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Monosodium glutamate (MSG), a widely used flavor enhancer, has been implicated in oxidative stress-mediated systemic and reproductive toxicity, particularly affecting the male gonadal system. This study evaluated the ameliorative potential of eugenol, a phenolic compound with potent antioxidant properties, against MSG-induced reproductive toxicity in male Wistar rats. Thirty rats were randomly divided into five groups: group 1 (control), group 2 (MSG 2.5 g/kg), group 3 (eugenol 200 mg/kg), group 4 (MSG + eugenol 100 mg/kg), and group 5 (MSG + eugenol 200 mg/kg). Treatments were administered orally for 28 days. Hematological, biochemical, hormonal, antioxidant, gross, and histopathological assessments were conducted after sacrifice on Day 29. MSG exposure significantly reduced testicular weight, testosterone levels, TEC, Hb, PCV, serum proteins, and testicular GSH and SOD, while markedly elevating TLC, AST, ALT, BUN, creatinine, and TBARS. Severe testicular degeneration, vascular congestion, germ-cell loss, and disrupted seminiferous tubules were observed histologically. Co-administration of eugenol resulted in significant and dose-dependent amelioration of MSG-induced alterations, restoring hematological and biochemical parameters, improving antioxidant status, and elevating testosterone levels. Gross pathology and histopathology demonstrated progressive structural recovery, with the higher eugenol dose showing near-normal testicular architecture and active spermatogenesis. Eugenol alone produced no adverse effects and remained comparable to the control group across all parameters. The findings indicate that eugenol confers strong protective effects against MSG-induced reproductive toxicity, primarily through its antioxidant and cytoprotective actions. Eugenol may serve as a promising natural therapeutic agent for mitigating chemically induced male reproductive impairments.

Chitosan is a biodegradable and biocompatible natural polymer that has been extensively explored in recent decades. The Food and Drug Administration has approved chitosan for wound treatment and nutritional use. Furthermore, chitosan has paved the way for advancements in different biomedical applications including as a nanocarrier and tissue-engineering scaffold. Its antibacterial, antioxidant, and haemostatic properties make it an excellent option for wound dressings. Because of its hydrophilic nature, chitosan is an ideal starting material for biocompatible and biodegradable hydrogels. To suit specific application demands, chitosan can be combined with fillers, such as hydroxyapatite, to modify the mechanical characteristics of pH-sensitive hydrogels. Furthermore, the cationic characteristics of chitosan have made it a popular choice for gene delivery and cancer therapy. Thus, the use of chitosan nanoparticles in developing novel drug delivery systems has received special attention. This review aims to provide an overview of chitosan-based nanoparticles, focusing on their versatile properties and different applications in biomedical sciences and engineering.

Despite substantial progress, developing wound dressing that simultaneously address infection, oxidative stress, and tissue regeneration remains an active area of research. To address these concerns, we report the development of semi-interpenetrating hydrogel network comprised of polyacrylamide and chitosan, synthesized via a one-pot free radical polymerization. To enhance the therapeutic efficacy, hydrogel was loaded with polyaniline and retinyl palmitate. The developed hydrogel displayed excellent applicability, enabling easy administration at irregular wound sites. In vitro characterization confirmed hydrophilic nature and ability to scavenge reactive nitrogen species (> 90%), promoted cellular activity (L929 cells and red blood cells (< 5%)), mitigates infection risk (kills over 94% and 87% of the Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacterial population respectively), prevents biofilm formation, thereby offering a favorable microenvironment for rapid healing. Furthermore, in a rat full-thickness excisional wound model, the developed hydrogel markedly accelerated wound contraction (98.6%), epithelial closure, and collagen deposition (0.8 µg/mg). Overall, this multifunctional polyaniline/retinyl palmitate-integrated hydrogel offers a promising step forward in the development of advanced biomaterials for next generation wound care.

The current study was devised to develop alternative, nonantibiotic, and economically viable treatments for bovine mastitis. The concentration of 6.25 μg/mL (25 nm) CuNPs was selected as intramammary (IM) treatment in S. aureus-induced mastitis in rats as this concentration showed a significant zone of inhibition through the in vitro sensitivity test and minimal cell toxicity on fibroblast cell lines. After, this in vivo study was conducted, and rats were divided into four groups of 6 rats each: group I (healthy control/deionized water), group II (disease control), group III (CuNPs), and group IV (gentamicin). Injection of gentamicin IM for 5 days was selected on the basis of an antibiotic sensitivity test. The therapeutic efficacy of CuNPs was assessed on the basis of clinical signs, mammary gland architecture, bacterial load, oxidative stress parameters, and histopathology of mammary glands. The clinical signs of mastitis in group III ameliorated within 3 days of treatment while in group IV clinical signs ameliorated within 4 days of initiation of treatment. On the 5th day after randomization, bacterial load, mammary gland weights, TOS (Total Oxidant Status), and OSI (oxidative stress index) were significantly lower in the CuNPs group compared to the disease control group and commercial antibiotic group. Similarly, TAS of group III was significantly higher compared to that of groups II and IV indicating that CuNPs have better ameliorative efficacy in mastitis. Treatment with IM, CuNPs @ 6.25 μg/mL showed early recovery, reduced bacterial loads, and amelioration of oxidative stress indices henceforth resulting in marked amelioration in histopathological changes compared to rats in group IV. From this study, it may be concluded that CuNPs may provide a potential alternative therapeutic regimen for the treatment of bovine mastitis.

