TB treatment delays and associated risk factors in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, 2019-2021.

Background: In Tajikistan, where there are about 8,000 cases annually, many new cases are being diagnosed with severe disease, indicating a delay in receiving care. We aimed to estimate the proportion with delayed care and the main factors contributing to delayed care.

Methods: Using a retrospective cohort design, we conducted a study that included all people aged over 15 years who were newly diagnosed with pulmonary TB in Dushanbe from 2019 to 2021.

A missense variant effect map for the human tumor-suppressor protein CHK2.

The tumor suppressor CHEK2 encodes the serine/threonine protein kinase CHK2 which, upon DNA damage, is important for pausing the cell cycle, initiating DNA repair, and inducing apoptosis. CHK2 phosphorylation of the tumor suppressor BRCA1 is also important for mitotic spindle assembly and chromosomal stability. Consistent with its cell-cycle checkpoint role, both germline and somatic variants in CHEK2 have been linked to breast and other cancers.

A systematic review of using population-level human mobility data to understand SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 into a highly susceptible global population was primarily driven by human mobility-induced introduction events. Especially in the early stages, understanding mobility was vital to mitigating the pandemic prior to widespread vaccine availability. We conducted a systematic review of studies published from January 1, 2020, to May 9, 2021, that used population-level human mobility data to understand SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

Deciphering the spectroscopic and thermodynamic aspects of binding of biologically important antioxidants with the alkali induced state of human serum albumin.

Protein-ligand interactions are crucial for developing and identifying novel therapeutic targets. In this study, we investigate the interaction of the alkali induced state of human serum albumin (pH 11.2) with three hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives (HCDs), ferulic acid (FA), sinapic acid (SA) and -coumaric acid, which are biologically important antioxidants, and compare the outcomes with the results obtained at physiological pH (7.

A comprehensive two-hybrid analysis to explore the effector-effector interactome.

Unlabelled: uses over 300 translocated effector proteins to rewire host cells during infection and create a replicative niche for intracellular growth. To date, several studies have identified effectors that indirectly and directly regulate the activity of other effectors, providing an additional layer of regulatory complexity. Among these are "metaeffectors," a special class of effectors that regulate the activity of other effectors once inside the host.

Supraorbital Ethmoid Air Cell - Its Role in Sinonasal Pathologies.

The supraorbital ethmoid air cell (SOEC) is an anatomical variation of the ethmoid air cell system that pneumatizes the orbital plate of the frontal bone. It affects the frontal recess configuration by opening posterior and lateral to the frontal sinus ostium. This cross-sectional observational study includes 100 patients with Supra orbital ethmoid air cells including various pathologies.

Unveiling the multifaceted interactions of antitumor drug mitoxantrone with ct-DNA through biophysical and in silico studies.

Mitoxantrone, an anthraquinone derivative, is a widely used anticancer drug with its well-known ability to engage in complex interactions with DNA. Although known for its intercalating ability, the enigma surrounding its binding modes with DNA persists. The existing corpus of literature primarily focuses on mitoxantrone-DNA interactions with short DNA sequences, thereby yielding insights into its interactive nature is limited to this specific sequence.

Evaluating Geospatial Sampling Frames with a Novel Field Census for a Malaria Household Survey in Artibonite, Haiti.

The Ministry of Public Health and Population in Haiti is committed to malaria elimination. In 2017, we used novel methods to conduct a census, monitor progress, and return to sampled households (HH) before a cross-sectional survey in La Chapelle and Verrettes communes in Artibonite department ("the 2017 Artibonite HH census"). Geospatial PDFs with digitized structures and basemaps were loaded onto tablets.

India Hypertension Control Initiative: decentralization of hypertension care to health wellness centres in Punjab and Maharashtra, India, 2018-2022.

Introduction: The India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI) emphasizes decentralized patient-centric care to boost hypertension control in public healthcare facilities. We documented the decentralization process, enrolment pattern by facility type, and treatment outcomes in nine districts of Punjab and Maharashtra states, India, from 2018-2022.

Methods: We detailed the shift in hypertension care from higher facilities to Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) using the World Health Organization (WHO) health system pillar framework.

Glycation and drug binding by serum albumin.

Accumulation of glycation products in patients with hyperglycaemic conditions can lead to their reaction with the proteins in the human system such as serum albumin, haemoglobin, insulin, plasma lipoproteins, lens proteins and collagen among others which have important biological functions. Therefore, it is important to understand if glycation of these proteins affects their normal action not only qualitatively, but also importantly quantitatively. Glycation of human serum albumin can easily be carried out over period of weeks and its drug transportability may be examined, in addition to characterisation of the amadori products.

Binding and displacement study of gentamicin, 5-fluorouracil, oxytetracycline and rolitetracycline with (BSA: Drug2) complex using spectroscopic and calorimetric techniques: Biophysical approach.

Understanding of energetics of interactions between drug and protein is essential in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics study. The binding affinity (K) helps in investigating how tightly or loosely drug is bound to protein. The binding, displacement, conformational change and stability study of drugs- gentamicin (GM), 5-fluorouracil (5FU), oxytetracycline (OTC) and rolitetracycline (RTC) with bovine serum albumin (BSA) has been carried out in presence of each other drug by fluorescence, UV-visible spectroscopy, molecular docking, circular dichroism techniques and thermal denaturation method.

Assessment of novel prognostic biomarkers to predict pathological complete response in patients with non-metastatic triple-negative breast cancer using a window of opportunity design.

