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Since December 2019 SARS-CoV-2 infections have affected millions of people worldwide. Along with the increasing number of COVID-19 patients, the number of cases of opportunistic fungal infections among the COVID-19 patients is also increasing. There have been reports of the cases of aspergillosis and candidiasis in the COVID-19 patients. The COVID-19 patients have also been affected by rare fungal infections such as histoplasmosis, pneumocystosis, mucormycosis and cryptococcosis. These fungal infections are prolonging the stay of COVID-19 patients in hospital. In this study several published case reports, case series, prospective and retrospective studies were investigated to explore and report the updated information regarding candidiasis, crytptococcosis, aspergillosis, mucormycosis, histoplasmosis, and pneumocystosis infections in COVID-19 patients. In this review, the risk factors of these co-infections in COVID-19 patients have been reported. There have been reports that the comorbidities and the treatment with corticoids, monoclonal antibodies, use of mechanical ventilation, and use of antibiotics during COVID-19 management are associated with the emergence of fungal infections in the COVID-19 patients. Hence, this review analyses the role of these therapies and comorbidities in the emergence of these fungal infections among COVID-19 patients. This review will help to comprehend if these fungal infections are the result of the co-morbidities, and treatment protocol followed to manage COVID-19 patients or directly due to the SARS-CoV-2 infection. The analysis of all these factors will help to understand their role in fungal infections among COVID-19 patients which can be valuable to the scientific community.

The research is done to identify the constructs which affect the performance of a healthcare firm. Specifically, a mediating variable has been utilized to establish a relationship between the latent and dependent variables. The proposed model consists of three latent variables: vendor cooperation, SC efficiency, and quality measurement practices on afirm's performance through a mediator SC innovation. This model was developed using exploratory factor analysis and validated utilizing structural equation modeling. Information was collected from 310 respondents from various healthcare centers. The output suggested the proposed constructs significantly affected the firm's performance and contributed towards the goodness of fit. The output also indicates that a firm performance can be improvised through continuous SC innovation and cooperation with vendors, resulting in the firm's performance. Data utilized in this research were collected from various healthcare centers of India. The generalization of the results may be limited to hospitals in developingcountries. This research provides valuable information on planning in the healthcare segment. The outputs suggested firm's performance improvement is attained through continuous SC innovation.

Inhalational therapy, today, happens to be the mainstay of treatment in obstructive airway diseases (OADs), such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and is also in the present, used in a variety of other pulmonary and even non-pulmonary disorders. Hand-held inhalation devices may often be difficult to use, particularly for children, elderly, debilitated or distressed patients. Nebulization therapy emerges as a good option in these cases besides being useful in the home care, emergency room and critical care settings. With so many advancements taking place in nebulizer technology; availability of a plethora of drug formulations for its use, and the widening scope of this therapy; medical practitioners, respiratory therapists, and other health care personnel face the challenge of choosing appropriate inhalation devices and drug formulations, besides their rational application and use in different clinical situations. Adequate maintenance of nebulizer equipment including their disinfection and storage are the other relevant issues requiring guidance. Injudicious and improper use of nebulizers and their poor maintenance can sometimes lead to serious health hazards, nosocomial infections, transmission of infection, and other adverse outcomes. Thus, it is imperative to have a proper national guideline on nebulization practices to bridge the knowledge gaps amongst various health care personnel involved in this practice. It will also serve as an educational and scientific resource for healthcare professionals, as well as promote future research by identifying neglected and ignored areas in this field. Such comprehensive guidelines on this subject have not been available in the country and the only available proper international guidelines were released in 1997 which have not been updated for a noticeably long period of over two decades, though many changes and advancements have taken place in this technology in the recent past. Much of nebulization practices in the present may not be evidence-based and even some of these, the way they are currently used, may be ineffective or even harmful. Recognizing the knowledge deficit and paucity of guidelines on the usage of nebulizers in various settings such as inpatient, out-patient, emergency room, critical care, and domiciliary use in India in a wide variety of indications to standardize nebulization practices and to address many other related issues; National College of Chest Physicians (India), commissioned a National task force consisting of eminent experts in the field of Pulmonary Medicine from different backgrounds and different parts of the country to review the available evidence from the medical literature on the scientific principles and clinical practices of nebulization therapy and to formulate evidence-based guidelines on it. The guideline is based on all possible literature that could be explored with the best available evidence and incorporating expert opinions. To support the guideline with high-quality evidence, a systematic search of the electronic databases was performed to identify the relevant studies, position papers, consensus reports, and recommendations published. Rating of the level of the quality of evidence and the strength of recommendation was done using the GRADE system. Six topics were identified, each given to one group of experts comprising of advisors, chairpersons, convenor and members, and such six groups (A-F) were formed and the consensus recommendations of each group was included as a section in the guidelines (Sections I to VI). The topics included were: A. Introduction, basic principles and technical aspects of nebulization, types of equipment, their choice, use, and maintenance B. Nebulization therapy in obstructive airway diseases C. Nebulization therapy in the intensive care unit D. Use of various drugs (other than bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids) by nebulized route and miscellaneous uses of nebulization therapy E. Domiciliary/Home/Maintenance nebulization therapy; publichealth care workers education, and F. Nebulization therapy in COVID-19 pandemic and in patients of other contagious viral respiratory infections (included later considering the crisis created due to COVID-19 pandemic). Various issues in different sections have been discussed in the form of questions, followed by point-wise evidence statements based on the existing knowledge, and recommendations have been formulated.

