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Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) pose a significant risk to global health, impacting millions of individuals globally. These infections have increased rates of morbidity and mortality due to the prevalence of widespread antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Graphene-based nanoparticles (GBNs) are known to possess extensive antimicrobial properties by inflicting damage to the cell membrane, suppressing virulence, and inhibiting microbial biofilms. Developing alternative therapies for HAIs and addressing AMR can be made easier and more affordable by combining nanoparticles with medicinal plants harboring antimicrobial properties. Hence, this study was undertaken to develop a novel graphene–silver nanocomposite via green synthesis using Trillium govanianum plant extract as a reducing agent. The resulting nanocomposite comprised silver nanoparticles embedded in graphene sheets. The antibacterial and antifungal properties of graphene–silver nanocomposites were investigated against several nosocomial pathogens, namely, Candida auris, Candida glabrata, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The nanocomposite displayed broad-range antimicrobial potential against the test pathogens, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging between 31.25 and 125.0 µg/mL, and biofilm inhibition up to 80–96%. Moreover, nanocomposite-functionalized urinary catheters demonstrated hemocompatibility towards sheep erythrocytes and imparted anti-fouling activity to the biomaterial, while also displaying biocompatibility towards HEK 293 cells. Collectively, this investigation highlights the possible application of green-synthesized GBNs as an effective alternative to conventional antibiotics for combating multidrug-resistant pathogens.

Background: India has several health issues that can be avoided by raising awareness and following fundamental rules. Menstrual hygiene is one of those subjects that is rarely discussed but is essential to a woman's life. Women have been discouraged from getting help from professionals due to misconceptions about this. The aim of this study is to spread awareness of menstrual health and practice among young women in Bihar. Methods: This study was conducted at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital located in Bhagalpur, Bihar with 25 participants per week. Data collection was carried out from September 2022 to February 2023 with a structured questionnaire after obtaining consent. Results: Most women (59%) understood little about menstruation. Moreover, a quarter of those surveyed used disposable pads. Most Bihari women (73%) who did not use sanitary pads claimed to have used cotton (9%), old disposable clothes (60%), reusable clothing (26%), or toilet tissue paper (4%). Sixty-one percent of the women took special baths, and thirty-seven percent observed sociocultural taboos during their periods. Higher menstrual knowledge was linked to more disposable sanitary napkins being used, according to the bivariate analysis (low knowledge: 76 individuals, high knowledge: 156 individuals; p=0.01). Conclusion: The research concluded that the study subjects had no awareness of menstruation hygiene. They had subpar menstrual hygiene habits and attitudes. Participants' lack of preparation for menarche and their strong opinions that menstruation is socially taboo can be inferred from their different constraints because of these strong social and cultural norms to eliminate the stigma associated with menstruation, group talks, media efforts, and sex education in schools are necessary. Recommendation: Frequent sessions should be conducted by healthcare workers to enhance the knowledge of young women, and to increase their positive attitudes and practices regarding menstrual hygiene.

The present study aims to investigate the antigenic cross reactivity between the receptor from Proteus mirabilis and spermatozoa against a common sperm immobilization factor, SIF, by calorimetric and competitive inhibition studies, and the immunogenicity of this receptor to evoke the formation of antisperm antibodies and their subsequent role in fertility outcome. The sperm binding receptor from Proteus mirabilis (PM-SBR) was extracted from ultrasonicated cell debris by treating it for 12 h at 37°C with 1 M NaCl. After being purified by gel permeation chromatography, its molecular weight as determined by SDS-PAGE was observed to be ≈ 47 kDa. The detrimental impacts of Sperm immobilizing factor (SIF) on spermatozoa viz. motility, viability, and morphology were mitigated when SIF was preincubated with various concentrations of PM-SBR. Using isothermal titration calorimetry, the entropy of the SIF-PM-SBR interaction was found to be -18.31 kJ/mol, whereas the free energy was 28.4 J/mol K. FTIR analysis was used to evaluate the binding interactions between PM-SBR and SIF. In addition, mice that were administered antibodies against PM-SBR were unable to conceive, in contrast to mice that were administered Phosphate buffer saline (PBS) or pre-immunization serum as controls. In light of this, we may conclude that anti-PM-SBR antibodies act as anti-sperm antibodies. Our work found that molecular mimicry between Proteus mirabilis and spermatozoa may cause antisperm immune reactivity. As a result of an immunological response to PM-SBR, infected individuals may produce antibodies against an epitope similar to one found on spermatozoa which helps in developing new strategies for managing autoimmune responses and infertility.

