Quantum Dots: An Emerging Tool for Point-of-Care Testing

Quantum dots (QDs) are semiconductor crystals in the nanodimension having unique optical and electronic properties that differ from bulk material due to quantum mechanics. The QDs have a narrow emission peak, size-dependent emission wavelength, and broad excitation range which can be utilized for diverse biomedical applications such as molecular imaging, biosensing, and diagnostic systems. This article reviews the current developments of biomedical applications of QDs with special reference to point-of-care testing

Mortality predictors during the third wave of COVID-19 pandemic: A multicentric retrospective analysis from tertiary care centers of Western India

Background: The COVID-19 has a varied mode of presentation in different regions of the world. This multicentric study was planned to evaluate the survival outcomes in intensive care unit-admitted patients admitted during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on the basis of clinicodemographic profile and vaccination status. Methodology: Data from 299 patients admitted to three tertiary care centers in Western India were collected and analyzed. Based on survival outcomes, all patients were divided into two groups: survivors and nonsurvivors. Univariate analysis of the demographic profile, comorbidities, vaccination status, and disease severity was performed, whereas multivariate analysis was performed to predict independent factors associated with mortality. Results: Among total 299 studied patients, 208 (69.5%) patients survived and 91 (30.4%) did not. The number of elderly patients and patients with comorbidities such as diabetes, tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and malignancy were more prevalent among nonsurvivors. Patients who did not receive a single dose of vaccine were higher in the nonsurvivor group (P = 0.037); however, no significant difference in survival outcome was found if patients had received the first or both doses of vaccine. The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score at 24 h after admission and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score at admission were significantly higher in nonsurvivors compared to survivors (P < 0.0001). On multivariate analysis, APACHE II and SOFA scores were found to be independent predictors of outcome. Conclusions: Older age, presence of comorbidities, nonvaccination and higher disease severity scores affected mortality during the third wave of COVID-19

The exploration of novel Alzheimer’s therapeutic agents from the pool of FDA approved medicines using drug repositioning, enzyme inhibition and kinetic mechanism approaches

Novel drug development is onerous, time consuming and overpriced process with particularly low success and relatively high enfeebling rates. To overcome this burden, drug repositioning approach is being used to predict the possible therapeutic effects of FDA approved drugs in different diseases. Herein, we designed a computational and enzyme inhibitory mechanistic approach to fetch the promising drugs from the pool of FDA approved drugs against AD. The binding interaction patterns and conformations of screened drugs within active region of AChE were confirmed through molecular docking profiles. The possible associations of selected drugs with AD genes were predicted by pharmacogenomics analysis and confirmed through data mining. The stability behaviour of docked complexes (Drugs-AChE) were checked by MD simulations. The possible therapeutic potential of repositioned drugs against AChE were checked by in vitro analysis. Taken together, Cinitapride displayed a comparable results with standard and can be used as possible therapeutic agent in the treatment of AD