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Abstract Background Diarrhoea has become one of the major areas of concern due to its high mortality rate contributing it to be the second largest cause of death in world. To explore the effectiveness of medicinal plant, the present investigation was undertaken to scientifically justify the traditional claim of the ethanolic root extract of the plant Begonia rubrovenia (EBV) against diarrhoea. Results EBV was standardized using HPLC with quercetin as marker and was further subjected to normal fecal excretion study at 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg, p.o. along with quercetin and loperamide. The study confirmed the effectiveness of EBV at 200 and 300 mg/kg followed by quercetin. In castor oil induced diarrhoea rat model, EBV at 200 and 300 mg/kg significantly delayed onset of diarrhoea, reduced the diarrhoeal faecal output which contributed in higher % protection. The effectiveness of EBV at 200 mg/kg was also confirmed through gastrointestinal motility, fluid accumulation and PGE2 induced enteropooling tests. EBV and its marker quercetin also reduced the elevated level of NO and cytokines and restored the alterations in antioxidant enzymes, ions and enhanced Na+/K+–ATPase activity. Molecular docking, dynamics and network pharmacology study confirmed the role of quercetin in modulating the inflammatory mediators IL-1β, TNF-α and EP3 prostanoid receptor, where quercetin formed more stable complex with EP3 prostanoid receptor. Conclusion The study has scientifically justified the traditional use of the plants B. rubrovenia in treating diarrhoea, where quercetin played a critical role in the observed antidiarrhoeal potential of B. rubrovenia contributing in maintaining electrolyte balance, antioxidant status and inhibiting inflammatory mediators.

The influence of residual plastic deformation on the bending deformation of a magnetoactive elastomer (MAE) beam with non-coercive superparamagnetic manganite (La0.6Ag0.2Mn1.2O3) nanoparticles induced by a transverse uniform magnetic field has been studied. It was found that the MAE bending induced by the magnetic field switching-on/switching-off is mainly cyclic elastic. Plastic deformation leads to the emergence of residual bending and hysteresis in the field dependence of the bending. It was shown that the residual bending that appears after the first magnetic field switch-on eliminates the uncertainty of the bending direction at the next magnetization. Due to the residual plastic deformation, the bending direction of the superparamagnetic MAE with nanoparticles does not change when the direction of the applied magnetic field is inverted, in contrast to the MAE with microparticles where the uncertainty of the bending direction is eliminated due to the residual magnetization of weakly coercive ferromagnetic microparticles; therefore, the bending direction changes its sign with magnetic field reversion. In the low fields, the bending value for the MAEs with superparamagnetic particles is proportional to the square of the magnetic field strength. Model estimates on the residual deformation influence on the beam bending at beam magnetization reversal were obtained.

The possibility of introducing various functionalities on peptides with relative ease allows them to be used for molecular applications. However, oligopeptides prepared entirely from proteinogenic amino acids seldom assemble as ordered structures on surfaces. Therefore, sidechain modifications of peptides that can increase the intermolecular interactions without altering the constitution of a given peptide become an attractive route to self-assembling them on surfaces. We find that replacing phenylalanine residues with unusual amino acids that have phenylcarbonyl sidechains in oligopeptides increases the formation of ordered self-assembly on a highly ordered pyrolytic graphite surface. Peptides containing the modified amino acids provided extended long-range ordered assemblies, while the analogous peptides containing phenylalanine residues failed to form long-range assemblies. X-ray crystallographic analysis of the bulk structures of these peptides and the analogous peptides containing phenylalanine residues reveal that such modifications do not alter the secondary structure in crystals. It also reveals that the secondary hydrogen bonding interaction through phenylcarbonyl sidechains facilitates extended growth of the peptides on graphite., (© 2024 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Pharmacogenomic (PGx) factors significantly influence how patients respond to antipsychotic medications This systematic review was performed to synthesize the clinical utility of PGx-assisted treatment versus standard of care in schizophrenia., Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from inception till June 2024 that had compared the clinical utility of PGx-assisted intervention as compared to the standard of care in schizophrenia. The primary outcome was safety, and the secondary outcomes were efficacy and medication adherence. Pooled standardized mean differences (SMD) along with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated (random-effects model) wherever feasible., Results: A total of 18,821 studies were screened, and five were included for review. All the RCTs had a high risk of bias. Four studies included the commonly used antipsychotics. Three studies reported negative outcomes (safety, efficacy, and medication adherence) and two reported positive outcomes (safety) using different scales. In the meta-analysis, there were significant differences in the total Udvalg for Kliniske Undersogelser Side-Effect Rating scale score [SMD 0.95 (95% CI: 0.76-1.13), p < 0.001); I 2  = 0%] and the total Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale score [SMD 10.65 (95% CI: 2.37-18.93), p = 0.01); I 2  = 100%] between the PGx-assisted treatment and standard of care arms. However, the results were inconsistent, and the certainty of evidence (GRADE criteria) was very low., Conclusion: Current evidence on the clinical utility of PGx-assisted treatment in schizophrenia is limited and inconsistent and further evidence is required in this regard., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Undercutting anchors are structural elements used in construction and geotechnics to stabilize both structures and soils. Their main applications include stabilizing slopes and embankments, reinforcing foundations, and providing support during tunnel construction and other underground works. The authors propose the use of these anchors in rock mass detachment technology. This article presents a comprehensive analysis of the mechanism behind rock mass detachment using an undercutting anchor. Particular attention is given to the influence of parameters such as the fracture energy of the medium and the coefficient of friction between the medium and the anchor head on the detachment process of rock elements during anchor expansion in the drilled hole. Numerical FEM analysis was employed to model the effect of changes in the shape and size of failure cones under varying simulation conditions. The discussed problem is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of this anchor design under non-standard conditions, particularly in the unconventional destruction of rock media.

