Distribution and determinants of early marriage and motherhood: a multilevel and geospatial analysis of 707 districts in India.

Background: Early marriage and motherhood have long been prevalent in India, with 44.5% of women aged 20-24 reporting marriage before 18 in NFHS 3 (2005-2006), dropping to 26.8% in NFHS 4 (2015-2016).

Exploring Cesarean Section Delivery Patterns in South India: A Bayesian Multilevel and Geospatial analysis of Population-Based Cross-Sectional Data.

Background: This paper focuses on the period from 2019 to 2021 and investigates the factors associated with the high prevalence of C-section deliveries in South India. We also examine the nuanced patterns, socio-demographic associations, and spatial dynamics underlying C-section choices in this region. A cross-sectional study was conducted using large nationally representative survey data.

Nano-bio convergence unveiled: Systematic review on quantum dots-protein interaction, their implications, and applications.

Quantum dots (QDs) are semiconductor nanocrystals (2-10 nm) with unique optical and electronic properties due to quantum confinement effects. They offer high photostability, narrow emission spectra, broad absorption spectrum, and high quantum yields, making them versatile in various applications. Due to their highly reactive surfaces, QDs can conjugate with biomolecules while being used, produced, or unintentionally released into the environment.

Formation of Self-Assembled Nanowires from Copper Nanoparticles Synthesized by the Electro-Explosion of Wires Technique-Study of the Time-Dependent Structural and Functional Evolution.

We report here the formation of Cu nanowires (CuNWs) from Cu nanoparticles (CuNPs) by a self-assembly process. The CuNPs were synthesized by the electro-explosion of wire (EEW) technique that included nonequilibrium processes for the synthesis. Structural evolution in terms of aggregation or nanowire formation in the samples was observed when the CuNPs were kept for a month after synthesis in a glass vial without the application of any external driving force.

Smart Magnetic Nanocarriers for Codelivery of Nitric Oxide and Doxorubicin for Enhanced Apoptosis in Cancer Cells.

Extremely short half-life therapeutic molecule nitric oxide (NO) plays significant roles in the functioning of various physiological and pathological processes in the human body, whereas doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) is a clinically important anticancer drug widely used in cancer chemotherapy. Thus, the intracellular delivery of these therapeutic molecules is tremendously important to achieve their full potential. Herein, we report a novel approach for the development of highly water-dispersible magnetic nanocarriers for codelivery of NO and DOX.

Multifunctional ZnO nanostructures: a next generation nanomedicine for cancer therapy, targeted drug delivery, bioimaging, and tissue regeneration.

Zinc oxide nanostructures (ZnO NSs) are one of the most versatile and promising metal oxides having significant importance in biomedical fields, especially for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. ZnO possesses unique physio-chemical and biological properties such as photo-chemical stability, corrosion resistance, mechanical properties, biocompatibility, higher targeting capability, and ROS-triggered cytotoxicity. These ZnO NSs have enhanced potential for various biomedical applications such as cancer therapy, drug delivery, bioimaging, tissue engineering, etc.

Transition in the ages at key reproductive events and its determinants in India: evidence from NFHS 1992-93 to 2019-21.

Introduction: Reproductive health events have changed fertility and family planning needs, depicting the changing life patterns of women and the population to which they belong. Understanding the pattern at which these events occur helps in understanding the fertility pattern, family formation and the idea about health essential needs for women. This paper attempts to see the variation in reproductive events (first cohabitation, first sex and first birth) over three decades and also to see potential contributing factors among the reproductive age group of women using secondary data from Data Source: All rounds of the National Family Health Survey (1992-93 to 2019-2021) have been utilized.

The supply is there. So why can't pregnant and breastfeeding women in rural India get the COVID-19 vaccine?

Despite COVID-19 vaccines being available to pregnant women in India since summer 2021, little is known about vaccine uptake among this high need population. We conducted mixed methods research with pregnant and recently delivered rural women in northern India, consisting of 300 phone surveys and 15 in-depth interviews, in November 2021. Only about a third of respondents were vaccinated, however, about half of unvaccinated respondents reported that they would get vaccinated now if they could.

Size- and surface functionalization-driven molecular interaction of CdSe quantum dots with jack bean urease: multispectroscopic, thermodynamic, and AFM approach.

