Modern Biomedical Science Research Articles

Biochemical, immunological markers, histology and ultrastructural changes of open wound healing in rats treated with ethyl acetate extract of Zingiber zerumbet rhizomes

Research on plant-based wound healing agents has been one of the current developing areas in modern biomedical science. This study aimed to assess the effects of ethyl acetate extract of Zingiber zerumbet rhizome (ZZRE) on open wound healing activity in Wistar rats. Ninety male Wistar rats (220–320 g) were divided into three groups treated with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) (negative control), Solcoseryl gel (positive control), and 10 % ZZRE (treatment group), respectively. Six circular full-skin thickness wounds of 6.0 mm in diameter were induced bilaterally on the dorsal surface of each rat. Six rats were sacrificed on Day-1, Day-3, Day-6, Day-10 and Day-14 respectively from each group after wound induction. All data obtained are considered statistically significant at p < 0.05. Macroscopic observations showed that the 10 % ZZRE treated wounds healed faster compared to other groups. The wound closure percentage showed that the wound treated with 10 % ZZRE is significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the PBS group on Day-6, Day-10 and Day-14. Protein levels of the 10 % ZZRE group decreased significantly at Day-1 compared to the PBS group and significantly (p < 0.05) higher at Day-14 compared to both control groups. The hexosamine and uronic acid levels of the 10 % ZZRE group showed a significant (p < 0.05) decrease on Day-14. Conversely, hydroxyproline levels showed significant (p < 0.05) increase starting from Day-3 until Day-14. As for the immunological markers, the level of total TGF-β1 of the 10 % ZZRE group was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the PBS group on Day-14, whereas the level of IL-10 on the wound tissue of the 10 % ZZRE group was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than the PBS group on Day-1 but significantly (p < 0.05) higher on Day-10 and Day-14 compared to both control groups. Histological observation showed that the wounds treated with 10 % ZZRE infiltrated with lesser inflammatory cells while collagen deposition was denser as compared to both control groups. Based on the result obtained, it is clearly proven that treatment of 10 % ZZRE on open wound healing in rats, showed that the extract was effective in healing the wound and accelerated the healing process. Therefore, the 10 % ZZRE tested has the potential to be developed as an alternative wound healing agent in the future.

Sotrovimab: A Review of Its Efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 Variants.

Among the anti-Spike monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), the S-309 derivative sotrovimab was the most successful in having the longest temporal window of clinical use, showing a high degree of resiliency to SARS-CoV-2 evolution interrupted only by the appearance of the BA.2.86* variant of interest (VOI). This success undoubtedly reflects rational selection to target a highly conserved epitope in coronavirus Spike proteins. We review here the efficacy of sotrovimab against different SARS-CoV-2 variants in outpatients and inpatients, discussing both randomized controlled trials and real-world evidence. Although it could not be anticipated at the time of its development and introduction, sotrovimab's use in immunocompromised individuals who harbor large populations of variant viruses created the conditions for its eventual demise, as antibody selection and viral evolution led to its eventual withdrawal due to inefficacy against later variant lineages. Despite this, based on observational and real-world data, some authorities have continued to promote the use of sotrovimab, but the lack of binding to newer variants strongly argues for the futility of continued use. The story of sotrovimab highlights the power of modern biomedical science to generate novel therapeutics while also providing a cautionary tale for the need to devise strategies to minimize the emergence of resistance to antibody-based therapeutics.

Guidelines and Standard Frameworks for AI in Medicine: Protocol for a Systematic Literature Review.

Applications of artificial intelligence (AI) are pervasive in modern biomedical science. In fact, research results suggesting algorithms and AI models for different target diseases and conditions are continuously increasing. While this situation undoubtedly improves the outcome of AI models, health care providers are increasingly unsure which AI model to use due to multiple alternatives for a specific target and the "black box" nature of AI. Moreover, the fact that studies rarely use guidelines in developing and reporting AI models poses additional challenges in trusting and adapting models for practical implementation. This review protocol describes the planned steps and methods for a review of the synthesized evidence regarding the quality of available guidelines and frameworks to facilitate AI applications in medicine. We will commence a systematic literature search using medical subject headings terms for medicine, guidelines, and machine learning (ML). All available guidelines, standard frameworks, best practices, checklists, and recommendations will be included, irrespective of the study design. The search will be conducted on web-based repositories such as PubMed, Web of Science, and the EQUATOR (Enhancing the Quality and Transparency of Health Research) network. After removing duplicate results, a preliminary scan for titles will be done by 2 reviewers. After the first scan, the reviewers will rescan the selected literature for abstract review, and any incongruities about whether to include the article for full-text review or not will be resolved by the third and fourth reviewer based on the predefined criteria. A Google Scholar (Google LLC) search will also be performed to identify gray literature. The quality of identified guidelines will be evaluated using the Appraisal of Guidelines, Research, and Evaluation (AGREE II) tool. A descriptive summary and narrative synthesis will be carried out, and the details of critical appraisal and subgroup synthesis findings will be presented. The results will be reported using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses) reporting guidelines. Data analysis is currently underway, and we anticipate finalizing the review by November 2023. Guidelines and recommended frameworks for developing, reporting, and implementing AI studies have been developed by different experts to facilitate the reliable assessment of validity and consistent interpretation of ML models for medical applications. We postulate that a guideline supports the assessment of an ML model only if the quality and reliability of the guideline are high. Assessing the quality and aspects of available guidelines, recommendations, checklists, and frameworks-as will be done in the proposed review-will provide comprehensive insights into current gaps and help to formulate future research directions. DERR1-10.2196/47105.

