The evaluation of the performance of rice husk and rice straw as potential matrix to obtain the best lipase immobilized system: creating wealth from wastes.

India generates 126.6 and 42 million tons of Rice straw (RS) and Rice husk (RH) annually, respectively. These agro-processing wastes feedstock are dumped in landfills or burnt, releasing toxic gases and particulate matter into the environment. This paper explores the valorization of these wastes feedstock into sustainable, economic products. We compare these wastes as matrices for lipase immobilization. These matrices were characterized, different parameters (pH, temperature, ionic strength, and metal ion cofactors) were checked, and the selected matrix was analyzed for reusability and hydrolysis of vegetable oils. Lipase immobilized Rice straw (LIRS) showed the highest activity with 72.84% protein loading. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) demonstrated morphological changes after enzyme immobilization. FTIR showed no new bond formation, and immobilization data was fitted to Freundlich adsorption isotherm (with K = 12.18 mg/g, nF = 4.5). The highest activity with protein loading, 91.05%, was observed at pH 8, 37 °C temperature, 50 mM ionic strength, and lipase activity doubled in the presence of Mg2+ ions. The LIRS retained 75% of its initial activity up to five cycles and efficiently hydrolyzed different oils. The results reflected that the LIRS system performs better and can be used to degrade oily waste.

Monitoring early-season agricultural drought using temporal Sentinel-1 SAR-based combined drought index.

Early-season agricultural drought is frequent over South Asian region due to delayed or deficient monsoon rainfall. These drought events often cause delay in sowing and can even result in crop failure. The present study focuses on monitoring early-season agricultural drought in a semi-arid region of India over 5-year period (2016-2020). It utilizes hydro-climatic and biophysical variables to develop a combined drought index (CDI), which integrates anomalies in soil moisture conditions, rainfall, and crop-sown area progression. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR)-based soil moisture index (SMI) represents in situ measured soil moisture with reasonable accuracy (r=0.68). Based on the highest F1-score, SAR backscatter in VH (vertical transmit-horizontal receive) polarization with specific values for parameter threshold (-18.63 dB) and slope threshold (-0.072) is selected to determine the start of season (SoS) with a validation accuracy of 73.53%. The CDI approach is used to monitor early-season agricultural drought and identified drought conditions during June-July in 2019 and during July in 2018. Conversely, 2020 experienced consistently wet conditions, while 2016 and 2017 had near-normal conditions. Overall, the study highlights the use of SAR data for early-season agricultural drought monitoring, which is mainly governed by soil moisture-driven crop-sowing progression. The proposed methodology holds potential for effective monitoring, management, and decision-making in early-season agricultural drought scenarios.

Precursors and elicitor induced enhancement of cell biomass and phenolic compounds in cell suspensions of Indian basil-Ocimum basilicum (CIM-Saumya).

CIM-Saumya is an improved, methyl chavicol rich variety of Ocimum basilicum (Family-Lamiaceae), developed by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. This plant possesses analgesic, anti-ulcerogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, cardiac stimulant, Central Nervous System depressant, hepatoprotective and immunomodulator activities due to the presence of various phytoconstituents. Among them rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid and ferulic acid are the three major phenolic compounds responsible for its therapeutic utility. These compounds are produced in very low amounts in the in vivo plants. Therefore, the present study has been conducted for establishment of cell suspensions, optimization of inoculums size, growth kinetics and screening of elicitor and precursors for the accumulation of cell biomass and the production of the three important phenolic compounds in cell suspension of O. basilicum (CIM-Saumya). Leaf derived friable callus was used for establishing the cell suspension in liquid Murashige and Skoog's medium fortified with 1 g/L casein hydrolysate + 2.26 µM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid + 0.465 µM kinetin + 2.68 µM naphthalene acetic acid. The growth kinetic analysis pattern of cell suspension revealed the maximum biomass increments (% BI = 486.7) and production of RA 8.086 mg/g dry weight was found in 30th day harvested cells. Whereas, the other two phenolic compounds i.e. ferulic acid (0.0125 mg/g dry weight) and caffeic acid (0.38 mg/g dry weight) was recorded highest on 25th day of growth cycle. In the present study, one biotic elicitor i.e. yeast extract and three precursors [peptone, tryptone and lactalbumin hydrolysate] were tested, among them, lactalbumin hydrolysate (100 mg/L; added at 16th day) treated cells recorded highest estimated phenolic compounds yield (251.5 mg/L; 6.81 fold compared to the control) and biomass increments i.e. % BI = 1207 with 1.85 fold compared to the control. The highest rosmarinic acid content i.e. 25.47 mg/g DW (4.4 fold compared to the control) and 24.42 mg/g dry weight (4.1 folds compared to the control) was noticed in 30th day harvested cells treated with yeast extract (1 g/L on 0 day) and lactalbumin hydrolysate (100 mg/L added on 16th day), respectively. While caffeic acid content (0.91 mg/g dry weight) showed 2.9 folds higher compared to the control in cells treated with peptone 200 mg/L added on 16th day of culture cycle. All the treated cells showed enhanced phenylalanine ammonia-lyase enzyme activity with highest specific activity in lactalbumin hydrolysate followed by tryptone, peptone, and yeast extract. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-023-01316-6.

