Biohydrogen: Opportunities and challenges as an alternative energy resource

As the energy demand is continuously rising with the increase in population, the use of fossil fuels is also increasing at the same rate. These fossil fuels release greenhouse gases (GHG) which are harmful to human health and our environmental health and these fuels are also expected to exhaust in the near future. This eventually has led to an emerging need to shift to a more reliable, sustainable, clean energy source. Biohydrogen as fuel is a potential alternative, as hydrogen has proved to be one such fuel which has the potential to replace fossil fuels. There is a need to produce it in a clean, sustainable way to compete with the fuels that are being used currently. The hydrogen which is produced biologically is known as biohydrogen. Microorganisms also play a huge role in the process of hydrogen generation by virtue of their natural mechanism. Hydrogen can be produced biologically using approaches like biophotolysis (direct and indirect), fermentation (dark and photo) and microbial electrolysis cell (MEC). Among all, dark fermentation seems to be the most efficient when compared to other procedures. The challenges currently being faced with this technology are the yield of hydrogen, the high cost of the reactor and system efficiency. This technology still needs a lot of research and improvement to replace fossil fuels entirely

New insights into molecular signaling pathways and current advancements in prostate cancer diagnostics & therapeutics

Prostate adenocarcinoma accounts for more than 20% of deaths among males due to cancer. It is the fifth-leading cancer diagnosed in males across the globe. The mortality rate is quite high due to prostate cancer. Despite the fact that advancements in diagnostics and therapeutics have been made, there is a lack of effective drugs. Metabolic pathways are altered due to the triggering of androgen receptor (AR) signaling pathways, and elevated levels of dihydrotestosterone are produced due to defects in AR signaling that accelerate the growth of prostate cancer cells. Further, PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways interact with AR signaling pathway and act as precursors to promote prostate cancer. Prostate cancer therapy has been classified into luminal A, luminal B, and basal subtypes. Therapeutic drugs inhibiting dihydrotestosterone and PI3K have shown to give promising results to combat prostate cancer. Many second-generation Androgen receptor signaling antagonists are given either as single agent or with the combination of other drugs. In order to develop a cure for metastasized prostate cancer cells, Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is applied by using surgical or chemical methods. In many cases, Prostatectomy or local radiotherapy are used to control metastasized prostate cancer. However, it has been observed that after 1.5 years to 2 years of Prostatectomy or castration, there is reoccurrence of prostate cancer and high incidence of castration resistant prostate cancer is seen in population undergone ADT. It has been observed that Androgen derivation therapy combined with drugs like abiraterone acetate or docetaxel improve overall survival rate in metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) patients. Scientific investigations have revealed that drugs inhibiting poly ADP Ribose polymerase (PARP) are showing promising results in clinical trials in the prostate cancer population with mCRPC and DNA repair abnormalities. Recently, RISUG adv (reversible inhibition of sperm under guidance) has shown significant results against prostate cancer cell lines and MTT assay has validated substantial effects of this drug against PC3 cell lines. Current review paper highlights the advancements in prostate cancer therapeutics and new drug molecules against prostate cancer. It will provide detailed insights on the signaling pathways which need to be targeted to combat metastasized prostate cancer and castration resistant prostate cancer

Utilisation, availability and price changes of medicines and protection equipment for COVID-19 among selected regions in India : findings and implications

Background: COVID-19 has already claimed a considerable number of lives worldwide. However, there are concerns with treatment recommendations given the extent of conflicting results with suggested treatments and misinformation, some of which has resulted in increased prices and shortages alongside increasing use and prices of personal protective equipment (PPE). This is a concern in countries such as India where there have been high patient co-payments and an appreciable number of families going into poverty when members become ill. However, balanced against pricing controls. Community pharmacists play a significant role in disease management in India, and this will remain. Consequently, there is a need to review prices and availability of pertinent medicines during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in India to provide future direction. Objective: Assess current utilisation and price changes as well as shortages of pertinent medicines and equipment during the early stages of the pandemic. Our Approach: Multiple approach involving a review of treatments and ongoing activities across India to reduce the spread of the virus alongside questioning pharmacies in selected cities from early March to end May 2020. Our Activities: 111 pharmacies took part, giving a response rate of 80%. Encouragingly, no change in utilisation of antimalarial medicines in 45% of pharmacies despite endorsements and for antibiotics in 57.7% of pharmacies, helped by increasing need for a prescription for dispensing. In addition, increased purchasing of PPE (over 98%). No price increases were seen for antimalarials and antibiotics in 83.8 and 91.9% of pharmacies respectively although shortages were seen for antimalarials in 70.3% of pharmacies, lower for antibiotics (9.9% of pharmacies). However, price increases were typically seen for PPE (over 90% of stores) as well as for analgesics (over 50% of pharmacies). Shortages were also seen for PPE (88.3%). Conclusion: The pandemic has impacted on utilisation and prices of pertinent medicines and PPE in India but moderated by increased scrutiny. Key stakeholder groups can play a role with enhancing evidenced-based approaches and reducing inappropriate purchasing in the future