Background: Depression is a hidden pandemic among adolescents with multi-factorial causal risk and risk correlates. Objectives: To find the prevalence of depression and risk factors among school-going adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 838 adolescents enrolled in 6th–11th standards (age: 11–19 years) in 15 urban schools in Patna city by using the modified Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9); binary logistic regression was applied to find significant risk correlates. Results: Depression was noted among 51.2% adolescents of our study participants: mild 32.3%, moderate 14.3%, moderately severe 3.9%, severe depression 0.6%; among early adolescents (46.2%; boys-21.2%, girls-78.8%) and among late adolescents (55.3%, boys-34.7%, girls-65.3%). Adolescent depression was significantly associated in our study with female gender, late adolescence, higher classes (9th–11th), vegetarian diet, soft drink consumption, fast foods, screen time, domestic harassment, academic dissatisfaction, parental discord as well as mental illness. Girls had higher risk who were in higher classes, on a vegetarian diet, habitually on soft drink, more screen time (>3 h), face more family nuisance, parents brawling frequently, and suffering from known mental diseases. Conclusion: Depression was noted in more than half of the adolescents, with a higher prevalence in girls, scholastic failure, higher grades, vegetarian diet, more screen time, familial disease, and conflict.

Plants do not grow in isolation; they interact with diverse microorganisms in their habitat. The development of techniques to identify and quantify the microbial diversity associated with plants contributes to our understanding of the complexity of environmental influences to which plants are exposed. Identifying interactions which are beneficial to plants can enable us to promote healthy growth with the minimal application of agrochemicals. Beneficial plant–microbial interactions assist plants in acquiring inaccessible nutrients to promote plant growth and help them to cope with various stresses and pathogens. An increased knowledge of plant–microbial diversity can be applied to meet the growing demand for biofertilizers for use in organic agriculture. This review highlights the beneficial effects of soil–microbiota and biofertilizers on improving plant health and crop yields. We propose that a multi–omics approach is appropriate to evaluate viability in the context of sustainable agriculture.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious public health issue that must be addressed. Aim: The goal of this study was to investigate the correlation between serological status for hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg)/anti‑HBe, serum transaminase levels, and serum HBV‑DNA in patients with chronic HBV infection. Methods: A retrospective observational study with 620 patients with persistent HBV infection (mean age, 36.35 years; 506 men) was conducted. All patients tested positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Liver profile, HBeAg, and anti‑HBe antibody tests were conducted for all patients. Additionally, serum HBV DNA was examined using a DNA assay in these individuals. Results: Of 620 patients, 114 (18.39%) were HBeAg‑positive and 506 (81.61%) HBeAg‑negative. A detectable level of HBV DNA was found in 89.79% of HBeAg‑positive/anti‑HBe negative patients compared to HBeAg‑negative/anti‑HBe positive carriers 33.69% (P value <0.0001). The median viral load was significantly higher in HBeAg‑positive cases (4.72 log10 copies/mL) than in HBeAg‑negative individuals (4.23 log10 copies/mL; P = 0.997). Additionally, a higher proportion of HBeAg‑positive samples (P = 0.0001) had HBV‑DNA levels above 10,000 copies/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research aims at tracing the human-machine interaction and interpersonal relationship in the substantial realm of modern car culture with a focus on human beings' dependency on cars as petro-products through Monster Motors (2015) by Brian Lynch and Nick Roche. With allusions to maestros of horror viz. Frankenstein and Dracula, this comic details the adventures of ace mechanic Vic Frankenstein and his android assistant IGOR against the vampire car Cadillacula which sucks gasoline out of other cars. In his triangular theory of love, proposes three components of love, viz. Intimacy, passion, and commitment. Modern car culture manifests in people's love for cars. Thus, this research is an attempt to showcase people's affinity with cars as an implication of their affinity with petroleum through Sternberg's three components of love. Thus, the research establishes the aggressive consumption of petroleum used in cars as a derivative of Sternberg's passion component and machine-intimacy of humans as a synonym of petro-intimacy based on intimacy component. Subsequently, the research investigates the decision/commitment component of Sternberg in relation to understanding humans' determination for cars/petro-products. Here, it scrutinises that petro-horror- an attempt to represent oil's increasing ubiquity (Tulsi 2020, 159–181) – is a conscious choice that humans make in promoting the car culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oxidative stress plays a key role in breast carcinogenesis. Cyclo (L-Leu-L-Pro) (CLP) is a homodetic cyclic dipeptide with 2,5-diketopiperazine scaffold isolated from marine actinobacteria. This study aimed to evaluate the protective activity of CLP and linear - (L-Leu-L-Pro) (LP) from tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP)-induced damage using normal breast epithelial cell line model (MCF-12A). Methods: The cytoprotective activity was evaluated by detecting the changes in intracellular ROS, mitochondrial superoxide, hydroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide, and lipid peroxidation detection assays as well as cytotoxic assays of MTT, LDH assays and phase contrast microscopy. Genoprotective activity was evaluated by (Apurinic/Apyrimidinic) AP site, alkaline Comet, and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine assays. Results: The marine cyclic peptide, CLP, significantly protected MCF-12A cells by scavenging tBHP induced intracellular ROS such as super oxide, hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide, and by reducing the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity effect compared to LP. Moreover, the results showed that CD151 gene silencing by shRNA significantly reduced the overexpression of CD151, tBHP-induced ROS generation, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in MCF-12A cells. The overexpression of CD151 caused increased levels of cytochrome P450, but was reduced following the application of CD151shRNA and CLP which led to elevated levels of intracellular ROS. Conclusion: In the present study we noticed that CD151 gene silencing by shRNA and treatment with CLP have similar effects on reducing the intracellular ROS. This study uncovers the protective activity of CLP against a CD151-mediated oxidative stress-induced cellular damage. Our observations suggest that the anti-stress and anti-inflammation properties of CLP might have implications in cancer and are worth testing in cancer cell lines and tumor cells.

