Tunable Q-factor wavelet transform based identification of diabetic patients using ECG signals.

Diabetes is a chronic health condition that is characterized by increased levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood. It can have harmful effects on different parts of the body, such as the retina of the eyes, skin, nervous system, kidneys, and heart. Diabetes affects the structure of electrocardiogram (ECG) impulses by causing cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction. Multi-resolution analysis of the input ECG signal is utilized in this paper to develop a machine learning-based system for the automated detection of diabetic patients. In the first step, the input ECG signal is decomposed into sub-bands utilizing the tunable Q-factor wavelet transform (TQWT) technique. In the second step, four entropy-based characteristics are evaluated from each SB and elected using the K-W test method. To develop an automatic diabetes detection system, selected features are given as input with 10-fold validation to a SVM classifier using various kernel functions. The 3rd sub-band of TQWT with the Coarse Gaussian kernel function kernel of the SVM classifier yields a classification accuracy of 91.5%. In the same dataset, the comparative analysis demonstrates that the proposed method outperforms other existing methods.

Above ground tree biomass modeling using machine learning algorithms in western Terai Sal Forest of Nepal.

The monitoring of forest biomass is a crucial biophysical parameter in forest ecosystems, as it provides valuable information for managing forests sustainably and tracking carbon circulation statistics. To achieve sustainable forest management, it is essential to monitor and study forest resources, particularly biomass. This study aimed to model above ground tree biomass (AGTB) using Machine Learning Algorithms (MLAs) in the western terai Sal forest of Nepal. AGTB was calculated using a systematic inventory sample plot, while spectral and textural variables were processed and masked for the study area using Sentinel-2A satellite imagery. Three MLAs namely support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), and stochastic gradient boosting (SGB), were employed for modeling with eight categorized variable datasets. Among the MLAs, the RF algorithm with a combination of gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) and raw bands (RB) dataset variable demonstrated the best performance, with a low RMSE value of 78.81 t ha-1 in the test data. However, the AGTB range from this model ranged from 118.34 to 425.97 t ha-1. The study found that traditional indices, raw bands, and GLCM texture from near-infrared were important variables for AGTB. Nevertheless, the RF algorithm and the dataset combination of GLCM plus raw bands (RB) exhibited excellent performance in all model runs. Thus, this pioneering study on comparative MLAs-based AGTB assessment with multiple datasets variables can provide valuable insights for new researchers and the development of novel approaches for biomass/carbon estimation techniques in Nepal.

mir-98-5p regulates gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis by targeting PPP1R15B in hepatocytes.

Several reports suggest that circulatory miRNAs are deregulated in diverse diseases and used as markers for disease diagnosis and prognosis. Here we show that miR-98-5p, that is down-regulated in the circulation during diabetes, regulates hepatic gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis by targeting PPP1R15B. miR-98-5p overexpression significantly decreased the transcript and protein levels of PPP1R15B in hepatic HepG2 cells and increased p-eIF2α expression and these were prevented in the presence of its inhibitor. Two major hepatic hallmarks during diabetes i.e. hepatic lipid accumulation and glucose output were explored towards physiological relevance. As compared to scramble, overexpression of miR-98-5p decreased the transcript levels of both gluconeogenic and lipogenic genes together with a significant reduction in hepatic glucose production and fat accumulation in HepG2 cells. Using PASTAA to detect common transcription factors regulating these altered genes, CREB emerged as the most significantly enriched transcription factor. While miR-98-5p overexpression did not change the transcript levels of CREB, there was a significant change in its protein levels. While similar effects on gluconeogenic and lipogenic gene expression were detected using the PPP1R15B siRNA, the opposite was observed in the presence of miR-98-5p inhibitor alone. All these suggest that by targeting PPP1R15B, miR-98-5p regulates hepatic steatosis and glucose output; deregulation of which are characteristic hepatic features during diabetes. Therapeutic intervention of the miR-98/PPP1R15B axis might offer a potential strategy to target aberrant hepatic metabolism during diabetes.

Collagen-PVA Films Plasticized with Choline Acetate Ionic Liquid for Sustained Drug Release: UV Shielding, Mechanical, Antioxidant, and Antibacterial Properties.