Demand of COVID-19 medicines without prescription among community pharmacies in Jodhpur, India : findings and implications

Background: COVID-19 pandemic led to increased self-medication of antimicrobials, vitamins, and immune boosters among the common people and consuming without prescription can lead to adverse consequences including antimicrobial resistance. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on community pharmacies in Jodhpur, India. They were inquired regarding the prescription and increased sales (75% increase in vitamin C sales. Conclusion: There was an increase in the demand for COVID-19 medications without prescription. This study was unable to detect a significant increase in sales of antimicrobials, which is encouraging

Rapid assessment of price instability and paucity of medicines and protection for COVID-19 across Asia : findings and public health implications for the future

Background: Countries have introduced a variety of measures to prevent and treat COVID-19 with medicines and personal protective equipment (PPE), with some countries adopting preventative strategies earlier than others. However, there has been considerable controversy surrounding some treatments. This includes hydroxychloroquine where the initial hype and misinformation lead to shortages, price rises and suicides. Price rises and shortages have also been seen for PPE. Such activities can have catastrophic effects on patients where there are high co-payment levels and issues of affordability. Consequently, there is a need to investigate this further. Objective: Assess changes in the availability, utilization and prices of relevant medicines and PPE during the pandemic among a range of Asian countries. Our approach: Narrative literature review combined with interviews among community pharmacists to assess changes in consumption, prices and shortages of medicines and PPE from the beginning of March 2020 until end of May 2020. In addition, suggestions on ways to reduce misinformation. Results: 308 pharmacists took part from five Asian countries. There was an appreciable increase in the utilization of antimicrobials in Pakistan (in over 88% of pharmacies), with lower increases or no change in Bangladesh, India, Malaysia and Vietnam. Encouragingly, there was increased use of vitamins/immune boosters and PPE across the countries, as well as limited price rises for antimicrobials in India, Malaysia and Vietnam, although greater price rises seen for analgesics and vitamin C/immune boosters. Appreciable price increases were also seen for PPE across some countries. Conclusion: Encouraging to see increases in utilization of vitamins/immune boosters and PPE. However, increases in the utilization and prices of antimicrobials is a concern that needs addressing alongside misinformation and any unintended consequences from the pandemic. Community pharmacists can play a key role in providing evidence-based advice, helping to moderate prices, as well as helping address some of the unintended consequences of the pandemic

Gating at the Mouth of the Acetylcholine Receptor Channel: Energetic Consequences of Mutations in the αM2-Cap

Gating of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors from a C(losed) to an O(pen) conformation is the initial event in the postsynaptic signaling cascade at the vertebrate nerve-muscle junction. Studies of receptor structure and function show that many residues in this large, five-subunit membrane protein contribute to the energy difference between C and O. Of special interest are amino acids located at the two transmitter binding sites and in the narrow region of the channel, where C↔O gating motions generate a low↔high change in the affinity for agonists and in the ionic conductance, respectively. We have measured the energy changes and relative timing of gating movements for residues that lie between these two locations, in the C-terminus of the pore-lining M2 helix of the α subunit (‘αM2-cap’). This region contains a binding site for non-competitive inhibitors and a charged ring that influences the conductance of the open pore. αM2-cap mutations have large effects on gating but much smaller effects on agonist binding, channel conductance, channel block and desensitization. Three αM2-cap residues (αI260, αP265 and αS268) appear to move at the outset of channel-opening, about at the same time as those at the transmitter binding site. The results suggest that the αM2-cap changes its secondary structure to link gating motions in the extracellular domain with those in the channel that regulate ionic conductance

Plasma Dynamics

Contains table of contents for Section 2 and reports on four research projects.National Science Foundation Grant ECS-89-02990U.S. Air Force - Office of Scientific Research Grant AFOSR 89-0082-CU.S. Army - Harry Diamond Laboratories Contract DAAL02-89-K-0084U.S. Army - Harry Diamond Laboratories Contract DAAL02-92-K-0037U.S. Department of Energy Contract DE-AC02-90ER-40591U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research Grant N00014-90-J-4130Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories Subcontract B-160456National Aeronautics and Space Administration Grant NAGW-2048National Science Foundation Grant ECS-88-22475U.S. Department of Energy Grant DE-FG02-91-ER-5410

Plasma Dynamics

Contains table of contents for Section 2 and reports on four research projects.National Science Foundation Grant ECS 89-02990U.S. Air Force - Office of Scientific Research Grant AFOSR 89-0082-BU.S. Army - Harry Diamond Laboratories Contract DAAL02-89-K-0084U.S. Department of Energy Contract DE-AC02-90ER40591U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research Grant N00014-90-J-4130Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Subcontract B-160456National Science Foundation Grant ECS 88-22475U.S. Department of Energy Contract DE-FG02-91-ER-54109National Aeronautics and Space Administration Grant NAGW-2048U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation Grant 87-0057U.S Department of Energy Contract DE-AC02-78-ET-5101