Magnetic resonance imaging safety in Asia-Oceania: call for action.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) safety is a critical concern in the Asia-Oceania region, as it is elsewhere in the world, due to the unique and complex MRI environment that demands attention. This call-for-action outlines ten critical steps to enhance MRI safety and promote a culture of responsibility and accountability in the Asia-Oceania region. Key focus areas include strengthening education and expertise, improving quality assurance, fostering collaboration, increasing public awareness, and establishing national safety boards.

The effectiveness of a conservative approach in the management of groove pancreatitis.

Background: Groove pancreatitis (GP) is a form of pancreatitis that affects the pancreaticoduodenal groove area, which lies between the head of the pancreas, the second part of the duodenum and the distal bile duct, presenting as abdominal pain and gastric outlet obstruction. In this study, we present the clinical and radiological characteristics of individuals diagnosed with groove pancreatitis at our center and discuss the use of a conservative treatment approach in managing GP.

Methods: The data of patients with groove pancreatitis treated at our center between January 2012 and December 2021 was analyzed.

Unravelling the modes of phototoxicity of NIR absorbing chlorophyll derivative in cancer cells under normoxic and hypoxic conditions.

The efficacy of photodynamic treatment (PDT) against deep-seated tumor is hindered by low penetration depth of light as well as hypoxic conditions which prevails in tumor. To overcome this limitation, Near-infrared (NIR) absorbing photosensitizers have been investigated actively. In the present study we evaluated the PDT efficacy of an NIR absorbing chlorophyll derivative 'Cycloimide Purpurin-18 (CIPp-18)' in Human Breast carcinoma (MCF-7) and cervical adenocarcinoma (Hela) cells under normoxic and hypoxic conditions.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Furosemide Stress Test and Cystatin-C for Predicting Acute Kidney Injury Progression in Children: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Objectives: To evaluate the predictive ability of furosemide stress test (FST), serum and urine cystatin-C in identifying progressive acute kidney injury (AKI) and the need for kidney replacement therapy (KRT).

Methods: Children aged one month to 18 y admitted in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) with Kidney Diseases Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) stage-1/2 AKI were enrolled. FST and serum and urine cystatin-C levels were performed and analyzed.

Range-wide understanding of genetic diversity and population structure of endangered Kashmir musk deer in North-Western Himalaya.

Background: The endangered Kashmir musk deer (Moschus cupreus), native to high-altitude Himalayas, is an ecological significant and endangered ungulate, threatened by habitat loss and poaching for musk pod distributed in western Himalayan ranges of India, Nepal and Afghanistan. Despite its critical conservation status and ecological importance in regulating vegetation dynamics, knowledge gaps persist regarding its population structure and genetic diversity, hindering effective management strategies.

Methods And Results: We aimed to understand the population genetics of Kashmir musk deer in north-western Himalayas using two mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) regions and 11 microsatellite loci.

Innovating alopecia treatment: nanostructured lipid carriers as advanced delivery platforms.

Alopecia, a common dermatological condition, poses significant psychological and social challenges. Despite the availability of various treatments, their efficacy is often limited by poor bioavailability and delivery challenges. Nanostructured lipid carriers have emerged as promising advanced drug delivery systems for alopecia treatment due to their ability to encapsulate both hydrophilic and lipophilic compounds, enhancing their stability, solubility, and controlled release.

A Comprehensive Review on Exploring the Potential of Phytochemicals and Biogenic Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogenic Bacteria.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an escalating global health concern that results in approximately 700,000 deaths annually owing to drug-resistant infections. It compromises the effectiveness of conventional antibiotics, as well as fundamental medical procedures, such as surgery and cancer treatment. Phytochemicals, natural plant constituents, and biogenic nanoparticles synthesized through biological processes are pharmacological alternatives for supplementing or replacing traditional antibiotics.