Background: Exposure to extreme weatherly events potentially develops mental disorders among affected individuals., Aim: To synthesize the burden of mental disorders following impact of extreme weather events in South-east Asian (SEA) countries., Methods: Proposal was registered in PROSPERO register [CRD42023469788] and reported as per PRISMA-2020 guidelines. Studies reporting prevalence of mental health disorders following extreme weather events from SEA countries during 1990 and 2023 were searched on Embase, PubMed, and Scopus databases. Study quality was assessed using Appraisal tool for Cross-Sectional Studies. Overall pooled prevalence was computed using DerSimonian-Laird method for random-effects model and reported as 95% confidence intervals., Results: On screening 12,046 records, we included 155 studies (2,04,474 participants) for analysis. Overall burden of mental disorders was 35.31% (95%CI: 30.42%-40.21%). In subgroup analysis, studies on cyclones, India, local residents, children and adolescents, rural settings, and community settings reported higher burden of mental disorders. Depression (28.58%; 95%CI: 24.05%-33.1%) and PTSD (29.36%; 95%CI: 26.26%-32.46%) had similar prevalence. Visiting tourists to SEA region experienced fear, fear of recurrence of tsunami, nightmares, and sense of helplessness. Mental health outcomes were relatively higher in studies conducted within 1 year of events. Heterogeneity and possibility of publication bias exists among the reported studies., Conclusion: With the significant rise in episodes of extreme weather events in SEA region over the last three decades, mental disorders are documented in different proportions. We suggest prioritizing well-informed policies to formulate inclusive and resilient strategies on effectively identifying and treating mental health concerns among victims of extreme weather events., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 Indian Journal of Psychiatry.)

A 60 days study was conducted to evaluate the physiological response of indigenous species Labeo rohita (LR) and indigenous predator Chitala chitala (CC) in presence of an invasive species Piaractus brachypomus (PB). Two treatment groups as LR + PB (T1) and LR + PB + CC (T2) with individual control groups as T 0 LR, T 0 PB and T 0 CC were designed in triplicates. Fingerlings of LR, PB and CC were randomly distributed into 15 circular tanks with a stocking ratio of 1:1 and 1:1:0.3 in T1 and T2 group, respectively and 10 nos. each of LR, PB and CC in respective control groups. At first 15 min of the experiment, cortisol level was found significantly (P < 0.05) higher in all three experimental fishes in T1 and T2 groups. With the experimental duration, the level of stress hormone (cortisol), oxidative stress enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase), tissue metabolic enzymes (lactate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase), serum metabolic enzymes (transaminase enzymes) and blood glucose level were significantly (P < 0.05) increased in T1 and T2 groups for LR and CC whereas, no variation (P > 0.05) were observed for PB in both T1 and T2 groups. The total antioxidant capacity (TAC), liver glycogen, total protein, albumin and globulin were found to be significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in LR in the presence of PB and CC. The present study provides a preliminary insight into the biological interaction between native and invasive species and their physiological responses in the presence of native predator with higher trophic index. Thus, the results of the study suggest the superior traits of invasive P. brachypomus try to dominate the other two native species by negatively influencing the native fauna even with a higher trophic index (C. chitala)., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background & objectives Tobacco (30%), alcohol (21.4%) and cannabis (3%) are the three most commonly abused substances in India. Tobacco and alcohol abuse have higher prevalence rates among different occupational groups as compared to that in general population in the country. Both tobacco and alcohol lead to significant occupational harm in terms of absenteeism, injuries, sickness and lost productivity. This study estimated the patterns of substance use and associated common psychiatric comorbidity in a sample of coal mine workers. Methods Coal mine workers at the age of 18 yr or above engaged in mining activities (skilled/semi-skilled/unskilled) were recruited from the Raniganj - Asansol coal mining areas of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL). Participants were screened to identify patterns of substance use and other common mental health problems. All participants were administered ASSIST (The Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test); GENACIS (Gender, Alcohol and Culture: An International Study) modified questionnaire; and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for primary screening for anxiety and depression. Results Out of 202 participants 69 per cent (n=140) were found with either 'hazardous and harmful' (moderate risk); or 'dependent' (high risk) patterns of use of either tobacco or alcohol or cannabis or of more than one substance. Only 31 per cent (n=62) were 'low-risk' for all substances. Almost 65 per cent (n=132) and 49 per cent (n=99) participants out of the whole sample (n=202) belonged to 'hazardous and harmful' (moderate risk) and 'dependent' (high risk) pattern of tobacco and alcohol consumption, respectively. About 28.8 per cent (n=38) and 23.7 per cent (n=31) of all participants had anxiety and depression, respectively. Combined moderate to high use of both alcohol and tobacco use was significantly associated with the risk of having anxiety [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=4.896, P<0.015] and depression (AOR=5.335, P<0.012). Interpretation & conclusions Alcohol and tobacco are major substance abuse problems among coal mine workers. This population requires early community and primary care based brief intervention as well as additional community-based pharmacotherapy for substance dependence problems as well as intervention for common mental health issues.

Today, there are many diagnostic methods and advanced measurement techniques enabling the correct diagnosis and assessment of the type and degree of wear of cogwheels (gears, pumps, etc.). The present study presents an analysis of the surface defects of a cogwheel of an oil pump prototype (3PW-BPF-24). The test object operated for a certain number of hours under controlled operating and environmental parameters. The damage to the surface layer was caused by fatigue phenomena and previous thermo-chemical treatment. On the basis of the significant percentage share (~30%) of residual austenite in the volume of the diffusion layer, a hypothetical conclusion was drawn about the suboptimal parameters of the thermo-chemical treatment process (in relation to the chemical composition of the analyzed pinion). A large number of research studies indicate that the significant presence of residual austenite causes a decrease in tooth surface hardness, the initiation of brittle cracks, a sharp decrease in fatigue strength, an increase in brittleness and a tendency to develop surface layer cracks during operation. High-resolution 3D scans of randomly selected pitting defects were used in the detailed study of the present work. It was indicated that the analysis of the morphology of surface defects allowed some degree of verification of the quality of the heat/chemical treatment. The martensitic transformation of residual austenite under controlled (optimum) repeated heat treatment conditions could significantly improve the durability of the pinion (cogwheel). In the case analyzed, the preferred treatment was the low-temperature treatment. The paper concludes with detailed conclusions based on the microscopic and macroscopic investigations carried out.

