Effect of different concentrations of resveratrol on nuclear maturation and in-vitro development competence of oocytes of Nili Ravi buffalo.

Buffaloes are considered animals of the future with the ability to survive under unfavorable conditions. However, the lack of access to superior germplasm poses a significant challenge to increasing buffalo production. Resveratrol has been shown to improve oocyte quality and developmental competence in various animals during in vitro embryo development. However, limited information is available on the use of resveratrol to improve the in vitro maturation and development competence of Nili Ravi buffalo oocytes. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the influence of different concentrations of resveratrol on the maturation, fertilization, and development of buffalo oocytes under in vitro conditions. Oocytes were collected from ovaries and subjected to in vitro maturation (IVM) using varying concentrations of resveratrol (0 µM, 0.5 µM, 1 µM, 1.5 µM, and 2 µM), and the maturation process was assessed using a fluorescent staining technique. Results indicated no significant differences in oocyte maturation, morula rate, and blastocyst rate among the various resveratrol concentrations. However, the cleavage rate notably increased with 1 µM and 1.5 µM concentrations of resveratrol (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the study suggests that adding 1 µM of resveratrol into the maturation media may enhance the cleavage and blastocyst hatching of oocytes of Nili Ravi buffaloes. These findings hold promise for advancing buffalo genetics, reproductive performance, and overall productivity, offering potential benefits to the dairy industry, especially in Asian countries.

Exploring the Interplay of the CRISPR-CAS System with Antibiotic Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus: A Poultry Meat Study from Lahore, Pakistan.

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the major pathogens responsible for causing food poisoning worldwide. The emergence of antibiotic resistance in this bacterium is influenced by various factors. Among them, bacterial acquired defense systems described as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-cas system might be involved in antibiotic resistance development in bacteria. The current study was designed to assess the prevalence of S. aureus and its antibiotic resistance profile and identify the relationship of the CRISPR-cas system with antimicrobial resistance, followed by phylogenetic analysis. Total samples (n = 188) of poultry meat were collected from the poultry bird market of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. We used both phenotypic (antibiotic disc diffusion) and genotypic methods (PCR) to identify multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains of S. aureus. Additionally, the role of the CRISPR-Cas system in the isolated MDR S. aureus was also assessed. In addition, real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to evaluate the association of the CRISPR-cas system with antimicrobial resistance. All of the S. aureus isolates showed 100% resistance against erythromycin, 97.5% were resistant to tetracycline, and 75% were resistant to methicillin. Eleven isolates were MDR in the current study. The CRISPR system was found in all MDR isolates, and fifteen spacers were identified within the CRISPR locus. Furthermore, MDR S. aureus isolates and the standard strain showed higher expression levels of CRISPR-associated genes. The correlation of said system with MDR isolates points to foreign gene acquisition by horizontal transfer. Current knowledge could be utilized to tackle antibiotic-resistant bacteria, mainly S. aureus.

Molecular characterization of lumpy skin disease virus from recent outbreaks in Pakistan.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a contagious viral transboundary disease listed as a notifiable disease by the World Organization of Animal Health (WOAH). The first case of this disease was reported in Pakistan in late 2021. Since then, numerous outbreaks have been documented in various regions and provinces across the country. The current study primarily aimed to analyze samples collected during LSD outbreaks in cattle populations in the Sindh and Punjab provinces of Pakistan. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted using partial sequences of the GPCR, p32, and RP030 genes. Collectively, the LSDV strains originating from outbreaks in Pakistan exhibited a noticeable clustering pattern with LSDV strains reported in African, Middle Eastern, and Asian countries, including Egypt, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, India, China, and Thailand. The precise reasons behind the origin of the virus strain and its subsequent spread to Pakistan remain unknown. This underscores the need for further investigations into outbreaks across the country. The findings of the current study can contribute to the establishment of effective disease control strategies, including the implementation of a mass vaccination campaign in disease-endemic countries such as Pakistan.

Evaluation of healthcare professionals' understanding of fluoroquinolones' safety profile, usage, and boxed warnings in Pakistan.

