Biofortification as a solution for addressing nutrient deficiencies and malnutrition.

Malnutrition, defined as both undernutrition and overnutrition, is a major global health concern affecting millions of people. One possible way to address nutrient deficiency and combat malnutrition is through biofortification. A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted to explore the current state of biofortification research, including techniques, applications, effectiveness and challenges. Biofortification is a promising strategy for enhancing the nutritional condition of at-risk populations. Biofortified varieties of basic crops, including rice, wheat, maize and beans, with elevated amounts of vital micronutrients, such as iron, zinc, vitamin A and vitamin C, have been successfully developed using conventional and advanced technologies. Additionally, the ability to specifically modify crop genomes to improve their nutritional profiles has been made possible by recent developments in genetic engineering, such as CRISPR-Cas9 technology. The health conditions of people have been shown to improve and nutrient deficiencies were reduced when biofortified crops were grown. Particularly in environments with limited resources, biofortification showed considerable promise as a long-term and economical solution to nutrient shortages and malnutrition. To fully exploit the potential of biofortified crops to enhance public health and global nutrition, issues such as consumer acceptance, regulatory permitting and production and distribution scaling up need to be resolved. Collaboration among governments, researchers, non-governmental organizations and the private sector is essential to overcome these challenges and promote the widespread adoption of biofortification as a key part of global food security and nutrition strategies.

PMP22 duplication dysregulates lipid homeostasis and plasma membrane organization in developing human Schwann cells.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A (CMT1A) is the most common inherited peripheral neuropathy caused by a 1.5 megabase tandem duplication of chromosome 17 harboring the PMP22 gene. This dose-dependent overexpression of PMP22 results in disrupted Schwann cell myelination of peripheral nerves. To get better insights into the underlying pathogenic mechanisms in CMT1A, we investigated the role of PMP22 duplication on cellular homeostasis in CMT1A mouse models and in patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells differentiated into Schwann cell precursors (iPSC-SCPs). We performed lipidomic profiling and bulk RNA sequencing on sciatic nerves of two developing CMT1A mouse models and on CMT1A patient derived iPSC-SCPs. For the sciatic nerves of the CMT1A mice, cholesterol and lipid metabolism was dose-dependently downregulated throughout development. For the CMT1A iPSC-SCPs, transcriptional analysis unveiled a strong suppression of genes related to autophagy and lipid metabolism. Gene ontology enrichment analysis identified disturbances in pathways related to plasma membrane components and cell receptor signaling. Lipidomic analysis confirmed the severe dysregulation in plasma membrane lipids, particularly sphingolipids, in CMT1A iPSC-SCPs. Furthermore, we identified reduced lipid raft dynamics, disturbed plasma membrane fluidity, and impaired cholesterol incorporation and storage, all of which could result from altered lipid storage homeostasis in the patient-derived CMT1A iPSC-SCPs. Importantly, this phenotype could be rescued by stimulating autophagy and lipolysis. We conclude that PMP22 duplication disturbs intracellular lipid storage and leads to a more disordered plasma membrane due to an alteration in the lipid composition, which ultimately may lead to impaired axo-glial interactions. Moreover, targeting lipid handling and metabolism could hold promise for the treatment of CMT1A patients.

Presentation and diagnosis of neonatal tuberous sclerosis complex: A case report and literature review.

Tuberous sclerosis is an uncommon neurocutaneous syndrome characterized by hamartomatous growths with unpredictable progression. Diagnosing and managing neonatal tuberous sclerosis can be challenging. We report a rare case of a 30-day-old male born out of a non-consanguineous marriage who presented with poor suckling and persistent abnormal body movement, required prolonged intensive care, and was diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis with multisystem involvement.

Thinking Before the Journey of First 1000 Days of Life.

For any nation the health of its citizens especially that of the reproductive age women is critical and of paramount importance as they are the ones who usher in the new generation. Now that India is undergoing triple burden of malnutrition, if the pregnant woman is underweight, overweight, obese or diabetic both the mother and the baby are at a high risk of developing complications not only during pregnancy but also postpartum. Hence, having a good nutritional status is so important even before the woman conceives.

Berberine attenuates brain aging via stabilizing redox homeostasis and inflammation in an accelerated senescence model of Wistar rats.

