Understanding the molecular mechanism of regeneration through apoptosis-induced compensatory proliferation studies - updates and future aspects.

AICP is a crucial process that maintaining tissue homeostasis and regeneration. In the past, cell death was perceived merely as a means to discard cells without functional consequences. However, during regeneration, effector caspases orchestrate apoptosis, releasing signals that activate stem cells, thereby compensating for tissue loss across various animal models. Despite significant progress, the activation of Wnt3a by caspase-3 remains a focal point of research gaps in AICP mechanisms, spanning from lower to higher regenerative animals. This inquiry into the molecular intricacies of caspase-3-induced Wnt3a activation contributes to a deeper understanding of the links between regeneration and cancer mechanisms. Our report provides current updates on AICP pathways, delineating research gaps and highlighting the potential for future investigations aimed at enhancing our comprehension of this intricate process.

Infrared thermogram image guided discontinuous appearances of hyaluronic acid for classification of arthritic knee joints.

The liveliness of a human potentially depends on his/her smooth movability. To accomplish the work of daily life, the joints of the body need to be healthy. However, the occurrence of Rheumatoid arthritis and Osteoarthritis has a significant prevalence towards the immovability of humankind. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Osteoarthritis (OA) mostly affect the joints of the hand and knee which result in lifelong pain, inability to climb, walk, etc. In the early stages, these diseases attack the synovial membrane and synovial fluid, and further it destroys the soft tissues and bone structure. By early diagnosis, we can start the treatment in the early stage which may cure these diseases with such extreme consequences. As per clinical studies of previous literature, it is observed that synovial fluid imbalance appears in the early stage of such diseases and Hyaluronic Acid (HA) concentration also decreases for that. Therefore, estimation of HA is a significant key to arthritis disease classification and grading. In this paper, we proposed a hybrid framework for classification of arthritic knee joints based on the analysis of the discontinuous appearances of the HA concentration using infrared imaging technology. To meet up the specific necessities, firstly we have proposed a modified K-Means clustering algorithm for extraction of the region of interest (ROI) i.e., the knee joint surface. Secondly, a mathematical formulation is proposed to calculate the concentration of HA from the segmented ROIs. This experimental process was implemented on the publicly available IR (Infrared) Knee Joint Dataset and for further evaluation of the novelty of mathematical formulation, we have extended the proposed work to the classification of healthy and arthritis affected knee joints depending on significant discriminative characteristics of the HA concentration with respect to the existing significant imaging features. Experimental results and analysis demonstrates that concentration of HA has the dominant potential for classifying healthy and arthritic knee joints using infrared holistic images. Our experimental analysis reveals that estimation and combination of the HA concentration features with conventional handcrafted and deep features increases the classification performance with an average accuracy of 91% and 97.22% respectively as compared to the each individual feature sets.

Artificial neural networks (ANN)-genetic algorithm (GA) optimization on thermosonicated achocha juice: kinetic and thermodynamic perspectives of retained phytocompounds.

The extraction of phytocompounds from Achocha (Cyclanthera pedata) vegetable juice using traditional methods often results in suboptimal yields and efficiency. This study aimed to enhance the extraction process through the application of thermosonication (TS). To achieve this, an artificial neural network (ANN) and a genetic algorithm (GA) were utilized to simulate and optimize the process parameters. The study investigated the influence of ultrasonic amplitude (30%-50%), temperature (30 °C-50 °C), and sonication duration (15-60 min) on total polyphenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant activity (AOA), and ascorbic acid content (AA). Remarkably, the ANN-GA optimization resulted in optimal TS conditions: an ultrasonic amplitude of 40%, a temperature of 40 °C, and a sonication duration of 30 min. Subsequent analysis of extraction kinetics and thermodynamics across various temperatures (30 °C-50 °C) and extraction times (0-30 min) demonstrated R2 (0.98821) and χ2 (1.74773) for TPC with activation energy (Ea) 26.0456, R2 (0.99906) and χ2 (0.07215) for TFC with Ea 26.2336, R2 (0.99867) and χ2 (0.03003) for AOA with Ea 26.0987, R2 (0.99731) and χ2 (0.13719) for AA with Ea 26.0984, validating the pseudo second-order kinetic model. These findings indicate that increased temperature enhances the saturation concentration and rate constant of phytochemical extraction.