INTRODUCTION: Fluoroquinolones (FQs) is a distinct class of antibiotics which are prescribed and used quite frequently worldwide, despite the box warnings (BW) issued by Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Literature has shown in spite of BWs related to FQs there is minimal impact on health care professionals (HCPs) prescribing habits, potentially attributing towards limited and insufficient awareness. In Pakistan, FQs are mostly prescribed antibiotics for microbial treatments, therefore the purpose of this study was to determine the level of knowledge about the safety profile, use, and BW of FQs among HCPs working in Pakistan. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was undertaken among the HCPs of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan from October 2022 to December 2022. A validated questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge of HCPs regarding FQs, its safety profile and BW. A random convenient sample technique was used while recruiting HCPs in this study. As the HCPs comprised physicians, dentists, pharmacist and nurses, all were approached in person and the study objective was fully elaborated and explained to them. The statistic test like: one-way ANOVA, independent-t test, multivariate logistic regression were used keeping the p-value < 0.05 as statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of n = 250 HCPs were approached, of which n = 186 HCPs completed the questionnaire with a response rate of 74.4%. FQs prescribing pattern was only assessed among the prescribers, i.e., physicians and dentists (39/186). The mean knowledge score for indications was 5.29 ± 3.05, while for the adverse effects was 7.70 ± 2.61. The highest score for knowledge for indications and adverse effect score was achieved by physicians followed by dentist. The mean knowledge score for the BW was 3.46 ± 2.93 and among the HCPs for the BW of FQs, 20.4% of the HCPs had appropriate knowledge score (score ≥ 50%). The knowledge score was significantly higher in males (p = 0.039), dentists (p = 0.001), HCPs having master/specialization level of education (p = 0.003), HCPs working in government sector hospitals (p = 0.010) and secondary care hospitals (p = 0.001) while the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that HCPs working in primary care hospital (OR: 6.2) and secondary care hospital (OR: 20.3) were associated with the tendency to achieve 50% or above knowledge score. CONCLUSION:  Findings of this study reveals the unsatisfactory knowledge of HCPs regarding the safety profile, use, and BW of FQs putting patients at heightened risks of FQs associated AEs. Therefore, it is crucial to implement a national antimicrobial stewardship program, seminars and lectures aimed at continuously updating the knowledge of HCPs, regardless of their specialties, and effectively restrict the misuse of antimicrobial and disseminate FDA BWs in clinical practice.

Comparative immunocompetence and interspecies transmission of avian orthoavulavirus-1 in feral birds originating from rural and urban settings.

Feral birds residing close to urban settings exhibit higher immunocompetence against environmental pathogens than their counterparts in rural areas. In this study, we comprehensively evaluated the immunocompetence of five specific feral bird species and investigated the potential for interspecies transmission and pathogenicity of Avian orthoavulavirus-1 (AOAV-1) originating from the Anseriformes order. The immunocompetence assessment involved administering the phytohemagglutinin (PHA) test to individual groups of birds from rural and urban settings, measuring patagium thickness at specific time intervals (12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 h) following the administration of 0.1 mL (1 mg/mL) of PHA. Urban birds displayed significantly enhanced mean swelling responses, particularly urban pigeons, which exhibited a significant difference in patagium thickness at all-time intervals except for 24 h (p = 0.000, p = 0.12). Similarly, rural and urban quails and crows showed substantial differences in patagium thickness at all-time intervals except for 12 h (p = 0.542, p = 0.29). For the assessment of interspecies transmission potential and pathogenicity, each feral bird group was separately housed with naive broiler birds (n = 10 each) and challenged with a velogenic strain of AOAV-1 isolate (Mallard-II/UVAS/Pak/2016) at a dose of 1 mL (108 EID50/mL). Urban birds demonstrated higher resistance to the virus compared to their rural counterparts. These findings highlight the specific immunocompetence of feral bird species and their potential contributions to AOAV-1 transmission and pathogenicity. Continuous monitoring, surveillance, and strict implementation of biosafety and biosecurity measures are crucial for effectively controlling AOAV-1 spillover to the environment and wild bird populations in resource-limited settings, particularly Pakistan.

