Comparative evaluation of self-pressurized Air-Q® and Proseal™ LMA® in patients undergoing elective surgery under general anaesthesia: A randomized clinical trial.

Background and Aims: Intra-cuff pressure of Air-Q self-pressurized laryngeal airways (Air-Q SP) balances airway pressure and adapts to patient's pharyngeal and periglottic structures, thus improves oropharyngeal leak pressure (OLP).This study was performed to compare efficacy of Air-Q SP with Proseal laryngeal mask airway (PLMA) in patients undergoing elective surgery. Material and Methods: The study design was prospective, randomized and controlled. Ninety patients were randomly assigned to Air-Q SP or PLMA group. All patients were premedicated and shifted to operation theatre. Monitoring was instituted. After securing IV-line, induction with inj. Morphine + Propofol, relaxation with inj. Vecuronium was done. Supraglottic was inserted according to group allocation. Outcome measures were OLP, fibreoptic view of larynx, success rate, device insertion parameters, haemodynamic and respiratory parameters and post-operative laryngopharyngeal complications. Neostigmine + glycopyrrolate were given, device was extubated. Results: All supraglottic airway devices (SADs) were successfully placed in two attempts. The mean initial OLP, OLP at 10 minutes, and device insertion time were significantly lower in Air-Q SP group. Fiber-optic laryngeal view grading was significantly better with Air-Q SP. No significant difference was observed with respect to rate of successful insertion in first attempt, ease of insertion, and manipulations required. The hemodynamic/respiratory parameters and post-operative sore throat in the two both groups were similar. Conclusions: Proseal LMA has a higher OLP than Air-Q SP but average insertion time was better, and fiber-optic grading of laryngeal view was shorter with Air-Q SP. However, Air-Q SP and Proseal LMA were both effective for lung ventilation.

Perception, practices and understanding of teenage pregnancy among the adolescent girls in India: A scoping review protocol.

Introduction: Teenage pregnancy is a subject of concern among adolescents. Inadequate knowledge and misperceptions about pregnancy are major contributing factors to teenage pregnancy. Without a proper understanding, adolescents are involved in unsafe sexual practices, which results in pregnancy. So, perception and understanding are important aspects to explore among adolescents. In this planned scope review, all eligible studies will be identified around the perception, practices, and understanding of teenage pregnancy among married and unmarried adolescent girls. Methods: The Arksey and O'Malley (2005) scoping review framework and the Joanna Briggs Institute Reviewers' Manual (2015) will be used for the planned scoping review. The population, concept, and context strategy (PCC) will be used to develop the research question, search strategy, and eligibility criteria. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA ScR) will be used for the findings of the study. For the literature search, authors will use Google Scholar, PubMed, and ResearchGate electronic databases with specific words such as "teenage", "adolescence", "pregnancy", "perception", "knowledge", "awareness" and "abortion". Result: The planned scoping review will be helpful in addressing the lack of adolescent misperception, malpractices, and misunderstandings regarding teenage pregnancy. It can provide detailed information about teenage pregnancy in the Indian context. Conclusion: The evidence synthesis and gap analysis will be helpful in suggesting insights into the issue of teenage pregnancy, which will be helpful in future policies and programs.

Female sexual dysfunction-knowledge, attitude, practices, and barriers encountered by medical fraternity across the country: A web-based cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Sexual dysfunction in women is common yet often remains underdiagnosed due to the lack of adequate training and experience of the doctors to manage female sexual dysfunctions. This study was done to assess the knowledge and attitude of medical professionals toward female sexual dysfunction and the various practices and barriers they encounter while managing women with sexual dysfunction. Materials and Methods: A web-based cross-sectional study was done using the snowball sampling method. A well-structured, self-administered, and pre-validated questionnaire containing 27 items was administered through social media. Data was collected and evaluated to assess their knowledge, practices they follow, and barriers encountered while managing female sexual dysfunction. Results: A total of 513 doctors participated in the study. Out of all, only 11.1% of the doctors were often seeing patients with sexual dysfunction. Loss of desire (44%), painful intercourse (33%), lack of lubrication (18%), and anorgasmia (5%) are common symptoms with which women present. The majority of doctors (78.9%) were comfortable in starting a conversation, over half (52.6%) were confident in making a diagnosis, and 51.3% were confident in providing sexual counseling. Yet, only 11.1% were routinely screening women for sexual dysfunctions, and 33.8% were providing counseling regarding sexual issues. Lack of time (31.6%), lack of adequate training (57.3%), unavailability of effective treatment (11.9%), patient discomfort (60.62%), and patient's reluctance to seek treatment (15.8%) were the barriers encountered by doctors. When assessed for knowledge, around 30.9% had excellent knowledge (≥75th percentile) about female sexual dysfunction. Conclusion: Sexual dysfunction among women is an important health issue that significantly affects the social, mental, and physical well-being of those suffering from it. Screening for sexual dysfunction should be done routinely in day-to-day clinical practice to improve the overall quality of life of a couple.

