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The role of technology in altering consumer behaviour is not hidden. Behavioural investigations concentrate on how people choose, pay for, consume, and reject items and services, theories, and events to meet their requirements. One such sector that regularly benefits from technological developments and advancements is the travel and tourism sector. It actively engages in the cycle of travel behaviour and has established a track record for being highly flexible in response to shifting travel preferences, technological developments, and worldwide trends. Tourism and its associated industries play vital roles in the expansion of the economy, cross-cultural discourse, and global connectedness. This industry has presented several viewpoints, resulting in changing how people choose technology to travel. Travel behaviour investigates into the reasons for travel, the types of conveyance used, the places of interest chosen, and the activities that are carried out. Understanding travel behaviour is critical for several tourism industry stakeholders, since it allows them to customise products, services, improve experiences, and reduce risks in an ever changing travel landscape. This review examines studies from 2014 to 2024, sourced from the Scopus database using the VOSviewer software, with an aim to illustrate how technology influences travel behavior. The objective of this review is to use an illustrated bibliographic navigation of the literature to methodically, effectively, and impartially assess the state of research in this field, while also exploring prospective alternatives for future study.

Granular cell tumors of breast are rare neoplasms, majority of which are benign. Their imaging appearances are often indistinguishable from breast cancer. They may demonstrate a few differentiating features and unlike breast cancer, typically follow a benign course. Histopathology and immunochemistry form the cornerstone of diagnosis of granular cell tumor. In this article, we presented a series of three cases of granular cell tumors with variable presentations. Our goal is to increase familiarity for these neoplasms and for the readers to be able to distinguish them from the more common entity of breast cancer, as their prognosis and management differ.

With an increasing prominence of electric vehicles (EVs) in sustainable transportation, it demands a robust and steady charging infrastructure. The widespread adoption of EVs into the transportation ecosystem hinges on continuous and reliable operation of charging stations (CSs). This paper delves its focus on reliability and resilience of EV chargers using various fault-tolerant (FT) techniques. It also analyzes the EV chargers’ failure scenarios such as hardware malfunctions and power outages which can disrupt the charging process. To evaluate these strategies, advanced FT algorithms and system reconfiguration protocols has been analyzed. Also, Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) act as key performance indicator which indicates the reduction from 60% to -40% with diminished current and voltage variations and enhanced grid stability. The extensive real-world research and simulations on charging scenarios reflects the key performance metrics with 95% charging efficiency and fault recovery times of 0.8 seconds at 180 Volts. This research evaluates the compatibility and cost-effectiveness of these strategies with diverse EV models. Ultimately, the findings highlight the effectiveness and practicality of FT techniques for EV chargers providing valuable insights for infrastructure developers and ensures a reliable EV charging fostering consumer trust and accelerating the global transition to electric mobility.

Field observations provide authenticity in remote sensing studies when it comes to glacierized areas where weather conditions and terrain are not accessible. This study is an attempt to validate the relation between the Randolph Glacier Inventory (RGI) ice thickness and DEM through a field survey in the recently vacated area occupied by the moraine-dammed proglacial lake of the rapidly retreating Gepang-Gath glacier in the Lahaul Himalaya. We used Randolph Glacier Inventory (RGI) version-6 data of ice thickness for Gepang-Gath glacier with SRTM digital elevation model (DEM) of the year 2000 and Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) interferometry-based DEM of the year 2020 to calculate the lake depth. This relation is validated with ground-based investigation and lake bathymetry data collected using a kayak and metallic nob tied with rope and measuring tape in June 2021 where the maximum depth of the lake is 48 m. The SRTM-DEM profile and ice thickness data suggested that the Gepang-Gath glacial lake will expand ~2 km with a maximum depth of ± 10 m measured near the snout. As this lake is potentially vulnerable, this type of study will help measure lake depth using snout height and vice-versa with the help of DEM data to avoid hazards in feeding glaciers retreating.

Pseudoaneurysm development is a well-recognized consequence of arterial injury, frequently observed in procedures involving arterial groin access. Breast emergencies are infrequent but need prompt attention. We present a notable case of breast pseudoaneurysm postcore needle biopsy, incidentally, identified through subsequent magnetic resonance imaging. Remarkably, the patient's lactating status emerged as a unique risk factor. Our report thoroughly explores the pathogenesis, etiology, preventive measures, and treatment strategies specific to breast pseudoaneurysms. A comprehensive understanding of this phenomenon is essential for radiologists at large, with particular importance for specialists in breast imaging.

Abstract The Kashmir “seismic gap” in NW Himalaya is marked by hinterland‐to‐foreland reduction in GPS‐geodetic arc‐normal convergence‐velocity and increase in horizontal strain‐rate, associated with occurrence of moderate‐to‐small earthquakes. We analyze continuous waveforms from Jammu and Kashmir seismological network (2015–2017) to detect and preliminarily locate 1064 events, followed by probabilistic non‐linear relocation of 360 well‐located local earthquakes, with magnitudes 0.6–4.7 and hypocentral depths 0–60 km. Hypocenters shallower than 20 km lie on or above the Main Himalayan Thrust (MHT), clustered beneath the Kishtwar Higher‐Himalaya. Hinterlandward dipping seismicity‐clusters coincide with a MHT mid‐crustal frontal ramp, marking a ∼50 km wide locked‐to‐creep transition. The frictionally‐locked up‐dip MHT segment is ∼100 km wide, capable of hosting a Mw∼ 8.4 earthquake, if ruptured completely. Clustered seismicity SW of the Kishtwar Window and to its east illuminate MHT lateral‐ramps, which may limit the rupture width and/or modulate the rupture propagation. Entirely seismogenic underthrust Indian‐crust poses additional hazard from large earthquakes within it.

Introduction: Preservation of primary teeth is essential for optimal oral health in children; however, there is limited research on primary tooth extraction patterns in India. This study aimed to investigate the reasons for and patterns of primary tooth extraction in children in an Indian tertiary care dental setting. Methodology: This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed dental records of children aged up to 14 years who underwent tooth extraction under local anesthesia from January to December 2023. Demographic data, reasons for extraction, and tooth types extracted were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test. Results: Among the 261 subjects studied, there were 132 males and 129 females. Dental caries was the leading cause of extraction (42.6%), followed by mobility (20.8%) and over-retention (17.3%). Maxillary teeth were extracted more frequently than mandibular teeth, with central incisors being the most commonly extracted. Conclusion: This study highlights the prevalence of dental caries as the primary reason for primary tooth extraction in Indian children. Gender-specific differences were observed in extraction reasons, and maxillary teeth were more frequently extracted than mandibular teeth. These findings emphasize the importance of targeted preventive strategies to address dental caries and promote optimal oral health in children in India.

