Bionanomedicine: A “Panacea” In Medicine?

Recent advances in nanotechnology, biotechnology, bioinformatics, and materials science have prompted novel developments in the field of nanomedicine. Enhancements in the theranostics, computational information, and management of diseases/disorders are desperately required. It may now be conceivable to accomplish checked improvements in both of these areas utilising nanomedicine. This scientific and concise review concentrates on the fundamentals and potential of nanomedicine, particularly nanoparticles and their advantages, nanoparticles for siRNA conveyance, nanopores, nanodots, nanotheragnostics, nanodrugs and targeting mechanisms, and aptamer nanomedicine. The combination of various scientific fields is quickening these improvements, and these interdisciplinary endeavours to have significant progressively outstretching influences on different fields of research. The capacities of nanomedicine are immense, and nanotechnology could give medicine a completely new standpoint

A comparison between overweight cutoff points for detection of high blood pressure in adolescents

OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a acurácia de três pontos de corte na determinação da pressão arterial elevada em adolescentes, dada a forte relação entre o excesso de peso e valores elevados de pressão arterial. MÉTODOS: Participaram do estudo 1.021 adolescentes de ambos os sexos, selecionados de maneira aleatória nas escolas públicas e particulares de Londrina (PR). O peso corporal foi aferido por meio de balança digital, e a estatura, por um estadiômetro portátil com extensão máxima de 2 metros. A pressão arterial foi avaliada através de um aparelho automático. A capacidade do índice de massa corporal de detectar a pressão arterial elevada foi averiguada por meio da curva ROC e seus parâmetros (sensibilidade, especificidade e área sob a curva). RESULTADOS: Os pontos de corte da proposta nacional apresentaram maior acurácia (masculino: 0,636±0,038; feminino: 0,585±0,043) quando comparados aos pontos de corte das propostas internacional (masculino: 0,594±0,040; feminino: 0,570±0,044) e norte-americana (masculino: 0,612±0,039; feminino: 0,578±0,044). CONCLUSÃO: A proposta nacional foi a que apresentou melhor acurácia na indicação de valores elevados de pressão arterial.OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the accuracy of three different cutoff points for the detection of high blood pressure in adolescents, given the strong relationship between overweight and high blood pressure levels. METHODS: A total of 1,021 adolescents of both sexes were enrolled in the study, selected at random from public and private schools in Londrina, Brazil. Their body weight was measured using a digital balance, and their height with a portable stadiometer with a maximum extension of 2 meters. Arterial blood pressure was measured using an automatic apparatus. The capacity of body mass index to detect high blood pressure was gauged using ROC curves and their parameters (sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve). RESULTS: The cutoff points proposed in a Brazilian standard exhibited greater accuracy (males: 0.636±0.038; females: 0.585±0.043) than the cutoff points proposed in an international (males: 0.594±0.040; females: 0.570±0.044) and a North-American standard (males: 0.612±0.039; females: 0.578±0.044). CONCLUSIONS: The Brazilian proposal offered greatest accuracy for indicating high blood pressure levels

Bionanomedicine: A “Panacea” In Medicine?

Recent advances in nanotechnology, biotechnology, bioinformatics, and materials science have prompted novel developments in the field of nanomedicine. Enhancements in the theranostics, computational information, and management of diseases/disorders are desperately required. It may now be conceivable to accomplish checked improvements in both of these areas utilising nanomedicine. This scientific and concise review concentrates on the fundamentals and potential of nanomedicine, particularly nanoparticles and their advantages, nanoparticles for siRNA conveyance, nanopores, nanodots, nanotheragnostics, nanodrugs and targeting mechanisms, and aptamer nanomedicine. The combination of various scientific fields is quickening these improvements, and these interdisciplinary endeavours to have significant progressively outstretching influences on different fields of research. The capacities of nanomedicine are immense, and nanotechnology could give medicine a completely new standpoint

Natural occurrence of Cucumber mosaic virus infecting water mint (Mentha aquatica) in Antalya and Konya, Turkey

A virus causing a disease in mint (the aromatic and culinary plant) has recently become a problem in the Taurus Mountains, a mountain range in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. To detect the virus and investigate its distribution in the region, mint leaf samples were collected from the vicinity of spring areas in the plateaus of Antalya and Konya in 2009. It was found that Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) was detected in 27.08% of symptomatic samples tested by DAS-ELISA. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of CMV on mint plants in this region of Turkey

