Effect of different preservatives on the physicochemical characteristics and shelf stability of Rasmalai: A comparative study.

Rasmalai is a very popular, delicious, and nutritious indigenous sweet dish in Indo-Pakistani civilization. It has a very short shelf life, i.e., up to 3 days. The study was designed to assess the effect of preservatives (potassium sorbate and calcium propionate) on the shelf stability of Rasmalai. Moreover, proximate composition and sensory evaluation of prepared Rasmalai were also carried out in the present study. In general, potassium sorbate and calcium propionate significantly increased the shelf life of Rasmalai. But treatment (R5) containing a combination of both potassium sorbate and calcium propionate (500 ppm each) improved its shelf life by up to 12 days by keeping good sensorial characteristics. The maximum total plate counts as well as yeast and molds were observed in control Rasmalai (without any preservatives) whereas minimum counts were found in R5 treatment containing a combination of both potassium sorbate and calcium propionate (500 ppm each). In conclusion, all the preservatives used in the present study were effective in enhancing the shelf life of Rasmalai but R5 treatment containing a combination of both potassium sorbate and calcium propionate (500 ppm each) was the most effective in enhancing shelf life without deleterious effect on sensorial characteristics.

Drug carrier wonders: Synthetic strategies of zeolitic imidazolates frameworks (ZIFs) and their applications in drug delivery and anti-cancer activity.

With the rapid advancement of nanotechnology, stimuli-responsive nanomaterials have emerged as a feasible choice for the designing of controlled drug delivery systems. Zeolitic imidazolates frameworks are a subclass of Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) that are recognized by their excellent porosity, structural tunability and chemical modifications make them promising materials for loading targeted molecules and therapeutics agents. The biomedical industry uses these porous materials extensively as nano-carriers in drug delivery systems. These MOFs not only possess excellent targeted imaging ability but also cause the death of tumor cells drawing considerable attention in the current framework of anticancer drug delivery systems. In this review, the outline of stability, porosity, mechanism of encapsulation and release of anticancer drug have been reported extensively. In the end, we also discuss a brief outline of current challenges and future perspectives of ZIFs in the biomedical world.

Corrigendum: Sesquiterpene lactones attenuate paclitaxel resistance via inhibiting MALAT1/STAT3/ FUT4 axis and P-Glycoprotein transporters in lung cancer cells.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.795613.].

2D TiO2 nanosheets decorated via sphere-like BiVO4: a promising non-toxic material for liquid phase photocatalysis and bacterial eradication.

An in-depth investigation was conducted on a promising composite material (BiVO4/TiO2), focusing on its potential toxicity, photoinduced catalytic properties, as well as its antibiofilm and antimicrobial functionalities. The preparation process involved the synthesis of 2D-TiO2 using the lyophilization method, which was subsequently functionalized with sphere-like BiVO4. Finally, we developed BiVO4/TiO2 S-scheme heterojunctions which can greatly promote the separation of electron-hole pairs to achieve high photocatalytic performance. The evaluation of concentration- and time-dependent viability inhibition was performed on human lung carcinoma epithelial A549 cells. This assessment included the estimation of glutathione levels and mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity. Significantly, the BiVO4/TiO2 composite demonstrated minimal toxicity towards A549 cells. Impressively, the BiVO4/TiO2 composite exhibited notable photocatalytic performance in the degradation of rhodamine B (k =0.135 min-1) and phenol (k = 0.016 min-1). In terms of photoinduced antimicrobial performance, the composite effectively inactivated both gram-negative E. coli and gram-positive E. faecalis bacteria upon 60-min of UV-A light exposure, resulting in a significant log6(log10CFU/mL) reduction in bacterial count. These promising results can be attributed to the unique 2D morphology of TiO2 modified by sphere-like BiVO4, leading to an increased generation of (intracellular)hydroxyl radicals, which plays a crucial role in treatments of both organic pollutants and bacteria.

