Showing papers by "Manipal University published in 2020"

Lifestyle, Oxidative Stress, and Antioxidants: Back and Forth in the Pathophysiology of Chronic Diseases.

Abstract: Oxidative stress plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. Long term exposure to increased levels of pro-oxidant factors can cause structural defects at a mitochondrial DNA level, as well as functional alteration of several enzymes and cellular structures leading to aberrations in gene expression. The modern lifestyle associated with processed food, exposure to a wide range of chemicals and lack of exercise plays an important role in oxidative stress induction. However, the use of medicinal plants with antioxidant properties has been exploited for their ability to treat or prevent several human pathologies in which oxidative stress seems to be one of the causes. In this review we discuss the diseases in which oxidative stress is one of the triggers and the plant-derived antioxidant compounds with their mechanisms of antioxidant defenses that can help in the prevention of these diseases. Finally, both the beneficial and detrimental effects of antioxidant molecules that are used to reduce oxidative stress in several human conditions are discussed.

A deep learning approach for Parkinson’s disease diagnosis from EEG signals

Abstract: An automated detection system for Parkinson’s disease (PD) employing the convolutional neural network (CNN) is proposed in this study. PD is characterized by the gradual degradation of motor function in the brain. Since it is related to the brain abnormality, electroencephalogram (EEG) signals are usually considered for the early diagnosis. In this work, we have used the EEG signals of twenty PD and twenty normal subjects in this study. A thirteen-layer CNN architecture which can overcome the need for the conventional feature representation stages is implemented. The developed model has achieved a promising performance of 88.25% accuracy, 84.71% sensitivity, and 91.77% specificity. The developed classification model is ready to be used on large population before installation of clinical usage.

Aggregated COVID-19 suicide incidences in India: Fear of COVID-19 infection is the prominent causative factor.

Abstract: Many Indian COVID-19 suicide cases are turning the press-media attention and flooding in the social media platforms although, no particular studies assessed the COVID-19 suicide causative factors to a large extent. Therefore, the present study presents 69 COVID-19 suicide cases (aged 19 to 65 years; 63 cases were males). The suicide causalities are included as follows - fear of COVID-19 infection (n=21), followed by financial crisis (n=19), loneliness, social boycott and pressure to be quarantine, COVID-19 positive, COVID-19 work-related stress, unable to come back home due to lockdown, unavailability of alcohol etc. Considering the extreme psychological impacts related to COVID-19, there emerges a need for countrywide extensive tele-mental health care services.

A review on the cleavage priming of the spike protein on coronavirus by angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 and furin.

Abstract: The widespread antigenic changes lead to the emergence of a new type of coronavirus (CoV) called as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2 that is immunologically different from the previous circulating species. Angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) is one of the most important receptors on the cell membrane of the host cells (HCs) which its interaction with spike protein (SP) with a furin-cleavage site results in the SARS-CoV-2 invasion. Hence, in this review, we presented an overview on the interaction of ACE-2 and furin with SP. As several kinds of CoVs, from various genera, have at their S1/S2 binding site a preserved site, we further surveyed the role of furin cleavage site (FCS) on the life cycle of the CoV. Furthermore, we discussed that the small molecular inhibitors can limit the interaction of ACE-2 and furin with SP and can be used as potential therapeutic platforms to combat the spreading CoV epidemic. Finally, some ongoing challenges and future prospects for the development of potential drugs to promote targeting specific activities of the CoV were reviewed. In conclusion, this review may pave the way for providing useful information about different compounds involved in improving the effectiveness of CoV vaccine or drugs with minimum toxicity against human health.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

COVID-19: Emergence, Spread, Possible Treatments, and Global Burden

Abstract: The Coronavirus (CoV) is a large family of viruses known to cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to acute respiratory tract infection The severity of the infection may be visible as pneumonia, acute respiratory syndrome, and even death Until the outbreak of SARS, this group of viruses was greatly overlooked However, since the SARS and MERS outbreaks, these viruses have been studied in greater detail, propelling the vaccine research On December 31, 2019, mysterious cases of pneumonia were detected in the city of Wuhan in China's Hubei Province On January 7, 2020, the causative agent was identified as a new coronavirus (2019-nCoV), and the disease was later named as COVID-19 by the WHO The virus spread extensively in the Wuhan region of China and has gained entry to over 210 countries and territories Though experts suspected that the virus is transmitted from animals to humans, there are mixed reports on the origin of the virus There are no treatment options available for the virus as such, limited to the use of anti-HIV drugs and/or other antivirals such as Remdesivir and Galidesivir For the containment of the virus, it is recommended to quarantine the infected and to follow good hygiene practices The virus has had a significant socio-economic impact globally Economically, China is likely to experience a greater setback than other countries from the pandemic due to added trade war pressure, which have been discussed in this paper

