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Objective: The objective of this study was to identify baseline patient and surgical factors predictive of optimal outcomes in staged versus same-day combined-approach surgery., Methods: Adult spinal deformity (ASD) patients with baseline and perioperative (by 6 weeks) data were stratified based on single-stage (same-day) or multistage (staged) surgery, excluding planned multiple hospitalizations. Means comparison analyses were used to assess baseline demographic, radiographic, and surgical differences between cohorts. Backstep logistic regression and conditional inference tree analysis were used to identify variable thresholds associated with study-specific definitions of an optimal outcome in each cohort, defined as no intraoperative or surgery-related in-hospital adverse event., Results: There were 439 patients with complex ASD in the dataset (mean age 64.0 ± 9.3 years, 68% female, mean BMI 28.7 ± 5.5 kg/m2). Overall, 58.8% of patients were in the same-day group, while 41.2% were in the staged group. Demographically, cohorts were not significantly different (p > 0.05), but staged patients were more frail per total Edmonton Frail Scale score (p = 0.043). Staged patients also reported greater numeric rating scale scores for back pain than same-day patients (p = 0.002). Cohorts were comparable in magnitude of planned correction of C7-S1 sagittal vertical axis, pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis (PI-LL) mismatch, and T4-12 kyphosis (all p > 0.05). Controlling for baseline age, frailty, and number of levels fused, staged patients reported significantly higher PROMIS Discretionary Social Activities scores by 6 weeks (p = 0.029). Radiographic outcomes by 6 weeks were comparable between cohorts, in terms of both magnitude of change from baseline and overall result (all p > 0.05). Same-day patients were significantly more likely to experience in-hospital complications (p = 0.013). When considering frailty thresholds for staging, only a Charlson Comorbidity Index ≤ 1.0 was associated with optimal outcome in same-day patients, while Edmonton Frail Scale score ≥ 7 (p = 0.036), ≥ 9 levels fused (p = 0.016), and baseline PI-LL mismatch ≥ 15.3° (p = 0.028) were associated with optimal outcome for staged patients. Yet, staging alone was not significantly associated with an optimal outcome perioperatively (p = 0.056)., Conclusions: While staged and same-day combined-approach surgeries yield comparable radiographic and patient-reported outcomes, certain subsets of complex ASD patients may benefit from staged surgery despite the invariably increased hospital length of stay. Individuals with increased frailty, moderate to severe PI-LL mismatch, and increased anticipated number of levels fused may experience a lower risk of perioperative adverse events if they undergo a staged procedure. Clinical trial registration no.: NCT04194138 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

In this study, chitosan (CS), dextran (DN), and magnesium chloride (MgCl 2 ) salt-based soild blend polymer electrolyte (SBPE) membranes that conduct Mg 2+ ions have been developed. XRD revealed changes in the microstructure by incorporating MgCl 2 salt into the polymer host due to polyblend-ion interaction, verified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. At room temperature, the electrolyte membrane containing 30 wt% MgCl 2 reached an ionic conductivity of 1.79 × 10 -5 S cm -1 . An ion transference number ( t ion ) of about 0.73 was achieved for 30 wt% of magnesium salt, suggesting the dominance of ion conduction in the SBPE sample. The SBPE membrane with the highest ion conductivity demonstrated an electrochemical stability window (ESW) of 2.66 V. Thermal degradation of the SBPE is influenced by the amount of salt incorporated in the poly-blend matrix as per TGA analysis. The discharge behaviour patterns of magnesium ion cells using the Mg|(CS + DN + MgCl 2 )|cathode setup were investigated with two distinct cathode materials. Moreover, the fabricated electrochemical double-layer capacitor (EDLC) showed non-faradaic behaviour in cyclic voltammetry (CV) studies with the specific capacitance of 36 F g -1 at 5 mV s -1 . An environmentally friendly, biodegradable, and economically viable electrolyte that can effectively serve as a separator and electrolyte in devices such as magnesium-ion batteries and EDLCs has been investigated in this work., 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., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) cause multifaceted disruption in the neural network, initiate huge inflammation processes, and form glial scars that result in severe damage to the brain. Thus, the treatment of TBI is a challenging task. To address this challenge, a newer and innovative approach is extremely important to develop a successful therapeutic strategy. Toward this aim, we hereby report an extremely effective therapeutic strategy. This interesting approach showcased the development and validation of a combination therapy comprising a neuro-regenerative protective peptide hydrogel (SLNAP) and a potent neuro-regenerative chemical modulator (NCM). It is noteworthy to mention that this hydrogel formulation has injectable nature, which allows it to be applied at focal injury site of brain. Remarkably, our results reveal excellent transdifferentiation of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) into functional neuron upon treatment with this combination therapeutic formulation. The functionality of regenerated neurons was thoroughly checked through observation of active signals generated from those neurons in electrophysiology recording using patch clamp. Further, we also observed that this strategy not only successfully converts hMSCs into neuron but also spontaneously formed neural stem cells (NSCs) like neurosphere. This work also showcased that this multidomain self-assembling peptide hydrogel emerges as an attractive soft-biomaterial due to its capability of slow and sustained release of the drug at the injury site upon topical application. This resulted in significant regeneration of functional neuron at the injury site. Fascinatingly, we found that this combination therapeutic strategy is highly effective in in vivo brain injury model establishing that this could be a potential and highly effective therapeutic strategy for TBI.

Purpose: Adult spinal deformity (ASD) patients with sagittal plane deformity (N) or structural lumbar/thoraco-lumbar (TL) curves can be treated with fusions stopping at the TL junction or extending to the upper thoracic (UT) spine. This study evaluates the impact on cost/cumulative quality-adjusted life year (QALY) in patients treated with TL vs UT fusion., Methods: ASD patients with > 4-level fusion and 2-year follow-up were included. Index and total episode-of-care costs were estimated using average itemized direct costs obtained from hospital records. Cumulative QALY gained were calculated from preoperative to 2-year postoperative change in Short Form Six-Dimension (SF-6D) scores. The TL and UT groups comprised patients with upper instrumented vertebrae (UIV) at T9-T12 and T2-T5, respectively., Results: Of 566 patients with type N or L curves, mean age was 63.2 ± 12.1 years, 72% were female and 93% Caucasians. Patients in the TL group had better sagittal vertical axis (7.3 ± 6.9 vs. 9.2 ± 8.1 cm, p = 0.01), lower surgical invasiveness (- 30; p < 0.001), and shorter OR time (- 35 min; p = 0.01). Index and total costs were 20% lower in the TL than in the UT group (p < 0.001). Cost/QALY was 65% lower (492,174.6 vs. 963,391.4), and 2-year QALY gain was 40% higher, in the TL than UT group (0.15 vs. 0.10; p = 0.02). Multivariate model showed TL fusions had lower total cost (p = 0.001) and higher QALY gain (p = 0.03) than UT fusions., Conclusion: In Schwab type N or L curves, TL fusions showed lower 2-year cost and improved QALY gain without increased reoperation rates or length of stay than UT fusions., Level of Evidence: III., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Scoliosis Research Society.)