Can Pharmacists' Counseling Improve the Use of Inhalers and Quality of Life? A Prospective "Pre" and "Post" Education Analysis in Mardan, Pakistan.

Introduction: Asthma is one of the common major non-communicable respiratory diseases, and is associated with a lower health-related quality of life (QOL). Poor inhalation is a significant contributing factor to poor control of asthma. Community pharmacist has a vital role to play in assisting patients and ultimately improving their asthma conditions through the use of inhalers. Aim: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of "pre" and "post" educational intervention by a community pharmacist within a community pharmacy on asthma patients' QOL, inhaler technique, and adherence to therapy during the endemic phase of COVID-19. Methods: A "pre" and "post" interventional study was performed at a community pharmacy in the city of Mardan, Pakistan, in 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients were divided into two groups, ie control and pharmacist-led education groups. After assigning patients to both groups, the baseline data were collected and followed for one month to compare the reduction in errors in the use of inhalers, QOL, and adherence to therapy. A paired sample t-test was performed, keeping a p-value <0.05 as statistical significance. Results: A total of 60 patients were recruited, majority (58.3%) were females, and 28.3% were from the age group of 46-55 years old. A statistically significant difference was observed in the pre- and post-education QOL score among patients in the pharmacist-led education group, from a mean ± SD at pre-education of 40.23±10.03 to a mean±SD at post-education of 48.10±5.68. Similarly, a statistically significant difference was observed for the correct use of inhalers, ie MDIs and DPIs. Similarly, a statistically significant difference was observed in the adherence status between pre-education and post-education by pharmacists. Conclusion: The findings of the study revealed a positive impact of community pharmacist-led education on QOL, inhaler technique, and adherence to therapy among patients with asthma.

Hepatoprotective and nephroprotective effects of Sedum adenotrichum in paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in rabbits.

Sedum adenotrichum (SA) has been traditionally used against various ailments due to the presence of several important phenolic compounds. This study provides a scientific basis for the hepatoprotective and nephroprotective potentials of Sedum adenotrichum in paracetamol-induced toxicity in rabbits. Methanolic extract of Sedum adenotrichum along with paracetamol was administered orally to rabbits alone or in combination with paracetamol for 2 weeks. Results showed that paracetamol-induced toxicity was correlated with a significant change in biochemical, hematological parameters, and loss in body weight of rabbits, and the curative effect of SA methanolic extract was found. Liver and kidney histological studies showed significant induced toxicity of paracetamol and correspondence restoration power of SA methanolic extract. The levels of reduced glutathione, radical scavenging activity, and lipid peroxidation in the liver were restored to normal by the methanolic extract of SA. This study confirmed the protective effect of SA methanolic extract against hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity caused by paracetamol. Biochemical analysis of the methanolic extract of SA confirmed the presence of bioactive phenolic compounds which have hepatic and nephroprotective potentials.

Toward Sustainable Healthcare Systems: A Low and Middle-Income Country's Case for Investing in Healthcare Reforms.

Pakistan, a low and middle-income country (LMIC), faces challenges in providing sustainable health care to its population due to inadequate financing, weak healthcare infrastructure, and insufficient health human resources. These challenges are not unique to Pakistan and are faced by many LMICs globally. In this paper, we aim to identify key strategies for achieving sustainable healthcare systems in Pakistan and to draw lessons for LMICs globally, keeping in view the healthcare reforms in Pakistan. We conducted a comprehensive literature review of existing policies and practices related to healthcare financing, service delivery, health information and communication technologies (ICTs), governance and leadership, and health human resources in Pakistan and other LMICs. We also reviewed relevant global policies and frameworks, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the World Health Organization's (WHO) health system strengthening guidelines. To achieve sustainable healthcare systems in Pakistan, we recommend comprehensive healthcare financing policies, including increasing budgetary allocations for health, social health protection through universal coverage, and supporting health and economic development processes. Service delivery can be improved through restructuring public health facilities, incorporating behavioral and social health determinants into primary health care, aligning healthcare delivery with the community, and promoting collaborative leadership between the public and private sectors. The use of ICT can be expanded by implementing e-health policies, disseminating authentic public health information, and enabling telemedicine services. Effective healthcare governance and leadership can be promoted through meritorious, transparent, and accountable reforms, stable healthcare structures at all community levels, and appropriate health policy and organizational frameworks. Finally, strengthening health human resources can be achieved through compliant policy implementation and revisions in laws and policies governing medical teaching institutions. Achieving sustainable healthcare systems in Pakistan and LMICs globally requires comprehensive strategies for healthcare financing, service delivery, health ICT, governance and leadership, and health human resources. By drawing on global policies and frameworks and lessons from other LMICs, Pakistan can overcome its healthcare challenges and contribute to the achievement of the SDGs.

