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Indranil Biswas,1 Gausal A Khan2 1Cardiovascular Biology Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; 2Department of Physiology & Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Fiji National University, Suva, Fiji IslandsCorrespondence: Gausal A KhanDepartment of Physiology & Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Fiji National University, Suva, Fiji IslandsEmail gausalk@gmail.comAbstract: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread rapidly throughout the world. The range of the disease is broad but among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 are coagulation disorders, pneumonia, respiratory failure, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The excess production of early response proinflammatory cytokines results in what has been described as a cytokine storm, leading to an increased risk of thrombosis, inflammations, vascular hyperpermeability, multi-organ failure, and eventually death over time. As the pandemic is spreading and the whole picture is not yet clear, we highlight the importance of coagulation disorders in COVID-19 infected subjects and summarize it. COVID-19 infection could induce coagulation disorders leading to clot formation as well as pulmonary embolism with detrimental effects in patient recovery and survival. Coagulation and inflammation are closely related. In this review, we try to establish an association between virus infections associated with innate immune activation, inflammation and coagulation activation.Keywords: COVID-19, coagulation disorders, TLR3, tissue factor

Knowledge about how and where proteins interact provides a pillar for cell biology. Protein proximity-labeling has emerged as an important tool to detect protein interactions. Biotin-related proximity labeling approaches are by far the most commonly used but may have labeling-related drawbacks. Here, we use pupylation-based proximity labeling (PUP-IT) as a tool for protein interaction detection in plants. We show that PUP-IT readily confirmed protein interactions for several known protein complexes across different types of plant hosts and that the approach increased detection of specific interactions as compared to biotin-based proximity labeling systems. To further demonstrate the power of PUP-IT, we used the system to identify protein interactions of the protein complex that underpin cellulose synthesis in plants. Apart from known complex components, we identified the ARF-GEF BEN1 (BFA-VISUALIZED ENDOCYTIC TRAFFICKING DEFECTIVE1). We show that BEN1 contributes to cellulose synthesis by regulating both clathrin-dependent and -independent endocytosis of the cellulose synthesis protein complex from the plasma membrane. Our results highlight PUP-IT as a powerful proximity labeling system to identify protein interactions in plant cells., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Background: Central retinal vein occlusion and cilioretinal artery occlusion are rare but serious ocular conditions that can lead to significant visual impairment. While few cases of central retinal vein occlusion and cilioretinal artery occlusion have been individually reported, concurrent occlusion of both vessels is extremely rare, particularly in younger patients without traditional vascular risk factors. We present the first reported case of simultaneous central retinal vein occlusion and cilioretinal artery occlusion in a young female patient associated with short-term use of progestin-only oral contraceptives (OCPs)., Case Presentation: A 28-year-old Pakistani female patient presented with sudden, painless vision loss in the left eye, 3 hours prior to her arrival at the ophthalmology clinic. Visual acuity in the affected eye was limited to counting fingers at a distance of 0.5 feet, with a best-corrected visual acuity of 6/6 in the right eye. Fundoscopic examination revealed optic disc edema, preretinal hemorrhages, venous dilation, and cotton wool spots consistent with central retinal vein occlusion, alongside ischemic changes in the foveal region suggestive of cilioretinal artery occlusion. On the basis of clinical examination, fundus fluorescein angiography, and optical coherence tomography findings, the patient was diagnosed with concurrent central retinal vein occlusion and cilioretinal artery occlusion. Systemic workup to rule out thrombophilia and other vascular risks was negative. She was treated with acetazolamide, aspirin, and ocular massage, alongside a dorzolamide-timolol combination for intraocular pressure control. Six weeks later, panretinal photocoagulation was performed to prevent neovascular complications., Conclusions: This case highlights the rare presentation of simultaneous central retinal vein occlusion and cilioretinal artery occlusion, likely precipitated by short-term progestin-only OCP use in a young female. The absence of other vascular risk factors emphasizes the potential thrombotic risk associated with hormonal contraception, even in brief courses. Careful consideration should be given to contraceptive choice, and ophthalmologic monitoring is recommended for early detection and intervention in at-risk patients., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: No ethical approval was required to report this case; however, consent was given by the patient before writing the case report. Consent for publication: Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and any accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal. Competing interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Plants depend heavily on soil nutrients for growth, development and defence. Nutrient availability is crucial not only for sustaining vital biochemical processes but also for mounting effective defences against a diverse array of pathogens. Macronutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium significantly influence plant defence mechanisms by providing essential building blocks for the synthesis of defence compounds, immune signalling and physiological responses like stomatal regulation. Micronutrients like zinc, copper and iron are essential for balancing reactive oxygen species and other reactive compounds in plant immune responses. Although substantial circumstantial evidence links nutrient availability to plant defence, the molecular mechanisms underlying this process have only recently started to be understood. This review focuses on summarizing recent advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms by which nitrogen, phosphorus and iron interact with plant defence mechanisms and explores the potential for engineering nutritional immunity in crops to enhance their resilience against pathogens., (© 2024 Society for Experimental Biology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

