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SARS-CoV-2, a positive-strand RNA virus, utilizes both genomic replication and subgenomic mRNA transcription. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) from clinical samples can estimate viral gene expression levels. WGS was conducted on 529 SARS-CoV-2 positive clinical samples from Assam and northeastern India to track viral emergence and assess gene expression patterns. The results reveal differential expression across structural, non-structural, and accessory genes, with notable upregulation of the M gene, especially in the Omicron variant, followed by E and ORF6. The mean transcript per million (TPM) expression levels of the M gene were significantly higher in Omicron variants (175 611 ± 46 921), peaking in the KP.1/KP.2 sublineage (220 493 ± 34 917), compared to the Delta variant (129 717 ± 33 773). The relative fold change of M gene expression between Delta and Omicron 2024 subvariants showed a 1.6-fold change. Variant-wise gene expression analysis suggests a correlation between gene expression and viral mutation, impacting replication. As anticipated, the expression levels of genes surge with the increase in the virus mutation. The Chi-square trend for average substitution count versus average TPM of the M gene was highly significant (72.78., p < 0.0001). The M gene's high expression and low mutation rate make it an ideal target for designing a real-time RT-PCR kit assay. These findings highlight the need for continuous surveillance and understanding of viral gene expression dynamics for effective COVID-19 management. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the significance of these observations in viral pathogenesis and transmission dynamics., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Purpose: An acute conjunctivitis outbreak was investigated at a residential school in Naharlagun, Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India, in July 2023. We aimed to identify the etiological agent and assess any complications in follow-up cases., Methods: We used a structured questionnaire to record clinical findings and followed up with cases one-month post-conjunctivitis. Sixty-one cases were examined and eight conjunctival and oropharyngeal swab samples were collected after obtaining informed consent from guardians/school authorities. We screened for 33 viral and bacterial pathogens using an IVD-approved Real-time PCR assay. Further, the samples were subjected to nucleic acid sequencing., Results: Among 465 screened students and staff, 80 individuals (approximately 17.2%) showed acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis symptoms among which 61 cases were available for clinical examination. We identified the Enterovirus responsible by targeted sequencing using next-generation sequencing. The etiological agent was found to be Coxsackievirus A24, a member of Enterovirus C, in seven out of eight samples subjected to sequencing. Common symptoms included conjunctival hyperemia and foreign body sensation (100%), bilateral eye involvement (73.8%), eye pain (70%), watery discharge (49.2%), and eyelid swelling (38%). Only 6.5% had purulent discharge. Most cases resolved within 5-6 days, with only 9.8% reporting abdominal symptoms post-conjunctivitis. No serious complications occurred within one month. Throat swabs aided in diagnosing enterovirus infections alongside eye swabs., Conclusions: The outbreak of acute conjunctivitis was caused by Coxsackievirus A24, a member of Enterovirus C. Cases resolved spontaneously within 6-7 days, with no severe complications. Collecting oropharyngeal swabs alongside conjunctival swabs could improve enteroviral conjunctivitis diagnosis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Dr. B. Borkakoty reports financial support was provided by Department of Health Research., (Copyright © 2024 Indian Association of Medical Microbiologists. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The utmost aim of this present study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative and proapoptotic potential of Asiatic acid (AA) on 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced colon carcinogenesis in experimental rats. Rats were divided into six groups and received modified pellet diet for 32 weeks. Group 1 served as control rats. Group 2 received AA (4 mg/kg b.w. p.o.). Group 3-6 rats received 15 DMH (20 mg/kg b.w., s.c.) injections once a week starting from the 4th week. Besides DMH, rats received AA (4 mg/kg b.w. p.o.) in group 4 starting 2 weeks before carcinogen treatment till the end of the last DMH; group 5 starting 2 days after last DMH till the end of the experiment; and group 6 throughout the experiment. Pre-neoplastic lesions, xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes, inflammation, cell proliferation and apoptotic markers were analysed in our study. Our results ascertained AA supplementation to DMH-exposed rats significantly decreased the incidence of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and phase I xenobiotic enzymes; and increased the phase II xenobiotic enzymes and mucin content as compared to DMH-alone-exposed rats. Moreover the increased expressions of mast cells, argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and cyclin D1 observed in the DMH-alone-exposed rats were reverted and were comparable with those of the control rats, when treated with AA. Concordantly AA also induced apoptosis by downregulating the expression of Bcl-2 and upregulating Bax, cytochrome c, caspase-3 and -9 in the DMH-alone-exposed rats. Thus AA was able to inhibit DMH-induced colon carcinogenesis by detoxifying the carcinogen, decreasing the preneoplastic lesions by virtue of its anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects. Therefore our findings suggest that AA could be used as an effective chemopreventive agent against DMH induced colon carcinogenesis., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Troxerutin (TXER), a trihydroxyethylated derivative of the natural bioflavonoid rutin, abundantly found in tea, various fruits and vegetables, is known to exhibit ample pharmacological properties. In the present investigation, we examined the antineoplastic, therapeutic efficacy and furthermore the possible mechanisms of action of TXER against NAFLD/NASH progression to hepatocarcinogenesis., Methods: The effect of TXER (12.5, 25 or 50 mg/kg b.w/day) was evaluated on the nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) model of hepatocarcinogenesis in rats, after 16 weeks of oral treatment, with special focus on liver specific enzymes, xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes, antioxidant status, lipid peroxidation profile, DNA damage, fibrosis, cell proliferation and inflammatory status., Results: Administration of TXER to hepatocellular carcinoma-bearing rats restored the enzyme activities and the hepatic architecture. Furthermore, TXER significantly curtailed NDEA-induced DNA damage, cell proliferation, inflammation, fibrosis and hepatic hyperplasia., Conclusion: This study provides the evidence that troxerutin exerts a significant therapeutic effect against liver cancer by modulating liver function enzymes, xenobiotic enzymes, oxidative damage, inhibiting cell proliferation, suppressing inflammatory response and induction of apoptosis.