Evaluation of haematological, serum biochemical and oxidative stress parameters in cattle naturally infected with lumpy skin disease virus.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a vector-borne viral transboundary disease of cattle caused by the LSD virus (LSDV). Despite investigations on clinical and outbreak features of LSDV, information on disease pathogenesis and alternative changes in blood parameters are scarce. Keeping this in view, the current study was designed to determine haematological, serum biochemical, and oxidative stress parameters in naturally infected cattle with LSDV during the recent surge of outbreaks in Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 35 blood samples was collected from polymerase chain reaction-confirmed LSDV-infected cattle for assessment of all parameters. The haematological examination of blood samples showed a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in different variables of erythrogram and leucogram. On the other hand, differences between levels of various serum biochemical parameters with the significant increase in levels of alkaline phosphatase, serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and blood urea nitrogen were observed in LSDV naturally infected cattle. Moreover, malondialdehyde levels for lipid peroxidation and nitrate concentration were markedly elevated whereas glutathione S-transferase fluorescent and serum superoxide dismutase enzymes showed a decrease in levels. The current study suggests that alternations in haematological and serum biochemical parameters following LSDV infection stimulate oxidative stress and such findings may be useful for early and rapid diagnosis and improvement in the treatment strategy of the disease.

Seasonal Occurrence of Cattle Fascioliasis in Kelantan, Malaysia.

A longitudinal study was conducted in five randomly selected farms in Kelantan, Malaysia to determine the seasonal occurrence of cattle fascioliasis and its association with climatic factors. A total of 480 faecal samples were collected by a random purposive sampling method from July 2018 to June 2019. The faecal samples were examined for the presence of Fasciola eggs using a formalin ether sedimentation technique. Meteorological data including temperature, humidity, rainfall, and pan evaporation were obtained from a local meteorological station. The overall prevalence of cattle fascioliasis in Kelantan was 45.8%. The prevalence was observed to be slightly higher during the wet season from August to December (50-58%) than during the dry season from January to June (30-45%). Meanwhile, the mean eggs per gram (EPG) were highest in June (191.1 ± 0.48) and lowest in October (77.62 ± 95.5). However, there were no significant differences in the mean of EPG between the monthly prevalence, tested using one-way ANOVA (p = 0.1828). A statistically significant association (p = 0.014) was observed between the disease and cattle breeds, with Charolais and Brahman showing lower odds of having the disease. There were significant moderate-to-strong positive correlations between cattle fascioliasis and rainfall (r = 0.666; p = 0.018) and humidity (r = 0.808; p = 0.001), as well as strong negative correlations with evaporation (r = -0.829; p = 0.001). The results indicated that the higher prevalence of cattle fascioliasis in Kelantan was correlated with the climatic factors, which include higher rainfall and humidity and lower evaporation.

A comparative evaluation of transcriptome changes in lung and spleen tissues of chickens infected with velogenic and mesogenic Avian Orthoavulavirus 1.