Collagen and poly(vinyl alcohol) films as topical drug delivery systems were developed by plasticization with glycerol and different concentrations of choline acetate ([Cho]Ac) ionic liquid (IL). The results showed that [Cho]Ac improved the performance of the materials and can serve as an alternative to synthetic plasticizers such as glycerol. Ciprofloxacin (CIP) was used as a model drug to study its release behavior. Ready-to-use films were characterized for their optical opacity, solubility, swelling, mechanical properties, water contact angle, surface morphology, surface roughness, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities. Moreover, X-ray diffraction and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) studies were carried out for molecular characterization of the films. [Cho]Ac used as a plasticizing agent showed excellent antioxidant properties, mechanical strength, and UV shielding properties. Further, [Cho]Ac improves the roughness and decreases the solubility of films. The in vitro release behavior of CIP was investigated at physiological pH (7.4), and the results showed that CIP was released in a more controlled manner due to the incorporation of [Cho]Ac into the films' matrix, while the films constructed with glycerol exhibited burst release of CIP. Moreover, the films loaded with CIP showed excellent antibacterial activity against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) as well as Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria. This study provides insight into the use of choline-based ILs as plasticizing agents for the fabrication of protein-polymer composite films for wound dressing and many other applications.

Therapeutic Importance of Kaempferol in the Treatment of Cancer through the Modulation of Cell Signalling Pathways.

Plant-derived flavonoids are considered natural nontoxic chemo-preventers and have been widely studied for cancer treatment in recent decades. Mostly all flavonoid compounds show significant anti-inflammatory, anticancer and antioxidant properties. Kaempferol (Kmp) is a well-studied compound and exhibits remarkable anticancer and antioxidant potential. Kmp can regulate various cancer-related processes and activities such as cell cycle, oxidative stress, apoptosis, proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenesis. The anti-cancer properties of Kmp primarily occur via modulation of apoptosis, MAPK/ERK1/2, P13K/Akt/mTOR, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signalling pathways. The anti-cancer property of Kmp has been recognized in several in-vivo and in-vitro studies which also includes numerous cell lines and animal models. This flavonoid possesses toxic activities against only cancer cells and have restricted toxicity on healthy cells. In this review, we present extensive research investigations about the therapeutic potential of Kmp in the management of different types of cancers. The anti-cancer properties of Kmp are discussed by concentration on its capability to target molecular-signalling pathway such as VEGF, STAT, p53, NF-κB and PI3K-AKT signalling pathways. The anti-cancer property of Kmf has gained a lot of attention, but the accurate action mechanism remains unclear. However, this natural compound has a great pharmacological capability and is now considered to be an alternative cancer treatment.

BV6 enhances apoptosis in Lung cancer cells by ameliorating caspase expressions through attenuation of XIAP, cIAP-1, and cIAP-2 proteins.

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the inhibitory role of second mitochondria determined activator of caspases mimetic on inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) and regulation of caspases in nonsmall cell lung cancer cell line. Materials and Methods: Dimethyl sulfoxide and 3-(4, 5-dimethyl thizol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was done to determine the IC50 of BV6 using NCI-H23 cell line. The levels of mRNA of X-linked IAP (XIAP), cellular IAP (cIAP-1), cIAP-2, caspase-6, and caspase-7 in H23 cell line were evaluated by a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, while their protein expressions were tested using western blotting. Results: Two doses of BV6 dependently downregulated the expression of mRNA of XIAP (P = 0.002, P= 0.0003 vs. untreated), cIAP-1 (P = 0.05, P = 0.005 vs. untreated), and cIAP-2 (P = 0.001, P = 0.0002 vs. untreated), respectively, while the compound upregulated the mRNA expression of caspase-6 (P = 0.001, P < 0.0001 vs. untreated) and caspase-7 (P = 0.001, P = 0.0004 vs. untreated), respectively. Dose dependent of BV6 treatment significantly decreased the protein level of XIAP (P = 0.003, P = 0.007 vs. untreated), cIAP-1 (P = 0.02, P = 0.01 vs. untreated), and cIAP-2 (P = 0.008,P = 0.008 vs. untreated), respectively. However, the compound increased the protein level of caspase-6 and caspase-7 when compared to untreated control (P = 0.006,P = 0.001) and (P = 0.01, P = 0.001), respectively. Conclusions: The result showed that BV6 treatment reduced the level of mRNA of XIAP, cIAP-1, and cIAP-2 and increased the gene expression of caspase-6 and caspase-7 in NCI-H23 cell line. Therefore, the study revealed that BV6 could be used in future as additional therapeutics in lung cancer.

Partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection: state-of-the-art review with assessment using a multidetector computed tomography angiography.

Pulmonary venous anomalies occur as a result of failure in normal embryological development. These anomalies may present as a spectrum ranging from normal variation to partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection (PAPVC) and total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC). Though not rare, PAPVC is an uncommon anomaly in which some of the pulmonary veins abnormally connect and drain into the vascular compartments other than the left atrium (LA); however, the others drain normally into the LA. The clinical presentation and severity of affected patients depend on the morphological heterogeneity of the disease. PAPVC associated with other complex conge-nital cardiac diseases present early and are more severe than isolated PAPVC-associated atrial septal defect only. This radiological review gives a detailed description of PAPVC in terms of morphological variability and associated anomalies along with a discussion of the role of multidetector dual-source computed tomography scan in the diagnostic assessment.

Unravelling the role of telomere shortening with ageing and their potential association with diabetes, cancer, and related lifestyle factors.

Telomeres are often considered as the 'ageing clock' that determines the lifespan at the cellular level, forming the ends of a chromosome, which shorten each time the cell divides itself to the point where they become so short the cell is unable to divide itself further. Telomere length alteration is often linked with lifestyle factors such as age, obesity, exposure to pesticides and pollution, depression, unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, and stress. The current review discusses the mechanism of telomere shortening in relation to ageing and lifestyle factors in general and its association with chronic diseases like diabetes which may influence the health and lifespan of an individual by increasing telomere shortening. Accelerated or excessive telomere shortening is also associated with the early onset of age-related disorders globally and, hence, reduced lifespan of individuals. Upregulated Telomerase activity and reactivation of telomeres is observed in > 70 % of cancer patients by TERT point mutations, rearrangements, DNA amplifications, and transcript fusions, making it a useful marker in diagnosis and prognosis of various cancers. The study presents a systematic review of the unregulated Telomere activity with progression of various cancer and extrapolation of suitable pathways and prognostic information correlated with mRNA levels of TERT, which are critical among thymic epithelial tumors (TETs). In most cancers, unlimited proliferation is due to the reactivation of reverse transcriptase gene TERT. All these observations are comprehensively presented in the paper and might be useful for researchers working in the field of telomere dynamics and finding the correlation of age shortening with mRNA expression profiling.

Anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and cardio-protective properties of novel fluorophenyl benzimidazole in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats.

BACKGROUND: Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress play important role in development of hypertension. Recently, we have reported novel fluorophenyl benzimidazole (FPD) for vasorelaxation and antihypertensive activity in SHRs. The present study envisaged the anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and cardio-protective properties of FPD in L-NAME model of hypertension with special emphasis on reversal of vascular remodeling, gene expression and restoration of hemodynamic. METHODS: Antihypertensive activity of FPD was evaluated in L-NAME treated Wistar rats, and the parameters studied were anti-inflammatory activity, histomorphological changes, gene expression profile and anti-oxidant properties. RESULTS: FPD at 50 and 100 mg kg-1 once daily for 15 days significantly reduced SBP, DBP and MAP in L-NAME treated rats and the values were well comparable to vehicle control group. Further, FPD treatment showed a significant increase in hepatic GSH content, SOD, catalase activity, decreased MDA level and restoration of pro and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels. The mRNA expression profile of genes associated with regulation of vascular tone, remodeling and inflammation showed a significant level of alteration by chronic L-NAME treatment and was dose-dependently restored upon treatment with FPD. Further, FPD treatment restored serum lipid profile, CK, CK-MB and LDH level and also reversed the histomorphological changes like intimal wall thickening, hyperplasia of cardiomyocytes and ventricular wall thickening. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, FPD produced potent antihypertensive activity in L-NAME model through vasorelaxation, anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties leading to restoration of serum lipid profile, cardiac biomarker, expression profile of target genes and reversal of histomorphological changes.

Integrated transcriptomic and regulatory network analyses uncovers the role of let-7b-5p, SPIB, and HLA-DPB1 in sepsis.