Aetiological profile of acute encephalitis syndrome in Assam, India, during a 4-year period from 2019 to 2022.

Acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) is a major public health concern in India as the aetiology remains unknown in the majority of cases with the current testing algorithm. We aimed to study the incidence of Japanese encephalitis (JE) and determine the aetiology of non-JE AES cases to develop an evidence-based testing algorithm. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were tested for Japanese encephalitis virus by ELISA and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Multiplex real-time PCR was done for Dengue, Chikungunya, West Nile, Zika, Enterovirus, Epstein Barr Virus, Herpes Simplex Virus, Adenovirus, Cytomegalovirus, Herpesvirus 6, Parechovirus, Parvovirus B19, Varicella Zoster Virus, Scrub typhus, Rickettsia species, Leptospira, Salmonella species, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis, Plasmodium species and by ELISA for Mumps and Measles virus. Of the 3173 CSF samples, 461 (14.5%) were positive for JE. Of the 334 non-JE AES cases, 66.2% viz. Scrub typhus (25.7%), Mumps (19.5%), Measles (4.2%), Parvovirus B19 (3.9%) Plasmodium (2.7%), HSV 1 and 2 (2.4%), EBV and Streptococcus pneumoniae (2.1% each), Salmonella and HHV 6 (1.2% each) were predominant. Hence, an improved surveillance system and our suggested expanded testing algorithm can improve the diagnosis of potentially treatable infectious agents of AES in India.

Influence of ß-lactam pharmacodynamics on the systems microbiology of gram-positive and gram-negative polymicrobial communities.

Objectives: We sought to evaluate the pharmacodynamics of ß-lactam antibacterials against polymicrobial communities of clinically relevant gram-positive and gram-negative pathogens. Methods: Two Enterococcus faecalis isolates, two Staphylococcus aureus isolates, and three Escherichia coli isolates with varying ß-lactamase production were evaluated in static time-killing experiments. Each gram-positive isolate was exposed to a concentration array of ampicillin (E. faecalis) or cefazolin (S. aureus) alone and during co-culture with an E. coli isolate that was ß-lactamase-deficient, produced TEM-1, or produced KPC-3/TEM-1B. The results of the time-killing experiments were summarized using an integrated pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics analysis as well as mathematical modelling to fully characterize the antibacterial pharmacodynamics. Results: In the integrated analysis, the maximum killing of ampicillin (Emax) against both E. faecalis isolates was ≥ 4.11 during monoculture experiments or co-culture with ß-lactamase-deficient E. coli, whereas the Emax was reduced to ≤ 1.54 during co-culture with ß-lactamase-producing E. coli. In comparison to monoculture experiments, culturing S. aureus with KPC-producing E. coli resulted in reductions of the cefazolin Emax from 3.25 and 3.71 down to 2.02 and 2.98, respectively. Two mathematical models were created to describe the interactions between E. coli and either E. faecalis or S. aureus. When in co-culture with E. coli, S. aureus experienced a reduction in its cefazolin Kmax by 24.8% (23.1%RSE). Similarly, ß-lactamase-producing E. coli preferentially protected the ampicillin-resistant E. faecalis subpopulation, reducing Kmax,r by 90.1% (14%RSE). Discussion: ß-lactamase-producing E. coli were capable of protecting S. aureus and E. faecalis from exposure to ß-lactam antibacterials.

Analysing the Impact of Resistant Starch Formation in Basmati Rice Products: Exploring Associations with Blood Glucose and Lipid Profiles across Various Cooking and Storage Conditions In Vivo.

