Search

Objective : To assess the effect of secondary alveolar bone grafting (SABG) on maxillary growth in patients with unilateral cleft lip or palate (UCL/P) Design : Systematic review and Meta-analysis Methods : Pubmed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science and manual search was performed to assess the maxillary growth following SABG in UCL/P patients Patients and Participants: Non-syndromic patients with UCL/P Main Outcome Measure: Comparison of maxillary growth between patients with UCL/P who underwent SABG and UCL/P patients who had not undergone SABG or non-cleft control Results : 39 of the identified 233 articles were assessed for inclusion and exclusion criteria after duplicate removal and title and abstract reading. 7 articles (1 prospective, and 6 retrospective studies) were included in the qualitative analysis and 2 articles were subjected to quantitative analysis. Four studies had a low risk of bias and three studies had a moderate risk of bias. Meta-analysis revealed a significant reduction of SNA and no significant difference in ANB in the SABG group compared to the non-cleft control group(I2 = 0%). There was no significant difference in ANB between SABG and non-cleft control; however, results showed high heterogeneity(I2 = 83%). Meta-analysis of SNA and ANB showed no significant difference between SABG and the cleft control group; however, there was high heterogeneity. Conclusions : The studies showed a low to moderate risk of bias. SABG causes inhibition of maxillary growth in patients with cleft lip or palate when compared to patients with non-cleft control. Due to high heterogeneity, comparison to cleft control showed insufficient evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This special issue analyses how the war in Ukraine has been perceived and interpreted by some of the major states in the Indo-Pacific and what their primary policy responses have been. It assesses the geopolitical, geostrategic, and geo-economic challenges faced by these countries as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with a particular focus on how they affect (and potentially transform) inter-state relations within the region. Some key themes emerge from the special issue. First, the 'neutral' positions adopted by many countries are nuanced, differ considerably from each other and have different rationales. Second, many governments in the Indo-Pacific have drawn a connection between Russia's conduct in Ukraine and China's potential near-future conduct in the region. Third, while the war has not fundamentally changed alignment dynamics in the Indo-Pacific, it has intensified a broader process of geopolitical bloc building which has been ongoing for a long time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India's policy of 'neutrality' in the Russia–Ukraine war is explained by its policy of multi-alignment which seeks to maximise India's national interests and retain strategic autonomy. India has taken a 'neutral' stance because the Modi government highly values India's strategic partnership with Russia and believes Moscow will play a significant role in India's rise as a global power. India's Indo-Pacific concept/vision and its alignments in the region are also influenced by multi-alignment. As a consequence of the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020 and the ongoing border standoff, India's Indo-Pacific concept/vision has changed and it has aligned itself more closely to the USA. India's rivalry with China (and Pakistan) is likely to be aggravated due to the Russia–Ukraine war leading to tensions in India–Russia ties as Moscow is likely to become increasingly reliant on Beijing, and New Delhi aligns itself more closely with Washington under the multi-alignment doctrine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To correlate the sagittal hard tissue movement and soft tissue changes among patients with skeletal class III malocclusion following bimaxillary orthognathic surgery. Material and Methods: Fifty-nine subjects with skeletal class III malocclusion treated consecutively with maxillary advancement and mandibular setback were assessed for skeletal and soft tissue linear changes using presurgical (T1) and post-treatment (T2) lateral cephalograms. Pearson's correlation coefficient test was used to correlate hard and soft tissue parameters. Results: The sagittal hard tissue movement and soft tissue changes for all the parameters assessed in maxilla and mandible showed statistically significant correlations. The ratios of changes for the maxillary protrusion [N-A (HP)] to horizontal subnasale (Sn), superior labial sulcus (Sls), and labrale superioris (Ls) were 0.574:1, 0.703:1, and 0.721:1 respectively. The ratio of horizontal labrale inferioris (Li), mentolabial fold (Mlf), and soft tissue (Pg′) to mandibular protrusion [N-B (HP)] were 0.992:1, 0.970:1, and 0.590:1 respectively and to chin protrusion [N-Pg (HP)] were 1.293:1, 1.252:1, and 1.001:1, respectively. The ratios were different for males and females in maxilla and mandible. Conclusion: Sagittal hard tissue movement and soft tissue changes are significantly correlated. The soft tissue movement in the mandible were more proportionate compared to the maxilla. The sagittal hard tissue to soft tissues movement ratios were greater in maxilla and lesser at pogonion and mentolabial sulcus in females compared to males. The ratios obtained can be used for predicting postsurgical soft tissue changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conclusion to the special section argues that the Russia‐Ukraine war has led to the emergence of non‐alignment 2.0 in the Global South because the Cold War era non‐alignment is anachronistic in the current/emerging world order. Non‐alignment 2.0 is characterised by countries exercising strategic autonomy to maximise their geo‐economic, geopolitical and geostrategic interests. They are neither aligned with the West nor with non‐western powers forming a strategic alliance. Consequently, they have been unwilling to choose a side in the Russia‐Ukraine war. In non‐alignment 2.0, states in the Global South will be critical of both the West and non‐western powers including China and Russia if they are unable to provide effective solutions to their problems and will create/provide their own norms and establish their own institutions to solve the problems facing these countries. Non‐alignment 2.0 lacks coherence because it is unable to provide an effective political and economic path. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This special section explores how nine key countries from the Global South have responded to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. As the Western attempt to build a global anti‐Russia coalition has largely failed, the focus on countries from the Global South becomes more important but remains under‐researched in the discipline. This introductory article offers the conceptual framework for the following empirical contributions. Based on the rational and constructivist school of thinking, we develop four guiding assumptions. Accordingly, we assume that foreign policy positioning to the war relates to the varied consequences of the conflict, can be related to strategic opportunism, displays pragmatic indifference or is value‐driven. Contributions to this special section offer a detailed empirical analysis according to these four conceptual categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India's neutrality and failure to publicly criticise Russia is driven by the Modi government's quest to be a great/leading power. It believes that Moscow can aid New Delhi in achieving this goal by enhancing the security pillar of its foreign policy strategy. However, publicly criticising Russia will undermine India's security pillar and will prevent India from becoming a leading power. Thus, India's response to the Ukraine war might be best described as 'varied consequentialism'. Additionally, India has also exhibited 'strategic opportunism'; that is, it has employed norms and values strategically to pursue its aspirations to emerge as a leading power. It has sought to use the Global South's discontent with the US‐led Western liberal order aggravated by the Russia–Ukraine war, to seek leadership of the Global South. It seeks to act as the leader of a new 'non‐alignment', which has emerged as a consequence of the war. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article seeks to provide an answer to the question, "Why is China dismissive of India's great power ambitions?" It argues that China's dismissiveness of India's great power ambitions is explained by cognitive bias towards India based on its colonization and freedom struggle. This is because India was formally colonized by Great Britain, but China was never formally colonized. Second, India won its freedom from British colonial/imperial rule through a nonviolent struggle unlike China, which fought a bloody war of liberation against Japan and a civil war leading to the formation of the People's Republic of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant pathogenic bacteria often have a narrow host range, which can vary among different isolates within a population. Here, we investigated the host range of the tomato pathogen Clavibacter michiganensis (Cm). We determined the genome sequences of 40 tomato Cm isolates and screened them for pathogenicity on tomato and eggplant. Our screen revealed that out of the tested isolates, five were unable to cause disease on any of the hosts, 33 were exclusively pathogenic on tomato, and two were capable of infecting both tomato and eggplant. Through comparative genomic analyses, we identified that the five non-pathogenic isolates lacked the chp/tomA pathogenicity island, which has previously been associated with virulence in tomato. In addition, we found that the two eggplant-pathogenic isolates encode a unique allelic variant of the putative serine hydrolase chpG (chpGC), an effector that is recognized in eggplant. Introduction of chpGC into a chpG inactivation mutant in the eggplant-non-pathogenic strain Cm101, failed to complement the mutant, which retained its ability to cause disease in eggplant and failed to elicit hypersensitive response (HR). Conversely, introduction of the chpG variant from Cm101 into an eggplant pathogenic Cm isolate (C48), eliminated its pathogenicity on eggplant, and enabled C48 to elicit HR. Our study demonstrates that allelic variation in the chpG effector gene is a key determinant of host range plasticity within Cm populations. Author summary: Most plant-pathogenic bacteria are specialists and have a narrow host range. However, the true host range of plant-pathogenic species is usually not well defined. Here, we demonstrate a variation in the host range of different clones of the specialist pathogen Clavibacter michiganensis (Cm), which is mainly reported to cause disease in tomato. We characterized a Cm clone library by combining dual-host virulence phenotyping, using tomato and eggplant, and genomic approaches. Our analysis showed that individual Cm clones harbor a differential host range. While most clones were solely pathogenic on tomato, a few were pathogenic on eggplant, and some were non-pathogenic in either host. Comparative genomic analyses identified that non-pathogenic clones lacked the chp/tomA pathogenicity island, a major virulence determinant of Cm. In addition, we found that eggplant-pathogenic clones harbored a distinct allelic variant of the putative secreted serine hydrolase chpG, a known immune elicitor in eggplant. We demonstrated that the presence of this allelic variant in eggplant-pathogenic Cm clones allows them to evade detection and cause disease. Our study provides novel insights into the phenotypic complexity within the population of bacterial plant pathogens and establishes a link between phenotypic variations and distinct genetic features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted in sandy clay loam