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The poly(ether ether ketone) micro/nanocomposite reinforced with N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyl triethoxy silane treated micro- and nano-sized nickel and zirconia (0.5, 1, and 3 wt%) were prepared by melt mixing in a co-rotating twin screw extruder followed by test specimen fabrication in microinjection molding. The resulting nanocomposites with 3 wt% Ni and ZrO2 nanoparticles exhibit the maximum improvement in tensile and flexural strength as well as the modulus with respect to neat poly(ether ether ketone). The lowest specific wear rate of 17.6 × 10−4 mm3/N/m has been achieved with 3 wt% nano-Ni-filled composite in comparison to neat poly(ether ether ketone)’s value 191.5 × 10−4 mm3/N/m. The thermal stability of micro- and nano-particle reinforced poly(ether ether ketone) composites measured by thermogravimetric analysis found to be higher than the unfilled poly(ether ether ketone). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potato, being an underground vegetable crop, faces consistent threats from soil- and tuber-borne fungal and bacterial pathogens. Black scurf and stem canker disease caused by the fungal pathogen Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn is a critical global concern in the potato cultivation system. In this study, we evaluated the disease mitigation potential of five systemic acquired resistance-inducing chemicals viz. , salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, β -aminobutyric acid, γ -aminobutyric acid and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ). Two common methods, tuber dipping and foliar spray, were utilized in this experiment to evaluate pathogen inhibition on inoculated tubers. The results revealed that all the systemic acquired resistance inducing chemicals were effective in disease suppression in a concentration-dependent manner compared to an inoculated control. Significant differences ( P  < 0.005) were evident among the various treatment combinations, with salicylic acid being the most effective in alleviating black scurf disease. Maximum reduction in disease incidence compared to the control was observed with salicylic acid (57.89% and 73.68%), followed by jasmonic acid (52.63% and 65.78%) and H 2 O 2 (49.99% and 60.52%) under the tuber dipping treatment combinations. Whereas, in the foliar application, the maximum reduction in disease incidence compared to the control was observed with salicylic acid (44.73 and 63.15%), followed by jasmonic acid (42.10 and 60.52%) and H 2 O 2 (39.46 and 52.63%). The tuber dipping treatments were significantly more efficacious ( P  < 0.005) compared to foliar spray for all treatment combinations. The biochemical analysis of defense-related enzymes and metabolites demonstrated the induced resistance activation under these treatments. The activity of peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, and phenyl ammonia-lyase was significantly higher in treated tubers as compared to inoculated and uninoculated control. The total phenol content was also elevated in treated tubers as compared to the respective control. Altogether, these resistance-inducing chemicals can be successfully included in integrated disease management programs., Competing Interests: Ravinder Kumar is an Academic Editor for PeerJ., (©2024 Buswal et al.)

Osteoporosis (OP), a condition marked by reduced bone mineral density and increased fracture risk, can arise either as a primary disorder or secondary to other diseases and medications. While primary OP typically relates to age-related or postmenopausal changes, secondary OP results from underlying conditions or drug exposures, complicating diagnosis and management. This review explores the pathophysiology, prevalence, and treatment approaches for secondary OP arising from endocrine, renal, gastrointestinal, hematological, and autoimmune disorders, as well as medication side effects. The findings highlight that secondary OP is frequently undiagnosed, particularly in premenopausal women and men, with conditions such as chronic kidney disease, glucocorticoid use, and diabetes among the primary contributors. Management strategies must be tailored to address the underlying conditions to effectively reduce fracture risk and improve outcomes. Ultimately, this review underscores the necessity for increased clinical awareness and more targeted interventions for optimal management of secondary OP.