Asiatic acid (AA), a pentacyclic triterpenoid, derived from the tropical medicinal plant Centella asiatica is known to exhibit numerous pharmacological properties. We hypothesized that AA will have chemopreventive potential against 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced experimental colon carcinogenesis in male Wistar rats. Rats were arbitrarily divided into six groups. Group I rats were processed as control. Group II rats received AA (8 mg/kg b.w., p.o.) and groups III-VI rats received subcutaneous injections of DMH (20 mg/kg b.w.) once a week, for the first four weeks. In addition, groups IV-VI rats received AA at the doses of 2, 4 and 8 mg/kg b.w., respectively, for 16 weeks. Our results discovered that supplementation with AA to the DMH-exposed rats significantly decreased the incidence of polyps and Aberrant crypt foci (ACF) as compared to the DMH-alone-exposed rats. Moreover, in the AA-supplemented DMH-exposed rats, we ascertained increased activities of the antioxidants and decreased levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO) in the liver and circulation and enhanced levels of both LPO and antioxidants in the colon, which were altered in the DMH-alone-exposed rats. Furthermore, we also observed altered activities of vitamins C and E and biotransforming enzymes in DMH-alone-exposed rats, which were reversed on AA supplementation. All the observations were supported by our histological findings. Thus, we can conclude that, AA could be used as an effective chemopreventive agent against DMH-induced colon carcinogenesis.

Alcoholic liver disease is a direct result of alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity coupled with impaired hepatic regenerative activity. Our aim of the study was to investigate the beneficial effect of zingerone on hepatic oxidative stress and inflammation induced by ethanol in experimental rats. Male albino Wistar rats were divided into four groups. Rats of groups 1 and 2 received isocaloric glucose and dimethyl sulfoxide (2 % DMSO). Hepatotoxicity was induced in groups 3 and 4 by supplementing 30 % ethanol post orally for 60 days. Rats of groups 2 and 4 received zingerone (20 mg/kg body weight in 2 % DMSO p.o) daily during the final 30 days of the experimental period. Ethanol alone administered rats showed significant increase in the plasma and tissue lipid peroxidation markers such as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, lipid hydroperoxides, conjugated dienes, and a significant decrease in the activities of plasma and tissue enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, reduced glutathione, vitamin C, and vitamin E. Moreover, the presence of mast cells and increase in the expressions of inflammatory markers such as NF-κB, COX-2, TNF-α, and IL-6 and decrease in the expression of Nrf2 in the liver was observed in ethanol-fed rats. Supplementation with zingerone to ethanol-fed rats reversed the changes induced by ethanol in the experimental rats. Thus, zingerone, through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, may represent a therapeutic option to protect against ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity.

Colon cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers, and is a major cause of cancer morbidity and mortality worldwide. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the combined therapeutic efficacy of carvacrol (CVC) and X-radiation against 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colon cancer. Male albino Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups. Group 1 served as control; group 2 received 40 mg/kg b.wt of CVC orally everyday throughout the experimental period (32 weeks); groups 3-6 received subcutaneous injections of DMH (20 mg/kg b.wt), once a week for the first 15 weeks; group 4 received a single dose of X-radiation at the 31st week; group 5 received CVC (40 mg/kg b.wt) two days after the last injection of DMH and continued everyday till the end of the experimental period; group 6 received CVC as in group 5 and radiation as in group 4. DMH-treated rats showed increased incidence of aberrant crypt foci (ACF), dysplastic aberrant crypt foci (DACF), mast cell number, argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions; elevated activities of phase I enzymes, decreased activities of phase II enzymes, decreased mucin content and altered colonic and liver histology as compared to control rats. Though the individual treatments with CVC and X-radiation to DMH-treated rats reversed the above changes, the combined treatment with both CVC and X-radiation showed a marked effect. Our findings emphasize the potential role of combined therapeutic effect of CVC and X-radiation against DMH-induced colon carcinogenesis.