Aging is a multifaceted and progressive physiological change of the organism categorized by the accumulation of deteriorating processes, which ultimately compromise the biological functions. The objective of this study was to investigate the anti-aging potential of berberine (BBR) in D-galactose (D-Gal) induced aging in rat models. In this study, male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: The control group was given only vehicle, the BBR group was treated with berberine orally, the D-Gal group was treated with D-galactose subcutaneously and the BBR + D-Gal group was treated with D-galactose and berberine simultaneously. D-galactose exposure elevated the pro-oxidants such as malondialdehyde (MDA) level, protein carbonyl and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) in the brain. It decreased the anti-oxidants such as reduced glutathione (GSH) and ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) in the brain. D-galactose treatment also reduced the mitochondrial complexes (I, II, III and IV) activities and elevated the inflammatory markers such as interleukine-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF-α) and C-reactive protein (CRP). The mRNA expressions of IL-6 and TNF-α in the brain were upregulated following D-galactose exposure. Berberine co-treatment in D-galactose induced aging rat model prevented the alteration of pro-oxidant and anti-oxidant in the brain. Berberine treatment restored the mitochondrial complex activities in the brain and also normalized the inflammatory markers. Based on these findings we conclude that berberine treatment has the potential to mitigate brain aging in rats via stabilizing the redox equilibrium and neuroinflammation.

Development of Simultaneous HPTLC Method and Validation for the Quality Assessment of Ayurvedic Formulation-Ayush Kvatha Churna by Using Marker Compound Rosmarinic Acid, Trans-Cinnamaldehyde and Piperine.

Ayurveda emphasizes the propagation of nature in maintaining health. In the present scenario, we have seen the faith of people in herbal drugs during the Covid 19 outbreak. The raises in the number of peoples have been using herbal drugs to boost immunity against infectious diseases shows the popularity of this ancient system of medicine. The standardization of Ayush Kvatha Churna (AKC), work set out to establish a straightforward, accurate and sensitive HPTLC method for the identification and quantification of marker compounds. The Rosmarinic acid, trans-Cinnamaldehyde and Piperine were used for the estimation of markers in Ayush Kvatha Churna by using HPTLC with a solvent system, consisting of Toluene: Ethyl acetate: Ethyl alcohol: Formic acid (5.6:2.4:2: 0.3 v/v/v/v). The Rf value 0.33 for Rosmarinic Acid, 0.69 for Piperine and 0.77 for trans-Cinnamaldehyde was observed and it is exactly complying with the corresponding bands in Ayush Kvatha Churna. The technique has been effectively verified and validated, enabling it to be used for the standardization or quantitative analysis of Rosmarinic acid, trans-Cinnamaldehyde and piperine in Ayush Kvatha Churna.

Color morphing surfaces with effective chemical shielding.

Color morphing refers to color change in response to an environmental stimulus. Photochromic materials allow color morphing in response to light, but almost all photochromic materials suffer from degradation when exposed to moist/humid environments or harsh chemical environments. One way of overcoming this challenge is by imparting chemical shielding to the color morphing materials via superomniphobicity. However, simultaneously imparting color morphing and superomniphobicity, both surface properties, requires a rational design. In this work, we systematically design color morphing surfaces with superomniphobicity through an appropriate combination of a photochromic dye, a low surface energy material, and a polymer in a suitable solvent (for one-pot synthesis), applied through spray coating (for the desired texture). We also investigate the influence of polymer polarity and material composition on color morphing kinetics and superomniphobicity. Our color morphing surfaces with effective chemical shielding can be designed with a wide variety of photochromic and thermochromic pigments and applied on a wide variety of substrates. We envision that such surfaces will have a wide range of applications including camouflage soldier fabrics/apparel for chem-bio warfare, color morphing soft robots, rewritable color patterns, optical data storage, and ophthalmic sun screening.

Evaluation of Infantile Brachial Plexopathy Using 3T MRI and High-Resolution Ultrasound: Experience From a Tertiary Care Centre.

BACKGROUND: Currently, clinical assessment is the main tool for the evaluation of brachial plexus injury, complemented by electrophysiologic studies (EPS), and imaging studies whenever available. Imaging plays an important role as it enables the differentiation of pre-ganglionic and postganglionic injuries, and adds objectivity to presurgical evaluation. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective was to evaluate the utility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and high-resolution ultrasonography (USG) in the localization and characterization of brachial plexus injury in infants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective study, 34 infants with signs and symptoms of brachial plexus injury were evaluated by clinical examination, EPS, MRI, and USG. Imaging findings were correlated with intraoperative findings in infants who underwent surgical management. The association between EPS and MRI findings, and USG and MRI findings were assessed using Fisher's exact test. Semi-quantitative subjective analysis of various MRI sequences was done as well. RESULTS: The most common findings of preganglionic injury and postganglionic injury, in our study, were pseudomeningocele and nerve thickening, respectively. MRI detection of injuries had a significant association with EPS findings. All MRI-detected injuries had a muscle power of grade 3 or less. muscle. Three-dimensional (3D) short tau inversion recovery (STIR) sequence was found to be superior for detecting postganglionic injuries (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Imaging studies enable localization of the site of injury, determining the extent, and nature/morphology of injury. The gamut of findings obtained from MRI is far wider compared to that from USG. USG can be used as the first-line screening investigation.

