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The presence of clay soil causes problems at the base of the structure: it swells when wet and shrinks when dry, which provides a reduction in the resistance to cutting of the soil. Plastic waste in the form of polyamide powder (PA-12) from the 3D printing industry can be used to improve the mechanical properties of the soil. This experimental study is an attempt to combine these two objectives of stabilizing the soil by using waste PA-12. The mechanical and shear resistant properties gave us confidence in choosing PA-12 as a stabilizer in clay soils, making them composite soils.

Combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) syndrome is an uncommon entity characterised by emphysema of the upper lobes and diffuse fibrosis of the lower lobes and carries a bad prognosis with the onset of pulmonary hypertension. Lung involvement due to exposures suffered by welders is generally considered benign though, rarely, a diffuse interstitial fibrotic disease has been reported. CPFE syndrome has however never been reported in welders. A 65-year-old man, welder by occupation and an ex-smoker, presented with progressive exertional dyspnoea associated with dry cough noticed for the last four months. On examination, there was mild tachypnea, clubbing and bilateral basal velcro crepitations on chest auscultation. Lung function test revealed mild mixed ventilatory impairment with severe diffusion defect. HRCT chest showed bilateral upper lobe emphysema and diffuse interstitial fibrosis in the lower lobes. Transbronchial lung biopsy revealed interstitial fibrosis, chronic inflammation and iron deposits. A diagnosis of combined pulmonary fibrosis with emphysema (CPFE) with interstitial pulmonary siderofibrosis (IPS) was established. A review of literature did not show any other report of a similar nature.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the effect of storage time and conditions on dimensional stability of acrylic patterns. Materials and Methods: In this in vitro study, a cylindrical shaped metallic post-core was fabricated. Impressions were made from this metallic model and 30 samples were prepared with Duralay acrylic resin. The specimens were divided into three groups of ten. Groups A, B and C were stored in dry atmosphere at 25°C; 100% humidity at 25°C; and water placed in the refrigerator at 4°C, respectively. In each sample post length, post diameter and core diameter were measured at baseline, 24 hours and 48 hours after storage. All measurements were performed in an optical measurement device. Data were analyzed using the Rank regression test. Results: The type of dimensional changes seen in this study was shrinkage. A significant difference in post diameter was found between group B and the other two groups (P=0.001). Storing time significantly affected post diameter (P

One unit of energy saved is two units of energy produced. There is more talk on new energy generation and renewable energy than Energy conservation. This paper implements the building energy management and conservation using advanced technologies like Internet of Things (IOT) and Machine Learning. This paper mainly focuses on energy conservation through building automation and energy management through sensors and actuators using advanced IOT technologies. The building appliances are sensed through various types of sensors and controlled using Arduino for optimal use of electricity in the building. Monitoring and control of all the electrical appliances of the building is done through the handheld devices. The unnecessary use of electricity due to carelessness of the customers is identified and controlled remotely using the mobile application. As the energy consumption is monitored continuously all the time which eventually brings awareness about use of energy. Machine learning algorithms are used for accurate load forecasting leading to effective building energy management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to understand the incorporation of sustainability methods of construction through the study of a low-cost housing Tamil Nadu Housing Board settlement in a locality in Chennai, India. Such a study helps to arrive at proper design decisions and incorporate a participatory approach involving the residents to enable the developers, here the decision-makers of the government, cater to the local interests. Design/methodology/approach: First, a survey was conducted to understand the local conditions and people's aspirations. Along with this, the parameters pertaining to a green housing were derived and compared with the needs of the locals, to arrive at the most influencing parameters by decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory model (DEMATEL) analysis. Findings: The study finds that parameters viz. "ensuring basic services" and "social inclusivity" happen to be the causal factors that seem to influence the needs of the locals. These factors therefore can guide the future plans to redevelop the settlement or construct similar settlements in a more sustainable way. Originality/value: This paper is a unique study to combine the twin pillars of low-cost housing and sustainability, which helps in developing settlements that are conducive to the city's socio-developmental requirements as well as respectful of the natural environment. Further, the analysis conducted