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BACKGROUND: Succinylcholine is a commonly used muscle relaxant in anaesthesia that is associated with significant side effects, including muscle fasciculations and postoperative myalgia. Succinylcholine is used to facilitate tracheal intubation, especially in emergency situations when the risk of aspiration of gastric contents is present. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: This research paper investigates the effect of administering magnesium sulfate in conjunction with propofol induction on succinylcholine-induced fasciculations and myalgia. MATERIAL & METHODS: A total of 80 adult patients scheduled for elective surgery under general anaesthesia were divided into two groups (group I and II). The group I patients were treated with magnesium sulphate (40 mg/kg weight) in 10 ml volume while Group II patients were pretreated with normal saline (0.9% in 10 ml volume). They were given slowly intravenously over a period of 10 mim. Then Anesthesia was induced with fentanyl 1.5 mcg/kg and propofol 2 mg/kg, followed by administration of succinylcholine 2 mg/kg intravenously. Muscle fasciculation and Myalgia were observed after 24 hours of surgery. They were graded as nil, mild, moderate and severe. RESULTS: The overall incidence of muscle fasciculation in group I was 52.5% while it was 100% in group II. In group I, 22.5%,12 % mild and moderate muscle fasciculation were developed and no severe cases of fasciculation were observed. While in group II, 52.5% moderate, 40 % mild and 7.5% severe muscle fasciculation were observed. Postoperative myalgia was observed after 24 hrs, and it was observed that patients of Group I were not showing any sign and symptoms of myalgia while in group II, 12.5% were mild, 7.5% were moderate and 80% were negative for myalgia. CONCLUSION: The study found that the administration of magnesium sulfate significantly reduced both the incidence and severity of succinylcholine-induced fasciculations and myalgia, suggesting a beneficial role for magnesium sulfate in anesthesia protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The entry of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) into human embryonic kidney (HEK293T) cells has been shown to be a cholesterol-rich, lipid raft-dependent process. In this study, we investigated if the presence of a cholesterol uptake receptor Niemann-pick type c1-like1 (NPC1L1) impacts SARS-CoV-2 cell entry. Initially, we utilized reporter-based pseudovirus cell entry assays and a spike (S) glycoprotein-mediated cell-to-cell fusion assay. Using Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cells, which lack endogenous receptors for SARS-CoV-2 entry, our data showed that the co-expression of NPC1L1 together with the ACE2 receptor synergistically increased SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus entry even more than the cells expressing ACE-2 receptor alone. Similar results were also found with the HEK293T cells endogenously expressing the ACE2 receptor. Co-cultures of effector cells expressing S glycoprotein together with target cells co-expressing ACE-2 receptor with NPC1L1 significantly promoted quantitative cell-to-cell fusion, including syncytia formation. Finally, we substantiated that an elevated expression of NPC1L1 enhanced entry, whereas the depletion of NPC1L1 resulted in a diminished SARS-CoV-2 entry in HEK293T-ACE2 cells using authentic SARS-CoV-2 virus in contrast to their respective control cells. Collectively, these findings underscore the pivotal role of NPC1L1 in facilitating the cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2. Importance: Niemann-Pick type C1-like1 (NPC1L1) is an endosomal membrane protein that regulates intracellular cholesterol trafficking. This protein has been demonstrated to play a crucial role in the life cycle of several clinically important viruses. Although SARS-CoV-2 exploits cholesterol-rich lipid rafts as part of its viral entry process, the role of NPC1L1 in SARS-CoV-2 entry remains unclear. Our research represents the first-ever demonstration of NPC1L1's involvement in facilitating SARS-CoV-2 entry. The observed role of NPC1L1 in human kidney cells is not only highly intriguing but also quite relevant. This relevance stems from the fact that NPC1L1 exhibits high expression levels in several organs, including the kidneys, and the fact that kidney damages are reported during severe cases of SARS-CoV-2. These findings may help us understand the new functions and mechanisms of NPC1L1 and could contribute to the identification of new antiviral targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Surgical site infection (SSI) is still a common and widespread disease that leads to severe morbidity and death, longer hospital stays, and ultimately higher healthcare costs. P.aeruginosa clinical isolates have been shown to express the virulent gene Exo T, which is significant in the aetiology of infection. The current study aimed to identify the resistance gene Exo T gene in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and to ascertain the prevalence of SSI and associated risk factors among those who had undergone any type of surgical operation. Aim and Objective: To Study the Prevalence, Risk Factors of Surgical Site Infections and the Molecular Characterization of Exo T gene in Drug Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa patients at a Tertiary Care Centre, India. Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in a hospital setting over the period of 1 year i.e., August 2022 to August 2023 at a Tertiary Care Centre. All surgically treated adult patients of both sexes who were older than 16 years old were included. Patients who received a second surgery at the same location for any reason, patients receiving immunosuppressant medication, people with immunodeficiency diseases, people currently taking antibiotics, and people with infections elsewhere were all disqualified from participating. If there was signs of a wound infection 48 hours after surgery, the patient was diagnosed with SSI. The DNA was extracted using the Qiagen DNA Extraction kit and the resistant gene Exo T was detected using the conventional PCR. Results: In the present study a total of 170 patients underwent different types of surgeries. The prevalence of SSIs during the study period was 8.2%. SSIs were more common in abdominal surgeries with the Males (64.2%) have a higher risk of getting SSI than females (35.7%). Patients who underwent emergency surgery have a higher risk of getting SSI than those who underwent elective surgery. Those with diabetes had a higher risk of getting SSI than those who were nondiabetics. In the present study it was also observed that Klebsiella pneumoniae (28.5%) was the most common isolate followed by E.coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa with 21.4%, S.aureus with 14.25% and least for Staphylococcus epidermitidis and Klebsiella oxytoca with 7.14%. It was observed that the site of the infection most common affected was the superficial site with 57.1%. The Molecular characterization confirms that out of 3 Pseudomonas 2 showed the presence of Exo T gene (66.6%). Conclusion: SSIs were more likely to follow abdominal operations. Patients who were male, in the 30-year-old age range, had emergency surgery, had diabetes, and/or had a protracted hospital stay prior to any kind of surgery were more likely to experience surgical site infections (SSIs). It was also found that the proven role of Exo T virulence genes in the pathogenicity of P. aeruginosa would help in treatment and prognosis of Pseudomonas infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genital herpes, primarily caused by herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2), remains a pressing global health concern. Its remarkable ability to intertwine with cellular processes, from harnessing host machinery for replication to subverting antiviral defenses like autophagy and programmed cell death, exemplifies the intricate interplay at the heart of its pathogenesis. While the biomedical community has extensively researched antiviral interventions, the efficiency of these strategies in managing HSV-2 remains suboptimal. Recognizing this, attention has shifted toward leveraging host cellular components to regulate HSV-2 replication and influence the cell cycle. Furthermore, innovative interventional strategies—including drug repurposing, microbivacs, connecting the host microbiome, and exploiting natural secondary metabolites—are emerging as potential game changers. This review summarizes the key steps in HSV-2 pathogenesis and newly discovered cellular interactions, presenting the latest developments in the field, highlighting existing challenges, and offering a fresh perspective on HSV-2's pathogenesis and the potential avenues for its treatment by targeting cellular proteins and pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]