Objective: To compare the outcomes of Ventral inlay buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty (VIBMGU) with dorsal onlay buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty (DOBMGU) for the treatment of Female urethral stricture (FUS)., Material and Methods: This study included women who underwent either VIBMGU or DOBMGU between January 2016 and June 2023. The preoperative American Urological Association (AUA) symptom scores, maximal urinary flow rate (Qmax), post-void residual volume (PVR) on ultrasonography, and length and location of the stricture were obtained from a prospectively maintained electronic database. The data obtained from the patient's last visit were compared with the preoperative values for this study. The primary outcome was the success rate. The secondary outcomes were changes in AUA score, PVR, and Qmax. The patient's last follow-up visit was considered for the duration of the follow-up., Results: Seventy-three patients were treated for BMGU for FUS. Forty-six patients underwent VIBMGU, and 27 patients underwent DOBMGU. The median duration of follow-up was 27.5 (11.00-55.00) versus 14 (7.00-17.00) months, respectively. The success rates of VIBMGU and DOBMGU were 89.13% and 88.89%, respectively. There was a reduction in AUA scores and PVR and an improvement in Qmax postoperatively in both groups. The difference in the reduction in AUA scores between the VIBMGU and DOBMGU groups was statistically significant. The difference was not statistically significant in terms of reduction in PVR and improvement in Qmax between the 2 groups., Conclusion: The ventral inlay technique can provide equal results to the dorsal technique with the added advantage of vaginal sparing. This is the single largest series in the literature on FUS with the largest follow-up period of 90 months., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The reliable operation of power transmission systems is essential for maintaining the stability and efficiency of the electrical grid. Rapid and accurate detection of faults in transmission lines is crucial for minimizing downtime and preventing cascading failures. This research presents a novel approach to fault detection and classification in transmission lines employing 2D Convolutional Neural Networks (2D-CNN).The proposed methodology leverages the inherent spatial characteristics of fault signals, converting them as 2D scalogram images for input to the CNN model. By converting fault signals into scalogram representations, the network can capture both temporal and frequency domain features, enabling a more comprehensive analysis of fault patterns. The 2D-CNN architecture is designed to automatically learn hierarchical features, allowing for effective discrimination between different fault types. To evaluate the performance of the proposed approach, extensive simulations and experiments were conducted using MATLAB/SIMULINK modeled transmission line data. The results demonstrate the superior fault detection accuracy and classification capabilities of the 2D-CNN model. The performance of the proposed model is evaluated using 10-fold cross-validation, and its effectiveness is assessed by comparing it with current state-of-the-art techniques. Proposed 2D-CNN model has evidenced an accuracy of 99.9074 with ideal dataset for 12- class fault classification and performing consistently in presence of noise, having an accuracy of 99.629 %,99.72 % and 99.814 % in 20.30 and 40 dB noises respectively. The proposed model also verified in high resistance fault condition. The model exhibits robustness to noise and is capable of generalizing well to various fault scenarios. The proposed methodology offers a scalable and efficient solution for transmission line fault analysis, paving the way for the integration of advanced machine learning techniques into the operation and maintenance of power transmission infrastructure., 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. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Employing low T g polymers has fundamental limitations in providing the desirable ionic conductivity at ambient temperature due to the freezing of chain dynamics. The stiffening of polymer chains and the formation of highly ordered systems due to the crosslinks have influenced the ionic conductivity. Ionic conductivity of 1.02 × 10 -5 S cm -1 was attained for the system that presented a quantum mechanical tunnelling mode of ion transport. A Na-ion transference number of 0.31 was achieved for 30 wt% of NaClO 4 salt in a polycaprolactone (PCL) matrix with an electrochemical stability window of 3.6 V at 25 °C. High crystallinity and limited availability of free Na + ions in the electrolyte have resulted in lower ionic conductivity. PCL-NaClO 4 exhibited brilliant thermal stability and mechanical properties. The influence of cathode materials MnO 2 , V 2 O 5 and I 2 on the discharge characteristics of an electrochemical cell in the configuration cathode |(70 wt%)PCL-NaClO 4 (30 wt%)|Na has been studied.

Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Background: Stainless steel crowns (SSCs) are commonly employed to restore the posterior teeth of children and over the years, they are available with improved anatomical shapes. This study was conducted to evaluate and assess the effect of the placement of SSCs on the masticatory efficiency of children., Methods: This pilot cross-sectional split-mouth study assessed masticatory efficiency in children aged 6-11 years. Fifteen participants, each with stainless-steel crowns placed unilaterally at least one month prior, were included. This study utilized two flavours of trident chewing gum (red and green) to measure masticatory efficiency. The child was asked to chew half a strip of red and green chewing gum placed one on top of the other using either the noncrown or crown side 15 times. Another set of chewing gum was given to the child to chew 20 times on the same side. The chewing exercise was repeated using teeth on the other side. Chewed gum samples were collected, photographed, and analysed via ImageJ software to determine the red and green areas. Masticatory efficiency was subsequently calculated with the help of a formula in which the red areas and green areas were calculated via ImageJ software. The data were analysed with paired t tests via SPSS (version 20.0)., Results: When the mean values of the crown side were compared with those of the noncrown side following 15 chewing cycles, the chewing efficiency on the noncrown side was greater, with a difference of 0.303, whereas the chewing efficiency following 20 chewing cycles was greater on the crown side, with a difference of 0.814. However, both differences were statistically nonsignificant, with t values of -0.07 and 0.26, respectively, and p values of 0.94 and 0.8, respectively., Conclusion: The presence of SSCs on the molars of children did not affect masticatory efficiency., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Joint-sparing resection of periarticular bone tumors can be challenging because of complex geometry. Successful reconstruction of periarticular bone defects after tumor resection is often performed with structural allografts to allow for joint preservation. However, achieving a size-matched allograft to fill the defect can be challenging because allograft sizes vary, they do not always match a patient's anatomy, and cutting the allograft to perfectly fit the defect is demanding., Questions/purposes: (1) Is there a difference in mental workload among the freehand, patient-specific instrumentation, and surgical navigation approaches? (2) Is there a difference in conformance (quantitative measure of deviation from the ideal bone graft), elapsed time during reconstruction, and qualitative assessment of goodness-of-fit of the allograft reconstruction among the approaches?, Methods: Seven surgeons used three modalities in the same order (freehand, patient-specific instrumentation, and surgical navigation) to fashion synthetic bone to reconstruct a standardized bone defect. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) mental task load index questionnaires and procedure time were captured. Cone-beam CT images of the shaped allografts were used to measure conformance (quantitative measure of deviation from the ideal bone graft) to a computer-generated ideal bone graft model. Six additional (senior) surgeons blinded to modality scored the quality of fit of the allografts into the standardized tumor defect using a 10-point Likert scale. We measured conformance using the root-mean-square metric in mm and used ANOVA for multipaired comparisons (p < 0.05 was significant)., Results: There was no difference in mental NASA total task load scores among the freehand, patient-specific instrumentation, and surgical navigation techniques. We found no difference in conformance root-mean-square values (mean ± SD) between surgical navigation (2 ± 0 mm; mean values have been rounded to whole numbers) and patient-specific instrumentation (2 ± 1 mm), but both showed a small improvement compared with the freehand approach (3 ± 1 mm). For freehand versus surgical navigation, the mean difference was 1 mm (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.5 to 1.1; p = 0.01). For freehand versus patient-specific instrumentation, the mean difference was 1 mm (95% CI -0.1 to 0.9; p = 0.02). For patient-specific instrumentation versus surgical navigation, the mean difference was 0 mm (95% CI -0.5 to 0.2; p = 0.82). In evaluating the goodness of fit of the shaped grafts, we found no clinically important difference between surgical navigation (median [IQR] 7 [6 to 8]) and patient-specific instrumentation (median 6 [5 to 7.8]), although both techniques had higher scores than the freehand technique did (median 3 [2 to 4]). For freehand versus surgical navigation, the difference of medians was 4 (p < 0.001). For freehand versus patient-specific instrumentation, the difference of medians was 3 (p < 0.001). For patient-specific instrumentation versus surgical navigation, the difference of medians was 1 (p = 0.03). The mean ± procedural times for freehand was 16 ± 10 minutes, patient-specific instrumentation was 14 ± 9 minutes, and surgical navigation techniques was 24 ± 8 minutes. We found no differences in procedure times across three shaping modalities (freehand versus patient-specific instrumentation: mean difference 2 minutes [95% CI 0 to 7]; p = 0.92; freehand versus surgical navigation: mean difference 8 minutes [95% CI 0 to 20]; p = 0.23; patient-specific instrumentation versus surgical navigation: mean difference 10 minutes [95% CI 1 to 19]; p = 0.12)., Conclusion: Based on surgical simulation to reconstruct a standardized periarticular bone defect after tumor resection, we found a possible small advantage to surgical navigation over patient-specific instrumentation based on qualitative fit, but both techniques provided slightly better conformance of the shaped graft for fit into the standardized post-tumor resection bone defect than the freehand technique did. To determine whether these differences are clinically meaningful requires further study. The surgical navigation system presented here is a product of laboratory research development, and although not ready to be widely deployed for clinical practice, it is currently being used in a research operating room setting for patient care. This new technology is associated with a learning curve, capital costs, and potential risk. The reported preliminary results are based on a preclinical synthetic bone tumor study, which is not as realistic as actual surgical scenarios., Clinical Relevance: Surgical navigation systems are an emerging technology in orthopaedic and reconstruction surgery, and understanding their capabilities and limitations is paramount for clinical practice. Given our preliminary findings in a small cohort study with one scenario of standardized synthetic periarticular bone tumor defects, future investigations should include different surgical scenarios using allograft and cadaveric specimens in a more realistic surgical setting., Competing Interests: Each author certifies that there are no funding or commercial associations (consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc.) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article related to the author or any immediate family members. All ICMJE Conflict of Interest Forms for authors and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research® editors and board members are on file with the publication and can be viewed on request., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons.)

