Phyllodes Tumors of the Breast-Experience in a Tertiary Care Center.

Phyllodes tumors (PTs) are rare neoplasms of the breast that are a challenge in clinical practice. Though mostly benign, they are notorious for local recurrence, requiring adjuvant treatments. This study was planned to report the clinicopathological features and outcomes of patients with PT treated at our center. Details of all patients who underwent surgery for PT in the last 6 years (December 2017-December 2023) were obtained from our prospectively maintained database. The demographic, clinical, radiological, pathological, and follow-up details were recorded and analyzed. Statistical analyses were carried out with Jamovi version 2.3.18. Out of 61 suspected PTs by triple assessment, 9 were excluded due to a non-phyllodes diagnosis on histopathology. We included 52 women with a mean age of 38.2 ± 11.0 years, most of whom were premenopausal (57.7%). BI-RADS 4 was the most common finding on radiological assessment (65.4%). Core needle biopsy (CNB) was the most frequently employed modality for histological diagnosis preoperatively (65.4% of cases). Wide local excisions (WLE) and mastectomies were done in 63.5% and 36.5% of patients, respectively. Benign, borderline, and malignant phyllodes constituted 67.3%, 15.4%, and 17.3% of tumors, respectively. Patients undergoing breast conservation surgery (BCS) had a significantly smaller mean tumor diameter than those who underwent a mastectomy (p < 0.001). Overall, the margin positivity rate was 34.6%. Patients undergoing mastectomy developed more local recurrence compared to WLE, although the difference was not significant (p = 0.400). The outcome following surgical excisions of large PTs in terms of margin positivity and local recurrence is the same, irrespective of whether BCS or mastectomy is done. A negative pathological margin width of > 1 mm appears acceptable. Malignant phyllodes with positive margins are associated with a higher rate of recurrence but positive margins in patients with other subtypes may not translate into recurrence, at least in the short term.

Characterization of Swarna Bhasma and Swarnaprash and Determination of Antimicrobial Properties Against Gut-Pathobiont and Symbiont.

Ayurveda has a long-standing tradition of healthcare in Southeast Asia. Swarnaprash, a classical Ayurveda preparation, is commonly given as the pre-lacteal feed to neonates to prevent labor-related complications and infections. It comprises incinerated gold particles (InAuP/Swarna Bhasma), honey (Madhu), and clarified butter oil (CBO/Cow Ghrita). This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of the individual ingredients and combinations of Swarnaprash against selected neonatal gut pathobionts and symbionts. The study employed sophisticated instruments, including SEM with EDAX and X-ray diffraction analysis, to investigate the shape and structural disparities in the ingredients of Swarnaprash. The reported size of gold particles in Swarnaprash ranges from 0.6 to 9.5 µm. These particles are relatively smaller than those in Swarna Bhasma but larger than synthetic gold particles. Swarnaprash demonstrated both bactericidal and bacteriostatic activity against selected neonatal gut pathobionts, with the largest inhibition zones observed for P. aeruginosa and S. Typhi. It surpassed the individual efficacy of its components-Prash, InAuPs, honey, or CBO alone. Notably, Swarnaprash did not affect the selected beneficial gut bacteria. The results warrant further in vivo and clinical studies to explore the effects of Swarnaprash on neonatal gut flora, which would provide vital information for research in neonatal healthcare.

Advances in borophene based photodetectors for a sustainable tomorrow: a comprehensive review.

Borophene, with its unique properties such as excellent conductivity, high thermal stability, and tunable electronic band structure, holds immense promise for advancing photodetector technology. These qualities make it an attractive material for enhancing the efficiency and performance of photodetectors across various wavelengths. Research so far has highlighted borophene's potential in improving sensitivity, response time, and overall functionality in optoelectronic devices. However, to fully realize the potential of borophene-based photodetectors, several challenges must be addressed. A major hurdle is the reproducibility and scalability of borophene synthesis, which is essential for its widespread use in practical applications. Furthermore, understanding the underlying physics of borophene and optimizing the device architecture are critical for achieving consistent performance under different operating conditions. These challenges must be overcome to enable the effective integration of borophene into commercial photodetector devices. A thorough evaluation of borophene-based photodetectors is necessary to guide future research and development in this field. This review will provide a detailed account of the current synthesis methods, discuss the experimental results, and identify the challenges that need to be addressed. Additionally, the review will explore potential strategies to overcome these obstacles, paving the way for significant advancements in solar cells, light-based sensors, and environmental monitoring systems. By addressing these issues, the development of borophene-based photodetectors could lead to substantial improvements in optoelectronic technology, benefiting various applications and industries.

