Search

Heavy metals cause alarming levels of environmental and health problems and among them Cadmium has become a threat to organisms and natural resources like soil and water alike. It accumulates in living systems thereby causing oxidative stress. Efforts are made for bioremediation of heavy metals by employing biosorption, which is a well-known economic method for removal and in the current study Selaginella bryopteris was used as biosorbent. The biosorption capacity was optimized by its physicochemical parameters such as pH, dosage, contact time, and temperature. Cadmium-induced Reactive Oxygen Species levels and the antioxidant potential of S. bryopteris in ameliorating them were studied in Drosophila melanogaster. Water-quality analysis was performed using Chemical Oxygen Demand(COD) and Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and effect of S.bryopteris on these parameters were also analyzed. Further the concentration of Cadmium via colorimetric assay and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy(AAS) was employed to quantify the Cadmium in lake water samples before and after treatment with biosorbent. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) were performed to characterize the surface properties for adsorptive removal of metal ions, and antioxidant studies were conducted to assess the role of S. bryopteris in suppressing oxidative stress.

Abstract Background Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) continues to pose a significant burden on global health, particularly in socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. We present the case of a 38-year-old woman with severe multivalvular RHD and giant atria, highlighting the challenges and complexities of managing this condition. Case presentation The patient presented with progressively worsening dyspnoea, signs of right heart failure, and severe valvular abnormalities. Diagnostic evaluations revealed severe mixed mitral valve disease in the form of mitral stenosis and regurgitation, along with involvement of the aortic and tricuspid valves, leading to significant enlargement of both atria. Despite facing socioeconomic constraints and poor adherence to treatment, the patient underwent successful surgical intervention, resulting in remarkable symptomatic improvement. Conclusions Through this case, we emphasise the importance of early detection, comprehensive management strategies, and multidisciplinary care in addressing the complexities of RHD. Despite the challenges posed by socioeconomic disparities, positive outcomes can be achieved with timely diagnosis and appropriate intervention. This case underscores the need for targeted efforts to improve access to healthcare resources and reduce the global burden of RHD.

Renal hypouricemia (RHUC) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by impaired uric acid reabsorption which leads to persistently low serum uric acid levels. This condition predisposes individuals to complications such as uric acid kidney stones and exercise-induced acute kidney injury (EIAKI). Although mutations in SLC22A12 and SLC2A9 are commonly implicated in RHUC, the precise pathophysiological mechanisms, particularly those contributing to AKI, remain incompletely understood. We report the case of a 30-year-old male who experienced recurrent episodes of EIAKI despite the absence of high-intensity exercise, suggesting the involvement of factors beyond the traditional risk. Genetic analysis confirmed the diagnosis of RHUC type 2 (RHUC2) and identified compound heterozygous variants of SLC2A9. Although these variants are not novel, this case contributes to the limited literature on RHUC2, particularly in male patients with recurrent EIAKI. These findings highlight the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for RHUC in cases of unexplained AKI, especially when recurrent episodes follow physical activity, and the need for targeted genetic testing for an accurate diagnosis. The genomic data related to this case are available in Mendeley Data: Vukkadala, Muralinath; Paladugu, Niranjana Rekha (2024), “Renal hypouricemia,” Mendeley Data, V2, doi: 10.17632/7z84mkdgn9.2.

PurposePrimary spinal infections (PSIs) are a group of infectious diseases characterized by inflammation of the end plate-disk unit or its surroundings. PSI is considered more prevalent and aggressive among patients with chronic immunocompromised states. Association of PSIs, immunocompromising cancers, and hemoglobinopathies has not been systematically analyzed. We conducted a systematic review to study characteristics, clinical presentation, and mortality of patients with PSI in the setting of hematologic disease.MethodsA systematic literature search in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus was conducted in April 2022 in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We included retrospective case series and individual case reports.ResultsOn careful review, 28 articles published between 1970 and 2022 were selected. These studies featured 29 patients who met inclusion criteria (mean age 29 years, age range 1.5 to 67 years; 63.3% male). Lumbar infection was the most common location (65.5%), with Salmonella (24.1%) as the main causative microorganism. Neurologic compromise was present in 41% of patients, and surgical intervention occurred in 48.3%. Average antibiotic duration was 13 weeks. The postoperative complication rate was 21.4%, with a mortality of 6.9%.ConclusionPSI in patients with hematologic disease, while having shorter periods to diagnosis, presents increased rates of neurologic deficit, surgical intervention, and complications.