Port-wine stain (PWS) are vascular malformations characterised by dilated dermal capillaries with normal endothelial cells. Congenital PWS are the most prevalent vascular malformation affecting 0.3-1% of newborns while acquired PWS (APWS), though an uncommon entity, exhibit morphological and histological similarity to congenital PWS. We hereby report a case of APWS along with a comprehensive comparison of clinical, histopathological and dermoscopic findings of other acquired vascular malformations., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

In this study, we present two fully characterized nickel tetrathiocyanocorroles, representing a novel class of 3d-metallocorroles. These nickel(II) ions form square planar complexes, exhibiting a d 8 -electronic configuration. These anionic complexes are stabilized by the electron-withdrawing SCN groups on the bipyrrole unit of the corrole. The reduced aromaticity in these anionic nickel(II) corrole complexes is evidenced by single crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) data and a markedly altered absorption profile, with stronger Q bands compared to Soret bands. Notably, the UV-Vis and electrochemical data exhibit significant differences from previously reported nickel(II) corrole radical cation and nickel(II) porphyrin complexes. While these electrochemical data bear a resemblance to those of the anionic nickel(II) corrole by Gross et al. , the UV-Vis data show substantial distinctions. Additionally, we explore the utilization of nickel(II)-corrole@CC (where CC denotes carbon cloth) as an electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in an alkaline medium. During electrochemical water oxidation, the molecular catalyst is partially converted to nickel (oxy)hydroxide, Ni(O)OH. The structure reveals the coexistence of the molecular complex and Ni(O)OH in the active catalyst, achieving a turnover frequency (TOF) of 3.32 × 10 -2 s -1 . The synergy between the homogeneous and heterogeneous phases improves the OER activity, providing more active sites and edge sites and enhancing interfacial charge transfer.

The objective of this study was to optimise the millet formulation using Levilactobacillus brevis and to evaluate its anticarcinogenic potential in vitro. The formula was developed in the course of the fermentation of finger millet (Eleusine coracana) using L. brevis MTTC 4460 and optimised by response surface methodology and validation by artificial neural networking (ANN). The optimised millet formulation could be obtained using 2 % of bacterial inoculum, 2 % of glucose, and a fermentation duration of 3.3 days with a yield of 5.98 mg/mL lactic acid and 3.38 log 10 (CFU/mL) viable L. brevis with overall desirability value of 1. The fermented millet formulation exhibited antiproliferative and antimigratory effects on MDA-MB-231 and HCT116 cancer cell lines. In addition, the outcomes observed in western blot analysis revealed that the formulation elicited apoptotic responses mediated by the Bcl-2 family of proteins in MDA-MB-231 and HCT116 cell lines while demonstrating no discernible impact on HEK293 normal cells., 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 Inc. All rights reserved.)

Cancer has a devastating impact globally regardless of gender, age, and community, which continues its severity to the population due to the lack of efficient strategy for the cancer diagnosis and treatment. According to the World Health Organisation report, one out of six people dies due to this deadly cancer and we need effective strategies to regulate it. In this context, trace element has a very hidden and unexplored role and require more attention from investigators. The variation in concentration of trace elements was observed during comparative studies on a cancer patient and a healthy person making them an effective target for cancer regulation. The percentage of trace elements present in the human body depends on environmental exposure, food habits, and habitats and could be instrumental in the early diagnosis of cancer. In this review, we have conducted inclusive analytics on trace elements associated with the various types of cancers and explored the several methods involved in their analysis. Further, intricacies in the correlation of trace elements with prominent cancers like prostate cancer, breast cancer, and leukaemia are represented in this review. This comprehensive information on trace elements proposes their role during cancer and as biomarkers in cancer diagnosis.

Emergency endovascular and percutaneous urological interventions encompass various diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to address various genitourinary conditions. These urological interventions are life-saving in addressing complications following biopsy, post-nephrectomy, post-transplant, and post-trauma. Compared to other surgical fields, there are relatively fewer urological emergencies. However, they require prompt radiological diagnosis and urgent interventions. This pictorial essay emphasizes various urological emergencies and urgent interventional management., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to American Society of Emergency Radiology (ASER).)

Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Introduction: Combination of abiraterone with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has better survival outcomes than ADT alone in metastatic Hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) in the Western population. In this prospective (Clinical Trials Registry-India [CTRI] registered) observational study, we present the comparative oncological outcomes of ADT alone and ADT + abiraterone in Indian patients, which is not available currently., Methods: This study (CTRI-number-CTRI/2020/07/026545) included newly diagnosed mHSPC patients from January 2020 to June 2023 in a tertiary care hospital, urology department. Patients fulfilling inclusion criteria were advised ADT with abiraterone (A + ADT), and those not affording received ADT monotherapy (ADT). The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Secondary outcomes included prostate-specific antigen (PSA) decline >90%, radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS), and PSA progression-free survival (pPFS)., Results: Out of 278 patients with mHSPC, 163 patients were excluded and 115 were analyzed (ADT = 40 vs. A + ADT = 75). After a median follow-up of 20.3 months, 11 of 40 (27.5%) in ADT-only arm and 15 of 75 (20%) in ADT + abiraterone arm had died (Hazard-ratio of death 0.72; 95% confidence interval 0.68-0.88; P < 0.001). A PSA decline of >90% was seen in 85% in the ADT alone group and 93.3% in the ADT + abiraterone group. Significantly better outcomes of the ADT + abiraterone were seen in the secondary endpoints of rPFS ( P < 0.001) and pPFS ( P < 0.001). The OS benefit was 28% reduction in risk of death in our study versus 37% and 38% in STAMPEDE and LATITUDE, respectively. pPFS and rPFS were also poorer in Indian subsets., Conclusions: Abiraterone with ADT improves OS, PSA response, rPFS, and pPFS in the Indian population akin to the Western data but with poorer OS, rPFS, and PSA progression-free survival on comparison., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 Indian Journal of Urology.)

Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy is the standard of care for T1 renal tumors and nowadays being used for T2 or higher tumors, resulting in higher the conversion rates. To bridge this gap, the hand-assisted laparoscopy (HAL) method was introduced. Even now, in the robotic era, this HAL approach continues to find importance in urology, especially in the most challenging cases, albeit, with a relatively low usage rate due to the cost involved and availability of hand port devices. Here, we report a case series using a novel modification of the HAL nephrectomy (HALN) technique when open conversion is needed. From a prospective database, we retrospectively analyzed the data of Six patients who underwent HALN at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences between January 2019 and December 2022. Indications for surgery included both malignant and benign renal disease. Four surgeries were performed on the right side while two were performed on the left. Five patients underwent a HALN for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and 1 for a benign non-functioning kidney. In our series, all the cases with RCC had were T2a or higher. Our case series shows that HALN is technically safe, effective, and a great adjunct to conventional laparoscopy. The ingenious use of a surgical glove as a hand port is an easy-to-make-and- use device in such challenging surgeries., Competing Interests: Conflict of InterestThe authors declare no competing interests., (© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Indian Association of Surgical Oncology 2024. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

The investigation of binary and filled skutterudite structures, particularly PtSb 3 and GdPt 4 Sb 12 , has gained significant attention, becoming a focal point in scientific research. This comprehensive report delves into the intrinsic characteristics of these structures using Density Functional Theory (DFT). Initially, we assess the structural stability of PtSb 3 and GdPt 4 Sb 12 by examining their total ground state energy and cohesive energy, employing the Brich Murnaghan equation of state to determine stability in various configurations. Further insights are gained by exploring second-order elastic constants (SOEC's) to extend our understanding of structural stability. The electronic structures are then meticulously defined through a quantum mechanical treatment, employing a combination of two distinct spin-polarized approximation schemes: Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof Generalised Gradient Approximation (PBE-GGA) and Tran-Blaha modified Becke-Johnson (TB-mBJ). The resulting band structures reveal a symmetry in electronic behavior, showcasing spin-magnetic moments of 3 μB and 7.58 μB per formula unit, with the primary contributions emanating from the Pt 3d and Pt 4+ 3d-transition elements. To gauge thermal stability, we evaluate the phonon-dependent Grüneisen parameter ( γ ) across specific temperature ranges. The study extends to exploring transport properties as a function of chemical potential ( μ - E F ) at various temperatures. The findings suggest that these designed materials hold substantial potential for diverse applications, particularly in conventional spin-based and thermoelectric technologies. The comprehensive insights obtained through this investigation pave the way for a deeper understanding and broader implications in various technological domains., Competing Interests: All authors declare that no known financial or personal interest has been involved that may come forward at a later stage to influence the work reported in this manuscript., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

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 article.

Tumor associated fibroblasts (TAFs) play a key role in tumor growth and metastatization. TAFs overexpress different biomarkers that are usually expressed at low levels in physiological conditions. Among them are the fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) that bind the fibroblast growth factors (FGFs). In particular, the overexpression of FGFR-2c in tumors has been associated with advanced clinical stages and increased metastatization. Here, we developed a non-invasive tool to evaluate, in vivo, the expression of FGFR-2c in metastatic cancer. This is based on 99m Tc-labelled FGF-2., Methods: 99m Tc-FGF-2 was tested in vitro and in vivo in mice bearing allografts of sarcoma cells. Images of 99m Tc-FGF-2 were acquired using a new portable high-resolution ultra-sensitive gamma camera for small animal imaging., Results: FGF-2 was labeled with high specific activity but low labelling efficiency, thus requiring post-labeling purification by gel-filtration chromatography. In vitro binding to 2C human keratinocytes showed a Kd of 3.36 × 10 -9 M. In mice bearing J774A.1 cell allografts, we observed high and rapid tumor uptake of 99m Tc-FGF-2 with a high Tumor/Blood ratio at 24 h post-injection (26.1 %ID/g and 12.9 %ID) with low kidney activity and moderate liver activity., Conclusions: we labeled FGF-2 with 99m Tc and showed nanomolar Kd in vitro with human keratinocytes expressing FGF-2 receptors. In mice, 99m Tc-FGF-2 rapidly and efficiently accumulated in tumors expressing FGF-2 receptors. This new radiopharmaceutical could be used in humans to image TAFs.

Chronic non-healing wounds offer a tough clinical challenge for plastic and reconstructive surgeons. A systematic comprehension of the underlying mechanism of wound healing is essential for improved patient care. It is also required to know the complex and continuing armamentarium of therapeutic choices for treatment of chronic wounds. Wound assays are excellent way to apprehend the wound healing progression and the efficacy of various products that contribute and promote in wound healing. In the production sequence of wound care products also, human trials are often preceded by more economical in-vitro or preclinical studies. Wound healing assays are to understand the principal molecular mechanisms involved in repair progression and used in the exploration of impending therapeutics and designing treatment protocols intended for better curing. Several prototypes of wound healing have been established and are well-accepted. This review focuses on in vitro assays, as they are pre-requisite preliminary assays that are rapid, economical and ethical substitute to other complex assay models. Literature exploration for data sources were carried out through a meticulous search in indexed literature and various website centered educational research documents. In total 76 studies were earmarked from 286 most relevant scholarly articles. An extensive criterion to describe both in-vitro assays and in-vitro assays in wound healing has been used for probing the comments. Also, personal resources have been used for information gathering. The present manuscript provides a broad overview of various in-vitro assays with descriptive account of injury techniques with assessment of pros and cons of each. It also emphasized on three-dimensional culture assays, which utilizes bioengineered prototypes to exhibit various connections and the mechanisms of diverse sort of cells in the wound healing.

