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Microfluidic based sensors are one of the emerging alternatives for bringing solutions studies on paper platforms. Microfluidic paper assisted platform was developed over here through a simple, easy, cost effective and instrument free process. The self‐same method of waxing through crayoning, was estimated thoroughly on different paper platforms. Varied parameter including type of crayoning, way of patterning, color effect, wicking rate and channel optimization was performed on paper milieus. Optimized time of baking for obtaining controlled penetration ranges from 2 min to 8 min depending on the type of paper used. Wax crayoning was preferred over oil pasteling for making hydrophobic barriers uniformly, solid as well fully penetrated within paper inner layers. Fabrication through this easy cost‐effective route allows a formation of hydrophilic reaction or sensing zone of 0.25 cm2 with sufficient reactive area. Further sensing of dopamine on paper platform was carried using paper chip adsorbed with fluorescent modified graphene quantum dots as sensing material. The patterned paper showed advantage as only few microliter (5 μl to 10 μl) range of sample volume was required for testing. Fluorescence quenching with increase of concentration was witnessed where around 25–75 μM dopamine concentration was positively tested through naked eye; which for the first time was demonstrated here via robust wax crayoning method for developing paper based biosensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The treatment for advanced and metastatic esophagogastric malignancies has historically required time-intensive multi-agent chemotherapy regimens, where patients spend time away from home to engage in therapy administrations and supportive care. With the addition of immunotherapies to the standard of care, the authors completed this study to estimate the time spent in health care across various systemic treatment regimens. The authors estimated the time toxicity, or the days spent in health care facilities, due to cancer diagnosis and treatment with immunotherapy- and chemotherapy-based treatment regimens for esophagogastric cancers. (1) Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the time toxicity, or time spent in health care, of immunotherapy- versus chemotherapy-based regimens for metastatic esophageal and gastric cancers. (2) Methods: A literature search was conducted, and 18 phase III clinical trials of immune checkpoint inhibitors were selected for analysis. Health care days were calculated based on the number of days associated with receiving therapy and the adverse events reported in the clinical trials. Both the number of health care days and the median overall survival were compared among chemotherapy-only, immunotherapy-only, and chemo-immunotherapy regimens across this cohort of drug registration trials. (3) Results: The estimated median number of health care days was 37 (range of 7–52) days, or 1.2 (range of 0.2–1.7) months, compared to a median survival of 10.2 months across these 18 studies. For the chemotherapy-only regimens, the median number of health care days was 39 (range of 21–51) days, and for chemo-immunotherapy, it was 39 (range of 30–52) days. The immunotherapy-only regimens had fewer days, a median of 28 (range of 24–41), p < 0.05, compared to the other two arms. (4) Conclusions: The chemo-immunotherapy regimens did not add time toxicity compared to chemotherapy alone. The immunotherapy-only regimens had lower time toxicity compared to chemotherapy alone. In the setting of decreased time toxicity and improved overall survival, further development of immunotherapy-based regimens could improve outcomes in advanced esophageal and gastric cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mature cystic teratoma is a benign ovarian tumor that usually presents in reproductive-age females. This tumor usually presents with pain abdomen, bloating, and a lump. Hereby, we describe a case of an ovarian dermoid presented with features of intestinal obstruction secondary to ileo-dermoid fistula formation. A 55-year-old postmenopausal female presented with lower abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and the feeling of a lump in the abdomen. On evaluation and imaging, it was diagnosed as a large ovarian dermoid (with malignant transformation) with multiple fistulous communications with ileal loops. The patient was managed by laparotomy, total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, bowel resection, and anastomosis. The patient was discharged in good condition. The rupture of malignant ovarian dermoid followed by enterodermoid fistula formation and intestinal obstruction is rare. Complete cytoreduction and bowel repair should be considered for optimal results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we have introduced a novel five-dimensional (5D) hyperchaotic system by extending the well-known Lorenz system. The dynamical properties of the system are analysed by calculating the Lyapunov exponents, graphing the phase portraits, bifurcation diagrams, the time series and by finding the Kaplan–Yorke dimension. The equilibrium points of the system have been calculated and the stability analysis of these equilibrium points is discussed. Hybrid function projective synchronisation has been carried out between the identical systems using the scheme of adaptive control. Suitable controllers have been designed to attain the desired synchronisation between the systems using Lyapunov stability theory. The theoretical results have been validated by performing numerical simulations using the MATLAB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart transportation systems have been the focus of research due to the development of smart cities. However, existing vehicular networks are not sufficient enough to fulfill the vision of futuristic smart cities due to limited flexibility, scalability, poor connection, and insufficient intelligence. These technological hurdles make the role of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) very important to improve the overall performance of the existing vehicular networks considering the unique properties of SDN such as Decoupling of network planes and Real-time network programming. This leads to the development of Software-Defined Vehicular Networks (SDVNs). SDVNs help to realize the development of smart transportation systems which further helps to optimize the vision of truly smart cities. However, the security remains a consistent concern due to the increased mobility, larger attack surface, and improvised future attack vector. This work includes the different design components, and offers a detailed survey to understand different security issues including the architectural and functional ones. Additionally, multiple security solutions are discussed including Service-based, Infrastructure-based, and Application-based solutions. Furthermore, the work also covers the possible challenges in the development of SDVNs based on Improved Architectural Development, Holistic Integration, Effective Orchestration, Environmental Volatility Handling, Global Network Management, Efficient Components/Technologies Integration, Diverse Security Offerings, and Design Issues' Maintenance. Lastly, the work highlights the resultant opportunities based on Application, Open Research, Network Management, Device Configuration, Traffic Management, QoS, and Efficient Routing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is a significant cause of morbidity worldwide, especially in the low and middle-income countries like India and is found to be more common in the rural areas. Delays in diagnosis and initiation of treatment along with lower treatment adherence and completion rates have increased the morbidity and mortality of TB in the rural areas. The collation of information accumulated through the assessment of people's Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) towards TB, helps in charting new health programs for the public, identifying lacunae, and devising interventions based on these lacunae which in turn will help us to achieve the vision of a "TB free India” by 2025. Aim: To find out KAP and any association amongst them regarding TB among the study subjects. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted on patients attending Outpatient Department (OPD) at the Rural Health Training Centre (RHTC) attached to NCR Institute of Medical Sciences, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India, during January 2021 to April 2021. From a sample of 106 patients data of KAP regarding TB was collected via a structured questionnaire which was predesigned and pretested. Pearson’s Chi-square test was used to ascertain the association between subjects' KAP about TB. A p-value <0.05 was taken as the predictor of statistical significance. Results: Out of 106 patients, 72 (67.92%), 80 (75.47%) and 52 (49.06%) had adequate KAP respectively. Participants having adequate knowledge showed positive attitude and good practices and this association was found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: The study results reflect that having adequate knowledge of the disease transforms into good practices and a positive attitude towards a person suffering from the said disease as well as helps the people to have a positive frame of mind in case they themselves contract the disease. Health education and behaviour change communication hence needs to be scaled up in rural communities to prevent, detect and treat tuberculosis in order to achieve a TB free India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To measure the anatomical dimensions of the vulva in adult Indian women. To analyze their correlations with age, body mass index (BMI), parity, and mode of delivery. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care university hospital in India, among 400 women aged 18 years and above. Various vulval measurements were taken, and Pearson's correction was applied to variables like age, BMI, parity, and mode of delivery. Results: Mean length of glans of clitoris was 5.2 ± 1.43 mm, the labia minora width was 2.6 ± 0.74 cm, length of introitus was 1.3 ± 0.59 cm, and perineal body length was 2.3 ± 0.60 cm. The range of some measurements was extensive, for example labia minora width ranged from 0.7 to 4.9 cm. Normal centile curves were constructed for vulval measurements according to age groups. Statistically significant positive correlations of age, BMI, and obstetrical history were seen with labia minora width (r = 0.165, P = 0.001; r = 0.284, P < 0.001; r = 0.246, P < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: The centile curves can be used as a reference for the Indian population of different ages. These can be used when counseling women coming for female genital cosmetic surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hemophilia B is associated with molecular heterogeneity, with more than 1200 unique variants in the F9 gene. We hereby describe the mutational spectrum of severe hemophilia B patients presenting in a tertiary‐care center in India. Method: DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of 35 diagnosed severe hemophilia B patients belonging to 32 families, and were subjected to Sanger sequencing. Determination of the effect of novel variants on the protein structure and correlation between genotype and phenotype was attempted using in‐silico tools. Results: Twenty‐seven different mutations were detected in 30 probands, including 20 known and 7 novel variants. Also, we found one suspected case of whole gene deletion. The serine peptidase domain harbored most of the variants (48.1%). Inhibitory antibodies were found in two patients. Conclusions: This study provides a comprehensive mutational spectrum and mutation screening strategy by Sanger sequencing of F9 gene in severe hemophilia B patients, in a resource‐constraint setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescents are at risk for mental health (MH) disorders but are unlikely to seek services and may be reluctant to talk about their MH. An anonymous, online MH-focused community could help reduce suffering. However, online forums can also promote negative behaviours such as cyberbullying. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of an online community – LovesCompany – to improve MH outcomes for adolescents. Methods: American adolescents (14–17 years) were recruited through social media. Eligible participants were randomised to LovesCompany or a placebo MH resource site. Outcomes were assessed every other week for six months, and at twelve months. Multilevel models assessed group differences in depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. A subgroup of participants participated in qualitative interviews. Results: Participants (N = 202) were mostly female (70%), White non-Hispanic (69%), and cisgender (80%). There were no instances of inappropriate behaviour such as bullying or posting explicit content. Symptoms for both groups improved over time. Participants appreciated hearing others' experiences and valued the opportunity to offer support. Conclusion: Although adolescents are often resistant to MH treatment, they appear to be interested in anonymous, online, MH-focused conversation, and can benefit from giving and seeking support. Finding a balance between an appealing user experience, ethical considerations, and resource needs is challenging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery of human obesity-associated genes can reveal new mechanisms to target for weight loss therapy. Genetic studies of obese individuals and the analysis of rare genetic variants can identify novel obesity-associated genes. However, establishing a functional relationship between these candidate genes and adiposity remains a significant challenge. We uncovered a large number of rare homozygous gene variants by exome sequencing of severely obese children, including those from consanguineous families. By assessing the function of these genes in vivo in Drosophila, we identified 4 genes, not previously linked to human obesity, that regulate adiposity (itpr, dachsous, calpA, and sdk). Dachsous is a transmembrane protein upstream of the Hippo signalling pathway. We found that 3 further members of the Hippo pathway, fat, four-jointed, and hippo, also regulate adiposity and that they act in neurons, rather than in adipose tissue (fat body). Screening Hippo pathway genes in larger human cohorts revealed rare variants in TAOK2 associated with human obesity. Knockdown of Drosophila tao increased adiposity in vivo demonstrating the strength of our approach in predicting novel human obesity genes and signalling pathways and their site of action. This study set out to identify novel gene variants that may contribute to human obesity, by combining human exosome sequencing analyses with systematic functional screening in Drosophila. This identifies a number of novel obesity-associated genes which control adiposity in flies, and uncovers a potential role for the Hippo signaling pathway in obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The model biological organism Drosophila melanogaster has been utilized to assess the effect of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) on locomotion, longevity, developmental dynamics, cell viability and oxidative stress. Developmental stages of Drosophila melanogaster (Oregon R strain) individually exposed to ELF-EMF (75 Hz, 550 µT) for 6 h once for acute exposure. For chronic exposure, complete life cycle of fly, that is, egg to adult fly was exposed to ELF-EMF for 6 h daily. The effect of exposure on their crawling and climbing ability, longevity, development dynamics, cellular damage and oxidative stress (generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS)) was evaluated. The crawling ability of larvae was significantly (p <.05) reduced on acute (third stage instar larvae) as well as chronic exposure (F0 and F1 larvae). When locomotion of flies was tested using climbing assay, no alteration was observed in their climbing ability under both acute and chronic exposure; however, when their speed of climbing was compared, a significant decrease in speed of F1 flies was observed (p =.0027) on chronic exposure. The survivability of flies was significantly affected under chronic and acute exposure (at third stage instar larvae). In case of acute exposure of the third stage instar larvae, although all the flies were eclosed by the 17th day, there was a significant decline in the number of flies (p =.007) in comparison to control. While in case of chronic exposure apart from low number