The revolutionary CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology holds immense potential for treating genetic diseases and tackling conditions like cancer. However, efficient delivery remains a significant challenge. This is where nanoparticles come into play, emerging as powerful allies in the realm of drug delivery. Nanoparticles can accommodate larger insertion sizes, enabling the incorporation of larger Cas9 enzymes and complex guide RNAs, thus opening up the possibility of editing previously inaccessible genetic regions. Their relatively straightforward and scalable production processes make them cost-effective options for wider applications. Notably, nanoparticles excel in vivo, demonstrating efficient tissue penetration and targeted delivery, which are crucial for maximizing therapeutic impact while minimizing side effects. This review aims to explore the potential of nanoparticle-based delivery systems for CRISPR/Cas9, highlighting their advantages and challenges in gene editing applications. The diverse range of nanoparticles further bolsters their potential. Polymeric nanoparticles, for instance, offer tunable properties for customization and controlled release of the CRISPR cargo. Lipid-based nanoparticles facilitate efficient cellular uptake and endosomal escape, ensuring the CRISPR components reach the target DNA. Even gold nanoparticles, known for their unique biocompatibility and photothermal properties, hold promise in light-activated editing strategies. Non-viral delivery systems, particularly those based on nanoparticles, stand out due to their inherent advantages. Collectively, the evidence paints a promising picture: nanoparticles are not merely passive carriers but active participants in the CRISPR/Cas9 delivery landscape. Their versatility, efficiency, and safety position them as key enablers of a future where gene editing can revolutionize drug development, offering personalized and targeted therapies for a wide range of diseases., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a highly prevalent endocrine disorder that affects women of reproductive age. PCOS is further correlated with infertility, menstrual dysfunction, and hyperandrogenism. Despite the advanced understanding of reproductive biology, the exact causes of PCOS remain ambiguous. Nevertheless, several factors are believed to contribute to the development of PCOS, including insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, obesity, and genetic predispositions. The diagnosis of PCOS is complicated by its phenotypic heterogeneity, which manifests differently in different individuals. Presently, the therapeutic management of PCOS-afflicted infertility depends upon proper pharmaceutical-based therapies aimed at treating underlying symptoms, such as the use of clomiphene citrate, metformin, ovulation-inducing agents, anti-androgens, exogenous gonadotropin administration, laparoscopic ovarian drilling, and in vitro fertilization. The present review focuses on narrating present therapeutic interventions along with lifestyle modifications in PCOS. Furthermore, it focuses on the ongoing clinical trials of various chemotherapeutics to counter PCOS-induced infertility among women., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Day-by-day increasing irrigation water scarcity requires the application of water-saving irrigation techniques to sustain agriculture production. A two-year field investigation was conducted during 2018 to 2020 to determine the effects of various mulches and irrigation volumes on the growth, leaf chemicals and soil properties of one-year-old sweet oranges (Citrus sinensis) cv. Mosambi. The study included three irrigation schedules, viz.100% ET c (I 1 ), 80% ET c (I 2 ), and 60% ET c (I 3 ), and five different mulches were used, viz. without mulch, white polythene, coriander straw, dry grass and black polythene mulches, replicated thrice. Results demonstrated that drip irrigation with 100% ET c and mulching with black polythene mulch significantly increase the plant growth attributes like height of the plant (28.64%) (30.31%), rootstock girth (36.61%) (37.90%), plant canopy spread (E-W and N-S) (EW- 63.82%, NS- 63.87%) (EW- 67.56%, NS- 67.90%) and leaf area (2.4%) (2.34%). Furthermore, plant leaf chlorophyll content (2.41 mg g -1 ) (2.41 mg g -1 ) and leaf mineral content such as N (2.39%) (2.40%), P (0.16%) (0.165%), K (1.57%) (1.59%), Ca (47.34 g kg -1 ) (47.80 g kg -1 ), Mg (4.54 g kg -1 ) (4.57 g kg -1 ), Fe (120.51 g kg -1 ) (123.15 g kg -1 ) and Zn (39.00 g kg -1 ) (37.84 g kg -1 ) were noted to be significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher in plants that received 100% (were ET c (I 1 ) and mulching with black polythene mulch (M 1 ) treatment. Taken together, the results suggested that treatments I 1 and M 1 have the potential to maximize plant growth, leaf chemicals and soil nutrients of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) cv. Mosambi plants., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L.), the second most important vegetable crop globally, faces a significant threat from various viral diseases. A newly emerging disease, characterised by distinctive shoestring symptoms on leaves and the development of unripe, small, and hard fruit, poses a serious challenge to tomato cultivation in India. An initial survey in an experimental field revealed more than 50% of the plants displayed symptoms of the shoestring disease, resulting in substantial reductions in fruit yield and quality. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and molecular analyses identified an isolate of the tomato mottle mosaic virus (ToMMV) in the affected plants. When the partially purified virus was mechanically inoculated into tomato cv. Pusa Ruby plants, it reproduced the characteristic shoestring symptoms, confirming its causal relationship with the disease. Notably, the present shoestring isolate of ToMMV (ToMMV-Tss) was found to induce similar shoestring symptoms in most of the major commercial tomato varieties when inoculated under controlled experimental conditions in the glasshouse, indicating its aggressive nature. Host range studies demonstrated that the ToMMV-Tss can infect several solanaceous species, while cucurbitaceous hosts remained unaffected. Moreover, the virus was found to be seed-transmissible, with a small percentage of seedlings from infected plants displaying symptoms. These findings underscore the significant impact of ToMMV on tomato production in India and emphasise the need for reliable diagnostic tools and effective management strategies to curb the spread and mitigate the impact of this virus on commercial tomato cultivation.

