Multi-Targeted Molecular Docking,Pharmacokinetics, and Drug-Likeness Evaluation of Okra-Derived Ligand Abscisic Acid Targeting Signaling Proteins Involved in the Development of Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a global threat affecting millions of people of different age groups. In recent years, the development of naturally derived anti-diabetic agents has gained popularity. Okra is a common vegetable containing important bioactive components such as abscisic acid (ABA). ABA, a phytohormone, has been shown to elicit potent anti-diabetic effects in mouse models. Keeping its anti-diabetic potential in mind, in silico study was performed to explore its role in inhibiting proteins relevant to diabetes mellitus- 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD1), aldose reductase, glucokinase, glutamine-fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase (GFAT), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma), and Sirtuin family of NAD(+)-dependent protein deacetylases 6 (SIRT6). A comparative study of the ABA-protein docked complex with already known inhibitors of these proteins relevant to diabetes was compared to explore the inhibitory potential. Calculation of molecular binding energy (ΔG), inhibition constant (pKi), and prediction of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics properties were performed. The molecular docking investigation of ABA with 11-HSD1, GFAT, PPAR-gamma, and SIRT6 revealed considerably low binding energy (ΔG from −8.1 to −7.3 Kcal/mol) and predicted inhibition constant (pKi from 6.01 to 5.21 µM). The ADMET study revealed that ABA is a promising drug candidate without any hazardous effect following all current drug-likeness guidelines such as Lipinski, Ghose, Veber, Egan, and Muegge.     

Paradoxical vocal fold motion: Presentation and treatment options

Paradoxical vocal fold motion is a rare disorder in which adduction of the folds occurs on inspiration. The disorder presents with signs of airway obstruction and often airway distress, so proper diagnosis by the otorhinolaryngologist is critical to subsequent management. We present a retrospective review of 10 patients with the diagnosis of paradoxical vocal fold motion seen over a 6-year period. Eight patients were females, and 6 required an acute airway intervention at presentation; 3 patients eventually underwent tracheotomy for respiratory decompensation. Six patients had a prior diagnosis of asthma, and this was determined to contribute to their respiratory status. Five patients were treated with botulinum toxin and 2 with flexible nasolaryngoscopic biofeedback, which improved the outcome. A review of the literature confirms a female predominance of patients presenting with paradoxical adduction and airway distress, often with a history of asthma and psychopathology. Our experience with botulinum toxin and biofeedback suggests that these procedures are viable treatment options in the management of patients with this disorder.     

Synthesis, structural characterization and electrochemical studies of nickel(II), copper(II) and cobalt(III) complexes of some ONS donor ligands derived from thiosemicarbazide and S-alkyl/aryl dithiocarbazates

Four tridentate ONS ligands, namely 2-hydroxyacetophenonethiosemicarbazone (H₂L¹), the 2-hydroxyacetophenone Schiff base of S-methyldithiocarbazate (H₂L²), the 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzaldehyde Schiff base of S-methyldithiocarbazate (H₂L³), and the 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzaldehyde Schiff base of S-benzyldithiocarbazate (H₂L⁴), and their complexes of general formula [Ni(HL¹)₂], [ML] (M?=?Ni^II or Cu^II; L?=?L¹, L², L³ and L⁴), [Co(HL)(L); L?=?L¹, L², L³ and L⁴] and [ML(B)] (M?=?Ni^II or Cu^II; L?=?L² and L⁴; B?=?py, PPh₃) have been prepared and characterized by physico-chemical techniques. Spectroscopic evidence indicates that the Schiff bases behave as ONS tridentate chelating agents. X-ray crystallographic structure determination of [NiL²(PPh₃)] and [CuL⁴(py)] indicates that these complexes have an approximately square-planar structure with the Schiff bases acting as dinegatively charged ONS tridentate ligands coordinating via the phenoxide oxygen, azomethine nitrogen and thiolate sulfur atoms. The electrochemical properties of the complexes have been studied by cyclic voltammetry.     

Theoretical investigation of adsorption of the gabapentin drug on the heteroborospherene

Structural Chemistry - This is an analysis report on the use of density functional theory (DFT) to investigate the potentials of pristine and amino acid–functionalized C4B32 borospherenes in...     

Facile one-pot synthesis,butyrylcholinesterase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities,structure–activity relationship,molecular docking and DNA–drug binding analysis of Meldrum’s acid derivatives

Research on Chemical Intermediates - Meldrum’s acid derivatives were facile synthesized by one-pot condensation process and characterized by NMR (1H, 13C, DEPT-90 and DEPT-135) and EI-MS. The...     

pH-Dependent Slipping and Exfoliation of Layered Covalent Organic Framework

Layered/two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (2D COF) are crystalline porous materials composed of light elements linked by strong covalent bonds. Interlayer force is one of the main factors directing the formation of a stacked layer structure, which plays a vital role in the stability, crystallinity, and porosity of layered COFs. The as-developed new way to modulate the interlayer force of imine-linked 2D TAPB-PDA-COF (TAPB = 1,3,5-tris(4-aminophenyl)benzene, PDA = terephthaldehyde) by only adjusting the pH of the solution. At alkaline and neutral pH, the pore size of the COF decreases from 34 Å due to the turbostratic effect. Under highly acidic conditions (pH 1), TAPB-PDA-COF shows a faster and stronger turbostratic effect, thus causing the 2D structure to exfoliate. This yields bulk quantities of an exfoliated few/single-layer 2D COF, which was well dispersed and displayed a clear Tyndall effect (TE). Furthermore, nanopipette-based electrochemical testing also confirms the slipping of layers with increase towards acidic pH. A model of pH-dependent layer slipping of TAPB-PDA-COF was proposed. This controllable pH-dependent change in the layer structure may open a new door for potential applications in controlled gas adsorption/desorption and drug loading/releasing.     