Influence of wood dust fillers on the mechanical, thermal, water absorption and biodegradation characteristics of jute fiber epoxy composites

Abstract: The present work deals with the influence of wood dust namely Rosewood and Padauk in the jute fiber-based epoxy composites. The work involves the fabrication of four different laminates of jute-epoxy composites using hand layup process with varying proportions of Rosewood and Padauk wood dust fillers compared with the composite in the absence of filler. The characterization of the mechanical and thermal properties was carried out by tensile, compression, flexural, shore D hardness, impact and thermogravimetric analysis as per ASTM. It is inferred from the test results that the mechanical properties got enhanced by the fine distribution of Padauk wood dust particles by improved adhesion with the matrix. The coarse structure of Rosewood dust over the composite improved thermal stability. Scanning Electron Microscopy was utilized to study the fractured interfaces of the mechanically tested composites. Furthermore, the developed composites affinity towards moisture and biodegradation were studied using water adsorption and biodegradability tests.

Reduced C9ORF72 function exacerbates gain of toxicity from ALS/FTD-causing repeat expansion in C9orf72.

Abstract: Hexanucleotide expansions in C9orf72, which encodes a predicted guanine exchange factor, are the most frequent genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Although repeat expansion has been established to generate toxic products, mRNAs encoding the C9ORF72 protein are also reduced in affected individuals. In this study, we tested how C9ORF72 protein levels affected repeat-mediated toxicity. In somatic transgenic mice expressing 66 GGGGCC repeats, inactivation of one or both endogenous C9orf72 alleles provoked or accelerated, respectively, early death. In mice expressing a C9orf72 transgene with 450 repeats that did not encode the C9ORF72 protein, inactivation of one or both endogenous C9orf72 alleles exacerbated cognitive deficits, hippocampal neuron loss, glial activation and accumulation of dipeptide-repeat proteins from translation of repeat-containing RNAs. Reduced C9ORF72 was shown to suppress repeat-mediated elevation in autophagy. These efforts support a disease mechanism in ALS/FTD resulting from reduced C9ORF72, which can lead to autophagy deficits, synergizing with repeat-dependent gain of toxicity.

Visitors’ Place Attachment and Destination Loyalty: Examining the Roles of Emotional Solidarity and Perceived Safety:

Abstract: Hosting ethnically and culturally rich religious festivals provides visitors a glimpse into how a sense of togetherness and faith are not only established but strengthened through shared beliefs and ritualistic behavior. This research examines visitors’ destination loyalty through their emotional bonding with place, the emotional solidarity they experience with residents, and their perceived level of safety. Based on data collected from 813 visitors during the Attur Church Feast in Karkala, India, the results indicated that place attachment directly influences loyalty and two dimensions of emotional solidarity and, in turn, emotional solidarity has a positive effect on loyalty. Additionally, it was found that emotional solidarity partially mediates the effect of place attachment on destination loyalty. Finally, employing a moderated mediation analysis, visitor level of perceived safety at the festival partially moderated the indirect effect of place attachment on destination loyalty through emotional solidarity.

Synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic dye degradation capability of Calliandra haematocephala-mediated zinc oxide nanoflowers.