Introduction: Pain management in pediatric dentistry is crucial for ensuring positive treatment outcomes and reducing patient suffering. This study aimed to evaluate postoperative discomfort and analgesic usage among pediatric dental patients undergoing various procedures in India. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care dental hospital in India from June 2023 to December 2023. A total of 150 pediatric patients aged 2–18 years who underwent different dental procedures were included. Data on postoperative discomfort and analgesic usage were collected immediately following the procedure and during follow-up phone calls. Results: Significant differences were found in immediate postoperative discomfort following pulpotomy (P = 0.03). Patients receiving primary stainless steel crowns (SSCs) alone or in combination with pulpotomy were significantly more likely to report discomfort (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively). No significant associations were observed between discomfort and sealants, preventive resin restorations, 1- or 2-surface restorations, or extractions. Over-the-counter analgesic usage was prevalent, particularly following SSC placement. Conclusion: This study highlights the variability in postoperative discomfort among pediatric dental patients undergoing different procedures in India. Tailored pain management strategies based on specific procedures are essential to minimize discomfort and improve patient outcomes in pediatric dentistry.

Introduction: Orthodontic treatment can alter the oral environment, leading to plaque accumulation and changes in microbial colonization. This study aimed to assess microbiological changes in 10 to 16-year-old children undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment. Methodology: The study included children aged 10–16 years, with one group wearing fixed orthodontic appliances and a control group without brackets. Data on salivary pH, buffer capacity, Streptococcus mutans, and Lactobacillus spp were collected at baseline and after 6 months. Logistic regression models evaluated associations between orthodontic treatment and elevated bacterial levels, adjusting for age, gender, pH, and buffer capacity. Results: Wearing fixed orthodontic appliances was significantly associated with elevated Streptococcus mutans (aOR: 6.62, 95% CI: 1.91–21.88) and Lactobacillus spp (aOR: 9.49, 95% CI: 2.57–35.07). Gender showed a significant association with Lactobacillus spp levels (aOR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.09–0.87). Conclusion: Fixed orthodontic appliances significantly impact oral microbial changes, underscoring the need for proper oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment to reduce dental caries risk.

Abernethy malformation also known as congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt (CEPS) are rare (1 in 50,000 people) vascular anomalies of the splanchnic venous system and results from persistence of embryonic vessels. We present a rare case of abernethy malformation in a 4-year-old girl. First case was reported by John Abernethy in 1793 and till now 83 cases have been reported till now.

Abstract Endothelial cells express neuropilin 1 (NRP1), endoglin (ENG) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), which regulate VEGF-A-mediated vascular development and angiogenesis. However, the link between complex formation among these receptors with VEGF-A-induced signaling and biology is yet unclear. Here, we quantify surface receptor interactions by IgG-mediated immobilization of one receptor, and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) measurements of the mobility of another coexpressed receptor. We observe stable ENG/NRP1, ENG/VEGFR2, and NRP1/VEGFR2 complexes, which are enhanced by VEGF-A. ENG augments NRP1/VEGFR2 interactions, suggesting formation of tripartite complexes bridged by ENG. Effects on signaling are measured in murine embryonic endothelial cells expressing (MEEC+/+) or lacking (MEEC-/-) ENG, along with NRP1 and/or ENG overexpression or knockdown. We find that optimal VEGF-A-mediated phosphorylation of VEGFR2 and Erk1/2 requires ENG and NRP1. ENG or NRP1 increase VEGF-A-induced sprouting, becoming optimal in cells expressing all three receptors, and both processes are inhibited by a MEK1/2 inhibitor. We propose a model where the maximal potency of VEGF-A involves a tripartite complex where ENG bridges VEGFR2 and NRP1, providing an attractive therapeutic target for modulation of VEGF-A signaling and biological responses.

The need for ending plastic waste and creating a circular economy has prompted significant interest in developing a new family of composite materials through recycling and recovery of waste resources (including bio-sourced materials). In this work, a family of natural fiber-reinforced plastic composites has been developed from paint pail waste recycled polypropylene (rPP) and waste wool fibers of different diameter and aspect ratio. Composites were fabricated by melt processing using polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride as a compatibilizer. The internal morphology, interfacial and thermal characteristics, viscoelastic behavior, water sorption/wettability, and mechanical properties of composites were studied using electron microscopy, high-resolution synchrotron Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy, thermal analysis, rheology, immersion test, contact angle measurement, tensile test and flexural test. The composite matrix exhibited an internal morphology of coalescent micro-droplets due to the presence of polyethylene and dry paint in the rPP phase. In general, the rheological and mechanical properties of the composites comprising higher-aspect-ratio (lower diameter) fibers exhibited relatively superior performance. About an 18% increase in tensile strength and a 39% increase in flexural strength were measured for composites with an optimal fiber loading of 10 wt.%. Interfacial debonding and fiber pull-out were observed as the main failure mechanism of the composites. The developed composites have potential for applications in automotive, decking, and building industries.

BackgroundSoil- and water-transmitted helminths are a major concern in the developing world due to their high prevalence. More than a quarter of the population were estimated to be infected with helminths in these endemic zones.Research designAn in silico approach was used to design a vaccine construct against the Taenia genus utilizing the proteomic information and evaluation of the construct using immune-informatics.ResultsOur study identified 451 conserved proteins in Taenia spp. using the existing proteome; out of these, 141 were found to be expressed in cysticerci. These proteins were screened for antigenic epitopes and a multi-subunit vaccine was constructed. The constructed vaccine was assessed for its efficacy in mounting the appropriate immune response. Our constructed vaccine showed stability and optimal performance against the TLR 4 receptor, which is reported to be upregulated in Taenia infections in hosts.ConclusionImmune-informatics tools help design vaccines for neglected diseases such as those attributed to helminths, which are known to cause widespread morbidity. Our vaccine construct holds tremendous potential in conferring protection against all Taenia spp. of clinical relevance to human.

Background: Association between the ABO blood group and patient outcomes in COVID-19 patients is still unexplored. A known association may help to understand possible risks in advance to the management of such COVID-19 patients. The present study was designed to test such association if there is any, between the ABO blood group and the severity of COVID-19 patients. Methods: The present hospital-based observational study was conducted at a COVID-19 dedicated tertiary care hospital in North India over a period of six months during the first wave of the pandemic in the country. Five hundred consecutive patients, who tested positive for COVID-19 using RT-PCR on oropharyngeal/nasopharyngeal swabs, admitted to the hospital were included in the study. ABO and Rhesus (Rh) blood grouping was done on leftover hematology blood samples using gel column agglutination technology. Required clinical details of patients including age, gender, clinical symptoms, comorbidities, outcomes, etc., were obtained from the patient’s case sheets. Results: The most common blood group was ‘B’ (42.8%) followed by ‘O’ (23.4%), and ‘A’ (22.4%) while the least common was ‘AB’ (11.4%). Rh positive was seen in 96.2% while 3.8% were negative. Baseline characteristics were comparable including length of hospital stay, duration of symptoms, and associated comorbid illnesses. The need for intensive care unit (ICU) admissions (P = 0.05) and intubations (P = 0.20) was similar across all four blood groups. Differences in the severity of COVID-19 disease and mortalities among the groups were non-significant. Conclusion: There was no observed association found between the ABO blood group and COVID-19 infection requiring hospitalization, ICU admission, intubation, and outcomes. However, there was a higher proportion of breathlessness and the presence of at least one comorbidity in blood group O as compared to others.

