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The advent of nanotechnology has helped in several invention in science & technology. Contamination of surface water, ground and soil by various industrial dyes causes several ecological problems. Zinc oxide nanoparticles as photocatalysts and semiconductor materials show unique physical properties at the nanoscale and can be used to solve these problems to some extent. In this paper, we synthesized ZnO NPs and calcium-coated ZnO nanoparticles using extract of beetroot and then, for industrial point of view, we studied the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and rhodamine B using sun as a natural light source (sunlight). We have synthesized calcium-coated ZnO nanocomposites with 20–50 nm particle size. Synthesized nanomaterials were characterized by using the different physio-chemical techniques such as - FT-IR, XRD, TEM, SEM, EDX and UV-spectrophotometer do their photocatalytic degradation.

Cancer is a fatal disease and a significant cause of millions of deaths. Traditional methods for cancer detection often have limitations in identifying the disease in its early stages, and they can be expensive and time-consuming. Since cancer typically lacks symptoms and is often only detected at advanced stages, it is crucial to use affordable technologies that can provide quick results at the point of care for early diagnosis. Biosensors that target specific biomarkers associated with different types of cancer offer an alternative diagnostic approach at the point of care. Recent advancements in manufacturing and design technologies have enabled the miniaturization and cost reduction of point-of-care devices, making them practical for diagnosing various cancer diseases. Furthermore, machine learning (ML) algorithms have been employed to analyze sensor data and extract valuable information through the use of statistical techniques. In this review paper, we provide details on how various machine learning algorithms contribute to the ongoing development of advanced data processing techniques for biosensors, which are continually emerging. We also provide information on the various technologies used in point-of-care cancer diagnostic biosensors, along with a comparison of the performance of different ML algorithms and sensing modalities in terms of classification accuracy.

Abstract Background To tackle the long-standing opioid misuse problem, Myanmar introduced the methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) program in 2006, starting with 260 clients. Since then, the program has been expanded across different geographical sites in the country. This study was done in 2017 to explore the treatment satisfaction of the clients towards the MMT program. Method A total of 210 clients with a minimum of six-month treatment history enrolled in five MMT program sites across Myanmar were recruited through stratified random sampling. Administering the Verona Service Satisfaction Scale for Methadone-Treatment (VSSS-MT), this study assessed the satisfactory responses under three categories viz., 1) clinic staff professional skills; 2) basic drug intervention; 3) specific intervention (individual rehabilitation and psychotherapy). Results The majority (89%, n = 186) of the respondents were satisfied with the current MMT program. Specifically, 89.5% (n = 187) were satisfied with the clinic staff professional skills category, 91.9% (n = 192) with the basic program intervention and 74.6% (n = 156) with specific interventions. Among the respondents, treatment satisfaction with the MMT program was higher (p

Intussusception is one of the common causes of acute abdomen in paediatric age bracket with ileocolic type being the most prevalent. This happens when a proximal segment of bowel (intussusceptum) telescopes into the lumen of the adjacent distal segment (intussuscepiens). Here we report six cases of intussusception in which five were in paediatric age group and one was adult. All children were admitted, resuscitated well, USG abdomen was done to confirm the diagnosis, written and informed consent for surgery and anaesthesia, was taken from parents. However, all were managed successfully by hydrostatic saline reduction under sedation. Only one child had recurrence after one year who was again treated conservatively. Adult case was managed by means of laparotomy by excision of benign polyp being the pathological lead point. We present this case series to analyse the spectrum of presentation, diagnostic and therapeutic options available with review of literature. Since primary care providers and family physicians are first responders, this case series would help them for differential diagnosis and prompt referrals for further management.

Background and aimsKratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.) is widely use worldwide despite its addictive potential. Although psychostimulant use has been linked to occurrence of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, data is lacking on how regular kratom use affects ER stress. This case-control study first determined differences in ER stress sensor protein expression (BiP, sXBP1, ATF4, CHOP, JNK, and p-JNK) between regular kratom users and healthy controls. Second, it evaluated the association between kratom use characteristics, targeted ER stress sensor protein expression, and "kratom use disorder" diagnosed with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders 5th Edition (DSM-5) among regular kratom users.MethodsIn total, 60 regular kratom users and 50 healthy control-group participants were recruited and administered a sociodemographic and clinical characteristics questionnaire. While participants who used kratom were also administered a kratom use characteristics questionnaire. Blood samples were collected from all participants, and targeted ER stress sensor protein expression was determined via Western blot analysis.ResultsThe study's findings revealed first that kratom users registered significantly higher protein expression in all targeted ER stress sensors compared to the control group. Second, higher protein expression of CHOP (B = 5.061, standard error [SE] = 2.547, Wald = 3.948, adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 5.382, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.071 to 9.656, p = 0.047) and p-JNK (B = 5.795, SE = 2.635, Wald = 4.544, AOR = 17.025, 95% CI = 1.395 to 24.123, p = 0.017) increased the odds of kratom use disorder occurrence. Kratom use characteristics and other ER stress sensor protein expression were not associated with kratom use disorder.ConclusionRegular kratom use may induce protracted ER stress, leading to the decompensation of the unfolded protein response to maintain ER homeostasis. This effect may be linked to kratom use disorder occurrence.