Quantum dots (QDs) with distinctive optical properties have been extensively researched and developed for usage in solar cells, imaging, drug delivery, cellular targeting, etc. But the inevitable production of QDs can lead to their unavoidable release and increased environmental concentration. Depending on morphological and surface properties, QDs at the nano-bio interface considerably impact the activity and structure of bio-molecules.

A method to detect immunoreactions on the basis of current concentration slope - an electrochemical approach.

The emergence of novel infectious diseases is rising with time and is a major threat to the society. The recent outbreak of infectious coronavirus disease has made a huge impact in our lives. The massive outbreak of the disease revealed that there is room for development of new diagnostics tools and methods to screen huge numbers of samples in the shortest possible time.

Immobilization of protein on FeO nanoparticles for magnetic hyperthermia application.

We report a facile approach for the preparation of protein conjugated glutaric acid functionalized FeO magnetic nanoparticles (Pro-Glu-MNPs), having improved colloidal stability and heating efficacy. The Pro-Glu-MNPs were prepared by covalent conjugation of BSA protein onto the surface of glutaric acid functionalized FeO magnetic nanoparticles (Glu-MNPs) obtained through thermal decomposition. XRD and TEM analyses confirmed the formation of crystalline FeO nanoparticles of average size ~5 nm, whereas the conjugation of BSA protein to them was evident from XPS, FTIR, TGA, DLS and zeta-potential measurements.

Glutamic acid-coated FeO nanoparticles for tumor-targeted imaging and therapeutics.

We have developed surface functionalised FeO magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) based system that can be used for tumor-targeted multimodal therapies and MR imaging. Biocompatible, non-essential amino acid (glutamic acid) was introduced onto the surface of FeO MNPs to provide functional sites for binding of chemotherapeutic drugs. These glutamic acid-coated FeO MNPs (GAMNPs) exhibit good water-dispersibility, magnetic responsivity and pH dependent charge conversal feature.

UV Lithography-Assisted Fabrication of Low-Cost Copper Electrodes Modified with Gold Nanostructures for Improved Analyte Detection.

An in-house UV lithography setup has been optimized to fabricate low-cost disposable electrochemical sensing Cu electrodes using a copper clad board. In view of the high oxidation probability of copper, the low-cost electrodes were modified using different gold nanostructures and a conducing polymer PEDOT:PSS to attain maximal signal output and improved shelf-life. Zero-dimensional (0D) gold nanoparticles (∼40 nm) and three-dimensional (3D) gold nanoflowers (∼38 nm) mixed with PEDOT:PSS were used as signal-enhancing conductors for the ultrasensitive detection of our model contaminant, methylene blue dye (MB).

Defect-Mediated Reactive Oxygen Species Generation in Mg-Substituted ZnO Nanoparticles: Efficient Nanomaterials for Bacterial Inhibition and Cancer Therapy.

Mg-substituted ZnO nanoparticles (MgZnO NPs) were synthesized by a soft chemical approach and were well-characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The absorption and photoluminescence spectra show that substitution of Mg ions results in the widening of the band gap and a significant enhancement in the concentration of defects in ZnO NPs. A systemic study of generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under dark, daylight, and visible light conditions suggests that the aqueous suspension of MgZnO NPs generates a higher level of ROS because of the surface defects (oxygen vacancies).

Immunohistochemical evaluation of tumor angiogenesis and the role of mast cells in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Increased angiogenesis has been associated with neoplastic progression, metastasis and outcome in several studies and in a number of malignancies. Among the various host immune cells, mast cells have been implicated in tumor progression by promoting angiogenesis. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between angiogenesis, mast cells with that of the normal oral mucosa (NOM) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Vacancy-Driven Gelation Using Defect-Rich Nanoassemblies of 2D Transition Metal Dichalcogenides and Polymeric Binder for Biomedical Applications.

A new approach of vacancy-driven gelation to obtain chemically crosslinked hydrogels from defect-rich 2D molybdenum disulfide (MoS ) nanoassemblies and polymeric binder is reported. This approach utilizes the planar and edge atomic defects available on the surface of the 2D MoS nanoassemblies to form mechanically resilient and elastomeric nanocomposite hydrogels. The atomic defects present on the lattice plane of 2D MoS nanoassemblies are due to atomic vacancies and can act as an active center for vacancy-driven gelation with a thiol-activated terminal such as four-arm poly(ethylene glycol)-thiol (PEG-SH) via chemisorption.