Pneumothorax is a medical condition characterized by air in the space between the visceral and parietal pleural surfaces, with spontaneous and traumatic classifications. Spontaneous pneumothorax is further divided into primary and secondary groups based on the presence or absence of clinically apparent underlying lung disease. Here we present a case of a 23-year-old female with no past medical history who presented with chest pain and shortness of breath, ultimately diagnosed with primary spontaneous interlobar pneumothorax. Despite advancements in medical diagnosis techniques, spontaneous interlobar pneumothorax remains a rare presentation of pneumothoraces. Treatment strategies for clinically stable patients with a first episode of primary spontaneous pneumothorax include observation with or without supplemental oxygen, with further intervention only if the pneumothorax fails to improve or worsens.

This study explores the effect of remote work engagement (RWE) and fair pay on female hotel managers’ work-family balance (WFB). Additionally, it investigates the mediating effect of their emotional exhaustion on RWE and WFB. Although several studies have been published during the COVID-19 crisis period that investigate WFB, only a few have reported on how RWE influences WFB. Therefore, this study addresses this gap. It uses structured questionnaires to collect data from 400 female hotel managers (five-star hotels). These data are analysed using structure equation modelling (SEM): Smart-PLS is applied to examine the relationship between the independent and dependent factors – ‘vigour’, ‘absorption’, ‘dedication’, ‘fairness of pay’, and ‘work-family balance’. This study finds that RWE significantly impacts female hotel managers’ WFB. Furthermore, RWE affects their emotional fatigue and has a little effect on their WFB. Additionally, RWE is not mediated by WFB, while gender pay parity influences WFB. Remote working renders female workers more absorbed in their work, thus increasing the incidence of burnout among them due to interference with their WFB. Especially in a country like India, where females play a more prominent role domestically, hotel managers must ensure that human resource practices strategically secure the effective WFB of female hotel managers, e.g. by incorporating flexible working hours, a five-day work policy, and coaching on remote work practices. These findings can assist hospitality organisations in devising effective RWE strategies that maintain female hotel managers’ WFB, ultimately ensuring positive financial implications for them.

Dengue is one of the most critical diseases, caused by Dengue virus (DENV) serotypes (DENV-1 to DENV-4). Study aims to detect DENV in natural A. aegypti from endemic regions of Uttar Pradesh. From 2010- 2013, mosquitoes collected from Uttar Pradesh tested for Dengue virus serotypes by capsid-premembrane gene-based PCR analyzed for genotypes sequencing of the C-prM junction of DENV genome. A total of 4731, 53.54% (n=2671) A. aegypti and 46 % (n=2060) A. albopictus mosquitoes were collected. Of 226 mosquito pools, 10 pools of A. aegypti and 14 pools of A. albopictus were positive for DENV by PCR. All 24 isolates identified as DENV-I; Genotype (G)-III (n=8), G-V (n=1); DENV-2; G-IV (n=4); DENV-3; G-III (n=11). The overall minimum infection rate was much higher in A. albopictus mosquitoes and presence of MIR in male mosquitoes is an indicating natural vertical transmission and important observation in geographical area indicating natural vertical transmission.

Haemoglobinopathies constitute a large proportion of hemolytic anemias constituting around 74% of hereditary hemolytic anemias. Till date, about 200 alpha chain variants have been identified, one of which is Hb Fontainebleau. It is a rare alpha chain variant characterized by an Alanine → Proline substitution at codon 21 with a GCT>CCT change at the molecular level. It is incidentally detected on HPLC as an unknown peak. We present a case of Hb Fontainebleau in a 53 year old male patient who presented with symptoms related to hemolytic anemia and an unknown peak on the HPLC chromatogram.

Inflammation and thrombosis are two distinct yet interdependent physiological processes. The inflammation results in the activation of the coagulation system that directs the immune system and its activation, resulting in the initiation of the pathophysiology of thrombosis, a process termed immune-thrombosis. Still, the shared underlying molecular mechanism related to the immune system and coagulation has not yet been explored extensively. Inspired to answer this, we carried out a comprehensive gene expression meta-analysis using publicly available datasets of four diseases, including venous thrombosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease. A total of 609 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) shared by all four datasets were identified based on the combined effect size approach. The pathway enrichment analysis of the DEGs showed enrichment of various epigenetic pathways such as histone-modifying enzymes, posttranslational protein modification, chromatin organization, chromatin-modifying enzymes, HATs acetylate proteins. Network-based protein–protein interaction analysis showed epigenetic enzyme coding genes dominating among the top hub genes. The miRNA-interacting partner of the top 10 hub genes was determined. The predomination of epitranscriptomics regulation opens a layout for the meta-analysis of miRNA datasets of the same four diseases. We identified 30 DEmiRs shared by these diseases. There were 9 common DEmiRs selected from the list of miRNA-interacting partners of top 10 hub genes and shared significant DEmiRs from microRNAs dataset acquisition. These common DEmiRs were found to regulate genes involved in epigenetic modulation and indicate a promising epigenetic aspect that needs to be explored for future molecular studies in the context of immunothrombosis and inflammatory disease.

Trichosanthes dioica Roxb. is a widely cultivated cucurbitaceous vegetable of tropical and sub-tropical regions. Its unripe fruits are consumed as vegetable. This review aims to present an umbrella overview of botany, ethnomedicinal uses, nutritional and phytochemical profile of T. dioica and compilation of research confirming many pharmacological and healing properties of its plant parts. Importantly, several reports from India and Bangladesh have confirmed its ethnomedicinal usage in many biomedical conditions. Bioactive compounds like triterpenes, polyphenols present in different parts of T. dioica make it a powerhouse of health, immunity and nutrition. Different parts of T. dioica including root, stem, leaf, fruit and seed exhibit wide range of therapeutic properties including antidiabetic, anti-tumour, antiulcer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiarrheal, antihyperlipidemic, antipyretic, wound healing, laxative, antinociceptive and hepato-protective. Results signified that it may be useful to re-look to find possibilities for using its active metabolites in contemporary medicine and nutraceuticals.

Male breast cancer is rare, with a lifetime risk of 1 in 833 males, with bilateral male breast cancer being extremely uncommon. This report describes a rare case of bilateral breast cancer in a 74-year-old male who presented with a breast lump and incidental calcifications in the contralateral breast. This case highlights the similarities, as well as differences, in presentation and imaging features of breast cancer in males and females. It also demonstrates how Magnetic Resonance Imaging can be a useful tool for pre-treatment planning of certain male breast cancers, especially to evaluate disease extent and to identify contralateral tumor.

Metastases to the breast from a nonmammary primary are rare. Primary fallopian tube carcinoma is one of the rarest malignancies of the female genital tract. Therefore, breast metastases from primary fallopian tube carcinoma are considered extremely rare. In this article, we shared the case of serous carcinoma of fallopian tube with metastasis to an intramammary lymph node, presenting as a solitary breast mass. On initial staging 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography for this patient with serous carcinoma of fallopian tube, a solitary FDG avid breast mass was found, along with FDG avid multistation nodes. The breast mass was evaluated with diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound and eventually biopsy of this mass revealed metastatic lymph node from carcinoma of fallopian tube origin.

