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As life expectancy increases, the number of elderly patients with coronary artery disease requiring coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) also increases. This study aims to analyse the outcomes of isolated CABG in septuagenarians. Isolated CABG patients between 70 and 79 years from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2022, were included. Clinical data were obtained from medical records and through a phone call. Out of 618 isolated CABG patients, 132 (21.35%) were septuagenerians. Off-pump and on-pump beating heart CABG was performed in 123 (93.18%) and 9 (6.81%), respectively. Emergency CABG was performed in two patients (1.51%). The mean expected EuroSCORE II (European System for Cardiac Operative Risk evaluation) operative mortality was 2.51%. The incidence of in-hospital mortality, stroke and atrial fibrillation was 1.5%, 0.85% and 6.06%, respectively. An intra-aortic balloon pump was used in six patients (4.5%). The actuarial survival at 1 year, 5 years and 6 years were 98.1 ± 1.4%, 85.5 ± 4.7% and 85.5 ± 4.7%, respectively. The average duration of ventilation, intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay were 14.18 ± 10.37 h, 2.48 ± 0.89 days and 6.07 ± 1.8 days, respectively. EuroSCORE-II grading was associated with major adverse cardiovascular events. We conclude that performing CABG on septuagenarians in Indian population is safe., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare no competing interests., (© Indian Association of Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgeons 2024. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

Tuned assembly of collagen has tremendous applications in the field of biomedical and tissue engineering owing to its targeted biological functionalities. In this study, ionic liquids choline dihydrogen citrate (CDHC) and diethyl methyl ammonium methane sulfonate (AMS) have been used to regulate the self-assembly of collagen at its physiological pH by probing the assembled systems at certain concentration ratios of ionic liquids and the systems were studied using various characterization methods. Due to interaction with collagen, choline dihydrogen citrate causes delay in the collagen fibrillisation process showing no binding interactions with collagen. In contrast, diethyl methyl ammonium methane sulfonate shows crosslinking effect on collagen fibrillisation due to the electrostatic interaction with the tetrahedral hydration shell of collagen moieties. From rheological studies it was observed that the AMS treated collagen fibril at 1:1 % (w/v) has highest linear viscoelastic range, this can bear the stress under high strain compare to native collagen fibril as well as all CDHC composites. For a sustainable biomaterial or bio-scaffold, mechanical property plays pivotal role on it and from our experimental analysis we found certain composites of ionic liquid treated collagen fibrillar assembly which may act as a sustainable biomaterial or bio-scaffold. It was also evolved that, how the structure-function relationship of ionic force modulated fibrillar assembly controlling the mechanical properties of the tuned system. This self-assembled, ionic-liquid treated collagen-fibrillar system would accelerate various force modulated fibrillar network study, for mimicking the ECM and tissue engineering application., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Eco-friendly nanotechnology-enabled biopolymers are one of the novel concepts of packaging materials to substitute traditional synthetic polymers and their composites. This article succinctly reviews the recent developments of introducing additional functionalities to biopolymers using metal and metal oxide nanoparticles. The functionality of metal nanoparticles such as silver, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, copper oxide, gold, and magnesium oxide, as food packaging materials were discussed. The addition of nanoparticles in biopolymers improves mechanical properties, gas barrier properties, durability, temperature stability, moisture stability, antimicrobial activity, antioxidant property, and UV absorbance and can prevent the presence of ethylene and oxygen, hence extending the shelf life of foodstuffs. Other than this, the functional activity of these biopolymer composite films helps them to act like smart or intelligent packaging. The selection of metal nanoparticles, particle migration, toxicological effect, and potential future scope in the food packaging industry are also reviewed., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflict of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Children and young people (CYP) with acquired brain injury (ABI) require early and effective neurorehabilitation to improve long-term functional outcomes. Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS), including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), have been used to improve motor and sensory skills for children with cerebral palsy. However, there is limited evidence supporting its use in CYP with ABI., Objective: To systematically review the TMS and tDCS intervention effects on motor, sensory and other functional issues in CYP with ABI as reported in the literature., Methods: A comprehensive online bibliographic databases search was performed in various databases using keywords related to NIBS and CYP with ABI. Studies that examine the effect of NIBS intervention on motor function and other functional difficulties either as a primary or secondary objective were included in this review., Results: Fourteen studies (10 single case reports, one retrospective analysis, one case series, one randomised and one quasi-randomised controlled trial) published between 2006 and 2023 were identified. These studies examined the use of NIBS to manage motor disorders, hearing, vision, headaches, speech and language and memory issues. Seventy-six children with mild to severe ABI had received NIBS. The session frequency (3-20), duration (10-45 min) was variable, and NIBS delivered between 3 and 28 days., Conclusion: The literature describing NIBS interventions in CYP with ABI is scarce. An insufficient number of studies, inadequate information reported in them, and small sample sizes limit the ability to conclude how effective NIBS is in improving motor function and other functional issues in this cohort. Further studies are therefore necessary to examine the therapeutic effects of NIBS to manage various functional problems in the CYP with ABI., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Rathinam, Mohan, Yates, Bill, Peirson and Gupta.)

Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and leprosy are of public health importance, as all three diseases are communicable and contribute to disease burden in society. Co-infection with these three entities is extremely rare but leads to significant mortality and morbidity. We report a case that highlights the diagnostic challenges and therapeutic management of a patient who was diagnosed with pure neuritic leprosy on multibacillary-multidrug therapy (MB-MDT) and subsequently co-diagnosed with PTB and HIV. The patient was started on anti-tubercular therapy and anti-retroviral therapy for treatment under India's national health programs, which play a major role in treating those of low socioeconomic status. The optimization of these therapeutic drugs is quite challenging during treatment due to potential drug interactions and toxicities. High clinical suspicion is required to rule out PTB before initiating rifampicin-containing MB-MDT, which can lead to rifampicin-resistant TB and screening for HIV. As there is a social stigma associated with these patients, they require good psychological support during and after treatment., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Deivasigamani et al.)

