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We investigated the antimicrobial efficacy of seven essential oils from four plant families-Lamiaceae, Asteraceae, Zingiberaceae, and Poaceae-against microbes associated with dandruff. The antimicrobial effectiveness of these essential oils was assessed using paper disk agar diffusion and broth micro-dilution techniques. The results demonstrated that two of the essential oils significantly inhibited the growth of dandruff-associated microorganisms, with inhibition zones ranging from 5 ± 1.81 mm to 29.4 ± 2.70 mm in diameter. Among the tested essential oils, Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii) exhibited the highest antimicrobial potency, showing a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) between 0.27 and 0.55 mg/mL for the fungi Malassezia furfur and Candida albicans, as well as for the bacterium Staphylococcus epidermidis. The essential oil displayed fungicidal activity within the range of 0.55 to 2.2 mg/mL and bactericidal activity at 0.55 mg/mL. Additionally, post-treatment effects were evaluated by monitoring the re-growth of fungal and bacterial cells after exposure to Palmarosa essential oil. The results revealed significant retardation of the growth of M. furfur for up to 7 h at 2 × MIC and S. epidermidis for up to 5 h at higher concentrations (1 × MIC and 2 × MIC). The study also found that Palmarosa essential oil-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and altered the integrity of microbial membranes, although it did not impact the concentrations of ergosterol and sorbitol. Regarding safety, topical application of Palmarosa essential oil (at concentrations of 1X, 10X, and 20X MIC) on rats and rabbits caused no irritation, and no sub-acute toxic effects were observed either on the skin or systemically. These promising results suggest that Palmarosa essential oil has the potential to be developed into an effective and safe formulation for treating dandruff associated with microbial infections. Further studies could help solidify its clinical applications., 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 © 2025. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Opioid use disorder (OUD) affects over 40 million people worldwide, creating significant social and economic burdens. Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) is often considered the primary treatment approach for OUD. MOUD, including methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone is effective for some, but its benefits may be limited by poor adherence to treatment recommendations. Immunopharmacotherapy offers an innovative approach by using vaccines to generate antibodies that neutralize opioids, blocking them from crossing the blood-brain barrier and reducing their psychoactive effects. To date, only three clinical trials for opioid vaccines have been published. While these studies demonstrated the potential of opioid vaccines for relapse prevention, there is currently no standardized protocol for evaluating their effectiveness. We have reviewed recent preclinical studies that demonstrated the efficacy of vaccines targeting opioids, including heroin, morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and fentanyl. These studies showed that vaccines against opioids reduced drug reinforcement, decreased opioid-induced antinociception, and increased survival rates against lethal opioid doses. These studies also demonstrated the importance of vaccine formulation and the use of adjuvants in enhancing antibody production and specificity. Finally, we highlighted the strengths and concerns associated with the opioid vaccine treatment, including ethical considerations., (© The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of CINP.)

Telencephalic hemisphere formation is a complex and precisely timed process, which begins in the chick forebrain with an invagination in the middle of the roof plate. However, the factor(s) that determine the position/site of invagination in the roof plate remain to be elucidated. In this study, we have demonstrated that as development proceeds, a region of lower thickness appears in the middle of the roof plate, which marks the position where the invagination begins. Our investigations have implicated an interplay between the canonical (pSMAD 1/5/9 dependent) and the non-canonical (LIMK dependent) arms of BMP signaling in regulating this process. We have demonstrated that LIMK dependent non-canonical BMP signaling induces high levels of phosphorylated Cofilin (pCofilin) in the middle of the roof plate, which in turn alters Actin cytoskeleton dynamics, resulting in this region being thinner than the lateral regions. This study has provided the first mechanistic insight into how forebrain roof plate invagination begins and has thrown light on the role played by BMP signaling in this process., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interests The authors declare no competing or financial interests., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Although recommended in International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) guidelines, transition to mammalian targets of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors in heart transplant recipients is not routinely performed, in part due to perceived risk of rejection. This study sought to evaluate the incidence and risk factors for biopsy-proven, clinically relevant rejection following conversion from calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) to sirolimus (SRL) immunosuppression., Methods: A single center retrospective study was conducted of all consecutive adult patients who underwent orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) and CNI-free SRL conversion from January 1999 to January 2023. All post-OHT biopsy data were obtained and graded per ISHLT criteria (antibody-mediated rejection [pAMR] or acute cellular rejection [ACR]). The primary endpoint was early rejection, defined as grade 2R ACR, pAMR 1, or greater, within 6 months after conversion., Results: Three hundred and seventeen patients (72% male, mean age 51.5±12.6 years) were included. Median time to SRL conversion following OHT was 0.76 years (IQR 0.49, 1.42). Median time from conversion to rejection was 0.51 years (IQR 0.31, 1.05). Thirty eight patients (12%) experienced early rejection. Following multivariate analysis, both timing to SRL conversion following OHT (OR 0.94 per month, 95% CI: 0.89-0.99, p-value=0.0054) and age at transplantation (OR 0.96, 95% CI: 0.93-0.99, p-value=0.0071) were independently associated with early rejection. Rejection following SRL conversion was not associated with increased risk of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) grade 2-3., Conclusions: In a CNI-free SRL conversion protocol, both earlier SRL conversion following OHT and younger age at transplant are independently associated with early rejection, but rejection is not associated with a net increased risk of prognostically important CAV. Individualization of transition is necessary to mitigate risk, and these findings may aid in improvement of future conversion protocols., (Copyright © 2025 International Society for the Heart and Lung Transplantation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Cr-doped V 2 O 3 thin film shows a huge resistivity change with controlled epitaxial strain at room temperature as a result of a gradual Mott metal-insulator phase transition with strain. This novel piezoresistive transduction principle makes Cr-doped V 2 O 3 thin film an appealing piezoresistive material. To investigate the piezoresistivity of Cr-doped V 2 O 3 thin film for implementation in MEMS sensor applications, the resistance change of differently orientated Cr-doped V 2 O 3 thin film piezoresistors with external strain change was measured. With a longitudinal gauge factor of 222 and a transversal gauge factor of 217 at room temperature, isotropic piezoresistivity coefficients were discovered. This results in a significant orientation-independent resistance change with stress for Cr-doped V 2 O 3 thin film piezoresistors, potentially useful for new sensor applications. To demonstrate the integration of this new piezoresistive material in sensor applications, a micromachined pressure sensor with Cr-doped V 2 O 3 thin film piezoresistors was designed, fabricated and characterized. At 20 °C, a sensitivity, offset, temperature coefficient of sensitivity and temperature coefficient of offset of 21.81 mV/V/bar, -25.73 mV/V, -0.076 mV/V/bar/°C and 0.182 mV/V/°C, respectively, were measured. This work paves the way for further research on this promising piezoresistive transduction principle for use in MEMS sensor applications., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The gut system, commonly referred to as one of the principal organs of the human "superorganism," is a home to trillions of bacteria and serves an essential physiological function in male reproductive failures or infertility. The interaction of the endocrine-immune system and the microbiome facilitates reproduction as a multi-network system. Some recent studies that link gut microbiota to male infertility are questionable. Is the gut-testis axis (GTA) real, and does it affect male infertility? As a result, this review emphasizes the interconnected links between gut health and male reproductive function via changes in gut microbiota. However, a variety of harmful (endocrine disruptors, heavy metals, pollutants, and antibiotics) and favorable (a healthy diet, supplements, and phytoconstituents) elements promote microbiota by causing dysbiosis and symbiosis, respectively, which eventually modify the activities of male reproductive organs and their hormones. The findings of preclinical and clinical studies on the direct and indirect effects of microbiota changes on testicular functions have revealed a viable strategy for exploring the GTA-axis. Although the GTA axis is poorly understood, it may have potential ties to reproductive issues that can be used for therapeutic purposes in the future., 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 Inc. All rights reserved.)