Diagnostic investigation of avian reovirus field variants circulating in broiler chickens in Pennsylvania of United States between 2017 and 2022.

Avian reovirus (ARV) has been continuously affecting the poultry industry in Pennsylvania (PA) in recent years. This report provides our diagnostic investigation on monitoring ARV field variants from broiler chickens in Pennsylvania. Genomic characterization findings of 72 ARV field isolates obtained from broiler cases during the last 6 years indicated that six distinct cluster variant strains (genotype I-VI), which were genetically diverse and distant from the vaccine and vaccine-related field strains, continuously circulated in PA poultry. Most of the variants clustered within genotype V (24/72, 33.3%), followed by genotype II (16/72, 22.2%), genotype IV (13/72, 18.1%), genotype III (13/72, 18.1%), genotype VI (05/72, 6.94%), and genotype I (1/72, 1.38%). The amino acid identity between 72 field variants and the vaccine strains (1133, 1733, 2408, 2177) varied from 45.3% to 99.7%, while the difference in amino acid counts ranged from 1-164. Among the field variants, the amino acid identity and count difference ranged from 43.3% to 100% and 0 to 170, respectively. Variants within genotype V had maximum amino acid identity (94.7-100%), whereas none of the variants within genotypes II and VI were alike. These findings indicate the continuing occurrence of multiple ARV genotypes in the environment.

Substitution of fishmeal: Highlights of potential plant protein sources for aquaculture sustainability.

High protein content, excellent amino acid profile, absence of anti-nutritional factors (ANFs), high digestibility and good palatability of fishmeal (FM), make it a major source of protein in aquaculture. Naturally derived FM is at risk due to an increase in its demand, unsustainable practices, and price. Thus, there is an urgent need to find affordable and suitable protein sources to replace FM. Plant protein sources are suitable due to their widespread availability and low cost. However, they contained certain ANFs, deficiency of some amino acids, low nutrient bioavailability and poor digestibility due to presence of starch and fiber. These unfavourable characteristics make them less suitable for feed as compared to FM. Thus, these potential challenges and limitations associated with various plant proteins have to be overcome by using different methods, i.e. enzymatic pretreatments, solvent extraction, heat treatments and fermentation, that are discussed briefly in this review. This review assessed the impacts of plant products on growth performance, body composition, flesh quality, changes in metabolic activities and immune response of fishes. To minimize the negative effects and to enhance nutritional value of plant products, beneficial functional additives such as citric acid, phytase and probiotics could be incorporated into the plant-based FM. Interestingly, these additives improve growth of fishes by increasing digestibility and nutrient utilization of plant based feeds. Overall, this review demonstrated that the substitution of fishmeal by plant protein sources is a plausible, technically-viable and practical option for sustainable aquaculture feed production.

Evaluating the biological (antidiabetic) potential of TEM, FTIR, XRD, and UV-spectra observed berberis lyceum conjugated silver nanoparticles.