Prcis: This study concludes that GATT can be an effective and safe surgical alternative for managing IOP in eyes with prior failed glaucoma surgeries, associated with minimal complications., Purpose: To report outcomes of gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy (GATT) in eyes with prior failed glaucoma surgery., Patients and Methods: A retrospective study involving 30 eyes of 30 patients, all of whom had open angles on gonioscopy, experienced prior glaucoma surgery failures, and subsequently underwent GATT. The primary outcome measure was success defined as complete when the intraocular pressure (IOP) was >5 and ≤21/16 mm Hg without glaucoma medications and qualified with medications., Results: The mean age was 51.8±16.1 years. Twenty-one eyes underwent GATT and 9 eyes underwent phaco-GATT. Twenty-seven eyes had failed trabeculectomy and 3 eyes had failed glaucoma drainage device. Post-GATT, the IOP decreased from 27.1±7 to 16.9±6 mm Hg (P<0.001) at the end of 15 months, with a mean drop in AGM from 4.9±1.0 to 2±1.6. At postoperative 1 year, the probability of complete success was 20% (95% CI: 9-43) for an IOP criterion of both 21 and 16 mm Hg. The qualified success probability at 1 year was 82% (67-100) for an IOP criterion of 21 mm Hg and 57% (38-84) for an IOP criterion of 16 mm Hg. Risk factor for failure was older age [hazard ratio (HR): 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.06]. The complications noted were hyphema in 14 eyes (46%), majority resolved within 1 week and all by 2 weeks. None needed any intervention., Conclusions: This study concludes that GATT can be an effective and safe surgical alternative for managing IOP in eyes with prior failed glaucoma surgeries, associated with minimal complications., Competing Interests: Disclosure: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction The development of a questionnaire that measures knowledge, attitude, and practices towards micronutrients will help to develop nutrition intervention programs. The present study aimed to develop and assess the validity and reliability of a questionnaire on knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) on micronutrients in adolescents in India. Methods A total of 150 adolescent girls participated in the study. The literature was reviewed to formulate an initial draft of a questionnaire (122 items). Face and content validity were measured by participants and subject experts, respectively, and the content validity index was calculated. Construct validity was assessed using the principal component method of exploratory factor analysis. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were determined by Cronbach's α value and interclass correlation coefficient correlations, respectively. Results The content validity index for all items except eight items from the practice subscale was satisfactory. Face validity results showed that participants understood all items. Exploratory factor analysis suggested a four-factor construct (perceived susceptibility and severity, perceived benefits, readiness to change, and perceived barrier) in the attitude subscale. Internal consistency for knowledge, attitude, and practice items were 0.980, 0.840, and 0.930, respectively. For knowledge and attitude items, interclass correlation coefficient correlation estimates ranged between 0.705 to 0.987 and 0.775 to 0.997, respectively, whereas for practice items, it ranged from 0.701 to 0.945. In the final questionnaire, 134 items consisting of 33 knowledge, 21 attitudes, and 80 practices (55 dietary practices and 25 other practices related to micronutrients) were included. Conclusion The results provided evidence of the validity and reliability of the questionnaire on micronutrients and that can be used to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices on micronutrients in adolescents. Further studies in different diverse settings are recommended., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Institutional Ethics Committee, Mahatma Gandhi Mission (MGM) Institute of Health Sciences issued approval MGMIHS/RES./02/2022/178. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: This study was funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research (Extramural Research Program). Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Pareek et al.)

Parry-Romberg syndrome is a rare neurocutaneous disease characterized by progressive hemifacial atrophy. We present the case of a 14-year-old, a known case of linear morphea, who presented with seizure and on evaluation was diagnosed with Parry-Romberg syndrome. It causes a profound impact on aesthetic well-being and has a significant psychosocial morbidity. This case report aims to highlight the effective multidisciplinary team approach involving a rheumatologist, dermatologist, neurologist, and ophthalmologist which ultimately culminated in the meticulous management of the disease in our patient., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, S et al.)

Abstract: Progression of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) to accelerated or blast phase is associated with poor survival outcomes. Since 2017 there have been several therapies approved for use in acute myeloid leukemia (AML); these therapies have been incorporated into the management of accelerated/blast-phase MPNs (MPN-AP/BP). We performed a multicenter analysis to investigate outcomes of patients diagnosed with MPN-AP/BP in 2017 or later. In total, 202 patients were identified; median overall survival (OS) was 0.86 years. We also analyzed patients based on first-line treatment; the 3 most common approaches were intensive chemotherapy (n = 65), DNA methyltransferase inhibitor (DNMTi)-based regimens (n = 65), and DNMTi + venetoclax-based regimens (n = 54). Median OS was not significantly different by treatment type. In addition, we evaluated response by 2017 European LeukemiaNet AML criteria and 2012 MPN-BP criteria in an effort to understand the association of response with survival outcomes. We also analyzed outcomes in 65 patients that received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT); median OS was 2.30 years from time of allo-HSCT. Our study demonstrates that survival among patients with MPN-AP/BP is limited in the absence of allo-HSCT even in the current era of therapeutics and underscores the urgent need for new agents and approaches., (© 2024 by The American Society of Hematology. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), permitting only noncommercial, nonderivative use with attribution. All other rights reserved.)

Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) poses a significant threat, contributing to global warming and climate change. This study focused on isolating efficient CO 2 -reducing methanogens and methanotrophs for converting methane into methanol. Samples from diverse regions in India were collected and processed, yielding 82 methanogenic and 48 methylotrophic isolates. Methanogenic isolate M11 produced a higher amount of methane, reaching 2.9 mol L -1 on the sixth day of incubation at 35 °C, pH 7.0, and CO 2 :H 2 (80:20) as feeding rates. Under optimized conditions, isolate M11 effectively converted 8.3 mol CO 2 to 7.9 mol methane in 24 h. Methylotrophic isolate M31 demonstrated significant soluble methane monooxygenase activity (450 nmol/ml) and produced 0.4 mol methanol in 24 h. 16S rRNA analysis identified Methanobacterium sp. and Methyloceanibacter sp. among the isolates, elucidating their taxonomic diversity. This study offers valuable insights into methanogens' potential in CO 2 sequestration and methane conversion to methanol through methanotrophism, a promising sustainable biofuel production., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Dr. V. Chandrasekar reports financial support was provided by India Ministry of Science & Technology Department of Science and Technology. Dr. M. Prathaban reports financial support was provided by the University Grants Commission. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Human epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR), namely ErbB1/HER1, ErbB2/HER2/neu, ErbB3/HER3, and ErbB4/HER4, the trans-membrane family of tyrosine kinase receptors, are overexpressed in many types of cancers. These receptors play an important role in cell proliferation, differentiation, invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis including unregulated activation of cancer cells. Overexpression of ErbB1 and ErbB2 that occurs in several types of cancers is associated with poor prognosis leading to resistance to ErbB1-directed therapies. In this connection, promising strategy to overcome the disadvantages of the existing chemotherapeutic drugs is the use of short peptides as anticancer agents. In the present study, we have performed virtual high throughput screening of natural peptides against ErbB1 and ErbB2 to identify potential dual inhibitors and identified five inhibitors based on their binding affinities, ADMET analysis, MD simulation studies and calculation of free energy of binding. These natural peptides could be further exploited for developing drugs for treating cancer.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

