for GS diseases in a single center. The composition and microstructure of GS were analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The serum hepatic parameters were studied in order to establish a possible etiologic relationship with GS composition. In the study group, the incidence of GS was higher in females 62 (77.5%) compared with males 18 (22.5%). The mean age was 42.81 ± 13.01 and 43.78 ± 14.4 years for female and male patients, respectively. Based on composition, the GS were assigned to four major groups: cholesterol, pigment, phosphate, and mixed stones. Mixed composition stones totally represented the majority 53 (66.3%), followed by pure cholesterol 23 (28.8%), pigment stones 2 (2.5%), and phosphate stones 2 (2.5%), respectively. Elemental composition revealed the presence of carbon (C), oxygen (O), calcium (Ca), and phosphorus (P) to be major elements along with traces of sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg), aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), bromine (Br), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn). Among serum parameters, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, and total protein were higher in patients with pigment GS than cholesterol GS. Characterization of GS indicates that different types of stones have different characteristics in terms of microstructure, elemental composition, and distribution. Serum hepatic function test profiles showed an association with the compositions of GS.

Marine bacteria secrete exopolysaccharides (EPS) with unique structural and functional properties and serve as a source of newer bioactive biopolymers. This study reports an EPS produced by a marine bacterium identified as Alteromonas sp. PRIM-28 for its bioactivities. The EPS was characterised using standard methods and tested for its bioactivities using in vitro models. EPS-A28 is an anionic heteropolysaccharide with a molecular weight of 780 kDa and exists as triple helical structure in aqueous solution. Monosaccharide composition is mannuronic acid, glucose and N-acetyl glucosamine repeating units in the ratio 1:3.67:0.93. The FT-IR spectra showed the presence of sulphate, phosphate and uronic acid residues. The thermal analysis showed partial degradation of the EPS-A28 at 190 °C and 40% of residues were stable up to 800 °C. It showed biocompatibility and induced proliferation and migration of dermal fibroblasts (HDF) and keratinocytes. EPS-A28 could increase the S-phase of cell cycle. The proliferative property of the EPS-A28 was established by the increased expression of fibroblast proliferation marker (Ki-67) also its capability of binding to cell surface. It also induced nitric oxide and arginase synthesis in macrophages. These findings suggest that EPS-A28 can be potentially used as a multifunctional bioactive polymer in wound care.

Angiogenesis plays a critical role in cancer progression and, hence, inhibiting angiogenesis is considered as a key strategy in cancer therapy. In this study, we screened the antiangiogenic and cytotoxic properties of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn. plant of family Oleaceae, which is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of cancer, arthritis and inflammation. The antiangiogenic activity of ethanolic extract of Nyctanthes arbor-trsitis (ENA) was assessed using Chick Chorioallantoic Membrane (CAM) assay. The mechanism of antiangiogenic action was evaluated via gelatin digestion assay for matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitory activity. Cytotoxic activity of the extract on glioma cells was assessed using MTT and trypan blue dye exclusion assays. ENA impaired capillary formations in chick CAM model and inhibited MMPactivity on gelatin gels in a concentration dependent manner. The extract was found to be cytotoxic on glioma cells at higher concentrations. Bioactivity guided purification of ENA using column chromatography and thin layer chromatography afforded lupeol as the active principle. Lupeol exhibits significant MMPinhibitory activity at a concentration of 2 μg/mL and cytotoxic activity on glioma with an IC50 value of 10.75 μg/mL. The results of this study hold promise for developing this plant as a source of lupeol, a highly bioactive compound against angiogenesis.

Tetrandrine is a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid known to exhibit anticancer activity against different cancers. In the present study, the cytotoxic effect of tetrandrine isolated from Cyclea peltata on pancreatic (PANC-1) and breast (MDA-MB-231) cancer cells was evaluated in vitro with an attempt to understand the role of tetrandrine on the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and caspase activation. Results demonstrate the dose- and time-dependant cytotoxic effect of tetradrine on both MDA-MB-231 and PANC-1 cells with IC50 values ranging between 51 and 54 μM and 22 and 27 μM for 24 h and 48 h of incubation respectively. In addition, treatment of MDA-MB-231 and PANC-1 cells with tetrandrine showed the shrunken cytoplasm and damaged cell membrane in a dose- and time-dependant manner under the microscope. Also, tetrandrine treatment revealed an elevated levels of reactive oxygen species and increased activities of caspase-8, -9 and -3 confirming the apoptosis of cells through both extrinsic death receptor and intrinsic caspase activation. Therefore, the present study suggests the apoptosis of cells with the activation of caspase pathways mainly intrinsic pathway as a downstream event of tetrandrine-induced ROS generation. Hence, reactive oxygen species-mediated caspase activation pathway may be potentially targeted with the use of tetrandrine to treat breast and pancreatic cancers.

