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Metastasis is an intricate and formidable pathophysiological process encompassing the dissemination of cancer cells from the primary tumour body to distant organs. It stands as a profound and devastating phenomenon that constitutes the primary driver of cancer-related mortality. Despite great strides of advancements in cancer research and treatment, tailored anti-metastasis therapies are either lacking or have shown limited success, necessitating a deeper understanding of the intrinsic elements driving cancer invasiveness. This comprehensive review presents a contemporary elucidation of pivotal facets within the realm of cancer metastasis, commencing with the intricate processes of homing and invasion. The process of angiogenesis, which supports tumour growth and metastasis, is addressed, along with the pre-metastatic niche, wherein the primary tumour prepares for a favorable microenvironment at distant sites for subsequent metastatic colonization. The landscape of metastasis-related genetic and epigenetic mechanisms, involvement of metastasis genes and metastasis suppressor genes, and microRNAs (miRNA) are also discussed. Furthermore, immune modulators' impact on metastasis and their potential as therapeutic targets are addressed. The interplay between cancer cells and the immune system, including immune evasion mechanisms employed by metastatic cells, is discussed, highlighting the importance of targeting immune modulation in arresting metastatic progression. Finally, this review presents promising treatment opportunities derived from the insights gained into the mechanisms of metastasis. Identifying novel therapeutic targets and developing innovative strategies to disrupt the metastatic cascade holds excellent potential for improving patient outcomes and ultimately reducing cancer-related mortality.

Aims The extent and nature of child sexual abuse (CSA) and its consequences with respect to psychiatric morbidity is still poorly described in children. This was a community based cross sectional study to describe the social demographic profile and identify psychiatric morbidity in children with CSA and to further examine the association between the sexual assault profile and the psychiatric illness present. Methods This study includes 100 children aged between 6–17 years ascertained as sexually abused at the time. The setting was BHAROSA centre, which is a society for protection of women and at-risk children with funding from the Department of Women and Child Development Telangana state, India. Simple random sampling was used to choose the participants and a pre-tested semi structured questionnaire was used to assess the sexual assault profile. The Developmental Psychopathology Checklist (DPCL) which is the Indian adaptation of Child behaviour checklist was used to understand the associated psychopathology. The prevalence of psychiatric morbidity was discerned by the Diagnostic Statistical Manual Text Revision (DSM V-TR). Results The average age for the first CSA encounter was 10.87 years. Most often the perpetrator was found to be an acquaintance (66%) of the child's family. ‘Vaginal/anal penetration’ (55%) was the most common form of abuse. In half of the cases there was a significant delay of two days-two weeks between the last episode of abuse and its discovery. 12% attributed themselves fully responsible for the abuse. 23% reported unsupportive reactions from the caregivers such as being dismissed or being blamed themselves for the abuse. More than half (53%) had at least one psychiatric disorder with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) being the most common (28%) followed by conduct disorder (21%) and depression (17%). 28% had quasi psychotic symptoms and 25% non-specific somatic symptoms. 12% reported suicidal thoughts/ideation. 5 children tested positive for HIV and 2 were pregnant. Children who experienced ‘Vaginal/Anal penetration’ and those who pretended the act did not take place were found to have statistically significant rates of depression, PTSD and suicidality. Conclusion All children and adolescents who have been sexually abused must be evaluated for psychiatric morbidity regardless of their social demographic and abuse profiles. Additionally, all parents and caregivers should be sensitised on the fact that the majority of the perpetrators are acquaintances to the subjects. Coping strategies of the children especially self-blame and poor social support exert direct negative effects on victims’ adjustment.