We studied steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence of Eu doped BaAl 2 O 4 phosphor. The undoped BaAl 2 O 4 sample shows a dominant blue emission band at ~ 428 nm and two secondary maxima at ~ 405 and 456 nm due to F-centre and aggregate defects such as F 2 -centre. The samples after doping of Eu at 1-5% show additional emission bands at ~ 485 and 518 nm due to Eu 2+ centre and a red emission band at ~ 657 nm is attributed to Eu 3+ centre. The sample doped with 2% of Eu shows anomalous emission having the dominant peak at ~ 494 nm. The average luminescence lifetime of the emission band at ~ 428 nm in the undoped sample was estimated to be (3.29 ± 0.91) ns. The average luminescence lifetime of this emission band after doping of Eu was found to increase by 10 2 orders of magnitude. The intensity of the 428 nm blue emission band was found to quench after doping of Eu beyond 3%. The concentration quenching effect was attributed to dipole-quadrupole interaction. Further, a non-radiative fluorescence energy transfer mechanism from an extrinsic Eu 2+ centre to an intrinsic F-centre is proposed to describe the luminescence dynamics of the samples., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Although cadmium-based quantum dots (QDs) are highly promising candidates for numerous biological applications, their intrinsic toxicity limits their pertinency in living systems. Surface functionalization of QDs with appropriate molecules could reduce the toxicity level. Herein, we have synthesized the smaller sized (1-5 nm) aqueous-compatible biogenic CdTe QDs using human serum albumin (HSA) as a surface passivating agent via a greener approach. HSA-functionalized CdTe QDs have been explored in multiple in vitro sensing and biological applications, namely, (1) sensing, (2) anti-bacterial and (3) anti-cancer properties. Using CdTe-HSA QDs as a fluorescence probe, a simple fluorometric method has been developed for highly sensitive and selective detection of blood marker bilirubin and hazardous Hg 2+ ion with a limit of detection (LOD) of 3.38 and 0.53 ng/mL, respectively. CdTe-HSA QDs also acts as a sensor for standard antibiotics, tetracycline and rifampicin with LOD values of 41.34 and 114.99 ng/mL, respectively. Nano-sized biogenic CdTe-HSA QDs have shown promising anti-bacterial activities against both gram-negative, E. coli and gram-positive, E. faecalis strains confirming more effectiveness against E. faecalis strains. The treatment of human cervical cancer cell lines (HeLa cells) with the synthesized QDs reflected the proficient cytotoxic properties of QDs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that no known competing conflict of financial interests or personal relationships exists, that could bias the reported work. All authors have read and approved this submission., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Individual differences in the response to platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy can be observed among patients. The genetic background may be the cause of this variability. The current study focused on the impact of genetic variants on the effectiveness of PRP. The aim of the present study was to analyze the impact of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of the platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha ( PDGFRA ) gene on the effectiveness of treating lateral elbow tendinopathy (LET) with PRP. The treatment's efficacy was analyzed over time (2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 52 and 104 weeks after the PRP injection) on 107 patients using patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) and achievement of a minimal clinically important difference (MCID). Four SNPs of the PDGFRA gene (rs7668190, rs6554164, rs869978 and rs1316926) were genotyped using the TaqMan assay method. Patients with the AA genotypes of the rs7668190 and the rs1316926 polymorphisms, as well as carriers of the T allele of rs6554164 showed greater effectiveness of PRP therapy than carriers of other genotypes. Moreover, the studied SNPs influenced the platelets' parameters both in whole blood and in PRP. These results showed that PDGFRA gene polymorphisms affect the effectiveness of PRP treatment. Genotyping the rs6554164 and the rs1316926 SNPs may be considered for use in individualized patient selection for PRP therapy.