Examining the rural-urban divide in predisposing, enabling, and need factors of unsafe abortion in India using Andersen's behavioral model.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of unsafe abortions significantly varies with geography; therefore, more research is needed to understand the rural-urban differences in unsafe abortion practices in India. The present study aims to explore the rural-urban differences in predisposing, enabling, and need factors of unsafe abortion in India. METHODS: The present study used the fourth round of the National Family Health Survey (2015-16) and included the women aged 15-49 who terminated pregnancies by induced abortion during the 5 years prior to the survey (N = 9113) as the study sample. Descriptive statistics, bivariate chi-square significance test and multivariate logistic regression model were used to accomplish the study objectives. RESULTS: The findings revealed that almost one-third of pregnancies were terminated through unsafe measures with sharp rural-urban contrast. The likelihood of unsafe abortions increases with decreasing women's age and spousal level of education. Younger women in urban settings were more vulnerable to unsafe abortion practices. In rural settings, women with an uneducated spouse are more likely to have unsafe abortions (OR: 1.92). Poor households were more likely to undergo unsafe abortions, which were more common in rural settings (OR: 1.26). The unmet need for family planning was revealed to be a significant need factor for unsafe abortion, particularly in rural settings. CONCLUSION: Although abortion is legal, India's high estimated frequency of unsafe abortions reveals a serious public health issue. Due to socio-economic vulnerability, unmet family planning needs, and a lack of awareness, significant numbers of women still practice unsafe abortions in India.

Understanding the Multi-Functional Role of TCTP in the Regeneration Process of Earthworm, Perionyx excavatus.

BACKGROUND: Regeneration is a highly complex process that requires the coordination of numerous molecular events, and identifying the key ruler that governs is important to investigate. While it has been shown that TCTP is a multi-functional protein that regulates cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, anti-apoptosis, stem cell maintenance, and immune responses, but only a few studies associated to regeneration have been reported. To investigate the multi-functional role of TCTP in regeneration, the earthworm Perionyx excavatus was chosen. METHODS: Through pharmacological suppression of TCTP, amputation, histology, molecular docking, and western blotting, the multi-function role of TCTP involved in regeneration is revealed. RESULTS: Amputational studies show that P. excavatus is a clitellum-independent regenerating earthworm resulting in two functional worms upon amputation. Arresting cell cycle at the G1/S boundary using 2 mM Thymidine confirms that P. excavatus execute both epimorphosis and morphallaxis regeneration mode. The pharmacological suppression of TCTP using buclizine results in regeneration suppression. Following the combinatorial injection of 2 mM Thymidine and buclizine, the earthworm regeneration is completely blocked, which suggests a critical functional role of TCTP in morphallaxis. The pharmacological inhibition of TCTP also suppresses the key proteins involved in regeneration: Wnt3a (stem cell marker), PCNA (cell proliferation) and YAP1 (Hippo signalling) but augments the expression of cellular stress protein p53. CONCLUSION: The collective results indicate that TCTP synchronously is involved in the process of stem cell activation, cell proliferation, morphallaxis, and organ development in the regeneration event.

The molecular mechanisms underlying the regeneration process in the earthworm, Perionyx excavatus exhibit indications of apoptosis-induced compensatory proliferation (AICP).

Regeneration is a multifaceted biological phenomenon that necessitates the intricate orchestration of apoptosis, stem cells, and immune responses, culminating in the regulation of apoptosis-induced compensatory proliferation (AICP). The AICP context of research is observed in many animal models like in Hydra, Xenopus, newt, Drosophila, and mouse but so far not reported in earthworm. The earthworm Perionyx excavatus is used in the present study to understand the relationship between AICP-related protein expression and regeneration success in different conditions (normal regeneration and abnormal multiple bud formation). Initially, the worms are amputated into five equal portions and it is revealed that regeneration in P. excavatus is clitellum independent and it gives more preference for anterior regeneration (regrowth of head portion) than for posterior regeneration (regrowth of tail portion). The posterior segments of the worm possess enormous regeneration ability but this is lacking in anterior segments. Alkaline phosphate, a stem cell marker, shows strong signals throughout all the posterior segments but it decreases in the initial 1st to 15th anterior segments which lack the regeneration ability. While regenerating normally, it was suggested that the worm follow AICP principles. This is because there was increased expression of apoptosis signals throughout the regeneration process along with constant expression of stem cell proliferation response together with cellular proliferation. In amputated posterior segments maintained in vitro, the apoptosis signals were extensively detected on the 1st day. However, on the 4th and 6th days, caspase-3 and H2AX expression are significantly suppressed, which may eventually alter the Wnt3a and histone H3 patterns that impair the AICP and result in multiple bud formation. Our results suggest that AICP-related protein expression pattern is crucial for initiating proper regeneration.

