Grossing to reporting of Wilms tumor with emphasis on proper sampling in treatment-naive and postchemotherapy specimens and their clinicopathological correlation with outcome.

Context: Emphasis on grossing to reporting for the assessment of histopathological parameters predicting outcomes in Wilms tumor. Aims: To analyze various clinicopathological parameters that effect outcomes in treatment naïve and post chemotherapy Wilms tumor specimens. Settings and Design: This was a retrospective observational study. Subjects and Methods: All patients diagnosed with Wilms tumor between 2012 and 2018 at our institute will be included with their clinical findings, laboratory reports, and radiological findings. The patients will be categorized into two groups based on treatment protocol (Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP) or the National Wilms Tumor Study Group/Children's Oncology Group (COG) guidelines) used. Details of Grossing and reporting protocols used for the in pre treatment and post treatment specimens will be analyzed. Follow-up till December 2020 will be analyzed. Statistical Analysis Used: Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: A total of 36 patients with the diagnosis of Wilms tumor were included in the present study. The mean age of presentation was 3.9 ± 0.7 years, and males were more common than females. Most of them presented as abdominal mass and few with isolated hematuria. Twenty-six (72%) patients were treated under SIOP protocol with preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Ten patients underwent upfront surgery as per COG protocol. In SIOP group patients, the mean tumor size was 9.3cm. Forty percent (n = 10) we mixed histological type followed by blastemal type constituting (32%, n = 8). Regressive and epithelial histological types constituted 16% (n = 4) and 12% (n = 3), respectively. In the SIOP group 72% (n = 19) had no anaplasia and 28% (n = 7) had anaplasia. Fifty seven percent (n = 15) cases were Stage I, followed by 26.9% n = 7) and 11.5% (n = 3) being Stage II and Stage III, respectively. Ten patients underwent upfront surgery as per COG protocol. The mean tumor size among this group was 8 cm ranging from 7 cm to 11 cm. Eight (80%) cases had favorable histology and two cases showed focal anaplasia. Heterologous differentiation is seen in 3 (70%). Out of the 10 cases, one case was Stage I, six were Stage 2, one was Stage III, and two were clinical Stage IV. None of the cases showed either vessel or lymph node metastasis. All the patients received adjuvant chemotherapy postsurgery and were followed up till December 2020 for (at least 3 years). Of 25 patients in the SIOP group, 18 (72%) had complete remission with no radiological evidence of residual disease. Of the 10 patients in the COG group, 6 (70%) had complete remission. Conclusions: Histopathological evaluation of Wilms tumor is a critical aspect in the management of Wilms tumor, as tumor characteristics are different in the tumors treated under SIOP and COG protocols, which will ultimately affect the prognostic risk stratification. This necessitates the knowledge of the important grossing and reporting of these tumors under the two protocols.

Association and Mechanisms of Proton Pump Inhibitors Use with Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus Incidence in Adults: A Systemic Review and Metaanalysis.

BACKGROUND: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are an extensively prescribed class of anti-ulcer drugs. This systematic review aimed to investigate the association between PPI use and the risk of new-onset diabetes mellitus or type 2 diabetes (T2DM) incidence. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov using the search terms "proton pump inhibitor," "proton pump inhibitors," "PPIs," "diabetes mellitus," and "type 2 diabetes" from inception to February 2023. Statistical analyses were performed using the "Review Manager 5.4" version, and a statistically highly significant P value <0.05 was set. RESULTS: This systematic review identified 12 studies (8 cohort, 1 RCT, and 3 case-control) with a total of 12, 64, 816 population, and the median age ranged from ≥18 yrs to ≤ 75 yrs. The pooled relative risk (RR) observations of a random-effects meta-analysis model showed that chronic exposure to PPI use has a significant association with T2DM risk incidence (RR, 2.44; 95% confidence interval, 1.31-4.54; I 2 = 99%, P < 0.00001). The systematic review findings of the three case-control studies also supported an association of dose-dependent and chronic use of PPIs with an incidence of T2DM among chronic users. CONCLUSION: The systematic review concludes that chronic PPI exposure increases the risk of T2DM incidence. The authors recommend the shortest possible duration of PPI use and not prescribing PPIs to high-risk prediabetics and those without a compelling indication for PPI use. Regular education to patients regarding adverse reactions with prolonged use may decrease the risk of adverse effects associated with PPIs. The authors suggest that gut dysbiosis, hypergastrinemia, hypomagnesemia, decreased pancreatic secretions and IGF-1 levels, and PXR activation associated with chronic acid suppression among chronic PPI users and the potency of PPIs might explain the association between abnormal glucose metabolism and T2DM incidence. Finally, the authors recommend further randomized controlled trials to investigate the association between PPIs and the risk of new-onset T2DM incidence.