Diabetes is a life-threatening disease that affects different parts of the body including the liver, kidney, and pancreas. The core root of diabetes is mainly linked to oxidative stress produced by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Berberis lyceum Royle (BLR) is the source of natural products. It comprises numerous bioactive compounds having antioxidant activities. In the current investigation, silver nanoparticles from BLR root extract were synthesized, characterized, and assessed for antidiabetic potential. UV spectrophotometry, Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR), and x-ray diffraction (XRD) were applied for the characterization of NPs. It was evident from the morphological studies that the synthesized NPs were spherical and the average size was 11.02 nm. Results revealed that BLR-AgNPs showed higher radical scavenging activity as compared to BLR extract. Moreover, BLR-AgNPs displayed superior in vivo and in vitro antidiabetic activity in comparison to BLR extract. Glucose level (116.5 ± 5.1 mg/dL), liver function test (ALAT: 54.038 ± 6.2 IU/L; ASAT: 104.42 ± 13.9 IU/L; ALP: 192.6 ± 2.4 IU/L; bilirubin: 1.434 ± 0.14 mg/dL; total protein: 5.14 ± 0.24 mg/dL), renal function test (urea: 39.6 ± 0.63 mg/dL; uric acid: 21.4 ± 0.94 mg/dL; creatinine: 0.798 ± 0.03 mg/dL; albumin: 4.14 ± 0.2 mg/dL), lipid profile level (cholesterol: 101.62 ± 3 mg/dL; triglyceride: 110.42 ± 7 mg/dL; HDL-C: 29.7 ± 3 mg/dL; LDL-C: 47.056 ± 1 mg/dL; VLDL-C: 22.0 ± 1.3 mg/dL) and hematology (WBCs: 3.82 ± 0.24 103 /µL; RBCs: 4.78 ± 0.42 106 /µL; Hb: 12.6 ± 1.0 g/dL; Hematocrit: 39.4 ± 3.7%; MCV: 65.8 ± 3 fL; platelets: 312 ± 22.4; neutrophils: 34.8 ± 1.87; eosinophils: 3.08 ± 0.43; monocytes: 3.08 ± 0.28; lymphocytes: 75.6 ± 3.77) confirmed the significant antidiabetic potential of BLR-AgNPs. Histopathological examination authenticated that BLR-AgNPs caused a significant revival in the morphology of the liver, kidney, and pancreas. Hence, findings of the study suggested the BLR-AgNPs as a potent antidiabetic agent and could be an appropriate nanomedicine to prevent diabetes in future. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Berberis lyceum extract as a reducing, capping, and stabilization agent for the BLR-AgNPs synthesis Evaluation of α-amylase inhibition, antioxidant, and α-glucosidase inhibition potential Thorough characterization using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and UV-VIS spectrophotometer, which is 1st of its kind In-vivo antidiabetic activity evaluation through multiple biomarkers.

Downregulation of homeobox B8 in attenuating non-small cell lung cancer cell migration and invasion though the epithelial-mesenchymal transition pathway.

Background: Homeobox (HOX) family genes have been identified as regulators of cancer development. No research exists concerning the mechanisms underlying homeobox B8 (HOXB8) activity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this study, we investigated expression and biological function in NSCLC to determine whether it is an important marker of patient prognosis. Methods: HOXB8 expression in NSCLC tissues was investigated using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blot assays. In addition, HOXB8 was knocked down in NSCLC cells to assess its biological functions in this context. The invasive and migratory potential of cells was evaluated by using Transwell (BD, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA) inserts with 8-µm pores. Furthermore, Western blotting was used to explore whether HOXB8 can influence epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Results: HOXB8 was expressed at high levels in NSCLC tissues and cell lines compared with adjacent normal tissues. Patients with high HOXB8 expression had shorter survival time and worse prognosis. HOXB8 expression was associated with pathological grading, tumor size, and lymph node metastasis. HOXB8 was prognostic in patients with NSCLC. After knockdown of HOXB8 via small interfering RNA, the proliferation, migration and invasion ability of the cells were significantly reduced compared with the control group. Moreover, EMT was inhibited by the downregulation of HOXB8 expression, as the expressions of E-cadherin was upregulated and that of the N-cadherin, vimentin, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), and twist were downregulated. HOXB8 is a member of the ANTP homeobox family and encodes a nuclear protein with a homeobox DNA-binding domain. It is included in a cluster of homeobox B genes located on chromosome 17. The encoded protein functions as a sequence-specific transcription factor that is involved in development. Conclusions: HOXB8 is highly expressed in NSCLC and may predict prognosis of patients with this type of cancer. Furthermore, HOXB8 may promote NSCLC progression through the regulation of the EMT process.

Revolutionizing Cancer Care: Advances in Carbon-Based Materials for Diagnosis and Treatment.

