Development of a Rapid and Efficient Protocol for Seed Germination and Seedling Establishment of .

Seed germination is a critical and challenging process in the propagation of , a wild halophytic rice species. This protocol outlines the seed germination procedure for . All steps required for optimal germination and seedling establishment of in both sterile and soil-based systems are described in detail.

Evaluating Blood Flow Speed in Retinal Microaneurysms Secondary to Diabetic Retinopathy Using Variable Interscan Time Analysis OCTA.

Purpose: To quantify the blood flow speed within retinal microaneurysms (MAs) and investigate the relationship between blood flow speed and clinical characteristics in eyes with diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods: Variable interscan time analysis (VISTA) quantifies blood flow speed in the vasculature by measuring how fast optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography (OCTA) saturates for different interscan times. Macular OCTA imaging was performed in eyes with DR using a high-speed swept-source OCT prototype instrument operating at a 600-kHz A-scan rate.

Saccharomyces boulardii (CNCM I-745) ameliorates Ovalbumin-induced atopic dermatitis by modulating the NF-κB signaling in skin and colon.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a long-lasting allergic disorder characterized by itching, redness, swelling, dry skin, scaling, inflammation, and tissue damage. The exact cause of AD is still unknown. Steroid medications are frequently utilized in treating AD, but their prolonged use can result in complications.

Continuous Monitoring of Sulfur Dioxide Removal Using K-Band Molecular Rotational Resonance Spectroscopy.

Sulfur dioxide (SO), an air pollutant, poses significant threats to both public health and the environment. It is one of the six air pollutants regulated by the U.S.

Evaluation of toxic effects of benzophenone on histopathology of .

Benzophenone (BP) is an organic ultraviolet (UV) filter widely used in sunscreens and personal care products. This compound enters aquatic ecosystems due to industrialization, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), and domestic effluents, poses serious threats to aquatic organisms, and is considered an emerging pollutant. This laboratory-based study assessed the 96-hour (h) median lethal concentrations (LC) and sub-lethal effects of BP on the histology of the gills and muscles of .

Hepatitis C virus transmission among people who inject drugs in the Middle East and North Africa: mathematical modeling analyses of incidence and intervention impact.

Background: The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is the most affected by hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection globally. This study aimed to estimate HCV incidence among people who inject drugs (PWID) in MENA and evaluate the impact of interventions.

Methods: A mathematical model was extended and applied to 13 countries with at least one data point on the population size of PWID and HCV antibody prevalence among PWID, generating estimates for the period 2024-2030.

Suppression of TLR4/NF-κB signaling by kaurenoic acid in a mice model of monosodium urate crystals-induced acute gout.

Aim: The aim of the current study was to investigate the potential therapeutic effect of kaurenoic acid (KA) against Monosodium Urate Crystals (MSU)-induced acute gout by downregulation of NF-κB signaling pathway, mitigating inflammation and oxidative stress. KA potentially targeted NF-κB pathway activation and provided comprehensive insights through multiple approaches. This was accomplished by advanced analytical techniques.

Impact of Silymarin Supplementation on Liver Function and Enzyme Profiles in Diverse Chronic Liver Disease Etiologies.

Aim And Background: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of silymarin in improving liver function and reducing liver stiffness in chronic liver disease (CLD) patients. Silymarin, a hepatoprotective agent, has shown potential benefits in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and liver fibrosis, but evidence in CLD with varied etiologies remains limited. This study addresses the gap by assessing its impact across diverse etiological subgroups.

Health risk assessment of ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, and oxytetracycline residues in raw, frozen, and boiled broiler chicken available in a local area of Bangladesh.

Introduction: The misuse of antibiotics in poultry farming is a global issue.

Objective: The focus of this study was the health risk assessment of consumers from the determination of ciprofloxacin (CIP), tetracycline (TC), and oxytetracycline (OTC) in broiler chicken in the raw, frozen, and boiled stages using solid-phase extraction, high-performance liquid chromatography, and ultraviolet detection (SPE-HPLC-UV).

Materials And Methods: Chromatographic separation was achieved using 0.

High-Resolution OCT Reveals Age-Associated Variation in the Region Posterior to the External Limiting Membrane.

Purpose: To evaluate visibility of a sub-band posterior to the external limiting membrane (ELM) and assess its age-associated variation.

Methods: In a retrospective cross-sectional study, normal eyes were imaged using a high-resolution spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) prototype (2.7-µm axial resolution).

