1.Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 as a potential therapeutic target for COVID-19:A review
Singh BHAGAT ; Singh DHEER ; Verma VINOD ; Yadav RAMAKANT ; Kumar RAJ
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2022;12(2):215-220
As of August 16,2021,there have been 207,173,086 confirmed cases and 4,361,996 deaths due to the coronavirus disease(COVID-19),and the pandemic remains a global challenge.To date,no effective and approved drugs are available for the treatment of COVID-19.Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2(ACE2)plays a crucial role in the invasion into host cells by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2),the etiological agent of COVID-19.Notably,ACE2 density is influenced by medical con-ditions,such as hypertension,or by drugs,including angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors(ACEIs)and angiotensin receptor blockers(ARBs),which can change the fate of SARS-CoV-2 infectivity.ACE2 is a target for these drugs and can be manipulated to limit the viral entry and replication within the cells.Different strategies aimed at blocking ACE2 with small molecules,peptides,and antibodies,or by neutralizing the virus through its competitive binding with human recombinant soluble ACE2(hrsACE2)are currently under investigation.In this article,we review the current state of knowledge that em-phasizes the need to find effective therapeutic agents against COVID-19 by exploiting ACE2 as a potential target.The increased soluble ACE2 levels and the application of hrsACE2 in patients with COVID-19 can be implemented to control the disease.It has not yet been established whether hypertension and other comorbidities,independent of age,have a direct role in COVID-19.Therefore,the use of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors,ACEls and ARBs,should not be discontinued during COVID-19 treatment.
2.An Insight of Nanomaterials in Tissue Engineering from Fabrication to Applications
Ritika SHARMA ; Sanjeev KUMAR ; Bhawna ; Akanksha GUPTA ; Neelu DHEER ; Pallavi JAIN ; Prashant SINGH ; Vinod KUMAR
Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine 2022;19(5):927-960
Tissue engineering is a research domain that deals with the growth of various kinds of tissues with the help of synthetic composites. With the culmination of nanotechnology and bioengineering, tissue engineering has emerged as an exciting domain. Recent literature describes its various applications in biomedical and biological sciences, such as facilitating the growth of tissue and organs, gene delivery, biosensor-based detection, etc. It deals with the development of biomimetics to repair, restore, maintain and amplify or strengthen several biological functions at the level of tissue and organs. Herein, the synthesis of nanocomposites based on polymers, along with their classification as conductive hydrogels and bioscaffolds, is comprehensively discussed. Furthermore, their implementation in numerous tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications is also described. The limitations of tissue engineering are also discussed here. The present review highlights and summarizes the latest progress in the tissue engineering domain directed at functionalized nanomaterials.
3.Vulval premalignant lesions: a review article
Sumedha GUPTA ; Sana AHUJA ; Dheer Singh KALWANIYA ; Saritha SHAMSUNDER ; Shalu SOLANKI
Obstetrics & Gynecology Science 2024;67(2):169-185
Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) is a noninvasive squamous lesion that is a precursor of vulvar squamous cell cancer. Currently, no screening tests are available for detecting VIN, and a biopsy is performed to confirm the clinical diagnosis. Despite sharing many risk factors with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, the diagnosis of VIN is poses challenges, contributing to its increasing prevalence. This study aimed to analyze the underlying risk factors that contribute to the development of VIN, identify specific populations at risk, and define appropriate treatment approaches. Differentiated VIN (dVIN) and usual VIN (uVIN) are the classifications of VIN. While dVIN is associated with other vulvar inflammatory disorders, such as lichen sclerosis, the more prevalent uVIN is associated with an underlying human papillomavirus infection. Patients with differentiated VIN have an increased risk of developing invasive malignancies. Few effective surveillance or management techniques exist for vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia, a preinvasive neoplasm of the vulva. For suspicious lesions, a thorough examination and focused biopsy are necessary. Depending on the specific needs of each patient, a combination of surgical and medical approaches can be used.
4.A Rare Case of Cystic Biliary Atresia
Ng Wei Lee ; Noor Khairiah A. Karim ; Preetvinder Singh A/L Dheer Singh
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2023;19(No.3):380-382
Biliary atresia is one of the commonest causes of prolonged jaundice in neonate, whereas cystic biliary atresia is
a rare form of biliary atresia with similar presentation, but a slightly different sonographic finding. Being able to
differentiate them radiologically is important as the surgical management is different for these two diagnoses. An
ultrasound examination was done for a 2-month-old baby girl with prolonged jaundice with the finding of a cyst
along the portal triad, which raised the suspicion for cystic biliary atresia. The diagnosis was confirmed with intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) and Kasai procedure was done. The patient was well after the surgery with resolution
of jaundice.