Immunogenicity, clinical efficacy and safety of additional second COVID-19 booster vaccines against Omicron and its subvariants: A systematic review.

The Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is a new variant of concern (VOC) and an emerging subvariant that exhibits heightened infectivity, transmissibility, and immune evasion, escalating the incidence of moderate to severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It resists monoclonal antibodies and diminishes vaccine efficacy. Notably, new sublineages have outpaced earlier predominant sublineages. Although the primary vaccination series and initial boosters were robust against previous VOCs, their efficacy waned against Omicron and its subvariants. In this systematic review, we assessed real-world evidence on the immunogenicity, clinical efficacy, and safety of a second booster or fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose against the Omicron VOC and its subvariants. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in Medline/PubMed, Google Scholar, bioRxiv, and medRxiv, and relevant studies published between 2022 and 30 May 2023 were reviewed. We found a total of 40 relevant articles focusing on a second booster dose for COVID-19, including clinical trials and observational studies, involving 3,972,856 patients. The results consistently revealed that an additional second booster dose restored and prolonged waning immunity, activating both humoral and cellular responses against Omicron and its subvariants. A second booster treatment correlated with enduring protection against COVID-19, notably preventing substantial symptomatic disease and mortality associated with severe Omicron infection. Both monovalent messenger RNA (mRNA) and nonmRNA vaccines demonstrated similar efficacy and safety, with bivalent mRNA vaccines exhibiting broader protection against emerging subvariants of Omicron. The safety profiles of second booster were favourable with only mild systemic and local symptoms reported in some recipients. In conclusion, this systematic review underscores the additional COVID-19 vaccine boosters, particularly with bivalent or multivalent mRNA vaccines, for countering the highly infectious emerging subvariants of Omicron.

Comparative evaluation of estrus synchronization protocols on reproductive performance and estrus behavior in Barbados Black Belly sheep.

Background and Aim: Estrus synchronization of ewes has been accomplished using several protocols with various degrees of success in improving reproductive efficiency and obtaining the most effective protocol used in sheep farming. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of three treatment protocols and to record the intensity and duration of estrus signs and pregnancy rate in Barbados Black Belly (BBB) sheep. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two primipara BBB ewes aged 18-24 months were equally divided into three treatment groups. T1: the ewes were injected intramuscularly with 2 mL Lutalyse (PGF2α) (10 mg) on days 0 and 10. T2: 1 mL Fertiline (50 µg; Gonadorelin acetate) on day 0 and 2 mL lutalyse (10 mg) on day 7. T3: 1 mL fertiline (50 µg) on day 0, 2 mL lutalyse (10 mg) on day 7, and 1 mL Fertiline (50 µg) on day 9. Estrus response was assessed using naturally mating rams and ewes. Pregnancy was determined using ultrasonography between 55 and 80 days after the last hormonal injection. The following estrus signs were noted: Swollen vulva, mucus discharge, sniffing, excitement, loss of appetite, mounting, and rapid tail movement. Results: Of the expressed signs, swollen vulva was most frequent, whereas loss of appetite and mucus discharge were the least overt signs recorded. The estrus response (%), onset (%), and duration (h) in ewe synchronization of the three treatment protocols were 100%, 58.3 ± 23.4%, and 48.0 ± 18.2 h (T1), 100%, 61.7 ± 41.2%, and 45.0 ± 27.0 h (T2), and 37.5%, 32.1 ± 1.7%, and 29.2 ± 1.25 h (T3), respectively. The pregnancy rates were 87.5%, 87.5%, 37.5%, and 50.0% in T1, T2, T3, and T4, respectively. Conclusion: Prostaglandin F2α+PGF2α and GnRH+PGF2α synchronization protocols were more effective in the fertilization of BBB ewes with better expression of estrus signs compared with the GnRH+PGF2α+GnRH (OVS) protocol.