Abstract: An environmentally sound approach towards the green synthesis of zinc oxide nanostructures has been achieved with an aqueous extract of Calliandra haematocephala leaves. The nanoparticles were characterized using various analytical techniques to substantiate the structural details. An absorption band at 358 nm corresponds to the formation of zinc oxide nanoparticles. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the nanoflower morphology of the nanoparticles. Energy dispersive spectral analysis portrayed the strong presence of zinc and oxygen, while X-ray diffraction showed the nanoparticles to conform to hexagonally-formed wurtzite structure. The crystallite size of the nanoflowers was estimated to be 19.45 nm. Vibrational frequencies, typical of zinc‑oxygen and other functional groups, were revealed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. BET analysis revealed that the pores were of mesoporous nature with an estimated specific surface area of 9.18 m2/g. The photocatalytic nature of the nanoparticles was established by the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye, under solar radiation. Up to 88% degradation was achieved in a duration of 270 min. Kinetic data from the studies proved that the reaction was compliant with first-order model, with rate constant as 0.01 min−1. The study illustrated the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using a novel source, viz., the leaves of C. haematocephala.

Antibiotic prescription practices in primary care in low- And middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract: Background The widespread use of antibiotics plays a major role in the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance. However, important knowledge gaps still exist regarding the extent of their use in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly at the primary care level. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies conducted in primary care in LMICs to estimate the prevalence of antibiotic prescriptions as well as the proportion of such prescriptions that are inappropriate. Methods and findings We searched PubMed, Embase, Global Health, and CENTRAL for articles published between 1 January 2010 and 4 April 2019 without language restrictions. We subsequently updated our search on PubMed only to capture publications up to 11 March 2020. Studies conducted in LMICs (defined as per the World Bank criteria) reporting data on medicine use in primary care were included. Three reviewers independently screened citations by title and abstract, whereas the full-text evaluation of all selected records was performed by 2 reviewers, who also conducted data extraction and quality assessment. A modified version of a tool developed by Hoy and colleagues was utilized to evaluate the risk of bias of each included study. Meta-analyses using random-effects models were performed to identify the proportion of patients receiving antibiotics. The WHO Access, Watch, and Reserve (AWaRe) framework was used to classify prescribed antibiotics. We identified 48 studies from 27 LMICs, mostly conducted in the public sector and in urban areas, and predominantly based on medical records abstraction and/or drug prescription audits. The pooled prevalence proportion of antibiotic prescribing was 52% (95% CI: 51%-53%), with a prediction interval of 44%-60%. Individual studies' estimates were consistent across settings. Only 9 studies assessed rationality, and the proportion of inappropriate prescription among patients with various conditions ranged from 8% to 100%. Among 16 studies in 15 countries that reported details on prescribed antibiotics, Access-group antibiotics accounted for more than 60% of the total in 12 countries. The interpretation of pooled estimates is limited by the considerable between-study heterogeneity. Also, most of the available studies suffer from methodological issues and report insufficient details to assess appropriateness of prescription. Conclusions Antibiotics are highly prescribed in primary care across LMICs. Although a subset of studies reported a high proportion of inappropriate use, the true extent could not be assessed due to methodological limitations. Yet, our findings highlight the need for urgent action to improve prescription practices, starting from the integration of WHO treatment recommendations and the AWaRe classification into national guidelines. Trial registration PROSPERO registration number: CRD42019123269.

The burden of unintentional drowning: global, regional and national estimates of mortality from the Global Burden of Disease 2017 Study.

Abstract: __Background:__ Drowning is a leading cause of injury-related mortality globally. Unintentional drowning (International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 10 codes W65-74 and ICD9 E910) is one of the 30 mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive causes of injury-related mortality in the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study. This study's objective is to describe unintentional drowning using GBD estimates from 1990 to 2017. __Methods:__ Unintentional drowning from GBD 2017 was estimated for cause-specific mortality and years of life lost (YLLs), age, sex, country, region, Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintile, and trends from 1990 to 2017. GBD 2017 used standard GBD methods for estimating mortality from drowning. __Results:__ Globally, unintentional drowning mortality decreased by 44.5% between 1990 and 2017, from 531 956 (uncertainty interval (UI): 484 107 to 572 854) to 295 210 (284 493 to 306 187) deaths. Global age-standardised mortality rates decreased 57.4%, from 9.3 (8.5 to 10.0) in 1990 to 4.0 (3.8 to 4.1) per 100 000 per annum in 2017. Unintentional drowning-associated mortality was generally higher in children, males and in low-SDI to middle-SDI countries. China, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh accounted for 51.2% of all drowning deaths in 2017. Oceania was the region with the highest rate of age-standardised YLLs in 2017, with 45 434 (40 850 to 50 539) YLLs per 100 000 across both sexes. __Conclusions:__ There has been a decline in global drowning rates. This study shows that the decline was not consistent across countries. The results reinforce the need for continued and improved policy, prevention and research efforts, with a focus on low-and middle-income countries.