Newcastle disease is an acute, highly contagious disease responsible for severe economic losses to the poultry industry worldwide. Clinical assessment of different pathotypes of AOaV-1 strains is well-elucidated in chickens. However, a paucity of data exists for a comparative assessment of avian innate immune responses in birds after infection with two different pathotypes of AOaV-1. We compared early immune responses in chickens infected with a duck-originated velogenic strain (high virulent: genotype VII) and a pigeon-originated mesogenic stain (moderate virulent; genotype VI). Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) identified 4737 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the transcriptional profiles of lung and spleen tissues of chickens infected with both pathotypes. More DEGs were expressed in spleen tissue infected with velogenic strain compared to spleen or lung exposed to mesogenic strain. An enriched expression was observed for genes involved in metabolic processes and cellular components, including innate immune-associated signaling pathways. Most DEGs were involved in RIG-I, Toll-like, NF-Kappa B, and MAPK signaling pathways to activate interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). This study provided a comparative insight into complicated molecular mechanisms and associated DEGs involved in early immune responses of birds to two different AOaV-1 strains.

Inter-Relationship Between a Transcriptional Regulator of Flagella Genes cj0440c and Thiamine Metabolic Pathway in Campylobacter jejuni.

Campylobacter jejuni is a major cause of gastroenteritis in humans. It has been reported that the pathogenesis of C. jejuni is closely related to the formation, adhesion, and invasion of flagella toxin in host epithelial cells. A putative transcriptional regulator, known as cj0440c, is thought to be involved in the regulation of flagellar synthesis. However, confirmation of this hypothesis requires deep insight into the regulation mechanism of cj0440c and its possible relationship with different antibiotics. Therefore, the study explained here was designed to determine the relationship and function (phenotypically and genotypically) of cj0440c in the flagellar synthesis of C. jejuni NCTC11168. The study determined the mode of expression of cj0440c and flagella-related genes under exposure to various drugs. To verify the involvement of cj0440c protein in the metabolic pathway of thiamine, an enzymatic hydrolysis experiment was performed and analyzed through the application of mass spectrometry. The overexpression vector of C. jejuni NCTC11168 was also constructed to find out whether or not target genes were regulated by cj0440c. The findings of the study showed that cj0440c and other flagella-related genes were expressed differentially under the influence of various antibiotics including erythromycin, tylosin, azithromycin, gentamicin, etimicin, enrofloxacin, gatifloxacin, tetracycline, and tigecycline. The analysis showed that the cj0440c protein did not catalyze the degradation of thiamine. In conclusion, the study aids in the understanding of the inter-relationship between the regulatory mechanism of flagella genes and the thiamine metabolic pathway.

Evaluation of Smoking Prevalence, Secondhand Smoke Exposure, Attitudes of Tobacco Control, and Smoking Cessation Knowledge among Pharmacy and Medical Students in a Private University, Malaysia.

Background: Tobacco use is one of the leading causes of premature morbidity and mortality globally, causing over eight million deaths per year. One of the best approaches to reduce smoking-related deaths is to encourage future health-care professionals in tobacco control programs. Objectives: To assess the smoking prevalence, secondhand smoke exposure, attitudes toward tobacco control, and smoking cessation knowledge and associated factors among pharmacy and medical students in a private university in Malaysia. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted at two campuses of a private University in Malaysia, and the data were collected online using the Global Health Professionals Students Survey questionnaire and analyzed using IBM-SPSS Version 20. Results: The overall smoking prevalence was 1.6% (P = 0.009). The exposure to secondhand smoke was 21% and 39% at home and in public places, respectively. About 92% of respondents had a good attitude toward tobacco control, whereas 53.4% had good smoking cessation knowledge. However, only 39.4% of the respondents had received formal smoking cessation training. Logistic regression revealed that significant predictors toward tobacco control are the ban of tobacco sales to adolescents, ban on the advertising of tobacco products, ban of smoking in restaurants, and obtaining a specific training on cessation techniques. Conclusions: The prevalence of smoking among pharmacy and medical students was low, but exposure to secondhand smoke was higher. Most of the respondents had a positive attitude and good knowledge of smoking cessation. However, future training needs to be conducted among upcoming health-care professionals to act as a role model for community transformation.

Itrifal-e-Aftimoon potentiates imatinib-induced anti-leukemic effect by influencing FAK/STAT/Akt/ERK signalling pathways against chronic myeloid leukaemia in vitro.