Objectives: The response to antipsychotic therapy is highly variable. Pharmacogenomic (PGx) factors play a major role in deciding the effectiveness and safety of antipsychotic drugs. A hybrid type 2 effectiveness-implementation research will be conducted to evaluate the clinical utility (safety and efficacy), cost-effectiveness, and facilitators and barriers in implementing PGx-assisted management compared to standard of care in patients with schizophrenia attending a tertiary care hospital in eastern India., Methods: In part 1, a randomized controlled trial will be conducted. Adult patients with schizophrenia will be randomized (2: 1) to receive PGx-assisted treatment (drug and regimen selection depending on the results of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in genes DRD2, HTR1A, HTR2C, ABCB1, CYP2D6, CYP3A5, and CYP1A2) or the standard of care. Serum drug levels will be measured. The patients will be followed up for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint is the difference in the Udvalg for Kliniske Undersøgelser Side-Effect Rating Scale score between the two arms. In part 2, the cost-effectiveness of PGx-assisted treatment will be evaluated. In part 3, the facilitators and barriers to implementing PGx-assisted treatment for schizophrenia will be explored using a qualitative design., Expected Outcome: The study findings will help in understanding whether PGx-assisted management has a clinical utility, whether it is cost-effective, and what are the facilitators and barriers to implementing it in the management of schizophrenia., Trial Registration: The study has been registered with the Clinical Trials Registry-India (CTRI/2023/08/056210)., Competing Interests: I have read the journal’s policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests: This study is funded by ICMR, New Delhi, India (https://www.icmr.gov.in/) through the ICMR-National Taskforce on Safe and Rational Use of Medicines (extra-mural fund). The fund was awarded to SD (File No. SRUM/2023/BMS/Part2/SaibalDas). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript., (Copyright: © 2024 Basu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is a forage legume cultivated worldwide. This plant is capable of establishing a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with Rhizobium leguminosarum symbiovar trifolii strains. To date, no comparative analysis of the symbiotic properties and heterogeneity of T. pratense microsymbionts derived from two distinct geographic regions has been performed. In this study, the symbiotic properties of strains originating from the subpolar and temperate climate zones in a wide range of temperatures (10-25 °C) have been characterized. Our results indicate that all the studied T. pratense microsymbionts from two geographic regions were highly efficient in host plant nodulation and nitrogen fixation in a wide range of temperatures. However, some differences between the populations and between the strains within the individual population examined were observed. Based on the nodC and nifH sequences, the symbiotic diversity of the strains was estimated. In general, 13 alleles for nodC and for nifH were identified. Moreover, 21 and 61 polymorphic sites in the nodC and nifH sequences were found, respectively, indicating that the latter gene shows higher heterogeneity than the former one. Among the nodC and nifH alleles, three genotypes (I-III) were the most frequent, whereas the other alleles (IV-XIII) proved to be unique for the individual strains. Based on the nodC and nifH allele types, 20 nodC-nifH genotypes were identified. Among them, the most frequent were three genotypes marked as A (6 strains), B (5 strains), and C (3 strains). Type A was exclusively found in the temperate strains, whereas types B and C were identified in the subpolar strains. The remaining 17 genotypes were found in single strains. In conclusion, our data indicate that R. leguminosarum sv. trifolii strains derived from two climatic zones show a high diversity with respect to the symbiotic efficiency and heterogeneity. However, some of the R. leguminosarum sv. trifolii strains exhibit very good symbiotic potential in the wide range of the temperatures tested; hence, they may be used in the future for improvement of legume crop production., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

A novel bacterium, designated strain MMK2 T , was isolated from a surface-sterilised root nodule of a Trifolium rubens plant growing in south-eastern Poland. Cells were Gram negative, non-spore forming and rod shaped. The strain had the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with P. endophytica (99.4%), P. leporis (99.4%) P. rwandensis (98.8%) and P. rodasii (98.45%). Phylogenomic analysis clearly showed that strain MMK2 T and an additional strain, MMK3, should reside in the genus Pantoea and that they were most closely related to P. endophytica and P. leporis. Genome comparisons showed that the novel strain shared 82.96-93.50% average nucleotide identity and 26.2-53. 2% digital DNA:DNA hybridization with closely related species. Both strains produced siderophores and were able to solubilise phosphates. The MMK2 T strain was also able to produce indole-3-acetic acid. The tested strains differed in their antimicrobial activity, but both were able to inhibit the growth of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum 10Ss01. Based on the results of the phenotypic, phylogenomic, genomic and chemotaxonomic analyses, strains MMK2 T and MMK3 belong to a novel species in the genus Pantoea for which the name Pantoea trifolii sp. nov. is proposed with the type strain MMK2 T (= DSM 115063 T  = LMG 33049 T )., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is implicated in both the etiology of tendinopathy and its healing process. Polymorphic variants of the VEGFA gene exhibit varied expression, which can influence the phenotype and treatment effectiveness. The aim of the present study was to analyze the influence of VEGFA gene variants on the effectiveness of tennis elbow therapy using platelet-rich plasma (PRP), measured through common patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). A cohort of 107 patients (132 elbows) with tennis elbow was prospectively analyzed, with a two-year follow-up (at weeks 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 52, and 104 after PRP injection). PROMs values were compared between variants of five VEGFA gene polymorphisms (rs699947 A>C, rs2010963 C>G, rs1413711 C>T, rs3024998 C>T and rs3025021 C>T) at each follow-up point. Patients with genotypes GG (rs2010963) and CC (rs3024998) had better response to PRP therapy (significantly fewer symptoms and limitations in the upper limb compared to carriers of alleles C and T, respectively). Polymorphisms influenced also selected hematological parameters. VEGFA gene polymorphisms (rs2010963 and rs3024998) appear to be significant treatment modifiers for tendinopathy, and their genotyping may serve as an effective tool for personalized patient selection for PRP therapy.

Chronic innate immune activation is a key hallmark of many neurological diseases and is known to result in the upregulation of GPR84 in myeloid cells (macrophages, microglia, and monocytes). As such, GPR84 can potentially serve as a sensor of proinflammatory innate immune responses. To assess the utility of GPR84 as an imaging biomarker, we synthesized 11 C-MGX-10S and 11 C-MGX-11S via carbon-11 alkylation for use as positron emission tomography (PET) tracers targeting this receptor. In vitro experiments demonstrated significantly higher binding of both radiotracers to hGPR84-HEK293 cells than that of parental control HEK293 cells. Co-incubation with the GPR84 antagonist GLPG1205 reduced the binding of both radiotracers by >90%, demonstrating their high specificity for GPR84 in vitro . In vivo assessment of each radiotracer via PET imaging of healthy mice illustrated the superior brain uptake and pharmacokinetics of 11 C-MGX-10S compared to 11 C-MGX-11S . Subsequent use of 11 C-MGX-10S to image a well-established mouse model of systemic and neuro-inflammation revealed a high PET signal in affected tissues, including the brain, liver, lung, and spleen. In vivo specificity of 11 C-MGX-10S for GPR84 was confirmed by the administration of GLPG1205 followed by radiotracer injection. When compared with 11 C-DPA-713-an existing radiotracer used to image innate immune activation in clinical research studies- 11 C-MGX-10S has multiple advantages, including its higher binding signal in inflamed tissues in the CNS and periphery and low background signal in healthy saline-treated subjects. The pronounced uptake of 11 C-MGX-10S during inflammation, its high specificity for GPR84, and suitable pharmacokinetics strongly support further investigation of 11 C-MGX-10S for imaging GPR84-positive myeloid cells associated with innate immune activation in animal models of inflammatory diseases and human neuropathology., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 American Chemical Society.)