Essential oil-nanoemulsion based edible coating: Innovative sustainable preservation method for fresh/fresh-cut fruits and vegetables.

Utilizing plant-based sources for the preservation of fresh and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables offers a natural and chemical-free method. However, the inherent instability of plant bioactive compounds underscores the necessity for encapsulation techniques. Essential oil-based nanoemulsions (EO-NEs) stand out among food additives due to their distinctive antibacterial and antioxidant properties. This review delves into recent advancements in the application of EO-NEs as edible coatings for fresh and fresh-cut produce. It examines the efficacy of EO-NEs in enhancing the preservation of fruits and vegetables by harnessing their bioactive compounds for antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant activities. Additionally, the review accentuates the efficacy of EO-NEs in inhibiting biofilm formation on fruits and vegetables. It reveals that coatings derived from plant-source nanoemulsions exhibit exceptional mechanical, optical, and microstructural qualities, as well as superior water barrier properties. In contrast to conventional emulsions, nanocoatings facilitate the gradual and controlled release of antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds during food storage. This feature enhances bioactivity, extends shelf life, and enhances the nutritional profile of products. By preserving and protecting shelf stability, EO-NEs contribute to the maintenance of vegetable freshness. Nonetheless, ensuring their commercial viability necessitates additional research into the toxicity of EO-based nanoemulsions.

Optimizing Quality and Shelf-Life Extension of Bor-Thekera (Garcinia pedunculata) Juice: A Thermosonication Approach with Artificial Neural Network Modeling.

This study investigated the quality characteristics of pasteurized and thermosonicated bor-thekera (Garcinia pedunculata) juices (TSBTJs) during storage at 4 °C for 30 days. Various parameters, including pH, titratable acidity (TA), total soluble content (TSSs), antioxidant activity (AA), total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), ascorbic acid content (AAC), cloudiness (CI) and browning indexes (BI), and microbial activity, were analyzed at regular intervals and compared with the quality parameters of fresh bor-thekera juice (FBTJ). A multi-layer artificial neural network (ANN) was employed to model and optimize the ultrasound-assisted extraction of bor-thekera juice. The impacts of storage time, treatment time, and treatment temperature on the quality attributes were also explored. The TSBTJ demonstrated the maximum retention of nutritional attributes compared with the pasteurized bor-thekera juice (PBTJ). Additionally, the TSBTJ exhibited satisfactory results for microbiological activity, while the PBTJ showed the highest level of microbial inactivation. The designed ANN exhibited low mean squared error values and high R2 values for the training, testing, validation, and overall datasets, indicating a strong relationship between the actual and predicted results. The optimal extraction parameters generated by the ANN included a treatment time of 30 min, a frequency of 44 kHz, and a temperature of 40 °C. In conclusion, thermosonicated juices, particularly the TSBTJ, demonstrated enhanced nutritional characteristics, positioning them as valuable reservoirs of bioactive components suitable for incorporation in the food and pharmaceutical industries. The study underscores the efficacy of ANN as a predictive tool for assessing bor-thekera juice extraction efficiency. Moreover, the use of thermosonication emerged as a promising alternative to traditional thermal pasteurization methods for bor-thekera juice preservation, mitigating quality deterioration while augmenting the functional attributes of the juice.

Augmentation of anti-proliferative efficacy of quercetin encapsulated chitosan nanoparticles by induction of cell death via mitochondrial membrane permeabilization in oral cancer.