Cancer involves intricate pathological mechanisms marked by complexities such as cytotoxicity, drug resistance, stem cell proliferation, and inadequate specificity in current chemotherapy approaches. Cancer therapy has embraced diverse nanomaterials renowned for their unique magnetic, electrical, and optical properties to address these challenges. Despite the expanding corpus of knowledge in this area, there has been less advancement in approving nano drugs for use in clinical settings. Nanotechnology, and more especially the development of intelligent nanomaterials, has had a profound impact on cancer research and treatment in recent years. Due to their large surface area, nanoparticles can adeptly encapsulate diverse compounds. Furthermore, the modification of nanoparticles is achievable through a broad spectrum of bio-based substrates, including DNA, aptamers, RNA, and antibodies. This functionalization substantially enhances their theranostic capabilities. Nanomaterials originating from biological sources outperform their conventionally created counterparts, offering advantages such as reduced toxicity, lower manufacturing costs, and enhanced efficiency. This review uses carbon nanomaterials, including graphene-based materials, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) based nanomaterials, and carbon quantum dots (CQDs), to give a complete overview of various methods used in cancer theranostics. We also discussed their advantages and limitations in cancer diagnosis and treatment settings. Carbon nanomaterials might significantly improve cancer theranostics and pave the way for fresh tumor diagnosis and treatment approaches. More study is needed to determine whether using nano-carriers for targeted medicine delivery may increase material utilization. More insight is required to explore the correlation between heightened cytotoxicity and retention resulting from increased permeability.

Identifying key soil characteristics for Francisella tularensis classification with optimized Machine learning models.

Francisella tularensis (Ft) poses a significant threat to both animal and human populations, given its potential as a bioweapon. Current research on the classification of this pathogen and its relationship with soil physical-chemical characteristics often relies on traditional statistical methods. In this study, we leverage advanced machine learning models to enhance the prediction of epidemiological models for soil-based microbes. Our model employs a two-stage feature ranking process to identify crucial soil attributes and hyperparameter optimization for accurate pathogen classification using a unique soil attribute dataset. Optimization involves various classification algorithms, including Support Vector Machines (SVM), Ensemble Models (EM), and Neural Networks (NN), utilizing Bayesian and Random search techniques. Results indicate the significance of soil features such as clay, nitrogen, soluble salts, silt, organic matter, and zinc , while identifying the least significant ones as potassium, calcium, copper, sodium, iron, and phosphorus. Bayesian optimization yields the best results, achieving an accuracy of 86.5% for SVM, 81.8% for EM, and 83.8% for NN. Notably, SVM emerges as the top-performing classifier, with an accuracy of 86.5% for both Bayesian and Random Search optimizations. The insights gained from employing machine learning techniques enhance our understanding of the environmental factors influencing Ft's persistence in soil. This, in turn, reduces the risk of false classifications, contributing to better pandemic control and mitigating socio-economic impacts on communities.

Comparison of postoperative hypersensitivity between Total-etch and Universal adhesive system: a randomized clinical trial.

The objective was to determine the postoperative hypersensitivity of two-step Total-etch as compared to one-step Universal adhesives followed by composite restorations on 100 patients by applying Total-etch on one tooth and Universal adhesive on another tooth. The bonds and teeth were randomly selected. Postoperative hypersensitivity was recorded by visual analog scale before, immediately after, and 24 h after the restoration using cold stimulus. The Mann-Whitney test was applied for statistical comparison of postoperative hypersensitivity between the two bonds as well as for any significant difference in genders with each bond. No significant difference was found between postoperative hypersensitivity of the two adhesives before (p-value = 0.57), immediately after (p-value = 0.604), and 24 h after (p-value = 0.728) the restoration. Males showed more hypersensitivity with Total-etch as compared to females before (p-value = 0.037), immediately after (p-value = 0.047), and 24 h after the restoration (p-value = 0.022). No significant difference was found between gender and Universal adhesive at all three stages (p-value > 0.05). The results suggest no significant difference in postoperative hypersensitivity between the two materials when good sample size and proper technique were observed along with the removal of bias like different patients having different pain perceptions and multiple operators having different operating skills. Males showed more hypersensitivity to Total-etch.Trial registration number: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials. Registry number: ACTRN12622001213730. (Retrospectively registered: 09/09/2022).

