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The present survey aimed to explore the fish fauna diversity, abundance and conservation status in the Jamuna River, a tributary of the River Brahmaputra, Bangladesh. During the study period from November 2018 to October 2019, a total of 55 species of fish were recorded, belonging to 6 orders, 20 families and 41 genera from the five selected stations near the river. Orders Cypriniformes and Siluriformes were recorded as the dominant group in the fish fauna community that comprises 34.55% and 30.91% of total species, respectively. Various types of Small Indigenous Species (SIS) and a total of 26 International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red-listed species were recorded. Population indices, viz. Shannon–Weaver index (H), Simpson’s dominance index (D), Simpson’s index of diversity (1-D), Margalef’s index (d) and Evenness (E), were applied to demonstrate the species diversity, richness and evenness of fish, and their overall values were 1.28-1.48, 0.26-0.33, 0.67-0.74, 1.22-1.46 and 0.77-0.86, respectively. To sustain the prospect of fisheries biodiversity in the Jamuna River of Bangladesh, different fish management and conservation plan of action specifically establishing and maintaining fish sanctuaries, banning indiscriminate fishing and the use of destructive fishing gears for the protection of the breeding and nursery grounds of fish should be taken into consideration with utmost priority.

Dan Xu,1 Shu-Ting Lu,2 Yu-Shuang Li,2 Aju Baidya,2 Hao Mei,2 Yong He,1 Bo Wu2 1Department of Nuclear Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, PR China; 2Department of Radiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, PR China Background: Gliomas are one of the most common types of primary brain tumors. It is usually evaluated by gadolinium(III)-based contrast agents by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the clinic. Methotrexate (MTX), as a type of folate analog that inhibits the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase, is widely used as a chemotherapeutic agent to treat gliomas in the experiment.Purpose: In this study, a novel theranostic agent MTX-DOTA-Gd (MTX-Gd) was synthesized, which integrates magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with anticancer treatment.Methods: MTX-Gd was synthesized by connecting MTX and Gd through 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA). The characterization of MTX-Gd was detected by ultraviolet (UV) and infrared spectroscopy (IR). To confirm the antitumor effect of MTX-Gd, the cytotoxicity of MTX-Gd was examined by the MTT assay. The contrast enhancement of the MTX-Gd was measured through MRI in vitro. Then, nude mice bearing C6 tumor xenografts were used to study in vivo imaging capabilities.Results: The ultraviolet-visible-near infrared radiation (UV-NIR) absorption curve indicated that MTX-Gd had a broad absorption in the region of 500-700 nm. The formation of MTX-Gd was confirmed from the characteristic bands of MTX-DOTA-Gd in the 1413 cm-1 (C-N), 1577 cm-1 (-NH2), and 3429 cm-1 (N-H), in the fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra. MTX-Gd showed little difference in the cell viability compared with MTX, except for the highest concentration (270 μM). In vitro, the imaging of MTX-Gd was significantly brighter than Gd-DOTA at the same concentration, and the brightness and signal intensity of MRI were increased followed by the increased concentration of MTX-Gd. And it also showed that MTX was not visualized on MRI. The other images revealed that the concentration of 4 mM MTX-Gd had the same imaging effect with the concentration of 10 mM Gd-DOTA. Then, MTX-Gd was injected in nude mice bearing C6 tumor xenografts through the tail vein. Significant contrast enhancement was observed at the tumor site from 0.5 h to 3 h. The signal of tumor area was strongest at 3 h due to accumulation by size effect of macromolecules.Conclusion: A novel stable and unique theranostic agent(MTX-Gd) was successfully synthesized, and it has good stability, strong anticancer ability and excellent magnetic capacity. The methotrexate component of MTX-Gd, as a chemotherapeutic agent, played an important role in targeted therapies of cancer. The DOTA-Gd component of MTX-Gd performed as the MRI contrast agent. The superior MRI imaging performance and synergetic chemical antineoplastic ability of MTX-Gd was revealed, and it has great potential in the diagnosis and treatment of glioma and potentially other cancers, with prospects of clinical application in the near future. Keywords: methotrexate, gadolinium, glioma, theranostics

