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Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial ocular surface disorder affecting millions of individuals worldwide. Inflammation has been associated with dry eye and anti-inflammatory drugs are now being targeted as the alternate therapeutic approach for dry eye condition. In this study, we have explored the anti-inflammatory and autophagy modulating effect of chloroquine (CQ) in human corneal epithelial and human corneal fibroblasts cells exposed to desiccation stress, (an in-vitro model for DED). Gene and protein expression profiling of inflammatory and autophagy related molecular factors were analyzed in HCE-T and primary HCF cells exposed to desiccation stress with and without CQ treatment. HCE-T and HCF cells exposed to desiccation stress exhibited increased levels of activated p65, TNF-α, MCP-1, MMP-9, and IL-6. Further, treatment with CQ decreased the levels of active p65, TNF-α, MCP-1, and MMP-9 in cells underdesiccation stress. Increased levels of LC3B and LAMP1 markers in HCE-T cells exposed to desiccation stress suggest activation of autophagy and the addition of CQ did not alter these levels. Changes in the phosphorylation levels of MAPKinase and mTOR pathway proteins were found in HCE-T cells under desiccation stress with or without CQ treatment. Taken together, the data suggests that HCE-T cells under desiccation stress showed NFκB mediated inflammation, which was rescued through the anti-inflammatory effect of CQ without altering the autophagy flux. Therefore, CQ may be used as an alternate therapeutic management for dry eye condition.

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CitationDubey GP, Sadhu A, Upadhyay P, et al. Combination treatment with a novel polyherbal formulation and metformin: a single blind placebocontrolled study in patients with T2DM and cognitive impairments. ABSTRACTBackground: Older people suffering from Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) are at major risk for age related cognitive dysfunction and dementia, mainly due to vascular complications. Studies have shown that T2DM is also associated with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and is responsible for accelerating the pathology through insulin resistance. A polyherbal drug containing Bacopa Monnieri, Hippophae rhamnoides and Dioscorea bulbifera has shown a potent neuroprotective effect in management of cognitive deficits in elderly; and metformin a well-accepted antidiabetic agent responsible for lowering blood glucose in T2DM, can together provide an intriguing potential combination therapy for prevention and amelioration of cognitive impairments in T2DM patients. Objective: The present study is aimed to evaluate the combined effect of a polyherbal drug and metformin on improving cognitive functions in patients suffering from T2DM. Method: Elderly patients with an age range of 60-75 years diagnosed for T2DM were enrolled in the study and randomized into two groups; Group I=T2DM patients given metformin and placebo, Group II=T2DM patients given metformin and polyherbal drug. The subjects received the combination therapy of metformin (500 mg) and placebo or metformin (500 mg) and polyherbal drug (500 mg) twice daily for a period of 24 weeks. Estimation of Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, blood glucose, HbA1c, insulin, lipid profile (total cholesterol, LDL-c, HDL-c, triglycerides), homocysteine, Interleukin-6 (IL-6), TNF-α and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured at baseline and were repeated at three months and six months. The primary end point was a change from baseline to week 24 in MMSE score. Key secondary end points included change from baseline to week 24 in Digital Symbol Substitution (DSS); subtest of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised), word recall (digital memory apparatusMedicaid systems, Chandigarh, India), attention span (Attention Span Apparatus -Medicaid systems, Chandigarh, India), Functional Activity Questionnaire (FAQ) and Hamilton Depression Scale (HDS) score. Further inflammatory markers and level of oxidative stress were analysed using standard biochemical tests. Result: The trial was performed in 120 elderly diabetic patients out of whom 112 patients