Genetic regulation of injury induced heterotopic ossification in adult zebrafish.

Heterotopic ossification is the inappropriate formation of bone in soft tissues of the body. It can manifest spontaneously in rare genetic conditions or as a response to injury, known as acquired heterotopic ossification. There are several experimental models for studying acquired heterotopic ossification from different sources of damage. However, their tenuous mechanistic relevance to the human condition, invasive and laborious nature and/or lack of amenability to chemical and genetic screens, limit their utility. To address these limitations, we developed a simple zebrafish injury model that manifests heterotopic ossification with high penetrance in response to clinically-emulating injuries as observed in human myositis ossificans traumatica. Exploiting this model, we defined the transcriptional response to trauma, identifying differentially regulated genes. Mutant analyses revealed that an increase in potassium channel Kcnk5b activity potentiates injury response, while loss of interleukin 11 receptor paralogue (Il11ra) function resulted in a drastically reduced ossification response. Based on these findings, we postulate that enhanced ionic signalling, specifically through Kcnk5b, regulates the intensity of the skeletogenic injury response, which, in part, requires immune response regulated by Il11ra.

Epitaxial growth of high-quality GaN with a high growth rate at low temperatures by radical-enhanced metalorganic chemical vapor deposition.

Using our recently developed radical-enhanced metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (REMOCVD) technique, we have grown gallium nitride (GaN) on bulk GaN and GaN on Si templates. Three features make up this system: (1) applying very high-frequency power (60 MHz) to increase the plasma density; (2) introducing H2 and N2 gas in the plasma discharge region to produce active NHx radical species in addition to nitrogen radicals; and (3) supplying radicals under remote plasma arrangement with a Faraday cage to suppress charged ions and photons. Using this new REMOCVD system, it was found that high-quality crystals can be grown at lower temperatures than that of MOCVD but the disadvantage was that the growth rate was smaller as 0.2-0.8 µm/h than that by MOCVD. In the present work, we have used a pBN inner shield to prevent the deactivation of radicals to increase the growth rate. The growth conditions such as the plasma power, trimethylgallium (TMG) source flow rate, N2 + H2 gas mixture flow rate, and the ratio of N2/H2 were optimized and it was found that the growth rate could be increased up to 3.4 µm/h with remarkably high crystalline quality comparable to that of MOCVD. The XRD-FWHM of GaN grown on the GaN/Si template and the bulk GaN substrate were 977 arcsec and 72 arcsec respectively. This work may be very promising to achieve high-power GaN/GaN devices.

Significance of Triazole in Medicinal Chemistry: Advancement in Drug Design, Reward and Biological Activity.

One of the triazole tautomers, 1,2,4-triazole derivatives, has a wide range of biological activities that suggest its potential therapeutic utility in medicinal chemistry. These actions include anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, anti-tuberculosis, and anti-diabetic effects. The review highlights anti-inflammatory effect of 1,2,4-triazoles in relation to their ability to disrupt significant inflammatory mediators and pathways. We present in-silico data that illuminate the triazoles capacity to inhibit cell division, encourage apoptosis, and stop metastasis in a range of cancer models. This review looks at the bactericidal and bacteriostatic properties of 1,2,4-triazole derivatives, with a focus on their potential efficacy against multi-drug resistant bacterial infections and their usage in tuberculosis therapy. In order to better understand these substances' potential anti-diabetic benefits, this review also looks at how they affect glucose metabolism regulation and insulin responsiveness. Based on information provided, it can be concluded that 1,2,4-triazole derivatives are a promising class of diverse therapeutic agents with potential utility in a range of disorders. Their development and improvement might herald a new era of medical care that will be immensely advantageous to both patients and medical community as a whole. Additionally, this study encourages more research into these substances and their enhancement for use in pharmaceutical development.

Endoscopic MIS-TLIF with Destandau's system: leveraging endoscopy with conventional instruments.

