Genotype analysis of ofloxacin-resistant multidrug-resistant isolates in a multicentered study from India.

Background & Objectives: Drug resistance surveillance offers useful information on trends of drug resistance and the efficacy of control measures. Studies and reports of drug-resistant mutations and phenotypic assays thus become important. This study was conducted to investigate the molecular characteristics of ofloxacin (OFX)-resistant, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) isolates from different geographical regions of India and their association with strains of different genotypes.

Modification of soybean growth and abiotic stress tolerance by expression of truncated ERECTA protein from Arabidopsis thaliana.

ERECTA gene family encodes leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases that control major aspects of plant development such as elongation of aboveground organs, leaf initiation, development of flowers, and epidermis differentiation. To clarify the importance of ERECTA signaling for the development of soybean (Glycine max), we expressed the dominant-negative ERECTA gene from Arabidopsis thaliana that is truncated in the kinase domain (AtΔKinase). Expression of AtΔKinase in soybean resulted in the short stature, reduced number of leaves, reduced leaf surface area and enhanced branching in the transgenic plants.

Inflammatory modulation of fluoxetine use in patients with depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

There is growing evidence that there is a relationship between major depressive disorder (MDD), also simply known as "depression", and inflammatory processes. Selective serotonin inhibitors, such as fluoxetine, are used as a first-line treatment for depression, and it is hypothesized that its use can reduce levels of proinflammatory cytokines. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to enable a better understanding of how treatment with the antidepressant fluoxetine modulates inflammation, and the roles of the main cytokines in this process.

Antibody avidity-based approach to estimate population-level incidence of hepatitis C.

Background & Aims: Accurate HCV incidence estimates are critical for monitoring progress towards HCV elimination goals, including an 80% reduction in HCV incidence by 2030. Moreover, incidence estimates can help guide prevention and treatment programming, particularly in the context of the US opioid epidemic.

Methods: An inexpensive, Genedia-based HCV IgG antibody avidity assay was evaluated as a platform to estimate cross-sectional, population-level primary HCV incidence using 1,840 HCV antibody and RNA-positive samples from 875 individuals enrolled in 5 cohort studies in the US and India.

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Limonene in the Prevention and Control of Injuries in the Respiratory System: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: The pulmonary inflammatory response results from exposure to injurious factors and is associated with oxidative stress, which intensifies the pathological reaction. In this context, limonene, a monoterpene found in citrus fruits, can be a therapeutic alternative for the treatment of this pathology, as it presents known anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the anti-inflammatory activity of limonene and its capacity to prevent and control respiratory system injuries.

Application of molecular techniques in biohydrogen production as a clean fuel.

Considering the future energy demand and pollution to the environment, biohydrogen, a biofuel, produced from biological sources have garnered increased attention. The present review emphasis the various techniques and methods employed to enumerate the microbial community and enhancement of hydrogen production by dark fermentation. Notably, molecular techniques such as terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP), quantitative real-time PCR (q-PCR), fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH), denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (RISA), and next generation sequencing (NGS) have been extensively discussed on identifying the microbial population in hydrogen production.

Microneedles as an alternative technology for transdermal drug delivery systems: a patent review.

: The most conventional drug delivery systems exist with limitations such as drug degradation, toxicity and low bioavailability. Also, hypodermic injections can cause pain, compromising patient compliance. Due to this, transdermal drug delivery systems can minimize several problems associated with conventional drug delivery.

Cell density, Lipidomic profile, and fatty acid characterization as selection criteria in bioprospecting of microalgae and cyanobacterium for biodiesel production.

Selection of indigenous and potential algal strain with high lipid content is paramount challenge in the avenues of microalgal biodiesel production. Particularly, hyper lipid producing algae with maximal triacyglycerols (TAGs) content and preferable fatty acid composition is of interest for sustainable biodiesel. Hence, the present study on comparative assessment of Chlorella vulgaris, Scenedesmus sp.

Influences of Enzyme Blend Supplementation on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Fecal Microbiota and Meat-Quality in Grower-Finisher Pigs.

The study was aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary inclusion of an enzyme blend on growth performance, apparent total track digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N), gross energy (GE), fecal microbial population, noxious gas emissions and meat quality of pigs fed corn-soybean meal-based diets for a 16-week feeding trial. A total of 180 growing pigs (body weight of 23.3 ± 2.

Comparative Study of Laparoscopic versus Conventional Open Surgical Staging Procedure for Endometrial Cancer: Our Institutional Experience.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare laparoscopic surgical staging of endometrial cancer with conventional open methods.

Materials And Methods: The retrospective data were collected from 90 endometrial cancer patients who were operated between 2013 and 2018 in our government institution. The safety and morbidity of the two groups were compared based on mean operative time, blood loss, intraoperative complications, postoperative complication, etc.

Design and Development of In-House Multichannel Applicator for HDR Vaginal Brachytherapy and Dosimetric Comparision with Single Channel Applicator.

Introduction: Endometrial cancer (EC) is a leading cause of female cancer in developed countries. The total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection is the primary management of endometrial cancer. Afterwards vaginal brachytherapy can be preferred either alone or combined with external beam radiotherapy to avoid the vault recurrence.

Core/shell nanoparticles: Synthesis, investigation of antimicrobial potential and photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B.