through DEMATEL method could essentially guide the decision-maker to tackle urban challenges in the most locally suitable and sustainable approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent developments on environmental fate models indicate that as nano waste , engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) could reach terrestrial ecosystems thus potentially affecting environmental and human health. Plants can be therefore exposed to ENMs but controversial data in terms of fate and toxicity are currently available. Furthermore, there is a current lack of information on complex interactions/transformations to which ENMs undergo in the natural environment as for instance interacting with existing toxic compounds. The aim of the present study was to assess the behavior and biological effects of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (n-TiO 2 ) (Aeroxide P25, Degussa Evonik) and its interaction with cadmium (CdCl 2 ) in plants using radish seeds ( Raphanus sativus L. Parvus) as model species. Radish seeds were exposed to n-TiO 2 (1–1000 mg/L) and CdCl 2 (1–250 mg/L) alone and in combination using a seed germination and seedling growth toxicity test OECD 208. Percentage of seed germination, germination index (GI) and root elongation were calculated. Cell morphology and oxidative stress parameters as glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and catalase activities (CAT) were measured in radish seeds after 5 days of exposure. Z-Average, PdI and Z-potential of n-TiO 2 in Milli-Q water as exposure medium were also determined. DLS analysis showed small aggregates of n-TiO 2 , negative Z-potential and stable PdI in seed's exposure media. Germination percentage, GI and root length resulted affected by n-TiO 2 exposure compared to controls. In particular, n-TiO 2 at 1 mg/L and 100 mg/L did not affect radish seeds germination (100%) while at concentration of 10 mg/L, 200 mg/L, 500 mg/L, and 1000 mg/L a slight but not significant decrease of germination % was observed. Similarly root length and GI resulted significantly higher in seeds exposed to 10 mg/L and 200 mg/L compared to 1 mg/L, 100 mg/L, 500 mg/L, 1000 mg/L and control (p < 0.05). On the opposite, CdCl 2 significantly abolished germination % and GI compared to control seeds and a concentration dependent decrease on root elongation was observed against controls (p < 0.05). As well, significant decrease of germination %, GI and root elongation was observed in seeds co-exposed to n-TiO 2 and CdCl 2 at the highest concentrations (1000 mg/L n-TiO 2 and 250 mg/L CdCl 2 ) compared to co-exposed seeds at low concentration (1 mg/L n-TiO 2 and 1 mg/L CdCl 2 ) and controls (p < 0.05). Root elongation significantly increase compared to control at the lowest co-exposure concentration (p < 0.05). Similarly at intermediate concentrations of 10 and 100 mg/L in co-exposure conditions, n-TiO 2 did not affect CdCl 2 toxicity. Concerning antioxidant enzymes, a significant increase of CAT activity in seeds exposed to single high n-TiO 2 concentration (1000 mg/L) was observed while n-TiO 2 (1 mg/L), CdCl 2 (1 and 250 mg/L) and co-exposure resulted significantly decreased compared to controls (p < 0.05). Regarding GST activity, a slight increase in seeds exposed to 1000 mg/L n-TiO 2 but no significantly was observed, however both n-TiO 2 and CdCl 2 alone (1 and 250 mg/L, respectively) or in combinations caused a significant decrease in GST activity (p < 0.05). Therefore, overall data support the hypothesis that the presence of n-TiO 2 do not affect the toxicity of CdCl 2 at least at the highest concentration (100 and 250 mg/L) in radish seeds. Morphological alterations in nuclei, vacuoles and shape of radish root cells were observed upon single Cd exposure and not abolished in the presence of n-TiO 2 . Nevertheless, although n-TiO 2 seems not to reduce Cd toxicity at high concentration (up to 250 mg/L), interactions cannot be excluded based on obtained results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of a nanostructured state of palladium—lead membrane alloys during their interaction with hydrogen was studied using precision X-ray diffraction with synchrotron radiation (SR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS). The importance of this topic is due to the need and demand for improving the performance characteristics of dense metal diffusion filters for high purity hydrogen separation processes. Palladium-based membrane filters with lead concentrations of 5 and 20 wt.% were prepared via electric arc melting from high purity metals (99.95%). The thickness of the filters was 50 μm. Hydrogenation was carried out from a gas medium at 573 K and the pressure of 16 atm. within 150 min. The focus of the study is on the structural state of diffusion filter membranes depending on the content of the palladium-alloying element—lead—and on analysis of the substructure of alloys before and 5300 h relaxation after hydrogenation is carried out. Specific features of the surface morphology and the structure of the membrane filters depending on the concentration of lead in the alloys are determined. The formation and development of deformation processes in metal systems upon the hydrogenation is shown. The establishment of peculiarities of hydrogen interaction with metals will contribute to obtaining new potentially important characteristics of membrane filters.

