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Nepal harbors a rich diversity of cultures and traditions, including the unique practice of creating an indigenous grain called Marcha by various ethnic groups such as Newar, Tamang, Sherpa, Rai, Limbu, Gurung, Magar, and Tharu people. In the eastern region of Nepal, Marcha producers utilize over 42 different plants, including Vernonia cinerea , Clematis grewiae , Polygala arillata , Buddleja asiatica , Inula sp., Scoparia , and more, which shows regional diversity. The primary objective of the study was to explore the diversity of yeast present in Marcha samples. The studied Marcha samples were collected from 10 different geographic regions of Nepal, which included altogether 27 samples. The isolates were grouped into Groups A, B, and C based on morphological and physiological characteristics. Notably, Group B yeast displayed high amylase production, an enzyme responsible for starch breakdown, and exhibited the ability to produce ethanol. To further investigate the potential of these isolates, stress exclusion tests were conducted, with 30 isolates (70%) showing positive responses. The yeast isolates demonstrated resilience to high glucose concentrations of up to 36% ( w / v ) at a pH above 3 and a temperature of 37°C, which is the ideal growth condition. The study observed a direct correlation between the yeast isolates' ethanol production capabilities and their tolerance to different ethanol concentrations. Considering that all tested Marcha samples contained yeast capable of starch degradation and ethanol production, it was expected that these yeast isolates would actively participate in the fermentation of starch-based alcohol., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Jayram Karmacharya et al.)

Abstract: To report 2 successfully managed cases of graft rejection with acellular porcine corneal stroma (APCS) transplantation in patients with fungal corneal ulcer. Two patients were diagnosed with fungal corneal ulcer and received APCS transplantation. Graft rejection developed due to the lost follow-up during the period of coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak. Amniotic membranes transplantation and cauterization of neovascularization was performed, respectively. The graft failure resolved successfully after the procedure. To the best of our knowledge, amniotic membranes transplantation and cauterization of new vessels are the firstly reported in treating APCS graft failure. Amniotic membranes transplantation or cauterization of neovascularization appear to be a safe and costeffective method for treating graft failure., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.)

This study is the first to explore the potential associations among allergic conjunctivitis (AC), air pollution, and meteorological conditions in Northeast China. Data of meteorology, ambient atmospheric pollutants, and the incidence of allergic conjunctivitis (IAC) in prefecture-level cities between the years 2014 and 2018 are analyzed. The results show an increasing trend in the AC of average growth rate per annum 7.6%, with the highest incidence in the provincial capitals. The IAC is positively correlated with atmospheric pollutants (i.e., PM 2.5 , PM 10 , CO, SO 2 , NO 2 , and O 3 ) and meteorological factors (i.e., air temperature and wind speed), but negatively correlated with relative humidity. These results suggest that the IAC is directly proportional to pollution level and climatic conditions, and also the precedence of air pollution. We have further obtained the threshold values of atmospheric pollutants concentration and meteorological factors, a turning point above which more AC may be induced. Compared with the air quality standard advised by China and the World Health Organization (WHO), both thresholds of PM 10 (70 μg m -3 ) and PM 2.5 (45 μg m -3 ) are higher than current standards and pose a less environmental risk for the IAC. SO 2 threshold (23 μg m -3 ) is comparable to the WHO standard and significantly lower than that of China's, indicating greater environmental risks in China. Both thresholds of NO 2 (27 μg m -3 ) and O 3 (88 μg m -3 ) are below current standards, indicating that they are major environmental risk factors for the IAC. Our findings highlight the importance of atmospheric environmental protection and reference for health-based amendment., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a principal health problem with increasing incidence worldwide. It can be associated with various systemic diseases. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), a member of non-coding RNA has been newly linked with various human diseases. Recent evidence from animal experiments has shown that the incidence and development of type 2 diabetes are contributed by the atypical expression of lncRNA in which the biomarker with capable clinical potential was lncRNA NONRATT021972. In this review, we demonstrated the numerous functions of NONRATT021972 in different diabetes-related diseases including diabetic neuropathy, diabetic cardiac autonomic neuropathy, myocardial ischemia, and hepatic glucokinase dysfunction. The emerging evidence shows that the role of NONRATT021972 in diabetic-related disease is novel and therapeutic. These results direct us to conclude that NONRATT021972 is a potential diagnostic and future targeted therapy for diabetes-associated diseases., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists.

