The chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) Paradigm: Bridging the gap in depression research from bench to bedside.

Depression is a complicated neuropsychiatric condition with an incompletely understoodetiology, making the discovery of effective therapies challenging. Animal models have been crucial in improving our understanding of depression and enabling antidepressant medication development. The CUMS model has significant face validity since it induces fundamental depression symptoms in humans, such as anhedonia, behavioral despair, anxiety, cognitive impairments, and changes in sleep, food, and social behavior. Its construct validity is demonstrated by the dysregulation of neurobiological systems involved in depression, including monoaminergic neurotransmission, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, neuroinflammatory processes, and structural brain alterations. Critically, the model's predictive validity is demonstrated by the reversal of CUMS-induced deficits following treatment with clinically effective antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. This review comprehensivelyassesses the multifarious depressive-like phenotypes in the CUMS model using behavioral paradigms like sucrose preference, forced swim, tail suspension, elevated plus maze, and novel object recognition tests. It investigates the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie CUMS-induced behaviors, including signaling pathways involving tumor necrosis factor-alpha, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and its receptor TrkB, cyclooxygenase-2, glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta, and the kynurenine pathway. This review emphasizes the CUMS model's importance as a translationally relevant tool for unraveling the complex mechanisms underlying depression and facilitating the development of improved and targeted interventions for this debilitating neuropsychiatric disorder by providing a comprehensive overview of its validity, behavioral assessments, and neurobiological underpinnings.

Discrimination and analytical profiling of colored printed documents using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy coupled with explorative and predictive statistical analysis: Part I.

Printed documents are a common form of evidence in forensic document examination. The integration of spectroscopy with chemometrics have evolved evidential analytical interpretation of printing inks. However, we report the first ever study that explores the examination of both black and colored printed documents combined with explorative Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and supervised techniques viz. Soft independent modelling of class analogy (SIMCA) and Partial Least Square- Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA). The study investigated 74 (40 Ink-based and 34 Toner- based) colored printed document samples using ATR-FTIR to discriminate and determine the source of origin of an unknown printed document using a non-destructive approach. Qualitative analysis by ATR- FTIR indicated the presence of polystyrene, bisphenol A and acrylates as the common binder polymers in the samples. The study was also able to obtain pigment information like presence of PR 57 and PR 146 in magenta, Carbon black in black, Copper Phthalocyanine and PB 15 in Cyan and PY 74 in yellow colored printed samples. Further, PCA has been used as an explorative technique that showed a variance of 97 % in the dataset and indicating that the color Cyan contributes to the maximum classification accuracy. SIMCA has been used as a supervised method to classify the known and test samples to their respective defined classes. However, SIMCA could only classify Toner-based samples in their respective class and inconclusive results were obtained in case of Ink-based samples. Finally, PLS-DA was also used to classify the two class of samples which resulted in a discrimination accuracy of 98.6 %. The derived model was also used for validation study on blind test samples which provided 100 % classification results.

MICAL2 Is a Super Enhancer Associated Gene that Promotes Pancreatic Cancer Growth and Metastasis.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the deadliest solid cancers and thus identifying more effective therapies is a major unmet need. In this study we characterized the super enhancer (SE) landscape of human PDAC to identify novel, potentially targetable, drivers of the disease. Our analysis revealed that MICAL2 is a super enhancer-associated gene in human PDAC. MICAL2 is a flavin monooxygenase that induces actin depolymerization and indirectly promotes SRF transcription by modulating the availability of serum response factor coactivators myocardin related transcription factors (MRTF-A and MRTF-B). We found that MICAL2 is overexpressed in PDAC and correlates with poor patient prognosis. Transcriptional analysis revealed that MICAL2 upregulates KRAS and EMT signaling pathways, contributing to tumor growth and metastasis. In loss and gain of function experiments in human and mouse PDAC cells, we observed that MICAL2 promotes both ERK1/2 and AKT activation. Consistent with its role in actin depolymerization and KRAS signaling, loss of MICAL2 expression also inhibited macropinocytosis. Through in vitro phenotypic analyses, we show that MICAL2, MRTF-A and MRTF-B influence PDAC cell proliferation, migration and promote cell cycle progression. Importantly, we demonstrate that MICAL2 is essential for in vivo tumor growth and metastasis. Interestingly, we find that MRTF-B, but not MRTF-A, phenocopies MICAL2-driven phenotypes in vivo . This study highlights the multiple ways in which MICAL2 impacts PDAC biology and suggests that its inhibition may impede PDAC progression. Our results provide a foundation for future investigations into the role of MICAL2 in PDAC and its potential as a target for therapeutic intervention.