Abstract Background Opioid substitution with methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is shown to reduce illicit opioid use and renew social functioning. Understanding factors that undermine clients’ social functioning during MMT treatment is vital for improving treatment compliance and quality of life. Method A total of 210 respondents who were already enrolled in a formal MMT program in Myanmar were recruited from five cities through stratified random sampling for this cross-sectional study. The addiction severity index (ASI) was used to objectively assess respondents social functioning in the last 30 days. Higher ASI scores denote poorer social functioning. Result Respondents total ASI scores in the respective domains were: employment (47.4%), alcohol (44.4%), drug use (7.2%), legal (49.2%) and social–family relationship (10.7%). Those reported to have never injected drugs in the last 30 days had lower ASI total scores than those who reported injection drug use (p = 0.01). After identifying the differences in ASI total scores, we found there were significant associations in the clients’ hepatitis C status, age category, frequency of heroin injection, quality of life score, marital status, current leisure status with family/friend, current history of injection in the last 30 days, income status, satisfaction with current marital status, as well as reported drug and alcohol use (p

Abstract Objective The spheroid model provides a physiological platform to study cancer cell biology and drug sensitivity. Usage of bovine collagen I for spheroid assays is costly especially when experiments are conducted in 24-well plates, as high volume of bovine collagen I is needed. The aim of the study was to downsize spheroid assays to a microfluidic 3D cell culture chip and compare the growth, invasion and response to drug/compound of spheroids embedded in the 3D chip to spheroids embedded in 24-well plates. Results Spheroids generated from nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line HK-1 continuously grew and invaded into collagen matrix in a 24-well plate. Similar observations were noticed with spheroids embedded in the 3D chip. Large spheroids in both 24-well plate and the 3D chip disintegrated and invaded into the collagen matrix. Preliminary drug sensitivity assays showed that the growth and invasion of spheroids were inhibited when spheroids were treated with combination of cisplatin and paynantheine at high concentrations, in a 24-well plate. Comparable findings were obtained when spheroids were treated with the same drug combination in the 3D chip. Moving forward, spheroid assays could be performed in the 3D chip in a more high-throughput manner with minimal time and cost.

Abstract Inhibition of the HER2/ERBB2 receptor is a keystone to treating HER2-positive malignancies, particularly breast cancer, but a significant fraction of HER2-positive (HER2+) breast cancers recur or fail to respond. Anti-HER2 monoclonal antibodies, like trastuzumab or pertuzumab, and ATP active site inhibitors like lapatinib, commonly lack durability because of adaptive changes in the tumor leading to resistance. HER2+ cell line responses to inhibition with lapatinib were analyzed by RNAseq and ChIPseq to characterize transcriptional and epigenetic changes. Motif analysis of lapatinib-responsive genomic regions implicated the pioneer transcription factor FOXA1 as a mediator of adaptive responses. Lapatinib in combination with FOXA1 depletion led to dysregulation of enhancers, impaired adaptive upregulation of HER3, and decreased proliferation. HER2-directed therapy using clinically relevant drugs (trastuzumab with or without lapatinib or pertuzumab) in a 7-day clinical trial designed to examine early pharmacodynamic response to antibody-based anti-HER2 therapy showed reduced FOXA1 expression was coincident with decreased HER2 and HER3 levels, decreased proliferation gene signatures, and increased immune gene signatures. This highlights the importance of the immune response to anti-HER2 antibodies and suggests that inhibiting FOXA1-mediated adaptive responses in combination with HER2 targeting is a potential therapeutic strategy.

Objectives: Paediatric neuroradiology is one of the most challenging areas in the wide gamut of disciplines that modern radiology encompasses. There is a paucity of literature on the epidemiology of paediatric neuroimaging and contextual reporting in this field. The objectives of this study were to study the epidemiology of the paediatric neurological disorders and to study the role of contextual reporting in this field. Materials and methods: This study was conducted at a tertiary care centre in Southwestern India over 1 year. It was a retrospective epidemiological study. The authors studied 112 patients referred as in- or outpatients for a brain MRI for a wide range of indications. The authors analysed the reports issued by their radiologists and reformatted them into a newly proposed contextual reporting template for the paediatric brain. Then, the authors conducted an epidemiological analysis of the compiled data. Results: The authors found that the most common indication for paediatric neuroimaging was seizures or seizure-like episodes, followed by developmental delay. The most common abnormality on imaging was sequelae to hypoxic or hypoglycaemic insult followed by brain atrophy. The authors found a wide range of other abnormalities illustrating the wide spectrum of paediatric neuroradiology. Conclusion: The authors’ study fills a gap in current literature regarding the epidemiology of conditions encountered in paediatric neuroradiology. The authors also propose a novel reporting format for contextual reporting in this field, which may help in reducing errors in reporting and reduce reporting time.

Abstract Background Colouterine fistula is a very rare entity because of the sturdy and muscular nature of the uterus. Due to the rarity of this condition and nonspecific clinical findings, it poses a diagnostic challenge to treating physicians. Case presentation Here, we report a case of a 64-year-old female, who presented with lower abdominal pain. Clinically, there was suspicion of a recto-vaginal fistula. However, on imaging, she was found to have a colouterine fistula secondary to sigmoid diverticulitis. Conclusion It is essential to be aware of this rare complication of sigmoid diverticulitis. The imaging plays a cardinal role in the diagnosis and guiding the management of this disease.

