Search

The aims of this research were to estimate the polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity from different parts of cucumber. The antioxidant activity was investigated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total flavonoid and phenolic contents were estimated using aluminium chloride and Folin-Ciocalteau reagents assays, respectively. Our finding showed that the ethanolic peel extract contained the highest phenolic (23.08 mg GAE/g) and flavonoids (14.02 mg QE/g). Also, ethanolic peel extract demonstrated significantly (p

The aim of the article is to describe our work on peptides discovered in Dr. Muttâs laboratory, particularly galanin. Some personal recollections of meetings with Viktor Mutt and a brief overview of early neuropeptide research at Karolinska Institutet are provided. General aspects on neuropeptide signalling and neuropeptideâneurotransmitter coexistence are followed by the presentation of a possible involvement of the galanin system in pain and depression. Special emphasis is on the role of galanin in the rat and human locus coeruleus. Additional analyses of the human postmortem brains have given results on galanin and other peptides both in the normal prefrontal cortex as well as in different brain regions of depressed patients who have committed suicide and in control subjects. Possible options for developing treatment strategies for pain and depression based on galaninergic mechanisms are discussed. Finally, some recent drugs approved by the FDA for the treatment of conditions such as migraine, which target the signalling of other peptides, are highlighted. In conclusion, the aim of the article is to highlight the potential of the large group of neuropeptides as targets for the development of drugs that may further help patients with illnesses afflicting the nervous system.

Abstract This randomised, crossover, sham-controlled study explored the neural basis of source-monitoring, a crucial cognitive process implicated in schizophrenia. Left superior temporal gyrus (STG) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) were the key focus areas. Thirty participants without neurological or psychological disorders underwent offline sham and active tDCS sessions with specific electrode montage targeting the left STG and DLPFC. Source-monitoring tasks, reality monitoring (Hear-Imagine), internal source-monitoring (Say-Imagine), and external source monitoring (Virtual–Real) were administered. Paired t-test and estimation statistics was performed with Graphpad version 10.1.0. The Benjamini–Hochberg procedure was employed to control the false discovery rate in multiple hypothesis testing. A significant improvement in internal source monitoring tasks (p = 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.97) was observed, but reality monitoring tasks demonstrated moderate improvement (p = 0.02, Cohen's d = 0.44). The study provides insights into the neural mechanisms of source monitoring in healthy individuals and proposes tDCS as a therapeutic intervention, laying the foundation for future studies to refine tDCS protocols and develop individualized approaches to address source monitoring deficits in schizophrenia.

IntroductionData examining rates of postoperative complications among SARS-CoV-2 positive children are limited. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of symptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 positive status on postoperative respiratory outcomes for children.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study included SARS-CoV-2 positive pediatric patients across 20 hospitals who underwent general anesthesia from March to October 2020. The primary outcome was frequency of postoperative respiratory complications, including: high-flow nasal cannula/non invasive ventilation, reintubation, pneumonia, Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO), and 30-day respiratory-related readmissions or emergency department (ED) visits. Univariate analyses were used to evaluate associations between patient and procedure characteristics and stratified analyses by symptoms were performed examining incidence of complications.ResultsOf 266 SARS-CoV-2 positive patients, 163 (61.7%) were male, and the median age was 10 years (interquartile range 4-14). The majority of procedures were emergent or urgent (n = 214, 80.5%). The most common procedures were appendectomies (n = 78, 29.3%) and fracture repairs (n = 40,15.0%). 13 patients (4.9%) had preoperative symptoms including cough or dyspnea. 26 patients (9.8%) had postoperative respiratory complications, including 15 requiring high-flow oxygen, 8 with pneumonia, 4 requiring non invasive ventilation, 3 respiratory ED visits, and 2 respiratory readmissions. Respiratory complications were more common among symptomatic patients than asymptomatic patients (30.8% vs. 8.7%, p = 0.01). Higher ASA class and comorbidities were also associated with postoperative respiratory complications.ConclusionsPostoperative respiratory complications are less common in asymptomatic versus symptomatic SARS-COV-2 positive children. Relaxation of COVID-19-related restrictions for time-sensitive, non urgent procedures in selected asymptomatic patients may be reasonably considered. Additionally, further research is needed to evaluate the costs and benefits of routine testing for asymptomatic patients.Level of evidenceIii, Respiratory complications.