Long-term impact of immediate versus deferred antiretroviral therapy on kidney health in people with HIV.

People with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD) due to HIV and antiretroviral therapy (ART) nephrotoxicity. Immediate ART initiation reduces mortality and is now the standard of care, but the long-term impact of prolonged ART exposure on CKD is unknown. To evaluate this, the Strategic Timing of Antiretroviral Treatment (START) trial randomized 4,684 ART-naïve adults with CD4 cell count under 500 cells/mm3 to immediate versus deferred ART. We previously reported a small but statistically significantly greater decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) over a median of 2.1 years in participants randomized to deferred versus immediate ART. Here, we compare the incidence of CKD events and changes in eGFR and urine albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR) in participants randomized to immediate versus deferred ART during extended follow-up. Over a median of 9.3 years, eight participants experienced kidney failure or kidney-related death, three in the immediate and five in the deferred ART arms, respectively. Over a median of five years of more comprehensive follow-up, the annual rate of eGFR decline was 1.19 mL/min/1.73m2/year, with no significant difference between treatment arms (difference deferred - immediate arm 0.055; 95% confidence interval -0.106, 0.217 mL/min/1.73m2). Results were similar in models adjusted for baseline covariates associated with CKD, including UACR and APOL1 genotype. Similarly, there was no significant difference between treatment arms in incidence of confirmed UACR 30 mg/g or more (odds ratio 1.13; 95% confidence interval 0.85, 1.51). Thus, our findings provide the most definitive evidence to date in support of the long-term safety of early ART with respect to kidney health.

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Healthcare Workers: A Phenomenological Study of Skepticism.

RATIONALE:  Despite the prioritizing the healthcare workers (HCWs) for COVID-19 in a systematized manner the phenomenon of vaccine hesitancy was observed in them. HCWs are presumed to be pre-emptive in up-taking the vaccine due to their closest association and having reasonable background information. Hence, we intended to explore and investigate the phenomenology of skepticism and hesitancy toward the COVID-19 vaccine among HCWs. METHOD: A sequential explanatory mixed methods study design incorporating a baseline cross-sectional survey followed by qualitative and semiquantitative text-mining approach was adopted in a tertiary care center in Madhya Pradesh, India. Six hundred seventy-nine HCWs for quantitative data and 30 HCWs for qualitative interviews were surveyed. After determining the quantum and baseline traits of hesitant HCWs, 30 participants were purposively selected for in-depth qualitative analysis based on grounded theory using a framework approach and consolidated from the psychological and philosophical plane of skepticism. This was complemented by a semiquantitative text-mining approach using mono/bigram analysis and network plotting. RESULTS: Approximately one-fifth of participants (18%,122 out of 679) were initially, and one-tenth of initially hesitant (10 out of 122) were terminally hesitant. Hesitant and non-hesitant participants were similar except for comorbidity status. Five themes emerged namely individual, vaccine-related, social, system, and contextual after thematic consolidation. Words/phrases indicating individualistic desire to knowing more, internal conflicts, and conjecture were mined further. The network plot showed diversified expressions of participants. CONCLUSION: There seems to be a requirement to prime HCWs by offering objective information beforehand and removing diffidence using a systematic approach addressing the psychology and prevalent partisan belief in similar circumstances in the future.

Epidemiology of rare bacterial, parasitic, and fungal pathogens in India.