Quercetin (QCT), an antioxidant plant flavonoid, is known to impart prominent anti-cancer properties. However, its clinical application as a potential drug is hindered owing to its hydrophobicity, extensive metabolism, low absorption, and rapid elimination. The drawbacks of these phytochemical-based therapies can be addressed using nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems. In this study, we sought to develop chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) as the drug vehicle for encasing quercetin (QCT-CSNPs) and further investigate its anti-tumor potential against human oral cancer cell line Cal33. Our findings indicate that the average particle diameter of the formulated chitosan nanoparticles was around 100 nm, and they had a spherical structure, as per the TEM and FESEM images. The efficient entrapment of quercetin inside the CSNPs matrix is confirmed by XRD, UV-Vis spectrophotometry, FTIR, and DSC analysis. The in vitro cell cytotoxicity study against Cal33 oral cancer cells revealed that QCT-CSNPs exhibited superior toxicity compared to free QCT post-24-hour treatment. The improved anti-cancer efficacy of QCT-CSNPs was further confirmed by enhanced cellular apoptosis, colony formation inhibition, migration inhibition, and chromatin condensation. Moreover, the mitochondrial dysfunction and enhanced ROS (Reactive oxygen species) production indicated mitochondrial-mediated cell death in QCT-CSNPs treated Cal33 cells. In conclusion, our data suggest that quercetin-encapsulated chitosan nanoparticles may serve as a potential drug candidate against oral cancer.

In Vitro Study on Spermicidal Action of Hydro-methanol Extract of Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Stem in Rat and Human Sperm: a Comparative Analysis.

Human fertility regulation is a major way to control overpopulation. In this perspective, this study emphasized the in vitro effect of hydro-methanol extract of Tinospora cordifolia (TCHME) stem for spermicidal and reproductive hypo-functions using human and rat samples. Control, 0.5-, 1-, and 2-mg TCHME-charged groups were considered to assess the relevant parameters. Levels of spermiological parameters like sperm motility, viability, the integrity of plasma and acrosomal membrane, and nuclear chromatin decondensation were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in the dose- and duration-dependent TCHME-charged groups compared to the control. The inhibitory concentration 50 (IC50) of TCHME on motile human and rat sperms were 0.8 and 0.4 mg/ml, respectively. Testicular androgenic key enzymes and antioxidant enzymes (human sperm pellet, testes, and epididymis of rat)' activities were significantly diminished (p < 0.05), while antioxidant enzymes' activities were significantly elevated (p < 0.05) in renal and insignificantly (p > 0.05) elevated in hepatic tissues of rat in TCHME-charged groups compared to the control. Significant elevation (p < 0.05) of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS)' level in human sperm pellet, testes, and epididymis of rats and significant diminution (p < 0.05) in TBARS levels of liver and kidney were observed in TCHME-charged groups. It focused that TCHME is more potent for stress imposition on reproductive tissues and sperm compared to the other tested tissues. Non-significant alterations (p > 0.05) in glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) activities in the said organs of rat indicated its non-toxic effect. It highlighted that TCHME possesses spermicidal and reproductive tissue-specific effects which strengthen the possibilities of male contraceptive development from it.

Effect of Thermosonication on the Nutritional Quality of Lapsi (Choerospondias axillaris) Fruit Juice: Application of Advanced Artificial Neural Networks.

This study explored the effect of thermosonication on the nutritional properties of lapsi (Choerospondias axillaris) fruit juice. The intent of the present investigation was to process lapsi fruit juice using both thermosonication and thermal pasteurisation and to compare the effects of these treatments on the juice's physicochemical, nutritional, and microbiological qualities. In order to maximise the retention of nutritional properties, enhance juice quality, and boost efficiency, an artificial neural network (ANN) model was also developed to forecast the optimisation of process parameters for the quality of lapsi fruit juice. This study establishes a novel experimental planning method using an ANN to multi-objectively optimise the extraction process and identify the ideal extraction conditions for thermosonication (50, 75, and 100% amplitude at 30, 40, and 50 °C for 15, 30, 45, and 60 min) to augment lapsi juice's nutritional and microbiological properties by improving certain attributes such as ascorbic acid (AA), antioxidant activity (AOA), total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), total plate count, and yeast and mould count (YMC). The maximum values for AA (71.80 ± 0.05 mg/100 mL), AOA (74.60 ± 0.28%), TPC (187.33 ± 0.03 mg gallic acid equivalents [GAE]/mL), TFC (127.27 ± 0.05 mg quercetin equivalents [QE]/mL), total plate count (not detected), and YMC were achieved in thermosonicated lapsi juice (TSLJ) under optimal conditions. For AA and TFC, the optimal conditions were 100% amplitude, 40 °C, and 45 min. For AOA and TPC, the optimal conditions were 100% amplitude, 40 °C, and 60 min, and for YMC, the optimal conditions were 100% amplitude, 50 °C, and 60 min. According to the findings, thermosonicated juices have improved nutritional properties, making them an excellent source of bioactive elements for use in both the food and pharmaceutical sectors. According to this study, ANN has been identified as a valuable tool for predicting the effectiveness of lapsi fruit juice extraction, and the application of thermosonication as an approach for lapsi juice preservation could be a potential successor to thermal pasteurisation. This approach can help to minimise or hinder quality degradation while improving the juice's functionality.