Background: Tocilizumab (TCZ) is a human interleukin (IL)-6 receptor (IL-6R) antibody which competitively inhibits IL-6 signal transduction. Clinical efficacy and safety of TCZ in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other autoimmune conditions have been established. However, there is a lack of data on its use in the Indian population. Objective: The objective was to study the clinical efficacy and safety of TCZ in Indian patients with seropositive RA. Patients and Methods: This was a prospective, observational single-center study conducted at a tertiary care rheumatology center. All patients were more than 16 years of age, fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) classification criteria for RA, and had at least moderate disease activity as measured by disease activity score-28 joints erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR) ≥3.2 at enrollment while on at least two disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. Patients with latent tuberculous infection were excluded from the study. Six doses of TCZ were administered at 8 mg/kg body weight dose at four weekly interval and clinical response was assessed at each visit. Results: All 30 patients enrolled completed the study. Baseline DAS28-ESR was 5.03 (SD0.39) which improved to 2.4 (△-2.6; 95% confidence interval: 2.30–3.04; P < 0.005) after 24 weeks. A total of 19 (63.3%) patients achieved remission (DAS-28 ESR < 2.6) at 24 weeks, while 25 (83.3%) patients showed a good EULAR response. No serious adverse effect was noted in any of the patients. Conclusions: TCZ is an effective and safe option for the treatment of seropositive RA.

The Drug Dependency Treatment and Research Unit (DDTRU) in Myanmar established opioid substitution with methadone in 2006. Reducing HIV transmission could be affected by eliminating the unsafe needle sharing among injecting drug uses and treatment with opioid substitution. The quality of life (QOL) among the clients retained in the methadone program is important for their personal development and is an indication of the treatment efficacy. This study evaluated factors associated with the QOL of methadone patients to ensure efficient service delivery. It also identified how patients' characteristics had differed QOL scores of respondents. This cross-sectional study was conducted in five cities with stratified random sampling. The study assessed the QOL of methadone patients in Myanmar. The study recruited 210 respondents to answer structured questionnaires for their quality of life: WHOQOL-BREF questionnaires and urine sample collection for methadone and illicit drug use. Survey responses on the QOL were transformed into 100-scale ratings, and higher QOL scores reflect better QOL. The average score of total QOL was 60.82%; precisely 60.09% in the physical domain, 63.11% in the psychological domain, 59.87% in the social relation domain, 60.41% in the environmental domain respectively. Respondents who reported illicit drug use had lower QOL scores. Statistically significant association of the QOL category of the methadone patients was identified with frequent methadone treatment episodes, the infection status of HIV, current treatment on antiretroviral therapy (ART), tuberculosis (TB) treatment history, sexually transmitted infections (STI) history in their lifetime, current work status as peer, Addiction Severity Index (ASI) for drug use, satisfaction with current marital status, satisfaction with current leisure status, history of psychological abuse within 30 days, heroin injection within 30 days, frequency of injection, and reported use of barbiturates (p

Background: Kratom or Mitragyna speciosa (Korth.) has received overwhelming attention recently due to its alleged pain-relieving effects. Despite its potential therapeutic value, kratom use has been linked to many occurrences of multiorgan toxicity and cardiotoxicity. Accordingly, the current narrative review aimed to provide a detailed account of kratom’s adverse cardiovascular effects and cardiotoxicity risk, based on in vitro studies, poison center reports, coroner and autopsy reports, clinical case reports, and clinical studies.Methods: An electronic search was conducted to identify all research articles published in English from 1950 to 2021 using the major research databases, such as Google Scholar, Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Mendeley, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Medline. We then analyzed the literature’s discussion of adverse cardiovascular effects, toxicity, and mortality related to kratom use.Results: Our findings revealed that, although in vitro studies have found kratom preparations’ most abundant alkaloid—mitragynine—to cause a prolonged QTc interval and an increased risk of torsades de pointes, a clinical study examining humans’ regular consumption of kratom did not report such a risk. However, this latter study did show that regular kratom use could induce an increased QTc interval in a dose-dependent manner. A few case reports also highlighted that kratom consumption is associated with ventricular arrhythmia and cardiopulmonary arrest, but this association could have ensued when kratom was co-administered with another substance. Similarly, analyses of national poison data showed that kratom’s most common adverse acute cardiovascular effects include tachycardia and hypertension. Meanwhile, coroner and autopsy reports indicated that kratom’s cardiovascular sequelae encompass coronary atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, hypertensive cardiovascular disease, left ventricular hypertrophy, cardiac arrhythmia, cardiomegaly, cardiomyopathy, focal band necrosis in the myocardium, and myocarditis. Given the available data, we deduced that all cardiac eventualities reported in the literature could have been compounded by polysubstance use and unresolved underlying medical illnesses.Conclusion: Although kratom use has been associated with death and cardiotoxicity, especially at higher doses and when associated with other psychoactive drugs, the dearth of data and methodological limitations reported in existing studies do not allow a definitive conclusion, and further studies are still necessary to address this issue.

