Swami Vivekanand Subharti University

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease that predominantly affects synovial joints, resulting in progressive joint damage, disability, and systemic effects. There are still unanswered questions regarding the origin and pathophysiological complexities of the disease despite advances in treatment. A systematic review of the complex molecular pathways involved in RA pathophysiology is presented. Among the molecular processes involved in RA pathophysiology are oxidative stress, activation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes, aberrant innate and adaptive immunity, and dysregulated cytokine signalling. Important inflammatory signalling pathways related to the inflammation and destruction of joints including NF-κB, JAK/STAT, and RANK will be detailed. We will discuss the molecular components of the disease and the genetic and epigenetic predispositions such as HLA-DRB1 alleles, non-HLA loci, and regulation of miRNA and DNA methylation. We will highlight environmental and lifestyle related risk factors including smoking, infections, gut dysbiosis, and hormones contributing to disease manifestation and maintenance. We will describe the autoantibodies, rheumatoid factor and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies, as diagnostic and prognostic RA biomarkers. This review will summarize studies from in vivo animal models and translational studies to illustrate contemporary treatment strategies and drug development based on lessons from molecular knowledge of RA studies. Furthermore, progressive paradigms such as personalized medicine and multi-omics methodologies are discussed as potential future strategies to advance prediction, monitoring, and management of RA. This review seeks to provide an updated, broader view of the molecular biology and risk factors for RA, ultimately supporting better clinical outcomes and precision therapy.

Research on non-hormonal alternatives to traditional methods of male contraception has been prompted by the growing world population as well as the need for effective and reversible treatments. This study aimed to examine the possible antifertility potential of two medicinal herbs, i.e., Urtica dioica and Zanthoxylum armatum, that have been utilized for centuries in different cultures.

A thorough pharmacognostical analysis was carried out to identify the ingre-dients of these plants. The phytoconstituents from Urtica dioica aqueous 96% methanolic leaf extract and Zanthoxylum armatum fruit essential oil were subjected to in silico molec-ular docking screening. The phytoconstituents were profiled using GC-MS analysis. To in-vestigate how these phytoconstituents interact with important proteins involved in male fer-tility and identify potential candidates for the development of a plant-based oral contracep-tive for men, further in silico molecular docking (receptor protein ID of 7FIH (3.20 Å), 7BPR (1.95 Å), and 2Q7J (1.90 Å) ) experiments were carried out.

The GC-MS analysis revealed a wide variety of bioactive chemicals. Promising interactions between the discovered phytoconstituents and specific protein targets were found by the in silico molecular docking investigation, indicating the possibility of antifertil-ity effects.

The results of this study demonstrate the medicinal use of these plants and provide the basis for the development of novel male contraceptive medicines and their fur-ther experimental validation.

This ex vivo study aims to evaluate and compare the fluoride-releasing capabilities of different modifications of Glass ionomer cement, namely Giomer, Zirconomer, and Pediatric GIC (type IX) with Resin-modified Glass ionomer cement (RMGIC) in the primary dentition at first, fourteenth, and twenty-eighth days.

Fifty-six extracted human primary molars were allocated into four groups: Group 1, Resin-modified GIC; Group 2, Giomer; Group 3, Zirconomer; and Group 4, Pediatric GIC (type IX). The tooth samples (n = 14) were restored as per the manufacturer's instructions after making class II cavities in primary molars. Extracted tooth specimens were placed in deionized water, and the fluoride ions released were measured for 28 days. The tooth samples were evaluated for cumulative fluoride levels at the end of 24 h, 14th day, and 28th day under normal atmospheric conditions, using a fluoride ion-selective electrode (Orion STAR-A214 Ion analyzer). The data obtained was subjected to statistical analysis, and the results are discussed herein.

Fluoride ions releasing capability was exhibited by primary teeth restored with all the above-mentioned materials. The primary teeth restored with Zirconomer exhibited significantly higher fluoride-releasing capability among the above-compared materials, and the primary teeth restored with Giomer exhibited the least fluoride ions release on 24 h, 14th day, and 28th day, and the difference of fluoride ions releasing ability between the four groups was statistically significant at each time interval (P < 0.001).

The primary teeth restored with Zirconomer exhibited superior fluoride-releasing ability compared to other restorative materials. Therefore, Zirconomer can be a promising restorative material for primary teeth due to its enhanced anti-caries effect.