Testing of four-sample pools offers resource optimization without compromising diagnostic performance of real time reverse transcriptase-PCR assay for COVID-19.

Quick identification and isolation of SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals is central to managing the COVID-19 pandemic. Real time reverse transcriptase PCR (rRT-PCR) is the gold standard for COVID-19 diagnosis. However, this resource-intensive and relatively lengthy technique is not ideally suited for mass testing.

Evaluation of pooled sample analysis strategy in expediting case detection in areas with emerging outbreaks of COVID-19: A pilot study.

Timely diagnosis of COVID-19 infected individuals and their prompt isolation are essential for controlling the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Though quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) is the method of choice for COVID-19 diagnostics, the resource-intensive and time-consuming nature of the technique impairs its wide applicability in resource-constrained settings and calls for novel strategies to meet the ever-growing demand for more testing. In this context, a pooled sample testing strategy was evaluated in the setting of emerging disease outbreak in 3 central Indian districts to assess if the cost of the test and turn-around time could be reduced without compromising its diagnostic characteristics and thus lead to early containment of the outbreak.

Zoledronate and Molecular Iodine Cause Synergistic Cell Death in Triple Negative Breast Cancer through Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress.

Women consuming molecular iodine (I2) through seaweeds suffer the least from breast cancers. Zoledronate (Zol) is in clinical use for alleviation of bone pain in cancer patients. Triple negative breast cancers exhibit high mortality due to lack of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Occurrence of phthalic acid esters in Gomti River Sediment, India.

Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are well-known ubiquitous environmental pollutants and used as plasticizers for the manufacturing of plastic products. During this exploratory study, an attempt has been made to determine the concentration and distribution of five prominent PAEs, viz. di-methyl phthalate (DMP), di-ethyl phthalate (DEP), di-butyl phthalate (DBP), di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and di-octyl phthalate (DOP) in the sediment samples of Gomti River collected from 30 different locations.

Distribution, sources and characterization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the sediment of the river Gomti, Lucknow, India.

Sediment samples were collected for PAHs analysis (upstream, midstream and downstream) from the bank of the river Gomti in Lucknow city, India during 2005-2007. Total concentration of the PAHs ranged from 0.068 to 3.