Advanced Approaches Based on Expression of Different Genes and Biomarkers for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Renal Disorders.

This review focuses on the causes and complications of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The kidneys are major organs boasting various natural functions, chief among them the stable equilibrium of body fluids by eliminating waste. If the symptoms of CKD can be detected early, effective care is possible. CKD is a major area of investigation because it is the ninth most common cause of death in the United States. The incidence of kidney infection can be correlated with kidney malfunction. The main serological markers for renal disease are serum creatinine and creatinine clearance, which are insensitive and nonspecific to recognition of kidney injury. Standard therapy to prevent the progression of CKD includes dietary protein restriction, hypertension control, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition (ACEi), and angiotensin receptor barricade (ARB). In this review we discuss advances in research on diagnostic biomarkers related to renal diseases and kidney-related injuries.

Involvement of Different Genes Expressions during Immunological and Inflammatory Responses in Vitiligo.

Vitiligo is a condition of the skin distinguished by hypo-pigmentation. Etiology of this disorder is unknown, and several theories and mechanisms have been hypothesized. The inflammatory response in vitiligo is thought to be mediated by polymorphism in genes such as FOXP3, ACE, APE, GSTP1, TLR, SOD, CTLA-4, TAP/LMP gene cluster, etc. Theories including reactive oxygen species model, Nrf2-antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway, WNT pathway, tyrosinase activity, biochemical, molecular, and cellular alterations have been hypothesized to explain vitiligo pathogenesis. Melanosomal proteins are involved in antigen processing. The antigens are expressed to the T-cells in the form of peptides with HLA class II molecules. T-cells are activated in response to the discharge of co-stimulatory molecules such as LFA-3 as well as ICAM-1. An adaptive immune response is thus elicited, and the melanocytes eventually die or start malfunctioning and the skin undergoes hypo-pigmentation. IFN-γ is known to be a melanocyte inhibitor of paracrine origin; it is clearly involved in the early onset of symptoms of vitiligo disease. The surge in the IFN-γ levels mediates augmented expression of ICAM-1 molecule on the melanocytes, thereby establishing cytokine-mediated destruction of melanocytes. Mainly, mediators released by melanocytes and the functionality of keratinocytes decrease the disease activity. Such mediators include ET-1 as well as SCF, increase the pigmentation particularly when a patient is given with the UVB treatment. By scavenging ROS and screening UV radiation, melanin limits the damage caused to the cutaneous cells by UV radiation. Various immune responses play important roles in vitiligo.

Up Scaling Strategies to Improve the Industrial Production of Bacitracin at Largescale.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Bacitracin was discovered and named after a 7 year old American girl, Margaret Tracey in 1943 as Bacillus was isolated from her wounds. Bacillus licheniformis is usually present in soil and bird feathers. This bacterium is most commonly present around back plumage and chest of birds. There are different types of bacitracin but the one most potent is Bacitracin A. Bacitracin induced proteins are localized in bacterial membrane. Production of antibiotic initially stopped, resumed by induction of bacitracin induced protein but after few mitotic divisions microbes reverted to their vulnerable state. Induction of protein ceases after 4th hour of stationary phase. Immobilization is necessary for economic, process convenience and stability of the cell. Moreover, immobilization increases the ability of the cell to produce product in high quantity. CONCLUSION: Maximum production of antibiotic was noted at pH 8 after 4 hours of incubation at various glucose concentrations in shake flask fermentation at 30°C when immobilized in polyacrylamide gel. Increase in antibiotic activity was also found with increase in use of cells. Efforts have been made to alter heterocyclic metal binding subunit of bacitracin by synthesizing heterocyclic building blocks that can be coupled to linear decapeptide and consequently cyclization by PCPTE biodomain of bacitracin. Derivatives of bacitracin showed antimicrobial activities indicating the possibility of overcoming existing limitations just by altering their heterocyclic subunit. Bioactivity and stability can be increased by modifying peptide backbone of compounds.

Therapeutic Potential of the Medicinal Plant Aegle Marmelos (Linn.) Correa: Insight.

