Electro-optical behaviour of CuFe2 O4 @rGO nanocomposite for nonenzymatic detection of uric acid via the electrochemical method.

Uric acid (UA) is a blood and urine component obtained as a metabolic by-product of purine nucleotides. Abnormalities in UA metabolism cause crystal deposition as monosodium urate and lead to various diseases such as gout, hyperuricemia, Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, etc. Monitoring these diseases requires a rapid, sensitive, selective, and portable detection approach. Therefore, this study demonstrates the hydrothermal synthesis of CuFe2 O4 /reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanocomposite for selective detection of UA. After the nanocomposite synthesis, characterization was performed by X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-visible spectrometry, atomic force spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and electrochemical analysis. Furthermore, from the electrochemical analysis using cyclic voltammetry (CV), kinetic studies were carried out by varying the scan rate to obtain the diffusion coefficient, surface concentration, and rate of charge transfer to achieve a calibration curve that indicates the quasi reversible nature of the fabricated electrode with a linear regression coefficient of oxidation (R2 : 0.9992) and reduction (R2 : 0.9971) peaks. Moreover, the fabricated nonenzymatic amperometric sensor to detect UA with a linearity (R2 : 0.9989) of 1-400 µM was highly sensitive (2.75 × 10-4  mAµM-1  cm-2 ) and had a lower limit of detection (0.01231 µM) at pH 7.5 in phosphate-buffered saline solution. Therefore, the CuFe2 O4 /rGO/ITO-based nonenzymatic sensor could detect interfering agents and spiked real bovine serum samples with higher sensitivity and selectivity for UA detection.

Enhanced photocatalytic activity of ceria-doped zinc oxide under UV illumination prepared via chemical precipitation.

Transition metal oxide has emerged as one of the most potential candidates for environment remediation by utilizing solar energy through photocatalysis. This study compares the optical characteristics of zinc oxide (ZnO) and ceria-doped zinc oxide (CeZnO) nanoparticles synthesized through a facile chemical precipitation method without using any assistant catalyst. The present work investigates the consequences of ceria (cerium dioxide, CeO2 ) intrusion on the photocatalytic activity of ZnO nanoparticles using methylene blue (MB) as a probe pollutant. The CeZnO showed an increase in photoactivity when compared to ZnO nanoparticles for degradation of MB in an aqueous solution under ultraviolet (UV) irradiance. The resulting heterojunction between ZnO and that of ceria enhances the charge separation efficiency showing a strong correlation between ZnO and CeO2 heterojunction on the charge transfer mechanism across the interface.

Potentialities of fluorescent carbon nanomaterials as sensor for food analysis.

Food safety and quality are among the most significant and prevalent research areas worldwide. The fabrication of appropriate technical procedures or devices for the recognition of hazardous features in foods is essential to safeguard food materials. In the recent era, developing high-performance sensors based on carbon nanomaterial for food safety investigation has made noteworthy progress. Hence this review briefly highlights the different detection approaches (colorimetric sensor, fluorescence sensor, surface-enhanced Raman scattering, surface plasmon resonance, chemiluminescence, and electroluminescence), functional carbon nanomaterials with various dimensions (quantum dots, graphene quantum dots) and detection mechanisms. Further, this review emphasizes the assimilation of carbon nanomaterials with optical sensors to identify multiple contaminants in food products. The insights of carbon-based nanomaterials optical sensors for pesticides and insecticides, toxic metals, antibiotics, microorganisms, and mycotoxins detection are described in detail. Finally, the opportunities and future perspectives of nanomaterials-based optical analytical approaches for detecting various food contaminants are discussed.

