Out of Pocket Expenditure on Institutional Deliveries in India.

Background: Out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) and catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) on institutional deliveries in India impose significant financial burdens, disproportionately affecting socio-economically vulnerable populations and regions despite various policy interventions.

Purpose: This study evaluates the extent of OOPE and CHE associated with institutional deliveries across Indian states and analyse regional variations using data from National Family Health Survey -5 (2019-21).

Results: The findings reveal substantial inter-state and regional disparities in mean OOPE and CHE incidence, with socioeconomic and healthcare system factors significantly influencing these outcomes.

Aberrant DNA methylation of EDNRB, MGMT and TIMP3 gene promoters in saliva of head and neck carcinoma patients as a diagnostic tool.

Background: Differential DNA methylation in the promoter region of tumour suppressor genes leads to gene function silencing.

Materials And Methods: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the salivary promoter methylation of EDNRB, MGMT and TIMP3 genes in H&NC patients (n = 100), premalignant lesions patients (n = 25) and healthy controls (n = 50). Blood and saliva samples were collected from all three groups and 20 concomitant tumour tissues were collected from the H&NC patients.

Decoding the Role of Kinesin Superfamily Proteins in Glioma Progression.

Glioma is a highly aggressive and invasive brain tumor with limited treatment options, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic approaches. Kinesin superfamily proteins (KIFs) are a diverse group of motor proteins that play essential roles in cellular processes such as mitosis, intracellular transport, and signal transduction, all of which are crucial for tumorigenesis. This review focuses on the multifaceted role of KIFs in glioma, examining their clinical relevance, contribution to tumor progression, and potential as therapeutic targets.

Role of micronutrients in production and reproduction of farm animals under climate change scenario.

Climate change poses significant challenges to livestock production worldwide. Wherein, it affects communities in developing nations primarily dependent on agriculture and animal husbandry. Its direct and indirect deleterious effects on agriculture and animal husbandry includes aberrant changes in weather patterns resulting in disturbed homeorhetic mechanism of livestock vis a vis indirectly affecting nutrient composition of feed and fodder.

Characterization, Identification, and Biosafety Evaluation of Multifaceted Traits of Plant Growth-Promoting Endophytes for Ameliorating Productivity of Forage Sorghum.

Endophytes are bacteria that inhabit host plants for most of their life cycle without causing harm. In the study, 15 endophytic bacteria were isolated from 30 forage Sorghum plants and assessed for various plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits, such as phosphate solubilization, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase activity, ammonia production, siderophore production, gibberellic acid production, Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production, and zinc solubilization. One isolate, JJG_Zn, demonstrated multiple PGP activities and was identified as Enterobacter sp.

Attenuating hyperammonemia preserves protein synthesis and muscle mass via restoration of perturbed metabolic pathways in bile duct-ligated rats.

Sarcopenia and hepatic encephalopathy (HE) are complications of chronic liver disease (CLD), which negatively impact clinical outcomes. Hyperammonemia is considered to be the central component in the pathogenesis of HE, however ammonia's toxic effects have also been shown to impinge on extracerebral organs including the muscle. Our aim was to investigate the effect of attenuating hyperammonemia with ornithine phenylacetate (OP) on muscle mass loss and associated molecular mechanisms in rats with CLD.

Navigating liver cancer: Precision targeting for enhanced treatment outcomes.

Cancer treatments such as surgery and chemotherapy have several limitations, including ineffectiveness against large or persistent tumors, high relapse rates, drug toxicity, and non-specificity of therapy. Researchers are exploring advanced strategies for treating this life-threatening disease to address these challenges. One promising approach is targeted drug delivery using prodrugs or surface modification with receptor-specific moieties for active or passive targeting.

Targeting cyclin-dependent kinase 11: a computational approach for natural anti-cancer compound discovery.

Cancer, a leading global cause of death, presents considerable treatment challenges due to resistance to conventional therapies like chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Cyclin-dependent kinase 11 (CDK11), which plays a pivotal role in cell cycle regulation and transcription, is overexpressed in various cancers and is linked to poor prognosis. This study focused on identifying potential inhibitors of CDK11 using computational drug discovery methods.

Non-spatial Dynamics and Spatiotemporal Patterns Formation in a Predator-Prey Model with Double Allee and Dome-shaped Response Function.

The extinction of species is a major threat to the biodiversity. Allee effects are strongly linked to population extinction vulnerability. Emerging ecological evidence from numerous ecosystems reveals that the Allee effect, which is brought on by two or more processes, can work on a single species concurrently.

Adaptive ensemble loss and multi-scale attention in breast ultrasound segmentation with UMA-Net.

The generalization of deep learning (DL) models is critical for accurate lesion segmentation in breast ultrasound (BUS) images. Traditional DL models often struggle to generalize well due to the high frequency and scale variations inherent in BUS images. Moreover, conventional loss functions used in these models frequently result in imbalanced optimization, either prioritizing region overlap or boundary accuracy, which leads to suboptimal segmentation performance.

Lateral pelvic lymph node dissection (LPLND) in the treatment of rectal cancer: current practice and evolving approaches in India.

Background: The introduction of total mesorectal excision improved locoregional control for rectal adenocarcinoma significantly. Standardisation of the technique of LPLND is lacking in literature.

Methods: We describe the current practices of case selection and technical details of lateral lymph node dissection in rectal cancer.

In vitro evaluation of silver-zinc oxide-eugenol nanocomposite for enhanced antimicrobial and wound healing applications in diabetic conditions.