Background: Ample evidence has been generated regarding the effectiveness of school-based mental health interventions as part of the continuum of care for children and capacity building of teachers to deal with the emotional and behavioral challenges of students. The increasing trend of utilization of teachers as the natural support system of children and the huge financial impact of public health interventions highlights the need to review all available evidence regarding multilevel factors that facilitate or pose a challenge to the provision of School Mental Health Programs (SMHP) using teachers as providers. The current review aims to map extracted evidence under the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) domains to support future implementation research on school-based mental health services., Methods: The scoping review included experimental, qualitative studies, and systematic reviews involving teacher-led mental health programs conducted in the school setting to improve the socio-emotional well-being of children and adolescents irrespective of time and geographical limitations. All (published and unpublished) evidence in English from Pubmed, Cochrane database of systematic reviews and clinical trials, Scopus, and Science Direct was searched using keywords and Boolean combinations and extracted using study designs, place of study, year of publication, sample size, and target population. A qualitative analysis of implementation facilitators and barriers cited by the studies was carried out and mapped on CFIR., Results: This review identified barriers and facilitators of implementation across school-based mental health Programs in 29 studies. The major emerging themes were those related to the inner setting of the organization, the process of implementation, and the characteristics of individuals involved in implementation. These included the availability of structural characteristics, positive school culture, organizational readiness, committed leadership, and beliefs of the providers., Conclusion: Findings highlight the need for early assessment of contextual factors acting as barriers and facilitators and careful execution following realistic planning and stakeholders' engagement to ensure the success of SMHP., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany.)

Background and Rationale: Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization increases the risk of MRSA infection. Detecting MRSA colonization can influence postoperative outcomes and prolong hospital stay. The conventional standard culture method for detecting MRSA colonization has limitations in terms of sensitivity and turnaround time. Hence, we sought out use of Xpert PCR kit for prompt evaluation of MRSA colonization to support MRSA prevention in a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan., Materials and Methods: During 1st April-31st December 2022, 290 nasal and skin swab samples were collected from 257 patients and processed using routine culture (as gold standard method) and PCR-based MRSA detection assay (MRSA Xpert)., Results: A total of two hundred and ninety (290) swab samples from 257 patients were obtained, 33 of which were paired. The overall prevalence of MRSA colonization was 12% by both methods, with 90% of cases classified as community-associated (CA-MRSA) whereas 10% as hospital-acquired (HA-MRSA). The colonized group showed a higher subsequent MRSA infection rate (11% vs. 3.5%) compared to the noncolonized group. Culture identified 11% of screening samples as MRSA positive, Xpert MRSA assay showed 100% sensitivity and 95% specificity. The cost of a single MRSA Xpert assay was $50 while MRSA culture cost around $7.50., Conclusion: Our study findings suggest that the presence of MRSA colonization in our cohort of patients is consistent with the existing trends in hospital epidemiology. Both conventional culture and Xpert MRSA methods showed comparable efficacy for detection of MRSA colonization. Larger-scale studies are recommended to validate these findings conclusively., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Purpose: Cancer Immunotherapy Trials Network 12 demonstrated safety of pembrolizumab in treating advanced cancer in people with HIV. Here, we report results of the Kaposi sarcoma (KS) cohort., Methods: In this multicenter phase I trial, we enrolled participants with HIV-associated KS on antiretroviral therapy with CD4 + ≥50 cells/μL and HIV plasma RNA <200 copies/mL. Pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenously was administered once every 3 weeks for up to 35 cycles. The primary end point was safety, and the secondary end point was KS response by modified AIDS Clinical Trials Group Criteria., Results: Thirty-two cisgender men enrolled with baseline median CD4 + T-cell count of 274 cells/µL. All but nine participants had received previous systemic KS therapy. Participants received a median of 11 cycles of pembrolizumab (range, 1-35). Sixty-six percent had grade ≥1 treatment-emergent adverse events, including one death from polyclonal KS herpesvirus-related B-cell lymphoproliferation. Thirty-one percent had ≥one immune-mediated AEs (imAEs) with 25% requiring systemic steroids. In 29 participants with evaluable KS, the overall response rate (ORR) was 62.1% (95% CI, 42.3 to 79.3) and did not differ by CD4 + T-cell count. ORR in the eight participants with evaluable disease without previous KS therapy was 87.5% (95% CI, 47.3 to 99.7). Median duration of response (DOR) was not reached, and the Kaplan-Meier estimate of DOR of ≥12 months was 92.3% (95% CI, 56.6 to 98.8). Median progression-free survival was 28.2 months (95% CI, 4.2 to noncalculable)., Conclusion: Pembrolizumab yielded a high rate of durable responses in HIV-associated KS. imAEs were successfully managed with standard guidelines.