In this study, the novel activated carbon developed from Phyllanthus emblica fruit stone, through hydrothermal treatment at low pressure and temperature, was utilized for the removal of 4-nitrophenol, 4-chlorophenol, and phenol from water. The activated carbon produced (AC-HTPEFS) showed a well-developed porosity with a surface area of 569 m 2 g -1 and a total pore volume of 0.342 cm 3 g -1 . The adsorption process was explored and efficiently applied regarding the removal of phenols and substituted phenols from wastewater. Thermodynamic analyses indicated that the adsorption process was endothermic and spontaneous. To analyze the equilibrium data, different isotherm models were employed. The Langmuir model applied best, with maximum adsorption capacities of 0.463, 0.434, and 0.387 mmol g -1 at 25 °C for 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), 4-chlorophenol (4-CP), and phenol, respectively, regarding the AC-HTPEFS. The adsorption was mainly an endothermic process, and the results achieved were slightly higher than those obtained with a commercial activated carbon commonly used for this purpose.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) predicts a substantial and swift increase in global mobile data traffic. The predictions suggest that this growth will vary from 390 EB (exabytes) to 5,016 EB (exabytes) from 2024 to 2030, accordingly. This work presents a new maximum capacity model (MCM) to improve the dynamic resource allocation, robust encryption, and Quality of Service (QoS) in 5G networks which helps to meet the growing need for high-bandwidth applications such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and video streaming. Our proposed MCM model enhances data transmission by employing dynamic resource allocation, prioritised traffic management, and robust end-to-end encryption techniques, thereby guaranteeing efficient and safe data delivery. The encryption procedure is applied to the header cypher, while the output parameters of the payload are altered. This indicates that only the sender and recipient will possess exclusive knowledge of the final outcome. In result, the comparative analyses clearly show that the MCM model outperforms over conventional models in terms of QoS packet planner, QoS packet scheduler, standard packet selection, traffic management, maximum data rate, and bandwidth utilisation., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2024 Alashjaee et al.)

Sediment serves as a heavy metal store in the riverine system and provides information about the river's health. To understand the distribution of heavy metal content in the Ganga River basin (GRB), a total of 25-bed sediment and suspended particulate matter (SPM) samples were collected from 25 locations in December 2019. Bed sediment samples were analyzed for different physio-chemical parameters, along with heavy metals. Due to insufficient quantity of SPM, the samples were not analyzed for any physio-chemical parameter. The metal concentrations in bed sediments were found to be as follows: Co (6-20 mg/kg), Cr (34-108 mg/kg), Ni (6-46 mg/kg), Cu (14-210 mg/kg), and Zn (30-264 mg/kg) and in SPM, the concentrations were Co (BDL-50 mg/kg), Cr (10-168 mg/kg), Ni (BDL-88 mg/kg), Cu (26-80 mg/kg), and Zn (44-1186 mg/kg). In bed sediment, a strong correlation of 0.86 and 0.93 was found between Ni and Cr, and Cu and Zn respectively and no significant correlation exists between organic carbon and metals except Co. In SPM, a low to moderate correlation was found between all the metals except Zn. The risk indices show adverse effects at Pragayraj, Fulhar, and Banshberia. Two major clusters were formed in Hierarchal Cluster Analysis (HCA) among the sample points in SPM and bed sediment. This study concludes that the Ganga River at Prayagraj, Banshberia, and Fulhar River is predominately polluted with Cu and Zn, possibly posing an ecological risk. These results can help policymakers in implementing measures to control metal pollution in the Ganga River and its tributaries., Competing Interests: Declarations Conflict of interest The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), specifically MicroRNAs or miRNAs, are now under-stood to be essential regulators in the complex field of gene expression. By selectively bind-ing to certain mRNA targets, these tiny RNA molecules control the expression of genes., leading to mRNA degradation or translational repression. The discovery of miRNAs has sig-nificantly advanced biomedical research, particularly in elucidating the molecular mecha-nisms underlying various diseases and exploring innovative therapeutic approaches. Recent progress in miRNA research has provided insights into their biogenesis, functional roles, and potential clinical applications. Despite the absence of established methodologies for clinical implementation, miRNAs show great promise as diagnostic and therapeutic agents for a wide array of diseases. Their distinctive attributes, such as high specificity, sensitivity, and accessibility, position them as ideal candidates for biomarker development and targeted therapy. Achieving a comprehensive understanding of miRNA biology and functionality is crucial to fully harnessing their potential in medicine. Ongoing research efforts aim to un-ravel the intricate mechanisms of miRNA-mediated gene regulation and to develop novel approaches for utilizing miRNAs in disease diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of current knowledge on miRNAs, focusing on their bio-genesis, regulatory mechanisms, and potential clinical applications. By synthesizing existing evidence and highlighting key research findings, this review aims to inspire further explora-tion into the diverse roles of miRNAs in health and disease. Ultimately, this endeavour could result in the development of innovative miRNA-based diagnostic and therapeutic strategies., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Sarcopenia is a progressive and generalized loss of skeletal muscle and functions associated with ageing with currently no definitive treatment. Alterations in gut microbial composition have emerged as a significant contributor to the pathophysiology of multiple diseases. Recently, its association with muscle health has pointed to its potential role in mediating sarcopenia. The current review focuses on the association of gut microbiota and mediators of muscle health, connecting the dots between the influence of gut microbiota and their metabolites on biomarkers of sarcopenia. It further delineates the mechanism by which the gut microbiota affects muscle health with progressing age, aiding the formulation of a multi-modal treatment plan involving nutritional supplements and pharmacological interventions along with lifestyle changes compiled in the review. Nutritional supplements containing proteins, vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, creatine, curcumin, kefir, and ursolic acid positively impact the gut microbiome. Dietary fibres foster a conducive environment for the growth of beneficial microbes such as Bifidobacterium, Faecalibacterium, Ruminococcus, and Lactobacillus . Probiotics and prebiotics act by protecting against reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory cytokines. They also increase the production of gut microbiota metabolites like short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which aid in improving muscle health. Foods rich in polyphenols are anti-inflammatory and have an antioxidant effect, contributing to a healthier gut. Pharmacological interventions like faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), ghrelin mimetics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), and butyrate precursors lead to the production of anti-inflammatory fatty acids and regulate appetite, gut motility, and microbial impact on gut health. Further research is warranted to deepen our understanding of the interaction between gut microbiota and muscle health for developing therapeutic strategies for ameliorating sarcopenic muscle loss., (©The Author(s) 2024. Open Access. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons CC-BY International License.)

Background: The aim of the present study was to assess the egg quality, food safety, and hygiene practices in egg production among commercial and non-commercial farms., Methods: A total of six, each commercial and non-commercial farm, were randomly selected form Barwala district, Panchkula, Haryana, for this study in 2019. A detailed interview on hygiene practices of farm workers was conducted. Egg samples were procured for external (N = 60) and internal (N = 24) egg quality determination. The swap samples (N = 24) were also analysed for bacterial contamination. Descriptive statistics were used for reporting the results, and Chi-square test was conducted for determining significant differences between commercial and non-commercial farms., Results: The egg yolk percentage (34.49%) and egg shell percentage (12.76) were higher among non-commercial farms. However, no significant external ( P = 0.890) or internal ( P = 0.367) egg quality difference was found between commercial and non-commercial farms. The biosecurity and disinfection management, daily waste disposal practice, fly and rodent control practice, farm activity record, and flock health monitoring were relatively better among commercial farms. There were no significant differences found in any of these assessments. The colony forming units (cfu) for salmonella and coliform were acceptable in three and four procured samples from commercial farms, respectively, whereas none were within acceptable levels among non-commercial farms., Conclusion: The internal egg quality, food safety, and hygiene practices were relatively better among commercial farms as compared to non-commercial farms. This requires further validation through a large sample-sized study., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care.)