Association of absolute lymphocyte count and peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets percentage with minimal residual disease at the end of induction in pediatric B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) has been associated with overall survival (OS) and event-free survival, but we do not know if ALC is associated with minimal residual disease (MRD) at the end of induction (EOI) and whether it can be used as surrogate marker in resource limited settings. Immunological differences between MRD-positive and MRD-negative B ALL patients at the EOI are not known at present. This prospective study evaluated the association of ALC and peripheral blood lymphocyte subset percentage at the EOI with MRD. ALC was done at baseline, day 8, and day 15 and at EOI. Assessment for MRD and peripheral blood lymphocyte subset was done at EOI. In 2-year study duration, 197 B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients were recruited out of which 150 were analyzed. Peripheral lymphocyte subset percentage was available for 58 patients. We found that ALC at baseline, day 8, day 15, and EOI was not associated with MRD. Day 8 ALC was significantly higher in poor steroid responders (day 8 blasts > 1 × 109 cells/l) (p < 0.0001). At the EOI, CD4-CD8+ cell percentage in peripheral blood were significantly higher in MRD-positive patients than MRD-negative patients (p = 0.01). Our study suggests that ALC at any point is not a surrogate marker for MRD. Immunologically MRD-positive and MRD-negative patients differ in CD4-CD8+ cells. The role of CD8+T and TCRαßCD3+T cells in eliminating residual leukemic cells need to be studied further by functional assays.

Parents' Perspective of Quality of Life of Retinoblastoma Survivors.

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in retinoblastoma survivors was assessed using parent proxy report of PedsQL(TM) 4.0 generic core scale. One hundred twenty-two parents of retinoblastoma survivors filled the questionnaire satisfactorily. This was compared with parent-reported HRQOL of 50 siblings. The median age of survivors was 98 (range, 60-247) months and male:female ratio was 2:1. The overall parent-reported HRQOL was significantly worse in survivors as compared to controls (74.4 ± 8.5 vs. 85.1 ± 4.6, P < 0.001). All health domains were significantly affected when compared with controls. None of the baseline and treatment-related factors predicted HRQOL.

Quality of Life Assessment in Retinoblastoma: A Cross-Sectional Study of 122 Survivors from India.

BACKGROUND: With current modalities, cure rates of retinoblastoma are high and hence the number of survivors is increasing. However, data on quality of life (QOL) are minimal. PROCEDURE: We analyzed QOL in 122 retinoblastoma survivors using the PedsQL(TM) 4.0 generic core scale. The self-reported questionnaire was filled by children of more than 5 years of age who had completed treatment for more than 12 months. The questionnaire consists of 23 questions on physical, social, emotional, and school domains on a scale from 0 to 4. This was converted to a scale from 0 to 100, where higher values represented better QOL. The QOL was compared with 50 siblings. Factors predicting the QOL were assessed. RESULTS: The median age of retinoblastoma survivors was 98 months (range 60-247) and 68% were males. Overall QOL was significantly poorer in retinoblastoma survivors as compared with the controls. The emotional health domain of QOL was significantly affected. Difficulties in maintaining friendships and competing were reported in the social health domain. The school health domain showed significantly higher absenteeism. However, the physical health domain, including household work, exercise, and self-care, was similar in both the groups. Lower age at diagnosis (≤ 18 months) predicted better QOL (P = 0.05), whereas age at assessment, sex, IRSS stage, and previous surgery and radiotherapy were not predictive of poor QOL. CONCLUSIONS: We found a significantly poorer QOL in retinoblastoma survivors with the psychosocial health domain being more affected than the physical domain. Age less than 18 months at diagnosis predicted better QOL.