Rare human pathogens are infrequently observed clinically but can lead to undiagnosed infections, delays in treatment, severe complications, including death. Traditional diagnostic tools cannot routinely detect rare infections in public health settings. This study focuses on the incidence and outcomes of rare pathogenic microorganisms over 13 years (2010-2022) using PubMed database to obtain epidemiological data on rare bacterial, parasitic, and fungal infections in hospitals throughout India. A total of 974 articles were screened using case studies, datasets, comments, classical articles, letters, editorials, observational studies, and meta-analyses. Our analysis identified 28 rare bacteria, six parasites, and five fungal species infections in India. Fatal cases were associated with rare bacterial and fungal infections, including two from pan-drug-resistant bacteria (both from the Myroides genus). A total of 10 bacterial species displayed multi-drug resistance; one was extensively drug-resistant, and eight remained unclassified. Of the 83 patients with these rare infections, the mortality was ∼8.4% (seven of 83). Considering drug resistance and high mortality, prompt diagnosis of rare pathogens is crucial to controlling their spread. An increased awareness within the Indian health care system focusing on diagnostics, record keeping, and data sharing will be necessary to enhance surveillance.

Role of riboflavin deficiency in malaria pathophysiology.

The emergence of resistance against antimalarials and insecticides poses a significant threat to malaria elimination strategies. It is crucial to explore potential risk factors for malaria to identify new targets and alternative therapies. Malnutrition is a well-established risk factor for malaria. Deficiencies of micronutrients such as vitamin A, zinc, iron, folic acid, and phenotypic measures of malnutrition, such as stunting and wasting, have been studied extensively in the context of malaria. Vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin, is a micronutrient involved in maintaining cellular homeostasis. Riboflavin deficiency has been shown to have an inverse correlation with malarial parasitaemia. This article reviews the role of riboflavin in maintaining redox homeostasis and probes how riboflavin deficiency could alter malaria pathogenesis by disrupting the balance between oxidants and antioxidants. Though riboflavin analogues have been explored as antimalarials, new in vivo and patient-based research is required to target riboflavin-associated pathways for antimalarial therapy.

Avocado-derived extracellular vesicles loaded with ginkgetin and berberine prevent inflammation and macrophage foam cell formation.

Atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory disease of aorta, remains the major cause of morbidity and mortality among cardiovascular disease patients. Macrophage foam cell formation and inflammation are critically involved in early stages of atherosclerosis, hence chemopreventive targeting of foam cell formation by nutraceuticals may be a promising approach to curbing the progression of atherosclerosis. However, many nutraceuticals including berberine and ginkgetin have low stability, tissue/cell penetration and bioavailability resulting in inadequate chemotherapeutic effects of these nutraceuticals. We have used avocado-derived extracellular vesicles (EV) isolated from avocado (EVAvo ) as a novel carrier of nutraceuticals, in a strategy to alleviate the build-up of macrophage foam cells and expression of inflammatory genes. Our key findings are: (i) Avocado is a natural source of plant-derived EVs as shown by the results from transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering and NanoBrook Omni analysis and atomic force microscopy; (ii) EVAvo are taken up by macrophages, a critical cell type in atherosclerosis; (iii) EVAvo can be loaded with high amounts of ginkgetin and berberine; (iv) ginkgetin plus berberine-loaded EVAvo (EVAvo(B+G) ) suppress activation of NFκB and NLRP3, and inhibit expression of pro-inflammatory and atherogenic genes, specifically Cd36, Tnfα, Il1ß and Il6; (v) EVAvo(B+G) attenuate oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL)-induced macrophage foam cell formation and (vi) EVAvo(B+G) inhibit oxLDL uptake but not its cell surface binding during foam cell formation. Overall, our results suggest that using EVAvo as a natural carrier of nutraceuticals may improve strategies to curb the progression of atherosclerosis by limiting inflammation and pro-atherogenic responses.

