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Background: Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder with a relapsing course with generally incomplete remissions and functional decline with varying positive and negative symptoms along with cognitive impairments. Despite the widespread availability of medications to suppress psychosis and prevent relapse, schizophrenia patients continue to remain disabled in different functional aspects in the community. Disability can hence be termed as one of the consequences of schizophrenia. Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of mental disability among patients with schizophrenia and to evaluate the association between clinical features and disabilities among them. Methods: Fifty-three patients who came to psychiatry outpatients in a government tertiary health care hospital who fulfill diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia with at least 2 years of duration of illness and have been on pharmacotherapy for at least 8 weeks before the day of assessment were considered into the study after obtaining an informed consent. The Mini-international neuropsychiatric interview screening for psychiatric diagnosis was applied. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale was applied to know the illness severity of schizophrenia. The Indian Disability Evaluation and Assessment Scale is applied to all to assess the disability among the participants. The Clinician Rating Scale is applied to determine the treatment compliance with psychiatric medications. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA) was applied to all participants to assess their cognitive functioning. Results: Mild disability was more prevalent followed by moderate and severe disability. The percentage of disability was found to be positively correlated with negative (r = 0.73) and general psychopathology symptoms (r = 0.67) than with positive symptoms (r = 0.39) and was found to be negatively correlated with total MoCA scores (r = −0.5). All these associations were significant. Conclusions: Disability is found to increase with increase in positive, negative, and general psychopathology symptoms and declining cognitive function. Out of all the symptoms, the negative symptoms are found to strongly influence the severity of disability.

Objectives: Modified electroconvulsive therapy (MECT) remains one of the effective treatment modalities for various psychiatric illnesses. There are various anesthetic agents used in MECT. Thiopentone sodium and propofol are the most commonly used induction agents but differences exist among these two agents. In this study, we intended to compare thiopentone sodium and propofol in seizure duration, recovery time, hemodynamic, and cognitive profiles in patients receiving MECT. Methods: This was a comparative study done in Narayana Medical College and Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India. We recruited 80 study patients who were diagnosed with severe depression with suicidal ideations and schizophrenia with positive symptoms and were planned for receiving MECT. The study patients received assessments using Hamilton Rating Scale for depression (HAM-D), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, and Brief Cognitive Rating Scale (BCRS) at the time of admission, after the first, and the last post-MECT sessions. Results: The difference of the mean seizure duration between in thiopentone sodium and propofol (28.3 vs. 20.9 s) was statistically significant (p < 0.01). There were significant changes in baseline parameters after the procedure. The difference in the mean value of the recovery period between the thiopentone sodium and propofol group, i.e., (467.0 ± 72.2 vs. 311.5 ± 58.6 s) was also significant (p < 01). The mean BCRS scores after 1st and last sessions in the thiopentone sodium group were 9.2 and 11.6, respectively, whereas those in the propofol group were 8.0 and 10.0, respectively. The mean BCRS scores between the first and the last post-MECT were significantly different in the thiopentone sodium group (p < 0.01) and the propoful group (p < 0.01). The mean BCRS scores were significantly different at the first post-MECT (p < 0.05) and the last post-MECT (p < 0.05) between two anesthetic groups. Conclusion: The study showed that propofol was a better anesthetic agent than thiopentone sodium as propofol had faster recovery time with stable hemodynamic parameters, and less cognitive deficits, but had shorter seizure duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work elucidates the synthesis of V2O5, Praseodymium (Pr) doped vanadium pentoxide Pr-V2O5 nanoparticles (NPs) and Pr-V2O5/rGO nanocomposite by green combustion method, using Manilkara zapota as a novel combustion fuel. The synthesised Pr-V2O5/rGO nano catalyst was characterized by various physicochemical techniques. Pr-V2O5/rGO exhibits an excellent electrochemical ability to detect Pb2+ with lower limit of detection 2.919 nM and sensitivity 0.8113 μA/nM cm2. Further, the Pr-V2O5/rGO employed for the photocatalytic degradation of MB dye displayed remarkable efficiency through swift degradation. Also, the conditions such as catalytic load, pH, and dye concentration were optimized to achieve most efficient degradation of the dye. Pr-V2O5 provides a greater number of catalytic sites and high ion transport channels, whereas rGO provides the conductivity and porosity to the nanocatalyst. By utilizing these synergic advantages, Pr-V2O5/rGO nanocatalyst effectively detects heavy metal ions (HMIs) and degrade methylene blue (MB) dye, befitting from unique morphology of Pr doped V2O5 nanoparticles wrapped into the two dimensional rGO nano sheets. The above results limelight that Pr-V2O5/rGO as the multifunctional catalyst for promising detection of hazardous metal ions and effective environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract About one-third of individuals with diabetes develop diabetic retinopathy (DR), with one-tenth experiencing vision-threatening conditions such as diabetic macular edema (DME) or proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Current treatments only show recovery in 50% of cases, and the disease often remains asymptomatic. Therefore, novel early detection methods and new biomarkers are crucial. Our study aims to summarise evidence on the role of altered exosomal regulatory noncoding RNAs in DR, based on human studies. Observational studies delineating the different exosomal noncoding RNAs in DR were searched systematically from inception to June 2024 in PubMed-MEDLINE and SCOPUS databases. Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines was used to conduct this systematic review (Prospero ID: CRD42023406724). We synthesised data from 13 human studies that assessed the expression of exosomal regulatory ncRNAs from individuals with DR. Among the 13 studies, nine focused on miRNA, while three examined lncRNA and one on circRNA. Although no common genes were identified across the studies, the review underscores the critical roles of exosomal noncoding RNAs in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy, highlighting their potential as therapeutic targets. Future studies should aim for a unified approach in terms of sample selection, RNA analysis, and appropriate controls for a comprehension of exosomal expression patterns for early diagnosis of DR.

