Mechanistic Insights into the Divergent Membrane Activities of a Viroporin from Chikungunya Virus and Its Transframe Variant.

Alphaviruses, a genus of vector-borne viruses in the family, encode a small ion-channel-forming protein, 6K, and its transframe variant (TF) during infections. Although 6K/TF have vital roles in glycoprotein transport, virus assembly, and budding, there is no mechanistic explanation for these functions. We investigated the distinct biochemical functionalities of 6K and TF from the mosquito-borne alphavirus, Chikungunya Virus.

Stem cell therapy approaches for non-malignant diseases & non-haematological diseases in India: A systematic review.

Background & objectives Our study aims to provide the diversity of stem cell use for non-malignant, non-haematological diseases in India through the lens of clinical trials. Methods A PRISMA approach was used to evaluate the safety and efficacy of stem cell use for the period 2001-2021 in India. The outcomes were measured using each disease category, types of stem cells, the origin of stem cells, safety, and efficacy.

Our Experiences and Learnings in Diagnosing MODY from Non-Institutional-Based Diabetes Care Clinics.

Introduction: Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is a rare group of disorders characterised by impaired functions or development of pancreatic islets and monogenic diabetes at a young age. Diagnosing MODY can be rewarding for both clinicians and patients as it can change the management from generic to targeted therapy.

Methods: This study reports the retrospective analysis of data collected from four clinics between March 2016 and February 2023 from Lucknow, a city in northern India.

Tuning the Electronic Bandgap of Penta-Graphene from Insulator to Metal Through Functionalization: A First-Principles Calculation.

We performed first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations to numerically investigate the electronic band structures of penta-graphene (PG), a novel two-dimensional carbon material with a pentagonal lattice structure, and its chemically functionalized forms. Specifically, we studied hydrogenated PG (h-PG), fluorinated PG (f-PG), and chlorinated PG (Cl-PG). We used the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and the hybrid Heyd-Scuseria-Ernzerhof (HSE06) exchange-correlation functional in the DFT-based software VASP to capture electronic properties accurately.

Biofabrication of GO-Ag nanocomposite using Cucumis callosus (kachri) fruits: Enhanced antibacterial properties and green synthesis approach.

This study presents a novel, environmentally sustainable method for the synthesis of graphene oxide (GO) sheets decorated uniformly with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) ranging in size from 4 to 34 nm. The reduction of AgNO is achieved using an extract derived from Cucumis callosus fruit, which serves as a dual-function stabilizing and reducing agent. Cucumis callosus, belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family and native to regions such as India, South America, Thailand, Africa, and Egypt, is recognized for its substantial nutritional and medicinal value, encompassing antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Super-twisting MPPT control for grid-connected PV/battery system using higher order sliding mode observer.

In recent times, photovoltaic (PV) power generation has been growing due to increase in energy demand. In grid-connected mode, achieving maximum power (MP) from the PV array is difficult by using conventional techniques due to various reasons like low tracking efficiency, stability issues, etc. This motivates the design of an appropriate control strategy to obtain the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) to harvest MP from the PV array.

The dopant (n- and p-type)-, band gap-, size- and stress-dependent field electron emission of silicon nanowires.

This study investigates the electron field emission (EFE) of vertical silicon nanowires (Si NWs) fabricated on n-type Si (100) and p-type Si (100) substrates using catalyst-induced etching (CIE). The impact of dopant types (n- and p-types), optical energy gap, crystallite size and stress on EFE parameters has been explored in detail. The surface morphology of grown SiNWs has been characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), showing vertical, well aligned SiNWs.

Screening of Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes on Anti-Diabetic Agents for Probable Hypoglycaemia Using the Stanford Hypoglycemia Questionnaire (SHQ) in Outpatient Settings: A Cross-Sectional Study from Outpatient Diabetes Care Centres in North India.

Introduction: The study was aimed at identifying the incidence of unreported probable hypoglycaemia in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) on anti-diabetic medications, using the screening Stanford Hypoglycemia Questionnaire (SHQ) in real-world situations.

Methods: It was a multicentre cross-sectional study on consecutive individuals attending 10 diabetes care centres in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. The inclusion criteria were as follows: known individuals with T2DM, literate, age greater than or equal to 18 years, on at least one anti-diabetic agent for more than a month and not engaged in regular self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG).

Dental Caries in Children: An Update.

Dental caries, also known as cavities, are the most prevalent dental problem in children. The etiology is mostly multifactorial and a result of an imbalance between the constant mineralization and demineralization on the tooth surface. It is important to assess oral health risks, counsel caregivers, and encourage oral hygiene.

Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) Advisory Committee on Vaccines and Immunization Practices (ACVIP): Recommended Immunization Schedule (2023) and Update on Immunization for Children Aged 0 Through 18 Years.

Justification: In view of new developments in vaccinology and the availability of new vaccines, there is a need to revise/review the existing immunization recommendations.

