One-quarter of freshwater fauna threatened with extinction.

Freshwater ecosystems are highly biodiverse and important for livelihoods and economic development, but are under substantial stress. To date, comprehensive global assessments of extinction risk have not included any speciose groups primarily living in freshwaters. Consequently, data from predominantly terrestrial tetrapods are used to guide environmental policy and conservation prioritization, whereas recent proposals for target setting in freshwaters use abiotic factors.

Key concepts and a world-wide look at plant recruitment networks.

Plant-plant interactions are major determinants of the dynamics of terrestrial ecosystems. There is a long tradition in the study of these interactions, their mechanisms and their consequences using experimental, observational and theoretical approaches. Empirical studies overwhelmingly focus at the level of species pairs or small sets of species.

Assessing the spatial scale of synchrony in forest tree population dynamics.

Populations of forest trees exhibit large temporal fluctuations, but little is known about the synchrony of these fluctuations across space, including their sign, magnitude, causes and characteristic scales. These have important implications for metapopulation persistence and theoretical community ecology. Using data from permanent forest plots spanning local, regional and global spatial scales, we measured spatial synchrony in tree population growth rates over sub-decadal and decadal timescales and explored the relationship of synchrony to geographical distance.

Fluorescently probing anaerobic digester sludge: Measuring single-cell anabolic activity in methanogens (Methanosarcina and Methanothermobacter) with deuterium-labeled Raman analysis.

This study addresses the challenge of obtaining in situ information on substrate utilization rates for individual microbial species in complex microbial communities such as anaerobic digester sludge. To overcome this hurdle, a novel approach combining doubly-labelled deuterium, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and Raman microspectroscopy was developed. The method enables quantitative determination of anabolic heavy hydrogen incorporation into FISH-targeted, exemplified by methanogenic cells from the genera Methanosarcina and Methanothermobacter.

Short-Term Outcomes of Infection-Related Glomerulonephritis in Diabetes Mellitus.

Background and objective Infection-related glomerulonephritis (IRGN) in adults, particularly the diabetic population, has a grave prognosis with many patients progressing to dialysis-dependent renal failure. Indian data on this entity are very scarce. This study attempts to correlate the clinicopathological factors related to diabetic IRGN and its short-term outcomes.

Unlocking the Diagnostic Potential: A Systematic Review of Biomarkers in Spinal Tuberculosis.

: Spinal tuberculosis (STB) is frequently misdiagnosed due to the multitude of symptoms it presents with. This review aimed to investigate the biomarkers that have the potential to accurately diagnose spinal TB in its early stages. : A systematic search was conducted across multiple databases, yielding a diverse range of biomarkers categorized into complete blood count parameters, host inflammatory responses, bacterial antigens, and RNA-based markers.

Unrefined and Milled Ilmenite as a Cost-Effective Photocatalyst for UV-Assisted Destruction and Mineralization of PFAS.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are fluorinated and refractory pollutants that are ubiquitous in industrial wastewater. Photocatalytic destruction of such pollutants with catalysts such as TiO and ZnO is an attractive avenue for removal of PFAS, but refined forms of such photocatalysts are expensive. This study, for the first time, utilized milled unrefined raw mineral ilmenite, coupled to UV-C irradiation to achieve mineralization of the two model PFAS compounds perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluoro octane sulfonic acid (PFOS).

The Association of Lower Levels of Baseline Proteinuria With Earlier Remission in Primary Membranous Nephropathy.

Aim To study the clinical profile and course and to assess the outcome of patients with biopsy-proven primary membranous nephropathy (MN). Methods This study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital between December 2017 and December 2021 on four-year retrospective biopsy-proven patients with membranous nephropathy (MN). Urinary proteins, serum albumin, and serum creatinine were the baseline investigations that were performed.

Mapping recommendations towards an Asian Code Against Cancer (ACAC) as part of the World Code Against Cancer Framework: an Asian National Cancer Centers Alliance (ANCCA) initiative.