Objective: Laparoscopic repair of vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) is gaining popularity day by day, but we have limited literature on it. This study is to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and outcomes of laparoscopic VVF repair in a tertiary care center in Eastern India., Subjects and Methods: This study is a single-center retrospective study in which 11 patients of supratrigonal VVF were evaluated who underwent laparoscopic repair. Preoperative workup included history, examination, computed tomography urography, cystoscopy, and vaginoscopy. After informed consent, laparoscopic VVF repair was done under general anesthesia. Duration of surgery, the need for conversion to open procedure, intraoperative bowel injury, the need for postoperative blood transfusion, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative urinary leak, and any incontinence after catheter removal were noted., Results: All the patients had primary supratrigonal fistula of approximate size in the range of 1.5-2.0 cm. All the included patients were operated on successfully by laparoscopic technique with a mean duration of surgery of 177.91 ± 6.14 min. The mean duration of postoperative hospital stay was 4.45 ± 0.52 days. There was no incidence of postoperative urine leak in any patient. After urethral catheter removal, all the patients voided well without any incontinence., Conclusions: Laparoscopic VVF repair is a safe and feasible option with satisfactory intraoperative and postoperative outcomes., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 Urology Annals.)

Spin-crossover complexes, valued for their bistability, are extensively studied due to their numerous potential applications. A primary challenge in this molecular class is to identify effective methods to adjust the spin-transition temperature, which frequently falls outside the desired temperature range. This typically necessitates intricate chemical design and synthesis or the use of stimuli such as light or pressure, each introducing its own set of challenges for integrating these molecules into end-user applications. In this work, we aim to address this challenge using an oriented external electric field (OEEF) as one stimulus to modulate the spin-transition temperatures. For this purpose, we have employed both periodic and non-periodic calculations on three well-characterised Fe(II) SCO complexes, namely [Fe(phen) 2 (NCS) 2 ] (1, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), [Fe(bt) 2 (NCS) 2 ] (2, bt = 2,2'-bi-2-thiazoline) and [Fe(py) 2 phen(NCS) 2 ] (3, py = pyridine) possessing a similar structural motif of {FeN 4 N' 2 }. To begin with, DFT calculations employing the TPSSh functional were performed on complexes 1 to 3, and the estimated low-spin (LS) and high-spin (HS) gaps are 24.6, 15.3 and 15.4 kJ mol -1 , and these are in the range expected for Fe(II) SCO complexes. In the next step, an OEEF was applied in the molecule along the pseudo- C 2 axis that bisects two coordinated -NCS groups. Application of an OEEF was found to increase the Fe-ligand bond length and found to affect the spin-transition at the particular applied OEEF. While the HS state of 1 becomes the ground state at an applied field of 0.514 V Å -1 , the LS state lies at a higher energy of 1.3 kJ mol -1 . Similarly, complexes 2 and 3 also show the HS ground state at an applied field of 0.514 V Å -1 , where the LS state stays at higher energies of 6.13 and 11.62 kJ mol -1 , respectively. It is found that the overall change in enthalpy (Δ H HL ) and entropy (Δ S HL ) for the spin transition in the presence of OEEFs decreases upon increasing the strength of the applied field. The computed spin-transition temperature ( T 1/2 ) using DFT was found to be in close agreement with the experimentally reported values. It is estimated that on increasing the strength of the applied electric field, the T 1/2 increases significantly. While the DFT computed T 1/2 values for the optimised geometry of 1, 2 and 3 were found to be 134.6 K, 159.9 K and 111.4 K respectively, at the applied field of 0.6425 V Å -1 T 1/2 increases up to 187.3 K, 211.0 K and 184.4 K respectively, unveiling an hitherto unknown strategy to tune the T 1/2 values. A limited benchmarking was performed with five additional exchange-correlation functionals: PBE, BLYP, B3LYP*, B3LYP, and PBE0. These functionals were found to be unsuitable for predicting the correct SCO behaviour for complex 2, and their behaviour under various electric fields did not improve. This emphasises the importance of choosing the correct functional at zero OEEF prior to testing them under various electric fields. Furthermore, calculations were performed with complex 1 adsorbed on the Au(111) surface. The formation of an Au-S bond during adsorption significantly stabilises the low-spin (LS) state, hindering the observation of spin-crossover (SCO) behaviour. Nonetheless, the application of an OEEF reduces this gap and brings the T 1/2 value closer to the desired temperature. This offers a novel post-fabrication strategy for attaining SCO properties at the interface.