of flies eclosed in comparison to control, there was delay in eclosion by one day (p =.0004). Using trypan blue assay, the internal gut damage of third stage instar larvae was observed. Under acute exposure condition at third stage instar larvae, 30% larvae has taken up trypan blue, while only 10% larvae from acute exposure at adult stage. On chronic exposure, 50% larvae of the F1 generation have taken up trypan blue. On evaluation of oxidative stress, there is a significant rise in ROS in case of acute exposure at third stage instar larvae (p =.0004), adult fly stage (p =.0004) and chronic exposure (p =.0001). ELF-EMF has maximum effects on acute exposure of third stage instar larvae and chronic exposure (egg to adult fly stage). These results suggest that electromagnetic radiations, though, have become indispensible part of our lives but they plausibly affect our health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Heavy doses of gamma irradiation can reduce linkage drag by disrupting large sized alien translocations and promoting exchanges between crop and wild genomes. Resistance to mustard aphid (Lipaphis erysimi) infestation was significantly improved in Brassica juncea through B. juncea-B. fruticulosa introgression. However, linkage drag caused by introgressed chromatin fragments has so far prevented the deployment of this resistance source in commercial cultivars. We investigated the patterns of donor chromatin segment substitutions in the introgression lines (ILs) through genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) coupled with B. juncea chromosome-specific oligonucleotide probes. These allowed identification of large chromosome translocations from B. fruticulosa in the terminal regions of chromosomes A05, B02, B03 and B04 in three founder ILs (AD-64, 101 and 104). Only AD-101 carried an additional translocation at the sub-terminal to intercalary position in both homologues of chromosome A01. We validated these translocations with a reciprocal blast hit analysis using shotgun sequencing of three ILs and species-specific contigs/scaffolds (kb sized) from a de novo assembly of B. fruticulosa. Alien segment substitution on chromosome A05 could not be validated. Current studies also endeavoured to break linkage drag by exposing seeds to a heavy dose (200kR) of gamma radiation. Reduction in the size of introgressed chromatin fragments was observed in many M3 plants. There was a complete loss of the alien chromosome fragment in one instance. A few M3 plants with novel patterns of chromosome segment substitutions displayed improved agronomic performance coupled with resistance to mustard aphid. SNPs in such genomic spaces should aid the development of markers to track introgressed DNA and allow application in plant breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver nanomaterials (AgNMs) ubiquitously known for their biological applications are studied here in terms of their shape-dependent antibacterial and anti-biofilm effect. Chemically synthesized nano-cubes (AgNCs) with size range around 150–200 nm were compared for their biological activity with commercial nano-sphere (AgNS) of comparable size (~160 nm). The antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus showed higher activity for nano-cubes compared with nano-spheres.The synergistic role of AgNMs with antibiotic ampicillin was also found promising. A four times enhancement and an increase of nearly 25% of antibiotic activity at 0.0625 mg ml–1 concentration was found with 0.05 mg ml–1 of AgNCs in agar and broth media, respectively. Anti-biofilm effect towards E. coli and S. aureus was also evaluated. AgNCs showed equal importance in biofilm disruption with 20% inhibition activity, which was yet again found better in-comparison with AgNSs. The study shows that AgNCs with distinct faces and edges could show efficient anti-bacterial effect and so such intelligently designed material could pave path for imminent medical challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and its resistant form methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is one of the most common nosocomial pathogens causing a wide range of infections in humans. The anterior nares are the main ecological niche for S. aureus. Nasal carriage of S. aureus acts as an important reservoir of infection among the colonised healthcare workers and they transmit the infection to the community. The aim of the present study was to estimate the nasal colonisation of S. aureus (with special reference to MRSA) in healthcare workers (doctors and nursing staff) and its antibiotic susceptibility pattern. Methods: A descriptive study was planned in the Department of Microbiology, JLN Medical College, Ajmer (Rajasthan, India) after due approval from the institutional ethics committee. A total of 170 healthcare workers of either sex aged between 18 to 60 years were screened for S. aureus. Identification was done using standard microbiological techniques, by studying their morphology, colony and biochemical characteristics. MRSA was detected by cefoxitin disc diffusion test, oxacillin disc diffusion test, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of oxacillin by E-test and oxacillin screen agar test. The observations were described in proportions and Chisquared test was used to find independence. Statistical significance was considered at 5 %. Results: Among 170 samples, 159 (93.53 %) samples (50 doctors and 109 nursing staff) had staphylococci colonisation. Among these 159 isolates, 34 (21.38 %) were S. aureus. Further, 8 (5.03 %) S. aureus isolates were resistant to both cefoxitin and oxacillin and had oxacillin MIC values ≥ 4 µg/mL and were considered MRSA. All the MRSA were detected in the nursing staff (males: 5.50 %, females: 1.83 %). All S. aureus and MRSA isolates were found sensitive to linezolid, vancomycin and mupirocin (minimum inhibitory concentration ≤ 4 µg/mL). Conclusion: Screening and treatment of healthcare workers colonised with MRSA should be an important component of hospital infection control policy. These measures will prevent spread of infection to patients and the community and thereby reduce the morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs associated with nosocomial infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of cloud computing with Software Defined Networking (SDN) addresses several challenges of a typical cloud infrastructure such as complex inter-networking, data collection, fast response, etc. Though SDN-based cloud opens new opportunities, the SDN controller may itself become vulnerable to several attacks. The unique features of SDN are used by the attackers to implement the severe Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. Several approaches are available in literature to defend against the traditional DDoS flooding attacks in SDN-cloud. To elude the detection systems, attackers try to employ the cultivated attack strategies. Such sophisticated DDoS attack strategies are implemented by generating low-rate attack traffic. The most common type of Low-Rate DDoS (LR-DDoS) attack is the Shrew attack. The existing approaches are not capable to detect, mitigate, and traceback such attacks. Thus, this work discusses a new mechanism which not only detects and mitigates the shrew attack but traces back the location of the attack sources as well. The attack is detected using the information entropy variations, and the attack sources are traced-back using the deterministic packet marking scheme. The experiments are performed in a real SDN-cloud scenario, and the experimental results show that the approach requires 1 packet and 8.27 packets on an average to locate the bots and attackers respectively. The approach detects and traces back the attack sources in between 14.45 ms to 10.02 s and provides 97.6% accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 as COVID-19 virus has affected the entire world and so to the cancer care and health-care facility. Cancer cervix is one of the common malignancies among women in developing and underdeveloped countries. Various challenges are being faced by patients and health-care providers to deliver optimal treatment under prescribed time frame. Faster delivery of whole treatment is desirable in the current pandemic. Overall treatment time in cancer cervix has prognostic value. Adoption of