Perceived academic satisfaction level, psychological stress and academic risk among Indian students amidst COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The Covid-19 pandemic has a significant impact on education and mental health outcomes. This study attempts to analyze the factors associated with academic satisfaction level, psychological stress/anxiety, and future academic risk among Indian students of higher education in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods: An online survey was conducted through a structured questionnaire among students of higher education. Multivariate ordered logistic regression models were performed to find out the predictors of perceived academic satisfaction level, psychological stress, and academic risk among the participants. Results: Among the 630 participants, the majority of the students (73%) had low to moderate levels of academic satisfaction. Over two-thirds of participants (68%) had a high level of stress and nearly two-fifths (38%) of the participants felt very high risk in their academic career. The multivariate logistic regression models show that the likelihood of psychological stress and academic risk was significantly higher among students aged above 25 years, researchers, and those who belong to broken families. Besides, the higher probability of satisfaction level is associated with female students, undergraduates, belonging to economically well-off families, and rural residents. Conclusion: Our study suggests that the Covid-19 pandemic leads to a range of psychological health problems. Therefore, increase students' satisfaction with online classes and it is essential to preserve the mental health of individuals and to develop psychological interventions that can improve the mental health of students during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Effects of Dietary Diversity on Growth Outcomes of Children Aged 6 to 23 Months in India: Evidence from National Family and Health Survey.

Low dietary diversity significantly interplays with children's growth failure. However, evidence of its crucial role in children's health remains inconclusive in developing countries such as India. This study attempts to find the association between dietary diversity and growth outcomes among children aged between 6 and 23 months in India using the fourth round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS), 2015−2016. A total of 67,278 mother-child pairs of children between the ages of 6−23 months and mothers aged 15−49 years were included in this study. Pearson's chi-square significance test and multivariable logistic regression were used to determine the association between dietary diversity and child growth outcomes (stunted, wasted, and underweight). The study found that the prevalence of stunting and severe stunting among children aged between 6 and 23 months were 35.9% and 16.2%; 23.8% and 8.5% represented wasting, and severe wasting; and more than 32%, 10% were underweight and severely underweight respectively. This present study found that having an inadequate minimum dietary diversity (<4 food groups) significantly increases the risk of being stunted (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.29; 95% confidence interval (CI); 1.21−1.38), wasted (AOR = 1.29; 95% CI; 1.21−1.38), and underweight (AOR = 1.47; 95% CI; 1.39−1.56). Further, it was noted that children who did not intake dairy products, eggs, and other fruits and vegetables were more likely to be stunted, wasted, and underweight and more likely to be severely stunted, wasted, and underweight. Therefore, additional nutrition-specific interventions are urgently needed to strengthen and enhance existing feeding interventions aimed at improving infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices, including complementary feeding practices among children aged between 6 and 23 months in India. The Government should focus such interventions more on states or regions where the prevalence of adequate minimum dietary diversity (MDD) and malnutrition is high.

Discovering client and intervention patterns in home visiting data.

Family home visiting is a widely accepted strategy used with disadvantaged families to mitigate the effects of poverty. However, gaps persist in knowledge of effective intervention approaches for home visiting relative to specific client risks such as parenting and psychosocial problems. The purpose of this study was to inductively create clusters from electronic health records of 484 public health nursing clients, using client characteristics and intervention data. Four clinically relevant client clusters were generated using Mixed Membership Naïve Bayes methods. Fourteen distinct intervention clusters were generated using KMETIS, a graph partitioning method. The content of the intervention clusters illustrates the complexity of public health nursing practice. This study leverages current nursing documentation technology capacity to advance nursing knowledge. Future research is needed to explore relationships between client and intervention clusters and their associations with client outcomes, with the end goals of improving home visiting practice and client outcomes.