In this qualitative study spread across three Indian states—Assam, Kerala and Maharashtra, we explore how 13 Indian staff nurses working full time in the first wave of the COVID pandemic cope with the increased job demands and perceived psychological contract breaches (PCB) from a work−home resources (W−HR) perspective. The study utilises the W−HR model as a theoretical lens to analyse the nurses' lived experiences through a phenomenological approach. We could observe that a significant black swan event such as the pandemic can trigger resource depletion at work and home and materialise in PCB at work for the nurses. Nurses then resort to sensemaking to tide over the pandemic-affected work circumstances by balancing contextual demands and personal resources. By integrating PCB experienced by these nurses via a W−HR model framework, we address calls by researchers to understand how psychological contracts change over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Radiography plays an important role in detection of interproximal caries. The aim of study is to compare diagnostic ability of conventional film and photostimulable phosphor (PSP) with direct measurement using stereomicroscope in detecting proximal caries. Methodology: In this descriptive study – diagnostic test evaluation, 200 proximal surfaces of 100 extracted human posterior teeth were radiographed with dental X-ray unit. Evaluation of conventional and digital radiographs was performed twice by three observers. Carious lesions were classified based on a four-point scale (R0–R3) suggested by Abesi et al. Weighted kappa coefficients were calculated to assess intra- and interobserver agreement for each image set. Indices of diagnostic ability calculation were based on the first readings of the three observers. The scores were compared with the histological gold standard using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to evaluate diagnostic ability. Results: Intraobserver kappa coefficients calculated for each observer for each method of detecting caries ranged from 0.914 to 0.956. Interobserver kappa coefficients for each image set ranged from 0.8788 to 0.9583. The sensitivity and specificity of film for the first observer were 77.5% and 78.3% and for PSP were 77.5% and 80%, respectively. ROC analysis revealed that there were no statistically significant results (P > 0.05) between Az values for the two detection methods. Conclusion: PSP plate should be preferred over conventional films in detecting cavitated proximal caries. Further studies with more noncavitated proximal surfaces are required to conclusively establish the diagnostic ability of PSP over conventional film.

This article presents comparison of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) and Hydrologic Engineering Centre-Hydrologic Modelling System (HEC-HMS) model for rainfall-runoff (R-R) process. Aim of the present work is to forecast runoff one day ahead at Shivade station of Upper Krishna Basin, India, using 17 years of daily rainfall and discharge data. The R-R modelling can be exercised using various traditional methods which generally require exogenous data in the form of basin parameters. Unavailability of such data becomes major impediment in applying these models at many basins. In such situations, soft computing techniques like ANNs have been extensively applied to model R-R process. Though ANN is now an established tool in hydrology, compared to HEC-HMS, its results are viewed with suspicion owing to its data-driven nature rather than a model-driven nature. In this study, ANN model performed reasonably well, with a higher correlation coefficient (0.87) and the lowest Root Mean Square Error (136.28 m3/s) when compared with HEC-HMS (0.76, 139.8 m3/s) respectively. Novelty of the present work lies in model development using restricted basin data. Both models showed less accuracy in predicting extreme events. Finally, it is concluded that ANN model can be used as a supplementary technique along with HEC-HMS for this phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various binary and ternary oxide nanomaterials have been described in the literature for charge storage applications. Recently, tellurium-based compounds are being explored for supercapacitor applications due to their high and tunable electrical conductivity and structural stability as well as less toxicity. In this work, pure copper tellurate (Cu3TeO6) nanopowder is synthesized by a coprecipitation method, and an electrode is prepared by brush-coating Cu3TeO6 nanoparticles on Ni foam. The structural and phase analysis of Cu3TeO6 nanoparticle is studied by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, and Raman spectroscopy. The oxidation states of metal ions in the sample are determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. The three-dimensional (3-D) spin-web structure of Cu3TeO6 nanoparticles allows fast electron transport while maintaining structural integrity during electrochemical reactions. The Cu3TeO6 electrode shows a specific capacity of 578 C g–1 (specific capacitance; 1157 F g–1) at 1 A g–1 and maintains a high rate capability with a specific capacity of 111 C g–1 (specific capacitance; 221 F g–1) at 150 A g–1. The electrode performance during 40,000 unceasing charge–discharge cycles at 40 A g–1 has 100% Coulombic efficiency with commendable stability and more than 100% capacitance retention. Furthermore, a Cu3TeO6∥AC (AC = activated carbon) asymmetric device is constructed that exhibits a 5.4 W h kg–1 energy density and 7505 W kg–1 power density. The device Cu3TeO6∥AC exhibits high storage performance with 98% capacitance retention up to 8000 cycles at 10 A g–1. The unique charge storage performance of Cu3TeO6 nanoparticle is credited to its synergistic effect coming from the stable CuO-TeO2 and 3-D network-like structure and low electrode charge transfer resistance. Among various Te-based compounds, the Cu3TeO6 nanoparticle holds potential as an oxide material suitable for the development and advancement of high-performance battery-type supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic inflammatory mucocutaneous disease. The disease has a cell-mediated immune reaction which is precipitated by a specific trigger which turns the self-peptides antigenic. The role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the malignant transformation of oral LP (OLP) has always been debated. Establishing a definitive part played by HPV in the malignant transformation of OLP, would possibly provide screening for the viruses, HPV vaccination, and antiviral therapy along with conventional treatment in LP which could improve prognosis. This systematic review is to assess the role of HPV in the malignant transformation of OLP. We performed a systematic search of PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google. The information was extracted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. All full-text papers that assessed the association of HPV in malignant transformation of OLP were considered eligible. The outcome parameter included the malignant transformation of OLP. We found a total of 19 studies from which five were found suitable for the review. Results from this systematic review showed HPV is associated with OLP. There is an increased prevalence of HPV in the erosive-atrophic (EA) variant of OLP compared to non-EA variant. There seems to be no strong evidence to prove the association between HPV and malignant transformation of OLP. Taking up the oncogenic potential of high-risk types and OLP as a potentially malignant disorder, more number of studies need to be performed on the dysplastic subtype of OLP and in those OLP lesions that progress to oral squamous cell carcinomas.

