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Melatonin is considered an effective bio-stimulant that is crucial in managing several abiotic stresses including drought. However, its potential mechanisms against drought stress in fragrant roses are not well understood. Here, we aim to investigate the role of melatonin on Rosa centifolia plants cultivated under drought stress (40 % field capacity) and normal irrigation (80 % field capacity). Plant growth traits, gaseous exchange, antioxidants, osmolytes, oxidative stress, and leaf anatomical attributes were measured. All pots were arranged with a completely randomized design with two-factor factorial setup. Foliar application of melatonin was carried out on the next day of drought treatment and was repeated weekly, while normal watering was regarded as control. Drought stress significantly enhanced oxidative stress markers and reduced growth parameters in water-deficit rose plants. However, melatonin spray (100 μM) produced increased plant height (16 %), flower yield (16 %), petal fresh and dry biomass (7 % and 38 %), total chlorophyll (48 %), contents of carotenoid (54 %), and gaseous exchange traits such as stomatal conductance (25 %), photosynthetic rate (91 %), and transpiration rate (3 %), in water-deficient plants. Likewise, the accretion of catalase, superoxide dismutase, soluble protein, proline, and glycine betaine contents was recorded by 22 %, 45 %, 58 %, 7 %, and 6 %, respectively, in drought-stressed plants, due to melatonin treatment. Increment of oxidative stress indicators i.e. malondialdehyde (−37 %) and hydrogen peroxide (−27 %) was diminished by melatonin triggered by drought stress. Furthermore, leaf cortex (51 %), vascular bundle area (76 %), palisade cell area (59 %), and lamina thickness (42 %) were remarkably increased with melatonin foliar sprays in water-deficit plants. The results of this study recommend that melatonin is a protective agent against drought stress and has potential application prospects in the rose-producing regions suffering from water deficiency. Future studies should focus on molecular responses of R. centifolia to drought stress to further develop stress alleviation strategies in floricultural crops.

Dengue, a vector-borne acute febrile illness caused by members of the Flavivirus genus, has dramatically increased its occurrence worldwide. Neurological complications of dengue range from 2.63 to 40%, and subarachnoid hemorrhage is a rare, but significant manifestation. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is a life-threatening hyperinflammatory syndrome, sometimes secondary to infections such as dengue. This report presents a rare case of severe dengue with subarachnoid hemorrhage and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. A 19-year-old male presented with a 7-day history of fever and myalgia, followed by severe headache and vomiting. Initial examination revealed high fever, hepatosplenomegaly, and pancytopenia. Lumbar puncture confirmed via computed tomography showed a Fisher Grade 2 subarachnoid hemorrhage with a small aneurysm at the junction of the left anterior coronary and anterior communicating arteries. Secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis was diagnosed based on the criteria from 2004, with elevated inflammatory markers, hypertriglyceridemia, and hyperferritinemia. The patient was treated conservatively with intravenous fluids, osmotic diuretics, antiepileptics, steroids, and nimodipine. The patient showed clinical improvement and was discharged on the 11th day. Isolated subarachnoid hemorrhage is rare in dengue. The hyperinflammatory state in hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, which is often overlooked due to nonspecific symptoms, can lead to aneurysm formation and rupture. Persistent fever, cytopenia, and hyperferritinemia should raise suspicion of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in cases of severe dengue with neurological complications. In patients with severe dengue and intracranial hemorrhage, clinicians should remain cautious for hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis to reduce the associated morbidity and mortality.

Genome editing has emerged during the past few decades in the scientific research area to manipulate genetic composition, obtain desired traits, and deal with biological challenges by exploring genetic traits and their sequences at a level of precision. The discovery of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) as a genome editing tool has offered a much better understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms. This technology emerges as one of the most promising candidates for genome editing, offering several advantages over other techniques such as high accuracy and specificity. In the microbial world, CRISPR/Cas technology enables researchers to manipulate the genetic makeup of micro-organisms, allowing them to achieve almost impossible tasks. This technology initially discovered as a bacterial defense mechanism, is now being used for gene cutting and editing to explore more of its dimensions. CRISPR/Cas 9 systems are highly efficient and flexible, leading to its widespread uses in microbial research areas. Although this technology is widely used in the scientific community, many challenges, including off-target activity, low efficiency of Homology Directed Repair (HDR), and ethical considerations, still need to be overcome before it can be widely used. As CRISPR/Cas technology has revolutionized the field of microbiology, this review article aimed to present a comprehensive overview highlighting a brief history, basic mechanisms, and its application in the microbial world along with accessing the opportunities and challenges., 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 B.V. All rights reserved.)

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) continues to develop as a viable alternative to traditional open surgery for various foot and ankle pathologies. The neuropathic foot is one area where MIS can be very beneficial to surgeons and their patients. Improving wound healing and decreasing the surgical footprint and thus reducing complications associated with soft tissue in this population is advantageous. Further research is necessary; however, the early successful outcomes in neuroarthropathy reconstruction via MIS are encouraging., Competing Interests: Disclosure S. Mateen and M. Greenblatt have no financial disclosures or conflicts of interest. N.A. Siddiqui is a consultant for Arthrex. The following organizations supported the institution of M. Greenblatt, S. Mateen, and N.A. Siddiqui: DePuy Synthes, United States, NuVasive Specialized Orthopedics, United States, Orthofix, United States, OrthoPediatrics, Paragon 28, Pega Medical, Smith & Nephew, United Kingdom, Stryker, United States, Turner Imaging Systems, and WishBone Medical., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)