One of the most essential chemical processes that is utilized in the manufacturing of a great deal of contemporary goods is called heterogeneously catalyzed reactions, and it is also one of the most fascinating. Metallic nanostructures are heterogeneous catalysts for range reactions due to their huge surface area, large assembly of active surface sites, and quantum confinement effects. Unprotected metal nanoparticles suffer from irreversible agglomeration, catalyst poisoning, and limited life cycle. To circumvent these technical disadvantages, catalysts are frequently spread on chemically inert materials like as mesoporous Al2O3, ZrO2, and different types of ceramic material. In this research, plentiful bauxite residue is used to create a low-cost alternative catalytic material. We have hydrogenated p-Nitrophenol to p-Aminophenol on bauxite residue (BR) supported silver nanocomposites (Ag NCs). The phase and crystal structure, bond structure and morphological analysis of the developed material will be done XRD, FTIR, and SEM-EDX respectively. The ideal conditions were 150 ppm of catalyst, 0.1 mM of p-NP, and 10 minutes overall up-to 99% conversion of p-NP to p-AP. A multi-variable predictive model created using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and a data-based Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model were found to be the best ways to predict the maximum conversion efficiency. ANN models predicted efficiency more accurately than RSM models, and the strong agreement between model predictions and experimental data was indicated by their low relative error (RE0.10), high regression coefficient (R2>0.97), and Willmott-d index (dwill-index > 0.95) values.

Isoxaben is a pre-emergent herbicide used to control broadleaf weeds. While the phytotoxic mechanism is not completely understood, isoxaben interferes with cellulose synthesis. Certain mutations in cellulose synthase complex proteins can confer isoxaben tolerance; however, these mutations can cause compromised cellulose synthesis and perturbed plant growth, rendering them unsuitable as herbicide tolerance traits. We conducted a genetic screen to identify new genes associated with isoxaben tolerance by screening a selection of Arabidopsis thaliana T-DNA mutants. We found that mutations in a FERREDOXIN-NADP(+) OXIDOREDUCTASE-LIKE (FNRL) gene enhanced tolerance to isoxaben, exhibited as a reduction in primary root stunting, reactive oxygen species accumulation and ectopic lignification. The fnrl mutant did not exhibit a reduction in cellulose levels following exposure to isoxaben, indicating that FNRL operates upstream of isoxaben-induced cellulose inhibition. In line with these results, transcriptomic analysis revealed a highly reduced response to isoxaben treatment in fnrl mutant roots. The fnrl mutants displayed constitutively induced mitochondrial retrograde signalling, and the observed isoxaben tolerance is partially dependent on the transcription factor ANAC017, a key regulator of mitochondrial retrograde signalling. Moreover, FNRL is highly conserved across all plant lineages, implying conservation of its function. Notably, fnrl mutants did not show a growth penalty in shoots, making FNRL a promising target for biotechnological applications in breeding isoxaben tolerance in crops., (© 2024 The Author(s). Plant Biotechnology Journal published by Society for Experimental Biology and The Association of Applied Biologists and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Introduction and Importance: Quintuplet pregnancies are exceptionally rare outcomes of fertility treatments, that is clomiphene citrate therapy. These high-order multiple pregnancies carry significant risks for both maternal and neonatal health, necessitating specialized care to manage complications effectively., Case Presentation: A 26-year-old woman, gravida three para two, presented with preterm labor at 32 weeks gestation following clomiphene citrate self-medication. Diagnosed with quintuplets, she underwent an emergency cesarean section at Allied-1 Hospital, Faisalabad, delivering five neonates alive. Unfortunately, all five neonates succumbed to death due to perinatal asphyxia, three within 24 h and two on the third day., Clinical Discussion: Higher-order multiple pregnancies, such as quintuplets, are associated with increased risks of obstetric complications, including pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, and fetal growth restriction. Preterm birth further exacerbates the risk of neonatal complications like respiratory distress syndrome, perinatal asphyxia, and death. The patient's care highlights the challenges of managing such pregnancies in resource-limited settings, emphasizing the need for specialized antenatal and neonatal care facilities., Conclusion: This case highlights the critical need for advanced medical care in managing high-order multiple pregnancies. The outcomes reflect the significant challenges posed by preterm labor and neonatal complications in quintuplet pregnancies. There is the need for enhanced antenatal care, healthcare infrastructure, and multidisciplinary teams for the efficient management of high-order multiple pregnancies in Pakistan, where neonatal and maternal mortality rates are surprisingly high., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.Sponsorships or competing interests that may be relevant to content are disclosed at the end of this article., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is a serious inflammatory process that is unique to pregnancy, occurring at or after the 20th week of pregnancy, and leading to maternal and neonatal illness and systemic disruptions. Placental hypoxia leads to increased levels of cytokines and inflammatory syncytiotrophoblast microvillus membrane microparticles (STBM) which activates neutrophils leading to oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction in preeclampsia. The mechanisms that cause PE in people remain unknown. To understand the pathophysiology of PE, numerous theories have been given. There is currently no proven treatment or early detecting marker for PE available so far., Methods: The present study includes 40 patients (20 controls and 20 PE patients) aged 20-45 years hospitalized at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (HIMSR) and Hakeem Abdul Hameed Centenary (HAHC) Hospital, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi. Nitric oxide (NO), neutrophil elastase (NE), and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio were measured. The blood and biochemical parameters in PE patients were also analyzed., Results: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was significantly increased in PE patients as compared to healthy pregnant. All the biochemical and hemodynamic parameters were assessed. The serum NO concentrations were lower in PE patients and endothelial dysfunction markers (NE and von Willebrand factor {vWF}) were markedly increased in PE patients. The difference was statistically significant with a p-value <0.05., Conclusions: NLR is greatly increased in PE patients. An increase in NLR in PE patients occurs due to an increase in inflammatory markers and endothelial damage. Hence, the NLR could act as a novel diagnostic biomarker for depicting PE progression., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. The Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) of Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi issued approval NA. The study complied with the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: The authors would like to thank Grand Challenges Canada (GCC) for its financial support. Also, the authors would express their gratitude to the Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, for its funding support. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Wazib et al.)