Background: We investigated the pharmacokinetic behavior of pyrazinamide (PZA) and pyrazinoic acid (PA) in the presence of carbon-tetrachloride (CCl4) plus antitubercular treatment (ATT) drug-induced liver injury (DILI) in rats. Methods: Thirty rats utilized in the experiment were separated equally into five groups. Each rat was injected with 0.5 ml/kg CCl4 intra-peritoneal injection on day zero. Group, I rats did receive only CCl4 (single i.p. injection, 0.5 ml/Kg in olive oil in a 1:1 ratio). Groups II, III, IV, and V did receive daily oral PZA, PZA plus isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RMP) plus pyrazinamide (PZA), and three drugs together, respectively, for 21-days. Pharmacokinetic sampling was performed at 0, 0.5,1,3,6,12 and 24 hours post-dosing on day-20. Liver function test (LFT) was assessed at days 0,1,7, and 21 days after CCl4 and ATT administration, and rats were sacrificed on the last experiment day. Results: ATT treatment maintained the liver function changes initiated by CCl4 administration. An evidential LFT rise was observed in groups administered with pyrazinamide. Co-administration of Isoniazid caused a 2.02 and 1.78 times increase in Area-under-the-curve (AUC) values of PZA and PA, respectively (p < 0.05). Histological and oxidative-stress changes supported the biochemical and pharmacokinetic observations. Conclusion: The enzyme inhibitory capacity of isoniazid is well-preservd in CCl4-induced liver injury.

Background: N-acetyl transferase 2 (NAT2) polymorphism testing could not see the light of success as a biomarker tool in tuberculosis management. Additionally, the antitubercular treatment (ATT) drug's reintroduction regimen variations exist because of the scarcity of robust preclinical evidence on ATT drug metabolism. Objective: The experiment was planned to understand the pharmacokinetic (PK) behavior of isoniazid and acetylisoniazid (AcINH) in a Wistar rat model of acute liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and preclinical drug-induced liver injury (DILI) model induced with CCl4 + anti-Tuberculosis (TB) drugs together. Materials and Methods: Thirty rats were used for the experiment and were divided into five groups. All rats were administered a single 0.5 ml/kg CCl4 intraperitoneal injection on day 0 to induce an animal model of DILI. Group I rats received CCl4 alone. Groups II–V were started on additional gavage feedings of isoniazid (H) alone, H plus rifampicin (R), H plus pyrazinamide (Z), and H, R, and Z together, respectively, daily for 21 days subsequently. Isoniazid and AcINH PK assessment was accomplished on day 20 of continuous once-daily dosing. Liver function test (LFT) monitoring was done at baseline on days 1, 7, and 21. On the last day of experiments, all experimental rats were sacrificed. Results: Three-week ATT administration sustained the CCl4-induced LFT changes. Area under the curve (AUC) values for isoniazid and AcINH were found to be 2.24 and 1.69 times higher in the H + R group compared with the CCl4 + H group, respectively (P < 0.05). Isoniazid and AcINH maximum concentration (Cmax) reached the highest, while isoniazid clearance reached the lowest in the H + R group. AcINH AUC increased by double in the CCl4 + Isoniazid+Rifampicin+Pyrazinamide (HRZ) group compared with the CCl4 + H group (P < 0.05). Biochemical, histological, and antioxidant changes were consistent with the new liver injury model's development. Conclusion: Rifampicin almost doubles up the isoniazid and AcINH exposure, in presence if DILI.

Aim: To find out the prevalence of OSMF and its Co-relation of clinical grading to various habit factors (time span of habit practiced in years, repetition of habit practiced per day, time of habit practiced in minutes per use). Method: This descriptive, cross-sectional survey was carried out and close ended questionnaire was used for data collection. Demographic details like gender & age and different tissue exploiting habits like, chewing gutkha, chewing areca nut, chewing panmasala with or without tobacco, plain tobacco, mawa, smoking, alcohol was recorded. Also, duration of habit in years, repetition of habit per day, time of habit per use & site of involvement was recorded. Results: Among 5297 patients examined at OPD, 120 were diagnosed with OSMF. The present study found no statistical relation between age, gender & OSMF. The present study concluded that majority 83 (69.17%) of the OSMF patients are guthka user and buccal mucosa was most affected site. OSMF was more prevalent in patients who practiced the habit for more than 15 years. Conclusion: Among the OSMF patients, guthka was most commonly practiced & buccal mucosa was most commonly involved. Duration and frequency of consumption were significantly associated with severity of OSMF.

Abstract Background Tubercular mastitis could be a rare diagnostic find clinically. It is largely seen in Asian, African and alternative non-developed countries and might occur with coincident primary tuberculosis of the respiratory tract or spine. Primary breast tuberculosis (TB) is even rarer and presents with non-specific clinical signs of continual breast masses, inflammation and sinus tracts. It can be similar to bacterial inflammation/abscess and malignant pathologies on imaging. The key to identification could be a holistic combination of imaging, clinical, biochemical and histopathological analysis. Case presentation We discuss a case of a 41-year-old lady who conferred at the start with tender breast nodules that progressed to continual, multiple abscesses and sinus tract formation. It had been an unusual and unanticipated presentation in breast followed by uncommon events throughout the course of the treatment forcing us to re-evaluate the primary diagnosis. A sequence of multiple diagnostic imaging and histopathological evaluations confirmed the identification of tubercular mastitis. Following prolonged treatment, there was vital reduction within the range and size of nodules and abscesses. Conclusions Such cases imitate bacterial abscess and cancer in their clinical presentation and imaging findings and are imperative to be diagnosed via a myriad of diagnostic tests with histopathology. Such a clinical presentation should warrant a differential of granulomatous inflammation of the breast in cases of non-responders to incision and drainage, prolonged antibiotic medical therapy and prolonged anti-tubercular treatment up to twenty four months after assessment of the individual response.

Objective Dermatophytoses, one of the most ancient diseases, is becoming a menace in recent times. This has made the knowledge of antifungal susceptibility a priority in today's times. Material and Methods This is a prospective study conducted over 18 months including all dermatophytes isolated during the period. Dermatophytes were identified by routine phenotypic methods. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed for griseofulvin, terbinafine, and itraconazole as per the Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute M38 A2, and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were read after 5 days. Results Patient details and associated risk factors were recorded. Fixed dose combinations with steroids were associated with 79.3% (46 out of 58) of patients with dermatophytosis of skin. Among the 72 dermatophytes isolated during the study period, 58 (80.5%) were isolated from skin scrapings and 14 (19.4%) from nail samples. Tinea corporis with cruris was the most common presentation. The most common dermatophyte isolated from skin scrapings was Trichophyton mentagrophytes complex (70.6%, 41 out of 58), while from nail samples it was Trichophyton rubrum complex (78.57%, 11 out of 14). Based on the MIC50 and MIC90 results, itraconazole showed the lowest MICs, followed by terbinafine and then griseofulvin. Conclusion With the changing epidemiology of species distribution and antifungal resistance, there is a need for continuous surveillance of these parameters of dermatophytes.

