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Background: The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block and local anesthetic wound infiltration have been used to relieve pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This study investigated whether the subcostal transversus abdominis block was superior to traditional port-site infiltration of local anesthetic in reducing post-operative pain, opioid consumption, and time for recovery. Aim and Objectives: To investigated whether the subcostal transversus abdominis block is superior to traditional port-site infiltration of local anesthetic in reducing post-operative pain, opioid consumption, and time for recovery. Materials and Methods: All patients were randomly assigned to two equal groups (n=30) using computer-generated randomization. Patients in Group 1 (TAP group) received a TAP block by administration of 10 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine on each side just before completion of surgery, and patients in Group 2 (local wound infiltration [LWI] group) received 10 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine as a local infiltrate at the local site just before completion of surgery. The pain was measured using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at intervals of 30 min to 24 h after the procedure. Results: The mean VAS score was significantly lower in group 1 as compared to group 2 at 2 h and 4 h. Whereas the VAS score was not significantly different post-operative 30 min, 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h. The mean first rescue analgesia was significantly more in Group 1 than in Group 2 (P<0.001). Conclusion: The TAP block patients had significant VAS scores at 2 and 4 h postoperatively compared to the LWI patients. The TAP group had a significantly longer median time to first emergency analgesia compared to the LWI group, with a higher proportion of patients requiring only one dose of emergency analgesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, fruits are gaining high demand due to their promising advantages on human health. Astonishingly, their by-products, that is, seeds and peels, account for 10–35% of fruit weight and are usually thrown as waste after consumption or processing. But it is neglected that fruit seeds also have functional properties and nutritional value, and thus could be utilized for dietary and therapeutic purposes, ultimately reducing the waste burden on the environment. Owing to these benefits, researchers have started to assess the nutritional value of different fruits seeds, in addition to the chemical composition in various bioactive constituents, like carotenoids (lycopene), flavonoids, proteins (bioactive peptides), vitamins, etc., that have substantial health benefits and can be used in formulating different types of food products with noteworthy functional and nutraceutical potential. The current review aims to comprehend the known information of nutritional and phytochemical profiling of non-edible fruits seeds, viz. apple, apricot, avocado, cherry, date, jamun, litchi, longan, mango, and papaya. Additionally, clinical studies conducted on these selected non-edible fruit seed extracts, their safety issues and their enrichment in food products as well as animal feed has also been discussed. This review aims to highlight the potential applications of the non-edible fruit seeds in developing new food products and also provide a viable alternative to reduce the waste disposal issue faced by agro-based industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endophytic fungi (EF) reside within plants without causing harm and provide benefits such as enhancing nutrients and producing bioactive compounds, which improve the medicinal properties of host plants. Selecting plants with established medicinal properties for studying EF is important, as it allows a deeper understanding of their influence. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate the impact of EF after inoculating the medicinal plant Perilla frutescens, specifically focusing on their role in enhancing medicinal properties. Results: In the current study, the impact of two EF i.e., Irpex lenis and Schizophyllum commune isolated from A. bracteosa was observed on plant Perilla frutescens leaves after inoculation. Plants were divided into four groups i.e., group A: the control group, group B: inoculated with I. lenis; group C: inoculated with S. commune and group D: inoculated with both the EF. Inoculation impact of I. lenis showed an increase in the concentration of chlorophyll a (5.32 mg/g), chlorophyll b (4.46 mg/g), total chlorophyll content (9.78 mg/g), protein (68.517 ± 0.77 mg/g), carbohydrates (137.886 ± 13.71 mg/g), and crude fiber (3.333 ± 0.37%). Furthermore, the plants inoculated with