Safety and immunogenicity of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 in people living with and without HIV in South Africa: an interim analysis of a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 1B/2A trial.

Background: People living with HIV are at an increased risk of fatal outcome when admitted to hospital for severe COVID-19 compared with HIV-negative individuals. We aimed to assess safety and immunogenicity of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) vaccine in people with HIV and HIV-negative individuals in South Africa.

Methods: In this ongoing, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 1B/2A trial (COV005), people with HIV and HIV-negative participants aged 18-65 years were enrolled at seven South African locations and were randomly allocated (1:1) with full allocation concealment to receive a prime-boost regimen of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, with two doses given 28 days apart.

Multiple Discrete Typing Units of Trypanosoma cruzi Infect Sylvatic Triatoma dimidiata and Panstrongylus rufotuberculatus in Southeast Mexico.

Chagas disease or American trypanosomiasis is an infection caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. According to its genetic characteristics, this parasite is divided into six groups (TcI-TcVI) called discrete typing units (DTUs). Trypanosoma cruzi is transmitted to humans by insects of the Triatominae family.

Effectiveness of Yoga Nidra in reducing stress in school going adolescents: An experimental study.

Background And Objectives: Academic stress can exert severe stress in adolescents answering their career deciding board exams. The present study attempted to understand the efficacy of Yoga Nidra (YN) in mitigating psychosocial stress.

Design: and Methods: This study was carried on 10th-grade students (ages 14 to 16) and had two arms, one performing YN (experimental) and the other without YN (control) for 21 consecutive days.

Seroprevalence of Dengue Infection Using IgG Capture ELISA in India, 2017-2018.

We conducted a nationally representative population-based survey in 60 districts from 15 Indian states covering all five geographic regions during 2017-2018 to estimate the age specific seroprevalence of dengue. Of the 12,300 sera collected, 4,955 were positive for IgG antibodies against dengue virus using IgG Indirect ELISA indicating past dengue infection. We tested 4,948 sera (seven had inadequate volume) positive for IgG antibodies on indirect ELISA using anti-dengue IgG capture ELISA to estimate the proportion of dengue infections with high antibody titers, suggestive of acute or recent secondary infection.

Simultaneously measured inter-arm blood pressure difference is not associated with pulse wave velocity in a clinical dataset of at-risk hypertensive patients.

Recent analysis of systolic inter-arm differences in blood pressure from the INTERPRESS-IPD Collaboration suggest an association with increased all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality and cardiovascular events. Previous studies have demonstrated associations with other risk parameters. We aimed to reproduce these associations in a cohort of 199 treated, at-risk hypertensive patients with pulse wave velocity (PWV) as a surrogate marker of cardiovascular (CV) damage.

The factors influencing clinician use of hypertension guidelines in different resource settings: a qualitative study investigating clinicians' perspectives and experiences.

Background: Hypertension accounts for the greatest burden of disease worldwide, yet hypertension awareness and control rates are suboptimal, especially within low- and middle-income countries. Guidelines can enable consistency of care and improve health outcomes. A small body of studies investigating clinicians' perceptions and implementation of hypertension guidelines exists, mostly focussed on higher income settings.

Persistent Idiopathic Prolactin Elevation Merits Macroprolactin Estimation: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

The prevalence of hyperprolactinemia ranges from about 0.4% in an unselected adult population to as high as 9%-17% in women with reproductive disorders. It may cause infertility in about 11% of the oligospermic males.

Alloplastic total joint replacement in management of temporomandibular joint ankylosis.

Both autogenous and alloplastic material have been used in management of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis. Second surgical site, donor site morbidity, possibility of over/undergrowth, graft fracture or resorption and increased surgical time are the disadvantages of autogenous graft. Alloplastic total joint replacement (TJR) has become a promising technique in management of adult temporomandibular joint ankylosis (TMJA).

Improved Genome Packaging Efficiency of Adeno-associated Virus Vectors Using Rep Hybrids.

Recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAVs) are one of the most commonly used vectors for a variety of gene therapy applications. In the last 2 decades, research focused primarily on the characterization and isolation of new , genes resulting in hundreds of natural and engineered AAV capsid variants, while the gene, the other major AAV open reading frame, has been less studied. This is due to the fact that the gene from AAV serotype 2 (AAV2) enables the single-stranded DNA packaging of recombinant genomes into most AAV serotype and engineered capsids.

Comparison of outcomes with the single-puncture and double-puncture techniques of arthrocentesis of the temporomandibular joint: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To compare intra-operative and postoperative outcomes between the single-puncture and the standard double-puncture techniques of arthrocentesis.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, ScienceDirect and CENTRAL databases were searched from inception up to 31 August 2020. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs), prospective and retrospective studies conducted on patients with temporomandibular joint disorders comparing any type of single-puncture arthrocentesis with standard double-puncture arthrocentesis and reporting intra-operative/postoperative outcomes were included.

Cerebral Vasculitis in a COVID-19 Confirmed Postpartum Patient: A Case Report.

COVID-19 has primarily been reported as a respiratory illness, but involvement of other organ systems has been reported. We describe a case of a postpartum with COVID-19 who had cerebral vasculitis. The patient presented with headache, blurring of vision, right-sided body weakness, and incoordination.

May Measurement Month 2019: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from India.

Aims: May Measurement Month is a global screening campaign to raise awareness regarding elevated blood pressure (BP). With the growing burden of hypertension, it is imperative to regularly assess the disease's prevalence, risk factors, and awareness levels in a country. The current prevalence of hypertension in India as per the National Family Health Survey Data stands at 25.

Mating can initiate stable RNA silencing that overcomes epigenetic recovery.

Stable epigenetic changes appear uncommon, suggesting that changes typically dissipate or are repaired. Changes that stably alter gene expression across generations presumably require particular conditions that are currently unknown. Here we report that a minimal combination of cis-regulatory sequences can support permanent RNA silencing of a single-copy transgene and its derivatives in C.

Expanded dengue syndrome with small-medium-vessel vasculitis: A case report.

Expanded dengue syndrome (EDS) is a well-described entity in the literature (after 2009), with various new atypical presentations being identified each year. We report a case of 38-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with high-grade, intermittent fever for 7 days along with myalgia and headache. He had multiple painless palpable purpura over both lower limbs and breathlessness from the 4 day of fever.

Current Understanding in the Pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2-Associated Rhino-Orbito-Cerebral Mucormycosis: A Comprehensive Review.

Aim: Recently, with the second wave of COVID-19, the Indian subcontinent has witnessed a dramatic rise in mucormycosis infection in patients recovered from COVID-19. This association has been documented in various case reports/case series and institutional experiences, and the mortality associated with this fungal infection is emerging as a cause of concern. The aim of the present paper is to provide a scientific overview on the pathogenesis of mucormycosis in COVID-19 beyond the conventional understanding of the disease process, which may not otherwise explain the increased incidence of mucormycosis in SARS-CoV-2.

Homocysteine predicts vascular target organ damage in hypertension and may serve as guidance for first-line antihypertensive therapy.

Homocysteine is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease and has been proposed to contribute to vascular dysfunction. We sought to determine in a real-world clinical setting whether homocysteine levels were associated with hypertension mediated organ damage (HMOD) and could guide treatment choices in hypertension. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of prospectively collected data in 145 hypertensive patients referred to our tertiary hypertension clinic at Royal Perth Hospital and analyzed the association of homocysteine with HMOD, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), and RAAS blockade.

Modeling and Measuring Tree-Reading Skills in Undergraduate and Graduate Students.

Evolutionary trees are central to learning about evolutionary processes, yet students at all educational levels struggle to read and interpret them. The synthetic tree-reading model (STREAM), based on published and not yet empirically tested models, was tested to determine whether the assumed hierarchy of the model could be substantiated and how far students' skills could be distinguished empirically. We developed a tree-reading test instrument based on STREAM and assessed it with 592 undergraduate and graduate biology students.