Bacopa monnieri confers neuroprotection by influencing signaling pathways associated with interleukin 4, 13 and extracellular matrix organization in Alzheimer's disease: A proteomics-based perspective.

Alzheimer's disease, a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder in the elderly, is characterized by the accumulation of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, triggering oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and neuronal apoptosis. Current therapies focus on symptomatic treatment rather than targeting the underlying disease-modifying molecular mechanisms and are often associated with significant side effects. Bacopa monnieri, a traditional Indian herb with nootropic properties, has shown promise in neurological disorder treatment from ancient times. However, its mechanisms of action in Alzheimer's disease remain elusive. In this study, a cellular model for Alzheimer's disease was created by treating differentiated IMR-32 cells with beta-amyloid, 1-42 peptide (Aß42). Additionally, a recovery model was established through co-treatment with Bacopa monnieri to explore its protective mechanism. Co-treatment with Bacopa monnieri extract recovered Aß42 induced damage as evidenced by the decreased apoptosis and reduced reactive oxygen species production. Mass spectrometry-based quantitative proteomic analysis identified 21,674 peptides, corresponding to 3626 proteins from the Alzheimer's disease model. The proteins dysregulated by Aß42 were implicated in cellular functions, such as negative regulation of cell proliferation and microtubule cytoskeleton organization. The enriched pathways include extracellular matrix organization and interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 signaling. Bacopa monnieri co-treatment showed remarkable restoration of Aß42 altered proteins, including FOSL1, and TDO2. The protein-protein interaction network analysis of Bacopa monnieri restored proteins identified the hub gene involved in Alzheimer's disease. The findings from this study may open up new avenues for creating innovative therapeutic approaches for Alzheimer's disease.

Spondylocostal Dysostosis with Anal Atresia and Urogenital Anomalies in a Young Infant: First Case Entity of Casamassima-Morton-Nance Syndrome from Asia.

Casamassima-Morton-Nance syndrome (CMNS) includes a heterogeneous group of spondylocostal dysostosis along with anal atresia and genitourinary abnormalities. In 1981, Casamassima et al first described the syndrome in a fetus, and since then, only seven such cases have been reported so far. CMNS phenotype shows a significant clinical variability as documented in the reported cases. Etiology remains unknown yet, and it carries a poor prognosis. Here, we reported on a young female infant born out of nonconsanguineous marriage with normal karyotype and spondylocostal dysostosis, anal and genitourinary malformations suggesting CMNS. Ours is the eighth, and first case entity of CMNS reported from Asia as per the literature search. In our case, the additional feature of bilateral clubfoot has not been documented earlier in the literature. It extends the clinical spectrum of the syndrome and prompts us to consider it a close differential diagnosis to VACTERL (vertebral defects, anal atresia, cardiac malformations, tracheoesophageal fistula/esophageal atresia, renal anomalies, limb abnormalities) syndrome, which is commonly known and diagnosed. It also raises the question of whether cases of CMNS are being misdiagnosed as VACTERL syndrome due to its rarity.

An updated view of bacterial endophytes as antimicrobial agents against plant and human pathogens.

Bacterial endophytes are a crucial component of the phytomicrobiome, playing an essential role in agriculture and industries. Endophytes are a rich source of bioactive compounds, serving as natural antibiotics that can be effective in combating antibiotic resistance in pathogens. These bacteria interact with host plants through various processes such as quorum sensing, chemotaxis, antibiosis, and enzymatic activity. The current paper focuses on how plants benefit extensively from endophytic bacteria and their symbiotic relationship in which the microbes enhance plant growth, nitrogen fixation, increase nutrient uptake, improve defense mechanisms, and act as antimicrobial agents against pathogens. Moreover, it highlights some of the bioactive compounds produced by endophytes.

Unearthing phytochemicals as natural inhibitors for pantothenate synthetase in Mycobacterium tuberculosis: A computational approach.

Pantothenate synthetase protein plays a pivotal role in the biosynthesis of coenzyme A (CoA), which is a crucial molecule involved in a number of cellular processes including the metabolism of fatty acid, energy production, and the synthesis of various biomolecules, which is necessary for the survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Therefore, inhibiting this protein could disrupt CoA synthesis, leading to the impairment of vital metabolic processes within the bacterium, ultimately inhibiting its growth and survival. This study employed molecular docking, structure-based virtual screening, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to identify promising phytochemical compounds targeting pantothenate synthetase for tuberculosis (TB) treatment. Among 239 compounds, the top three (rutin, sesamin, and catechin gallate) were selected, with binding energy values ranging from -11 to -10.3 kcal/mol, and the selected complexes showed RMSD (<3 Å) for 100 ns MD simulation time. Furthermore, molecular mechanics generalized Born surface area (MM/GBSA) binding free energy calculations affirmed the stability of these three selected phytochemicals with binding energy ranges from -82.24 ± 9.35 to -66.83 ± 4.5 kcal/mol. Hence, these identified natural plant-derived compounds as potential inhibitors of pantothenate synthetase could be used to inhibit TB infection in humans.

Plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB)-induced plant adaptations to stresses: an updated review.

Plants and bacteria are co-evolving and interact with one another in a continuous process. This interaction enables the plant to assimilate the nutrients and acquire protection with the help of beneficial bacteria known as plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB). These beneficial bacteria naturally produce bioactive compounds that can assist plants' stress tolerance. Moreover, they employ various direct and indirect processes to induce plant growth and protect plants against pathogens. The direct mechanisms involve phytohormone production, phosphate solubilization, zinc solubilization, potassium solubilization, ammonia production, and nitrogen fixation while, the production of siderophores, lytic enzymes, hydrogen cyanide, and antibiotics are included under indirect mechanisms. This property can be exploited to prepare bioformulants for biofertilizers, biopesticides, and biofungicides, which are convenient alternatives for chemical-based products to achieve sustainable agricultural practices. However, the application and importance of PGPB in sustainable agriculture are still debatable despite its immense diversity and plant growth-supporting activities. Moreover, the performance of PGPB varies greatly and is dictated by the environmental factors affecting plant growth and development. This review emphasizes the role of PGPB in plant growth-promoting activities (stress tolerance, production of bioactive compounds and phytohormones) and summarises new formulations and opportunities.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in early breast carcinoma using fluorescein sodium and methylene blue dye: A validation study.

The availability of radioisotopes for sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in breast carcinoma is limited in low- and middle-income countries and thus the need for other reliable tracers exists. We aimed to validate the effectiveness of fluorescein sodium (FS) together with methylene blue dye (MBD) for patients with node-negative early breast carcinoma in a prospective cross-sectional study. Patients underwent SLNB using FS and MBD followed by axillary dissection to validate results. Sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification rate and false negative rate were assessed for all three tracers/combinations (MBD, FS, and MBD + FS). We concluded that SLNB using a combination of FS and MBD has an acceptable rate of SLN identification but the addition of FS provided no additional benefit.

In vitro larvicidal efficacy of Lantana camara essential oil and its nanoemulsion and enzyme inhibition kinetics against Anopheles culicifacies.

Mosquitoes are important vectors for the transmission of several infectious diseases that lead to huge morbidity and mortality. The exhaustive use of synthetic insecticides has led to widespread resistance and environmental pollution. Using essential oils and nano-emulsions as novel insecticides is a promising alternative approach for controlling vector borne diseases. In the current study, Lantana camara EO and NE were evaluated for their larvicidal and pupicidal activities against Anopheles culicifacies. The inhibitory effect of EO and NE on AChE, NSE (α/ß), and GST was also evaluated and compared. GC-MS analysis of oil displayed 61 major peaks. The stable nano-emulsion with an observed hydrodynamic diameter of 147.62 nm was formed using the o/w method. The nano-emulsion exhibited good larvicidal (LC50 50.35 ppm and LC90 222.84 ppm) and pupicidal (LC50 54.82 ppm and LC90 174.58 ppm) activities. Biochemical evaluations revealed that LCEO and LCNE inhibited AChE, NSE (α/ß), and GST, displaying LCNE to be a potent binder to AChE and NSE enzyme, whereas LCEO showed higher binding potency towards GST. The nano-emulsion provides us with novel opportunities to target different mosquito enzymes with improved insecticidal efficacy. Due to its natural origin, it can be further developed as a safer and more potent larvicide/insecticide capable of combating emerging insecticide resistance.

Design and development of 3D printed shape memory triphasic polymer-ceramic bioactive scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.