OBJECTIVES: Limited treatment options are available for advanced stages of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). Moreover, patients' relapse after a short remission period, which prompts them to identify a potent drug with the least toxicity. An Unani herbal formulation, Itrifal-e-Aftimoon (IEA) is used for certain neurological disorders, however, its antitumor potential has not been reported yet in any malignancy, including CML. METHODS: The aqueous extract of IEA was characterized by HPLC/LC-MS and used alone or in combination with standard drug, imatinib in CML cell lines (K562, KU812) in vitro to assess its effect on cancer-associated parameters such as cytotoxicity, cell cycle, apoptosis, oxidative stress, inflammation, angiogenesis, and certain signalling pathways. RESULTS: LC-MS characterization of IEA showed the presence of antitumor compounds including catechin and caffeic acid. Treatment with IEA caused cytotoxicity and arrested cells in the sub-G0/G1 phase. Subsequent assays confirmed apoptosis-mediated cell death with mitochondrial membrane depolarization and alleviation of oxidative stress. IEA abrogates IL-6, VEGF, angiopoietin-2, and alters Th1/Th2 cytokines. IEA potentiated the effect of imatinib even at lower doses by affecting FAK/STAT/Akt/ERK pathways. CONCLUSION: IEA possesses antitumor potential against CML and increases the efficacy of imatinib when used in combination, suggesting utilization of IEA as an adjuvant therapy for better management of CML in the future.

Expansion in host dynamics of peste des petits ruminants: Potential attribute of outbreaks in disease-endemic settings.

Since the first case report in 1942, the peste-des-petits-ruminants virus (PPRV) has been causing infection in a wide range of susceptible hosts, particularly in disease-endemic regions. In the last 40 years, various reports highlighted the evidence of disease and viral genome in around 46 animal species from nine diverse families, including Bovidae, Cervidae, Camelidae, Suidae, Canidae, Felidae, Muridae, and Elephantidae. This evidence of clinical and/ or subclinical infection and the presence of the virus in an extended range of susceptible hosts emphasizes the cross-species transmission that remains a significant obstacle to effective control, particularly in disease-endemic regions. Therefore, a better understanding of virus transmission, host susceptibility, and epidemiological investigation of the disease is crucial to achieving the goals of efficient disease control and eradication programs initiated by OIE and FAO in various diseases-endemic regions. Nevertheless, the propensity of PPRV to inter- and intra-transmission may be a possible constraint in disease control strategies in terms of the new outbreak with the involvement of unusual or novel hosts. Considering this aspect, we tried to summarize the scattered data on PPR in available information about the susceptibility of a wide range of wildlife species, large ruminants, camels, and unusual hosts.

Are Malaysians Ready to Resume the New Norm? Findings From a Nationwide Study.

Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practices toward the prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among the public in Malaysia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted online among the general public in Malaysia from June 2020 to August 2020 between the second and third wave (Phase 3 of the Recovery Movement Control Order). Participants were conveniently recruited through multiple social media platforms to encourage nationwide participation. A patient-administered questionnaire was used to assess their knowledge, attitude, and practice toward the prevention of COVID-19. For descriptive analysis, percentage, mean, and standard deviation (SD) were used to report demographic characteristics and knowledge, attitude, and practice scores. For inferential analysis, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, Spearman's correlation, Chi-square test, and Binary Logistic Regression was used to analyze the study variables' differentiation, association, and correlations. The confidence interval selected for this study was 95%. Results: A total of 420 respondents participated in this survey. The majority of the participants (n = 412, 98%) were aware of COVID-19. Most participants (60%) learned about the pandemic through social media. About half of the participants had poor knowledge (45.5%) and a negative attitude (43.3%). Participants residing in urban areas showed good preventive practices as compared to those residing in rural areas (P < 0.05). There was a significant association between participants' attitudes and preventive practices toward COVID-19, where the majority of the participants (57.4%) who showed negative attitudes were more likely to follow poor preventive practices. Conclusion: Despite having good knowledge, participants with a negative attitude toward COVID-19 were less likely to follow the preventive practices of COVID-19. People's mindset and willingness may play an important role to influence their practices. Thus, these are the vulnerable groups, and strategies should be made to change their mindset through proper counseling and education.

