Search

Background: Emphysematous pyelonephritis, a urological emergency, is characterized by an acute renal infection, associated with necrotic changes, due to gas-forming organisms. Though nephrectomy was considered as the traditional gold standard treatment, there is a change in the management due to improvement in outcomes with minimally invasive procedures like stenting and percutaneous drainage. Hence, in recent years, there is a notable shift towards this minimalistic approach, with or without need for nephrectomy. Methods: This is a retrospective observational study performed on patients who were treated in our hospital for EPN between October 2022 and March 2023. The poor prognostic factors assigned were altered mental status, shock on initial presentation, thrombocytopenia, Low albumin and need for emergency hemodialysis. Retrospective data including age, gender, comorbidities, imaging, laboratory investigations, necessity of emergency dialysis, treatment details and outcome was collected. The clinical predictors, treatment modalities employed and outcomes were analysed. Results: Thirty eight patients with EPN, from October 2022 to March 2023, were studied. Elderly patients were most commonly affected by EPN. All our patients were diabetic. We found that Klebsiella was involved in maximum number of cases followed by E. coli as the second most involved pathogen. In our study, the left kidney alone was involved in 44.7% of the patients and the opposite (right) kidney alone was involved in 36.8% individuals. Of our 38 patients, 34 (89.4%) had two or more unfavourable prognostic factors. 32 patients had high grade/extensive EPN, [class 3(73.4%) and class 4(11.8%)]. Conclusions: In our study of patients with EPN, elderly diabetic women were most commonly affected with Klebsiella being the most frequently isolated pathogen. Though two or more bad prognostic factors and along with extensive EPN (class 3/4) was seen in a large number of our patients, medical management with minimally invasive therapy provided a siginificant success rate of 94.7% with only few (2) patients succumbing and they were not fit for nephrectomy also. Hence, we support early aggressive medical and minimally invasive treatment and also, we suggest that major procedures like nephrectomy should be considered in patients only if they are not improving with minimally invasive treatment.

Background: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), Mycobacterium bovis, Mycobacterium africanum, Mycobacterium canetti, and Mycobacterium microti are all members of the MTB complex [MTBC], which cause tuberculosis. Mycobacteria other than TB also known as non-tuberculous mycobacteria [NTM]. Aims and Objectives: The purpose of this study was to see how accurate and efficient the MPT64 Ag fast test and Lowenstein–Jensen (LJ) medium with p-Nitrobenzoic acid (PNB) was in differentiating MTB and NTM. Materials and Methods: This Prospective cross-sectional, diagnostic study was conducted in the department of Microbiology, Chalamadaanandarao Medical college, Karimnagar, Telangana. India. The study was conducted from September 2020 to September 2021. The study was preapproved by the Institutional ethical and research committee. Results: PNB inhibits the growth of MTBC, whereas NTM species were resistant. MPT64 is a protein antigen secreted specifically by the members of MTBC. This study was carried out to establish the accuracy and efficiency of LJ medium with PNB and MPT64 immunochromatography test (ICT) in differentiation between MTB and NTM. Of the 426 culture positive isolates tested, 382 (89.67%) were recovered from pulmonary specimens and 44 (10.32) from extrapulmonary sources. Of the 426 isolates tested for the presence of MPT64 antigen, 407 (95.53%) were found positive for ICT test. Whereas, 18 (4.22%) isolate and were considered as NTM and 408 as MTBC (95.77%) by selective inhibition by PNB in LJ medium. Conclusion: According to our findings, the SDbioline kit is a fast, accurate, and reliable approach for separating MTB from NTM for TB management. MPT64ICT results were compared to culture smear results, which was particularly informative in the situation of MPT64ICT negative isolates with liquid cultures.

