Tongue print as a valuable biometric and forensic tool: A digital photographic study.

Background: Surface features present on the dorsal surface of the tongue along with colour and shape are unique characteristics of every individual. Tongue print is being considered as a new biometric and forensic authentication tool. This digital photographic study was conducted to analyze and compare morphological differences on the dorsal surface of the tongue which can serve as a valuable tool in forensic odontology.

Communicating Care in Digital Social Spaces: Mixed-method Analysis of Influence of Social Media on Palliative Care.

The paper is based on mixed-methods analysis, including qualitative (thematic analysis) and quantitative (word frequency and trends analysis), to thoroughly investigate the existing body of literature pertaining to the influence of social media (SM) on palliative care (PC). The time frame of the analysis is for a 5-year (2018-2023). The paper attempts to explore dominating themes and explore how SM has impacted the arena of palliative, how these platforms affect patient and community involvement and how successful digital communication tactics are when used to advocate for PC.

Comparison of Inflammatory Markers for Prediction of Recurrence of Nasal Polyp after Functional Endoscopy Sinus Surgery.

The study was carried out to correlate the inflammatory markers (NLR, ELR, PLR) before and after endoscopic sinus surgery and their role in the prediction of recurrent nasal polyps. This was a hospital-based observational study carried out the 43 patients, aged between 18-45 years, admitted to the department of ENT with CRSwNP and underwent endoscopic sinus surgery. NLR, ELR & PLR values were compared for each patient and calculated from complete blood counts taken before and after surgery follow-up period at post-op 1st week, 3rd week, 3rd month, and 6th month.

Structure-Based Study to Overcome Cross-Reactivity of Novel Androgen Receptor Inhibitors.

The mutation-driven transformation of clinical anti-androgen drugs into agonists of the human androgen receptor (AR) represents a major challenge for the treatment of prostate cancer patients. To address this challenge, we have developed a novel class of inhibitors targeting the DNA-binding domain (DBD) of the receptor, which is distanced from the androgen binding site (ABS) targeted by all conventional anti-AR drugs and prone to resistant mutations. While many members of the developed 4-(4-phenylthiazol-2-yl)morpholine series of AR-DBD inhibitors demonstrated the effective suppression of wild-type AR, a few represented by 4-(4-(3-fluoro-2-methoxyphenyl)thiazol-2-yl)morpholine (VPC14368) exhibited a partial agonistic effect toward the mutated T878A form of the receptor, implying their cross-interaction with the AR ABS.

Development of VPC-70619, a Small-Molecule N-Myc Inhibitor as a Potential Therapy for Neuroendocrine Prostate Cancer.

The Myc family of transcription factors are involved in the development and progression of numerous cancers, including prostate cancer (PCa). Under the pressure of androgen receptor (AR)-directed therapies resistance can occur, leading to the lethal form of PCa known as neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC), characterized among other features by N-Myc overexpression. There are no clinically approved treatments for NEPC, translating into poor patient prognosis and survival.

A comparison of intubating conditions for nasotracheal intubation with standard direct Macintosh laryngoscope versus C-MAC® video laryngoscope employing cuff inflation technique in adult patients.

Background And Aims: While performing laryngoscopy during nasotracheal intubation (NTI), the tip of the advancing endotracheal tube (ETT) generally lies along the posterior pharyngeal wall. The inflation of the ETT cuff brings it anterior towards the glottis. The present study was planned to compare the intubating conditions for NTI with standard direct Macintosh laryngoscope versus C-MAC video laryngoscope (VL) employing ETT cuff inflation technique.

Development of an Androgen Receptor Inhibitor Targeting the N-Terminal Domain of Androgen Receptor for Treatment of Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer.

Prostate cancer patients undergoing androgen deprivation therapy almost invariably develop castration-resistant prostate cancer. Resistance can occur when mutations in the androgen receptor (AR) render anti-androgen drugs ineffective or through the expression of constitutively active splice variants lacking the androgen binding domain entirely (e.g.

Intra-Clade C signature polymorphisms in HIV-1 LTR region: The Indian and African lookout.

Polymorphisms occurring in LTR (Long Terminal Repeat) region can profoundly impact pathogenicity, transmission and biology of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1). We investigated intra-clade polymorphisms, associated with HIV-1 clade-C infections that occur in India and Africa. Plasma samples were obtained from 24 HIV-infected ART-experienced individuals.

Dual-Inhibitors of N-Myc and AURKA as Potential Therapy for Neuroendocrine Prostate Cancer.

Resistance to androgen-receptor (AR) directed therapies is, among other factors, associated with Myc transcription factors that are involved in development and progression of many cancers. Overexpression of N-Myc protein in prostate cancer (PCa) leads to its transformation to advanced neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) that currently has no approved treatments. N-Myc has a short half-life but acts as an NEPC stimulator when it is stabilized by forming a protective complex with Aurora A kinase (AURKA).

Computer-Aided Ligand Discovery for Estrogen Receptor Alpha.

Breast cancer (BCa) is one of the most predominantly diagnosed cancers in women. Notably, 70% of BCa diagnoses are Estrogen Receptor α positive (ERα+) making it a critical therapeutic target. With that, the two subtypes of ER, ERα and ERβ, have contrasting effects on BCa cells.

Androgen receptor plasticity and its implications for prostate cancer therapy.