Thermoresponsive Smart Copolymer Coatings Based on P(NIPAM-co-HEMA) and P(OEGMA-co-HEMA) Brushes for Regenerative Medicine.

The fabrication of multifunctional, thermoresponsive platforms for regenerative medicine based on polymers that can be easily functionalized is one of the most important challenges in modern biomaterials science. In this study, we utilized atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) to produce two series of novel smart copolymer brush coatings. These coatings were based on copolymerizing 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) with either oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (OEGMA) or N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM). The chemical compositions of the resulting brush coatings, namely, poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (P(OEGMA-co-HEMA)) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (P(NIPAM-co-HEMA)), were predicted using reactive ratios of the monomers. These predictions were then verified using time-of-flight-secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The thermoresponsiveness of the coatings was examined through water contact angle (CA) measurements at different temperatures, revealing a transition driven by lower critical solution temperature (LCST) or upper critical solution temperature (UCST) or a vanishing transition. The type of transition observed depended on the chemical composition of the coatings. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the transition temperature of the coatings could be easily adjusted by modifying their composition. The topography of the coatings was characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM). To assess the biocompatibility of the coatings, dermal fibroblast cultures were employed, and the results indicated that none of the coatings exhibited cytotoxicity. However, the shape and arrangement of the cells were significantly influenced by the chemical structure of the coating. Additionally, the viability of the cells was correlated with the wettability and roughness of the coatings, which determined the initial adhesion of the cells. Lastly, the temperature-induced changes in the properties of the fabricated copolymer coatings effectively controlled cell morphology, adhesion, and spontaneous detachment in a noninvasive, enzyme-free manner that was confirmed using optical microscopy.

Analysis of Cognitive Functions and Neurophysiological Processes in Adaptation of Human to Conditions of the Arctic Region

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the work is analysis of one of the most important problems of the modern biomedical science problem of studying the processes of human adaptation to a complex of climatic and geographic factors and conditions of the Far North in the period of increased necessity in realization of the economic, industrial and defense activity of the government. The review presents the data of scientific study of cognitive functions and neurophysiological changes in people permanently living in or arriving to the Arctic zone. In the first part, the factors are considered that evidence different disorders in memory, concentration, efficiency of performing simple and complex cognitive tasks by test persons in conditions of low temperature, seasonal photoperiodicity, a particular working regime, such as rotational team method, etc. The age-related peculiarities of dynamics of the cognitive processes in children and adolescents living in the Arctic region are considered. The second part of the article presents analysis of scientific data on changes of electrophysiological parameters of the brain structure activity under the influence of individual or complex factors of Arctic conditions. In particular, changes of the encephalographic rhythms, evoked potentials, hemispheric asymmetry and parameters of autonomic regulation of the heart rate variability in the initial condition and on exposure to the factors of the Far North, are described. A necessity of individual typological analysis of the adaptation process characteristics depending on the initial regulatory peculiarities, neurophysiological characteristics of people, duration of their stay in the mentioned conditions, is emphasized. Inconsistency or ambiguity of the presented data indicate the importance of using a complex approach to scientific research which should include systemic analysis of the dynamics of neurophysiological characteristics and parameters of achieved effectiveness of modeled or professional activity in the Arctic conditions.&#x0D; CONCLUSION: The paper substantiates the necessity of elaboration of personalized methods of increasing the adaptive reserves of people working and living in the Arctic zones; one of these may be modern systems based on biocontrol with feedback from physiological systems of a human. Besides, it is noted that application of the principles of the theory of the functional systems formulated by academician P. K. Anokhin, can contribute to deeper understanding of adaptation processes, changes of cognitive and professional abilities, their neurophysiological support in the Arctic conditions.