Abstract Spaceflight associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS) is one of the largest physiologic barriers to spaceflight and requires evaluation and mitigation for future planetary missions. As the spaceflight environment is a clinically limited environment, the purpose of this research is to provide automated, early detection and prognosis of SANS with a machine learning model trained and validated on astronaut SANS optical coherence tomography (OCT) images. In this study, we present a lightweight convolutional neural network (CNN) incorporating an EfficientNet encoder for detecting SANS from OCT images titled “SANS-CNN.” We used 6303 OCT B-scan images for training/validation (80%/20% split) and 945 for testing with a combination of terrestrial images and astronaut SANS images for both testing and validation. SANS-CNN was validated with SANS images labeled by NASA to evaluate accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity. To evaluate real-world outcomes, two state-of-the-art pre-trained architectures were also employed on this dataset. We use GRAD-CAM to visualize activation maps of intermediate layers to test the interpretability of SANS-CNN’s prediction. SANS-CNN achieved 84.2% accuracy on the test set with an 85.6% specificity, 82.8% sensitivity, and 84.1% F1-score. Moreover, SANS-CNN outperforms two other state-of-the-art pre-trained architectures, ResNet50-v2 and MobileNet-v2, in accuracy by 21.4% and 13.1%, respectively. We also apply two class-activation map techniques to visualize critical SANS features perceived by the model. SANS-CNN represents a CNN model trained and validated with real astronaut OCT images, enabling fast and efficient prediction of SANS-like conditions for spaceflight missions beyond Earth’s orbit in which clinical and computational resources are extremely limited.

Abstract Background Limited understanding of the diversity of variants in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene across ancestries hampers efforts to advance molecular diagnosis of cystic fibrosis (CF). The consequences pose a risk of delayed diagnoses and subsequently worsened health outcomes for patients. Therefore, characterizing the spectrum of CFTR variants across ancestries is critical for revolutionizing molecular diagnoses of CF. Methods We analyzed 454,727 UK Biobank (UKBB) whole-exome sequences to characterize the diversity of CFTR variants across ancestries. Using the PanUKBB classification, the participants were assigned into six major groups: African (AFR), American/American Admixed (AMR), Central South Asia (CSA), East Asian (EAS), European (EUR), and Middle East (MID). We segregated ancestry-specific CFTR variants, including those that are CF-causing or clinically relevant. The ages of certain CF-causing variants were determined and analyzed for selective pressure effects, and curated phenotype analysis was performed for participants with clinically relevant CFTR genotypes. Results We detected over 4000 CFTR variants, including novel ancestry-specific variants, across six ancestries. Europeans had the most unique CFTR variants [n = 2212], while the American group had the least unique variants [n = 23]. F508del was the most prevalent CF-causing variant found in all ancestries, except in EAS, where V520F was the most prevalent. Common EAS variants such as 3600G > A, V456A, and V520, which appeared approximately 270, 215, and 338 generations ago, respectively, did not show evidence of selective pressure. Sixteen participants had two CF-causing variants, with two being diagnosed with CF. We found 154 participants harboring a CF-causing and varying clinical consequences (VCC) variant. Phenotype analysis performed for participants with multiple clinically relevant variants returned significant associations with CF and its pulmonary phenotypes [Bonferroni-adjusted p

Abstract The energy spectrum of quantum systems contain a wealth of information about their underlying properties. Spectroscopic techniques, especially those with access to spatially resolved measurements, can be challenging to implement in real-space systems of cold atoms in optical lattices. Here we explore a technique for probing energy spectra in synthetic lattices that is analogous to scanning tunneling microscopy. Using one-dimensional synthetic lattices of coupled atomic momentum states, we explore this spectroscopic technique and observe qualitative agreement between the measured and simulated energy spectra for small two- and three-site lattices as well as a uniform many-site lattice. Finally, through simulations, we show that this technique should allow for the exploration of the topological bands and the fractal energy spectrum of the Hofstadter model as realized in synthetic lattices.