Identification of Catalytic Active Sites for Durable Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell: Catalytic Degradation and Poisoning Perspectives.

Recent progress in synthetic strategies, analysis techniques, and computational modeling assist researchers to develop more active catalysts including metallic clusters to single-atom active sites (SACs). Metal coordinated N-doped carbons (M-N-C) are the most auspicious, with a large number of atomic sites, markedly performing for a series of electrochemical reactions. This perspective sums up the latest innovative and computational comprehension, while giving credit to earlier/pioneering work in carbonaceous assembly materials towards robust electrocatalytic activity for proton exchange membrane fuel cells via inclusive performance assessment of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). M-Nx -Cy are exclusively defined active sites for ORR, so there is a unique possibility to intellectually design the relatively new catalysts with much improved activity, selectivity, and durability. Moreover, some SACs structures provide better performance in fuel cells testing with long-term durability. The efforts to understand the connection in SACs based M-Nx -Cy moieties and how these relate to catalytic ORR performance are also conveyed. Owing to comprehensive practical application in the field, this study has covered very encouraging aspects to the current durability status of M-N-C based catalysts for fuel cells followed by degradation mechanisms such as macro-, microdegradation, catalytic poisoning, and future challenges.

Zoonotic potential of Newcastle disease virus: Old and novel perspectives related to public health.

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) has a worldwide distribution, causing lethal infection in a wide range of avian species. Affected birds develop respiratory, digestive and neurologic symptoms with profound immunosuppression. Mild systemic Newcastle disease (ND) infection restricted to the respiratory and neurological systems can be observed in humans and other non-avian hosts. Evidence of ND infection and its genome-based detection have been reported in Bovidae (cattle and sheep), Mustelidae (mink), Cercetidae (hamster), Muridae (mice), Leporidae (rabbit), Camelidae (camel), Suidae (pig), Cercophithecidae (monkeys) and Hominidae (humans). Owing to frequent ND outbreaks in poultry workers, individuals engaged in the veterinary field, including poultry production or evisceration and vaccine production units have constantly been at a much higher risk than the general population. A lethal form of infection has been described in immunocompromised humans and non-avian species including mink, pig and cattle demonstrating the capability of NDV to cross species barriers. Therefore, contact with infectious material and/or affected birds can pose a risk of zoonosis and raise public health concerns. The broad and expanding host range of NDV and its maintenance within non-avian species hampers disease control, particularly in disease-endemic settings.

Gut microbial dysbiosis and its association with esophageal cancer.

Due to its aggressive nature and low survival rate, esophageal cancer is one of the deadliest cancer. While the intestinal microbiome significantly influences human health and disease. This research aimed to investigate and characterize the relative abundance of intestinal bacterial composition in esophageal cancer patients. The fecal samples were collected from esophageal cancer patients (n = 15) and healthy volunteers (n = 10). The PCR-DGGE was carried out by focusing on the V3 region of the 16S rRNA gene, and qPCR was performed for Bacteroides vulgatus, Escherichia coli, Bifidobacterium, Clostridium leptum and Lactobacillus. High-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene targeting the V3+V4 region was performed on 20 randomly selected samples. PCR-DGGE and High-throughput diversity results showed a significant alteration of gut bacterial composition between the experimental and control groups, which indicates the gut microbial dysbiosis in esophageal cancer patients. At the phylum level, there was significant enrichment of Bacteroidetes, while a non-significant decrease of Firmicutes in the experimental group. At family statistics, a significantly higher level of Bacteroidaceae and Enterobacteriaceae, while a significantly lower abundance of Prevotellaceae and Veillonellaceae were observed. There was a significantly high prevalence of genera Bacteroides, Escherichia-Shigella, while a significantly lower abundance of Prevotella_9 and Dialister in the experimental group as compared to the control group. Furthermore, the species analysis also showed significantly raised level of Bacteroides vulgatus and Escherichia coli in the experimental group. These findings revealed a significant gut microbial dysbiosis in esophageal cancer patients. So, the current study can be used for the understanding of esophageal cancer treatment, disease pathway, mechanism, and probiotic development.