The positive health benefits of colored staples have led to a significant increase in interest in them as healthy food ingredients. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that colored cereals are rich in antioxidants, carotenoids, and xanthophylls, which are widely used as natural additives in the food industry. Additionally, shifts in consumer preferences have led to a preference for nutritionally balanced diets over traditional high-energy ones. Thus, colored cereals offer additional nutritional value that has been previously untapped. Besides providing essential nutrients, these natural pigments also have the potential to replace synthetic colors and food additives. This review aims to provide insights into the nutritional value of various colored staples compared to conventional starchy staples and their associated health benefits. Colored staples can be incorporated into daily diets, offering a nutritious and healthful addition to the table., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The worldwide consumption, health-promoting and nutritional properties of mushrooms have been extensively researched over a decade. Although, wide range of edible mushrooms is still unexplored, which can be a valuable source of bioactive compounds in dietary supplements and biopharma industry. Mushrooms represent as dynamic source of nutrients lacking in food from plant or animal origin thus, considered as vital functional food utilized for prevention of numerous diseases. The unique bioactive compounds in mushroom and their anti-inflammatory, anti-tumour and other health attributes have been discussed. The preventive action of mushroom on maintaining the gut health and their property to act as pro, pre or symbiotic is also elucidated. The direct prebiotic activity of mushroom affects gut haemostasis and enhances the gut microbiota. Recent reports on role in improving the brain health and neurological impact by mushroom are mentioned. The role of bioactive components in mushroom with relation to nutrigenomics have been explored. The nutrigenomics has become a crucial tool to assess individuals' diet according its genetic make-up and thus, cure of several diseases. Undeniably, mushroom in present time is regarded as next-generation wonder food, playing crucial role in sustaining health, thus, an active ingredient of food and nutraceutical industries., Competing Interests: The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Ravinder Kumar is working as associate editor in the Journal., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Delivering nucleic acid therapeutics across cell membranes is a significant challenge. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) containing arginine (R), tryptophan (W), and histidine (H) show promise for siRNA delivery. To improve siRNA delivery and silence a model STAT3 gene, we hypothesized that oleyl acylation to CPPs, specifically (WRH) n , would enhance STAT3 silencing efficiency in breast and ovarian cancer cells. Using Fmoc/tBu solid-phase peptide chemistry, we synthesized, purified, and characterized the oleyl-conjugated (WRH) n (n = 1-4) peptides. The peptide/siRNA complexes were non-cytotoxic at N/P 40 (~20 μM) against MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, SK-OV-3, and HEK-293 cells after 72 h incubation. All peptide/siRNA complexes showed serum stability at N/P ≥ 40. The synthesized conjugates, with a diameter of <100 nm, formed nano-complexes with siRNA and exhibited a stable range of zeta potential values (13-18 mV at N/P = 40). Confocal microscopy and flow cytometry analysis provided qualitative and quantitative evidence of a successful cellular internalization of siRNA. The peptides oleyl-(WRH) 3 and oleyl-(WRH) 4 showed ~60% and ~75% cellular uptake of siRNA, respectively, in both MDA-MB-231 and SK-OV-3 cells. Western blot analysis of oleyl-(WRH) 4 demonstrated effective silencing of the STAT-3 gene, with ~75% silencing in MDA-MB-231 cells and ~45% in SK-OV-3 cells.

Stem rot of groundnut ( Arachis hypogaea L.) caused by Scelrotium rolfsii is the main threat to groundnut production, causing significant economic losses. The present study aims to provide an overview of the potentiality of Trichoderma viride (Tv), Trichoderma harzianum (Th), Pseudomonas fluorescens (Pf), and Bacillus subtilis (Bs), applied either individually or in mixed combination, against Sclerotium rolfsii (isolate SrBKN). The treatment with T. harzianum and P. fluorescens resulted in the highest mycelial growth inhibition (79.61, 83.51, and 86.77%), followed by T. viride and P. fluorescens (75.74, 79.63, and 83.14%). Under in vitro conditions, the combination of bio-agents at 5% culture filtrate proved to be superior against the test pathogen. Seed treatment and soil application of T. harzianum and Pf at 10 (5 + 5) g kg -1 + 10 (5 + 5) kg ha -1 , followed by seed treatment and soil application of T. viride and Pf at 10 (5 + 5) g kg -1 + 10 (5 + 5) kg ha -1 , resulted in the lowest disease incidence (7.40 and 8.0%), highest disease control (69.37 and 66.88%), maximum dry weight (151 and 147 g plant -1 ), highest increase in dry weight (75.58 and 70.93), highest pod yield (2665 and 2498 kg ha -1 ), and highest increase in pod yield (96.38 and 84.08%) under in vivo conditions. We present an effective bio-control-based management module from the lab to the field for the successful control of groundnut stem rot caused by S. rolfsii . Based on the results, it is concluded that the dual formulation of T. harzianum and P. fluorescens , followed by T. viride and P. fluorescens , were the most effective BCAs in suppressing the S. rolfsii . Therefore, an integrated disease management module with these BCAs needs to be developed and validated with a farmers' participatory mode under field conditions.

