THE ROLE OF HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEM IN MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTHCARE SERVICES

Health information system deals with any system that helps in capturing, storing, transmitting, and managing health-related information of an individual or to demonstrate the activities or organizations working within health-care sector. In the developing countries, maternal and child health is gaining concern due to increasing cases of morbidity and mortality. The disparities among the maternal, infant, and child health are a growing concern in India and are governed by various determinants such as socioeconomic status, literacy, quality of health care, discrimination, and biological and genetic factors. Accurate and reliable health information and data are the basis for decision-making across the health-care sector and are crucial for the development and implementation of health system policy by the policy-makers. Strict monitoring and evaluation of the present program design and its implementation is required at the microlevel to effectively utilize the resources for the improvement of maternal and child health. Our present article focuses on evaluating the coverage gap at the different levels for the provision of health-care facilities to maternal, neonatal, and child health, immunization, and treatment of poor children. Big data plays a major role in providing sound and reliable health-related information and also help in managing and recording structured and unstructured data. More concrete plans are required further to reduce the inequalities in health-care interventions for providing better maternal and child health-care services in our nation

THE BIOPHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND STRUCTURAL EXPLORATION OF PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH REGULATOR B-CELL LYMPHOMA 2-ASSOCIATED X PROTEIN OF CHINESE LIVER FLUKE (CLONORCHIS SINENSIS)

 Objective: The balance between deaths and cellular life is regulated by B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2)-associated X protein (BAX) an important pro-apoptotic components of BCL-2 family. With this initial point, the aim of this study was to determine a comparative composite based structure of BAX of Chinese liver fluke and different structural analysis.Methods: Protein amino acid of BAX of Chinese liver fluke mined from National Centre for Biotechnology Information (http://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Molecular model of BAX of Chinese liver fluke protein was generated by the comparative composite modeling tool Iterative Threading ASSEmbly Refinement suite. Afterward, I-TASSER generated molecular model was subjected to further structural improvements by energy minimization step. Distribution of negatively and positively charged amino acid over molecular modeled structure, distribution of secondary structural elements, and hydrophobicity molecular surface analysis was performed with the help of bioinformatical tools.Results: Analysis of Ramachandran plot created by PROCHECK tool is a consensus standard for validation purpose of protein structural modeling. Altogether 97.8% of the residues were detected in allowed and favored regions, which in turn validate the quality of generated protein structural model. Total negatively and positively charged residues within the BAX of Chinese liver fluke were 23 and 20, respectively. Chimera package-guided hydrophobicity molecular surface analysis illustrates that molecule specific hydrophobicity surface is exclusive to BAX protein molecule.Conclusion: Within the scope of this scientific investigation, we have successfully utilized molecular modeling approach to suggest the first molecular three-dimensional model structure of BAX of Chinese liver fluke. The synchronous balance between cellular deaths and cellular life is keeping up by BAX, an important pro-apoptotic family member of BCL-2 family. Consequently, it would be an exciting approach to resolve its structural characterization and molecular structure to propose mode of mechanism action. Â

STRUCTURAL UNDERSTANDING OF CYTOTOXIN 1 OF NAJA SPUTATRIX: A POTENTIAL ANTICANCER AGENT

Snake venom cytotoxin from different Naja species possesses significant cytotoxic activity on tumor cells. The cytoxin from snake venom can exert a plethora of biological activities including depolarization and muscular cell contraction, lysis of variety of cells such as red blood cells, epithelial cells and fetal lung cells, and also apoptotic activity on certain types of tumor cells. In the present article, we have effectively utilized comparative modeling approach to propose the first molecular model structure of cytotoxin 1 of Naja sputatrix.  The charge distribution on the structure and distribution of secondary structural elements were also investigated with the aid of In silico based approach. A homology structural model of the protein was generated and analyzed to deduce molecular enrichment strategy. The model data and other relevant post model analysis data provides a clear understanding of molecular structure of cytotoxin 1 of Naja sputatrix and its relevant cytotoxic potential for the development of a beneficial anticancer natural lead compound. Keywords: Cytotoxin 1, Naja Sputatrix, Anticancer Agent, Snake Venom, Structural model, Malayan cobra