Objective: The presence of peripheral artery disease (PAD) in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) is a significant risk factor for chronicity and amputation. Ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI) is a screening tool for PAD. Brachial systolic pressure measurement, used as a denominator in the calculation of ABPI, produces inaccurate results in patients with obesity and the presence of heavy clothing. The wrist, however, is easily accessible, and the ankle-wrist pressure index (AWPI), if comparable with ABPI, may be useful in screening selected patients. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of AWPI in diagnosing perfusion in DFUs and compare it to ABPI in patients with DFUs., Method: ABPI and AWPI were calculated by measuring systolic blood pressure in the arteries of the ankle, arm and wrist with a handheld Doppler. Actual perfusion was determined by the presence or absence of PAD by duplex ultrasound., Results: A total of 46 lower extremities in 41 patients were studied. The prevalence of PAD was 61%. Duplex ultrasound confirmed that the sensitivity of ABPI and AWPI in detecting PAD in patients with DFUs was 67.9% and 71.4% respectively, whereas the specificity of ABPI and AWPI was 94.4% and 88.9% respectively. On receiver operating characteristic analysis, the area under the curve of ABPI and AWPI was 0.804 and 0.795, respectively. A statistically significant positive correlation between ABPI and AWPI was found (r=0.986; p<0.001)., Conclusion: There was a good correlation between ABPI and AWPI over a wide range of values. ABPI and AWPI may have a similar role in predicting perfusion in patients with DFUs. AWPI could be used in place of ABPI in selected patients in whom measuring ABPI may be difficult., Declaration of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Context and Aims: Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of infectious disease deaths in India. It is also one of the most challenging diseases to diagnose and treat effectively. TB can occur both in the lungs and in extrapulmonary locations through hematogenous spread. Osteoarticular TB is a type of extrapulmonary characterized by atypical presentation. If diagnosed early, it can be treated effectively with reduced risk of mortality., Subjects and Methods: At Nalanda medical college and hospital, an 18-month prospective research was undertaken. The study included a total of 120 patients with osteoarticular TB. Serum electrophoresis of blood samples was performed at baseline, 2 months, and 4 months following antitubercular medication administration. The fractions of albumin, α1, α2, β, and γ globulins were estimated and compared with the baseline value., Results: It was observed that as the disease progressed and became more chronic, there was a decrease in albumin and an increase in α1, α2, β, and γ globulin percentages of serum proteins. Upon follow-up, the serum electrophoresis revealed that these values observed during baseline could be reversed by the administration of antitubercular drugs., Conclusions: This study suggests that analyzing serum protein fractions could be a cost-effective strategy to determine the presence of osteoarticular TB and also aid in initiating antitubercular treatment., (Copyright © 2024 Copyright: © 2024 Annals of African Medicine.)