The cytotoxicity and cellular stress by temperature-fabricated polyshaped gold nanoparticles using marine macroalgae, Padina gymnospora.

Bioreduction of metal ions for the synthesis of stable nanoparticles (NPs) in physiological environment has been a great challenge in the field of nanotechnology and its application. In the present study, well-defined biofunctionalized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were developed following a biomimetic approach for an enhanced anticancer activity. The fucoxanthins-capped crystalline AuNPs showed a particle size of 14 nm. The temperature-mediated biosynthesized NPs were characterized by UV-vis, dynamic light scattering, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The cytotoxicity of the NPs was analyzed on liver (HepG2) and lung (A549) cancerous cells. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay infers that the biofunctionalized polyshaped AuNPs synthesized with an aqueous macroalgae extract showed a satisfactory anticancer effect on the cell lines, as evaluated by changes in cell morphology, cell viability, and metabolic activity. An altered cellular function and the morphology of cancer cell lines suggest a potential for in vivo application of AuNPs and the need to understand the interactions between nanomaterials, biomolecules, and cellular components. With continued improvements, these NPs may prove to be potential drug delivery vehicles for cancer therapy.

Role of informal sector to combat unemployment in developing economy: A modeling study.

In developing countries, informal sector is the primary job provider for a significant portion of the workforce. This study aims to analyze how jobs in the informal sector affect the unemployment dynamics of developing nations. To achieve this goal, we formulate a nonlinear mathematical model by categorizing the considered workforce into three distinct classes: unemployed, employed, and self-employed, and include a separate dynamic variable to represent vacancies within the informal sector. The proposed model is analyzed using the qualitative theory of dynamical systems. A threshold quantity known as the reproduction number is derived and using this, one can compute the job generation rate necessary to stabilize the system. It is observed that variations in the reproduction number lead to qualitative changes, such as transcritical (forward or backward) and saddle-node bifurcations in the formulated system. Moreover, we propose an optimal control problem to determine an optimal strategy for government policy implementation in enhancing the employment rate of unemployed individuals and promoting the self-employment of informal employees inside the informal sector. Further, the analytical findings are validated numerically. The obtained results suggest that promoting the self-employment of informal employees for job generation effectively reduces unemployment.

Enhancing Gene Therapy through Ultradeformable Vesicles for Efficient siRNA Delivery.

Gene therapy is a revolutionary approach aimed at treating various diseases by manipulating the expression of specific genes. The composition and formulation of ultra-deformable vesicles play a crucial role in determining their properties and performance as siRNA delivery vectors. In the development of ultra-deformable vesicles for siRNA delivery, careful lipid selection and optimization are crucial for achieving desirable vesicle characteristics and efficient siRNA encapsulation and delivery. The stratum corneum acts as a protective barrier, limiting the penetration of molecules, including siRNA, into the deeper layers of the skin. Ultradeformable vesicles offer a promising solution to overcome this barrier and facilitate efficient siRNA delivery to target cells in the skin. The stratum corneum, the outermost layer of the skin, acts as a significant barrier to the penetration of siRNA.These engineering approaches enable the production of uniform and well-defined vesicles with enhanced deformability and improved siRNA encapsulation efficiency. Looking ahead, advancements in ultra-deformable vesicle design and optimization, along with continued exploration of combination strategies and regulatory frameworks, will further drive the field of ultra-deformable vesicle-based siRNA delivery.

Evaluation of the Expression of Programmed Death-Ligand 1 and Its Role in Differentiating Low-Grade and High-Grade Urothelial Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is a common malignancy, predominantly affecting males. Many tumor cells use the interaction between programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and programmed death receptor (PD-1) to inactivate T-cells in the microenvironment and evade host immune response. Our study aims to evaluate the expression of PD-L1 in UC and correlate its expression with histomorphological parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After obtaining approval from the Institute Ethics Committee, we conducted a prospective observational study on transurethral resection of urinary bladder tumor (TURBT) and cystectomy specimens histopathologically diagnosed as UC between 2022 and 2023, comprising 50 cases. All standard protocol was followed and immunohistochemistry (IHC) was done using PD-L1 with rabbit anti-human PD-L1 monoclonal antibody (Clone: IHC411; Biogenics Inc., San Francisco, CA, USA).  Results: Among the 50 cases of UC, the majority were papillary type (35 cases), high grade (28 cases), and non-muscle invasive (30 cases). Among the cases studied, 15 of them showed PD-L1 positivity; 55% of the cases of muscle-invasive bladder cancer were found to be positive for PD-L1 out of which the results were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: PD-L1 expression by IHC staining can differentiate between muscle-invasive and non-muscle-invasive UC cases. This observation allows for further exploring the potential role of immune checkpoint inhibitors in adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy, especially in muscle-invasive cases of UC.