Rickets, one of the leading causes of bony deformities and short stature, can be calciopenic (inciting event is defective intestinal calcium absorption) or phosphopenic (inciting event is phosphaturia). Early diagnosis and timely treatment of rickets are crucial for correction of the limb deformities. Guidelines exist for nutritional rickets, but the diagnosis and management of the relatively uncommon forms of rickets are complex. This consensus aims to formulate a simplified diagnostic approach for rickets, especially in resource-limited settings. The consensus statement has been formulated by a 29-member committee from the Endocrine Society of Bengal. The process included forming a working group, conducting a literature review, identifying controversies, drafting, and discussion at a consensus meeting. Participants rated their agreement with the clinical practice points, and a 70% consensus was required. Input integration and further review led to the final consensus statements. Children with suspected rickets should initially be examined for distinctive skeletal deformities. The diagnosis of rickets should be confirmed with characteristic radiographic abnormalities. It is advisable to order tests for serum calcium, inorganic phosphorus (Pi), liver function, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), parathyroid hormone, creatinine, and potassium in all patients with rickets. In cases of refractory rickets, it is also recommended that assessments be conducted for spot urine calcium, Pi, creatinine, and, blood gas analysis. In children with rickets and metabolic acidosis, tests for glycosuria, uricosuria, aminoaciduria, low molecular weight proteinuria, and albuminuria should be conducted. In children with resistant calciopenic rickets and sufficient serum 25OHD levels, serum 1,25(OH)2D concentration should be tested. 1,25(OH)2 D and fibroblast growth factor 23 estimation is useful for certain forms of phosphopenic rickets.

Abstract High‐resolution climate projections are valuable resources for understanding the regional impacts of climate change and developing appropriate adaptation/mitigation strategies. In this study, we developed a 10‐km gridded hydrometeorological dataset over India by dynamic downscaling of the bias‐corrected Community Earth System Model (CESMv1) climate projections under RCP8.5 scenario using the state‐of‐the‐art Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. The downscaled CESM dataset (DSCESM) is archived in the World Data Center for Climate (WDCC) portal at three temporal resolutions (daily, monthly and monthly climatology) for current (2006–2015), mid‐century (2041–2050) and end‐century (2091–2100) periods. The dataset includes 2‐m air temperature, total accumulated precipitation, wind speed, relative humidity, sensible and latent heat fluxes, along with surface shortwave and outgoing longwave radiation. All the DSCESM variables were evaluated against reanalysis data and station observations for the period 2006–2015. This dataset can help us quantitatively understand regional climate change in India. It can also be used in conjunction with agricultural, hydrological, fire and other application models for climate change impact assessment on various sectors to help develop effective adaptation/mitigation strategies.

Abstract Objective was to assess the precision and reproducibility of spatial penalty-based intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) methods in comparison to the conventional bi-exponential (BE) model-based IVIM methods. IVIM-MRI (11 b-values; 0–800 s/mm2) of forty patients (N = 40; Age = 17.7 ± 5.9 years; Male:Female = 30:10) with biopsy-proven osteosarcoma were acquired on a 1.5 Tesla scanner at 3 time-points: (i) baseline, (ii) after 1-cycle and (iii) after 3-cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Diffusion coefficient (D), Perfusion coefficient (D*) and Perfusion fraction (f) were estimated at three time-points in whole tumor and healthy muscle tissue using five methodologies (1) BE with three-parameter-fitting (BE), (2) Segmented-BE with two-parameter-fitting (BESeg-2), (3) Segmented-BE with one-parameter-fitting (BESeg-1), (4) BE with adaptive Total-Variation-penalty (BE + TV) and (5) BE with adaptive Huber-penalty (BE + HPF). Within-subject coefficient-of-variation (wCV) and between-subject coefficient-of-variation (bCV) of IVIM parameters were measured in healthy and tumor tissue. For precision and reproducibility, intra-scan comparison of wCV and bCV among five IVIM methods were performed using Friedman test followed by Wilcoxon-signed-ranks (WSR) post-hoc test. Experimental results demonstrated that BE + TV and BE + HPF showed significantly (p

Aims: To examine the features of foreign body ingestion and evaluate the effectiveness of endoscopic therapy for foreign body ingestion in Bangladeshi children. Methods: I retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 97 children diagnosed with foreign body ingestion that required endoscopic removal from 2016 to 2023. Results: The children were aged between 3 months and 15 years, with a mean age of 2.9 ​± ​4.9 years, with more than 80 ​% of the patients being under 5 years of age. Foreign body ingestion was observed at a high frequency (71.1 ​%) in children aged one to five years. Coins (67 ​%) and button batteries (5.2 ​%) were the most common foreign bodies swallowed by kids, and the majority of them were accidental (97.9 ​%). The majority of the foreign bodies were blunt (74.3 ​%), but some were sharp (18.6 ​%). Fifty-six percent of esophageal foreign bodies and 94 ​% of gastric foreign bodies were asymptomatic. Around 80 ​% of button batteries and 77.8 ​% of pointed objects were effectively removed from the body within 24 ​h of ingestion. Similarly, food impaction and blunt objects (98.6 ​% and 100 ​%, respectively) were successfully removed after the 24-h period. Endoscopic removal was successful in 99 ​% of cases, with minimal complications. When button batteries and sharp objects were consumed, the severity of erythema, erosion, bleeding, and ulceration increased along with the length of impaction. Conclusions: Foreign body ingestion is a frequent occurrence in children under the age of five. Coin was the most common foreign body, with the majority of asymptomatic presentations. Prompt identification and timely extraction of swallowed foreign bodies may improve clinical outcomes.