This work presents the synthesis of N-doped nanoporous carbon materials using the Ionic Liquid (IL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tricyanomethanide [BMIM][TCM] as a fluidic carbon precursor, employing two carbonization pathways: templated precursor and pyrolysis/activation. Operando monitoring of mass loss during pyrolytic and activation treatments provides insights into chemical processes, including IL decomposition, polycondensation reactions and pore formation. Comparatively low mass reduction rates were observed at all stages. Heat treatments indicated stable pore size and increasing volume/surface area over time. The resulting N-doped carbon structures were evaluated as electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and adsorbents for gases and organic vapors. Materials from the templated precursor pathway exhibited high electrocatalytic performance in ORR, analyzed using Rotating Ring-Disk electrode (RRDE). Enhanced adsorption of m-xylene was attributed to wide micropores, while satisfactory CO 2 adsorption efficiency was linked to specific morphological features and a relatively high content of N-sites within the C-networks. This research contributes valuable insights into the synthesis and applications of N-doped nanoporous carbon materials, highlighting their potential in electrocatalysis and adsorption processes., (© 2024 The Authors. ChemPlusChem published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Fiber-reinforced composites are among the recognized competing materials in various engineering applications. Ramie and pineapple leaf fibers are fascinating natural fibers due to their remarkable material properties. This research study aims to unveil the viability of hybridizing two kinds of lignocellulosic plant fiber fabrics in polymer composites. In this work, the hybrid composites were prepared with the aid of the hot compression technique. The mechanical, water-absorbing, and thickness swelling properties of ramie and pineapple leaf fiber fabric-reinforced polypropylene hybrid composites were identified. A comparison was made between non-hybrid and hybrid composites to demonstrate the hybridization effect. According to the findings, hybrid composites, particularly those containing ramie fiber as a skin layer, showed a prominent increase in mechanical strength. In comparison with non-hybrid pineapple leaf fabric-reinforced composites, the tensile, flexural, and Charpy impact strengths were enhanced by 52.10%, 18.78%, and 166.60%, respectively, when the outermost pineapple leaf fiber layers were superseded with ramie fabric. However, increasing the pineapple leaf fiber content reduced the water absorption and thickness swelling of the hybrid composites. Undeniably, these findings highlight the potential of hybrid composites to reach a balance in mechanical properties and water absorption while possessing eco-friendly characteristics.

Background: An increasing incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) is being reported in developing countries, including India. Most Indian studies on CRC are retrospective and single-centered. The present study is an attempt to understand the current clinical profile and stage of newly diagnosed CRCs across multiple centers in Tamil Nadu, India., Methods: A multi-centric observational survey was conducted between September 1, 2021, and August 31, 2022, under the aegis of the Indian Society of Gastroenterology - Tamil Nadu chapter. Patients 18 years of age and older with a recent diagnosis of CRC fulfilling the inclusion criteria were prospectively recruited at the participating centers. Their demographic, clinical, biochemical, endoscopic, histopathologic, radiologic and risk factor details were systematically collected and analyzed., Results: Across 23 centers in Tamil Nadu, 1208 patients were recruited. The male:female ratio was 1.49:1, while mean (SD) age was 57.7 (13.5) years. A majority (81.9%) were Tamils and 78.5% belonged to lower socioeconomic classes. The predominant symptoms were hematochezia (30.2%) and a change in bowel habits (27.5%). The most common locations were the rectum (34.3%) and rectosigmoid (15.1%). Synchronous CRCs were seen in 3.3% and synchronous colorectal polyps in 12.8%. Predisposing factors for CRC were seen in 2%. A past history of any cancer among CRC patients was obtained in 3.1% and a family history of any cancer was found in 7.6%. Patients who were either overweight or obese constituted 46.4% of the study population. At presentation, the predominant stages were stage III (44.7%) and stage IV (20.8%)., Conclusions: A majority of patients with newly diagnosed CRC in Tamil Nadu belonged to the lower socioeconomic classes. About 60% had CRCs located within the reach of the flexible sigmoidoscope. Two-thirds of the patients exceeded stage II disease at presentation., Trial Registration: Not applicable., (© 2024. Indian Society of Gastroenterology.)

In the last decade, novel agents such as BTK and BCL-2 inhibitors have revolutionized treatment of CLL/SLL, with clinical trials showing improved overall survival compared to chemotherapeutic agents. However, studies examining whether they have improved overall survival at the population level are lacking. We evaluated this by conducting a retrospective analysis of CLL/SLL patients registered in the National Cancer Institute's surveillance epidemiology and end results (SEER) database, analyzing overall survival (OS) in periods pre- and post-availability of novel agents, along with demographic information. Our results showed that median OS significantly improved over time [7.8 years (2000-2005), 9.1 years (2006-2013), and not reached (2014-2018) (p < 0.001)]. Compared to diagnosis in 2014-2018, diagnosis in earlier periods was associated with higher mortality risk (2000-2005-HR 1.32, 95 % CI 1.28-1.37, p < 0.001: 2006-2013-HR 1.09, 95 % CI 1.06-1.13, p < 0.001). Lower mortality risk was seen in patients age < 85 years whereas median household income of <$75000 was associated with higher mortality. Our study provides real-world data suggesting a possible multifactorial contribution to improvement in survival, including availability of novel agents, better monitoring, and supportive care. They also show discrepancies in overall survival for CLL/SLL patients due to socioeconomic status and demographic factors., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Dr. Guru Subramanian Guru Murthy reports the following outside the submitted work - Cardinal Health (Honoraria), BMS (Advisory board), BeiGene (Advisory board), Pfizer (Advisory board), Gilead/Kite (Advisory board), Amgen (Speaker Bureau), Rigel (Speaker Bureau), Cancerexpert now (Consultancy), Qessential (Consultancy), Techspert (Consultancy), DAVA Oncology (Honoraria), Aptitude Health (Honoraria) and Curio science (Honoraria), all outside the submitted work. Dr. Ehab Atallah reports the following outside the submitted work – Abbvie (Speaker Bureau, consultant, research support), Novartis (Consultant, research support), BMS (Speaker Bureau, Consultant), Takeda (Research support), all outside the submitted work. All other authors report no relevant conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: This study aimed to systematically review the psychometric properties of outcome measures that assess dysfunctional breathing (DB) in adults., Methods: Studies on developing and evaluating measurement properties to assess DB were included. The study investigated the empirical research published between 1990 and February 2022, with an updated search in May 2023 in the Cochrane Library database of systematic reviews and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Ovid Medline (full), the Ovid Excerta Medica Database, the Ovid allied and complementary medicines database, the Ebscohost Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and the Physiotherapy Evidence Database. The included studies' methodological quality was assessed using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) risk of bias checklist. Data analysis and synthesis followed the COSMIN methodology for reviews of outcome measurement instruments., Results: Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria, and 10 outcome measures were identified. The psychometric properties of these outcome measures were evaluated using COSMIN. The Nijmegen Questionnaire (NQ) is the only outcome measure with 'sufficient' ratings for content validity, internal consistency, reliability and construct validity. All other outcome measures did not report characteristics of content validity in the patients' group., Discussion: The NQ showed high-quality evidence for validity and reliability in assessing DB. Our review suggests that using NQ to evaluate DB in people with bronchial asthma and hyperventilation syndrome is helpful. Further evaluation of the psychometric properties is needed for the remaining outcome measures before considering them for clinical use., Prospero Registration Number: CRD42021274960., Competing Interests: Competing interests: VM and AP are authors of some of the included articles. They were not engaged in evaluating the methodological quality of these articles. They have no other competing interests. The first author (VM) article (TFBS) was included in this review; to mitigate conflict of interest and risk of bias, only CR investigated the articles related to TFBS., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

The dynamic behavior of Protein Disulfide Isomerase (PDI) in an aqueous solution environment under physiologically active pH has been experimentally verified in this study using Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) technique. The structural mechanism of dimerization for full-length PDI molecules and co-complex with two renowned substrates has been comprehensively discussed. The structure models obtained from the SAXS data of PDI purified from bovine liver display behavior duality between unaccompanied-enzyme and after engaged with substrates. The analysis of SAXS data revealed that PDI exists as a homo-dimer in the solution environment, and substrate induction provoked its segregation into monomer to enable the enzyme to interact systematically with incoming clients., Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40203-024-00198-0., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare no competing interests., (© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2024. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