In the present study, an unconventional approach in compression molding is chosen to fabricate Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) sandwich composites with Graphene (Gr) and Nano-diamond (ND) as fillers. A unique comparison is done between the surface and bulk properties of UHMWPE nano-composites and UHMWPE sandwich composites. Influence of gamma irradiation at doses of 50, 100 kGy doses and vitamin E (vit-E) on crystal structure, mechanical, thermal and tribological characteristics of UHMWPE composites were studied through x-ray diffraction (XRD), raman spectroscopy, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), rheology, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), tensile, nano-indentation and wear characterization techniques. Fracture regions and surface wear of the samples were analysed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to understand the dispersion behavior of fillers in matrix. The concentration of vit-E content in UHMWPE greatly influenced the crosslinks and surface properties in gamma irradiated composites. Gamma irradiation have shown significant improvement in crystallinity, viscous behavior and bulk properties of UHMWPE composites. Irradiated UHMWPE nano-composites have shown better tensile results when compared with sandwich composites, with 22 % increase in young's modulus and 16 % increase in yield stress. Wear rate has been reduced by 25 % for irradiated sandwich UHMWPE composites when compared with UHMWPE nano-composites.

IntroductionMutations in microRNA-96 (miR-96), a microRNA expressed within the hair cells (HCs) of the inner ear, result in progressive hearing loss in both mouse models and humans. In this study, we present the first HC-specific RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) dataset from newborn Mir96Dmdo heterozygous, homozygous mutant, and wildtype mice.MethodsBulk RNA-seq was performed on HCs of newborn Mir96Dmdo heterozygous, homozygous mutant, and wildtype mice. Differentially expressed gene analysis was conducted on Mir96Dmdo homozygous mutant HCs compared to wildtype littermate controls, followed by GO term and protein-protein interaction analysis on these differentially expressed genes.ResultsWe identify 215 upregulated and 428 downregulated genes in the HCs of the Mir96Dmdo homozygous mutant mice compared to their wildtype littermate controls. Many of the significantly downregulated genes in Mir96Dmdo homozygous mutant HCs have established roles in HC development and/or known roles in deafness including Myo15a, Myo7a, Ush1c, Gfi1, and Ptprq and have enrichment in gene ontology (GO) terms with biological functions such as sensory perception of sound. Interestingly, upregulated genes in Mir96Dmdo homozygous mutants, including possible miR-96 direct targets, show higher wildtype expression in supporting cells compared to HCs.ConclusionOur data further support a role for miR-96 in HC development, possibly as a repressor of supporting cell transcriptional programs in HCs. The HC-specific Mir96Dmdo RNA-seq data set generated from this manuscript are now publicly available in a dedicated profile in the gene expression analysis resource (gEAR-https://umgear.org/p?l=miR96).

The history of academic research on ependymoma is expansive. This review summarizes its history with a bibliometric analysis of the 100 most cited articles on ependymoma. In March 2020, we queried the Web of Science database to identify the most cited articles on ependymoma using the terms "ependymoma" or "ependymal tumors," yielding 3145 publications. Results were arranged by the number of times each article was cited in descending order. The top 100 articles spanned across nearly a century; the oldest article was published in 1924, while the most recent was in 2017. These articles were published in 35 unique journals, including a mix of basic science and clinical journals. The three institutions with the most papers in the top 100 were St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (16%), the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (6%), and the German Cancer Research Center (5%). We analyzed the publications that may be considered the most influential in the understanding and treatment management of ependymoma. Studies focused on the molecular classification of ependymomas were well-represented among the most cited articles, reflecting the field's current area of focus and its future directions. Additionally, this article also offers a reference for further studies in the ependymoma field.

