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.

Unveiling the silent defenders: mycobacterial stress sensors at the forefront to combat tuberculosis.

The global escalation in tuberculosis (TB) cases accompanied by the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains of ( emphasizes the critical requirement for novel potent drugs. The demonstrates extraordinary adaptability, thriving in diverse conditions, and always finds itself in win-win situations regardless of whether the environment is favorable or unfavorable; no matter the magnitude of the challenge, it can endure and survive. This review aims to uncover the role of multiple stress sensors of that assist bacteria in remaining viable within the host for years against various physiological stresses offered by the host.

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.

Endoscopic Step-Up Approach in Management of Necrotizing Pancreatitis.

The endoscopic step-up approach in the management of necrotizing pancreatitis involves sequential steps of intervention at different time points in the clinical course of the disease. EUS -guided drainage of walled-off necrosis is the first step of the endoscopic step-up approach. Lumen-apposing metal stents are preferred over plastic stents for safe and effective drainage because of their wide caliber.

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.

Small bowel obstruction after caesarean section: an unusual complication of surgical haemostatic agent.

An unusual case of small bowel obstruction (SBO) due to haemostatic gelatin sponge placed during caesarean delivery is presented. A primigravida in their 30s underwent caesarean delivery at 39 weeks, and developed symptoms of SBO from the second postoperative day. Given the worsening condition of the patient and increasing abdominal girth, CT of the abdomen and pelvis was done which revealed features of SBO.

Leflunomide-induced drug reaction eosinophilia systemic symptoms and haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis overlap syndrome with rheumatoid arthritis.

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome and haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) are rare but severe immune-mediated diseases with overlapping clinical manifestations. We present a case of a woman in her late 40s with rheumatoid arthritis who developed DRESS/HLH overlap syndrome after starting hydroxychloroquine and leflunomide therapy. Despite corticosteroid treatment, her condition worsened, necessitating etoposide therapy.

Postpartum pyogenic sacroiliitis masquerading as sciatic neuropathy.

Low back pain is common in women, especially during pregnancy and puerperium. Septic sacroiliitis, a rare cause of back pain in the postpartum period can mimic other common causes of low back pain like muscle strain, urinary tract infection, pelvic inflammatory disease, endometritis and intervertebral disc prolapse. The proximity of the sacroiliac joint to the sacral nerve plexus results in septic sacroiliitis frequently presenting with symptoms mimicking intervertebral disc prolapse.

Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome type 1 in a neonate with central hepatoblastoma.

We report a neonate evaluated for hepatomegaly during hospitalisation and was diagnosed to have hepatoblastoma, an uncommon childhood malignancy. The presence of dysmorphism, macrosomia and congenital heart defect led to the suspicion of congenital overgrowth conditions. The genetic evaluation revealed a pathogenic variant, conclusive of Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome type 1 (SGBS1).

Maxillary MRSA osteomyelitis in a paediatric patient: non-surgical management.

Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) osteomyelitis of the maxilla is a rare condition in paediatric patients, with limited evidence available for optimal treatment protocols. We present the case of a paediatric patient in the early childhood age group with post-traumatic maxillary osteomyelitis caused by MRSA. The child developed facial swelling following trauma, and imaging revealed maxillary sinus wall thickening and bone erosions.

Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among garment workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Garment workers are at high risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) due to repetitive physical tasks, long working hours and varying workstations. As there is no existing epidemiological overview of MSDs among garment workers, this systematic review aimed to evaluate the global evidence on prevalence of MSDs in this population.

Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

Neurotoxic Effects and Cognitive Decline Induced by Aniline Blue Dye in an In-Vivo Zebrafish Model.

Aniline Blue is a synthetic dye extensively used in various industries, including textiles, plastics, and biological research due to its effective staining properties. However, its environmental and health impacts, particularly its neurotoxic effects, are poorly understood. While the dye has been associated with carcinogenicity and organ toxicity, the neurobehavioral consequences of Aniline Blue exposure remain underexplored.

SCoT and ISSR based conservation genetics of Calligonum polygonoides Linn.: An endangered species of Thar desert.

Calligonum polygonoides, an endangered species of desert due to poor regeneration and overexploitation, which requires immediate conservation attention. Genetic diversity analysis is crucial for effective conservation and management initiatives, for elite genotypes. Therefore, in the present study, SCoT (start codon target) and ISSR (inter simple sequence repeat) markers were used to investigate the genetic variability in 120 individuals of Calligonum polygonoides.

Burden of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in Asia from 1990 to 2021.

Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the disease burden of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in Asia.

Material And Methods: The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 data evaluated NPC metrics by sex, and age in Asia. Estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) were calculated to assess the trends of NPC burden.

Optimized pure cellulose from rice straw using low alkali concentration for sustainable nanocellulose and nanohydrogel production with enhanced dye reduction.