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most prevalent and aggressive brain tumor found in adult humans with a poor prognosis and average survival of 14-15 months. In order to have a comprehensive understanding of proteome and identify novel therapeutic targets, this study focused mainly on the differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) of Ras V12 -induced GBM. Ras V12 is a constitutively active Ras mutant form essential for tumor progression by continuously activating signaling pathways leading to uncontrolled tumor growth. This study used a transgenic Drosophila model with Ras V12 overexpression using the repo-GAL4 driver line, specifically in glial cells, to study GBM. The high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS)-based proteomic analysis of the GBM larval central nervous system identified three novel DAPs specific to mitochondria. These DAPs, probable maleylacetoacetate isomerase 2 (Q9VHD2), bifunctional methylene tetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (Q04448), and glutamine synthetase1 (P20477), identified through HRMS were further validated by qRT-PCR. The protein-protein interaction analysis revealed interactions between Ras V12 and DAPs, with functional links to mitochondrial dynamics regulators such as Drp1, Marf, Parkin, and HtrA2. Notably, altered expressions of Q9VHD2, P20477, and Q04448 were observed during GBM progression, which offers new insights into the involvement of mitochondrial dynamic regulators in Ras V12 -induced GBM pathophysiology.

Background: Telemedicine holds immense potential to revolutionise healthcare delivery, particularly in resource-limited settings and for patients with chronic diseases. Despite proven benefits and policy reforms, the use of telemedicine remains low due to several patient, technology, and system-level barriers. Assisted telemedicine employs trained health professionals to connect patients with physicians, which can improve access and scope of telemedicine. The study aims to describe the design, service utilisation and chronic disease outcomes following the implementation of an assisted telemedicine initiative., Methods: This is an observational implementation study. Barriers and potential solutions to the implementation of telemedicine were identified through interviews with key stakeholders. The assisted telemedicine solution using an interoperable platform integrating electronic health records, point-of-care diagnostics, and electronic clinical decision support systems was designed and piloted at three telemedicine clinics in Tamil Nadu, India. Nurses were trained in platform use and facilitation of tele-consultations. Health records of all patients from March 2021 to June 2023 were included in the analysis. Data were analysed to assess the utilisation of clinic services and improvements in health outcomes in patients with diabetes mellitus and hypertension., Results: Over 2.4 years, 11,388 patients with a mean age of 45 (± 20) years and median age of 48 years, predominantly female (59.3%), accessed the clinics. The team completed 15,437 lab investigations and 26,998 consultations. Among 5542 (48.6%) patients that reported chronic conditions, diabetes mellitus (61%) and hypertension (45%) were the most frequent. In patients with diabetes mellitus and hypertension, 43% and 75.3% were newly diagnosed, respectively. Diabetes mellitus and hypertension patients had significant reductions in fasting blood sugar (-33.0 mg/dL (95% CI (-42.4, -23.7, P < 0.001)), and systolic (-9.6 mmHg (95% CI (-12.1, -7.0), P < 0.0001)) and diastolic blood pressure (-5.5 mmHg (95% CI (-7.0, -4.08), P < 0.0001)) at nine months from first visit, respectively., Conclusions: The 'Digisahayam' model demonstrated feasibility in enhancing healthcare accessibility and quality by bridging healthcare gaps, diagnosing chronic conditions, and improving patient outcomes. The model presents a scalable and sustainable approach to revolutionising patient care and achieving digital health equity, with the potential for adaptation in similar settings worldwide., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Demyelination is the loss of myelin in CNS, resulting in damaged myelin sheath. Oxidative stress and neuroinflammation play a key role in inducing demyelinating diseases like MS; hence, controlling oxidative stress and neuroinflammation is important. Cuprizone (CPZ), a copper chelator, generates oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, thereby inducing demyelination. Therefore, the CPZ-induced demyelinating mouse model (CPZ model) is widely used in research. The present study was intended to unravel a mechanism of inhibition of demyelination by arsenic in a CPZ model, which is otherwise known for its toxicity. We investigated an alternative mechanism of inhibition of demyelination by arsenic through the reversal of SOD1 activity employing in silico analysis, analytical chemistry techniques, and in vitro and in vivo experiments. In vivo experiments showed protection of body weight, survivability, and myelination of the corpus callosum in CPZ and arsenic-co-exposed animals, where neuroinflammation was apparently not involved. In vitro experiments revealed that arsenic-mediated reversal of impaired SOD1 activity leads to reduced cellular ROS levels and better viability of primary oligodendrocytes. Reversal of SOD1 activity was also observed in the corpus callosum tissue isolated from experimental animals. In silico and analytical chemistry studies revealed that similar to copper, arsenic can potentially bind to CPZ and thereby make the copper freely available for SOD1 activity. Suitable neurobehavior tests further validated the protective effect of arsenic. Taken together, the present study revealed that arsenic protects oligodendrocytes and demyelination of corpus callosum by reversing CPZ-induced impaired SOD1 activity., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Thyroid issues are common among women in their reproductive years, and women with thyroid dysfunction often encounter challenges with fertility. Arsenic is known for its toxic effects on the thyroid and ovaries, investigated independently. However, there is no known study directly or indirectly addressing the association between arsenic, thyroid function, and ovarian reserve. This study aims to investigate the effect of arsenic on thyroid function and its possible implications on ovarian follicular reserve. Female Balb/c mice were given sodium arsenite (0.2 ppm, 2 ppm, and 20 ppm) via drinking water for 30 days. Findings showed that arsenic decreased thyroid hormone levels (fT3 and fT4) while increasing TSH levels, which might have led to elevated levels of FSH and LH. Furthermore, arsenic treatment not only decreased thyroid follicle sizes but also altered the ovarian follicular count. The finding demonstrates that arsenic significantly reduced the expression of LAMP1, a lysosomal marker protein. This reduction leads to increased lysosomal permeability in the thyroid, resulting in a significant release of cathepsin B. These changes led to hypothyroidism, which might indirectly affect the ovaries. Also, the elevated levels of growth differentiation factor-8 in arsenic-treated ovaries indicate impaired folliculogenesis and ovulation. Furthermore, arsenic significantly increased the expressions of pAkt and pFoxo3a, implying that arsenic accelerated the activation of the primordial follicular pools. In conclusion, arsenic disrupts lysosomal stabilization, potentially leading to a decline in circulating fT3 and fT4 levels. This disturbance could, in turn, affect the estrous cycle and may alter the pattern of follicular development., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Rapid global urbanization and economic growth have significantly increased solid waste volumes, with hazardous waste posing substantial health and environmental risks. Co-processing strategies for industrial solid and hazardous waste as alternative fuels highlight the importance of integrated waste management for energy and material recovery. This study identifies and characterizes solid and hazardous industrial wastes with high calorific values from various industrial processes at Nirma Industries Limited. Nine types of combustible industrial wastes were analyzed: discarded containers (W1), plastic waste (W2), spent ion exchange resins from RO plants (W3), sludge from effluent treatment in soap plants (W4), glycerine foot from soap plants (W5), rock wool puff material (W6), fiber-reinforced plastic waste (W7), spent activated carbon (W8), and spent cartridges from reverse osmosis plants (W9). Physical characterization, proximate and ultimate analysis, heavy metal concentration evaluation, and thermogravimetric analysis were conducted to assess their properties, revealing high calorific values exceeding 2500 kcal/kg. Notably, W1 and W2 exhibited the highest calorific values (∼10,870 kcal/kg), followed by W6 and W8 (∼6000 kcal/kg) and W9 (∼8727 kcal/kg). Safe heavy metal levels are safe, and high calorific values support the prospects of energy recovery and economic and environmental benefits, reducing landfill reliance and enhancing sustainable waste management., 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.)