Common cooking methods were used to prepare basmati rice products, including boiling 1 (boiling by absorption), boiling 2 (boiling in extra amount of water), frying, and pressure cooking. The cooked rice was held at various temperatures and times as follows: it was made fresh (T1), kept at room temperature (20-22 °C) for 24 h (T2), kept at 4 °C for 24 h (T3), and then reheated after being kept at 4 °C for 24 h (T4). The proximate composition, total dietary fibre, resistant starch (RS), and in vitro starch digestion rate of products were examined. The effect of RS on blood glucose and lipid profiles was measured in humans and rats, including a histopathological study of the liver and pancreas in rats. The basmati rice that was prepared via boiling 1 and stored with T3 was found to be low in glycaemic index and glycaemic load, and to be high in resistant starch. Similarly, in rats, the blood glucose level, cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL were reduced by about 29.7%, 37.9%, 31.3%, and 30.5%, respectively, after the consumption of basmati rice that was prepared via boiling 1 and stored with T3. Awareness should be raised among people about the health benefits of resistant starch consumption and the right way of cooking.

Hand hygiene compliance of respiratory physiotherapists: An analysis of trends over eight years including the COVID-19 pandemic period.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory physiotherapists (RPs) are an integral part of healthcare workers delivering care to intubated patients. Our study aimed to evaluate the effect of awareness campaigns on hand hygiene (HH) compliance among RPs. METHOD: An observational single-center study was conducted between 2015 and 2022 in different ICU types in both adult and paediatric settings. The hand hygiene compliance rates were monitored prospectively and the quality improvement interventions included various hand hygiene campaigns and awareness sessions with RPs. Compliance was calculated as a percentage of events over total opportunities observed. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in compliance rates for all five moments of HH (p-value: <0.05). Overall, mean compliance rate in ICUs was significantly higher than wards for Moment 1 (p-value: 0.0045), Moment 4 (p-value: 0.0372) and Moment 5 (p-value: 0.0036) by 24.2%, 22.7% and 21.5% respectively. Also, paediatric ICUs had higher HH compliance than adult ICUs for Moment 1 (87.5% vs 61.1%; p-value: 0.0459) and Moment 4 (93.7% vs 79.3%; p-value: 0.0255). A significant increase in HH compliance was observed in post-COVID-19 period compared to pre-COVID-19 period with respect to Moment 1, 2 and 5. CONCLUSION: This study adds to the almost non-existent literature on this important category of healthcare workers working in respiratory ICUs. Our results project an increase compliance after the HH awareness programmes over the years among RP which is critical to prevent spread infection by multidrug resistant organisms among the hospitals.

Investigation of Earth-Abundant Metal Salts for the Inhibition of Asphalt-Derived Volatile Organic Compounds.

Asphalt is used globally in construction for roads, pavements, and buildings; however, as a fossil-derived material, it is known to generate volatile organic compounds (VOCs) upon exposure to heat and light that can be harmful to human health. Several heterogeneous strategies have been reported for the inhibition of these VOCs; however, the direct use of inexpensive, accessible Earth-Abundant metals has not been extensively explored. In this study, simple metal salts are examined for their coordination capability toward asphalt-derived VOCs. From UV-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopic studies, FeCl3 emerged relative to other metal salts (metal = Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn) as a promising candidate for the adsorption and retention of Lewis basic compounds. Coordination of an example oxygen-containing VOC, benzofuran (Bf), to Fe yielded a paramagnetic semi-octahedral complex Fe(Bf)3Cl3. Evaluation by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) coupled to infrared spectroscopy (IR) demonstrated that the complex was stable up to 360 °C. Spectroscopic evaluation demonstrated the stability of the complex upon visible light irradiation and in the presence of a variety of organic pollutants. The potential application of Fe was demonstrated by subjecting biochar to FeCl3 followed by the addition of Bf. It was discovered that this Fe-rich biochar was successful at adsorbing Bf suggesting the possibility of introducing Fe to biochar late-stage in processing to deter asphalt degradation and VOC emissions. An understanding of the binding and stability of Fe salts to VOCs provides insight into how a sustainable infrastructure can be achieved.

Awareness among Pediatricians Regarding National Telemedicine Guidelines during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Survey.