Stabilization of microtubule plus end-directed kinesin CENP-E at the metaphase kinetochores is important for chromosome alignment, but its mechanism remains unclear. Here, we show that CKAP5, a conserved microtubule plus tip protein, regulates CENP-E at kinetochores in human cells. Depletion of CKAP5 impairs CENP-E localization at kinetochores at the metaphase plate and results in increased kinetochore-microtubule stability and attachment errors. Erroneous attachments are also supported by computational modeling. Analysis of CKAP5 knockout cancer cells of multiple tissue origins shows that CKAP5 is preferentially essential in aneuploid, chromosomally unstable cells, and the sensitivity to CKAP5 depletion is correlated to that of CENP-E depletion. CKAP5 depletion leads to reduction in CENP-E-BubR1 interaction and the interaction is rescued by TOG4-TOG5 domain of CKAP5. The same domain can rescue CKAP5 depletion-induced CENP-E removal from the kinetochores. Interestingly, CKAP5 depletion facilitates recruitment of PP1 to the kinetochores and furthermore, a PP1 target site-specific CENP-E phospho-mimicking mutant gets stabilized at kinetochores in the CKAP5-depleted cells. Together, the results support a model in which CKAP5 controls mitotic chromosome attachment errors by stabilizing CENP-E at kinetochores and by regulating stability of the kinetochore-attached microtubules., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Aim: To determine the role of geminin as a tool for differentiating various types of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cervical carcinoma (CC)., Methods: Seventy women newly diagnosed with CIN or CC undergoing cervical biopsy were included; their clinical profile, human papilloma virus (HPV) positivity, and colposcopy findings were noted, and biopsy tissue was analyzed for geminin content., Results: On geminin immunohistochemistry, 100% of women with CIN3 and 96.29% of women with CC had geminin two plus or more. When analyzed as ordinal variables, there was a significant correlation (spearman's rho 0.35, p 0.01) between geminin and biopsy results (CIN1, CIN2, CIN3, and CC)., Conclusions: Screening tests for cervical cancer, like conventional pap smears, liquid-based pap smears, and triaging with HPV, have limitations. It is important to be able to differentiate between high-grade lesions, invasive cancer, and low-grade lesions. The detection of geminin in these cells may aid in the confirmation of the diagnosis and ensure adequate treatment. Cervical intraepithelial lesions and carcinoma cervix demonstrated a correlation between increased geminin expression in CIN1 vs. CC and CIN2 vs. CC. Geminin may be a potential surrogate marker for higher-grade cervical lesions, and further research is needed to corroborate evidence in this direction., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Bagde et al.)

Background and Aims: Primary cilia (PC) are cellular organelles that regulate the cellular homeostasis. They are the seats of many oncogenic pathways and indirectly regulate the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and extracellular matrix, both critical for the tumor microenvironment (TME). Though there are a few studies highlighting the alteration of PC in the tumor cells of various malignancies, none depict the PC in the stromal cells in the urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder (UC), the stromal cells being an essential component of TME. Therefore, we intend to evaluate the PC in the stromal cells at the tumor-stromal interface in UC., Methods: Immunohistochemistry for acetylated-α-tubulin (for PC), Ki67, E-cadherin, and SNAI1 was performed in 141 cases of UC and 5 normal controls, and primary cilium: nucleus (C:N) ratio was counted in the stromal cells at the tumor-stromal interface. The C:N ratio was correlated with various clinical and histopathological parameters., Results: The C:N ratio showed significant diminution from normal control (mean=0.75) to low-grade UC (mean=0.24) ( P =0.001) to high-grade UC (mean value=0.17) ( P =0.001). There was a significant diminution of the C:N ratio from the noninvasive to invasive UC ( P =0.025). The C:N ratio did not show any correlation with EMT although negatively correlated with the Ki67 index ( r =-0.32; P =0.001), and a higher ratio showed a trend with a higher recurrence-free survival ( P =0.07)., Conclusions: The diminution of the PC in the stromal cells at the tumor-stromal interface is an early event and correlates with an aggressive tumor biology of UC., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

This systematic review, conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol, aims to comprehensively assess the current state of the art of imaging modalities for the evaluation of peritoneal carcinomatosis arising from malignant gynecological origins, with a focus on ovarian and endometrial cancers. A systematic search of relevant databases was performed, adhering to predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Studies reporting the use of computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET), PET/CT, and PET/MRI in the assessment of peritoneal carcinomatosis from gynecological malignancies were included. The review encompasses an overview of selected studies, highlighting the strengths and limitations of each imaging modality in diagnosing and characterizing peritoneal carcinomatosis. Overall, a wide variability in the reported accuracy of different imaging techniques emerges from literature, mainly due to the type of the study, technical issues, and patient characteristics. Although a meta-analysis could not be performed due to a scarcity of data, this systematic review provides valuable insights into the several imaging approaches used in peritoneal carcinomatosis of gynecological origin. The findings aim to inform clinical decision making and guide future research endeavors in this critical aspect of gynecological oncology.

We present the measurement of the cosmic ray proton spectrum from 50 TeV to 1.3 PeV using 7.81×10^{6} extensive air shower events recorded by the ground-based GRAPES-3 experiment between 1 January 2014 and 26 October 2015 with a live time of 460 day. Our measurements provide an overlap with direct observations by satellite and balloon-based experiments. The electromagnetic and muon components in the shower were measured by a dense array of plastic scintillator detectors and a tracking muon telescope, respectively. The relative composition of the proton primary from the air shower data containing all primary particles was extracted using the multiplicity distribution of muons which is a sensitive observable for mass composition. The observed proton spectrum suggests a spectral hardening at ∼166  TeV and disfavors a single power law description of the spectrum up to the Knee energy (∼3  PeV).

Objective: To determine the efficacy of intraoperative low-dose intravenous epinephrine infusion in improving intraoperative bleeding and perioperative outcomes of transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) surgery., Methods: This was a double-blinded, randomized control trial in which all patients undergoing bipolar TURP were included. Patients with uncontrolled hypertension, cardiac disease, and on anticoagulants were excluded. The study group received intravenous epinephrine, whereas the control group received normal saline at the same rate (0.05 μg/kg/min) throughout the procedure. Intraoperative blood loss was the primary outcome. The secondary outcomes were incidence of intraoperative hypotension (due to spinal anesthesia), resection time, indwelling catheter time, and length of hospitalization., Results: Thirty-six patients were included in each group. Demographic and clinical profiles were comparable with an overall median prostate size of 41 (34-52) gram in both groups. The primary objective, mean intraoperative blood loss in the study group was lower than the control group but statistically insignificant (67.91+/-18.7 mL vs 75.14 +/-17.1 mL; P = .086). Incidence of intraoperative hypotension was significantly lower in the study group (8.3% vs 33.3%; P = .01). Rest of the secondary outcomes, resection time (83 (64-111.5) minutes vs 86 (68-94.75) minutes; P = .97), mean indwelling catheter time (P = .94), postoperative complications (P = .73), and length of hospitalization (P = .87) were comparable., Conclusion: In this first-of-its-kind trial, low-dose epinephrine infusion did not reduce intraoperative blood loss in patients undergoing TURP. However, it significantly reduced intraoperative hypotension, which complicates spinal anesthesia particularly in elderly population., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no conflict of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Liver transplantation indications continue to evolve in North America. Several recent changes have occurred in the field with changes in the allocation system, new performance metrics, expansion of transplant oncology, and utilization of ex vivo perfusion devices and techniques. Deceased donor liver transplantation continues to be the primary modality of liver transplantation in North America, with an ongoing focus on advancing the use of living donor liver transplantation, especially in those patients who may not have favorable access to deceased donor allografts., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To assess the long-term quality of life (QOL) and sexual function (SF) in women who underwent either dorsal on-lay (DO) or ventral inlay (VI) urethroplasty for urethral stricture disease., Methodology: Between January 2016 and September 2022, women who underwent either dorsal on-lay (DO) or ventral inlay (VI) urethroplasties and had at least a six-month follow-up been included. Using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and WHO-QOL bref questionnaires, the QOL and SF were evaluated. Scores were compared between the two groups after being examined for internal validity. A sub-group analysis was carried out based on the procedure's success., Results: With follow-up periods ranging from 6 to 86 months, 25 patients who received VI urethroplasty and 10 patients who underwent DO urethroplasty were included. Both scores demonstrated strong internal consistency. The cumulative QOL and FSFI scores were comparable in both groups (p = 0.53 and p = 0.83, respectively). Significantly high scores were noted in the physical health domain (76.5 ± 9.9 vs 62.33 ± 10.97; p = 0.03; (95% CI = 0.72-24.4)) and the environmental domain (75.75 ± 3.84 vs 66.00 ± 4.24; p = 0.01 (95% CI = 2.64-16.85) in patients with successful VI and DO urethroplasties respectively. Addictions, low socioeconomic status and protracted symptom duration were associated with low QOL scores. Old age was related to low FSFI scores., Conclusion: Substitution urethroplasty, despite the approach, showed good QOL and SF scores. Long symptom duration, addictions, and poor socioeconomic status were associated with low QOL whereas old age independently influenced low FSFI scores., (© 2024. The International Urogynecological Association.)

