Droplet digital PCR technique is ultrasensitive for the quantification of covalently closed circular DNA in the blood of chronic HBV-infected patients.

Background: Covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) is a stable, episomal form of HBV DNA. cccDNA is a true marker for the intrahepatic events in controlled CHB infection. Quantifying cccDNA is critical for monitoring disease progression, and efficacy of anti-viral therapies.

Dynamic gene expression pattern in zebrafish gallbladder: an experimental study.

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is one of the common biliary tract malignancies that is often associated with late presentation of clinical symptoms resulting in poor prognosis, thereby considerably increasing the mortality rate. Geographic and ethnic variations are one of the major causes of GBC incidence. However, in addition to genetic susceptibility to GBC, other factors like age, obesity, sex, and exposure to certain heavy chemicals may also lead to the incidence of GBC.

Histomorphology based prediction of p16 immunopositivity and p16/HPV DNA co-positivity in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

The histomorphological features predictive of p16 and human papilloma virus (HPV DNA) positivity in oropharyngeal carcinoma have been a matter of much debate. However, only few studies have been done on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) to correlate the histomorphological features with p16 and HPV DNA positivity. Oral squamous cell carcinoma has distinct etiopathogenesis, treatment and prognosis as compared to oropharyngeal carcinomas.

Impact of combinatorial immunotherapies in breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Breast cancer has the highest mortality rate among all cancers affecting females worldwide. Several new effective therapeutic strategies are being developed to minimize the number of breast cancer-related deaths and improve the quality of life of breast cancer patients. However, resistance to conventional therapies in breast cancer patients remains a challenge which could be due to several reasons, including changes in the tumor microenvironment.

Clinico-Pathological Factors and AR-LBD Mutations in Early and Late Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer.

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is not well understood because of its enormous biological heterogeneity and unreliable progression. We conducted this retrospective analysis to examine the variables predicting early and late progression to castration-resistant PCa (CRPC) for better management of this disease.

Methods: This single institutional retrospective study was conducted from January 2018 to January 2022.

Molecular biomarkers involved in the progression of gallbladder inflammatory lesions to invasive cancer: A proteomic approach.

The progression of gallbladder inflammatory lesions to invasive cancer remains poorly understood, necessitating research on biomarkers involved in this transition. This study aims to identify and validate proteins associated with this progression, offering insights into potential diagnostic biomarkers for gallbladder cancer (GBC). Label-free liquid chromatography-assisted tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) proteomics was performed on samples from ten cases each of GBC and inflammatory lesions, with technical duplicates.

Recent developments in receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors: A promising mainstay in targeted cancer therapy.

During the past two decades, significant advances have been made in the discovery and development of targeted inhibitors aimed at improving the survival rates of cancer patients. Among the multitude of potential therapeutic targets identified thus far, Receptor Tyrosine Kinases (RTKs) are of particular importance. Dysregulation of RTKs has been implicated in numerous human diseases, particularly cancer, where aberrant signaling pathways contribute to disease progression.

Novel Strategy of Training the Accredited Social Health Activists via Application-Based Telemedicine for Cervical Cancer Screening by Human Papillomavirus Self-Sampling: The TRACK Study.

Purpose: This pilot study is aimed to analyze a novel strategy of cervical cancer screening by training of Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers via telemedicine to counsel women for human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling.

Materials And Methods: This is a pilot, community-based, prospective, single-arm study. Physicians trained the ASHA workers regarding self-sampled HPV testing via a mobile application and telephonically using videos and e-pamphlets, who in turn trained the clients in community.

Genomic landscape of gallbladder cancer: insights from whole exome sequencing.

Background: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a common gastrointestinal malignancy noted for its aggressive characteristics and poor prognosis, which is mostly caused by delayed detection. However, the scarcity of information regarding somatic mutations in Indian patients with GBC has hampered the development of efficient therapeutic options. In the present study, the authors attempted to bridge this gap by revealing the mutational profile of GBC.

Somatic mutational landscape across Indian breast cancer cases by whole exome sequencing.

Breast cancer (BC) has emerged as the most common malignancy among females. The genomic profile of BC is diverse in nature and complex due to heterogeneity among various geographically different ethnic groups. The primary objective of this study was to carry out a comprehensive mutational analysis of Indian BC cases by performing whole exome sequencing.

Refinement of Risk-Stratification of Cytogenetically Normal Acute Myeloid Leukemia Adult Patients by MN1 Expression.

Introduction: Acute myeloid leukemia with normal cytogenetics (CN-AML) represents a heterogeneous group having diverse genetic mutations. Understanding the significance of each of these mutations is necessary. In this study, we evaluated the prognostic role of MN1 expression in adult CN-AML patients.

'Plasma first' approach for detecting epidermal growth factor receptor mutation in advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma.