Multiorgan toxicities have been extensively reported in kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth) users in Western countries but not in Southeast Asia. Existing literature argued that this discrepancy may be due to underreporting of kratom-related toxicity cases in Southeast Asia. Hence, this case series filled the research gap by clinically assessing the cardiovascular functioning and serum mitragynine level of regular kratom users in its traditional settings in Malaysia. Nine regular kratom users without history of polysubstance use were recruited from the same community via snowball sampling and were subjected to electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiogram assessments. Serum mitragynine analysis was also performed by solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The mean serum mitragynine level was 10.3 mg/L (SD = 6.9) and ranged from 2.5 mg/L to 22.4 mg/L. Those who consumed an average daily quantity of four or more glasses of brewed kratom juice (p = 0.045) and those who had prolonged QTc intervals (p = 0.017) had significantly higher serum mitragynine level. Echocardiographic findings of all the respondents were normal except one reported left ventricular hypertrophy and another had trivial tricuspid regurgitation with pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) of 10 + 5 mmHg. Regular kratom use without concomitant use of other illicit substances may not provoke any risk of cardiovascular impairment or toxicity except for prolonged QTc interval, which appeared to be dose dependent. However, as this study was limited by a small sample size, future studies with larger sample size are warranted to confirm our findings.

Background: Restrictive orders and temporary programmatic or ad hoc changes within healthcare and other supportive systems that were implemented in response to the COVID-19 epidemic in Malaysia may have created hindrances to accessing healthcare and/or receiving other supportive services for people who use drugs (PWUDs).Design: A primarily qualitative study has been conducted to evaluate how service providers and recipients were adapting and coping during the initial periods of the COVID-19 response.Settings: The study engaged several healthcare and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the peninsular states of Penang, Kelantan, Selangor, and Melaka.Participants: Medical personnel of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) programs (n = 2) and HIV clinics (n = 3), staff of NGO services (n = 4), and MMT patients (n = 9) were interviewed using a semi-structured format.Results: Interviewed participants reported significant organizational, programmatic, and treatment protocols related changes implemented within the healthcare and support services in addition to nationally imposed Movement Control Orders (MCOs). Changes aimed to reduce patient flow and concentration at the on-site services locations, including less frequent in-person visits, increased use of telemedicine resources, and greater reliance on telecommunication methods to maintain contacts with patients and clients; changes in medication dispensing protocols, including increased take-home doses and relaxed rules for obtaining them, or delivery of medications to patients' homes or locations near their homes were reported by the majority of study participants. No significant rates of COVID-19 infections among PWUDs, including among those with HIV have been reported at the study sites.Conclusions: Although the reported changes presented new challenges for both services providers and recipients and resulted in some degree of initial disruption, generally, all participants reported successful implementation and high levels of compliance with the newly introduced restrictions, regulations, and protocols, resulting in relatively low rates of treatment disruption or discontinuation at the study sites.

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a tree native to Southeast Asia with long history of traditional medicinal use. The aim of this study was to investigate the nature of self-reported experiences as shared on YouTube™ videos. A total of 500 videos with 19,478,180 views and 134,863 comments emerged as result from the data scrape extracted via the YouTube Data Tool. 12 out of the 16 most viewed videos were manually processed and selected for inductive thematic analysis. Kratom was used to self-medicate a number of health conditions, including opioid dependence/addiction (83.4%), pain (75%), anxiety (67%), depression (42%), substance use (42%) as well as to boost energy (50%), elevate mood (25%) and its nootropic effects (25%). Although most of the described experiences were positive (58%), side-effects, such as dependence and withdrawal (50%), nausea (42%), loss of appetite (25%), sedation (25%), loss of motivation (16.7%), were also reported. These were associated in the 25% of the cases with chronic ingestions. Overall, it was found that Kratom was mainly used for self-medication, rather than recreational purposes, justifying the need for further clinical studies to better assess the safety and the efficacy of its use in a therapeutic context.

Objective: Cannabis use is criminalized in Malaysia under existing drug laws, despite the prevailing contrasting views towards cannabis regulation. We sought to determine the motives for using cannabis, perceptions regarding the risks of using it, and the legal ramifications related to its use among employed graduates in Malaysia. Design: Twenty-three employed graduates were recruited through snow-ball sampling for this qualitative study. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed based on the respondents’ testimonies. Results: The majority were females (52%, n=12/23), and Malay (57%, n=13/23). Nearly 87% (n=20/23) were single (including one divorcee). The respondents’ mean age was 30.9 years (SD=5.2), and the mean age at which cannabis was first used was 20.5 years (SD=3.1). The majority used cannabis for recreational (60%, n=16/23), and medicinal (30%) purposes. Cannabis use was associated with perceived positive effects and the belief that it is a safe substance. It was also regarded to be safer than conventional pharmacotherapy in treating self-disclosed psychological symptoms. The few who wanted but had difficulty abstaining from cannabis use avoided seeking treatment due to the fear of prejudice from treatment providers. Users also felt that drug laws are being applied unevenly to favour the well-connected. In general, users want a more liberalized approach to cannabis use. Conclusions: The use of cannabis among educated, employed individuals persists because they remain functional and appear to be unharmed by extended use. They are either unconcerned or unaware of the negative side of cannabis use. Making them aware of the negatives in an intelligent and fact-based manner will help them make informed decisions.