Abstract Background The emergence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has complicated the situation due to the decline in potency of second-line anti-tubercular drugs. This limits the treatment option for extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB). The aim of this study was to determine and compare the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) by agar dilution and resazurin microtiter assay (REMA) along with the detection of mutations against linezolid and clofazimine in confirmed XDR-TB clinical isolates. Results A total of 169 isolates were found positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC). The MIC was determined by agar dilution and REMA methods. The isolates which showed non-susceptibility were further subjected to mutation detection by targeting rplC gene (linezolid) and Rv0678 gene (clofazimine). The MIC for linezolid ranged from 0.125 µg/ml to > 2 µg/ml and for clofazimine from 0.25 µg/ml to > 4 µg/ml. The MIC50 and MIC90 for linezolid were 0.5 µg/ml and 1 µg/ml respectively while for clofazimine both were 1 µg/ml. The essential and categorical agreement for linezolid was 97.63% and 95.26% and for clofazimine, both were 100%. The sequencing result of the rplC gene revealed a point mutation at position 460 bp, where thymine (T) was substituted for cytosine (C) while seven mutations were noted between 46 to 220 bp in Rv0678 gene. Conclusion REMA method has been found to be more suitable in comparison to the agar dilution method due to lesser turnaround time. Mutations in rplC and Rv0678 genes were reasons for drug resistance against linezolid and clofazimine respectively.

Introduction: Schwannoma is a benign neoplasm of neural origin, commonly associated with cranial nerves. The aim of the study is to study the spectrum of demographic and clinical presentation of this neoplasm with special emphasis on unusual sites. We also discuss the histopathological features at these sites and analyse these with the available literature. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study of 3 years, where all diagnosed cases of Schwannoma at unusual sites were studied for histopathological parameters along with the clinical and radiological details. Results: 18 cases of Schwannoma at unusual locations were analysed. The age range was 20-82 years with mean age being 45.5 years. The sex ratio was equal. The most common presenting symptom was painless swelling with a duration ranging from 5 days to 7 months. Mean size was 4 cm. The most common site was the head and neck region and lower limbs constituting 28% cases each. All patients underwent complete surgical excision. Clinico-histopathological correlation was 70%. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis in all cases. Conclusion: Schwannomas are benign lesions with good prognosis and minimal chance of malignant progression. However, the unusual sites and misleading presentations may pose diagnostic challenge for both the clinicians and pathologists alike. The lack of awareness of occurrence of this benign entity at unusual location may lead to unnecessary treatment. Pathologists should keep Schwannoma as a differential diagnosis even if the lesion is present at unusual site.

The platform of microfluidics offers a precise control and manipulation over fluids at a small scale and therefore has gained much attention in recent times. This topic is currently applied to automation and high-throughput analysis in several areas, including extraction of DNA, RNA and proteins, gene identification, gene assembly, cloning, single-cell analysis, organs grown on chips, PCR, drug screening, toxicity testing and drug delivery. Conventional methods used for drug delivery are sometimes non-targeted leading to loss of administered drugs and reduced drug effectiveness. Recent advances in microfluidics allow precise dose-dependent delivery of a drug to a targeted location. Several microfluidics designs have been implemented to improve the precision of treatment in clinics. This review highlights currently available tools in microfluidics, designs for drug carriers, delivery methods, robotics and artificial intelligence in the field of microfluidics.

Probiotics are good microbes that have the potential to improve the health of host when administered in proper quantity. They help to prevent and treat gastro-intestinal problems, allergies, colon cancer, diabetes, inflammation and enhance immunity. However, the applications of probiotics are limited because of their poor viability during the time of processing, storage as well as delivery in the gastro-intestine tract. So, in order to overcome these limitations of probiotics, probiotic delivery systems have received much attention. This review targeted the different types of polymers that are employed as a carrier system for probiotic delivery system because of their excellent properties including biodegradability, less toxicity and biocompatibility which helps to prolong the viability of strains of probiotic in harsh conditions of gut system of host.

The present work aimed to prepare and evaluate Apremilast loaded lyotropic liquid crystalline nanoparticles (LCNPs) formulation for skin delivery to enhance the efficacy with reduced adverse effects of the oral therapy in psoriasis treatment. The LCNPs were prepared using the emulsification using a high shear homogenizer for size reduction and optimized with Box Behnken design to achieve desired particle size and entrapment efficiency. The selected LCNPs formulation was evaluated for in-vitro release, in-vitro psoriasis efficacy, skin retention, dermatokinetic, in-vivo skin retention, and skin irritation study. The selected formulation exhibited 173.25 ± 2.192 nm (polydispersity 0.273 ± 0.008) particle size and 75.028 ± 0.235% entrapment efficiency. The in-vitro drug release showed the prolonged-release for 18 h. The ex-vivo studies revealed that LCNPs formulation exhibited drug retention up to 3.2 and 11.9-fold higher, in stratum corneum and viable epidermis compared to conventional gel preparation. In-vitro cell line studies performed on immortal keratinocyte cells (HaCaT cells) demonstrated non-toxicity of selected excipients used in designed LCNPs. The dermatokinetic study revealed the AUC0–24 of the LCNPs loaded gel was 8.4 fold higher in epidermis and 2.06 fold in dermis, respectively compared to plain gel. Further, in-vivo animal studies showed enhanced skin permeation and retention of Apremilast compared to conventional gel.

We report two adult cases of abducens nerve palsy presenting immediately (within weeks) after they received the first dose of Covishield vaccination. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain obtained after the onset of diplopia demonstrated demyelinating changes. The patients had associated systemic symptoms. Post-vaccination demyelination typically known as acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) associated with several vaccines is more common in children. Although the mechanism of the nerve palsy remains unclear, it is suspected to be related to the post-vaccine neuroinflammatory syndrome. Cranial nerve palsies and ADEM-like presentations may represent part of the neurologic spectrum following COVID-vaccination in adults, and ophthalmologists should be aware of these sequelae. Although cases of sixth nerve palsy following COVID vaccination are already reported, associated MRI changes have not been reported from India.

Abstract Background Since November 2019, the rapid outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a public health emergency of international concern. COVID-19 disease is caused by a new variant of coronavirus, named as ‘severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.’ Chest CT has a potential role in the diagnosis, detection of complications and in predicting clinical recovery of patients or progression of coronavirus disease 2019. Degree and severity of lung involvement can be assessed by 25 point CT severity score. This quantification plays an important role to modify the treatment plan at times in critically ill patient of COVID-19. Hence, the purpose of present study was to describe and quantify the severity of COVID-19 infection on chest computed tomography (CT) by 25-point CT severity score and to determine the relationship of CT severity score with clinical and laboratory parameters. Results A total of 150 patients with COVID-19 disease were assessed. Mean age of the study group was 54.46 years (62.7% males and 37.3% females). The most common comorbidity present in the study group was diabetes mellitus, which was present in 17.3% cases. Severity of disease was significantly associated with age of the patient. CT severity score was positively correlated with lymphopenia and raised CRP, D-dimer and serum ferritin levels. A significant statistical correlation was found between CT severity grade and patient survival. Conclusions This is a large comprehensive study, collecting data from 150 cases of COVID-19 pneumonia patients, in a tertiary care hospital in India to describe the correlation of CT severity score with clinical land laboratory parameters. Chest CT severity score correlates well with laboratory parameters and can aid in predicting COVID-19 disease outcome.

