Use of zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model for research in toxicological studies

Danio rerio, commonly known as zebrafish, is a freshwater aquarium fish and is native to parts of South Asia. It is considered an important organism for analyzing the noxious effects of toxicants and pollutants of the environment. In terms of the molecular signaling pathway, molecular properties, organ functions and structures, and neurogenesis, zebrafish are similar to certain other higher-order vertebrates. The 3Rs, refinement,reduction, and replacement in researchhavegradually evolved with time. The accumulation of toxicants in the environment and the human health conditions from exposure to toxicants present in the environment is a serious concern, and zebrafish serves as an excellent model to research such effects. The three Rs are met by zebrafish, larvae can also be used to discover harmful medication compounds, permitting safer compounds to be explored in model organisms and it could also be used to substitute certain toxicological testing.Also, because embryos are fertilized outside and are visible during the initial days of life, the early larval model of zebrafish enables flexibility to animal research study, subsequently reducing the number of animals employed in experiments.For various experimentation studies, the larva of the zebrafish is proved to be a useful model for the system.Thus, being a good test system, zebrafish are used in environmental health and safety studies.This review focuses on the toxicological studiesin zebrafish and outlines the toxicological studies done on zebrafish with arsenic and 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) as well as microplastic toxicity

A study on trypsin, Aspergillus flavus and Bacillus sp. protease inhibitory activity in Cassia tora (L.) syn Senna tora (L.) Roxb. seed extract

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Proteases play an important role in virulence of many human, plant and insect pathogens. The proteinaceous protease inhibitors of plant origin have been reported widely from many plant species. The inhibitors may potentially be used for multiple therapeutic applications in viral, bacterial, fungal diseases and physiological disorders. In traditional Indian medicine system, <it>Cassia tora </it>(<it>Senna tora</it>) is reportedly effective in treatment of skin and gastrointestinal disorders. The present study explores the protease inhibitory activity of the above plant seeds against trypsin, <it>Aspergillus flavus </it>and <it>Bacillus </it>sp. proteases.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The crushed seeds of <it>Cassia tora </it>were washed thoroughly with acetone and hexane for depigmentation and defatting. The proteins were fractionated by ammonium sulphate (0-30, 30-60, 60-90%) followed by dialysis and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The inhibitory potential of crude seed extract and most active dialyzed fraction against trypsin and proteases was established by spot test using unprocessed x-ray film and casein digestion methods, respectively. Electrophoretic analysis of most active fraction (30-60%) and SEC elutes were carried employing Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Gelatin SDS-PAGE. Inhibition of fungal spore germination was studied in the presence of dialyzed active inhibitor fraction. Standard deviation (SD) and ANOVA were employed as statistical tools.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The crude seeds' extract displayed strong antitryptic, bacterial and fungal protease inhibitory activity on x-ray film. The seed protein fraction 30-60% was found most active for trypsin inhibition in caseinolytic assay (P < 0.001). The inhibition of caseinolytic activity of the proteases increased with increasing ratio of seed extract. The residual activity of trypsin, <it>Aspergillus flavus </it>and <it>Bacillus </it>sp. proteases remained only 4, 7 and 3.1%, respectively when proteases were incubated with 3 mg ml^-1seed protein extract for 60 min. The inhibitory activity was evident in gelatin SDS-PAGE where a major band (~17-19 kD) of protease inhibitor (PI) was detected in dialyzed and SEC elute. The conidial germination of <it>Aspergillus flavus </it>was moderately inhibited (30%) by the dialyzed seed extract.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p><it>Cassia tora </it>seed extract has strong protease inhibitory activity against trypsin, <it>Aspergillus flavus </it>and <it>Bacillus </it>sp. proteases. The inhibitor in <it>Cassia tora </it>may attenuate microbial proteases and also might be used as phytoprotecting agent.</p

An Enantioselective Approach to Functionalized Amino Acids: Total Synthesis of Antiepileptic Drug (<i>R</i>)‑Lacosamide

A short and highly efficient synthetic approach to enantiopure functionalized amino acids (FAAs) <b>1</b> skeleton from racemic butadiene monoepoxide as a starting material and its application to the total synthesis of an antiepileptic drug (<i>R</i>)-lacosamide <b>2</b> are described. The synthesis utilizes the palladium catalyzed Trost’s Dynamic Kinetic Asymmetric Transformation (DYKAT) as key step

Clinical evaluation of platelet rich plasma when combined with an alloplastic bone graft material in the treatment of intrabony periodontal defects

Introduction: For periodontal regeneration, various modalities are available; among these,use of growth factors is a developing area for clinicians and researchers, as they stimulate cells responsible for periodontal regeneration. Growth factor is a general term used to denote a class of naturally occurring proteins that function in the body to promote the mitogenesis (proliferation), directed migration, and metabolic activity of cells. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a new application and is a storage vehicle for growth factors, especially platelet-derived growth factor and transforming growth factor-b both of which influence bone regeneration. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the clinical efficacy of autologous PRP combined with an alloplastic bone graft material (hydroxyapatite and β-tricalcium phosphate [HA/β-TCP], (Ossifi™)) in the treatment of three-wall intrabony periodontal defects. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four patients (15 females and 9 males with age ranging from 28 years to 47 years) with moderate to advanced chronic periodontitis with three-wall intrabony defects were selected for the study. All patients were divided into two groups, i.e., “Group-I” and “Group-II;” 12 patients in each group. “Group-I” was control group with patients treated with HA/β-TCP with saline and “Group-II” was test group entitled to patients who were treated with PRP + HA/β-TCP. Clinical parameters recorded were bleeding on probing, probing depth, and clinical attachment level. Furthermore, the radiographic parameters included depth of intrabony defects, calculated as the difference of distances between cementoenamel junction (CEJ) to the bony defect and CEJ to the alveolar crest. Results and Conclusion: Combination of PRP with alloplastic bone graft material, i.e., test Group-II (PRP + HA/β-TCP), showed a better result than control Group-I (saline + HA/β-TCP) in the treatment of intrabony defects