Abstract The significance of transient neuropeptide expression during postnatal brain development is unknown. Here, we show that galanin expression in the ventrobasal thalamus of infant mice coincides with whisker map development and modulates subcortical circuit wiring. Time-resolved neuroanatomy and single-nucleus RNA-seq identified complementary galanin (Gal) and galanin receptor 1 (Galr1) expression in the ventrobasal thalamus and the principal sensory nucleus of the trigeminal nerve (Pr5), respectively. Somatodendritic galanin release from the ventrobasal thalamus was time-locked to the first postnatal week, when Gal1R+ Pr5 afferents form glutamatergic (Slc17a6 +) synapses for the topographical whisker map to emerge. RNAi-mediated silencing of galanin expression disrupted glutamatergic synaptogenesis, which manifested as impaired whisker-dependent exploratory behaviors in infant mice, with behavioral abnormalities enduring into adulthood. Pharmacological probing of receptor selectivity in vivo corroborated that target recognition and synaptogenesis in the thalamus, at least in part, are reliant on agonist-induced Gal1R activation in inbound excitatory axons. Overall, we suggest a neuropeptide-dependent developmental mechanism to contribute to the topographical specification of a fundamental sensory neurocircuit in mice.

The critical role of process simulation in modern chemical engineering cannot be overstated, with its capacity to facilitate process scale-up, assess alternative designs, and comprehend plant efficiency. This research delves into the performance of three software programs, Cape-Open to Cape-Open (CC), DWSim, and Aspen HYSYS (AH), in modeling butane dehydrogenation. The focus is on their ability to accurately model thermodynamic properties and chemical reaction dynamics. Butane dehydrogenation was evaluated with specific thermodynamic parameters using a Gibbs reactor model with Gibbs minimization. The Soave Redlich-Kwong thermodynamic model was employed to investigate the impact of temperature of 700 °C and pressures of 0.1 MPa and 1.0 MPa on the yield and selectivity of butadiene and butene. The CC and AH simulation results closely agreed with the available experimental data. The consistency of freeware simulators with a commercial simulator was also assessed, with AH serving as the reference standard. It was revealed that CC demonstrates higher consistency with it than DWSim under both low- and high-pressure conditions. This study confirms that CC is a reliable process simulator suitable for use in resource-constrained settings where expensive commercial licenses are prohibitive.

Navigation poses a significant challenge for autonomous vehicles, prompting the exploration of various bio-inspired artificial intelligence techniques to address issues related to path generation, obstacle avoidance, and optimal path planning. Numerous studies have delved into bio-inspired approaches to navigate and overcome obstacles. In this paper, we introduce the dragonfly algorithm (DA), a novel bio-inspired meta-heuristic optimization technique to autonomously set goals, detect obstacles, and minimize human intervention. To enhance efficacy in unstructured environments, we propose and analyze the dragonfly–fuzzy hybrid algorithm, leveraging the strengths of both approaches. This hybrid controller amalgamates diverse features from different methods into a unified framework, offering a multifaceted solution. Through a comparative analysis of simulation and experimental results under varied environmental conditions, the hybrid dragonfly–fuzzy controller demonstrates superior performance in terms of time and path optimization compared to individual algorithms and traditional controllers. This research aims to contribute to the advancement of autonomous vehicle navigation through the innovative integration of bio-inspired meta-heuristic optimization techniques.

Despite the relatively small amounts produced, medical waste is a significant issue for the government and the healthcare industry primarily because it poses threats to persons and the environment. Healthcare wastes pose threats to the environment and public health, but knowledge of these concerns and how they relate to management techniques is still lacking. Evaluating waste management practices and healthcare staff expertise is critical to identify shortcomings and lower risk levels. The study was conducted at three selected private hospitals. These three hospitals contain 462 beds, all together with 184 healthcare workers. The study was designed as a descriptive cross-sectional study, and three private healthcare institutions in the study region were evaluated. These 100 healthcare workers were chosen by purposive sampling. The hospitals under consideration include general surgical, Gynecological, pediatric, and various specialty treatments. Data was gathered for the study utilizing a quantitative questionnaire, which includes closed-ended structured questionnaires. The results showed that most healthcare workers practice waste segregation at source. Chemical cross-linking was very poor. However, waste shredding technology is being used substantially. Risk perception among Healthcare workers regarding polymer help waste management showed more of average to high risk. The study concluded that despite the existence of policies and plans, execution is still subpar at private healthcare institutions. The creation of guidelines for hospital waste management, their distribution to other institutions, and their encouragement to do a critical self-evaluation should all be required by the government.

Since the first reported case of COVID-19 in December 2019, several SARS-CoV-2 variants have evolved, and some of them have shown higher transmissibility, becoming the prevalent strains. Genomic epidemiological investigations into strains from different time points, including the early stages of the pandemic, are very crucial for understanding the evolution and transmission patterns. Using whole-genome sequences, our study describes the early landscape of SARS-CoV-2 variants in central India retrospectively (including the first known occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 in Madhya Pradesh). We performed amplicon-based whole-genome sequencing of randomly selected SARS-CoV-2 isolates (n = 38) collected between 2020 and 2022 at state level VRDL, ICMR-NIRTH, Jabalpur, from 11899 RT-qPCR-positive samples. We observed the presence of five lineages, namely B.1, B.1.1, B.1.36.8, B.1.195, and B.6, in 19 genomes from the first wave cases and variants of concern (VOCs) lineages, i.e., B.1.617.2 (Delta) and BA.2.10 (Omicron) in the second wave cases. There was a shift in mutational pattern in the spike protein coding region of SRAS-CoV-2 strains from the second wave in contrast to the first wave. In the first wave of infections, we observed variations in the ORF1Ab region, and with the emergence of Delta lineages, the D614G mutation associated with an increase in infectivity became a prominent change. We have identified five immune escape variants in the S gene, P681R, P681H, L452R, Q57H, and N501Y, in the isolates collected during the second wave. Furthermore, these genomes were compared with 2160 complete genome sequences reported from central India that encompass 109 different SARS-CoV-2 lineages. Among them, VOC lineages Delta (28.93%) and Omicron (56.11%) were circulating predominantly in this region. This study provides useful insights into the genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 strains over the initial course of the COVID-19 pandemic in central India.