Global injury morbidity and mortality from 1990 to 2017: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

Abstract: Background Past research in population health trends has shown that injuries form a substantial burden of population health loss. Regular updates to injury burden assessments are critical. We report Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2017 Study estimates on morbidity and mortality for all injuries. Methods We reviewed results for injuries from the GBD 2017 study. GBD 2017 measured injury-specific mortality and years of life lost (YLLs) using the Cause of Death Ensemble model. To measure non-fatal injuries, GBD 2017 modelled injury-specific incidence and converted this to prevalence and years lived with disability (YLDs). YLLs and YLDs were summed to calculate disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Findings In 1990, there were 4 260 493 (4 085 700 to 4 396 138) injury deaths, which increased to 4 484 722 (4 332 010 to 4 585 554) deaths in 2017, while age-standardised mortality decreased from 1079 (1073 to 1086) to 738 (730 to 745) per 100 000. In 1990, there were 354 064 302 (95% uncertainty interval: 338 174 876 to 371 610 802) new cases of injury globally, which increased to 520 710 288 (493 430 247 to 547 988 635) new cases in 2017. During this time, agestandardised incidence decreased non-significantly from 6824 (6534 to 7147) to 6763 (6412 to 7118) per 100 000. Between 1990 and 2017, age-standardised DALYs decreased from 4947 (4655 to 5233) per 100 000 to 3267 (3058 to 3505). Interpretation Injuries are an important cause of health loss globally, though mortality has declined between 1990 and 2017. Future research in injury burden should focus on prevention in highburden populations, improving data collection and ensuring access to medical care.

A Stacking Ensemble for Network Intrusion Detection Using Heterogeneous Datasets

Abstract: )e problem of network intrusion detection poses innumerable challenges to the research community, industry, and commercial sectors. Moreover, the persistent attacks occurring on the cyber-threat landscape compel researchers to devise robust approaches in order to address the recurring problem. Given the presence of massive network traffic, conventional machine learning algorithms when applied in the field of network intrusion detection are quite ineffective. Instead, a hybrid multimodel solution when sought improves performance thereby producing reliable predictions. )erefore, this article presents an ensemble model using metaclassification approach enabled by stacked generalization. Two contemporary as well as heterogeneous datasets,namely, UNSW NB-15, a packet-based dataset, and UGR’16, a flow-based dataset, that were captured in emulated as well as realnetwork traffic environment, respectively, were used for experimentation. Empirical results indicate that the proposed stacking ensemble is capable of generating superior predictions with respect to a real-time dataset (97% accuracy) than an emulated one(94% accuracy)

DDX3 modulates cisplatin resistance in OSCC through ALKBH5-mediated m 6 A-demethylation of FOXM1 and NANOG

Abstract: Platinum based drugs alone or in combination with 5FU and docetaxel are common regimen chemotherapeutics for the treatment of advanced OSCC. Chemoresistance is one of the major factors of treatment failure in OSCC. Human RNA helicase DDX3 plays an important role in cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis in several neoplasms. The potential role of DDX3 in chemoresistance is yet to be explored. Enhanced cancer stem cells (CSCs) population significantly contributes to chemoresistance and recurrence. A recent study showed that m6A RNA regulates self-renewal and tumorigenesis property in cancer. In this study we found genetic (shRNA) or pharmacological (ketorolac salt) inhibition of DDX3 reduced CSC population by suppressing the expression of FOXM1 and NANOG. We also found that m6A demethylase ALKBH5 is directly regulated by DDX3 which leads to decreased m6A methylation in FOXM1 and NANOG nascent transcript that contribute to chemoresistance. Here, we found DDX3 expression was upregulated in both cisplatin-resistant OSCC lines and chemoresistant tumors when compared with their respective sensitive counterparts. In a patient-derived cell xenograft model of chemoresistant OSCC, ketorolac salt restores cisplatin-mediated cell death and facilitates a significant reduction of tumor burdens. Our work uncovers a critical function of DDX3 and provides a new role in m6 demethylation of RNA. A combination regimen of ketorolac salt with cisplatin deserves further clinical investigation in advanced OSCC.