The success of telemedicine depends on awareness among doctors on how to implement it. We aimed to assess knowledge about national telemedicine guidelines in pediatricians during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. A cross-sectional study of pediatricians across India was conducted through a structured online questionnaire containing 16 marks. The mean knowledge score (KS) was calculated. Participants were divided into two groups: poor KS (KS <8) and good KS (KS ≥8). The association between factors and KS was assessed using univariate analysis. A total of 503 pediatricians participated (private sector: 80.7% and public sector: 19.3%). Most (61%) belonged to the age group of 31-50 years and were males (75%). The minimum educational qualification was a Doctor of Medicine (MD) in 57% of cases. Despite work experience of more than 5 years in most (70%) of the cases, very few had provided teleconsultation before the pandemic (13.9%). The mean KS was 10.60 ± 2.8, that is, 66.25%. The minimum KS was 1 (6.25%), and the maximum was 16 (100%). Assam, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Sikkim, and Tamil Nadu showed higher knowledge than other states, although no significant difference was found. The majority (89.1%) had good KS, which is significantly higher among private practitioners as compared to public practitioners. There was no association between KS and age, gender, qualification, and work experience. Pediatricians have good information regarding telemedicine guidelines in India; however, training programs will further empower doctors working in the public sector.

Malnutrition and Anemia Among Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups of Odisha, India: Needs for Context-Specific Intervention.

Background: As undernutrition and anemia persist to be prevalent in India, the socioeconomically disadvantaged groups continue to take the greater brunt. Odisha is home to the largest number of particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) in India. The study aimed to provide a comprehensive report on the undernutrition and anemia status of all the PVTGs of Odisha. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among (N = 1461, 683 males and 779 females) 13 PVTGs spread across 12 districts of Odisha from August 2018 to February 2019. Results: Among the under-five children, the prevalence of underweight was observed in 75.26%, stunting in 55.42%, and wasting in 60.00% and all forms of undernutrition were higher among girls. Among children and adolescents belonging to the age group of 5 to 19 years, the prevalence of thinness was 46.7%. In individuals above the age of 20, the prevalence of underweight among males was 37.7% and females was 44.3% and severe anemia was present in 36.5% of females and 35.8% of males. Women in the reproductive age have a higher prevalence of anemia. Conclusion: The study shows that undernutrition and anemia remain high in the PVTGs, especially among the under-five children and women in the reproductive age. As the country heads toward fulfilling Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by 2030, national and state health policies need to be designed and implemented, giving special focus to these vulnerable groups.

Comparative Study of Ki-67 Labeling Index Quantification by Eye-rolling, Manual Count, and Digital Image Analysis; An Approach with Caution.

Background and Objective: An accurate Ki-67 labeling index assessment is critical for managing a few tumors, like breast carcinomas and neuroendocrine tumors. We aimed to determine the degree of agreement between digital image analysis (DIA) and eye-rolling assessment (EE) and DIA and manual count (MC) for Ki-67 LI scoring. Methods: A total of 120 cases (both tru-cut biopsies and resected specimens) were selected during the study period from the institutional database, wherein the Ki-67 labeling index was performed. The selected cases were divided into two groups, i.e., breast neoplasms and other neoplasms. The correlation between DIA and EE and DIA and MC for Ki-67 LI scoring was calculated in both groups. Results: A total of 113 cases were analyzed for Ki-67 LI by three different methods (EE, MC, and DIA); 7 cases were rejected due to poor image quality. Ki-67 LI scoring by DIA and EE was highly correlated in both study groups with a Spearman's rank correlation coefficient of 0.809 (P=0.01) and 0.904 (P=0.01), respectively. Correlation between DIA and MC methods was also found to be almost perfect in both study groups with a Spearman's rank correlation coefficient of 0.974 (P=0.01) and 0.955 (P=0.01), respectively. Conclusion: ImmunoRatio is a free web-based digital image analysis application that can be used for Ki-67 LI assessment with considerable reliability and reproducibility. Yet, it carries a few limitations and demands a careful approach and final confirmation by an expert.

Challenges and opportunities for cancer stem cell-targeted immunotherapies include immune checkpoint inhibitor, cancer stem cell-dendritic cell vaccine, chimeric antigen receptor immune cells, and modified exosomes.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are associated with the tumor microenvironment (TME). CSCs induce tumorigenesis, tumor recurrence and progression, and resistance to standard therapies. Indeed, CSCs pose an increasing challenge to current cancer therapy due to their stemness or self-renewal properties. The molecular and cellular interactions between heterogeneous CSCs and surrounding TME components and tumor-supporting immune cells show synergistic effects toward treatment failure. In the immunosuppressive TME, CSCs express various immunoregulatory proteins, growth factors, metabolites and cytokines, and also produce exosomes, a type of extracellular vesicles, to protect themselves from host immune surveillance. Among these, the identification and application of CSC-derived exosomes could be considered for the development of therapeutic approaches to eliminate CSCs or cancer, in addition to targeting the modulators that remodel the composition of the TME, as reviewed in this study. Here, we introduce the role of CSCs and how their interaction with TME complicates immunotherapies, and then present the CSC-based immunotherapy and the limitation of these therapies. We describe the biology and role of tumor/CSC-derived exosomes that induce immune suppression in the TME, and finally, introduce their potentials for the development of CSC-based targeted immunotherapy in the future.