Introduction: Package insert is an officially approved document that accompanies a drug. It is intended to provide information for the safe and effective use of a drug and contains information based on regulatory guidelines. Sometimes, information provided in the package inserts is suboptimal which can led to medication errors. This study was undertaken to assess the presentation and completeness of clinical information provided in the currently available package inserts for anti-diabetic, antihypertensive and hypolipedemic drugs in India. Material and Methods: Around 130 package inserts were collected from pharmacies located at different areas of Bangalore. They were analyzed based on criteria mentioned in Schedule D of Drug and Cosmetic act 1945. Results and Observations: Out of 134 package inserts, 64 were anti-diabetics, 40 anti-hypertensives, and 30 hypolipedemics. Out of them, 31 (23.14%) belonged to Grade ‘A’ (including all injectable preparations) and remaining 76.86% to Grade ‘B’. None of the PIs belonged to Grade ‘C’. The inserts were inadequate in many aspects; for example, they had unclear instructions about generic name of other ingredients used, about handling, undesirable effects, pediatric and geriatric use, and guidelines for use of the drugs. Conclusion: This study indicated that information relevant to the safe and effective use of medication was not mentioned in the analyzed package inserts. It is, therefore, recommended to update the existing package inserts based on criteria mentioned in the Schedule D of Drug and Cosmetic Act, 1945.

The visible light-promoted O-alkenylation of phenols and naphthols with terminal alkynes is achieved using 2,4,6-tris(4-fluorophenyl)pyrylium tetrafluoroborate (T(p-F)PPT) as a photocatalyst at room temperature without the need of any external ligand or additive. Apart from its excellent functional group tolerance, the protocol described herein represents an appealing alternative strategy to classical transition-metal catalysed hydroarylation reactions. Mechanistic investigations revealed that the reaction involves a radical pathway. The utility of the hydroarylated products for the synthesis of fused benzofurans via a one-pot annulation was also demonstrated. Herein, we report the first intermolecular radical hydroarylation of alkynes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatment often involves systemic administration of anti-inflammatory drugs or biologics such as anti-TNF-α antibodies. However, current drug therapies suffer from limited efficacy due to unresponsiveness and adverse side effects. To address these challenges, we developed inflammation-targeting nanoparticles (ITNPs) using biopolymers derived from the gum kondagogu (Cochlospermum gossypium) plant. These ITNPs enable selective drug delivery to inflamed regions, offering improved therapeutic outcomes. We designed ITNPs that specifically bind to inflamed regions in both human and mouse intestines, facilitating more effective, uniform, and prolonged drug delivery within the inflamed tissues. Furthermore, we demonstrated that oral administration of ITNPs loaded with urolithin A (UroA), a microbial metabolite or its synthetic analogue UAS03 significantly attenuated chemical- and immune checkpoint inhibitor- induced colitis in pre-clinical models. In conclusion, ITNPs show great promise for delivering UroA or its analogues while enhancing therapeutic efficacy at lower doses and reduced frequency compared to free drug administration. This targeted approach offers a potential solution to enhance IBD treatment while minimizing systemic side effects.

Solid particle erosion is an unavoidable problem for gas turbine compressor blades, wind turbines, crude oil pipes, rovers in outer space, and other machine components operated in harsh conditions. Gas turbine components are usually operated in the temperature range of 100–1400 °C. However, the influence of temperature on the solid particle erosion mechanism has not been studied adequately. In this paper, the influence of temperature on the solid particle erosion properties of metals (Ti6Al4V, SS 304, Al-8011, and Ti/TiN multilayers) and non-metals (Al2O3, fused quartz, and Si) is studied. The erosion tests were conducted in the temperature range of 30–800 °C. The erosion rate of metallic and ionic solids (viz., Ti6Al4V, SS 304, Al-8011, Al2O3, and Ti/TiN multilayers with the thermal expansion coefficient α ≥ 8 μm/°C) initially decreased with increasing temperature and then increased at higher temperatures, whereas for covalently bonded materials such as fused quartz (α = 0.55 μm/°C) and Si (α = 2.6 μm/°C), the erosion rate increased with increasing temperature. As the temperature increases, it causes lattice vibrations and bond flexibility to increase the high thermal expansion coefficient materials due to their non-directional ionic or metallic bonds. It helps these materials to absorb the erodent energy without much damage, whereas the same does not happen in the case of low thermal expansion coefficient materials due to their strong directional covalent bonding. Temperature dependent Raman spectroscopic studies were carried out to understand the lattice vibrations and phase changes during heating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food is the primary cause for diseases in humans and carries high risk pathogens. Assessment of the safety in foods is needed to validate the presence of pathogenic bacteria. We used colony PCR for this approach to detect foodborne pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus and Bacillus cereus. Suitable primers were selected based on specific gene 1040 for Escherichia coli, gene S2 for Lactobacillus, and gene NVF for Bacillus cereus. Agarose gel electrophoresis is used for the detection of amplified products against a suitable marker. ImageJ is used for DNA band analysis, enabling precise quantification, normalization, and statistical comparisons. These studies have established a promising role in the detection of pathogens in various environmental samples. The insights gained from this study may serve as the foundation for rapid detection of foodborne diseases in the food industry.