DNA methylation and expression of KCNQ3 in bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVES: Accumulating evidence implicates the potassium voltage-gated channel, KQT-like subfamily, member 2 and 3 (KCNQ2 and KCNQ3) genes in the etiology of bipolar disorder (BPD). Reduced KCNQ2 or KCNQ3 gene expression might lead to a loss of inhibitory M-current and an increase in neuronal hyperexcitability in disease. The goal of the present study was to evaluate epigenetic and gene expression associations of the KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 genes with BPD. METHODS: DNA methylation and gene expression levels of alternative transcripts of KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 capable of binding the ankyrin G (ANK3) gene were evaluated using bisulfite pyrosequencing and the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in the postmortem prefrontal cortex of subjects with BPD and matched controls from the McLean Hospital. Replication analyses of DNA methylation findings were performed using prefrontal cortical DNA obtained from the Stanley Medical Research Institute. RESULTS: Significantly lower expression was observed in KCNQ3, but not KCNQ2. DNA methylation analysis of CpGs within an alternative exonic region of KCNQ3 exon 11 demonstrated significantly lower methylation in BPD, and correlated significantly with KCNQ3 mRNA levels. Lower KCNQ3 exon 11 DNA methylation was observed in the Stanley Medical Research Institute replication cohort, although only after correcting for mood stabilizer status. Mood stabilizer treatment in rats resulted in a slight DNA methylation increase at the syntenic KCNQ3 exon 11 region, which subsequent analyses suggested could be the result of alterations in neuronal proportion. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study suggest that epigenetic alterations in the KCNQ3 gene may be important in the etiopathogenesis of BPD and highlight the importance of controlling for medication and cellular composition-induced heterogeneity in psychiatric studies of the brain.

Chitosan-assisted self-assembly of flower-shaped ε-Fe2O3 nanoparticles on screen-printed carbon electrode for Impedimetric detection of Cd2+, Pb2+, and Hg2+ heavy metal ions in various water samples.

This study focuses on the fabrication of a novel sensing platform on a screen-printed carbon electrode, modified by a combination of hydrothermally synthesized iron dioxide (ε-Fe2O3) nanoparticles and Chitosan (CS) biopolymer. This unique organic-inorganic hybrid material was developed for Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) sensing, specifically targeting heavy metal ions that include Hg2+, Cd2+, as well as Pb2+. The investigation encompassed a comprehensive analysis of various aspects of the prepared Fe2O3 and CS/ε-Fe2O3 nanocomposites, including phase identification, determination of crystallite size, assessment of surface morphology, etc. CS/ε-Fe2O3 was drop-casted and deposited on the Screen-Printed Electrode (SPE). The resulting sensor exhibited excellent performance in the precise and selective quantification of Hg2+, Cd2+, and Pb2+ ions, with minimal interference from other substances. The fabricated sensor exhibits excellent performance as the detection range for Hg2+, Cd2+, and Pb2+ ions linearity is 2-20 µM, sensitivity, and LOD are 243 Ω/ µM cm2 and 0.191 µM, 191 Ω/µM cm2, and 0.167 µM, 879 Ω/ µM cm2, and 0.177 µM respectively. The stability of the CS/ε-Fe2O3/SPE electrode is demonstrated by checking its conductivity for up to 60 days for Hg2+, Cd2+, and Pb2+ ions. The reusability of the fabricated electrode is 14 scans, 13 scans, and 12 scans for Hg2+, Cd2+, and Pb2+ ions respectively. The findings indicate the successful development of an innovative CS/ε-Fe2O3 electrode for the EIS sensing platform. This platform demonstrates notable potential for addressing the critical need for efficient and sensitive EIS sensors capable of detecting a range of hazardous heavy metal ions, including Hg2+, Cd2+, and Pb2+.

Morphological and Morphometric Relations of Infraorbital Foramen in North Indian Population.