In Silico Investigation of Tropical Natural Product for Wild-Type and Quadrupole Mutant PfDHFR Inhibitors as Antimalarial Candidates

Plasmodium falciparum dihydrofolate reductase (PfDHFR) is an essential enzyme in the development of parasitic DNA and its inhibition often leads to the impediment of parasite growth. Several studies have also shown that a genetic mutation in this enzyme can cause reduced receptor responsiveness and efficacy of antimalarial drugs. Therefore, this study aimed to examine 100 compounds derived from Indonesian medicinal plants as potential antimalarial candidates using a structure-based virtual screening approach. The PASS online was used to screen 100 compounds, and those with Pa values higher than 0.3 were docked with the wild-type (PDB code:1j3i) and quadrupole mutant PfDHFR (PDB code:1j3k). The stability of the chemical complex was then examined using molecular dynamics simulations, followed by an assessment of the pharmacokinetic profile and drug-likeness parameters. The top 5 compounds were then identified with binding energies ranging from -9.7 to -10.0 kcal/mol for the wild-type PfDHFR-TS and from -9.2 to -10.0 kcal/mol for the quadrupole mutant PfDHFR. The results showed that compound C90 exhibited the most stable and impressive score in its pharmacokinetic and drug-likeness assessment

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Priorities in the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) of the Industrial Sector of Sialkot, Pakistan

The purpose of this research is to explore and understand corporate social responsibility (CSR) priorities in the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) of the industrial sector of Sialkot in Pakistan. The industrial sector of Sialkot is mainly involved in the production and supplying of sports, leather and surgical products for global companies. We used a qualitative approach to explore CSR priorities among SMEs. Informants were identified using purposive sampling. In-depth interviews were conducted with the senior managers, owners and executives of SMEs in the Sialkot industrial sector of Pakistan in three main industries namely; sports, surgical and leather. The findings of the study suggest philanthropy as a key ethical and social priority and CSR dimension supported by SMEs. Main dimensions of CSR in the context of Sialkot industrial sector SMEs were social (philanthropy), economic, legal and environment. In terms of CSR dimensions priorities, differences exist due to the nature of the specific industry and its protocols as data were collected from three different sub industrial sectors within the Sialkot industrial sector.Post-print / Final draf

Cross-sectional association between healthy and unhealthy food habits and leisure physical activity in adolescents

Objective: To analyze associations between two physical activity domains during leisure time and different food habits in adolescents.Methods: The sample comprised 1,630 adolescents (46% male and 54% female). Physical activity level, television (TV) viewing, and eating behaviors were assessed through an interview. According to the results of the assessment, adolescents were classified as physically active or engaged in high amounts of TV viewing and unhealthy/healthy diets.Results: Male adolescents were more active than females (21.7 and 9.4%, respectively; p = 0.001), while TV viewing was more frequent in females (44.0 and 29.2%; p = 0.001). Physical activity level was related to higher consumption of fruits (OR = 1.90; 95%CI 1.39-2.60) and vegetables (OR = 1.48; 95%CI 1.09-2.01), while higher consumption of fried foods (OR = 2.13; 95%CI 1.64-2.77) and snacks (OR = 1.91; 95%CI 1.49-2.45) was associated with TV viewing.Conclusion: This study presented epidemiological information indicating that active and inactive behaviors were differently and independently associated with healthy and unhealthy diets.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Univ Oeste Paulista UNOESTE, Presidente Prudente, SP, BrazilUniv Estadual Paulista, Presidente Prudente, SP, BrazilUniv Oeste Paulista, Presidente Prudente, SP, BrazilUniversidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL), Programa Posgrad Saúde Colet, Londrina, PR, BrazilUniversidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL), Programa Posgrad Educ Fis, Londrina, PR, BrazilUniversidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM), Londrina, PR, BrazilUNESP, Programa Posgrad Ciencias Motricidade, Rio Claro, SP, BrazilUniv Estadual Paulista, Presidente Prudente, SP, BrazilUNESP, Programa Posgrad Ciencias Motricidade, Rio Claro, SP, Brazi