Bacterial pathogenicity is becoming a major cause of morbidity and mortality around the globe. Researchers are tirelessly finding solutions to cure or prevent infections caused by bacterial pathogens. Nanotechnology is a fast-growing area of research, effectively influencing and preventing bacterial growth.

Occupational health hazards on workers exposure to lead (Pb): A genotoxicity analysis.

Background: The present investigation of genotoxicity of lead (Pb) among workers exposed to inorganic Pb environment, which appears to be first of its kind in South India, was undertaken to assess the seriousness, the ill effects of health contributed by this serious environmental pollutant.

Methods: A total of 144 samples comprising of exposed (n=72), and control (n=72) subjects were screened. Demographic data and their associated health levels were undertaken by means of a questionnaire.

Glycemic Index and Microstructure Evaluation of Four Cereal Grain Foods.

To determine the glycemic index (GI) of selected cereals and association with their microstructure. The GI of whole grain pilaf (WGP), instant brown rice (IBR), whole maize ugali (MWU), and refined maize ugali (RMU) was assessed in a randomized trial. Fourteen healthy participants with mean age of 25 years were administered 50 g portions of available carbohydrates from glucose and various test foods after an overnight fast on separate occasions.

Corrigendum to "Studies on solvent precipitation of levan synthesized using MTCC 441" [Heliyon 5 (9) (September 2019) e02414].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.

Eplingiella fruticosa (Lamiaceae) essential oil complexed with β-cyclodextrin improves its anti-hyperalgesic effect in a chronic widespread non-inflammatory muscle pain animal model.

Eplingiella fruticosa (Lamiaceae), formally known as Hyptis fruticosa, is an important aromatic medicinal herb used in folk medicine in northeastern Brazil. We aimed to evaluate the anti-hyperalgesic effect of essential oil obtained from E. fruticosa (HypEO) complexed with βCD (HypEO-βCD) in a chronic widespread non-inflammatory muscle pain animal model (a mice fibromyalgia-like model, FM).

Studies on solvent precipitation of levan synthesized using MTCC 441.

Levan is a water soluble biopolymer widely used in food, pharma, personal care and aquaculture industries. In this work, levan was synthesized by MTCC 441 using sucrose as a sole carbon source. Effects of pH, sucrose concentration, nitrogen source, nitrogen concentration, inoculum size and agitation speed on levan production were studied.

Ethanol Impairs NRF2/Antioxidant and Growth Signaling in the Intact Placenta In Vivo and in Human Trophoblasts.

NRF2 is a redox-sensitive transcription factor that depending on the duration or magnitude of the stress, either translocates to the nucleus (beneficial) or is degraded in the cytosol (harmful). However, the role of NRF2-based mechanism(s) under ethanol (E)-induced developmental toxicity in the placental context remains unknown. Here, we used a rat prenatal model of maternal alcohol stress consisting of intermittent ethanol vapor (IEV) daily from GD11 to GD20 with a 6 h ON/18 h OFF in a vapor chamber and in vitro placental model consisting of HTR-8 trophoblasts exposed to 86 mM of E for either 24 h or 48 h.

Protective effects of flavonoid composition rich P. subpeltata Ortega. on indomethacin induced experimental ulcerative colitis in rat models of inflammatory bowel diseases.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Polyphenolics (flavonoid and phenolic) rich plants are the effective source for the treatment of acute and chronic degenerative diseases including inflammatory bowel disease.

Objective: This study was aimed to examine the effects of polyphenolics rich leaf acetone extract of P. subpeltata against the indomethacin induced ulcerative colitis in rats.

Effects of the solid lipid nanoparticle of carvacrol on rodents with lung injury from smoke inhalation.

The aim of this present study was to evaluate the effect of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) containing carvacrol over the lung damage of airway smoke inhalation. The study was conducted with 30 rats subjected to smoke inhalation and divided into 5 groups such as, normal control, negative control, oxygen group, SLN alone, and SLN+CARV group. The animals were sacrificed 24 h after the induction of inhalation injury further, the tissues of larynx, trachea, and lungs were collected for the histological, hematological, myeloperoxidase, and malondialdehyde analysis.

Plasma Eicosanoid Levels in Tuberculosis and Tuberculosis-Diabetes Co-morbidity Are Associated With Lung Pathology and Bacterial Burden.

Host eicosanoids are lipid mediators of inflammation that are commonly accepted as important modulators of the host immune response in infection. During active tuberculosis (TB), eicosanoids may play an important role in the regulation of inflammatory responses. However, a detailed investigation of the relationship of eicosanoids in TB and TB-diabetes comorbidity (TB-DM) and association to disease pathology or bacterial burdens has not been studied.

"Endolymphatic sac tumour": A case report with review of literature.

Endolymphatic sac tumour (ELST) is a non-metastasizing low grade adenocarcinoma of endolymphatic sac origin. It is also known as Heffner tumour, low grade adenocarcinoma of endolymphatic sac origin and aggressive papillary middle ear tumour. These tumours are closely associated with Von Hippel Lindau (VHL) disease.

(Y)ears of Freedom? Customized Splints in Microtia Reconstruction to Maintain Cephloauricular Angle.

Maintaining ear projection and preservation of cephaloauricular sulcus from obliteration following graft contracture is a challenge following staged microtia reconstruction. Authors have designed simple, effective, and easy-to-use splints to ensure improved aesthetic outcomes and patient compliance. This is a prospective study over 3 years including 8 patients of both sexes aged 6 to 12 years.