Single-cell transcriptomics: background, technologies, applications, and challenges.

Single-cell sequencing was developed as a high-throughput tool to elucidate unusual and transient cell states that are barely visible in the bulk. This technology reveals the evolutionary status of cells and differences between populations, helps to identify unique cell subtypes and states, reveals regulatory relationships between genes, targets and molecular mechanisms in disease processes, tumor heterogeneity, the state of the immune environment, etc. However, the high cost and technical limitations of single-cell sequencing initially prevented its widespread application, but with advances in research, numerous new single-cell sequencing techniques have been discovered, lowering the cost barrier.

Resolving the equation between mucormycosis and COVID-19 disease.

The COVID-19 patients, both infected and recovered are rapidly contracting mucormycetes infections due to the 'Mucorales' order, under Zygomycetes class of fungi. The mucorales fungi commonly known to exist in our natural surroundings including soil, but the frequency of incidences was never rampant. This sudden spike in infections, is locally known as 'black fungus,' and is affecting various organs, including- eyes, sinuses, nose, brain, skin, intestine, lungs, etc.

The deregulated immune reaction and cytokines release storm (CRS) in COVID-19 disease.

COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, accompanies an unprecedented spike in cytokines levels termed cytokines release syndrome (CRS), in critically ill patients. Clinicians claim that the surge demonstrates a deregulated immune defence in host, as infected cell expression analysis depicts a delay in type-I (interferon-I) and type-III IFNs expression, along with a limited Interferon-Stimulated Gene (ISG) response, which later resume and culminates in elicitation of several cytokines including- IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, TNFα, IL-17, MCP-1, IP-10 and IL-10 etc. Although cytokines are messenger molecules of the immune system, but their increased concentration results in inflammation, infiltration of macrophages, neutrophils and lung injury in patients.

Caffey Disease in Infancy: A diagnostic dilemma for primary care physicians.

Caffey disease is a rare and self-limiting condition characterised by cortical hyperostosis with inflammation of adjacent and muscles. It usually presents in infancy and clinical features include hyperirritability, acute inflammation with swelling of overlying soft tissues and subperiosteal new bone formation. Awareness of the existence of this rare condition and its typical clinical and radiological profile will avoid unnecessary investigations and treatment and help the physician to explain its good prognosis to parents of affected children.

Oxidative stress in Vitiligo patients and administration of Munzij and Mushil therapy, a poly herbal Unani formulation - hospital-based study.

Background Vitiligo, a skin disorder is viewed as a multifactorial process with major role of reactive oxygen species in concert to destroy or incapacitate melanocytes. In Unani system of medicine the treatment of Bars (Vitiligo) starts with removal of harmful materials from the body with Munzij and Mushil (MM), a poly herbal Unani formulation. Methods Herein, oxidative stress related parameters as MDA, SOD, GPx and CAT have been estimated in the 21 clinically diagnosed Vitiligo in-patients and subsequently these parameters were evaluated during and after administration of MM therapy and compared with 21 healthy subjects.

Cabazitaxel and silibinin co-encapsulated cationic liposomes for CD44 targeted delivery: A new insight into nanomedicine based combinational chemotherapy for prostate cancer.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are the promising targets for cancer chemotherapy that cannot be eliminated by conventional chemotherapy. In this study cationic liposomes of cabazitaxel (CBX) and silibinin (SIL) were prepared with an aim to kill cancer cells and CSCs for prostate cancer. CBX act as cancer cell inhibitor and SIL as CSC inhibitor.

Teachers' and Parents' Perspectives on a Curricular Subject of "Religion and Spirituality" for Indian Schools: A Pilot Study Toward School Mental Health Program.

Religious-spiritual (R/S) education helps medical students cope with caregiving stress and gain skills in interpersonal empathy needed for clinical care. Such R/S education has been introduced into K-12 and college curricula in some developed nations and has been found to positively impact student's mental health. Such a move has not yet been seen in the Indian education system.