This study delves into the rare occurrence of rhabdomyolysis induced by wasp stings, emphasizing its toxic systemic repercussions. Drawing parallels with documented instances of insect bites worldwide, including those by honey bees and Africanized bees, the research explores the correlation between multiple wasp stings and acute renal failure associated with rhabdomyolysis. The venom's active components, such as amines, kinins, and histamine-releasing peptides, underpin toxic systemic reactions, leading to hemolysis, coagulopathy, and severe cytotoxicity-induced acute renal failure. Noteworthy is the emergence of blackish necroses at the sting site, suggesting intense cytotoxicity. The study also highlights skin necrosis as a prognostic indicator for toxic systemic reactions. The presented case manifests an anaphylaxis-like reaction, revealing insights into toxic responses devoid of IgE-mediated allergic reactions. Timely intervention, encompassing hydration, transfusion, and dialytic support, proves imperative in scenarios involving multiple wasp stings, offering successful outcomes documented through plasma exchange in severe cases. This research prompts considerations beyond anaphylaxis, urging exploration of severe toxic systemic reactions in the context of multiple wasp stings., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Kurmana et al.)

Objective: To assess how well steroidal nasal sprays and oral steroids work for treating CRS., Methods: Two hundred patients with CRS were included in a randomized controlled experiment. The patients were split into two groups: Group B received steroidal nasal sprays (fluticasone propionate 110 mcg/day in each nostril for 12 weeks) and Group A received oral steroids (prednisolone 30 mg/day for 14 days, followed by tapering over 7 days). The "Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22)" was used to quantify improvement in symptoms, the "Rhinosinusitis Disability Index (RSDI)" was used to measure quality of life, and the recurrence rate was measured at the 6-month follow-up., Results: At 12 weeks, SNOT-22 and RSDI scores significantly improved with both oral steroids and steroidal nasal sprays ( P < 0.05). At the 6-month follow-up, however, oral steroids had a greater recurrence rate (25% vs. 12%, P = 0.02) when compared to steroidal nasal sprays. The two groups' adverse effects were similar and of low severity., Conclusion: In conclusion, nasal sprays containing steroids seem to be a safer and more successful option than oral steroids for treating CRS, making them worthy of being used as the first line of treatment., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences.)

In the eastern coastal regions of Odisha, wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. capsici is an extremely damaging disease in chilli. This disease is very difficult to manage with chemical fungicides since it is soil-borne in nature. The natural rhizosphere soil of the chilli plant was used to isolate and test bacterial antagonists for their effectiveness and ability to promote plant growth. Out of the fifty-five isolates isolated from the rhizosphere of healthy chilli plants, five isolates, namely Iso 01, Iso 17, Iso 23, Iso 24, and Iso 32, showed their highly antagonistic activity against F. oxysporum f. sp. capsici under in vitro . In a dual culture, Iso 32 (73.3%) and Iso 24 (71.5%) caused the highest level of pathogen inhibition. In greenhouse trials, artificially inoculated chilli plants treated with Iso 32 (8.8%) and Iso 24 (10.2%) had decreased percent disease incidence (PDI), with percent disease reduction over control of 85.6% and 83.3%, respectively. Iso 32 and Iso 24 treated chilli seeds have shown higher seed vigor index of 973.7 and 948.8, respectively, as compared to untreated control 636.5. Furthermore, both the isolates significantly increased plant height as well as the fresh and dry weight of chilli plants under the rolled paper towel method. Morphological, biochemical, and molecular characterization identified Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (MH491049) as the key antagonist. This study demonstrates that rhizobacteria, specifically Iso 32 and Iso 24, can effectively protect chilli plants against Fusarium wilt while promoting overall plant development. These findings hold promise for sustainable and eco-friendly management of Fusarium wilt in chilli cultivation., Competing Interests: Ravinder Kumar is an Academic Editor for PeerJ., (© 2024 Shiva et al.)

