Graph theoretical descriptors differentiate d-Mannose isomers in the principal component proposed feature space: A computational approach.

The intricate nature of carbohydrates, particularly monosaccharides, stems from the existence of several chiral centers within their tertiary structures. Predicting and characterizing the molecular geometries and electrostatic landscapes of these substances is difficult due to their complex electrical properties. Moreover, these structures can display a substantial degree of conformational flexibility due to the presence of many rotatable bonds. Moreover, identifying and distinguishing between D and L enantiomers of monosaccharides presents a significant analytical obstacle since there is a need for empirically measurable properties that can distinguish them. This work uses Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to explore the chemical information included in 3D descriptors in order to comprehend the conformational space of d-Mannose stereoisomers. The isomers may be discriminated by utilizing 3D matrix-based indices, geometrical descriptors, and RDF descriptors. The isomers can be distinguished by descriptors, such as the Harary-like index from the reciprocal squared geometrical matrix (H_RG), Harary-like index from Coulomb matrix (H_Coulomb), Wiener-like index from Coulomb matrix (Wi_Coulomb), Wiener-like index from geometrical matrix (Wi_G), Graph energy from Coulomb matrix (SpAbs_Coulomb), Spectral absolute deviation from Coulomb matrix (SpAD_Coulomb), and Spectral positive sum from Coulomb matrix (SpPos_Coulomb). Among these descriptors, the first two, H_RG and H_Coulomb, perform the best in differentiation among the 3D-Matrix-Based Descriptors (3D-MBD) class. The results obtained from this study provide a significant chemical insight into the structural characteristics of the compounds inside the graph theoretical framework. These findings are likely to serve as the basis for developing new methods for analytical experiments.

Strangulated penis in a prison inmate: Complete penile degloving and full-thickness skin graft.

Introduction: Penile strangulation is a rare urological emergency that necessitates urgent management. The reasoning behind it may include sexual pleasure, erection reinforcement, or a psychiatric disorder. Case presentation: Despite being an uncommon complication of penile strangulation, we report a 45-year-old prison inmate who presented with penile shaft necrosis secondary to using a non-metallic constriction object. The patient reported a 5-day history of progressive penile pain, edema, and skin injury but no urinary symptoms. The patient underwent complete penile skin degloving, circumcision, and insertion of a suprapubic catheter. Postoperatively, the penile tissue appeared healthy, and the wound was granulating. On the eleventh day following degloving, a full-thickness skin graft was taken from the groin area. The patient remained in the hospital for 20 days, during which he was clinically stable with clean, healing wounds. Conclusion: Early management of penile strangulation is vital in order to prevent vascular and mechanical complications.

Multivalent effects of heptamannosylated ß-cyclodextrins on macrophage polarization to accelerate wound healing.

Macrophages have high plasticity and heterogeneity, and can suppress or mediate inflammation, depending on their cytokine secretion and phenotype. Regulating macrophage polarization into its M2 phenotype has a remarkable effect on inflammatory inhibition, inducing the regeneration of injured tissues. Here, we synthesized two heptamannosylated ß-cyclodextrin derivatives (CD-Man7 and C3-CD-Man7) and demonstrated that their multivalent mannose ligands could induce M2 macrophage polarization to accelerate wound healing. Unlike hydrophilic CD-Man7, amphiphilic C3-CD-Man7 can self-assemble to form nanoparticles (CD-Man-NPs) in aqueous solution. Further, in vitro results confirmed that multivalent mannose ligands of either CD-Man7 or CD-Man-NPs stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages to differentiate into the M2 phenotype, which promoted fibroblast migration via a paracrine mechanism. In vivo results confirmed that both CD-Man7 and CD-Man-NPs reduced the inflammatory response in wound tissue and accelerated wound healing. The present study demonstrates multivalent effects of CD-Man7 and CD-Man-NPs on M2 macrophage polarization, indicating the therapeutic potential of these ß-cyclodextrin glycoconjugates in the treatment of inflammatory diseases and wound healing.

Characterization, antioxidant activity, and biocompatibility of selenium nanoparticle-loaded thermosensitive chitosan hydrogels.