Abstract Low solubility and low reactivity towards organic compounds make phosphorus a problematic element for the origin and early evolution of life. Reduced and polymerized phosphorus species are more bioavailable and may resolve these issues, but widespread formation pathways for these species are not well understood. Here we show, using experiments and thermodynamic modelling, that diverse polyphosphates (straight-chains with up to five and cyclophosphates with three and four phosphate molecules) and reduced phosphite can form under ferruginous anhydrous conditions at 80-700 °C. We find that hydrogen and temperature enhance phosphite production while polyphosphate formation maximizes at moderate temperatures (175-200 °C). Chromite and Nickel-bearing minerals enhance phosphate polymerization and reduction whereas magnetite inhibits them. These findings expand on previous investigations of thermally induced changes in phosphorus-speciation and show that these reactions may be widespread in nature. Metamorphism of ferruginous sediments, serpentinization, as well as subaerial lakes exposed to volcanic heating could potentially produce a wealth of polyphosphates along with phosphite on the early Earth. Later, these species may have participated in prebiotic phosphorylation reactions upon liberation by subsequent fluid infiltration. Our results thus offer a more widespread pathway for the generation of reactive phosphorus for the origin of life.

Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic disorder characterized by widespread pain associated with fatigue, stiffness, sleep disturbance, cognitive dysfunction, anxiety, and depression. The role of Vitamin D in the pathophysiology of FM is poorly known. Studies available to establish the association between Vitamin D and FM have inconsistent results. Some of the studies reported a positive association and others found no relation. It is not clear whether the pain is due to and/or associated with low levels of Vitamin D. Aims and Objectives: The objective of the current study is to estimate Vitamin D levels in FM patients and to find the association between Vitamin D levels and severity of FM. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, seventy patients who fulfilled the inclusion (American College of Rheumatology 2016 criteria) and exclusion criteria as has been considered for the study were enrolled and their serum 25 hydroxy-vitamin D level has been measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay reader. Pre-designed questionnaires were prepared to measure FM severity. Pain intensity was measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Results: A total of 70 patients who were diagnosed with FM were included in our study. The majority of them (80%) were female and the rest (20%) were male. The mean age is 48.2±9.2 years. Their mean body mass index (BMI) is 23.7±3.82. The mean Vitamin D serum level was 22.4±9.2 ng/dL. Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) was defined as patients with a serum level of 20 ng/mL and below. In our study, 62.8% (44) of the study population had VDD. According to VAS (0–10) pain scale, 15 (21.4%) subjects suffered from moderate pain and 55 (78.6%) subjects suffered from severe pain. The severity of FM was measured by the Fibromyalgia Severity Scale (FSS). The mean score of FSS was 22.7. To find the association between VDD and severity of FM, several covariates were identified and a multivariable logistic regression was done. Conclusion: VDD increases with an increase in age, BMI, VAS, and FSS, all of which are predicators of FM syndrome.

Designing adhesive hydrogels with optimal properties for the treatment of injured tissues is challenging due to the tradeoff between material stiffness and toughness while maintaining adherence to wet tissue surfaces. In most cases, bioadhesives with improved mechanical strength often lack an appropriate elastic compliance, hindering their application for sealing soft, elastic, and dynamic tissues. Here, we present a novel strategy for engineering tissue adhesives in which molecular building blocks are manipulated to allow for precise control and optimization of the various aforementioned properties without any tradeoffs. To introduce tunable mechanical properties and robust tissue adhesion, the hydrogel network presents different modes of covalent and noncovalent interactions using N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (NHS) conjugated alginate (Alg-NHS), poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA), tannic acid (TA), and Fe3+ ions. Through combining and tuning different molecular interactions and a variety of crosslinking mechanisms, we were able to design an extremely elastic (924%) and tough (4697 kJ/m3) multifunctional hydrogel that could quickly adhere to wet tissue surfaces within 5 s of gentle pressing and deform to support physiological tissue function over time under wet conditions. While Alg-NHS provides covalent bonding with the tissue surfaces, the catechol moieties of TA molecules synergistically adopt a mussel-inspired adhesive mechanism to establish robust adherence to the wet tissue. The strong adhesion of the engineered bioadhesive patch is showcased by its application to rabbit conjunctiva and porcine cornea. Meanwhile, the engineered bioadhesive demonstrated painless detachable characteristics and in vitro biocompatibility. Additionally, due to the molecular interactions between TA and Fe3+, antioxidant and antibacterial properties required to support the wound healing pathways were also highlighted. Overall, by tuning various molecular interactions, we were able to develop a single-hydrogel platform with an all-in-one multifunctionality that can address current challenges of engineering hydrogel-based bioadhesives for tissue repair and sealing.

