Zinc oxide nanoparticles application alleviates salinity stress by modulating plant growth, biochemical attributes and nutrient homeostasis in Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Salt stress poses a significant challenge to global agriculture, adversely affecting crop yield and food production. The current study investigates the potential of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) in mitigating salt stress in common beans. Salt-stressed bean plants were treated with varying concentrations of NPs (25 mg/L, 50 mg/L, 100 mg/L, 200 mg/L) using three different application methods: foliar application, nano priming, and soil application. Results indicated a pronounced impact of salinity stress on bean plants, evidenced by a reduction in fresh weight (24%), relative water content (27%), plant height (33%), chlorophyll content (37%), increased proline (over 100%), sodium accumulation, and antioxidant enzyme activity. Application of ZnO NPs reduced salt stress by promoting physiological growth parameters. The NPs facilitated enhanced plant growth and reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by regulating plant nutrient homeostasis and chlorophyll fluorescence activity. All the tested application methods effectively mitigate salt stress, with nano-priming emerging as the most effective approach, yielding results comparable to control plants for the tested parameters. This study provides the first evidence that ZnO NPs can effectively mitigate salt stress in bean plants, highlighting their potential to address salinity-induced growth inhibition in crops.

Analgesia for emergency laparotomy: a systematic review.

Aims/Background Poorly controlled pain is common after emergency laparotomy. It causes distress, hinders rehabilitation, and predisposes to complications: prolonged hospitalisation, persistent pain, and reduced quality of life. The aim of this systematic review was to compare the relative efficacies of pre-emptive analgesia for emergency laparotomy to inform practice. Methods We performed a search of MEDLINE, MEDLINE In-Process, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science and SCOPUS for comparator studies of preoperative/intraoperative interventions to control/reduce postoperative pain in adults undergoing emergency laparotomy (EL) for general surgical pathologies. Exclusion criteria: surgery including non-abdominal sites; postoperative sedation and/or intubation; non-formal assessment of pain; non-English manuscripts. All manuscripts were screened by two investigators. Results We identified 2389 papers. Following handsearching and removal of duplicates, 1147 were screened. None were eligible for inclusion, with many looking at elective and/or laparoscopic surgeries. Conclusion Our findings indicate there is no evidence base for pre-emptive analgesic strategies in emergency laparotomy. This contrasts substantially with elective cohorts. Potential reasons include variation in practice, management of physiological derangement taking priority, and perceived contraindications to neuraxial techniques. We urge a review of contemporary practice, with analysis of clinical data, to generate expert consensus.

Deciphering the functional role of clinical mutations in ABCB1, ABCC1, and ABCG2 ABC transporters in endometrial cancer.

ATP-binding cassette transporters represent a superfamily of dynamic membrane-based proteins with diverse yet common functions such as use of ATP hydrolysis to efflux substrates across cellular membranes. Three major transporters-P-glycoprotein (P-gp or ABCB1), multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1 or ABCC1), and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP or ABCG2) are notoriously involved in therapy resistance in cancer patients. Despite exhaustive individual characterizations of each of these transporters, there is a lack of understanding in terms of the functional role of mutations in substrate binding and efflux, leading to drug resistance. We analyzed clinical variations reported in endometrial cancers for these transporters. For ABCB1, the majority of key mutations were present in the membrane-facing region, followed by the drug transport channel and ATP-binding regions. Similarly, for ABCG2, the majority of key mutations were located in the membrane-facing region, followed by the ATP-binding region and drug transport channel, thus highlighting the importance of membrane-mediated drug recruitment and efflux in ABCB1 and ABCG2. On the other hand, for ABCC1, the majority of key mutations were present in the inactive nucleotide-binding domain, followed by the drug transport channel and membrane-facing regions, highlighting the importance of the inactive nucleotide-binding domain in facilitating indirect drug efflux in ABCC1. The identified key mutations in endometrial cancer and mapped common mutations present across different types of cancers in ABCB1, ABCC1, and ABCG2 will facilitate the design and discovery of inhibitors targeting unexplored structural regions of these transporters and re-engineering of these transporters to tackle chemoresistance.

