miR-191: an emerging player in disease biology

Specific microRNAs have emerged as key players in disease biology by playing crucial role in disease development and progression. This review draws attention to one such microRNA, miR-191 that has been recently reported to be abnormally expressed in several cancers (>20) and various other diseases like diabetes-type 2, Crohn’s, pulmonary hypertension and Alzheimer’s. It regulates important cellular processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and migration by targeting important transcription factors, chromatin remodelers and cell cycle associated genes. Several studies have demonstrated it to be an excellent biomarker for cancer diagnosis and prognosis leading to two patents already in its kitty. In this first review we summarize the current knowledge of the regulation, functions and targets of miR-191 and discuss its potential as a promising disease biomarker and therapeutic target

Modified Excipients in Novel Drug Delivery: Need of the Day

Drug products not only contain “actives” that confer the intended therapeutic benefits such as pain relief or act on particular part of the body, but contain other materials that are also “functional” with respect to the drug product. These are known as excipients and specific functionality which they confer to a particular product is independentupon the process used to add the excipient to the formulation and its exact location within the final dosage form. Introduction of novel drug delivery systems and new drugmoieties lead to the need for new excipients with varied characteristics. Development of new excipient entities and their evaluation is a costly procedure; modificationof existing excipients is very easy, more economical and less time consuming. The development of excipients that are capable of fulfilling multifunctional roles such asenhancing drug bioavailability and drug stability as well as controlling the release of the drug according to the therapeutic needs is one of the most important prerequisitesfor further progress in the design of novel drug delivery systems. The main focus of this article is on synthetic novel excipients that perform multiple functions inpharmaceutical formulations

Family’s sufferings from asymptomatic COVID: Clinicians’ perspective

Anticipating dire consequences, in 2020 the world braced itself for the unparalleled pandemic by resorting to unprecedented measures including stringent lockdowns, unforeseen social isolations, spotlight focus, resource diversions besides reorganized healthcare systems to name the quintessential few. Such unifocal convergence enhanced the vulnerabilities of patients dependent on non-COVID healthcare assistance. For a nation with a meagre allocation of 0.7 hospital beds per 1000 people and a lopsided doctor-population ratio of 1:1800, COVID-centric measures created unintended complications. Ironically, many succumbed in myriad ways, not due to the pandemic but due to the attributes of the survival measures. While such consequences cannot be reversed, we need to be able to draw learnings from all such experiences. Particularly, as healthcare advances into the 21st century and we evolve towards an individualized care model, the contrasting “blanket treatment approach,” while an understandable contingency measure for pandemic emergencies, warrants serious attention. With this narrative, we would like to highlight the anguish and frustration faced by the parents and the doctors as multifarious elements complexly entangled to delay a crucial surgery in a two-year-old child with prolonged RT-PCR positivity. Knowing that mankind is likely to face such pandemics again, future responses require us to visualize the whole picture from a zoomed-out perspective to be able to roll out a synchronized holistic strategy. One needs to introspect on the mutilations incurred, to help redesign our disaster management responses, in order to address “all cause” damage and not just the pandemic ones. Experience Framework This article is associated with the Patient, Family & Community Engagement lens of The Beryl Institute Experience Framework (https://www.theberylinstitute.org/ExperienceFramework). Access other PXJ articles related to this lens. Access other resources related to this lens

Comparison of quality of life and illness perception among patients with acne, eczema, and psoriasis

Dermatologic diseases have a similar influence on quality of life (QoL) and disability as other chronic medical conditions. Although QoL has been studied in relation to acne, eczema, and psoriasis, there is little information on how patients conceptualize their diseases - the illness experience. More information about illness perception (IP) and the impact of these perceptions on QoL, will help clinicians identify and address patients' conceptions, with the potential to positively impact patients' wellbeing. We sought to examine the effect of IP on QoL and make comparisons across acne, psoriasis, and eczema among a diverse population. A cross-sectional survey-based study was completed anonymously by patients presenting to an urban university hospital-based dermatology clinic. In our final model, we showed that IP was independently associated with overall QoL. A secondary finding showed that overall QoL was significantly worse for nonwhite patients compared to white patients. Our results are based on patient survey data, without correlation with objective clinical information. Taken together, our data demonstrate a direct relationship between IP and QoL in three common dermatologic conditions in a clinic-based setting and suggest that this relationship may be influenced by group differences, such as race/ethnicity

Results of a new “mirror tuck technique” for fixation of lacrimal bypass tube in conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy

Context: Conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy (CDCR) is the procedure of choice for proximal canalicular blocks. However, the complications of tube migration and extrusion limit its widespread practice. Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and complications of the new “mirror tuck technique” for fixation of lacrimal bypass glass tube without holes in proximal canalicular blocks in laser CDCR. Materials and Methods: A prospective interventional study was conducted in forty consecutive eyes of adult patients, undergoing 980 nm diode laser CDCR for proximal canalicular blocks. After creating the tract under endoscopic guidance, the collar of the glass tube was fixed to the conjunctiva with 6-0 prolene suture by “mirror tuck technique.” Success was defined as the absence of extrusion of tube with patent tract and relief in epiphora at 1 year of follow-up. Results: Both anatomical and functional success was achieved in 39 (97.5%) cases. Tube displacement occurred in one patient suffering from allergic conjunctivitis in which the tube had to be removed. A temporary heaviness was reported by 5 (12.5%) patients till about 2 weeks. Conjunctival overgrowth over the tube occurred in 1 (2.5%) eye at 5 months which was excised and treated with application of 0.02% mitomycin C with no subsequent recurrence. There were no cases of suture abscess or suture intolerance warranting tube removal. Conclusion: “Mirror tuck technique” is an effective method for tube fixation (for tube without holes) in CDCR. However, it is important to position the conjunctival opening so as to leave sufficient space for passage of sutures for anchorage medially

Stretchable, Nano‐Crumpled MXene Multilayers Impart Long‐Term Antibacterial Surface Properties

Abstract Infections are a significant risk to patients who receive medical implants, and can often lead to implant failure, tissue necrosis, and even amputation. So far, although various surface modification approaches are proposed for prevention and treatment of microbial biofilms on indwelling medical devices, most are too expensive/complicated to fabricate, unscalable, or limited in durability for clinical use. Here, this work presents a new bottom‐up design for fabricating scalable and durable nano‐patterned coatings with dynamic topography for long‐term antibacterial effects. This work shows that MXene layer‐by‐layer (LbL) self‐assembled coatings—with finely tunable crumpled structures with nanometer resolution and excellent mechanical durability—can be successfully fabricated on stretchable poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). The crumpled MXene coating with sharp‐edged peaks shows potent antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. In addition, this work finds that on‐demand dynamic deformation of the crumpled coating can remove ≥99% of adhered bacterial cells for both species, resulting in a clean surface with restored functionality. This approach offers improved practicality, scalability, and antibacterial durability over previous methods, and its flexibility may lend itself to many types of biomaterials and implantable devices