Visible light driven mesoporous Ag-embedded ZnO nanocomposites: reactive oxygen species enhanced photocatalysis, bacterial inhibition and photodynamic therapy.

We present here the multitasking capabilities of Ag-embedded ZnO nanocomposites (Ag-ZnO NCs), which include the photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes, bacterial inhibition, and cancer therapeutics. Ag-embedded ZnO nanocomposites (Ag-ZnO NCs) of mesoporous spherical morphology (size ∼ 150 ± 50 nm) are successfully synthesized by a facile and single step soft-chemical approach. To understand the effect of Ag loading on multitasking properties, Ag-ZnO NCs are synthesized with different wt% of Ag.

Correlation of mast cells in different stages of human periodontal diseases: Pilot study.

Aims And Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate and correlate the relationship between mast cells counts and different stages of human periodontal diseases.

Materials And Methods: The study sample comprised 50 patients, which were divided into three groups, consisting of 10 cases of clinically healthy gingival tissues (control group) 20 cases of dental plaque-induced gingivitis with no attachment loss and 20 cases of localized chronic periodontitis (LCP) characterized by the loss of periodontal support. The samples for control group were obtained during tooth extractions for orthodontic reasons.

A pH-responsive folate conjugated magnetic nanoparticle for targeted chemo-thermal therapy and MRI diagnosis.

Polyacrylic acid functionalized Fe3O4 nanoparticles (PAA-MNPs) of average size of 10 nm are prepared by a simple soft chemical approach. These PAA-MNPs are conjugated with folic acid through peptide bonding between the carboxylic group on the surface of PAA-MNPs and the amine group of folic acid. The good colloidal stability of FA conjugated MNPs makes it a promising candidate for targeted drug delivery, hyperthermia and as a MRI contrast agent with a transverse relaxivity R2 value of 105 mM(-1) s(-1).

PEGylated FePt-Fe3O4 composite nanoassemblies (CNAs): in vitro hyperthermia, drug delivery and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Chemothermal therapy is widely used in clinical applications for the treatment of tumors. However, the major challenge is the use of a multifunctional nano platform for significant regression of the tumor. In this study, a simple synthesis of highly aqueous stable, carboxyl enriched, PEGylated mesoporous iron platinum-iron(ii,iii) oxide (FePt-Fe3O4) composite nanoassemblies (CNAs) by a simple hydrothermal approach is reported.

Fluorescent ZnO for imaging and induction of DNA fragmentation and ROS-mediated apoptosis in cancer cells.

Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-encapsulated ZnO nanocomposite has been synthesized using the soft chemical approach. X-ray diffraction reveals the formation of highly crystalline single-phase hexagonal wurtzite nanostructure. TEM and SEM micrographs indicate the formation of spherical porous nanoassembly of ZnO of size ∼ 100-400 nm.

Palatogingival groove - a silent killer: Treatment of an osseous defect due to it.

A male patient of 21 years of age reported to the Department of Periodontology and Implantology with a chief complain of pus discharge in both right and left upper lateral incisors. On clinical examination a deep pocket of about 10-14 mm was noticed in both lateral incisors. Radiographic interpretation shows a teardrop-shaped radiolucency in both the laterals giving suspicion of palatogingival groove, which was later discovered and treated surgically.

Tocotrienols potentiate lovastatin-mediated growth suppression in vitro and in vivo.

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase is the rate-limiting enzyme in the mevalonate pathway that provides essential intermediates for the membrane anchorage and biologic functions of growth-related proteins. Contrary to preclinical studies showing the growth-suppressive activity of statins, competitive inhibitors of HMG CoA reductase, clinical application of statins in cancer is precluded by their lack of activity at levels prescribed for the prevention of cardiovascular disease and by their dose-limiting toxicities at high doses. The dysregulated and elevated HMG CoA reductase activity in tumors retains sensitivity to the isoprenoid-mediated posttranscriptional down-regulation, an action that complements the statin-mediated inhibition and may lead to synergistic impact of blends of isoprenoids and lovastatin on tumor HMG CoA reductase activity and consequently tumor growth.