Prevalence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Wound Pathogens in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Kashmir: A Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Wound infections significantly impact morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs globally. The Kashmir Valley's unique geographical and climatic conditions, coupled with resource constraints and antibiotic misuse, complicate managing these infections effectively. This study aimed to identify predominant bacterial pathogens in wound infections at a tertiary care hospital in Kashmir, determine their antibiotic susceptibility profiles, and estimate the prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains.

Transcriptome-wide investigation and functional characterization reveal a terpene synthase involved in γ-terpinene biosynthesis in Monarda citriodora.

Monarda citriodora Cerv. ex Lag. is a rich source of industrially important compounds like γ-terpinene, carvacrol, thymol and thymoquinone.

Conservation agriculture practices impact on biological and microbial diversity in earthworm cast under maize-wheat system.

Soil degradation is a major global concern due to its negative impact on soil quality and the sustainability of agricultural resources. The conservation agriculture (CA) approach, which includes three key principles such as zero tillage, retention of crop residue and crop rotation has gained widespread adoption to help mitigate the climate change effects on agricultural soils and meet the growing demand for increased production. Earthworm communities, along with microbial activity and diversity, are highly sensitive to tillage practices.

Enhancing tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) yield and nutrition quality through hydroponic cultivation with treated wastewater.

Utilizing treated wastewater for crop cultivation is essential in regions with scarce freshwater resources for irrigation. This study evaluated the growth, fruit yield, nutritional and phytochemical quality of tomato fruits cultivated using a treated wastewater-based hydroponics system developed for the Trans Himalaya, India. Tomatoes grown with treated wastewater exhibited better growth, yield, nutritional content, phytochemical properties, and antioxidant activities than those grown in soil.

Extranuclear DNA Variations in the Susceptibility of Glaucoma.

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide which affects all age groups. It is often identified by high intraocular pressure, characteristic optic neuropathy, and vision loss. Due to multifactorial nature of glaucoma pathogenesis, the molecular events responsible for its precipitation are currently poorly understood.

Outcomes of bent ab interno needle goniectomy with phacoemulsification in moderate to severe primary open angle glaucoma.

Purpose: To assess the safety and efficacy of bent ab interno needle goniectomy (BANG) in moderate to severe primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) eyes undergoing phacoemulsification (phaco).

Design: Single-arm, prospective, interventional study.

Methods: POAG patients with medically uncontrolled intraocular pressure (IOP), >15 mmHg for moderate and >12 mmHg for severe POAG, with visually significant cataract were recruited.

Evaluation of Visual Cortex Activity Using Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Primary Open Angle and Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma: A Pilot Study.

Prcis: Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used to assess visual cortical activity in patients with primary open angle (POAG) and primary angle closure (PACG) glaucomas. There was decreased activity in the visual cortex of glaucoma patients correlating with the severity of glaucoma.

Objective: To evaluate visual cortex activity using fNIRS in POAG and PACG compared with healthy controls.

Clinical applications of aqueous angiography in glaucoma.

Aqueous humor outflow (AHO) pathways are the main site of resistance causing elevated intraocular pressure in glaucoma, especially primary open-angle glaucoma patients. With the recently introduced technique of aqueous angiography (AA); functional, real time assessment of AHO from proximal (trabecuar meshwork) to distal pathways under physiological conditions has been made possible. AHO pathways are segmental, and AA can identify high-flow region (increased angiographic signals) and low flow region (decreased angiographic signals) in an individual.

Endocannabinoids and cortisol in plasma, aqueous and tear samples of primary angle closure glaucoma versus controls.

Purpose: To compare the levels of endocannabinoids (EC) in plasma, aqueous humor and tears, cortisol in plasma and aqueous, in primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) and controls, while comparing the quality of life in both groups.

Methods: A total of 60 patients, ≥40years of age, with a diagnosis of PACG or cataract, 30 in each group were recruited. They were subjected to a detailed ophthalmic evaluation, a WHO Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire answering and collection of tear, aqueous and blood samples.

Smartphone addiction and its impact on quality of sleep and academic performance among nursing students. Institutional based cross-sectional study in Western Rajasthan (India).

Objective: To explore the smartphone addiction and its impact on quality of sleep and academic performance among the nursing students.

Methods: . A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among the nursing students (n=160) in tertiary care teaching hospital in western Rajasthan (India) by using standardized Smartphone Addiction Scale Short Version (SAS-SV), the quality of sleep was assessed by standardized Pittsburg's Sleep Quality Index scale (PSQI) and academic performance was assessed by self -made Academic Performance Scale.

Harmony in nature: understanding the cultural and ecological aspects of plant use in Ladakh.