BACKGROUND CYP and GST gene families detoxify tobacco carcinogens and have been linked to the risk of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). AIM Independent and combined effects of CYP and GST genetic variations and smoking on the risk of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and its sub-histological types. METHODS We modelled an epistatic interaction via the effects of particular genotypes in two genes as OR (odds ratio), OR1, and OR2, a combination of both genotypes were characterized as ORcombine. In contrast, the two ORs' epistatic interaction for the individual genotypes has been represented as ORinteraction = ORcombine/(OR1 × OR2). RESULTS The variant genotypes of CYP2A6 (OR:4.2, p

Phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) are both essential macronutrients for maintaining plant growth and development. In rice (Oryza sativa L.), OsPHR3 is one of the four paralogs of PHR1, which acts as a central regulator of phosphate (Pi) homeostasis, as well being involved in N homeostasis. However, the functions of OsPHR3 in N utilization under different Pi conditions have yet to be fully studied. In this study, we aimed to dissect the effect of OsPHR3-overexpression on N utilization under Pi deficient regimes. Biochemical, molecular and physiological assays were performed to determine the N-influx, translocation, and accumulation in OsPHR3-overexpressing rice lines, grown under Pi-sufficient and -deficient conditions, in both hydroponic and soil systems. Furthermore, important agronomic traits of these plants were also evaluated. The overexpression of OsPHR3 increased N uptake under Pi stress regimes. Increased N uptake also elevated total N concentrations in these plants by inducing N transporter genes expression. Furthermore, overexpression of OsPHR3 increased N use efficiency, 1000-grain weight and grain yield under different Pi conditions. We established new findings that OsPHR3-overexpression facilitates N utilization under Pi deficient conditions. This will help achieving higher yields by coordinating the utilization of N and P.

The modern world is full of smart electronic gadgets with amazing features and tremendous capabilities to perform various tasks, analyze and respond to the surrounding environment and making decisions of their own. The devices are not only smart but also compact and thus require tiny and compact constituent parts. The major component of these smart devices is the storage unit which makes them proficient in their work. One of the major challenges is the miniaturization of memory devices without any loss of data. Silicon-based memory devices encounter the limitation of data loss when their size is reduced. Chalcogenide-based phase-change memory devices overcome this problem and are potential candidates for storage media. In this manuscript, a brief review of the chalcogenide materials exhibiting phase-change memory phenomena along with the different methods to induce phase transitions is discussed.

To report the markers of oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in tuberculosis of differing severity. Ninety patients with tuberculosis, 30 each with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), Pott's spine (PS) and tuberculous meningitis (TBM) were included. The diagnosis and severity of the respective group was based on pre-defined criteria. Six-months outcome and complications (Hyponatremia, paradoxical worsening and Drug induced hepatitis(DIH)) were recorded. Serum Melanodehyde (MDA) , glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), ER stress markers ATF-4,GRP-78 and CHOP, were measured using spectrophotometry and real time PCR. The oxidative and ER stress markers were correlated with different subgroups, severity of TBM, complications and outcome. The severity of TBM correlated with alteration in oxidative and ER stress markers. MDA was related to hyponatremia (P = 0.045), paradoxical worsening (P = 0.035) and DIH (P = 0.038), TAC correlated with paradoxical worsening (P = 0.047) and DIH (P = 0.015). In PS, MDA correlated with paradoxical worsening (P = 0.032) and DIH (P = 0.032); and in PTB, MDA correlated with hyponatremia (P = 0.025) and DIH (P = 0.037). Changes in stress marker levels were more marked in TBM compared to PS and PTB. Outcome of TBM correlated with MDA (P = 0.002), PS to MDA(P = 0.004), TAC(P = 0.05) CHOP(P = 0.004), GRP78(P = 0.001), ATF4(P = 0.045) and PTB to MDA(P = 0.0450), TAC(P = 0.014), CHOP(P = 0.025) and GRP78(P = 0.035). Oxidative and ER stress markers seem to be related to severity of TB, its complications and outcome.

