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Background Tumors are complex tissues containing collections of phenotypically diverse malignant and nonmalignant cells. We know little of the mechanisms that govern heterogeneity of tumor cells nor of the role heterogeneity plays in overcoming stresses, such as adaptation to different microenvironments. Osteosarcoma is an ideal model for studying these mechanisms—it exhibits widespread inter- and intra-tumoral heterogeneity, predictable patterns of metastasis, and a lack of clear targetable driver mutations. Understanding the processes that facilitate adaptation to primary and metastatic microenvironments could inform the development of therapeutic targeting strategies. Results We investigated single-cell RNA-sequencing profiles of 47,977 cells obtained from cell line and patient-derived xenograft models as cells adapted to growth within primary bone and metastatic lung environments. Tumor cells maintained phenotypic heterogeneity as they responded to the selective pressures imposed during bone and lung colonization. Heterogenous subsets of cells defined by distinct transcriptional profiles were maintained within bone- and lung-colonizing tumors, despite high-level selection. One prominent heterogenous feature involving glucose metabolism was clearly validated using immunofluorescence staining. Finally, using concurrent lineage tracing and single-cell transcriptomics, we found that lung colonization enriches for multiple clones with distinct transcriptional profiles that are preserved across cellular generations. Conclusions Response to environmental stressors occurs through complex and dynamic phenotypic adaptations. Heterogeneity is maintained, even in conditions that enforce clonal selection. These findings likely reflect the influences of developmental processes promoting diversification of tumor cell subpopulations, which are retained, even in the face of selective pressures.

Conservation of large carnivores such as leopards requires large and interconnected habitats. Despite the wide geographic range of the leopard globally, only 17% of their habitat is within protected areas. Leopards are widely distributed in Nepal, but their population status and occupancy are poorly understood. We carried out the sign‐based leopard occupancy survey across the entire Chure range (~19,000 km2) to understand the habitat occupancy along with the covariates affecting their occupancy. Leopard signs were obtained from in 70 out of 223 grids surveyed, with a naïve leopard occupancy of 0.31. The model‐averaged leopard occupancy was estimated to be 0.5732 (SE 0.0082) with a replication‐level detection probability of 0.2554 (SE 0.1142). The top model shows the additive effect of wild boar, ruggedness, presence of livestock, and human population density positively affecting the leopard occupancy. The detection probability of leopard was higher outside the protected areas, less in the high NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) areas, and higher in the areas with livestock presence. The presence of wild boar was strong predictor of leopard occupancy followed by the presence of livestock, ruggedness, and human population density. Leopard occupancy was higher in west Chure (0.70 ± SE 0.047) having five protected areas compared with east Chure (0.46 ± SE 0.043) with no protected areas. Protected areas and prey species had positive influence on leopard occupancy in west Chure range. Similarly in the east Chure, the leopard occupancy increased with prey, NDVI, and terrain ruggedness. Enhanced law enforcement and mass awareness activities are necessary to reduce poaching/killing of wild ungulates and leopards in the Chure range to increase leopard occupancy. In addition, maintaining the sufficient natural prey base can contribute to minimize the livestock depredation and hence decrease the human–leopard conflict in the Chure range., The model‐averaged leopard occupancy in the Chure range (~19,000 km2) was 0.5732 (SE 0.0082) with a detection probability of 0.2554 (SE 0.1142). The top model included wild boar, ruggedness, presence of livestock, and human population density as covariates. Further, maintaining a sufficient natural prey base can contribute to minimize the livestock depredation and hence decrease the human–leopard conflict in the Chure range.

Despite the common detection of non-donor specific anti-HLA antibodies (non-DSAs) after lung transplantation, their clinical significance remains unclear. In this retrospective single-center cohort study of 325 lung transplant recipients, we evaluated the association between donor specific HLA antibodies (DSAs) and non-DSAs with subsequent CLAD development. DSAs were detected in 30% of recipients and were associated with increased CLAD risk, with higher HRs for both de novo and high MFI (>5000) DSAs. Non-DSAs were detected in 56% of recipients, and 85% of DSA positive tests had concurrent non-DSAs. In general, non-DSAs did not increase CLAD risk in multivariable models accounting for DSAs. However, non-DSAs in conjunction with high BAL CXCL9 levels were associated with increased CLAD risk. Multivariable proportional hazards models demonstrate the importance of the HLA antibody-CXCL9 interaction: CLAD risk increases when HLA antibodies (both DSAs and non-DSAs) are detected in conjunction with high CXCL9. Conversely, CLAD risk is not increased when HLA antibodies are detected with low CXCL9. This study supports the potential utility of BAL CXCL9 measurement as a biomarker to risk stratify HLA antibodies for future CLAD. The ability to discriminate between high versus low-risk HLA antibodies may improve management by allowing for guided treatment decisions.

The increasing use of concrete in the ongoing construction industry worldwide demands for growing extraction of raw materials such as limestone, sand and stone from the earth which further destroy the natural environment. Realization on the destructive impact of this activity on flora and fauna as well as mankind, approach of utilizing by-product from any industry as partial substitution of mixing ingredient of concrete would reduce the consumption of natural resources and promote cleaner environment. In relation to that, oyster shell from fisheries industries which disposed as waste that pollutes the environment is seen as potential material to be incorporated in concrete. Thus, the utilization of oyster shell waste as cement and sand replacement in concrete research is reviewed in this paper. The paper presents the oyster shell’s properties, processing method prior to its use and the mechanical performance concrete upon the integration of oyster shell as cement and partial fine aggregate replacement respectively. On overall, utilization of oyster shell at suitable proportion able to enhance concrete strength. Further researcher needs to be conducted to explore the potential use of this material in high volume for high performance concrete production.

Marine ecosystem associated organisms are an affluent source of bioactive compounds. Polysaccharides with unique structural and practical entities have gained special studies interest inside the current biomedical zone. Polysaccharides are the main components of marine algae, plants, animals, insects, and microorganisms. In recent times research on seaweed is more persistent for extraction of natural bioactive “Sulfated polysaccharides” (SP). The considerable amount of SP exists in the algae in the form of fucans, fucoidans, carrageenans, ulvan, etc. Major function of SP is to act as a defensive lattice towards the infective organism. All SP possess the high potential and possess a broad range of therapeutic applications as antitumor, immunomodulatory, vaccine adjuvant, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, antiviral, antiprotozoal, antimicrobial, antilipemic, therapy of regenerative medicine, also in drug delivery and tissue engineering application. This review aims to discuss the biomedicine applications of sulfated polysaccharides from marine seaweeds.