Risk Factors for Unfavorable Glycemic Control Trajectory in Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Community-based Longitudinal Study in Urbanslums of Central India.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease, which requires optimal glycemic control to prevent its ensuing vascular complications. Pathway to optimal glycemic control in T2DM has a complex socio-behavioral construct, especially in vulnerable populations, like slum dwellers, who have reduced health-care access and lower prioritization of health needs. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to map trajectories of glycemic control amongst individuals with T2DM living in urban slums and identify key determinants associated with unfavourable glycaemic trajectory. METHODS: This study was a community-based longitudinal study conducted in an urban slum of Bhopal in Central India. Adult patients diagnosed with T2DM and on treatment for more than one year were included. All 326 eligible participants underwent a baseline interview, which captured sociodemographic, personal behavior, medication adherence, morbidity profile, treatment modality, anthropometric and biochemical measurements (HbA1c). Another 6-month follow-up interview was conducted to record anthropometric measurements, HbA1c and treatment modality. Four mixed effect logistic regression models (through theory-driven variable selections) were created with glycemic status as dependent variable and usage of insulin was considered as random effect. RESULTS: A total of 231 (70.9%) individuals had unfavorable glycemic control trajectory (UGCT), and only 95 (29.1%) had a favorable trajectory. Individuals with UGCT were more likely to be women, with lower educational status, non-vegetarian food preference, consumed tobacco, had poor drug adherence, and were on insulin. The most parsimonious model identified female gender (2.44,1.33-4.37), tobacco use (3.80,1.92 to 7.54), and non-vegetarian food preference (2.29,1.27 to 4.13) to be associated with UGCT. Individuals with good medication adherence (0.35,0.13 to 0.95) and higher education status (0.37,0.16 to 0.86) were found to be protective in nature. CONCLUSION: Unfavorable glycemic control trajectory seems to be an inescapable consequence in vulnerable settings. The identified predictors through this longitudinal study may offer a cue for recognizing a rational response at societal level and adopting strategy formulation thereof.

Rate of response to initial antiretroviral therapy according to level of pre-existing HIV-1 drug resistance detected by next-generation sequencing in the strategic timing of antiretroviral treatment (START) study.

OBJECTIVES: The main objective of this analysis was to evaluate the impact of pre-existing drug resistance by next-generation sequencing (NGS) on the risk of treatment failure (TF) of first-line regimens in participants enrolled in the START study. METHODS: Stored plasma from participants with entry HIV RNA >1000 copies/mL were analysed using NGS (llumina MiSeq). Pre-existing drug resistance was defined using the mutations considered by the Stanford HIV Drug Resistance Database (HIVDB v8.6) to calculate the genotypic susceptibility score (GSS, estimating the number of active drugs) for the first-line regimen at the detection threshold windows of >20%, >5%, and >2% of the viral population. Survival analysis was conducted to evaluate the association between the GSS and risk of TF (viral load >200 copies/mL plus treatment change). RESULTS: Baseline NGS data were available for 1380 antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve participants enrolled over 2009-2013. First-line ART included a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) in 976 (71%), a boosted protease inhibitor in 297 (22%), or an integrase strand transfer inhibitor in 107 (8%). The proportions of participants with GSS <3 were 7% for >20%, 10% for >5%, and 17% for the >2% thresholds, respectively. The adjusted hazard ratio of TF associated with a GSS of 0-2.75 versus 3 in the subset of participants with mutations detected at the >2% threshold was 1.66 (95% confidence interval 1.01-2.74; p = 0.05) and 2.32 (95% confidence interval 1.32-4.09; p = 0.003) after restricting the analysis to participants who started an NNRTI-based regimen. CONCLUSIONS: Up to 17% of participants initiated ART with a GSS <3 on the basis of NGS data. Minority variants were predictive of TF, especially for participants starting NNRTI-based regimens.

Recent Trends of Vibrational Spectroscopy in Examination of Sequence of Strokes: Application in Forensic Documents Examination.

Chronological sequencing of ink strokes has been a challenge for the Forensic Document Examiners (FDE). Document forgery is a common practice and the ability to determine the order in which the primary and the subsequent strokes have been made is crucial for establishing the authenticity of a document. Lately, the prime thrust of establishing the sequence of intersection of ink lines has shifted from an optical to an analytical approach. Several studies have been reported to explore the use of spectroscopic techniques in determining the sequence of ink strokes made using gel pen inks, ball pen inks, fountain inks, printed ink, stamp inks, etc. The present study aims to study the existing trends in examining the sequence of ink strokes or crossing of lines using vibrational spectroscopic techniques viz. Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy. Several interesting inferences have been drawn, such as factors like paper type and time gap between the application of two intersecting strokes does not influence the determination of the sequence of inter-crossing strokes. A trend of using two analytical techniques viz. VSC, AFM, HPTLC, TOF-SIMS, and SEM/EDX with vibrational spectroscopic techniques have been found to provide reliable results. The study also suggests future research directions in the field, aiming to address challenges faced by the FDEs and provide accurate and reliable solutions for document examination.

