Detection and Degradation Studies of Nile Blue Sulphate Using Electrochemical and UV-Vis Spectroscopic Techniques

An efficient and reliable electrochemical sensing platform based on COOH-fMWCNTs modified GCE (COOH-fMWCNTs/GCE) was designed for the detection of nanomolar concentration of Nile Blue Sulphate (NBS). In comparison to the bare GCE, the electrochemical sensing scaffold considerably enhanced the peak current response of NBS dye as confirmed from the results of voltammetric investigations. The electrochemical approach of detecting NBS in the droplet of its solution dried over the surface of modified electrode validated, the role of modifier in enhancing the sensing response. Under optimized conditions, the designed electrochemical platform demonstrated a wide linearity range (0.03–10 μM) for NBS, with LOD of 1.21 nM. Moreover, COOH-fMWCNTs/GCE was found reproducible and stable as confirmed by repeatability and inter-day durability tests. The selectivity of the designed sensing matrix was ensured by anti-interference tests. The photocatalytic degradation of NBS dye was carried out by using TiO2 nanoparticles as photocatalyst in the presence of H2O2. UV-visible spectroscopic studies revealed 95% photocatalytic degradation of NBS following a pseudo-first-order kinetics with a rate constant of 0.028 min−1. These findings were supported electrochemically by monitoring the photocatalytically degraded dye at the designed sensing platform. The color variation and final decolorization of the selected dye in water served as a visual indicator of the degradation process. To conclude, the designed sensing platform immobilized with COOH-fMWCNTs imparted improved selectivity and sensitivity to detect and to, monitor the photocatalytic degradation of NBS

Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube/Fe-Doped ZnO-Based Sensors for Droplet Electrochemical Detection and Degradation Monitoring of Brilliant Green

The present research work aims to contribute toward the sustainable development goal of water cleanliness by monitoring and removing toxic effluents from wastewater. Herein, we present an electrochemical sensing platform made of a glassy carbon electrode modified with Fe-doped ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) for the detection of brilliant green (BG) using a smart droplet analysis approach. The Fe–ZnO NPs were synthesized via a hydrothermal method and characterized by various analytical techniques such as UV–visible spectroscopy, XRD, SEM, EDX, and FTIR spectroscopy. Fe–ZnO NPs were found to act as a mediator between the transducer and BG for efficient electron transport, while MWCNTs led to the enhanced current response of BG at the electrode surface owing to their conductive and adsorptive characteristics. Under optimized conditions of pH 6, 0.1 V deposition potential, and 40 s deposition time, a 0.40 nM limit of detection was achieved at the designed nanosensor. Photocatalytic degradation of the dye with NPs was also investigated in different pH media using UV–visible spectroscopy. The dye was found to photocatalytically degrade up to 99% in just 30 min, following first-order kinetics with a rate constant of 0.14 min–1. The photocatalytic degradation was also monitored electrochemically at the designed sensing platform, and the findings were found to be in good agreement with the results of UV–visible spectroscopy. The developed electrochemical droplet analysis approach is not only economical but also efficient, ultra-sensitive, and environmentally friendly

Preclinical anticancer activity of Typhonium flagelliforme (Lodd.) Blume and its potential mechanism: A systematic review

Objective: To assess the potential of Typhonium flagelliforme (Lodd.) Blume (T. flagelliforme, Bian Yan Li Tou Jian), a traditional Chinese medicinal plant, as an anticancer agent in a systematic review of preclinical research. Methods: Seven databases, namely, Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, LILACS, EBSCO Medline, and Mendeley were thoroughly searched from their inception up until September 8, 2023. Peer-reviewed English language studies that conducted in vitro and in vivo investigations of T. flagelliforme extracts, fractions, or isolated compounds were included. Clinical trials and non-original peer-reviewed reports were excluded. The effectiveness of T. flagelliforme on various cancer cells, tumor sizes, and mechanisms was qualitatively assessed. The quality of evidence was assessed using the ToxRTool by three independent raters, and their consistency was verified. Results: The search included 27 studies: 22 in vitro, four in vivo, and one involving both. T. flagelliforme extracts were shown to be effective against leukemic, breast, colorectal, and lung cancers. Most studies had “Reliable with Restrictions” scores. T. flagelliforme induced apoptosis by halting the cell cycle, activating caspase-3/-9, cleaving PARP, fragmenting DNA, reducing survivin, decreasing ROS, suppressing COX-2 and HSP70, and inhibiting the NF-κB pathway. When combined with interferon, T. flagelliforme exerts antiangiogenic effects. Conclusion: Although T. flagelliforme shows promising activity against cancer, its efficacy as a standalone anticancer treatment remains uncertain. It appears to be better suited as complementary or combined therapy. The lack of conclusive evidence could be attributed to suboptimal study design, incomplete reporting, and inadequate inclusion of proper positive controls and statistical analyses across multiple articles

Community pharmacists’ perceived value on precision medicine, desired training components, and exposure during pharmacy education:Malaysia’s experience