A multimodal lithium niobate-based SAW gas sensor for accurate detection of carbon dioxide at elevated temperature.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) detection is crucial for safety control, monitoring of the environment, and other industrial applications. The diverse fields of applications make the detection of CO2 a challenging task. In this paper, a study on a multimodal surface acoustic wave (SAW) CO2 sensing system was conducted to scrutinize the sensitivity of the lithium niobate-based multimodal SAW sensor towards CO2 with temperature compensation. The study focused on developing and evaluating a SAW temperature-compensated gas sensor using time-of-flight measurements. The sensor exhibited good repeatability and sensitivity toward different concentrations of CO2.

Rare immune-related adverse events in a patient with metastatic melanoma: a case report highlighting sarcoidosis-like reactions triggered by immune-checkpoint inhibitors.

Pembrolizumab and ipilimumab/nivolumab (ipi/nivo) combination are FDA-approved immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapies for metastatic melanoma. ICIs could result in various inflammation responses known as immune-related adverse events (IRAEs). We report a patient with metastatic melanoma who developed multiple IRAEs including sarcoidosis-like reaction (SLR), diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), and worsening hypothyroidism on ICIs. A 71-year-old man with stage IIIC melanoma and lymph node metastasis began adjuvant therapy with pembrolizumab in May 2021. A surveillance positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) scan four months later showed diffuse nodal uptake indicating potential metastases although the patient remained asymptomatic. His treatment was temporarily switched to ipi/nivo before biopsy was obtained for definitive diagnosis, which revealed non-caseating granulomas consistent with SLR. After resuming pembrolizumab, he developed DKA and worsening hypothyroidism in November 2021, both of which were attributed to IRAEs. His surveillance PET scan in March 2022 again revealed new hypermetabolic activity in several bones, subcutaneous tissue, and the left inguinal lymph node. Left inguinal node biopsy showed disease recurrence, while biopsies of hypermetabolic subcutaneous nodules and bone demonstrated non-caseating granulomas. Our case described a patient on ICIs who developed several IRAEs. SLR is often asymptomatic but remains a diagnostic challenge due to its indistinguishable appearance on imaging studies compared to metastasis. Better understanding of IRAEs and improved surveillance strategies are needed for optimal patient outcomes.

A novel NPHP4 homozygous missense variant identified in infertile brothers with multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella.

PURPOSE: Asthenozoospermia is an important cause of male infertility, and the most serious type is characterized by multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF). However, the precise etiology of MMAF remains unknown. In the current study, we recruited a consanguineous Pakistani family with two infertile brothers suffering from primary infertility due to MMAF without obvious signs of PCD. METHODS: We performed whole-exome sequencing on DNAs of the patients, their parents, and a fertile brother and identified the homozygous missense variant (c.1490C > G (p.P497R) in NPHP4 as the candidate mutation for male infertility in this family. RESULTS: Sanger sequencing confirmed that this mutation recessively co-segregated with the MMAF in this family. In silico analysis revealed that the mutation site is conserved across different species, and the identified mutation also causes abnormalities in the structure and hydrophobic interactions of the NPHP4 protein. Different bioinformatics tools predict that NPHP4p.P497R mutation is pathogenic. Furthermore, Papanicolaou staining and scanning electron microscopy of sperm revealed that affected individuals displayed typical MMAF phenotype with a high percentage of coiled, bent, short, absent, and/or irregular flagella. Transmission electron microscopy images of the patient's spermatozoa revealed significant anomalies in the sperm flagella with the absence of a central pair of microtubules (9 + 0) in every section scored. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these results show that the homozygous missense mutation in NPHP4 is associated with MMAF.

Newly optimized ELISA kit and LAT reveal significantly higher seroprevalence in sheep raised in agro-ecological zone as against range-ecological zone, with a significant association of meteorological parameters.