Enhanced Mosquito Larvicidal Efficacy and Dehairing Properties of Bacillus thuringiensis Serovar israelensis Strain VCRC-B649 Isolated from Malabar Coast, India.

In recent years, there has been a global threat from emerging vector-borne diseases (VBD), despite the implementation of several vector control programs. Considering the benefits of bacterial pesticides, the present study aimed to isolate potential mosquitocidal bacteria from the various soil types collected from the Kasaragod (12.5°N, 75.

Dinitrogen Activation: A Novel Approach with P/B Intermolecular FLP.

This study explores the reactivity of a new intermolecular P/B frustrated Lewis pair in the context of dinitrogen activation through a push-pull mechanism. The ab initio molecular dynamics model known as atom-centered density matrix propagation plays a pivotal role in elucidating the weakly associated encounter complex. In-depth analysis, mainly through intrinsic reaction coordinate calculations, supports a single-step mechanism.

Multifunctional Mycobacterial Topoisomerases with Distinctive Features.

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a major cause of death worldwide despite having an effective combinatorial therapeutic regimen and vaccine. Being one of the most successful human pathogens, retains the ability to adapt to diverse intracellular and extracellular environments encountered by it during infection, persistence, and transmission. Designing and developing new therapeutic strategies to counter the emergence of multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant TB remains a major task.

Unraveling the Molecular Architecture of Mosquito D1-Like Dopamine Receptors: Insights Into Ligand Binding and Structural Dynamics for Insecticide Development.

Vector-borne diseases pose a severe threat to human life, contributing significantly to global mortality. Understanding the structure-function relationship of the vector proteins is pivotal for effective insecticide development due to their involvement in drug resistance and disease transmission. This study reports the structural and dynamic features of D1-like dopamine receptors (DARs) in disease-causing mosquito species, such as Aedes aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus, Anopheles gambiae, and Anopheles stephensi.

Characterizing Parkinson's Disease-Associated Pain in Native Patients with Malayalam Version of the King's Parkinson's Disease Pain Scale.

Background And Objectives: Pain is an important non-motor symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD) and is often under-recognized. Pain is also a symptom frequently reported by non-PD elderly subjects. The King's Parkinson's Disease Pain Scale (KPPS) is a valid tool to characterize and quantify pain in PD and has been translated into several languages.

Repeatability of lipid layer thickness using LipiView® following removal of contact lenses and its relationship to comfort.

Purpose: To assess the repeatability of lipid layer thickness (LLT) measurement using the LipiView® interferometer after daily disposable contact lens (CL) wear and correlation with ocular comfort in soft contact lens wearers.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted over two consecutive months, wherein CL wearers (n = 20) wore either Somofilcon A or Verofilcon A daily disposable CLs in a crossover design, switching lenses after 1 month. The pre-corneal tear film LLT was measured at the end of each month after CLs had been worn for at least 6 h.

Occurrence of multi drug resistant ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae in livestock and in-silico identification of probable catalytic domain in circulating ESBL variants.

The study was conducted to detect the occurrence and phenotypic resistance pattern of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae in livestock using docking based analysis to reveal the classes of antibiotics against which ESBL-producers are active. Rectal swabs from healthy cattle (n=100), goats (n=88), pigs (n=66) were collected from backyard farms in Andaman and Nicober island (India). In total, 304 isolates comprising E.

Nutritional value, phytochemical content, and pharmacological screening of L. fruits.

The present study aimed to evaluate the nutrition value, phytochemical content, and diverse pharmacological activities of different solvent extracts of L. fruit. Among all, the hydro-alcoholic extract showed high DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities with IC values of 82.

VGX: VGG19-Based Gradient Explainer Interpretable Architecture for Brain Tumor Detection in Microscopy Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MMRI).

The development of deep learning algorithms has transformed medical image analysis, especially in brain tumor recognition. This research introduces a robust automatic microbrain tumor identification method utilizing the VGG16 deep learning model. Microscopy magnetic resonance imaging (MMRI) scans extract detailed features, providing multi-modal insights.

