Use of polymerase chain reaction to characterize the etiology of culture-negative empyema and parapneumonic effusion among Alaska Native children - 2018-2023.

We used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify bacterial infections in culture-negative pleural fluid specimens from Alaska Native children hospitalized with empyema. PCR identified ≥1 organism in 11 (79%) of 14 specimens. Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 3 was detected in six specimens; all six participants had received 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.

Seropositivity of Chikungunya in Hospital Setting, India: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Backround: Information about the chikungunya disease burden by age groups and geographic distribution is necessary to guide appropriate control measures. With this, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the disease burden of chikungunya fever in India.

Material And Methods: We conducted this systematic review according to the Cochrane Collaboration guidelines.

Molecular Analysis of ApiA, a Multi-Functional Protein.

ApiA is a trimeric autotransporter outer membrane protein (Omp) that participates in multiple functions, enabling to adapt to a variety of environments. The goal of this study is to identify regions in the gene responsible for three of these functions: auto-aggregation, buccal epithelial cell binding, and complement resistance. Initially, was expressed in .

Green-synthesized CuO and ZnO nanoparticles derived from Calotropis gigantea (Apple of Sodom): enhancing plant growth, efficient dye removal, and potent antibacterial applications.

Nanoparticles, owing to their unique physicochemical properties, have garnered significant attention in various scientific disciplines, including materials science, chemistry, biology, and environmental engineering. In recent years, the synthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles, such as NiO, FeO, ZnO, SnO, and CuO via green routes, has gained attraction due to their diverse applications in fields ranging from catalysis and electronics to medicine and environmental remediation. This study focuses on the green synthesis of copper oxide (CuO) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles using Calotropis gigantea (Apple of Sodom) leaf extract as a reducing agent and stabilizer, with zinc nitrate (ZnNO.

Pneumococcal Carriage in Burkina Faso After 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Introduction and Before a Schedule Change.

Background: In October 2013, Burkina Faso introduced 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) into the routine childhood immunization program using 3 primary doses with no booster. Previous pneumococcal carriage studies showed reductions in vaccine-type (VT) carriage in children aged <5 years but not in older age groups.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, age-stratified pneumococcal carriage study among healthy persons aged ≥1 month in Bobo-Dioulasso in March 2020.

Recombinational exchange of M-fibril and T-pilus genes generates extensive cell surface diversity in the global group A population.

Among genes present in all group A streptococci (GAS), those encoding M-fibril and T-pilus proteins display the highest levels of sequence diversity, giving rise to the two primary serological typing schemes historically used to define strain. A new genotyping scheme for the pilin adhesin and backbone genes is developed and, when combined with typing, provides an account of the global GAS strain population. Cluster analysis based on nucleotide sequence similarity assigns most T-serotypes to discrete pilin backbone sequence clusters, yet the established T-types correspond to only half the clusters.

Functional characterization of Malabar grouper (Epinephelus malabaricus) interferon regulatory factor 9 involved in antiviral response.

IRF9 is a crucial component in the JAK-STAT pathway. IRF9 interacts with STAT1 and STAT2 to form IFN-I-stimulated gene factor 3 (ISGF3) in response to type I IFN stimulation, which promotes ISG transcription. However, the mechanism by which IFN signaling regulates Malabar grouper (Epinephelus malabaricus) IRF9 is still elusive.

Surgery for a symptomatic massive liver haemangioma.

Liver haemangiomas are the most common benign hepatic tumours, but secondary portal hypertension resulting from haemangiomas is exceedingly uncommon. We present a case of a man in his 50s who presented with a progressively enlarging mass in the right upper abdomen. CT of the liver revealed a large hypodense lesion involving the right lobe, with two smaller lesions in the left lobe.

Effect of Neoadjuvant Concurrent Chemoradiation on Operability and Survival in Locally Advanced Inoperable Breast Cancer.

Purpose: Inoperable locally advanced breast cancers (LABCs) are treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. We studied the use of neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiation (NACCRT) in patients with inoperable LABC.

Methods And Materials: From May 2017 to December 2021, the study recruited patients with stage III inoperable LABC.

Effectual visible light photocatalytic reduction of para-nitro phenol using reduced graphene oxide and ZnO composite.

Removing wastewater pollutants using semiconducting-based heterogeneous photocatalysis is an advantageous technique because it provides strong redox power charge carriers under sunlight irradiation. In this study, we synthesized a composite of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and zinc oxide nanorods (ZnO) called rGO@ZnO. We established the formation of type II heterojunction composites by employing various physicochemical characterization techniques.

The association between body mass index, abdominal fatness, and weight change and the risk of adult asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.

Obesity has been associated with increased risk of adult asthma, however, not all studies have found a clear association between overweight and the incidence of asthma, and data on other adiposity measures have been limited. Hence, we aimed to summarize evidence on association between adiposity and adult asthma. Relevant studies were retrieved through searches conducted in PubMed, and EMBASE up to March 2021.

Predicting phosphorus and nitrate loads by using SWAT model in Vamanapuram River Basin, Kerala, India.