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic and foodborne intracellular parasite capable of inducing congenital infections, stillbirths and abortions in humans and animals, globally. The consumption of undercooked or raw mutton is "one of the vital risks" for acquiring toxoplasmosis: an asymptomatic condition in healthy persons, while life-threatening in immunodeficient individuals like "HIV/AIDS" patients. OBJECTIVES: The current study has multiple objectives: to optimize a newly ELISA kit for Sheep, to find out the seroprevalence of ovine toxoplasmosis of two ecological zones of the Punjab, Pakistan through LAT and newly Optimized Sheep ELISA kit, to do the comparison of efficacies of various tests (LAT with newly Optimized ELISA kit and newly Optimized ELISA kit with commercial ELISA kit) and to determine the different meteorological parameters as the risk factors for T. gondii infection in sheep. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 sheep sera, 200 were collected from sheep raised on open grazing system by local farmers in the adjoining areas of Civil Veterinary Dispensaries (CVDs) of range-ecological zone i.e. tehsil Kot Chutta (Dera Ghazi khan). Similarly, the remaining 200 were collected from agro-ecological zone i.e. tehsil Sharaqpur (Sheikhupura), to evaluate the comparative efficacy of LAT with optimized ELISA kit and newly optimized ELISA kit with commercial ELISA kit. FINDINGS: The newly ELISA kit optimized against a commercial ELISA kit was found to have 100% sensitivity, 97.6% specificity with 98% Positive Predictive Value, 100% Negative Predictive Value, Cut off value = 0.505, 28.28 LR+, 0.0104 LR-, and 2719.23 DOR. Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis was detected significantly (P < 0.01; χ2) higher in Sharaqpur (44.5% by LAT; 35.5% by ELISA) as compared to that in Kot Chutta (39.5% by LAT; 31% by ELISA). The highest seroprevalence was seen in the sheep of the 1-2 years age group (P < 0.01; χ2), whereas the lowest in the oldest animals (≥ 4 years). Investigation of meteorological data of both the regions reveals that the zone with higher seroprevalence has relatively higher rainfall, higher humidity, lower environmental temperatures, and higher altitude as the critical factors, potentially behind the significant difference seen in seroprevalence level. The partial correlation of both tests (newly optimized ELISA kit and LAT) was 0.991 at maximum temperature in Sharaqpur while it was 0.981 in Kot Chutta. INTERPRETATION: A novel significant correlation was found between the meteorological parameters (relative humidity, minimum, maximum, and average temperatures) divided into yearly units of both the ecological zones, and year-wise seroprevalence (birth years of age-wise groups) of the corresponding regions. We hypothesize that such environmental conditions increase the risk of toxoplasmosis in grazing sheep, owing to a more favorable environment for coccidian oocyst survival. The ELISA kit optimized in this study will be helpful for the detection of seroprevalence of ovine toxoplasmosis in other ecological zones of Pakistan as well as of any other country in the world. More studies are recommended involving regions from other ecological zones of Pakistan to further explore the seroprevalence of ovine toxoplasmosis and to ratify the novel correlation of meteorological parameters with seroprevalence.

Comparative gut proteomics study revealing adaptive physiology of Eurasian spruce bark beetle, Ips typographus (Coleoptera: Scolytinae).