Background: Traditional knowledge (TK) in Ladakh encapsulates a repository of experimental wisdom cultivated over millennia. Despite this cultural wealth, dwindling interest among the younger generations in the region's age-old practices underscores the urgency to document TK. The current study investigates the diverse usage of plants in Surru, Wakha and Lower Indus valleys of Western Ladakh exploring the influence of socioeconomic and ecological factors.

The first demonstration of entirely roll-to-roll fabricated perovskite solar cell modules under ambient room conditions.

The rapid development of organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells has resulted in laboratory-scale devices having power conversion efficiencies that are competitive with commercialised technologies. However, hybrid perovskite solar cells are yet to make an impact beyond the research community, with translation to large-area devices fabricated by industry-relevant manufacturing methods remaining a critical challenge. Here we report the first demonstration of hybrid perovskite solar cell modules, comprising serially-interconnected cells, produced entirely using industrial roll-to-roll printing tools under ambient room conditions.

Changes in confocal microscopy in glaucoma patients after intraocular pressure reduction with medical therapy.

Purpose: Topical glaucoma medication is the first line of management to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with glaucoma. In this study, we intended to compare the ultrastructural findings of the cornea in patients with glaucoma before and after the reduction of the IOP through confocal microscopy.

Methods: Ten patients (19 eyes) with newly diagnosed glaucoma were recruited from the glaucoma services of our tertiary care center.

Efficacy of Micropulse Laser Cyclophotocoagulation Therapy in Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma.

Prcis: In primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG), micropulse cyclophotocoagulation resulted in a significant reduction in intraocular pressure (IOP), and the number of antiglaucoma medications without any sight-threatening complications. However, the IOP lowering efficacy decreased over time.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of micropulse trans-scleral cyclophotocoagulation (MP-TSCPC) in PACG.

Effect of "365 Breathing Technique" on Intraocular Pressure and Autonomic Functions in Patients With Glaucoma: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Prcis: Patients with primary open angle glaucoma were advised to follow the "365 breathing technique" for 6 weeks in addition to their pharmacological glaucoma treatment. It helped to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP), stress biomarker-cortisol, and improve autonomic dysfunction.

Objective: To study the effect of the "365 breathing technique" on IOP, autonomic functions, and stress biomarkers in patients with primary open angle glaucoma.

Intraoperative optical coherence tomography-guided transconjunctival bleb suturing - A minimally invasive technique for managing overfiltering bleb.

With the recent advancement in technologies, real-time integrated intraoperative optical coherence tomography (iOCT) microscopes are available, which facilitates surgical precision and also reduces the risk of complications. Two glaucoma patients with advanced glaucomatous optic neuropathy, who underwent uneventful trabeculectomy with 0.02% mitomycin C, developed persistent hypotony postoperatively till 4-6 weeks.

Oral doxycycline for early bleb leak after trabeculectomy: A case report and review of literature.

We report the adjuvant role of oral doxycycline therapy for the management of early bleb leaks post mitomycin-augmented trabeculectomy. Two glaucoma patients, who underwent trabeculectomy with mitomycin C, presented with a low intraocular pressure (IOP) in the early postoperative period. Both patients had moderately elevated bleb with Seidel's positive test.

Dengue Vaccination: Towards a New Dawn of Curbing Dengue Infection.

Dengue is an infectious disease caused by dengue virus (DENV) and is a serious global burden. Antibody-dependent enhancement and the ability of DENV to infect immune cells, along with other factors, lead to fatal Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever and Dengue Shock Syndrome. This necessitates the development of a robust and efficient vaccine but vaccine development faces a number of hurdles.

Physiological and behavioral assessment of Metaphire posthuma in response to clothianidin insecticide: Insights from molecular and biochemical analysis.

In the present study, Clothianidin [(E) - 1-(2 - chloro-1,3 - thiazol - 5-ylmethyl) - 3-methyl - 2- nitroguanidine] (CLO) was selected as a soil pollutant and earthworm was employed as a test organism. The various responses like biochemical and detoxification process of earthworm Metaphire posthuma towards Clothianidin at lethal and sublethal doses were studied using OECD-standardized toxicological guidelines. The present study examined the toxicity of CLO to earthworms after 28 days of exposure at conc.

Evaluation of ADRB2 and OATP2A1 genetic polymorphisms in Indian patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.

The emergence of adrenergic β2-receptor (ADRB2) blockers has revolutionized glaucoma treatment, while the discovery of prostaglandin analogs has further expanded therapeutic options. Organic anion transporting polypeptide 2A1 (OATP2A1/SLCO2A1) facilitates the corneal transport of topical prostaglandins into anterior segment of eye. Our study aims to elucidate the prevalence of genetic polymorphisms in the ADRB2 and OATP2A1 to address variations in therapeutic responses among glaucoma patients.