Protein lysine methyltransferases (PKMTs) methylate histone and non-histone proteins to regulate biological outcomes such as development and disease including viral infection. While PKMTs have been extensively studied for modulating the antiviral responses via host gene regulation, their role in methylation of proteins encoded by viruses and its impact on host-pathogen interactions remain poorly understood. In this study, we discovered distinct nucleo-cytoplasmic form of euchromatic histone methyltransferase 1 (EHMT1N/C), a PKMT, that phase separates into viral inclusion bodies (IBs) upon cytoplasmic RNA-virus infection (Sendai Virus). EHMT1N/C interacts with cytoplasmic EHMT2 and methylates SeV-Nucleoprotein upon infection. Elevated nucleoprotein methylation during infection correlated with coalescence of small IBs into large mature platforms for efficient replication. Inhibition of EHMT activity by pharmacological inhibitors or genetic depletion of EHMT1N/C reduced the size of IBs with a concomitant reduction in replication. Additionally, we also found that EHMT1 condensation is not restricted to SeV alone but was also seen upon pathogenic RNA viral infections caused by Chandipura and Dengue virus. Collectively, our work elucidates a new mechanism by which cytoplasmic EHMT1 acts as proviral host factor to regulate host-pathogen interaction.

Abstract Farmers from South Asian countries spray insecticides without protective gear, which leads to insecticide exposure through dermal and nasal routes. Acetylcholinesterase plays a crucial role in controlling neuromuscular function. Organophosphate and carbamate insecticides inhibit acetylcholinesterase, which leads to severe neuronal/cognitive dysfunction, breathing disorders, loss of endurance, and death. To address this issue, an Oxime-fabric is developed by covalently attaching silyl-pralidoxime to the cellulose of the fabric. The Oxime-fabric, when stitched as a bodysuit and facemask, efficiently deactivates insecticides (organophosphates and carbamates) upon contact, preventing exposure. The Oxime-fabric prevents insecticide-induced neuronal damage, neuro-muscular dysfunction, and loss of endurance. Furthermore, we observe a 100% survival rate in rats when repeatedly exposed to organophosphate-insecticide through the Oxime-fabric, while no survival is seen when organophosphate-insecticide applied directly or through normal fabric. The Oxime-fabric is washable and reusable for at least 50 cycles, providing an affordable solution to prevent insecticide-induced toxicity and lethality among farmers.

Context: The goals of orthodontic therapy are to provide stable treatment results and the best possible tooth alignment. Orthodontic retention regimens are essential for avoiding relapses after treatment; however, there is ongoing discussion on the best regimen. Methods: Orthodontic patients treated at a tertiary care center were the subject of a retrospective analysis. Information was gathered about follow-up evaluations, treatment techniques, patient demographics, and retention procedures. Relapse rates and occlusal characteristics were among the objective variables used to evaluate treatment stability. A statistical analysis evaluated the effectiveness of various retention strategies. Findings: When it came to preserving treatment stability, fixed retainers outperformed detachable appliances, Hawley retainers, and Essix retainers. The mean changes in occlusal parameters and relapse rates were greater for removable appliances, but the performance of Hawley and Essix retainers was moderate. Significant variations in retention techniques were verified by statistical analysis, with fixed retainers outperforming alternative detachable retainers and removable appliances. In conclusion, compared to alternative detachable retainers and removable equipment, fixed retainers are more successful in preserving treatment stability. Retention protocols, however, must to be established with each patient’s needs and treatment preferences in mind. The length of patient compliance and retention has a crucial role in determining the stability of therapy, underscoring the significance of patient education and continued monitoring. To improve long-term treatment results and optimize orthodontic retention techniques, further research and technical developments are required.

