The vitamin D receptor TaqI TT genotype is associated with type 1 diabetes in the Black South African population.

Polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene (BsmI (rs1544410), FokI (rs2228570), ApaI (rs7975232), TaqI (rs731236)) and low vitamin D concentrations have previously been associated with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Vitamin D is thought to mediate the switch from a pro-inflammatory Th1 response to an anti-inflammatory Th2 response which is protective against the development of T1D. These associations are inconsistent across studies and population groups.

A novel ER stress regulator ARL6IP5 induces reticulophagy to ameliorate the prion burden.

Prion disease is a fatal and infectious neurodegenerative disorder caused by the trans-conformation conversion of PRNP/PrP to PRNP/PrP. Accumulated PRNP/PrP-induced ER stress causes chronic unfolded protein response (UPR) activation, which is one of the fundamental steps in prion disease progression. However, the role of various ER-resident proteins in prion-induced ER stress is elusive.

Insect-derived extracts and peptides in neuroprotection.

Throughout history, various cultures have recognized the significance of insects and have integrated them into traditional medicinal practices. In addition to medicines, insects are garnering attention as a sustainable and nutritious dietary alternative. Although edible insects have long been recognized as food sources in many Asian cultures, recent scientific studies have highlighted their potential therapeutic benefits, particularly in the field of neuroprotection.

Comparing the Effectiveness of Different Techniques for the Management of Dental Implant Peri-Implant Mucositis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Dental implant peri-implant mucositis is a prevalent complication that can lead to implant failure if left untreated. Various management techniques have been proposed, but their comparative effectiveness remains unclear of dental implant peri-implant mucositis.

Materials And Methods: A total of 120 patients with peri-implant mucositis were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: Group A received mechanical debridement alone, Group B received mechanical debridement with adjunctive antiseptic mouthwash, Group C underwent laser therapy, and Group D received a combination of mechanical debridement and systemic antibiotics.

Estimating global identifiability using conditional mutual information in a Bayesian framework.

A novel information-theoretic approach is proposed to assess the global practical identifiability of Bayesian statistical models. Based on the concept of conditional mutual information, an estimate of information gained for each model parameter is used to quantify the identifiability with practical considerations. No assumptions are made about the structure of the statistical model or the prior distribution while constructing the estimator.

The distribution and characterisation of microplastics in air, surface water and sediment within a major river system.

Rivers are key pathways for the transfer of microplastics (MP) to marine environments. However, there are considerable uncertainties about the amount of microplastics transported by rivers to the ocean; this results in inaccuracies in our understanding of microplastic quantity and transport by freshwater systems. Additionally, it has been suggested that rivers may represent long-term sinks, with microplastics accumulating in sediment due to their high density or other biological, chemical, and physical factors.

ARL6IP5 Ameliorates α-Synuclein Burden by Inducing Autophagy via Preventing Ubiquitination and Degradation of ATG12.

Recent advanced studies in neurodegenerative diseases have revealed several links connecting autophagy and neurodegeneration. Autophagy is the major cellular degradation process for the removal of toxic protein aggregates responsible for neurodegenerative diseases. More than 30 autophagy-related proteins have been identified as directly participating in the autophagy process.

Epidemiology, management and outcome of candidaemia in patients with diabetes.

Background: Candidaemia is the commonest fungal bloodstream infection in hospitalised patients. Diabetes is one of the risk factors for mortality from candidaemia.

Methods: We compared the epidemiology, clinical characteristics and management of candidaemia in patients with and without diabetes.

The association of vitamin D binding protein levels and genotypes with type 1 diabetes in the black South African population.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency and the vitamin D pathway have previously been associated with type 1 diabetes (T1D). The majority of vitamin D is transported through the blood bound to the vitamin D binding protein (VDBP). Two polymorphisms in the VDBP gene (rs4588 and rs7041) result in different VDBP variants and have been associated with T1D, however the results are not consistent.

Effect of Yoga Lifestyle in Patients with Heart Failure: A Randomized Control Trial.

Background: In spite of significant advances in the management of heart failure (HF), morbidity and mortality remain high. Therefore, there is a need for additional strategies. We did a randomized clinical trial to study effect of yoga in patients with HF in terms of quality of life (QOL), left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF), C-reactive protein (CRP), and NTproBNP.

Neurological toll of COVID-19.

The first case of coronavirus illness was discovered in Wuhan, China, in January 2020 and quickly spread worldwide within the next couple of months. The condition was initially only linked with respiratory disorders. After the evolution of various variants of the SARS-CoV-2, the critical impact of the virus spread to multiple organs and soon, neurological disorder manifestations started to appear in the infected patients.

Waves and variants of SARS-CoV-2: understanding the causes and effect of the COVID-19 catastrophe.