Genome sequence of pan drug-resistant enteroaggregative Escherichia coli belonging to ST38 clone from India, an emerging EAEC/UPEC hybrid pathotype.

Here, we report the genomic characterization of a pan drug-resistant (PDR) enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) isolated from an immunocompromised infant who had diarrhea. The isolate belonged to the sequence type (ST) 38, which is a known enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC)/uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) hybrid strain having multi-drug resistance (MDR). The strain carried genes encoding multiple resistances to carbapenems, third-generation cephalosporins, polymyxin, fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides, fosfomycin, nitrofurantoin, sulphonamides, and multiple efflux pump genes. Interspecies horizontal transfer, inter-strain, and clonal spread of these resistances to commensals and pathogens will be worrisome. We are concerned about the spread of such PDR strains. The genomic characterization of such strains will be useful in understanding the genetic makeup of EAEC/UPEC hybrid strains and developing new vaccines/diagnostics and therapeutics.

Prevalence of hemoglobinopathies among Malayali tribes of Jawadhu hills, Tiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu, India: a community-based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Hemoglobin (Hb), a red pigment of red blood cells (RBCs), carries oxygen from the lungs to different organs of the body and transports carbon dioxide back to the lungs. Any fault present in the Hb structure leads to undesirable functional effects of the RBCs, such as sickle cell anemia (SCA), thalassemia, etc. Hemoglobinopathies affect around 7% of people in both developed and developing countries globally. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence and carrier frequencies of hemoglobinopathies including SCA, thalassemia, and other abnormal Hb variants among Malayali tribes in the Jawadhu hills of Tiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu, India. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 443 Malayali tribes inhabiting the Jawadhu hills of Tiruvannamalai district from July 2022 to September 2022. The RBC indices were analyzed using an automated 5-part hematology analyzer (Mindray, BC-5150) and hemoglobin fractions were done using the HPLC system (Bio-Rad, D-10) following standard protocols. FINDINGS: A total of 443 participants were screened, out of whom 14.67% had an abnormal Hb fraction, 83.30% were identified as normal, and 2.03% were borderline. Notably, the study revealed a prevalence of 0.68% for the α-thalassemia trait and 13.99% for the ß-thalassemia trait. INTERPRETATION: Haemoglobinopathies, specifically the ß-thalassemia trait, were most prevalent among the Malayali tribal population of Tamil Nadu residing in the Jawadhu hills of Tiruvannamalai district. Hence, we need special attention for creating awareness, increasing hemoglobinopathies screening programs, and improving the importance of tribal health conditions by the government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for the betterment of the ethnic tribes.

Reporting Pancreatic FNAC using the Papanicolaou System: Still a Diagnostic Challenge.

Introduction: The Papanicolaou Society of Cytopathology System for reporting Pancreaticobiliary Cytology (PSCPC) is a reliable method to classify pancreatic fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) smears. However, it is not without practical problems which can diminish the diagnostic accuracy of the cytological diagnosis. Aims and Objectives: To determine the diagnostic pitfalls while reporting cytomorphology of pancreatic lesions according to PSCPC on correlating FNAC findings with histopathology. Materials and Methods: Retrospective analysis of pancreatic FNAC smears received in the Department of Pathology of our tertiary care institute over a period of 2 years was done. The cytological diagnoses were classified according to the Papanicolaou Society of Cytopathology system of reporting pancreaticobiliary cytology and correlated with histopathology. The reasons of cyto-histological discordance were analyzed. Results: Out of 50 cases in which both FNAC and biopsy of pancreatic lesions were done, 34 cases were positive/malignant (Category VI), eight cases were suspicious for malignancy (Category V), three cases were neoplastic (Category IV), two cases were atypical (Category III), two cases were negative for malignancy (Category II), and one case was non-diagnostic (Category I). Out of 50 cases, histopathology was non-diagnostic due to inadequate material in six cases. The cytological diagnoses were compared with histopathology in the remaining 44 cases. Categories III, IV V, and VI were considered as positive for neoplastic pathology. The sensitivity of FNAC to predict neoplastic pathology was 97.5%, while the specificity was 25%. The positive predictive value was 92.9%. Two cases reported as atypical (Category III) turned out to be adenocarcinoma on histopathology. One case reported as neuroendocrine tumor and two cases reported as adenocarcinoma on cytology displayed features of chronic pancreatitis on histology. One case reported as neoplastic mucinous cyst (Category IV) turned out to be adenocarcinoma on histology (limited concordance). Conclusion: The cytopathologist needs to be wary of the potential pitfalls to improve the diagnostic accuracy of FNACs.