I. lenis showed the highest concentrations of P (14605 mg/kg), Mg (4964.320 mg/kg), Ca (27389.400 mg/kg), and Mn (86.883 mg/kg). The results of the phytochemical analysis also indicated an increased content of total flavonoids (2.347 mg/g), phenols (3.086 mg/g), tannins (3.902 mg/g), and alkaloids (1.037 mg/g) in the leaf extract of P. frutescens inoculated with I. lenis. Thus, overall the best results of inoculation were observed in Group B i.e. inoculated with I. lenis. GC-MS analysis of methanol leaf extract showed ten bioactive constituents, including 9-Octadecenoic acid (Z)-, methyl ester, and hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester as major constituents found in all the groups of P. frutescens leaves. The phenol (gallic acid) and flavonoids (rutin, kaempferol, and quercetin) were also observed to increase after inoculation by HPTLC analysis. The enhancement in the phytochemical content was co-related with improved anti-oxidant potential which was analyzed by DPPH (% Inhibition: 83.45 µg/ml) and FRAP (2.980 µM Fe (II) equivalent) assay as compared with the control group. Conclusion: Inoculation with I. lenis significantly enhances the uptake of nutritional constituents, phytochemicals, and antioxidant properties in P. frutescens, suggesting its potential to boost the therapeutic properties of host plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taxus contorta (family Taxaceae) is a native plant of temperate region of western Himalaya. The current study investigated the effect of altitude on the phytochemical composition and mycorrhizal diversity, associated with distribution of T. contorta in Shimla district, Himachal Pradesh, India. Quantitative phytochemical analysis of the leaf extracts indicated that alkaloid levels decreased with altitude, with the highest value in Himri's methanol extracts (72.79 ± 1.08 mg/g) while phenol content increased with altitude, peaking in Nankhari's methanol extracts (118.83 ± 5.90 mg/g). Saponin content was higher in methanol extracts (78.13 ± 1.66 mg/g in Nankhari, 68.06 ± 1.92 mg/g in Pabbas, and 56.32 ± 1.93 mg/g in Himri). Flavonoid levels were notably higher in chloroform extracts, particularly in Nankhari (219.97 ± 2.99 mg/g), and positively correlated with altitude. Terpenoids were higher in chloroform extracts at Himri (11.34 ± 0.10 mg/g) and decreased with altitude. Taxol content showed minimal variation between solvents and altitudes (4.53–6.98 ppm), while rutin was only detected in methanol extracts (1.31–1.46 ppm). Mycorrhizal spore counts in T. contorta's rhizosphere varied with altitude: highest at Himri (77.83 ± 2.20 spores/50 g soil), decreasing to Pabbas (68.06 ± 1.96 spores/50 g soil) and lowest at Nankhari (66.00 ± 2.77 spores/50 g soil), with 17 AMF species identified overall, showing significant altitudinal influence on spore density. The rhizosphere of T. contorta was shown to be dominated by the Glomus species. The rhizospheric soil of the plant was found to be slightly acidic. Organic carbon and available potassium content decreased contrasting with increasing available nitrogen and phosphorus with altitude. Correlation data showed strong negative links between organic carbon (−0.83), moderate positive for nitrogen (0.46) and phosphorus (0.414), and moderate negative for potassium (−0.56) with the altitude. This study provides a comprehensive insight into changes in phytochemical constituents, mycorrhizal diversity and soil composition of T. contorta along a range of altitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

The use of FDA-approved drugs for the therapy of lung cancer through drug repurposing is a noteworthy approach. We retrieved all the FDA-approved triazole-based drugs from Drugbank and conducted docking-based virtual screening of the triazole-based FDA-approved drugs against the EGFR target. Deferasirox demonstrated hydrogen bonding interactions with residues Thr 830, Asp 831, Lys 721 and Met 769 of the EGFR-TKD receptor (PDB ID: 1M17) and Posaconazole showed hydrogen bonding with residues Met 769 and Glu 734 of the similar EGFR receptor along with the binding energies of −9.60, −9.50, kcal/mol respectively. The dock score for reference molecule found to be −6.70 (kcal/mol). Best two ligands (Deferasirox and Posaconazole) were selected on the basis of dock score from the virtual screening results for in vitro NRU assay using A549 cells to determine their cytotoxicity and cell viability. During the in vitro NRU experiment, Deferasirox and Posaconazole demonstrated IC50 values of 114.9 and 910.2 µM, respectively. MD simulations were performed to investigate the dynamic behaviour and stability, and interactions were compared to the standard inhibitor for the EGFR target. DFT studies were carried out to determine their molecular properties, including