Diabetic wounds with chronic infections present a significant challenge, exacerbated by the growing issue of antimicrobial resistance, which often leads to delayed healing and increased morbidity. This study introduces a novel silver-zinc oxide-eugenol (Ag+ZnO+EU) nanocomposite, specifically designed to enhance antimicrobial activity and promote wound healing. The nanocomposite was thoroughly characterized using advanced analytical techniques, confirming its nanoscale structure, stability and chemical composition.

In silico-based investigation of the molecular mechanism of Artocarpus communis seed hexane fraction against metabolic syndrome.

Context: The medications for metabolic syndromes are very minimal and the available are not effective and show adverse effects. There is a huge need for the development of effective and safe drugs to battle metabolic syndromes. In this context, our study aimed to decipher the key molecules from Artocarpus communis seed hexane fraction and their possible mechanism of action against metabolic syndrome.

Elucidating the wedelolactone biosynthesis pathway from Eclipta prostrata (L.) L.: a comprehensive analysis integrating de novo comparative transcriptomics, metabolomics, and molecular docking of targeted proteins.

Eclipta prostrata belongs to the Asteraceae family. The plant contains bioactive compounds like wedelolactone (WDL) and demethylwedelolactone (DW). Its transcriptomic information engaged with secondary metabolite biosynthesis is not available.

PRA-MutPred: Predicting the Effect of Point Mutations in Protein-RNA Complexes Using Structural Features.

Interactions between proteins and RNAs are essential for the proper functioning of cells, and mutations in these molecules may lead to diseases. These protein mutations alter the strength of interactions between the protein and RNA, generally described as binding affinity (Δ). Hence, the affinity change upon mutation (ΔΔ) is an important parameter for understanding the effect of mutations in protein-RNA complexes.

The Brussels consensus for non-invasive ICP monitoring when invasive systems are not available in the care of TBI patients (the B-ICONIC consensus, recommendations, and management algorithm).

Background: Invasive systems are commonly used for monitoring intracranial pressure (ICP) in traumatic brain injury (TBI) and are considered the gold standard. The availability of invasive ICP monitoring is heterogeneous, and in low- and middle-income settings, these systems are not routinely employed due to high cost or limited accessibility. The aim of this consensus was to develop recommendations to guide monitoring and ICP-driven therapies in TBI using non-invasive ICP (nICP) systems.

"Methyl jasmonate: bridging plant defense mechanisms and human therapeutics".

A volatile organic substance produced from jasmonic acid, methyl jasmonate (MJ/MeJA), is an important plant hormone involved in stress responses and plant defense. Apart from its role in plants, MJ has garnered significant attention because of its pharmacological effects and possible therapeutic use in human health. This thorough analysis looks into the many biological actions of MJ, such as its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects.

A complete sojourn on nanotechnological advancements and nanocarrier applications in psoriasis management.

Psoriasis, a chronic autoimmune and non-communicable skin disease, affects 2-3% of the global population, creating a significant financial burden on healthcare systems worldwide. Treatment approaches are categorized based on disease severity, with first-line therapy focusing on topical treatments and second-line therapy encompassing phototherapy, systemic therapy, and biological therapy. Transdermal drug delivery methods present a promising alternative by enhancing drug absorption through the skin, potentially improving therapeutic outcomes while minimizing systemic adverse effects.

Carbene-Functionalized Bulky-Cyclopentadiene Rings.

A series of significantly bulky mono- and di-substituted cyclic alkyl-amino carbene (cAAC)- functionalized cyclopentadiene ring (Cp) compounds were synthesized. The functionalization of the Cp ring with cAAC ligands makes them significantly bulkier, while retaining their ligation properties. These compounds display interesting fluorescence properties.

Factors that affect alginates: a brief review.

Alginates are widely used in dentistry for various applications due to their favorable properties, including ease of use, cost-effectiveness, and patient comfort. They are commonly employed for preliminary impressions of oral structures in dental practice. This study aims to assess the impact of different factors on the performance of alginate impression materials in dentistry.

Pro-angiogenic VEGF inhibition by cadaverine and hydrocinnamic acid metabolites: impairment of periodontal regeneration due to periodontal inflammation.

Background: Cadaverine and hydrocinnamic acid are frequent metabolites in inflamed periodontal areas. Their role as a metabolite for plant growth inhibition has been established, but their relevance in humans has yet to be determined. Moreover, Vascular endothelial growth factor (VGEF) is a consistent growth factor in neo-angiogenesis in periodontal regeneration.

Advancements in porous framework materials for chemiresistive hydrogen sensing: exploring MOFs and COFs.

Hydrogen is a zero-emissive fuel and has immense potential to replace carbon-emitting fuels in the future. The development of efficient H sensors is essential for preventing hazardous situations and facilitating the widespread usage of hydrogen. Chemiresistors are popular gas sensors owing to their attractive properties such as fast response, miniaturization, simple integration with electronics and low cost.

Nanoengineered RF-Sputtered MnO Cathode Thin Films for Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries: Insights into Diffusion Dynamics and Application Potential.

Manganese oxides are a promising cathode material for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs), but thin-film configurations remain underexplored. This study investigates the electrochemical dynamics of 60 nm thin MnO thin films, fabricated via RF magnetron reactive sputtering. It addresses the highest reported capacity (25 mAh/g) in thin film form, stability over 500 cycles, effective performance across varying current rates, surpassing previous studies and challenges such as phase stability, and capacity fading over extended cycling, aiming to enhance uniformity, minimizing diffusion barriers for improved performance.