Evaluations of probable environmental impacts of point and diffuse source pollution at regional sizes are essential to achieve sustainable development of natural resources such as land and water. This research focused on how nitrate and phosphorus load varied over time and space in the Vamanapuram River Basin (VRB). Phosphorus and nitrate loads have been evaluated in the VRB using the semi-distributed Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) hydrological model.

An integrated approach for an impact assessment of the tank water and groundwater quality in Coimbatore region of South India: implication from anthropogenic activities.

Groundwater in the Coimbatore region is very much essential for irrigation and human beings' day-to-day life activities. This research focuses on the impact of anthropogenic activities on the surface water quality of four tanks in Coimbatore city and its influences on disturbing the groundwater quality as well. Water quality is degrading as a result of encroachment and other anthropogenic activities.

Comparative assessment of groundwater vulnerability using GIS-based DRASTIC and DRASTIC-AHP for Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu India.

The groundwater is very precious in the world. Rapid urbanization and industrialization create tremendous stress on groundwater quality and quantity. Unscientific groundwater extraction and waste disposal methods impact the groundwater aquifer's susceptibility in the coastal area.

Comparative assessment of groundwater quality indices of Kannur District, Kerala, India using multivariate statistical approaches and GIS.

The aim of the study was to determine the groundwater characteristics of rural and industrial zones in the Kannur region. In 2011, 25 groundwater data were collected from the centre for water resource development management (CWRDM), and in 2019, 25 groundwater samples from rural and near-industrial areas were collected and analysed for major anions (HCO-, CO, Cl, NO- and SO), and cations (TH, Ca, Mg, Na, K and Fe) using APHA standards. To better understand the link between water quality parameters, multivariate statistical analysis approaches such as principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), correlation matrix analysis (CMA), and Pearson correlation bivariate one-tailed analysis (PCBOTA) were used to analyse the inter-relationship of data.

Natural fruits based ready to serve (RTS) beverages: a review.

Fruits and vegetables tend to have very limited shelf life due to its perishable nature. In order to preserve, they are processed to Ready to Serve (RTS) beverages. RTS beverage is a non-fermented beverage prepared from fruits and vegetables of different concentrations in addition of sugar, water and additives.

Litchi consumption and missed meals continue to be associated with acute encephalopathy syndrome among children: an investigation of the 2019 outbreak in Muzaffarpur district, Bihar, India.

Background: Muzaffarpur district in Bihar State of India recorded a resurgence of acute encephalopathy syndrome (AES) cases in the summer of 2019 after no reported outbreak in 3 y. Earlier studies generated evidence that litchi consumption and missing the previous evening's meal were associated with AES. We investigated the recent outbreak to understand the risk factors associated with AES.

Characterization of solid biomass briquette biofuel from the wastes of Senna auriculata and Ricinus communis using Tapioca starch for sustainable environment.

Biomass energy contributes nearly 14% of the total global energy. Therefore, biomass briquettes can be effectively considered an alternate source of fossil fuels. The present study aims at utilizing Senna auriculata and Ricinus communis waste generated locally for the production of biomass briquettes with 10% of tapioca starch as binder.

Estimation of tuberculosis incidence at subnational level using three methods to monitor progress towards ending TB in India, 2015-2020.

Objectives: We verified subnational (state/union territory (UT)/district) claims of achievements in reducing tuberculosis (TB) incidence in 2020 compared with 2015, in India.

Design: A community-based survey, analysis of programme data and anti-TB drug sales and utilisation data.

Setting: National TB Elimination Program and private TB treatment settings in 73 districts that had filed a claim to the Central TB Division of India for progress towards TB-free status.

Forecasting factors and outcomes in hawkish inflammatory breast carcinoma - A single center data exploration.

Introduction: Inflammatory breast carcinoma (IBC) is an aggressive clinical syndrome of invasive breast carcinoma. There is paucity of data regarding the outcomes in IBC.

Objectives: Analyses of OS and Event-free survival (EFS) in nonmetastatic and metastatic IBC and to find prognostic factors influencing them.

The continuing conundrum in oligometastatic breast carcinoma: A real-world data.

Unlabelled: The optimal management in Oligometastatic (OM) breast carcinoma is not defined.

Objectives: To identify the prognostic factors influencing OM and the effect of Locoregional treatment (LRT) on survival in OM.

Methodology: Patients with ≤5 metastases and each with ≤ 5 cm size were defined as OM.

Enhanced SARS-CoV-2-Specific CD4 T Cell Activation and Multifunctionality in Late Convalescent COVID-19 Individuals.

Background: Examination of CD4+ T cell responses during the natural course of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection offers useful information for the improvement of vaccination strategies against this virus and the protective effect of these T cells. Methods: We characterized the SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ T cell activation marker, multifunctional cytokine and cytotoxic marker expression in recovered coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) individuals. Results: CD4+ T-cell responses in late convalescent (>6 months of diagnosis) individuals are characterized by elevated frequencies of activated as well as mono, dual- and multi-functional Th1 and Th17 CD4+ T cells in comparison to early convalescent (<1 month of diagnosis) individuals following stimulation with SARS-CoV-2-specific antigens.