altered fractionation to delivered external beam radiation therapy could be a method for faster delivery of whole treatment. Altered fractionation such as hyperfractionation (HFX), hypofractionation, and accelerated fraction alone or with HFX has already been experimented for the past three decades. The total duration of treatment has been significantly reduced without addition of much toxicity. Few studies had also highlighted the feasibility of addition of chemotherapy to such fractionation schedule. However, prospective studies are still warranted to generate data to further support its use in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common form of glomerulonephritis across the world. Oxford classification defines criteria and effects of endocapillary hypercellularity on E score but the reproducibility of the same is debatable. Hence, there is a need for an objective marker that could establish a gold standard in assessing endocapillary hypercellularity. Methods: Forty biopsies of proven IgAN were taken and grouped into two groups based on the presence or absence of endocapillary hypercellularity (n = 20 each). These biopsies were then stained by CD68 immune stain and the glomerular macrophages were quantified. Mean serum creatinine, presence of hypertension, degree of proteinuria and haematuria at the time of biopsy were also recorded and the correlation between these parameters and endocapillary hypercellularity was also studied. Results: Mean glomerular CD 68+ cell count was significantly higher in glomeruli showing endocapillary hypercellularity. Utilising the objective cutoff values of 0.6 CD68+ per glomerulus, more than 8 glomerular CD68+ cells in the entire biopsy and/or around 4 CD68+ cells in the most inflamed glomerulus, endocapillary hypercellularity can be predicted with a sensitivity of 70-80% and specificity of 70%. After regrouping the biopsies based on the cutoff values obtained from the receiver operating curve analysis the mean urine RBC count per high power field showed a significant correlation with endocapillary hypercellularity. Conclusion: Glomerular CD68+ macrophage count seems to be a promising approach in assessing endocapillary hypercellularity. Further studies with emphasis on correlation with the clinical outcome are needed to validate its utility as an objective tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postmenopausal bleeding is one of the common presenting complaints in the gynecological outpatient department. The common causes of which are atrophic endometritis, vaginitis, estrogen therapy, cancer endometrium, and cancer cervix. Hereby, we present a rare case of a 65-year-old female presented with postmenopausal bleeding who had history of trauma 1 year back with pelvic bone fracture. The cause of postmenopausal bleeding, in this case, is abnormal bony protrusion secondary to malunited pelvic fracture causing laceration of the right lateral vaginal wall. The case was managed by local osteotomy and vaginal wall repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human gut is colonized by trillions of bacteria as well as other microorganisms, collectively referred to as the "gut microflora." This microflora plays an important role in metabolism as well as immunity, and alterations in its normal composition and pattern of colonization can disturb the development and functioning of the immune system, predisposing the individual to several diseases. Neonates acquire their gut microflora from the mother as well as the surroundings, and as the infant grows, the gut microflora undergoes several changes, ultimately acquiring an adult-like composition. Characterization of the gut microflora of healthy infants is important to protect infants from infectious diseases. Furthermore, formulation of prebiotics and probiotics for boosting infant immunity in a specific population also requires prior knowledge of the normal gut microflora in a healthy infant in that population. To this end, several studies have been performed on Western infants; however, the gut microflora of Indian infants is as yet insufficiently studied. Moreover, there has been no comparative analysis of the development and characteristics of the infant gut microflora between the two populations. In this review, we discuss the development and maturation of the infant gut microflora and its effect on immunity, as well as the factors affecting the patterns of colonization. In addition, we compare the patterns of colonization of gut microflora between Western and Indian infants based on the available literature in an attempt to identify the extent of similarity or difference between the two populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is a cobalt-containing compound that acts as an essential co-factor for various enzymes involved in the metabolic processes of the living cells. The constructed FRET Sensor for Vitamin Anemia Linked (SenVitAL) displayed marginal FRET efficiency. Here, we report the development of a molecular SenVitAL containing enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (ECFP) and venus as FRET pair to improve the FRET efficiency for optical imaging and screening of already developed sensor by our group. The sensor is the improved version of previously reported SenVitAL and consists of ECFP/venus as FRET pair instead of the originally used pair CFP/YFP. To increase the physiological range of vitamin B12 measurement, affinity mutants were created. Compared to the wild type, SenVitAL-5 with W44Q mutation has higher affinity and displayed large dynamic detection range (0.10–480 µM) in response to vitamin B12 binding. For cell-based monitoring and dynamic measurement of vitamin B12 flux rates, SenVitAL-5 was successfully expressed in cytosol of yeast and mammalian cells. Changes in the emission intensities of the two fluorophores were detected using confocal microscopy in both cell types in response to vitamin B12. With the addition of 50 µM extracellular vitamin B12 to the cells, the emission intensity of venus increased and that of ECFP decreased over the time. Furthermore, the results show that the variant SenVitAL-5 measures the vitamin B12 in a concentration-dependent manner, showing the resulting increase in the FRET ratio and thus confirming its utility as an ideal fluorescent indicator for the detection of vitamin B12 in eukaryotic systems in real time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cross-linked polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) films and surfaces obtained by thermal cross-linking of commercially available Sylgard 184 are widely utilized in many areas of science, due to superior thermal stability, low dielectric constant, transparency and biocompatibility. Cross-linked PDMS surfaces are weakly hydrophobic and several experiments, particularly the ones that utilize capillary-driven microscale flow require the modulation of the surface wettability. A well-known strategy to achieve the same is by exposing the Sylgard 184 surface to UV/ozone (UVO) treatment at room temperature. Depending on the duration of exposure, the wettability drops from hydrophobic to a near-complete wetting (water contact angle ~10°), due to the formation of a surface oxide layer. However, under normal atmospheric conditions, these surfaces recover their hydrophobicity over a period of time due to diffusive migration of the uncrosslinked oligomers to the surface, and formation of a hydrophobic dimethyl silicone layer. We explore the hydrophobic recovery process as a function of cross-linker concentration and UVO exposure time and show how a partially or fully recovered PDMS stamp may influence subsequent nanopatterning, including the possible creation of features with different morphology using a single stamp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to characterise the peripheral arthritis of spondyloarthritis (pSpA) excluding psoriatic-, inflammatory enteropathy-related, post-infectious reactive-SpA and arthritis associated with axial SpA/ankylosing spondylitis (axSpA/AS). Patients presenting with the clinical features of the broad spectrum of SpA were screened for the presence of peripheral arthritis using the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) criteria. The other conditions that could cause pSpA, e.g. psoriasis, inflammatory enteropathy, reactive arthritis