Background: HIV prevalence rate among people who inject drugs (PWIDs) in Myanmar is marginally high (34.9%). HIV transmission can be reduced and prevented through harm reduction programs such as methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) and needle syringe exchange program (NSEP). We sought to determine the relationship between methadone dose and injecting behaviours among clients enrolled in the MMT program in Myanmar. Method: A total of 210 MMT clients, who had a minimum of six-month methadone treatment history, were recruited from five cities through stratified random sampling for this cross-sectional study. A semi-structured questionnaire with the timeline flow back (TLFB) scale was administered. Respondents were also screened for illicit drug use. Results: Almost two-thirds (63.5%, n=132) received less than or equal to 80mg/day of methadone dose, and 36.5% (n=76) received more than 80mg of methadone daily, while the sample average daily methadone dose in this study was 83mg (ranging from 20mg to 300mg per day). The results indicated that methadone dose was associated with having HIV infection, antiretroviral therapy (ART) and tuberculosis (TB) treatment history, heroin injection history in the last 30 days, needle sharing history, addiction severity on employment, as well as THC (cannabis) and benzodiazepine use history (p

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth., Rubiaceae) is native to and has traditional use in Southeast Asia. The number of kratom users outside of Southeast Asia has increased significantly in recent decades with use spreading to the Unites States (US) and Europe. Because of its reputed opioid-like psychoactive effects at higher doses, kratom has been regulated in several countries and is subject to an import ban by the US Food and Drug Administration. Nonetheless, in the US it is estimated that 10–15 million people consume kratom primarily for the self-treatment of pain, psychiatric disorders, to mitigate withdrawal from or dependence on opioids, and to self-treat opioid use disorder or other substance use disorders (SUDs). Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, a shortage in the supply of kratom products may place unexpected burdens on kratom users, potentially influencing some who use kratom for SUD self-treatment to regress to harmful drug use, hence increasing the likelihood of adverse outcomes, including overdose. Inadequate treatment, treatment barriers, and increases in the sales of adulterated kratom products on the internet or in convenience stores could exacerbate circumstances further. Although there are currently no verified indications of kratom scarcity, researchers and clinicians should be aware of and remain vigilant to this unanticipated possibility.

Among the symptoms of COVID-19 fever, general malaise, pain and aches, myalgia, fatigue, and headache can affect the quality of life of patients, even after the end of the acute phase of the infection and can be long lasting. The current treatment of these symptoms, also because COVID-19 patients have been asked not to use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), in particular ibuprofen are often unsatisfactory. Among the above mentioned symptoms malaise and fatigue seem the most difficult to treat. In this case report we describe the use of kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) by a patient with confirmed COVID-19 infection. What we observed was a fast and sustained relieve of the above mentioned symptoms.

Introduction: Brain tumours are an important cause of neurological problems. Grade of these tumours is one of the parameters which decide the treatment offered to patients. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) though superior to other conventional modalities still has few limitations in assessing grade of tumours. Perfusion MRI by virtue of its ability to measure haemodynamic parameters can be used to access grade of tumour. Aim: To evaluate the role of perfusion MRI in evaluation of brain tumours by using relative Cerebral Blood Volume (rCBV). Materials and Methods: A prospective study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital from July 2015 to June 2018. MRI was performed on 23 patients using conventional imaging, perfusion imaging with T2*-weighted Echo-Planar sequence after administration of Gadopentetate dimeglumine. Perfusion data was processed to obtain colour maps and rCBV value was generated. rCBV values were correlated with histopathological grade of tumours. Statistical analysis was done by using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) Version 20.0. Tukey’s test was used to compare the mean rCBV value for pairwise comparison of grades of tumour and unpaired t-test was used to compare the mean rCBV between high grade and low grade astrocytomas. Receiver’s Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve was used to find the sensitivity, specificity, Positive Predictive Value (PPV) and Negative Predictive Value (NPV) and cut-off value of rCBV for detection of high grade tumour. Results: Grade I astrocytoma and Grade II astrocytoma had mean rCBV of 1.435±1.063 and 2.046±1.282, respectively. Grade III astrocytoma and Grade IV astrocytoma had mean rCBV of 7.620±3.463 and 12.455±0.361 respectively. Mean rCBV of medulloblastoma was 4.185±2.482. Low grade astrocytoma (grade I and grade II) had mean rCBV of 1.817±1.207 and high grade astrocytoma (grade III and grade IV) had mean rCBV of 9.554±3.611. There was significant difference between mean rCBV in Grade I/II vs III/IV (p

Background and aimKratom, or Mitragyna speciosa Korth., is a tropical plant that has been reported to exhibit opioid-like effects. Although opioids have been demonstrated to alter the lipid profile of regular users, data on the lipid-altering effects of kratom are scarce. This study aimed to compare the fasting lipid profile of regular kratom users to that of healthy subjects who do not use kratom. It also determined the association between various characteristics of kratom users and the serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels of regular kratom users.MethodsA total of 200 participants (n = 100 kratom users and n = 100 healthy subjects who do not use kratom) were recruited for this analytical cross-sectional study. Data on sociodemographic status, kratom use characteristics, cigarette smoking, physical activity, body mass index (BMI), fasting serum lipid profile, and liver function were collected from all participants.ResultsThe liver parameters of the study participants were within normal range. The serum total cholesterol and LDL of kratom users were significantly lower than those of healthy subjects who do not use kratom. There were no significant differences in the serum triglyceride and HDL levels. However, higher average daily frequency of kratom use and increasing age were associated with increased serum total cholesterol among kratom users. Other kratom use characteristics such as age of first kratom intake, duration of kratom use, and quantity of daily kratom intake were not associated with increased serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL, and HDL levels.ConclusionsOur findings suggest regular kratom consumption was not linked to elevated serum lipids, except when there is a higher frequency of daily kratom intake. However, the study was limited by the small sample size, and hence a more comprehensive study with larger sample size is warranted to confirm the findings.

