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Aim: To extract and identify the non-polar entities from the leaves of Carica papaya, a plant used for medicinal purpose as folk medicine.Materials and methods: Petroleum ether extract of the Carica papaya leaves was used for this study. Saponification process and methylation process was performed to separate fatty acids and unsaponifiable matters. Phytochemical constituents were separated using chemical process and separated fractions were analyzed by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy (GC-MS).Results: The chemical composition of the steroids, triterpenoids and fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) in leaves of Carica papaya, which were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). A total of 15 fatty acid components were identified in saponifiable matter, from unsaponifiable portion 2 steroids (campesterol, β- or γ-sitosterol), 1 triterpene (squalene), and 1 diterpene (phytol) were identified.Conclusions: The results indicate that the extract is rich in non-polar compounds. In this study, GC-MS method is at the central focus for identification of these phytoconstituents. The current method can be used for direct analysis of non-polar entities of plant material.

Identification and assessment of the isotopic composition of confiscated uranium are of very much concern when it enters the public domain. This paper describes the methodology used for the estimation of 235U and 234U concentration in five uranium samples using alpha and gamma spectrometry, and the results are compared with that of mass spectrometry technique. The activity ratio of 238U to 235U is obtained from the measurement on the 185 keV gamma-line of 235U and 1001 keV gamma-line of 234mPa. The isotopic abundance of 235U in the confiscated sample using radioanalytical techniques was found in the range of 0.22%–0.24%.

Psychiatrists all over the world are being presented with the unique challenge of continuing to deliver mental health care during, and after the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Telepsychiatry has emerged as a potential solution to this challenge, especially when physical distancing has become the norm in social discourse. India, with its vast rural population and technological prowess, has been one of the early adopters of telepsychiatry. However, given the reach of mobile telephony in India, its usage is not as widespread as anticipated. In the post COVID-19 world, the rapid and broad adoption of telepsychiatry could offer a potential solution to bridge the gap between the availability and need for mental health professionals and interventions. Evidence suggests that telepsychiatry is at least as effective as face-to-face consultations in improving mental health outcomes. There is emerging literature on the remote assessment of patients in various settings globally and from India. This article aims to help clinicians translate this evidence into action in their clinical practice by providing practice guidance on conducting comprehensive telepsychiatry assessments. It also sheds light on the challenges and opportunities encountered with telepsychiatry in the Indian setting.

BackgroundIn the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, an increased incidence of ROCM was noted in India among those infected with COVID. We determined risk factors for rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM) post Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among those never and ever hospitalized for COVID-19 separately through a multicentric, hospital-based, unmatched case-control study across India.MethodsWe defined cases and controls as those with and without post-COVID ROCM, respectively. We compared their socio-demographics, co-morbidities, steroid use, glycaemic status, and practices. We calculated crude and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) through logistic regression. The covariates with a p-value for crude OR of less than 0·20 were considered for the regression model.ResultsAmong hospitalised, we recruited 267 cases and 256 controls and 116 cases and 231 controls among never hospitalised. Risk factors (AOR; 95% CI) for post-COVID ROCM among the hospitalised were age 45-59 years (2·1; 1·4 to 3·1), having diabetes mellitus (4·9; 3·4 to 7·1), elevated plasma glucose (6·4; 2·4 to 17·2), steroid use (3·2; 2 to 5·2) and frequent nasal washing (4·8; 1·4 to 17). Among those never hospitalised, age ≥ 60 years (6·6; 3·3 to 13·3), having diabetes mellitus (6·7; 3·8 to 11·6), elevated plasma glucose (13·7; 2·2 to 84), steroid use (9·8; 5·8 to 16·6), and cloth facemask use (2·6; 1·5 to 4·5) were associated with increased risk of post-COVID ROCM.ConclusionsHyperglycemia, irrespective of having diabetes mellitus and steroid use, was associated with an increased risk of ROCM independent of COVID-19 hospitalisation. Rational steroid usage and glucose monitoring may reduce the risk of post-COVID.