Background: The role of expressed emotions (EEs) in relapse is poorly understood in bipolar affective disorder (BPAD). Understanding the association between EE and relapse will be useful in predicting further relapse and improving the prognosis. Aims and Objectives: The present study was conducted with the objectives of assessing the relationship between EEs of caregivers and relapse of the illness in patients with BPAD on regular medication and to assess the relationship between severity of illness and EEs. Materials and Methods: Fifty consecutive bipolar disorder patients diagnosed as per the International Classification of Diseases-10 criteria, who were admitted into the department of psychiatry with relapse while on regular medication, and their caregivers were recruited into the study. Data were collected using a semi-structured pro forma designed for the study. Clinical details of illness were obtained from the informant and the records. The severity of the current episode was assessed with the rating scales (Young Mania Rating Scale and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale). The Expressed emotions(EE) among the caregivers were assessed using the Family Attitude Scale, association between EE and relapses as well as the severity of illness was analyzed with appropriate tests. Results: The mean age of the patients was 43.8 ± 15.4. Majority of them were male and married (68% and 68%). The mean age of the caregivers was 47.1 ± 10.5. The majority of the caregivers were female (60%). Sixty-four percent of the caregivers had high EEs. The mean age of onset of illness was 26.2 ± 4.6, and the number of previous episodes was 3.9 ± 2.5. The total duration of illness was 17.7 ± 13.4 years, and the number of previous admissions was 3.3 ± 2.2. Among clinical variables of patients and caregivers with high EEs, a significant association was found between duration of illness (Chi-square test: 11.82, P = 0.003), previous episodes (Chi-square test: 12.26, P < 0.01), and the number of previous admissions (Chi-square test: 9.79, P = 0.002). Conclusion: There was a significant association between high EE and relapse.

Abstract Type VI CRISPR enzymes have been developed as programmable RNA-guided Cas proteins for eukaryotic RNA editing. Notably, Cas13 has been utilized for site-targeted single base edits, demethylation, RNA cleavage or knockdown and alternative splicing. However, the ability to edit large stretches of mRNA transcripts remains a significant challenge. Here, we demonstrate that CRISPR-Cas13 systems can be repurposed to assist trans-splicing of exogenous RNA fragments into an endogenous pre-mRNA transcript, a method termed CRISPR Assisted mRNA Fragment Trans-splicing (CRAFT). Using split reporter-based assays, we evaluate orthogonal Cas13 systems, optimize guide RNA length and screen for optimal trans-splicing site(s) across a range of intronic targets. We achieve markedly improved editing of large 5’ and 3’ segments in different endogenous mRNAs across various mammalian cell types compared to other spliceosome-mediated trans-splicing methods. CRAFT can serve as a versatile platform for attachment of protein tags, studying the impact of multiple mutations/single nucleotide polymorphisms, modification of untranslated regions (UTRs) or replacing large segments of mRNA transcripts.

Aims: Evaluate and compare antibacterial efficacy of nisin, calcium hydroxide (Ca (OH) 2), and Triple antibiotic paste (TAP) mixed with distilled water and chitosan as an intracanal medicament on Enterococcus faecalis after 1st and 7th day. Settings and Design: Experimental in vitro study. Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty Decoronated single-rooted premolars were prepared and autoclaved. Specimens were placed in brain heart infusion (BHI) broth of a 24 h old E. faecalis (ATCC 29212) suspension. The canal was infected for 21 days, followed by grouping as-Group 1: Nisin + distilled water; Group 2: Nisin + 2% chitosan; Group 3: Ca (OH) 2 + distilled water; Group 4: Ca (OH) 2 + 2% chitosan; Group 5: TAP + distilled water; Group 6: TAP + 2% chitosan and were incubated for 1 and 7 days. Dentin scrapings from 10 specimens at each time interval were transferred into BHI broth and incubated, Serially diluted and colony-forming unit (CFU) count was assessed after 1st and 7th day. Statistical Analysis Used: Kruskal–Wallis test to compare mean CFUs after day 1 and day 7. Mann–Whitney post hoc Analysis to estimate significance. Wilcoxon Signed‑Rank Test to compare mean CFUs between day 1 and day 7. Results: After 1 day, Group 6 showed least CFUs than other groups and highest CFUs was with Group 3. There was no difference statistically when Group 5 and Group 2 were compared. After 7 days, Group 6 showed least CFUs than other groups with no significant difference between Group 1 and Group 5 as well as no significant difference between Group 2, Group 5 and Group 6. Conclusions: TAP with chitosan can be the medicament of choice for 1-day placement and was equivalent to nisin with chitosan combination after 7 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional appliances are widely used for regulating and directing growth in which commonly used are Frankel regulator and twinblock. Frankel regulator expands the orofacial arena for allowing growth by passive expansion, whereas twin block aids sagittal correction in retrusive mandible. Heres, an attempt to bring about both the changes in a single appliance where sagittal correction as well as keeping away constricted musculature is desired. In this appliance, passive and active expansion has been used simultaneously for better results. In the hindsight of the results, we could get in this case using Twinkle R 3D appliance, we hope that this appliance will be helpful in many more similar cases and act as adundum in clinician's armamentarium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This communication highlights the major actionable findings from 27 interviews of students in master’s programs that explore the human dimensions of oceans. The overall aim of the loosely structured conversations was to understand how COVID-19 impacted the interviewee’s educational experience, what was helpful to them, and how their experience could have been improved. From these voices, we developed 24 recommendations for universities and programs. Specifically, we found that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) should be a high priority as it supports students and a program’s resilience.