Evaluation of the Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (DR-TB) management component under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) in Kerala, India, 2021-22.

Background And Objective: We evaluated the DR-TB component of the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) in a high-burden district in Kerala to identify the programmatic gaps, if any, in screening, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of notified DR-TB patients.

Methods: A mixed-methods design was used, and the evaluation was performed in two steps. In the first step, we reviewed the program documents and conducted stakeholder interviews to develop a detailed description of the program design and developed a logical framework to evaluate program performance.

Empowering Arthritis Patients: Optimized Drug Delivery through Piroxicam Microcapsule-Embedded Scaffold Implants via Box-Behnken Experimental Design.

Background: The necessity for extended drug discharge to alleviate pain without adverse effects underscores the importance of innovative drug delivery systems. Achieving sustained pain relief without compromising patient safety is a critical objective in healthcare. By extending the duration of drug action while suppressing side effects, such systems offer enhanced therapeutic outcomes and improved patient quality of life.

Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire - Translation and Validation in a South Indian Language.

Background And Objectives: Broad Autism Phenotype (BAP) refers to specific behaviors or minor deficits in social/communication skills not meeting the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). The BAP Questionnaire (BAPQ) measures aloof personality (AP), rigid personality (RP), and pragmatic language (PL) deficits of BAP. The study objective is to translate and validate BAPQ into Malayalam, a South Indian language, and to establish new cut-off scores for detecting BAP in the Indian population.

Effects of polyphenols on gut microbiota and inflammatory markers in individuals with overweight or obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Polyphenols are potent antioxidants with anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and prebiotic effects. However, no meta-analysis of human studies has confirmed these properties in individuals with overweight or obesity and elucidated the underlying mechanisms. Hence, this work aimed to investigate the impact of polyphenols on gut microbiota composition, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and inflammatory markers in individuals with overweight or obesity from randomized controlled trials.

Sesamol protects against LPS-induced inflammation in rat peritoneal macrophages by promoting SIRT1-induced repression of NF-κB.

Objectives: Sesamol, a polyphenolic compound isolated from roasted sesame seeds exhibits significant anti-inflammatory effect, but the molecular mechanism is poorly understood. Peritoneal macrophages play a pivotal role in the control of infections and inflammatory pathologies and are also found in injured tissues along with resident macrophages. The present study aimed to examine the anti-inflammatory effect of sesamol and the molecular mechanisms involved, particularly the role of sesamol in modulating SIRT1- and SIRT1-mediated deacetylation of NF-κB p65 using in vivo activated peritoneal macrophages.

Molecular mechanisms of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) toxicity: Insights from various biological systems.

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is a ubiquitous brominated flame retardant extensively incorporated into a wide range of products. As its utilization has escalated, its environmental exposure risks have concomitantly increased. The molecular properties of TBBPA allow it to persist in the environment and within organisms.

Epigenetic modulation of NLRP6 inflammasome sensor as a therapeutic modality to reduce necroptosis-driven gastrointestinal mucosal dysfunction in HIV/SIV infection.

The epigenetic mechanisms driving persistent gastrointestinal mucosal dysfunction in HIV/SIV infection is an understudied topic. Using reduced-representation bisulfite sequencing, we identified HIV/SIV infection in combination anti-retroviral therapy (cART)-naive rhesus macaques (RMs) to induce marked hypomethylation throughout promoter-associated CpG islands (paCGIs) in genes related to inflammatory response ( ), cellular adhesion and proliferation in colonic epithelial cells (CEs). Moreover, low-dose delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) administration reduced NLRP6 protein expression in CE by hypermethylating the paCGI and blocked polyI:C induced NLRP6 upregulation in vitro.

Lipoxin A improves cardiac remodeling and function in diabetes-associated cardiac dysfunction.

Background: Diabetic heart disease may eventually lead to heart failure, a leading cause of mortality in diabetic individuals. The lack of effective treatments for diabetes-induced heart failure may result from a failure to address the underlying pathological processes, including chronic, low-grade inflammation. Previous studies have reported that lipoxin A (LXA), known to promote resolution of inflammation, attenuates diabetes-induced atherosclerosis, but its impact on diabetic hearts has not been sought.

Review of Pharmacological and Medicinal Uses of Punica granatum.

Pomegranates () are a fruit renowned for their rich history, diverse uses, and substantial health benefits. Current research on the botanical features, nutritional profile, and medicinal properties of pomegranates is summarized in this study. Botanically, the pomegranate is classified as a deciduous shrub with a unique fruit structure comprising numerous seeds, or arils, embedded in a leathery skin.

Surgical Considerations in the Management of Constriction Ring Syndrome.

Surgical management of constriction ring syndrome (CRS) is individualised due to the heterogenic presentation of the condition. CRS includes constriction rings, acrosyndactyly, nubbins and short digits. Involvement of more than one limb is common and children often need multiple surgeries.

Novel Softwood Lignin Esters as Advanced Filler to PLA for 3D Printing.