Context: Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) has been used since ages as expectorant, antitussive and demulcent. G. glabra has been indicated in Ayurveda as an antimicrobial agent for the treatment of respiratory infections and tuberculosis. Aims: To evaluate the antimycobacterial activity of acetone extract of G. glabra by in vitro techniques. Methods: The anti-tubercular activity of acetone extract of G. glabra, obtained by Soxhlet extraction, was evaluated against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv (ATCC 27294). The in vitro anti-tubercular activity was determined by Resazurin Microtiter Plate Assay (REMA) and colony count method. Further, the anti-tubercular activity of acetone extract of G. glabra was determined in human macrophage U937 cell lines and was compared against that of the standard drugs isoniazid, rifampicin and ethambutol. Results: G. glabra extract showed significant activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, when evaluated by REMA/colony count methods and in U937 human macrophage cell lines infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv. The activity of the extract was comparable to those of standard drugs. It was observed that the extract showed time and concentration dependent antimycobacterial activity. Conclusions: The present study reveals that G. glabra extract has promising anti-tubercular activity by preliminary in vitro techniques and in U937 macrophage cell line. Therefore, it has the definite potential to be developed as an affordable, cost-effective drug against tuberculosis.

Limb body wall complex (LBWC) /Body stalk syndrome anomaly refers to a rare complicated polymalformative fetal malformation syndrome of uncertain etiology firstly described by Van Allen et al in 1987. There are very few cases reported in literature and thus we report a rare case of LBWC. Twenty seven years female presented to labour room with 32 weeks of gestation with no prenatal care and delivered a low birth weight still born fetus weighing 1100gms. On fetal autopsy large abdominal wall defect was noted with difficulty in identifying abdomino-pelvic organs and ambiguous genitalia. Placenta weighed 250gms with attached short umbilical cord measuring 7cms, arising from periphery. A cyst noted attached to placental membrane measuring 9x5cms which on dissection retrieved partially maldeveloped organs. Post mortem radiological findings included Absence of right femur with short tibia and right fibula, Complex vestibral malformation, Craniosynostosis and Overcrowding of ribs.

Recently, molecular hybridization strategy has paved a way to develop novel lead compounds for the α‐amylase targeted antidiabetic therapy. In this study, we disclosed a series of new hybrids of thiazolidine‐2,4‐diones with 2‐chloroquinoline‐3‐yl moiety as potential antidiabetic agents. The molecular structures of all the synthesized hybrids (15a–n) were confirmed by spectroscopic studies (FT‐IR, ESI‐MS, 1H, 13C NMR, and elemental analysis). When in vitro antidiabetic evaluation of these agents was carried out in a dose‐dependent manner, it was revealed that several compounds (15f–h, 15j, and 15n) were endowed with significant antidiabetic activities and exhibited more than 50% α‐amylase inhibition at a dose of 50 µg/mL. Particularly, hybrid 15n was found to be more potent than acarbose with 95% inhibition of α‐amylase and IC50 of 5.00 ± 0.18 µM under given conditions. Further, it was demonstrated that 15n bearing 2‐chloroquinolinyl and thiazolidin‐2,4‐dione scaffolds functionalized with 3‐OMe and 4‐OH groups was not only able to effectively bind with α‐amylase receptor site with best docking score (−9.644 kcal/mol) but also possessed drug‐likenesses properties with no violations of Lipinski rule. Overall, this study discovered new 2‐chloroquinolinyl‐thiazolidine‐2,4‐diones hybrids as novel α‐amylase inhibitors and compound 15n as promising lead for its further development as antidiabetic agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Design and development of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator emerged as a potential therapeutic approach for various types of cancers. In this context, thiazolidine 2,4-dione was invariably found as an important skeleton for the development of new lead compounds. The present study described the synthesis and antitumor evaluation of new hybrids of N-substituted arylidenethiazolidine-2,4-diones as AMPK activators. The in vitro results revealed that several of newly prepared compounds exhibited significant anticancer activity against human prostate cancer (PC3) and breast cancer (MDMB-231) cell growths with IC50 in the range of 2–10 μM. Particularly, molecular hybridization of thiazolidine 2,4-dione with N-2-(4-(trifluoromethyl) phenyl)ethanol and azaindole (compound 16) was the most effective among the series against both PC3 and MDMB-231 cell lines with IC50 4.28 and 2.5 μM, respectively. Western blot analysis of these thiazolidine 2,4-dione hybrids showed increased (p)-AMPK level in the PC-3 cells indicating direct activation of AMPK. The docking studies at the interface of activator binding site of the AMPK reinforced the in vitro results of potent compounds 13, 16, and 25 having low docking scores (9.0, (9.5, and (9.1 Kcal/mol, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the preparation and characterization of ethyl cellulose-graphene oxide (EC-GO) composite membranes for dye adsorption. The addition of GO to the EC matrix improved the membranes' surface wettability and dye adsorption capacity. Various techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy and UV-visible spectroscopy, were used to characterize the membranes. The study found that the adsorption properties varied based on contact angle values and followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. The research highlights the potential of EC-GO composite membranes for water treatment applications, specifically in dye removal from wastewater. [Extracted from the article]