Stimuli‑responsive (smart) biomaterials are emerging as versatile platforms for the precision delivery of biotherapeutics. Engineered to sense internal or external cues, these materials undergo reversible physicochemical changes that trigger on‑demand payload release, thus improving efficacy while limiting off‑target toxicity. Here we synthesize the design principles that underpin materials’ selection, architecture, and functionalization and provide a systematic classification of triggering stimuli spanning physical (temperature, light, ultrasound), chemical (pH, redox potential, ionic strength), and biological (enzymes, glucose, reactive oxygen species) cues, including multi‑responsive systems that integrate signals for synergistic control. We describe mechanistic pathways of stimuli transduction and release that enable spatiotemporal dosing. We then survey recent advances in the delivery of small molecules, proteins and peptides, nucleic‑acid therapeutics (DNA, RNA, CRISPR components), vaccines and cells using these platforms, and evaluate their translational potential in targeted therapy and regenerative medicine. Finally, we discuss outstanding challenges, safety, manufacturability, and reproducibility, and outline directions for next‑generation biomaterials capable of intelligent, site‑specific delivery. Stimuli-responsive biomaterials are a versatile platform for the precision delivery of biotherapeutics. This Reviews surveys and discusses the design principles that underpin material selection, architecture, and functionalization, and classifies triggering stimuli.

Background: For centuries, convalescent plasma (CP) has been recommended to treat a diverse set of viral diseases. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of CP in critically ill COVID-19 patients. Methods and Materials: From 23 March 2021 to 29 December 2021, an open-label, prospective cohort, single-centre study was conducted at Chest Disease Hospital, Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar. Patients with severe manifestation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) under BST (best standard treatment) +CP were prospectively observed in order to evaluate effectiveness of CP therapy and historical control under BST were used as the control group Results: A total of 1667 patients were found positive for COVID-19. Of these, 873 (52.4%), 431 (28.8%), and 363 (21.8%) were moderately, severely, and critically ill, respectively. On 35th day post-infusion of CP, all-cause mortality was higher in the BST (best standard treatment) +CP group 12 (37.5%) compared to 127 (35%) in the BST group with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.4 and hazard ratio (HR) (95% CI: 1.08–1.79, p = 0.06). Similarly, 7 (21.9) patients in the BST+CP group and 121 (33.3) patients in the BST group showed the transition from critically ill to moderate disease with subhazard ratio (s-HR 1.37) (95% CI: 1.03–2.9). Conclusions: In the present study, we could not find any significant difference in the CP group and BST +CP in primary outcome of reducing all-cause mortality in critically ill patients with negligible Nabs levels. However, beneficial results were observed with use of CP in a limited number of secondary outcomes which includes days of hospitalization, negative conversion of SARS-CoV-2 on basis of RT-PCR on 7th day and 14th day, need for invasive mechanical ventilation on 14th day post-CP treatment, and resolution of shortness of breath.

The present study evaluated the clinical presentation and outcome of COVID-19 patients with underlying hypercreatinemia at the time of hospitalization. A retrospective observational study was conducted from the 23rd of March 2020 to the 15th of April 2021 in 1668 patients confirmed positive for COVID-19 in the Chest Disease Hospital in Srinagar, India. The results of the present study revealed that out of 1668 patients, 339 with hypercreatinemia had significantly higher rates of admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), severe manifestations of the disease, need for mechanical ventilation, and all-cause mortality. Multivariable analysis revealed that age, elevated creatinine concentrations, IL-1, D-Dimer, and Hs-Crp were independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality. After adjusted analysis, the association of creatinine levels remained strongly predictive of all-cause, in-hospital mortality (HR-5.34; CI-4.89–8.17; p ≤ 0.001). The amelioration of kidney function may be an effective method for achieving creatinemic targets and, henceforth, might be beneficial for improving outcomes in patients with COVID-19.

Antibiotic pollution poses a potential risk of genotoxicity, as antibiotics released into the environment can induce DNA damage and mutagenesis in various organisms. This pollution, stemming from pharmaceutical manufacturing, agriculture, and improper disposal, can disrupt aquatic ecosystems and potentially impact human health through the consumption of contaminated water and food. The removal of genotoxic antibiotics using algae-mediated approaches has gained considerable attention due to its potential for mitigating the environmental and health risks associated with these compounds. The paper provides an in-depth examination of the molecular aspects concerning algae and bioreactor-driven methodologies utilized for the elimination of deleterious antibiotics. The molecular analysis encompasses diverse facets, encompassing the discernment and profiling of algae species proficient in antibiotic degradation, the explication of enzymatic degradation pathways, and the refinement of bioreactor configurations to augment removal efficacy. Emphasizing the significance of investigating algal approaches for mitigating antibiotic pollution, this paper underscores their potential as a sustainable solution, safeguarding both the environment and human health.