Plumbagin is a naphthoquinone derived yellow crystalline phytochemical. Plumbagin has a wide range of biological effects including cytotoxicity against cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. Due to the pleiotropic nature of plumbagin, it shows the anticancer effect by targeting several molecular mechanisms including apoptosis and autophagic pathways, cell cycle arrest, anti-angiogenic pathways, anti-invasion and anti-metastasis pathways. Among many signaling pathways the key regulatory genes regulated by plumbagin are NF-kβ, STAT3, and AKT, etc. Plumbagin is also a potent inducer of ROS, suppressor of cellular glutathione, and causes DNA strand break by oxidative DNA base damages. In vivo studies suggested that plumbagin significantly reduces the tumor weight and volume in dose-dependent manner without any side effects in tested model organisms. Another exciting aspect of plumbagin is the ability to re-sensitize the chemo and radioresistant cancer cells when used in combination or alone. Nano encapsulation of plumbagin overcomes the poor water solubility and bioavailability obstacles, enhancing the pharmaceutical relevance with better therapeutic efficacy. Moreover, plumbagin can be introduced as a future phytotherapeutic anticancer drug after fully satisfied preclinical and clinical trials.

Organo-metal halide perovskites are promising new-generation photovoltaic materials owing to their efficient electrical/optical characteristics. Despite having high efficiency, perovskites are toxic due to the presence of lead and instable in air ambient. Therefore, the toxicity and instability call for more efforts in this area. Here, methylammonium-zinc-lead iodide (MAZn0.2Pb0.8I3) is synthesized in air ambient as lead-less and more stable perovskite material for applying as the active layer of solar cells. 1.65 eV optical band gap and 51 nm minority carrier diffusion length (Ldiff) have been obtained with the help of UV–Visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis) and steady-state photocarrier grating (SSPG) technique respectively. Structural, chemical bonding and surface studies are done by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) respectively. The sample has been stored in dark air ambient with average relative humidity of 45% at room temperature (27 °C) for 60 days and the properties of 60 days aged sample is investigated and compared with characteristics of 60 days aged MAPbI3. The results confirm MAZn0.2Pb0.8I3 is more stable than MAPbI3.

Postpartum anestrus interval (PPAI) is the interval between parturition and the first postpartum estrus exhibition in animals. Appearance of both normal and PPA buffaloes under the same farm conditions indicates the role of possible genetic predisposition to PPA. To identify the genetic and non-genetic factors associated with PPA in buffaloes, we collected data on PPAI and other 38 non-genetic variables from 575 Murrah buffaloes in the field conditions and identified the PPA associated non-genetic factors in our previous study. To explore the genetic factors associated with the unexplained variation in PPAI residuals, the present study identified 41 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 13 candidate genes using Sanger sequencing. Exploration of their association with the PPAI residuals of 50 extreme PPA and 50 normal buffaloes identified the significant (P 0.01) association of the SNP (g.37219977AG) in the 3'-UTR region of the Meprin A 1 subunit beta (Mep1b) gene with PPAI, which was further validated (P = 0.058) in a large population sample (n = 417). Bioinformatics analysis of the 3'-UTR region has identified three miRNA, bta-miR-2420, bta-miR-2325b and bta-miR-453 that could regulate Igf-1 in the plasma of animals with different genotypes (GG, AG and AA). The higher Igf-1 levels in the GG genotypes than that of AA and AG genotypes of this SNP (g.37219977AG) further suggest the association of Mep1b gene with PPA condition in Murrah buffaloes. As a result of this study, we propose that buffaloes with protective alleles at this SNP be selected to improve the herd's reproductive efficiency.

COVID 19 infection is unarguably the worst pandemic of this century. Till date there is no promising drug and vaccine available to treat this deadly viral infection. In the early phase chloroquine phosphate and hydroxychloroquine sulphate have been used to fight this illness on the basis of handful observational and small randomized and small-randomized studies. The paucity of clinical evidences of an unequivocal beneficial effect of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine on COVID-19 has resulted in the passionate use of the drug for moderate to severe cases only and stimulated the need for large clinical trials for this and other molecules. In this review, we describe in brief the mechanism of action, the clinical studies, factors for cardiac toxicity, guidelines and future directions for hydroxychloroquine use in management of COVID-19 infection., Highlights • COVID-19 infection has emerged as a rapidly spreading pandemic and has affected more than 4 million people across the globe in just 5 months. A number of molecules are being tested for efficacy against. COVID-19. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQS)was one of the earliest molecules to be tested after the preliminary successful data from small and non-randomized studies. The drug was endorsed by many national and international bodies. Subsequent studies however failed to replicate the initial success and highlighted the risk of cardiac toxicity (QT prolongation). • We discuss in brief all the major and minor studies of HCQS. • We also review the risk factors and incidence of QT prolongation with HCQS. We also provide it's implications and methods to ameliorate it.