soils in a subtropical zone of Bihar to evaluate the effect of frequent application of organic amendments on sulphur fractions. Different organic amendments, including farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost, azotobacter, phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB), panchagawya, and neem cake, were applied through nine treatments that resulted in a significant increase of water-soluble S, available S, heat-soluble S, adsorbed S, and organic S in organic treatment compared to the recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) and control treatment. The maximum increment was observed in the treatment where the recommended dose of nitrogen was replaced by 75% recommended dose of nitrogen substituted farmyard manure + 25% recommended dose of nitrogen (vermicompost) along with azotobacter + PSB + one foliar spray of panchagawya. The total S content varied widely from 382 to 736 mg kg-1. Increment in all the forms of sulphur is observed as a result of the application of different organic nutrient sources. All the forms of sulphur share a mutual positive and significant correlation with each other. Regression analysis suggested that the availability of sulphur was dominated by organic sulphur, which alone can explain 97.8% of the variation in availability of available sulphur in soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has recurrently delayed, blocked, and/or stopped attempts by India (and other countries) to designate Pakistani citizens as terrorists under the UN Security Council 1267 Committee rules by placing "technical hold" or employing its veto. Question arises "why does China shield Pakistan on terrorism and block India's attempts to designate Pakistani citizens as terrorists?" Employing asymmetric alliance in conjunction with quasi-alliance as the analytical framework, the article argues that China's motives are explained by the India–China rivalry resulting in a quasi-alliance between China and Pakistan against their common enemy India. The China-Pakistan quasi-alliance is geared toward balancing and containing India. India's rise poses a challenge to China's ambitions of being the pre-dominant power in Asia. An important characteristic of this quasi-alliance is China's support to Pakistan's policy of asymmetric balancing against India by employing a plethora of terrorist organizations to target India and Indian interests abroad. Non-state actors fostered by Pakistan provide China with a low-cost option to ensure that India is wary of its western neighbor and its political, military, and diplomatic energies are fixed on Pakistan. This prevents India from focusing its resources toward China, prevents India's rise and its ability to challenge China in Asia and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess and compare the accuracy of 3D-printed digital models, orthognathic surgical splints, retainers or aligners, and implant surgical guides printed using various 3D printing technologies. Methods: The search comprised prospective and retrospective studies related to the accuracy of 3D-printed models, splints, implant surgical guides, and retainers/aligners in patients undergoing orthodontic and orthognathic surgical procedures. The outcomes were assessed in terms of linear measurements, degree of fit, and positional deviations in comparison to conventional plaster models and surgical acrylic splints. The methodologic quality of the articles and the level of evidence were assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool. A meta-analysis was performed to compare the accuracy of models printed by different technologies to plaster models using the random-effects model. Results: Twenty-one retrospective studies were included. Quality assessment of all included articles showed moderate risk of bias and no article was excluded. The systematic review showed that there were no significant differences between printed surgical splints, retainers/aligners compared, and the control group. Meta-analysis of six eligible studies showed that printed models had a general trend toward overestimation of linear measurements (mean difference = 0.22mm; 95% confidence interval= - 0.09 to 0.36 mm, I 2 = 85%). Measurements made on digital light processing-printed models were significantly different than those made on plaster models. Conclusion: The mean difference of 0.22 mm in linear measurements made on 3D-printed models and plaster models was clinically acceptable. Among the various printing technologies, PolyJet and fused deposition modeling-printed models showed higher accuracy. The printed splints and retainers/aligners were as accurate and reliable as their respective gold standards. The findings should be interpreted with caution due to high level of heterogeneity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employing BRICS as a case study, this paper argues that India's neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine war is not influenced by its quest for status via BRICS because a souring of the India-Russia bilateral relationship will not affect India's quest for status through the BRICS. First, India and Russia have joined and co-developed BRICS to achieve their national and foreign policy goals such as great power status, challenging US hegemony and achieving a multipolar world order, reform of the liberal international order and Bretton Woods institutions and other objectives. Both countries have much to lose by allowing their problematic bilateral relationship to adversely impact the BRICS. Second, the BRICS is structured in such a way that its operating procedures/principles including consensus-based decision making and intentionally omitting controversial issues implies that bilateral problems between member states are not tabled and they do not make the group dysfunctional. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) root meal supplementation on the growth, haematology and carcass quality of broiler chickens. Two hundred day-old chicks (Vencobb 400) were randomly divided into four groups with 50 chicks in each using two replicates each of 25 chicks under completely randomized design. Control group TC was fed commercial diet without Shatavari root powder, while group T1, T2 and T3 were fed commercial diet supplemented with 0.5%, 1.0 % and 1.5% Shatavari root powder, respectively, for 42 days. The results showed that T2 had the highest body weight (2547.76 g), followed by T1, TC and T3. The TC group exhibited the highest overall feed intake (4339.64 g), followed by T1, T2, and T3. At 42nd day of treatment, the mean Hb concentration of the T2, T3, and T1 groups of birds was considerably greater and TLC was lower (p<0.05) than TC group. Birds in the T2 group had considerably greater PCV% than those in the TC, T1, and T3 groups. For the groups TC, T1, T2, and T3, the H:L ratios were 0.47, 0.49, 0.54, and 0.52, respectively. Overall carcass characteristics were better in T2 group, regarding slaughter yield. The wing, neck and abdominal fat contents decreased significantly (p<0.05), while Giblet percent increased as the level of Shatavari root meal increased in the diet. Thus, it was inferred that the inclusion of 1% Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) root powder supplementation in the commercial diet of broiler chickens improves growth performance, haematological parameters and carcass quality much better than higher or lower levels of Shatavari. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lower extremity open revascularization is a treatment option for peripheral artery disease that carries significant peri-operative risks; however, outcome prediction tools remain limited. Using machine learning (ML), we developed automated algorithms that predict 30-day outcomes following lower extremity open revascularization. The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program targeted vascular database was used to identify patients who underwent lower extremity open revascularization for chronic atherosclerotic disease between 2011 and 2021. Input features included 37 pre-operative demographic/clinical variables. The primary outcome was 30-day major adverse limb event (MALE; composite of untreated loss of patency, major reintervention, or major amputation) or death. Our data were split into training (70%) and test (30%) sets. Using tenfold cross-validation, we trained 6 ML models. Overall, 24,309 patients were included. The primary outcome of 30-day MALE or death occurred in 2349 (9.3%) patients. Our best performing prediction model was XGBoost, achieving an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (95% CI) of 0.93 (0.92–0.94). The calibration plot showed good agreement between predicted and observed event probabilities with a Brier score of 0.08. Our ML algorithm has potential for important utility in guiding risk mitigation strategies for patients being considered for lower extremity open revascularization to improve outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) carries important perioperative risks; however, there are no widely used outcome prediction tools. The aim of this study was to apply machine learning (ML) to develop automated algorithms that predict 1-year mortality following EVAR. Methods: The Vascular Quality Initiative database was used to identify patients who underwent elective EVAR for infrarenal AAA between 2003 and 2023. Input features included 47 preoperative demographic/clinical variables. The primary outcome was 1-year all-cause mortality. Data were split into training (70 per cent) and test (30 per cent) sets. Using 10-fold cross-validation, 6 ML models were trained using preoperative features with logistic regression as the baseline comparator. The primary model evaluation metric was area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). Model robustness was evaluated with calibration plot and Brier score. Results: Some 63 655 patients were included. One-year mortality occurred in 3122 (4.9 per cent) patients. The best performing prediction model for 1-year mortality was XGBoost, achieving an AUROC (95 per cent c.i.) of 0.96 (0.95-0.97). Comparatively, logistic regression had an AUROC (95 per cent c.i.) of 0.69 (0.68-0.71). The calibration plot showed good agreement between predicted and observed event probabilities with a Brier score of 0.04. The top 3 predictive features in the algorithm were 1) unfit for open AAA repair, 2) functional status, and 3) preoperative dialysis. Conclusions: In this data set, machine learning was able to predict 1-year mortality following EVAR using preoperative data and outperformed standard logistic regression models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Before establishing the second Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban promised they would not revert to the repressive policies and stringent interpretations of Islam they had imposed during their previous regime. However, since the US withdrawal—and despite financial incentives from the West and diplomatic pleadings within the region—the Taliban have reneged on this vow. Why have the Taliban not moderated? This article argues that their rivalry with Islamic State‐Khorasan (IS‐K) is the central cause. The Taliban are concerned that compromise on fundamentalism will lead their hard‐line factions to break ranks and join IS‐K, enhancing its reputation and allowing it to recruit more foreign fighters. This could lead to increased violence and socioeconomic and political instability in Afghanistan, undermine the legitimacy of the Taliban, and spark the collapse of the regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This exploratory sub-analysis of the EMPA-HEART CardioLink-6 trial examined whether the previously reported benefit of the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor empagliflozin on left ventricular (LV) mass (LVM) regression differs between individuals of South Asian and non-South Asian ethnicity. Methods: EMPA-HEART CardioLink-6 was a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial that randomised 97 individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and coronary artery disease (CAD) to either empagliflozin 10 mg daily or placebo for 6 months. LV parameters and function were assessed using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. The 6-month changes in LVM and LV volumes, all indexed to baseline body surface area, for South Asian participants were compared to those for non-South Asian individuals. Results: Compared to the non-South Asian group, the South Asian sub-cohort comprised more males, was younger and had a lower median body mass index. The adjusted difference for LVMi change over 6 months was -4.3 g/m2 (95% confidence interval [CI], -7.5, -1.0; P = 0.042) for the South Asian group and -2.3 g/m2 (95% CI, -6.4, 1.9; P = 0.28) for the non-South Asian group (Pinteraction = 0.45). There was no between-group difference for the adjusted differences in baseline body surface area-indexed LV volumes and LV ejection fraction. Conclusions: There was no meaningful difference in empagliflozin-associated LVM regression between South Asian and non-South Asian individuals living with T2DM and CAD in the EMPA-HEART CardioLink-6 trial. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02998970 (First posted on 21/12/ 2016). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Rheumatic heart disease is considered well-controlled in high-income countries; however, its actual trends in mortality remain unclarified. We analyzed trends in mortality from rheumatic heart disease in association with age, period, and birth cohort. Methods: We analyzed the WHO mortality database to determine trends in mortality from rheumatic heart disease in the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Australia, USA, and Canada from 2000 to 2020. We used age-cohort-period modeling to estimate cohort and period effects. Net drift (overall annual percentage change), local drift (annual percentage change in each age group) and heterogeneity were calculated. Results: In the most recent year, crude mortality rates and age-standardized mortality rates ranged from 1.10 in the USA to 6.17 in Germany, and 0.32 (95% CI 0.31–0.34) in Japan and 1.70 (95% CI 1.65–1.75) in Germany, respectively. During the observation period, while Germany had a constant trend in overall annual percentage change, all the other countries had significant decreasing trends (p < 0.0001, respectively). Annual percent change was not homogeneous across each group in all 8 countries (pheterogeneity < 0.0001), with 2 peaks in the younger and older age categories. In Germany, Italy, Australia, and Canada, we found increasing mortality rates among older patients. Improving period and cohort risks for rheumatic heart disease mortality were generally observed, excluding Germany where the period effect was worsening and the cohort effect was constant. Conclusions: Mortality trends from rheumatic heart disease were decreasing in the study high-income countries except for Germany where higher mortality and two peaks in annual percentage change in younger and older age groups warrant further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article argues that the formation of the second Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) is a case of déjà vu for China and that, despite its engagement with the new Taliban-led government, Beijing will be unable to meet its geopolitical, geostrategic, geo-economic and national security goals in the country. There are two main reasons for this. Firstly, similarly to the situation under the first IEA, the Taliban are finding it difficult to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan. The security situation will remain perilous due to persistent attacks by the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-KP) group. Secondly, and also just as during the first IEA, the Taliban cannot be relied upon as allies in China's "war on terror". This is due to the Taliban's ideological beliefs, decades of ties with the Uyghur militants in Afghanistan and concerns about reputational damage if it breaks links with Islamist groups or undertakes counterterrorism operations against these groups, damage which may undermine the second IEA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium glucose-cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have been reported to reduce cardiovascular events and heart failure in people with and without diabetes. These medications have been shown to counter regenerative cell exhaustion in the context of prevalent diabetes. This study sought to determine if empagliflozin attenuates regenerative cell exhaustion in people without diabetes. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected at the baseline and 6-mo visits from individuals randomized to receive empagliflozin (10 mg/day) or placebo who were participating in the EMPA-HEART 2 CardioLink-7 trial. Precursor cell phenotypes were characterized by flow cytometry for cell-surface markers combined with high aldehyde dehydrogenase activity to identify precursor cell subsets with progenitor (ALDHhi) versus mature effector (ALDHlow) cell attributes. Samples from individuals assigned to empagliflozin (n = 25) and placebo (n = 21) were analyzed. At baseline, overall frequencies of primitive progenitor cells (ALDHhiSSClow), monocyte (ALDHhiSSCmid), and granulocyte (ALDHhiSSChi) precursor cells in both groups were similar. At 6 mo, participants randomized to empagliflozin demonstrated increased ALDHhiSSClowCD133+CD34+ proangiogenic cells (P = 0.048), elevated ALDHhiSSCmidCD163+ regenerative monocyte precursors (P = 0.012), and decreased ALDHhiSSCmidCD86+ CD163- proinflammatory monocyte (P = 0.011) polarization compared with placebo. Empagliflozin promoted the recovery of multiple circulating provascular cell subsets in people without diabetes suggesting that the cardiovascular benefits of SGLT2 inhibitors may be attributed in part to the attenuation of vascular regenerative cell exhaustion that