Aim: Azelaic acid (AzA), a comedolytic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory anti-melanogenic agent, prescribed against acne vulgaris is safe on skin. Its combination with another widely used anti-acne agent, tea tree oil (EO) whose delivery is limited by volatility, instability and lipophilicity constraints was attempted. Method: Solvent injection was used to prepare AzA-EO integrated ethosomes. Result: Ethosomes were transformed into carbopol hydrogel, which exhibited pseudo-plastic properties with appreciable firmness, work of shear, stickiness and work of adhesion. The hydrogel showed better permeation and retention characteristics vis-a-vis commercial formulation (AzidermTM), when evaluated in Wistar rat skin. Further, ethosome hydrogel composite was better tolerated with no side effects. Conclusion: The findings suggests that the aforementioned strategy could be a potential treatment used for acne management.

Encounters between marine animals and humans can result in critical injury and fatal complications. We highlight a 20-y-old male who sustained a penetrating injury to the neck as a result of impalement by needlefish (Tylosurus sp) while snorkeling. He sustained a penetrating injury in the posterior triangle of the neck. On presentation, he was stabilized and received empirical antibiotics, analgesia, and antitetanus toxoid injection before being transferred to a tertiary center. On presentation to the tertiary hospital, the patient was hemodynamically stable with no clinical evidence of injury to surrounding neck structures, and this was confirmed using computed tomography. The patient underwent local wound exploration and retrieval of the needlefish beak under general anesthesia. The wound was left open to heal by secondary intention. The patient was discharged with oral antibiotics and went on to make a complete recovery.

Elevational gradients in mountains show rapid changes in environmental conditions across a small geographic extent. This results in habitat specialization in animal communities which results in changes in species composition across space. We explore changes in species and functional group composition of ants using the first ever data on the distribution of ants across an elevational gradient in the Eastern Himalaya. Ants were sampled from 600 to 2400 m elevations at 200 m intervals using Winklers and pitfall traps. The sampling yielded 166 species of ants from 10,560 individuals, which were then classified into functional groups. We used redundancy analysis to test the effects of environmental factors (temperature, leaflitter volume, understory vegetation) and spatial predictors on species as well as functional group composition of communities at different elevations. Our results show that species diversity within all functional groups decreases towards higher elevations. The functional group composition of ant communities shows a gradient from high evenness at low elevations to being dominated by opportunist species at higher elevations. Redundancy analyses shows that most of the variation in species as well as functional group composition is driven by spatially structured environmental variation. This is most likely due to the high correlation between temperature and elevation. In summary, the changes in species as well as functional group composition are likely driven by a gradient in climate across the elevation gradient.

The genus Leluthia Cameron, 1887 is recorded for the first time from the Oriental region. Two new species, Leluthia (Euhecabolodes) areola Ranjith et Belokobylskij, sp. nov. and L.(E.) indica Belokobylskij et Ranjith, sp. nov. are described and illustrated from the Indian states Kerala and Goa, respectively. The new species are most similar to the Western Palaearctic Hecabolus hungaricus (Szepligeti, 1900), which is reinstated from its synonymy with Polystenus and transferred to the genus Leluthia Cameron (stat. resurr. and comb. nov.).

Marine natural bioactive compounds have chemical diversities, which can be used to develop new potent drugs for various diseases. In this study, Lyngbya sp. (cyanobacterium), was used to explore for its biological potential against inflammation and cancer. (9S,E)-8-ethyl-9-methylnonadec-6-en-3-one (EME), was extracted from Lyngbya sp., purified, and characterized by different spectroscopic techniques. In addition, EME was assessed for the anti-inflammatory potential by Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting Analysis (FACS) in Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced RAW 264.7 macrophage cell lines, and a significant reduction in COX-2 expression was observed. Further, COX-2, TNF-α, iNOS, NF-ĸβ, and IL-1β gene expressions were also analysed in EME treated LPS induced RAW 264.7 cell line by semi-quantitative PCR. Subsequently, to enhance the availability of EME into the cells for the anti-inflammatory potential, it was blended with aminated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs). The expressions of COX-2, TNF-α, iNOS, NF-κβ, and IL-1β were significantly downregulated in EME + MSNPs treated LPS induced RAW 264.7 cells. Conclusively, EME combined with MSNPs showed the therapeutic potential of an antiinflammatory agent. Furthermore, the cytotoxic activity of EME was also explored in cervical (HeLa) and liver cancer (HepG2) cell lines; the western blotting results witnessed that EME had induced the expressions of p53, caspase-3, and p21.

Hypertension has been a significant cause of death due to elevated blood pressure worldwide. The results of molecular docking showed out of selected 40 compounds, chasmanthin (-11.05 kcal/mol), and palmarin (-11.22 kcal/mol) showed strong binding with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) target. The inhibitory action of the selected phytocompounds for ACE protein was also validated by comparing it with the reference drugs, lisinopril (-9.42 kcal/mol), and enalapril (-5.07 kcal/mol). MD simulations study of 100 ns also demonstrated stability of chasmanthin, and palmarin within the active sites of ACE protein. Molecular mechanics generalised born surface area (MMGBSA) analysis of MD trajectories exhibited significant binding of palmarin with ACE (dG Bind= −38.65 ± 2.59 kcal/mol) and chasmanthin (dG Bind= −37.64 ± 2.67 kcal/mol). Drug likeness and pharmacokinetics properties of palmarin and chasmanthin was also found to be permissible, thereby suggesting the use of chasmanthin and palmarin as a novel target inhibitor against ACE protein to combat hypertension.

Biocompatibility and bacterial infections are the primary concerns associated with the current bone graft substitutes. The application of wollastonite-based scaffolds for bone tissue engineering becomes a novel subject of interest. In the present study, a single phasic wollastonite scaffold was synthesised using citric acid-based sol–gel combustion route. Its physicochemical characteristics, antibacterial properties as well as its biocompatibility and osteogenic induction effect on human bone marrow derived stromal cells (hBMSCs) are yet to be explored. The TGA/DTA, XRD and SEM/EDX confirmed the characteristics of wollastonite. The antibacterial test indicated wollastonite inhibition of 47.81% and 45.54% for gram-positive, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis and 47.04% and 46.07% for gram-negative, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterial strains, respectively. The SEM micrographs demonstrated an excellent attachment of hBMSCs on wollastonite and comparable to commercial hydroxyapatite (cHA) scaffold. The alamar blue cell proliferation assay confirmed 1.7- and 1.8-fold significant increase in hBMSCs seeded on wollastonite and cHA scaffold, respectively, on day 14 as compared with day 1. The immunohistochemistry analysis on Type-I collagen (Col1) and Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2) expression on day 14 confirmed the osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs seeded on wollastonite and comparable with cHA scaffold. In conclusion, wollastonite scaffold has a greater potential to substitute bone grafts in orthopaedic applications.