A REVIEW OF WOUND: CURRENT ASPECTS AND NOVEL MANAGEMENT

A wound may be defined as a break in the epithelial integrity of the skin or may also be described as a loss or breaking of cellular and anatomic or functional continuity of living tissue. Healing is a survival mechanism that maintains normal anatomical structure and function. Treatment is therefore aimed at minimizing the undesired consequences. Management of the healing of wounds is a complicated and expensive program, and research on drugs that increase wound healing is a developing area in modern biomedical sciences. The correct approach to treating wounds should effectively assist the healing process, and it can significantly impact the final clinical outcome. The use of herbal medicines and traditional plant extracts for wound healing is gaining popularity over other drugs, which may be explained by the perception that they have fewer side effects.

EXPLORING METAL NANOPARTICLES INTERACTION WITH CANCER CELLS

Metal Nanotechnology is a very useful alternative medicinal invention against different diseases, especially against cancer in biomedical as well as in the agricultural field also. These metal nanoparticles are synthesized in different shapes and in different sizes. Moreover, alloys of two or more than two metals are also used in nanotechnology. Nanotechnology, especially metal nanoparticles are now prevailing with its positive behavior in modern biomedical science but extra precaution is necessary during the use of metal nanoparticles because different types of serious toxic effects have also been observed on human health. So, the safe use of metal nanoparticles can be very beneficial in curing different diseases, especially different types of cancers.

Non-canonical DNA structures: Diversity and disease association.

A complete understanding of DNA double-helical structure discovered by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953, unveil the importance and significance of DNA. For the last seven decades, this has been a leading light in the course of the development of modern biology and biomedical science. Apart from the predominant B-form, experimental shreds of evidence have revealed the existence of a sequence-dependent structural diversity, unusual non-canonical structures like hairpin, cruciform, Z-DNA, multistranded structures such as DNA triplex, G-quadruplex, i-motif forms, etc. The diversity in the DNA structure depends on various factors such as base sequence, ions, superhelical stress, and ligands. In response to these various factors, the polymorphism of DNA regulates various genes via different processes like replication, transcription, translation, and recombination. However, altered levels of gene expression are associated with many human genetic diseases including neurological disorders and cancer. These non-B-DNA structures are expected to play a key role in determining genetic stability, DNA damage and repair etc. The present review is a modest attempt to summarize the available literature, illustrating the occurrence of non-canonical structures at the molecular level in response to the environment and interaction with ligands and proteins. This would provide an insight to understand the biological functions of these unusual DNA structures and their recognition as potential therapeutic targets for diverse genetic diseases.

Trends in Population-Based Studies: Molecular and Digital Epidemiology (Review).

The development of high-throughput technologies has sharply increased the opportunities to research the human body at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels in the last decade. Rapid progress in biotechnology has caused a paradigm shift in population-based studies. Advances in modern biomedical sciences, including genomic, genome-wide, post-genomic research and bioinformatics, have contributed to the emergence of molecular epidemiology focused on the study of the personalized molecular mechanism of disease development and its extrapolation to the population level. The work of research teams at the intersection of information technology and medicine has become the basis for highlighting digital epidemiology, the important tools of which are machine learning, the ability to work with real world data, and accumulated big data. The developed approaches accelerate the process of collecting and processing biomedical data, testing new scientific hypotheses. However, new methods are still in their infancy, they require testing of application under various conditions, as well as standardization. This review highlights the role of omics and digital technologies in population-based studies.

Probing the Molecular Assembly of a Metabolizer Drug with β-Cyclodextrin and Its Binding with CT-DNA in Augmenting Antibacterial Activity and Photostability by Physicochemical and Computational Methodologies.

The assembly of an inclusion complex in an aqueous medium using a metabolizer drug (dyphylline) as guest and β-cyclodextrin as host has been established, which is extremely appropriate for a variety of applications in modern biomedical sciences. The formation of the inclusion complex is established by 1H NMR, and surface tension and conductivity measurements demonstrate that the inclusion complex was produced with 1:1 stoichiometry. The thermodynamic parameters based on density, viscosity, and refractive index measurements were used to determine the nature of the complex. This research also forecasts how dyphylline will release in the presence of CT-DNA without any chemical modifications. The produced insertion complex (IC) has a higher photostability due to the drug dyphylline being protected by β-CD. The antibacterial activity of dyphylline greatly improved after complexation and exhibited higher toxicity against Gram-negative (highest against Escherichia coli) in comparison to Gram-positive bacteria. The encapsulation mode of the dyphylline molecule into the cavity of the β-CD was also investigated using DFT to confirm preliminary results.