The coronavirus disease-19 has left a permanent mark on the history of the human race. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus, first reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 and from there took over the world. Being highly susceptible to mutations, the virus's numerous variants started to appear, and some were more lethal and infectious than the parent.

Isolated Increased Nuchal Translucency in First Trimester Ultrasound Scan: Diagnostic Yield of Prenatal Microarray and Outcome of Pregnancy.

Increased nuchal translucency (NT) is associated with aneuploidy. When the karyotype is normal, fetuses are still at risk for structural anomalies and genetic syndromes. Our study researched the diagnostic yield of prenatal microarray in a cohort of fetuses with isolated increased NT (defined as NT ≥ 3.

Non-invasive prenatal diagnosis for translocation carriers-YES please or NO go?

Introduction: The presence of an unbalanced familial translocation can be reliably assessed in the cytotrophoblast of chorionic villi. However, carriers of a balanced translocation often decline invasive testing. This study aimed to investigate whether an unbalanced translocation can also be diagnosed in cell free DNA by whole-genome non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPS).

Established and Emerging Producers of PHA: Redefining the Possibility.

The polyhydroxyalkanoate was discovered almost around a century ago. Still, all the efforts to replace the traditional non-biodegradable plastic with much more environmentally friendly alternative are not enough. While the petroleum-based plastic is like a parasite, taking over the planet rapidly and without any feasible cure, its perennial presence has made the ocean a floating island of life-threatening debris and has flooded the landfills with toxic towering mountains.

Zinc transporter 8 (ZnT8) autoantibody prevalence in black South African participants with type 1 diabetes.

Background: Autoantibodies to β-cell specific antigens are markers of type 1 diabetes. The most recently identified autoantibodies are targeted to the zinc transporter 8 (ZnT8) protein located in the membrane of β-cell insulin secretory granules. The prevalence of ZnT8 autoantibodies in newly diagnosed participants with type 1 diabetes has been found to range from 33 to 80 %.

Could optimising periodontal health in expectant mothers reduce the risk of babies being born prematurely?

Data sources The systematic review has used various databases (EMBASE, Medline, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar), as well as hand searching, to collect its data sample. There is no mention of the authors' affiliations or any funding declaration. In addition, there is no mention of an information specialist/search strategist in the team.

The abundance and characteristics of microplastics in surface water in the transboundary Ganges River.

Microplastics (plastic < 5 mm in size) are now known to contaminate riverine systems but understanding about how their concentrations vary spatially and temporally is limited. This information is critical to help identify key sources and pathways of microplastic and develop management interventions. This study provides the first investigation of microplastic abundance, characteristics and temporal variation along the Ganges river; one of the most important catchments of South Asia.

Riverine plastic pollution from fisheries: Insights from the Ganges River system.

Abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear represents a substantial proportion of global marine plastic pollution and can cause significant environmental and socio-economic impacts. Yet little is known about its presence in, and implications for, freshwater ecosystems or its downstream contribution to plastic pollution in the ocean. This study documents fishing gear-related debris in one of the world's largest plastic pollution contributing river catchments, the Ganges.

Plastic pollution in aquatic systems in Bangladesh: A review of current knowledge.

Rivers play a crucial role in transporting land-based plastic waste to the ocean, with the Ganges reported as the second largest contributing river of plastic pollution globally. To better quantify global plastic pollution transport and effectively reduce the sources and risks imposed, a clear understanding of the origin, transport, fate, and effects of riverine plastic debris is important. In this review paper, we discuss the current state of knowledge of plastic pollution in aquatic systems in Bangladesh and evaluate existing research gaps.

Coronectomies: assessment and treatment planning.

Coronectomy procedures are widely carried out in secondary care, involving the removal of the dental crown, while retaining the roots in situ. This paper defines and explains the rationale behind coronectomy. It also seeks to review the indications for referral of wisdom teeth, and how to identify high-risk wisdom teeth radiographically using two- and three-dimensional imaging.

A prenatal case of partial trisomy 21 (q22.2q22.3), resulting from a paternal insertion translocation ins(16;21) and uncovered by QF-PCR, and characterized by array CGH and FISH.

In addition to detecting trisomies of whole chromosomes, QF-PCR can also detect partial trisomies of the chromosomes 13, 18, and 21, which can suggest an unbalanced translocation. Additional testing with other techniques, such as microarray or FISH, is recommended when an unbalanced translocation is suspected.

The importance of communication in the construction of partial dentures.

Removable partial dentures (RPDs) are still a very important treatment modality in general dentistry to replace missing teeth. With the increase in popularity of implants, RPDs are sometimes seen as an 'old-fashioned' treatment option and if not carefully designed can be damaging to oral tissue and aesthetically less favourable. However, there is still a significantly large cohort of patients for whom RPDs are the best option for replacement of teeth either due to a failing dentition, inappropriate anatomy or financial considerations.