A cross-sectional study was conducted to predict time in therapeutic range (TTR) using clinical history, examination, and socioeconomic data. Study included warfarin-receiving patients from outpatient-clinic. In 203 patients studied, mean warfarin start-dose was 2.55 mg/day and maintenance-dose/week was 30.79 mg. Body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.03), warfarin maintenance dose/day (p = 0.02), and comorbidity presence (p = 0.04) were significantly associated with TTR. Occupation (p = 0.53), income (p = 0.83), education (p = 0.55), and socioeconomic score (p = 0.73) showed non-significant association with TTR. A TTR predicting nomogram was built from clinical history and examination findings.

Background: Several phyto-chemicals have been identified and suggested as potential therapeutic options for hepatotoxicity management. Objective: To assess the hepatoprotective effect of scopoletin, a pure phyto-chemical, in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity model in Wistar rats. Methods: Thirty-six rats in total, six in each group, were utilized in this study. Animals in group 1 received normal saline; those in group 2 received carbon tetrachloride in olive oil (0.5 ml/kg, i.p. in ratio 1:1); those in groups 3, 4, and 5 received oral scopoletin (1 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg dose-wise groups); and those in group 6 received N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) 150 mg/kg. Blood sampling was performed on day -3, day 1, and day 7 of the CCl4 administration. Rats were sacrificed on day 7 of the experiment for histological examination and oxidative stress measurement of the liver. Results: The 5 mg/kg scopoletin group showed a maximum reduction in AST levels [727.33 ± 29.15 in medium dose (MD) group vs 1526.66 ± 60.72 in the experimental control (EC) group (P < 0.001) and ALT levels of 532.66 ± 24.23 in MD group vs 894.83 ± 52.47 in EC (P < 0.01)]. The dose-dependent action was not observed with scopoletin doses. The protective effect of scopoletin was confirmed by MDA and GSH levels (P < 0.05) coupled with histo-pathological findings. In the present study, a reversible model of CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity was observed to get normalized in a week's time. Conclusion: The study confirms the hepatoprotective action of scopoletin in an acute model of hepatic injury with the putative anti-oxidant mechanism.

Context: The COVID-19 pandemic has led all educational institutions to temporarily close and provide online learning to their students. Aim: This study aims to assess students' perspectives of such a “sudden shift” from classroom-based teaching methodologies to the use of online platforms due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: An online questionnaire was distributed among students across the globe using a combination of convenience and snowball sampling. The questionnaire was pretested, prevalidated, and contained 24 close ended and one open-ended question (s) divided into 4 sections. Data obtained were transferred to SPSS version 21.0 and on applying the Shapiro–Wilk test, data were found to be parametric. Therefore, the independent samples t-test and multivariate linear regression were applied to analyze the data keeping P value significant at ≤0.5. Results: Of the total of 715 responses received, most students belonged to India (35.2%) followed by Saudi Arabia (14.5%). Majority of them belonged to the dental background (30.2%) followed by medical (16.1%) and architecture (12.9%). 50.1% used their cellular data to access the Internet and 59.2% of students preferred using a mobile phone. 44.8% of students reported technical issues (P = 0.01), resulting in only 33.4% of the students being able to understand the entire lecture/activity completely (P = 0.01). 58.7% of the students did not prefer online learning (P = 0.03). Linear regression revealed a significant preference for offline learning between students pursuing all levels of education. Conclusions: Although students preferred offline learning, universities are encouraged to sensitize their students to online learning techniques so that they are prepared to “suddenly shift” to online learning due to a variety of reasons (pandemics, natural disasters, and chronic illness).

Abstract Background Extensive drug resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) causing major outbreaks in large hospitals is an emerging challenge. We describe a near fatal outbreak of colistin resistant, carbapenem resistant K. pneumoniae (CRKp) producing metallo beta-lactamases (bla NDM) and bla OXA-48 in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the background of a larger outbreak involving multiple parts of the hospital and the challenges in its containment. Methods Following identification of an outbreak due to colistin resistant CRKp between April to June 2017 in the NICU, a thorough surveillance of similar cases and the hospital environment was performed to trace the source. All the isolated K. pneumoniae were tested for susceptibility to standard antibiotics by disc diffusion and microbroth dilution methods. Molecular detection of extended spectrum beta lactamases (ESBLs) and carbapenemases (classes A, B, D) genes was done. Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) PCR and multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) was done to determine the genetic relatedness of the isolates. Characteristics of different sequence types were statistically compared (Student’s t-test). Results A total of 45 K. pneumoniae isolates were studied from NICU (14 cases of neonatal sepsis), ICU (18 cases), other wards (7 cases) along with 6 isolates from hospital environment and human colonizers. The primary case was identified in the ICU. All the K. pneumoniae from NICU and 94.4% from the ICU were colistin resistant CRKp. Majority (59.37% and 56.25%) harbored bla SHV/bla CTXM and bla OXA-48 genes, respectively. Two distinct sequence types ST5235 and ST5313 were noted with colistin resistance, distribution within the NICU and mortality as significant attributes of ST5235 (p

Energy storage plays crucial role to complete global and economical requirements of human beings. Supercapacitor act as promising candidate for energy storage applications due to its astonishing properties like - high power density, remarkable crystallinity, large porosity, elongated life-cycle, exceptional chemical & thermal stability, framework diversity and high specific surface area. The current review article embraces the history along with the difference of supercapacitors with fuel cells, capacitors, and batteries and detailed explanation of fabrication of supercapacitors i.e. proper selection of electrode and electrolyte material, separator and current collector. As a supercapacitor electrode material, several carbon-based materials, metal-oxides, and metal–organic frameworks have been briefly mentioned here. The current review article also discusses the supercapacitor components and various types of electrolytes. Electrochemical characterization techniques such as Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), Galvanostatic Charge Discharge (GCD) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) are also briefly discussed here. Furthermore, this article outlines the current issues as well as potential solutions for upcoming time period.

BackgroundThe rapid emergence of carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) has resulted in an alarming situation worldwide. Realizing the dearth of literature on susceptibility of CRAB in genetic context in the developing region, this study was performed to determine the susceptibility profile against standard drugs/combinations and the association of in-vitro drug synergy with the prevalent molecular determinants.Methods and findingsA total of 356 clinical isolates of A. baumannii were studied. Confirmation of the isolates was done by amplifying recA and ITS region genes. Susceptibility against standard drugs was tested by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), MIC50 and MIC90 values against imipenem, meropenem, doripenem, ampicillin/sulbactam, minocycline, amikacin, polymyxin B, colistin and tigecycline was tested as per guidelines. Genes encoding enzymes classes A (blaGES, blaIMI/NMC-A, blaSME, blaKPC), B (blaIMP, blaVIM, blaNDM) and D (blaOXA-51,blaOXA-23 and blaOXA-58) were detected by multiplex polymerase chain reaction. Synergy against meropenem-sulbactam and meropenem-colistin combinations was done by checkerboard MIC method. Correlation of drug synergy and carbapenemase encoding genes was statistically analyzed.ResultsOf the total, resistance above 90% was noted against gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, ceftazidime, cefepime, ceftriaxone, cotrimoxazole and piperacillin/tazobactam. By MIC, resistance rates from highest to lowest was seen against imipenem 89.04% (n=317), amikacin 80.33% (n=286), meropenem 79.49% (n=283), doripenem 77.80% (n=277), ampicillin/sulbactam 71.62% (n=255), tigecycline 55.61% (n=198), minocycline 14.04% (n=50), polymyxin B 10.11% (n=36), and colistin 2.52% (n=9). CRAB was 317 (89.04%), 81.46% (n=290) were multidrug resistant and 13.48% (n=48) were extensively drug resistant. All the CRAB isolates harboured blaOXA-51 gene (100%) and 94% (n=298) blaOXA-23 gene. The blaIMP gene was most prevalent 70.03% (n=222) followed by blaNDM, 59.62% (n=189). Majority (87.69%, 278) were co-producers of classes D and B carbapenemases, blaOXA-23 with blaIMP and blaNDM being the commonest. Synergy with meropenem-sulbactam and meropenem-colistin was 47% and 57% respectively. Reduced synergy (p=

