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Abstract Lichen-forming fungi (LFF) are prolific producers of functionally and structurally diverse secondary metabolites, most of which are taxonomically exclusive and play lineage-specific roles. To date, widely distributed, evolutionarily conserved biosynthetic pathways in LFF are not known. However, this idea stems from polyketide derivatives, since most biochemical research on lichens has concentrated on polyketide synthases (PKSs). Here, we present the first systematic identification and comparison of terpene biosynthetic genes of LFF using all the available Lecanoromycete reference genomes and 22 de novo sequenced ones (111 in total, representing 60 genera and 23 families). We implemented genome mining and gene networking approaches to identify and group the biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) into networks of similar BGCs. Our large-scale analysis led to the identification of 724 terpene BGCs with varying degrees of pairwise similarity. Most BGCs in the dataset were unique with no similarity to a previously known fungal or bacterial BGC or among each other. Remarkably, we found two BGCs that were widely distributed in LFF. Interestingly, both conserved BGCs contain the same core gene, i.e., putatively a squalene/phytoene synthase (SQS), involved in sterol biosynthesis. This indicates that early gene duplications, followed by gene losses/gains and gene rearrangement are the major evolutionary factors shaping the composition of these widely distributed SQS BGCs across LFF. We provide an in-depth overview of these BGCs, including the transmembrane, conserved, variable and LFF-specific regions. Our study revealed that lichenized fungi do have a highly conserved BGC, providing the first evidence that a biosynthetic gene may constitute essential genes in lichens.

Abstract Objective The Child Neurology Society 2023 Annual Meeting Neurocritical Care Special Interest Group discussed pediatric opioid use–associated neurotoxicity with cerebellar edema (POUNCE). Inspired by the discussion and the suspicion of an underrecognized severe form of the disorder, we provide a case series and literature review on this important and emerging topic. Methods The meeting was moderated by coauthor DSM, with formal presentation by coauthor AG, and supplemented with a supporting case by coauthor VLB. The attendees, by show of hand, were queried for experience with direct care of children in the critical care unit with neurotoxicity from opioid exposure. These meeting elements informed our literature review and case series. Results A key focus of the meeting was the importance of interdisciplinary communication regarding POUNCE, emphasizing the necessity for neurosurgical assessment due to mass effect. Approximately 10 of 40 attendees, representing different US hospitals, reported caring for children with opioid neurotoxicity and concern for increased intracranial pressure. Described during the meeting was a 2‐year‐old girl with opioid exposure, rapidly worsening neurological exam, and transforaminal herniation concerning for severe POUNCE syndrome and impact on brain networks by resting‐state functional magnetic resonanance imaging (rs‐MRI). After surgical decompression did not improve her neurological function, she underwent rs‐MRI, electroencephalogram, and MRI. The networks indicated better neurological function than the exam, consistent with outcome. In contrast, the second patient, was an 11‐month‐old boy with fentanyl exposure who was treated for opioid overdose and closely monitored clinically. He did not require surgical intervention and has recovered well. Interpretation These patients add to the few publications documenting the management of POUNCE, which may require urgent posterior cranial fossa decompression, and highlight the potential for good outcomes. Additionally, this is the first report documenting rs‐fMRI for this condition, which was consistent with the patient's outcome.

Background: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) severe complication of liver cirrhosis with high mortality. Few studies have found zinc deficiency in liver cirrhosis and HE patients and found it as a precipitating factor for the development of HE. This study was done to measure the serum zinc level in patients with liver cirrhosis with HE and a correlation was obtained between serum zinc level with grades of HE. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was done on 150 patients with liver cirrhosis with HE at a tertiary care center in Jharkhand. All cases were evaluated by history taking, clinical examination, and a questionnaire and classified into different WHC grades of HE and CPC classes of cirrhosis. Routine blood investigations, imaging studies, and morning serum zinc levels were done for all patients. Results: Majority of patients with liver cirrhosis with HE had zinc deficiency. There was a statistically highly significant (P < .00001) association between low serum zinc levels and WHC grades of HE. The serum zinc levels in different classes of cirrhosis showed highly significant differences (P < .00001). The mean serum zinc level was significantly low in patients who died (35.56 ± 11.65 vs 48.36 ± 10.91, P < .0001). The study revealed a strong positive correlation (r = .88, P = .048) between serum zinc and serum albumin levels. Conclusion: Serum zinc is deficient in patients with liver cirrhosis and HE. Zinc deficiency is significantly associated with higher severity of cirrhosis and higher grades of HE. All patients with liver cirrhosis with HE and hypoalbuminemia should be evaluated for zinc deficiency.