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) includes approximately 20% of all breast cancer and is characterized by its aggressive nature, high recurrence rates, and visceral metastasis. Pathological complete response (pCR) is an established surrogate endpoint for survival. The window of opportunity studies provide valuable information on the disease biology prior to definitive treatment.

Analytical Aspects of ANSA-BSA Association: A Thermodynamic and Conformational Approach.

Many studies have demonstrated the manner in which ANS interacts with bovine serum albumin (BSA), although they are limited by the extremely low solubility of dye. The present study demonstrates the binding of ANSA dye with BSA, and since this dye can easily replace ANS, it not only simplifies research but also improves sensor accuracy for serum albumin. A combination of calorimetry and spectroscopy has been employed to establish the thermodynamic signatures associated with the interaction of ANSA with the protein and the consequent conformational changes in the latter.

Surveillance To Track Progress Toward Polio Eradication - Worldwide, 2022-2023.

The reliable and timely detection of poliovirus cases through surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), supplemented by environmental surveillance of sewage samples, is a critical component of the polio eradication program. Since 1988, the number of polio cases caused by wild poliovirus (WPV) has declined by >99.9%, and eradication of WPV serotypes 2 and 3 has been certified; only serotype 1 (WPV1) continues to circulate, and transmission remains endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Pacybara: accurate long-read sequencing for barcoded mutagenized allelic libraries.

Motivation: Long-read sequencing technologies, an attractive solution for many applications, often suffer from higher error rates. Alignment of multiple reads can improve base-calling accuracy, but some applications, e.g.

pH-dependent interactions of biologically important metal ions with hen egg white lysozyme based on its hydration properties: Thermodynamic and mechanistic insights.

Importance of metal ion selectivity in biomolecules and their key role in proteins are widely explored. However, understanding the thermodynamics of how hydrated metal ions alter the protein hydration and their conformation is also important. In this study, the interaction of some biologically important Ca, Mn, Co, Cu, and Zn ions with hen egg white lysozyme at pH 2.

A standardised differential privacy framework for epidemiological modeling with mobile phone data.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of mobile phone data for monitoring human mobility patterns has become increasingly common, both to study the impact of travel restrictions on population movement and epidemiological modeling. Despite the importance of these data, the use of location information to guide public policy can raise issues of privacy and ethical use. Studies have shown that simple aggregation does not protect the privacy of an individual, and there are no universal standards for aggregation that guarantee anonymity.

Deep learning based diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease using FDG-PET images.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to develop a deep neural network to diagnosis Alzheimer's disease and categorize the stages of the disease using FDG-PET scans. Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) is a highly effective diagnostic tool that accurately detects glucose metabolism in the brain of AD patients.

Material And Methods: In this work, we have developed a deep neural network using FDG-PET to discriminate Alzheimer's disease subjects from stable mild cognitive impairment (sMCI), progressive mild cognitive impairment (pMCI), and cognitively normal (CN) cohorts.

Systematically testing human HMBS missense variants to reveal mechanism and pathogenic variation.

Defects in hydroxymethylbilane synthase (HMBS) can cause acute intermittent porphyria (AIP), an acute neurological disease. Although sequencing-based diagnosis can be definitive, ∼⅓ of clinical HMBS variants are missense variants, and most clinically reported HMBS missense variants are designated as "variants of uncertain significance" (VUSs). Using saturation mutagenesis, en masse selection, and sequencing, we applied a multiplexed validated assay to both the erythroid-specific and ubiquitous isoforms of HMBS, obtaining confident functional impact scores for >84% of all possible amino acid substitutions.

Identification of CXCR4 inhibitors as a key therapeutic small molecule in renal fibrosis.

The final stage of almost all chronic kidney diseases is renal fibrosis. Simple wounds or persistent inflammation can cause tissue inflammation, which, in the case of the kidney, results in scarring. Vascular sclerosis, tubulointerstitial fibrosis and glomerular fibrosis are all types of kidney fibrosis.

Thermodynamics of modulation of interaction of α-helix inducer 2, 2, 2-trifluoroethanol with lysozyme in presence of cationic, anionic and non-ionic surfactants.

The interactions of anionic sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and nonionic triton X-100 (TX-100) surfactants with lysozyme at pH = 2.4 have been studied individually as well as in combination with 2,2,2-trifluoroetanol (TFE). Urea has also been used in combination with surfactants.

Spatial Clustering and Risk Factors for Malaria Infections and Marker of Recent Exposure to Plasmodium falciparum from a Household Survey in Artibonite, Haiti.

Targeting malaria interventions in elimination settings where transmission is heterogeneous is essential to ensure the efficient use of resources. Identifying the most important risk factors among persons experiencing a range of exposure can facilitate such targeting. A cross-sectional household survey was conducted in Artibonite, Haiti, to identify and characterize spatial clustering of malaria infections.

Pacybara: Accurate long-read sequencing for barcoded mutagenized allelic libraries.

Long read sequencing technologies, an attractive solution for many applications, often suffer from higher error rates. Alignment of multiple reads can improve base-calling accuracy, but some applications, e.g.

Systematically testing human HMBS missense variants to reveal mechanism and pathogenic variation.

Defects in hydroxymethylbilane synthase (HMBS) can cause Acute Intermittent Porphyria (AIP), an acute neurological disease. Although sequencing-based diagnosis can be definitive, ~⅓ of clinical HMBS variants are missense variants, and most clinically-reported HMBS missense variants are designated as "variants of uncertain significance" (VUS). Using saturation mutagenesis, selection, and sequencing, we applied a multiplexed validated assay to both the erythroid-specific and ubiquitous isoforms of HMBS, obtaining confident functional impact scores for >84% of all possible amino-acid substitutions.