Fatty Acids and Their Analogues as Anticancer Agents

Recent research supports the beneficial effects of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on inhibiting tumour development. Long‐chain fatty acids modulate the tumour cell response to chemotherapeutic drugs. Investigators recently claimed high dietary intake of omega‐6 polyunsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic acid especially in association with a low intake of omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid to increase risks for cancers of the breast, colon and possibly prostate. In addition to these facts, a number of investigations have demonstrated that a modified fatty acid analogues are promising molecules in cancer prevention and have potential in the treatment of cancer. Although billions of dollars have been spent on research and development on anticancer drugs, the disease remains uncontrolled. It is expected that anticancer agents preferentially kill tumour cells without causing adverse effects on normal cells. But this is rarely achieved with the existing cancer therapy. Hence, polyunsaturated fatty acids have come under the category of nutraceuticals/functional foods; their exploration in the treatment of cancer may be considered as safe. This chapter describes the effects of long‐chain fatty acids and their analogues in cancer chemotherapy

Developing Habits of Mind through Family Engineering at Home

Engineering in early education provides the foundation for the future of innovation. With the increased contact between family members during the COVID-19 pandemic, children may have experienced changes in their learning and engineering engagement. Our research explores young students’ reflections on their process of engaging in low-stakes engineering projects in their home. The participants were 22 families, ranging from second grade to sixth grade. After they attempted to solve an engineering challenge with family members in their home, all students reconvened in recorded Zoom meetings to answer various questions about the process and product of their engineering project. We individually watched and collectively discussed 13 video recordings. The resultant behavioral data were categorized using a peer-reviewed framework that includes Learning Habits of Mind and Engineering Habits of Mind. The study also accounted for aesthetic considerations and signs of empathy, which were not specified in the original framework. Initial findings reveal “Resourcefulness,” “Adapting/Improving,” and “Systems Thinking” were the most common habits of mind. The significance of this study highlights how engaging in engineering projects in the home has the potential to develop children’s dispositions and ways of thinking common to engineers.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2022/1067/thumbnail.jp

A prospective study of predictors of metabolic syndrome in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a well-known gynecological hormonal imbalance. The consequences of PCOS pose a substantial risk for the development of metabolic and cardiovascular abnormalities similar to those that make up metabolic syndrome (MBS). Therefore, there was a need to identify predictors for MBS in PCOS subjects and study their strength of association.Methods: A prospective observational study was carried on 100 PCOS subjects for having features of MBS. MBS was diagnosed by National cholesterol education program’s adult treatment panel III 2001 criteria. Student’s independent t test, Chi square test and Fisher’s exact test were used for statistical analysis.Results: The present study estimated the prevalence of MBS in women with PCOS to be 31%. MBS in PCOS was more prevalent in non-vegetarians (51.6%). The individual components of MBS criterion had a statistically significant p value (p=0.001 to 0.008) for development of PCOS. Raised levels of triglycerides, fasting blood sugars and fasting insulin tests were related directly to MBS development, with statistically significant p values (<0.001, <0.001 and 0.005), respectively.Conclusions: Women with PCOS have a high prevalence of MBS and its individual components, particularly raised laboratory values of triglycerides, fasting blood sugars and fasting insulin. MBS in PCOS women is associated with advancing age and obesity

Creative Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Creativity is the ability to produce or develop original work or ideas (APA Dictionary of Psychology, n.d.). Since creativity is a highly prized quality in virtually all aspects of life in the United States (Spencer, 2019), from the professional setting and social circles to leisure activities and daily chores, Yesit is important to foster creative learning environments for children and young adults. The purpose of this study, Creative Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic, is to examine Binghamton University students’ self-perceived creativity levels in various types of learning environments during the pandemic. An online Qualtrics survey of forty-two questions was designed using relevant items from the questionnaire, KEYS: Assessing the Climate for Creativity (Amabile, 1996), along with questions geared to obtain demographic information. We hypothesize that undergraduate students who have an educational environment closest to an in-person class, whether that be all in-person or hybrid learning, have a better view towards their self-perceived creativity over students who have all online classes. The implications behind examining the potential repercussions to young adults’ creativity during the transitory period of undergraduate education, especially in the midst of a global pandemic, includes gaining insight into the positive and negative outcomes different COVID-19 learning environments have on students.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2021/1045/thumbnail.jp