Background & objectives: Theileriosis is an important tick-bome hemoprotozoan disease of cattle which causes severe economic loss due to morbidity and mortality. A diagnostic test having high sensitivity, specificity and easy application at the field level is the need of the hour. In this regard Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is proven to be a sensitive, easy and time efficient method. One of the major obstacles for the application of LAMP is the difficulty in maintaining the cold chain to preserve reagents. Thus, the challenge is to develop a LAMP kit in a ready-to-use format with dried reagents useful for quick and simple application in field conditions. Methods: The optimized reaction of wet LAMP was followed for the standardization of dry LAMP with certain modifications which are needful. The major modification is vitrification technology of enzyme using trehalose. Results: LAMP assay (dry and wet LAMP) was found to be more sensitive (100%) when compared to microscopy (69.5%) and PCR (86.9%). It was observed that the dry LAMP reaction tubes at room temperature as well as refrigeration temperature provided successful amplification till 7 weeks. Interpretation & conclusion: The drying conditions of LAMP reagents were optimized, and finally managed to dry them in a single reaction tube without reducing the sensitivity. This technology enables us to transport LAMP kits to areas where the cold chain is not easily available.

Background: In this era, orthopaedic surgery moves towards less invasive procedures and especially focuses on patient satisfaction. The all-inside technique (AIT) emerges as a promising alternative, however still there is controversy regarding this surgical procedure.Objectives: The aim of the present systematic review was to compare the surgical outcomes of all-inside techniques in terms of function, knee stability, graft failure, and further bone tunnel widening. Methods: This systematic review was carried out across various databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, the Cochran library, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Wiley. The available studies were included from last 10 years database from 2014 to 2024. Additionally, we evaluated the included studies using Revman 5.4 to analyze a risk of bias, study design, and methodological quality.Results: In this review, approximately 17 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) were incorporated. After the thorough analysis, we reported that, the gender information revealed in 15 studies in which 512 (71.91%) were male and 200 (28.08%) were female. Moreover, the mean age of participants was 27.86 years. Out of 17 studies, 14 of them used AIT to treat ACL reconstruction (ACLR). In the included studies, a total of 675 cases were managed with AIT. Out of these cases, 582 patients received a semitendinosus tendon graft, while the remaining 184 patients were given an autograft.Conclusion: Findings of the present study indicate that AIT preserves bony tissue and the gracilis tendon, resulting in reduced postoperative pain and increased knee flexor strength, with outcomes comparable to other surgical process. Therefore, all-inside anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction can be used as a good medium in terms of subjective and objective outcomes with a minimum complication.

Abstract Anthrax is an economically important zoonotic disease affecting both livestock and humans. The disease is caused by a spore forming bacterium, Bacillus anthracis, and is considered endemic to the state of Karnataka, India. It is critical to quantify the role of climatic factors in determining the temporal pattern of anthrax outbreaks, so that reliable forecasting models can be developed. These models will aid in establishing public health surveillance and guide strategic vaccination programs, which will reduce the economic loss to farmers, and prevent the spill-over of anthrax from livestock to humans. In this study, correlation and coherence between time series of anthrax outbreaks in livestock (1987–2016) and meteorological variables and Sea Surface Temperature anomalies (SST) were identified using a combination of cross-correlation analyses, spectral analyses (wavelets and empirical mode decomposition) and further quantified using a Bayesian time series regression model accounting for temporal autocorrelation. Monthly numbers of anthrax outbreaks were positively associated with a lagged effect of rainfall and wet day frequency. Long-term periodicity in anthrax outbreaks (approximately 6–8 years) was coherent with the periodicity in SST anomalies and outbreak numbers increased with decrease in SST anomalies. These findings will be useful in planning long-term anthrax prevention and control strategies in Karnataka state of India.

Background: Appendicectomy is a common surgical procedure for children presenting with appendicitis. Understanding the impact of appendicectomy on daily activities and social life is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes. Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to assess the impact of appendicectomy on children’s daily activities and social lives. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of patients aged ≥5 years who underwent appendicectomy at our center between April 2022 and April 2023. Data on demographics, surgical approach (open or laparoscopic), post-operative outcomes, and return to daily activities were collected using a standardized questionnaire. Results: Among the 70 identified cases, there was a male predominance (63%), with most presenting with acute appendicitis (85%). Laparoscopic appendectomy was the predominant surgical approach used (80%). Post-operative symptoms included pain (n=12), vomiting (n=3), fever (n=2), and wound infection (n=6). Appendicular abscesses were found in 9% of laparoscopic surgeries and 14% of open surgeries. The average duration of hospital stay was shorter in laparoscopic cases. Return to school and normal diet varied between surgical approaches, with laparoscopic cases generally showing a quicker recovery. Conclusion: Although appendicectomy is commonly performed, it has implications for children’s daily routines and social interactions. Parental anxiety plays a crucial role in post-operative recovery. Future studies should focus on addressing these social determinants to optimize patient outcomes.