Metformin, the primary therapy for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), showed limitations such as varying absorption, rapid system clearance, required large amount, resistance, longstanding side effects. Use of Nano formulations for pharmaceuticals is emerging as a viable technique to reduce negative consequences of drug, while simultaneously attaining precise release and targeted distribution. This study developed a Polyethylene Glycol conjugated Graphene Oxide Quantum dots (GOQD-PEG) nanocomposite for the sustained release of metformin. Herein, we evaluated the effectiveness of metformin-loaded nanoconjugate in in vitro insulin resistance model. Results demonstrated drug loaded nanoconjugate successfully restored glucose uptake and reversed insulin resistance in in vitro conditions at reduced dosage compared to free metformin., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Sarkar et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Adjacent plant cells are connected by specialized cell wall regions, called middle lamellae, which influence critical agricultural characteristics, including fruit ripening and organ abscission. Middle lamellae are enriched in pectin polysaccharides, specifically homogalacturonan (HG). Here, we identify a plant-specific Arabidopsis DUF1068 protein, called NKS1/ELMO4, that is required for middle lamellae integrity and cell adhesion. NKS1 localizes to the Golgi apparatus and loss of NKS1 results in changes to Golgi structure and function. The nks1 mutants also display HG deficient phenotypes, including reduced seedling growth, changes to cell wall composition, and tissue integrity defects. These phenotypes are comparable to qua1 and qua2 mutants, which are defective in HG biosynthesis. Notably, genetic interactions indicate that NKS1 and the QUAs work in a common pathway. Protein interaction analyses and modeling corroborate that they work together in a stable protein complex with other pectin-related proteins. We propose that NKS1 is an integral part of a large pectin synthesis protein complex and that proper function of this complex is important to support Golgi structure and function., Competing Interests: Competing interests statement:The authors declare no competing interest.

Keratoconus is a blinding eye disease that affects activities of daily living; therefore, early diagnosis is crucial. Great efforts have been made toward an early diagnosis of keratoconus. Recent studies have shown that corneal biomechanics is associated with the occurrence and progression of keratoconus. Hence, detecting changes in corneal biomechanics may provide a novel strategy for early diagnosis. However, an early keratoconus diagnosis remains challenging due to the subtle and localized nature of its lesions. Artificial intelligence has been used to help address this problem. Herein, we reviewed the literature regarding three aspects of keratoconus (keratoconus, early keratoconus, and keratoconus grading) based on corneal biomechanical properties using artificial intelligence. Furthermore, we summarized the current research progress, limitations, and possible prospects., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Plant cells possess robust and flexible cell walls composed primarily of cellulose, a polysaccharide that provides structural support and enables cell expansion. Cellulose is synthesised by the Cellulose Synthase A (CESA) catalytic subunits, which form cellulose synthase complexes (CSCs). While significant progress has been made in unravelling CSC function, the trafficking of CSCs and the involvement of post-translational modifications in cellulose synthesis remain poorly understood. In order to deepen our understanding of cellulose biosynthesis, this study utilised immunoprecipitation techniques with CESA6 as the bait protein to explore the CSC and its interactors. We have successfully identified the essential components of the CSC complex and, notably, uncovered novel interactors associated with CSC trafficking, post-translational modifications, and the coordination of cell wall synthesis. Moreover, we identified TIP GROWTH DEFECTIVE 1 (TIP1) protein S-acyl transferases (PATs) as an interactor of the CSC complex. We confirmed the interaction between TIP1 and the CSC complex through multiple independent approaches. Further analysis revealed that tip1 mutants exhibited stunted growth and reduced levels of crystalline cellulose in leaves. These findings suggest that TIP1 positively influences cellulose biosynthesis, potentially mediated by its role in the S-acylation of the CSC complex., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Lampugnani et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

In the model plant Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), the absence of the essential macro-nutrient phosphate reduces primary root growth through decreased cell division and elongation, requiring alterations to the polysaccharide-rich cell wall surrounding the cells. Despite its importance, the regulation of cell wall synthesis in response to low phosphate levels is not well understood. In this study, we show that plants increase cellulose synthesis in roots under limiting phosphate conditions, which leads to changes in the thickness and structure of the cell wall. These changes contribute to the reduced growth of primary roots in low-phosphate conditions. Furthermore, we found that the cellulose synthase complex (CSC) activity at the plasma membrane increases during phosphate deficiency. Moreover, we show that this increase in the activity of the CSC is likely due to alterations in the phosphorylation status of cellulose synthases in low-phosphate conditions. Specifically, phosphorylation of CELLULOSE SYNTHASE 1 (CESA1) at the S688 site decreases in low-phosphate conditions. Phosphomimic versions of CESA1 with an S688E mutation showed significantly reduced cellulose induction and primary root length changes in low-phosphate conditions. Protein structure modeling suggests that the phosphorylation status of S688 in CESA1 could play a role in stabilizing and activating the CSC. This mechanistic understanding of root growth regulation under limiting phosphate conditions provides potential strategies for changing root responses to soil phosphate content., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement. None declared., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of American Society of Plant Biologists.)

Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement. None declared.

Culinary herbs and spices are primarily known as flavor enhancers, research suggests that black pepper ( Piper nigrum ) and turmeric ( Curcuma longa ) have now been proven to prevent many non-communicable chronic diseases such as diabetes. Bioactive components of black pepper and turmeric ameliorate glucose metabolism and appetite regulation. The present research was designed to investigate the impact of turmeric and black pepper on blood glycemia, gastrointestinal well-being, appetite, and palatability. In a randomized crossover study, four iso-caloric experimental meals each having 50 g of available carbohydrates were subjected to healthy human participants ( N  = 20). Turmeric and black pepper were incorporated in the breakfast meal, 1 g black pepper (BP), 1 g turmeric (TR), and combination of the (BP + TR) was added in the breakfast. Standard questionnaires were used to evaluate palatability, subjective appetite, and gastrointestinal well-being. Blood glycemia, subjective gastrointestinal well-being, and appetite were measured at 0, 30, 60, 120, and 180 min. Experimental meals BP and BP + TR resulted in lower blood glycemia ( p  < .05) significantly compared to control meal. A decrease in perceived eating ability and hunger, and an increase in satiety after BP + TR and BP meal was observed. No significant changes were observed after consuming test meals on gastrointestinal well-being. Compared to control and BP + TR meals, BP and TR meals had considerably lower palatability. Results showed that compared to the control intake of starchy meals supplemented with black pepper and turmeric reduced postprandial glycemia, hunger, and perceived eating ability without affecting gastrointestinal well-being., Competing Interests: No conflict of interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Food Science & Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Malaria has been identified as a crucial vector-borne disease around the globe. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of malaria in the district of Bannu and its relationship with climatic conditions such as temperature, rainfall, relative humidity, and topography., Methods: Secondary data were obtained from the metrological office and government hospitals across the district for 5 years (2013-2017). A Poisson regression model was applied for the statistical analysis., Results and Discussion: The number of reported cases of malaria was 175,198. The regression analysis showed that temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall had a significant association ( p  < 0.05) with malaria incidence. In addition, the topographic variables were significantly associated ( p  < 0.05) with malaria incidence in the region. The percent variation in the odds ratio of incidence was 4% for every unit increase in temperature and 2% in humidity. In conclusion, this study indicated that the temperature, humidity, rainfall, and topographic variables were significantly associated with the incidence of malaria. Effective malaria control and interventions integrated with climatic factors must be considered to overcome the disease burden., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Haq, Mehmood, Khan, Kainat, Ahmed, Shah, Sami, Nazar, Xu and Xiang.)

The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria has spurred the exploration of therapeutic nanomaterials such as ZnO nanoparticles. However, the inherent nonspecific toxicity of ZnO has posed a significant obstacle to their clinical utilization. In this research, we propose a novel approach to improve the selectivity of the toxicity of ZnO nanoparticles by impregnating them onto a less toxic clay mineral, Bentonite, resulting in ZB nanocomposites (ZB NCs). We hypothesize that these ZB NCs not only reduce toxicity toward both normal and carcinogenic cell lines but also retain the antibacterial properties of pure ZnO nanoparticles. To test this hypothesis, we synthesized ZB NCs by using a precipitation technique and confirmed their structural characteristics through X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Electron microscopy revealed composite particles in the size range of 20-50 nm. The BET surface area of ZB NCs, within a relative pressure ( P / P 0 ) range of 0.407-0.985, was estimated to be 31.182 m 2 /g. Notably, 50 mg/mL ZB NCs demonstrated biocompatibility with HCT 116 and HEK 293 cell lines, supported by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy analysis. In vitro experiments further confirmed a remarkable five-log reduction in the population of MDR Escherichia coli in the presence of 50 mg/mL of ZB NCs. Antibacterial activity of the nanocomposites was also validated in the HEK293 and HCT 116 cell lines. These findings substantiate our hypothesis and underscore the effectiveness of ZB NCs against MDR E. coli while minimizing nonspecific toxicity toward healthy cells., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Infrared plasmonic sensors offer enhanced biomolecule detection potential over visible sensors due to unique spectral fingerprints, enhanced sensitivity, lower interference, and label-free, nondestructive analysis capabilities. Moreover, multimode plasmonic sensors are highly advantageous for their ability to outperform single-mode counterparts through long-wavelength tuning, enhanced information retrieval, and reduced false results through multimode data cross-referencing. In this study, to achieve a high quality factor and enhanced sensitivity simultaneously, we employed silver square block arrays (SSBs) in a metal-dielectric-metal configuration. The proposed design supports three modes resulting from gap plasmons and propagating surface plasmon resonances, enabling the detection of a broad spectrum of biomolecules. Designed sensors demonstrate notable sensitivities in different modes: Mode I achieves 525 nm/RIU, Mode II reaches 1287 nm/RIU, and Mode III records 812 nm/RIU, while maintaining the quality factor of Mode I-17, Mode II-356, and Mode III-107. The figure of merit for Mode I is 7 RIU -1 , for Mode II it is 375 RIU -1 , and for Mode III it is 98 RIU -1 . Different concentrations of glucose and hemoglobin are efficiently detected with the proposed sensor, showing great potential for its biosensing application and real-time monitoring of biomolecule dynamics. Taken together, the proposed sensor exhibits the capability to identify diverse types of biomolecules and holds the potential to serve as a preliminary screening tool for various biomolecules., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Background Accessory (supernumerary bone) is small irregular worm like bone. These bones are also known as wormian bone. Accessory bone develops when additional ossification centers appear and form extra bones. Many bones develop from several ossification centers of ossification and these separate parts normally fuse. Sometimes one of these centers fails to fuse with main bone. Circumscribed areas of bone are seen along the sutures of the cranium where flat bones about, particularly related to parietal bone. Objective To investigate presence and to determine morphologic and morphometric characteristics of wormian (sutural) bones. Method The study was conducted on 25 dry human skulls with unknown gender, ethnicity and race in Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Sciences, Kailashnagar, Bharatpur-5, Chitwan Nepal. The study was conducted on 25 dry human skulls with unknown gender, ethnicity and race in Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Sciences, Kailashnagar, Bharatpur-5, Chitwan Nepal. The deformed skull and skull of pediatrics age group are excluded. The location, shape, number and side of Wormian bone are determined. The SPSS 20 program and descriptive statistical method analysis were used for data analysis. Result Total 25 adult dry skulls were observed in the study. Both sides of skull were observed. Out of 25 skulls Wormian bones are not found in left sided three lambdoidal suture (four percent). Conclusion The knowledge of Wormian bones plays a major role for the neurosurgeons, neuroanatomists, radiologists, forensic experts and anthropologist. Presence of few bones are normal. But multiple Wormian bones need attention as it may have underlying skeletal or central nervous system pathology. In radiographs they mimic fracture lines. Wormian bone at pterion may produce complications in neurosurgical procedures like burr holes.

