Increased parvovirus B19 seropositivity in healthy blood donors in India.

A core component of every blood program is the supply of safe blood and blood products. The elevated risk of transmission through these products is due to parvovirus B19 (B19V) resistance to the virus inactivation procedures. Our study aimed to screen asymptomatic blood donors for B19V at a tertiary care hospital in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, between September 2020 and June 2021.

Assessment of spatial variation in lung cancer incidence and air pollutants: spatial regression modeling approach.

A notable finding is that Kerala's capital Thiruvananthapuram has shown an increasing trend in lung cancer (LC) incidence. Long-term exposure to air pollution is a significant environmental risk factor for LC. This study investigated the spatial association between LC and exposure to air pollutants in Thiruvananthapuram, using Spatial Lag Model (SLM), Spatial Error Model (SEM), and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR).

Improved photoluminescence stability and defect passivation in SbBr post-treated CsPbBr quantum dots under ambient conditions.

Inorganic cesium lead halide perovskites have evoked wide popularity because of their excellent optoelectronic properties, high photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield (PLQY), and narrowband emission. Here, cesium lead bromide (CsPbBr ) quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized via the ligand-assisted re-precipitation method. Post-synthesis treatment of CsPbBr QDs using antimony tribromide improved the PL stability and optoelectronic properties of the QDs.

Diversity of fungal pathogens in leaf spot disease of Indian mulberry and its management.

Leaf spot disease in mulberry significantly affects silk production by reducing the nutritive quality of the leaves. This disease caused by various pathogens, regardless of the localities under the same climatic region. In the present investigation, an approximate incidence rate of 84 % was recorded in Karnataka based on surveys conducted in both farmer fields and germplasm locations.

Bioaccumulation of pesticide residue in earthworms collected from the agricultural soils of Kuttanad-a unique agroecosystem in India.

Earthworms encompass significant soil faunal biomass and have tremendous potential to provide vital ecosystem services. Earthworms are considered bioindicators of chemical contaminants and can provide early warnings of ecosystem deterioration. Studies pertaining to the accumulation of pesticide residues in earthworm in biomass in agrarian ecosystems are scarce.

Spatiotemporal pattern of thyroid cancer incidence in South Kerala: A population-based study.

Background: Thyroid cancer (TC) is the most common endocrine cancer and has been increasing over the past decades worldwide. A notable finding is that Kerala's capital Thiruvananthapuram ranks the first among men and the second highest among women in the incidence of TC in India. Reasons for this increase have not been established.

Tryptanthrin-malononitrile adduct for highly efficient turn-off fluorescent sensing of aniline.

The fluorescence quenching of 2-(8-chloro-12-oxo-12H-indolo[2,1-b]quinazolin-6-ylidene)-malononitrile (5a) by aniline was studied in detail. Time correlated single photon counting measurements (TCSPC) indicated that the quenching involved both static and dynamic mechanisms without ground state complex formation. The selectivity towards aniline sensing in presence of other amines/aromatics and the anti-interference studies together with the low LOD value indicates the potential of 5a as a molecular probe for aniline sensing which is unaffected by pH alteration as well.

Assessing quality of obturation and instrumentation time using Kedo-SG blue, Kedo-SH, and reciprocating hand K-files in primary mandibular molars: A double-blinded randomized controlled trial.

Background: Pulpectomy is the treatment of choice for severely infected primary molars. The aim of the study is to evaluate the instrumentation time and obturation quality using Kedo SG blue, Kedo SH, and reciprocating hand K files in primary mandibular molars. To evaluate the instrumentation time and obturation quality using Kedo-SG blue, Kedo-SH, and reciprocating hand K-files in primary mandibular molars.

Tunable Q wavelet transform based emotion classification in Parkinson's disease using Electroencephalography.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a severe incurable neurological disorder. It is mostly characterized by non-motor symptoms like fatigue, dementia, anxiety, speech and communication problems, depression, and so on. Electroencephalography (EEG) play a key role in the detection of the true emotional state of a person.

Evidence of a non-apoptotic mode of cell death in microglial BV-2 cells exposed to different concentrations of zinc oxide nanoparticles.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) possess huge application potential. However, the toxicity of ZnO NPs is a great cause of concern. Indeed, ZnO NPs have been found to cause neurotoxicity.