Despite the negative implications on women's health, pregnancy, and fetal outcomes, population-based studies on hematological indices among reproductive age women in India have received inadequate attention. This study aimed to generate normative ranges for various hematological parameters among these women. After ethics approval, apparently healthy (n = 5884) women (aged 18-40 years) were recruited from six eco-geographic zones of India. After various exclusions (n = 5412), including women having anemia, data of clinically, and biochemically healthy women (n = 472) was analysed to generate centiles (2.5 and 97.5th) and correlations. The mean age and mean BMI of women was 29.3 ± 6.5 years and 23.25 ± 3.26 kg/m 2 with BP of 112.26 ± 8.9/74.04 ± 6.7 mmHg. The reference intervals for hemoglobin (12-15.1 gm/dl), RBC (3.68-5.55 millions/μl), WBC (4.1-11.26*109/L), platelet count (1.32-4.42*105/μl), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (4.35-41.65 mm/hr) were different from currently used reference values ( p  < 0.05). However, these haematological indices did not vary among various age categories, geographical zones, ethnicities and rural or urban origins. Pearson's correlation revealed a statistically significant association between ESR, WBC, monocytes, and platelets with homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Women with HOMA-IR > 2 displayed a statistically significant differences in parameters like MCV, ESR, eosinophil and platelet counts as compared to the women with HOMA-IR < 2. This study provides a pioneering reference data of hematological indices among women of reproductive age in India. Despite the small sample size results can be extrapolated to the national population given the representative sampling of various geographical zones. This may pave way for future comprehensive large-scale studies on the subject., Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12288-023-01714-6., Competing Interests: Conflict of InterestsAuthors disclose no disclose financial or non-financial interests directly or indirectly related to this work., (© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Indian Society of Hematology and Blood Transfusion 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: Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) pose a significant risk to critically ill patients, particularly in intensive care units (ICU), and are a significant cause of hospital-acquired infections. We investigated whether implementation of a multifaceted intervention was associated with reduced incidence of CLABSIs., Methods: This was a prospective cohort study over nine years. We implemented a bundled intervention approach to prevent CLABSIs, consisting of a comprehensive unit-based safety program (CUSP). The program was implemented in the Neonatal ICU, Medical ICU, and Surgical ICU departments at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Pakistan., Results: The three intervention ICUs combined were associated with an overall 36% reduction in CLABSI rates and a sustained reduction in CLABSI rates for > a year (5 quarters). The Neonatal ICU experienced a decrease of 77% in CLABSI rates lasting ∼1 year (4 quarters). An attendance rate above 88% across all stakeholder groups in each CUSP meeting correlated with a better and more sustained infection reduction., Conclusions: Our multifaceted approach using the CUSP model was associated with reduced CLABSI-associated morbidity and mortality in resource-limited settings. Our findings suggest that a higher attendance rate (>85%) at meetings may be necessary to achieve sustained effects post-intervention., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Kaposi sarcoma is a vascular tumor that affects the pulmonary system. However, the diagnosis of airway lesions suggestive of pulmonary Kaposi sarcoma (pKS) is reliant on bronchoscopic visualization. We evaluated the role of Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV) viral load in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) as a diagnostic biomarker in patients with bronchoscopic evidence of pKS and evaluated inflammatory cytokine profiles in BAL and blood samples., Design: In this retrospective study, we evaluated KSHV viral load and cytokine profiles within BAL and blood samples in patients who underwent bronchoscopy for suspected pKS between 2016 and 2021., Methods: KSHV viral load and cytokine profiles were obtained from both the circulation and BAL samples collected at the time of bronchoscopy to evaluate compartment-specific characteristics. BAL was centrifuged and stored as cell pellets and KSHV viral load was measured using primers for the KSHV K6 gene regions., Results: We evaluated 38 BAL samples from 32 patients (30 with HIV co-infection) of whom 23 had pKS. In patients with airway lesions suggestive of pKS, there was higher KSHV viral load (median 3188 vs. 0 copies/10 6 cell equivalent; P  = 0.0047). A BAL KSHV viral load cutoff of 526 copies/10 6 cells had a sensitivity of 72% and specificity of 89% in determining lesions consistent with pKS. Those with pKS also had higher IL-1β and IL-8 levels in BAL. The 3-year survival rate for pKS patients