Investigation on tailoring physical properties of Nickel Oxide thin films grown by dc magnetron sputtering

Abstract: We report a comprehensive study on influence of oxygen partial pressure on NiO thin films grown on glass substrates in a combined argon and oxygen ambience by reactive dc magnetron sputtering. In this present article, we have discussed the dependence of oxygen pressure on structural, chemical, morphological, optical and electrical properties of the sputtered NiO films. Glancing angle x-ray diffraction reveals that the deposited films were polycrystalline in nature with FCC phase. The preferred orientation changes from (200)to (111)in a higher O2 flow rate environment and an average particle size was estimated using Scherrer relation. The surface morphology of films was studied by using atomic force microscopy. The x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis demonstrates the core level Ni 2p spectra over a range of 850 eV to 885 eV of binding energy and observed Ni 2p3/2, Ni 2p1/2 domains along with their satellite peaks. It infers the presence of both Ni+2 and Ni+3 oxidation states in the sputtered films. Additionally, Raman spectroscopy was carried out to confirm the structural defects level and crystalline nature of the films. The optical results show that deposited films were semi-transparent and the evaluated optical band gap of the material lies in the range 3.36 eV to 3.52 eV. The extracted electrical properties infer either n-type or p-type conductivity depending on the processing conditions of the films.

A Syndemic Perspective on the Management of Non-communicable Diseases Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Abstract: The global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has greatly affected the lives of people living with non-communicable diseases (PLWNCDs). The health of PLWNCDs worsens when synergistic epidemics or "syndemics" occur due to the interaction between socioecological and biological factors, resulting in adverse outcomes. These interactions can affect the physical, emotional, and social well-being of PLWNCDs. In this paper, we discuss the effects of the COVID-19 syndemic on PLWNCDs, particularly how it has exposed them to NCD risk factors and disrupted essential public health services. We conclude by reflecting on strategies and policies that deal with the COVID-19 syndemic among PLWNCDs in low- and middle-income countries.

Cancer Stem Cell Plasticity - A Deadly Deal.

Abstract: Intratumoral heterogeneity is a major ongoing challenge in the effective therapeutic targeting of cancer. Accumulating evidence suggests that a fraction of cells within a tumor termed Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) are primarily responsible for this diversity resulting in therapeutic resistance and metastasis. Adding to this complexity, recent studies have shown that there can be different subpopulations of CSCs with varying biochemical and biophysical traits resulting in varied dissemination and drug-resistance potential. Moreover, cancer cells can exhibit a high level of plasticity or the ability to dynamically switch between CSC and non-CSC states or among different subsets of CSCs. In addition, CSCs also display extensive metabolic plasticity. The molecular mechanisms underlying these different interconnected axes of plasticity has been under extensive investigation and the trans-differentiation process of Epithelial to Mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been identified as a major contributing factor. Besides genetic and epigenetic factors, CSC plasticity is also shaped by non-cell-autonomous effects such as the tumor microenvironment (TME). In this review, we discuss the latest developments in decoding mechanisms and implications of CSC plasticity in tumor progression at biochemical and biophysical levels, and the latest in silico approaches being taken for characterizing cancer cell plasticity. These efforts can help improve existing therapeutic approaches by taking into consideration the contribution of cellular plasticity/heterogeneity in enabling drug resistance.

A review on the synthesis of hydroxyapatite, its composites and adsorptive removal of pollutants from wastewater

Abstract: In the current study, the synthesis of hydroxyapatite (HAP) and its composite by various techniques, are abridged highlighting the eco-friendly technique – a green synthesis that involves the use of eco-friendly solvents like water and precursor substitution by waste resources. Magnetic HAP plays a major role in the HAP composites because of the ease of recovery and reuse. This study also emphasizes the prowess of the adsorption technique for the removal of various pollutants such as heavy metals, dyes, and emerging pollutants. A detailed adsorption mechanism is explained to understand the possible reactions taking place between the adsorbent and the adsorbate. Recent literature regarding the adsorption of various environmental pollutants by HAP and its composites are reported to support the efficiency of the adsorption process.