In this study, we recruited chitosan (CS) both for selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) synthesis and for the development of a thermoresponsive nanocomposite hydrogel with the addition of glycerol phosphate (GP). Considering that SeNPs are toxic at high concentrations, five different ingredients of the nanocomposite hydrogel system with low concentrations of SeNPs (1.25-20 µg/mL) were prepared. The gelation conditions, structural characteristics, and mechanical properties of SeNPs-loaded thermosensitive CS/GP hydrogels were investigated. We also evaluated their antioxidizing activities and biocompatibility of the CS/GP/SeNPs hydrogels. Our study demonstrated that the incorporation of SeNPs in the hydrogel improved its mechanical properties, antioxidant activity, and degree of swelling. According to the properties of SeNPs and CS/GP thermosensitive hydrogels, the combination of these two technologies in an appropriate manner would be a promising antioxidant system for drug delivery and tissue engineering.

Biosilicified oncolytic adenovirus for cancer viral gene therapy.

Oncolytic adenoviruses (OAs) have shown great potential for cancer viral gene therapy in clinical studies. To date, clinical trials have shown that the curative efficacy of OAs is still limited by hepatic sequestration and preexisting neutralizing antibodies (nAbs), which decrease the accumulation of the OAs in tumors. Herein, with the biosilicification method, we encapsulated an OA encoding the anticancer gene Trail (OA-Trail) with silica, which significantly improved virus distribution and tumor inhibition. In vitro and in vivo results indicated that compared with the native OA, biosilicified OA-Trail (OA-Trail@SiO2) showed significantly reduced viral clearance in the liver and evaded nAb degradation, inducing an efficacious anticancer effect under the premise of biocompatibility. These achievements present an alternative strategy involving biosilicification for enhanced OA-based cancer gene therapy.

A novel DNase like compound that inhibits virus propagation from Asian Green Mussel, Perna viridis (Linn.).

Viral diseases are not only responsible for health related issues but also exert pressure on the State economy. Tropical and subtropical countries have more prevalence of virus associated pathological conditions such as chickenpox, adenovirus related infections, dengue, chickengunya, infectious mononucleosis, etc. Treatment options with effective antiviral drugs are limited and are unfortunately not free from undesirable effects. The Asian Green Mussel, Perna viridis (Linn.) (Mytilidae) are not only important for their evolutionary significance, high caloric index, ecological role in the sequestration of environmental pollutants especially heavy metals, but also are potential source for extraction of therapeutic and bioactive compounds. On the other hand, generally in bivalves, virus mediated mortality is not uncommon. In this study, we made a maiden attempt of exploring DNAse like bioactivity for natural non-protenacious compound(s) extracted from P. viridis. Crude Methanol Extract (CME) of soft tissue of P. viridis and subsequently its partially purified component (PPC) possess exceptional ability to degrade indiscriminately both low and high molecular weight DNAs. In vitro digestions for1, 2 and 3 h with CME and PPC were found to be comparable to commercial (Sigma-Aldrich) enzyme, DNase I. Bioactive assays conducted to evaluate antimicrobial property, have shown that CME and PPC exclusively inhibit viral propagation. Nonetheless, CME & PPC have no effect on the propagation of bacteria (0 mm ZOI). These results indicate the possibility of a source of potential antiviral drug against DNA Group I viruses. Although our study does not provide any data to correlate to any physiological functions of these substances but provides a clue towards an important role in the biology of mussels. Any conclusion at this stage is premature. However, taking into consideration the significantly high virus mediated mortality in bivalves and the antiviral bioactivity of these substances, it appears that mussels have evolved some mechanisms to counteract some viruses.

Anticancer activity of essential oils: targeting of protein networks in cancer cells.

Cancer is a multifaceted and genomically complex disease and research over decades has gradually and sequentially shown that essential biological mechanisms including cell cycle arrest and apoptosis are deregulated. The benefits of essential oils from different plants have started to gain appreciation as evidenced by data obtained from cancer cell lines and xenografted mice. Encouraging results obtained from preclinical studies have attracted considerable attention and various phytochemicals have entered into clinical trials.

Breast cancer proteome takes more than two to tango on TRAIL: beat them at their own game.

Breast carcinogenesis is a multidimensional disease that has resisted drug-related solutions to date because of heterogeneity, disorganized spatiotemporal behavior of signal transduction cascades, cell cycle checkpoints, cell transition, plasticity, and impaired pro-apoptotic response. These synchronized oncogenic events, including protein-protein interaction, transcriptional-regulatory, and signaling networks, trigger genomic and transcriptional disturbances in TRAIL-mediated signaling network neighborhoods. Therefore, tumor cells often acquire the ability to escape death by suppressing cell death pathways that normally function to eliminate damaged and harmful cells. This review describes the TRAIL-mediated cell death signaling pathways, the interactions between these pathways, and the ways in which these pathways are deregulated in breast cancer.