Introduction: Benign prostrate hyperplasia (BPH) is a leading source of healthcare problem in aging men around the world including India. Both International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and New Visual Prostate Symptom Score (VPSS) are used to assess the lower urinary tracts symptoms (LUTSs) in men. The present study was planned to compare these two scores, IPSS and VPSS in Indian rural men prospectively and their efficacy was compared with urodynamic evaluation of the patients. Materials and Methods: With Institutional Ethical Committee approval, this study was conducted on 100 patients having LUTS and BPH after obtaining written informed consent. Patients′ educational status was noted. All the patients were requested to complete the IPSS and VPSS questionnaire, and they were correlated. The urodynamic study was performed on all the patients with uroflowmeter. Two parameters of uroflowmetry, Q max (maximum urine flow rate expressed in ml/s) and Q avrg (average urine flow rate expressed in ml/s) were measured and correlated. Results: Most of the patients (55%) in this study were uneducated. Out of 100 patients, 83% were able to fill the VPSS questionnaire without assistance as compared to only 40% patients in IPSS questionnaire (Z = 6.557, P < 0.001). There was a positive correlation between IPSS and VPSS total score in this study (r = 0.453 and P ≤ 0.001). It was noticed that IPSS Question 2 for frequency of urination had a positive correlation with VPSS Question 1 (day time frequency of urination) r = 0.645 (P = 0.000). Similarly, IPSS Question 7 for night frequency when compared with VPSS Question 2 (nocturia); the value for r was found to be 0.536 (P = 0.000).The IPSS Question 5 for straining when compared to the VPSS Question 3, i.e., the question for the strength of stream during micturition; the positive correlation was found to be 0.266 (P = 0.007). There was a negative correlation between IPSS total score and Q avrg with value − 0.368 (P = 0.000) and between IPSS total score and Q max of − 0.433 (P = 0.000). A negative correlation is also noted between VPSS total score and Q avrg of value 0.497 (P = 0.000) and VPSS total score and Q max of value − 0.719 (P = 0.000). Conclusion: VPSS correlates significantly with the IPSS to quantify the LUTS due to BPH. The VPSS can be used instead of the IPSS for the assessment of symptom severity in men with LUTS, who are illiterate or have limited education.

A feature of human culture is that we can learn to consume chemical compounds, derived from natural plants or synthetic fabrication, for their psychoactive effects. These drugs change the mental state and/or the behavioral performance of an individual and can be instrumentalized for various purposes. After the emergence of a novel psychoactive substance (NPS) and a period of experimental consumption, personal and medical benefits and harm potential of the NPS can be estimated on evidence base. This may lead to a legal classification of the NPS, which may range from limited medical use, controlled availability up to a complete ban of the drug form publically accepted use. With these measures, however, a drug does not disappear, but frequently continues to be used, which eventually allows an even better estimate of the drug’s properties. Thus, only in rare cases, there is a final verdict that is no more questioned. Instead, the view on a drug can change from tolerable to harmful but may also involve the new establishment of a desired medical application to a previously harmful drug. Here, we provide a summary review on a number of NPS for which the neuropharmacological evaluation has made important progress in recent years. They include mitragynine (“Kratom”), synthetic cannabinoids (e.g., “Spice”), dimethyltryptamine and novel serotonergic hallucinogens, the cathinones mephedrone and methylone, ketamine and novel dissociative drugs, γ-hydroxybutyrate, γ-butyrolactone, and 1,4-butanediol. This review shows not only emerging harm potentials but also some potential medical applications.

Characteristics and emission budget of carbonaceous species from two distinct post-harvest agricultural-waste (paddy- and wheat-residue) burning emissions have been studied from a source region (Patiala: 30.2°N, 76.3°E; 250 m amsl) in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP), Northern India. The PM2.5 mass concentration varies from 60 to 390 µg m−3 during paddy-residue burning (October–November) with dominant contribution from organic carbon (OC≈33%), whereas contribution from elemental carbon (EC) centres at ~4%. Water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) accounts for about 50% of OC. In contrast, mass concentration of PM2.5 during the period of wheat-residue burning (April–May) is significantly lower, varies from 18 to 123 µg m−3 and mass fractions of EC and OC are 7 and 26%, respectively. The diagnostic ratios of OC/EC (11±2), WSOC/OC (0.52±0.02), nss-K+/OC (0.06±0.00) and ΣPAHs/EC (4.3±0.7 mg/g) from paddy-residue burning emissions are significantly different than those from wheat-residue burning (OC/EC: 3.0±0.4; WSOC/OC: 0.60±0.03; nss-K+/OC: 0.14±0.01 and ΣPAHs/EC: 1.3±0.2 mg/g). The emission budget of OC, EC and ΣPAHs from post-harvest agricultural-waste burning in the IGP are estimated to be 505±68 Gg/y, 59±2 Gg/y and 182±32 Mg/y, respectively. From a global perspective, crop-residue burning in Northern India contributes nearly 20% of both OC and EC to the total emission budget from the agricultural-waste burning.