India is renowned for its mango diversity, with more than 1000 genotypes reported. However, the Himalayan plains bear some elite genotypes which supposed to bear high postharvest value, the systemic postharvest study of which is yet to be attempted. The aim of present study is to evaluate the postharvest quality and ripening behviour of these important genotypes. Thus, 15 un-explored mango genotypes of this region were selected and evaluated for ripening behaviour and detailed postharvest profiling via internal (total phenolic and total flavonoid content), nutritional attributes (Brix: acid ratio, total carotenoid concentration, ascorbic acid content and antioxidant activity), sensory evaluation, fruit softening enzymes (polygalactouronase, pectin methylesterase and lipoxygenase), shelf life attributes (respiration rate, physiological loss in weight and storage life in days) external attributes (fruit weight, fruit firmness, peel thickness, fruit shape and dry seed weight) and mineral contents (Calcium, potassium and phosphorous) under ambient storage (25 ± 4 °C and 65 ± 5 % RH). The results revealed that the highest total flavonoid content (682.40 μg g -1 ), ascorbic acid (46.88 mg 100 g -1 ) and antioxidant activity (4.84 μmol TE g -1 ) exhibited by 'Sukul'. The total phenolic content was recorded as the highest in 'Safed Malda' (510.42 μg GAE g-1 FW), and total carotenoid concentration was recorded as the highest in 'Sipiya' (7.30 mg 100 g-1) 'Zardalu' (7.04 mg 100 g-1) and 'Mithua' (6.98 mg 100 g-1). Interestingly, genotypes such as 'Sukul', Sipiya' and 'Krishna Bhog 'exhibited a 4-5 days higher storage life than other selected genotypes. Screened genotypes exhibited a high diversity of nutritional and biochemical contents. The results of this study bear practical utility for research (quality improvement programme) and the processing industry., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper:The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Corresponding authors is associate editor of this journal. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are being explored as a potential strategy to combat antibiotic resistance due to their ability to reduce susceptibility to antibiotics. This study explored whether the [R 4 W 4 ] peptide mode of action is bacteriostatic or bactericidal using modified two-fold serial dilution and evaluating the synergism between gentamicin and [R 4 W 4 ] against Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by a checkered board assay. [R 4 W 4 ] exhibited bactericidal activity against bacterial isolates (MBC/MIC ≤ 4), with a synergistic effect with gentamicin against E. coli (FICI = 0.3) but not against MRSA (FICI = 0.75). Moreover, we investigated the mechanism of action of [R 4 W 4 ] against MRSA by applying biophysical assays to evaluate zeta potential, cytoplasmic membrane depolarization, and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) binding affinity. [R 4 W 4 ] at a 16 mg/mL concentration stabilized the zeta potential of MRSA -31 ± 0.88 mV to -8.37 mV. Also, [R 4 W 4 ] at 2 × MIC and 16 × MIC revealed a membrane perturbation process associated with concentration-dependent effects. Lastly, in the presence of BODIPY-TR-cadaverine (BC) fluorescence dyes, [R 4 W 4 ] exhibited binding affinity to LTA comparable with melittin, the positive control. In addition, the antibacterial activity of [R 4 W 4 ] against MRSA remained unchanged in the absence and presence of LTA, with an MIC of 8 µg/mL. Therefore, the [R 4 W 4 ] mechanism of action is deemed bactericidal, involving interaction with bacterial cell membranes, causing concentration-dependent membrane perturbation. Additionally, after 30 serial passages, there was a modest increment of MRSA strains resistant to [R 4 W 4 ] and a change in antibacterial effectiveness MIC [R 4 W 4 ] and vancomycin by 8 and 4 folds with a slight change in Levofloxacin MIC 1 to 2 µg/mL. These data suggest that [R 4 W 4 ] warrants further consideration as a potential AMP.

The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains causes severe problems in the treatment of microbial infections owing to limited treatment options. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are drawing considerable attention as promising antibiotic alternative candidates to combat MDR bacterial and fungal infections. Herein, we present a series of small amphiphilic membrane-active cyclic peptides composed, in part, of various nongenetically encoded hydrophilic and hydrophobic amino acids. Notably, lead cyclic peptides 3b and 4b showed broad-spectrum activity against drug-resistant Gram-positive (MIC = 1.5-6.2 µg/mL) and Gram-negative (MIC = 12.5-25 µg/mL) bacteria, and fungi (MIC = 3.1-12.5 µg/mL). Furthermore, lead peptides displayed substantial antibiofilm action comparable to standard antibiotics. Hemolysis (HC 50 = 230 µg/mL) and cytotoxicity (>70 % cell viability against four different mammalian cells at 100 µg/mL) assay results demonstrated the selective lethal action of 3b against microbes over mammalian cells. A calcein dye leakage experiment substantiated the membranolytic effect of 3b and 4b, which was further confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. The behavior of 3b and 4b in aqueous solution and interaction with phospholipid bilayers were assessed by employing nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in conjunction with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, providing a solid structural basis for understanding their membranolytic action. Moreover, 3b exhibited stability in human blood plasma (t 1/2 = 13 h) and demonstrated no signs of resistance development against antibiotic-resistant S. aureus and E. coli. These findings underscore the potential of these newly designed amphiphilic cyclic peptides as promising anti-infective agents, especially against Gram-positive bacteria., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A hitherto unknown series of air stable, π-conjugated, remarkably bent tetra-cation tetra-radical intermolecular Fe(III) μ-oxo tetranuclear complex, isolated from the dication diradical diiron(III) porphyrin dimers, has been synthesised and spectroscopically characterised along with single crystal X-ray structure determination of two such molecules. These species facilitate long-range charge/radical delocalisation through the bridge across the entire tetranuclear unit manifesting an unusually intense NIR band. Assorted spin states of Fe(III) centres are stabilised within these unique tetranuclear frameworks: terminal six-coordinate iron centres stabilise the admixed intermediate spin states while the central five-coordinate iron centres stabilise the high-spin states. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements indicated strong antiferromagnetic coupling for the Fe(III)-O-Fe(III) unit while the exchange interactions between the Fe centres and the porphyrin π-cation radicals are weaker as supported both by magnetic data and DFT calculations. The nature of orbital overlap between the SOMOs of Fe(III) and π* orbital of the porphyrin was found to rationalise the observed exchange coupling, establishing such a complex magnetic exchange in this tetranuclear model with a significant bioinorganic relevance., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Objectives: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a global health concern that affects millions of people globally. The present review aims to narrate the clinical guidelines and therapeutic interventions for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients. Furthermore, the present work summarizes the ongoing phase 1/2/3 and clinical trials against T2DM., Methods: A meticulous and comprehensive literature review was performed using various databases, such as PubMed, MEDLINE, Clinical trials database (https://clinicaltrials.gov/), and Google Scholar, to include various clinical trials and therapeutic interventions against T2DM., Results: Based on our findings, we concluded that most T2DM-associated clinical trials are interventional. Anti-diabetic therapeutics, including insulin, metformin, Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1RAs), and Sodium- Glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors are frontline therapeutics being clinically investigated. Currently, the therapeutics in phase IV clinical trials are mostly SGLT-2 inhibitors, implicating their critical contribution to the clinical management of T2DM., Conclusion: Despite the success of T2DM treatments, a surge in innovative treatment options to reduce diabetic consequences and improve glycemic control is currently ongoing. More emphasis needs to be on exploring novel targeted drug candidates that can offer more sustained glycemic control., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background: The maintenance of oral hygiene and subsequent health related issues in visually handicapped children is a challenging task. Hence, tools must be used to ensure good oral health in these children. The study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of preventive programs on oral health using specialized audio and tactile aids in visually impaired school children., Materials and Methods: 100 visually handicapped children were selected for the study. They were divided into two groups: Group A (Training using Braille) and Group B (training by means of audio aids). Children were trained using appropriate tools and oral health was assessed using Plaque and Gingival bleeding indices., Statistical Analysis: Independent 'T-test' was used for comparing mean ± SD values., Results: Statistically significant improvements in both plaque and gingival bleeding indices were obtained on follow-up observations at 3 rd and 6 th months., Conclusion: The use of specialized tactile and audio tools significantly improved the oral health status of visually impaired school children., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 Journal of Education and Health Promotion.)

Thyroid Cancer (TC) is the most common endocrine malignancy, with increasing incidence globally. Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), a differentiated form of TC, accounts for approximately 90% of TC and occurs predominantly in women of childbearing age. Although responsive to current treatments, recurrence of PTC by middle age is common and is much more refractive to treatment. Undifferentiated TC, particularly anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC), is the most aggressive TC subtype, characterized by it being resistant and unresponsive to all therapeutic and surgical interventions. Further, ATC is one of the most aggressive and lethal malignancies across all cancer types. Despite the differences in therapeutic needs in differentiated vs. undifferentiated TC subtypes, there is a critical unmet need for the identification of molecular biomarkers that can aid in early diagnosis, prognosis, and actionable therapeutic targets for intervention. Advances in the field of cancer genomics have enabled for the elucidation of differential gene expression patterns between tumors and healthy tissue. A novel category of molecules, known as non-coding RNAs, can themselves be differentially expressed, and extensively contribute to the up- and downregulation of protein coding genes, serving as master orchestrators of regulated and dysregulated gene expression patterns. These non-coding RNAs have been identified for their roles in driving carcinogenic patterns at various stages of tumor development and have become attractive targets for study. The identification of specific genes that are differentially expressed can give insight into mechanisms that drive carcinogenic patterns, filling the gaps of deciphering molecular and cellular processes that modulate TC subtypes, outside of well-known driver mutations.