Increase in infection with multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a serious global challenge in healthcare. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is capable of causing human infection in various sites and complicates the infection due to its virulence factors. This study was aimed to investigate the effect of quercetin, a dietary flavonoid against the virulence factors of P. aeruginosa and its cell protective effects on epithelial cells. Bactericidal activity, anti-biofilm activity and effect on different virulence factors were carried out using standard methods by using five P. aeruginosa isolates. Cytotoxicity and cell protective effect of quercetin was evaluated by trypan blue dye exclusion assay. All the tested isolates were completely inhibited (100%) by quercetin at a concentration of 500 μg ml-1 . It showed significant (P < 0·05) inhibitory effect on virulence factors including biofilm formation and showed significant protective effect on HEK 293T cells infected with P. aeruginosa strains. This study supports the role of quercetin against P. aeruginosa, by inhibiting virulence factors as well as its cytoprotective activity during bacterial infection either by attenuating the virulence or providing direct protective effect to the host cells. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The increase in infections caused by opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a serious concern in the health care system. This study describes the beneficial effects of a dietary flavonoid, quercetin against pathogenic P. aeruginosa strains and its protective effect against the P. aeruginosa infection in HEK 293T cells in vitro.

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with wide spectrum of symptoms and few effective therapies. Evidence is suggestive of an association between immune system dysfunction and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) among children with ASD. Immunoglobulins (Ig) are found to be increased in the circulation of individuals with autism. The prospective study was aimed to estimate and correlate the levels of IgG4 in blood and saliva of children with autism. Methodology: Blood and unstimulated saliva were collected from 172 children (55 ASD, 57 healthy control, and 60 suspected parasitic infection) aged 0-18 years. Routine blood investigations were done. Serum and salivary IgG4 levels were analyzed using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Data were subjected to statistical analysis. Results: ELISA tests showed that the IgG4 levels in serum and saliva were significantly increased (P

The mechanical integrity of rolled ZM21 Mg was improved by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) to function as a potential biodegradable bone screw implant. Electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) revealed deformed grains of 45 µm observed in rolled ZM21 Mg. They were transformed to equiaxed fine grains of 5.4 µm after 4th pass ECAP. The yield strength of rolled and ECAPed ZM21 Mg alloys were comparable. In contrast, 4th pass ZM21 Mg exhibited relatively higher elongation when compared to rolled sample. The mechanical properties of rolled and ECAPed ZM21 Mg were dependant on both grain refinement and crystallographic texture. The rolled and 4th pass ECAPed tensile samples exhibited nonlinear deterioration of mechanical properties when tested after 7, 14, 21 and 28 days immersion in Hank’s solution. The evaluation signifies that regardless their processing condition, ZM21 Mg alloys are suitable for surgical areas that requires high mechanical strength. In addition, the 4th pass ECAP samples were viable to MG-63 cells proving themselves to be promising candidates for future in vivo studies.

The marine bacterial exopolysaccharides (EPS) have transfigured the biotech sector with their myriad applications and prospects. This work was carried out to characterize and analyze the functional and biochemical properties of an EPS (EPS-DR3A) produced by a marine bacterium, Pseudoalteromonas sp. YU16-DR3A. The bacterium was cultured in Zobell marine broth for the production of EPS. The extracted EPS designated as EPS-DR3A was composed of 69% carbohydrates and 7.6% proteins with a molecular weight of 20 kDa. FT-IR spectra showed the presence of different functional groups. The monosaccharide analysis performed using GC-MS showed the presence of fucose, erythrotetrose, ribose, and glucose as monomers. EPS-DR3A showed excellent emulsifying activity against the tested hydrocarbons and food oils with stable emulsions. Rheological analysis of EPS-DR3A revealed the pseudoplastic behavior. The EPS-DR3A displayed good thermal stability with a degradation temperature of 249 °C and a melting point at 322 °C. Further, it had the ability to scavenge DPPH and nitric oxide free radicals with good total antioxidant activity. The in vitro biocompatibility study of EPS-DR3A showed high degree of biocompatibility with human dermal fibroblast cells at the tested concentrations. Taken together, the findings such as thermostability, emulsifying activity, pseudoplasticity, antioxidant activity, and biocompatibility of EPS-DR3A make this biomolecule an important candidate for a wide range of biomedical applications.