Introduction: Breast cancer is now the leading cause of cancer among Indian women. Usually large tumour size and axillary lymph node involvement are linked with adverse outcome and this notion forms the basis of screening programs i.e. early detection. Aim: The present study was carried out to analyse relationship between tumour size, lymph node status and there relation with outcome after treatment. Materials and Methods: Fifty patients with cytology-proven invasive breast tumours were evaluated for size, clinical and pathologic characteristics of tumour, axillary lymph node status and outcome data recorded on sequential follow-up. Results: Mean age of all participated patients was 52.24±10 years. Most common tumour location was in the upper outer quadrant with mean size of primary tumour being 3.31±1.80cm. On pathology number of lymph nodes examined ranged from 10 to 24 and 72% of patients recorded presence of disease in axilla. Significant positive correlation (p

The present study deals with the impact of agriculture crop residue burning on aerosol properties during October 2006 and 2007 over Punjab State, India using ground based measurements and multi-satellite data. Spectral aerosol optical depth (AOD) and Ångström exponent (α) values exhibited larger day to day variation during crop residue burning period. The monthly mean Ångström exponent "α" and turbidity parameter "β" values during October 2007 were 1.31±0.31 and 0.36±0.21, respectively. The higher values of "α" and "β" suggest turbid atmospheric conditions with increase in fine mode aerosols over the region during crop residue burning period. AURA-OMI derived Aerosol Index (AI) and Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) showed higher values over the study region during October 2007 compared to October 2006 suggesting enhanced atmospheric pollution associated with agriculture crop residue burning.

The present study examines the aerosol characteristics over two locations in the northwest region of India (Dehradun and Patiala) during premonsoon season of 2013. The average mass concentrations of particulates (PM10; PM2.5; PM1) were found to be 118±36, 34±11, and 19±10 µgm−3 and 140±48, 30±13, and 14±06 µgm−3 over Dehradun and Patiala, respectively. The average aerosol optical depth (AOD500 nm) is observed to be 0.62±0.11 over Dehradun and 0.56±0.21 over Patiala. Ångström exponent and fine mode fraction show higher values over Dehradun as compared to Patiala. The average mass concentration of black carbon was found to be 3343±546 ngm−3 and 6335±760 ngm−3 over Dehradun and Patiala, respectively. The diurnal pattern of BC is mainly controlled by boundary layer dynamics and local anthropogenic activities over both the stations. The average single scattering albedo (SSA500 nm) exhibited low value over Patiala (0.83±0.01) in comparison to Dehradun (0.90±0.01), suggesting the abundance of absorbing type aerosols over Patiala. The average atmospheric aerosol radiative forcing is +37.34 Wm−2 and +54.81 Wm−2 over Dehradun and Patiala, respectively, leading to atmospheric heating rate of 1.0 K day−1 over Dehradun and 1.5 K day−1 over Patiala.

We compare the mass concentrations of black carbon (BC) and elemental carbon (EC) from different emissions in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP), using optical (Aethalometer; 880 nm) and thermooptical technique (EC-OC analyzer; 678 nm), respectively. The fractional contribution of BC mass concentration measured at two different channels (370 and 880 nm), OC/EC ratio, and non-sea-salt K+/EC ratios have been systematically monitored for representing the source characteristics of BC and EC in this study. The mass concentrations of BC varied from 8.5 to 19.6, 2.4 to 18.2, and 2.2 to 9.4 μg m−3 during October-November (paddy-residue burning emission), December–March (emission from bio- and fossil-fuel combustion) and April-May (wheat-residue burning emission), respectively. In contrast, the mass concentrations of EC varied from 3.8 to 17.5, 2.3 to 8.9, and 2.0 to 8.8 μg m−3 during these emissions, respectively. The BC/EC ratios conspicuously greater than 1.0 have been observed during paddy-residue burning emissions associated with high mass concentrations of EC, OC, and OC/EC ratio. The Ångström exponent (α) derived from Aethalometer data is approximately 1.5 for the postharvest agricultural-waste burning emissions, hitherto unknown for the IGP. The mass absorption efficiency (MAE) of BC and EC centers at ~1–4 m2 g−1 and 2-3 m2 g−1 during the entire study period in the IGP.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, autoimmune, systemic and inflammatory rheumatic disease that leads to inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues. Identification of novel protein(s) associated with severity of RA is a prerequisite for better understanding of pathogenesis of this disease that may also have potential to serve as novel biomarkers in the diagnosis of RA. Present study was undertaken to compare the amount of autoantigens and autoantibodies in the plasma of RA patients in comparison to healthy controls. Plasma samples were collected from the patients suffering from RA, Osteoarthritis (OA), Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and healthy volunteers. The screening of plasma proteins were carried out using 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by identification of differentially expressed protein by MALDI-TOF MS/MS. Among several differentially expressed proteins, transthyretin (TTR) has been identified as one of the protein that showed significantly up regulated expression in the plasma of RA patients. The results were further validated by Western blot analysis and ELISA. In comparison to OA synovium, an exclusive significantly high expression of TTR in RA has been validated through IHC, Western blotting and IEM studies. Most importantly, the increase in expression of TTR with the progression of severity of RA condition has been observed. The autoantibodies against TTR present in the RA plasma were identified using immunoprecipitation-Western methods. The significant production of autoantibodies was validated by ELISA and Western blot analysis using recombinant pure protein of TTR. Hence, these novel observations on increase in TTR expression with the increase in severity of RA conditions and significant production of autoantibodies against TTR clearly suggest that a systematic studies on the role TTR in the pathogenesis of RA is immediately required and TTR may be used as a serum diagnostic marker together with other biochemical parameters and clinical symptoms for RA screening and diagnosis.