The bark beetle, Ips typographus (L.), is a major pest of Norway spruce, Picea abies (L.), causing enormous economic losses globally. The adult stage of the I. typographus has a complex life cycle (callow and sclerotized); the callow beetles feed ferociously, whereas sclerotized male beetles are more aggressive and pioneers in establishing new colonies. We conducted a comparative proteomics study to understand male and female digestion and detoxification processes in callow and sclerotized beetles. Proteome profiling was performed using high-throughput liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. A total of >3000 proteins were identified from the bark beetle gut, and among them, 539 were differentially abundant (fold change ±2, FDR <0.05) between callow and sclerotized beetles. The differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) mainly engage with binding, catalytic activity, anatomical activity, hydrolase activity, metabolic process, and carbohydrate metabolism, and hence may be crucial for growth, digestion, detoxification, and signalling. We validated selected DAPs with RT-qPCR. Gut enzymes such as NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (CYC), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and esterase (EST) play a crucial role in the I. typographus for detoxification and digesting of host allelochemicals. We conducted enzyme activity assays with them and observed a positive correlation of CYC and GST activities with the proteomic results, whereas EST activity was not fully correlated. Furthermore, our investigation revealed that callow beetles had an upregulation of proteins associated with juvenile hormone (JH) biosynthesis and chitin metabolism, whereas sclerotized beetles exhibited an upregulation of proteins linked to fatty acid metabolism and the TCA cycle. These distinctive patterns of protein regulation in metabolic and functional processes are specific to each developmental stage, underscoring the adaptive responses of I. typographicus in overcoming conifer defences and facilitating their survival. Taken together, it is the first gut proteomic study comparing males and females of callow and sclerotized I. typographus, shedding light on the adaptive ecology at the molecular level. Furthermore, the information about bark beetle handling of nutritionally limiting and defence-rich spruce phloem diet can be utilized to formulate RNAi-mediated beetle management.

Biomarkers in Acute Myocarditis and Chronic Inflammatory Cardiomyopathy: An Updated Review of the Literature.

Myocarditis is a disease caused by cardiac inflammation that can progress to dilated cardiomyopathy, heart failure, and eventually death. Several etiologies, including autoimmune, drug-induced, and infectious, lead to inflammation, which causes damage to the myocardium, followed by remodeling and fibrosis. Although there has been an increasing understanding of pathophysiology, early and accurate diagnosis, and effective treatment remain challenging due to the high heterogeneity. As a result, many patients have poor prognosis, with those surviving at risk of long-term sequelae. Current diagnostic methods, including imaging and endomyocardial biopsy, are, at times, expensive, invasive, and not always performed early enough to affect disease progression. Therefore, the identification of accurate, cost-effective, and prognostically informative biomarkers is critical for screening and treatment. The review then focuses on the biomarkers currently associated with these conditions, which have been extensively studied via blood tests and imaging techniques. The information within this review was retrieved through extensive literature research conducted on major publicly accessible databases and has been collated and revised by an international panel of experts. The biomarkers discussed in the article have shown great promise in clinical research studies and provide clinicians with essential tools for early diagnosis and improved outcomes.

Role of diet and dietary habits in causing dental caries among adults reporting to a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan; a case-control study.

Objective: To determine the association of diet and dietary practices with dental caries among adults. Design: A case-control study. Setting: Operative Department, Rawal Institute of Health Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan. Participants: 300 participants of both genders, aged 25-50 years. Interventions: A food frequency questionnaire and a patient proforma were used to determine the frequency and preferences of diet and dietary habits that may be associated with dental caries among adults, respectively. The diet and dietary habits of 150 adults with caries (cases) were compared with those of 150 adults without dental caries (control). An independent sample T-test was applied to determine the difference in mean age. Mann-Whitney and Chi-Square tests were applied to determine the significance of diet and dietary habits respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis determined the odd ratio change in significant variables. P-value ≤0.05 was considered significant. Results: Refined sugar (p-value = 0.69), fruit juices (p-value = 0.45), carbonated beverages (p-value = 0.91), duration of consumption of sugary food (p-value = 0.07), and frequency of brushing (p-value = 0.15) were not found to be significantly associated with dental caries in adults. The gender (p-value = 0.02), preferred time for eating sugary foods (p-value <0.001), smoking (p-value <0.001), and tea consumption (p-value = 0.02) were found to be significantly associated with dental caries. Conclusion: Adults who regularly consumed sugar as a snack other than regular mealtimes were more likely to be associated with dental caries. Men, smokers, and adults who frequently took shots of sugar with their tea were more likely to be associated with dental caries.