Optimizing Low-Dose [18F]FDG-PET/CT Scans: Ensuring Quality Amid Radiotracer Availability Challenges - Insights from a Peripheral Tertiary Care Center.

Background: The introduction of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) has significantly advanced medical imaging. In oncology, F-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) PET/CT is particularly crucial for staging, evaluating treatment response, monitoring follow-up, and planning radiotherapy. However, in resource limiting hospitals, the availability of fluorine-labeled F-FDG limits optimal scan acquisition.

HIV status of three mining districts of a tribal state in India: Evidence from ICTC data.

Background: Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC) diagnose HIV and STIs early, modifies behavior, reduces vulnerability, and data helps in understanding transmission. Despite having low HIV prevalence, Jharkhand is vulnerable. Post Covid19, HIV has increased.

Pregnenolone effects on parasympathetic response to stress and alcohol cue provocation in treatment-seeking individuals with alcohol use disorder.

Background: Chronic alcohol consumption in alcohol use disorder (AUD) is associated with autonomic nervous system dysregulation, increasing cardiovascular risk, and high alcohol cravings. Heart rate variability (HRV), a marker of autonomic nervous system responsiveness to stressors, may mediate alcohol's impact on the cardiovascular system. While pregnenolone (PREG) has been shown to normalize heart rate and blood pressure in individuals with AUD, its effects on sympathetic and parasympathetic components of HRV and related alcohol craving are not known.

Dual α-globin-truncated erythropoietin receptor knockin restores hemoglobin production in α-thalassemia-derived erythroid cells.

The most severe form of α-thalassemia results from loss of all four copies of α-globin. Postnatally, patients face challenges similar to β-thalassemia, including severe anemia and erythrotoxicity due to the imbalance of β-globin and α-globin chains. Despite progress in genome editing treatments for β-thalassemia, there is no analogous curative option for α-thalassemia.

Bioinspired design of DNA in aqueous ionic liquid media for sustainable packaging of horseradish peroxidase under biotic stress.

We show that a combination of DNA and ionic liquid significantly increases the stability and activity of HRP and achieves a 4.8-fold higher peroxidase activity than PBS buffer. Also, HRP retains 84% of its activity in IL+DNA compared to 24% in PBS against trypsin digestion.