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The ultraviolet (UV) radiation triggers a pigmentation response in human skin, wherein, melanocytes rapidly activate divergent maturation and proliferation programs. Using single-cell sequencing, we demonstrate that these 2 programs are segregated in distinct subpopulations in melanocytes of human and zebrafish skin. The coexistence of these 2 cell states in cultured melanocytes suggests possible cell autonomy. Luria–Delbrück fluctuation test reveals that the initial establishment of these states is stochastic. Tracking of pigmenting cells ascertains that the stochastically acquired state is faithfully propagated in the progeny. A systemic approach combining single-cell multi-omics (RNA+ATAC) coupled to enhancer mapping with H3K27 acetylation successfully identified state-specific transcriptional networks. This comprehensive analysis led to the construction of a gene regulatory network (GRN) that under the influence of noise, establishes a bistable system of pigmentation and proliferation at the population level. This GRN recapitulates melanocyte behaviour in response to external cues that reinforce either of the states. Our work highlights that inherent stochasticity within melanocytes establishes dedicated states, and the mature state is sustained by selective enhancers mark through histone acetylation. While the initial cue triggers a proliferation response, the continued signal activates and maintains the pigmenting subpopulation via epigenetic imprinting. Thereby our study provides the basis of coexistence of distinct populations which ensures effective pigmentation response while preserving the self-renewal capacity. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation triggers a pigmentation response in human skin, wherein melanocytes rapidly activate divergent maturation and proliferation programs. Here, the authors identify distinct melanocyte sub-populations with maturation and proliferation programs initiated by stochastic gene expression in response to external pigmentation cues such as UV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a 2024 Indian study which identified a Fibulin 7 peptide and its possible therapy for inflammation in sepsis. Topics covered include the procedures of the study on the peptide's mechanism of action, and trials with mice which showed that peptide-treated mice had lower immune cell count in blood, and more viable innate cell populations in their bone marrow. Also noted is the need to further study the peptide's application as therapy for sepsis in humans.

The article discusses a 2024 Indian study on the consumption of edible and nutritious snail meat with findings that one bivalve and three gastropod species of snails had high amounts of polyunsaturated acids with possible low cholesterol meat.

The article discusses the expansion of aquaculture in India as of 2024. Topics covered include the profile of aquaculture production and the cultivation of exotic and native tiger shrimps, and the factors of high profitability and freedom from climatic vagaries and irrigation water scarcity in the shift from agriculture to aquaculture. Also noted are the environmental concern of irreversible conversion of agricultural land and the promotion of rainwater harvesting to rejuvenate agriculture.

The article discusses the possible use of a nano copper oxide, titanium oxide, and carbon dots combination for the control of biofouling that reduces water flow through cage nets and harm fish health in aquatic environments in India as of 2024.

The article discusses a 2024 Indian study which showed that four drug molecules have potential to inhibit the dual leucine zipper kinase and its downstream signalling pathways which then can help overcome neurodegeneration.

The article discusses the Indian sugarcane planthopper pest that sucks the sap of sugarcane plants and weakens them as of 2024. Topics covered include the possible use of certain fungi to check the pest, their incorporation into crop management, and the varying year to year number of fungus-killed planthoppers. Also noted is the projected development of effective fungi use in sugarcane fields.

The article discusses a 2024 Indian study on how students and faculty are adapting artificial intelligence (AI) in education and how the AI generative tool ChatGPT could boost students' critical thinking with ethical considerations. Topics covered include the occasional use of ChatGPT by more than half of students and faculty for academic tasks, and the close relation of critical thinking, creativity, and learning improvement. Also noted is the need to balance AI with human instruction.

The article discusses the wildlife threats posed by stray dogs in India. Topics covered include the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve's reports on the preying of free-ranging dogs with bluebulls being the main target alongside spotted deer, sambars, peafowls, and Indian hares, and their attacks on sheep and goats that villagers raise. Also noted is the immediate need to take mitigation measures against the stray dogs.

Of the 191 sputum specimens that were collected from pulmonary tuberculosis patients, 78.65% (140/178) specimens were culture positive when processed within 48 h by the NaOH method. The culture positivity in the same specimen that were stored with cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and processed after 7-8 days was 70.22% (125/178), whereas those stored without CPC and processed by the NaOH method was 46.62% (83/178). The difference in number of positive cultures obtained before storage and after storage (without CPC) was statistically significant (P = 0.001). Culture positivity by the CPC method was comparable with that of NaOH method before storage and the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.35).

Background: Media portrayal of mental illness may influence public stigma and service utilization. Aim: This study aims to explore the overall tone and content of the news articles on mental illnesses in India. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on online English and Hindi news portals for articles which made reference to mental illness, published by local and national media sources between September 2019 and August 2020. The search was performed using location and news-only filters in the "Google" search engine; we used predefined search queries and selection criteria. A previously published checklist was used for the content analysis; it was done by two independent investigators. Results: A total of 273 news reports met inclusion criteria (Hindi n = 164, English n = 109). Results showed that more than half (54.9%) had a positive tone. Nearly a third (30.8%) of these articles were stigmatizing in tone. Persons with mental illness were portrayed as violent, unreliable, and unpredictable. Uses of blanket terms (33.3%) such as mentally ill, mentally unstable, mentally retarded, and stigmatizing photographs (36.9%) were also common. Overall, Hindi media had a significantly better quality of reporting than the English language media. National media reports had a less negative and stigmatizing tone than local articles. Conclusion: There is a need for a concerted attempt to improve the quality of media reporting of mental illness in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims We conducted a cross-sectional survey to estimate the prevalence and clinical manifestation of disulfiram ethanol reaction (DER) and isopropanol toxicity (IT) in patients with alcohol use disorders, on disulfiram. Alcohol-based hand rub contains either ethanol or isopropanol or both. COVID-19 pandemic has led to wide scale usage of sanitizers. Patients with alcohol use disorders, on disulfiram, might experience disulfiram ethanol like reactions with alcohol-based sanitizers. Methods We telephonically contacted 339 patients, prescribed disulfiram between January 2014 and March 2020. The assessment pertained to the last 3 months (i.e. third week of March to third week of June 2020). Result The sample consisted of middle-aged men with a mean 16 years of alcohol dependence. Among the 82 (24%) patients adherent to disulfiram, 42 (12.3%) were using alcohol-based hand rubs. Out of these, a total of eight patients (19%; 95% CI 9–33) had features suggestive of DER; four of whom also had features indicative of IT. Five patients (62.5%) had mild and self-limiting symptoms. Severe systemic reactions were experienced by three (37.5%). Severe reactions were observed with exposure to sanitizers in greater amounts, on moist skin or through inhalation. Conclusion Patients on disulfiram should be advised to use alternate methods of hand hygiene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byline: Rajni. Sharma, Babita. Sharma, Parul. Sinha, Suman. Rishi Sir, Empyema thoracis (ET) is common in developing countries having high incidence of pneumonia, reported incidence being 0.8% of pediatric admissions.[1] [...]

The dopamine transporter (DAT) belongs to the SLC6A family of secondary-active [Na.sup.+]/Cl-dependent neurotransmitter transporters and functions to terminate dopaminergic signaling through re-uptake of dopamine (DA) from the synapse (1-3) (1). [...]

The dopamine transporter (DAT) is the principal target for drugs of abuse such as cocaine and methamphetamine. However, the molecular interactions of these compounds with DAT are poorly understood. Crystal [...]

The dopamine transporter (DAT) is an integral membrane protein that is responsible for the reuptake of extraneuronal dopamine (DA) and thus, for terminating dopaminergic neurotransmission. DA levels are tightly regulated, [...]