CRISPR-Cas systems are RNA-guided nucleases that provide adaptive immune protection in bacteria and archaea against intruding genomic materials. Cas9, a type-II CRISPR effector protein, is widely used for gene editing applications since a single guide RNA can direct Cas9 to cleave specific genomic targets. The conformational changes associated with RNA/DNA binding are being modulated to develop Cas9 variants with reduced off-target cleavage. Previously, we showed that proline substitutions in the arginine-rich bridge helix (BH) of Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 (SpyCas9-L64P-K65P, SpyCas92Pro) improve target DNA cleavage selectivity. In this study, we establish that kinetic analysis of the cleavage of supercoiled plasmid substrates provides a facile means to analyze the use of two parallel routes for DNA linearization by SpyCas9: (i) nicking by HNH followed by RuvC cleavage (the TS (target strand) pathway) and (ii) nicking by RuvC followed by HNH cleavage (the NTS (nontarget strand) pathway). BH substitutions and DNA mismatches alter the individual rate constants, resulting in changes in the relative use of the two pathways and the production of nicked and linear species within a given pathway. The results reveal coordinated actions between HNH and RuvC to linearize DNA, which is modulated by the integrity of the BH and the position of the mismatch in the substrate, with each condition producing distinct conformational energy landscapes as observed by molecular dynamics simulations. Overall, our results indicate that BH interactions with RNA/DNA enable target DNA discrimination through the differential use of the parallel sequential pathways driven by HNH/RuvC coordination.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Many treatment modalities have been developed and the need for plant derived therapeutic is growing due to the adverse effects of chemotherapeutic agents. The present study aims to discover the potential of two herbs Plectranthus amboinicus and Bacopa monnieri. Screening for the bioactives in the methanolic extracts of Plectranthus amboinicus and Bacopa monnieri stem showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenols, saponins, carbohydrates. A comparative study on the cytotoxicity of methanolic extracts of the stem of these plants on lung epithelial cancer cell line A549 and normal fibroblast cell line L929 revealed that both extracts possess cancer cell specific cytotoxic activity. However, Bacopa monnieri stem extracts were found to be more effective in inducing cytotoxicity than Plectranthus amboinicus.

Clerodendrum phlomid is was a common shrub of arid plains, low hills, and tropical deserts. It belongs to the family Verbenaceae. Many species of this genus have been documented in traditional system of medicine in India. The roots of the plant have been extensively studied in Ayurveda but in folk and traditional medicine, it is the leaf that finds more application in alleviating many diseases. Oxidation byproducts of metabolism was responsible for many pathophysiological conditions. Anti-oxidants are molecules that quench the free radicals. The present study aims at evaluating the in-vitro anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of the aqueous and ethanol leaf extract of Clerodendrum phlomidis. The anti-oxidant activity was evaluated by three in vitro models, namely the DPPH radical scavenging activity, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and NO radical scavenging activity. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by the RBC membrane Inhibition method. The aqueous extract was found to have better anti- oxidant activity than the ethanol extract in DPPH and NO radical scavenging activity. The RBC membrane inhibition method clearly states that the aqueous leaf extract of Clerodendrum phlomidis was found to have a comparatively an effective anti-inflammatory activity than ethanol extract.

Introduction: MS disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) lead to distinct effects on humoral and cellular immunity. Effective vaccine- elicited immunity to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus- 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, requires robust antibody and CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Understanding how different MS DMTs affect COVID-19 vaccine immunity is a vital clinical gap that needs to be urgently addressed. Objectives: The goal of this study is to assess COVID-19 vaccine- elicited antibody and T cell responses in MS patients on different of DMTs. Aims: To measure SARS-CoV-2 spike antigen-specific antibody and CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses before and after COVID- 19 vaccination of MS patients on different DMTs. Methods: Enrolment included MS patients on no therapy, or treated with glatiramer acetate (GA), dimethyl fumarate (DMF), natalizumab (NAT), sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor (S1P) modulator, or anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (mAb). Serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from all patients before and 2-4 weeks following final COVID-19 vaccination. Patient serum was tested on a Luminex bead-based assay to quantitatively measure IgG levels against the whole SARSCoV- 2 spike protein and the spike receptor binding domain (RBD). PBMCs were stimulated with pools of SARS-CoV-2 spike peptides to measure the frequencies of spike-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells by activation-induced marker expression. Results: Following COVID-19 vaccination, all untreated MS patients and patients on GA, DMF, and NAT were seropositive with similar high IgG titres to total spike and spike RBD. MS patients on S1P modulators and anti-CD20 mAb exhibited significantly reduced IgG titres to total spike and spike RBD antigens, with only a fraction of patients reaching seropositivity. Spike antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses were present at similar levels across all DMT categories following COVID-19 vaccination. Conclusions: MS DMTs exhibited differential effects on COVID- 19 vaccine-elicited humoral, but not T cell immunity. Whereas IgG responses were unaffected in MS patients on GA, DMF, and NAT, IgG levels were reduced in MS patients on S1P modulators and anti-CD20 mAb. The findings of this study have important clinical implications for assessing potential risk of COVID-19 infection in vaccinated MS patients on specific DMTs.

The recent coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak is one of its kind in the history of public health that has created a major global threat. The causative agent, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has a zoonotic source and hence, reverse zoonosis (disease transmission from humans to animals) increases the risk and rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Serological and molecular analyses and experimental infection studies have identified SARS-CoV-2 infection in several animal species in various countries. Different domestic and wild animals, including cats, dogs, tigers, lions, puma, snow leopard, minks, and pet ferrets, are infected naturally with SARS-CoV-2, mostly through suspected human to animal transmission. In addition, in vivo experimental inoculation studies have reported the susceptibility of cats, ferrets, hamsters, Egyptian fruit bats, and non-human primates to the virus. These experimentally infected species are found to be capable of virus transmission to co-housed animals of the same species. However, SARS-CoV-2 showed poor replication in livestock species such as pigs, chickens, and ducks with no detection of viral RNA after the animals were deliberately inoculated with the virus or exposed to the infected animals. As the pets/companion animals are more susceptible to COVID-19, the infection in animals needs an in-depth and careful study to avoid any future transmissions. The one health approach is the best inter-disciplinary method to understand the consequences of viral spread and prevention in novel host populations for the betterment of public health. Further in this review, we will explain in detail the different natural and experimentally induced cases of human to animal SARS-CoV-2 infection.