TRAIL and guardian angel of genome integrity: ATM boards TRAIL blazer.

Prostate cancer is a multifaceted progressive multistep disorder that arises because of accumulation of genetic and epigenetic abnormalities, which escort to the transformation of normal cells into malignant derivatives. Despite tremendous strides have been made in the understanding of prostate cancer biology, yet approaches towards cancer-targeted therapy still face confrontations in standardization. This review brings to attention, the regulators in complex genetic backgrounds to enlighten our understanding of transformation and metastasis in human systems. Recent evidence gives a clue that prostate cancer may be linked to deregulated DNA damage repair processes, as various combinations of targeted deletions in genes controlling cell-cycle checkpoints; apoptosis and DNA repair result in prostate cancer progression and aggressiveness. An insight of the orchestration between DNA damage-based molecular responses and TRAIL provides an understanding of the mechanisms that cause apoptosis and may provide rationale for the development of novel therapeutic strategies.

Effects of leather industry on health and recommendations for improving the situation in Pakistan.

The leather industry and its associated sectors contribute significantly to the Pakistani economy. There are around 600 tanneries in Pakistan that are concentrated in 3 major cities (Kasur, Karachi, Sialkot). Waste discharge from tanneries pollutes the air, soil, and water, causing serious health problems. Exposure to such contaminated environmental milieu has been seen to culminate in a multiple array of disease processes such as asthma, dermatitis, hepatic and neurological disorders, and various malignancies. An overall dearth of research on the occupational hazards of employment in the leather industry as well as its effects on pediatric population was observed during literature review with particular reference to Pakistan. It is recommended that research should be conducted about the health hazards in the leather industry in Pakistan as well as globally to gather data that can be translated into effective prevention programs for both adults as well as pediatric populations.

Off pump coronary artery surgery and intraoperative safety-experience at AFIC/NIHD, Rawalpindi.

BACKGROUND: Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on one hand allows controlled haemodynamics with superior graft quality while on the other hand carries inherent risks of CPB which has renewed interest in Off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB). Haemodynamic instability and intraoperative dysrythmias are major procedural complications of OPCAB, threatening conversion to emergency on-pump surgery. The purpose of this study was to compare intraoperative dysrythmias and inotropic use for haemodynamic stabilization during OPCAB surgery against conventional CABG. METHODS: Consecutive CABG cases operated between 1st June 2003 and 31st May 2006 were included while conversions were excluded. Primary end points were analyzed using chi square and t test and values described in percentages, means and probability (p value). RESULTS: Six hundred and eighty-four cases were divided in group-A (on-pump, n = 574) and B (OPCAB, n = 97). Conversion rate was 11.8%. Intraoperative dysrythmias (A, 3.5%, B, 15%, p < 0.0001) and use of inotropic support was higher in group-B (A, 15.3%, B, 30.3%, p < 0.0001). Actual mortality in group-B was higher than the predictive value (A, 3.8%, B, 3.6%, Predictive value 3-5% and 0-3% respectively). CONCLUSION: OPCAB leads to higher frequency of dysrythmias and inotropic use intraoperatively, highlighting lower procedural safety over conventional CABG.

Y chromosome microdeletions in infertile men with idiopathic oligo- or azoospermia.

About 30-40% of male infertility is due to unknown reasons. Genetic contributions to the disruption of spermatogenesis are suggested and amongst the genetic factors studied, Y chromosome microdeletions represent the most common one. Screening for microdeletions in AZFa, b and c region of Y chromosome showed a big variation among different studies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of such deletions in Saudi men. A total of 257 patients with idiopathic oligo- or azoospermia were screened for Y chromosome microdeletions by 19 markers in AZF region. Ten (3.9%) patients had chromosomal rearrangements, six of them showed sex chromosome abnormalities and four patients had apparently balanced autosomal rearrangements. Eight of the remaining 247 patients (3.2%) with a normal karyotype and no known causes of impaired spermatogenesis had Y chromosome microdeletions. Among these, six patients had deletions in AZFc region, one case had a deletion in AZFb and another had both AZFa and AZFc deletions.In conclusion, our study shows that Y chromosome microdeletions are low in our population. We also report for the first time a case with unique point deletions of AZFa and AZFc regions. The lower frequency of deletions in our study suggest that other genetic, epigenetic, nutritional and local factors may be responsible for idiopathic oligo- or azoospermia in the Saudi population.