Objectives To determine association of biomarkers—high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP), D-dimer, interleukin-6 (IL-6), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), ferritin and neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR)—at hospitalisation with outcomes in COVID-19.Design and Setting Tertiary-care hospital based prospective registry.Participants Successive virologically confirmed patients with COVID-19 hospitalised from April 2020 to July 2021 were prospectively recruited. Details of clinical presentation, investigations, management and outcomes were obtained.Primary and secondary outcome measures All biomarkers were divided into tertiles to determine associations with clinical features and outcomes. Primary outcome was all-cause deaths and secondary outcome was oxygen requirement, non-invasive and invasive ventilation, dialysis, duration of stay in ICU and hospital. Numerical data are presented in median and interquartile range (IQR 25–75). Univariate and multivariate (age, sex, risk factors, comorbidities, treatments) ORs and 95% CIs were calculated.Results 3036 virologically confirmed patients with COVID-19 were detected and 1251 hospitalised. Men were 70.0%, aged >60 years 44.8%, hypertension 44.1%, diabetes 39.6% and cardiovascular disease 18.9%. Median symptom duration was 5 days (IQR 4–7) and oxygen saturation 95% (90%–97%). Total white cell count was 6.9×109/L (5.0–9.8), neutrophils 79.2% (68.1%–88.2%), lymphocytes 15.8% (8.7%–25.5%) and creatinine 0.93 mg/dL (0.78–1.22). Median (IQR) for biomarkers were hsCRP 6.9 mg/dL (2.2–18.9), D-dimer 464 ng/dL (201–982), IL-6 20.1 ng/dL (6.5–60.4), LDH 284 mg/dL (220–396) and ferritin 351 mg/dL (159–676). Oxygen support at admission was in 38.6%, subsequent non-invasive or invasive ventilatory support in 11.0% and 11.6%, and haemodialysis in 38 (3.1%). 173 (13.9%) patients died and 15 (1.2%) transferred to hospice care. For each biomarker, compared with the first, those in the second and third tertiles had more clinical and laboratory abnormalities, and oxygen, ventilatory and dialysis support. Multivariate-adjusted ORs (95% CI) for deaths in second and third versus first tertiles, respectively, were hsCRP 2.24 (1.11 to 4.50) and 12.56 (6.76 to 23.35); D-dimer 3.44 (1.59 to 7.44) and 14.42 (7.09 to 29.30); IL-6 2.56 (1.13 to 5.10) and 10.85 (5.82 to 20.22); ferritin 2.88 (1.49 to 5.58) and 8.19 (4.41 to 15.20); LDH 1.75 (0.81 to 3.75) and 9.29 (4.75 to 18.14); and NLR 3.47 (1.68 to 7.14) and 17.71 (9.12 to 34.39) (p

Abstract Background There is a sudden rise of fungal infection with corona virus disease. This is attributed to the immunomodulation by the disease and the drugs used, diabetes mellitus, steroid use, oxygen inhalation using dirty water, use of zinc and iron supplements, etc. Early diagnosis and prompt medical and surgical intervention is the mainstay of treatment. This can greatly reduce the high morbidity and mortality associated with this disease. The objective of the study is to describe the imaging findings of acute invasive rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM) in 25 patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2, from three different centers with proven mucormycosis. Special emphasis is placed on the signal enhancement patterns of sinonasal mucosa, the earliest and most common findings. Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive statistics. Results Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of 25 patients showed most commonly involved sinuses as maxillary and ethmoid sinuses (19, 76%) together. Sino-nasal mucosal thickening was the most common finding (24, 96%). Periantral infiltration (18, 72%) preceded before orbital (15, 60%), cerebral (5, 20%) and vascular (2, 8%) complications, with grossly intact bones. Sinus wall erosions were seen in only 2 patients (8%). Palatal (22%) and maxillary alveolar arch erosion (39%) were frequent findings. CT showed minimally enhancing hypodense soft tissue thickening as the predominant finding in involved areas, while MRI showed T1 and T2 iso- to hypointense mucosal thickening (62%) and intense (43%) and no (33%) contrast enhancement as the main finding. Conclusions Contrast enhanced MRI is better at demonstrating early mucosal abnormalities, turbinate necrosis, non-enhancing devitalized tissues, orbital apex involvement and intra-cerebral extension. Imaging findings of inflammatory tissue infiltration adjacent to the paranasal sinuses in premaxillary, retroantral fat, facial muscles, pterygopalatine fossa, temporal, infratemporal fossa and extraconal orbital fat along with typical patterns of sinonasal mucosal enhancement should raise the suspicion of acute invasive fungal etiology given the short duration of history and immunocompromised status. High incidence of periantral and orbital extension of the disease is suggestive of acute invasive form of fungal infection. Also the rapidly progressive inflammatory changes without much bone involvement should suggest the suspicion of ROCM. Bony, cerebral and vascular involvements are relatively late complications.

Introduction: The proper management of the astrocytic tumours largely depends on its correct diagnosis. But, smaller size and complicated histomorphology makes it difficult for the histopathologist to conclude the diagnosis. Monoclonal antibody Ki-67 {MIB-1/MIB-1 Labelling Index (LI)} plays a role of diagnostic as well as prognostic marker. It is an important marker, since it helps in deciding malignant potential of the astrocytic tumours where histology alone does not suffice. This study promotes the idea of including Ki-67 in routine practice for astrocytic tumours as it helps in quantifying the growth of the tumour which is of utmost importance in predicting the outcome accurately. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the mean and ranges of Ki-67/MIB-1 LI in astrocytic tumours and comparing between different grades. Materials and Methods: This was a hospital based crosssectional study with 50 cases of astrocytoma of varying grades over period of six years, retrospective study period started from 1st April 2009 till 30th November 2012 and prospective study period started from 1st December 2012 till 31st March 2014. Immunolabeling was done using Ki-67/MIB-1 antibody. The mean and ranges of Ki-67 was calculated in astrocytic tumours and its correlation with each World Health Organization (WHO) grade of histological diagnosis and clinical presentations were studied. One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and unpaired t-test were used for statistical analysis. Results: There were 50 astrocytic tumours, Pilocytic Astrocytoma (PA), grade I-5 (10%) cases; Diffuse Astrocytoma (DA), grade II-8 (16%) cases; Anaplastic Astrocytoma (AA), grade III-10 (20%) cases; and Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), grade IV-27 (54%) cases, with mean Ki-67 LI as 2.63%, 2.65%, 18.85% and 30.2%, respectively. The difference in mean Ki-67 LI for low grade astrocytoma and high grade astrocytoma was highly significant statistically (p