This study explores the comparative effect of conventional and organic treatments on the rhizosphere microbiome of Mangifera indica cv. Dashehari. The long-term exposures (about 20 years) were monitored under a subtropical ecosystem. Based on plant growth properties and acetylene reduction assay, 12 bacterial isolates (7 from G1-organic and 5 from G2-conventional systems) were identified as Pseudomonas and Bacillus spp. In the conventional system, dehydrogenase activity significantly decreased (0.053 µg TPF formed g−1 of soil h−1) and adversely affected the bacterial diversity composition. In comparison, organic treatments had a good impact on dehydrogenase activity (0.784 µg TPF formed g−1 of soil h−1), alkaline phosphatase (139.25 µg PNP g−1 soil h−1), and bacterial community composition. The Metagenomics approach targeted the V3 and V4 regions to see the impact in the phylum, order, family, genus, and species for both the treatments. Results showed that phylum Acidobacteria (13.6%), Firmicutes (4.84%), and Chloroflexi (2.56%) were dominating in the G2 system whereas phylum Bacteroides (14.55%), Actinobacteria (7.45%), and Proteobacteria (10.82%) were abundantly dominated in the G1 system. Metagenome sequences are at the NCBI-GenBank sequence read archive with SRX8289747 (G1) and SRX8289748 (G2) in the study PRJNA631113. Results indicated that conventional and organic conditions affect rhizosphere microbiome and their environment.

In this work, substituted 1,2,4-oxadiazoles (OX1− OX27) were screened against five bacterial strains, identified to be OX7 and OX11 as growth inhibitors with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 31.25 and 15.75 μg/mL, respectively. The growth inhibitory property of OX7 and OX11 was further validated by disk diffusion, growth curve, and time kill curve assays. Both disrupted biofilm formation with 92−100% reduction examined by the XTT assay were further visualized by scanning electron microscopy analysis. These compounds in combination with ciprofloxacin also exhibit synergy against Escherichia coli cells. With insignificant cytotoxic behavior on HEK293 cells, human red blood cells, and Galleria mellonella larvae, OX11 was tested against 28 multidrug resistant environmental isolates of bacteria and showed inhibition of Kluyvera georgiana and Citrobacter werkmanii strains with 32 and 16 μg/mL MIC values, respectively. The synergistic behavior of OX11 with ampicillin showed many fold reductions in MIC values against K. georgiana and Klebsiella pneumoniae multidrug resistant strains. Further, transmission electron microscopy analysis of OX11-treated E. coli cells showed a significantly damaged cell wall, which resulted in the loss of integrity and cytosolic oozing. OX11 showed significant changes in the secondary structure of human serum albumin (HSA) in the presence of OX11, enhancing HSA stability. Overall, the study provided a suitable core for further synthetic alterations and development as an antibacterial agent

TET2 loss-of-function mutations are recurrent events in a wide range of hematological malignancies and a physiologic occurrence in blood cells of healthy older adults. It is currently unknown what determines if a person harboring a somatic TET2 mutation will progress to myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukemia. Here we develop a zebrafish tet2 mutant through which we show that tet2 loss leads to restricted hematopoietic differentiation combined with a modest upregulation of p53, which is also characteristic of many inherited bone marrow failure syndromes. Uniquely in the context of emergency hematopoiesis by external stimuli, such as infection or cytokine stimulation, lack of tet2 leads hematopoietic stem cells to undergo excessive proliferation, resulting in an accumulation of immature cells, which are poised to become leukemogenic following additional genetic/epigenetic perturbations. This same phenomenon observed in zebrafish extends to human hematopoietic stem cells, identifying TET2 as a critical relay switch in the context of stress hematopoiesis.

Rice is the most important food crop and directly feeding more people than any other crop in the world.The blast disease caused by Pyricularia oryzae is a major and foremost constraint in rice production.Use of tricyclazole fungicide is one of the best and cost effective ways to quickly manage the disease. Considering the extensive use of fungicide has adverse effects for environment, the present study has been conducted to know the effect of Tricyclazole and Pseudomonas fluorescens alone and various combinations during rabi 2015-2016 and 2016-2017. From the two years data, the results indicated that a spray schedule consisting of tricyclazole followed by an alternate spray of Pseudomonas fluorescens (T + P + T + P), as well as either seed treatment with tricyclazole at 0.1 percent or root dipping with P. fluorescens at 1%, effectively reduced both leaf blast and neck blast with increasing grain yield.

Introduction: The combined abilities of colonisation and both inherent and acquired resistance have made Enterococci a significant human pathogen. Aims and Objectives: This study was done to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration of various antibiotics against Enterococci and to correlate the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of Enterococci with low level and high level drug resistance. Materials and Methods: A total of 774 isolates of Enterococci obtained from various clinical samples were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing by Kirby Bauer Disk Diffusion method. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration of various antibiotics were determined by Vitek 2 automated system, agar dilution and E test. Results: 15 out of 774 isolates showed the presence of vancomycin resistant genes by Multiplex PCR. 10 (90.91 %) isolates out of 11 E. faecalis with van A gene showed high level resistance to Penicillin (16-64 µg/ml). 8 (72.73 %) out of 11 isolates showed high level resistance to Gentamicin (512-1024 µg/ml). 6 (54.55 %) , out of 11 isolates were resistant to β lactams. One isolate of E. faecalis from urine with van B gene showed showed high level resistance to Penicillin (32 µg/ml), Linezolid (≥ 8µg/ml), high level resistance to Gentamicin (1024 µg/ml), Fluoroquinolones (≥ 8µg/ml) and Macrolides (≥ 8µg/ml). Conclusion: Isolates of Enterococci resistant to glycopeptides, penicillin, Betalactams and aminoglycosides have important clinical implications in the treatment for infection.

A thorough understanding of plant behavior at different growth stages is of paramount importance for fruit quality improvement, the regulation of production periods, and reduced fruit production costs. There are as many as three waves of flowering in evergreen pomegranate cultivars – i.e., during the spring, rainy, and autumn seasons. However, for securing enhanced production of superior quality fruits as well as profit to the growers, crop regulation is required. This can be achieved by forcing the tree to rest at a particular stage and by producing abundant blossoming and quality fruits during any one of the three flushes. Observations on phenological phases would help in understanding the dates of specific stages of crop development, which in turn enable the growers to plan, organize, and carry out timely schedules of agronomic practices such as irrigation, fertilization, and crop protection. Therefore, there is a need to evaluate the response of pomegranate under different environmental conditions to identify a suitable flowering season to produce a better quality of fruits with consistent yield, and to enable standardization of management practices for optimum production based on phenological stages.