Efficacy of low-dose lung radiotherapy in the management of COVID-19 patients: a randomised, open-label study.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate role of low-dose radiotherapy (LDRT) in COVID-19 pneumonia. METHODS: Sixty-five patients 40 years or older tested positive for COVID-19 reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction with mild to moderate acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), were randomised 1:1, from 4 June 2021, to either best standard of care (control arm) according to the Indian Council of Medical Research guidelines or a single dose of LDRT (LDRT-0.5Gy) to both lungs along with best standard of care (experimental arm). The primary outcome was either progression to severe disease (PaO2/FiO2 ratio <100 mmHg) within 28 days of randomisation or all-cause mortality at 28 days. If the primary outcome could have been prevented, it was considered "favourable"; if not, it was considered "unfavourable." RESULTS: Thirty-three patients were allocated to experimental arm, 32 to control arm. An intention to treat analysis was performed. Unfavourable outcome was seen in 5 (15.2%) patients in experimental arm, vs , 12 (37.5%) patients in control arm, odds of an unfavourable outcome in experimental arm were 0.3, 95% CI 0.09-0.97; two-sided p = 0.04. Four and five patients died in experimental and control arm, respectively. No radiation-induced toxicity was observed. CONCLUSION: LDRT reduced the number of patients with unfavourable outcome at 28 days. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: One of the few randomised studies showing reduced unfavourable outcome in mild to moderate ARDS COVID-19 patients receiving LDRT.CTRI/2021/06/034001, Clinical Trials Registry - India (ICMR-NIMS).

A systematic review to identify novel clinical characteristics of monkeypox virus infection and therapeutic and preventive strategies to combat the virus.

Since May 2022, there has been a global increase in the number of Mpox virus (MPXV) cases in countries that were previously considered non-endemic. In July 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared this outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. The objective of this systematic review is to examine the novel clinical features of Mpox and to assess the available treatment options for managing the disease in patients who are afflicted with it. We conducted a systematic search in several databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, and the grey literature, from May 2022 to February 2023. We identified 21 eligible studies, which included 18,275 Mpox cases, for final qualitative analysis. The majority of cases were reported in men who have sex with men (MSM) and immunocompromised individuals with HIV (36.1%). The median incubation period was 7 days (IQR: 3-21). The novel clinical manifestations include severe skin lesions on the palms, oral and anogenital regions, as well as proctitis, penile edema, tonsillitis, ocular disease, myalgia, lethargy, and sore throat, without any preceding prodromal symptoms or systemic illness. In addition, fully asymptomatic cases were documented, and various complications, including encephalomyelitis and angina, were noted. Clinicians must be familiar with these novel clinical characteristics, as they can aid in testing and tracing such patients, as well as asymptomatic high-risk populations such as heterosexuals and MSM. In addition to supportive care, currently, there are several effective prophylactic and treatment strategies available to combat Mpox, including the vaccines ACAM2000 and MVA-BN7, as well as the immunoglobulin VIGIV and the antivirals tecovirimat, brincidofovir, and cidofovir against severe Mpox infection.

Clinical virology and effect of Covid-19 vaccination and monoclonal antibodies against highly infectious SARS- CoV-2 omicron sub variant BF.7 (BA.5.2.1.7): A systematic review.

Over time, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has acquired several genetic mutations, particularly on the receptor-binding domain (RBD) spike glycoprotein. The Omicron variant is highly infectious, with enhanced immune escape activity, and has given rise to various sub-lineages due to mutations. However, there has been a sudden increase in COVID-19 reports of the Omicron subvariant BF.7 (BA.2.75.2), which has the highest number of reported cases, accounting for 76.2% of all cases worldwide. Hence, the present systematic review aimed to understand the viral mutations and factors associated with the increase in the reports of COVID-19 cases and to assess the effectiveness of vaccines and mAbs against the novel Omicron variant BF.7. The R346T mutation on the spike glycoprotein RBD might be associated with increased infection rates, severity, and resistance to vaccines and mAbs. Booster doses of COVID-19 vaccination with bivalent mRNA booster vaccine shots are effective in curtailing infections and decreasing the severity and mortality by enhancing the neutralizing antibodies (Abs) against the emerging Omicron subvariants of SARS-CoV-2, including BF.7 and future VOCs.

Global prevalence and effect of comorbidities and smoking status on severity and mortality of COVID-19 in association with age and gender: a systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression.