Introduction The evidence regarding the anatomy of the infraorbital foramen in the Indian population is limited. It mainly focuses on its shape, size, and incidence in the Indian population. The current study aimed to evaluate morphometric parameters of infraorbital foramen that can help clinicians during surgery and procedures around it. Methods We evaluated 90 dry adult human hemi-skulls. The morphological parameters studied included the assessment of the shape of the infraorbital foramen, its horizontal and vertical diameters, and its relation to the teeth of the upper jaw. In addition, we measured the distance of the infraorbital foramen from the anterior nasal spine, nasion, infraorbital margin, and the lower extent of the alveolar margin. The length of the infraorbital canal till the inferior orbital fissure and the infraorbital groove and the infraorbital canal orientation angles in different planes were also measured. The measurement values were compared between the right and left side hemi-skulls. Results The oval-shaped infraorbital foramen was most commonly noticed. The mean vertical and transverse diameters were 3.8 mm and 2.6 mm, respectively, on the right side. The left side's mean vertical and transverse diameters were 3.9 mm and 2.5 mm, respectively. The most common location of infraorbital foramen was in line with the maxillary second premolar tooth. The distances of infraorbital foramen from the alveolar margin were 29.6 mm and 29 mm on the right and left sides, respectively. The distances of the infraorbital foramen from the anterior nasal spine were 34.3 mm and 34.2 mm on the right and left sides, respectively. The distances of infraorbital foramen from the nasion were 42.3 mm and 42.2 mm on the right and left sides, respectively. The distances of infraorbital foramen from the inferior orbital margin were 5.8 mm and 6.2 mm on the right and left sides, respectively. The distances between the inferior orbital margin and infraorbital groove were 12.7 mm and 12.7 mm on the right and left sides, respectively. The distances between the inferior orbital margin and inferior orbital fissure were 27.5 mm and 27.1 mm on the right and left sides, respectively. The orientation angles of infraorbital foramen were 48.31° in the horizontal plane, 34.07° in the Frankfurt plane, and 14.4° in the parasagittal plane. Conclusion Our findings suggest that the location of the infraorbital foramen is difficult to standardize, considering the wide interindividual variations in the foramen relations. Further research should be performed to investigate the parameters related to the distance and orientation of the infraorbital foramen in relation to nearby bony landmarks that are least affected by individual variations in skull morphology.

Impact of social media on mental health of the general population during Covid-19 pandemic: A systematic review.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, people are using social media more than usual routine because they rely on online sources to seek health information for themselves and their loved ones. The spread of inaccurate and misleading information via social media has a number of detrimental psychological effects on members of society. The aim of this systematic review was to describe the impact of social media on the mental health of the general population. An extensive systematic search was done till the last month of 2021 for collecting the evidence using the PRISMA technique. The search was mainly focused on the article leading with keywords and search engines used during the course of the study were Pubmed, Semantic Scholar, Mendeley, and Science direct. Articles for this study were selected based on the predetermined eligibility criteria and performed quality assessment by using the NHLBI quality assessment tool. Most of the studies included in this review are found fair (score between 9 and 12) quality. Out of 866 publications, 533 articles were included in the initial screening, after duplication removal 46 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility and 14 studies were selected for systematic review. In most of the studies, maximum participants used social media as a primary source of information. Relatively high rates of symptoms of depression (14.14% to 48.3%), anxiety (7.4% to 47.82%), and prevalence of stress increased to 37.67% are reported after exposure to social media for coverage of COVID-19 news in the general population. Risk factors of psychological distress are associated with female gender, younger age group, marital status, staying alone, and duration of exposure to mass media. Increased exposure to COVID-19 information through mass/social media is associated with highly significant levels of psychological health issues; mitigating the hazardous effect of social media exposure during the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological health of the general population is an international public health priority.

Factors Influencing Compliance With Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Use Among Healthcare Workers.

Introduction Accurate and appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is an integral component in infection prevention and control policy to ensure healthcare workers' safety. Poor compliance with personal protective behaviours and inconsistent use of PPE has been identified as the main cause of transmission of nosocomial infections in healthcare settings and this reduced compliance is linked to many individual, environmental, and organizational factors. Therefore, the current study was carried out to identify various factors influencing PPE use among healthcare workers.  Materials and methods A descriptive cross-sectional survey has been carried out among healthcare workers selected from two selected tertiary care hospitals in central India. Data on compliance with PPE and factors influencing compliance were collected using a three-point rating scale and structured questionnaire. Quantile regression was performed to identify the factors associated with adherence to PPE use among healthcare workers. Results The median score for compliance with PPE use among healthcare workers was found to be 22 with an interquartile range (IQR) of 16-24. The multiple quantile regression found that variables such as occupation (p<0.001), institutional policy (p=0.003), quality of PPE (p=0.002), availability of PPE (p<0.001), and improper size (p=0.042) were significantly associated with PPE compliance by healthcare workers. Conclusion The current study highlights the importance of taking adequate measures by the government and healthcare organizations to eliminate various factors hindering PPE compliance levels among healthcare workers to ensure consistent use of PPE by healthcare workers to safeguard themselves and patients.