Background: Disparities in atrial fibrillation ablation rates have been studied previously, with a focus on either patient characteristics or systems factors, rather than geographic factors. The impact of electrophysiology (EP) centre practice patterns on ablation rates has not been well studied., Methods: This population-based cohort study used linked administrative datasets covering physician billing codes, hospitalizations, prescriptions, and census data. The study population consisted of patients who visited an emergency department with a new diagnosis of atrial fibrillation, in the period 2007-2016, in Ontario, Canada. Patient characteristics, including age, sex, medical history, comorbidities, socioeconomic factors, closest EP centre within 20 km, and distance to the nearest centre, were used as predictors in multivariable logistic regression models to assess the relationship between living in a location around specific EP centres and ablation rates., Results: The cohort included 134,820 patients, of whom 9267 had an ablation treatment during the study period. Patients undergoing ablation treatment were younger, had a lower C ongestive Heart Failure, H ypertension, A ge, D iabetes, S troke/Transient Ischemic Attack (CHADS 2 ) score, lived closer to EP centres, and had fewer comorbidities than those who did not receive ablation treatment. Wide variation occurred in ablation rates, with adjacent census divisions having ablation rates up to 2.6 times higher. Multivariate regression revealed significant differences in ablation rates for patients who lived in a location around certain EP centres. The odds ratios for living in a location closest to specific centres ranged from 0.78 (95% confidence interval: 0.68-0.89) to 1.60 (95% confidence interval:1.34-1.90)., Conclusions: Living near specific EP centres may significantly affect a patient's likelihood of receiving ablation treatment, regardless of factors such as age, gender, socioeconomic status, prior medical history, and distance to EP centres., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Glycoconjugate vaccines elicit robust anti-polysaccharide Ab response by recruiting T-cell help. Multiple doses of glycoconjugate vaccine are required to induce long-lasting immunity. The characteristics of anti-polysaccharide Ab response have been reported previously. However, the effect of glycoconjugate booster immunization on anti-polysaccharide and anti-carrier protein Ab repertoire remains poorly understood. In this study, we used clinically relevant pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide type 14 (PCP14) conjugated with cross-reactive material 197 (CRM197) as a model glycoconjugate Ag (PCP14-CRM197). We performed a comprehensive sequence analysis of mouse mAbs generated against PCP14 and CRM197 following immunization with one or three doses of PCP14-CRM197. Analysis of the paired Ig H and L chain transcripts revealed that anti-PCP14 Ab repertoire is extremely restricted. The reoccurrence of five replacement mutations at identical positions in anti-polysaccharide mAbs generated from different mice provided evidence for Ag-driven selection in PCP14-specific B cells. Convergent evolution was observed wherein distinct V(D)J rearrangements resulted in identical or nearly identical CDR3 in anti-PCP14 mAbs. Abs that lacked DH encoded amino acids dominated the anti-PCP14 Ab response. In contrast, anti-CRM197 Ab response was quite diverse, with fewer mutations compared with the anti-PCP14 mAbs, suggesting that conjugation of the polysaccharide to a carrier protein interferes with the development of carrier protein-specific Ab responses. Our findings provide molecular insights into the maturation of Ab responses driven by booster doses of glycoconjugate. This has fundamental implications for the design of glycoconjugate vaccines, especially where the development of Ab response against the carrier protein is also crucial., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors.)

Introduction: Arsenic poisoning results from exposure to arsenic through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact. Cutaneous and neurological symptoms enable early diagnosis. Diagnostic tests include hair, nail, and urine arsenic levels. Leukonychia can be true, apparent, or pseudoleukonychia, depending on the underlying cause., Case Report: A 27-year-old male on herbal supplement for bodybuilding, presented with whitish discolouration of nails for 2 years and tingling sensation in extremities for 6 months. Electrophysiological tests indicated symmetric sensorimotor polyneuropathy. Arsenic levels were significantly elevated in hair, nails, and herbal supplements. A diagnosis of chronic arsenicosis with leukonychia totalis and early peripheral neuropathy was made., Discussion: Chronic arsenicosis may feature skin changes including pigmentary alterations, palmoplantar keratosis, and the characteristic "raindrops on a dusty road" appearance. Hair loss and nail alterations, such as Mees' lines, are also noted. Arsenic-related neuropathy can be mild or subclinical initially and primarily affects sensory nerve fibres. Total leukonychia due to chronic arsenic exposure has not been reported previously., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. None of the authors report any form of support or financial involvement. There are no nonfinancial relationships (personal, political, or professional) that may potentially influence the writing of the manuscript., (© 2024 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Germ cells are highly conserved in the gonads, nurtured to either develop into a gamete or self-renew into a stem cell reserve. Preserving the germ cell pool and protecting the reproductive organs is essential for maintaining an individual's fertility. Several factors, including a sedentary lifestyle, pollutants, hormonal disruption, drugs, and a disease condition, have been shown to impair normal reproductive function. Irisin has recently been identified as an adipomyokine involved in modulating physiological functions based on the body's metabolic status. It is being studied for its role in various functions, including fertility. Findings show the localization of irisin in various parts of the reproductive axis, with the highest levels observed during puberty and pregnancy. This raises questions about its role and function in reproduction. Studies support irisin's role in protecting against disease-induced reproductive abnormalities and infertility. Therefore, the current review focuses on how irisin influences spermatogenesis and ovarian follicular development and plays a significant role in indirectly preserving the germ cell pool by protecting the gonads against oxidative stress and inflammation., 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 Inc. All rights reserved.)

Molecularly woven materials with striking mechanical resilience, and 2D controlled topologies like textiles, fishing nets, and baskets are highly anticipated. Molecular weaving exclusively apprehended by the secondary interactions expanding to laterally grown 2D self-assemblies with retained crystalline arrangement is stimulating. The interlacing entails planar molecules screwed together to form 2D woven thin films. Here, secondary interactions led 2D interlaced molecularly woven material (2 ° MW) built by 1D helical threads of organic chromophores twisted together via end-to-end CH···O connections, held strongly at inter-crossing by multiple OH···N interactions to prevent slippage is presented. Whereas, 1D helical threads with face-to-face O-H···O connections sans interlacing led the non-woven material (2 ° NW). The polarity-driven directionality in 2 ° MW led the water-actuated epitaxial growth of 2D-sheets to lateral thin films restricted to nano-scale thickness. The molecularly woven thin film is self-healing, flexible, and mechanically resilient in nature, while maintaining the crystalline regularity is attributed to the supple secondary interactions (2 ° )., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Background Achilles tendinopathy is a common overuse tendon injury, affecting athletes in running and similar sports. Repetitive overload of the Achilles tendon is the primary cause of inflammation, collagen degeneration, and tendon thickening. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of combining low-level laser therapy (LLLT) with eccentric exercises in treating midportion Achilles tendinopathy. Methods This prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted at the Sports Injury Centre, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, from 2019 to 2022. Sixty clinically diagnosed patients with midportion Achilles tendinopathy, aged 18 to 60, were randomly assigned to two groups: Group A received eccentric exercises with LLLT, and Group B received eccentric exercises with placebo LLLT. The Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Achilles (VISA-A) score and the visual analog scale (VAS) score were used to measure treatment effectiveness at baseline and three, six, 12, and 24 weeks. Results The study included 60 participants, with no dropouts observed. The mean age was 33.9 ± 8.3 years in Group A and 33.40 ± 8.64 years in Group B, with no significant difference between the groups (p = 0.821). Both groups showed significant improvement in VISA-A and VAS scores over time (p < 0.001), but there was no statistically significant difference between the groups at any time point (p > 0.05). Conclusion Adding LLLT to eccentric exercises did not provide significant additional benefits compared to eccentric exercises alone in treating midportion Achilles tendinopathy. Practitioners should prioritize evidence-based interventions, such as eccentric exercises, as the primary treatment modality while considering alternative therapies for adjunctive purposes. Further research is needed to explore additional modalities or combination therapies that may enhance outcomes for patients with Achilles tendinopathy., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Institutional Ethics Committee, VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi issued approval S. no. IEC/VMMC/SJH/Thesis/2019-10/69. Accepted Research Proposal. 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: 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, Shriya et al.)