Scaffolds for bone tissue engineering require considerable mechanical strength to repair damaged bone defects. In this study, we designed and developed mechanically competent composite shape memory triphasic bone scaffolds using fused filament fabrication (FFF) three dimensional (3D) printing. Wollastonite particles (WP) were incorporated into the poly lactic acid (PLA)/polycaprolactone (PCL) matrix as a reinforcing agent (up to 40 wt%) to harness osteoconductive and load-bearing properties from the 3D printed scaffolds. PCL as a minor phase (20 wt%) was added to enhance the toughening effect and induce the shape memory effect in the triphasic composite scaffolds. The 3D-printed composite scaffolds were studied for morphological, thermal, and mechanical properties, in vitro degradation, biocompatibility, and shape memory behaviour. The composite scaffold had interconnected pores of 550 µm, porosity of more than 50%, and appreciable compressive strength (∼50 MPa), which was over 90% greater than that of the pristine PLA scaffolds. The flexural strength was improved by 140% for 40 wt% of WP loading. The inclusion of WP did not affect the thermal property of the scaffolds; however, the inclusion of PCL reduced the thermal stability. An accelerated in vitro degradation was observed for WP incorporated composite scaffolds compared to pristine PLA scaffolds. The inclusion of WP improved the hydrophilic property of the scaffolds, and the result was significant for 40 wt% WP incorporated composite scaffolds having a water contact angle of 49.61°. The triphasic scaffold exhibited excellent shape recovery properties with a shape recovery ratio of ∼84%. These scaffolds were studied for their protein adsorption, cell proliferation, and bone mineralization potential. The incorporation of WP reduced the protein adsorption capacity of the composite scaffolds. The scaffold did not leach any toxic substance and demonstrated good cell viability, indicating its biocompatibility and growth-promoting behavior. The osteogenic potential of the WP incorporated scaffolds was observed in MC3T3-E1 cells, revealing early mineralization in pre-osteoblast cells cultured in different WP incorporated composite scaffolds. These results suggest that 3D-printed WP reinforced PLA/PCL composite bioactive scaffolds are promising for load bearing bone defect repair.

Stability trends in carbocation intermediates stemming from germacrene A and hedycaryol.

In the current work, we analyzed the origin of difference in stabilities among the germacrene A and hedycaryol-derived carbocations. This study focused on twelve hydrocarbons derived from germacrene A and twelve from hedycaryol, which can be divided into three groups: four molecules containing 6-6 bicyclic rings, four 5-7 bicyclic compounds with the carbocation being on the seven-membered ring and the remaining four 5-7 bicyclic compounds with the carbocation on the five-membered ring. The variations in energy within the groups of carbocations (i.e., 6-6 and two kinds of 5-7 bicyclic carbocations) can be ascribed to intramolecular repulsion interactions, as seen from non-covalent interactions plots. Despite the structural similarities between germacrene A and hedycaryol cations, they possess a somewhat different stability trend. These differences are attributed to C+···OH intramolecular interactions present in some hedycaryol cations, which are absent in the carbocations derived from germecrene A.

Extracellular Vesicular miRNA in Pancreatic Cancer: From Lab to Therapy.

Pancreatic cancer is a prevalent lethal gastrointestinal cancer that generally does not show any symptoms until it reaches advanced stages, resulting in a high mortality rate. People at high risk, such as those with a family history or chronic pancreatitis, do not have a universally accepted screening protocol. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy demonstrate limited effectiveness in the management of pancreatic cancer, emphasizing the urgent need for innovative therapeutic strategies. Recent studies indicated that the complex interaction among pancreatic cancer cells within the dynamic microenvironment, comprising the extracellular matrix, cancer-associated cells, and diverse immune cells, intricately regulates the biological characteristics of the disease. Additionally, mounting evidence suggests that EVs play a crucial role as mediators in intercellular communication by the transportation of different biomolecules, such as miRNA, proteins, DNA, mRNA, and lipids, between heterogeneous cell subpopulations. This communication mediated by EVs significantly impacts multiple aspects of pancreatic cancer pathogenesis, including proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis, and resistance to therapy. In this review, we delve into the pivotal role of EV-associated miRNAs in the progression, metastasis, and development of drug resistance in pancreatic cancer as well as their therapeutic potential as biomarkers and drug-delivery mechanisms for the management of pancreatic cancer.

Musculocontractural type of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome with novel CHST14 pathogenic variant in two siblings.

Musculocontractural Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (MC-EDS) is a rare entity worldwide with underlying pathogenic variant in the carbohydrate sulfotransferase 14 (CHST14) gene. Previous reports of the same entity from India were of two unrelated cases. Ours is the first report of two siblings in an Indian family with craniofacial dysmorphism and distal arthrogryposis with a clinical diagnosis of EDS, where an underlying pathogenic variant in CHST14 was detected by exome sequencing.

Wild edible vegetables of ethnic communities of Mizoram (Northeast India): an ethnobotanical study in thrust of marketing potential.