Laccase-Conjugated Nanostructured ZnFe2O4/rGO-Modified Electrode-Based Interfaces for Electrochemical Impedance Monitoring of Adrenaline: A Promising Biosensor for Management of Neurodegenerative Disorders.

A propitious biosensor for adrenaline (AD) detection in bovine serum albumin (BSA) real samples, which can be used for diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, is reported here. The biosensor consists of a La/ZF/rGO/ITO bioelectrode, which is fabricated by electrophoretic deposition of zinc ferrite/reduced graphene oxide (ZF/rGO) nanohybrid followed by drop casting of laccase (La) enzymes. The material characterization and electrochemical studies revealed that the ZF/rGO nanohybrid enhanced the electroactive surface and facilitated direct electron transfer between the electrode and electrolyte interface, resulting in enhanced electrocatalytic performance. The cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results asserted that the ZF/rGO nanohybrid decreased the charge-transfer resistance (Rct) and increased the surface adsorption, leading to a high diffusion coefficient (D) of 0.192 cm2/s. The biosensor exhibited a high sensitivity of 0.71 Ω/µM cm2, a good linear range (0.1 to 140 µM with R2 = 0.98), and a low limit of detection (LOD) is 12.5 µM, demonstrating the synergic effect of ZF and rGO in the La/ZF/rGO/ITO bioelectrode with AD. The biosensor also exhibited high selectivity and stability (55 days) in the presence of interfering substances and in BSA samples, with a recovery percentage close to 100 ± 5% RSD, indicating its potential biosensing applications for real-world applications in disease diagnostics, monitoring, and treatment.

Superior functionality of niobium pentoxide nano-rod/tripod photocatalyst synthesized using polyethyleneimine as a soft template for the abatement of methylene blue under UV and visible irradiation.

Polyethyleneimine (PEI) capping agent-cum-template-mediated synthesis of niobium oxide nanoparticles is reported to explore its impact on the resultant morphology, porosity, crystallinity, phase complexation, and thus on the photocatalytic activity. The resultant niobium oxides calcined at 800°C and 1000°C crystallized into highly ordered nano-rod/tripod nanostructure with inter-rod angle <120° having orthorhombic phase and heavily agglomerated rod-like nanostructures having monoclinic crystal phase, respectively. Contrary to the expectations, the nano-rod/tripods showed superior photocatalytic degradation kinetics and high adsorption of methylene blue dye in the hydrocolloid than formerly reported monoclinic nanoparticles. The best adsorption capability and photocatalytic activity are observed for the sample calcined at 800°C, resulting in a combined degradation efficiency of 98.8% of methylene blue dye. The adsorption characteristics, stability of the hydrocolloid system, the existence of oxygen vacancies, and the distinct morphology of the photocatalytic nano-rod/tripods are mainly responsible for this behavior. The process and the performance of unique nanostructure over others presents a superior alternative.

Faculty and Students' Perceptions on Experiential Learning Based Anatomy Dissection Hall Sessions for Medical Undergraduates.

Introduction: Experiencing is essential to learning anything in life. Medical educators across the world aim at achieving profound learning experiences for their students. Several applications of experiential learning into health professions education have been witnessed over the past two decades. Though many researchers have tried to implement authentic learning experiences in medical education, only a handful have been able to demonstrate its effectiveness in anatomical sciences education. In this study, the authors asked the question - Can experiential learning-based dissection hall sessions be innovated to improve the contextual learning of anatomical sciences during early clinical exposure? Methods: Three experiential learning theory (ELT)-based sessions were conducted. Perceptions from faculty and students were collected. Results: The satisfaction index of the students' perception of the ELT based sessions was of 96.1% and for faculty was 100%. The emergent facilitating factors in the learning process were found to be: more profound and interactive contextual learning experience; improved problem-solving approaches based on dominant skill activities of dissection hall; and learning experiences created to cater to different learning needs of students. The optimal facilitator to student ratio range suggested for these sessions was 1:10 to 1:15. Discussion: The faculties were motivated to utilize this learning experience to further research teaching innovations at the present institution. Experiential learning-based sessions applied to anatomical sciences education can effectively foster positive student engagement and profound learning experience.

Physiological Hazard Assessment While Wielding Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Among Health Care Workers.