Background Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune disease, with impaired immune response, increased fibrosis and endothelial dysfunction. Regulatory T cells (Tregs), which are essential to control inflammation, tissue repair and autoimmunity, have a decreased frequency and impaired function in SSc patients. Low-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2LD) can expand and activate Tregs and has, therefore, a therapeutic potential in SSc.Objective We aimed to assess the safety and biological efficacy of IL-2LD in patients with SSc.Methods As part of the TRANSREG open-label phase IIa basket trial in multiple autoimmune diseases, we studied nine patients with SSc without severe organ involvement. Patients received 1 million international units (MIU)/day of IL-2 for 5 days, followed by fortnightly injections for 6 months. Laboratory and clinical evaluations were performed between baseline and month 6.Results At day 8, the primary endpoint (Treg frequency) was reached with a 1.8±0.5-fold increase of Treg levels among CD4+ T lymphocytes (p=0.0015). There were no significant changes in effector T cells nor in B cells. IL-2LD was well tolerated, and no serious adverse events related to treatment occurred. There was a globally stable measurement in the modified Rodnan skin score and Valentini score at month 6. Disease activity and severity measures, the quality of life evaluated by EuroQL-5D-5L and pulmonary function test parameters remained stable during the study period.Conclusion IL-2LD at a dosage of 1 MIU/day safely and selectively activates and expands Tregs. Clinical signs remain stable during the study period. This opens the door to properly powered phase II efficacy trials investigating IL-2LD therapeutic efficacy in SSc.

Background: Postoperative nausea and vomiting is a common complication after laparoscopic surgery and general anesthesia. It increases the patient’s discomfort and compromises the surgical outcome. Aims and Objectives: The study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator (TENS) and Injection of Metoclopramide for the prevention of post-operative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing gastrointestinal laparoscopic surgery. The secondary objective of the study was to find out the percentage of cases needed rescue antiemetic drug (Inj. Ondansetron) when prophylaxis failed. Materials and Methods: The study was a prospective, double-blind, randomized trial conducted at M.G.M. Medical College and M.Y. Hospital, Indore. 90 patients of 18–60 years of age, ASA physical status I-II, undergoing elective laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery were included. Patients were allocated randomly into two equal groups. Group T received TENS (the stimulation group) at P6 acupressure point, whereas group M received an injection of Metoclopramide before induction of anesthesia. Patients in both groups were observed for 24 h postoperatively for the incidence of nausea and vomiting and the requirement for rescue antiemetic. Results: The percentage of Postoperative Nausea Vomiting (PONV) and requirement of rescue antiemetics in both the groups were comparable in the first 6 h following laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgeries (P=1.000). There was no significant difference in PONV and rescue antiemetic requirement at 24 h in both the groups. Conclusion: TENS stimulation at P6 acupressure point is comparable to injection of Metoclopramide in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgeries.

BACKGROUND: Nursing health workers deal with a variety of issues that may have an unfavorable influence on their capability to peaceful sleep. The consequences of poor quality of the sleep can lead to increased fatigue, decreased concentration, and a higher risk of medical and nursing errors. The purpose of this research study was to determine in the occurrence and associated factors for poor quality of the sleep among Indian nurses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The participants in this cross-sectional study were selected by the use of a multi-stage sampling technique. A total of 25 hospitals (across 4 zones) were randomly sampled. A total of 850 (out of 1250) nurses participated in the study. To collect socio-demographic data, a self-administered questionnaire was employed. PSQI scale was implemented to assess quality of sleep, and the other scale of DASS-21 was used to assess mental well-being. RESULTS: The majority of nurses had mild (6–7 hours) as well as moderate (5–6 hours) levels of difficulty in the duration of sleep time. The occurrence of poor quality of the sleep in nursing professionals is high. 9.2% had depression, 13.7% had anxiety, and 18.9% faced, which appears to be linked to insufficient sleep in the adjusted model. In the univariate study, additional night shifts and additional shift hours were substantially related to insufficient sleep. CONCLUSION: Nurses’ quality of sleep is substantially hampered due to various reasons, and nurse mangers should devise the framework to avoid its harmful effects and to provide desirable management and high-quality patient care.