Insights into the Targeting Potential of Thymoquinone for Therapeutic Intervention Against Triple-negative Breast Cancer.

Background: Thymoquinone (TQ) is a bioactive phytoconstituent obtained from Nigella sativa (black seeds). It has promising potential in cancer prevention.

Objective: Previous studies have shown that TQ can modulate signaling pathways responsible for cancer progression, thus enhancing the efficacy and improving the safety profile of clinically used anticancer drugs.

Comparative toxicity study on classical and modified version of Jawarish Jalinoos (a traditional Unani formulation) in rats.

Background: Jawarish Jalinoos (JJ) is a classical semisolid traditional Unani formulation clinically used for the treatment of weakness of vital organs, liver, and stomach. Although JJ has been widely used clinically for several decades, no scientific report is available for its safety.

Methods: JJ and its sugar-free tablet version (SFJJ; formulated to target diabetic population) were assessed for safety in rats.

Analysis of anti-bacterial and anti oxidative activity of bark using various solvents extracts.

Herbal medications have been used for relief of symptoms of disease. Regardless of the great advances observed in current medicine in recent decades, plants still make a significant contribution to health care. An alarming increase in bacterial strains resistant to a number of antimicrobial agents demands that a renewed effort be made to seek antibacterial agents effective against pathogenic bacteria resistant to or less sensitive to current antibiotics.

Co-delivery of rapamycin- and piperine-loaded polymeric nanoparticles for breast cancer treatment.

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) efflux is the major cause of multidrug resistance (MDR) in tumors when using anticancer drugs, moreover, poor bioavailability of few drugs is also due to P-gp efflux in the gut. Rapamycin (RPM) is in the clinical trials for breast cancer treatment, but its P-gp substrate property leads to poor oral bioavailability and efficacy. The objective of this study is to formulate and evaluate nanoparticles of RPM, along with a chemosensitizer (piperine, PIP) for improved oral bioavailability and efficacy.

CD44 targeted chemotherapy for co-eradication of breast cancer stem cells and cancer cells using polymeric nanoparticles of salinomycin and paclitaxel.

This combinational therapy is mainly aimed for complete eradication of tumor by killing both cancer cells and cancer stem cells. Salinomycin (SLM) was targeted towards cancer stem cells whereas paclitaxel (PTX) was used to kill cancer cells. Drug loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles were prepared by emulsion solvent diffusion method using cationic stabilizer.

Spirituality, Religiosity, and Health: a Comparison of Physicians' Attitudes in Brazil, India, and Indonesia.

Background: One of the biggest challenges in the spirituality, religiosity, and health field is to understand how patients and physicians from different cultures deal with spiritual and religious issues in clinical practice.

Purpose: The present study aims to compare physicians' perspectives on the influence of spirituality and religion (S/R) on health between Brazil, India, and Indonesia.

Method: This is a cross-sectional, cross-cultural, multi-center study carried out from 2010 to 2012, examining physicians' attitudes from two continents.

Standardization of a compound Unani herbal formulation "Qurs-e-Luk" with modern techniques.

Background: With global realization that use of synthetic drugs is not safe on the long run, the medical fraternity at large is looking at alternatives from natural sources to combat diseases particularly those wherein conventional modern system of medicine has little to offer. On one hand, this realization has increased demand for herbal drugs and on the other hand need for quality standardization of these drugs has increased. Central Research Institute of Unani Medicine, Hyderabad, being engaged in multidisciplinary research in Unani Medicine, has taken up standardization of herbomineral drugs used in this system of medicine.

Standardization of the Unani drug - Myristica fragrans Houtt. (Javetri) - with modern analytical techniques.

Today, there is a tremendous demand of herbal medicine in the global market and the scarcity of data regarding the parameters and methods employed for assessing the quality of medicines. Aril (Mace) of Myristica fragrans Houtt., known as "Javetri," belonging to the Myristicaceae family, plays a foremost role in the Unani system of medicine.