Background: This systematic review aims to synthesise the qualitative evidence exploring parents' experiences of children with acquired brain injury (ABI) undergoing neurorehabilitation during the first year post-injury., Methods: A systematic review of qualitative research was conducted using thematic synthesis with Thomas and Harden's approach. The population, exposure and outcome model was used for the search strategy. The electronic databases Ovid Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus and PsycINFO were searched from 2009 to 2023. The review included qualitative and mixed-method studies published in English only. Grey literature was excluded. There were no geographical restrictions. Reporting within the review followed the Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research guideline. The studies' quality was appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool., Results: Three studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the synthesis, representing the experiences of 30 parents. The quality assessment showed that the three included studies met most quality indicators. Following thematic synthesis, four analytical themes were identified: school unpreparedness, parents as advocates and navigators, parents as monitors, and parents recognising the impact of ABI on their child. The reviewers proposed a group of recommendations for services reviewing their parental support., Conclusion: This review highlights some challenges parents of children diagnosed with ABI experience during their child's neurorehabilitation journey. This review has suggested potential improvements that could be made in paediatric neurorehabilitation services when reviewing their parental support and care pathways. These will ultimately influence parents' and children's experience of paediatric neurorehabilitation services., Competing Interests: Competing interests: No, there are no competing interests., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

This article presents a review of the literature on congenital bilio-bronchial fistula (BBF), a rare anomaly characterized by abnormal communication between the bile duct and respiratory tract. Congenital BBF often presents with bilioptysis in early neonates and infants; however, patients with no overt symptoms may occasionally present in adulthood. Our literature search in Medline from 1850 to 2023 revealed 42 reported cases of congenital BBF, primarily managed with thoracotomy and excision of the fistula tract. About one-third of these cases required multiple surgeries due to associated biliary anomalies. The review underscores the importance of diagnostic imaging, including bronchoscopy, in identifying and delineating the extent of the fistula. It also highlights the evolving surgical management, with recent cases showing the efficacy of minimally invasive approaches such as laparoscopy and thoracoscopy. In addition to the literature review, we report a young female patient with a history of recurrent respiratory infections presenting with bilioptysis and extensive left lung damage. Initial management included bronchoscopy-guided glue instillation, left thoracotomy, and pneumonectomy. Following the recurrence of symptoms, the patient was successfully treated with laparoscopic excision of the fistula tract. In recent times, minimally invasive approaches such as laparoscopy and thoracoscopy, with excision of the fistula tract are gaining popularity and have shown good results. We suggest biliary communication being the high-pressure end, tackling it transabdominal may prevent recurrent problems.

BCL11A-XL directly binds and represses the fetal globin (HBG1/2) gene promoters, using 3 zinc-finger domains (ZnF4, ZnF5, and ZnF6), and is a potential target for β-hemoglobinopathy treatments. Disrupting BCL11A-XL results in derepression of fetal globin and high HbF, but also affects hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) engraftment and erythroid maturation. Intriguingly, neurodevelopmental patients with ZnF domain mutations have elevated HbF with normal hematological parameters. Inspired by this natural phenomenon, we used both CRISPR-Cas9 and base editing at specific ZnF domains and assessed the impacts on HbF production and hematopoietic differentiation. Generating indels in the various ZnF domains by CRISPR-Cas9 prevented the binding of BCL11A-XL to its site in the HBG1/2 promoters and elevated the HbF levels but affected normal hematopoiesis. Far fewer side effects were observed with base editing- for instance, erythroid maturation in vitro was near normal. However, we observed a modest reduction in HSPC engraftment and a complete loss of B cell development in vivo, presumably because current base editing is not capable of precisely recapitulating the mutations found in patients with BCL11A-XL-associated neurodevelopment disorders. Overall, our results reveal that disrupting different ZnF domains has different effects. Disrupting ZnF4 elevated HbF levels significantly while leaving many other erythroid target genes unaffected, and interestingly, disrupting ZnF6 also elevated HbF levels, which was unexpected because this region does not directly interact with the HBG1/2 promoters. This first structure/function analysis of ZnF4-6 provides important insights into the domains of BCL11A-XL that are required to repress fetal globin expression and provide framework for exploring the introduction of natural mutations that may enable the derepression of single gene while leaving other functions unaffected., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests All of the authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In this study, we successfully synthesized two-phase titanium oxide (TiO x ) heterogeneous nanoparticles (NPs) using an advanced sol-gel method, a significant stride in developing efficient, room temperature (RT) NO 2 gas sensors. The prepared two-phase TiO x heterogeneous NPs exhibited exceptional sensitivity to low concentrations of NO 2 gas at RT. The heightened gas response was attributed to a significant presence of oxygen vacancies, creating intermediate states within the two-phase heterostructures and thus narrowing the band gap. This facilitated electron transport from the valence band (VB) to the conduction band (CB), resulting in increased current at RT. The XPS analysis confirmed a substantial amount of chemisorbed oxygen O 2(ads) - within the two-phase heterostructures, providing more chemisorption sites for nitrogen dioxide gas. This increase in chemisorption sites significantly improved the gas response. Furthermore, the introduction of zinc into the TiO x NPs reduced their band gap, enhancing the background resistance signal-to-noise ratio and increasing the response while maintaining remarkable stability. In summary, our work introduces a promising RT NO 2 sensor based on two-phase TiO x heterogeneous NPs, holding great potential for applications in environmental monitoring and gas sensing technology. In future work, we aim to delve deeper into the capabilities of the sensor, exploring broader applications and refining its design for enhanced practicality in environmental monitoring.

Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is a degenerative ocular disease that is the most important cause of irreversible vision loss in old-aged people in developed countries. Around fifty percent of vision impairments in developed countries are due to ARMD. It is a multifaceted disease that is associated with both genetic and environmental risk factors. The most important treatments option for ARMD includes laser photocoagulation, photodynamic therapy (PDT), Anti-VEGF Injections, and combination therapies. In this review, we also propose that topical ocular drug delivery with nanocarriers has more attention for the treatment of ARMD. The nanocarriers were specially designed for enhanced corneal residential time, prolonged drug release and action, and minimizing the frequency of administrations. Different types of nanocarriers were developed for the topical ocular delivery system, such as nanomicelles, nanoemulsions, nanosuspensions, liposomes, and polymeric nanoparticles. These topical ocular nanocarriers were administered topically, and they can fix the hydrophobic substances, increase solubility and improve the bioavailability of an administered drug. Hence the topical ocular delivery systems with nanocarriers provide a safe and effective therapeutic strategy and promising tool for the treatment of posterior segment ocular diseases ARMD., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Male sexual dysfunction is considered one of the major consequences of diabetes mellitus. The medicinal plant, Mimosa pudica Linn. is believed to have numerous therapeutic effects, including anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, aphrodisiac, and a sexual behaviour-enhancing properties. In the present study, the significant effect of ethanolic extract of M. pudica L. to scavenge excessive free radicals and alleviate the deleterious effects of alloxan-induced diabetes on the male sexual system of rats was demonstrated. The rats treated with the M. pudica L. extract recovered their body weight, the weight of their reproductive organs, the characteristics of the sperm and the histocellular arrangement of the testes. In addition, significant levels of hormones (testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinising hormone) increased in both serum and testicular homogenates of male diabetic rats treated with M. pudica L. extract. Further, antioxidant enzymes, SOD, CAT, GSH, and GPx levels are increased, and oxidative stress markers MDA and ROS are reduced in both serum and testicular homogenates of M. pudica L. extract treated male rats. Furthermore, an in silico molecular docking study was performed to predict high potential compounds of M. pudica L. extract against the PDE5 receptor. Two bioactive compounds, namely 3-Dibenzofuranamine (-11.1 kcal × mol -1 ), Stigmasta-7,16-dien-3-ol (-10.4 kcal × mol -1 ) showed the highest binding affinities with PDE5 enzyme, much higher than the reference drug sildenafil (-9.9 kcal × mol -1 ). According to these findings, bioactive compounds rich in ethanolic extract of M. pudica L. have significant aphrodisiac performance in diabetic rats.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Dose selection is an integral part of a molecule's journey to become medicine. On top of typical challenges faced in dose selection for more common diseases, pediatric rare disease has additional unique challenges due to the combination of 'rare' and 'pediatric' populations. Using the central theme of maximizing 'relevant' information to overcome information paucity, dose selection strategy in pediatric rare diseases is discussed using a triangulation concept involving challenges, approaches and very importantly, enablers. Using actual examples, unique scenarios are discussed where specific enablers allowed certain approaches to be used to overcome the challenges. The continued need for model-informed drug development is also discussed using examples of where modeling and simulation tools have been successfully used in bridging available information to select pediatric doses in rare disease. Additionally, challenges with translation and associated dose selection of new modalities such as gene therapy in rare diseases are examined with the lens of continuous learning and knowledge development that will enable pediatric dose selection of these modalities with confidence., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

The present study explores the avenue of phage therapy as an alternative antimicrobial therapeutic approach to counter multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Our study investigated two novel virulent phages PSPa and APPa, specific to P. aeruginosa, in which in vitro evaluations were carried out to assess the therapeutic potential of phages. Both the identified phages exhibited host specificity by showing antagonistic activity of about 96.43% (27/28) and 92.85% (26/28) towards the 28 MDR clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa. The PSPa phage was found to have linear dsDNA with a sequence length of 66,368 bp and 92 ORFs, of which 32 were encoded for known functions of the phage life cycle and the remaining 60 were hypothetical functions. The APPa phage was found to have linear dsDNA with 59,591 bp of genome length and 79 ORFs, of which 15 were found to have known phage functions and the remaining 64 were found to be hypothetical proteins. Notably, the genome of both the phages lacks genes coding for tRNA, rRNA, and tmRNA. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that PSPa and APPa share > 95% sequence similarity with previously sequenced Pseudomonas viruses of their respective families. Further, the in vivo efficacy evaluation using the zebrafish model revealed that the treatment with PSPa and APPa has remarkably improved the survival rate of bacterial-infected zebrafish, reinforcing the anti-infective potential of the isolated phages PSPa and APPa against P. aeruginosa infection., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Long before we recognized how significant they were, nanoparticles were already all around in the environment. Since then, an extensive number of synthetic nanoparticles have been engineered to improve our quality of life through rigorous scientific research on their uses in practically every industry, including semiconductor devices, food, medicine, and agriculture. The extensive usage of nanoparticles in commodities that come into proximity with human skin and internal organs through medicine has raised significant concerns over the years. TiO 2 nanoparticles (NPs) are widely employed in a wide range of industries, such as cosmetics and food packaging. The interaction and internalization of TiO 2 NPs in living cells have been studied by the scientific community for many years. In the present study, we investigated the cell viability, nanomechanical characteristics, and fluorescence response of NIH-3T3 cells treated with sterile DMEM TiO 2 nanoparticle solution using a liquid-mode atomic force microscope and a fluorescence microscope. Two different sorts of response systems have been observed in the cells depending on the size of the NPs. TiO 2 nanoparticles smaller than 100 nm support its initial stages cell viability, and cells internalize and metabolize NPs. In contrast, bigger TiO 2 NPs (> 100 nm) are not completely metabolized and cannot impair cell survival. Furthermore, bigger NPs above 100 nm could not be digested by the cells, therefore hindering cell development, whereas below 100 nm TiO 2 stimulated uncontrolled cell growth akin to cancerous type cells. The cytoskeleton softens as a result of particle internalization, as seen by the nanomechanical characteristics of the nanoparticle treated cells. According to our investigations, TiO 2 smaller than 100 nm facilitates unintended cancer cell proliferation, whereas larger NPs ultimately suppress cell growth. Before being incorporated into commercial products, similar effects or repercussions that could result from employing different NPs should be carefully examined., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Centella asiatica (CA) is a medicinal plant widely used in the East, with many of its phytoconstituents remaining unexplored. In this study, compounds were extracted and identified from C. asiatica to determine its medicinal properties. Phytochemical screening was conducted on shoot, callus, and cell suspension extracts, revealing the presence of tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, and steroids in all three cultures, with no alkaloids detected. IC50 values were determined to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the extracts, with the highest value observed for cell suspension culture (20 µg/mL), followed by shoot culture (19 µg/mL), and then callus extract (10 µg/mL), with ascorbic acid as the standard at an IC50 value of 26.25 µg/mL. Finally, density functional theory was used to analyze the structure-activity relationships of the identified compounds from C. asiatica extract. The results suggest that ultrasonic-assisted extraction yielded the highest recovery and antioxidant activity, with a scavenging activity of 79%. This study provides valuable insights into the phytochemical composition and antioxidant potential of C. asiatica , which may have implications for its use in traditional medicine and future drug development.

Purpose: To describe the clinical profile and relative prevalence of subtypes of glaucoma presenting to a tertiary care center in India., Methods: This cross-sectional hospital-based study included 6,120 new patients (>16 years) presenting between January 2016 and December 2017. The data were collected using an electronic medical record system., Results: A total of 11,016 eyes of 6,120 new patients were diagnosed with glaucoma. Sixty-one percent were male and 79% had a bilateral affliction. Primary glaucoma was present in 4,352 (71.1%) and secondary glaucoma in 1,063 (17.4%) subjects. Glaucoma was primary open-angle (POAG) in 4,015 (36.4%) eyes and primary angle closure disease (PACD) in 3,806 (34.5%) eyes. Commonest among secondary glaucoma was post-cataract surgery glaucoma (3.1%), neovascular glaucoma (2.4%), pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PXG) (2.1%), and steroid-induced glaucoma (SIG) (1.4%). Patients with primary glaucoma were older than secondary (56.6 ± 0.2 vs 54.1 ± 0.4; P < 0.0001). Mean IOP was higher in secondary glaucoma compared to primary (26.9 ± 0.3 vs 18.9 ± 0.1; P < 0.0001). Secondary glaucoma had greater mean CDR compared to primary glaucoma (0.77 ± 0.007 vs 0.70 ± 0.003; P < 0.0001). The prevalence of blindness (visual acuity <20/200) was 16.2% of eyes. Mean deviation (MD) 20db or worse was noted in 39.5% of eyes at presentation including 47.8% of PACG, 37.3% of POAG, 51% of JOAG, 58% of PXG, and 45% of SIG, suggesting disease severity., Conclusion: At the presentation to a tertiary care center, 40% of all eyes with glaucoma had advanced disease with MD worse than - 20D. PACG and JOAG had the worse disease among primary; among secondary, PXG and SIG had the worse disease at presentation., Competing Interests: None