Interesting Breast Tumours: A Tripod of Cases.

Knowledge regarding the lesser common breast tumours, including malignant papillary neoplasms and glycogen-rich clear cell carcinoma, is limited. Overall, cases of papillary carcinoma of the breast fare better than invasive breast carcinoma, from the data available in literature. Glycogen-rich clear cell carcinoma is characterized by the presence of clear cells, having mostly a poorer prognosis. We hereby present three such cases which would add to the existing available information. Case 1 is a 79-year-old female who presented with a left breast lump and bloody nipple discharge. Mammography suggested malignant lesion, with FNAC suspicious of malignancy. Surgery was done and histopathological examination showed irregular islands of tumour cells having papillary fronds with absence of myoepithelial layer. Immunohistochemically, the tumour was GATA3, CK7, ER, PR positive, HER2 negative, with Ki67 index 10%. The case was diagnosed as Solid papillary carcinoma. Case 2 is a 57-year-old female presenting with a left breast lump along with bloody nipple discharge. Mammography and FNAC were in favour of malignancy. Trucut biopsy was done, microscopy revealing a tumour having >90% papillary architecture with infiltrative pattern. Features were suggestive of Invasive breast carcinoma with papillaroid features. The tumour was GATA3, CK7, ER, PR positive, HER2 negative, with Ki67 index 15%. Case 3 is a 70-year-old female presenting with a right breast lump with nipple retraction. Mammography and FNAC were suggestive of malignancy. Trucut biopsy followed by microscopy revealed polygonal tumour cells with clear cytoplasm in nested pattern, showing positive staining for Periodic Acid Schiff. Immunostaining showed GATA3 positive, PAX8 negative, ER and PR positive, HER2 negative, and Ki67 index 20%. A diagnosis of Invasive breast carcinoma with Glycogen-rich clear cell pattern was made. Identifying these rare entities is important along with assessing hormone status for avoiding overtreatment and undertreatment and applying appropriate targeted therapies.

Decellularized extracellular matrix-based bioengineered 3D breast cancer scaffolds for personalized therapy and drug screening.

Breast cancer (BC) is the second deadliest cancer after lung cancer. Similar to all cancers, it is also driven by a 3D microenvironment. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is an essential component of the 3D tumor micro-environment, wherein it functions as a scaffold for cells and provides metabolic support. BC is characterized by alterations in the ECM. Various studies have attempted to mimic BC-specific ECMs using artificial materials, such as Matrigel. Nevertheless, research has proven that naturally derived decellularized extracellular matrices (dECMs) are superior in providing the essential in vivo-like cues needed to mimic a cancer-like environment. Developing in vitro 3-D BC models is not straightforward and requires extensive analysis of the data established by researchers. For the benefit of researchers, in this review, we have tried to highlight all developmental studies that have been conducted by various scientists so far. The analysis of the conclusions drawn from these studies is also discussed. The advantages and drawbacks of the decellularization methods employed for generating BC scaffolds will be covered, and the review will shed light on how dECM scaffolds help develop a BC environment. The later stages of the article will also focus on immunogenicity issues arising from decellularization and the origin of the tissue. Finally, this review will also discuss the biofabrication of matrices, which is the core part of the bioengineering process.