Review on Wound Healing Activity of Ropana Taila

Wound is a break in the integrity of the skin or tissue often, which may be associated with disruption of the structures and functions. Wound healing is a complex series of events that begin when an individual gets affected by a wound. It is a mechanism whereby the body attempts to re-establish the integrity of the injured part. In modern biomedical sciences, research on wound healing agents is one of the developing areas. Natural compounds are used in skin wound care from many years due to their therapeutic activities, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and cell-stimulating properties. Various herbs, oils and natural resources have been described in Ayurveda with wound healing properties. Acharya Sushruta has explained many drugs and formulations for the treatment of Vrana (wound). One such formulation named Ropana Taila has been described in Sushsruta Samhita for Wound healing. The present review article is undertaken to discuss about the wound healing activity of Ropana Taila

Recent Advances of Magnetic Gold Hybrids and Nanocomposites, and Their Potential Biological Applications

Magnetic gold nanoparticles (mGNP) have become a great interest of research for nanomaterial scientists because of their significant magnetic and plasmonic properties applicable in biomedical applications. Various synthetic approaches and surface modification techniques have been used for mGNP including the most common being the coprecipitation, thermal decomposition, and microemulsion methods in addition to the Brust Schiffrin technique, which involves the reduction of metal precursors in a two-phase system (water and toluene) in the presence of alkanethiol. The hybrid magnetic–plasmonic nanoparticles based on iron core and gold shell are being considered as potential theranostic agents. In this critical review, in addition to future works, we have summarized recent developments for synthesis and surface modification of mGNP with their applications in modern biomedical science such as drug and gene delivery, bioimaging, biosensing, and neuro-regeneration, neuro-degenerative and arthritic disorders. This review includes techniques and biological applications of mGNP majorly based on research from the previous six years.

What is the role of placebo in neurotherapeutics?

ABSTRACT Introduction The widespread use of the word ‘placebo’ in the medical literature emphasizes the importance of this phenomenon in modern biomedical sciences. Neuroscientific research over the past thirty years shows that placebo effects are genuine psychobiological events attributable to the overall therapeutic context, and can be robust in both laboratory and clinical settings. Areas covered Here the authors describe the biological mechanisms and the clinical implications of placebo effects with particular emphasis on neurology and psychiatry, for example in pain, movement disorders, depression. In these conditions, a number of endogenous systems have been identified, such as endogenous opioids, endocannabinoids, and dopamine, which contribute to the placebo-induced benefit. Expert opinion Every effort should be made to maximize the placebo effect and reduce its evil twin, the nocebo effect, in medical practice. This does not require the administration of a placebo, but rather the enhancement of the effects of pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments through a good doctor–patient interaction.

Decreased Insulin Sensitivity in Telomerase-Immortalized Mesenchymal Stem Cells Affects Efficacy and Outcome of Adipogenic Differentiation in vitro.

Modern biomedical science still experiences a significant need for easy and reliable sources of human cells. They are used to investigate pathological processes underlying disease, conduct pharmacological studies, and eventually applied as a therapeutic product in regenerative medicine. For decades, the pool of adult mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) remains a promising source of stem and progenitor cells. Their isolation is more feasible than most other stem cells from human donors, yet they have a fair share of drawbacks. They include significant variability between donors, loss of potency, and transformation during long-term culture, which may impact the efficacy and reproducibility of research. One possible solution is a derivation of immortalized MSCs lines which receive a broader use in many medical and biological studies. In the present work, we demonstrated that in the most widely spread commercially available hTERT-immortalized MSCs cell line ASC52telo, sensitivity to hormonal stimuli was reduced, affecting their differentiation efficacy. Furthermore, we found that immortalized MSCs have impaired insulin-dependent and cAMP-dependent signaling, which impairs their adipogenic, but not osteogenic or chondrogenic, potential under experimental conditions. Our findings indicate that hTERT-immortalized MSCs may present a suboptimal choice for studies involving modeling or investigation of hormonal sensitivity.

Protein Hydrogels: The Swiss Army Knife for Enhanced Mechanical and Bioactive Properties of Biomaterials.

Biomaterials are dynamic tools with many applications: from the primitive use of bone and wood in the replacement of lost limbs and body parts, to the refined involvement of smart and responsive biomaterials in modern medicine and biomedical sciences. Hydrogels constitute a subtype of biomaterials built from water-swollen polymer networks. Their large water content and soft mechanical properties are highly similar to most biological tissues, making them ideal for tissue engineering and biomedical applications. The mechanical properties of hydrogels and their modulation have attracted a lot of attention from the field of mechanobiology. Protein-based hydrogels are becoming increasingly attractive due to their endless design options and array of functionalities, as well as their responsiveness to stimuli. Furthermore, just like the extracellular matrix, they are inherently viscoelastic in part due to mechanical unfolding/refolding transitions of folded protein domains. This review summarizes different natural and engineered protein hydrogels focusing on different strategies followed to modulate their mechanical properties. Applications of mechanically tunable protein-based hydrogels in drug delivery, tissue engineering and mechanobiology are discussed.