Recent advances in 3D printing technology have provided a new avenue for food manufacturing. However, one challenge in 3D printing food is the limited availability of printable materials that can mimic the properties of real food. This review focused on the various 3DFP methodologies, as well as the reinforcement of natural food gel for improving printing features in 3D printed food. Also covered is the use of hydrogel-based 3D printing in the development of 3D printed food. Different 3D printing techniques can be employed to print hydrogel-based inks, each with its advantages and limitations. 3D printing of food using hydrogel-based inks has potential for customized food products development. In summary, the utilization of hydrogel-based inks in 3D printing offers a promising avenue for the development of customized food products. Although there are still challenges to overcome, such as improving the printability and mechanical properties of hydrogel-based inks, the potential benefits of this technology make it an exciting area of research., 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 © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of routine use of intraoperative ultrasonography (IOUS) in improving perioperative outcomes in patients undergoing IOUS-guided laparoscopic nephrectomy (IOUS-LN) and conventional laparoscopic nephrectomy (C-LN)., Patients and Methods: This was a parallel-arm, single-blinded, randomised controlled trial (CTRI/2021/12/038906). All patients undergoing LN, either for benign or malignant causes, were included. Patients undergoing partial/cytoreductive nephrectomy, with venous thrombus were excluded. In the study arm, IOUS-guided renal vascular assessment was performed after colon mobilisation and a standard LN was performed in the control arm. The primary outcome was intraoperative duration. The secondary outcomes were blood loss, need for open conversion, blood transfusion, perioperative complications, duration of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay and length of hospitalisation (LOH). The patients were followed for 3 months after surgery., Results: A total of 104 patients were included, with 52 in each arm. Demographic characteristics were comparable in both arms. A significant reduction in the operative duration (mean [sd] 181.69 [40.8] vs 199.7 [41.8] min, P = 0.02) was seen in the IOUS-LN group. The difference in blood loss showed no significant difference when compared between both groups (median [interquartile range] 84.55 [74-105.5] vs 99.95 [78.5-111] mL, P = 0.08). On subgroup analysis, the reduction in the operative duration was significant in patients who underwent laparoscopic simple nephrectomy (LSN; mean [sd] 194.4 [42.5] vs 221.2 [36.4] min, P = 0.01), whereas comparable operative durations were seen in patients undergoing laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN; mean [sd] 168.96 [35.3] vs 178.3 [35.9] min, P = 0.34). Similar conversion rates were seen in both groups (P = 0.98) along with blood transfusions (P = 0.78). The LOH, ICU stay, and complications were similar in both groups. Significantly less blood loss (P = 0.03) was noted with IOUS in patients undergoing LSN. IOUS did not influence any outcomes in patients undergoing LRN., Conclusion: Intraoperative ultrasonography significantly reduced the operative duration in LN, but with no significant reduction in the volume of blood loss. Significant reduction in intraoperative duration and blood loss was seen in patients who underwent LSN on subgroup analysis., (© 2023 BJU International.)

Competing Interests: Disclosure All authors disclosed no financial relationships. Commentary Gallstone ileus with SB obstruction is a rare adverse event of cholelithiasis. The standard treatment is surgical intervention, with morbidity and mortality rates higher than for other causes of SB obstruction. In this case, a patient who had undergone cholecystectomy 4 months prior presented with an SB obstruction. Imaging showed a cholecystoduodenal fistula with an impacted stone in the jejunum. Endoscopy was performed, and laser lithotripsy was used to fragment the stone. Two endoscopic sessions were required, 1 of them lasting >5 hours, with successful relief of the obstruction and avoidance of surgical intervention. Minimally invasive options for treatment of gallstone ileus may help decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with this condition. Amy Tyberg, MD, FASGE, FACG, Associate Editor for Focal Points