Membrane protrusions are fundamental to cellular functions like migration, adhesion, and communication and depend upon dynamic reorganization of the cytoskeleton. GAP-dependent GTP hydrolysis of Arf proteins regulates actin-dependent membrane remodeling. Here, we show that dAsap regulates membrane protrusions in S2R+ cells by a mechanism that critically relies on its ArfGAP domain and relocalization of actin regulators, SCAR, and Ena. While our data reinforce the preference of dAsap for Arf1 GTP hydrolysis in vitro, we demonstrate that induction of membrane protrusions in S2R+ cells depends on Arf6 inactivation. This study furthers our understanding of how dAsap-dependent GTP hydrolysis maintains a balance between active and inactive states of Arf6 to regulate cell shape., (© 2024 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.)

Background & objectives Despite the evidence of population differences in miRNA expression, limited information is available about the expression profile of miRNAs in Indian tuberculosis (TB) patients. The present study aimed to investigate the expression profile of candidate serum exosomal microRNAs in Indian patients with and without HIV-TB coinfection. Methods The pool samples of serum exosomes of study participants (HIV-TB coinfection, extra-pulmonary TB, HIV mono-infection, pulmonary TB) and healthy humans were processed for the isolation of total RNA followed by miRNA analysis using miRCURY LNA human focus PCR panel by real-time PCR. The significantly altered miRNAs were identified using differential expression analysis. The target genes prediction and potential functional analysis of exclusively differentially expressed miRNAs were performed using bioinformatics tools. Results The expression profile of 57, 58, 49 and 11 miRNAs was significantly altered in exosome samples of HIV-TB coinfected, extra-pulmonary TB, HIV mono-infected and pulmonary TB patients compared to healthy controls, respectively. The set of three (hsa-let-7i-5p, hsa-miR-24-3p, hsa-miR-92a-3p), three (hsa-miR-20a-5p, hsa-let-7e-5p, hsa-miR-26a-5p) and four (hsa-miR-21-5p, hsa-miR-19a-3p, hsa-miR-19b-3p, hsa-miR-146a-5p) miRNAs were exclusively significantly differentially expressed in study participants with HIV-TB coinfection, extra-pulmonary TB and pulmonary TB, respectively. Most of the target genes of exclusively differentially expressed miRNAs were enriched in pathways in cancer, MAPK signalling pathway and Ras signalling pathway. Interpretation & conclusions The present study demonstrates a distinct expression profile of miRNAs in serum exosomes of the study participants and identified crucial miRNAs which may have a significant impact on the biomarker analysis and pathogenesis of TB in Indian patients.

Aims: Graft dysfunction (GD) after heart transplantation (HTx) can develop without evidence of cell- or antibody-mediated rejection. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) has an evolving role in detecting rejection; however, its role in biopsy-negative GD has not been described. This study examines CMR findings, evaluates outcomes based on CMR results, and seeks to identify the possibility of rejection missed through endomyocardial biopsy by using CMR in HTx recipients with biopsy-negative GD., Methods and Results: HTx recipients with GD [defined as a decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by >5% and LVEF < 50%] in the absence of rejection by biopsy or allograft vasculopathy and who underwent CMR were included in the study. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause mortality, re-transplantation, or persistent LVEF < 50%. Overall, 34 HTx recipients developed biopsy-negative GD and underwent CMR. Left ventricular late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on CMR was observed in 16 patients with two distinct patterns: diffuse epicardial (n = 13) and patchy (n = 3) patterns. Patients with LGE developed GD later after HTx [4 (1.4-6.8) vs. 0.8 (0.3-1.2) years, P < 0.001], were more often symptomatic (88% vs. 56%, P = 0.06), and had greater haemodynamic derangement (pulmonary capillary wedge pressure: 19 ± 7 vs. 13 ± 3 mmHg, P = 0.002) as compared with those without LGE. No significant difference was observed in the primary composite outcome between patients with LGE and those without LGE (50% vs. 38% of patients with events, P = 0.515). During a median follow-up of 3.8 years, mean LVEF improved similarly in the LGE-negative (37-55%) and LGE-positive groups (32-55%) (P = 0.16)., Conclusions: Biopsy-negative GD occurs with and without LGE when assessed by CMR, indicative of possible rejection/inflammation occurring only in a subset of patients. Irrespective of LGE, LVEF improvement occurs in most GD patients, suggesting that other neurohormonal or immunomodulatory mechanisms may also contribute to GD development., (© 2024 The Authors. ESC Heart Failure published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Society of Cardiology.)

Background: Despite advancements in treatment, patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) experience a range of symptoms that affect their quality of life. There is a need to integrate neuropalliative care into standard care. The aim of the study is to understand the psychosocial functioning in persons with PD and explore their caregivers' burden., Methods: The study utilizes a mixed-methods design where 50 patient-caregiver dyads attending the outpatient services of the movement disorder clinic at a tertiary care hospital were measured on psychosocial functioning and caregiver burden and palliative care outcomes for a period of 6 months. Focus group discussions were conducted with 18 patient-caregiver dyads to understand the needs of palliative care., Results: It was found that caregiver burden was positively correlated with palliative care outcomes scores of patients ( r = 0.586) and caregivers ( r = 0.675) and psychosocial functioning was positively correlated with palliative care outcomes of patients ( r = 0.708). The psychosocial functioning score was higher among female patients (indicating worse functioning) than males, and female caregivers experienced significantly higher caregiver burden. The qualitative findings reveal that there is a substantial gap in awareness about palliative care, lack of information, presence of stigmatizing beliefs, and lack of adequate accessibility to palliative facilities., Conclusion: The study lays the foundation for future PD neuropalliative care research, guiding interventions, and exploration of regional variations in PD experiences in India. There is a need to address caregiver burden in PD in India., (Copyright © 2024 Copyright: © 2024 Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology.)

Sarcopenia is a musculoskeletal disease that reduces muscle mass and strength in older individuals. The study investigates the effects of azilsartan (AZL) on skeletal muscle loss in natural sarcopenic rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 4-6 months and 18-21 months were selected as young-matched control and natural-aged (sarcopenic) rats, respectively. Rats were allocated into young and old control (YC and OC) and young and old AZL treatment (YT and OT) groups, which received vehicles and AZL (8 mg/kg, orally) for 6 weeks. Rats were then sacrificed after muscle function analysis. Serum and gastrocnemius (GN) muscles were isolated for further endpoints. AZL significantly improved muscle grip strength and antioxidant levels in sarcopenic rats. AZL also restored the levels of insulin, testosterone, and muscle biomarkers such as myostatin and creatinine kinase in sarcopenic rats. Furthermore, AZL treatment improved the cellular and ultrastructure of GN muscle and prevented the shift of type II (glycolytic) myofibers to type I (oxidative) myofibers. The results showed that AZL intervention restored protein synthesis in natural sarcopenic rats by increasing p-Akt-1 and decreasing muscle RING-finger protein-1 and tumor necrosis factor alpha immunoexpressions. In conclusion, the present findings showed that AZL could be an effective intervention in treating age-related muscle impairments., Competing Interests: There is no competing interest, as stated by the authors.