and axSpA/AS, were excluded. Their assessment included clinical, laboratory and imaging features. Of a total of 405 patients seen within the spectrum of SpA, 25 (6.2%) patients were identified as pSpA with none of the conditions that could be attributed to their disease. The male to female ratio was 2.6:1; the pattern of involvement was predominantly lower extremity asymmetrical large joint oligoarthritis in persons below the age of 40 years (60% were <30 years of age). Some had soft tissue and/or extra-articular manifestations characteristic of SpA (36%) and family history (20%) of SpA spectrum of diseases. When compared to peripheral arthritis reported in axial axSpA/AS, root/central joint involvement was minimal in pSpA. Otherwise, the pattern of arthritis appeared similar. Exclusive peripheral arthritis without the presence of the other disease-defining conditions is uncommon, seen only in 6.2% of the SpA spectrum diseases. The pattern of joint involvement was similar to that observed with axSpA/AS except that the root/central joints were not seen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cloud computing is a fast-growing and promising technology segment that aims to reduce maintenance and management costs by shifting high-quality computing infrastructure to the Internet. It is emerging as a dominant technology because it provides an on-demand, self-service, scalable, and pay-per-use business model. Despite its numerous benefits, it suffers from several security challenges. As a consequence of on-demand service, availability of computing resources is the crucial attribute of cloud computing among security necessities. In this work, a survey is presented on various issues related to the availability of resources in a cloud environment. Ensuring availability and security of computing/storage resources are still challenging tasks. The adversary class readily exploits the vulnerabilities in the cloud infrastructure for attack implementation. The article presents a study of various categories of distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks in cloud computing and their defense mechanisms. It is believed that this is the first work which surveys all varieties of DDoS attacks in the cloud environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wireless network security is becoming a great challenge as its popularity is in the high spirit. On account of open medium, insignificant software implementation, potential for hardware deficits, and improper configuration; Wi-Fi network is vulnerable to Rogue Access Point (RAP). Rogue Access Point is an unauthorized access point which can be installed by end-users without the knowledge of security administrator. When this rogue device is connected to the Internet, it can be used by an assailant to breach the security of the network. Existing RAPs detection techniques have limited capabilities and are not able to detect all variants of assaulters activities. In this paper, a method named Honeypot Intrusion Detection System (Honeypot IDS) is proposed for the detection and prevention of Rogue Access Point via attack detection performed by internal and external malicious users. Honeypot IDS combines Intrusion Detection System and Honeypot, to reduce false alarm rate generated by existing IDS. The proposed approach consist of three phases; filtering, intrusion detection system and honeypot. The traffic after passing filtering and intrusion detection system is rerouted to honeypot for in-depth investigation. The proposed architecture improves the overall performance of the system by diminishing false alarm rate generated by intrusion detection system and is able to sustain the overall workload of honeypot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We studied the effects of oral gabapentin and intravenous (I.V.) dexamethasone given together or separately 1 h before the start of surgery on intraoperative hemodynamics Postoperative analgesia and postoperative nausea vomiting (PONV) in patients undergoing gynaecological procedure. Materials and Methods: Patients were randomly divided into three groups: Group 1 (gabapentin, n = 46) received 400 mg gabapentin, Group 2 (dexamethasone, n = 46) received 8 mg dexamethasone and Group 3 (gabapentin plus dexamethasone, n = 46) received both 400 mg gabapentin and 8 mg dexamethasone I.V. 1 h before the start of surgery. Standard induction and maintenance of anesthesia were accomplished. Visual analog scale for pain was recorded for 12 h. Side effects were noted. Results: Hemodynamics at various time interval (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 min) of laryngeal mask airway insertion and PONV were found significantly lower in Group 3 than in Group 1 and Group 2 (P < 0.05). The average time to first postoperative analgesic requirement at (visual analogue score >3) was significantly longer in Group 3 (510.00 ± 61.64 min) than in Group 1 (352.83 ± 80.61 min) and in Group 2 (294.78 ± 60.76 min), (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The present study concludes that the combination of oral Gabapentin and I.V. dexamethasone has significantly less hemodynamic changes, better postoperative analgesia and less incidence of PONV than individual administration of each drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Odontogenic cysts are derived from odontogenic apparatus which may develop before or after the formation of tooth. Most of these are developmental in origin. However, non-odontogenic cysts also exist in the jaw. Among the odontogenic cysts the most prevalent are periapical cyst followed by dentigerous and Odontogenic Keratocyst (OKC). OKC was also termed as Keratocystic Odontogenic Tumour (KCOT), well-known for its aggressive behaviour, varied origin, debated development and tendency to recur has been the focus of much research and discussion since four decades. It arises either from epithelial rests of the dental lamina or the tooth primordium and is generally aggressive and invasive, while dentigerous cysts are common odontogenic cysts that are related to the crown of the impacted tooth and known to arise from reduced enamel epithelium. It is rare to find both these entities occurring simultaneously in the same patient. Multiple OKC are generally associated with nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, and accounts to the mutation in the PTCH, a tumour suppressor gene. However, this case reports a non-syndromic variant. A 13- year-old female patient with multiple cysts in the jaw that were evaluated, diagnosed and treated adequately based on clinical, radiographic and histopathological examination has been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MPS II is an X linked recessive lysosomal storage disorder with multi-system involvement and marked molecular heterogeneity. In this study, we explored the clinical and molecular spectrum of 144 Indian patients with MPS II from 130 unrelated families. Clinical information was collected on a predesigned clinical proforma. Sanger method was employed to sequence all the exons and exon/intron boundaries of the IDS gene. In cases where causative variation was not detected by Sanger sequencing, MLPA and RFLP were performed to identify large deletions/duplications and complex rearrangements. Cytogenetic microarray was done in one patient to see the breakpoints and extent of deletion. In one patient with no detectable likely pathogenic or pathogenic variation, whole-genome sequencing was also performed. Novel variants were systematically assessed by in silico prediction software and protein modelling. The pathogenicity of variants was established based on ACMG criteria. An attempt was also made to establish a genotype-phenotype correlation. Positive family history was present in 31% (41/130) of patients. Developmental delay and intellectual disability were the main reasons for referral. Macrocephaly, coarse facies and dysostosis were present in almost all patients. Hepatosplenomegaly, joint contractures and short stature were the characteristic features, seen in 87% (101/116), 67.8% (74/109) and 41.4% (41/99) patients respectively. Attenuated phenotype was seen in 32.6% (47/144) patients, while severe phenotype was seen in 63% (91/144) patients. The detection rate for likely pathogenic or pathogenic variants in our cohort is 95.5% (107/112) by Sanger