was 55%., Conclusion: KSHV viral load in BAL shows potential for aiding in pKS diagnosis. Patients with pKS also have evidence of cytokine dysregulation in BAL., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Kaposi sarcoma associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is associated with around 1% of all human tumors, including the B cell malignancy primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), in which co-infection with the Epstein Barr virus (EBV) can almost always be found in malignant cells. Here, we demonstrate that KSHV/EBV co-infection of mice with reconstituted human immune systems (humanized mice) leads to IgM responses against both latent and lytic KSHV antigens, and expansion of central and effector memory CD4 + and CD8 + T cells. Among these, KSHV/EBV dual-infection allows for the priming of CD8 + T cells that are specific for the lytic KSHV antigen K6 and able to kill KSHV/EBV infected B cells. This suggests that K6 may represent a vaccine antigen for the control of KSHV and its associated pathologies in high seroprevalence regions, such as Sub-Saharan Africa., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Experiences in early childhood form the bedrock of future human potential. In impoverished settings, structured early childhood education (ECE) in preschool years can augment overall childhood and later human abilities. The current study evaluates preschool learning exposure and childhood cognition, using longitudinal follow-up of a community-based birth cohort in Vellore, south India. The birth cohort study site in Vellore recruited 251 newborns between 2010 and 2012 from dense urban settlements and further followed up into childhood. Preschool enrolment details were obtained from parents. Childhood cognition was assessed by Weschler's preschool primary scale of intelligence (WPPSI) and Malin's intelligence scale for Indian Children (MISIC) at 5 and 9 years of age respectively. Bivariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed with adjustments for socio-economic status (SES), maternal education, stunting status and home environment. Out of 251 new-borns recruited into the MAL-ED birth cohort, 212 (84.46%) and 205 (81.7%) children were available for the 5 year and 9 year follow-up respectively. At 5 years, structured ECE of 18 to 24 months duration was significantly associated with higher cognition scores, with the highest increase in processing speed [β: 19.55 (11.26-27.77)], followed by full-scale intelligence [β: 6.75 (2.96-10.550)], even after adjustments for SES, maternal cognition, home factors and early childhood stunting status. Similarly adjusted analysis at 9 years showed that children who attended 1.5-2 years of structured ECE persisted to have higher cognition, especially in the performance domain [β: 8.82 (2.60-15.03)], followed by the full-scale intelligence [β: 7.24 (2.52-11.90)]. Follow-up of an Indian birth cohort showed that structured ECE exposure was associated with better school entry cognition as well as mid-childhood cognition. Strengthening ECE through a multi-pronged approach could facilitate to maximize cognitive potential of human capital., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: To determine the pattern of immune cell subsets across the life span in rural sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and to set a reference standard for cell subsets amongst Africans, we characterised the major immune cell subsets in peripheral blood including T cells, B cells, monocytes, NK cells, neutrophils and eosinophils, in individuals aged 3 to 89 years from Uganda., Methods: Immune phenotypes were measured using both conventional flow cytometry in 72 individuals, and full spectrum flow cytometry in 80 individuals. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) IFN-γ T cell responses were quantified in 332 individuals using an ELISpot assay. Full blood counts of all study participants were also obtained., Results: The percentages of central memory (T CM ) and senescent CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets, effector memory (T EM ) CD8+ T cells and neutrophils increased with increasing age. On the other hand, the percentages of naïve T (T N ) and B (B N ) cells, atypical B cells (B A ), total lymphocytes, eosinophils and basophils decreased with increasing age. There was no change in CD4+ or CD8+ T effector memory RA (T EMRA ) cells, exhausted T cells, NK cells and monocytes with age. Higher eosinophil and basophil percentages were observed in males compared to females. T cell function as measured by IFN-γ responses to EBV increased with increasing age, peaking at 31-55 years., Conclusion: The percentages of cell subsets differ between individuals from SSA compared to those elsewhere, perhaps reflecting a different antigenic milieu. These results serve as a reference for normal values in this population., Competing Interests: Authors RRos, WM, and DW were employed by the company Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc. The remaining 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 Nalwoga, Nakibuule, Roshan, Kwizera Mbonye, Miley, Whitby, Newton, Rochford and Cose.)