Exploring the effect of surfactants on the interactions of manganese dioxide nanoparticles with biomolecules.

Interactions of manganese dioxide nanoparticles (MnO2 NPs) with vital biomolecules namely deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and serum albumin (BSA) have been studied in association with different surfactants by using fluorescence (steady state, synchronous and 3D), UV-visible, resonance light scattering (RLS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The esterase activity of serum albumin was tested in associations with MnO2 NPs and surfactants. The antioxidant potential of prepared NPs was also evaluated (DPPH method). Gel electrophoresis was carried out to analyze the effect of MnO2 NPs and surfactants on DNA. Presence of CTAB, Tween 20, DTAB and Tween 80 enhanced nanoparticle-protein binding. Tween 20 based nanoparticle systems showed long-term stability and biocompatibility. The quenching of BSA fluorescence emission in presence of MnO2 NPs alone and along with Tween 20 revealed stronger association of nanoparticles with proteins. Enhancement in the esterase activity (BSA) was observed in the presence of Tween 20. Furthermore, radical scavenging activity showed highest antioxidant potential in presence of Tween 20. The enthalpy and entropy assessment for protein-NPs association showed the predominance of Vander Waals interactions and hydrogen bonding. The synchronous fluorescence analysis highlighted the involvement of tryptophan (Trp) in the MnO2 NPs-protein interactions. The study evaluates the influence of surfactant on the associations of MnO2 NPs with the essential biomolecules. The findings can be crucially utilized in designing biocompatible MnO2 formulations for long term applications.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Exploration of the Potential Application of Banana Peel for Its Effective Valorization: A Review.

The production of banana peel by the food-processing industry is substantial and the disposal of this waste material has become a matter of concern. However, recent studies have demonstrated that banana peel is a rich source of biologically active compounds that can be transformed into valuable products. This review aims to explore the potential of converting banana peel into valuable products and provides a comprehensive analysis of the physical and chemical composition of banana peel. Additionally, the utilization of banana peel as a substrate to produce animal feed, bio fertilizer, dietary fibers, renewable energy, industrial enzymes, and nanomaterials has been extensively studied. According to the researches that has been done so far, it is clear that banana peel has a broad range of applications and its effective utilization through biorefinery strategies can maximize its economic benefits. Based on previous studies, A plan for feasibility of a banana peel biorefinery has been put up which suggest its potential as a valuable source of renewable energy and high-value products. The utilization of banana peel through biorefinery strategies can provide a sustainable solution for waste management and contribute to the development of a circular economy.