Background: Orthodontic treatment is commonly associated with pain and discomfort, impacting patient experience and treatment compliance. Understanding the factors influencing pain perception is crucial for improving pain management strategies during orthodontic adjustments. Methods: Pain levels were assessed using a “Visual Analog Scale (VAS)” before and after each adjustment session. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted immediately post-adjustment. Statistical analyses were performed to compare mean pain scores before and after adjustments, and thematic analysis was conducted to identify common themes in qualitative data. Results: Quantitative analysis revealed a significant increase in mean pain scores following orthodontic adjustments (P < 0.001). Qualitative analysis identified themes related to pain experiences, including anticipation of discomfort, adaptation over time, and coping strategies employed by patients. Conclusion: Orthodontic adjustments induce varying levels of pain and discomfort among patients. By integrating quantitative and qualitative assessments, this study provides comprehensive insights into patient experiences during orthodontic treatment, informing strategies for pain management and patient care.

Background: Orthodontic retention protocols are crucial for maintaining treatment stability post-orthodontic treatment. However, the optimal retention strategy remains debated. Methods: A retrospective analysis of patient records from a tertiary orthodontic center over 5 years was conducted. Variables, including retention protocols employed, duration of retention, and treatment stability, were weighed. Results: Fixed retainers were the most commonly utilized retention protocol, followed by removable retainers and combination methods. Although the incidence of treatment relapse appeared higher among patients with removable retainers, the difference did not reach statistical significance. Combination protocols demonstrated comparable treatment stability to fixed retainers. Conclusion: This research gives understanding of the effectiveness of orthodontic retention protocols in a tertiary center setting. While fixed retainers remain widely used, removable retainers and combination methods also show promise in maintaining treatment stability. Addressing patient compliance issues and optimizing retention strategies based on individual patient needs are essential for enhancing treatment outcomes.

Objective: This research targets to compare the longstanding outcomes of traditional braces versus Invisalign in orthodontic treatment, focusing on dental alignment, occlusal stability, patient satisfaction, and treatment duration. Methods: A retrospective cohort research with 200 subjects was piloted. One hundred subjects received traditional braces, while the other 100 received Invisalign. Dental models, cephalometric radiographs, and intraoral photographs were obtained at baseline, post-treatment, and at 1, 2, and 5 years follow-up. Patient satisfaction surveys were administered at each follow-up visit. Results: Both traditional braces and Invisalign effectively improved dental alignment and occlusal stability over the 5-year follow-up period. Patient satisfaction scores were consistently higher in the Invisalign group compared to the traditional braces group. However, there were no significant differences in treatment duration between the two groups. Conclusion: Invisalign may offer comparable or superior longstanding outcomes compared to traditional braces in orthodontic treatment, with higher patient satisfaction levels. These findings support the use of Invisalign as a viable alternative to traditional braces, particularly for subjects seeking esthetic and convenient orthodontic solutions.

Background: Because of its ease and visual attractiveness, clear aligner therapy has grown in popularity as an orthodontic treatment option. On the other hand, the results of therapy may be impacted by attachment wear. Comparing attachment wear in three distinct clear aligner systems—System A, System B, and System C—was the goal of this investigation. Methods: The research comprised 60 individuals receiving clear aligners as part of their orthodontic treatment. Depending on whatever clear aligner system was being utilised, the patients were split into three groups. Attachment wear was evaluated using a standardised scoring method regularly. The various systems’ attachment wear was compared using statistical analysis. Results: Compared to Systems B and C, System A showed less attachment wear. There were notable variations in attachment wear ratings between the systems. System C’s attachments had the most wear, whereas System A’s attachments had the least. Conclusion: Different clear aligner systems showed varying degrees of attachment wear, with System A exhibiting the least amount of wear. To maximise treatment procedures and guarantee treatment efficacy and longevity in clear aligner therapy, it is vital to comprehend attachment wear patterns.

Corrosion is the gradual erosion of metal, primarily because of electrochemical attacks especially under gaseous and alkaline conditions owing to the presence of sulphur and Alkali metals may cause rapid material degradation called Hot corrosion and result in untimely failure of components. To improve surface qualities for corrosion applications, the austenitic 316L stainless steel (SS) in this study was coated with Wc-10%Co–4%Cr utilizing the High-velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) spray method. After the coated sample was heated to 800 °C for an hour, XRD was used to confirm the coating powder's composition. Using the FESEM technique, the microstructure features were examined, and XRD analysis was performed to ascertain the phase and composition of the substrate. Investigations were also conducted on the electrochemical corrosion characteristics that were impacted by the heat treatment after coating. SEM and EDAX technologies were used to characterize the sample and study its microstructure.