Global barley production is threatened by plant pathogens, especially the rusts. In this study we used a targeted genotype-by-sequencing (GBS) assisted GWAS approach to identify rust resistance alleles in a collection of 287 genetically distinct diverse barley landraces and historical cultivars available in the Australian Grains Genebank (AGG) and originally sourced from Eastern Europe. The accessions were challenged with seven US-derived cereal rust pathogen races including Puccinia hordei ( Ph -leaf rust) race 17VA12C, P. coronata var. hordei ( Pch -crown rust) race 91NE9305 and five pathogenically diverse races of P. striiformis f. sp. hordei ( Psh -stripe rust) (PSH-33, PSH-48, PSH-54, PSH-72 and PSH-100) and phenotyped quantitatively at the seedling stage. Novel resistance factors were identified on chromosomes 1H, 2H, 4H and 5H in response to Pch , whereas a race-specific QTL on 7HS was identified that was effective only to Psh isolates PSH-72 and PSH-100. A major effect QTL on chromosome 5HL conferred resistance to all Psh races including PSH-72, which is virulent on all 12 stripe rust differential tester lines. The same major effect QTL was also identified in response to leaf rust (17VA12C) suggesting this locus contains several pathogen specific rust resistance genes or the same gene is responsible for both leaf rust and stripe rust resistance. Twelve accessions were highly resistant to both leaf and stripe rust diseases and also carried the 5HL QTL. We subsequently surveyed the physical region at the 5HL locus for across the barley pan genome variation in the presence of known resistance gene candidates and identified a rich source of high confidence protein kinase and antifungal genes in the QTL region.

Background: COVID-19 vaccines have provided fertile ground for research, especially with the unprecedented spread of misinformation about this disease and its vaccines. Among women, one of the most frequently reported side effects of the vaccine has been menstrual disturbance., Objective: To investigate the perceived impact of COVID-19 vaccines on the menstrual cycle. In addition, the research seeks to identify factors that could predispose certain individuals to experience these effects, thereby contributing to a deeper understanding of the interplay between vaccines and menstrual health., Design: We conducted a retrospective observational cross-sectional study., Methods: Any woman of menstruating age who received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and currently resides in Saudi Arabia was invited to complete an online questionnaire. The questionnaire compared menstruation characteristics-regularity, volume, intermenstrual bleeding, and dysmenorrhea-before and after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, taking into consideration possible predisposing factors such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, contraceptives, or period-blocking pills., Results: Women without polycystic ovarian syndrome experienced less change in dysmenorrhea post-vaccine compared to those with polycystic ovarian syndrome (23.88% versus 37.78%, p  = 0.045). Women using hormonal contraceptives were about two times more likely to experience changes in volume compared to those not using contraceptives (odds ratio = 2.09, 95% confidence interval = 1.23-3.57, p  = 0.006). COVID-19 vaccine skeptics were about three times more likely to perceive changes in regularity post-vaccine compared to non-skeptics (odds ratio = 2.96, 95% confidence interval = 1.79-4.90, p  < 0.001). They were also three times more likely to perceive changes in volume post-vaccine (odds ratio = 3.04, 95% confidence interval = 1.95-4.74, p  < 0.001)., Conclusion: Our data suggest significant associations between COVID-19 skepticism, the use of hormonal contraceptives, and the reported post-vaccine menstrual disturbances. This underscores the importance of public education efforts aimed at dispelling misinformation and addressing controversies related to these vaccines.