Process: The Advisory Committee on Vaccines and Immunization Practices (ACVIP) of Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) had a physical meeting on March 25, 2023, at Vaccicon, Kolkata, followed by online meetings to discuss the updates and new recommendations. Opinion of each member was sought on the various recommendations and updates, following which an evidence-based consensus was reached.

Retinal artery occlusion after ophthalmic surgery under regional anaesthesia: A narrative review.

Two recent cases of central retinal artery occlusion under otherwise uncomplicated sub-Tenon's block that resulted in significant visual loss after cataract surgery prompted us to undertake a literature review of such cases. We identified 97 cases of retinal artery occlusion after ophthalmic surgery under regional anaesthesia that had no immediate signs of block-related complications. These occurred after various intraocular (87%) and extraocular (13%) operations, across a wide range of ages (19-89 years) on patients with (59%) or without (39%) known risk factors.

Anesthetic Considerations for Cataract Surgery in Patients with Parkinson's Disease: A Narrative Review.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic neurological degenerative disease affecting the central nervous system, which is responsible for progressive disorders such as slow movements, tremors, rigidity, and cognitive disorders. There are no specific recommendations and guidelines for anesthetic management of patients with PD undergoing ophthalmic procedures. This narrative review aims to summarise the anesthetic considerations in patients with PD presenting for cataract surgery.

Detection of clinically relevant carbapenemase encoding genes in carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter cloacae complex and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from farmed freshwater fish.

Aims: The present study was aimed to detect clinically relevant carbapenemase encoding genes in carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter cloacae complex (CR-ECC), Klebsiella pneumoniae (CR-KP), and Serratia plymuthica (CR-SP) isolated from farmed freshwater fish.

Methods And Results: Out of 243 spatially diverse freshwater fish samples analysed, 5.3% were contaminated with CR-ECC, 1.

Continuous spinal technique in surgery and obstetrics.

Continuous Spinal Anaesthesia (CSA) technique has all the advantages of single-shot spinal anaesthesia with the added benefit of prolonging the duration of anaesthesia. CSA has been used as a primary method of anaesthesia as an alternative to general anaesthesia in high-risk and elderly patients for various elective and emergency surgical procedures involving the abdomen, lower limbs, and vascular surgeries. CSA has also been used in some obstetrics units.

Perception and Awareness About COVID-19 Pandemic Among Children Visiting a Tertiary Care Center.

Children between 8-12 years of age attending the institution between May and September, 2022 were enrolled, and their knowledge and perception of COVID-19 evaluated by asking them to draw a diagram of SARS-CoV-2, and by getting their responses on a multiple-choice written questionnaire. Majority had correct knowledge regarding the mode of spread of virus (n=91), safe practices (n=91) and prevention by vaccine (n=69).

Molecular characterization of carbapenem resistant E. coli of fish origin reveals the dissemination of NDM-5 in freshwater aquaculture environment by the high risk clone ST167 and ST361.

Aquatic environment can act as reservoir and disseminator of antimicrobial resistance and resistant pathogens. Novel high-risk carbapenem resistant E. coli (CREC) are continuously emerging worldwide; however, the occurrence of CREC in freshwater aquaculture environment is largely unexplored.

Non-invasive assessment of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects an estimated one-quarter of the global adult population and has become one of the leading causes of end-stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma with increased liver-related and overall morbidity and mortality. The new term, metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), has a set of positive diagnostic criteria and has been shown to have better clinical utility, but it has yet to be universally adopted. This review addresses the non-invasive tests for MAFLD and is based mostly on studies on NAFLD patients, as the MAFLD term is relatively new and there are limited studies on non-invasive tests based on this new term, while a large body of research work on non-invasive tests has accumulated in the literature for NAFLD.

Anaesthetic considerations for the surgical management of ocular hypotony in adults.

Ocular hypotony can occur from many causes, including eye trauma, ophthalmic surgery and ophthalmic regional anaesthesia-related complications. Some of these patients require surgical intervention(s) necessitating repeat anaesthesia. While surgical management of these patients is well described in the literature, the anaesthetic management is seldom discussed.

Effectiveness of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine on radiological primary end-point pneumonia among cases of severe community acquired pneumonia in children: A prospective multi-site hospital-based test-negative study in Northern India.

Introduction: Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a leading cause of under-five mortality in India and Streptococcus pneumoniae is the main bacterial pathogen for it. Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine 13 (PCV13) has been introduced in a phased manner, in the national immunization program of India since 2017/2018. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of PCV13 on chest radiograph (CXR)-confirmed pneumonia, in children hospitalized with WHO-defined severe CAP.

Virus-Like Particles of SARS-CoV-2 as Virus Surrogates: Morphology, Immunogenicity, and Internalization in Neuronal Cells.

The engineering of virus-like particles (VLPs) is a viable strategy for the development of vaccines and for the identification of therapeutic targets without using live viruses. Here, we report the generation and characterization of quadruple-antigen SARS-CoV-2 VLPs. VLPs were generated by transient transfection of two expression cassettes in adherent HEK293T cells─one cassette containing M for processing of three structural proteins (M, E, and N), and the second cassette expressing the Spike protein.