Sex Bias in Treatment Abandonment of Childhood Cancer in India.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the magnitude of sex bias and determinants of treatment abandonment (TA) in childhood cancer in India. METHODS: Individual data of children (0-19 y) registered between January 1, 2017 and July 31, 2022, was compiled. TA was defined as defaulting curative intent treatment ≥4 wk. Defaulting treatment irrespective of intent ≥4 wk was defined as Treatment Default (TD). The primary outcome was the proportion of male-to-female children with TA. Secondary outcomes included the proportion of male-to-female children with upfront TA, TA at relapse, TD, TD-p (TD only in the palliative setting). The impact of clinico-demographic factors on TA was analysed using multivariable regression and propensity score matching (PSM). RESULTS: Three thousand two hundred eighty four patients were analysed. The overall male-to-female ratio (MFR) was 2.08 (95% CI 1.94-2.24). Of 2906 patients treated with curative intent, 415 (14·3%) abandoned treatment. TA was higher in females than males (16·4% vs. 13·3%; p = 0·022) with adjusted MFR of 0·81 (0·66-0·98). The adjusted MFR of TA for treatment-naïve and relapsed patients and TD were 0·73 (0·59-0·91), 1·13 (0·65-1·96) and 0·84 (0·71-1·00) respectively. Sex independently predicted TA on multivariable analysis. However, on PSM analysis including socio-economic variables, lower maternal education predicted higher TA in children with cancer (10·1% vs. 6%, p = 0·015). CONCLUSIONS: Child sex predicted TA in childhood cancer in India with more females abandoning treatment. Maternal education is a more crucial factor predicting TA over child sex, when socio-economic factors were considered. Hence, policies promoting female education and gender equality may mitigate sex-based gaps in childhood cancer care.

Immunopathological studies on Escherichia coli infected broiler chickens fed on Aloe vera leaf extract.

Escherichia coli infection is the major bacterial disease affecting the poultry industry and the continuous use of antibiotics in poultry farming has resulted in antibiotic resistance. So this study was planned to evaluate the use of an ecologically safe alternative to fight against infections. The leaf gel of the Aloe vera plant was selected based on its antibacterial activity assessed in in-vitro tests. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of A. vera leaf extract supplementation on the severity of clinical signs and pathological lesions, mortality rate, levels of antioxidant enzymes, and immune response in experimentally E. coli-infected broiler chicks. Broiler chicks were supplemented with aqueous Aloe vera Leaf (AVL) extract @ 20 ml per liter of water from day one of age. After seven days of age, they were experimentally infected with E. coli O78 @ 107 CFU/0.5 ml intraperitoneally. Blood was collected at weekly intervals up to 28 days and assayed for antioxidant enzyme assays, and humoral and cellular immune response. The birds were observed daily for clinical signs and mortality. Dead birds were examined for gross lesions and representative tissues were processed for histopathology. The activities of antioxidants, Glutathione reductase (GR), and Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST) were significantly higher than the control infected group. The E. coli-specific antibody titer and Lymphocyte stimulation Index were comparatively higher in the AVL extract-supplemented infected group as compared to the control infected group. No considerable change was noted in the severity of clinical signs and pathological lesions, and mortality. Thus, Aloe vera Leaf gel extract enhanced the antioxidant activities and cellular immune responses of infected broiler chicks to combat this infection.

Antibody-conjugated nanoparticles for target-specific drug delivery of chemotherapeutics.

Nanotechnology provides effective methods for precisely delivering chemotherapeutics to cancer cells, thereby improving efficacy and reducing off-target side effects. The targeted delivery of nanoscale chemotherapeutics is accomplished by two different approaches, namely the exploitation of leaky tumor vasculature (EPR effect) and the surface modification of nanoparticles (NPs) with various tumor-homing peptides, aptamers, oligonucleotides, and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Because of higher binding affinity and specificity, mAbs have received a lot of attention for the detection of selective cancer biomarkers and also for the treatment of various types of cancer. Antibody-conjugated nanoparticles (ACNPs) are an effective targeted therapy for the efficient delivery of chemotherapeutics specifically to the targeted cancer cells. ACNPs combine the benefits of NPs and mAbs to provide high drug loads at the tumor site with better selectivity and delivery efficiency. The mAbs on the NP surfaces recognize their specific receptors expressed on the target cells and release the chemotherapeutic agent in a controlled manner. Appropriately designed and synthesized ACNPs are essential to fully realize their therapeutic benefits. In blood stream, ACNPs instantly interact with biological molecules, and a protein corona is formed. Protein corona formation triggers an immune response and affects the targeting ability of the nanoformulation. In this review, we provide recent findings to highlight several antibody conjugation methods such as adsorption, covalent conjugation, and biotin-avidin interaction. This review also provides an overview of the many effects of the protein corona and the theranostic applications of ACNPs for the treatment of cancer.

Polysorbate 80 surface modified SLNs of formoterol suppress SNCA gene and mitochondrial oxidative stress in mice model of Parkinson's disease.

