Silicosis prevalence and related issues in India: a scoping review.

Background: Silicosis remains a major occupational health challenge in India. This review systematically examines the prevalence, risk factors, regional differences, and diagnostic tools specific to India's high-risk industries. Additionally, it assesses policy gaps and offers insights from diverse clinical and qualitative studies, aiming to inform targeted public health interventions and support the development of effective occupational health policies.

Risk of stroke associated with proton pump inhibitor use among individuals with and without pre-existing cardiovascular diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are commonly used for managing gastroesophageal disorders but concerns about their potential association with increased stroke risk have emerged, especially among patients with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions such as acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to assess the risk of stroke associated with PPI use, stratified by the presence or absence of pre-existing CVD.

Methods: This review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines and included studies up to March 2024 from PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science.

Cannabis consumption and risk of asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Cannabis is the third most widely used psychoactive substance globally, and its consumption has been increasing, particularly with the growing trend of legalization for medicinal and recreational use. Recent studies have raised concerns about the potential impact of cannabis on respiratory health, specifically the risk of asthma, a significant public health concern. This systematic review aimed to consolidate research on the association between cannabis use and the risk of asthma.

Assessment of out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures on essential medicines for acute and chronic illness: a comparative study across regional and socioeconomic groups in India.

Background: Substantial out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures push a large portion of the population below the poverty line, especially those residing in rural areas having low incomes. Individuals from economically disadvantaged states in India incur higher healthcare costs for hospitalization in public health centers than do those from more developed states. Economically poorer households in states such as Bihar and Odisha face significantly higher OOP expenditures for hospitalization in public health centers than do those in economically developed states such as Tamil Nadu.

Unveiling microbial diversity in slightly and moderately magnesium deficient acidic soils.

Magnesium (Mg) an essential plant nutrient is widespread deficient in the acidic soils of Nilgiris of Tamil nadu, India. The vegetable yield and quality is especially affected due to deficiency of nutrients like Mg. This study investigates soil characteristics and bacterial diversity in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu, India, with respect to Mg deficiency.

Comparative study of degree, neighborhood and reverse degree based indices for drugs used in lung cancer treatment through QSPR analysis.

Quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) modeling has emerged as a pivotal tool in the field of medicinal chemistry and drug design, offering a predictive framework for understanding the correlation between chemical structure and physicochemical properties. Topological indices are mathematical descriptors derived from the molecular graphs that capture structural features and connectivity, playing a crucial role in QSPR analysis by quantitatively relating chemical structures to their physicochemical properties and biological activities. Lung cancer is characterized by its aggressive nature and late-stage diagnosis, often limiting treatment options and significantly impacting patient survival rates.

Uncovering mercury accumulation and the potential for bacterial bioremediation in response to contamination in the Singalila National Park.

Several recent investigations into montane regions have reported on excess mercury accumulation in high-altitude forest ecosystems. This study explored the Singalila National Park, located on the Singalila ridge of the Eastern Himalayas, revealing substantial mercury contamination. Particular focus was on Sandakphu (3636 m), the highest peak in West Bengal, India.

Utilization of Chlorella vulgaris methyl ester blend with diethyl ether to mitigate emissions of an unaltered single cylinder ci engine.

The present work emphasizes the viability of methyl ester production, characterization, and utilization of third-generation biofuel from Chlorella vulgaris microalgae. The presence of methyl oleate (CHO) in the Chlorella vulgaris methyl ester (CVME) algae signifies the existence of higher oxidation stability and prone to peroxidation. The single-stage transesterified CVME algae contains majorly (C-H) functional group trailed by (C = O), (C-O), (O-CH), (C-O-C) with the elemental compositions of 66.

Association of digital eye strain with central corneal thickness: a cross-sectional observational pilot study.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate whether the digital eye strain (DES) was associated with the low central corneal thickness (CCT).

Methods: This observational cross-sectional pilot study was conducted from April 2023 to October 2023 at a tertiary eye care centre in North India, where CCT values were compared between subjects with DES and those without DES. Two hundred and eighty subjects (n = 280) aged 15-40 years with clear corneas and lenses were initially included in this study.

Neurotensin via Type I Receptor Modulates the Endotoxemia Induced Oxido-Inflammatory Stress on the Sympathetic Adrenomedullary System of Mice Regulating NF-κβ/Nor-Epinephrine Pathway.

The present study investigated the role of the neurotensin/NTS in the modulation of the lipopolysaccharide/LPS induced dysfunction of the sympatho-adrenal-medullary system/SAM using both the NTS receptor 1/NTSR agonist PD149163/PD and antagonist SR48692 /SR. Forty eight mice were maintained in eight groups; Group I/control, Groups II, III, IV, and VII received LPS for 5 days further Group III/IV/VII received PD low dose/PD, PD high dose /PD and SR for 28 days respectively. Group V/VI received similar only PD and PD dose respectively whereas Group VIII was exposed to only SR for 28 days.

Chemical shift assignments of DRB2 domains, a dsRNA binding protein in A. thaliana RNAi pathway.

In Arabidopsis thaliana, micro-RNA regulation is primarily controlled by DCL1, an RNase III enzyme, and its associated proteins. DCL1, together with DRB2, governs a specific group of miRNAs that induce the inhibition of target mRNA translation. DRB2 is a multi-domain protein containing two N-terminal dsRNA binding domains (dsRBD) separated by a linker, followed by an unstructured C-terminal tail.

Bone Tissue Engineering: From Biomaterials to Clinical Trials.

Bone tissue engineering is a promising field that aims to rebuild the bone tissue using biomaterials, cells, and signaling molecules. Materials like natural and synthetic polymers, inorganic materials, and composite materials are used to create scaffolds that mimic the hierarchical microstructure of bone. Stem cells, particularly mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), play a crucial role in bone tissue engineering by promoting tissue regeneration and modulating the immune response.