Metabolic syndrome & Framingham Risk Score: Observations from a coronary angiographic study in Indian patients

Background & objectives: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is an important determinant of cardiovascular (CV) risk. Framingham Risk Scores (FRS) often underestimate the CV risk in Asians, younger patients and those with MS. Asians often develop coronary artery disease (CAD) at a younger age and also have a high prevalence of MS. Only limited data are available on the relationship between MS and FRS in such patients and the present study was undertaken to report on this aspect in an Indian patient population with angiographically documented CAD. Methods: Two hundred patients undergoing coronary angiography during a three months study period were included. Diagnosis of MS was based on modified south Asian guidelines. Results: Of the 200 patients (age 56.5 ± 8.6 yr) undergoing coronary angiography, MS was diagnosed in 77 per cent n=154; abdominal obesity, low HDL and hypertension were the commonest of the diagnostic criteria of MS, being present in >70 per cent cases. Patients with MS had significantly higher mean FRS than those without MS (15.1 vs 8.65, P10%) as estimated by FRS. The proportion of patients with MS progressively increased in those with low, intermediate and high FRS (61, 87 and 92%, respectively). Though the prevalence of MS was uniformly similar (74-84%) in all age groups ( 65 yr, respectively), amongst those <45 yr, none of the patients could be categorized as having high CV risk as estimated by FRS despite having angiographic CAD, highlighting the limitation of age dependence of FRS. Interpretation & conclusions: MS is common in Indian patients with angiographically documented CAD; most patients with MS have 10-year risk of >10 per cent as estimated by FRS. Though MS is uniformly prevalent across all age groups, using the FRS may underestimate the CV risk in Indian patients despite documented CAD. These findings have significant implications for Asian patients with CAD in whom onset of CAD is often at a younger age than their Western counterparts. There should be continued health care emphasis on detection of MS and intensification of targeted preventive strategies

Comparison of different cardiovascular risk score calculators for cardiovascular risk prediction and guideline recommended statin uses

Objective: The accuracy of various 10-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk calculators in Indians may not be the same as in other populations. Present study was conducted to compare the various calculators for CVD risk assessment and statin eligibility according to different guidelines. Methods: Consecutive 1110 patients who presented after their first myocardial infarction were included. Their CVD risk was calculated using Framingham Risk score- Coronary heart disease (FRS-CHD), Framingham Risk Score- Cardiovascular Disease (FRS-CVD), QRISK2, Joint British Society risk calculator 3 (JBS3), American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA), atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and WHO risk charts, assuming that they had presented one day before cardiac event for risk assessment. Eligibility for statin uses was also looked into using ACC/AHA, NICE and Canadian guidelines. Results: FRS-CVD risk assessment model has performed the best as it could identify the highest number of patients (51.9%) to be at high CVD risk while WHO and ASCVD calculators have performed the worst (only 16.2% and 28.3% patients respectively were stratified into high CVD risk) considering 20% as cut off for high risk definition. QRISK2, JBS3 and FRS-CHD have performed intermediately. Using NICE, ACC/AHA and Canadian guidelines; 76%, 69% and 44.6% patients respectively were found to be eligible for statin use. Conclusion: FRS-CVD appears to be the most useful for CVD risk assessment in Indians, but the difference may be because FRS-CVD estimates risk for several additional outcomes as compared with other risk scores. For statin eligibility, however, NICE guideline use is the most appropriate

Comparison of transradial and transfemoral artery approach for percutaneous coronary angiography and angioplasty: A retrospective seven-year experience from a north Indian center

Background: With the increasing prevalence of coronary artery disease, percutaneous coronary artery procedures have become even more important. Our study has compared transradial to transfemoral artery approach for coronary procedures in Indian population. Aims and objective: Comparison of transradial and transfemoral artery approach for percutaneous coronary procedures. Material & methods: 26,238 patients, who underwent percutaneous coronary artery procedures, were divided into two groups depending upon transradial and transfemoral artery approach and compared for the various demographic and clinical characteristics, risk factors profile, vascular access and procedural details. Results: 26,238 patients underwent percutaneous coronary procedures at our center. 81% were male and 19% were female. 55.65% and 44.35% procedures were done through transfemoral and transradial approach, respectively. 17,417 (66.38%) coronary angiographies were done, out of which 53.92% were transradial and 46.08% were transfemoral procedures. 8821 (33.62%) Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA) were done, out of which 25.46% and 74.54% were done through transradial and transfemoral approach, respectively. Mean fluoroscopy time was 4.40 ± 3.55 min for transradial and 3.30 ± 3.66 min for transfemoral CAG (p < 0.001). For PTCA mean fluoroscopy time was 13.53 ± 2.53 min for transradial and 12.61 ± 9.524 min for transfemoral PTCA (p < 0.001). Minor and major procedure related complications and total duration of hospital stay were lower in transradial as compared to transfemoral group. Conclusion: The number of percutaneous transradial procedures have increased significantly with reduced complication rates and comparable success rate to transfemoral approach, along with the additional benefits to patient in terms of patient comfort, preference and reduced cost of health delivery