Correction: Acceptability and feasibility of HIV self-testing among transgender people in Larkana, Pakistan: Results from a pilot project.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Evaluating the reliability of a microperimetry-based method for assessing visual function in the junctional zone of geographic atrophy lesions.

Purpose: To assess the repeatability of a microperimetry methodology for quantifying visual function changes in the junctional zone of eyes with geographic atrophy (GA) in the clinical trial context.

Methods: A post hoc analysis of the OAKS phase III trial was conducted, which enrolled patients with GA secondary to age-related macular degeneration. Microperimetry using a standard 10 - 2 fovea centered grid was performed at baseline and follow-up visits.

Evaluation of Anti-Angiogenic Therapy Combined with Immunotherapy and Chemotherapy as a Strategy to Treat Locally Advanced and Metastatic Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

Immunotherapy has made recent improvements in disease-free survival (DFS) and/or overall survival (OS) in all stages of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Here, we review the tumor microenvironment and its immunosuppressive effects and discuss how anti-angiogenic therapies may potentiate the anti-carcinogenic effects of immunotherapy. We also review all the past literature and discuss strategies of combining anti-angiogenic therapy and immunotherapy +/- chemotherapy and hypothesize how we can use this strategy for non-small-cell lung cancer in metastatic previously untreated/previously treated settings in previously treated EGFR-mutated NSCLC for the upfront treatment of brain metastases prior to radiation therapy and for the incorporation of this strategy into stage III unresectable disease.

Evaluating the Reliability of a Microperimetry-Based Method for Assessing Visual Function in the Junctional Zone of Geographic Atrophy Lesions.

Purpose: To assess the repeatability of a microperimetry methodology for quantifying visual function changes in the junctional zone of eyes with geographic atrophy (GA) in the clinical trial context.

Methods: A post hoc analysis of the OAKS phase III trial was conducted, which enrolled patients with GA secondary to age-related macular degeneration. Microperimetry using a standard 10-2 fovea centered grid was performed at baseline and follow-up visits.

Syphilis infection prevalence in the Middle East and North Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can be prevented and effectively treated; yet it continues to be a cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. There is a limited understanding of the epidemiology of syphilis in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Methods: A systematic review conducted up to April 30, 2024 assessed the prevalence of syphilis and followed PRISMA guidelines, without language and date restrictions.

Insight into the Environmental Health Consciousness of Medical Students Regarding the Perceived Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health.

Climate change represents an unprecedented global public health crisis with extensive and profound implications. The Lancet Commission identified it as the foremost health challenge of the 21st century. In 2015, air pollution alone caused approximately 9 million premature deaths worldwide.

SPTLC3 regulates plasma membrane sphingolipid composition to facilitate hepatic gluconeogenesis.

SPTLC3, an inducible subunit of the serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT) complex, causes production of alternative sphingoid bases, including a 16-carbon dihydrosphingosine, whose biological function is only beginning to emerge. High-fat feeding induced SPTLC3 in the liver, prompting us to produce a liver-specific knockout mouse line. Following high-fat feeding, knockout mice showed decreased fasting blood glucose, and knockout primary hepatocytes showed suppressed glucose production, a core function of hepatocytes.

Unmasking Vitamin B12 Deficiency Misdiagnosed as Myelodysplastic Syndrome.

Pancytopenia is characterized by a decrease in all three types of blood cells. Instead of being a standalone disease, it acts as a common outcome resulting from various factors, including infections, autoimmune disorders, genetic issues, nutritional deficiencies, and malignancies. Pinpointing the root cause of pancytopenia poses a challenge but is essential for devising an effective treatment plan and predicting the likely prognosis.

Correlation Between Transient Elastography and Non-invasive Biomarker Scores for the Detection of Liver Fibrosis.

Background and aim The study aimed to address the need for reliable and non-invasive biomarkers (NIBM) for detecting fibrosis among patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). Material and methods This was a diagnostic validation study executed at the Department of Gastroenterology, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore. The study was carried out from July 2023 to June 2024, enrolling a total of 88 patients using non-probability consecutive sampling.

A study of novel linear Diophantine fuzzy topological numbers and their application to communicable diseases.

The idea of linear Diophantine fuzzy sets (LDFs) is a novel tool for analysis, soft computing, and optimization. Recently, the concept of a linear Diophantine fuzzy graph has been proposed in 2022. The aim of this research is to extend topological numbers to LDFSs.