Removal and recovery of lead(II) from single and multimetal (Cd, Cu, Ni, Zn) solutions by crop milling waste (black gram husk).

The study reports removal of heavy metals when present singly or in binary and ternary systems by the milling agrowaste of Cicer arientinum (chickpea var. black gram) as the biosorbent. The biosorbent removed heavy metal ions efficiently from aqueous solutions with the selectivity order of Pb>Cd>Zn>Cu>Ni. The biosorption of metal ions by black gram husk (BGH) increased as the initial metal concentration increased. Biosorption equilibrium was established within 30 min, which was well described by the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms. The maximum amount of heavy metals (qmax) adsorbed at equilibrium was 49.97, 39.99, 33.81, 25.73 and 19.56 mg/g BGH biomass for Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu and Ni, respectively. The biosorption capacities were found to be pH dependent and the maximum adsorption occurred at the solution pH 5. Efficiency of the biosorbent to remove Pb from binary and ternary solutions with Cd, Cu, Ni and Zn was the same level as it was when present singly. The presence of Pb in the binary and ternary solutions also did not significantly affect the sorption of other metals. Breakthrough curves for continuous removal of Pb from single, binary and ternary metal solutions are reported for inlet-effluent equilibrium. Complete desorption of Pb and other metals in single and multimetal solutions was achieved with 0.1 M HCl in both shake flask and fixed bed column studies. This is the first report of removal of the highly toxic Pb, Cd, and other heavy metals in binary and ternary systems based on the biosorption by an agrowaste. The potential of application for the treatment of solutions containing these heavy metals in multimetal solutions is indicated.

Bioremoval of cadmium from aqueous solution by black gram husk (Cicer arientinum).

Husk of black gram (Cicer arientinum), a waste of no commercial value, was investigated as a new biosorbent of cadmium from low concentration aqueous solutions. With 99.99% sorption efficiency from 10mg l(-1) cadmium solution, the biomass required at saturation was 0.8 g mg(-1) cadmium. Biosorption was rapid and equilibrium was achieved in 30 min. Among the various desorbing agents tested, 99.89% cadmium recovery was achieved with 0.1M HCl. Sorption efficiency of cadmium during six biosorption-desorption cycles in batch operations declined, which was traceable to 39.0% black gram husk (bgh) weight loss. This decline was only 9.71% when compensated for biomass loss, which is comparable to 10.45% decline during six cycles in fixed bed column bioreactor in which biomass loss was only 5.98%. On plotting breakthrough curves it was noted that bgh in the fixed bed column was capable of bringing down cadmium concentration from 10 to 0.1 mg l(-1) in 35.5 l volume. Biosorption of cadmium was not effected in the presence of other cations. Comprehensive characterization of parameters indicate bgh to be an excellent material for biosorption of cadmium to treat wastewaters containing low concentration of the metal. As an agrowaste, the advantage of application of this material as a metal biosorbent in a fixed bed column bioreactor system, in comparison with those based on immobilized algae or biomass of algal, fungal and bacterial origin, is considered.

Chlorella sorokiniana immobilized on the biomatrix of vegetable sponge of Luffa cylindrica: a new system to remove cadmium from contaminated aqueous medium.

A new sorption system of microalgal cells immobilized on the biostructural matrix of Luffa cylindrica for sequestering cadmium is reported. Free and immobilized Chlorella sorokiniana removed cadmium from 10 mgl(-1) solution at the efficiency of 92.7% and 97.9% respectively. Maximum cadmium sorption was observed to be 39.2 mgg(-1) at equilibrium (C(eq)) of 112.8 mgl(-1) by immobilized microalgal biomass as compared to 33.5 mgg(-1) at C(eq) of 116.5 mgl(-1) by free biomass from initial concentration of 150 mgl(-1). In continuous liquid flow column, the cadmium sorption capacity of immobilized C. sorokiniana was 192 mgg(-1), which was 73.2% of the total metal passed in 51.5 l. Metal desorption with 0.1 M HCl was 100% and the desorbed immobilized system was reusable with a similar efficiency in the subsequent cycle.