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF RE1-SILENCING TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR (REST) OF TELEOST FISHES

Objective: Repressor element 1 (RE1)-silencing transcription factor (REST) is a zinc-finger transcription factor or else can be called as neuron- restrictive silencer factor primarily described as a negative regulator of nuclear differentiation at present known to play key function in neuronal cells.Methods: With this initial note the aim of this study was to determination of protein sequence level characteristics of REST of Japanese pufferfish(Takifugu rubripes) and channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) with the help of different bioinformatical research tools.Results: There was no instance of any signal signature present within the amino acid sequence of studied REST molecules. In the present research work protein multiple sequence alignment represented in polarity coloring scheme demonstrates variable sites and as well as conserved sites of proteins in Japanese pufferfish and channel catfish.Conclusion: The current research analysis clearly manifests that protein evolution occurred within the REST of Japanese pufferfish (Takifugu rubripes) and channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus).Keywords: Repressor element 1-silencing transcription factor, Teleost fishes, Japanese pufferfish, Channel catfish, Sequence analysis

MOLECULAR DOCKING STUDIES OF SNAKE VENOM SERINE PROTEASE OF SHARP-NOSED PIT VIPER WITH HESPERETIN

 Objective: The management of snake bite envenomation is a global challenge affecting millions of people. Immunotherapy is still regarded as the treatment of choice; however, their subsequent adverse effects restrict their potential use for therapy against snake venom poisoning. In recent years, more attention has been given to the exploration of indigenous medicinal plants for their outstanding benefits for the treatment of several diseases and disorders, including snake venom poisoning. Hesperetin is a naturally occurring compound derived from a flavanone glycoside, hesperidin and is obtained from various citrus fruits. It is known to possess significant inhibitory activity against snake venom serine proteases. The aim of our present study was to investigate the significant inhibitory action of hesperetin on thrombin-like serine protease from sharp-nosed pit viper (Deinagkistrodon acutus) snake venom.Methods: We have employed molecular docking analysis by implementing the state-of-the-art docking program to validate the hypothesis of the prospective inhibitory properties of hesperetin on thrombin-like serine proteases of snake venom. AutoDock 4.2, InterProSurf, MGLTools, and MTiAutoDock were utilized for the molecular docking analysis of thrombin-like serine protease obtained from the snake venom of sharp-nosed pit viper with the natural compound hesperetin.Results: The results generated from in silico based approach reveals the significant inhibitory role of hesperetin against thrombin-like snake venom proteases, which might lead to the drug designing of the inhibitors of snake venom serine proteases.Conclusion: The implementation of molecular docking analysis by the employment of state-of-the-art docking program supports the potential of inhibitory activity of naturally obtained hesperetin compound on thrombin-like serine proteases of snake venom. The generated in silico results suggests that the novel structure hesperetin - flavanone might act as a potent inhibitor of thrombin-like snake venom proteases, and unlocks the possibilities for designing drugs of the inhibitors of snake venom serine proteases. Moreover, the investigation of the novel compound obtained from natural sources for their inhibitory activity against snake venom serine proteases would lead to the discovery of newer inhibitory compound from a highly uninvestigated research arena