Breast cancer has remained a global challenge and the second leading cause of cancer mortality in women and family history. Hereditary factors are some of the major risk factors associated with breast cancer. Out of total breast cancer cases, 5-10% account only for familial breast cancer, and nearly 50% of all hereditary breast cancer are due to BRCA1/BRCA2 germline mutations. BRCA1/2 mutations play an important role not only in determining the clinical prognosis of breast cancer but also in the survival curves. Since this risk factor is known, a significant amount of the healthcare burden can be reduced by taking preventive measures among people with a known history of familial breast cancer. There is increasing evidence that phytochemicals of nutrients and supplements help in the prevention and cure of BRCA-related cancers by different mechanisms such as limiting DNA damage, altering estrogen metabolism, or upregulating expression of the normal BRCA allele, and ultimately enhancing DNA repair. This manuscript reviews different approaches used to identify potential phytochemicals to mitigate the risk of familial breast cancer with BRCA mutations. The findings of this review can be extended for the prevention and cure of any BRCAmutated cancer after proper experimental and clinical validation of the data., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Medicinal plants (MPs) are natural sources of active compounds with potential therapeutic benefits in alleviating various illnesses for decades. Fijian people also are using these MPs for the management/prevention of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and associated complications. However, till date, none of these Fijian MP's antidiabetic potential have been explored or evaluated. Here, we investigated the antidiabetic potential of Fijian MPs scientifically. Phytochemicals such as polyphenols were detected to inhibit the activity of α-amylase and α-glucosidase, the two key carbohydrate enzymes linked to T2DM. Therefore, in the present study, the total phenolic content (TPC), α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of five Fijian MPs: Vobo (Mussaenda raiateensis, MR), Vula walu (Blechnum orientale, BO), Gasau (Miscanthus floridulus, MF), Molikaro (Citrus limon, CL) and Beki ni sina (Dicranopteris caudate, DC) collected from mainland region of Vitilevu, Fiji Islands, were evaluated in vitro. The hydromethanolic (ME) and dichloromethane (DM) extracts of these selected MPs were investigated. The ME extracts of BO (0.102 ± 0.009 mM CE) and DC (0.098 ± 0.09 mM Catechin Equivalence [CE]) showed a higher TPC compared with the control [vanillic acid (0.052 ± 0.003 mM CE, *P value &lt; 0.05)]. However, the TPC of MF, MR and CL were found in the range of 0.020 ± 0.009 to 0.009 ± 0.01 mM CE. The ME extracts of MF and MR inhibited α-glucosidase significantly in comparison with acarbose as evidenced from the IC50 values (IC50 of MF = 1.58 ± 0.03 ng/µl; IC50 of MR = 1.87 ± 0.43 ng/µl and IC50 of acarbose = 3.34 ± 0.15 ng/µl). Moreover, DM extracts of MR (IC50 = 1.31 ± 0.29 ng/µl) also showed significantly higher α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. In contrary, MR (IC50 = 16.18 ± 0.16 ng/µl) and CL (IC50 = 9.21 ± 0.51 ng/µl) also showed significant α-amylase inhibitory activity in ME and DM extracts, respectively. These, results suggest that Fijian MPs could be a potential source of natural inhibitors of enzymes involved in carbohydrate digestion and thus may possibly be used in managing T2DM., (© 2022 The Author(s).)

Background The median artery (transitory artery) represents the forearm's embryonic arterial axis. At 8th week of gestation retreats into a little canal that supplies the median nerve. Later, ulnar and radial arteries take its place. Adults may still have it in either a palmar or an antebrachial pattern. The persistent median arteries are a long, angular arterial that extends to the hand's palmar surface. The median artery only partially recedes in the antebrachial type. Objective To identify the median artery distribution in the adult Nepalese population. Method Twenty-five adult human cadavers' left and right upper limbs undergone to descriptive research. The persistent median artery was exposed according to the Cunningham's Manual of Practical Anatomy. Result The forearm and hand arteries in each of the fifty upper limbs from the twentyfive formalin-embalmed human cadavers were studied. Among fifty upper limbs, persistent median arteries were found in six (twelve percent) of them. One percent of a cadaver's right and left limbs had bilateral persisting median arteries (ante brachial). Persistent median artery of the ante brachial type that arises from the anterior interosseous artery in a right upper limb. Persistent median artery emerging from the posterior interosseous arteries were visible in one right upper limb. Conclusion The study showed persistent median artery of ante brachial type. The posterior interosseus artery is the source of the majority of antebrachial type. A median artery piercing the median nerve was discovered.