This presentation showcases an endoscopic minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) technique for lumbar interbody fusion. Significantly expanding the scope of Destandau's system within MISS, it serves as a pivotal link to unilateral biportal endoscopy (UBE) for endofusion. The method involves minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) using a 4-mm rigid endoscope through Destandau's system. With the widespread familiarity with Destandau's system and the absence of specialized instrument requirements, this approach is easily adoptable, particularly in resource-limited centers. The favorable clinical and radiological outcomes underscore the effectiveness of this technique, propelling the role of endoscopy in MISS, particularly in endofusion. The video can be found here: https://stream.cadmore.media/r10.3171/2024.1.FOCVID23216.

Green energy innovation initiatives for environmental sustainability: current state and future research directions.

Worldwide, all countries have been facing the crisis of climate change problem. They have been addressing this issue by focusing on implementing green energy innovation initiatives and promoting a sustainable future through environmental sustainability. In this research study, we focus on examining the role of green finance through green energy innovations, which are taking place in several sectors across different regions to promote environmental sustainability. The study has analysed 152 articles on this research domain through a systematic literature review to understand the present state of existing knowledge. The current study examines the Scopus-indexed research articles from the time period 2002 to 2023. Six emerging themes have been examined to understand their development and the potential impact of green initiatives for environmental sustainability. Various institutional theories have been explored to understand their association with the investigated research area. The paper has discussed multiple challenges that need to be addressed for the speedy implementation of green innovations. Finally, future research questions have been proposed based on the findings from the extant literature and the existing research gaps.

Fluoride Removal Using Nanofiltration-Ranged Polyamide Thin-Film Nanocomposite Membrane Incorporated Titanium Oxide Nanosheets.

Drinking water defluoridation has attracted significant attention in the scientific community, from which membrane technology, by exploring thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes, has demonstrated a great potential for treating fluoride-contaminated water. This study investigates the development of a TFN membrane by integrating titanium oxide nanosheets (TiO2 NSs) into the polyamide (PA) layer using interfacial polymerization. The characterization results suggest that successfully incorporating TiO2 NSs into the PA layer of the TFN membrane led to a surface with a high negative charge, hydrophilic properties, and a smooth surface at the nanoscale. The TFN membrane, containing 80 ppm of TiO2 NSs, demonstrated a notably high fluoride rejection rate of 98%. The Donnan-steric-pore-model-dielectric-exclusion model was employed to analyze the effect of embedding TiO2 NSs into the PA layer of TFN on membrane properties, including charge density (Xd), the pore radius (rp), and pore dielectric constant (εp). The results indicated that embedding TiO2 NSs increased Xd and decreased the εp by less than the TFC membrane without significantly affecting the rp. The resulting TFN membrane demonstrates promising potential for application in water treatment systems, providing an effective and sustainable solution for fluoride remediation in drinking water.

Regioselective synthesis of 4-arylamino-1,2-naphthoquinones in eutectogel as a confined reaction medium using LED light.

Predicting selectivity and conversion in a confined reaction medium under photochemical conditions is highly challenging as compared to the corresponding conventional synthesis. Herein, we report the use of a simple carbohydrate-derived eutectogel to facilitate LED-light-induced regioselective synthesis of 4-arylamino-1,2-naphthoquinones in good yield. This methodology, by including a reusable reaction medium, proved to have the potential of affording the regioselective formation of various desired products in good yields.

Molecular targeted therapies for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: recent developments and clinical implications.

Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (cSCC) is a common and potentially fatal type of skin cancer that poses a significant threat to public health and has a high prevalence rate. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation on the skin surface increases the risk of cSCC, especially in those with genetic syndromes like xerodermapigmentosum and epidermolysis bullosa. Therefore, understanding the molecular pathogenesis of cSCC is critical for developing personalized treatment approaches that are effective in cSCC. This article provides a comprehensive overview of current knowledge of cSCC pathogenesis, emphasizing dysregulated signaling pathways and the significance of molecular profiling. Several limitations and challenges associated with conventional therapies, however, are identified, stressing the need for novel therapeutic strategies. The article further discusses molecular targets and therapeutic approaches, i.e., epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors, hedgehog pathway inhibitors, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway inhibitors, as well as emerging molecular targets and therapeutic agents. The manuscript explores resistance mechanisms to molecularly targeted therapies and proposes methods to overcome them, including combination strategies, rational design, and optimization. The clinical implications and patient outcomes of molecular-targeted treatments are assessed, including response rates and survival outcomes. The management of adverse events and toxicities in molecular-targeted therapies is crucial and requires careful monitoring and control. The paper further discusses future directions for therapeutic advancement and research in this area, as well as the difficulties and constraints associated with conventional therapies.