Background and aims Proliferation is an important indicator of breast cancer (BC) prognosis, but is assessed using different approaches. Not all cells in the cell cycle are committed to division. This study aimed to characterise quantitative differences between BC cells in the cell cycle and those in mitosis and assess their relationship with other pathological parameters. Methods and results A cohort of BC sections (n = 621) was stained with haematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemistry for Ki-67. The proportion of mitotic cells and Ki-67-positive cells was assessed in the same areas. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) BC cohort was used to assess MKI-67 transcriptome level and its association with the mitotic counts. The mean proportion of BC cells in the cell cycle was 24% (range = 1-90%), while the mean proportion of BC cells in mitosis was 5% (range = 0-73%). A low proportion of mitoses to whole cycling cells was associated with low histological grade tumours and the luminal A molecular subtype, while tumours with a high proportion of mitoses to the overall cycling cells were associated with triple-negative subtype, larger tumour size, grade 3 tumours and lymph node metastasis. The high mitosis/low Ki-67-positive cells tumours showed a significant association with variables of poor prognosis, including high-grade and triple-negative subtypes. Conclusion The proportion of BC cells in the cell cycle and mitosis is variable. We show that not only the number of cells in the cell cycle or mitosis, but also the difference between them, provides valuable information on tumour aggressiveness.

Background and Rationale: Enterococci have long been recognised as low virulence bacteria occurring as commensals in the human intestine. However in the last two decades they emerged as one of the leading causes of nosocomial infections with the development of resistance to antibiotics. So appropriate identification and characterization and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Enterococcal species is necessary for management and prevention of these infections. Materials and Methods: 150 isolates of Enterococcal species were obtained from various clinical samples. Characterisation was done by standard Microbiological methods and antibiotic susceptibility testing was done by Kirby- Bauer disc diffusion method and Vancomycin MIC tested by E- test. Results: Out of 150 isolates from various clinical samples like urine 93(62%), pus 45(30%), blood 7(4.6%) and other body fluids 5(3%), E.faecalis 131(87.3%) was the predominant isolate followed by E.faecium 14(9.3%), E.avium 2(1.3%), E.raffinosus 2(1.3%) and E.durans 1(0.6%). All isolates were sensitive to Vancomycin, Teicoplanin and Linezolid. Sensitivity to High level Gentamicin was 92%. Rate of resistance to Penicillin 150(100%), Tetracycline 95(63.3%), Ciprofloxacin 103(68.6%) and Ampicillin 67(44.6%). Conclusions: Even though no Vancomycin resistant strains were isolated from our study, there is incidence of Vancomycin resistant Enterococci are emerging as potent pathogen. So methods for characterization, antimicrobial susceptibility testing and MIC of Vancomycin should be done routinely for Enterococcal species. Keywords: Enterococcus, Efaecalis, Efaecium, High level Gentamicin, Vancomycinresistant Enterococci

Programmed cell death (PCD) is a multi-step process initiated by a set of proteases, which interacts and cleaves diverse proteins, thus modulating their biochemical and cellular functions. In metazoans, PCD is mediated by proteolytic enzymes called caspases, which triggered cell death by proteolysis of human Tudor staphylococcus nuclease (TSN). Non-metazoans lack a close homologue of caspases but possess an ancestral family of cysteine proteases termed ‘metacaspases’. Studies supported that metacaspases are involved in PCD, but their natural substrates remain unknown. In this study, we performed the Plasmodium falciparum TSN (PfTSN) cleavage assay using wild and selected mutants of P. falciparum metacaspases-2 (PfMCA-2) in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, PfMCA-2, cleaved a phylogenetically conserved protein, PfTSN at multiple sites. Deletion or substitution mutation in key interacting residues at the active site, Cys157 and His205 of PfMCA-2, impaired its enzymatic activity with the artificial substrate, z-GRR-AMC. However, the mutant Tyr224A did not affect the activity with z-GRR-AMC but abolished the cleavage of PfTSN. These results indicated that the catalytic dyad, Cys157 and His205 of PfMCA-2 was essential for its enzymatic activity with an artificial substrate, whereas Tyr224 and Cys157 residues were responsible for its interaction with the natural substrate and subsequent degradation of PfTSN. Our results suggested that MCA-2 interacts with TSN substrate in a non-canonical way using non-conserved or conformationally available residues for its binding and cleavage. In future, it would be interesting to explore how this interaction leads to the execution of PCD in the Plasmodium.

The current study focused on determining the potential geographical suitability of cassava and sweet potato, two major tropical root crops of India, using the species distribution model, MaxEnt and QGIS. The model showed excellent performance based on the AUC (area under the ROC curve) values (> 0.8) obtained during training and testing. District wise geographical suitability is analysed, and the results indicate an increase in the geographical suitability of cassava in the future with a percentage increase of 42, 41; 32, 43; and 33, 32 for 2030, 2050, and 2070, respectively, for the two representative concentration pathways (RCPs) 4.5 and 8.5. The same for sweet potato is 32, 25; 27, 31; and 23, 21, respectively. The geographical suitability of rice and potato is also tested in India in the future to compare the results of cassava and sweet potato. The percentage increase in rice suitability is 17, 15; 15, 17; and 13, 11 for 2030, 2050, and 2070, respectively, for the two RCPs about its current growing locations. The increase in geographical suitability of potato is 10, 11; 10, 9; and 10, 9%, respectively. The outcome of this study shares information about the highly suitable districts for cassava, sweet potato, rice, and potato across the Indian subcontinent in the future. It can assist the decision managers in diversifying crops to highly suitable areas to ensure food security.

A rapid survey was carried out to evaluate the status of a diverging bryozoan Amathia verticillata (delle Chiaje 1822) around the natural milieu after their successions on artificial coastal defense structures Tamil Nadu coast. This research communicates its incidence with sea fan Subergorgia suberosa and seagrass Cymodocea serrulate, Halophila ovalis in the nearshore reef environment of Tuticorin coast, Tamil Nadu, India. Thus, the rare Colonization of bryozoan on the sea fan was unique and reported for the first time in India.