The aim of this study was to produce mutant strains of Bacillus subtilis with high probiotic performance for use in the aquaculture of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. The main strain of B. subtilis (MS) was irradiated with gamma rays (5.3 KGy). Subsequently, the B. subtilis mutant strain no. 45 (MS. 45) was selected for bacterial growth performance, resistance to acidic conditions, resistance to bile salts and antibacterial activity against Aeromonas hydrophila and Pseudomonas fluorescens. After 60 days, the rainbow trout (70.25 ± 3.89 g) fed with MS. 45 and MS were exposed to hypoxia stress (dissolved oxygen = 2 ppm). Subsequently, immune indices (lysozyme, bacterial activity and complement activity), hematological indices [hematocrit, hemoglobin, WBC, RBC, mean corpuscular volume (MCV)] and antioxidant factors (T-AOC, SOD and MDA)) were analyzed after and before hypoxia exposure. The expression of immunological genes (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-8) in the intestine and the expression of hypoxia-related genes (HIF-1α, HIF-2α, FIH1) in the liver were compared between the different groups under hypoxia and normoxia conditions. Growth, immunological and antioxidant indices improved in group MS. 45 compared to the other groups. Stress indices and associated immunologic and hypoxia expressions under hypoxia and normoxia conditions improved in MS. 45 compared to the other groups. This resulted in improved growth, immunity and stress responses in fish fed with the microbial supplement of MS. 45 (P < 0.05) under hypoxia and normoxia conditions, (P < 0.05), resulting in a significant improvement in trout aquaculture., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

We show that the process of noninstantaneous reheating during the postinflationary period can have a sizable impact on the charged lepton Yukawa equilibration temperature in the early Universe. This suggests reviewing the effects of lepton flavors in the leptogenesis scenario where the production and decay of right-handed neutrinos take place within this prolonged era of reheating. We find this observation has the potential to shift the flavor regime(s) of leptogenesis compared to the standard thermal scenario.

The case report describes the details of a man in his 40s admitted for evaluation of renal failure. Biochemical testing revealed parathyroid hormone (PTH) -independent hypercalcaemia. The evaluations for the usual causes such as malignancies, granulomatous diseases, multiple myeloma and vitamin D toxicity were negative. Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (FDG-PET) scan identified diffuse uptake in the muscles, and the subsequent muscle biopsy showed non-caseating granulomas suggestive of granulomatous myositis, possibly sarcoidosis, in view of raised ACE levels and the absence of other causes. The patient showed a dramatic response to glucocorticoids, with prompt relief of symptoms and normalisation of serum calcium and creatinine. The case highlights the importance of considering sarcoid myositis in the evaluation of hypercalcaemia and the need for prompt initiation of glucocorticoid therapy to achieve favourable outcomes. The successful use of FDG-PET in diagnosing PTH-independent hypercalcaemia suggests its potential as a valuable tool in the diagnostic algorithm for this condition., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2023. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Objective: There are reports of a potential rise in a teaching hospital's morbidity and mortality rates during the trainee turnover period, i.e., with the induction of new residents and house staffs, and the changeover of clinical teams. The published literature displays mixed reports on this topic with lack of reproducible observations. The current study was conducted to explore existence of any such phenomenon (January effect) in Pakistan., Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. Five-year (2013-2018) record of all the patients in all age groups related to these outcomes was retrieved and recorded in specifically designed questionnaire. Different outcome measures were used as indicators of patient care and change in these outcomes at the time of new induction was related to possible January effect., Results: During the five-year study period, more than 1100 new trainees were inducted into the post graduate medical education program (average of 237 per year) with more than 22,000 inpatient admissions (average of 45,469 per year). Some patterns were observed in frequencies of surgical site infections, medication errors, sentinel events, patient complaints, and adverse drug reactions. However, these were not consistently reproducible and could not be directly attributed to the trainee turnover. All other indicators did not show any pattern and were considered inconclusive. No effect of overlap was observed., Conclusions: Inconsistency in the patient care quality indicators do not favor existence of January effect in our study. Further research is recommended to establish our results., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.

Competing Interests: Disclosure of interest: The authors completed the ICMJE Disclosure of Interest Form (available upon request from the corresponding author) and disclose no relevant interests.