MOLECULAR DOCKING STUDIES OF SNAKE VENOM SERINE PROTEASE OF SHARP-NOSED PIT VIPER WITH HESPERETIN

 Objective: The management of snake bite envenomation is a global challenge affecting millions of people. Immunotherapy is still regarded as the treatment of choice; however, their subsequent adverse effects restrict their potential use for therapy against snake venom poisoning. In recent years, more attention has been given to the exploration of indigenous medicinal plants for their outstanding benefits for the treatment of several diseases and disorders, including snake venom poisoning. Hesperetin is a naturally occurring compound derived from a flavanone glycoside, hesperidin and is obtained from various citrus fruits. It is known to possess significant inhibitory activity against snake venom serine proteases. The aim of our present study was to investigate the significant inhibitory action of hesperetin on thrombin-like serine protease from sharp-nosed pit viper (Deinagkistrodon acutus) snake venom.Methods: We have employed molecular docking analysis by implementing the state-of-the-art docking program to validate the hypothesis of the prospective inhibitory properties of hesperetin on thrombin-like serine proteases of snake venom. AutoDock 4.2, InterProSurf, MGLTools, and MTiAutoDock were utilized for the molecular docking analysis of thrombin-like serine protease obtained from the snake venom of sharp-nosed pit viper with the natural compound hesperetin.Results: The results generated from in silico based approach reveals the significant inhibitory role of hesperetin against thrombin-like snake venom proteases, which might lead to the drug designing of the inhibitors of snake venom serine proteases.Conclusion: The implementation of molecular docking analysis by the employment of state-of-the-art docking program supports the potential of inhibitory activity of naturally obtained hesperetin compound on thrombin-like serine proteases of snake venom. The generated in silico results suggests that the novel structure hesperetin - flavanone might act as a potent inhibitor of thrombin-like snake venom proteases, and unlocks the possibilities for designing drugs of the inhibitors of snake venom serine proteases. Moreover, the investigation of the novel compound obtained from natural sources for their inhibitory activity against snake venom serine proteases would lead to the discovery of newer inhibitory compound from a highly uninvestigated research arena

The saga of cytotoxin evolution–Switching of destructive role to a constructive role

259-265Snake venom contains the toxin proteins, cytotoxins. Cytotoxins exert their effect upon the target cells by interacting with membrane lipids and proteins. Ultimate objective of a cytotoxin is to destroy the target cells. These cytotoxins contain cysteine residues responsible for disulphide linkage between them. Similar variety of peptides enriched with cysteine is also found in many other organisms. But interestingly, in those cases they never have a cell destructive function, in turn, they act to be cell-friendly. In this work, we analysed the cytotoxins and related peptides in terms of amino acid percentage profile, multiple sequence alignment, codon usage, isoelectric point determination, protein secondary structure prediction and phylogenetic tree construction through different softwares. Among all the interesting results, lysine profile was very much informative. High amounts of lysine are conserved in all the cytotoxins whereas in other related peptides it is in less numbers. Phylogenetic tree showed a stepwise dynamic evolution of these interesting molecules. This paper, therefore, showed that there is a great possibility to turn harmful natural peptides into a beneficial engineered molecule for the betterment of lives of mankind

Nanoencapsulation of Quercetin Enhances its Dietary Efficacy in Combating Arsenic-Induced Oxidative Damage in Liver and Brain of Rats

Aims: This study was performed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of nanocapsulated flavonoidal quercetin (QC) in combating arsenic-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated oxidative damage in hepatocytes and brain cells in a rat model. Main methods: Hepatic and neuronal cell damage in rats was made by a single injection (sc) of sodium arsenite (NaAsO2, 13 mg/kg b. wt. in 0.5 ml of physiological saline). A single dose of 500 μl of quercetin suspension (QC) (QC 8.98 μmol/kg) or 500 μl of nanocapsulated QC (NPQC) (QC 8.98 μmol/kg) was given orally to rats at 90 min prior to the arsenite injection. Key findings: Inorganic arsenic depositions (182±15.6 and 110±12.8 ng/g protein) were found in hepatic and neuronal mitochondrial membranes. Antioxidant levels in hepatic and neuronal cells were reduced significantly by arsenic. NPQC prevented the arsenite-induced reduction in antioxidant levels in the liver and brain. Arsenic induced a substantial decrease in liver and brain cell membrane microviscosities, and NPQC treatment resulted in a unique protection against the loss. A significant correlation between mitochondrial arsenic and its conjugated diene level was observed both in liver and brain cells for all experimental rats. Significance: Arsenic-specific antidotes are used against arsenic-induced toxicity. However, the target site is poorly recognized and therefore achieving an active concentration of drug molecules can be a challenge. Thus, our objective was to formulate NPQC and to investigate its therapeutic potential in an oral route against arsenite-induced hepatic and neuronal cell damage in a rat mode