A COVID-19 patient often presents with multiple comorbidities and is associated with adverse outcomes. A comprehensive assessment of the prevalence of comorbidities in patients with COVID-19 is essential. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of comorbidities, severity and mortality with regard to geographic region, age, gender and smoking status in patients with COVID-19. A systematic review and multistage meta-analyses were reported using PRISMA guidelines. PubMed/MEDLINE, SCOPUS, Google Scholar and EMBASE were searched from January 2020 to October 2022. Cross-sectional studies, cohort studies, case series studies, and case-control studies on comorbidities reporting among the COVID-19 populations that were published in English were included. The pooled prevalence of various medical conditions in COVID-19 patients was calculated based on regional population size weights. Stratified analyses were performed to understand the variations in the medical conditions based on age, gender, and geographic region. A total of 190 studies comprising 105 million COVID-19 patients were included. Statistical analyses were performed using STATA software, version 16 MP (StataCorp, College Station, TX). Meta-analysis of proportion was performed to obtain pooled values of the prevalence of medical comorbidities: hypertension (39%, 95% CI 36-42, n = 170 studies), obesity (27%, 95% CI 25-30%, n = 169 studies), diabetes (27%, 95% CI 25-30%, n = 175), and asthma (8%, 95% CI 7-9%, n = 112). Moreover, the prevalence of hospitalization was 35% (95% CI 29-41%, n = 61), intensive care admissions 17% (95% CI 14-21, n = 106), and mortality 18% (95% CI 16-21%, n = 145). The prevalence of hypertension was highest in Europe at 44% (95% CI 39-47%, n = 68), obesity and diabetes at 30% (95% CI, 26-34, n = 79) and 27% (95%CI, 24-30, n = 80) in North America, and asthma in Europe at 9% (95% CI 8-11, n = 41). Obesity was high among the ≥ 50 years (30%, n = 112) age group, diabetes among Men (26%, n = 124) and observational studies reported higher mortality than case-control studies (19% vs. 14%). Random effects meta-regression found a significant association between age and diabetes (p < 0.001), hypertension (p < 0.001), asthma (p < 0.05), ICU admission (p < 0.05) and mortality (p < 0.001). Overall, a higher global prevalence of hypertension (39%) and a lower prevalence of asthma (8%), and 18% of mortality were found in patients with COVID-19. Hence, geographical regions with respective chronic medical comorbidities should accelerate regular booster dose vaccination, preferably to those patients with chronic comorbidities, to prevent and lower the severity and mortality of COVID-19 disease with novel SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC).

Current Prospects in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Pathophysiology, Genetics, and Treatments.

BACKGROUND: An autoimmune inflammatory disease, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), predominantly affects the synovium joint lining, augmenting disability, early mortality, and socioeconomic difficulty. Therefore, current updates on pharmacological therapies are crucial for developing drugs to treat the disease at each stage. OBJECTIVE: This review attempts to compile a thorough analysis of current developments in our knowledge of RA pathogenesis and disease-modifying drugs, with the aim of providing insights for next-generation RA therapeutics. RESULTS: According to the literature, the most successful drugs for treatment techniques described so far in this include (cs) DMARDs (sub-class of DMARDs), tsDMARDS (targeted synthetic DMARDS), and bDMARDs (biological DMARDs). However, current pharmacologic therapy (consisting of biological, conventional, and creative views of small molecule anti-rheumatic drugs that treat the disease or DMARD) remains the cornerstone of rheumatoid arthritis treatment with which significant progress toward disease remission has been accomplished. CONCLUSION: The pathobiology of RA involves cytokine messengers such as B and T-cells, and an intricate interplay of pro-inflammatory cytokines responsible for activating and developing effector cells, in turn, accountable for local disease and systemic symptoms. Despite the fact that the cause of rheumatoid arthritis is not known, new treatments have been created as a result of better approaches towards the biology of the disease. As they target molecules directly implicated in the genesis of rheumatoid arthritis, these drugs may be more effective, targeted, and less harmful in the short and long term than standard therapies.

Prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among health care professionals: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) are one of the main causes of morbidity among healthcare professionals. It has various secondary consequences on productivity by diminishing the quantity and quality of work completed by the affected personnel, in addition to having a primary impact on the individual with pain and discomfort. OBJECTIVE: The study aims to determine the overall prevalence rate of WRMSD among dentists, physiotherapists, and surgeons and also identify the commonly affected regions of the body about specific health care professions among each of the three professions, as recorded by the cross-sectional studies performed in various countries and regions of the world. METHODS: A systematic search strategy was framed following the PRISMA guidelines based on the present inclusion and exclusion criteria. A critical search of articles was conducted during June 2020 in CINAHL (DOAJ), PubMed, Google Scholar Scopus, PEDro databases and SAGE journals. RESULTS: Out of the 42 articles that met the eligibility criteria, there were 39 cross-sectional studies, 2 pilot cross-sectional surveys and 1 prospective cohort study with one-year follow-up. All studies included in this review used various survey tools for recording the demographic details and measuring the prevalence of WRMSDs and other outcome factors. CONCLUSION: We conclude that all three health care professionals (dentists, physiotherapists and surgeons) are highly prone to develop WRMSDs with surgeons and dentists being more vulnerable when compared to physiotherapists. The lower back and neck are identified as the two most commonly affected regions among all three professionals.

Rv0687 a Putative Short-Chain Dehydrogenase is indispensable for pathogenesis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), a successful human pathogen, resides in host sentinel cells and combats the stressful intracellular environment induced by reactive oxygen and nitrogen species during infection. Mtb employs several evasion mechanisms in the face of the host as a survival strategy, including detoxifying enzymes as short-chain dehydrogenases/ reductases (SDRs) to withstand host-generated insults. In this study, using specialized transduction we have generated a Rv0687 deletion mutant and its complemented strain and investigated the functional role of Rv0687, a member of SDRs family genes in Mtb pathogenesis. Wildtype (WT) and mutant Mtb strain lacking Rv0687 (RvΔ0687) were tested for in-vitro stress response and in-vivo survival in macrophages and mice models of infection. The study demonstrates that Rv0687 is crucial for sustaining bacterial growth in nutrition-limited conditions. The deletion of Rv0687 elevated the sensitivity of Mtb to oxidative and nitrosative stress-inducing agents. Furthermore, the lack of Rv0687 compromised the survival of Mtb in primary bone marrow macrophages and led to an increase in the levels of the secreted proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, and MIP-1α. Interestingly, the growth of WT and RvΔ0687 was similar in the lungs of infected immunocompromised mice however, a significant reduction in RvΔ0687 growth was observed in the spleen of immunocompromised Rag -/- mice at 4 weeks post-infection. Moreover Rag -/- mice infected with RvΔ0687 survived longer compared to WT Mtb strain. Additionally, we observed significant reduction in bacterial burden in spleens and lungs of immunocompetent C57BL/6 mice infected with RvΔ0687 compared to complemented and WT Mtb strains. Collectively, this study reveals that Rv0687 plays a role in Mtb pathogenesis.

First Stage Revision of Infected TKR: A Technique of Handcrafted Articulating Spacers and Cement Pancake Soft Tissue Spacers.

This is a study to see if improvised 'articulating antibiotic cement spacers' work in two-stage revisions for infected TKRs with bone defects in the condyles. The second objective is to see if adhesions can be prevented between intra-articular bone and soft tissue around it after the first stage to make exposure of the joint easy and quick in the second stage. Six cases were selected which had moderate defects of femoral or tibial condyles and a modified technique was used to prepare articulating cement spacers. Antibiotic cement moulded like pancakes was placed on the exposed raw areas of the femur and tibia. Patients were mobilised with protected weight-bearing after the surgery and active knee flexion was encouraged. Patients regained a mean of 80 degrees of knee flexion during the interval between the stages and a mean of 100 degrees of flexion following the second stage. There was no bone loss while removing the modified cement spacers. Patients had no significant intra-articular adhesions and hence the exposure of the knee joint during the second stage did not require further intra-articular dissection. Standard articulating spacers are not suitable in the cases with bone loss of the condyles. Our modified technique allowed us to use it in cases with moderate bone loss also where static spacers are used otherwise. This helped to mobilise these knees between the two stages of revision instead of keeping immobilised with static spacers. Antibiotic cement pancakes prevented intra-articular adhesions and carried an extra dose of antibiotic into the joint.

Near-chromosomal de novo assembly of Bengal tiger genome reveals genetic hallmarks of apex predation.

The tiger, a poster child for conservation, remains an endangered apex predator. Continued survival and recovery will require a comprehensive understanding of genetic diversity and the use of such information for population management. A high-quality tiger genome assembly will be an important tool for conservation genetics, especially for the Indian tiger, the most abundant subspecies in the wild. Here, we present high-quality near-chromosomal genome assemblies of a female and a male wild Indian tiger (Panthera tigris tigris). Our assemblies had a scaffold N50 of >140 Mb, with 19 scaffolds corresponding to the 19 numbered chromosomes, containing 95% of the genome. Our assemblies also enabled detection of longer stretches of runs of homozygosity compared to previous assemblies, which will help improve estimates of genomic inbreeding. Comprehensive genome annotation identified 26,068 protein-coding genes, including several gene families involved in key morphological features such as the teeth, claws, vision, olfaction, taste, and body stripes. We also identified 301 microRNAs, 365 small nucleolar RNAs, 632 transfer RNAs, and other noncoding RNA elements, several of which are predicted to regulate key biological pathways that likely contribute to the tiger's apex predatory traits. We identify signatures of positive selection in the tiger genome that are consistent with the Panthera lineage. Our high-quality genome will enable use of noninvasive samples for comprehensive assessment of genetic diversity, thus supporting effective conservation and management of wild tiger populations.

Implications of Fragment-Based Drug Discovery in Tuberculosis and HIV.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global health problem and the emergence of HIV has further worsened it. Long chemotherapy and the emergence of drug-resistance strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis as well as HIV has aggravated the problem. This demands urgent the need to develop new anti-tuberculosis and antiretrovirals to treat TB and HIV. The lack of diversity in drugs designed using traditional approaches is a major disadvantage and limits the treatment options. Therefore, new technologies and approaches are required to solve the current issues and enhance the production of drugs. Interestingly, fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) has gained an advantage over high-throughput screenings as FBDD has enabled rapid and efficient progress to develop potent small molecule compounds that specifically bind to the target. Several potent inhibitor compounds of various targets have been developed using FBDD approach and some of them are under progression to clinical trials. In this review, we emphasize some of the important targets of mycobacteria and HIV. We also discussed about the target-based druggable molecules that are identified using the FBDD approach, use of these druggable molecules to identify novel binding sites on the target and assays used to evaluate inhibitory activities of these identified druggable molecules on the biological activity of the targets.

Fragment-Based Drug Discovery against Mycobacteria: The Success and Challenges.

The emergence of drug-resistant mycobacteria, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), poses an increasing global threat that urgently demands the development of new potent anti-mycobacterial drugs. One of the approaches toward the identification of new drugs is fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD), which is the most ingenious among other drug discovery models, such as structure-based drug design (SBDD) and high-throughput screening. Specialized techniques, such as X-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and many others, are part of the drug discovery approach to combat the Mtb and NTM global menaces. Moreover, the primary drawbacks of traditional methods, such as the limited measurement of biomolecular toxicity and uncertain bioavailability evaluation, are successfully overcome by the FBDD approach. The current review focuses on the recognition of fragment-based drug discovery as a popular approach using virtual, computational, and biophysical methods to identify potent fragment molecules. FBDD focuses on designing optimal inhibitors against potential therapeutic targets of NTM and Mtb (PurC, ArgB, MmpL3, and TrmD). Additionally, we have elaborated on the challenges associated with the FBDD approach in the identification and development of novel compounds. Insights into the applications and overcoming the challenges of FBDD approaches will aid in the identification of potential therapeutic compounds to treat drug-sensitive and drug-resistant NTMs and Mtb infections.

IL-18 Gene Promoter Polymorphisms are Involved in Periodontal Disease: A Meta-Analysis.

Microbial plaque that builds up in the gingival crevice area causes inflammation and leads to periodontal disease. Previous research has shown an association between interleukins with periodontitis. The association between interleukin-18 (IL-18) gene polymorphism and periodontitis risk was studied extensively, but the results are contradictory. The aim of this study is to find the association of two IL-18 promoter variants namely -607 C > A (rs1946518) and -137 G > C (rs187238), and the risk of chronic and aggressive periodontal disease by meta-analysis. The databases of PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were all explored to find the appropriate studies. The MetaGenyo software was used to calculate each analysis. Outcomes of the pooled analyses revealed significantly elevated risk for periodontitis for both polymorphisms. There is no significant heterogeneity between studies. No significant publication bias was observed. This meta-analysis provided the evidence of a link between IL-18 gene polymorphism in periodontitis.