Background: The issue of organ donation is complex and multifactorial involving ethical, legal, medical, organizational, and societal factors. There is a wide gap between the required number of donations and actual donations in India. There is a need to identify the reasons for this wide gap from the community perspective. Methods: A cross-sectional study was done among relatives of patients attending the outpatient department at a tertiary care center. Data were collected using a pre-designed semi-structured questionnaire. For the assessment of knowledge, relevant questions were asked. Attitude toward organ donation was assessed using 22 items on a 5-point Likert scale. Data were entered into Excel sheet and analyzed using SPSS software. Average knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were calculated and compared with religion, gender, and other sociodemographic variables. A Chi-square test of association was applied between sociodemographic variables and their willingness to sign the donor card. P

Small molecule-driven JNK activation has been found to induce apoptosis and paraptosis in cancer cells. Herein pharmacological effects of synthetic oxazine (4aS, 7aS)-3-((4-(4‑chloro-2-fluorophenyl)piperazin-1-yl)methyl)-4-phenyl-4, 4a, 5, 6, 7, 7a-hexahydrocyclopenta[e] [1,2]oxazine (FPPO; BSO-07) on JNK-driven apoptosis and paraptosis has been demonstrated in human breast cancer (BC) MDA-MB231 and MCF-7 cells respectively. BSO-07 imparted significant cytotoxicity in BC cells, induced activation of JNK, and increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. It also enhanced the expression of apoptosis-associated proteins like PARP, Bax, and phosphorylated p53, while decreasing the levels of Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and Survivin. Furthermore, the drug altered the expression of proteins linked to paraptosis, such as ATF4 and CHOP. Treatment with N-acetyl-cysteine (antioxidant) or SP600125 (JNK inhibitor) partly reversed the effects of BSO-07 on apoptosis and paraptosis. Advanced in silico bioinformatics, cheminformatics, density Fourier transform and molecular electrostatic potential analysis further demonstrated that BSO-07 induced apoptosis and paraptosis via the ROS/JNK pathway in human BC cells.

Abstract In the present work, phytoconstituents from Citrus limon are computationally tested against SARS‐CoV‐2 target protein such as Mpro ‐ (5R82.pdb), Spike ‐ (6YZ5.pdb) &RdRp ‐ (7BTF.pdb) for COVID‐19. Docking was done by glide model, QikProp was performed by in silico ADMET screening & Prime MM‐GB/SA modules were used to define binding energy. When compared with approved COVID‐19 drugs such as Remdesivir, Ritonavir, Lopinavir, and Hydroxychloroquine, plant‐based constituents such as Quercetin, Rutoside, Naringin, Eriocitrin, and Hesperidin. bind with significant G‐scores to the active SARS‐CoV‐2 place. The constituents Rutoside and Eriocitrin were studied in each MD simulation in 100 ns against 3 proteins 5R82.pdb, 6YZ5.pdb and 7BTF.pdb.We performed an assay with significant natural compounds from contacts and in silico results (Rutin, Eriocitrin, Naringin, Hesperidin) using 3CL protease assay kit (B.11529 Omicron variant). This kit contained 3CL inhibitor GC376 as Control. The IC50 value of the test compound was found to be Rutin −17.50 μM, Eriocitrin−37.91 μM, Naringin−39.58 μM, Hesperidine−140.20 μM, the standard inhibitory concentration of GC376 was 38.64 μM. The phytoconstituents showed important interactions with SARS‐CoV‐2 targets, and potential modifications could be beneficial for future development.

Pure and Fe-doped TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized through green synthesis route for wastewater remediation application. Pure and Fe-doped TiO2 nanoparticles were further characterised through various techniques like XRD, SEM, and EDS. The XRD patterns indicate pure anatase phase with space group I 41/a m d through the Rietveld refinement. The average crystalline size of Fe-doped TiO2 nanoparticles decreases with the increment in the concentration of doping. The high agglomeration of pure and Fe-doped TiO2 nanoparticles is observed through SEM. EDS analysis conforms the presence of Fe, Ti, and O elements in the nanoparticles. The photo catalytic activities of pure and Fe-doped TiO2 under ultraviolet (UV) light with different concentration were investigated. The dissolved oxygen in the water increases with the increment of Fe doping and time of exposer of UV light.

Paper based point-of-care (PoC) detection platforms applying lateral flow assays (LFAs) have gained paramount approval in the diagnostic domain as well as in environmental applications owing to their ease of utility, low cost, and rapid signal readout. It has centralized the aspect of self-evaluation exhibiting promising potential in the last global pandemic era of Covid-19 implementing rapid management of public health in remote areas. In this perspective, the present review is focused towards landscaping the current framework of LFAs along with integration of components and characteristics for improving the assay by pushing the detection limits. The review highlights the synergistic aspects of assay designing, sample enrichment strategies, novel nanomaterials-based signal transducers, and high-end analytical techniques that contribute significantly towards sensitivity and specificity enhancement. Various recent studies are discussed supporting the innovations in LFA systems that focus upon the accuracy and reliability of rapid PoC testing. The review also provides a comprehensive overview of all the possible difficulties in commercialization of LFAs subjecting its applicability to pathogen surveillance, water and food testing, disease diagnostics, as well as to agriculture and environmental issues.