Various plant species are used globally for therapeutic purposes and have been authenticated by the World Health Organization. Aegle marmelos (L.) Corr., one of only three species in the genus Aegle, is a subtropical, fruit-bearing, deciduous tree that grows throughout the hills and plains of sub-Himalayan countries. Plants with medicinal importance have been used in almost every culture since ancient times. Various studies are underway to understand more about the qualities and components of medicinal plants, including drug preparation, phytochemical analysis, cultivation, toxicology, and pharmacology. According to the Indian conventional system of medicine, A. marmelos can successfully treat many diseases and conditions; for example, its extracts have been found to reduce the intensities of hepatic lipid peroxidation and augment the levels of hepatic antioxidants such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione. The essential oils present in the foliage (leaves), fruits, and bark of A. marmelos provide strong antifungal action. A. marmelos is thus cytoprotective, works against ulcers and diarhea, promotes skin and bone healing, and acts as a hypoglycemic, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, analgesic, antiinflammatory, antipyretic, and anticancer agent. Such qualities have been well documented with scientific evidence.

Different Advanced Therapeutic Approaches to Treat Vitiligo.

Vitiligo is a hypopigmentation disorder that is caused by the loss of melanocyte activity for melanin pigment generation. Vitiligo is distinguished by the existence of white macules. Vitiligo affects 0.1%-2% of individuals of different populations, irrespective of skin color, ethnic origin, race, or age. Although the actual mechanism behind this disease is not yet known, it is thought to be caused by a cumulative effect of various mechanisms (e.g., neurohormonal, genetic, cytotoxic, oxidative stress, autoimmune, and biochemical). This article reviews the published literature on various treatment modalities that might be effective in successfully treating patients with vitiligo, including phototherapies or some photochemotherapies, vitamin D analogs, topical and systemic corticosteroids, zinc treatment, anti-tumor necrosis factor agents, calcineurin inhibitors (tacrolimus, pimecrolimus), and surgical methods. This critical review also discusses a few herbal medications that may be worthy of future investigation because they have no significant side effects.

Jaggery protects hepatorenal injury induced by acute exposure to carbon tetrachloride in Wistar rats.

In this study, we evaluated the protective activity of aqueous extract of jaggery against CCl4-induced hepatic-renal damage in rats. Jaggery was administered in one group at doses of 250, 500 and 750 mg/ kg body weight (bwt) (p.o., once only), and CCL4 was administered in another group at a dose of 1.5 ml/kg bwt (i.p., once only) to evaluate the protective effect of jaggery on induced oxidative damage in rats. Various blood and tissue biochemical studies were performed. The administration of toxicant significantly altered blood biochemical variables. Hepatic and renal lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels increased significantly, whereas considerable depletion was observed in reduced glutathione (GSH) level after intoxication. A remarkable decrease was observed in the activities of adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) and glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-Pase) after induction of toxicity. Treatment with extract at three different altered all measured biochemical variables, but greater hepatic-renal protection was observed at higher doses (750 mg/kg bwt) than at lower does (250 and 500 mg/kg bwt). Jaggery also reversed histopathological alterations. Thus, it may be concluded that jaggery can be used to reduce hepatic and renal damage and may serve as an alternative medicine in hepatic and renal etiology.

Nephroprotective effect of jaggery against acute and subchronic toxicity of acetaminophen in Wistar rats.

The present investigation was planned to evaluate the nephroprotective activity of jaggery against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced renal damage in rats. The protective activity of jaggery at different doses (250, 500, and 750 mg/kg, orally) was evaluated against oxidative damage induced by APAP administration (2 g/kg, once orally in acute exposure; 20 mg/kg, orally for 21 days in subchronic exposure) in rats. APAP administration significantly increased the levels of serum urea, creatinine, and renal lipid peroxidation (LPO), whereas substantial decreases were observed in levels of glutathione (GSH), adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) enzymatic activities after APAP administration. Administration of jaggery significantly moved the studied parameters toward normal levels and also reversed the histopathologic alterations. Thus, jaggery can be used to reduce renal damage and may serve as an alternative medicine in the treatment of renal etiologies.