The present study hypothesises that the selective brain ß2 receptor activation through ß2-adrenoreceptor agonist (ß2ARA), Formoterol (FMT), suppresses SNCA gene expression, a pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD) in brain. Further, it is also hypothesized that brain targeted delivery of Formoterol via polysorbate-80 surface modified solid lipid nanoparticles of Formoterol (FMT-SLNs-PS80) can improve its stability, therapeutic efficacy and avoid/reduce peripheral off-target side effects. FMT-SLNs-PS80 was prepared by solvent injection method, the formulation was optimized by using Box-Behnken design and characterized by measuring drug content, entrapment efficacy, particle size, zeta potentials and poly dispersibility. The FMT-SLNs-PS80, significantly decreases the SNCA expression, mitochondrial membrane damage and rotenone induced changes in oxidative (SOD, CAT, GSH and ROS) stress markers in SH-SY5Y cell lines. The ex vivo permeation study of the formulation using everted chicken ileum exhibited a steady state flux. The pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution studies of the formulation in rats showed a significant improvement in the kinetic parameters when compared to naïve FMT, further the formulation also improved the brain bioavailability of FMT. The anti-Parkinson's efficacy studies of the formulation in mice showed a significant neuroprotection against rotenone-induced changes in behavioural and biochemical parameters. Further, the histopathological analysis of mice brain confirms a significant neuroprotective benefit. The present study successfully establishes the brain targeted delivery and anti-Parkinson's therapeutic efficacy of FMT-SLNs-PS80.

A Retrospective Observational Study on the Comparison of Different Diagnostic Modalities of Post-COVID Mucormycosis.

Background Mucormycosis, attributed to a group of molds known as mucormycosis, is a rare yet life-threatening fungal infection often colloquially referred to as black fungus. While its incidence notably surged during the second wave of COVID-19 infections in India, it's essential to recognize that mucormycosis was a significant concern even before the advent of the pandemic. Understanding the prevalence and characteristics of this infection in the pre-COVID era provides a crucial context for evaluating its impact and dynamics during the pandemic. Multiple diagnostic methods, such as potassium hydroxide (KOH) mount, culture, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), and histopathological examination (HPE), are available for identifying this lethal infection. The primary objective of this study is to ascertain the sensitivity of various diagnostic methods for mucormycosis and to analyze the comparative effectiveness of microbiological versus histopathological diagnoses. Methods We conducted a retrospective observational study spanning six months, from May 2021 to October 2021, encompassing all mucormycosis cases meeting the inclusion criteria and diagnosed via histopathological examination (HPE) in the departments of pathology and microbiology. Microbiological tests were performed prior to the histopathological examinations. Sensitivity was assessed through statistical analysis, and the relationship between microbiological and histopathological diagnoses was evaluated using the chi-square test. Results Biopsy samples of 77 patients were collected, comprising 56 male and 21 female patients. Regarding age distribution, most patients fell within the 41-60 age bracket, while the smallest proportion was over 60 years old. The sensitivity and specificity of histopathological diagnosis, confirmed with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and Grocott-Gomori's methenamine silver (GMS) staining, both recorded a flawless 100%. KOH mount sensitivity stood at 88.3%, while fungal culture and MALDI-TOF exhibited sensitivities of 75.3%. Histopathological analysis revealed that 17% of cases displayed minimal fungal hyphae alongside necrotic tissue, whereas 58% exhibited abundant fungal hyphae accompanied by inflammatory cells. Additionally, absolute neutrophilia was observed in 55% of cases. Conclusions In our study, histopathology and KOH mount emerged as not only compassionate but also cost-effective diagnostic tools for identifying mucormycosis. The economic aspect of these diagnostic methods is highlighted in the results section to provide a comprehensive understanding of their cost-effectiveness. Additionally, we utilized MALDI-TOF MS as a straightforward, economically viable, and expeditious method specifically for confirming the fungal subtype in mucormycosis cases. The rationale behind choosing either MALDI-TOF MS or KOH for the diagnosis is elucidated, contributing to a clearer interpretation of our diagnostic approach. Furthermore, our findings indicate that absolute neutrophilia consistently manifests in 55% of mucormycosis cases.

Neuroprotective approaches to halt Parkinson's disease progression.