Joubert syndrome (JS) is a rare, autosomal recessive, genetic syndrome that derives from the defects in a sensory organelle, the primary cilia. It is a multiorgan disorder affecting the brain, kidneys, liver, and eyes. The most common presenting feature in the newborn period is hypotonia, abnormal eye movements, irregular breathing pattern, characterized by episodic hyperpnea and apnea, later on, ataxia, and developmental retardation. Besides, a range of highly variable, systemic and ocular features can be present. We report a case of 2-month-old female infant, the product of a consanguineous marriage, with a sibling affected by JS, presenting with intermittent hyperpnea, apnea, facial dysmorphism, strabismus, oculomotor apraxia, proptosis, retinal dystrophy, chorioretinal coloboma, and large retrobulbar cysts communicating with the coloboma. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed the characteristic neuroradiologic finding, the "molar tooth sign." The child does not fix or follow the light, and the visual prognosis with all the ocular features of the syndrome present is extremely poor. In addition to adding to the diversity of ocular phenotypes, this case reiterates the importance of identifying the syndrome, understanding the varied ocular phenotypic presentations, need for further research on causative genes, prenatal diagnosis in affected families, interventions, and adequate genetic counseling., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2022 by The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Snake envenomation leads to the formation of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), which are mediated by endogenous intracellular molecules. These are recognized by pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) and can induce sterile inflammation., Aims: In the present study, we aim at understanding the mechanisms involved in DAMPs induced sterile inflammation to unravel the novel therapeutic strategies for treating snake bites. The potential of benzodiazepinone derivatives to act against snake venom induced inflammation has been explored in the present investigation., Main Methods: Three compounds VA 17, VA 43 and PA 03 were taken from our library of synthetic compounds. Oxidative stress markers such as lipid peroxidation, superoxide and nitric oxide were measured along with the analysis of DAMPs (IL6, HMGB1, vWF, S100b and HSP70). These compounds have been docked using molecular docking against the snake venom PLA 2 structure (PDB code: 1OXL)., Key Findings: The compounds have been found to effectively neutralize viper and cobra venoms induced lethal activity both ex vivo and in vivo. The compounds have also neutralized the viper venom induced hemorrhagic, coagulant, anticoagulant reactions as well as inflammation. The fold of protection have always been found to be higher in case of ex vivo than in in vivo. These compounds have neutralized the venom induced DAMPs as exhibited by IL6, HMGB1, vWF, S100b and HSP70. The fold of neutralization is found to be higher in VA 43., Significance: The identified compounds could be used as potential candidates for developing treatment of snakebites in areas where antiserums are not yet available., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Myocardial infarction (MI), atherosclerosis and other inflammatory and ischemic cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have a very high mortality rate and limited therapeutic options. Although the diagnosis is based on markers such as cardiac Troponin-T (cTrop-T), the mechanism of cTrop-T upregulation and release is relatively obscure. In the present study, we have investigated the mechanism of cTrop-T release during acute hypoxia (AH) in a mice model by ELISA & immunohistochemistry. Our study showed that AH exposure significantly induces the expression and release of sterile inflammatory as well as MI markers in a time-dependent manner. We further demonstrated that activation of TLR3 (mediated by eRNA) by AH exposure in mice induced cTrop-T release and Poly I:C (TLR3 agonist) also induced cTrop-T release, but the pre-treatment of TLR3 immuno-neutralizing antibody or silencing of Tlr3 gene or RNaseA treatment two hrs before AH exposure, significantly abrogated AH-induced Caspase 3 activity as well as cTrop-T release. Our immunohistochemistry and Masson Trichrome (MT) staining studies further established the progression of myocardial injury by collagen accumulation, endothelial cell and leukocyte activation and adhesion in myocardial tissue which was abrogated significantly by pre-treatment of RNaseA 2 hrs before AH exposure. These data indicate that AH induced cTrop-T release is mediated via the eRNA-TLR3-Caspase 3 pathway., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Cellulose is synthesized by cellulose synthases (CESAs) from the glycosyltransferase GT-2 family. In plants, the CESAs form a six-lobed rosette-shaped CESA complex (CSC). Here we report crystal structures of the catalytic domain of Arabidopsis thaliana CESA3 (AtCESA3 CatD ) in both apo and uridine diphosphate (UDP)-glucose (UDP-Glc)-bound forms. AtCESA3 CatD has an overall GT-A fold core domain sandwiched between a plant-conserved region (P-CR) and a class-specific region (C-SR). By superimposing the structure of AtCESA3 CatD onto the bacterial cellulose synthase BcsA, we found that the coordination of the UDP-Glc differs, indicating different substrate coordination during cellulose synthesis in plants and bacteria. Moreover, structural analyses revealed that AtCESA3 CatD can form a homodimer mainly via interactions between specific beta strands. We confirmed the importance of specific amino acids on these strands for homodimerization through yeast and in planta assays using point-mutated full-length AtCESA3. Our work provides molecular insights into how the substrate UDP-Glc is coordinated in the CESAs and how the CESAs might dimerize to eventually assemble into CSCs in plants., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interest.

Background: Phytohormones are small molecules that regulate virtually every aspect of plant growth and development, from basic cellular processes, such as cell expansion and division, to whole plant environmental responses. While the phytohormone levels and distribution thus tell the plant how to adjust itself, the corresponding growth alterations are actuated by cell wall modification/synthesis and internal turgor. Plant cell walls are complex polysaccharide-rich extracellular matrixes that surround all plant cells. Among the cell wall components, cellulose is typically the major polysaccharide, and is the load-bearing structure of the walls. Hence, the cell wall distribution of cellulose, which is synthesized by large Cellulose Synthase protein complexes at the cell surface, directs plant growth., Scope: Here, we review the relationships between key phytohormone classes and cellulose deposition in plant systems. We present the core signalling pathways associated with each phytohormone and discuss the current understanding of how these signalling pathways impact cellulose biosynthesis with a particular focus on transcriptional and post-translational regulation. Because cortical microtubules underlying the plasma membrane significantly impact the trajectories of Cellulose Synthase Complexes, we also discuss the current understanding of how phytohormone signalling impacts the cortical microtubule array., Conclusion: Given the importance of cellulose deposition and phytohormone signalling in plant growth and development, one would expect that there is substantial cross-talk between these processes; however, mechanisms for many of these relationships remain unclear and should be considered as the target of future studies., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Trillium govanianum Wall. ex D. Don (Melanthiaceae alt. Trilliaceae), is native to the Himalayas. The present study, for the first time, was undertaken to explore the antimicrobial potential, to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the methanol extract of the roots of Trillium govanianum and its solid phase extraction (SPE) fractions by using resazurin microtiter assay (REMA) against Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial registered strains and to carry out phytochemical analysis. The remarkable amount of gallic acid equivalent phenolic and quercetin equivalent flavonoid content was manifested by MeOH extract (20.27 ± 3.03 mg GAE/g DW and 9.25 ± 0.50 mg QE/g DW respectively). The GC/MS analysis revealed the presence saturated and unsaturated components. Considerable level of antibacterial potential against Gram-positive bacteria (MIC: 2.5-0.009 mg/mL) than against Gram-negative bacteria (MIC: 2.5-0.165 mg/mL) were observed. The use of microtiter plates has the advantage of lower cost, fast and quantitative results.

