The circadian rhythm: an influential soundtrack in the diabetes story

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) has been the main category of metabolic diseases in recent years due to changes in lifestyle and environmental conditions such as diet and physical activity. On the other hand, the circadian rhythm is one of the most significant biological pathways in humans and other mammals, which is affected by light, sleep, and human activity. However, this cycle is controlled via complicated cellular pathways with feedback loops. It is widely known that changes in the circadian rhythm can alter some metabolic pathways of body cells and could affect the treatment process, particularly for metabolic diseases like T2DM. The aim of this study is to explore the importance of the circadian rhythm in the occurrence of T2DM via reviewing the metabolic pathways involved, their relationship with the circadian rhythm from two perspectives, lifestyle and molecular pathways, and their effect on T2DM pathophysiology. These impacts have been demonstrated in a variety of studies and led to the development of approaches such as time-restricted feeding, chronotherapy (time-specific therapies), and circadian molecule stabilizers

A Review on Cassava Residues as Adsorbents for Removal of Organic and Inorganic Contaminants in Water and Wastewater

An increase in water demand for drinking, agriculture, and industries necessitates the treatment of water and wastewater. Among various conventional treatment techniques available, adsorption is found to be one of the most economical and feasible methods. Adsorbents from plant biomass are effective for the removal of organic and inorganic pollutants. Cassava has gained attention among researchers during the past decades due to its plentiful availability and resilient characteristics. Even though cassava contains cyanogenic glucosides as toxins, it is used in industries for development of various products. Cassava stem, rhizome, peel, and bagasse are industrial residues that are generated in abundance. The present review focusses on factors affecting adsorption using cassava residues, adsorbent preparation and activation methods, equilibrium, mass transfer, kinetics, and thermodynamic studies of adsorption

Combustion Characteristics of Nanoaluminium-Based Composite Solid Propellants: An Overview

The nanosized powders have gained attention to produce materials exhibiting novel properties and for developing advanced technologies as well. Nanosized materials exhibit substantially favourable qualities such as improved catalytic activity, augmentation in reactivity, and reduction in melting temperature. Several researchers have pointed out the influence of ultrafine aluminium (∼100 nm) and nanoaluminium (<100 nm) on burning rates of the composite solid propellants comprising AP as the oxidizer. The inclusion of ultrafine aluminium augments the burning rate of the composite propellants by means of aluminium particle’s ignition through the leading edge flames (LEFs) anchoring above the interfaces of coarse AP/binder and the binder/fine AP matrix flames as well. The sandwiches containing 15% of nanoaluminium solid loading in the binder lamina exhibit the burning rate increment of about 20–30%. It was noticed that the burning rate increment with nanoaluminium is around 1.6–2 times with respect to the propellant compositions without aluminium for various pressure ranges and also for different micron-sized aluminium particles in the composition. The addition of nano-Al in the composite propellants washes out the plateaus in burning rate trends that are perceived from non-Al and microaluminized propellants; however, the burning rates of nanoaluminized propellants demonstrate low-pressure exponents at the higher pressure level. The contribution of catalysts towards the burning rate in the nanoaluminized propellants is reduced and is apparent only with nanosized catalysts. The near-surface nanoaluminium ignition and diffusion-limited nano-Al particle combustion contribute heat to the propellant-regressing surface that dominates the burning rate. Quench-collected nanoaluminized propellant residues display notable agglomeration, although a minor percentage of the agglomerates are in the 1–3 µm range; however, these are within 5 µm in size. Percentage of elongation and initial modulus of the propellant are decreased when the coarse AP particles are replaced by aluminium in the propellant composition

Curcumin nanoparticles impregnated collagen/demineralized bone matrix/olive leaves extract biocomposites as a potential bone implant: Preparation, characterization, and biocompatibility

In this study, nanoceramic composite (NCC) was developed using the Type I collagen (COLL), demineralized bone matrix (DBM), olive leaves extract (OLE), and curcumin nanoparticles (Cu-NPs). The study evaluates the possibility of using this NCC as a bone tissue engineering material. The developed NCC was characterized by its mechanical, physicochemical, and biocompatibility properties. The NCC possessed excellent mechanical properties. A biocompatibility study was proved in the MG-63 osteoblast cell line on NCC. The study introduced a method for producing a functionalized implant, such as bone tissue engineering material, using natural resources. In vitro bone healing abilities of NCC were demonstrated in our investigation. As a result, NCC could be suggested as a source of bone graft and healing agents.AcknowledgmentsThe award of TUBITAK 2232-International Fellowship for Outstanding Researcher (Project No. 118C350) to Dr. Rethinam Senthil is gratefully acknowledged.[118C350

Molecular insights on the therapeutic effect of selected flavonoids on diabetic neuropathy