Introduction Accurate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is an essential part of infection prevention and control measures to protect health care workers and patients from various hazardous conditions. Health care workers caring for patients with potentially infectious health conditions are using PPE for long periods of time. However, long-term use of PPE can cause many physiological health hazards among health care workers. So, the current study was carried out to assess the general health problems and dermatological problems experienced by health care workers with PPE use. Materials and methods A descriptive cross-sectional survey has been carried out in two selected tertiary care hospitals in central India by recruiting 301 health care workers. Non-probability convenient sampling technique was used to select participants for the study. Sociodemographic Performa and structured questionnaires were used to collect data on demographic characteristics of the participants and various health problems experienced by health care workers with PPE use. Collected data were analyzed using appropriate descriptive and inferential statistics. Results The current study reported excessive sweating (86.4%), difficulty in reading (85%), dry mouth (80.7%), and breathing difficulty (74.1%) as the most common problem associated with PPE use. In addition to this, adverse reactions like headache, restlessness, and dizziness were reported by 70.1%, 64.5%, and 50.8%. Indentation and pain on the back of the ears (76.1%), skin soaking (67.1%), and excessive sweating (76.1%) were identified as the most common problems related to N-95 masks, gloves, and coverall use.  Conclusion The current study revealed a higher incidence of various health problems with PPE use among health care workers. The findings of the study highlight the importance of developing various guidelines to reduce the negative impact of PPE use and implementing preventive measures to decrease health problems associated with PPE use.

Funding opportunities for higher learning, medical and nursing research in India: An overview.

Medical research is an important aspect of medical education and is required to maintain quality. Funding can assist a researcher in doing extensive research in a certain area by boosting study variables, sample size and use of sophisticated state-of-the-art equipments. India's funding for health research is limited, and only a small percentage of that is used for public health research. Many health professionals have a lot of great ideas for health-related research but do not know where to start looking for financing. A review was created to help medical and nursing professionals to find the correct funding source for their research. There are many governments' organisations in India, which provide funds for research, grants and higher learning research fellowships. We tried to give an overview of some organisations with their benefits. This review includes the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), India Alliance, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Department of Health Research (DHR), Trained Nurses Association of India (TNAI), and the Nursing Research Society of India (NRSI). This review makes aware health professionals to the funding agency as well as the time of funding and fellowship application.

Variations in Pulmonary Fissure: A Source of Collateral Ventilation and Its Clinical Significance.

INTRODUCTION: Oblique and horizontal fissures divide the lungs into lobes. Assessing the incompleteness or absence of fissures is important when planning any surgical procedure in this region. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of variations in the fissures and their implication in clinical practice. METHODS: The sample consists of 70 formalin-fixed lungs (32 right and 38 left lungs). These lungs were assessed for complete, incomplete, and absent fissures and any variations in the fissures on the sternocostal and mediastinal surfaces. RESULTS: Oblique fissure was incomplete on the sternocostal surface in 18.75% and 21% and on the mediastinal surface in 25% and 21% on the right and left lungs, respectively. Additionally, it was absent in 10.5% of the left lung samples. The horizontal fissure was incomplete in 12.5% on both surfaces and was absent in 25% on the right lung samples, of which 50% had no oblique fissure. No accessory fissure was seen in any of the lungs. CONCLUSION: Incomplete and absent fissures can be observed in the right as well as the left lung, suggesting the source of collateral ventilation. This study imparts important information to pulmonologists doing bronchoscopic lung volume reduction therapy or bronchopulmonary segment resection and also to radiologists and anatomists.

Assessment of the psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on undergraduate medical students in India.

BACKGROUND: Medical students who are prone to psychological stress due to their overburdened curriculum, are at an increased risk of getting adversely affected by the pandemic. The present study was planned to assess the anxiety level among undergraduate medical students across the country using generalized anxiety disorder scale (GAD-7). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this online survey, anonymous data was collected through Google forms from undergraduate students from all the phases of MBBS course across the country from August 15, 2020, to October 15, 2020. Section I collected various demographic information, section II included GAD-7 questionnaire for assessing anxiety and section III had open- ended questions about their impending fear, uncertainties, and apprehensions. The data was expressed in percentage and association among the variables was determined using Chi-square test. Thematic analysis of the open-ended responses was done. RESULTS: Among the sample of 1208 students, 81% were from urban areas. During the pandemic, 77% were residing with their parents and 71% parents having stable jobs. Eighty percent students had no relative diagnosed with COVID-19, whereas 52% students had family members with comorbidity. The GAP score showed mild, moderate, and severe anxiety in 27, 24, and 16% students, respectively. Anxiety was significantly associated with rural setting and with COVID-19 positive or comorbid family member (P < 0.05). Open ended responses revealed that majority of the students were finding it difficult to cope with the academic stress at home but still did not want to join back. CONCLUSION: With such a high incidence of anxiety among medical students, it is pertinent to safeguard the mental health and implement efficient approaches to upkeep the scholastic, physical, emotional, and professional well-being of medical students during such vulnerable times.

