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Net form of net blotch caused by Pyrenophora teres f. teres (Ptt) is a major foliar disease of barley (Hordeum vulgare) worldwide. Knowledge of the evolution of Ptt pathogen populations is important for development of durable host‐plant resistance. This study was conducted to investigate changes in genetic structure of a Ptt population within a barley field during three cropping years. The susceptible barley cultivar Henley was inoculated with Ptt isolate NB050. Leaf samples were collected during the years 2013–15 and 174 single spore Ptt isolates stored. Genotyping using Diversity Arrays Technology markers identified that 25% of isolates were clones of the inoculated isolate and 75% of isolates were multilocus genotypes (MLGs) differing from the original inoculated genotype. The novel genotypes probably originated from a combination of windborne spores from neighbouring fields, infected seed and sexual recombination in the field. The rapid change in the genotypic composition of the Ptt population in this study suggests adaptive potential of novel genotypes and demonstrates the need for barley breeders to use multiple sources of host‐plant resistance to safeguard against resistance being overcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes lower respiratory tract infections with significant morbidity and mortality at the extremes of age. Vaccines based on the viral fusion protein are approved for adults over 60, but infant protection relies on passive immunity via antibody transfer or maternal vaccination. An infant vaccine that rapidly elicits protective antibodies would fulfill a critical unmet need. Antibodies arising from the VH3-21/VL1-40 gene pairing can neutralize RSV without the need for affinity maturation, making them attractive to target through vaccination. Here, we develop an anti-idiotypic monoclonal antibody (ai-mAb) immunogen that is specific for unmutated VH3-21/VL1-40 B cell receptors (BCRs). The ai-mAb efficiently engages B cells with bona fide target BCRs and does not activate off-target non-neutralizing B cells, unlike recombinant pre-fusion (preF) protein used in current RSV vaccines. These results establish proof of concept for using an ai-mAb-derived vaccine to target B cells hardwired to produce RSV-neutralizing antibodies., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests A.T.M. and S.C.S. are co-inventors on a patent application 63/635,785 pertaining to the ai-mAbs described here., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Membrane-embedded mechanosensitive (MS) proteins, including ion channels and G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), are essential for the transduction of external mechanical stimuli into biological signals. The angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor plays many important roles in cardiovascular regulation and is associated with diseases such as hypertension and congestive heart failure. The membrane-mediated activation of the AT1 receptor is not well understood, despite this being one of the most widely studied GPCRs within the context of biased agonism. Here, we use extensive molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to characterize the effect of the local membrane environment on the activation of the AT1 receptor. We show that membrane thickness plays an important role in the stability of active and inactive states of the receptor, as well as the dynamic interchange between states. Furthermore, our simulation results show that membrane tension is effective in driving large-scale structural changes in the inactive state such as the outward movement of transmembrane helix 6 to stabilize intermediate active-like conformations. We conclude by comparing our simulation observations with AlphaFold 2 predictions, as a proxy to experimental structures, to provide a framework for how membrane mediated stimuli can facilitate activation of the AT1 receptor through the β-arrestin signaling pathway.

Background : Post-treatment side effects of chemotherapy can include cognitive deficits commonly known as Chemo-brain. The treatment of patients with Doxorubicin (DOX), one of the most widely used chemotherapeutic drugs in the treatment of cancer, can induce depression, anxiety, and impaired cognitive function. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive component of Cannabis sativa that has been identified as a possible therapeutic agent against many neurodegenerative disorders, including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, Tau-protein-induced neurodegeneration, and neuropathic pain. Therefore, this study aimed to assess whether oral CBD administration could reduce DOX-induced anxiety and depression-like behaviors and alter the expression of mRNA associated with neuroinflammation. Methods : Female Long Evans Hooded rats received intraperitoneal injections of DOX (6 mg/kg) or the vehicle (0.9% saline) once a week for four weeks, followed by oral administration of CBD (10 mg/kg) three times a week for the same period. Results : CBD was significantly protective against DOX-induced anxiety and depression-like behaviors, as measured by several behavioral tests. Furthermore, CBD improved DOX-induced alterations in the gene expression of biomarkers of neuroinflammation in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Conclusions : This provides insights into future studies on possible mechanisms by which DOX-induced cognitive dysfunction could be alleviated by CBD.

