The International Natural Product Sciences Taskforce (INPST) and the power of Twitter networking exemplified through #INPST hashtag analysis

Background: The development of digital technologies and the evolution of open innovation approaches have enabled the creation of diverse virtual organizations and enterprises coordinating their activities primarily online. The open innovation platform titled "International Natural Product Sciences Taskforce" (INPST) was established in 2018, to bring together in collaborative environment individuals and organizations interested in natural product scientific research, and to empower their interactions by using digital communication tools. Methods: In this work, we present a general overview of INPST activities and showcase the specific use of Twitter as a powerful networking tool that was used to host a one-week "2021 INPST Twitter Networking Event" (spanning from 31st May 2021 to 6th June 2021) based on the application of the Twitter hashtag #INPST. Results and Conclusion: The use of this hashtag during the networking event period was analyzed with Symplur Signals (https://www.symplur.com/), revealing a total of 6,036 tweets, shared by 686 users, which generated a total of 65,004,773 impressions (views of the respective tweets). This networking event's achieved high visibility and participation rate showcases a convincing example of how this social media platform can be used as a highly effective tool to host virtual Twitter-based international biomedical research events

Systematic Review of Potential Health Risks Posed by Pharmaceutical, Occupational and Consumer Exposures to Metallic and Nanoscale Aluminum, Aluminum Oxides, Aluminum Hydroxide and Its Soluble Salts

Aluminum (Al) is a ubiquitous substance encountered both naturally (as the third most abundant element) and intentionally (used in water, foods, pharmaceuticals, and vaccines); it is also present in ambient and occupational airborne particulates. Existing data underscore the importance of Al physical and chemical forms in relation to its uptake, accumulation, and systemic bioavailability. The present review represents a systematic examination of the peer-reviewed literature on the adverse health effects of Al materials published since a previous critical evaluation compiled by Krewski et al. (2007). Challenges encountered in carrying out the present review reflected the experimental use of different physical and chemical Al forms, different routes of administration, and different target organs in relation to the magnitude, frequency, and duration of exposure. Wide variations in diet can result in Al intakes that are often higher than the World Health Organization provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI), which is based on studies with Al citrate. Comparing daily dietary Al exposures on the basis of “total Al”assumes that gastrointestinal bioavailability for all dietary Al forms is equivalent to that for Al citrate, an approach that requires validation. Current occupational exposure limits (OELs) for identical Al substances vary as much as 15-fold. The toxicity of different Al forms depends in large measure on their physical behavior and relative solubility in water. The toxicity of soluble Al forms depends upon the delivered dose of Al+ 3 to target tissues. Trivalent Al reacts with water to produce bidentate superoxide coordination spheres [Al(O2)(H2O4)+ 2 and Al(H2O)6 + 3] that after complexation with O2•−, generate Al superoxides [Al(O2•)](H2O5)]+ 2. Semireduced AlO2• radicals deplete mitochondrial Fe and promote generation of H2O2, O2 • − and OH•. Thus, it is the Al+ 3-induced formation of oxygen radicals that accounts for the oxidative damage that leads to intrinsic apoptosis. In contrast, the toxicity of the insoluble Al oxides depends primarily on their behavior as particulates. Aluminum has been held responsible for human morbidity and mortality, but there is no consistent and convincing evidence to associate the Al found in food and drinking water at the doses and chemical forms presently consumed by people living in North America and Western Europe with increased risk for Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD). Neither is there clear evidence to show use of Al-containing underarm antiperspirants or cosmetics increases the risk of AD or breast cancer. Metallic Al, its oxides, and common Al salts have not been shown to be either genotoxic or carcinogenic. Aluminum exposures during neonatal and pediatric parenteral nutrition (PN) can impair bone mineralization and delay neurological development. Adverse effects to vaccines with Al adjuvants have occurred; however, recent controlled trials found that the immunologic response to certain vaccines with Al adjuvants was no greater, and in some cases less than, that after identical vaccination without Al adjuvants. The scientific literature on the adverse health effects of Al is extensive. Health risk assessments for Al must take into account individual co-factors (e.g., age, renal function, diet, gastric pH). Conclusions from the current review point to the need for refinement of the PTWI, reduction of Al contamination in PN solutions, justification for routine addition of Al to vaccines, and harmonization of OELs for Al substances

PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF METFORMIN LOADED STEARIC ACID COUPLED F127 NANOPARTICLES

Objective: The objective of this study was to prepare and evaluate metformin nanoparticles (MN) using stearic acid-coupled F127 (SAF127) copolymer and polyvinyl alcohol by emulsion solvent evaporation technique.Method: Metformin is the first-line drug for the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus belongs to Biopharmaceutical Classification System Class III. The prepared MN was characterized for particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, drug entrapment, percentage yield, in vitro drug release, and stability studies. The compatibility studies were performed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The crystallographic and surface properties were studied by X-ray diffractometry and scanning electron microscopy, respectively.Results: The mean particle diameter of prepared nanoparticles ranged from 207.8 to 977.64 nm, PDI value ranged from 0.146 to 0.694, and zeta potential ranged from −20.5 to −6.97 mV. The drug entrapment efficiency of these nanoparticles varies between 18.81 to 69.01 %. The drug to SAF127 copolymer (10/30 w/w) ratio (MN3) showed optimum results. The MN3 had spherical morphology with semi-amorphous nature. The results of FTIR and DSC analysis showed that there was no significant interaction between drug and excipients. The prepared polymeric nanoparticles were stable at 5±3°C up to 3 months. In vitro release of drug from MN3 was 20.52% in the first 1 h and remaining drug was released up to 30 h.Conclusion: The results of this study confirmed the sustained drug release profile of metformin loaded SAF127 copolymer nanoparticles. These nanoparticles can be best stored up to 3 months

Therapeutic importance of synthetic thiophene

Abstract Thiophene and its substituted derivatives are very important class of heterocyclic compounds which shows interesting applications in the field of medicinal chemistry. It has made an indispensable anchor for medicinal chemists to produce combinatorial library and carry out exhaustive efforts in the search of lead molecules. It has been reported to possess a wide range of therapeutic properties with diverse applications in medicinal chemistry and material science, attracting great interest in industry as well as academia. It has been proven to be effectual drugs in present respective disease scenario. They are remarkably effective compounds both with respect to their biological and physiological functions such as anti-inflammatory, anti-psychotic, anti-arrhythmic, anti-anxiety, anti-fungal, antioxidant, estrogen receptor modulating, anti-mitotic, anti-microbial, kinases inhibiting and anti-cancer. Thus the synthesis and characterization of novel thiophene moieties with wider therapeutic activity is a topic of interest for the medicinal chemist to synthesize and investigate new structural prototypes with more effective pharmacological activity. However, several commercially available drugs such as Tipepidine, Tiquizium Bromides, Timepidium Bromide, Dorzolamide, Tioconazole, Citizolam, Sertaconazole Nitrate and Benocyclidine also contain thiophene nucleus. Therefore, it seems to be a requirement to collect recent information in order to understand the current status of the thiophene nucleus in medicinal chemistry research

Synthesis of thiophene derivatives and their anti-microbial, antioxidant, anticorrosion and anticancer activity

Abstract Background A new series of thiophene analogues was synthesized and checked for their in vitro antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, anticorrosion and anticancer activities. Results A series of ethyl-2-(substituted benzylideneamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophene-3-carboxylate derivatives were synthesized by using Gewald synthesis and their structures were confirmed by FTIR, MS and 1H-NMR. The synthesized compounds were further evaluated for their in vitro biological potentials i.e. antimicrobial activity against selected microbial species using tube dilution method, antiproliferative activity against human lung cancer cell line (A-549) by sulforhodamine B assay, antioxidant activity by using DPPH method and anticorrosion activity by gravimetric method. Conclusion Antimicrobial screening results showed that compound S 1 was the most potent antibacterial agent against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi having MIC value 0.81 µM/ml and compound S 4 also displayed excellent antifungal activity against both Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger (MIC = 0.91 µM/ml) when compared with cefadroxil (antibacterial) and fluconazole (antifungal) as standard drug. The antioxidant screening results indicated that compound S 4 and S 6 exhibited excellent antioxidant activity with IC50 values 48.45 and 45.33 respectively when compared with the ascorbic acid as standard drug. Anticorrosion screening results indicated that compound S 7 showed more anticorrosion efficiency (97.90%) with low corrosion rate. Results of anticancer screening indicated that compound S 8 showed effective cytotoxic activity against human lung cancer cell line (A-549) at dose of 10−4 M when compared with adriamycin as standard

Design, synthesis and antimicrobial evaluation of pyrimidin-2-ol/thiol/amine analogues