Sterile Inflammation (SI), a condition where damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) released from dying cells, leads to TLR (Toll-like receptor) activation and triggers hypoxemia in circulation leading to venous thrombosis (VT) through tissue factor (TF) activation, but its importance under acute hypoxia (AH) remains unexplored. Thus, we hypothesized that eRNA released from dying cells under AH activates TF via the TLR3-ERK1/2-AP1 pathway, leading to VT. Animals were exposed to stimulate hypoxia for 0-24 h at standard temperature and humidity. RNaseA and DNase1 were injected immediately before exposure. TLR3 gene silencing was performed through in vivo injection of TLR3 siRNA. 80 μg/kg BW of isolated eRNA and eDNA were injected 6 h prior to sacrifice. Antigens of TF pathway were determined by ELISA and TF activity by a chromogenic assay. AH exposure significantly induced release of SI markers i.e. eRNA, eDNA, HMGB1 and upregulated TLR3, ERK1/2 (Extracellular signal-regulated kinases), AP1 (Activator Protein-1) and TF, whereas RNaseA pre-treatment diminished the effect of AH, thus inhibiting TF expression as well as activity during AH. Hence, we propose a possible mechanism of AH-induced TF activation and thrombosis where RNaseA can become the novel focal point in ameliorating therapy for AH induced thrombosis., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Significant attention has been paid to the accurate detection of diabetes. It is a big challenge for the research community to develop a diagnosis system to detect diabetes in a successful way in the e-healthcare environment. Machine learning techniques have an emerging role in healthcare services by delivering a system to analyze the medical data for diagnosis of diseases. The existing diagnosis systems have some drawbacks, such as high computation time, and low prediction accuracy. To handle these issues, we have proposed a diagnosis system using machine learning methods for the detection of diabetes. The proposed method has been tested on the diabetes data set which is a clinical dataset designed from patient's clinical history. Further, model validation methods, such as hold out, K-fold, leave one subject out and performance evaluation metrics, includes accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, F1-score, receiver operating characteristic curve, and execution time have been used to check the validity of the proposed system. We have proposed a filter method based on the Decision Tree (Iterative Dichotomiser 3) algorithm for highly important feature selection. Two ensemble learning algorithms, Ada Boost and Random Forest, are also used for feature selection and we also compared the classifier performance with wrapper based feature selection algorithms. Classifier Decision Tree has been used for the classification of healthy and diabetic subjects. The experimental results show that the proposed feature selection algorithm selected features improve the classification performance of the predictive model and achieved optimal accuracy. Additionally, the proposed system performance is high compared to the previous state-of-the-art methods. High performance of the proposed method is due to the different combinations of selected features set and Plasma glucose concentrations, Diabetes pedigree function, and Blood mass index are more significantly important features in the dataset for prediction of diabetes. Furthermore, the experimental results statistical analysis demonstrated that the proposed method would effectively detect diabetes and can be deployed in an e-healthcare environment.

Transcription termination has important regulatory functions, impacting mRNA stability, localization and translation potential. Failure to appropriately terminate transcription can also lead to read-through transcription and the synthesis of antisense RNAs which can have profound impact on gene expression. The Transcription-Export (THO/TREX) protein complex plays an important role in coupling transcription with splicing and export of mRNA. However, little is known about the role of the THO/TREX complex in the control of transcription termination. In this work, we show that two proteins of the THO/TREX complex, namely TREX COMPONENT 1 (TEX1 or THO3) and HYPER RECOMBINATION1 (HPR1 or THO1) contribute to the correct transcription termination at several loci in Arabidopsis thaliana. We first demonstrate this by showing defective termination in tex1 and hpr1 mutants at the nopaline synthase (NOS) terminator present in a T-DNA inserted between exon 1 and 3 of the PHO1 locus in the pho1-7 mutant. Read-through transcription beyond the NOS terminator and splicing-out of the T-DNA resulted in the generation of a near full-length PHO1 mRNA (minus exon 2) in the tex1 pho1-7 and hpr1 pho1-7 double mutants, with enhanced production of a truncated PHO1 protein that retained phosphate export activity. Consequently, the strong reduction of shoot growth associated with the severe phosphate deficiency of the pho1-7 mutant was alleviated in the tex1 pho1-7 and hpr1 pho1-7 double mutants. Additionally, we show that RNA termination defects in tex1 and hpr1 mutants leads to 3'UTR extensions in several endogenous genes. These results demonstrate that THO/TREX complex contributes to the regulation of transcription termination., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Cortical microtubules can direct the orientation of newly synthesized cellulose fibres in plant cell walls. However, cell wall-mediated steering mechanisms have also been anticipated. New research reveals that cellulose synthesis may be directed by pre-existing cellulose fibres in the walls., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.)