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the levels of salivary visfatin in healthy controls, patients with gingivitis and patients with chronic periodontitis and also to assess the outcome of scaling and root planing (SRP) on the levels of salivary visfatin in patients with gingivitis and chronic periodontitis. Materials and Methods: A total of 48 patients, both males and females, in the age group of 25–50 years were enrolled into three groups, based on their clinical parameters: Group I (Healthy controls - 16), Group II (Patients with gingivitis - 16), and Group III (Patients with chronic periodontitis - 16). Groups II and III were examined 2 months after SRP. The clinical parameters that were recorded include plaque index, modified gingival index, gingival bleeding index, pocket depth, and clinical attachment level. The samples of saliva were collected from each patient and the levels of visfatin were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Results: The mean concentration of salivary visfatin at baseline was found to be highest in Group III and lowest in Group I. A statistically significant reduction (P < 0.01) in the mean concentration of salivary visfatin and the clinical parameters were observed after 2 months of SRP. Conclusion: The levels of salivary visfatin can thus be considered as an inflammatory biomarker for periodontal diseases. However, future longitudinal prospective studies are needed to support these findings.

Recently coronavirus outbreak which started in Wuhan, China, has caused international concern that has affected more than 29 lakh people worldwide and with no vaccine or specific antiviral drugs present as well as oblivious testing of carriers who are generally asymptomatic, the use of general health intervention techniques are failing to comply. As compared to other epidemics like severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and the Middle-East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV), coronavirus (also named as COVID-19) exhibit mild symptoms in the majority of cases. But in the case of a vulnerable population, it can prove to be life-threatening. Relying on proper barrier technique, use of chest computed tomography scans, managing co-morbid conditions of susceptible patients, identifying the pattern of disease spread as well as the use of polymerase chain reaction to assess the specificity of cases will eventually prove to be efficacious since most of the positive cases are asymptomatic at the beginning which poses a challenge to the primary health care physicians. The development of vaccines will also take some time so it is better to know about COVID-19 better and also follow quarantine restrictions properly till then. In this review, we try to put forward all the relevant studies which have been published by the end of March 2020 so as to summarize the natural history, diagnosis as well as treatment strategies for eradicating COVID-19, which will help in managing this pandemic.