Umbilical Endometriosis in a Surgically Naïve Multiparous Young Female.

The existence of functional endometrial tissue outside the uterus is known as endometriosis. It is a benign estrogen-dependent gynecological condition that affects 5%-10% of women who are of reproductive age. Endometriosis often affects the ovary and fallopian tubes, although it can also occur in nonpelvic areas. The most typical location for extra-pelvic endometriosis is the abdomen. Umbilical endometriosis is a rare condition accounting for 0.5%-1.0% of all cases of endometriosis. In 3% of cases, there is a chance of malignant change. This disorder's precise etiology is uncertain. Recurrent discomfort and swelling around the umbilicus are the classic manifestations. In this instance, we describe a patient with primary umbilical endometriosis (PUE) who had cyclical bleeding and swelling over the umbilicus and was surgically naive. This case will demonstrate how, particularly in surgically naïve instances, diagnosis of PUE is frequently delayed due to ignorance of the entity.

Molecular Mechanisms of Tumorgenesis and Metastasis of Long Non-coding RNA (lncRNA) NEAT1 in Human Solid Tumors; An Update.

The expression of the nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1), as a well-known long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), is often upregulated in varied types of cancers and associated with poor survival outcomes in patients suffering from tumors. NEAT1 promotes the tumors growth by influencing the various genes' expression profile that regulate various aspects of tumor cell behavior, in particular tumor growth, metastasis and drug resistance. This suggests that NEAT1 are capable of serving as a new diagnostic biomarker and target for therapeutic intervention. Through interrelation with enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), NEAT1 acts as a scaffold RNA molecule, and thus regulating the expression EZH2-associated genes. Additionally, by perform as miRNA sponge, it constrains suppressing the interactions between miRNAs-mediated degradation of target mRNAs. In light of this, NEAT1 inhibition by small interfering RNA (siRNA) hampers tumorgenesis. We summarize recent findings about the expression, biological functions, and regulatory process of NEAT1 in human tumors. It specifically emphasizes the clinical significance of NEAT1 as a novel diagnostic biomarker and a promising therapeutic mark for many types of cancers.

HOXA9 versus HOXB9; particular focus on their controversial role in tumor pathogenesis.

The Homeobox (HOX) gene family is essential to regulating cellular processes because it maintains the exact coordination required for tissue homeostasis, cellular differentiation, and embryonic development. The most distinctive feature of this class of genes is the presence of the highly conserved DNA region known as the homeobox, which is essential for controlling their regulatory activities. Important players in the intricate process of genetic regulation are the HOX genes. Many diseases, especially in the area of cancer, are linked to their aberrant functioning. Due to their distinctive functions in biomedical research-particularly in the complex process of tumor advancement-HOXA9 and HOXB9 have drawn particular attention. HOXA9 and HOXB9 are more significant than what is usually connected with HOX genes since they have roles in the intricate field of cancer and beyond embryonic processes. The framework for a focused study of the different effects of HOXA9 and HOXB9 in the context of tumor biology is established in this study.

Efficacy of Fecal Microbiota (REBYOTA) in Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infections: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) are a leading cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, and recurrent infections are common despite effective antibiotic treatments. Recurrent CDI causes a significant burden to the patient and healthcare system, which has led to efforts to find an effective treatment to prevent recurrent CDI. Recent studies have shown the efficacy and safety of orally and rectally administered microbiota treatment to prevent recurrent Clostridium difficile. This study systematically reviewed the data on the efficacy and safety of RBX2660 (REBYOTA®), the first rectally administered microbiota product to prevent recurrent Clostridium difficile infections approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Our analysis showed that RBX2660 (REBYOTA) effectively prevented recurrent CDI. Patients who received RBX2660 (REBYOTA) were significantly less likely to have recurrent Clostridium difficile than controls eight weeks after treatment. This effect is seen in both those who got one or two doses of RBX2660 (REBYOTA), although the FDA currently approves one dose.