sequencing, MLPA and RFLP. We also found two variants of unknown significance, one each by Sanger sequencing and WGS. Total of 71 variants were identified by Sanger sequencing and 29 of these variants were found to be novel. Amongst the novel variants, there was a considerable proportion (51%) of frameshift variants (15/29). Almost half of the causative variants were located in exon 3,8 and 9. A significant genotype-phenotype correlation was also noted for both known and novel variants. This information about the genotype spectrum and phenotype will be helpful for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With rising incidence of acquired drug resistance among life-threatening pathogens, alternative approaches to improve therapy and vaccination have taken center stage. To this end, genome-wide and pathway-specific siRNA libraries are being employed increasingly to identify genes that regulate immune responses against a number of pathogens. In this study using calcium and cysteine protease pathway-specific siRNA libraries, we identified genes that play critical roles in modulating diverse functions of dendritic cells (DCs) during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Knockdown of many of these genes in the two pathways resulted in reduced bacterial burden within DCs. These included genes that regulated activation of transcription factors, ubiquitin-specific peptidases, and genes that are involved in autophagy and neddylation. Knockdown of certain genes increased the expression of IL-12p40 and surface densities of costimulatory molecules in an antigen- and receptor-specific manner. Increased IL-12p40 and costimulatory molecules on DCs also promoted the development of Th1 responses from a Th2 inducing antigen. Furthermore, modulation of autophagy and oxidative burst appeared to be one of the mechanisms by which these genes regulated survival of M. tuberculosis within DCs. Although some genes regulated specific responses, others regulated multiple responses that included IL-12 production, T cell priming, as well as intracellular survival of M. tuberculosis. Further dissection of the mechanisms such as neddylation, by which these genes regulate immune responses, would improve our understanding of host parameters that are modulated during M. tuberculosis infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcium (Ca2+) signaling is known to regulate the development, maintenance and modulation of activity in neuronal circuits that underlie organismal behavior. In Drosophila, intracellular Ca2+ signaling by the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor and the storeoperated channel (dOrai) regulates the formation and function of neuronal circuits that control flight. Here, we show that restoring InsP3R activity in insulin-producing neurons of flightless InsP3R mutants (itpr) during pupal development can rescue systemic flight ability. Expression of the store operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) regulator dSTIM in insulin-producing neurons also suppresses compromised flight ability of InsP3R mutants suggesting that SOCE can compensate for impaired InsP3R function. Despite restricted expression of wild-type InsP3R and dSTIM in insulin-producing neurons, a global restoration of SOCE and store Ca2+ is observed in primary neuronal cultures from the itpr mutant. These results suggest that restoring InsP3R-mediated Ca2+ release and SOCE in a limited subset of neuromodulatory cells can influence systemic behaviors such as flight by regulating intracellular Ca2+homeostasis in a large population of neurons through a non-cell-autonomous mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Treatment of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is far from satisfactory. There is an urgent need for a therapy that is efficacious, safe, affordable, and of short duration. Methods. A randomized open-label study was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of 2 regimens of paromomycin administered intramuscularly. Group A received 11 mg/kg/day for 14 days (n = 217 ) and group B received 11 mg/kg/day for 21 days (n = 112) for the treatment of VL in India. Results. Mild grade injection site pain was the most common adverse event. There was no nephrotoxicity, but 4 patients in group A had to discontinue treatment because of grade 3 elevation of hepatic enzymes. Initial cure was observed in 91.2% and 96.4% of patients in group A and group B, respectively. Definitive cure at 6 months of follow up was seen in 82% of patients in group A and 92% of patients in group B by intention-to-treat analysis and in 84.3% of patients in group A and 92.8% of patients in group B by per protocol analysis. Conclusions. Although the cure rate in the group of patients who received the 14-day regimen was not optimal, the results with respect to initial cure were encouraging. Further studies that combine a short course of paromomycin with treatment with another antileishmanial agent are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Inositol 1,4,5- trisphosphate receptor (InsP3R) is an intracellular ligand gated channel that releases calcium from intracellular stores in response to extracellular signals. To identify and understand physiological processes and behavior that depends on the InsP3 signaling pathway at a systemic level, we are studying Drosophila mutants for the InsP3R (itpr) gene. Here, we show that growth defects precede larval lethality and both are a consequence of the inability to feed normally. Moreover, restoring InsP3R function in insulin producing cells (IPCs) in the larval brain rescues the feeding deficit, growth and lethality in the itpr mutants to a significant extent. We have previously demonstrated a critical requirement for InsP3R activity in neuronal cells, specifically in aminergic interneurons, for larval viability. Processes from the IPCs and aminergic domain are closely apposed in the third instar larval brain with no visible cellular overlap. Ubiquitous depletion of itpr by dsRNA results in feeding deficits leading to larval lethality similar to the itpr mutant phenotype. However, when itpr is depleted specifically in IPCs or aminergic neurons, the larvae are viable. These data support a model where InsP3R activity in non-overlapping neuronal domains independently rescues larval itpr phenotypes by non-cell autonomous mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Error-free progression through mitosis is critical for proper cell division and accurate distribution of the genetic material. The anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) ubiquitin ligase regulates the progression from metaphase to anaphase and its activation is controlled by the cofactors Cdc20 and Cdh1. Additionally, genome stability is maintained by the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC), which monitors proper attachment of chromosomes to spindle microtubules prior to cell division. We had shown a role for Tank Binding Kinase 1 (TBK1) in microtubule dynamics and mitosis and here we describe a novel role of TBK1 in regulating SAC in breast and lung cancer cells. TBK1 interacts with and phosphorylates Cdc20 and Cdh1 and depletion of TBK1 elevates SAC components. TBK1 inhibition increases the association of Cdc20 with APC/C and BubR1 indicating inactivation of APC/C; similarly, interaction of Cdh1 with APC/C is also enhanced. TBK1 and TTK inhibition reduces cell viability and enhances centrosome amplification and micronucleation. These results indicate that alterations in TBK1 will impede mitotic progression and combining TBK1 inhibitors with other regulators of mitosis might be effective in eliminating cancer cells. • Tank Binding Kinase 1 (TBK1) regulates mitotic spindle assembly checkpoint. • TBK1 interacts with and phosphorylates Cdc20 and Cdh1. • Association of Cdc20 and Ch1 with APC is affected by TBK1. • Inhibition of TBK1 can lead to centrosome amplification and growth arrest. • Inhibitors TBK1 and the mitotic kinase TTK co-operate to induce growth arrest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics by healthcare professionals is a worldwide concern. The purpose of this study was to determine the pattern of antibiotic prescription among oral healthcare providers in India. Methods A one-page questionnaire was sent to 1600 oral healthcare practitioners registered under the Indian Dental Association by using multistage sampling; 552 (34.5%) responded to the survey. The data were analysed using the χ2 test and multiple logistic regression analysis. Results Of 552 questionnaire respondents, 405 (73.4%) chose amoxicillin in non-allergic patients, alone [279 (50.5%)] or associated with clavulanic acid [126 (22.8%)]. The average duration of antibiotic therapy was 4.26 ± 1.26 days. The drug of first choice for patients with an allergy to penicillin was erythromycin [242 (43.8%) of respondents]. A majority prescribed antibiotics for irreversible pulpitis and acute apical periodontitis [395 (71.6%)] and necrotic pulp, acute apical periodontitis and no swelling [326 (59.1%)]. Five hundred and ten (92.4%) of the oral healthcare providers overprescribed antibiotics. Conclusions Oral healthcare providers in India are overprescribing, which could be a major contributor to the world problem of antimicrobial resistance. As there is overprescription of antibiotics by Indian oral healthcare providers, there is an urgent need to raise public and professional awareness regarding the risks of antibiotic use. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Introduction: Protein-Energy Malnutrition (PEM) and prevalence of under-weight children in India, is an important health concern. Aim: To evaluate the effect of Oral Nutritional Supplement (ONS) on growth, overall nutrient intake and frequency of illness in nutritionally at-risk Indian children. Materials and Methods: In this prospective, randomised, gender-stratified, controlled, parallel group, open label study, 216 children (aged 4-6 years with weight-for-age z-score between -2 and -1) were randomised (1:1) to receive either 45 g of ONS {Test product+Dietary advice (T+D)} or control group {Dietary advice only (D-only)} for three months. Primary endpoints included weight-for-age z-score and weight gain in terms of g/kg/day from baseline to three months. Secondary endpoints included change in height-for-age z-scores; frequency of illness, change in dietary nutrient intake and Protein/Energy (P/E) ratio from baseline through three months. Safety endpoint included Adverse Events (AEs). PROC MIXED was used to perform Repeated Measures Analysis Of Variance (RMANOVA) based on the changes in z-scores. The z-scores changes within the group from baseline to the end of three months End-of-Study (EOS) were compared using paired t-test. Results: At baseline, the mean (SD) weight-for-age z-scores were similar in both the groups {1.50 (0.309) and -1.49 (0.312) in T+D and D-only groups, respectively}. At the EOS, only T+D group showed significant mean (SD) change from baseline in weight-for-age z-score compared to the D-only group {0.59 (0.296), p<0.001 vs. 0.04 (0.267), p=0.0974}. Mean rate of weight gain (g/kg/day) was significantly higher in T+D group vs. D-only group (1.12 vs. 0.26, p<0.0001). At baseline, height-for-age z-scores were similar in both the groups {-1.36 (0.668) vs -1.37 (0.638) in T+D and D-only groups, respectively}. At EOS, the mean (SD) change from baseline in height-for-age z-score was -0.02 (0.198), p=0.2389 in T+D group and -0.15 (0.171), p<0.001 in the D-only group. However, the change was not proportionate to weight-for-age z-score. Total absolute number of illness episodes was less in T+D group vs. D-only group (9 vs. 13). Improvement in dietary nutrient intake (carbohydrate, fat, protein and energy) and P/E ratio was significantly higher (p<0.001) in T+D group vs. D-only group. Overall, 8.3% children in T+D group experienced at least one treatment-emergent AE. Conclusion: The ONS helps to improve growth, nutrient intake and reduces frequency of illness in nutritionally at-risk children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to describe the characteristics and initial treatment patterns, healthcare resource use (HCRU), and costs of patients newly diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1)-related plexiform neurofibromas (PN).Methods: This was a retrospective study of individuals enrolled in the IBM MarketScan Multi-State Medicaid database from 1 October 2014 to 31 December 2017. Patients aged ≤18 years at the index date (first diagnosis of NF1 or PN, whichever occurred later) with at least 1 ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for both NF1 and PN were included. All-cause HCRU and the associated direct costs during the follow-up period were calculated per patient per year (PPPY) in 2018 USD.Results: A total of 383 patients were included with a mean follow-up of 448 days. Most patients were diagnosed by a specialist (63.5%). During the follow-up period, pain medications were used by 58.5% of patients, 25.1% were treated with chemotherapy, 7.1% received surgery for PN, 1.6% received MEK inhibitors, and 0.8% received radiation. Mean PPPY inpatient, outpatient, ER, pharmacy, and other visits were 1.4, 17.3, 1.6, 13.6, and 25.8, respectively. Mean ± SD (median) total PPPY healthcare costs were $17,275 ± $61,903 ($2889), with total medical costs of $14,628 ± $56,203 ($2334) and pharmacy costs of $2646 ± $13,303 ($26).Conclusions: This study showed that many pediatric patients newly diagnosed with NF1 and PN were initially treated with supportive care only, highlighting a substantial unmet medical need. This study also highlights the considerable economic burden among patients with NF1 and PN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brucella endocarditis is a rare but a severe complication of brucellosis, observed in less than 2% of cases. It is the main cause responsible for up to 80% of deaths in brucellosis. Herein, we present a case of brucella endocarditis that developed on a native aortic valve, but presented to us with fever for several months and acute neurological symptoms. This case report signifies the importance of considering brucella endocarditis as one of the differentials in patients presenting with Pyrexia of Unknown Origin (PUO) and Central Nervous System (CNS) manifestations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Lead is one of the most toxic heavy metal prevalent in the environment, which affects almost all major organs including heart, brain, intestines, kidneys as well as reproductive organs. It has been known that serum iron deficiency is associated with increased serum lead levels as lead is a particularly pernicious element to iron metabolism. Lead is also known to freely cross the placenta too; hence, this study was planned to determine any association between antenatal iron deficiency anemia (IDA), raised blood lead levels (BPb), and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Materials and Methods: This was an observational study done on 99 antenatal women with IDA and 41 nonanemic antenatal women. Lead levels were assessed in these 140 antenatal women and they were followed for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Chi-square test was used to find a difference in quantitative variables and Pearson's correlation test was used to assess association between BPb and hemoglobin levels. Results: We found that in 11 out of 99 (11.11%) women with IDA, BPb levels were high as compared to high BPb levels in only 1 out of 41 (2.4%) women without IDA and the high BPb levels ranged from 4 μg/dl–16.9 μg/dl with a mean BPb of 8.1 μg/dl. The difference in BPb among anemic and nonanemic antenatal women was significant (P < 0.05) and there was a negative dose effect relationship between BPb levels and hemoglobin levels. This difference in antenatal outcomes among women with and without high BPb levels was also significant with increased incidence of pre-eclampsia, FGR, and preterm deliveries in women with raised BPb levels. The incidence of NICU admission was also higher in the neonates of mothers with high BPb levels. Conclusions: We propose screening of high-risk women based on their social, occupational, environmental, and personal factors, with serum lead levels in the preconception period itself. All public and personal measures must be taken to reduce lead consumption and exposure in the preconception and antenatal period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enzyme methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR) plays an important role in mediating global levels of methane by catalyzing a reversible reaction that leads to the production or