Huge amount of coal combustion residue (CCR) is being generated in India every year. Since coal contains some natural radionuclides, the CCR may contribute to the enhanced natural radiation background. Hence, it is important to monitor the natural radioactivity levels in Indian CCR samples. The present study aims to estimate the natural radioactivity levels in CCRs produced in Indian thermal power plants. Accordingly, six CCR samples from different thermal power plants were collected and packed to achieve secular equilibrium among daughter products of 226Ra. The samples were counted for activity of gamma radionuclides using high purity germanium detector based high resolution gamma spectrometer. Results show that 40K is the most abundant among analyzed radionuclides, and the lowest was observed for 226Ra. Secular equilibrium was observed between 228Ra and 228Th, whereas no equilibrium was observed between 226Ra and 238U. The activity concentration for 226Ra and its daughter products (214Pb and 214Bi) was found to be similar in CCR sample before and after equilibrium, indicating that progenies are in secular equilibrium in CCR. The X ray diffraction analysis of CCR indicates the presence of aluminosilicate as major fraction, which has potential of trapping of 226Ra and daughter products. The values observed are very low and similar to those observed in naturally occurring radioactive materials such as coal, soil, and sediment, hence are not of radiological concern with respect to human/environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ectopic pregnancy is the leading cause of direct maternal deaths. Ectopic pregnancy and corpus luteum cyst are two most common differential diagnoses in a patient with urine pregnancy test (UPT) positive and no sonographic evidence of intrauterine pregnancy. Internal echotexture and color Doppler features of the cyst wall are also considered in an attempt to differentiate the tubal ring of an ectopic pregnancy from that of a corpus luteum. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to diagnose the presence of ectopic pregnancy and to differentiate ectopic pregnancy from corpus luteum cyst using grayscale ultrasound and color Doppler findings. Materials and Methods: The prospective study was conducted in 46 patients who were referred to the Department of Radiodiagnosis in R.L Jalappa Hospital with UPT positive and clinical features suggestive of ectopic pregnancy. Results: Out of 46 patients, 33 were diagnosed with ectopic pregnancy and 13 with corpus luteum cyst. Ectopic pregnancies had thicker walls as compared to corpus luteum cysts. Most of the ectopic pregnancies had hyperechoic walls as compared to ovaries (63.6%) and endometrium (60.6%). Free fluid with echoes was seen in the pelvis in 59.4% ectopic pregnancies whereas most of the corpus luteum cysts (69.2%) had no free fluid. Most of the corpus luteum cysts (61.5%) had clear internal echotexture whereas ectopic pregnancies were mostly lacy or solid. Yolk sac was seen exclusively in ectopic pregnancy (30.3%). RI 0.7 was found to be highly specific for diagnosing ectopic pregnancy. Conclusion: Significant ultrasound parameters that aid in differentiating between the two include the thickness of the mass’s wall, the wall’s echogenicity in relation to the ovary and endometrium, the internal echotexture of the cystic mass, the presence of the yolk sac, and the presence of free fluid with echoes. It was shown that RI 0.7 has a very good specificity in identifying ectopic pregnancy.