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Pediatric acute leukemia presenting with osteolytic lesions and hypercalcemia is an unusual and rare occurrence. We are reporting two such cases with atypical presentations. The first case involved a 10-year-old boy who complained of progressively worsening lower back pain. Physical examination revealed restricted flexion and extension of the back due to pain, while complete blood count and peripheral blood smear were normal. CT and MRI spine indicated osteolytic lesions in all vertebrae and pelvic bones. Biopsies from the bone marrow and vertebrae confirmed the presence of lymphoblasts, with flow cytometry results positive for B-ALL. The second case involved a 2-year-old boy who presented with chronic fever, cough, and pain in the left hip region. Physical examination was unremarkable, but chest X-ray and CT thorax revealed mediastinal widening and an anterior mediastinal mass. Skeletal X-rays showed osteolytic lesions in the humerus and femur. Peripheral blood smear was suggestive of acute leukemia. Upon presentation, the child had a serum calcium level of 17 mg/dL, initially managed with fluids and furosemide, but also required zoledronate and calcitonin. Both these cases highlight that osteolytic lesions alone or combined with hypercalcemia can be the sole presentation of leukemia in children. Such cases require a high index of suspicion to diagnose this life-threatening condition promptly and initiate timely treatment for optimal outcomes.

Abstract Intracellular infections by Gram-negative bacteria are a significant global health threat. The nuclear receptor Nur77 (also called TR3, NGFI-B, or NR4A1) was recently shown to sense cytosolic bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). However, the potential role for Nur77 in controlling intracellular bacterial infection has not been examined. Here we show that Nur77 protects against intracellular infection in the bladder by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), the leading cause of urinary tract infections (UTI). Nur77 deficiency in mice promotes the formation of UPEC intracellular bacterial communities (IBCs) in the cells lining the bladder lumen, leading to persistent infection in bladder tissue. Conversely, treatment with a small-molecule Nur77 agonist, cytosporone B, inhibits invasion and enhances the expulsion of UPEC from human urothelial cells in vitro, and significantly reduces UPEC IBC formation and bladder infection in mice. Our findings reveal a new role for Nur77 in control of bacterial infection and suggest that pharmacologic agonism of Nur77 function may represent a promising antibiotic-sparing therapeutic approach for UTI.

In the present work, the Inconel 625 material is utilized for processing on a wire electrical discharge machine. The zinc-coated brass wire is used as a tool electrode. The Taguchi mixed orthogonal L27 experimental design is developed to perform the experiments. The parameter was induced on normal and cryogenic material such as pulse on time (Ton), pulse off time (Toff), discharge current (Ip), wire feed (Wf), and wire tension (WT). The characteristics responses i.e., material removal rate (MRR), surface roughness (Ra), and overcut (OC) were analyzed. The genetic algorithm (GA) was applied for the evaluation and measuring of fact, which determined its performance, and predicted facts were considered for particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique multiple objective problems. After the comparison, the facts predicted were analyzed for the response, which revealed the surface integrity and accuracy on the machined surface. The solution implied that applied PSO gives highly significant results on optimal setting parameters of WEDM machining. The 0.419 μm surface roughness has been obtained by a cryogenic process as compared to normal (0.880 μm). The material removal rate for the cryogenic process was found to have decreased in PSO by 21.18 % and in GA by 2.78 % in comparison to the normal process. The obtained results give the utmost measure for the suitability of time reduction and cost-cutting in productivity rate.

Objective: This study aims to present a series of patients with disseminated rhinosporidosis with diagnostic and therapeutic features. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in a tertiary health care centre in South India from 2007 to 2020 with disseminated rhinosporidiosis. Twelve patients with multiple sites of involvement like the nose, nasopharynx, oropharynx, larynx, lacrimal sac and skin were included in the study. All patients underwent surgical excision, followed by peroral dapsone for one year. Results: The age group was around 30-55 years, with male predominance (11:1). Pond bathing history was present in 50% (n=6). The most common site of lesion was the nose (100%), oropharynx (83.3%), skin (75%), larynx (50%) and less commonly, nasopharynx (41.6%) and lacrimal sac (25%). One patient underwent surgery four times (8.3%), followed by thrice and twice by five (41.6%) and six (50%) patients, respectively. On two years of follow-up, two patients (16.6%) had a recurrence in the nose and larynx whereas eight patients (66.6%) had no recurrence and two patients (16.6%) were lost to follow-up. Conclusion: This original article highlights the rare occurrence of disseminated rhinosporidiosis, the possibility of which should be kept in mind, mainly when two or more sites are involved. The most significant number of disseminated rhinosporidiosis cases in the literature is reported here. Dissemination with the cutaneous and multisite disease is rarely reported and poses difficulty in management. Early diagnosis and intervention prevent the dissemination of spores into various parts of the body.

Background: The crucial aspect to consider during method development and validation, ensuring accurate, precise, and specific estimation of drug substances and drug products, is stability. Various factors, including environmental, instrumental, reagent, and human factors, can pose challenges in achieving suitable method development and validation. Objective: This work aimed to develop and validate a low flow rate, LCMS compatible, simple, and rapid reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method for estimating efavirenz and its degradation products at different stress conditions. Materials and Methods: The HPLC system employed a Phenomenex Luna 5μ C18 (2) 100A (250 x 4.6 mm) column and a mobile phase of methanol: 20 millimolar ammonium formate solution (90:10) adjusted to pH 4 with formic acid. All analytes were separated within 15 minutes and detected at 247 nm. Method validation was carried out according to ICH guidelines, including linearity, accuracy, precision, ruggedness, robustness, LOD, and LOQ. Results and Discussion: The method was linear in the 10-90 μg/ml range, with a regression coefficient 0.999. Intra- and inter-day precisions, ruggedness, and robustness were within acceptable limits (≤2% RSD) with LOD and LOQ of 0.35 and 1.16 μg/ml, respectively. Degradation study indicates well resolution of the drug and degradants. Conclusion: Purposeful degradation of efavirenz resulted in different degradation products under various stress conditions, and the method demonstrated satisfactory resolution from its degradants.