is independent of diabetes status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sword bean (Canavalia gladiata) is an underutilized legume that has the potential to become an important food source owing to its wide range of nutritional and medicinal properties. In May 2023, symptoms induced by a possible virus infection such as mosaic, mottling and vein banding were observed on the leaves of about 20% of the Sword bean plants growing at the experimental research farm of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in Pune, Maharashtra, India. Methods and results: Symptomatic and asymptomatic samples were screened by ELISA for the presence of Potyvirus, Cucumber mosaic virus and Tobacco mosaic virus. All symptomatic samples tested positive for Potyvirus in ELISA as well as in RT-PCR assay using the universal potyvirus primer pair (CPUP /P9502) which amplify c. 700 bp of the partial coat protein region and 3′UTR. Asymptomatic samples tested negative for all tested viruses in both serological and molecular assays. BLASTn sequence analysis of the amplicons revealed that the sequence shares more than 98% identity with an Indian isolate of Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV). Sequence analysis enabled the identification of the Potyvirus as BCMV. Furthermore, the present Sword bean isolate clustered with other BCMV isolates in the phylogenetic analysis. Conclusion: In the present study, BCMV was found to be naturally infecting Sword bean for the first time in the world. This is of epidemiological importance, as BCMV is known to cause significant yield losses in legumes and could severely hamper Sword bean production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vasconcellea cauliflora plants exhibiting chlorotic spots, mottling and mosaic with yellowing on leaves were observed in Pune, India in October 2020. The disease incidence was 16%. The samples were screened for cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), papaya ringspot virus, tobacco mosaic virus and zucchini yellow mosaic virus using ELISA. Sap inoculation on healthy V. cauliflora plants using CMV positive DAS-ELISA samples reproduced field symptoms. The transmission upon mechanical inoculation was 100%. For further confirmation, RT-PCR was carried out using CMV coat protein gene specific primers. Amplicons of expected size (c. 650 bp) were obtained in all symptomatic and sap inoculated samples. No amplification was observed in the asymptomatic samples. BLASTn analysis revealed that the amplicon sequence shares more than 99% identity with CMV isolates and in phylogenetic analysis it clustered with CMV IB isolates. This is the first record of V. cauliflora as a natural host of CMV worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tree distribution has been considered crucial to assess the relationships between species occurrence and changing climate across the globe, and accordingly in designing the conservation action plans. Therefore, it becomes imperative to understand the most influential parameters for tree species distribution and its regeneration pattern. We used National Forest Inventory data collected in Western Himalaya (WH) and environmental parameters to reveal the aforesaid relationship and pattern. Three topographical factors (altitude, aspect, and slope), four major climatic variables (temperature, temperature seasonality, precipitation and its seasonality) and four edaphic factors (soil depth, soil humus, soil consistency and soil coarse fragments) were considered. The results indicated that the altitude and temperature were the major determining factors followed by temperature seasonality in shaping the distribution of major tree species in WH. The study also indicated an upward shift of regenerating individuals of these tree species toward higher altitude. These information about the extent of current tree distribution and their regeneration over the last one and half decade might help in systematic conservation planning and monitoring tree range dynamics under climate change scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The cardiovascular (CV) benefits of sodium-glucose transport protein 2 inhibitors have been attributed, in part, to cardiac reverse remodelling. The EMPA-HEART CardioLink-6 study reported that sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibition for 6 months with empagliflozin was associated with a significant reduction in left ventricular mass indexed to body surface area (LVMi). In this sub-analysis, we evaluated whether baseline LVMi may influence how empagliflozin affects cardiac reverse remodelling. Methods: A total of 97 patients with type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease were randomized to empagliflozin (10 mg/d) or matching placebo for 6 months. The study cohort was divided into those whose baseline LVMi was ≤ 60 g/m2 and those who had a baseline LVMi > 60 g/m2. Subgroup comparisons were conducted using a linear regression model adjusted for baseline values (ANCOVA) that included an interaction term between LVMi subgroup and treatment. Results: Baseline LVMi was 53.3 g/m2 (49.2–57.2) and 69.7 g/m2 (64.2–76.1) for those with baseline ≤ 60 g/m2 (n = 54) and LVMi > 60 g/m2 (n = 43) respectively. The adjusted difference of LVMi regression between those randomized to empagliflozin and placebo were − 0.46 g/m2 (95% CI: −3.44, 2.52, p = 0.76) in the baseline LVMi ≤ 60 g/m2 subgroup and − 7.26 g/m2 (95% CI: −11.40, −3.12, p = 0.0011) in the baseline LVMi > 60 g/m2 subgroup (p-for-interaction = 0.007). No significant associations were found between baseline LVMi and 6-month change in LV end systolic volume-indexed (p-for-interaction = 0.086), LV end diastolic volume-indexed (p-for-interaction = 0.34), or LV ejection fraction (p-for-interaction = 0.15). Conclusions: Patients with higher LVMi at baseline experienced greater LVM regression with empagliflozin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The duration of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an