In this study, we explored the selectivity of softwood lignin toward esterification through chloromethylation. Organosolv pine lignin chloromethylated by a novel greener protocol was subjected to esterification with decanoic acid (C10), tetradecanoic acid (C14), and stearic acid (C18). The success of lignin esterification was confirmed by using FTIR and NMR spectroscopy.

DYRK1A interacts with the tuberous sclerosis complex and promotes mTORC1 activity.

DYRK1A, a ubiquitously expressed kinase is linked to the dominant intellectual developmental disorder, microcephaly, and Down syndrome in humans. It regulates numerous cellular processes such as cell cycle, vesicle trafficking, and microtubule assembly. DYRK1A is a critical regulator of organ growth; however, how it regulates organ growth is not fully understood.

A study on possible risk factors for progressive supranuclear palsy in southern part of India.

The etiological factors leading to progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) are poorly understood. This study aims to evaluate the role of various risk factors in patients with PSP. A case-control study was conducted over a period of two years from March 2016 to March 2018.

Protocol: Assessing the outcomes and impact of professional doctorate programmes in health and social care on the individual, their profession, their employing organisation and wider society: A comprehensive systematic review.

This is the protocol for a Campbell systematic review. This review's objectives are to find out (in relation to health and/or social care): (1) What is known about the outcomes and impact of completing (or not completing) a professional doctorate in health and/or social care on the individual professional? (2) What is known about the outcome and impact of completing (or not completing) a professional doctorate in health and/or social care on the employing organisation? (3) What is known about the outcome and impact of completing (or not completing) a professional doctorate in health and/or social care on the profession? (4) What is known about the outcome and impact of completing (or not completing) a professional doctorate in health and/or social care on service users and the wider society? (5) How do we use the findings from this review to inform educators, higher education institutions, professionals, investors in employing organisations and policymakers? (6) What further research will be needed to answer any knowledge gaps or recommendations? (7) Where possible, we will identify and report on any demographic data and discuss their relevance to the impact and outcomes from professional doctorates.

Gene expression changes in Maconellicoccus hirsutus in response to sublethal dose of buprofezin.

The pink or hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus, is a serious pest of grapes, jute, and mesta, causing severe yield losses in India and other countries. Chemical control remains the foremost choice for farmers to manage this pest. As insecticides break down over time due to biotic and abiotic factors, insects are exposed to varying levels of these exogenous compounds.

Organizational readiness to implement bundled interventions to increase HIV linkage and retention in care and treatment: results from the Black Women First (BWF) initiative.

Background: Evidence-based and evidence-informed interventions designed to address gaps in the HIV care continuum have the potential to improve HIV care and treatment. However, inadequate organizational readiness can derail intervention uptake, prevent the integration of interventions, and contribute to suboptimal HIV treatment outcomes. This study sought to understand organizational readiness to implement bundled interventions for Black women with HIV and inform facilitators and barriers to implementation.

Outcomes of frail patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma.

In patients with multiple myeloma (MM) not-eligible for autologous haematopoietic cell transplantation (autoHCT), a simplified frailty index (SFI) identifies frail patients at risk for poor outcomes, but data are limited for transplant-eligible patients. In this registry-based retrospective study, we used an adapted version of the SFI to determine the prevalence of frailty in patients ≥65 years of age with MM undergoing autoHCT. Out of 5563 patients, 37.

Approaches towards pragmatic language assessment in Indian pre-schoolers: A survey among speech-language pathologists.

Background: Pragmatic language assessment in children is performed in line with standard protocols, guidelines, and best practices. The absence of these aspects in the Indian context has resulted in the quest to explore the approaches used by speech-language pathologists (SLPs) to assess pragmatic language impairments. This survey explored the current practices of SLPs towards the assessment of pragmatic language among preschool children in India.

Aquaporin proteins: A promising frontier for therapeutic intervention in cerebral ischemic injury.

Cerebral ischemic injury is characterized by reduced blood flow to the brain, remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite improvements in therapeutic approaches, there is an urgent need to identify new targets to lessen the effects of ischemic stroke. Aquaporins, a family of water channel proteins, have recently come to light as promising candidates for therapeutic intervention in cerebral ischemic injury.

Nrf2 and Ferroptosis: Exploring Translational Avenues for Therapeutic Approaches to Neurological Diseases.

Nrf2, a crucial protein involved in defense mechanisms, particularly oxidative stress, plays a significant role in neurological diseases (NDs) by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. NDs, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, stroke, epilepsy, schizophrenia, depression, and autism, exhibit ferroptosis, iron-dependent regulated cell death resulting from lipid and iron-dependent reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Nrf2 has been shown to play a critical role in regulating ferroptosis in NDs.

Ten tips to master ultrasound B-scan of the posterior segment of the eye.

Background: The ultrasound B-scan is one of the most commonly used ophthalmic investigations in day-to-day practice. It is a noninvasive investigative modality to assess the posterior segment of the eye and is irreplaceable in patients with hazy or opaque media.

Purpose: This video aims to summarize a few tips for beginners to help them perform and interpret a B-scan with ease.