One of the most significant threats in Parkinson's disease (PD) is neurodegeneration. Neurodegeneration at both nigral as well as non-nigral regions of the brain is considered responsible for disease progression in PD. The key factors that initiate neurodegeneration are oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial complex-1 inhibition, and abnormal α-synuclein (SNCA) protein aggregations. Nigral neurodegeneration results in motor symptoms (tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity, shuffling gait, and postural instability) whereas; non-nigral neurodegeneration is responsible for non-motor symptoms (depression, cognitive dysfunctions, sleep disorders, hallucination, and psychosis). The available therapies for PD aim at increasing dopamine levels. The medications such as Monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) inhibitors, catechol o-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors, Dopamine precursor (Levodopa), dopamine agonists, and dopamine reuptake inhibitors drastically improve the motor symptoms and quality of life only in the early stages of the disease. However, dopa resistant motor symptoms (abnormality in posture, speech impediment, gait, and balance problems), dopa resistant non-motor signs (sleep problems, autonomic dysfunction, mood, and cognitive impairment, pain), and drug-related side effects (motor fluctuations, psychosis, and dyskinesias) are considered responsible for the failure of these therapies. Further, none of the treatments, alone or in combination, are capable of halting the disease progression in the long run. Therefore, there is a need to develop safe and efficient neuroprotective agents, which can slow or stop the disease progression for the better management of PD. In this review, an effort has been made to discuss the various mechanisms responsible for progressive neurodegeneration (disease progression) in PD and also multiple strategies available for halting disease progression.

COVID-19 infection, and reinfection, and vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic infection among health care workers in the setting of omicron variant transmission in New Delhi, India.

Background: Surge of SARS CoV-2 infections ascribed to omicron variant began in December 2021 in New Delhi. We determined the infection and reinfection density in a cohort of health care workers (HCWs) along with vaccine effectiveness (VE) against symptomatic infection within omicron transmission period (considered from December 01, 2021 to February 25, 2022. Methods: This is an observational study from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. Data were collected telephonically. Person-time at risk was counted from November 30, 2021 till date of infection/ reinfection, or date of interview. Comparison of clinical features and severity was done with previous pandemic periods. VE was estimated using test-negative case-control design [matched pairs (for age and sex)]. Vaccination status was compared and adjusted odds ratios (OR) were computed by conditional logistic regression. VE was estimated as (1-adjusted OR)X100-. Findings: 11474 HCWs participated in this study. The mean age was 36⋅2 (±10⋅7) years. Complete vaccination with two doses were reported by 9522 (83%) HCWs [8394 (88%) Covaxin and 1072 Covishield (11%)]. The incidence density of all infections and reinfection during the omicron transmission period was 34⋅8 [95% Confidence Interval (CI): 33⋅5-36⋅2] and 45⋅6 [95% CI: 42⋅9-48⋅5] per 10000 person days respectively. The infection was milder as compared to previous periods. VE was 52⋅5% (95% CI: 3⋅9-76⋅5, p = 0⋅036) for those who were tested within 14-60 days of receiving second dose and beyond this period (61-180 days), modest effect was observed. Interpretation: Almost one-fifth of HCWs were infected with SARS CoV-2 during omicron transmission period, with predominant mild spectrum of COVID-19 disease. Waning effects of vaccine protection were noted with increase in time intervals since vaccination. Funding: None.

Bioconversion of herbal industry waste into vermicompost using an epigeic earthworm Eudrilus eugeniae.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential of bioconversion of industrial herbal waste to vermicompost using Eudrilus eugeniae. Vermibeds were made using a mixture of herbal waste and cowdung (1 : 1) in comparison with the use of cowdung alone as substrate, resulting in vermicomposts 1 and 2, respectively. Different parameters were studied and it was observed that the nutrient profile of vermicompost 1 strongly influenced the growth of pea (Pisum sativum) and marigold plant (Tagetus erectus). The dry and fresh weight of shoots and roots, number of flowers, total yield in terms of fruit showed significant increase with vermicompost 1. Furthermore, vermicompost 1 (herbal waste and cow dung as substrate) resulted in a significant reduction in TOC by 58% in comparison with vermicompost 2 (cowdung as substrate). The C : N ratio was less than 20 in vermicompost 1 as well as in vermicompost 2, which indicated an advanced degree of stabilization and mineralization. The ability of earthworms to survive, grow and breed in the vermibed fed with the herbal waste indicates the sustainability and efficiency of a heterogeneous kind of organic waste. The results of the study suggested that bulk industrial herbal waste can be utilized as a substrate for vermicomposting and this can be proposed as an alternative for waste disposal in a clean green manner, promoting the concept of organic farming.