Blepharokeratoconjunctivitis secondary to ocular demodicosis in the pediatric population is often neglected and may result in a serious sight-threatening condition. In severe cases, it can lead to corneal perforation necessitating urgent corneal transplantation. However, the shortage and high cost of donor corneas is the foremost limitation of keratoplasty in developing countries. Small-incision lenticule extraction is an advanced flapless femtosecond laser refractive procedure in which an intrastromal corneal lenticule is detached and removed to correct myopia and myopic astigmatism. We herein describe a technique in which lenticules are used for the management of corneal perforation secondary to Demodex-induced blepharokeratoconjunctivitis. The lenticule was sutured over the site of the perforated cornea using 10-0 interrupted nylon sutures. The globe integrity was maintained with a good visual outcome. Thus, tectonic keratoplasty using small-incision lenticule extraction appears to be a safe, cost-effective, and reliable alternative method for the management of corneal perforation secondary to blepharokeratoconjunctivitis.

Diabetes mellitus is a global issue with increasing incidence rate worldwide. In an uncontrolled case, it can advance to various organ-related complications leading to an increase in morbidity and mortality. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) Metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) appears to be a fairly novel lncRNA that is relevant to diabetes and its role in diabetic-related diseases initiation and progression have long been a subject of attention to many scholars. The expression of MALAT1 is elevated in different diabetic-related diseases. In this review, we demonstrate the various functions of MALAT1 in the different diabetes-related complications including ischemic reperfusion injury, retinopathy, cataract, atherosclerosis, cardiomyopathy, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, gastroparesis, kidney disease, and gestational diabetes. The emerging evidence showed that the role of MALAT1 in diabetic-related complications is both pro-inflammatory and apoptosis in different cell types. These results concluded that MALAT1 is a potential diagnostic and future targeted therapy for diabetes-associated complications., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel class of endogenous non-coding RNAs produced by back-splicing. They are found to be expressed in eukaryotic cells and play certain roles in various cellular functions, including fibrosis, cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and angiogenesis. Dysregulated circRNAs are found in several human disorders including, malignancy, vascular, inflammatory as well as nervous diseases. Although, increasing evidence suggests that circRNAs may also contribute in different ocular diseases, the outline of circRNAs in ocular diseases remains obscure. In this review we consider the current state of knowledge regarding the potential role and underlying mechanism of circRNAs in ocular diseases including pterygium, age-related cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, retinoblastoma, retinal vascular dysfunction and hyperhomocysteinemia induced ocular diseases, emphasizing that circRNAs could be promising biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis evaluation. Future circRNAs-targeted intervention may become a novel therapeutic tool for the treatment of ocular diseases., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists.

Small incision refractive lenticule extraction (SMILE) is a femtosecond laser technique to correct myopia and myopic astigmatism. Herein, we report a technique where intrastromal lenticule obtained from the SMILE procedure served as a graft for lamellar keratoplasty in the management of a limbal dermoid. An 18-year-old woman presented to the clinic with a corneal-limbal mass in the right eye. Slit-lamp examination revealed a vascularized circular mass of approximately 6 mm × 5 mm, which was attached at 7 o'clock in the inferotemporal region of the corneal limbus; this suggested limbal dermoid. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography revealed superficial involvement of the cornea. The patient was treated with excision and lamellar keratoplasty by using femtosecond intrastromal lenticule. The lenticule was sutured over the cornea with 10-0 interrupted nylon sutures. On postoperative follow-up, best-corrected visual acuity was 20/20; there was no corneal neovascularization and no sign of rejection. This case of limbal dermoid was managed by simple surgical excision and lamellar keratoplasty with a SMILE-extracted lenticule. This method may serve as an alternative surgical approach for management of limbal dermoid.