Introduction: The treatment approach for recently diagnosed advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR mutations primarily relies on confirming the tissue diagnosis as non-squamous NSCLC. This routine clinical practice of tissue diagnosis imposes several barriers and delays in turnaround time (TAT) for biomarker testing, significantly delaying the time to treatment. The objective of this study is to investigate the 'plasma first' approach for detection of EGFR mutation in advanced stage treatment naïve NSCLC patients.

Cooking fuel use and respiratory health of women and children in rural Ballabgarh, Haryana.

Background: Household air pollution arising from combustion of unclean fuels during cooking activities causes serious respiratory health effects. This study investigated patterns of household cooking fuel use and its effect on respiratory health status of women and children.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in rural households of Ballabgarh, Haryana during December 2019 to January 2020 among 18-45 years old women and their children having age between 6 and 59 months.

Investigations into the role of platelet-activating factor in the peri-conception period of the mare.

In Brief: In many mammals, the lipid platelet-activating factor (PAF) has important functions in female reproduction and fertility. This study shows that PAF is present in the reproductive tissues of mares and is involved in processes related to ovulation and early pregnancy.

Abstract: Platelet-activating factor (PAF) has been implicated in a number of reproductive processes ranging from ovulation to embryo motility but has not been widely explored in the mare.

Flow Cytometry-Based Detection of Minimal/Measurable Residual Disease Predicts Survival Outcomes in Pediatrics, Adolescents, and Young Adults With T-acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Background: Measurable/minimal residual disease (MRD) is considered the single most powerful high-risk factor in acute leukemia, including T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). In this study, we evaluated the impact of flow cytometry (FC)-based detection of MRD on survival outcomes in pediatrics, adolescents, and young adults (AYA) with T-ALL.

Methods: We included 139 patients, 88 pediatric patients between the ages of one and 14 years, and 51 AYA patients between 15 and 39 years of age, over a period of three years and were treated with the Indian Collaborative Childhood Leukemia Group (ICiCLe) protocol.

Clinico-pathological Factors in Malignant Transformation of RRP.

Various clinico-pathological factors play role in the papilloma proliferation and pathogenesis of Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP). However, it is not known if they are directly responsible for malignant transformation of these papillomas or not. We did this study to elucidate any such association.

Structural, electronic and thermoelectric properties of monolayer TiSe.

Context And Results: In this work the first-principles calculations of the structural, electronic and thermoelectric properties of monolayer TiSe are presented. The optimized lattice parameter of monolayer TiSe shows excellent agreement with the experimental value. The computed band structure and density of states calculations predict metallic nature of monolayer TiSe with overlapping of 0.

Relevance of Partial p16 Immunostaining in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Co- Relation with HPV DNA Status.

Introduction: Immunostaining criteria for p16 positivity in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma have been laid down by College of American Pathologists (CAP) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). The staining should be of moderate to strong intensity seen in 70 percent of the tumor cells. Recent studies have pointed out that a small minority of cases are missed using p16 as the surrogate marker at above mentioned cut off.

Whole exome sequencing identifies novel variants of PIK3CA and validation of hotspot mutation by droplet digital PCR in breast cancer among Indian population.

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy with very high incidence and relatively high mortality in women. The PIK3CA gene plays a pivotal role in the pathogenicity of breast cancer. Despite this, the mutational status of all exons except exons 9 and 20 still remains unknown.

Ab initio study of elastic, electronic, and vibrational properties of SnTe and PbTe.

Context And Results: The elastic, electronic, and vibrational properties of the ground state of the rocksalt SnTe and PbTe are investigated. The deduced elastic constants, namely, shear modulus, Young's modulus, and Poisson's ratio are in very good agreement with the experimental and other theoretical data. The electronic band structure and density of states are obtained with and without considering the spin-orbit coupling.

Analysis of Inhibition Potential of Nimbin and its Analogs against NF-κB Subunits p50 and p65: A Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamics Study.

Background: Cancer remains the major cause of morbidity and mortality. The nuclear factor kappa-B (NF- κB) plays an indispensable role in cancer cell proliferation and drug resistance. The role of NF-κB is not only limited to tumor cell proliferation and suppression of apoptotic genes but it also induces EMT transition responsible for metastasis.

Evaluation of cervical cancer screening during pregnancy in India: Human papillomavirus testing can change the paradigm.

Background The World Health Organization's call for elimination of cervical cancer envisages 70% screening coverage of women aged 35 and 45 years by an effective test. In India, this target seems unrealistic as awareness and access to cancer prevention services are poor. However, the institutional delivery rate is now >80%.

Assessments of TP53 and CTNNB1 gene hotspot mutations in circulating tumour DNA of hepatitis B virus-induced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the major causes of chronic liver disease, which progresses from chronic hepatitis B (CHB) to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Early detection and laboratory-based screening of hepatocellular carcinoma are still major challenges. This study was undertaken to determine whether the cancer hallmark gene signatures that are released into circulation as circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) can be used as a liquid biopsy marker for screening, early detection, and prognosis of HCC.