State-of-the-Art Smart and Intelligent Nanobiosensors for SARS-CoV-2 Diagnosis.

The novel coronavirus appeared to be a milder infection initially, but the unexpected outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), commonly called COVID-19, was transmitted all over the world in late 2019 and caused a pandemic. Human health has been disastrously affected by SARS-CoV-2, which is still evolving and causing more serious concerns, leading to the innumerable loss of lives. Thus, this review provides an outline of SARS-CoV-2, of the traditional tools to diagnose SARS-CoV-2, and of the role of emerging nanomaterials with unique properties for fabricating biosensor devices to diagnose SARS-CoV-2. Smart and intelligent nanomaterial-enabled biosensors (nanobiosensors) have already proven their utility for the diagnosis of several viral infections, as various detection strategies based on nanobiosensor devices are already present, and several other methods are also being investigated by researchers for the determination of SARS-CoV-2 disease; however, considerably more is undetermined and yet to be explored. Hence, this review highlights the utility of various nanobiosensor devices for SARS-CoV-2 determination. Further, it also emphasizes the future outlook of nanobiosensing technologies for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis.

Abnormal microRNA expression in Ts65Dn hippocampus and whole blood: contributions to Down syndrome phenotypes.

Down syndrome (DS; trisomy 21) is one of the most common genetic causes of intellectual disability, which is attributed to triplication of genes located on chromosome 21. Elevated levels of several microRNAs (miRNAs) located on chromosome 21 have been reported in human DS heart and brain tissues. The Ts65Dn mouse model is the most investigated DS model with a triplicated segment of mouse chromosome 16 harboring genes orthologous to those on human chromosome 21. Using ABI TaqMan miRNA arrays, we found a set of miRNAs that were significantly up- or downregulated in the Ts65Dn hippocampus compared to euploid controls. Furthermore, miR-155 and miR-802 showed significant overexpression in the Ts65Dn hippocampus, thereby confirming results of previous studies. Interestingly, miR-155 and miR-802 were also overexpressed in the Ts65Dn whole blood but not in lung tissue. We also found overexpression of the miR-155 precursors, pri- and pre-miR-155 derived from the miR-155 host gene, known as B cell integration cluster, suggesting enhanced biogenesis of miR-155. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that neurodevelopment, differentiation of neuroglia, apoptosis, cell cycle, and signaling pathways including ERK/MAPK, protein kinase C, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, m-TOR and calcium signaling are likely targets of these miRNAs. We selected some of these potential gene targets and found downregulation of mRNA encoding Ship1, Mecp2 and Ezh2 in Ts65Dn hippocampus. Interestingly, the miR-155 target gene Ship1 (inositol phosphatase) was also downregulated in Ts65Dn whole blood but not in lung tissue. Our findings provide insights into miRNA-mediated gene regulation in Ts65Dn mice and their potential contribution to impaired hippocampal synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis, as well as hemopoietic abnormalities observed in DS.

In vitro profiling of epigenetic modifications underlying heavy metal toxicity of tungsten-alloy and its components.