Tightness of the pectoralis minor muscle has been a common characteristic of abnormal posture. Prolonged inappropriate posture while using computers/laptops results in musculoskeletal problems, mainly in the upper limb. This study aims to see how the muscular energy technique affected pectoralis minor tightness in computer users right away. This study included 65 individuals aged 20-40 years following the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Participants received muscle energy technique for the pectoralis minor muscle. Pre- and post-assessment included the evaluation of pectoralis minor length, round shoulder posture (RSP), and forward head posture (FHP). We used the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test to assess the normality of data, as this study included > 50 participants. Data analysis was conducted using a paired t-test for within-group analysis. The outcome measures demonstrated significant improvement (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the muscle energy technique is effective in reducing muscle tightness, improving RSP and reducing FHP., Competing Interests: • Conflicts of Interest No conflict of interest., (© 2023 Journal of Lifestyle Medicine.)

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a powerful tool for studying neuroinflammatory diseases; however, current PET biomarkers of neuroinflammation possess significant limitations. We recently reported a promising dendrimer PET tracer ([ 18 F]OP-801), which is selectively taken up by reactive microglia and macrophages. Here, we describe further important characterization of [ 18 F]OP-801 in addition to optimization and validation of a two-step clinical radiosynthesis. [ 18 F]OP-801 was found to be stable in human plasma for 90 min post incubation, and human dose estimates were calculated for 24 organs of interest; kidneys and urinary bladder wall without bladder voiding were identified as receiving the highest absorbed dose. Following optimization detailed herein, automated radiosynthesis and quality control (QC) analyses of [ 18 F]OP-801 were performed in triplicate in suitable radiochemical yield (6.89 ± 2.23% decay corrected), specific activity (37.49 ± 15.49 GBq/mg), and radiochemical purity for clinical imaging. Importantly, imaging mice with tracer (prepared using optimized methods) 24 h following the intraperitoneal injection of liposaccharide resulted in the robust brain PET signal. Cumulatively, these data enable clinical translation of [ 18 F]OP-801 for imaging reactive microglia and macrophages in humans. Data from three validation runs of the clinical manufacturing and QC were submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as part of a Drug Master File (DMF). Subsequent FDA approval to proceed was obtained, and a phase 1/2 clinical trial (NCT05395624) for first-in-human imaging in healthy controls and patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is underway.

Background: Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a serious health issue of diabetes mellitus that affects innumerable people worldwide. Management and treatment of this complication are challenging, especially for those whose immune system is weak., Aim: To discuss the plants and their parts used to heal DFU, along with the mode of their administration in diabetic patients., Methods: The original articles on "the plants for the treatment of DFU" studied in clinical cases only were obtained from various bibliographic databases using different keywords., Results: The search resulted in 22 clinical cases records with 20 medicinal plants belonging to 17 families on 1553 subjects. The fruits and leaves were the most preferentially used parts for DFU treatment, regardless of whether they were being administered orally or applied topically. Of the 20 medicinal plants, 19 reported their effectiveness in increasing angiogenesis, epithelialization, and granulation, thus hastening the wound-healing process. The efficacy of these botanicals might be attributed to their major bioactive compounds, such as actinidin and ascorbic acid (in Actinidia deliciosa ), 7-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)-galactin (in Ageratina pichinchensis ), omega-3-fatty acid (in Linum usitatissimum ), isoquercetin (in Melilotus officinalis ), anthocyanins (in Myrtus communis ), and plantamajoside (in Plantago major )., Conclusion: The validation of mechanisms of action underlying these phytocompounds contributing to the management of DFU can aid in our better understanding of creating efficient treatment options for DFU and its associated problems., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article., (©The Author(s) 2023. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

The purpose of this study was to experimentally determine the abrasion wear properties of ausferritic ductile iron austempered at 250 °C in order to obtain cast iron of class EN-GJS-1400-1. It has been found that such a cast iron grade makes it possible to create structures for material conveyors used for short-distance transport purposes, required to perform in terms of abrasion resistance under extreme conditions. The wear tests addressed in the paper were conducted at a ring-on-ring type of test rig. The test samples were examined under the conditions of slide mating, where the main destructive process was surface microcutting via loose corundum grains. The mass loss of the examined samples was measured as a parameter characteristic of the wear. The volume loss values thus obtained were plotted as a function of initial hardness. Based on these results, it has been found that prolonged heat treatment (of more than 6 h) causes only an insignificant increase in the resistance to abrasive wear.

Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients undergoing curative radiotherapy (RT) are at risk of malnutrition due to disease process as well as effects of therapy. Identifying the nutritional status of these patients at the earliest, helps to introduce adequate and timely interventions that can improve compliance and outcomes of treatment. Various tools for nutritional assessment in cancer patients have been proposed. In this prospective observational study we used the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) questionnaire in a cohort of HNC patients receiving definitive RT at a regional cancer center of North East India. Recording of data was done at baseline, at two weekly intervals during treatment, at end of radiotherapy (EORT) and at follow-up upto 6 months. We observed that despite proper nutrition counseling, our patients suffered from malnutrition throughout their course of RT, which was at its peak by EORT but gradually improved over six months of follow-up. Pain on eating and swallowing were the most debilitating symptoms which caused significant decline of nutrient intake, body fat and muscle mass among patients together with deteriorating SGA ratings. Our results will hopefully help us design better strategies for nutrition management while delivering curative (chemo)radiotherapy for HNC patients of this region- which has one of the highest incidences of HNC in the world.