Relationship Between Body Mass Index and Body Fat Percentage in a Group of Indian Participants: A Cross-Sectional Study From a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Background Body mass index (BMI) is an important indicator of overweight and obesity. Unlike BMI, body fat percentage (BF%) can be utilized to estimate body composition regardless of weight and height. The association between BMI and BF%, as well as the impact of age and gender, may help estimate the prevalence of obesity more clearly. This study aimed to assess the relationship between BMI and BF%, examine the effect of age and gender on this relationship, and establish the linearity/curvilinearity of this relationship. Methodology The body composition analysis of 1,150 participants in various institutional events (institution foundation day) during 2019 and 2023 was performed using the Accuniq bio-electrical impedance analyzer (BIA) (Accuniq, Netherlands). The participants included undergraduate, postgraduate medical, and PhD students, as well as employees of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. Age groups were categorized as under 17 years, young adults (18-25 years), adults (26-44 years), middle-aged adults (45-59 years), and older adults (≥60 years). Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) was used for analyzing the relationship between BMI and BF%. To assess the effect of age and gender on this relationship, multiple regression analysis was applied, and polynomial regression was applied to test its linearity. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 25 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Results Males made up a larger proportion of the participants (56.3%; 647). The mean age of the participants was 36.5 ± 13.6 years. The mean BMI and BF% were 24.7 ± 4.0 kg/m2 and 29.1 ± 8.7%, respectively. A significant and moderate positive correlation (r = 0.630, p < 0.01) was observed between BMI and BF%. The mean ± SD of BMI and BF% had a directly proportional relationship with age. Among both genders, females showed a greater correlation (r = 0.852). Both age and gender had a significant effect on this relationship, with gender impacting more than age (ß = 0.488, p < 0.000). The curvilinear nature of the relationship between BMI and BF% was demonstrated with the female model showing a more precise fit (R2 = 0.72, standard error of the estimate = 3.3%). Conclusions The relationship between BMI and BF% was significant and positive in this group of Indians. This relationship was significantly impacted by age and gender and was curvilinear in nature. Females had a higher association than males between BMI and BF%. The study suggests that BMI, BF%, and the effects of age and gender should be taken into consideration when predicting obesity.

HuR and Its Interactions with Noncoding RNAs in Gut Epithelium Homeostasis and Diseases.

The mammalian intestinal epithelium is a rapidly self-renewing tissue in the body and its homeostasis is tightly controlled by numerous factors at multiple levels. The RNA-binding protein HuR (human antigen R) is intimately involved in many aspects of gut mucosal pathobiology and plays an important role in maintaining integrity of the intestinal epithelium by regulating stability and translation of target mRNAs. Nonetheless, deregulation of HuR expression and altered binding affinity of HuR for target transcripts occur commonly in various gut mucosal disorders. In this review, we highlight the essential role of HuR in the intestinal epithelium homeostasis and discuss recent results that interactions between HuR and noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including circular RNAs, long ncRNAs, small vault RNAs, and microRNAs, influence gut mucosal regeneration and regulate barrier function in various pathophysiological conditions. These exciting discoveries advance our knowledge of HuR biological function in the gut mucosa and also create a fundamental basis for developing novel therapies to protect intestinal epithelial integrity in critically ill patients.

Drug Repurposing: Insights into Current Advances and Future Applications.

Drug development is a complex and expensive process that involves extensive research and testing before a new drug can be approved for use. This has led to a limited availability of potential therapeutics for many diseases. Despite significant advances in biomedical science, the process of drug development remains a bottleneck, as all hypotheses must be tested through experiments and observations, which can be time-- consuming and costly. To address this challenge, drug repurposing has emerged as an innovative strategy for finding new uses for existing medications that go beyond their original intended use. This approach has the potential to speed up the drug development process and reduce costs, making it an attractive option for pharmaceutical companies and researchers alike. It involves the identification of existing drugs or compounds that have the potential to be used for the treatment of a different disease or condition. This can be done through a variety of approaches, including screening existing drugs against new disease targets, investigating the biological mechanisms of existing drugs, and analyzing data from clinical trials and electronic health records. Additionally, repurposing drugs can lead to the identification of new therapeutic targets and mechanisms of action, which can enhance our understanding of disease biology and lead to the development of more effective treatments. Overall, drug repurposing is an exciting and promising area of research that has the potential to revolutionize the drug development process and improve the lives of millions of people around the world. The present review provides insights on types of interaction, approaches, availability of databases, applications and limitations of drug repurposing.

Topical Anti-ulcerogenic Effect of the Beta-adrenergic Blockers on Diabetic Foot Ulcers: Recent Advances and Future Prospectives.