Sepsis has affected millions of populations of all age groups, locations, and sexes worldwide. Immune systems, either innate or adaptive are dysregulated due to the infection. Various biomarkers are present to date, still sepsis is a primary cause of mortality. Globally, post-operative body infections can cause sepsis and septic shock in ICU. Abnormal antigen presentation to T-cells leads to a dysregulated immune system. miRNAs are sparkly evolved as biomarkers due to their high sensitivity and efficiency. In this work, we analyzed high-throughput mRNA data collected from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and linked it to significant miRNAs and TFs using a network-based approach. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using sepsis-specific differentially expressed genes (DEGs) followed by enrichment analyses and hub module detection. Sepsis-linked decrease transcription of the classical HLA gene such as HLA-DPB1 and its interplay with miR-let-7b-5p and transcription factor SPIB was observed. This study helped to provide innovative targets for sepsis.

The Swallow Tail Sign of Substantia Nigra: A Case-Control Study to Establish Its Role in Diagnosis of Parkinson Disease on 3T MRI.

Background and Objectives The loss of swallow tail sign (STS) has been studied for the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD). The study aims to establish the role of STS on high-resolution 3D susceptibility-weighted images (SWI) on 3T MRI in clinically diagnosed cases of PD and compare with control population. Methods and Materials Forty-five patients with clinically diagnosed PD and Parkinson plus syndrome (PPS) formed the study group and were compared with 45 controls without any neurological disease and normal brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Presence or absence of STS was studied on 1-mm thick axial 3D SWI images in bilateral substantia nigra by two radiologists independently, followed by consensus reading. Bilateral absent, unilateral absent, and faintly present STS were considered as absent STS and predicted PD or PPS, and bilateral presence was considered as a positive STS, and was assessed keeping the clinical diagnosis as the gold standard. Results The sensitivity of the absent STS was 75.55%, specificity 97.77%, positive predictive value 97.14%, negative predictive value 80% and accuracy 86.66%, in the diagnosis of PD or PPS, with odd ratio of 132 (confidence interval 15.97-1098.75). Kappa coefficient was 0.80 ( p < 0.001) for both inter- and intrarater agreement, suggesting high reproducibility for the detection of STS. Conclusions Absence of the STS is a good predictor of degeneration of the nigrosome 1 in the substantia nigra in the PD or PPS patients; hence, it can act as a useful marker of these diseases.

Comparison of Recovery Profiles of Patients Undergoing Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy under Desflurane, Propofol, or Sevoflurane Anesthesia: A Randomized, Prospective, Clinical, Comparative Study.

Background Agents like propofol, sevoflurane, and desflurane having rapid revival of psychomotor and cognitive functions translating into reliable anesthetic recovery are chosen for day care procedures. This prospective randomized comparative study was undertaken to compare the psychomotor and cognitive functions of patients undergoing discectomy under different anesthetic strategies. Methods Seventy-five adult American Society of Anesthesiologists grade I and II patients being operated for endoscopic lumbar discectomy under different anesthetic regimens were enrolled and were subjected to Trieger Dot Test (TDT), Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) preoperatively at specified intervals postoperatively. There emergence and early recovery times, complications, and satisfaction levels were also noted. Results No difference was found in the postoperative TDT and DSST and MMSE scores among the groups at all the time points (15 minutes, 3 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, and 4 hours). TDT and DSST demonstrated a tendency to return to baseline by 2nd and 3rd hour postoperatively. Emergence and early recovery times were earlier in the inhalation groups ( p 0.005 and 0.007, respectively). Time required to attain a Modified Aldrete Score of 9, complications, and observed side effects were similar among the groups. Conclusion Patients in the three groups had similar impairments in their psychomotor and cognitive functions which recovered at comparable time periods postoperatively. Emergence and early recovery were, however, faster in the desflurane group.

Serum-Based lncRNA ANRIL, TUG1, UCA1, and HIT Expressions in Breast Cancer Patients.