Nanoparticles such as Fe, FeO, CuO, Zn, ZnO, and Se play an important role in aquaculture. These compounds are essential minerals to increase fish growth and supplemen-tation in feeds because practical feedstuffs contain low levels of these microminerals. Dietary supplementation of nanoparticles produces greater survival, growth, antioxidant levels and immunity of aquatic organisms including fishes. The present study deals with the impact of different quantity of green synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles on growth, enzymatic, biochemical changes, and hematology of Zebrafish Danio rerio. Anisomeles malabarica leaf extract was used for the synthesis of iron oxide nano-particles and characterized by XRD, SEM, EDAX, and FT-IR. Six feeds were prepared with different quantity of synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles (F1 - Control, F2 -10 mg, F3 – 20mg, F4 – 30mg and F5 – 50mg) and feed ingredients are fish meal, groundnut oilcake, wheat flour, and tapioca flour. Growth, digestive enzymes (protease, amylase, and lipase), biochemical constituents (total protein, carbohydrate and lipid) and hematological parameters were estimated after 30 days. ‘t’ test and One-way ANOVA was used for the analysis. The feed consumption, feed conversion efficiency, weight gain, percentage growth, relative growth rate, assimilation, metabolism, gross and net growth efficiency were higher in F5 containing 40mg of green synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles (1.98 ± 0.29, 0.19 ± 0.02, 0.85 ± 0.32, 2.88 ± 0.74, 2.21 ± 0.70, 1.61 ± 0.11, 44.31 ± 10.58 and 42.11 ± 9.46). 40mg of iron oxide nanoparticles supplemented feed enhanced the digestive enzymes and biochemical constituents of Zebrafish. The results conclude that 40 mg iron oxide nanoparticles supplemented feed enhanced the growth, digestive enzymes, biochemical constituents, and hematology of Zebrafish.

Background and Aims: The study was designed to evaluate the anti-fertility effect of methanolic extract of Clerodendrum serratum (MECS) on mature male rats. Methods: The vehicles and MECS were administered orally to four groups of forty male albino rats on consecutive days for 30 days. At the end of the experimental period, five animals from both the control and experimental groups were given anesthesia and the animal reproductive organs were collected and anti-fertility effect evaluated by studying the following parameters (i) Body and reproductive organ weight (ii) Biochemical estimation (iii) Reproductive hormone analysis (iv) Abnor malities in reproductive organ histology. Another five rats in each group were subjected to fertility testing. Results: This study shows that female rats which mated with MECS treated male rats delivered fewer pups than those which mated with the control rats. An antisteroidogenic effect was revealed through the increased concentration of testicular cho lesterol and ascorbic acid in MECS treated rats. However, testicular Δ5 -3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (Δ5 -3β-HSD), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD); serum reproductive hormones testosterone, FSH and LH were significantly reduced. Conclusion: The present investigation discovered the antisteroidogenic effect of MECS, which confirms the male antifertility effect of this plant. This encourages the traditional use of this plant in the Indian subcontinent as a male contraceptive.

Background: The preparations of commercially available Clinacanthus nutans (Burm.F) Lindau (Acanthaceae) (CN) leaf are gaining attention as an alternative cancer treatment, particularly in South East Asia. Multiple studies have suggested that CN has potential anticancer activities; however, the mechanism of these activities has remained elusive. Objective: This study evaluated the cytotoxic mechanisms of CN extracts in cancer cells. Methods: CN extracts were prepared from either fresh or dried leaves, using different solvents. Cytotoxicity of CN extracts was tested on the A549 (lung cancer), HeLa (cervical cancer), MCF-7 (breast cancer) and MDA-MB-231 (breast cancer) cell lines using the MTT assay. Flow cytometry was used to assess changes in the cell cycle profile, while Western blotting was used to examine microtubule stability. Finally, the mode of cell death was investigated using the Annexin V-FITC Apoptosis Detection Kit. Results: Aqueous Fresh (AQF) extract was prepared to simulate the ethnomedicinal use of CN, and reduce cell viability of MCF-7 cells with IC50 = 1.71 mg/mL. Some CN extracts have the ability to inhibit the proliferation of four different cancer cell lines after a 24 hour treatment. Annexin V assay results showed that acetone extracts of CN induced increments in the percentage of apoptotic cell death. However, flow cytometry results showed that the cancer cell cycle profile was not affected. Similarly, immunoblotting results also indicate that microtubule dynamics in MCF-7 cells were not altered. However, the aqueous extract, prepared to simulate the current ethnomedicinal use of CN leaves in cancer treatment, did not significantly inhibit cancer cell proliferation with an IC50 = 1.71 mg/mL. Conclusions: This study was the first to show that microtubules in cancer cells remain dynamic after treatment with CN extracts, effectively ruling interference of microtubule dynamics as the mode of cell death. AMD extract showed the highest effects of MCF-7 cell proliferation.

Cumulative soil evaporation estimation without CE(s − i) and with CE(s + i) inundation days viz. rainfall or irrigation days is an important aspect, affecting yield and quality of sugarcane, lacking in the literature. To this end, present replicated study conducted during spring 2019–2020 in irrigated sugarcane under semi-arid conditions, with differential rice straw mulch rates viz. 0, 4, 6, and 8 t ha−1 constituting T1, T2, T3, and T4 treatments, respectively. Attempts being made to delineate CE(s − i), CE(s + i) for which mini-lysimeters and pan evaporation (Ep) data used, respectively, and their effect on yield and quality parameters of sugarcane. From tillering to grand growth stage, CE(s − i) from T1 reduced to 2.4, 9.7, and 26.5% in T2, T3, and T4 plots, respectively whereas 7.14 and 15.3% reductions recorded while shifting from T2 to T3 and T3 to T4 plots. However, CE(s + i) reduced to 1.4, 14.4, and 5.6% while shifting from T1 to T2, T2 to T3, and T3 to T4 plots. Periodic growth parameters viz. cane height, width, Brix, and relative leaf water contents reported to improve but non-significantly in T2, T3, and T4 plots as compared to T1 plots. Averaged SPAD readings were reported to 7.6, 14.9, and 17% higher at 311 DAS in T2, T3 and T4 plots, compared to T1 plots. T3 plots reported significantly higher cane yields and commercial cane sugar (t ha−1) than T1 and T2 plots but at par with T4 plots. Therefore, T3 plots loaded with 6 t ha−1 of mulch reported to reduce CE(s − i), CE(s + i), and improve cane yield, and quality.