Weight and sight: Association between body mass index and visual efficiency skills of university students.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) and visual efficiency skills of university students. METHODS: This study adopted an analytical and descriptive methodology whereby a comprehensive screening of 385 university students was conducted. Ultimately, 116 subjects were selected to ensure judicious distribution of subjects across the four categories of BMI. These 116 subjects were subjected to visual efficiency testing parameters, as referenced from "Clinical Management of Binocular Vision," by Scheiman and Wick. RESULTS: BMI and visual efficiency anomalies were observed to be correlated with statistical significance to each other as indicated by a P = 0.018 and χ2 = 15.22. It was also observed that the obese category exhibited the highest prevalence of accommodation and vergence anomalies, followed by the underweight category, as discerned from a detailed analysis of subjects classified according to the BMI categories. These findings imply a noteworthy and potentially deleterious impact of BMI on the visual system and underscore the importance of regular screening for visual efficiency skills in individuals across various BMI categories. CONCLUSION: This study established a compelling association between BMI and visual efficiency skills anomalies. Consistent with prior research, the findings of this study suggest that individual with higher BMI is more prone to experiencing such anomalies.

Synthetic polyploid induction influences morphological, physiological, and photosynthetic characteristics in Melissa officinalis L.

Melissa officinalis L., a well-known herb with diverse industrial and ethnopharmacological properties. Although, there has been a significant lack in the breeding attempts of this invaluable herb. This study aimed to enhance the agronomical traits of M. officinalis through in vitro polyploidization. Nodal segments were micropropagated and subjected to oryzalin treatment at concentrations of 20, 40, and 60 mM for 24 and 48 hours. Flow cytometry, chromosome counting, and stomatal characteristics were employed to confirm the ploidy level of the surviving plants. The survival rate of the treated explants decreased exponentially with increasing oryzalin concentration and duration. The highest polyploid induction rate (8%) was achieved with 40 mM oryzalin treatment for 24 hours. The induced tetraploid plants exhibited vigorous growth, characterized by longer shoots, larger leaves, and a higher leaf count. Chlorophyll content and fluorescence parameters elucidated disparities in photosynthetic performance between diploid and tetraploid genotypes. Tetraploid plants demonstrated a 75% increase in average essential oil yield, attributed to the significantly larger size of peltate trichomes. Analysis of essential oil composition in diploid and tetraploid plants indicated the presence of three major components: geranial, neral, and citronellal. While citronellal remained consistent, geranial and neral increased by 11.06% and 9.49%, respectively, in the tetraploid population. This effective methodology, utilizing oryzalin as an anti-mitotic agent for polyploid induction in M. officinalis, resulted in a polyploid genotype with superior morpho-physiological traits. The polyploid lemon balm generated through this method has the potential to meet commercial demands and contribute significantly to the improvement of lemon balm cultivation.

Systematic Identification of Suitable Reference Genes for Quantitative Real-Time PCR Analysis in Melissa officinalis L.

Melissa officinalis L. is well known for its lemon-scented aroma and various pharmacological properties. Despite these valuable properties, the genes involved in the biosynthetic pathways in M. officinalis are not yet well-explored when compared to other members of the mint family. For that, gene expression studies using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) are an excellent tool. Although qRT-PCR can provide accurate results, its accuracy is highly reliant on the expression and stability of the reference gene used for normalization. Hence, selecting a suitable experiment-specific reference gene is very crucial to obtain accurate results. However, to date, there are no reports for experiment-specific reference genes in M. officinalis. Therefore, in the current study, ten commonly used reference genes were assessed for their suitability as optimal reference genes in M. officinalis under various abiotic stress conditions and different plant organs. The candidate genes were ranked based on BestKeeper, comparative ΔCt, geNorm, NormFinder, and RefFinder. Based on the results, we recommend the combination of EF-1α and GAPDH as the best reference genes to normalize gene expression studies in M. officinalis. On the contrary, HLH71 was identified as the least-performing gene. Thereafter, the reliability of the optimal gene combination was assessed by evaluating the relative gene expression of the phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) gene under two elicitor treatments (gibberellic acid and jasmonic acid). PAL is a crucial gene involved directly or indirectly in the production of various economically important secondary metabolites in plants. Suitable reference genes for each experimental condition are also discussed. The findings of the current study form a basis for current and future gene expression studies in M. officinalis and other related species.