Below is a telephonic interview with George Mathen (Appupen) by comics scholars from India about graphic novels, commercial sketching, and consumerism. Brooding on the similarity and differences between comics and graphic novels, the scholars involved in this interview problematise the trend of consumerism in the present-day scenario and situate the contribution of graphic novels in establishing mindful consumption. The contributors are the scholars of capitalism and consumerism, who lay the foundation of the readership cohort in India and discuss the role of graphic novels in essentializing moral values. Comic artist Appupen defines his motif as spreading awareness about excessive consumption and eventual environmental degradation by employing his advertising experiences. By insisting on demystifying the consumerist bubble, he preaches for 'brooding before buying' through his four well-known graphic novels, viz. Moonward, Legends of Halahala, The Snake and the Lotus, and Aspyrus. Addressing the silence in his work, he calls for a complete mental and emotional investment of the readers to decode the true meaning. Moreover, he digs the superhero-based mainstream comics and the essentiality of dismantling the obsession with superheroes to reach out to the central force of the consumerist circle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Introduction Diagnostic and therapeutic ionizing radiation (IR) is one of the well known long term risk factors of breast cancer. Extremely lethal consequences of IR causes double-strand breaks, which are mainly responsible for genomic instability, altered gene expression, and cell death. Findings This study evaluated the effect of matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2) gene silencing using MMP-2 shRNA expression plasmids (pMMP-2) on IR induced cytotoxicity and DNA damage by MTT, dead green, γH2AX and comet assays in human normal dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) and MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. IR has decreased the viability of HDFs and MCF-7 cells with increasing IR (2-10Gy). IR induced DNA damage in both HDFs and MCF-7 cells. However, pMMP-2 transfection has increased the viability of irradiated HDFs (10Gy) and significantly decreased the viability of irradiated MCF-7 cells (10Gy). Further, DNA damage in terms of γH2AX foci decreased with pMMP-2 transfection in irradiated HDFs (10Gy) and increased in irradiated MCF-7 cells (10Gy). In addition, MMP-2 gene silencing using pMMP-2 decreased comet tail length in irradiated HDFs but increased in irradiated MCF-7 cells. Conclusions The results conclude that pMMP-2 has protected HDFs and sensitized the MCF-7 cells from IR induced DNA damage. This differential response might be due to IR induced MMP-2 distinctive ROS generation in HDFs and MCF-7 cells.