Introduction: Pediatric intussusception is the leading cause of bowel obstruction in children under 2 years of age. Concurrent intussusception and appendicitis, known as "appendi-sception" is exceptionally rare in the pediatric population., Case Presentation: A 37-month-old boy presented with periumbilical abdominal pain, vomiting, and red currant jelly stool for two weeks. Clinical examination and ultrasonography confirmed intussusception. Hydroreduction was attempted twice but failed, necessitating surgical intervention. During exploratory laparotomy, ileocolic intussusception and an inflamed appendix were discovered for which an appendectomy was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful, and histopathology confirmed suppurative appendicitis. The patient had no difficulty at the one-year follow-up., Discussion: Intussusception with appendicitis as a lead point is rare and often challenging to diagnose preoperatively. The literature review revealed 11 pediatric cases, with concomitant intussusception and appendicitis highlighting diagnostic challenges due to symptom overlap. The overlap in symptoms between intussusception and appendicitis complicates diagnosis. Hydroreduction failure should prompt consideration of secondary causes, including appendicitis., Conclusion: Considering secondary causes in intussusception is crucial, especially when initial management fails. CT scans should be considered in such cases. Appendectomy and manual reduction can effectively manage concurrent intussusception and appendicitis. This case underscores the importance of considering multiple diagnoses in complex pediatric abdominal presentations., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement No conflicts of interest were identified in the preparation of this case report., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Cysticercosis, a major health issue in developing countries, is caused by the larval stage of Taenia solium . Disseminated cysticercosis (DCC), which is characterized by widespread cysticerci in various tissues, is rare and often asymptomatic. Here, we report the case of a 50-year-old man from rural Nepal with distal cholangiocarcinoma and DCC involving the skin, brain, orbit, tongue, soft palate, heart, and abdominal organs. Despite the presence of abdominal pain, obstructive jaundice, anemia, and significant weight loss-symptoms indicative of biliary malignancy-there were no symptoms typical of DCC. Diagnostic imaging confirmed DCC and stomach-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed. Histopathological examination of the periampullary mass revealed distal cholangiocarcinoma. Postsurgical treatment for DCC included steroids, carbamazepine, and antiparasitic therapy with albendazole. The coexistence of cysticercosis and neoplasia, though uncommon, necessitates thorough diagnostic evaluation. This case underscores the clinical complexity and highlights the need for comprehensive management of concurrent conditions., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of University of Washington.)

Background: Total body irradiation (TBI) for hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) has certain distinct advantages, such as uniform dose distribution and lack of drug resistance, but it is not widely available in resource-constrained settings. To overcome the limitations of in-house radiotherapy services in hematology centers, we evaluated the feasibility of conducting HSCT programs in coordination with two physically distant centers using a reduced-intensity TBI protocol., Methods: Thirty-two patients with a median age of 20.5 years were included in the study. Fifteen patients were diagnosed with aplastic anemia, 10 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), 3 patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), and 4 patients with other hematological conditions. Conditioning regimens used were fludarabine plus cyclophosphamide in 29 cases, fludarabine-cytarabine ATG in 2 cases, and busulfan plus fludarabine in 1 case. The TBI dose was 3 Gy in 28 cases and 2 Gy in 4 cases. Patients were followed monthly after TBI, and the major toxicities were recorded., Results: The median follow-up was 22 months. The most common acute complication was acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), which occurred in 15.6% of patients. The major late complications were chronic GVHD (9.3%), Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection (34.3%), and CMV-induced secondary graft failure (6.2%). Seventy-five percent of patients were alive, 21.9% were dead, and 1 patient was lost to follow-up., Conclusions: HSCT based on TBI is feasible even if the center lacks a radiotherapy facility by coordinating with a remote radiotherapy facility. without compromising the patient's outcome., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: The reproductive tract microbiome in hens is of interest because bacteria in the reproductive tract could potentially affect fertilization and egg production, as well as integrate into the forming egg and vertically transmit to progeny., Methods: The reproductive tract microbiome of 37-week-old modern commercial Cobb breeding dams was compared with that of dams from a broiler Legacy line which has not undergone selection since 1986. All animals were kept together under the same management protocol from day of hatch to avoid confounders., Results: In regards to reproductive abilities, Cobb dams' eggs weighed more and the magnum section of their reproductive tract was longer. In regards to microbiome composition, it was found that the reproductive tract microbiomes of the two lines had a lot in common but also that the two breeds have unique reproductive tract microbiomes. Specifically, the order Pseudomonadales was higher in the magnum of Legacy dams, while Verrucomicrobiales was lower. In the infundibulum, Lactobacillales were higher in the Legacy dams while Verrucomicrobiales, Bacteroidales, RF32 and YS2 were lower., Discussion: our results show that breeding programs have modified not only the physiology of the reproductive tract but also the reproductive tract microbiome. Additional research is required to understand the implications of these changes in the reproductive tract microbiome on the chicken host., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Shterzer, Sbehat, Poudel, Rothschild, Oloko, Druyan and Mills.)