Selection and Validation of the Most Suitable Reference Genes for Quantitative Real-Time PCR Normalization in Salvia rosmarinus under In Vitro Conditions.

Salvia rosmarinus L. (rosemary) is known to have a wide range of pharmacological effects including antidiabetic, anticarcinogenic, and antitumorigenic properties owing to its secondary metabolites. Studies aiming to elevate these metabolites have utilized various elicitors and stresses under in vitro conditions, although underlying molecular mechanisms remain unexplored. Gene expression studies using RT-qPCR might provide valuable information regarding how plant and plant cells interact and perceive various treatments and elicitors. However, despite being able to calculate accurate fold changes, the accuracy of the RT-qPCR data highly depends on the expression of reference genes. To the best of our knowledge, there is no information available on the stable reference genes in rosemary under in vitro conditions. Thus, in this paper, we assessed the stability of seven commonly used reference genes under different elicitor and stress conditions using RT-qPCR. Thereafter, the five most commonly used software and algorithms (comparative ΔCt, BestKeeper, NormFinder, geNorm, and RefFinder) were used to rank the candidates based on their expression stabilities. In conclusion, we recommend using a combination of F1-ATPase, ATP synthase and ACCase to normalize the gene expression experiments in rosemary under in vitro conditions. The selected reference genes were verified using 4-coumarate-CoA ligase, a pharmacologically important gene, whose expression might alter under nanoparticle treatment. Additionally, reference genes for several plant tissues, elicitors, and stresses are also proposed. The conclusions obtained from this current study will accelerate the future molecular work in S. rosmarinus and other related species.

A Novel Familial Case Report of Genetic Syndrome Mimicking Congenital TORCH infections; Pseudo-TORCH Syndrome 2.

Background: Pseudo-TORCH syndrome (PTS) is a group of autosomal recessive disorders that clinically and radiologically mimic TORCH congenital infections. The prevalence of pseudo-TORCH syndrome 2 is 1 in 1,000,000 cases worldwide. This novel disorder is extremely rare, and is generally detected by prenatal diagnosis through next generation sequencing (NGS) during pregnancy. In this study, a familial case of pseudo-TORCH syndrome 2 with novel non-sense mutation in the ubiquitin-specific peptidase 18 (USP 18) gene in the parents was reported, who are heterozygous asymptomatic carriers; however, all children have inherited a homozygous pathogenic form of USP18, which is an important negative regulator of type I interferon (IFN) signal transduction. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of a novel mutation of USP18 seen in a family with pseudo-TORCH syndrome 2 (PTS 2) from India. Case Presentation: A 23-year-old pregnant woman with bad obstetric history, including intrauterine and neonatal mortality was referred to the Institute of Genetics in the year 2021 for clinical and genetic evaluation. Advanced clinical exome sequencing of the parents and the fetus revealed heterozygous carrier status in parents and homozygous mutation in USP 18 gene in the progeny leading to pseudo-TORCH-2 syndrome. Conclusion: The present case highlights the significance of carrier screening, prenatal diagnosis, and genetic counseling in couples with bad obstetric history for the detection of rare genetic disorders with poor prognosis.