important determinant of diabetes severity. The EMPA‐HEART CardioLink‐6 trial reported significant left ventricular (LV) mass indexed to body surface area (LVMi) regression in patients treated with the sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) empagliflozin for 6 months. This exploratory sub‐analysis of the same trial investigated the association between T2DM duration and LVMi regression. Methods and results: A total of 97 individuals with T2DM and coronary artery disease (CAD) were randomly assigned to receive empagliflozin 10 mg daily or placebo. LVMi was measured at the baseline and 6 month visit using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. The study population was divided into those with a baseline T2DM duration <10 years (n = 40) or ≥10 years (n = 57). A linear model adjusting for baseline values in each of the subgroups (ANCOVA) was used to assess the treatment effect of 6 month change in LVMi, LV end systolic volume indexed to body surface area, LV end diastolic volume indexed to body surface area and LV ejection fraction. Patients in the T2DM duration <10 years group (38 males [95.0%], median age 63 [IQR: 55 years to 70 years]) had a median T2DM duration of 4 years (IQR: 2.0 years to 7.0 years). Those in the T2DM duration ≥10 years group (52 males [91.2%], median age 65 [IQR: 57 years to 71 years]) had a median duration of 15 years (IQR: 12 years to 20 years). There was no significant difference in baseline LVMi according to T2DM duration (median 62 g/m2 [IQR: 53.1 g/m2 to 70.0 g/m2] for T2DM duration <10 years; median 57.5 g/m2 [IQR: 52.1 g/m2 to 66.2 g/m2] for T2DM duration ≥10 years; P = 0.11). Empagliflozin was associated with reductions in LVMi irrespective of duration of T2DM above and below 10 years (T2DM duration <10 years group, mean adjusted difference −2.90 g/m2 [95% CI: −6.64 g/m2 to 0.84 g/m2]; T2DM duration ≥10 years group, mean adjusted difference −3.69 g/m2 [95% CI: −0.14 g/m2 to −7.24 g/m2]; Pinteraction = 0.07). Conclusions: In the EMPA‐HEART CardioLink‐6 trial, empagliflozin treatment was associated with reductions in LVMi in people with T2DM and CAD irrespective of the duration of diabetes assessed categorically above and below 10 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a marker of systemic inflammation and plays a critical role in the assessment and prognosis in patients with heart failure. The EMPA‐HEART CardioLink‐6 trial demonstrated that patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and coronary artery disease (CAD) treated with a sodium–glucose transport protein 2 inhibitor for 6 months experienced regression in left ventricular mass. Given this, we evaluated the relationship of baseline NLR and cardiac reverse remodelling in the entire cohort of this trial. Methods and results: A total of 97 individuals were randomized to receive empagliflozin (10 mg/day) or placebo for 6 months. The primary outcome of the trial was change in left ventricular mass indexed to body surface area (LVMi) from baseline to 6 months as measured by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. In our analysis, the cohort was stratified above and below an NLR level of 2. To assess the treatment effect on the 6 month change in NLR, we used a linear model adjusting for baseline differences in NLR [analysis of covariance (ANCOVA)] that included an interaction term between the baseline NLR and treatment. To assess the treatment effect on the 6 month change in LVMi in each of the subgroups divided by baseline NLR, we used an ANCOVA adjusting for baseline differences in LVMi that included an interaction term between the subgroups and treatment. The results of the regression models were summarized as adjusted differences with two‐sided 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Patients who exhibited an elevated baseline NLR demonstrated higher LVMi and left ventricular end‐diastolic volume indexed to body surface area than those with a lower NLR. In patients with an NLR < 2 and NLR ≥ 2, the adjusted difference in LVMi between the empagliflozin‐ and placebo‐treated patients was −2.98 g/m2 (95% CI: −6.18 to 0.22 g/m2) (P value = 0.067) and −4.43 g/m2 (95% CI: −8.50 to −1.11 g/m2), respectively (Pinteraction = 0.60). Conclusions: Empagliflozin treatment is associated with consistent reductions in LVMi in patients with T2D and CAD independent of baseline NLR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Given recent suggestions that serum levels of insulin‐like growth factor‐binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) may identify patients who derive greater cardiorenal benefits from treatment with sodium‐glucose transport 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), this exploratory sub‐analysis of the EMPA‐HEART CardioLink‐6 randomized controlled trial evaluated the association between serum levels of IGFBP7 and empagliflozin‐mediated left ventricular mass regression. Methods and results: The EMPA‐HEART CardioLink‐6 trial used gold‐standard cardiac magnetic resonance imaging to detect change in left ventricular mass indexed to body surface area (LVMi) following 6 months of treatment with empagliflozin or matching placebo in 97 patients with type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease. Serum samples were collected at baseline and analysed for IGFBP7 using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. A multivariate linear regression model was used to assess the association between IGFBP7 and baseline LVMi. A linear model adjusting for baseline differences in LVMi was used to test the relationship between baseline IGFBP7 level, change in LVMi over 6 months, and treatment arm. Of the 97 patients enrolled, 74 had complete covariate data and were included in our analysis. No association between baseline IGFBP7 and baseline LVMi was found [baseline LVMi: 0.14 g/m2 (95% CI: −0.29 g/m2 to 0.57 g/m2) per 1 ng/mL higher baseline IGFBP7]. In addition, no difference between patients treated with empagliflozin