Purpose: Variations in the levels of systemic inflammatory biomarker levels have been linked with outcomes in various malignancies including cervical cancer. In this study, we investigated prognostic implications of pretreatment hematological factors/indices in locally advanced cervical cancers treated with radical radio(chemo)therapy., Methods and Materials: Electronic medical records of 1051 patients with cervical cancer of FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) stage IB2-IVA treated in various prospective trials at our institute between 2003 and 2017 were reviewed. All clinical parameters such as age (dichotomized at the median), stage (IB2-IIB vs III-IVA), histologic type (squamous vs others), and hematological parameters (hemoglobin, platelets, absolute neutrophil count, absolute lymphocyte count, absolute monocyte count) were recorded. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), and prognostic nutritional index (PNI; defined as 10 × albumin concentration [g/dL] + 0.005 × total lymphocyte count [μL]) were calculated. Univariate and multivariate (Cox regression) analyses were performed to evaluate these factors with disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS)., Results: With a median follow-up of 69 months, the 5-year DFS and OS were 65% and 69%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, FIGO stage (hazard ratio [HR], 1.9; P = .000) and PLR (HR, 1.002; P = .008) significantly affected DFS while FIGO stage (HR, 1.804; P = .000), LMR (HR, 0.92; P = .018), PNI (HR, 0.96; P = .013), and PLR (HR, 1.002; P = .006) significantly affected OS. Apart from FIGO stage, PLR significantly affected both DFS and OS. This correlation of hematological parameters is stronger in stage IIIB cervical cancer., Conclusions: Hematological indices, including PNI, PLR, and LMR, can serve as reliable prognostic indicators for patients with cervical cancer. By incorporating these indices into routine assessment and monitoring, clinicians can better stratify patients, personalize treatment plans, and more accurately predict outcomes, ultimately improving patient care and management., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Through intricate calculations, the density functional theory (DFT) implemented in the Wien2k code was employed to comprehensively investigate a wide range of material characteristics. Our study encompasses an exhaustive analysis of structural stability, electronic properties, magnetic behaviors, transport phenomena, mechanical responses, and thermodynamic profiles of two notable instances of filled Skutterudites, namely, CeNi 4 P 12 and DyCo 4 Sb 12 , which have been thoroughly explored. These computations were performed using the WIEN 2K code, combining local orbitals and the full-potential linearized augmented plane-wave approach. The findings provided insight into the wide range of properties of these materials. In this methodology, the exchange-correlation potential relies on the local-density approximation. We conducted the calculations with and without incorporating spin-orbit interactions. The results obtained provide information about the lattice constant, bulk modulus, and pressure derivative. The stability, as indicated by the P-V graphical plot, suggests that there are no structural phase transitions from the cubic symmetry structure. Notably, our work includes an examination of Curie temperatures, which are pivotal in understanding magnetic phase transitions. The validated elastic properties further support the material's stability and corroborate its ductile nature. These alloys should be considered for spintronic and thermoelectric applications due to their estimated transport characteristics and the observed ductile nature. To enhance our understanding of the thermal stability of antimony-based compounds, we have made reliable estimations of the thermophysical characteristics. By integrating theoretical insights with practical implications, we bridge the gap between fundamental understanding and material design applications. Using DFT in the Wien2k framework, we discover connections and patterns among different properties, showing how to create materials with specific functions and better performance. This approach not only advances our fundamental comprehension of materials but also promises innovation across various technological domains., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic presented an unprecedented challenge, and, as during the SARS outbreak in 2002, there was scope of overestimation of risk by pregnant women, leading to increased fear and anxiety. The aim of this study was to assess the psychosocial impact of the pandemic on pregnant women so better-informed decisions can be taken to spread awareness and alleviate their anxieties., Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in a single tertiary care centre of Eastern India including 292 participants. The inclusion criteria were all pregnant women of any gestational age attending the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar for antenatal check-up or delivery. The exclusion criteria were patients with severe morbidities and patients not willing to participate. The primary outcome was to determine the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pregnant women and to measure the anxiety level of pregnant women during the COVID-19 crisis. The secondary outcome was to determine the correlation between demographic aspects and psychosocial impact of COVID-19 pandemic on pregnant women., Results: A self-designed questionnaire was used. Anxiety was scored using the generalised anxiety disorder scale. More than half the participants (57.9%) were not at all worried about acquiring the infection. Of all, 99.3% were scored to have no anxiety and 0.7% had moderate anxiety. Significant association of the level of anxiety was found with living with people at high risk of contracting the disease ( p = 0.002)., Conclusions: The widespread awareness activities were effective and successful, as the pregnant women at the grassroots level faced minimal anxiety and were aware and assured. Studies like this help to provide feedback and formulate educational activities in future pandemics. The change in the effect on people, from panic in the previous pandemics to assurance in the current one, as found in our study, indicates the commendable work done to spread well founded information far and wide by the government, health care institutions, and workers., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Termedia.)

A series of novel amidinate ligated four-coordinated boron compounds, [(Ar)-C( t BuN) 2 BF 2 ] (1BF2-6BF2), were synthesised and structurally characterised (Ar = 1-phenyl, 2-naphthyl, 2-anthryl, 9-anthryl, 9-phenanthryl and 1-pyrene). The increased π-conjugation of Ar-substitution on the amidinate ligand results in dark blue-emission in compounds 3BF2-6BF2. All these compounds are emissive in the solution state. The 2-anthryl substituted compound 3BF2 was found to exhibit a maximum quantum yield of 48% in dichloromethane. Theoretical studies were carried out which validate the hypothesis about the increased π-conjugation.

Microstructure modification in sodium alginate (NaAlg)-based solid polymer electrolytes by the perchlorate (ClO 4 - ) and acetate (CH 3 COO - ) anions of sodium salts has been reported. ClO 4 - participates in the structure-breaking effect via inter/intramolecular hydrogen bond breaking, while CH 3 COO - changes the amorphous phase, as evident from X-ray diffraction studies. The larger size and negative charge delocalization of ClO 4 - have a plasticizing effect, resulting in a lower glass transition temperature ( T g ) compared to CH 3 COO - . Decomposition temperature is strongly dependent on the type of anion. Scanning electron microscopy images showed divergent modifications in the surface morphology in both electrolyte systems, with variations in salt content. The mechanical properties of the NaAlg-NaClO 4 electrolyte systems are better than those of the NaAlg-CH 3 COONa system, indicating weak interactions in the latter. Although most of the studies focus on the cation influence on conductivity, the interaction of the anion and its size certainly have an influence on the properties of solid polymer electrolytes, which will be of interest in the near future for sodium ion-based electrolytes in energy storage devices., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Abstract: Micropapillary urothelial carcinoma of the renal pelvis is a rare and aggressive variant and poses a diagnostic challenge, especially related to the site and histomorphology of the tumor. A 60-year-old female presented with right pelvic-ureteric junction obstruction and a nonfunctioning right kidney. She underwent a simple right nephrectomy. The microscopy examination revealed a high-grade tumor of the renal pelvis, predominant micropapillary architecture. The tumor infiltrated into the kidney, renal sinus, perinephric fat, adrenal gland, and Gerota's fascia. Extensive lymphovascular and perineural invasions were also noted. On immunohistochemistry, tumor cells were positive for GATA-binding protein 3, cytokeratin 7, and cytokeratin 20, while negative for paired box gene 8, cluster of differentiation 10, mammaglobin, and alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase. The p63 was positive in the conventional areas and negative in the micropapillary pattern. We reported an additional case of micropapillary urothelial carcinoma of the renal pelvis, literature review, and discussed the differential diagnosis. Immunonegativity of p63 in the micropapillary component was an additional finding., (Copyright © 2023 Indian Journal of Pathology and Microbiology | Published by Wolters Kluwer – Medknow.)

The Paris Agreement goal of a net-zero equation will require decarbonization technologies in agriculture. Agri-waste biochar offers huge potential for carbon abatement in agricultural soils. The present experiment was carried out to compare the effects of residue management, viz., no residue (NR), residue incorporation (RI), and biochar (BC), as well as nitrogen options for emission reduction and carbon capture under the rice-wheat cropping sequence (RWCS) of the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP), India. After two cycles of cropping pattern, the analysis revealed that the biochar application (BC) reduces the RWCS's annual CO 2 emissions by 18.1 % over residue incorporation (RI), while CH 4 and N 2 O emissions were reduced by 23 % and 20.6 % over RI and 11 % and 29.3 % over no residue (NR), respectively. The application of biochar-based nutrient composites with rice straw biourea (RSBU) at 100 % and 75 % significantly reduced greenhouse gases (CH 4 and N 2 O) compared to commercial urea at 100 %. The global warming potential of cropping systems recorded with BC was 7 % and 19.3 % lower than NR and RI, respectively, while 6-15 % under RSBU over urea 100 %. The annual carbon footprint (CF) under BC and NR decreased by 37.2 % and 30.8 % over RI, respectively. The net CF under residue burning was estimated to be the highest (132.5 Tg CO 2 -Ce), followed by RI (55.3 Tg CO 2 -Ce), showing net positive emissions; however, net negative emissions were found under a biochar-based system. The estimated annual carbon offset potential of a complete biochar system over residue burning, incorporation, and partial biochar as calculated was 189, 112, and 92 Tg CO 2 -Ce yr -1 , respectively. A biochar-based approach to managing rice straw had great carbon offset potential through a large drop in greenhouse gas emissions and an improved soil carbon pool under the rice wheat system along the IGP, India., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All the authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Pesticides are chemicals that have become common household products in developing countries. The purpose of pesticides is to manage agricultural work. The majority of pesticides for indoor and agricultural use are carbamate and organophosphorus. Toxicity is caused due to excess and improper use or disposal of these chemical agents. Slow exposure to pesticides causes chronic poisoning whereas rapid exposure causes acute poisoning. The paraoxonase I (PON 1) enzyme has a role in detoxifying some of the oxon derivatives which thereby inhibit acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase. Methods: This study analyzed farmers who were exposed intermittently to organophosphorus and carbamates pesticides during farming for more than five years. Serum paraoxonase I was evaluated by colorimetry method, and hemoglobin levels were evaluated using portable Fresenius Kabi haemoglobinometer. Results: The study showed that the pesticides were found in the blood and urine samples of farmers and there was an alteration of paraoxonase I and hemoglobin levels in them due to the exposure of pesticides in large quantities over some time. The present study showed around 81% of the participants who were intermittently exposed to pesticides for more than five years were detected with pesticide toxicity. The paraoxonase I level was altered in farmers who were positive for organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides. The hemoglobin level did not show much variation among the farmers exposed to pesticides. This may be due to the lifestyle of the subjects, climatic variations and also their eating habits. Conclusions: The study suggested that there was alteration in the levels of PON1 and hemoglobin in farmers and agricultural workers with positive organophosphorus and carbamates in their blood and urine samples. As our study was done without quantifying the amount of pesticides, further studies can be done by quantifying the pesticide level and comparing it with the paraoxonase I level., Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed., (Copyright: © 2023 Bhat V et al.)