The potential strategy to prevent bacterial pathogenicity is disabling quorum sensing circuits with structural mimicking molecules. Here, we analyzed a synthetic molecule isoeugenol, for inhibition of quorum sensing regulated phenotype and biofilm formation. Isoeugenol was an effective inhibitor, i.e., more than 70% of virulence factors were inhibited including pyocyanin, rhamnolipid, exopolysaccharide, swarming motility and biofilm formation. Interestingly, these quorum sensing regulated phenotypes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 were inhibited without affecting the planktonic cells. Moreover, the presence of isoeugenol exhibited more than 70% inhibition of biofilm formation through inhibition of the quorum sensing systems. Furthermore, docking studies suggest that isoeugenol bound to the quorum sensor regulators such as LasI, LasR PqsE and SidA with considerable binding interactions. Our results demonstrate the utility of isoeugenol as a blocker of quorum sensing, which will be functioning as an antivirulence compound.

Carvone is a natural monoterpenoid and in this study it was tested for its role in attenuating quorum sensing (QS) controlled biofilm formation in Chromobacterium violaceum. It showed significant QS inhibition in terms of reduction in violacein at a concentration range of 60 to 70 µg/mL against C. violaceum ATCC 12472. At the same concentration, carvone also inhibited biofilm formation by more than 80%. The biofilm morphology of C. violaceum is unique with a well organised pattern of cell arrangement in a tight matrix. The same was evident in Scanning electron microscopy, however, carvone treatment not only showed reduction in biofilm density but also disruption of biofilm matrix. Interruption of biofilm formation was attributed to reduction in the exopolysaccharide production and swarming motility. Molecular investigations (RT-PCR) showed that the important genes involved in biofilm regulation such as pilS, pilR, pilB and pilT were downregulated significantly in the treatment groups.

Injectable, drug-releasing hydrogel scaffolds with multifunctional properties including hemostasis and anti-bacterial activity are essential for successful wound healing; however, designing ideal materials is still challenging. Herein, we demonstrate the fabrication of a biodegradable, temperature-pH dual responsive supramolecular hydrogel (SHG) scaffold based on sodium alginate/poly(N-vinyl caprolactam) (AG/PVCL) through free radical polymerization and the subsequent chemical and ionic cross-linking. A natural therapeutic molecule, tannic acid (TA)-incorporated SHG (AG/PVCL-TA), was also fabricated and its hemostatic and wound healing efficiency were studied. In the AG/PVCL-TA system, TA acts as a therapeutic molecule and also substitutes as an effective gelation binder. Notably, the polyphenol-arm structure and diverse bonding abilities of TA can hold polymer chains through multiple bonding and co-ordinate cross-linking, which were vital in the formation of the mechanically robust AG/PVCL-TA. The SHG formation was successfully balanced by varying the composition of SA, VCL, TA and cross-linkers. The AG/PVCL-TA scaffold was capable of releasing a therapeutic dose of TA in a sustained manner under physiological temperature-pH conditions. AG/PVCL-TA displayed excellent free radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and cell proliferation activity towards the 3T3 fibroblast cell line. The wound healing performance of AG/PVCL-TA was further confirmed in skin excision wound models, which demonstrated the potential application of AG/PVCL-TA for skin regeneration and rapid wound healing.

A new series of halogenated 4-thiazolidinone derivatives bearing the sulfonamide moiety was synthesized and characterized via FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, HRMS and single crystal X-ray analysis. The newly synthesized target compounds were screened for their in vitro cytotoxicity on the HepG2 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines, and antimicrobial and antitubercular activity. The compounds showed promising anticancer activity towards the MDA-MB-231 cell line, and the trichloro derivatives with p-chloro substitution (6i) and p-hydroxy substitution (7e) exhibited excellent anticancer activity. Compounds 6b and 7c were observed to be moderate antimicrobial agents. The seven most potent anticancer agents were further studied for their antitubercular activity against an M. tuberculosis strain and it was found that compound 7e showed significant antitubercular activity. The potent candidates were also tested for hemolysis activity against human RBC cells and were found to be non-toxic. The mode of action for the observed anticancer activity was further supported by molecular docking studies of the potent compounds against the enzyme Aurora kinase (PDB ID: 4ZTR). Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were further performed to study the stability of the ligand–protein complex.

Struvite stones develop as a result of urinary tract infections by urease-producing bacteria. Here, we report the dynamics of in vitro crystallization of struvite at various pH using single diffusion gel growth technique. Sodium metasilicate gel and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate were used as a medium for growing the struvite crystals. The composition, crystalline nature, and surface morphology of the crystals were studied using FTIR spectroscopy, XRD, TGA, DSC, and SEM. The struvite crystals displayed different morphologies like dendritic, envelope and rectangular shapes at different pH. Crystal faces were different at opposite ends of the crystallographic axis of the struvite crystals. Large X-shaped crystals with dendritic growth having main trunk and branches were observed. SEM revealed the porous internal structure of struvite. The results indicate that pH has a significant effect on the morphology and growth of struvite crystals. The present study will provide evidence for the importance of pathological bio-mineralization and/or crystallization.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have gained attention due to their exceptional physicochemical properties and biological activities, owing to which they are extensively used in biomedical field. We synthesized AgNPs by rapid microwave-assisted method using fucoidan as a reducing agent. The synthesized fucoidan-AgNPs (F-AgNPs) were characterized for the structural and functional properties. The bactericidal effect and mode of action of F-AgNPs on the pathogenic bacteria and biofilm formation were investigated along with the cytotoxicity studies. The UV–Visible spectra of the F-AgNPs showed the surface resonance peak at 419 nm. The nanoparticles were spherical in shape with particle size of 59.5 ± 1.46 nm and polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.3 ± 0.01. Capping of fucoidan on AgNPs was confirmed by FTIR with characteristic peaks of sulfate group. Silver content of F-AgNPs was 87% with 13% contribution from the fucoidan moieties. The F-AgNPs showed antimicrobial activity against common pathogenic bacteria and was able to inhibit biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa at 20 μg/mL concentration. The oxidative stress and intracellular protein leakage were observed due to the F-AgNP interaction with the cell bringing about bactericidal effect. The results highlight the synthesis and bioactivity of AgNPs doped with organic moieties for applications as antimicrobials.

Posterior component separation through transverse abdominis muscle release (TAR) is a relatively new surgical technique and gaining popularity for complex large ventral hernia repair. This is a single centre, retrospective study involving ventral hernia cases managed by abdominal wall reconstruction during 2017–18. Patient demographics, body mass index (BMI), comorbidities, type of surgery, mesh size, complications, pain score, length of stay, and recurrence were recorded from the medical records and analysed statistically as mean, standard deviation, median, range, and percentile as applicable. The study included 14 cases presenting with incisional ventral hernia. Mean BMI of the study population was 28 ± 5.26 kg/m2 and mean age was 60.28 ± 9.68 years. Three different types of mesh were used for reinforcing the abdominal layers separated during the surgery. The average hospital stay was 4.71 ± 1.43 days and median follow-up was 12 months. There were no major complications reported post surgery; however, surgical site infection was reported in 4 (28.57%) patients. One patient (male, 60 years, BMI 34.5 kg/m2, M2, M3 hernia and defect size of 18 × 20 cm), reported a minor bulge after 2 years of surgery. Transverse abdominis muscle release surgical technique is giving satisfactory results and can be safely adopted as an alternate to existing techniques for treating large, incisional midline ventral hernia in Indian population.

The aim of the study was to assess the long-term outcome in terms of weight loss and remission of comorbidities among the patients who had undergone LSG in an Indian setting. This is a retrospective observational study of patients (BMI > 30 kg/m2) who underwent LSG having a minimum 6 months of follow-up data. Based on preoperative BMI, patients were grouped as class 1, 30 40 kg/m2. Data on BMI and %EWL between three classes and among genders at different follow-up points for 7 years were compared. Study included 95 patients (mean age of 33.7 ± 11 years), and the preoperative mean BMI was 40.2 ± 5.1 kg/m2. At one year of surgery, 85.5% patients achieved > 50%EWL. The highest mean %EWL was found in class 1 (66.19%), followed by class 2 (56.73%) and class 3 (46.59%) at the sixth month follow-up. At the seventh year, %EWLs were 85.11% (class 1), 76.69% (class 2), and 62.98% (class 3) and the mean BMIs were 25.13 ± 3.09 kg/m2 (class 1), 26.86 ± 2.12 kg/m2 (class 2), and 31.07 ± 3.39 kg/m2 (class 3) and were significantly different (p 40 kg/m2. Remission of obesity-related comorbidities was observed with LSG in all groups and gender did not influence the outcome significantly.

Diabetes is a global disease, and its prevalence has increased rapidly in the last century. Many complications are associated with diabetes, and diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are common. There is a variety of different treatments for DFU, and the aim of this article is to discuss the factors responsible for delayed wound healing in patients with diabetes, and the treatment strategies that are available.