Patients with severe heart disease may have coexisting liver disease from various causes. The incidence of combined heart-liver transplant (CHLT) is increasing as more patients with congenital heart disease survive to adulthood and develop advanced heart failure with associated liver disease from chronic right-sided heart or Fontan failure. However, the criteria for CHLT have not been established. To address this unmet need, a virtual consensus conference was organized on June 10, 2022, endorsed by the American Society of Transplantation. The conference represented a collaborative effort by experts in cardiothoracic and liver transplantation from across the United States to assess interdisciplinary criteria for liver transplantation in the CHLT candidate, surgical considerations of CHLT, current allocation system that generally results in the liver following the heart for CHLT, and optimal post-CHLT management. The conference served as a forum to unify criteria between the different specialties and to forge a pathway for patients who may need dual organ transplantation. Due to the continuing shortage of available donor organs, ethical issues related to multiorgan transplantation were also debated. The findings and consensus statements are presented., (Copyright © 2023 American Society of Transplantation & American Society of Transplant Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Inspired by the uranyl-imidazole interactions via nitrogen's (N's) of histidine residues in single helical protein assemblies with open framework geometry that allows through migration/coordination of metal ions. Here, preliminary components of a stable hydrogen-bonded organic framework (HOF) are designed to mimic the stable single helical open framework with imidazole residues available for Uranium (U) binding. The imidazolate-HOF ( CSMCRI HOF2-S) is synthesized with solvent-directed H-bonding in 1D array and tuned hydrophobic CH-π interactions leading to single helix pattern having enhanced hydrolytic stability. De-solvation led CSMCRI HOF2-P with porous helical 1D channels are transformed in a freestanding thin film that showcased improved mass transfer and adsorption of uranyl carbonate. CSMCRI HOF2-P thin film can effectively extract ≈14.8 mg g -1 in 4 weeks period from natural seawater, with > 1.7 U/V (Uranium to Vanadium ratio) selectivity. This strategy can be extended for rational designing of hydrolytically stable, U selective HOFs to realize the massive potential of the blue economy toward sustainable energy., (© 2023 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Aim: To investigate the possible role of systemic inflammatory markers (interleukin; IL-6, C-reactive protein; CRP, and albumin levels) in the development of Alzheimer's dementia (AD) and also find their association with the severity of disease., Material and Methods: It was a cross-sectional study. Patients with Alzheimer's dementia (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD) from outpatient settings in tertiary care hospitals and non-demented controls (NDC) were recruited from the community. Individuals aged 50 years and older ( n = 110) were included. Serum levels of IL-6, CRP, and albumin levels in patients with AD, VaD, and NDC were measured. The clinical Dementia Rating Scale was used for staging the severity of dementia. Serum levels of IL-6, CRP, and serum albumin were compared in study subjects and also analyzed with the severity of dementia in dementia subgroups., Results: Our main finding was that serum levels of IL-6 were significantly elevated in patients with AD and VaD (7.79 and 6.60) as compared to NDC (2.98) ( P < 0.001). No significant difference in CRP or albumin levels was observed between the three groups. Serum IL-6 and CRP showed a positive correlation with the severity of AD, though the correlation was significant only for IL-6 (r = 0.777). The serum albumin levels showed a statistically significant negative correlation with the severity of AD (r > 0.3 but <0.5)., Conclusion: The study demonstrates a notable association between systemic inflammatory markers, particularly IL-6, and the severity of AD, indicating their potential role in its pathogenesis. These findings suggest that targeting these markers could offer new insights into therapeutic strategies for AD., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 Indian Journal of Psychiatry.)

Ring chromosomes (RCs) are a structural aberration that can be tolerated better in acrocentric or gonosomal chromosomes. Complete RCs arise from telomere-telomere fusions. Alternatively, genomic imbalances corresponding to the ends of the chromosomal arms can be seen with RC formation. RCs are unstable in mitosis, result in mosaicism, and are associated with a "ring syndrome," which presents with growth and development phenotypes and differs from those features more frequently observed with pure terminal copy number changes. Due to variability in mosaicism, size, and genomic content, clear genotype-phenotype correlations may not always be possible. Given the rarity of RCs, this historical data is invaluable. We performed a retrospective review of individuals bearing RCs to investigate the incidence in our laboratory. This work details the methods and features seen in association with twenty-three autosomal RCs. In decreasing order, the most frequently seen autosomal RCs were 18, 22, 4, 13, 17, and 9. The additional cases detail clinical and cytogenomic events similar to those reported in RCs. As methodologies advance, insights may be gleaned from following up on these cases to improve genotype-phenotype correlations and understand the cryptic differences or other predisposing factors that lead to ring formation and development., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Abstract: From an initial thought of being used as a cellular garbage bin to a promising target for liquid biopsies, the role of exosomes has drastically evolved in just a few years of their discovery in 1983. Exosomes are naturally secreted nano-sized vesicles, abundant in all types of body fluids and can be isolated intact even from the stored biological samples. Being stable carriers of genetic material (cellular DNA, mRNA and miRNA) and having specific cargo (signature content of originating cells), exosomes play a crucial role in pathogenesis and have been identified as a novel source of biomarkers in a variety of disease conditions. Recently exosomes have emerged as a promising 'liquid biopsy tool'and have shown great potential in the field of non-invasive disease diagnostics, prognostics and treatment response monitoring in both communicable as well as non-communicable diseases. However, there are certain limitations to overcome which restrict the use of exosome-based liquid biopsy as a gold standard testing procedure in routine clinical practices. The present review summarizes the current knowledge on the role of exosomes as the liquid biopsy tool in diagnosis, prognosis and treatment response monitoring in communicable and non-communicable diseases and highlights the major limitations, technical advancements and future prospects of the utilization of exosome-based liquid biopsy in clinical interventions., (Copyright © 2024 Copyright: © 2024 Indian Journal of Medical Research.)

Background: As people age, physical impairments may have a deleterious role on skeletal muscles. Sarcopenia Clinical Practice Guidelines 2017 and the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in older people are two organizations that have published essential guidelines on the definition of "Sarcopenia". Sarcopenia is a geriatric syndrome, characterized by skeletal muscle mass degeneration brought on by ageing, which lowers muscular function and quality. Moreover, Sarcopenia can be classified as primary or age-associated Sarcopenia and secondary Sarcopenia. Also, secondary Sarcopenia occurs when other diseases such as diabetes, obesity, cancer, cirrhosis, myocardial failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and inflammatory bowel disease also contribute to muscle loss. Furthermore, Sarcopenia is linked with a high risk of negative outcomes, considering a gradual reduction in physical mobility, poor balance, and increased fracture risks which ultimately leads to poor quality of life., Objective: In this comprehensive review, we have elaborated on the pathophysiology, and various signaling pathways linked with Sarcopenia. Also, discussed the preclinical models and current interventional therapeutics to treat muscle wasting in older patients., Conclusion: In a nutshell, a comprehensive description of the pathophysiology, mechanisms, animal models, and interventions of Sarcopenia. We also shed light on pharmacotherapeutics present in clinical trials which are being developed as potential therapeutic options for wasting diseases. Thus, this review could fill in the knowledge gaps regarding Sarcopenia-related muscle loss and muscle quality for both researchers and clinicians., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background: Cyclodextrins selectively bind with reactants and facilitate chemical reactions through supramolecular catalysis, similar to the mechanisms employed by enzymes. In this paper, β-cyclodextrin was used as a supramolecular catalyst in water as a green, reusable, and ecofriendly solvent system to synthesize spiro-benzimidazoquinazolinones and spiro-benzothiazoloquinazolinones., Objective: A supramolecular catalyst β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) is used to synthesize spiro- benzimidazoquinazolinones and spiro-benzothiazoloquinazolinones via multicomponent reaction involving the condensation of dimedone, isatin, and 2-aminobenzimidazole/2-aminobenzothiazole., Methods: In a 50 mL round bottom flask were added the respective mixture of substituted isatin (1 mmol), dimedone (1mmol), and 2-aminobenzimidazole/2-aminobenzothiazole (1 mmol) in water (5 ml) containing β-CD (113 mg, 10 mol. %) was stirred at 60oC for 30 min. The desired product was obtained with excellent yield. After completion of the reaction (monitored by TLC), the reaction mixture was quenched with water and extracted with ethyl acetate (4X5 ml). The combined organic layers were washed with brine solution, dried over anhydrous Na 2 SO 4 and evaporated under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by silica gel chromatography., Results: β-cyclodextrin catalyst showed very good efficiency in the synthesis of the desired compounds and can be easily recovered and reused at least five times with minimal deactivation in catalytic activity., Conclusion: The catalyst demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in producing the target compounds and conducting the reaction with different initial substances, resulting in excellent yields of the products, thereby confirming the broad applicability and versatility of this method., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Computational biology involves applying computer science and informatics techniques in biology to understand complex biological data. It allows us to collect, connect, and analyze biological data at a large scale and build predictive models. In the twenty first century, computational resources along with Artificial Intelligence (AI) have been widely used in various fields of biological sciences such as biochemistry, structural biology, immunology, microbiology, and genomics to handle massive data for decision-making, including in applications such as drug design and vaccine development, one of the major areas of focus for human and animal welfare. The knowledge of available computational resources and AI-enabled tools in vaccine design and development can improve our ability to conduct cutting-edge research. Therefore, this review article aims to summarize important computational resources and AI-based tools. Further, the article discusses the various applications and limitations of AI tools in vaccine development.