Introduction The historical focus of vaccines on child health coupled with the advent of novel vaccines targeting adult populations necessitates exploring strategies for adult vaccine implementation.Areas covered This scoping review extracts insights from the past decade’s experiences introducing adult vaccines in low- and middle-income countries. Among 25 papers reviewed, 19 focused on oral cholera vaccine, 2 on Meningococcal A vaccines, 2 on tetanus toxoid vaccine, 1 on typhoid vaccine, and 1 on Ebola vaccine. Aligned with WHO’s Global Framework for New TB Vaccines for Adults and Adolescents, our findings center on vaccine availability, accessibility, and acceptance.Expert Opinion Availability findings underscore the importance of understanding disease burden for prioritization, multi-sectoral collaboration during planning, and strategic resource allocation and coordination. Accessibility results highlight the benefits of leveraging existing health infrastructure and adequately training healthcare workers, and contextually tailoring vaccine delivery approaches to reach challenging sub-groups like working male adults. Central to fostering acceptance, resonant sensitization, and communication campaigns engaging the communities and utilizing trusted local leaders countered rumors and increased awareness and uptake. As we approach the introduction of a new adult TB vaccine, insights from this review equips decision-makers with key evidence-based recommendations to support successful and equitable vaccinations targeting adults.

Objective: Air-Q intubating laryngeal airway (ILA) is associated with a 58-77% success rate in blind intubation. The newer laryngeal mask airway (LMA) blockbuster is specially designed to facilitate easier endotracheal intubation and may have a higher success rate. The current study aimed to compare the success rate of endotracheal intubation using the Air-Q ILA and LMA blockbuster. Methods: After ethics committee approval and informed written consent, 140 adult patients with normal airways who were scheduled for elective surgery under general anaesthesia requiring endotracheal intubation were recruited for this randomized controlled trial. Blind endotracheal intubation was performed using the Air-Q ILA in group A and the LMA blockbuster in group B with special maneuvers and/or tubes in the second attempt. Fibreoptic bronchoscope (FOB) guidance was used in the third attempt if required. The primary outcome was the success rate of intubation without FOB assistance. The number of attempts for supraglottic airway (SGA) insertion, the time taken for SGA insertion, and the overall intubation time was also noted. Results: The success rate of intubation without FOB guidance was significantly higher in group B than in group A [91.4% vs 55.7%; relative risk (RR) 1.68; (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.34, 2.11); p

Background and Aims: Existing literature does not establish the superiority of the erector spinae plane (ESP) block or the thoracolumbar interfascial plane (TLIP) block in pain relief and reducing opioid consumption in lumbar spine surgeries. This systematic review and meta-analysis was aimed to discern their relative efficacy and safety. Methods: This meta-analysis included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing ESP and TLIP blocks in lumbar spine surgeries. The primary outcome was 24-h opioid consumption, and secondary outcomes were visual analogue scale (VAS) scores at 1 h and 24 h and various complications. PubMed, Central Register of Controlled Trials, SCOPUS, EMBASE databases and cross-references were electronically searched. Two authors extracted data independently, cross-checked, and analysed them using RevMan 5.4. Binary outcomes were reported as odds ratios (OR), while continuous outcomes were presented as standardised mean differences (SMDs) accompanied by 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Results: Among 1107 articles, six RCTs (492 patients) were finally included. The ESP block demonstrated lower 24-h opioid consumption compared to TLIP [SMD -0.32 (95% CI: -0.50, -0.14); P < 0.001, I2 = 83%]. At 1 and 24 h, ESPB yielded significantly lower VAS scores compared to TLIP [1 h: SMD -0.38 (95% CI: -0.57, -0.18); P < 0.001, I2 = 83%; 24 h: SMD -0.57 (95% CI: -0.76, -0.37); P < 0.001, I2 = 73%]. No significant difference was noted in adverse events. Conclusion: In comparison to the TLIP block, the ESP block has significantly lower 24-h opioid consumption and VAS scores at 1 and 24 h in patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery.