Chelation therapy is a medical procedure for removing toxic metals from human organs and tissues and for the treatment of diseases by using metal-chelating agents. For example, iron chelation therapy is designed not only for the treatment of metal poisoning but also for some diseases that are induced by iron overload, cancer chemotherapy, and related diseases. However, the use of such metal chelators needs to be generally carried out very carefully, because of the side effects possibly due to the non-specific complexation with intracellular metal cations. Herein, we report on the preparation and characterization of some new poly(bpy) ligands (bpy: 2,2'-bipyridyl) that contain one-three bpy ligand moieties and their anticancer activity against Jurkat, MOLT-4, U937, HeLa S3, and A549 cell lines. The results of MTT assays revealed that the tris(bpy) and bis(bpy) ligands exhibit potent activity for inducing the cell death in cancer cells. Mechanistic studies suggest that the main pathway responsible for the cell death by these poly(bpy) ligands is apoptotic cell death. It was also found that the anticancer activity of the poly(bpy) ligands could be controlled by the complexation (anticancer activity is turned OFF) and decomplexation (anticancer activity is turned ON) with biorelevant metal cations. In this paper, these results will be described.

Bananas are an important staple food and cash crop, but they are vulnerable to a variety of pests and diseases that substantially reduce yield and quality. Banana diseases are challenging to control and necessitate an integrated strategy, and development of resistant cultivars is one of the effective ways of managing diseases. Lasting disease resistance is the main goal in crop improvement and resistance mediated by a single resistant (R) gene mostly lack durability. However, long-term resistance can be obtained by inactivating susceptibility factors (S), which facilitate pathogen infection and proliferation. Identification and inactivation of susceptibility factors against the major pathogens like Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc), Pseudocercospora eumusae and Pratylenchus coffeae in banana will be an effective way in developing banana varieties with more durable resistance. Downy mildew resistance 6 (DMR6) and DMR-like oxygenases (DLO1) are one such susceptibility factors and they belong to 2-oxoglutarate Fe(II) dependent oxygenases (2OGD) superfamily. 2OGDs are known to catalyze a plethora of reactions and also confer resistance to different pathogens in various crops, but not much is known about the 2OGD in Musa species. Through a comprehensive genome-wide analysis, 133 and 122 potential 2OGDs were systematically identified and categorized from the A and B genomes of banana, respectively. Real time expression of dmr6 and dlo1 genes showed positive correlation with transcriptome data upon Foc race1 and TR4 infection and examination of expression pattern of Macma4&#95;04&#95;g22670 (Ma04&#95;g20880) and Macma4&#95;02&#95;g13590 (Ma02&#95;g12040) genes revealed their involvement in Foc race1 and TR4 infections, respectively. Further the expression profile of 2OGDs, specifically Macma4&#95;04&#95;g25310 (Ma04&#95;g23390), Macma4&#95;08&#95;g11980 (Ma08&#95;g12090) and Macma4&#95;04&#95;g38910 (Ma04&#95;g36640) shows that they may play a significant role as a susceptibility factor, particularly against P. eumusae and P. coffeae , implying that they can be exploited as a candidate gene for editing in developing resistant cultivars against these diseases. In summary, our findings contribute to a deeper comprehension of the evolutionary and functional aspects of 2OGDs in Musa spp. Furthermore, they highlight the substantial functions of these family constituents in the progression of diseases. These insights hold significance in the context of enhancing the genetic makeup of bananas to attain extended and more durable resistance against pathogens., Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-023-01380-y., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© Prof. H.S. Srivastava Foundation for Science and Society 2023. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

Nanofiltration application for the separation of Mg 2+ -Li + from salt-lake brines was attempted in the present work. Four different nanofiltration membranes identified in the manuscript as DL, DK, NF-270, and NF-90 were used to treat salt brine with a magnesium to lithium ratio (MLR) of 61, additionally contaminated by the other ions such as Na + , K + , Ca 2+ , etc. The effect of the dilution factor, operating pressure, circulation rate, and feed pH were assessed to identify the optimal operating conditions for each membrane based on the retention efficiency of each ion. The results showed an insignificant effect of Ca 2+ on the retention performance of Mg 2+ -Li + . Na + and K + had a smaller hydration radius and larger diffusion coefficient, which competed with Li + and altered the separation of Mg 2+ -Li + . Under the optimal conditions (dilution factor: 40; operating pressure: 1.2 MPa; circulation flow rate: 500 L/h; pH: 7), the retention efficiency of lithium was as low as 5.17%, separation factor (SF) was as low as 0.074, and the MLR in the permeate reduced to 0.088.

The global initiatives on sustainable and green energy resources as well as large methane reserves have encouraged more research to convert methane to hydrogen. Catalytic decomposition of methane (CDM) is one optimistic route to generate clean hydrogen and value-added carbon without the emission of harmful greenhouse gases, typically known as blue hydrogen. This Review begins with an attempt to understand fundamentals of a CDM process in terms of thermodynamics and the prerequisite characteristics of the catalyst materials. In-depth understanding of rate-determining steps of the heterogeneous catalytic reaction taking place over the catalyst surfaces is crucial for the development of novel catalysts and process conditions for a successful CDM process. The design of state-of-the-art catalysts through both computational and experimental optimizations is the need of hour, as it largely governs the economy of the process. Recent mono- and bimetallic supported and unsupported materials used in CDM process have been highlighted and classified based on their performances under specific reaction conditions, with an understanding of their advantages and limitations. Metal oxides and zeolites have shown interesting performance as support materials for Fe- and Ni-based catalysts, especially in the presence of promoters, by developing strong metal-support interactions or by enhancing the carbon diffusion rates. Carbonaceous catalysts exhibit lower conversions without metal active species and largely result in the formation of amorphous carbon. However, the stability of carbon catalysts is better than that of metal oxides at higher temperatures, and the overall performance depends on the operating conditions, catalyst properties, and reactor configurations. Although efforts to summarize the state-of-art have been reported in literature, they lack systematic analysis on the development of stable and commercially appealing CDM technology. In this work, carbon catalysts are seen as promising futuristic pathways for sustained H 2 production and high yields of value-added carbon nanomaterials. The influence of the carbon source, particle size, surface area, and active sites on the activity of carbon materials as catalysts and support templates has been demonstrated. Additionally, the catalyst deactivation process has been discussed, and different regeneration techniques have been evaluated. Recent studies on theoretical models towards better performance have been summarized, and future prospects for novel CDM catalyst development have been recommended., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