For the past several decades, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies have shown promise in the treatment of cancers. These treatments would greatly benefit from companion imaging biomarkers to follow the trafficking of T cells in vivo. Methods: Using synthetic biology, we engineered T cells with a chimeric receptor synthetic intramembrane proteolysis receptor (SNIPR) that induces overexpression of an exogenous reporter gene cassette on recognition of specific tumor markers. We then applied a SNIPR-based PET reporter system to 2 cancer-relevant antigens, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and epidermal growth factor receptor variant III (EGFRvIII), commonly expressed in breast and glial tumors, respectively. Results: Antigen-specific reporter induction of the SNIPR PET T cells was confirmed in vitro using green fluorescent protein fluorescence, luciferase luminescence, and the HSV-TK PET reporter with 9-(4- 18 F-fluoro-3-[hydroxymethyl]butyl)guanine ([ 18 F]FHBG). T cells associated with their target antigens were successfully imaged using PET in dual-xenograft HER2+/HER2- and EGFRvIII+/EGFRvIII- animal models, with more than 10-fold higher [ 18 F]FHBG signals seen in antigen-expressing tumors versus the corresponding controls. Conclusion: The main innovation found in this work was PET detection of T cells via specific antigen-induced signals, in contrast to reporter systems relying on constitutive gene expression., (© 2023 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.)

Intro: Chronic neuroinflammation and microglial dysfunction are key features of many neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's Disease and multiple sclerosis. While there is unfortunately a dearth of highly selective molecular imaging biomarkers/probes for studying microglia in vivo, P2Y12R has emerged as an attractive candidate PET biomarker being explored for this purpose. Importantly, P2Y12R is selectively expressed on microglia in the CNS and undergoes dynamic changes in expression according to inflammatory context (e.g., toxic versus beneficial/healing states), thus having the potential to reveal functional information about microglia in living subjects. Herein, we identified a high affinity, small molecule P2Y12R antagonist (AZD1283) to radiolabel and assess as a candidate radiotracer through in vitro assays and in vivo positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of both wild-type and total knockout mice and a non-human primate., Methods: First, we evaluated the metabolic stability and passive permeability of non-radioactive AZD1283 in vitro. Next, we radiolabeled [ 11 C]AZD1283 with radioactive precursor [ 11 C]NH 4 CN and determined stability in formulation and human plasma. Finally, we investigated the in vivo stability and kinetics of [ 11 C]AZD1283 via dynamic PET imaging of naïve wild-type mice, P2Y12R knockout mouse, and a rhesus macaque., Results: We determined the half-life of AZD1283 in mouse and human liver microsomes to be 37 and > 160 min, respectively, and predicted passive CNS uptake with a small amount of active efflux, using a Caco-2 assay. Our radiolabeling efforts afforded [ 11 C]AZD1283 in an activity of 12.69 ± 10.64 mCi with high chemical and radiochemical purity (>99%) and molar activity of 1142.84 ± 504.73 mCi/μmol (average of n = 3). Of note, we found [ 11 C]AZD1283 to be highly stable in vitro, with >99% intact tracer present after 90 min of incubation in formulation and 60 min of incubation in human serum. PET imaging revealed negligible brain signal in healthy wild-type mice (n = 3) and a P2Y12 knockout mouse (0.55 ± 0.37%ID/g at 5 min post injection). Strikingly, high signal was detected in the liver of all mice within the first 20 min of administration (peak uptake = 58.28 ± 18.75%ID/g at 5 min post injection) and persisted for the remaining duration of the scan. Ex vivo gamma counting of mouse tissues at 60 min post-injection mirrored in vivo data with a mean %ID/g of 0.9% ± 0.40, 0.02% ± 0.01, and 106 ± 29.70% in the blood, brain, and liver, respectively (n = 4). High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of murine blood and liver metabolite samples revealed a single radioactive peak (relative area under peak: 100%), representing intact tracer. Finally, PET imaging of a rhesus macaque also revealed negligible CNS uptake/binding in monkey brain (peak uptake = 0.37 Standard Uptake Values (SUV))., Conclusion: Despite our initial encouraging liver microsome and Caco-2 monolayer data, in addition to the observed high stability of [ 11 C]AZD1283 in formulation and human serum, in vivo brain uptake was negligible and rapid accumulation was observed in the liver of both naïve wildtype and P2Y12R knockout mice. Liver signal appeared to be independent of both metabolism and P2Y12R expression due to the confirmation of intact tracer in this tissue for both wildtype and P2Y12R knockout mice. In Rhesus Macaque, negligible uptake of [ 11 C]AZD1283 brain indicates a lack of potential for translation or its further investigation in vivo. P2Y12R is an extremely promising potential PET biomarker, and the data presented here suggests encouraging metabolic stability for this scaffold; however, the mechanism of liver uptake in mice should be elucidated prior to further analogue development., 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 © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Differences in response to PRP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy may be linked to the variability of growth factors and their receptor's genes. Considering that, we checked whether the platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta gene ( PDGFRB ) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) affect the effectiveness of PRP therapy in treating tennis elbow patients., Methods: The treatment efficacy was analyzed over time (2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 52, and 104 weeks after PRP injection) on 107 patients (132 elbows) using PROMs (patient-reported outcome measures), namely VAS (Visual Analog Scale), QDASH (quick version of Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand) and PRTEE (Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation). Five polymorphisms of the PDGFRB gene (rs4324662, rs758588, rs3828610, rs3756311, and rs3756312) were genotyped., Results: The CC (rs3828610) and GG (rs3756311 and rs3756312) genotypes had a particularly strong impact on the effectiveness of the therapy, as measured by the values of PROMs, both in additive as well as dominant/recessive models. These homozygotes were also characterized by significantly higher values of MPV (mean platelet volume)., Conclusions: The PDGFRB gene SNPs affect the effectiveness of PRP therapy in treating tennis elbow patients and it may result from the differentiated metabolic activity of platelets in particular genotype variants.