This paper outlines the process undertaken by Asian National Cancer Centers Alliance (ANCCA) members in working towards an Asian Code Against Cancer (ACAC). The process involves: (i) identification of the criteria for selecting the existing set of national recommendations for ACAC (ii) compilation of existing national codes or recommendations on cancer prevention (iii) reviewing the scientific evidence on cancer risk factors in Asia and (iv) establishment of one or more ACAC under the World Code Against Cancer Framework. A matrix of national codes or key recommendations against cancer in ANCCA member countries is presented.

Community-acquired acute kidney injury in India: data from ISN-acute kidney injury registry.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI), particularly community-acquired AKI (CA-AKI), is a major health concern globally. The International Society of Nephrology's "0 by 25" initiative to reduce preventable deaths from AKI to zero by 2025 is not achievable in low and middle income countries, such as India, possibly due to a lack of data and measures to tackle this urgent public health issue. In India, CA-AKI predisposes younger patients to hospitalization, morbidity, and mortality.

Recent progress in the characterization and application of exo-electrogenic microorganisms.

Exo-electrogenic microorganisms are characterized by their special metabolic capability of transferring metabolic electrons out of their cell, into insoluble external electron acceptors such as iron or manganese oxides and electrodes, or vice versa take up electron from electrodes. Their conventional application is primarily limited to microbial fuel cells for electrical power generation and microbial electrolysis cells for the production of value-added products such as biohydrogen, biomethane and hydrogen peroxide. The utility of exo-electrogenic organisms has expanded into many other applications in recent times.

Uptake of diabetic retinopathy screening at a secondary level facility in Malawi.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common microvascular complication of long-standing diabetes mellitus (DM). DR screening is a cost-effective intervention for preventing blindness from DR. We conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate the uptake and the predictors of uptake of annual DR screening in an opportunistic DR screening programme at a secondary-level diabetes clinic in Southern Malawi.

Donor-Derived Cell-Free DNA and Active Rejection in Renal Allografts.

Background: Renal allograft rejection contributes to significant morbidity and graft loss. In this setting, early detection of rejection is of paramount importance, which currently relies on histopathology. A reliable non-invasive marker to predict rejection would make surveillance and decision-making easier.

Frailty in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease Stage Five.

Aim To study the prevalence of frailty in patients with chronic kidney disease stage 5 (CKD5) and to assess coexisting factors associated with frailty in chronic kidney disease. Patients and methods We studied the prevalence of frailty in CKD5 patients from November 2021 to November 2022. CKD5 patients over 18 years of age were included.

Towards elimination of cervical cancer - human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and cervical cancer screening in Asian National Cancer Centers Alliance (ANCCA) member countries.

About 95% of cervical cancers worldwide are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Cervical cancer is preventable and curable if it is detected and treated early. We reviewed the latest national cervical cancer indicators, and barriers to HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening in 21 Asian National Cancer Centers Alliance (ANCCA) member countries.

Clinical Profile, Histopathology, and Outcomes in Infection-Related Glomerulonephritis - Single-Center Experience.

Background: Infection-related glomerulonephritis (IRGN) is an important source of renal morbidity with adverse outcomes in adults. Data from large centers in India is lacking on this common, yet poorly understood entity.

Materials And Methods: We performed a prospective observational study of all patients diagnosed with IRGN at our center over a 3-year period between 2017 and 2019.

Uremic Sarcopenia.

"Uremic sarcopenia" refers to a progressive decrease in muscle mass, strength, and function despite normal skeletal muscle physiology in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Sarcopenia involves multiple risk factors, comprising immunological changes, hormonal, metabolic acidosis, reduced protein intake, and physical inactivity. All these risk factors, along with complex pathophysiological mechanisms including ubiquitin, insulin/IGF-1, myostatin, and indoxyl sulfate, activate downstream pathways that ultimately increase muscle degradation while reducing muscle regeneration.

RecruitNet: A global database of plant recruitment networks.

Plant recruitment interactions (i.e., what recruits under what) shape the composition, diversity, and structure of plant communities.