Synthesis and Neuropharmacological Evaluation of Some Novel Quinoxaline 2, 3-Dione Derivatives

Quinoxaline-2, 3-dione obtained from cyclocondensation reaction of o-phenylene diamine with oxalic acid was reacted with three different ketones and formaldehyde to give the corresponding Mannich bases in satisfactory yield. Their structures were confirmed by using 1H NMR, IR, and mass analysis. In pharmacological evaluation, the synthesized compounds showed its curative effect against ethidium-bromide-induced demyelination in rats. For the purpose, different screening methods such as open field exploratory behavior test, rota rod test, grip strength test, beam walk test, and photo actometer test were performed. Ethidium bromide induction showed muscle weakness; muscle discoordination; loss of locomotor activity, and so forth, the synthesized drugs reversed all the above-mentioned neuromuscular disorders caused by ethidium bromide administration

Docking Studies, Synthesis, Characterization and Evaluation of Their Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities of Some Novel Isoxazole-Substituted 9-Anilinoacridine Derivatives

A convenient synthesis of novel isoxazole-substituted 9-anilinoacridine derivatives 5a–j was reported. The compounds were confirmed by physical and analytical data and screened for in vitro antioxidant activity by DPPH method, reducing power assay and total antioxidant capacity method. The cytotoxic activity of the compounds was also studied in HEp-2 cell line. The docking studies of the synthesized compounds were performed towards the key nucleoside dsDNA by using AutoDock vina 4.0 programme. All the isoxazole-substituted compounds have significant activities

Design and synthesis of novel quercetin metal complexes as IL-6 inhibitors for anti-inflammatory effect in SARS-CoV-2

One of the most common causes of mortality in COVID-19 patients is cytokine release syndrome (CRS). Though several cytokines are involved in CRS, the role of Interleukin 6 is significant. Considering the importance of IL-6 inhibition and the drawbacks of the existing monoclonal antibodies, the present study develops new flavonoid metal complexes as immune boosters targeting IL-6 for SARS-CoV-2 treatment. To identify the potential flavonoids from 152 secondary plant metabolites, PyRx 0.9 tool has been used. The top scorer quercetin was converted into quercetin-oxime. Seven metal complexes (QM-1 to QM-7) were made from quercetin-oxime by utilizing divalent metals such as zinc, copper, magnesium, cobalt, barium, and cadmium. It was assumed that all compounds were moderately soluble and would not penetrate the BBB through in silico ADME studies. However, the in vitro heamolytic research revealed a modest heamolytic effect in all seven complexes. To know the IL-6 inhibitory potential preliminary level, the complexes were screened for cytotoxicity in cell lines MCF-7 which predominantly expresses the IL-6 level. The cytotoxic effects of all complexes were considerable relative to the marketable Nutridac formulation. The complexes quercetin-Zinc (QM1) and quercetin-Zinc-Ascorbic acid (QM7) showed significant cytotoxicity on MCF-7 compared to Nutridac and no cytotoxic toward the normal cell lines

Drug repurposing of Daclatasvir and Famciclovir as antivirals against dengue virus infection by in silico and in vitro techniques

Drug repurposing is a technique for reusing an existing drug to treat another ailment. It is common knowledge that nearly all medicines used in human therapy have more than one target impact in addition to their primary action. The present work is aimed to repurpose existing antiviral drugs for dengue disease. A molecular docking study is performed with the DENVE protein for the identification of the suitable drug candidate which acts in the fusion process. For all repurposed drugs at the active site of DENVE, molecular docking experiments were performed using CLC Drug Discovery Workbench Software (PDB ID: 1OKE). The relative binding modes and the affinities of all the selected drugs were predicted and compared with the co-crystallized n-octyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (βOG). The Daclatasvir (Score-53.52) makes hydrogen bonds with ALA50 and THY48. According to the docking score evaluation, the entire drug candidates had docking result ranging from −32.15 to −53.52. Among the drugs tested the two drugs namely Daclatasvir and Famciclovir have been identified as HITS for combating DENVE protein