The advancement of biomedicine in a socioeconomically sustainable manner while achieving efficient patient-care is imperative to the health and well-being of society. Magnetic systems consisting of iron based nanosized components have gained prominence among researchers in a multitude of biomedical applications. This review focuses on recent trends in the areas of diagnostic imaging and drug delivery that have benefited from iron-incorporated nanosystems, especially in cancer treatment, diagnosis and wound care applications. Discussion on imaging will emphasise on developments in MRI technology and hyperthermia based diagnosis, while advanced material synthesis and targeted, triggered transport will be the focus for drug delivery. Insights onto the challenges in transforming these technologies into day-to-day applications will also be explored with perceptions onto potential for patient-centred healthcare.

The phytoremediation potential and enzymatic defense of a medicinal herb Leucas aspera was studied in the crude oil contaminated soil. The productivity, antioxidants, and phytochemical and functional group profiles of the plant species in stress conditions were investigated. Besides, changes in enzymes, beneficial bacterial population, and physico-chemical and total oil and grease (TOG) profiles in the contaminated soil were also studied. The results showed improvement in physico-chemical conditions, increase in beneficial bacterial population (4.1-5.4 folds), and decrease in TOG (31.3%) level of the contaminated soil by end of the experimental trials. The L. aspera treated contaminated soil showed enhancement in dehydrogenase (32.3%), urease (102.8%), alkaline phosphatase (174.4%), catalase (68.5%), amylase (76.16%), and cellulase (23.6%) activities by end of the experimental trials. Furthermore, there were significant variations in leaf area index, chlorophyll, and biomass contents of the experimental plant as against the initial level and control. Besides, the significant reduction in IC 50 values (24-27.4%) of L. aspera samples grown in contaminated soil confirms the strong antioxidant enzymatic defense of the plant species against the crude oil associated abiotic stress. The Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis confirmed the uptake and metabolism of aliphatic hydrocarbons, aldehydes, alkyl halides, and nitro compounds by the experimental plant from the contaminated soil., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Rhizobia are soil-borne bacteria forming symbiotic associations with legumes and fixing atmospheric dinitrogen. The nitrogen-fixation potential depends on the type of host plants and microsymbionts as well as environmental factors that affect the distribution of rhizobia. In this study, we compared genetic diversity of bacteria isolated from root nodules of Trifolium pratense grown in two geographical regions (Tromsø, Norway and Lublin, Poland) located in distinct climatic (subpolar and temperate) zones. To characterize these isolates genetically, three PCR-based techniques (ERIC, BOX, and RFLP of the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer), 16S rRNA sequencing, and multi-locus sequence analysis of chromosomal house-keeping genes (atpD, recA, rpoB, gyrB, and glnII) were done. Our results indicate that a great majority of the isolates are T. pratense microsymbionts belonging to Rhizobium leguminosarum sv. trifolii. A high diversity among these strains was detected. However, a lower diversity within the population derived from the subpolar region in comparison to that of the temperate region was found. Multi-locus sequence analysis showed that a majority of the strains formed distinct clusters characteristic for the individual climatic regions. The subpolar strains belonged to two (A and B) and the temperate strains to three R. leguminosarum genospecies (B, E, and K), respectively., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Satinder Kaur Purpose  The aim of this article was to study survival outcomes of early-stage cervical cancer patients and impact on survival after restaging them as per International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) 2018. Materials and Methods  A retrospective study was conducted from June 1, 2013 to May 31, 2018 in a tertiary care hospital in North India. One-hundred patients of early-stage cervical cancer (as per FIGO 2009 staging) who had been treated by surgery followed by risk based tailored adjuvant therapy in our hospital were evaluated. The clinicopathological features and survival outcomes of these patients were analyzed. These patients were then restaged as per new FIGO 2018 staging and survival outcomes between two FIGO classifications were compared. Results  The median age of the study population was 52.5 years with median follow-up of 62.1 months. Ninety percent of our patients had more than 2 years follow-up and 59% had more than 5 years follow-up. The overall survival and relapse-free survival were 87.5 and 91.4%, respectively. The study population was then reclassified according to new FIGO 2018 staging. It was seen that the patients with stage IB1and IB2 cervical cancer had overall survival of 91.1 and 90%, respectively. The overall survival of stage IB3 was 80% and the survival of stage IIIC1 was only 60%. Conclusion  The new FIGO 2018 classification has a significant effect on survival outcome and in prognostication of patients with cervical cancer., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest None declared., (MedIntel Services Pvt Ltd. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ ).)

Background: This study aims to identify genotype variants of the platelet-derived growth factor alpha polypeptide gene ( PDGFA ) that can influence the individual response to the treatment with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in tennis elbow patients., Methods: We observed a cohort of 107 patients (132 elbows) with tennis elbow who received treatment with PRP. Patients have been followed-up for two years after PRP injection and the effectiveness of the treatment was measured using universal patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs): visual analog scale (VAS), quick version of disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand score (QDASH), and patient-rated tennis elbow evaluation (PRTEE). PROMs values, and clinical and platelet parameters were compared between genotype variants of the studied polymorphisms (rs1800814, rs2070958 and rs62433334)., Results: The A allele carriers (rs1800814) had significantly lower values of VAS (week 12), QDASH, and PRTEE (weeks 8, 12). The T allele carriers (rs2070958) had significantly lower values of VAS (weeks 8, 12), QDASH, and PRTEE (weeks 4-12). Additional forms of therapy (manual and physical) were necessary significantly more often in GG (rs1800814) and CC (rs2070958) homozygotes., Conclusions: The PDGFA gene's polymorphisms influences the effectiveness of PRP therapy in tennis elbow treatment. The effectiveness of PRP is greater in A allele (rs1800814) and T allele (rs2070958) carriers.