Meniscus tears are among the common knee injuries in sports, with arthroscopic meniscectomy being one of the most commonly performed orthopedic procedures. Return to sports of the same level following arthroscopic meniscectomy is an important aspect for athletes. Numerous factors may influence the time required for athletes to resume sports activities after meniscectomy. This prospective cohort study aimed to investigate the timeframe for returning to sports in athletes who underwent arthroscopic meniscectomy and to identify predictive factors that influence this return. Ninety sports persons who had undergone arthroscopic meniscectomy were included in this study. The patients were analyzed for their time to return to sports and nine proposed predictive factors that may influence their return to sports. Out of the 90 participants, 75 were able to return to their previous activity level, while the remaining 15 were unable to do so. Among the nine pre-defined factors studied, age older than 25 years (p < 0.0001), participation in non-contact sports (p < 0.0001), and engagement in recreational activities (p < 0.0001) were found to be statistically significant. In conclusion, this study reveals that with the increase in age, time to return to sports following arthroscopic meniscectomy increases. Additionally, athletes involved in non-contact sports and those having recreational sports activity levels experience greater delays in their return to sports as compared to athletes involved in combat and contact sports and athletes having elite and competitive sports levels, respectively., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Yadav et al.)

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are a prevalent and debilitating injury among athletes, often accompanied by concurrent meniscal and chondral injuries. This study aimed to present a comprehensive investigation into the patterns and prevalence of meniscal and chondral injuries in athletes with ACL tears. This is a cross-sectional study conducted on 600 athletic patients with ACL tears planned for reconstruction in a duration of five years. A combination of advanced imaging techniques, arthroscopic evaluations, and clinical data was used to provide a comprehensive understanding of the injury profiles of the participant athletes. Those findings were duly recorded and analyzed accordingly. Out of 600 patients, 67% (402) had at least one meniscal or chondral injury while the rest 33% (198) had isolated ACL injuries only. Of the patients, 18% (108) were those who had both meniscal and chondral injuries present. Amongst the 57% (342) of patients who had meniscal injuries, injuries to the medial meniscus, lateral meniscus, and both the meniscus were present in 51% (175), 32% (109), and 17% (58) of patients, respectively. Amongst all associated meniscal injuries (n 1  = 404), around 52% (210) tears were present in the body of the meniscus, 31% (125) in the posterior horn, and 17% (69) in the anterior horn. Overall, it was noted that 22.77% (92) of meniscal tears were bucket handle tears of the medial meniscus, 16.08% (65) were complex tears of the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus, and 9.60% (39) were complex tears of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus. Amongst 600 patients, 28% (168) of patients had at least one chondral injury present in association with ACL tear. Further, amongst the total number of chondral lesions reported (n 2  =297) in ACL-deficient knees, around 55% (163) of lesions were located on medial femoral condyle, 10% (30) were located on undersurface of patella, 10% (30) were global changes, 7% (20) were on lateral femoral condyle, and 5% (15) were located on medial articulating surface of knee. A total of 61% (181) of chondral lesions were grade II, 21% (62) were grade III, 10%(30) were grade IV, and the least noted were 8% (24) grade I chondral lesions. The study concludes that medial meniscus injury was the most common meniscal injury in ACL-deficient knees and the bucket handle tear of the medial meniscus was the most common type of meniscal tear followed by the complex tear of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus. Further, the study also concludes that the medial femoral condyle is the most common site of chondral lesions in ACL-deficient knees., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Kushwaha et al.)

Transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have long been attractive to researchers for their diverse properties and high degree of tunability. Most recently, interest in magnetically intercalated TMDs has resurged due to their potential applications in spintronic devices. While certain compositions featuring the absence of inversion symmetry such as Fe 1/3 NbS 2 and Cr 1/3 NbS 2 have garnered the most attention, the diverse compositional space afforded through the host matrix composition as well as intercalant identity and concentration is large and remains relatively underexplored. Here, we report the magnetic ground state of Fe 1/4 NbS 2 that was determined from low-temperature neutron powder diffraction as an A-type antiferromagnet. Despite the presence of overall inversion symmetry, the pristine compound manifests spin polarization induced by the antiferromagnetic order at generic k points, based on density functional theory band-structure calculations. Furthermore, by combining synchrotron diffraction, pair distribution function, and magnetic susceptibility measurements, we find that the magnetic properties of Fe 1/4 NbS 2 are sensitive to the Fe site order, which can be tuned via electrochemical lithiation and thermal history.

Diabetes accelerates muscle atrophy, leading to the deterioration of skeletal muscles. This study aimed to assess the potential of the β2-adrenoceptor agonist, salbutamol (SLB), to alleviate muscle atrophy in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats were randomized into four groups (n=6): control, SLB, STZ (55 mg/kg, single i.p.), and STZ + SLB (6 mg/kg, orally for 4 weeks). After the final SLB dose, animals underwent tests to evaluate muscle strength and coordination, including forelimb grip strength, wire-hanging, actophotometer, rotarod, and footprint assessments. Rats were then sacrificed, and serum and gastrocnemius (GN) muscles were collected for further analysis. Serum evaluations included proinflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6), muscle markers (creatine kinase, myostatin), testosterone, and lipidemic markers. Muscle oxidative stress (malonaldehyde, protein carbonyl), antioxidants (glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase), and histology were also performed. Additionally, 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance serum profiling was conducted. SLB notably enhanced muscle grip strength, coordination, and antioxidant levels, while reduced proinflammatory markers and oxidative stress in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Reduced serum muscle biomarkers, increased testosterone, restored lipidemic levels, and improved muscle cellular architecture indicated SLB's positive effect on muscle condition in diabetic rats. Metabolomics profiling revealed that the STZ group significantly increased the phenylalanine-to-tyrosine ratio (PTR), lactate-to-pyruvate ratio (LPR), acetate, succinate, isobutyrate, and histidine. SLB administration restored these perturbed serum metabolites in the STZ-induced diabetic group. In conclusion, salbutamol significantly protected against skeletal muscle wasting in STZ-induced diabetic rats., Competing Interests: 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. Funding This research work was supported by a University Grants Commission (UGC) startup grant (F. 30–460/2019 (BSR) to Dr. Sapana Kushwaha and Indian Council of Medical Research-Senior Research Fellowship (ICMR-SRF) (File no-3/1/3/8/Dis & Rehab/2022-NCD-II) to Mr. Anand Kumar., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Lipids and micronutrients play a major role in the pathophysiology of diabetes, and several studies have established the association between lipids and diabetes. The aim of this study was to determine the interaction between lipid profile and micronutrient status with different prediabetes and diabetes diagnosis criteria among school-aged children in India., Methods: The data used in this study was from Comprehensive National Nutritional Survey conducted in India from 2016 to 2018. Glycosylated hemoglobin values and fasting blood glucose were used to classify normal, prediabetes, and diabetes. The interaction analysis between the lipid profile and eight micronutrients was conducted using multiple logistic regression analyses, and the predicted probabilities were determined., Results: Among micronutrients, the highest deficiency was observed for hemoglobin (27%), and in the lipid profile, triacylglycerol was high in 34% of children. The interaction between high total cholesterol and vitamin B 12 deficiency showed the highest average probability for prediabetes (66%). The highest average probability for diabetes was observed from the interaction between normal high-density lipoprotein and vitamin A deficiency (3%)., Conclusion: The interaction between micronutrients and lipids suggests complex multidimensional pathways involving folate, vitamin B 12 , ferritin, zinc, hemoglobin, and iodine deficiencies. These interactions should be considered when planning diabetes management strategies., 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 © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), a valuable feedstock, can be reutilized as a hydrogen carrier by hydrogenating CO 2 to formic acid (FA) and releasing hydrogen by FA dehydrogenation in a reversible manner. Notably, FA is liquid at room temperature and can be stored and transported considerably more safely than hydrogen gas. Herein, we extensively reviewed transition-metal-based molecular catalysts explored for reversible CO 2 hydrogenation and FA dehydrogenation. This Review describes different approaches explored for carbon-neutral hydrogen storage and release by applying CO 2 hydrogenation to FA/formate and the subsequent release of H 2 by the dehydrogenation of FA over a wide range of molecular catalysts based on noble and non-noble metals. Emphasis is also placed on the specific catalyst-to-substrate interaction by highlighting the specific role of the catalyst in the CO 2 hydrogenation-FA dehydrogenation pathway., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Cardiotoxicity is a well-known adverse effect of cancer-related therapy that has a significant influence on patient outcomes and quality of life. The use of antineoplastic drugs to treat colorectal cancers (CRCs) is associated with a number of undesirable side effects including cardiac complications. For both sexes, CRC ranks second and accounts for four out of every ten cancer deaths. According to the reports, almost 39% of patients with colorectal cancer who underwent first-line chemotherapy suffered cardiovascular impairment. Although 5-fluorouracil is still the backbone of chemotherapy regimen for colorectal, gastric, and breast cancers, cardiotoxicity caused by 5-fluorouracil might affect anywhere from 1.5% to 18% of patients. The precise mechanisms underlying cardiotoxicity associated with CRC treatment are complex and may involve the modulation of various signaling pathways crucial for maintaining cardiac health including TKI ErbB2 or NRG-1, VEGF, PDGF, BRAF/Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK, and the PI3/ERK/AMPK/mTOR pathway, resulting in oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and apoptosis, ultimately damaging cardiac tissue. Thus, the identification and management of cardiotoxicity associated with CRC drug therapy while minimizing the negative impact have become increasingly important. The purpose of this review is to catalog the potential cardiotoxicities caused by anticancer drugs and targeted therapy used to treat colorectal cancer as well as strategies focused on early diagnosing, prevention, and treatment of cardiotoxicity associated with anticancer drugs used in CRC therapy.