Background: Precision medicine beckons new horizons for therapy geared to one’s genetics, lifestyle, and environmental determinants. Molecular, pathology, and clinical diagnostics can be integrated to provide pharmaceutical care. Aims: The value and appeal of precision medicine to community pharmacists, knowledge attained, and training programmes perceived as necessary were evaluated. Methods: Over 10 months, a published questionnaire, which was also digitally accessible during the COVID-19 outbreak, was distributed by hand, via email and social media. 300 community pharmacists across 9 districts in an urban state in Malaysia, self-administered and returned completed versions (response rate 75%). Three- or five-point Likert scale and multiple-choice responses were analysed using SPSS to assess whether or not exposure through the pharmacy curricula impacted current knowledge, perception and willingness to pursue precision medicine. Results: Respondents were largely: females (N = 196, 65.3%) and practicing for up to 10 years (N = 190, 66.3%). Although knowledge levels were moderate (76%), positive perceptions were showcased (94%), and 80% were willing to integrate precision medicine into their daily practice. Although 61% did not or do not recall having had prior exposure to pharmacogenomics as part of their pharmacy school curricula, many (93%) were willing to attain knowledge by undergoing additional training. Desired training included current pharmacogenetic testing available (17%), interpretation of the test results (15%), and ethical considerations (13%). Community pharmacists who had 0.5–10 years’ work experience possessed greater knowledge (μ = 1.48, CI 1.35–1.61, p = 0.017), than the pharmacists who had 21–40 years of work experience (μ = 1.28, CI 1.05–1.51, p = 0.021). Exposure to the subject during pharmacy education positively impacted the willingness to integrate precision medicine in daily practice (p = 0.035). Conclusion: Community pharmacists were receptive to and valued precision medicine. A relatively high number had prior exposure to concepts of precision medicine through the pharmacy curriculum, and were therefore willing to adopt the practice in their day-to-day provision of healthcare. With adequate training centred on bioethics, utilising pharmacogenetic testing, and interpretation of the results, community pharmacists will be equipped for the provision of precision medicine services in the foreseeable future

The effect of non-polar solvent extraction of Piper Ribesioides (Sireh Hutan) on Candida Albicans Morphology

Introduction: Piper ribesioides is a vigorous climber, found in Indonesia and the Peninsular Malaysia, the root of this piper is used to treat an illness caused from asthma, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Stems of P. ribesioides have long been used to flavour food giving its spicy and peppery taste. Candida albicans is a commensal life form in the human cutaneous and mucosal verdure, however can turn into a noteworthy human contagious pathogen given the best possible conditions considering hyphal separation, biofilm arrangement, and excess. This fungus is also responsible in causing sexually transmitted infection. The most basic regions for candidiasis are the oral and gastrointestinal tract, the vaginal and the skin. The aim of this study is to identify the potential activities of non-polar extraction of P. ribesiodes on C. albicans morphology. Methods: P. ribesiodes was extracted using n-hexane solvent and serial dilution method was used to produce concentration from 500, 250, 125, 62.5, 31.3, 15.63, 7.81, 3.91, 1.96 and 0.98 mg/ml. Sensitivity test of C. albicans was measured through the diameter of inhibition zone when treated with P. ribesiodes. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentrations (MFC) were determined by using broth micro-diluted method. Morphology study was done by using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Results: The largest zone of inhibition in 24 hours was at 500 mg/ml concentration. The diameter was nearly 10.333 ± 2.309 mm. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration and Minimum Fungal Concentration were 15.63 mg/ml and 31.25 mg/ml respectively. Morphology study revealed erosion and damage of cell wall of C. albicans. Conclusion: Morphology of C. albicans were altered when treated with n-hexane extraction of P. ribesiodes

Capturing Wheat Phenotypes at the Genome Level

International audienceRecent technological advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have dramatically reduced the cost of DNA sequencing, allowing species with large and complex genomes to be sequenced. Although bread wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the world’s most important food crops, efficient exploitation of molecular marker-assisted breeding approaches has lagged behind that achieved in other crop species, due to its large polyploid genome. However, an international public–private effort spanning 9 years reported over 65% draft genome of bread wheat in 2014, and finally, after more than a decade culminated in the release of a gold-standard, fully annotated reference wheat-genome assembly in 2018. Shortly thereafter, in 2020, the genome of assemblies of additional 15 global wheat accessions was released. As a result, wheat has now entered into the pan-genomic era, where basic resources can be efficiently exploited. Wheat genotyping with a few hundred markers has been replaced by genotyping arrays, capable of characterizing hundreds of wheat lines, using thousands of markers, providing fast, relatively inexpensive, and reliable data for exploitation in wheat breeding. These advances have opened up new opportunities for marker-assisted selection (MAS) and genomic selection (GS) in wheat. Herein, we review the advances and perspectives in wheat genetics and genomics, with a focus on key traits, including grain yield, yield-related traits, end-use quality, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. We also focus on reported candidate genes cloned and linked to traits of interest. Furthermore, we report on the improvement in the aforementioned quantitative traits, through the use of (i) clustered regularly interspaced short-palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9)-mediated gene-editing and (ii) positional cloning methods, and of genomic selection. Finally, we examine the utilization of genomics for the next-generation wheat breeding, providing a practical example of using in silico bioinformatics tools that are based on the wheat reference-genome sequence

Public Awareness and Practices Towards Self-Medication with Antibiotics Among Malaysian Population: Questionnaire Development and Pilot Testing

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