Background: Substance use disorders (SUDs) are among the leading causes of morbidity in the population. In low- and medium-income countries like India, there is a wide treatment gap for SUD. A multicentric study on the care pathways for SUD in India can help to understand service provision, service utilization, and challenges to improve existing SUD care in India. Aim: We aimed to map pathways to care in SUD. We compared the clinical and demographic characteristics of patients who first consulted specialized services versus other medical services. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of consecutive, consenting adults (18–65 years) with SUD registered to each of the nine participating addiction treatment services distributed across five Indian regions. We adapted the World Health Organization’s pathway encounter form. Results: Of the 998 participants, 98% were males, 49.4% were rural, and 20% were indigenous population. Addiction services dominated initial (50%) and subsequent (60%) healthcare contacts. One in five contacted private for-profit healthcare. Primary care contact was rare (5/998). Diverse approaches included traditional healers (4–6%) and self-medication (2–8%). There was a 3-year delay in first contact; younger, educated individuals with opioid dependence preferred specialized services. Conclusion: There is a need to strengthen public healthcare infrastructure and delivery systems and integrate SUD treatment into public healthcare.

The experiment was conducted during rainy (kharif) seasons of 2019 and 2020 at College of Agriculture, Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner, Rajasthan to study the effect of crop geometry, mulching and different irrigation levels on the morphological and nutritional traits of okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]. The experiment was conducted in a split plot design (SPD) comprised of 4 irrigation levels in the main plot (40%, 60%, 80% and 100% pan evaporation) and 2 different crop geometry (paired row sowing and normal sowing) and 3 types of mulches (no mulch, plastic mulch and straw mulch) were employed in the subplots and sub-subplots, respectively. Results indicated that 100% potential evapotranspiration (PE), drip irrigation (DI) and paired row sowing at 30 cm × 70 cm significantly increased the number of branches/plant, plant height (cm), length of fruit (cm), diameter of fruit (cm) and chlorophyll content of leaves compared to lower irrigation levels and normal sowing. Additionally, straw mulch positively influenced the above-mentioned parameters in the okra fruits as compared to without mulch. Drip irrigation, paired row sowing, and straw mulching also resulted in a significant increase in net returns per hectare. The study demonstrated that combining paired row sowing with straw mulch and irrigating at 100% potential evapotranspiration (PE) yielded the best growth attributes, highest fruit quality, and maximum net returns for okra.

Introduction Endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (ETS) is the standard practice in pituitary surgeries. The sellar exposure becomes the main factor which determines the residual disease in ETS. Not many studies can be found in the literature on the influence of anatomical variations of the sphenoid on intraoperative sella exposure.

Purpose: The enriched compost has good potential as an alternative source of nutrients. In particular, less work has been done on enriched compost for green leafy crops. Method:The current study intended to determine how enriched compost affected the horticultural characteristics of Palak. Three repetitions of a randomized complete block design (RCBD) were used to test ten combinations, i.e. T1-Recommended dosage of fertilizers (RDFs) + Farmyard manure (FYM) (85:30:0 N: P: K kg/ha + 20 t/ha); T2-50% RDFs + FYM 10 t/ha; T3-FYM 20 t/ha; T4-mineral (Rock Phosphate) enriched compost (MEC1) 5 ha-1; T5-microbial enriched compost (MEC2) 5 t/ha; T6-vermicompost (VC) 5 t/ha; T7-50% MEC1 + MEC2 +50%); T8-MEC1 + MEC2 (75% + 25%); T9-MEC1 + MEC2 (25% + 75%); T10-absolute control (no application) for two consecutive years. Results: The results for growth and yield parameters revealed that the application of MEC1 + MEC2 (50% + 50%) during cultivation were found statistically at par with treatment combination T1 RDF 100% (85:30:0 N: P: K kg/ha) + FYM (10 t/ha) and led to remarkable rise in height of plants, numbers of leaves, length of petiole, leaf area, petiole diameter, giving rise to the maximum Yield in contrast to other modules (105.71 q/ha). Regarding characteristics of quality, ascorbic acid (88.54 mg), total phenols (22.52 mg), minerals content, and antioxidant activity (4.46%) were recorded higher in the same treatment T7 due to organically nutrition availability. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the application of enriched compost (MEC1 + MEC2) results in a decreased use of chemical fertilizers, leading to increased growth and Yield and enhancing the quality of leafy vegetables for human consumption. Research Highlights • Enriched compost can improve leafy vegetable growth, productivity, and nutritional quality, promoting sustainable agriculture and enhancing environmental and human health. • Compared to conventional fertilizers, EC1 + EC2 (50 percent each) treatment significantly increased plant height, leaf number, and yield. • Furthermore, enhanced compost application improved leafy vegetable quality, such as moisture, ascorbic acid, total phenols, minerals, chlorophyll, and antioxidant activity, boosting nutritional value. • Overall, application-enriched manures reduce chemical fertilizer consumption and increase crop production, making them a sustainable alternative.

ABSTRACT In this study, atmospheric cold plasma (CP; voltage: 15–25 kV and time: 30–120 s) was applied to guar bean seeds (GBS) and then germinated for 5 days to understand the germination ability based on the germination parameters and chlorophyll content. After that, carbohydrate, protein, bioactive compounds, antinutritional factors, and in vitro protein digestibility of germinated GBS were analyzed. The results showed that CP treatment has significantly (p