Metallic biomaterials have been used to repair and replace human body parts because of their excellent biocompatibility, strong corrosion resistance, and high mechanical properties. A ceramic biomaterial that is highly suitable for coating on metallic biomaterials is hydroxyapatite. This is because it is biocompatible with synthetic and natural bone tissue. There has been a growing interest in HAp-based coatings using thermal spray techniques to enhance the crystallinity and adhesion quality and produce a dense coating of metallic biomaterials. Thermally sprayed coating material has been studied and reviewed in detail in the bioactivity analysis and electro-corrosion analysis. Furthermore, the bioactivity of HAp coatings is determined by their ability to promote bone formation and osseointegration and a valuable understanding of the mechanisms and current advancements in bioactivity. Additionally, the corrosion behaviour of thermally sprayed HAp coatings under simulated conditions has been reviewed.

In the highly regulative embryo of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus, establishment of the dorsal-ventral (D/V) axis critically depends on the zygotic expression of the TGF-β nodal in the ventral ectoderm. nodal expression is first induced ubiquitously in the 32-cell embryo and becomes progressively restricted to the presumptive ventral ectoderm by the early blastula stage. This early spatial restriction of nodal expression is independent of Lefty, and instead relies on the activity of Panda, a maternally expressed TGF-β ligand related to Lefty and Inhibins, which is required maternally for D/V axis specification. However, the mechanism by which Panda restricts the early nodal expression has remained enigmatic and it is not known if Panda works like a BMP ligand by opposing Nodal and antagonizing Smad2/3 signaling, or if it works like Lefty by sequestering an essential component of the Nodal signaling pathway. In this study, we report that Panda functions as an antagonist of the TGF-β type II receptor ACVRII (Activin receptor type II), which is the only type II receptor for Nodal signaling in the sea urchin and is also a type II receptor for BMP ligands. Inhibiting translation of acvrII mRNA disrupted D/V patterning across all 3 germ layers and caused acvrII morphants to develop with a typical Nodal loss-of-function phenotype. In contrast, embryos overexpressing acvrII displayed strong ectopic Smad1/5/8 signaling at blastula stages and developed as dorsalized larvae, a phenotype very similar to that caused by over activation of BMP signaling. Remarkably, embryos co-injected with acvrII mRNA and panda mRNA did not show ectopic Smad1/5/8 signaling and developed with a largely normal dorsal-ventral polarity. Furthermore, using an axis induction assay, we found that Panda blocks the ability of ACVRII to orient the D/V axis when overexpressed locally. Using co-immunoprecipitation, we showed that Panda physically interacts with ACVRII, as well as with the Nodal co-receptor Cripto, and with TBR3 (Betaglycan), which is a non-signaling receptor for Inhibins in mammals. At the molecular level, we have traced back the antagonistic activity of Panda to the presence of a single proline residue, conserved with all the Lefty factors, in the ACVRII binding motif of Panda, instead of a serine as in most of TGF-β ligands. Conversion of this proline to a serine converted Panda from an antagonist that opposed Nodal signaling and promoted dorsalization to an agonist that promoted Nodal signaling and triggered ventralization when overexpressed. Finally, using phylogenomics, we analyzed the emergence of the agonist and antagonist form of Panda in the course of evolution. Our data are consistent with the idea that the presence of a serine at that position, like in most TGF-β, was the ancestral condition and that the initial function of Panda was possibly in promoting and not in antagonizing Nodal signaling. These results highlight the existence of key functional and structural elements conserved between Panda and Lefty, allow to draw an intriguing parallel between sea urchin Panda and mammalian Inhibin α and raise the unexpected possibility that the original function of Panda may have been in activation of the Nodal pathway rather than in its inhibition.

Osteoconductive, biocompatible, and biodegradable magnesium alloys hold great promise as novel materials for orthopaedic and vascular implants due to their bone-like mechanical properties. Furthermore, their limited utility in therapeutic environments is compounded by their inadequate resistance to corrosion. Because the impulsive occurrence of corrosion in magnesium alloys is governed by the loss of properties, including the materials' fundamental properties and various corrosive conditions, the corrosion mechanism is extremely complex. Due to the incidence of numerous factors, including the materials' inherent properties and the presence of various corrosive environments, the corrosion mechanism of magnesium alloys is complexity-ridden.