Post-traumatic osteoporosis (PTO) presents a significant challenge in clinical practice, characterized by demineralization and decreased skeletal integrity following severe traumatic injuries. This literature review manuscript addresses the knowledge gaps surrounding PTO, encompassing its epidemiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and future directions. This review emphasizes the complexity of the etiology of PTO, highlighting the dysregulation of biomineralization processes, inflammatory cytokine involvement, hormonal imbalances, glucocorticoid effects, vitamin D deficiency, and disuse osteoporosis. Moreover, it underscores the importance of multidisciplinary approaches for risk mitigation and advocates for improved diagnostic strategies to differentiate PTO from other musculoskeletal pathologies. This manuscript discusses various treatment modalities, including pharmacotherapy, dietary management, and physical rehabilitation, while also acknowledging the limited evidence on their long-term effectiveness and outcomes in PTO patients. Future directions in research are outlined, emphasizing the need for a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying PTO and the evaluation of treatment strategies' efficacy. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive overview of PTO and highlights avenues for future investigation to enhance clinical management and patient outcomes.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful tool in healthcare significantly impacting practices from diagnostics to treatment delivery and patient management. This article examines the progress of AI in healthcare, starting from the field's inception in the 1960s to present-day innovative applications in areas such as precision medicine, robotic surgery, and drug development. In addition, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the acceleration of the use of AI in technologies such as telemedicine and chatbots to enhance accessibility and improve medical education is also explored. Looking forward, the paper speculates on the promising future of AI in healthcare while critically addressing the ethical and societal considerations that accompany the integration of AI technologies. Furthermore, the potential to mitigate health disparities and the ethical implications surrounding data usage and patient privacy are discussed, emphasizing the need for evolving guidelines to govern AI's application in healthcare.

In the past years, PDE5 has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for many cancers due to its highly upregulated expression. Interestingly, a recent in vitro study by our group has shown the antitumor and chemopotentiating action of sildenafil against T cell lymphoma. Our study showed that lower doses of sildenafil (50 μM) and cisplatin (0.5 μg/mL) exhibited 4% and 23% cytotoxicity against HuT78 cells, respectively, which was dramatically increased up to 50% when treated with both. Hence, the present study was designed to evaluate the antitumor and chemo-potentiating action of sildenafil in a murine model of T cell lymphoma (popularly called as Dalton's lymphoma [DL]). In the present study, DL-bearing mice were administered with vehicle (PBS), sildenafil (5 mg/kg bw), cisplatin (5 mg/kg bw), and sildenafil and cisplatin followed by evaluation of their impact on tumor growth by analyzing various parameters. The apoptosis was assessed by Wright-Giemsa, annexin-V, and DAPI staining. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was examined through DCFDA staining. The expression of genes and proteins were estimated by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The experimental findings of the study demonstrate for the first time that sildenafil inhibits tumor growth and potentiates tumor inhibitory ability of cisplatin by altering apoptosis, glycolysis, ROS homeostasis, and pH regulation in T cell lymphoma-carrying host. In addition, our investigation also showed amelioration of tumor-induced liver and kidney damage by sildenafil. Overall, the experimental data of our study strongly advocate the use and repurposing of SDF in designing promising chemotherapeutic regimens against malignancies of T cells., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Mango is a commercial fruit crop of India that suffers huge postharvest losses every year. The application of biocontrol agents (BCAs) bears a vast potential for managing the same, which is yet to be exploited to its fullest extent. Hence, studies were conducted for BCAs application of Debaryomyces hansenii , Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas fluorescens strains on mango fruit under in-vitro , in-vivo conditions to know the efficacy of these BCAs on the postharvest pathogen, shelf life and quality retention of mango fruit. The 'poisoned food technique' was attempted for in-vitro studies. For the in-vivo studies, fruit of the commercial cultivar 'Amrapali' were un-inoculated and pre-inoculated with major postharvest pathogens (anthracnose: Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and stem-end rot: Botryodiplodia theobromae ) were treated with BCA, followed by ambient storage at (24 ± 4 °C, 75 ± 5 % RH). From the results, it has been observed that under in vitro studies , BCA Debaryomyces hansenii (Strain: KP006) and Bacillus subtilis (Strain: BJ0011) at the treatment level 10 8  CFU mL -1 while, the Pseudomonas fluorescens at 10 9  CFU mL -1 (Strain: BE0001) were significantly effective for pathogen inhibition. However, under the in vivo studies, the BCA Debaryomyces hansenii (Strain: KP006) at 10 8  CFU mL -1 treatment level was found to significantly reduce the pathogen's decay incidence while positively influencing the shelf life and biochemical (quality) attributes. This treatment increased the storage life of mango fruit by more than three days over control fruit. Therefore, BCA Debaryomyces hansenii (Strain: KP006) at 10 8  CFU mL -1 can be used to control the postharvest pathological loss of mango fruit without affecting its internal quality., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are stable, enclosed, non-coding RNA molecules with dynamic regulatory propensity. Their biogenesis involves a back-splicing process, forming a highly stable and operational RNA molecule. Dysregulated circRNA expression can drive carcinogenic and tumorigenic transformation through the orchestration of epigenetic modifications via extensive RNA and protein-binding domains. These multi-ranged functional capabilities have unveiled extensive identification of previously unknown molecular and cellular patterns of cancer cells. Reliable circRNA expression patterns can aid in early disease detection and provide criteria for genome-specific personalized medicine. Studies described in this review have revealed the novelty of circRNAs and their biological ss as prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers.