Integrating field- and remote sensing data to perceive species heterogeneity across a climate gradient.

Tropical forests exhibit significant diversity and heterogeneity in species distribution. Some tree species spread abundantly, impacting the functional aspects of communities. Understanding how these facets respond to climate change is crucial. Field data from four protected areas (PAs) were combined with high-resolution Airborne Visible/InfraRed Imaging Spectrometer-Next Generation (AVIRIS-NG) datasets to extract large-scale plot data of abundant species and their functional traits. A supervised component generalized linear regression (SCGLR) model was used to correlate climate components with the distribution of abundant species across PAs. The recorded rainfall gradient influenced the proportion of PA-specific species in the observed species assemblages. Community weighted means (CWMs) of biochemical traits showed better correlation values (0.85-0.87) between observed and predicted values compared to biophysical traits (0.52-0.79). The model-based projection revealed distinct distribution responses of each abundant species to the climate gradient. Functional diversity and functional traits maps highlighted the interplay between species heterogeneity and climate. The appearance dynamics of abundant species in dark diversity across PAs demonstrated their assortment strategy in response to the climate gradient. These observations can significantly aid in the ecological management of PAs exposed to climate dynamics.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Non-COVID-19 Maternal Mortalities in a Tertiary Health Care Center of North India.

Introduction: While dealing with the COVID-19-related morbidities and mortalities in general, its adverse impact on non-COVID-19 maternal mortalities was completely forgotten so our aim is to study the adverse consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on non-COVID-19 hospital births and non-COVID-19 maternal mortalities. Methodology: Retrospective observational study was done in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Swaroop Rani Hospital, Prayagraj, to compare the non-COVID-19 hospital births, referrals, and non-COVID-19 maternal mortalities during 15 months of pre-pandemic period (March 2018 to May 2019) and 15 months of pandemic period (March 2020 to May 2021 period) and to assess their relation to GRSI using chi-square test, paired T test and Pearson's Correlation Coefficient. Result: The total non-COVID-19 hospital births decreased by 4.32% in pandemic period as compared to pre-pandemic period. Monthly hospital births decreased drastically, to 32.7% during the end of the first pandemic wave and to 60.17% during the second wave. 67% increase in the total referral and a significant decrease in the quality of referral leading to significantly higher non-COVID-19 maternal mortality figures (p value 0.00003) during the pandemic period. Leading causes of mortalities were uterine rupture (p value 0.00001), septic abortion (p value 0.0001), primary postpartum hemorrhage (p value 0.002) and preeclampsia (p value 0.003). Conclusion: While the world is talking only about COVID deaths, increased non-COVID-19 maternal mortalities during the COVID pandemic need equal attention and call for more stringent government guidelines for the care of non-COVID-19 pregnant women as well during the pandemic period.

Diagnostics and Therapeutic Potential of miR-205 and miR-34a in Ovarian Cancer Management: A miRNA-Target-Based Analysis.

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) treatment strategies mainly focused on surgery combined with chemotherapy. Recent targeted therapy techniques emerge as milestone and could be used for management of ovarian cancer (OC) progression with more efficacy. The aim is to evaluate the therapeutic and diagnostic potential of microRNA (miRNA) in management of EOC using in silico and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) expression analysis. We performed functional enrichment and miRNA-Target genes expression analysis in 48 EOC and 22 normal tissue samples using qRT-PCR and correlated with miRNA expression data in matched samples to evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of miRNA in OC management. In silico functional enrichment analysis revealed miRNA association with disease. Target genes of miRNAs participate in several biologically important pathways leading to cancer progression. Targets of miRNA-205 and miRNA-34a were significantly downregulated, and upregulated, respectively, in EOC. Moreover, significant negative correlation between relative expression of miRNA-205 and target genes (BCL2, ZEB1, E2F1, and TP53) was observed with r = -0.813; r = -0.755; r = -0.559; and r = -0.767, respectively. Similarly, miRNA-34a also showed higher negative correlation with target genes (MDM4, MAPK3, BRCA1, AREG) with r = -0.840; r = -0.870; r = -0.622; and r = -0.623, respectively. In addition, receiver operating characteristics analysis of combined miRNA panel, miRNA-205-Target gene panel, and miRNA-34a-Target gene panel exhibited higher diagnostics value with area under the curve (AUC) of 92.7 (p < 0.0001), 94.8 (p < 0.0001), and 98.3 (p < 0.0001), respectively. Negative Correlation between miRNA and target genes expression data in matched samples highlights therapeutic potential of miRNA in EOC management. Moreover, combined diagnostic potential of miRNA-target gene panel could predict risk of EOC with higher AUC, sensitivity, and specificity.

Diagnostic performance of microRNA-34a, let-7f and microRNA-31 in epithelial ovarian cancer prediction.

OBJECTIVE: To correlate the genome-wide methylation signature of microRNA genes with dysregulated expression of selected candidate microRNA in tissue and serum samples of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and control using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and evaluation of EOC predictive value of candidate microRNA at an early stage. METHODS: We performed Methylated DNA Immunoprecipitation coupled with NGS (MeDIP-NGS) sequencing of 6 EOC and 2 normal tissue samples of the ovary. Expression of selected microRNA from tissue (EOC=85, normal=30) and serum (EOC=50, normal=15) samples was evaluated using qRT-PCR. We conducted bioinformatics analysis to identify the candidate miRNA's potential target and functional role. RESULTS: MeDIP-NGS sequencing revealed hypermethylation of several microRNAs gene promoters. Three candidate microRNAs were selected (microRNA-34a, let-7f, and microRNA-31) from MeDIP-NGS data analysis based on log2FC and P-value. The relative expression level of microRNA-34a, let-7f, and microRNA-31 was found to be significantly reduced in early-stage EOC tissues and serum samples (p<0.0001). The receiver operating characteristic analysis of microRNA-34a, let-7f and miR-31 showed improved diagnostic value with area under curve(AUC) of 92.0 (p<0.0001), 87.9 (p<0.0001), and 85.6 (p<0.0001) and AUC of 82.7 (p<0.0001), 82.0 (p<0.0001), and 81.0 (p<0.0001) in stage III-IV and stage I-II EOC serum samples respectively. The integrated diagnostic performance of microRNA panel (microRNA-34a+let-7f+microRNA-31) in late-stage and early-stage serum samples was 95.5 and 96.9 respectively. CONCLUSION: Our data correlated hypermethylation-associated downregulation of microRNA in EOC. In addition, a combined microRNA panel from serum could predict the risk of EOC with greater AUC, sensitivity, and specificity.

Evaluation of Diagnostic Potential of Epigenetically Deregulated MiRNAs in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is one of the most lethal gynecological malignancies among women worldwide. Early diagnosis of EOC could help in ovarian cancer management. MicroRNAs, a class of small non-coding RNA molecules, are known to be involved in post-transcriptional regulation of ~60% of human genes. Aberrantly expressed miRNAs associated with disease progression are confined in lipid or lipoprotein and secreted as extracellular miRNA in body fluid such as plasma, serum, and urine. MiRNAs are stably present in the circulation and recently have gained an importance to serve as a minimally invasive biomarker for early detection of epithelial ovarian cancer. METHODS: Genome-wide methylation pattern of six EOC and two normal ovarian tissue samples revealed differential methylation regions of miRNA gene promoter through MeDIP-NGS sequencing. Based on log2FC and p-value, three hypomethylated miRNAs (miR-205, miR-200c, and miR-141) known to have a potential role in ovarian cancer progression were selected for expression analysis through qRT-PCR. The expression of selected miRNAs was analyzed in 115 tissue (85 EOC, 30 normal) and 65 matched serum (51 EOC and 14 normal) samples. RESULTS: All three miRNAs (miR-205, miR-200c, and miR-141) showed significantly higher expression in both tissue and serum cohorts when compared with normal controls (p < 0.0001). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of miR-205, miR-200c, and miR-141 has area under the curve (AUC) values of 87.6 (p < 0.0001), 78.2 (p < 0.0001), and 86.0 (p < 0.0001), respectively; in advance-stage serum samples, however, ROC has AUC values of 88.1 (p < 0.0001), 78.9 (p < 0.0001), and 86.7 (p < 0.0001), respectively, in early-stage serum samples. The combined diagnostic potential of the three miRNAs in advance-stage serum samples and early-stage serum samples has AUC values of 95.9 (95% CI: 0.925-1.012; sensitivity = 96.6% and specificity = 80.0%) and 98.1 (95% CI: 0.941-1.021; sensitivity = 90.5% and specificity = 100%), respectively. CONCLUSION: Our data correlate the epigenetic deregulation of the miRNA genes with their expression. In addition, the miRNA panel (miR-205 + miR-200c + miR-141) has a much higher AUC, sensitivity, and specificity to predict EOC at an early stage in both tissue and serum samples.

Non-healing Wounds: A Delayed Wound Infection by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis.

INTRODUCTION: Non-healing wound causes significant morbidity and mortality of patients. One of the rare causes behind non-healing wound infection is M. tuberculosis which often remains undiagnosed. AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the tuberculosis as one of the causes of non-healing wound. METHODS: Wounds that did not heal even after secondary suturing and tissue biopsies were sent for histopathological examination. The cases diagnosed with tuberculosis received anti-tubercular treatment. Follow-up was done after 7 and 14 days of treatment, and response was seen in terms of reduction in inflammation and discharge. RESULTS: Of the 36 patients, five patients had tubercular infection out of which one patient revealed tubercular granuloma, two revealed epitheloid cells, Langhans cells, whereas two revealed non-specific chronic inflammation in histopathology. CONCLUSION: A high degree of suspicion and tissue biopsy is required in case of delayed or non-healing wounds to diagnose tuberculosis as a cause. Even if typical tubercular granuloma is not visible in histopathology, the presence of epitheloid cells, giant cells, Langhans cells or predominant lymphocytic infiltrate equally suggests tubercular tissue infection.

Expression of ERα and PR in Various Morphological Patterns of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding-Endometrial causes in Reproductive Age Group.

INTRODUCTION: Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (AUB) is most common gynaecological problem but its management is not well defined. So FIGO/PALMCOEIN classification was developed to provide clear management options as treatment is different in PALM and AUB-E group. FIGO/PALM-COEIN classification and immunohistochemistry with ERα and PR expression in AUB-E group will be helpful in management of these patients, thus preventing surgical interventions. AIM: To study histomorphological classification according to FIGO/PALM-COEIN classification in patients presenting with AUB into PALM and AUB-E group. To study the receptor expression of ERα and PR in AUB-E group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross sectional study was performed in patients presenting with AUB in reproductive age group (15-45 years). Six hundred endometrial specimens were stained with H&E for histolomorphological examination and classified as per FIGO/PALM-COEIN classification of AUB in non-gravid women in reproductive age group. Fifty endometrial biopsies were of pregnancy and pregnancy related complications and were excluded from study. A total of 550 samples were evaluated in present study. IHC for quantification of ERα and PR expression was carried out in AUB-E (100) cases and control group endometrium (20) cases due to technical constraints. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Unpaired student t-test was performed. p-value ≤ 0.05 was taken as critical level of significance. RESULTS: Endometrial (58.19%) (AUB-E) causes were most common cause of AUB. Most common morphology was AUB-E (Proliferative endometrium), AUB-L (Leiomyoma) and AUB-E (Secretory endometrium) respectively. Statistically significant expression of ERα and PR was found in AUB-E endometrium as compared to control group endometrium. In Non secretory/Proliferative endometrium AUB-E group. Proliferative endometrium and hyperplasia without atypia had significant expression of ERα and PR in glands and stroma when compared with proliferative phase control group endometrium. But disordered proliferative endometrium had only significant PR expression in stroma. When secretory phase endometrium was compared with control group secretory phase significant expression for PR was noted only in stroma. CONCLUSION: FIGO/PALM-COEIN classification will be helpful in deciding treatment of AUB cases. Study of receptor expression in AUB-E group will help in providing evidence based treatment and prevent from surgical procedures like hysterectomy and endometrial ablation.

Anti-mullerian hormone: a new marker of ovarian function.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine day 3 Serum AMH, FSH, LH, Estradiol (E2), Inhibin B levels, ovarian volume, and antral follicular count to assess ovarian function. METHODS: This study was conducted on 130 infertile women between age 18 and 43 years. Day 3 Serum AMH level was estimated by sandwich enzyme immunoassay; Serum FSH, S. LH, S. E2, by solid-phase two-site chemiluminescent immunometric assay; Inhibin B by ELISA; and Ovarian volume and AFC, by transvaginal ultrasonography. RESULTS: With advancing age, Serum AMH level (p < 0.0001), AFC (p < 0.05), ovarian volume (>0.05), and Inhibin B (>0.05) were decreased, and Serum FSH (p < 0.05), LH (p > 0.05), and E2 (p < 0.05) were increased. Serum AMH level was 4-6.8 ng/ml with optimal fertility in 26.15 % cases and 2.2-4.0 ng/ml with satisfactory fertility in 53.85 % cases. Serum AMH levels were more strongly correlated with AFC (p < 0.0001) and ovarian volume (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Serum AMH levels were more robustly correlated with AFC than FSH, LH, E2, and Inhibin B on day 3 of the cycle. This suggested that serum AMH might be taken as single test to reflect ovarian reserve.