Glycans govern cellular signaling through glycan-protein and glycan-glycan crosstalk. Disruption in the crosstalk initiates 'rogue' signaling and pathology. Nanomaterials supply platforms for multivalent displays of glycans, mediate 'rogue' signal correction, and provide disease treatment modalities (therapeutics). The decorated glycans also target overexpressed lectins on unhealthy cells and direct metal nanoparticles such as gold, iron oxide, and quantum dots to the site of infection. The nanoparticles inform us about the state of the disease (diagnosis) through their distinct optical, magnetic, and electronic properties. Glyco-nanoparticles can sense disease biomarkers, report changes in protein-glycan interactions, and safeguard quality control (analysis). Here we review the current state of glyco-nanotechnology focusing on diagnosis, therapeutics, and analysis of human diseases. We highlight how glyco-nanotechnology could aid in improving diagnostic methods for the detection of disease biomarkers with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and fluorescence imaging (FLI), enhance therapeutics such as anti-adhesive treatment of cancer and vaccines against pneumonia, and advance analysis such as the rapid detection of pharmaceutical heparin contaminant and recombinant SARS-COV-2 spike protein. We illustrate these progressions and outline future potentials of glyco-nanotechnology in advancing human health., (Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Cold atmospheric pressure (CAP) plasma has a profound effect on protein-protein interactions. In this work, we have highlighted the deactivation of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein by CAP plasma treatment. Complete deactivation of spike protein binding to the human ACE2 protein was observed within an exposure time of 5 minutes which is correlated to the higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide formation due to the interaction with the reactive oxygen species present in the plasma. On the other hand, we have established that CAP plasma is also capable of degrading RNA of SARS-CoV-2 virus which is also linked to hydrogen peroxide concentration. The reactive oxygen species is produced in the plasma by using noble gases such as helium, in the absence of any other chemicals. Therefore, it is a green process with no chemical waste generated and highly advantageous from the environmental safety prospects. Results of this work could be useful in designing plasma-based disinfection systems over those based on environmentally hazardous chemical-based disinfection and biomedical applications., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Introduction  Many multiparametric models and scoring systems had been proposed in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) to predict the survival and recurrence, out of which pattern of invasion (POI) is gaining focus recently. Objective  We conducted a retrospective study with the aim to see the prognostic significance of the POI and other parameters such as depth of invasion, perineural invasion (PNI), and lymph node status in OTSCC. Materials and Methods  The slides of already diagnosed OTSCC cases were prepared from January 2015 to December 2017 records and studied by two pathologists for different patterns using Brandwein-Gensler scoring system. The different clinicopathologic parameters were compared with different POI. Statistical analysis was performed to present cumulative survival outcomes and for comparison. Results  Most of our patients were > 40 years of age with male preponderance. Tumor differentiation pattern was assessed using Broders' system of grading that showed 85% of tumors were well, 12.5% tumors were moderately differentiated, and 2.5% tumors were poorly differentiated. The worst POI was predominantly pattern III (50%) followed by pattern II (32.5%) and pattern IV (13.8%). Most patients were in stage II (33.8%) followed by stage III (32.5%), stage IV (26.3%), and stage I (7.5%). There was an inverse relationship between POI with tumor stage and recurrence. A strong statistically significant association was found between POI with perineural infiltration and lymph node metastasis. Conclusion  We concluded from our study that worst POI is significantly associated with number of lymph nodes metastasis and perineural infiltration and hence can be used as an independent prognostic factor., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest None., (MedIntel Services Pvt Ltd. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ ).)

Although conventional oil refining process like hydrodesulfurization (HDS) is capable of removing sulfur compounds present in crude oil, it cannot desulfurize recalcitrant organosulfur compounds such as dibenzothiophenes (DBTs), benzothiophenes (BTs), etc. Biodesulfurization (BDS) is a process of selective removal of sulfur moieties from DBT or BT by desulfurizing microbes. Therefore, BDS can be used as a complementary and economically feasible technology to achieve deep desulfurization of crude oil without affecting the calorific value. In the recent past, members of biodesulfurizing actinomycete genus Gordonia, isolated from versatile environments like soil, activated sludge, human beings etc. have been greatly exploited in the field of petroleum refining technology. The bacterium Gordonia sp. is slightly acid-fast and has been used for unconventional but potential oil refining processes like BDS in petroleum refineries. Gordonia sp. is unique in a way, that it can desulfurize both aliphatic and aromatic organosulfurs without affecting the calorific value of hydrocarbon molecules. Till date, approximately six different species and nineteen strains of the genus Gordonia have been recognized for BDS activity. Various factors such as enzyme specificity, availability of essential cofactors, feedback inhibition, toxicity of organic pollutants and the oil-water separations limit the desulfurization rate of microbial biocatalyst and influence its commercial applications. The current review selectively highlights the role of this versatile genus in removing sulfur from fossil fuels, mechanisms and future prospects on sustainable environment friendly technologies for crude oil refining., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

This paper presents the idea and provides an analysis of the rock breakout mechanism utilizing an undercut/breakout anchor. The new design is a modification of a standard undercut anchor, which is commonly found in applications involving steel-to-concrete anchorage. Of particular concern was the effect of the rock breakout strength on the anchor-pullout-induced failure of the rock mass. A numerical analysis was employed to model the effect of the changes to the shape and size of the breakout cones under varying rock strength conditions as a result of modifying the anchor design and loading pattern. The problem in question is pivotal for the potential evaluation of the effectiveness of the said anchor design under the non-standard conditions of its utilization.