Tungsten-alloy has carcinogenic potential as demonstrated by cancer development in rats with intramuscular implanted tungsten-alloy pellets. This suggests a potential involvement of epigenetic events previously implicated as environmental triggers of cancer. Here, we tested metal induced cytotoxicity and epigenetic modifications including H3 acetylation, H3-Ser10 phosphorylation and H3-K4 trimethylation. We exposed human embryonic kidney (HEK293), human neuroepithelioma (SKNMC), and mouse myoblast (C2C12) cultures for 1-day and hippocampal primary neuronal cultures for 1-week to 50-200 µg/ml of tungsten-alloy (91% tungsten/6% nickel/3% cobalt), tungsten, nickel, and cobalt. We also examined the potential role of intracellular calcium in metal mediated histone modifications by addition of calcium channel blockers/chelators to the metal solutions. Tungsten and its alloy showed cytotoxicity at concentrations > 50 µg/ml, while we found significant toxicity with cobalt and nickel for most tested concentrations. Diverse cell-specific toxic effects were observed, with C2C12 being relatively resistant to tungsten-alloy mediated toxic impact. Tungsten-alloy, but not tungsten, caused almost complete dephosphorylation of H3-Ser10 in C2C12 and hippocampal primary neuronal cultures with H3-hypoacetylation in C2C12. Dramatic H3-Ser10 dephosphorylation was found in all cobalt treated cultures with a decrease in H3 pan-acetylation in C2C12, SKNMC and HEK293. Trimethylation of H3-K4 was not affected. Both tungsten-alloy and cobalt mediated H3-Ser10 dephosphorylation were reversed with BAPTA-AM, highlighting the role of intracellular calcium, confirmed with 2-photon calcium imaging. In summary, our results for the first time reveal epigenetic modifications triggered by tungsten-alloy exposure in C2C12 and hippocampal primary neuronal cultures suggesting the underlying synergistic effects of tungsten, nickel and cobalt mediated by changes in intracellular calcium homeostasis and buffering.

Handling the pandemic our way: A qualitative content analysis of the guidelines issued by Apex Institutes of National Importance (INIs) of India to combat COVID-19 crisis.

INTRODUCTION: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic created havoc within a few weeks of its outbreak affecting over 100 countries. The rapid increase in the established cases urged for the prevention and control of COVID-19 belligerently on both national and worldwide fronts to prevent the healthcare systems from collapsing. For the sake of successfully preventing and restricting a fatal pandemic outbreak such as COVID-19, it requires the apex health institutions to have a uniform, urgent, flexible and effective policy response framework ensuring strict adherence too. In this regard, the Apex Institutes of National Importance in India (INIs) have released a series of documents on COVID-19 prevention and management. METHODS: Documents regarding COVID-19 preparedness and management were retrieved from the official websites of the INIs in India. The general population and healthcare workers' guidelines, standard operating procedures (SOPs) on COVID-19 prevention and management, action and response plans were included in the study. The full text of each document was analysed in detail and themes and subthemes were derived through content analysis. RESULTS: A total of 68 documents was included in the study. Five major themes and 12 subthemes were formulated after content analysis. A major similarity was found across all INIs on screening and testing and infection prevention control measures. The INIs formulated guidelines adhering to the World Health Organization, Indian Council of Medical Research and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Recommendations. CONCLUSION: Common measures like quarantine, social distancing, travel bans and mass gathering restrictions were adopted to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during the initial period. The INIs have developed policies and standard operating protocols on COVID-19 management based on the Government of India guidelines. Better understanding of these guidelines will help in effective implementation of the nationwide pandemic management.

QuickSNP: an automated web server for selection of tagSNPs.

Although large-scale genetic association studies involving hundreds to thousands of SNPs have become feasible, the associated cost is substantial. Even with the increased efficiency introduced by the use of tagSNPs, researchers are often seeking ways to maximize resource utilization given a set of SNP-based gene-mapping goals. We have developed a web server named QuickSNP in order to provide cost-effective selection of SNPs, and to fill in some of the gaps in existing SNP selection tools. One useful feature of QuickSNP is the option to select only gene-centric SNPs from a chromosomal region in an automated fashion. Other useful features include automated selection of coding non-synonymous SNPs, SNP filtering based on inter-SNP distances and information regarding the availability of genotyping assays for SNPs and whether they are present on whole genome chips. The program produces user-friendly summary tables and results, and a link to a UCSC Genome Browser track illustrating the position of the selected tagSNPs in relation to genes and other genomic features. We hope the unique combination of features of this server will be useful for researchers aiming to select markers for their genotyping studies. The server is freely available and can be accessed at the URL http://bioinformoodics.jhmi.edu/quickSNP.pl.