The cancers are the leading cause of disease-related deaths worldwide with a high risk of morbidity and mortality. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a critical role in a wide range of biological processes, including tumorigenesis. HOXA11-AS (NCRNA00076), the antisense strands of HOXA11 gene, was initially revealed in a mouse embryonic cDNA library in 2009 and it was a fairly novel lncRNA. This review summarized the advanced research progression concerning the expression and role of HOXA11-AS in different human malignancies. The expression of HOXA11-AS is aberrantly altered in many cancers, either as a tumor suppressor or as a tumor accelerator. The different underlying mechanism of HOXA11-AS in different cancers (including, nonsmall cell lung cancers, osteosarcoma, uveal melanoma, glioma, hepatocellular carcinoma, gastric cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, and glioblastoma) was also detailed. These findings lead us to conclude that HOXA11-AS participate in the complex network of cancers and plays an important role in the tumorigenesis and progression. Functional HOXA11-AS could be a promising biomarker for early detection as well as prognosis evaluation in cancer patients. Future HOXA11-AS-targeted intervention may become a valuable novel therapeutic tool, improving the clinical management of cancers., (© 2018 The Authors. Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in the complex network of cancer and play an important role in tumourigenesis and progression. BRAF activated non-coding RNA (BANCR), a 4-exon transcript of 693-bp, was first discovered as an oncogenic long non-coding RNA in BRAF V 600E melanomas cells in 2012 and was related to melanoma cell migration. Besides melanoma, increasing evidence has explored the potential role of BANCR in the development and progression of multiple other human malignancies, such as retinoblastoma, lung cancer, gastric cancer etc. since its discovery. The expression pattern of BANCR varies in different types of cancers, either as a tumour suppressor or as an accelerator. Functional BANCR may serve as a promising biomarker for cancer diagnosis as well as prognosis evaluation. BANCR-targeted intervention may also become a valuable novel therapeutic tool against human malignancies. This review summarized the advanced research progresses concerning the expression and role of BANCR in different human malignancies., (© 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are one of the important cell types affected in many ocular neurodegenerative diseases. Oxidative stress is considered to be involved in retinal RGCs death in ocular neurodegenerative diseases. More and more attention has been focused on studying the agents that may have neuroprotective effects. Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is a key nuclear transcription factor for the systemic antioxidant defense system. This review elucidates the underlying mechanism of the Nrf2-mediated neuroprotective effects on RGCs in ocular neurodegenerative diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy and retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury. Several Nrf2 inducers that shield RGCs from oxidative stress-induced neurodegeneration via regulating Nrf2 signaling are discussed., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists.

Small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) is a minimally invasive, safe and flapless femtosecond laser technique used mainly to correct myopia through extraction of a corneal lenticule. Lenticules obtained in this way are transparent and of high quality, and thus, can be used to treat other corneal diseases. A 65-year-old male patient presented with recurrent pterygium complicated by thin cornea. The patient was treated surgically using a SMILE-extracted lenticule to avoid further complications and to maintain eyeball integrity. The lenticule was sutured over the thin section of cornea using 10-0 interrupted nylon sutures and enclosed by a single layer of amniotic membrane. The patient was evaluated using slit-lamp biomicroscopy and anterior-segment optical-coherence tomography. During an 8-month follow-up, the graft remained intact with no sign of rejection and corneal thickness was maintained. Tectonic keratoplasty using a SMILE-extracted lenticule appears to be a safe, cost-effective and reliable method for treating thin cornea due to repeated surgeries for recurrent pterygium. This is the first case of recurrent pterygium complicated by thin cornea managed surgically using a SMILE-extracted lenticule.

Protein deglycase DJ-1 (Parkinson disease protein 7) is a 20 kDa protein encoded by PARK7 gene. It is also known as a redox-sensitive chaperone and sensor that protect cells against oxidative stress-induced cell death in many human diseases. Though increasing evidence implicates that DJ-1 may also participate in ocular diseases, the overview of DJ-1 in ocular diseases remains elusive. In this review, we discuss the role as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms of DJ-1 in ocular diseases, including Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, and ocular neurodegenerative diseases, highlighting that DJ-1 may serve as a very striking therapeutic target for ocular diseases., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists.

The digestive system cancers are leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and have high risks of morbidity and mortality. More and more long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been studied to be abnormally expressed in cancers and play a key role in the process of digestive system tumour progression. Plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1) seems fairly novel. Since 1984, PVT1 was identified to be an activator of MYC in mice. Its role in human tumour initiation and progression has long been a subject of interest. The expression of PVT1 is elevated in digestive system cancers and correlates with poor prognosis. In this review, we illustrate the various functions of PVT1 during the different stages in the complex process of digestive system tumours (including oesophageal cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma and pancreatic cancer). The growing evidence shows the involvement of PVT1 in both proliferation and differentiation process in addition to its involvement in epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). These findings lead us to conclude that PVT1 promotes proliferation, survival, invasion, metastasis and drug resistance in digestive system cancer cells. We will also discuss PVT1's potential in diagnosis and treatment target of digestive system cancer. There was a great probability PVT1 could be a novel biomarker in screening tumours, prognosis biomarkers and future targeted therapy to improve the survival rate in cancer patients., (© 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)