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a musculoskeletal disorder that causes pain and increasing loss of function, resulting in reduced proprioceptive accuracy and balance. Therefore, the goal of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the effectiveness of balance training on pain and functional outcomes in knee OA. Methods: "PubMed", "Scopus", "Web of Science", "Cochrane", and "Physiotherapy Evidence Database" were searched for studies conducted between January 2000 and December 2021. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the effectiveness of balance training in knee OA, as well as its effects on pain and functional outcome measures, were included. Conference abstracts, case reports, observational studies, and clinical commentaries were not included. Meta-analysis was conducted for the common outcomes, i.e., Visual Analog Scale (VAS), The Timed Up and Go (TUG), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC). The PEDro scale was used to determine the quality of the included studies. Results: This review includes 22 RCTs of which 17 articles were included for meta-analysis. The included articles had 1456 participants. The meta-analysis showed improvement in the VAS scores in the experimental group compared to the control group [ I = 92%; mean difference= -0.79; 95% CI= -1.59 to 0.01; p<0.05] and for the WOMAC scores the heterogeneity ( 2 ) was 81% with a mean difference of -0.02 [95% CI= -0.44 to 0.40; p<0.0001]. The TUG score was analyzed, the I was 95% with a mean difference of -1.71 [95% CI= -3.09 to -0.33; p<0.0001] for the intervention against the control group. 2 ) was 81% with a mean difference of -0.02 [95% CI= -0.44 to 0.40; p<0.0001]. The TUG score was analyzed, the I 2 was 95% with a mean difference of -1.71 [95% CI= -3.09 to -0.33; p<0.0001] for the intervention against the control group. Conclusions: Balance training significantly reduced knee pain and improved functional outcomes measured with TUG. However, there was no difference observed in WOMAC. Although due to the heterogeneity of the included articles the treatment impact may be overestimated. Registration: The current systematic review was registered in PROSPERO on 7th October 2021 (registration number CRD42021276674)., Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed., (Copyright: © 2023 Prabhakar AJ et al.)

Advanced tissue engineering processes and regenerative medicine provide modern strategies for fabricating 3D spheroids. Several different 3D cancer models are being developed to study a variety of cancers. Three-dimensional spheroids can correctly replicate some features of solid tumors (such as the secretion of soluble mediators, drug resistance mechanisms, gene expression patterns and physiological responses) better than 2D cell cultures or animal models. Tumor spheroids are also helpful for precisely reproducing the three-dimensional organization and microenvironmental factors of tumors. Because of these unique properties, the potential of 3D cell aggregates has been emphasized, and they have been utilized in in vitro models for the detection of novel anticancer drugs. This review discusses applications of 3D spheroid models in nuclear medicine for diagnosis and therapy, immunotherapy, and stem cell and photodynamic therapy and also discusses the establishment of the anticancer activity of nanocarriers.

Introduction: It is unclear when pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) should be performed during laparoscopic radical cystectomy. Proponents of PLND performed before cystectomy claim that early PLND skeletonizes the urinary bladder's vascular pedicles, making cystectomy easy. Others contend that an early cystectomy provides space and flexibility during subsequent PLND. This first-of-its-kind study compared PLND before and after cystectomy for the ease of performing surgery (total operative time, cystectomy time, and PLND time) and the operative outcomes (number of lymph nodes removed, blood loss, and complication rates)., Methods: This ambispective cohort study included a predetermined sample size of 44 patients. The first 22 patients underwent PLND after cystectomy (Group 1), and the following 22 underwent PLND before cystectomy (Group 2). The primary outcome was total operative time. Secondary outcomes included cystectomy time, PLND time, number of lymph nodes removed, blood loss, and complication rates., Results: The baseline characteristics were similar in both groups. The total operative time (344.23 ± 41.58 min vs. 326.95 ± 43.63 min, P = 0.19), cystectomy time (119.36 ± 34.44 min vs. 120.91 ± 35.16 min, P = 0.53), PLND time (126.82 ± 18.75 min vs. 119.36 ± 23.34 min, 0.25), number of dissected lymph nodes (13.27 ± 4.86 vs. 14.5 ± 4.76, P = 0.40), and blood loss (620.45 ± 96.23 ml vs. 642.27 ± 131.8 ml, P = 0.20) were similar in the two groups. The complication rates categorized by Clavien-Dindo grading were identical in the two groups., Conclusions: PLND done after cystectomy was comparable to PLND done before cystectomy regarding the ease of surgery and the operative outcomes., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2023 Indian Journal of Urology.)

Using the density functional theory methodology, we have thoroughly examined KRu 4 As 12 and KRu 4 Sb 12 skutterudites, including their structural, electronic, mechanical, transport, and thermodynamic properties. First and foremost, using the Birch-Murnaghan equation of state, the structural stability has been calculated in terms of their total ground state and cohesive energies. With the use of the approximation approaches GGA and GGA + mBJ, the electrical structure and density of the states reveal their metallic nature. This demonstration predicts the dominant ferromagnetic spin configuration of materials by considering their electronic behavior and magnetic interactions. The ductile behavior of these alloys is also addressed by their mechanical qualities, which indicate how they might be used in engineering and industrial settings. Moreover, the semi-classical Boltzmann transport theory has been employed to examine the Seebeck coefficient as well as the electric and thermal conductivities. The general tendency of these compounds demonstrates their various potential uses as electrode materials. The quasi-harmonic Debye approximation is a method used to analyze the stability of a system under high pressures and accounts for the temperature dependency of thermodynamics. It combines the quasi-harmonic approximation, which considers the anharmonicity of vibrations, with the Debye model, which describes the vibrational modes of a solid. This approach allows for a more accurate representation of the system's behavior at different temperatures and pressures. By implementing this approximation, researchers can gain insights into the stability and thermodynamic properties of materials under extreme conditions., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)