One of the common clinical complications of diabetes is diabetic neuropathy affecting the nervous system. Painful diabetic neuropathy is widespread and highly prevalent. At least 50% of diabetes patients eventually develop diabetic neuropathy. The four main types of diabetic neuropathy are peripheral neuropathy, autonomic neuropathy, proximal neuropathy (diabetic polyradiculopathy), and mononeuropathy (Focal neuropathy). Glucose control remains the common therapy for diabetic neuropathy due to limited knowledge on early biomarkers that are expressed during nerve damage, there-by limiting the cure through pharmacotherapy. Glucose control dramatically reduces the onset of neuropathy in type 1 diabetes but proves to be less effective in type 2 diabetes. Therefore, the focus is on various herbal remedies for prevention and treatment. There is numerous research on the use of anti-convulsants and antidepressants for the management of pain in diabetic neuropathy. Extensive research is being conducted on natural products, including the isolation of pure compounds like flavonoids from plants and their effect on diabetic neuropathy. This review focuses on the use of important flavonoids such as flavanols (e.g., quercetin, rutin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin), flavanones (e.g., hesperidin, naringenin and class eriodictyol), and flavones (e.g., apigenin, luteolin, tangeretin, chrysin, and diosmin) for the prevention and treatment of diabetic neuropathy. The mechanisms of action of flavonoids against diabetic neuropathy by their antioxidant, anti-inflammation, anti-glycation proper-ties, etc., are also covered in this review article

Fuzzy drug targets: disordered proteins in the drug-discovery realm

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and regions (IDRs) form a large part of the eukaryotic proteome. Contrary to the structure-function paradigm, the disordered proteins perform a myriad of functions in vivo. Consequently, they are involved in various disease pathways and are plausible drug targets. Unlike folded proteins, that have a defined structure and well carved out drug-binding pockets that can guide lead molecule selection, the disordered proteins require alternative drug-development methodologies that are based on an acceptable picture of their conformational ensemble. In this review, we discuss various experimental and computational techniques that contribute toward understanding IDP “structure” and describe representative pursuances toward IDP-targeting drug development. We also discuss ideas on developing rational drug design protocols targeting IDPs

An insight into the polymeric nanoparticles applications in diabetes diagnosis and treatment

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a type of chronic metabolic disease that has affected millions of people worldwide and is known with a defect in the amount of insulin secretion, insulin functions, or both. This deficiency leads to an increase in the amounts of glucose, which could be accompanied by long-term damages to other organs such as eyes, kidneys, heart, and nervous system. Thus, introducing an appropriate approach for diagnosis and treatment of different types of DM is the aim of several researches. By the emergence of nanotechnology and its application in medicine, new approaches were presented for these purposes. The object of this review article is to introduce different types of polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs), as one of the most important classes of nanoparticles, for diabetic management. To achieve this goal, at first, some of the conventional therapeutic and diagnostic methods of DM will be reviewed. Then, different types of PNPs, in two forms of natural and synthetic polymers with different properties, as a new method for DM treatment and diagnosis will be introduced. In the next section, the transport mechanisms of these types of nano-carriers across the epithelium, via paracellular and transcellular pathways will be explained. Finally, the clinical use of PNPs in the treatment and diagnosis of DM will be summarized. Based on the results of this literature review, PNPs could be considered one of the most promising methods for DM management

Current trends in the therapeutic strategies for diabetes management

Diabetes mellitus is one of the fastest-growing non-communicable diseases. Diabetes mellitus is caused due by the destruction of pancreatic β-cell or due to insulin resistance and characterized by hyperglycemia. Diabetes imposes a very serious economic crisis as the diabetic drug market is growing very rapidly. Even after very path-breaking scientific discoveries, the availability of better healthcare infrastructure, and a rise in literacy rates, the diabetes burden is continuously spreading in various sections all over the world but more especially in low- and middle-income countries. The recent developments in scientific discoveries have given several new generations of antidiabetic medicines such as sulphonylurea, biguanides, thiazolidinedione, α-glucosidase inhibitors. All these drugs have proved a significant reduction in blood glucose level. There are some new classes of hypoglycaemic drugs that have also been developed and reported, such as GLP-1 analogous, DPP-IV inhibitors, amylin inhibitors, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors. There are some active molecules and bioactive substances that have been purified from herbs and plants, which add value to the war against diabetes. These phytoconstituents have overturned drug development and lead identification for drugs against diabetes. The review also focuses on some critical areas of diabetes with more focus on statin-based diabetes management approach and stem cell therapy based next generation antidiabetic therapy

Antibiofilm Properties of Interfacially Active Lipase Immobilized Porous Polycaprolactam Prepared by LB Technique

<div><p>Porous biomaterial is the preferred implant due to the interconnectivity of the pores. Chances of infection due to biofilm are also high in these biomaterials because of the presence of pores. Although biofilm in implants contributes to 80% of human infections <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0096152#pone.0096152-Rmling1" target="_blank">[1]</a>, there are no commercially available natural therapeutics against it. In the current study, glutaraldehyde cross linked lipase was transferred onto a activated porous polycaprolactam surface using Langmuir-Blodgett deposition technique, and its thermostability, slimicidal, antibacterial, biocompatibility and surface properties were studied. There was a 20% increase in the activity of the covalently crosslinked lipase when compared to its free form. This immobilized surface was thermostable and retained activity and stability until 100°C. There was a 2 and 7 times reduction in carbohydrate and 9 and 5 times reduction in biofilm protein of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Escherichia coli</i> respectively on lipase immobilized polycaprolactam (LIP) when compared to uncoated polycaprolactam (UP). The number of live bacterial colonies on LIP was four times less than on UP. Lipase acted on the cell wall of the bacteria leading to its death, which was confirmed from AFM, fluorescence microscopic images and amount of lactate dehydrogenase released. LIP allowed proliferation of more than 90% of 3T3 cells indicating that it was biocompatible. The fact that LIP exhibits antimicrobial property at the air-water interface to hydrophobic as well as hydrophilic bacteria along with lack of cytotoxicity makes it an ideal biomaterial for biofilm prevention in implants.</p></div