their electronic structure, bond lengths and bond energies. The results of the in silico and in vitro studies were analysed to assess the potential of Deferasirox and Posaconazole for use as anticancer agents in the mitigation of lung cancer symptoms. This study focused on repurposing FDA-approved triazole-based compounds to identify their potential as effective lung cancer treatments with anticancer properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Ageing is a complex, natural process. Due to structural and physiological changes that occur as a consequence of intrinsic and extrinsic aging, the elderly population is highly susceptible to dermatological disorders. These changes are associated with significant morbidity and stress. Hence, it is important to have a better understanding of the dermatological needs of elderly patients. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the pattern and frequency of geriatric dermatoses in patients attending the Skin Outpatient Department (OPD) at a tertiary care centre. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprosy at BPS Government Medical College for Women, Khanpur Kalan (Sonepat), Haryana, India, from September 2022 to February 2023. A total of 300 patients aged 60 years and above, of either sex, who consented to participate were enrolled. Detailed history taking and dermatological examinations were performed, and relevant investigations were carried out. Data was collected, entered into a Microsoft Excel sheet, and analysed for frequency, percentage, and mean of variables. Results: Out of the total 300 patients, 155 (51.66%) were males and 145 (48.33%) were females. The majority of patients belonged to the age group of 60-69 years (n=171, 57%). Wrinkling (n=287, 95.66%) was the most common physiological skin finding, followed by dry skin (n=157, 52.33%). Among pathological dermatoses, infectious dermatoses were present in (n=134, 44.66%) patients, followed by eczemas (n=92, 30.66%). Papulosquamous disorders were seen in (n=17, 5.66%) patients. Hypertension was the most common systemic illness present in (n=53, 17.66%) patients. Conclusion: Physiological and pathological skin changes in the elderly are a common cause of consultation in dermatology OPD. Physiological changes were seen in all patients. Among pathological changes, infections were the leading dermatoses, followed by eczemas and papulosquamous disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Probiotics consumption has been associated with various health promoting benefits, including disease prevention and even treatment by modulating gut microbiota. Contrary to this, probiotics may also overstimulate the immune system, trigger systemic infections, harmful metabolic activities, and promote gene transfer. in children, the fragile immune system and impaired intestinal barrier may boost the occurrence of adverse effects following probiotics' consumption. To overcome these health challenges, the key focus has been shifted toward non-viable probiotics, also called paraprobiotics. Cell wall polysaccharides, peptidoglycans, surface proteins and teichoic acid present on cell's surface are involved in the interaction of paraprobiotics with the host, ultimately providing health benefits. Among other benefits, paraprobiotics possess the ability to regulate innate and adaptive immunity, exert anti-adhesion, anti-biofilm, anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-proliferative, and antagonistic effects against pathogens, while also enhance clinical impact and general safety when administered in children in comparison to probiotics. Clinical evidence have underlined the paraprobiotics impact in children and young infants against atopic dermatitis, respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, in addition to be useful for immunocompromised individuals. Therefore, this review focuses on probiotics-related issues in children's health and also discusses the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium spp. qualities for qualifying as paraprobiotics and their role in promoting the children's health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to increase the therapeutic potential of medicinal plants through inoculation with endophytic fungi. As endophytes influence medicinal plants' biological properties, twenty fungal strains were isolated from the medicinal plant Ocimum tenuiflorum. Among all fungal isolates, the R2 strain showed the highest antagonistic activity towards plant pathogenic fungi Rosellinia necatrix and Fusarium oxysporum. The partial ITS region of the R2 strain was deposited in the GenBank nucleotide sequence databases under accession number ON652311 as Fusarium fujikuroi isolate R2 OS. To ascertain the impact of an endophytic fungus on the biological functions of medicinal