Melatonin modulation of the chronic dexamethasone-induced adrenal insufficiency.

Purpose: Chronic exposure to synthetic glucocorticoids/GCs, widely in use to treat many diseases, may compromise the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal/HPA axis leading to a condition of adrenal insufficiency/AI. This study demonstrates the efficacy of the melatonin/MEL in amelioration of chronic dexamethasone (DEX)-induced AI.

Methods: Mice (Parkes Strain/Male/8 weeks old/30-33 g) were maintained in four groups (10 mice/group) for 30 days: Group 1/Control received intraperitoneal (i.

Similar patient-reported satisfaction and professional appraisal of implant-supported fixed dental prosthesis fabricated by different workflows.

Design: A triple-armed, double-blind randomized controlled trial with cross-over design investigated patient-reported satisfaction and objective dental evaluation of a 3-unit, monolithic zirconium dioxide (ZrO2), implant-supported fixed dental prosthesis (iFDP) fabricated with 2 completely digital workflows and 1 mixed analog-digital workflow.

Case Selection: Participants enrolled required rehabilitation of 2 dental implants in posterior region of either of the arches with a 3-unit, ZrO2 iFDP. A total of 20 participants received the 3 types of ZrO2, iFDP fabricated by 3 different methods.

An evaluation of surgical excision versus steroid injection for the management of ganglion cysts.

Ganglion cysts are benign soft tissue tumors that commonly occur in the joints, especially the wrist. Surgical excision and steroid injection are the two main treatment options; however, their efficacy remains unclear. This prospective interventional control trial included 54 patients with ganglion cysts treated between March 2023 and March 2024 at Saveetha Medical College Hospital, Chennai.

Optimized sequential model for superior classification of plant disease.

Indian agriculture is vital sector in the country's economy, providing employment and sustenance to millions of farmers. However, Plant diseases are a serious risk to crop yields and farmers' livelihoods. Traditional plant disease diagnosis methods rely heavily on human expertise, which can lead to inaccuracies due to the invisible nature of early disease symptoms and the labor-intensive process, making them inefficient for large-scale agricultural management.

Identification of heat tolerant lentil genotypes through stress tolerance indices.

With climate change projections indicating an increase in the frequency of extreme heat events and irregular rainfall patterns globally, the threat to global food security looms large. Terminal heat stress, which occurs during the critical reproductive stage, significantly limits lentil productivity. Therefore, there is an urgent need to improve lentil's resilience to heat stress to sustain production.

Elucidating the potential of EGFR mutated NSCLC and identifying its multitargeted inhibitors.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related fatalities globally, accounting for the highest mortality rate among both men and women. Mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene are frequently found in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Since curcumin and CB[2]UN support various medicinal applications in drug delivery and design, we investigated the effect of curcumin and CB[2]UN-based drugs in controlling EGFR-mutant NSCLC through a dodecagonal computational approach.

Efficacy of oral irrigators compared to other interdental aids for managing peri-implant diseases: a systematic review.

Objective: Peri-implant diseases (peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis) are inflammatory conditions that affect the peri-implant tissues and are induced by microbial biofilms (dental plaque) formed around the implant. Removal of biofilm is the fundamental step in managing peri-implant diseases. Interdental cleaning aids such as interdental brush, unitufted brush, or oral irrigation along with regular toothbrushing are recommended for effective plaque control around implants.

Comparison of mNGS with conventional methods for diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis: a retrospective study.

The application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in the diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis is relatively under characterized. Here, we retrospectively evaluated data from cryptococcal meningitis patients who were tested using mNGS and/or routine testing, including fungal culture, India ink staining, and cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) testing. The performance of mNGS was then assessed.

"Evaluation of Curcuma zedoaria Rosc. in the management of non-alcoholic fatty liver Disease: A Randomized, single blind, controlled trial".

Background And Study Aims: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disorder, affecting 23% to 32% of the global population. This clinical study aimed to assess the efficacy of Curcuma zedoaria Rosc. compared to vitamin E in managing NAFLD.

Insights from 1096 clinical cases: pioneering a universal grading system for vernal keratoconjunctivitis management.

Aim: To analyse the clinical and demographic profiles of patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) and propose a grading for VKC based on corneal status and symptom periodicity rather than disease activity.

Methods: Retrospective observational study from January 2015 to January 2020 in India. VKC grading was based on past/present clinical signs and frequency of symptoms rather than disease activity.

Management of Pancreatic Duct Strictures, Leaks, and Disconnected Pancreatic Duct Syndrome.

Pancreatic duct (PD) strictures, leaks, and disconnected ducts are important morphologic consequences of inflammatory disease of the pancreas, resulting in abdominal pain, pancreatic ascites, pancreatic pleural effusion, and external pancreatic fistula. Traditionally, these PD complications were treated surgically, but a better understanding of their pathophysiology, along with advancement in endoscopic interventions, has transformed the therapy from morbid surgical interventions to minimally invasive, safe, and effective endoscopic treatment. This review discusses the current diagnostic and management strategies for PD strictures, leaks, and disconnected pancreatic ducts.

Organ Failure and Prediction of Severity in Acute Pancreatitis.

Organ failure (OF) is a sinister development in the clinical course of acute pancreatitis, and its prediction is crucial for triaging the patient. Persistent systemic inflammatory response syndrome and raised interleukin-6 levels have a good predictive accuracy. Pathophysiology involves the release of damage-associated molecular patterns as a consequence of pancreatic injury, recruitment of inflammatory cells, and the release of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines causing cytokine storm.