Abstract Background Pyrimidine is an aromatic heterocyclic moiety containing nitrogen atom at 1st and 3rd positions and play an important role to forms the central core for different necessity of biological active compounds, from this facts, we have designed and synthesized a new class of pyrimidin-2-ol/thiol/amine derivatives and screened for its in vitro antimicrobial activity. Results and discussion The synthesized pyrimidine derivatives were confirmed by IR, 1H/13C-NMR, Mass spectral studies and evaluated for their in vitro antimicrobial potential against Gram positive (S. aureus and B. subtilis), Gram negative (E. coli, P. aeruginosa and S. enterica) bacterial strains and fungal strain (C. albicans and A. niger) by tube dilution method and recorded minimum inhibitory concentration in µM/ml. The MBC and MFC values represent the lowest concentration of compound that produces in the range of 96–98% end point reduction of the used test bacterial and fungal species. Conclusion In general all synthesized derivatives exhibited good antimicrobial activity. Among them, compounds 2, 5, 10, 11 and 12 have significant antimicrobial activity against used bacterial and fungal strains and also found to be more active than the standard drugs. Graphical abstract Pyrimidine is an aromatic heterocyclic moiety containing nitrogen atom at 1st and 3rd positions and play an important role to forms the central core for different necessity of biological active compounds, from this facts, we have designed and synthesized a new class of pyrimidin-2-ol/thiol/amine derivatives and screened for its in vitro antimicrobial activity. The synthesized pyrimidine derivatives were confirmed by IR, 1H/13C-NMR, Mass spectral studies and evaluated for their in vitro antimicrobial potential against Gram positive (S. aureus and B. subtilis), Gram negative (E. coli, P. aeruginosa and S. enterica) bacterial strains and fungal strain (C. albicans and A. niger) by tube dilution method and recorded minimum inhibitory concentration in µM/ml. The MBC and MFC values represent the lowest concentration of compound that produces in the range of 96–98% end point reduction of the used test bacterial and fungal species

Biological potential of thiazolidinedione derivatives of synthetic origin

Abstract Thiazolidinediones are sulfur containing pentacyclic compounds that are widely found throughout nature in various forms. Thiazolidinedione nucleus is present in numerous biological compounds, e.g., anti-malarial, antimicrobial, anti-mycobacterium, anticonvulsant, antiviral, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and antitubercular agent. However, owing to the swift development of new molecules containing this nucleus, many research reports have been generated in a brief span of time. Therefore seems to be a requirement to collect recent information in order to understand the current status of the thiazolidinedione nucleus in medicinal chemistry research, focusing in particular on the numerous attempts to synthesize and investigate new structural prototypes with more effective antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and antitubercular activity

Synthesis, SAR and in vitro therapeutic potentials of thiazolidine-2,4-diones

Abstract Background Thiazolidinedione is a pentacyclic moiety having five membered unsaturated ring system composed with carbon, oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur molecules at 1 and 3 position of the thiazole ring and widely found throughout nature in various form. They favourably alter concentration of the hormones secreted by adipocytes, particularly adiponectin. They also increase total body fat and have mixed effects on circulating lipids. Thiazolidinedione nucleus is present in numerous biological moieties and has different pharmacological activities likes, e.g. antimalarial, antimicrobial, antimycobacterial, anticonvulsant, antiviral, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and antituberculosis. Results and discussion The synthesized compounds were screened for their in vitro antimicrobial potential against Gram (positive and negative) bacterial and fungal strains by tube dilution technique. In this series, compound 10 exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against B. subtilis and S. aureus with MIC = 4.2 × 10−2 µM/ml, compound 15 showed significant activity against K. pneumonia with MIC = 2.60 × 10−2 µM/ml and compound 4 displayed potent antibacterial activity against E. coli with MIC = 4.5 × 10−2 µM/ml. Compound 10 had most potent antifungal activity against C. albicans and A. niger with MIC = 4.2 × 10−2 µM/ml. Compounds 12 and 15 were found as most active antidiabetic agents having IC50 = 27.63 μg/ml and 22.35 μg/ml, respectively, using DPPH assay. Antioxidant activity results indicated that compounds 3 and 9 displayed good antioxidant agent with IC50 = 29.04 μg/ml and 27.66 μg/ml respectively, using α amylase assay. Conclusion All the synthesized derivatives exhibited good antimicrobial, antidiabetic and antioxidant activities using specific methods then compared with mentioned standard drugs. Especially, compounds 3, 4, 9, 10, 12 and 15 displayed highest activity. Structure activity relationship demonstrated that presence of electron withdrawing group (o-NO2, p-Cl, p-Br) enhanced the antibacterial activity against E. coli as well as increased the antioxidant activity while the presence of electron releasing group (o/p-OCH3, 3,4,5-trimethoxy) enhanced the antibacterial activity against S. aureus, B. subtilis, S. typhi, K. pneumonia, C. albicans and A. niger as well as the antidiabetic activity

ICRESH-ARMS 2015 Conference

Containing selected papers from the ICRESH-ARMS 2015 conference in Lulea, Sweden, collected by editors with years of experiences in Reliability and maintenance modeling, risk assessment, and asset management, this work maximizes reader insights into the current trends in Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety (RAMS) and Risk Management. Featuring a comprehensive analysis of the significance of the role of RAMS and Risk Management in the decision making process during the various phases of design, operation, maintenance, asset management and productivity in Industrial domains, these proceedings discuss key issues and challenges in the operation, maintenance and risk management of complex engineering systems and will serve as a valuable resource for those in the field