Role of CD4+ T Cells in Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive condition that affects both the central nervous system and other body parts that are controlled by the nervous system. PD is characterized by brain dopaminergic neurons loss and, at present, there are only symptomatic treatments available to alleviate the effects of the disease. With extensive research, new insights have led to defining PD as a multi-system disorder with immune dysfunction playing a dominant part in the disease pathogenesis as well as its progression. Neuroinflammation in PD leads to neurodegeneration, which is, in turn, regulated by the peripheral adaptive immunity, with CD4+ T cells being a significant player. Patients with PD have diverse CD4+ T cell phenotypes and functional profiles. These phenotypes vary, from being proinflammatory (Th1 and Th17) to anti-inflammatory (Th2 and Tregs). This report focuses on reviewing the expression of CD4+ T cells in PD and its role in the prognosis and treatment of PD.

Effect of exposure to biomass smoke from cooking fuel types and eye disorders in women from hilly and plain regions of Nepal.

BACKGROUND/AIM: To study the association between exposure to biomass smoke from cooking fuels andi cataract, visual acuity and ocular symptoms in women. METHODS: We conducted a community-based cross-sectional study among women (≥20 years and without a previous diagnosis of cataract, ocular trauma or diabetes or those taking steroids) from hilly and plain regions of Nepal. Eligible participants received an interview and a comprehensive eye assessment (cataract development, visual acuity test and ocular symptoms). Participants' data on demographics, cooking fuel type and duration of use, and cooking habits were collected. We addressed potential confounders using the propensity score and other risk factors for ocular diseases through regression analysis. RESULTS: Of 784 participants, 30.6% used clean fuel (liquefied petroleum gas, methane, electricity) as their primary current fuel, and the remaining 69.4% used biomass fuels. Thirty-nine per cent of the total participants had cataracts-about twofold higher in those who currently used biomass fuel compared with those who used clean fuel (OR=2.27; 95% CI 1.09 to 4.77) and over threefold higher in those who always used biomass. Similarly, the nuclear cataract was twofold higher in the current biomass user group compared with the clean fuel user group (OR=2.53; 95% CI 1.18-5.42) and over threefold higher among those who always used biomass. A higher proportion of women using biomass had impaired vision, reported more ocular symptoms compared with those using clean fuel. Severe impaired vision and blindness were only present in biomass fuel users. However, the differences were only statistically significant for symptoms such as redness, burning sensation, a complaint of pain in the eye and tear in the eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Cataract was more prevalent in women using biomass for cooking compared with those using clean fuel.

Association of hypercoagulation with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has emerged as a major threat to all healthcare systems across the globe, and it was declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization (WHO). The novel coronavirus affects the respiratory system, producing symptoms such as fever, cough, dyspnea, and pneumonia. The association between COVID-19 and coagulation has been previously reported. Due to several inflammatory changes that occur in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections such as alterations in the levels of clotting factors, platelet activation leads to thrombus formation in coronary and cerebral vessels, leading to myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular accidents, respectively. Unfortunately, the progression of hypercoagulability in COVID-19 is rapid in patients with and without comorbidities. Hence, the proper monitoring of thrombotic complications in patients with COVID-19 is essential to avoid further complications. The implementation of guidelines for antithrombotic treatments based on the presentation of the disease is recommended. This review discusses the symptoms and mechanisms of upregulated coagulation in patients with COVID-19.

A Simple and Safe Technique of Olecranon Osteotomy.

Chevron osteotomy of the olecranon during the posterior approach of the elbow joint has become universally common. We modified the technique to see if it is better than the standard technique to perform, reconstruct and finally evaluate the results. A prospective study was done in 17 cases of comminuted distal humeral intercondylar fractures. A modified osteotomy was done using a Gigli saw instead of a power saw. The indications remained the same. After fixing the distal humerus fracture, the olecranon fragment was stabilised with tension band wire technique. The post-operative management was similar to that of standard AO technique. There were no per-operative difficulties with the new technique. The osteotomy was easy to do with no risk of damage to the distal humeral cartilage, as the direction of the osteotomy was away from the joint. Gigli saw produced congruent antero-posterior chevron surfaces which helped the fragment to sit well in its trough with good bony apposition. Stable reduction of the olecranon facilitated easy fixation. In this series, all osteotomies united well. There were no osteotomy-related complications. Two cases had prominent wires which were removed after the union of the osteotomy. We feel that this osteotomy is easy to perform, safe and takes less time than the standard technique, though a comparative study in a large number of cases by different surgeons needs to confirm the benefits.