Substitution and Complementarity in the Consumption of Alcohol, Cannabis, and Opium.

Understanding the behavior of populations of drug consumers has been and remains a topic of keen interest. Using a unique dataset on 25 districts from Bengal, India, from 1911 to 1925, we analyze whether populations of consumers treat alcohol, cannabis, and opium as economic substitutes or complements in a legal regime. Additionally, we examine responsiveness to prices and income.

Impact of Pressure on Metavalent Bonding in BiTe influencing Electronic Topological Transitions.

BiTe, a member of the (Bi2)m(Bi2Te3)n homologous series, possesses natural van der Waals-like heterostructure with a Bi2 bilayer sandwiched between the two [Te-Bi-Te-Bi-Te] quintuple layers. BiTe exhibits both the quantum states of weak topological and topological crystalline insulators, making it a dual topological insulator and a suitable candidate for spintronics, quantum computing and thermoelectrics. Herein, we demonstrate that the chemical bonding in BiTe is to be metavalent, which plays a significant role in the pressure dependent change in the topology of the electronic structure Fermi surface.

Monitoring of drinking water quality: a preliminary approach by an electronic tongue based on functionalized polymer membrane electrodes.

Functionalized polymer membrane electrodes based multichannel sensor is used as an electronic tongue to monitor the drinking water (DW) quality simply by measuring the surface electric potential with respect to Ag/AgCl reference electrode in 1 mM aqueous KCl. Changes of minute concentration of dissolved minerals greatly affected the surface potential of the sensor. The three-channel sensor device (electronic tongue) is made by using three different functionalized polymer membrane electrodes, namely, phosphorylated hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride modified polyvinyl alcohol-polyacrylic acid membrane; phosphorylated and crosslinked polyvinyl--ethylene membrane; phosphorylated and crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol membrane, as working electrodes and a Ag/AgCl reference electrode.

Biparametric magnetic resonance imaging as a diagnostic tool for differentiating RCC and renal pseudotumor in CKD patients.

Introduction: Pseudotumors are benign lesions which may mimic like a malignant tumor on conventional imaging. They are formed in kidneys which are scarred and deformed by chronic pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis, trauma or infarction. There is a diagnostic dilemma in most of the cases as to differentiate RCC and pseudotumors.

An Artefact-Minimized Raman Probe for Analyzing Biological Tissues.

Availability of a suitable tool for carrying out non-invasive measurement of Raman signatures in situ, from biological tissues having low Raman cross section is a clinically unmet need faced with manifold challenges. A Raman probe can prove to be an invaluable component of clinical Raman diagnostic systems. We present development of a Raman probe capable of measuring artefact free Raman spectra of biological tissues in situ.

A preliminary account of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands with 13 new records and updated species inventory from India.

Background: The detection of multiple bluetongue virus serotypes, increasing trend in livestock density, rich biological diversity with high endemism, and the status of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as a popular tourist destination underscore the need for a faunistic survey of medically and veterinary significant vector species, specifically Culicoides, in this region. Moreover, scattered information on Indian Culicoides species complicates the planning and implementation of preventive measures for pathogens transmitted by these vectors. This study aims to provide the first comprehensive account of the Culicoides fauna in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India, along with an updated checklist of Indian Culicoides species and their state-wise distribution.

First evidence of transovarial transmission of Kyasanur Forest disease virus in Haemaphysalis and Rhipicephalus ticks in the wild.

Background: Kyasanur forest disease virus (KFDV) is a tick-borne flavivirus causing debilitating and potentially fatal disease in people in the Western Ghats region of India. The transmission cycle is complex, involving multiple vector and host species, but there are significant gaps in ecological knowledge. Empirical data on pathogen-vector-host interactions and incrimination have not been updated since the last century, despite significant local changes in land use and the expansion of KFD to new areas.