Acquired resistance to a drug treatment is a common problem across many cancers including prostate cancer (PCa) - one of the major factors for male mortality. The androgen receptor (AR) continues to be the main therapeutic PCa target and despite the success of modern targeted therapies such as enzalutamide, resistance to these drugs eventually develops. The AR has found many ways to adapt to treatments including overexpression and production of functional, constitutively active splice variants.

Computer-Aided Discovery of Small Molecule Inhibitors of Transcriptional Activity of TLX (NR2E1) Nuclear Receptor.

Orphan nuclear receptor TLX (NR2E1) plays a critical role in the regulation of neural stem cells (NSC) as well as in the development of NSC-derived brain tumors. In the last years, new data have emerged implicating TLX in prostate and breast cancer. Therefore, inhibitors of TLX transcriptional activity may have a significant impact on the treatment of several critical malignancies.

Benzothiophenone Derivatives Targeting Mutant Forms of Estrogen Receptor-α in Hormone-Resistant Breast Cancers.

Estrogen receptor-α positive (ERα⁺) breast cancers represent 75% of all invasive breast cancer cases, while de novo or acquired resistance to ER-directed therapy is also on the rise. Numerous factors contribute to this phenomenon including the recently-reported ESR1 gene mutations such as Y537S, which amplifies co-activator interactions with ERα and promotes constitutive activation of ERα function. Herein, we propose that direct targeting of the activation function-2 (AF2) site on ERα represents a promising alternative therapeutic strategy to overcome mutation-driven resistance in breast cancer.

Comparative evaluation of Ambu AuraGain™ with ProSeal™ laryngeal mask airway in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Background And Aims: Second generation supraglottic airways are increasingly being used in surgical patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery. Preventing aspiration at higher airway pressures may be at the expense of a higher cuff pressure which can impair mucosal perfusion. We attempted to elucidate whether Ambu AuraGain™ (AAU) would provide a higher oropharyngeal leak pressure (OLP) with a lower mucosal pressure in comparison to ProSeal™ laryngeal mask airway (PLMA).

The miR-200 family is increased in dysplastic lesions in ulcerative colitis patients.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a life-threatening complication of ulcerative colitis (UC), and patients are routinely screened for the development of precancerous lesions (dysplasia). However, rates of CRC development in patients with confirmed low-grade dysplasia vary widely between studies, suggesting a large degree of heterogeneity between these lesions that is not detectable macroscopically. A better understanding of the underlying molecular changes that occur in dysplasia will help to identify lesions at higher risk of malignancy.

Targeting Binding Function-3 of the Androgen Receptor Blocks Its Co-Chaperone Interactions, Nuclear Translocation, and Activation.

The development of new antiandrogens, such as enzalutamide, or androgen synthesis inhibitors like abiraterone has improved patient outcomes in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. However, due to the development of drug resistance and tumor cell survival, a majority of these patients progress to the refractory state of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Thus, newer therapeutic agents and a better understanding of their mode of action are needed for treating these CRPC patients.

The Avahan Transition: Effects of Transition Readiness on Program Institutionalization and Sustained Outcomes.

Background: With declines in development assistance for health and growing interest in country ownership, donors are increasingly faced with the task of transitioning health programs to local actors towards a path to sustainability. Yet there is little available guidance on how to measure and evaluate the success of a transition and its subsequent effects. This study assesses the transition of the Avahan HIV/AIDS prevention program in India to investigate how preparations for transition affected continuation of program activities post-transition.

Functional analysis of androgen receptor mutations that confer anti-androgen resistance identified in circulating cell-free DNA from prostate cancer patients.

Background: The androgen receptor (AR) is a pivotal drug target for the treatment of prostate cancer, including its lethal castration-resistant (CRPC) form. All current non-steroidal AR antagonists, such as hydroxyflutamide, bicalutamide, and enzalutamide, target the androgen binding site of the receptor, competing with endogenous androgenic steroids. Several AR mutations in this binding site have been associated with poor prognosis and resistance to conventional prostate cancer drugs.

An enzyme captured in two conformational states: crystal structure of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase from Bradyrhizobium elkanii.

S-Adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase (SAHase) is involved in the enzymatic regulation of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM)-dependent methylation reactions. After methyl-group transfer from SAM, S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (SAH) is formed as a byproduct, which in turn is hydrolyzed to adenosine (Ado) and homocysteine (Hcy) by SAHase. The crystal structure of BeSAHase, an SAHase from Bradyrhizobium elkanii, which is a nitrogen-fixing bacterial symbiont of legume plants, was determined at 1.

Transitioning a Large Scale HIV/AIDS Prevention Program to Local Stakeholders: Findings from the Avahan Transition Evaluation.

Background: Between 2009-2013 the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation transitioned its HIV/AIDS prevention initiative in India from being a stand-alone program outside of government, to being fully government funded and implemented. We present an independent prospective evaluation of the transition.

Methods: The evaluation drew upon (1) a structured survey of transition readiness in a sample of 80 targeted HIV prevention programs prior to transition; (2) a structured survey assessing institutionalization of program features in a sample of 70 targeted intervention (TI) programs, one year post-transition; and (3) case studies of 15 TI programs.

"From me to HIV": a case study of the community experience of donor transition of health programs.

Background: Avahan, a large-scale HIV prevention program in India, transitioned over 130 intervention sites from donor funding and management to government ownership in three rounds. This paper examines the transition experience from the perspective of the communities targeted by these interventions.

Methods: Fifteen qualitative longitudinal case studies were conducted across all three rounds of transition, including 83 in-depth interviews and 45 focus group discussions.