Four noncommunicable diseases (NCDs): cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes, account for 71% of global deaths. However, little is known about the NCDs risk profile of sexual and gender minorities (SGMs). This study aimed to determine the prevalence of NCDs risk factors among the SGMs of Kathmandu valley, Nepal. A cross-sectional study was conducted among SGMs in the Kathmandu valley, Nepal. We recruited 140 participants using the snowball sampling method. A face-to-face interview was done using a structured questionnaire adapted from World Health Organization Step Wise Approach to Surveillance (STEPS instruments V2.2 2019) along with blood pressure and anthropometric measurements. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS.v20). More than two-thirds of the participants, 96 (68.6%), had co-occurrence of NCDs risk factors. The prevalence of insufficient fruits and vegetables consumption, current smoking, harmful alcohol consumption, overweight/obesity, and hypertension were 95.7%, 40.0%, 32.9%, 28.5%, and 28.6%, respectively. There was a significant association between hypertension, harmful alcohol consumption, and overweight/obesity with the participants' age, employment status, and marital status, respectively. Study findings indicated a higher prevalence of NCDs risk factors among SGMs. National-level NCDs surveillance, policy planning, prevention, and targeted health interventions should prioritize the SGMs., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background Refractive error is considered as an important component of the priority disease "childhood blindness" within the Vision 2020' initiative to eliminate avoidable blindness. The large majority of vision impairment in school aged children is due to uncorrected refractive error. Hence, refractive errors are considered as a public health challenge. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of refractive error and spectacle compliance among children in Tokha municipality, Kathmandu. Objective The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of refractive error and spectacle compliance among children from Tokha municipality, Kathmandu. Method A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted by enrolling 1366 children from Tokha municipality from 1st to 3rd week of April 2022 after obtaining the Institutional Review Board (Reference number:60/2079/80). Assent was taken from all children and informed consent was signed by the legal guardians of the children. All the samples underwent a comprehensive ocular history taking, visual acuity and refraction and ocular health assessments. The inclusion criteria was school going children within age group 5-16 years. Result Out of a total of 1366 samples, 10.91% (149) of the school children were identified to have refractive error. The primary type of refractive error observed was compound myopic astigmatism, which accounted for 52.3% (78) of the cases. A spectacle compliance rate of 72.15% was found. Conclusion Refractive error prevalence in this study is consistent with findings from other part of Nepal. The most common type of refractive error was compound myopic astigmatism. The frequency of refractive errors was notably higher among individuals who frequently use electronic devices, attend private schools, and reside in densely populated areas. It is recommended to organize regular community eye camps and conduct vision screenings to identify and promptly address refractive errors in children.

Nepal has a very diverse topography and ecosystem, with mountains in the north and lush plains in the south. Despite the diverse ecology, the production of green gram is still in its minority. This experiment was conducted to assess the effect of micronutrients (Zn, B, Mo, Co, and Mn), rhizobium, effective micro-organisms, and salicylic acid in plant growth, yield, and yield attributes of green gram [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] in Rupandehi district of Nepal in March 2021. Pratikshya variety of green gram was used as a test crop. Different levels of ZnSO 4 and Borax, Ammonium Molybdate, Cobalt Nitrate, MnSO 4 , effective microorganism, Mixture, Salicylic acid, and Rhizobia along with control constituted treatments. Various application methods were used for applying treatments including soil incorporation, seed priming, inoculation, and foliar application. The results revealed that leaf area index, number of branches, number of pods per plant, and yield were significantly different (P < 0.05). Among various treatments, the mixture was found most effective in the case of grain yield (1048.1 kg ha -1 ), stover yield (2472.7 kg ha -1 ), biological yield (3520.8 kg ha -1 ), harvest index (31.2%), and the number of primary branches (4.9). Likewise, the number of secondary branches (6.86) was better with Borax@10 kg ha -1 . There was no significant difference in the plant height, number of pods per plant, pod length, pod weight, number of grains per pod, and test weight between different treatments. ZnSO4 @ 25 kg ha -1 was found to have an impact on the number of mature, immature, and total pods per plant. Overall, the study concluded that the mixture of all micronutrients performed better in terms of grain yield while zinc sulphate had great potential for plant growth parameters which could improve the farmers' livelihood. It is recommended to conduct multi-location trials in a larger domain., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)