Therapeutic efficacy of oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by persistent airflow limitation that is usually progressive and associated with an enhanced chronic inflammatory response in the airway and the lung to noxious particles or gases. Sputum production is a cardinal feature in COPD. Airway clearance techniques have been the mainstay of management. Oscillating positive expiratory pressure (OPEP) devices are handheld devices that provide a combination of positive expiratory pressure (PEP) with high frequency oscillations which involve exhaling against a resistance that is fluctuating. It encourages airflow within secretions, whereas oscillations induce vibrations within airway wall to displace secretions into airway lumen and help in expectoration. Methods: A randomized control trial was conducted at the department of pulmonary medicine, Government Medical College & Hospital, Chandigarh, in which 50 patients with stable COPD were enrolled for one- and- half years. After taking proper history, they were subjected to spirometry, six- minute walk test, and were asked to fill the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and COPD Assessment Test (CAT). These patients were randomized into group A (intervention group) and group B (control group), where group A was prescribed Aerobika OPEP device for daily use for a period of three months. After three months of use of device, the patients were again subjected to assessment parameters and inquired about any exacerbation within the three- month period. Results: At the end of three months were compared with baseline results. The median change in FEV1, FVC, 6MWD from baseline in group A was significantly more as compared to group B (FEV1: P < 0.001; FVC: P < 0.001; 6MWD: P = 0.08), whereas SGRQ score showed a significant improvement in both the intervention and control groups (P < 0.001) and CAT score showed significant improvement in comparison to the control group (P < 0.001). The median change in 6MWD and CAT from baseline in group A was significantly more as compared to group B (SGRQ: P < 0.001; CAT: P < 0.001), whereas it was not significant in case of SGRQ (P = 0.233). There was no significant difference in the incidence of exacerbation in the two groups (P = 0.19). The device did not help in controlling the rate of exacerbation in the present study at three months. Conclusion: Stable COPD patients who were given OPEP therapy as an adjunct to the standard drug therapy showed improvement in the spirometry parameters, exercise capacity and symptom burden in comparison to the drug only group.

Crucial Cell Signaling Compounds Crosstalk and Integrative Multi-Omics Techniques for Salinity Stress Tolerance in Plants.

In the era of rapid climate change, abiotic stresses are the primary cause for yield gap in major agricultural crops. Among them, salinity is considered a calamitous stress due to its global distribution and consequences. Salinity affects plant processes and growth by imposing osmotic stress and destroys ionic and redox signaling. It also affects phytohormone homeostasis, which leads to oxidative stress and eventually imbalances metabolic activity. In this situation, signaling compound crosstalk such as gasotransmitters [nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), calcium (Ca), reactive oxygen species (ROS)] and plant growth regulators (auxin, ethylene, abscisic acid, and salicylic acid) have a decisive role in regulating plant stress signaling and administer unfavorable circumstances including salinity stress. Moreover, recent significant progress in omics techniques (transcriptomics, genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) have helped to reinforce the deep understanding of molecular insight in multiple stress tolerance. Currently, there is very little information on gasotransmitters and plant growth regulator crosstalk and inadequacy of information regarding the integration of multi-omics technology during salinity stress. Therefore, there is an urgent need to understand the crucial cell signaling crosstalk mechanisms and integrative multi-omics techniques to provide a more direct approach for salinity stress tolerance. To address the above-mentioned words, this review covers the common mechanisms of signaling compounds and role of different signaling crosstalk under salinity stress tolerance. Thereafter, we mention the integration of different omics technology and compile recent information with respect to salinity stress tolerance.

Magnetic Field Treatments Improves Sunflower Yield by Inducing Physiological and Biochemical Modulations in Seeds.

Magnetic seed enhancement has been practicing as a promising tool to improve germination and seedling growth of low vigor seeds stored under suboptimal conditions, but there is still ambiguity regarding the prospects for magnetism in oilseeds. Present study elucidates the potential of magnetic seed stimulation to improve sunflower germination, growth and yield. Germination and emergence tests were performed to optimize the strength of the magnetic field to sunflower seed enhancement. The seeds were directly exposed to magnetic field strengths of 50, 100 and 150 millitesla (mT) for 5, 10 and 15 min (min) and then standard germination tests were performed. Secondly, the emergence potential of untreated seeds was compared with seed exposed to hydropriming, priming with 3% moringa leaf extract (MLE), priming with magnetically treated water (MTW) for 10 min and priming with 3% MLE solution prepared in magnetically treated water (MTW + MLE). Germination, emergence, seedling growth and seed biochemical properties were used to select the best treatment for field evaluation. The results of the study revealed that magnetic seed treatment with 100 mT for 10 min and seed priming with 3% MLE solution in magnetically treated water (MTW + MLE) significantly improved emergence, crop growth rate and sunflower yield.