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease and is the most common and prevalent form of malignancy diagnosed in women. lncRNAs are found to be frequently dysregulated in cancer, and its expression plays a critical role in tumorigenesis. The study included 100 histopathologically confirmed, newly diagnosed untreated patients of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of breast cancer patients and 100 healthy subjects. After blood collection, the serum was separated and total RNA was extracted, cDNA was synthesized using 100 ng of total RNA, and lncRNA (ANRIL, TUG1, UCA1, and HIT) expression was analyzed. Increased ANRIL (3.83-fold), TUG1 (7.64-fold), UCA1 (7.82-fold), and HIT (3.31-fold) expressions were observed in breast cancer patients compared to healthy controls. Relative expression of lncRNAs UCA-1 (p = 0.010) and HIT-1 (p < 0.0001) was significantly elevated in patients with advanced breast cancer stage compared to those with early-stage disease. While lncRNA TUG-1 expression was found to be higher in patients with early-stage tumors than those with advanced-stage tumors (p = 0.06), lncRNA ANRIL showed increased expression in patients with PR positive status (p = 0.04). However, we found a significant difference in lncRNA HIT expression in HER-2 positive breast cancer patients compared to HER-2 negative breast cancer patients (p = 0.005). An increase in the expression of serum lncRNAs ANRIL (p < 0.0001), UCA-1 (p = 0.004), and HIT (p < 0.0001) was observed in the distant organ metastatic breast cancer patients. In the ROC curve concerning lymph node involvement, the sensitivity and specificity of lncRNA HIT were 68% and 58%, respectively (p value = 0.007). In the ROC curve w.r.t. stages of disease, the sensitivity and specificity of lncRNA HIT were 80% and 50%, respectively (p value < 0.0001). Better sensitivity and specificity were observed for lncRNA HIT (sensitivity 91% and specificity 78%; p value < 0.0001) and ANRIL (sensitivity 70% and specificity 60%; p value < 0.0001) w.r.t distant organ metastases.

Assessment of IL-12, mRNA expression, vitamin-D level, and their correlation among the Mycobacterium tuberculosis cases.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) presents serious health related complications caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis pathogen. Interleukin 12 (IL-12), plays a central role in T helper 1 (Th1) cells development that are implicated in chronic inflammatory pathogenesis as well as level of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 can impact on IL-12 mRNA expression at the transcriptional level. METHODS: The present study included clinically confirmed 100 Mycobacterium tuberculosis cases (TB) for assessment of IL-12 mRNA expression and vitamin-D level as well as equal number of healthy controls were also included. RESULTS: In TB cases, overall 13.01-fold higher IL-12 mRNA expression and 30.69 ng/ml vitamin-D level were observed. It was observed that higher expression of IL-12 mRNA expression was linked with TB cases had fever (p < 0.0001), night sweat (p = 0.003), sputum with blood (p = 0.03) as well as decreased vitamin-D level was linked with weight loss (p = 0.01), fever (p < 0.0001), night sweat (p = 0.008), sputum with blood (p = 0.005). TB cases with smoking (p < 0.0001) and alcoholism (p = 0.01, p = 0.0001) had significantly higher IL-12 mRNA expression and lower vitamin-D levels compared to its counterpart. It was observed that TB cases with vitamin-D deficiency, insufficiency, sufficiency had 19.51-fold, 14.64-fold, and 10.54-fold IL-12 mRNA expression respectively (deficiency vs insufficiency; p = 0.0003, deficiency vs sufficiency; p < 0.0001). A negative correlation was observed between IL-12 mRNA expression and vitamin-D level among the TB cases (r = -0.68, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Higher IL-12 mRNA expression and lower vitamin-D expression among the TB cases may be responsible for the severity and pathogenesis of TB and alterations in IL-12 mRNA expression and vitamin-D may be influenced by the smoking and alcoholism habit of TB cases.

Clinico-radiological profile of the patients with empyema thoracis: A prospective analytical study.

BACKGROUND: Empyema thoracis is defined as the presence of pus in the pleural cavity and carries significant morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to explore the demographic and clinico-radiological characteristics of patients with empyema thoracis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present study was conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital in North India. The patients diagnosed with empyema thoracis were included in the study. Demographic, etiologic, clinical, radiographic, and outcome data were prospectively collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The study included 48 patients. The median age of empyema thoracis patients was 37(IQR 26-45) years. Common presenting symptoms were breathlessness (n = 37,77%) and chest pain (n = 34,70%). Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) of the chest showed type III empyema in 52% (21) patients followed by type 1 and type II in 25% and 22%, respectively. CECT thorax showed the collapse of lung and consolidation in (n = 28, 70%) and (n = 24, 60%) patients, respectively. All the patients, except for one, were managed with underwater seal intercostal tube drainage (ICD) procedure for the management of empyema. The median time to remove the ICD tube among 35 patients was 14 (IQR 9-21) days. Forty patients (83.3%) responded to the treatment and were discharged. Eight patients (16.7%) deteriorated and succumbed to the disease. CONCLUSION: Patients of empyema thoracis required a prolonged period of chest tube drainage and carried significant morbidity and mortality.