Hydroxyapatite (HA), a bioceramic, is a widely utilized material for bone tissue repair and regeneration because of its excellent properties such as biocompatibility, exceptional mechanical strength, and osteoconductivity. HA can be obtained by both synthetic and natural means. Animal bones are often considered a promising natural resource for the preparation of pure HA for biological and biomedical applications. Cuttlefish bone, also called as cuttlebone, mainly consists of calcium carbonate, and pure HA can be produced by adding phosphoric acid or ammonium hydrogen phosphate to it. Recently, cuttlefish bone-derived HA has shown promising results in terms of bone tissue repair and regeneration. The synthesized cuttlefish bone-derived has shown excellent biocompatibility, cell proliferation, increased alkaline phosphate activity, and efficient biomineralization ability with mesenchymal stem cells and osteoblastic cells. To further improve the biological properties of cuttlefish bone-derived HA, bioglass, polycaprolactone, and polyvinyl alcohol were added to it, which gave better results in terms of cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. Cuttlefish bone-derived HA with polymeric substances provides excellent bone formation under in vivo conditions. The studies indicate that cuttlefish bone-derived HA, along with polymeric and, protein materials, will be promising biomaterials in the field of bone tissue regeneration.

Recent Research evidences from across the world indicate the usefulness of bariatric surgery in improving the immunological co-morbidities in patients with morbid obesity. The aim of the study was to evaluate the outcome from bariatric surgery in patients presenting with diabetes mellitus and or morbid obesity with immunological co-morbidities. It was a retrospective cross-sectional study. Study included patients with morbid obesity with immunological co-morbidities, and additional co- morbidity of type 2 diabetes mellitus in about one third of the cases, who had undergone bariatric surgery during the period 2014–2016 at our center. Patient demographics, preoperative data, and follow-up data were collected and analyzed. Patients were followed for assessing the outcome in terms of BMI and dependency on medications to evaluate the effectiveness of the procedure. The study included 23 patients (52% female and 48% male). Bariatric surgery was effective in all the patients (except one) in weight reduction. Significant reduction in weight and BMI was observed (p

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-endospore-forming organism, isolated from the rhizosphere sand of a coastal sand dune plant was studied for its taxonomic position. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity comparisons, strain YU-PRIM-29T was grouped within the genus Halomonas and was most closely related to Halomonas johnsoniae (97.5 %). The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to other Halomonas species was

Exopolysaccharides (EPS) produced by bacteria are high molecular weight secondary metabolites having wide applications in food and pharmaceutical industry. In the present study, an exopolysaccharide producing bacterium was isolated from the root nodules of a leguminous plant and was studied for emulsification activity and biocompatibility using human dermal fibroblasts. Under optimum culture conditions, the purified EPS yield in modified YEM media was 2.8 g L−1 and was identified as β-glucan with the molecular weight 15.57 × 106 Da. The EPS showed high emulsifying activity against hydrocarbons such as petrol, kerosene, xylene, palm oil, coconut oil, and olive oil with emulsification index > 60% at 0.25 and 0.5% concentrations at 25 °C. The EPS was sensitive to high temperature, but the emulsions were stable at pH range 2–9 and in the salinity range of 1–20%. In vitro cell viability studies indicated that EPS was not cytotoxic at tested concentrations on human dermal fibroblasts moreover, it had proliferative activities. Hence, the EPS from Cronobacter sp. can be a good candidate for biotechnological application as a source of β-glucan with emulsifying and tissue regenerative properties.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) has gained significant attention in diabetic wound management due to the presence of growth factors. However, its short self-life ex vivo limits its clinical use. Among the biopolymers hyaluronic acid (HA), offers higher biocompatibity with bioactivity and ideal polymer properties for delivery of the cell based products. Hence, here HA gel matrix was prepared to hold PRP to prolong the growth factor stability. PRP prepared from healthy donors was used after characterizing total platelets (3.0 ± 0.17 × 106 cells/mL) and PDGF-BB levels (156.37 ± 1.73 ng/mL). This was subsequently entrapped in1:3 ratios of PRP:HA gel. The prepared gels were stored at different conditions to study growth factor stability. The prepared gels showed near neutral pH (6.99) with shear thickening properties. On the 15th day of storage at −20 °C temperature, the PDGF-BB levels in the PRP stored directly reduced by 35.98% while HA-PRP gels it reduced by 20.91%. Considerably higher cell proliferation (43.11%) and migration (85%) were observed on treatment with gels stored at −20 °C for 15 days compared to the PRP stored directly. Topical application of the gels on diabetic mice showed complete wound contraction by 15th day compared to untreated groups. Enhanced collagen and cytokeratin 10 depositions were observed owing to the synergistic effect of the polymer protein combination. These results are suggestive of HA-PRP gels as topical applicants for treating diabetic wounds and using PRP into a mainstream treatment strategy in clinical practices.