A neurodevelopmental disease known as Cerebral Palsy (CP) first manifests in infancy and affects a variety of developing abilities, including motor control, coordination, tactile perception, cognition, and attention. The most prevalent type, accounting for 60%-70% of cases, is spastic CP. Ataxic CP accounts for 10%-15%, athetoid CP for 10%-15%, and mixed CP for 10%. Children diagnosed with hemiplegia exhibit firmness and muscle weakness due to unilateral involvement of both upper and lower limbs on the opposite side of the brain lesion. These variables may manifest upper limb motor deficits, such as restricted grasp, reach, and manipulation. These disabilities result in functional restrictions during daily activities and may cause the affected extremity to be underutilised. Hand impairment in hemiplegic CP occurs from damage to the motor cortex and corticospinal pathways, which are in charge of fine motor control of the fingers and hand. In terms of enhancing fine motor abilities and improving functional results, it has been demonstrated that Constraint-induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) is useful for individuals with CP. CIMT involves teaching a child to use their affected hand by using a constraint on the unaffected hand and repetitive extensive implementation of movements with the affected hand. The aim of the present review was to find out how CIMT affected the hand functionality in children with CP.

Background Trichoderma spp. hold significant potential as biocontrol agents in agriculture due to their antagonistic properties against plant pathogens. The study aimed to characterize and identify Trichoderma isolates from rhizospheric regions of vegetable crops. Methods In this study, Trichoderma isolates were collected from rhizospheric soil samples of vegetable crops from different ecological zones and were selected for comprehensive morphological and molecular characterization. The isolates were visually assessed for colony color, growth pattern, aerial mycelium presence, phialide and conidial morphology, and chlamydospore presence. Molecular analysis was employed based on ITS and tef-1α sequences. Diversity indices were also computed for different ecological zones. Results The morphological characteristics and phylogenetic trees for both regions provided a clear species resolution, with four main clades: Harzianum, Viride, Brevicompactum and Longibrachiatum with 12 species T. harzinaum, T. afroharzianum, T. lentiforme, T. inhamatum, T. camerunense, T. azevedoi, T. atroviride, T. asperellum, T. asperelloides, T. koningii, T. longibrachiatum and T. brevicompactum and nine species as a new country record. Diversity indices indicated that high mountain regions displayed the highest species diversity and evenness (H = 1.724 [0.28], J = 0.84, D = 0.28), followed by hilly regions (H = 1.563 [0.28], J = 0.72, D = 0.28). Plains, on the other hand, exhibited lower species diversity (H = 1.515, J = 0.66, D = 0.33). The calculated species abundance values showed that plains (E = 2.11), mid-hills (E = 1.95), and high mountains (E = 1.99) each had their unique diversity profiles. Notably, T. afroharzianum and T. asperellum were predominant. Conclusions Overall, the study unveiled a rich diversity of Trichoderma species in different agricultural zones of Nepal. These findings shed light on the ecological distribution and diversity of Trichoderma spp., which could have significant implications for sustainable agriculture and biological control strategies.

The recent emergence of the omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus with large numbers of mutations has raised concern about a potential new surge in infections. Here we use molecular dynamics to study the biophysics of the interface of the BA1 and BA2 omicron spike protein binding to (i) the ACE2 receptor protein, (ii) antibodies from all known binding regions, and (iii) the furin binding domain. Our simulations suggest that while there is a significant reduction of antibody (Ab) binding strength corresponding to escape, the omicron spikes pay a cost in terms of weaker receptor binding as measured by interfacial hydrogen bonds (H-bond). The furin cleavage domain (FCD) is the same or weaker binding than the delta variant, suggesting lower fusogenicity resulting in less viral load and disease intensity than the delta variant. IMPORTANCE The BA1 and BA2 and closely related BA2.12.2 and BA.5 omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2 dominate the current global infection landscape. Given the high number of mutations, particularly those which will lead to antibody escape, it is important to establish accurate methods that can guide developing health policy responses that identify at a fundamental level whether omicron and its variants are more threatening than its predecessors, especially delta. The importance of our work is to demonstrate that simple in silico simulations can predict biochemical binding details of the omicron spike protein that have epidemiological consequences, especially for binding to the cells and for fusing the viral membrane with the cells. In each case, we predicted weaker binding of the omicron spike, which agreed with subsequent experimental results. Future virology experiments will be needed to test these predictions further.