plants, Stevia rebaudiana seeds were inoculated with Fusarium fujikuroi (ON652311). In the DPPH assay, the IC50 value of the inoculated Stevia plant extracts (methanol, chloroform, and positive control) was 72.082 µg/mL, 85.78 µg/mL, and 18.86 µg/mL, respectively. In the FRAP assay, the IC50 value of the inoculated Stevia extracts (methanol, chloroform extract, and positive control) was 97.064 µM Fe2+ equivalents, 117.662 µM Fe2+ equivalents, and 53.384 µM Fe2+ equivalents, respectively. In the extracts of the plant inoculated with endophytic fungus, rutin and syringic acid (polyphenols) concentrations were 20.8793 mg/L and 5.4389 mg/L, respectively, which were higher than in the control plant extracts. This approach can be further utilized for other medicinal plants to increase their phytochemical content and hence medicinal potential in a sustainable way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advancements in the fields of ionic liquids (ILs) broaden its applications not only in traditional use but also in different pharmaceutical and biomedical fields. Ionic liquids "Solutions for Your Success" have received a lot of interest from scientists due to a myriad of applications in the pharmaceutical industry for drug delivery systems as well as targeting different diseases. Solubility is a critical physicochemical property that determines the drug's fate at the target site. Many promising drug candidates fail in various phases of drug research due to poor solubility. In this context, ionic liquids are regarded as effective drug delivery systems for poorly soluble medicines. ILs are also able to combine different anions/cations with other cations/anions to produce salts that satisfy the concept behind the ILs. The important characteristics of ionic liquids are the modularity of their physicochemical properties depending on the application. The review highlights the recent advancement and further applications of ionic liquids to deliver drugs in the pharmaceutical and biomedical fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byline: Niharika. Lal, Debabrata. Bandyopadhyay, Rachna. Verma, Anjani. Shukla Sir, Perforating calcific elastosis (PCE), also known as periumbilical perforating pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PPPXE), is an acquired, localized cutaneous disorder, frequently found [...]

Itaconic acid (IA) is a well-known bio-based monounsaturated organic acid (C5H6O4), with a white color and crystalline structure. It is widely used in the agro-based, plastics, textile, paint and pharmaceutical sectors, owing to its flexible structure, due to the presence of functional groups with covalent double bonds. IA is an alternative to the petrochemicals acrylic and methacrylic acids. Commercial manufacturing of IA using Aspergillus terreus is more economically effective and feasible, and the Department of Energy (DOE) of the United States added IA under the "top 12" organic chemicals in 2004. This review provides an overview on the synthesis of IA and improvement of its yield by mutagenesis and metabolic engineering of Aspergillus and other fungal strains, along with its wide applications for food, pharmaceutical and textile purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem: Hyperhomocysteinemia (hypHcy) due to impaired folate metabolism is shown to be a risk factor for preterm birth (PTB) and low birth weight (LBW) in mothers. However, the relationship of fetal hypHcy with adverse pregnancy outcomes is under‐represented. The present study aims to investigate the association of fetal hypHcy with oxidative stress and placental inflammation that can contribute to an early breakdown of maternal‐fetal tolerance in pre‐term birth (PTB). Methods: Cord blood and placenta tissue were collected from PTB and term infant group. Levels of homocysteine, folic acid, vitamin B12 and oxidative stress markers (MDA, T‐AOC, 8‐OHdG) were measured in cord blood serum using ELISA and respective standard assay kits. Relative expression of candidate genes (TNF‐α, IL‐6, IL1‐β, VEGF‐A, MMP2 and MMP9) was also checked using RT‐PCR and immunoblotting/immunohistochemistry. Results: PTB infants showed significantly higher levels of homocysteine (P =.02) and lower levels of vitamin B12 (P =.005) as compared to term infants. We also found that PTB infants with hypHcy had lower T‐AOC (P =.003) and higher MDA (P =.04) levels as compared to term infants with normal homocysteine levels. The mRNA and protein levels of TNF‐α, VEGF‐A, MMP2 and MMP9 were significantly higher in hypHcy PTB infants. Conclusion: Our results show that fetal hypHcy is associated with oxidative stress and an increase in inflammatory markers in the placenta. Thus, in conclusion, our study demonstrates that fetal hypHcy during pregnancy is a potential risk factor that may initiate an early breakdown of uterine quiescence due to activation of inflammatory processes leading to PTB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Skin disorders are common in paediatric age group and are associated with significant morbidity and stress. These differ from adults in clinical presentation, treatment and prognosis. Data on pattern of paediatric dermatoses can be used in planning healthcare programs. Aim: To study the clinical pattern and prevalence of various skin conditions in paediatric age group in tertiary care centre of rural Haryana, India. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional observational study was conducted in Bhagat Phool Singh Government Medical College (W) Khanpur Kalan, Sonepat, Haryana, India. A total of 1,003 consecutive Outpatient Department (OPD) patients upto age of 14 years presenting with skin conditions were included in study from a period May 2021 to January 2022. Various parameters like age, gender, pattern of distribution and type of skin lesions were assessed. Results were entered in excel sheet and frequency, percentages were calculated. Results: Out of 1,003 patients 56.53% were males and 43.47% were females. Maximum number (33.20%) of patients were in the age group of 1-5 years. Scabies (24.12%) was the most reported dermatological condition. Majority of dermatoses belonged to infections (32.40%) and infestations (24.83%) followed by eczemas (17.34%). Bacterial infections (15.25%) were most common infections followed by fungal (10.37%) and viral (6.78%) infections. Conclusion: In the present study, infections and infestations were most common dermatological conditions. This study provides insight about the pattern of various dermatoses among children in rural setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cholesterol is essential for normal human health, but elevations in its serum levels have led to the development of various complications, including hypercholesterolemia (HC). Cholesterol accumulation in blood circulation formsplaques on artery walls and worsens the individuals' health. To overcome this complication, different pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches are employed to reduce elevated blood cholesterol levels. Atorvastatin and rosuvastatin are the most commonly used drugs, but their prolonged use leads to several acute side effects. In recent decades, the potential benefit of ingesting yogurt on lipid profile has attracted the interest of researchers and medical professionals worldwide. This review aims to give an overview of the current knowledge about HC and the different therapeutic approaches. It also discusses the health benefits of yogurt consumption and highlights the overlooked phyto-enrichment option to enhance the yogurt's quality. Finally, clinical studies using different phyto-enriched yogurts for HC management are also reviewed. Yogurt has a rich nutritional value, but its processing degrades the content of minerals, vitamins, and other vital constituents with beneficial health effects. The option of enriching yogurt with phytoconstituents has drawn a lot of attention. Different pre-clinical and clinical studies have provided new insights on their benefits on gut microbiota and human health. Thus, the yogurtphyto-enrichment with stanol and β-glucan have opened new paths in functional food industries and found healthy andeffective alternatives for HC all along with conventional treatment approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthetic chemicals, such as fertilizers and pesticides, are abundantly used in agriculture to enhance soil fertility and prevent the occurrence of diseases, respectively. Many studies have reported a negative influence of these chemicals on the soil environment. Natural sources from earthworms and their products, as a result of vermicomposting, may be considered better alternatives. The aim of this review was to reveal the source of antifungal efficiency of vermicompost and its derivatives, such as vermiwash, coelomic fluid, skin secretion of earthworms, and metabolites from decomposer bacteria in vermicompost, in order to highlight their application in agriculture. The synergistic activity of bioactive compounds present in coelomic fluid, mucus, skin secretion, and metabolites from associated bacteria (decomposer) assisted crop plants for effective action against various soil pathogenic fungi, such as Rhizoctoniasolani, Alternaria solani, Aspergillus niger, A.flavus, Fusariumoxysporum, and F. graminearum. Thus, these bioactive metabolites can be recommended to suppress plant fungal diseases. Vermicompost and its derivatives should be considered for use in agricultural fields to control harmful soil fungi and increase crop productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]