Antero-lateral ligament complex (ALC) is a vital structure for maintaining rotational stability of the knee. Evaluation of ALC radiologically (MRI) is still unpopular in setting of anterior cruciate ligament injury. A dire necessity exists for the orthopedic surgeons in outdoor patient department settings to rule out involvement of ALC. So, that it can be addressed during operating for Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury. The authors have formulated an algorithm on a personal level and have implemented this screening program and initiated screening of young to middle aged patients reporting with rotational knee instability for ALC involvement before recommending final operative plan. This screening program which uses specifically devised physical tests have significantly reduced the number of underdiagnosed Antero Lateral Ligament tear., (Copyright © 2023, the Author(s).)

Colorectal cancer affects the colon or rectum and is a common global health issue, with 1.1 million new cases occurring yearly. The study aimed to identify gene signatures for the early detection of CRC using machine learning (ML) algorithms utilizing gene expression data. The TCGA-CRC and GSE50760 datasets were pre-processed and subjected to feature selection using the LASSO method in combination with five ML algorithms: Adaboost, Random Forest (RF), Logistic Regression (LR), Gaussian Naive Bayes (GNB), and Support Vector Machine (SVM). The important features were further analyzed for gene expression, correlation, and survival analyses. Validation of the external dataset GSE142279 was also performed. The RF model had the best classification accuracy for both datasets. A feature selection process resulted in the identification of 12 candidate genes, which were subsequently reduced to 3 (CA2, CA7, and ITM2C) through gene expression and correlation analyses. These three genes achieved 100% accuracy in an external dataset. The AUC values for these genes were 99.24%, 100%, and 99.5%, respectively. The survival analysis showed a significant logrank p -value of 0.044 for the final gene signatures. The analysis of tumor immunocyte infiltration showed a weak correlation with the expression of the gene signatures. CA2, CA7, and ITM2C can serve as gene signatures for the early detection of CRC and may provide valuable information for prognostic and therapeutic decision making. Further research is needed to fully understand the potential of these genes in the context of CRC.

An association between the loss of skeletal muscle mass and obesity in the geriatric population has been identified as a disease known as sarcopenic obesity. Therefore, therapeutic/preventive interventions are needed to ameliorate sarcopenia. The present study investigates the effect of azilsartan (AZL) on skeletal muscle loss in High-Fat Diet (HFD)-induced sarcopenic obese (SO) rats. Four- and fourteen-months male Sprague Dawley rats were used and randomized in control and azilsartan treatment. 14 months animals were fed with HFD for four months and labeled as HFD-fed SO rats. Young & old rats received 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose as a vehicle/AZL (8 mg/kg, per oral) treatment for six weeks. Grip strength and body composition analysis were performed after the last dose of AZL. Serum and gastrocnemius (GN)muscles were collected after animal sacrifice. AZL treatment significantly increased lean muscle mass, grip strength, myofibrillar protein, and antioxidant (superoxide dismutase & nitric oxide) levels in SO rats. AZL also restored the muscle biomarkers (creatine kinase, myostatin & testosterone), and insulin levels. AZL improves cellular, and ultracellular muscle structure and prevents type I to type II myofiber transitions in SO rats. Further, immunohistochemistry results showed increased expressions of pAkt and reduced expression of MuRF-1 and TNF-α exhibiting that AZL intervention could decrease protein degradation in SO rats. In conclusion, present results showed that AZL significantly increased lean mass, and restored muscle biomarkers, and muscle architecture. Taken together, the aforementioned findings suggest that azilsartan could be a possible therapeutic approach to reduce muscle wasting in sarcopenic obesity., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder that leads to accelerated skeletal muscle atrophy. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of salbutamol (SLB) on skeletal muscle atrophy in high-fat diet (HFD)/streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups ( n = 6): control, SLB, HFD/STZ, and HFD/STZ + SLB (6 mg/kg orally for four weeks). After the last dose of SLB, rats were assessed for muscle grip strength and muscle coordination (wire-hanging, rotarod, footprint, and actophotometer tests). Body composition was analyzed in live rats. After that, animals were sacrificed, and serum and gastrocnemius (GN) muscles were collected. Endpoints include myofibrillar protein content, muscle oxidative stress and antioxidants, serum pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β, interleukin-2, and interleukin-6), serum muscle markers (myostatin, creatine kinase, and testosterone), histopathology, and muscle 1 H NMR metabolomics. Findings showed that SLB treatment significantly improved muscle strength and muscle coordination, as well as increased lean muscle mass in diabetic rats. Increased pro-inflammatory cytokines and muscle markers (myostatin, creatine kinase) indicate muscle deterioration in diabetic rats, while SLB intervention restored the same. Also, Feret's diameter and cross-sectional area of GN muscle were increased by SLB treatment, indicating the amelioration in diabetic rat muscle. Results of muscle metabolomics exhibit that SLB treatment resulted in the restoration of perturbed metabolites, including histidine-to-tyrosine, phenylalanine-to-tyrosine, and glutamate-to-glutamine ratios and succinate, sarcosine, and 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) in diabetic rats. These metabolites showed a pertinent role in muscle inflammation and oxidative stress in diabetic rats. In conclusion, findings showed that salbutamol could be explored as an intervention in diabetic-associated skeletal muscle atrophy.

The prevalence study of pre-diabetes and diabetes among children and adolescents is crucial for early detection and intervention, public health resource allocation and monitoring the trend. The national prevalence of pre-diabetes and diabetes among school-age children was 15.35% and 0.94%, whereas, among adolescents, the prevalence was 16.18% and 0.56%, respectively., 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 © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)