The present study was aimed to evaluate the antifeedant, larvicidal, pupicidal, biochemical effects of Vernonia anthelmintica seeds mediated AgNPs against Spodoptera litura, Helicoverpa armigera, Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti. The potential antifeedant activity of synthesized AgNPs were 86.90% and 89.83% and larvicidal activity of (LC50) 56.42 μg/mL and 63.65 μg/mL against S. litura and H. armigera respectively. Furthermore, larval growth duration was increased as 13.66 and 15.85 days on S. litura and H. armigera as compared to control 7.83 and 8.05 days. The AgNPs caused larvicidal activity of (LC50) 45.14 µg/mL and 53.23 µg/mL against Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus. The increased α esterase level of 85.00, 85.33 0.49 and 0.53 μg napthol produced/min/mg larval protein and β esterase level of 92.66, 101.67, 0.53 and 0.48 μg napthol produced/min/mg larval protein and glutathione S-transferase enzyme level of 146.33, 160.00, 0.75 and 0.65 μmol/min/mg larval proteins on S. litura, H. armigera, Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus. The damaged midget cells and peritrophic membrane was observed on treated larvae of S. litura, H. armigera, Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus. Conclusively, biosynthesised of AgNPs using V. anthelmintica seeds were used as potential biopesticide for controlling S. litura and H. armigera, Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus.

The population of methicillin-resistant (MR) staphylococci in aquatic environment is rarely investigated. Here, we characterized a collection of MR staphylococci recovered from shrimp aquaculture farms (n = 37) in Kerala, India. A total of 261 samples yielded 47 MR isolates (16 S. aureus, 13 S. haemolyticus, 11 S. epidermidis, 3 S. saprophytics and 2 each of S.intermedius and S. kloosii). Multi-drug resistance was evident in 72.3% of the isolates, with resistance mainly towards erythromycin (78.7%), norfloxacin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (53.2%), and gentamicin (34%). Major resistance genes identified included mecA (100%), ermC (38.3%), aacA-aphD (21.3%), tetK (14.9%) and tetM (21.3%). Almost 60% of the isolates carried type V SCCmec (Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome mec), and the remaining harboured untypeable SCCmec elements. Comprehensive genotyping of the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates revealed high prevalence of ST772-t345-V (sequence type-spa type-SCCmec type) (75%), followed by minor representations of ST6657-t345-V and ST3190-t12353. The isolates of S. haemolyticus and S. epidermidis were genotypically diverse as shown by their pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) profiles. Genes encoding staphylococcal enterotoxins were observed in 53.2% of the isolates. Various genes involved in adhesion and biofilm formation were also identified. In conclusion, our findings provide evidence that shrimp aquaculture settings can act as reservoirs of methicillin-resistant staphylococci.

Periodontitis is a common inflammatory disease that affects the teeth-supporting tissue and causes bone and tooth loss. Moreover, in a worldwide population, periodontal disease is often associated with cardiovascular diseases. Emerging studies have reported that one of the major pathogens related to periodontitis is Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), which triggers the inflammatory intracellular cascade. Here, we hypothesized a possible protective effect of ascorbic acid (AA) in the restoration of the physiological molecular pathway after exposure to lipopolysaccharide derived from P. gingivalis (LPS-G). In particular, human gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hGMSCs) and endothelial-differentiated hGMSCs (e-hGMSCs) exposed to LPS-G showed upregulation of p300 and downregulation of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), proteins associated with DNA methylation and histone acetylation. The co-treatment of AA and LPS-G showed a physiological expression of p300 and DNMT1 in hGMSCs and e-hGMSCs. Moreover, the inflammatory process triggered by LPS-G was demonstrated by evaluation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and their intracellular localization. AA exposure re-established the physiological ROS levels. Despite the limitations of in vitro study, these findings collectively expand our knowledge regarding the molecular pathways involved in periodontal disease, and suggest the involvement of epigenetic modifications in the development of periodontitis.

Context: Differentiating NSCLC as either adeno or squamous type and identification of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) mutations is clinically relevant for lung cancer patients for selecting treatment. Thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) and p63 were demonstrated as useful markers for histologic typing of lung cancer. Mutation and overexpression of EGFR has been reported in a subset of non-small cell lung cancers. If these markers can be validated for the differential diagnosis of adenocarcinoma in a sputum sample itself, it will be highly beneficial for lung cancer patients. Aims: To evaluate whether immunocytochemical expression of TTF-1, p63, and EGFR proteins in sputum samples can be used for differential diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma by comparing with that of the corresponding tissue samples. Settings and Design: Ninety sputum samples and matched tissue samples were used for the study. Subjects and Methods: Monolayered smears and cell blocks of sputum and the corresponding tissue samples were immunostained with the standard ABC method. The expression patterns of these markers were analyzed statistically and compared with clinic-pathological parameters. Statistical Analysis Used: Chi-square test and paired t-test. Results: The p63 protein had a positive expression in 73.9% of SCC whereas TTF1 had positive expression in 75.8% of ADC. The EGFR expression was positive in 27 cases of adenocarcinoma, 21 cases of SCC and 19 cases of NSCLC. Conclusions: Immunocytochemistry of the aforementioned antibodies in sputum samples can be used as supplementary evidence for the subtyping of NSCLC.

Evolvulus alsinoides, belonging to the family Convolvulaceae, is an important medicinal plant widely used as a nootropic in the Indian traditional medicine system. In the genus Evolvulus, no research on the chloroplast genome has been published. Hence, the present study focuses on annotation, characterization, identification of mutational hotspots, and phylogenetic analysis in the complete chloroplast genome (cp) of E. alsinoides. Genome comparison and evolutionary dynamics were performed with the species of Solanales. The cp genome has 114 genes (80 protein-coding genes, 30 transfer RNA, and 4 ribosomal RNA genes) that were unique with total genome size of 157,015 bp. The cp genome possesses 69 RNA editing sites and 44 simple sequence repeats (SSRs). Predicted SSRs were randomly selected and validated experimentally. Six divergent hotspots such as trnQ-UUG, trnF-GAA, psaI, clpP, ndhF, and ycf1 were discovered from the cp genome. These microsatellites and divergent hot spot sequences of the Taxa ‘Evolvulus’ could be employed as molecular markers for species identification and genetic divergence investigations. The LSC area was found to be more conserved than the SSC and IR region in genome comparison. The IR contraction and expansion studies show that nine genes rpl2, rpl23, ycf1, ycf2, ycf1, ndhF, ndhA, matK, and psbK were present in the IR-LSC and IR-SSC boundaries of the cp genome. Fifty-four protein-coding genes in the cp genome were under negative selection pressure, indicating that they were well conserved and were undergoing purifying selection. The phylogenetic analysis reveals that E. alsinoides is closely related to the genus Cressa with some divergence from the genus Ipomoea. This is the first time the chloroplast genome of the genus Evolvulus has been published. The findings of the present study and chloroplast genome data could be a valuable resource for future studies in population genetics, genetic diversity, and evolutionary relationship of the family Convolvulaceae.