Abstract DNA methylation and Histone are the main constituents to oversee the stable maintenance of cellular phenotypes. Any abnormalities in these components could cause cancer development and, therefore, must be potentially diagnostic. The Epigenomics research field is the study of epigenetic modification which involves gene expression control for better understanding of human biology. The Epigenomics applications are considered quite complex Big Data workflow applications which represent the data processing pipeline for automating the innumerable genome sequencing computation. The infrastructure of high-performance computing imparts heterogeneous computing resources for deploying such complex applications. Scheduling of workflow applications in the complex heterogeneous computing resources is considered an NP-complete problem; therefore, it requires an efficient scheduling approach. In this research work, an efficient list-based scheduling algorithm is proposed which efficiently minimizes the running time (makespan) of the Epigenomics application. In order to identify whether clustering and entry task duplication techniques improve the performance of the proposed algorithm, four versions of the algorithm such as list-based scheduling with clustering and duplication (LS-C-D), list-based scheduling with clustering and without duplication (LS-C-WD), list-based scheduling without clustering and with duplication (LS-WC-D), and list-based scheduling without clustering and without duplication (LS-WC-WD) has experimented. The experimental results prove that LS-WC-D is the best choice for scheduling Epigenomics applications. Further, the comparison of LS-WC-D and state-of-the-art algorithms also proves its significance.

In the broad range of human diseases, thrombo-inflammation appears as a clinical manifestation. Clinically, it is well characterized in context of superficial thrombophlebitis that is recognized as thrombosis and inflammation of superficial veins. However, it is more hazardous when developed in the microvasculature of injured/inflamed/infected tissues and organs. Several diseases like sepsis and ischemia-reperfusion can cause formation of microvascular thrombosis subsequently leading to thrombo-inflammation. Thrombo-inflammation can also occur in cases of antiphospholipid syndrome, preeclampsia, sickle cell disease, bacterial and viral infection. One of the major contributors to thrombo-inflammation is the loss of normal anti-thrombotic and anti-inflammatory potential of the endothelial cells of vasculature. This manifest itself in the form of dysregulation of the coagulation pathway and complement system, pathologic platelet activation, and increased recruitment of leukocyte within the microvasculature. The role of platelets in hemostasis and formation of thrombi under pathologic and non-pathologic conditions is well established. Platelets are anucleate cells known for their essential role in primary hemostasis and the coagulation pathway. In recent years, studies provide strong evidence for the critical involvement of platelets in inflammatory processes like acute ischemic stroke, and viral infections like Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This has encouraged the researchers to investigate the contribution of platelets in the pathology of various thrombo-inflammatory diseases. The inhibition of platelet surface receptors or their intracellular signaling which mediate initial platelet activation and adhesion might prove to be suitable targets in thrombo-inflammatory disorders. Thus, the present review summarizes the concept and mechanism of platelet signaling and briefly discuss their role in sterile and non-sterile thrombo-inflammation, with the emphasis on role of platelets in COVID-19 induced thrombo-inflammation. The aim of this review is to summarize the recent developments in deciphering the role of the platelets in thrombo-inflammation and discuss their potential as pharmaceutical targets.

ABSTRACT The rapid emergence of drug resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii has put forward the use of colistin as a last-resort treatment for infections with A. baumannii. Empirical colistin use without prior susceptibility testing has been one of the factors that has been promoting drug resistance in low-resource settings. In this regard, while the advocated broth microdilution (BMD) method for colistin susceptibility testing is often considered cumbersome, the preferable colistin broth disk elution (CBDE) method has not yet been approved for A. baumannii. To prevent the underreporting of colistin susceptibility, we tested the CBDE method for A. baumannii and compared the results with those of BMD. A total of 125 A. baumannii, including 100 susceptible and 25 resistant isolates were tested via the CBDE method and compared with the standard BMD method. The essential agreement, categorical agreement, sensitivity, and specificity for CBDE were 97.6% (n = 122), 98.4% (n = 123), 100%, and 98.40%, respectively. The percentage of major error found was 1.6% (n = 2), and no very major error was found. CBDE in A. baumannii could be considered in low-resource settings. IMPORTANCE The relatively cumbersome broth microdilution (BMD) method for routine colistin susceptibility testing has not been adopted, especially in low-resource settings, often leading to the underreporting of colistin susceptibility and the promotion of the empirical use of colistin. In this regard, the much-preferred colistin broth disk elution (CBDE) method has not yet been approved for A. baumannii. We evaluated colistin susceptibility via the CBDE method, compared the results with those of the BMD method in 125 A. baumannii isolates with various profiles, and inferred that the CBDE method using 50 μL inoculum could be helpful, at least in resource-limited setups, versus not reporting susceptibility testing for colistin.

We introduce a metal-free, high-surface-area N-containing carbon material prepared via single-step laser-induced carbonization of polyimide films as an electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction (OER), which obviates the need for a loading substrate. Our inexpensive and scalable one-step fabrication process yields porous carbon films with a high atomic ratio of pyridinic and pyrrolic N functional groups. The material is activated by inducing additional oxygen-rich functional groups, resulting in more electrochemically active sites and less charge transfer resistance for superior electrocatalytic performance. The activated laser-carbon exhibits an excellent catalytic activity towards OER with an overpotential of 470 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2, which is much lower compared to other metal-free electrocatalysts. This multifunctional carbon material has an immense potential for the fabrication of lightweight water electrolyzers as well as in the designing of electrode for flexible solid-state metal-air batteries.

Gliomas are the most prevalent kind of malignant and severe brain cancer. Apoptosis regulating mechanisms are disturbed in malignant gliomas, as they are in added forms of malignancy. Understanding apoptosis and other associated processes are thought to be critical for understanding the origins of malignant tumors and designing anti-cancerous drugs for the treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the variation in the expression level of several apoptotic proteins that are responsible for apoptosis in low to high-grade glioma. This suggests a significant change in the expression of five apoptotic proteins: Clusterin, HSP27, Catalase, Cytochrome C, and SMAC. Cytochrome C, one of the five substantially altered proteins, is a crucial component of the apoptotic cascade. The complex enzyme Cytochrome C is involved in metabolic pathways such as respiration and cell death. The results demonstrated that Cytochrome C expression levels are lower in glioma tissues than in normal tissues. What’s more intriguing is that the expression level decreases with an increase in glioma grades. As a result, the discovery shows that Cytochrome C may be a target for glioma prognostic biomarkers.

Background: Medications studied for therapeutic benefits in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have produced inconclusive efficacy results except for steroids. Objective: A prospective randomized open-label, parallel-arm Phase I/II clinical trial was planned to compare essential oil (EO) blend versus placebo nebulization in mild COVID-19. Methods: A Phase I safety evaluation was carried out in a single ascending and multiple ascending dose study designs. We assessed Phase II therapeutic efficacy on COVID-19 and general respiratory symptoms on days 0, 3, 5, 7, 10, and 14 on the predesigned case record form. Viremia was evaluated on day 0, day 5, and day 10. Results: Dose-limiting toxicities were not reached with the doses, frequencies, and duration studied, thus confirming the formulation's preliminary safety. General respiratory symptoms (p