The two mainstays of therapy for refractory epilepsy are medication and surgery. Child behavioral and cognitive aspects of epilepsy can be improved by using a specialized dietary regimen such as the ketogenic diet (KD). The purpose of this review is to expand our understanding of KD as a nutritional therapy for children with refractory epilepsy and to provide insight into the physiological aspects of its efficacy as an alternative to anti-seizure medication. Either directly or indirectly, ketones, glucose restriction, and polyunsaturated fatty acids regulate epileptic seizures. For KD to be effective, all three of these components must be present, even though the exact mechanism is unknown. Increasing gamma-aminobutyric acid, mitochondrial biogenesis, and oxidative phosphorylation levels can also serve as a means of promoting stable synaptic function while also decreasing neural activity and excitability. Most side effects of KD are caused by mild metabolic abnormalities such as acidosis, hyperuricemia, hypercholesterolemia, hypocalcemia, and hypomagnesemia. Since medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) produce more ketones per calorie than long-chain triglycerides, individuals who consume MCTs can consume more carbohydrates and protein. This review demonstrated that KD therapy led to positive outcomes for patients with refractory epilepsy. Further study is needed to evaluate whether less restrictive and easier-to-follow diets, such as the modified Atkins diet and MCT diets, have a similar effect on seizure treatment as the standard KD.

Background: Magnetic resonance arthrogram (MRA) has emerged as a supplement to non-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), especially in the identification of meniscal and chondral pathologies. It has increased the diagnostic efficacy of MRI in the evaluation of knee pathologies. Aims and Objectives: The present study was carried out to evaluate the role of MRA in the diagnosis of various knee pathologies and to correlate its findings with arthroscopy. Materials and Methods: A total of 56 patients with knee pain scheduled to undergo arthroscopic evaluation were enrolled in the study and were assessed using MRA before arthroscopy. MRA findings were correlated with arthroscopic findings. The level of agreement was measured using kappa statistics. Diagnostic efficacy was assessed in terms of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. Results: Cartilage involvement (48.2%), anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear and medial meniscus tear (37.5% each), bony injury (n=12; 21.4%), chondral defect (n=11; 19.6%), posterior cruciate ligament tear (n=10; 17.9%), and lateral meniscus tear (n=8; 14.3%) were the knee pathologies confirmed by arthroscopy. MRA had a sensitivity and specificity of 100% for pathologies such as ACL tear, lateral meniscus tear, medial meniscus tear, and bony injury. It was 100% specific for all the pathologies with no false positive detection. There was a strong to perfect agreement between MRA and arthroscopic findings for different knee pathologies. Conclusion: The present study found MRA to be a highly specific diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of different knee pathologies and it is useful in reducing the burden of undesired invasive arthroscopies.

Background: Shoulder pain encompasses a diverse array of pathologies and can affect as many as one quarter of the population depending on age and risk factors. It may be caused by problems with the neck, glenohumeral joint, acromioclavicular joint, rotator cuff, or other soft tissues around the shoulder. Aims and Objectives: The main aim of the study is to compare the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound (US) shoulder and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the shoulder in the diagnosis of shoulder ailments. Materials and Methods: This is a comparative study done in Department of Radiology, Aarupadai Veedu Medical College and Hospital, Pondicherry. In total, 54 patients were included for ultrasonography (USG) and MRI examination of shoulder ailments. The statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences Version 21.0 statistical analysis software. Results: Subacromial-Subdeltoid Bursitis is the most common finding. US detects partial-thickness tears with a sensitivity of 63.3% and a specificity of 70.8% and full-thickness tears with a sensitivity of 80.0% and a specificity of 91.8%. Trauma was the etiology in only a few patients. MRI is more sensitive than USG in identifying labral and capsular pathologies. MRI is the most sensitive and specific modality for the establishment of shoulder pain. MRI is useful in cases in which the diagnosis is uncertain on USG. Conclusion: MRI is recommended as a secondary method since it provides more information about the extent of tendons and has a lower artifact risk.