Conversion of rice straw into nanocellulose offers a sustainable approach to agricultural waste management, yielding an industrially important product with potential applications. This work focuses on effectively extracting pure cellulose from both widely used Basmati and Parmal rice straw (BRS and PRS) using less alkali concentrations (3-5 % NaOH). The process was optimized via Box Behnken design at 90-150 °C temperatures for 90-150 min, which resulted in 88.

Fabricating pine needles derived spherical nanocellulose with polyaniline and montmorillonite clay for simultaneous removal of cationic and anionic dyes from binary mixtures.

Herein, pine needles derived spherical nanocellulose (SNC) was combined with aniline to form SNC-polyaniline (SNC-PANI), followed by modification with montmorillonite (MMT) to form SNC-PANI-MMT composite. The as-synthesized materials were characterized by FTIR, XRD, XPS, TGA, FESEM, and EDS and evaluated for the simultaneous adsorption of cationic and anionic dyes, malachite green (MG), and Congo red (CR) from MG-CR mixture, and fuchsin basic (FB) and methyl orange (MO) from FB-MO mixture. Non-linear kinetics of adsorption showed the anionic dyes, CR and MO to follow pseudo-first order kinetics with 91.

Determination of enzyme kinetic parameters of fast-acting Schizosaccharomyces pombe Ulp1 catalytic domain using Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay.

The SUMO fusion technology has immensely contributed to the soluble production of therapeutics and other recombinant proteins in E. coli. The structure-based functionality of SUMO protease has remained the primary determinant for choosing SUMO as a solubility enhancer tag.

A review on chitosan and chitosan-based bionanocomposites: Promising biological macromolecules for sustainable corrosion inhibition.

Corrosion is a significant issue affecting industrial metal surfaces, resulting in material degradation, economic losses, and safety concerns. This review comprehensively examines chitosan and its nano and bionanocomposite forms as sustainable, eco-friendly corrosion inhibitors, emphasizing key innovations in their development and application. The article highlights chitosan's ability to form protective films, which inhibit corrosion by creating a barrier on metal surfaces.

Effectiveness of rotavirus vaccine following introduction in the childhood immunization program in Northeast India.

Background: Rotavirus diarrhoea is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in children under five years of age. The WHO has recommended vaccination against this agent especially in countries with high mortality rates. As India accounts for almost a quarter of worldwide rotaviral diarrhoea cases, the government has introduced indigenously manufactured vaccines in the national immunization schedule which has been implemented in four phases.

In-vitro susceptibility of cefiderocol and other comparators in carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacilli: A study from India.

Introduction: Cefiderocol is a parenteral catechol-type siderophore cephalosporin, which has been approved for the treatment of gram-negative bacterial infections. Its activity among the carbapenem-resistant gram negative bacilli (CR-GNBs) in India is largely unknown.

Methodology: We tested in-vitro susceptibility of cefiderocol in 84 CR-GNB [ carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB), carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA) , carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli (CREC) and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP)] by broth microdilution(BMD) and disc diffusion (DD) using Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) and European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) breakpoints and concordance of DD was compared with BMD.

The key vulnerabilities and therapeutic opportunities in the USP7-p53/MDM2 axis in cancer.

The MDM2/MDMX-p53 circuitry is essential for controlling the development, apoptosis, immune response, angiogenesis, senescence, cell cycle progression, and proliferation of cancer cells. Research has demonstrated that USP7 exerts strong control over p53, MDM2, and MDMX stability, with multiple mediator proteins influencing the USP7-p53-MDM2/MDMX axis to modify p53 expression level and function. In cases where p53 is of the wild type (Wt-p53) in tumors, inhibiting USP7 promotes the degradation of MDM2/MDMX, leading to the activation of p53 signaling.

Whole genome sequencing revealed high occurrence of antimicrobial resistance genes in bacteria isolated from poultry manure.

Global demand for food has driven expansion and intensification of livestock production, particularly in developing nations where antibiotic use is often routine. Waste from poultry production, including manure, is commonly utilized as fertilizers in agroecosystems, risking environmental contamination with potentially zoonotic bacteria and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). Here, 33 bacterial isolates were recovered from broiler (n=17) and layer (n=16) chicken manure by aerobic culture using Luria Bertani agar.

PDE4 inhibitor rolipram represses hedgehog signaling via ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis of GLI transcription factors to regress breast cancer.

Aberrant activation of the hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway positively correlates with progression, invasion and metastasis of several cancers, including breast cancer. Although numerous inhibitors of the Hh signaling pathway are available, several oncogenic mutations of key components of the pathway, including Smoothened (Smo), have limited their capability to be developed as putative anti-cancer drugs. In this study, we have modulated the Hh signaling pathway in breast cancer using a specific FDA-approved phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor rolipram.

Extracellular volume expansion drives vertebrate axis elongation.

The vertebrate bauplan is primarily established via the formation of embryonic tissues in a head-to-tail progression. The mechanics of this elongation, which requires the presomitic mesoderm (PSM), remain poorly understood. Here, we find that avian PSM explants can elongate autonomously when physically confined in vitro, producing a pushing force promoting posterior elongation of the embryo.