Impact of dust storms on the aerosol characteristics and radiative forcing over Patiala, northwestern India has been studied during April-June of 2010 using satellite observations and ground-based measurements. Six dust events (DE) have been identified during the study period with average values of Aqua-MODIS AOD550 and Microtops-II AOD500 over Patiala as 1.00±0.51 and 0.84±0.41, respectively while Aura-OMI AI exhibits high values ranging from 2.01 to 6.74. The Ångström coefficients α380–870 and β range from 0.12 to 0.31 and 0.95 to 1.40, respectively. The measured spectral AODs, the OPAC-derived aerosol properties and the surface albedo obtained from MODIS were used as main inputs in SBDART model for the calculation of aerosol radiative forcing (ARF) over Patiala. The ARF at surface (SRF) and top of atmosphere (TOA) ranges from ∼−50 to −100 Wm−2 and from ∼−10 to −25 Wm−2, respectively during the maximum of dust storms. The radiative forcing efficiency was found to be −66 Wm−2AOD−1 at SRF and −14 Wm−2AOD−1 at TOA. High values of ARF in the atmosphere (ATM), ranging between ∼+40 Wm−2 and +80.0 Wm−2 during the DE days, might have significant effect on the warming of the lower and middle atmosphere and, hence, on climate over northwestern India.

Oryza punctata Kotschy ex Steud. (BB, 2n = 24) is a wild species of rice that has many useful agronomic traits. An interspecific hybrid (AB, 2n = 24) was produced by crossing O. punctata and Oryza sativa variety Punjab Rice 122 (PR122, AA, 2n = 24) to broaden the narrow genetic base of cultivated rice. Cytological analysis of the pollen mother cells (PMCs) of the interspecific hybrids confirmed that they have 24 chromosomes. The [F.sub.1] hybrids showed the presence of 19-20 univalents and 1-3 bivalents. The interspecific hybrid was treated with colchicine to produce a synthetic amphiploid (AABB, 2n = 48). Pollen fertility of the synthetic amphiploid was found to be greater than 50% and partial seed set was observed. Chromosome numbers in the PMCs of the synthetic amphiploid were 24II, showing normal pairing. Flow cytometric analysis also confirmed doubled genomic content in the synthetic amphiploid. Leaf morphological and anatomical studies of the synthetic amphiploid showed higher chlorophyll content and enlarged bundle sheath cells as compared with both of its parents. The synthetic amphiploid was backcrossed with PR122 to develop a series of addition and substitution lines for the transfer of useful genes from O. punctata with least linkage drag. Key words: Oryza punctata, synthetic amphiploids, aneuploids, cytology, flow cytometery, chromosome doubling. Resume: L'Oryza punctata Kotschy ex Steud. (BB, 2n = 24) est une espece sauvage de riz qui presente de nombreux attributs agronomiques. Un hybride interspecifique (AB, 2n = 24) a ete produit en croisant O. punctata et O. sativa cv. Punjab Rice 122 (PR122, AA, 2n = 24) afin d'elargir l'etroite assise genetique du riz cultive. Une analyse cytogenetique des microsporocytes chez les hybrides interspecifiques a confirme qu'ils comptaient 24 chromosomes. Les hybrides [F.sub.1] affichait 19-20 univalents et 1-3 bivalents. L'hybride interspecifique a ete traite a la colchicine pour produire un amphiploide synthetique (AABB, 2n = 48). La fertilite du pollen chez l'amphiploide depassait 50 % et une production partielle de grains a ete obtenue. Les microsporocytes et les amphiploides synthetiques presentaient un appariement normal avec 24II. Une analyse de cytometrie en flux a egalement confirme le doublement genomique chez l'amphiploide. Un examen morphologique des feuilles et des etudes anatomiques a montre que l'amphiploide affichait une teneur accrue en chlorophylle et des cellules elargies au sein des faisceaux vasculaires par rapport aux deux parents. L'amphiploide a ete retrocroise avec PR122 pour developper une serie de lignees d'addition et de substitution en vue de transferer des genes utiles de l'O. punctata avec le moins de co-transmission. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles : Oryza punctata, amphiploides synthetiques, aneuploides, cytologie, cytometrie en flux, doublement genomique., Introduction Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most important staple food crops and sources of calories for mankind worldwide. The genus Oryza of the family Gramineae has 24 [...]