BACKGROUND: Patients with diabetes suffer from major complications like Diabetic Retinopathy, Diabetic Coronary Artery Disease, and Diabetic Foot ulcers (DFUs). Diabetes complications are a group of ailments whose recovery time is especially delayed, irrespective of the underlying reason. The longer duration of wound healing enhances the probability of problems like sepsis and amputation. The delayed healing makes it more critical for research focus. By understanding the molecular pathogenesis of diabetic wounds, it is quite easy to target the molecules involved in the healing of wounds. Recent research on beta-adrenergic blocking drugs has revealed that these classes of drugs possess therapeutic potential in the healing of DFUs. However, because the order of events in defective healing is adequately defined, it is possible to recognize moieties that are currently in the market that are recognized to aim at one or several identified molecular processes. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore some molecules with different therapeutic categories that have demonstrated favorable effects in improving diabetic wound healing, also called the repurposing of drugs. METHOD: Various databases like PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar and Web of Science (WoS) of all English language articles were searched, and relevant information was collected regarding the role of beta-adrenergic blockers in diabetic wounds or diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) using the relevant keywords for the literature review. RESULT: The potential beta-blocking agents and their mechanism of action in diabetic foot ulcers were studied, and it was found that these drugs have a profound effect on diabetic foot ulcer healing as per reported literatures. CONCLUSION: There is a need to move forward from preclinical studies to clinical studies to analyze clinical findings to determine the effectiveness and safety of some beta-antagonists in diabetic foot ulcer treatment.

A Recent Advance on Phytochemicals, Nutraceutical and Pharmacological Activities of Buckwheat.

Buckwheat, a member of the Fagopyrum genus in the Polygonaceae family, is an ancient pseudocereal with noteworthy nutraceutical properties that have been relatively less explored. This crop holds great promise for the future due to its gluten-free protein, wellbalanced amino acid profile, and the presence of bioactive flavonoids that promote good health. With its gluten-free nature and a combination of beneficial nutritional components, buckwheat shows significant potential for a variety of health benefits. The objective of the present review aims to explore various nutritional and pharmacological properties of buckwheat. With the help of various search engines Pubmed, Google and Semantic Scholar, research and review papers. Data were analyzed and summarized in a comprehensive review. A fascinating spectrum of nutritional and pharmacological activities of common buckwheat and Tartary buckwheat were explored such as antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, neurological disorders, antiobesity, anticancer, cardiovascular agents and many more. This review provides a concise overview of the current understanding of the chemical composition of both common buckwheat and Tartary buckwheat and the captivating spectrum of pharmacological activity and also underscoring their immense potential for future advancements.

Acute Cerebellar Ataxia: A Rare Association of Hepatitis a Infection.

Acute cerebellar ataxia (ACA) is a self-limited syndrome that is frequently post-infectious, most commonly following Varicella infection having an autoimmune mechanism. ACA is the commonest cause of childhood ataxia. We report a 14-year-old male who presented with acute onset wide-based gait and slurring of speech with dysdiadochokinesia, incoordination of voluntary movements, pendular knee jerk, and intentional tremors. He had worsening transaminitis and rising bilirubin during his hospital course and was subsequently found to be hepatitis A virus (HAV) immunoglobulin-M antibody positive. Thus, we report a case of ACA with HAV infection who developed jaundice after three weeks of onset of ataxia, a rarity that has not been reported so far in medical literature.

High-Performance Thermomagnetic Gd-Si-Ge Alloys.

Exploring low-grade waste heat energy harvesting is crucial to address increasing environmental concerns. Thermomagnetic materials are magnetic phase change materials that enable energy harvesting from low-temperature gradients. To achieve a high thermomagnetic conversion efficiency, there are three main material requirements: (i) magnetic phase transition near room temperature, (ii) substantial change in magnetization with temperature, and (iii) high thermal conductivity. Here, we demonstrate a high-performance Gd5Si2.4Ge1.6 thermomagnetic alloy that meets these three requirements. The magnetic phase transition temperature was successfully shifted to 306 K by introducing Ge doping in Gd5Si4, and a sharper and more symmetric magnetization behavior with saturation magnetization of Mmax = 70 emu/g at a 2 T magnetic field was achieved in the ferromagnetic state. The addition of SeS2, as a low-temperature sintering aid, to the Gd-Si-Ge alloy improved the material's density and thermal conductivity by ∼45 and ∼275%, respectively. Our results confirm that the (Gd5Si2.4Ge1.6)0.9(SeS2)0.1 alloy is a suitable composite material for low-grade waste heat recovery in thermomagnetic applications.