Burden of caregivers of children with cerebral palsy: an intersectional analysis of gender, poverty, stigma, and public policy.

Background: Caregivers of children with cerebral palsy suffer from a substantial psychosocial burden. However, there is a scarcity of documentation of the various sources of burden in low- and middle-income settings.

Methods: We conducted qualitative in-depth interviews among mothers of children with cerebral palsy attending a physiotherapy facility.

Fourth Dimension in Reconstruction of Defects Following Excision of Basal Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck!

Background: Basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) are the most common skin tumors of the face. Excision results in soft tissue defects that require reconstruction with the focus on form, function, and patient satisfaction.

Aim: To analyze the reconstruction of BCC excision defects of the head and neck region using local flaps and skin grafts with respect to the four dimensions of oncological reconstruction: clearance, form, function, and patient satisfaction.

Distribution of priority pollutants in the sediment of Vembanad Estuary, Peninsular India.

The existence of Organochlorine pesticides (OCP's) and trace metals in tropical aquatic environments may cause a severe threat on account of their ubiquitous nature and long persistence. Monitoring of such contaminants has assumed immense significance in recent times. The present study assessed the OCP's and trace metal contamination in the surface sediments of the Vembanad wetland system in India.

Cellular interactions of functionalized superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles on oligodendrocytes without detrimental side effects: Cell death induction, oxidative stress and inflammation.

Iron oxide nanoparticles have the capability to cross Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) and hence are widely investigated for biomedical operations in the central nervous system. Before being used for the biomedical purpose, it is necessary to investigate its biocompatibility, dosimetry and biological interaction. In the present study, in-house synthesized superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) were functionalized using the polymer, PolyEthylene Glycol (PEG) and a fluorophore (Rhodamine).

In vitro interaction and biocompatibility of titanate nanotubes with microglial cells.

Titanate nanotubes (TiONts) are promising agents for biomedical applications. Microglial activation and associated oxidative burst are major challenges in drug delivery applications across the brain. Here, TiONts were designed for drug delivery systems by functionalizing them with (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES), their interactions and biocompatibility were studied in vitro using murine microglial BV-2 cells.

Dexmedetomidine versus ketofol sedation for outpatient diagnostic transesophageal echocardiography: A randomized controlled study.

Background: Moderate sedation is required for out-patient transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Our objective was to compare the effect of Ketofol and dexmedetomidine for outpatient procedural sedation in diagnostic TEE with a hypothesis that Ketofol would be as effective as dexmedetomidine. Patients and.

Enrichment of soil organic carbon by native earthworms in a patch of tropical soil, Kerala, India: First report.

The role of earthworms in soil carbon dynamics is a recent avenue of research which is less studied in India. Three plots of 1 m size were laid in Jeevaka live laboratory (JLL)- a biodiversity rich area within the University campus. A control plot (CP) of same dimension was maintained outside JLL.

Engineered Nanoparticles with Antimicrobial Property.

Background: The urge for the development and manufacture of new and effective antimicrobial agents is particularly demanding especially in the present scenario of emerging multiple drug resistant microorganisms. A promising initiative would be to converge nanotechnology to develop novel strategies for antimicrobial treatment. These distinct nano scale properties confer impressive antimicrobial capabilities to nanomaterials that could be exploited.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles mediated cytotoxicity, mitochondrial membrane potential and level of antioxidants in presence of melatonin.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are widely used in a variety of products and are currently being investigated for biomedical applications. However, they have the potential to interact with macromolecules like proteins, lipids and DNA within the cells which makes the safe biomedical application difficult. The toxicity of the ZnO NP is mainly attributed reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation.

Reinforcing nanomedicine using graphene family nanomaterials.

Graphene is an allotrope of carbon which consists of single layered sp hybridized carbon arranged in honey comb lattice. The fascinating properties such as ultrahigh surface area, high electrical and thermal conductivity and optical property made graphene a major point of research interest. Apart from their application in the field such as nanoelectronics, energy storage, engineering of nanocomposite materials, transistors, sensors, diodes, catalysis; they are also investigated in the field of nanomedicine.