Fluorescent Convertible Capsule Coding Systems for Individual Cell Labeling and Tracking.

In modern biomedical science and developmental biology, there is significant interest in optical tagging to study individual cell behavior and migration in large cellular populations. However, there is currently no tagging system that can be used for labeling individual cells on demand in situ with subsequent discrimination in between and long-term tracking of individual cells. In this article, we demonstrate such a system based on photoconversion of the fluorescent dye rhodamine B co-confined with carbon nanodots in the volume of micron-sized polyelectrolyte capsules. We show that this new fluorescent convertible capsule coding system is robust and is actively uptaken by cell lines while demonstrating low toxicity. Using a variety of cellular lines, we demonstrate how this tagging system can be used for code-like marking and long-term tracking of multiple individual cells in large cellular populations.

Реальная сложность в современной биомединской науке

Реальная сложность в современной биомединской науке

Hemolymph of molluscan origin: from biochemistry to modern biomaterials science

Molluscan hemolymph is a unique kind of body fluid, which in many respects is analogous to human blood, although there are several crucial differences. Here, for the first time, we critically analyze the prospects for applications of this fluid in modern biomaterials science. Particular attention is paid to the biochemistry and chemistry of molluscan hemolymph, as well as to hemocytes and hemocyanins as key functional players within this unique biological fluid. We focus on hemocytes as multifunctional hemolytic cells involved in immune response, and especially in the biomineralization process. The next part of the review contains a discussion of molluscan shell formation and regeneration from different points of view. Finally, we consider the challenges, solutions, and future directions in the application of molluscan hemolymph for bioinspired material chemistry and biomedicine.

LABORATORY COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF SEROLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGICAL METHODS FOR DETECTION OF MEASLES VIRUS IN BULGARIA

This study aimed to perform a comparative analysis between the frequency of detection of the measles virus in Bulgarian patients by using two types of laboratory methods - serological and molecular.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: The total 202 patients with two types of clinical material (serum samples and nasal swabs) were tested. The specimens were collected during the measles outbreak in Bulgaria in 2019. The serological - indirect EIA test for detection of specific IgM antibodies and molecular methods - extraction and detection of viral RNA were used.&#x0D; Results: In the present study, tested Bulgarian patients were divided into 11 age groups. The majority of patients were under 9 years of age (126/202, 62%), including children under 1 years of age (31/202, 15%). Acute measles infection was confirmed by ELISA-IgM in 136/202(67%) and by RT-PCR in 138/202 (68%) of cases. The positive patients detected only by PCR methods are mainly in younger tested. In 123/202 of the patients (60,89%) measles infection was confirmed by a combined serological and molecular-biological approach. The coincidence percentage rate of results obtained is 87%, including double positive (n=123) and double negative (n=52) tests. No significant differences in the results in terms of gender and age were found.&#x0D; Conclusion: The combined laboratory approach (immunoenzymatic and molecular assay of each suspected case) is a requisite for measles detection, especially before the onset of symptoms when specific Ig M antibodies could not be detected. Molecular biological techniques are basic and preferred approach in the field of modern biomedical sciences. They play an important role in the early and accurate etiological diagnosis and monitoring of viral infections, in particular the measles virus.

Evaluating herbal medicine preparation from a traditional perspective: insights from an ethnopharmaceutical survey in the Peruvian Amazon

The field of medical ethnobotany has historically contributed to the advancement of modern pharmaceutical and biomedical science through bringing discoveries from the field into the laboratory. In ethnopharmacology, a sub-field of ethnobotany, there is a concerning lack of ethnographic methods reported in the literature. The ethnographic approach is essential for detailing traditional methods of preparation and administration of plant medicines, yet pharmaceutical researchers overemphasize western epistemologies of medicinal discovery and production. In the present work, we propose an ethnopharmaceutical survey as a model to investigate the culturally recognized standards necessary for the formulation of herbal medicines. Fieldwork based on participant observation and semi-structured interviews examined the modes of preparation employed by traditional healers in the Amazonian region of San Martín, Peru. The authors draw on anthropological insight into plural epistemological encounters and propose an ethnopharmaceutical approach that takes seriously the Amazonian methods and perceptions for the preparation of traditional plant medicines.