Two new species of the subfamily Dorylinae Leach, 1815 namely Parasyscia ganeshaiahisp. nov. and Syscia indicasp. nov. are described and illustrated based on the worker caste. These species were collected in the Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India. Keys to Parasyscia of India and Syscia of Asia are provided based on the worker caste.

Graphical abstract COVID-19, the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, has been declared as a global pandemic. Traditional medicinal plants have long history to treat viral infections. Our in silico approach suggested that unique phytocompounds such as emodin, thymol and carvacrol, and artemisinin could physically bind SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoproteins (6VXX and 6VYB), SARS-CoV-2 B.1.351 South Africa variant of Spike glycoprotein (7NXA), and even with ACE2 and prevent the SARS-CoV-2 binding to the host ACE2, TMPRSS2 and neutrapilin-1 receptors. Since Chloroquine has been looked as potential therapy against COVID-19, we also compared the binding of chloroquine and artemisinin for its interaction with spike proteins (6VXX, 6VYB) and its variant 7NXA, respectively. Molecular docking study of phytocompounds and SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was performed by using AutoDock/Vina software. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was performed for 50ns. Among all the phytocompounds, molecular docking studies revealed lowest binding energy of artemisinin with 6VXX and 6VYB, with Etotal −10.5 KJ mol−1 and −10.3 KJ mol−1 respectively. Emodin showed the best binding affinity with 6VYB with Etotal −8.8 KJ mol−1and SARS-CoV-2 B.1.351 variant (7NXA) with binding energy of −6.4KJ mol−1. Emodin showed best interactions with TMPRSS 2 and ACE2 with Etotal of −7.1 and −7.3 KJ mol−1 respectively, whereas artemisinin interacts with TMPRSS 2 and ACE2 with Etotal of −6.9 and −7.4 KJ mol−1 respectively. All the phytocompounds were non-toxic and non-carcinogenic. MD simulation showed that artemisinin has more stable interaction with 6VYB as compared to 6VXX, and hence proposed as potential phytochemical to prevent SARS-CoV-2 interaction with ACE-2 receptor. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40495-021-00259-4.

ObjectiveA systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression were performed on selected studies to investigate the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) among athletes compared with non-athlete controls.DesignMeta-analysis with heterogeneity analysis and subsequent meta-regression to model covariates were performed. The mode of exercise (endurance and mixed sports) and age were the a priori determined covariates.Data sourcesPubMed, MEDLINE, Science Direct, SPORTDiscus and the Cochrane library were searched.Eligibility criteriaResearch articles published after 1990 and before 2 December 2020 were included if they reported the number of AF cases in athletes with non-athlete (physically active or inactive) control groups, were case–control or cohort studies and if data allowed calculation of OR.ResultsThe risk of developing AF was significantly higher in athletes than in non-athlete controls (OR: 2.46; 95% CI 1.73 to 3.51; pConclusionAthletes have a significantly greater likelihood of developing AF compared with non-athlete controls, with those participating in mixed sport and younger athletes at the greatest risk. Future studies of AF prevalence in athletes according to specific exercise dose parameters, including training and competition history, may aid further in delineating those at risk.

Two new species of the ant genus Myrmecina Curtis, 1829, M. bawai sp. nov. and M. reticulata sp. nov., are described and illustrated based on the worker caste from Mizoram, Northeast India. The genus is reported for the first time from Mizoram, the Indian state with the highest percentage of forest cover. A key to the Indian fauna of Myrmecina is also provided based on the worker caste.

Background: Noise has become inexorable stress due to the increase in urbanization, automobile usage, and lifestyle modification.Aim: The study aims to investigate the effect of chronic noise stress on hippocampal morphology and the neuroprotective effect of Glycyrrhiza glabra (GG) on stress-induced male Wistar albino rats. Methods: Adult albino rats were randomly divided into four groups. Each group contained six animals. Rats exposed to chronic noise stress (100 dB/4 h – 30Days), Noise + GG (150 mg/kg Bw/Oral), and GG alone were compared with control animal and assessed for behaviour using the hole-board test, marble burying test, the morphology of hippocampus by histology, DNA fragmentation and assessed the Phytochemical constitutes in GG. Results: The rats exposed to chronic noise stress showed significance (p

Mesenchymal stem cells, because of their high proliferation, differentiation, regenerative capacity, and ease of availability, have been a popular choice in cytotherapy. Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) have a natural tendency to home in a tumor microenvironment and act against it, owing to the similarity of the latter to an injured tissue environment. Several studies have confirmed the recruitment of MSCs by tumor through various cytokine signaling that brings about phenotypic changes to cancer cells, thereby promoting migration, invasion, and adhesion of cancer cells. The contrasting results on MSCs as a tool for cancer cytotherapy may be due to the complex cell to cell interaction in the tumor microenvironment, which involves various cell types such as cancer cells, immune cells, endothelial cells, and cancer stem cells. Cell to cell communication can be simple or complex and it is transmitted through various cytokines among multiple cell phenotypes, mechano-elasticity of the extra- cellular matrix surrounding the cancer cells, and hypoxic environments. In this article, the role of the extra-cellular matrix proteins and soluble mediators that act as communicators between mesenchymal stem cells and cancer cells has been reviewed specifically for breast cancer, as they are the leading members of cancer malignancies. The comprehensive information may be beneficial in finding a new combinatorial cytotherapeutic strategy using MSCs by exploiting the cross-talk between mesenchymal stem cells and cancer cells for treating breast cancer.

Microtubules are tubulin polymers present in the eukaryotic cytoskeleton essential for structural stability and cell division that are also roadways for intracellular transport of vesicles and organelles. In the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, apart from providing structural stability and cell division, microtubules also facilitate important biological activities crucial for parasite survival in hosts, such as egression and motility. Hence, parasite structures and processes involving microtubules are among the most important drug targets for discovering much-needed novel Plasmodium inhibitors. The current study aims to construct reliable and high-quality 3D models of α-, β-, and γ-tubulins using various modeling techniques. We identified a common binding pocket specific to Plasmodium α-, β-, and γ-tubulins. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed the stability of the Plasmodium tubulin 3D structures. The models generated in the present study may be used for protein–protein and protein–drug interaction investigations targeted toward designing malaria parasite tubulin-specific inhibitors.