Home-based pulmonary rehabilitation in people with bronchiectasis: a randomised controlled trial.

Aim: To investigate the short- and long-term effects of home-based pulmonary rehabilitation (HBPR) on functional capacity, quality of life, peripheral muscle strength, dyspnoea and daily physical activity in people with bronchiectasis.

Methods: Randomised controlled trial with 63 participants with bronchiectasis. The HBPR group performed three sessions per week for 8 weeks (aerobic exercise: step training for 20 min; resistance training: exercises for quadriceps, hamstrings, deltoids and biceps brachii using elastic bands).

Outcomes of sequestrectomy and buccal fat pad reconstruction in the management of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of buccal fat pad (BFP) in the reconstruction of surgical defects following sequestrectomy in medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ). A total of ten patients with MRONJ underwent sequestrectomy and reconstruction using BFP. There were 3 males and 7 females.

Visible light photodegradation of organic dyes using electrochemically synthesized MoO/ZnO.

In this study, flake-like MoO-ZnO composite was prepared using a simple and robust electrochemical setup. The composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, elemental analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, photoluminescence, zeta potential analysis, and electrochemical impedance study. The modified ZnO shows a remarkable catalytic activity towards the photodegradation of three potentially hazardous dyes, malachite green, crystal violet, and methylene blue.

Acute toxicity analysis of an inhibitor of BCL2, Disarib, in rats.

Apoptosis or programmed cell death is a highly regulated process, which eliminates unwanted and damaged cells. Inhibition of apoptosis is a hallmark of cancer cells. BCL2 family proteins are known to play a vital role in the regulation of apoptosis.

Energy transfer analysis and realization of cool to warm white light in Dy /Sm /Er triply doped multicomponent borosilicate glass for white light generation.

A series of Dy /Sm /Er triply doped multicomponent borosilicate glasses (DSE) was synthesized using varying Er ions concentrations through a conventional melt quenching technique. The influence of triple doping on the optical characteristics of the prepared glass was evaluated to estimate the possibility of achieving white light emission through optical absorption, photoluminescence excitation (PLE), and emission (PL) measurements. Based on the PLE and PL spectral profiles, the presence of energy transfer processes between Dy , Sm , and Er was confirmed.

Pulmonary Vascular Resistance Predicts Mortality and Graft Failure in Transplantation Patients With Portopulmonary Hypertension.

Portopulmonary hypertension (POPH) is a pulmonary vascular disease associated with significant morbidity and mortality in those with liver disease, conferring a higher mortality in patients awaiting liver transplantation (LT). Although not a transplant indication, patients with POPH can experience significant clinical improvement following LT, and those maintaining a mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) <35mm Hg and a pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) <5 Woods units (WU) are granted additional listing points to expedite LT. The effect of POPH on posttransplant outcomes such as mortality and graft failure, however, is not well defined.

Comparative efficacy of resorbable fiber wraps loaded with gentamicin sulfate or gallium maltolate in the treatment of osteomyelitis.

The high incidence of osteomyelitis associated with critical-sized bone defects raises clinical challenges in fracture healing. Clinical use of antibiotic-loaded bone cement as an adjunct therapy is limited by incompatibility with many antimicrobials, sub-optimal release kinetics, and requirement of surgical removal. Furthermore, overuse of antibiotics can lead to bacterial modifications that increase efflux, decrease binding, or cause inactivation of the antibiotics.

Predictive value of incidental right ventricular abnormalities identified on SPECT for mortality and pulmonary hypertension.

Background: The clinical significance of incidentally found RV abnormalities on low-risk SPECT studies is not well-defined. The objective of this study was to determine the predictive value of incidental right ventricular (RV) abnormalities identified on single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans for mortality and pulmonary hypertension (PH).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed all low-risk SPECT studies in patients without known coronary artery or pulmonary vascular disease, performed at our institution, from 2007-2020.