Energy and exergy analysis and optimization of a gas turbine cycle coupled by a bottoming organic Rankine cycle

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - In this study, the numerical analysis of energy and exergy has been performed for a gas turbine cycle coupled with an ORC cycle. Validation of current...     

Long-wavelength Ultraviolet A1 and Visible Light Photoprotection: A Multimodality Assessment of Dose and Response

Human skin is exposed to visible light (VL; 400–700 nm) and long-wavelength ultraviolet A1 (UVA1) radiation (370–400 nm) after the application of organic broad-spectrum sunscreens. The biologic effects of these wavelengths have been demonstrated; however, a dose–response has not been investigated. Ten subjects with Fitzpatrick skin phototype IV-VI were enrolled. Subjects were irradiated with 2 light sources (80–480 J cm⁻²): one comprising VL with less than 0.5% UVA1 (VL+UVA1) and the other pure VL. Skin responses were evaluated for 2 weeks using clinical and spectroscopic assessments. 4-mm punch biopsies were obtained from nonirradiated skin and sites irradiated with 480 J cm⁻² of VL+UVA1 and pure VL 24 h after irradiation. Clinical and spectroscopic assessments demonstrated a robust response at VL+UVA1 sites compared with pure VL. Histology findings demonstrated a statistically significant increase in the marker of inflammation (P < 0.05) and proliferation (P < 0.05) at the irradiated sites compared with nonirradiated control. Threshold doses of VL+UVA1 resulting in biologic responses were calculated. Results indicate that approximately 2 h of sun exposure, which equates to VL+UVA1 dose (~400 J cm⁻²), is capable of inducing inflammation, immediate erythema and delayed tanning. These findings reinforce the need of photoprotection beyond the UV range.     

Insertion reactions of GaCp*, InCp* and In[C(SiMe3)3] into the Ru-Cl bonds of [(p-cymene)RuIICl2]2 and [Cp*RuIICl]4

The first carbonyl free ruthenium/low valent Group 13 organyl complexes are presented, obtained by insertion of ER (ER = GaCp*, InCp*, In[C(SiMe(3))(3)]) into the Ru-Cl bonds of [(p-cymene)RuCl2]2, [Cp*RuCl]4 and [Cp*RuCl2]2. The compound [(p-cymene)RuCl2]2 reacts with GaCp*, giving a variety of isolated products depending on the reaction conditions. The Ru-Ru dimers [{(p-cymene)Ru}2(GaCp*)4(mu3-Cl)2] and the intermediate [{(p-cymene)Ru}2(mu-Cl)2] were isolated, as well as monomeric complexes [(p-cymene)Ru(GaCp*)3Cl2], [(p-cymene)Ru(GaCp*)2GaCl3] and [(p-cymene)Ru(GaCp*)2Cl2(DMSO)]. The reaction of [Cp*RuCl]4 with ER gives "piano-stool" complexes of the type [Cp*Ru(ER)3Cl](ER = InCp*, In[C(SiMe3)3], GaCp*. The chloride ligand in complex can be removed by NaBPh4, yielding [Cp*Ru(GaCp*)3]+[BPh4]-. The reaction of [Cp*RuCl2]2 with GaCp* however, does not lead to an insertion product, but to the ionic Ru(II) complex [Cp*Ru(GaCp*)3]+[Cp*GaCl3]-. The ER ligands in complexes 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are equivalent on the NMR timescale in solution due to a chloride exchange between the three Group 13 atoms even at low temperatures. The solid state structures, however, exhibit a different structural pattern. The chloride ligands exhibit two coordination modes: either terminal or bridging. The new compounds are fully characterized including single crystal X-ray diffraction. These results point out the different reactivities of the two precursors and the nature of the neutral p-cymene and the anionic Cp* ligand when bonding to a Ru(II) centre.     

Transgenic Artemisia dubia WALL showed altered phytochemistry and pharmacology

The rol genes have been shown to enhance the production of secondary metabolites in plants. This report examines the effect of trans-genes (rol ABC) on possible high production of biologically important phytochemicals and enhanced pharmacological activities. Three transgenic lines (1, 2 and 3) of Artemisia dubia WALL (transformed with Agrobacterium tumefaciens harboring rol ABC genes) were subjected to phytochemical analysis and pharmacological studies. A great variation in phytochemistry and the pharmacological activities was observed not only between the transgenic and non-transgenic control plants but also among the transgenic lines itself. Comparative chemical profile obtained via HPLC, TLC and spectrophotometry showed high degree of variations in the quantity of phytochemicals. An increased production of total flavonoids (71.1% in transgenic line 2) and total phenolics (110.8% in transgenic line 1), increase in caffeic acid and catechin and a decrease in gallic acid content in the extracts of transformed plants compared to the untransformed control plants was decreased. In case of pharmacological activities, moderate to high level increase in antimicrobial (antibacterial and antifungal) activities, cytotoxicity (14.1%), antitumor (29%) and antioxidant activities (23.9%) was observed (in transgenic line 2). In general all the three transgenic lines under study showed improvement in their pharmacological activities in the order of transgenic line 2 > 1 > 3 > control. The implication of these findings will help to meet the increasing demand of pharmacologically important compounds.