BACKGROUND: Assessment of wild edible vegetables (WEVs) from the ethnobotanical approach is a significant key to understanding indigenous knowledge systems. The available literature has revealed a tremendous decline in knowledge of WEVs over the last few decades. The main purpose of this study was to document and analyse the traditional knowledge of WEVs among the two major ethnic groups of Mizoram regarding their use and the diversity associated with the importance of traditional medicines. Secondly, a market survey will be conducted to determine the status of available WEVs. METHODS: This study conducted an ethnobotanical survey among 72 informants through semi-structured interviews and questionnaires besides direct field observations. The documented data were quantitatively analysed using various ethnobotanical indices, including Informant's consensus factor (ICF), Fidelity level value (Fl), and Direct matrix ranking (DMR). A marketing survey was conducted in the Bara Bazar, Mizoram's most prominent local market. A total of 38 vendor informants were interviewed to observe and collect the price of commonly sold WEVs. RESULTS: A total of 70 WEVs, distributed in 58 genera under 36 families, were documented and identified. Of these, 33 WEVs were of medicinal importance. Leafy vegetables were documented as the most frequently consumed parts (55.71%). The majority (44.29%) of the plants documented were consumed in fried form. The highest level of agreement among informants for food used categories was observed for plants combined with dry fish (ICF = 1). The Informant's consensus factor (ICF) of disease categories ranges from 0.75 to 1, with the highest being reported for convulsion (ICF = 1), sleep inducer (ICF = 1), and antiseptic (ICF = 1). Picria fel-terrae was the most preferred plant for hypertension treatment (100% FL). Direct matrix ranking (DMR) indicated that Dysoxylum excelsum was highly utilized by the inhabitant for multipurpose species (DMR = 64). Jaccard similarity index (JI) between the two ethnic groups was revealed at 1.26. Forty-seven WEVs were found to be commercialized in the Bara Bazar market, Aizawl, with a price range from 0.1 to 2.4 USD. Ensete superbum was reported as near threatened per the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. CONCLUSION: This work highlighted the importance and rich diversity of WEVs in Mizoram, which are presently used among different age groups for food and medicine. Informants have good knowledge of WEVs, which was shared to a great extent among the inhabitants; this legacy of traditional culture must be conserved. This study further suggests a priority setting for conserving multipurpose WEVs in human-inhabited sites, investigating the recorded species' nutritional properties and pharmacological activities.

Antimicrobial therapeutic protein extraction from fruit waste and recent trends in their utilization against infections.

Fruits are a very good source of various nutrients that can boost overall human health. In these days, the recovery of therapeutic compounds from different fruit wastes is trending in research, which might not only minimize the waste problem but also encounter a higher demand for various enzymes that could have antimicrobial properties against infectious diseases. The goal of this review is to focus on the recovery of therapeutic enzymes from fruit wastes and its present-day tendency for utilization. Here we discussed different parts of fruit waste, such as pulp, pomace, seed, kernel, peel, etc., that produce therapeutic enzymes like amylase, cellulose, lipase, laccase, pectinase, etc. These bioactive enzymes are present in different parts of fruit and could be used as therapeutics against various infectious diseases. This article provides a thorough knowledge compilation of therapeutic enzyme isolation from fruit waste on a single platform, distinctly informative, and significant review work on the topic that is envisioned to encourage further research ideas in these areas that are still under-explored. This paper explains the various aspects of enzyme isolation from fruit and vegetable waste and their biotherapeutic potential that could provide new insights into the development of biotherapeutics and attract the attention of researchers to enhance translational research magnitude further.

Microbiota-brain axis: Exploring the role of gut microbiota in psychiatric disorders - A comprehensive review.

Mental illness is a hidden epidemic in modern science that has gradually spread worldwide. According to estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 10% of the world's population suffers from various mental diseases each year. Worldwide, financial and health burdens on society are increasing annually. Therefore, understanding the different factors that can influence mental illness is required to formulate novel and effective treatments and interventions to combat mental illness. Gut microbiota, consisting of diverse microbial communities residing in the gastrointestinal tract, exert profound effects on the central nervous system through the gut-brain axis. The gut-brain axis serves as a conduit for bidirectional communication between the two systems, enabling the gut microbiota to affect emotional and cognitive functions. Dysbiosis, or an imbalance in the gut microbiota, is associated with an increased susceptibility to mental health disorders and psychiatric illnesses. Gut microbiota is one of the most diverse and abundant groups of microbes that have been found to interact with the central nervous system and play important physiological functions in the human gut, thus greatly affecting the development of mental illnesses. The interaction between gut microbiota and mental health-related illnesses is a multifaceted and promising field of study. This review explores the mechanisms by which gut microbiota influences mental health, encompassing the modulation of neurotransmitter production, neuroinflammation, and integrity of the gut barrier. In addition, it emphasizes a thorough understanding of how the gut microbiome affects various psychiatric conditions.