This work focus on solving the problems of fabricating inadequate prosthetic joint from mechanical perspective in total joint replacement. Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) composites with different weight fractions of Graphene (Gr) and Nanodiamond (ND) nanoparticles (0.2–0.5 wt %) were prepared by high pressure compression molding. The effect of vitamin E (vit E) and gamma irradiation at 50 kGy and 100 kGy doses on the structural and thermal properties of UHMWPE composites were investigated through swell ratio test, fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The mechanical properties including tensile, flexural, impact test, nanoindentation and micro scratch were studied and the fractured surfaces were analyzed under scanning electron microscope (SEM). Influence of gamma irradiation on UHMWPE composites shows better crosslinks and crystallinity in the polymer matrix. The nano-composites shows significant improvements in various mechanical properties compared to the 0.5 wt % vitamin-E + UHMWPE composite, with a 23 % increase in Young's modulus, a 21 % increase in flexural strength, a 24 % increase in hardness, and a 17 % increase in impact strength. The results shows that 100 kGy gamma irradiated composites exhibited better results. Composite with 0.5 wt % vit E + 0.3 wt % Gr + 0.5 wt % ND shown significant improvement in structural, thermal and mechanical properties.

Background: Periodontitis is a chronic bacterial infection of tooth that increases the risk of systemic diseases like diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. Although it has been have found altered lipids in periodontitis patients, its gene regulation is largely unknown. This study aimed to examine the lipid meditated regulatory network in periodontitis that may helpful in early detection of periodontal mediated systemic diseases. Methods: We employed a high-throughput gene expression data of 1) patients with periodontitis (n = 6); 2) the periodontitis patients with dyslipidemia (n = 6); and 3) healthy control group (n = 6). The over represented (DEGs) genes in SET-A (control vs. periodontitis) and SET-B (control vs. periodontitis with dyslipidemia) was identified. The protein interaction network was generated for the over represented genes in both the conditions. The constructed network was dissected into multiple regulatory clusters, containing over expressed transcription factors with its interacting proteins. Further the behavior of the clusters was determined through gene ontology and molecular pathways. Results: On expression analysis, 751 in SET-A and 561 in SET-B were over expressed compared to healthy control. Using over expressed genes, protein interaction networks were constructed for SET-A and SET-B, respectively. Topological analysis revel the difference in the complexity of both the network. Four regulatory clusters (ESR1, FOS, RUNX2, and SP1) from SET-A and six (ESR1, ESR2, FOS, JDP2, PBX1, and TAL1) from the SET-B network was extracted. Each cluster displayed a variety of molecular mechanism associated with immune system, cell cycle, and signal processing. Clusters from SET-B showed diverse regulatory pattern in associated with cancer, neurological, psychiatric and metabolic diseases. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate difference in regulatory patterns between periodontitis and periodontitis with dyslipidemia. These finding may provide evidence for dyslipidemia mediated periodontitis contribute to progressive systemic diseases. Further experiments are required to validate these regulators as biomarkers and drug targets.

Building on the development of momentum state lattices (MSLs) over the past decade, we introduce a simple extension of this technique to higher dimensions. Based on the selective addressing of unique Bragg resonances in matter-wave systems, MSLs have enabled the realization of tight-binding models with tunable disorder, gauge fields, non-Hermiticity, and other features. Here, we examine and outline an experimental approach to building scalable and tunable tight-binding models in two dimensions describing the laser-driven dynamics of atoms in momentum space. Using numerical simulations, we highlight some of the simplest models and types of phenomena this system is well suited to address, including flat-band models with kinetic frustration and flux lattices supporting topological boundary states. Finally, we discuss many of the direct extensions to this model, including the introduction of disorder and non-Hermiticity, which will enable the exploration of new transport and localization phenomena in higher dimensions.