A hybrid pharmacophore strategy for unifying 1,2,3-triazole with 1,2,4-triazole cores to prepare mixed triazoles was accomplished by a ball-milling approach. The developed chemistry works under the catalysis of cupric oxide nanoparticles with salient features like one-jar operation, lower number of synthetic steps, catalyst recyclability, time-dependent product control, and good overall yields. π-Orbital properties based on theoretical calculations supported the suitability of these molecules for pharmacological screening. Therefore, the biological potency of the synthesized molecules was evaluated for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic activities. By virtue of their proton-donating tendency, all compounds showed promising radical-scavenging activity with the inhibition level reaching up to 90 %. These molecular hybrids also exhibited anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic potencies similar to those of standard compounds, owing to their electron-rich nature. Finally, α-amylase inhibitory potential was demonstrated in silico; significant regions necessary for enzyme inhibition were identified by hydrogen bonding interactions., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

π-Activation of alkynyl precursors possessing an endogenous carbon nucleophile is one of the imperative topics in homogeneous gold catalysis as it offers Csp 3 -Csp 2 and Csp 2 -Csp 2 linked carbocycles. However, the exo-dig and endo-dig cyclization modes unlocks the possibility of both small and large rings respectively, thereby losing regioselectivity. Nevertheless, several gold-catalyzed carbocyclizations which permits one isomer by controlling or avoiding the formation of other went largely unnoticed. Hence, this review is an attempt to summarize such approaches reported from early 2000's to till date along with our viewpoint on contributing parameters for regioselectivity. This review covers only unimolecular reactions with classifications primarily based on the type of endogenous nucleophiles such as silyloxyenols, enamides/enamines, benzenoids, heteroaromatics and alkyls/alkenyls. From an application perspective, these reactions are significant in total synthesis and materials science. Therefore, those reactions that finds application in natural product synthesis and π-functional materials are highlighted in appropriate places., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Rapid depletion of fossil fuels required the development of alternate and sustainable fuel sources that could replace conventional fuel while having no negative environmental impact. Combining hydrogen induction with biodiesel ensures strict emission standards and lowers energy consumption compared to conventional fuels. In this study, the performance, emissions, and combustion of a CI engine for Syzygium cumini (B20) were assessed and compared to diesel fuel while using a fixed amount of hydrogen flow rate (6L/m). Throughout the experiment, an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) technology of 10% and 20% and a constant engine speed of 1500 rpm at varying engine load circumstances were used. When hydrogen is added to B20, it decrease the emissions of carbon monoxide (CO), unburned hydrocarbons (UHC), brake thermal efficiency (BTE), and brake specific energy consumption (BSEC). At maximum load, the use of the EGR system decreased the exhaust gas temperature (EGT) by 13.4% and nitrogen oxide (NO X ) emission by 25%, but it had a negative impact on BTE, BSEC, as well as other emission parameters including CO and UHC. Therefore, using hydrogen in dual fuel mode in a CI engine enhances performance and lowers exhaust emissions, while using the EGR approach reduces NO X emissions., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

This study was designed to optimize the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of bioactive chemicals from Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R.Br. through RSM (response surface methodology) and ANFIS (adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system). The effect of four independent parameters, methanol concentration ( X 1 : 30-40 °C), time ( X 2 : 30-40 °C), time ( X 3 : 15-20 min) and particle size ( X 4 : 0.5-1.00 mm) at five levels (- 2 ,- 1, 0, + 1, + 2) with respect to dependent parameters, total polyphenols content (TP) (y 1 ), total flavonoids content (TF) (y 2 ), %DPPHsc (y 3 ), %ABTSsc (y 4 ) and %H 2  = 40 °C, 2 sc (y 5 ) were selected. The optimal extraction condition was observed at X 1  = 65%, X 2  = 40 °C, X 3  = 20 min and X 4  = 0.5 mm; under this circumstance, y 1  = 352.85 mg gallic acid equivalents (GA)/g, y 2  = 300.204 mg rutin equivalents (RU)/g and their antioxidant potentials (y 3  = 81.33%, y 4  = 65.04%, and y 5  = 71.01%) has been attained. ANFIS was used to compare and confirm the optimized extraction parameter values. Further, GC-MS and LC-MS were performed to investigate the bioactive chemicals present in the optimized extract., Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-023-01351-9., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare that they have no Conflict of interests., (© The Korean Society of Food Science and Technology 2023. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

Background: Children with severe acquired brain injury (ABI) require early and effective neurorehabilitation provision to promote a good long-term functional outcome. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been used to improve motor skills for children with cerebral palsy but there is limited material supporting its use in children with ABI who have a motor disorder., Objective: To systematically answer what the TMS intervention effects are on motor function in children with ABI as reported in the literature., Methods and Analysis: This scoping review will follow Arksey and O'MaIIey's scoping review methodological framework. A comprehensive computerised bibliographic databases search will be performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Allied and Complementary Medicine, BNI, Ovid Emcare, PsyclNFO, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, Cochrane Central Register using keywords related to TMS and children with ABI.Studies that examine the effect of TMS intervention on motor function as either a primary or secondary objective will be included for this review. Study design and publication detail, participant demographic details, type and severity of ABI and other clinical information, TMS procedure, associated therapy intervention, comparator/control parameters and the outcome measure used data will be gathered.The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health for Children and Youth framework will be used to report the TMS effect in children with ABI. A narrative synthesis of the findings describing the therapeutic effects of TMS intervention, limitations and adverse effects will be synthesised and reported. This review will help to summarise the existing knowledge base and to guide further research areas. This review outcome may help to evolve therapists' role to next-generation technology-based neurorehabilitation programmes., Ethics and Dissemination: No ethical approval is required for this review as we will be collecting data from previously published studies. We will present the findings at scientific conferences and publish in a peer-review journal., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

The eye, which is under constant exposure to environmental pathogens, has evolved various anatomic and immunological barriers critical to the protection of tissues lacking regenerative capacity, and the maintenance of a clear optic pathway essential to vision. By bypassing the ocular barriers, intravitreal (IVT) injection has become the mainstay for the delivery of drugs to treat conditions that affect the back of the eye. Both small molecules and biotherapeutics have been successfully administered intravitreally, and several drugs have been approved for the treatment of (wet) age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema. However, IVT injection is an invasive procedure, which requires sufficient technical expertise from the healthcare professional administering the drug. Potential side effects include bleeding, retinal tear, cataracts, infection, uveitis, loss of vision, and increased ocular pressure. Pharmaceutical companies often differ in their drug development plan, including drug administration techniques, collection of ocular tissues and fluids, ophthalmology monitoring, and overall conduct of nonclinical and clinical studies. The present effort, under the aegis of the Innovation & Quality Ophthalmic Working Group, aims at understanding these differences, identifying pros and cons of the various approaches, determining the gaps in knowledge, and suggesting feasible good practices for nonclinical and early clinical IVT drug development., (© 2023 The Authors. Clinical and Translational Science published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics.)

Introduction: Children with moderate to severe acquired brain injury frequently require a period of demanding medical and rehabilitative care to optimise their long-term capabilities and quality of life. Usually, the initial acute care is provided in tertiary centres and can last up to 12 months following the original injury. Parents of children with acquired brain injury share that experience with their child and face many different challenges encountered as their child's long-term needs become apparent. Parents are essential partners in care, hence there is a need to better understand their experiences to support them as they face those challenges and adapt to the needs of their child. We aim to synthesise the qualitative evidence exploring parents' experiences of children undergoing neuro-rehabilitative care., Methods and Analysis: The Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research guideline was used in the design of this protocol. The Population, Exposure and Outcome model was used to define inclusion and exclusion criteria and refine search terms. The databases Ovid Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus and PsychINFO will be searched from 2009 to 2022. Two independent reviewers will review studies, assess quality using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme and scrutinise and extract the data. Disagreements will be resolved after discussion with the third reviewer. Thematic synthesis using Thomas and Harden's approach will be undertaken to provide the evidence to develop a model for parental support during the first year of their child's neuro-rehabilitation., Ethics and Dissemination: Ethical committee approval will not be required as no new data will be collected. The findings will be disseminated through presentations at professional conferences, publications in peer-reviewed journals and shared with the public through relevant charities and local family support groups and networks., Prospero Registration Number: CRD42022333182., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Rhodamine-based chromic materials have attracted significant interest owing to their cation recognition ability with high sensitivity. However, rhodamine chromophores with controllable sensing selectivity towards transition metal species are only at the advent. Herein, three triazole-conjugated rhodamine dyads with different peripheral substituents were synthesized. The key triazole precursors required for the desired chemistry were prepared by adopting our recently developed CTAB catalyzed mechano-click chemistry. Molecular properties derived from photophysics, electrochemistry and surface morphology of the synthesized dyads were analyzed. Furthermore, frontier molecular orbitals, electronic structure and secondary quantum chemical parameters of dyads were also compared. Screening of dyads for their sensing ability towards an array of alkali, alkaline and transition metal ions exhibited a noticeable naked-eye detection of Cu 2+ ions and was confirmed by spectrophotometric titration. The specific binding mode of dyads as probable with Cu 2+ over other metal ions attributes to the chemoselectivity., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The non-enzymatic glucose sensing response of pure and Ag-decorated vertically aligned ZnO nanorods grown on Si substrates was investigated. The simple low-temperature hydrothermal method was employed to synthesize the ZnO NRs on the Si substrates, and then Ag decoration was achieved by sputtering. The crystal structure and surface morphologies were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The Ag incorporation on the ZnO NR surfaces was confirmed using EDS mapping and spectra. Furthermore, the chemical states, the variation in oxygen vacancies, and the surface modifications of Ag@ZnO were investigated by XPS analysis. Both the glucose/ZnO/Si and glucose/Ag@ZnO/Si device structures were investigated for their non-enzymatic glucose sensing performances with different glucose concentrations. Based on EIS measurements and amperometric analysis, the Ag@ZnO-NR-based glucose sensor device exhibited a better sensing ability with excellent stability over time than pure ZnO NRs. The Ag@ZnO NR glucose sensor device recorded 2792 µA/(mM·cm 2 ) sensitivity with a lowest detection limit of 1.29 µM.

Chemical structures possessing both 1,2,3-triazole and bis(indolyl)methane fragments gained considerable interest in drug synthesis owing to their established biological efficacies. However, 1,2,3-triazoles linked at the bridging position of bis(indolyl)methane is a logical and unexplored design approach. In this regard, nine new triazolyl-bis(indolyl)methane conjugates under AuCl catalyzed ball-milling conditions were accomplished. Comparative evaluation on absorptive and emissive properties of the synthesized dyads were also analyzed. To unravel the influence of different peripheral substituents on the electronic structure and π-orbital properties, theoretical investigations were performed. Screening of molecules for free radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic showed comparable potency against reference drugs. In particular, compounds 7 h, 7 d and 7 a displayed good efficiency of α-amylase inhibition. The DNA gyrase inhibitory potential of all compounds were assessed in silico which revealed high binding affinity (ΔG=-8.99 Kcal/mol) for 7 i followed by 7 h (ΔG=-7.80 Kcal/mol) with the targeted protein., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Apalutamide, an androgen receptor inhibitor, is used to treat prostate cancer. A stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatography method was developed for the estimation of assay and organic impurities of apalutamide in drug substance and in tablet dosages using Design of Experiments. The chromatographic separation was achieved within 30 min using Atlantis dC 18 , 100 × 4.6 mm, 3.0 μm and the binary gradient program (10 mm KH 2 PO 4 , pH 3.5; acetonitrile). The detection wavelength, flow rate, column temperature and injection volume used were 270 nm, 1.0 ml/min, 45°C and 10 μl, respectively. The interaction of independent variables (pH, column temperature and flow rate) and their influences on HPLC parameters were studied using a central composite design, and then the peak separation and elution behaviors between apalutamide and its seven impurities were determined. The method validation was performed for linearity, detection limit, quantitation limit, accuracy, precision and robustness as per the International Conference on Harmonization. A high-quality recovery with good precision (91.7-106.0%) and correlations (r 2  > 0.997) within a linear range of 0.12-2.24 μg/ml (0.05-0.3%, w/w) were achieved consistently for assay and organic impurities of apalutamide. The stability-indicating characteristics of the proposed method were assessed through forced degradation and mass balance studies. An effort was made to figure out the chemical structures of newly formed degradation products (DP1-DP5) using LC-MS/MS., (© 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Cancer genetics has to date focused on epithelial malignancies, identifying multiple histotype-specific pathways underlying cancer susceptibility. Sarcomas are rare malignancies predominantly derived from embryonic mesoderm. To identify pathways specific to mesenchymal cancers, we performed whole-genome germline sequencing on 1644 sporadic cases and 3205 matched healthy elderly controls. Using an extreme phenotype design, a combined rare-variant burden and ontologic analysis identified two sarcoma-specific pathways involved in mitotic and telomere functions. Variants in centrosome genes are linked to malignant peripheral nerve sheath and gastrointestinal stromal tumors, whereas heritable defects in the shelterin complex link susceptibility to sarcoma, melanoma, and thyroid cancers. These studies indicate a specific role for heritable defects in mitotic and telomere biology in risk of sarcomas.

The Cucurbitaceae (cucurbit) family consists of about 1,000 species in 95 genera, including many economically important and popular fruit and vegetable crops. During the past several years, reference genomes have been generated for >20 cucurbit species, and variome and transcriptome profiling data have been rapidly accumulated for cucurbits. To efficiently mine, analyze and disseminate these large-scale datasets, we have developed an updated version of Cucurbit Genomics Database. The updated database, CuGenDBv2 (http://cucurbitgenomics.org/v2), currently hosts 34 reference genomes from 27 cucurbit species/subspecies belonging to 10 different genera. Protein-coding genes from these genomes have been comprehensively annotated by comparing their protein sequences to various public protein and domain databases. A novel 'Genotype' module has been implemented to facilitate mining and analysis of the functionally annotated variome data including SNPs and small indels from large-scale genome sequencing projects. An updated 'Expression' module has been developed to provide a comprehensive gene expression atlas for cucurbits. Furthermore, synteny blocks between any two and within each of the 34 genomes, representing a total of 595 pair-wise genome comparisons, have been identified and can be explored and visualized in the database., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.)