consumption of this potent greenhouse gas in methanogenic and methanotrophic archaea. In methanogenic archaea, the alpha subunit of MCR (McrA) typically contains four to six posttranslationally modified amino acids near the active site. Recent studies have identified enzymes performing two of these modifications (thioglycine and 5-[S]-methylarginine), yet little is known about the formation and function of the remaining posttranslationally modified residues. Here, we provide in vivo evidence that a dedicated S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methyltransferase encoded by a gene we designated methylcysteine modification (mcmA) is responsible for formation of S-methylcysteine in Methanosarcina acetivorans McrA. Phenotypic analysis of mutants incapable of cysteine methylation suggests that the S-methylcysteine residue might play a role in adaption to mesophilic conditions. To examine the interactions between the S-methylcysteine residue and the previously characterized thioglycine, 5-(S)-methylarginine modifications, we generated M. acetivorans mutants lacking the three known modification genes in all possible combinations. Phenotypic analyses revealed complex, physiologically relevant interactions between the modified residues, which alter the thermal stability of MCR in a combinatorial fashion that is not readily predictable from the phenotypes of single mutants. High-resolution crystal structures of inactive MCR lacking the modified amino acids were indistinguishable from the fully modified enzyme, suggesting that interactions between the posttranslationally modified residues do not exert a major influence on the static structure of the enzyme but rather serve to fine-tune the activity and efficiency of MCR. The unusual post-translational modifications of the enzyme methyl-coenzyme M reductase have no major impact on the static structure of the enzyme, but instead serve to fine-tune its activity and efficiency of catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New avenues for research have opened, which assess the influence of systemic disease on periodontium and vice versa. To find the correlation between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and periodontium by assessing clinical parameters [plaque index (PI), probing depth, periodontal disease index (PDI)] and the anthropological parameter [body mass index (BMI)] and to find the correlation between body mass index and periodontal disease index in subjects with and without PCOS. Sixty females comprising 30 with PCOS and 30 without PCOS were selected. Clinical, anthropological, and radiological assessment was done. Double blinding was incorporated. There was a statistically highly significant difference in mean age, mean PI, and mean PDI (P < 0.001) in PCOS group when compared to those without PCOS group by unpaired t-test for inter-group analysis. A statistically significant difference was found in mean probing depth and mean BMI (P < 0.05) in PCOS group when compared to those without PCOS group by unpaired t-test for inter-group analysis. No statistically significant correlation was found between mean PDI and mean BMI in PCOS and non-PCOS group subjects using Spearman's rank correlation. Women suffering from PCOS may be at a heightened risk for developing periodontal disease as our study re-establishes this association with respect to some periodontal parameters. With such a result, general practitioners/gynecologists can be encouraged to refer cases of PCOS to periodontists for early detection, prevention of periodontal disease, and maintenance of periodontal health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EG) typically presents with a combination of chronic nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms which include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss, and abdominal distension. Approximately 80% of the patients have symptoms for several years. A high degree of clinical suspicion is often required to establish the diagnosis, as this disease is extremely rare. We are presenting the case of a 19 year old boy who presented with growth retardation and markedly decreased secondary sexual characteristics. Taking the full clinical history and a meticulous investigation finally led to the diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study is to compare the effectiveness of autologous serum therapy (AST) with histaglobulin in patients of chronic urticaria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective, comparative, randomized controlled, single-blinded study. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, patients were selected and divided into two groups by randomization. Autologous serum skin test was done in each patient irrespective of their groups. Group A (n = 30) received AST and Group B (n = 30) received histaglobulin. Patients' assessment was done every week for urticaria activity score (UAS) for 8 weeks. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: We used Mann–Whitney test to compare the means between two groups. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare pre- and posttreatment UAS scores. RESULTS: Both therapies reduced UAS significantly (P = 0.01) at 8 weeks, and the reduction was observed every week. AST reduced UAS more than histaglobulin. However, within intergroup, difference was not significant. All patients had reduced severity of urticaria; however, complete remission (UAS = 0) was observed in three patients of Group A. CONCLUSION: Group A (AST) showed statistically significant improvement than Group B (histaglobulin), but both showed a reduction in UAS with a longer treatment-free interval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: Hypertension is not a typical feature of steroid sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) and the presence of persistent hypertension is suggestive of significant renal lesion. There is paucity of data regarding occurrence and severity of hypertension in SSNS in pediatric population during remission and was the main objective of this study. In addition, correlation with factors like family history, BMI, and lipid profile was studied.Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted at tertiary care center in India including 81 children of infrequent relapsing SSNS between 1 and 10 years in remission and was off steroids. Grading and severity of hypertension were assessed. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 21.0.Results: Median age of presentation was 5 years, with male:female ratio of 1.3:1. Out of 81 infrequent relapsing SSNS children, 23.45% (19) had hypertension. Among those children with hypertension (n = 19), 73.68% (14) had positive family history compared to 32.25% (20) in those without hypertension. Positive correlation was found between BP and serum cholesterol and LDL. Of the hypertensive patients, 1 (5.26%) had fundus changes, 2 (10.52%) had features of left ventricular hypertrophy, and 13 (68.42%) had non-nephrotic range proteinuria.Conclusion: There is high incidence of hypertension in NS children during remission. Though significant positive correlation was found with positive family history of hypertension and deranged lipid profile highlighting possibility of essential hypertension in them, there is need for close active monitoring and management of hypertension in them as untreated cases may have significant target organ damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulmonary agenesis, a rare congenital condition, is incompatible with life when present bilateral, while unilateral agenesis is usually detected in infancy or early childhood. Rare asymptomatic patients may reach adulthood undiagnosed, with signs mimicking common conditions presenting as radiopaque hemithorax with ipsilateral mediastinal shift. Here, we describe a case of a young lady, with history of consanguinity, who presented with complaints, suggestive of lower respiratory tract infection, and was investigated and diagnosed to be a case of right-side pulmonary agenesis with large ostium secondum atrial septal defect. Our present case emphasizes the importance of presence of pulmonary agenesis with cardiac congenital anomaly, remaining asymptomatic until adulthood, particularly in patients born of parents with consanguineous marriages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]