Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a significant global health concern, with approximately 377,000 new cases diagnosed annually worldwide. Despite advances in treatment, OSCC remains a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality, particularly in regions with high prevalence such as Asia and Oceania. In order to identify potential drug targets for OSCC, this study employed an integrative in silico pharmacology strategy. Nineteen GEO transcriptomic datasets (435 samples) were analyzed, 580 significantly overexpressed genes (logFC > 2.5). Network and enrichment analyses highlighted CASQ1 (calsequestrin 1), a calcium-binding protein, as a hub gene within a sarcomeric cluster implicated in epithelial–mesenchymal transition and OSCC progression. To explore its therapeutic potential, molecular docking and 500 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed with standard chemotherapeutics, 5-fluorouracil and docetaxel. 5-fluorouracil exhibited strong binding affinity (− 7.225 kcal/mol) and stable conformational dynamics with CASQ1, while docetaxel showed more flexible but persistent binding. These results suggest that CASQ1 is a previously unrecognized drug-interactable target in OSCC and may represent a novel pharmacological vulnerability. Overall, this study demonstrates how integrative computational approaches, spanning gene expression profiling to drug–target interaction modeling, can accelerate target discovery and inform therapeutic strategies in oncology.
The current study has been propelled to report the phytochemical profile of Grewia gamblei J.R. Drumm, an underexplored medicinal plant from the Western Ghats, for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory efficacies through in vitro and in silico approaches. Extracts of G. gamblei leaves were prepared using the Soxhlet extraction method with 5 solvents: petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, acetone, methanol and water, and their antioxidant properties were assessed using DPPH, phosphomolybdate, FRAP, nitric oxide and superoxide scavenging assays; in vitro assessment of anti-inflammatory properties has been carried out using protein denaturation (bovine and egg albumin) and membrane stabilization assays. GC/MS and HPLC followed by ADMET profiling, molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation were performed on the extracts to assess ligand-protein interactions and drug-likeness. Based on the results, the methanolic extract possessed a high quantity of phenolics (65.04 ± 3.50 mg GAE/g), tannins (58.88 ± 0.80 mg TAE/g), flavonoids (32.62 ± 0.50 mg QE/g), and proanthocyanidins (19.90 ± 0.29 mg CAT/g). It also depicted 84.8
The flower extract of Senna auriculata was used to prepare zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) with green synthesis techniques and their properties were systematically studied. Characterization of the synthesized nanoparticles was done by spectroscopic, FTIR, XRD, FESEM, TEM and EDAX analysis. The crystalline nature of the synthesized ZnO nanoparticles, along with their nan-scale dimensions and stability in morphology, has been confirmed by characterization studies. The synthesized nanoparticles were evaluated for antioxidant activity by DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assay. The scavenging activity of free radicals (IC₅₀) of ZnO-NPs in both the DPPH and ABTS assays were found to be 178.15 and 212.63 µg/mL, respectively. Antimicrobial studies showed that the concentration of the compound was important in determining its inhibitory activity against the tested microorganisms. The bacterial strains which showed maximum inhibition were Streptococcus pyogenes (18 mm) and Escherichia coli (16 mm) at 50 µg concentration. The antifungal activity of the nanoparticles against the fungus Candida albicans and Trichoderma viride was also determined by the production of inhibition zones of 14 ± 0.12 mm and 12 ± 0.14 mm, respectively. MTT assay was used to evaluate the anticancer activity of ZnO-NPs against HepG2 cells and it was found to be significantly cytotoxic with an IC₅₀ value of 35.18µg/mL. Microscopic determination showed morphological changes as a function of concentration, such as in the form of cell shrinkage and decreased cell density. AO/EtBr staining and JC-1 fluorescence analysis confirmed apoptotic cell death and mitochondrial membrane depolarization, respectively, suggesting a mitochondria-mediated apoptotic mechanism. The results indicate that the Senna auriculate mediated ZnO nanoparticles have promising antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer activities which make them a potential biomedical and therapeutic applications.
Objectives To identify the determinants of smartphone addiction and evaluate its association with psychological morbidity among school-going adolescents in Karaikal, Puducherry, India. Methodology : A facility-based, cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2025 and February 2026, encompassing 645 students (grades 6–10) selected via multistage sampling. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires, including the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV) and the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12). Determinants were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression in SPSS. Results The prevalence of SMA and psychological morbidity were 28.5% and 26.0%, respectively. Multivariable analysis demonstrated a robust, independent association between SMA and psychological morbidity, with addicted adolescents facing nearly twice the odds of distress (AOR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.26–2.75). Studying in a private school conferred a protective effect against psychological morbidity (AOR = 0.62). Key predictors of SMA included utilizing a smartphone for ≥ 1 hour before sleep (AOR = 2.36) and concurrent psychological morbidity (AOR = 1.83). Conversely, engaging in regular outdoor activities (AOR = 0.64) and condensed weekend phone usage (≥ 2 hours) (AOR = 0.45) served as significant protective factors against addiction. Conclusion Smartphone addiction is a prevalent determinant of psychological morbidity among school-going adolescents in Karaikal. Late-night screen exposure and limited physical activity exacerbate this vulnerability. These findings underscore the urgent need for integrating digital hygiene education, promoting outdoor recreation, and implementing targeted psychological counseling within school health programs, particularly in government institutions.
User satisfaction with Assistive Technology (AT) is one of the crucial factors in the success of any AT service. The current study aimed to estimate satisfaction with AT and the reasons for dissatisfaction and unsuitability among persons with functional difficulties in India. Using the WHO Rapid Assistive Technology Assessment tool, a cross-sectional study was conducted in eight districts, representing four zones of India. Multi-stage cluster random sampling and probability proportional to size techniques were used to select smaller administrative units from the larger ones. Satisfaction was reported in terms of assistive products and service delivery. In total, 8486 participants were surveyed out of which 8964 individuals were enumerated with a response rate of 94.6%. Around 22.2% (1888) of participants had functional difficulties and reported using AT, out of which 3.9% (74) were dissatisfied with their products. The assistive products, assessment and training, and repair and maintenance-related services were reported to be satisfied by approximately 92.2% (1740), 88.4% (1669), and 85.2% (1609) of respondents, respectively. Further, 3.2% (61) and 3.7% (70) of respondents reported that their AT was not suitable for home and public environments, respectively. According to 2.8% (53) respondents, their AT did not assist them in executing daily living activities. Discomfort (56.6%), poor fitting (37.7%), low quality of service (20.7%), and poor aesthetic values (18.9%) were identified as reasons for dissatisfaction. Satisfaction was good for AT received from friends and family but was poor for those received from the public sector. The study shows that overall satisfaction and suitability with AT were high among users with functional difficulties, but few have reported barriers to effective device use and facing challenges in accessing repair and follow-up services.