Prevalence and sociodemographic determinants of common mental disorders (CMDs) symptoms in a rural adult population of Haryana, North India.

Objectives: Common mental disorders (CMDs), including depression, anxiety, and somatoform disorders, affect all stages of life and impact individuals, families, and communities. This study aimed to determine the magnitude of CMDs and their sociodemographic determinants in the adult population of a rural block in North India. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional, quantitative, community-based study was conducted among adult residents of a rural block in Haryana, North India, using a multistage random sampling technique. The Hindi version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), a well-validated tool, was used to screen participants for CMDs. Scores of 4 or above denoted the presence of CMDs. Bivariate analyses were performed to determine the associations between CMDs and sociodemographic characteristics. Results: Of the 180 residents selected for the study, most were women (60.0%) and aged between 31 and 50 years (52.3%). The prevalence of CMDs symptoms in the study population was 20.0%. The presence of CMDs symptoms was significantly higher among those who were aged 60 years or older [OR=12.33, 95% CI 3.21-47.38], widowed, divorced or separated [OR=7.50, 95% CI 1.09-51.52], illiterate [OR= 6.25, 95% CI 2.84-13.77], had monthly family income below 10,000 INR [OR=3.33, 95% CI 1.54-7.20], had any chronic physical illness [OR=8.28, 95% CI 3.70-18.56] and had a family history of any psychiatric illness [OR=5.56, 95% CI 1.52-19.42]. Conclusion: The burden of CMDs was quite high among adults in rural North India. The presence of CMDs was closely associated with sociodemographic characteristics. Primary care and community-based settings need to screen for, diagnose, and manage CMDs to address this growing problem.

An institutional study on accuracy of freehand cervical C1 C2 screws placement by knock and drill technique in craniovertebral anomalous bony anatomy: An evaluation of more than 600 screws based on SGPGI screw accuracy criteria.

Purpose: To assess the accuracy of freehand cervical C1 C2 screws placement by knock and drill (K and D) technique in craniovertebral anomalous bony anatomy. Materials and Methods: From January 2017 to December 2022, 682 consecutive C1 C2 screws in 215 patients with craniovertebral junction (CVJ) anomalies were enrolled. All patients underwent posterior fixation with K and D technique without any fluoroscopic guidance. The patient's demographic details, clinical details, radiological details, major intraoperative events, and postoperative complications were noted. The screws malposition grades and direction on CT images in the axial and sagittal plane were defined as new per proposed "SGPGI accuracy criteria." All patients had a clinical evaluation at 3-month follow-up. Results: Total 682 C1, C2 screws were placed in 215 patients for CVJ anomalies using K and D technique. The accuracy of screws placement by freehand technique was 84.46% (576/682). So with technique explained the rate of malplacement in simple (16.35%) and complex (15.19%) groups were almost comparable and comparison difference was not significant (P = 0.7005). Conclusion: The freehand technique, as described, is effective in cases of anomalous bony anatomy, and it is mandatory in complex CVJ anomalies. The accuracy of screw placement and VA injury is comparable with major studies. This technique is supposedly cost-effective and less hazardous to both health-care workers and patients.

One Health intervention for elimination of anthrax in an endemic district of Odisha: A baseline and endline study.

Background: This study was to compare a baseline and endline survey which were conducted to assess the changes in knowledge, attitude and practices about anthrax disease among the communities after One Health intervention for the elimination of human anthrax in an endemic district of Odisha. Methods: A total of 2670 respondents were interviewed during the baseline and 2511 for the endline survey using a structured questionnaire by multi-stage sampling method. Descriptive statistics were used and logistic regression was performed to estimate the relationship between the variables and knowledge of anthrax. Results: Out of the total participants in the study, males were about 76.25% in baseline and 72.08% in endline and about half of the total respondents were illiterate. Majority of the respondents had reported agriculture as their main occupation during both surveys. More than 50% of the respondents had livestock in their houses and farming was the main purpose for keeping them in both surveys. Around 20.26% of respondents knew about anthrax in baseline which raised to 53.64% after One Health intervention. Almost 21.29% of livestock owners had vaccinated their animals against anthrax disease throughout baseline, which increased to 66.5% during the endline survey. Conclusion: This study highlights a significant surge in both knowledge and practices related to anthrax within the community after the implementation of intervention packages based on the One Health approach. The outcome of our study signified the importance of One Health interventions to address the health challenges related to zoonotic diseases in tribal communities. The data could be useful for local Governments to incorporate such an approach in their health policy to eliminate human anthrax.