versus matching placebo was found when evaluating the association between serum IGFBP7, 6 month change in LVMi, and treatment arm [empagliflozin 6 month change in LVMi: 0.25 g/m2 (95% CI: −0.17 g/m2 to 0.67 g/m2) per 1 ng/mL higher IGFBP7 vs. matching placebo 6 month change in LVMi: 0.07 g/m2 (95% CI: −0.21 g/m2 to 0.35 g/m2) per 1 ng/mL higher IGFBP7; Pinteraction = 0.49]. Additional sensitivity analysis assessing IGFBP7 as a categorical variable (above/below the median) showed no significant association between IGFBP7, 6 month change in LVMi, and treatment arm. Conclusions: Our study provides insight into the generalizability of IGFBP7 as a surrogate marker of cardiac remodelling in patients with type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease. Our results suggest that SGLT2i‐mediated reverse cardiac remodelling may be independent of IGFBP7 levels. Further investigations evaluating the association between IGFBP7 and SGLT2i are suggested to understand if and how IGFBP7 levels may modulate benefits received from SLGT2i. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article argues that contrary to some scholars' opinions, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has helped to cement the United States' preeminent position in global affairs. Through the provision of large-scale military aid and assistance to Ukraine, Washington and its allies have weakened Russian military and economic capabilities, reducing Moscow's role as a great power. A weakened Russia may also strain China's economic ties with Moscow, as China's own economic growth slows. Additionally, Beijing's closer cooperation with Russia exposes Chinese enterprises to secondary sanctions and risks antagonizing European states, reducing China-Europe trade and economic cooperation, as well as technology transfers. This could impede China's great-power potential and its ability to challenge US hegemony in the Indo-Pacific and globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Did India-US relations strengthen under Trump? Was there greater political, diplomatic, strategic, and defense cooperation between the two largest democracies in the world under the Trump administration? Was there increasing convergence or divergence at the bilateral and multilateral level, in relations with third countries, and in the realm of regional security and geopolitics? This special issue answers these questions and highlights that answers are not straight forward, but more nuanced than one might expect. Contributors reach the following conclusions. First, bilateral ties received a significant boost in the Modi-Trump era because of the camaraderie between the two leaders and shared apprehensions about China's rise and aggressive foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific. Second, despite the burgeoning partnership between the two countries, there were areas of both convergence and divergence between the two countries under the Trump administration regarding democracy, trade and commerce, the UN, multilateralism and global governance, and climate change, relations with third countries including China, Russia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran, and in the realm of regional security and geopolitics in the context of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad). Third, the Trump administration, especially President Trump, played a significant role in mitigating or exacerbating the convergence/divergence in almost all the issue areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Out of more than thirty strategic partnerships signed by India, its ties with the US and Russia are crucial for achieving economic and strategic objectives in the Indo-Pacific and the Eurasian region respectively. There was a growing convergence on bilateral, regional, and global issues with the US during Trump years, but there was divergence between the two countries on Russia. While Washington perceived Russia as a competitor and interfering in the domestic affairs of the US, Moscow on the other hand perceived the US as attempting to not only expand its influence in Russia's backyard but also undermining Russia's leadership and its political system. The relationship was also adversarial because the Sino-American escalation coincided with an increasing Russia-China bonhomie. Russia remained a valuable partner for India and India hoped for improved US-Russia ties under Trump. However, adversarial US-Russia ties cast a dark shadow on India-Russia ties. The US complained and was even contemplating sanctions on India for its purchase of S400 air defense systems from Russia. India's reliance on Russian defence equipment and its policy of multi-alignment further increased tensions between India and the US although India-US strategic alignment has increased under Trump. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article highlights the convergence and divergence between India and the US pertaining to China under the Trump administration. Given Trump's forceful personality and apparent chemistry with Modi, it is tempting to attribute bilateral relations to individual leaders. However, systemic pressures due to shared concerns over China's rise and aggressive behavior played a significant role in keeping relations on track and ultimately deepening them. This led to increasing Indo-US cooperation in the Quad especially after the Galwan Valley cash in June 2020 although India initially feared entrapment. While there was convergence on the broad contours of the threat of a Sino-centric Asia, coming to agreement on specific strategies to prevent it faced its share of challenges with Trump wanting New Delhi to do more to counter China and do it faster. There was also divergence related to India's continuing attachment to strategic autonomy underwritten by a multipolar world order, and Indian and American definitions of the boundaries of the Indo-Pacific and how the priority areas of each differed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]