Role of miRNA-495 and NRXN-1 and CNTN-1 mRNA Expression and Its Prognostic Importance in Breast Cancer Patients.

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease in which genetic factors are involved in disease worsening and higher mortality. Epidemiological and clinical research revealed that breast cancer incidence continues to rise. 100 histopathologically confirmed untreated newly diagnosed cases of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of breast and 100 healthy subjects were involved and blood samples were collected in non-EDTA plain vials. Serum was separated by centrifugation, total RNA was extracted from serum, and cDNA synthesis was done to study the miRNA-495 and neurexin-1 (NRXN-1) and contactin 1 (CNTN-1) mRNA expression by QRT-PCR. The expression levels of miRNA-495, NRXN-1, and CNTN-1 were expressed in fold change. The present study observed decreased relative miRNA-495 expression (0.07-fold) while an increase in NRXN-1 (11.61-fold) and CNTN-1 (4.92-fold) was observed among breast cancer patients compared to healthy controls. A significant difference was observed in miRNA-495 expression with menopausal status (p=0.0001) and TNM stages (p=0.02). It was observed that NRXN-1 expression was significantly associated with menopausal status (p=0.03), lymph node involvement (p < 0.0001), estrogen receptor (ER) status (p=0.03), progesterone receptor (PR) status (p=0.005), TNM stages (p < 0.0001), and distant metastases (p < 0.0001). CNTN-1 expression was also found to be associated with lymph node involvement (p=0.01), PR status (p=0.03), HER2 status (p=0.04), TNM stages (p < 0.0001), and distant metastases (p < 0.0001). ROC suggested that NRXN-1 and CNTN-1 could be the important predictive marker for disease advancement and distant organ metastases. The study concluded that the decreased expression of miR-495 observed in breast cancer patients showed a negative correlation with NRXN-1 while the increased expression of NRXN-1 and CNTN-1 was linked with disease advancement and distant metastases and could be the important predictive marker for breast cancer patients.

A Systematic Review of Abdominal Imaging Findings in COVID-19 Patients.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate key imaging manifestations of COVID-19 on abdominal imaging by utilizing a comprehensive review of the published literature. METHOD: A systematic literature search from PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus was performed for studies mentioning abdominal imaging findings in COVID-19 patients. Studies published from inception to 15 March 2021 were included. RESULTS: A total of 116 studies comprising 1,198 patients were included. Abdominal pain was the most common indication for abdominal imaging in 50.2% of the patients. No abnormality was seen in 48.1% of abdominopelvic computed tomography scans. Segmental bowel wall thickening (14.7%) was the most common imaging abnormality, followed by bowel ischemia (7.1%), solid organ infarction (6.7%), vessel thrombosis (6.7%), and fluid-filled colon (6.2%). Other relevant findings were dilated air-filled bowel, pancreatitis, pneumatosis/portal venous gas, bowel perforation, and appendicitis. Other than abdominal findings, COVID-19-related basal lung changes were incidentally detected in many studies. Moreover, the presence of bowel imaging findings was positively correlated with the clinical severity of COVID-19 infection. CONCLUSION: This review describes the abdominal imaging findings in COVID-19 patients. This is pertinent for the early diagnosis of COVID-19 in patients presenting solely with abdominal symptoms as well as in identifying abdominal complications in a known case of COVID-19.

Survival-Based Biomarker Module Identification Associated with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC).

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide with a high rate of morbidity and mortality, with 90% of predilections occurring for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Cancers of the mouth account for 40% of head and neck cancers, including squamous cell carcinomas of the tongue, floor of the mouth, buccal mucosa, lips, hard and soft palate, and gingival. OSCC is the most devastating and commonly occurring oral malignancy, with a mortality rate of 500,000 deaths per year. This has imposed a strong necessity to discover driver genes responsible for its progression and malignancy. In the present study we filtered oral squamous cell carcinoma tissue samples from TCGA-HNSC cohort, which we followed by constructing a weighted PPI network based on the survival of patients and the expression profiles of samples collected from them. We found a total of 46 modules, with 18 modules having more than five edges. The KM and ME analyses revealed a single module (with 12 genes) as significant in the training and test datasets. The genes from this significant module were subjected to pathway enrichment analysis for identification of significant pathways and involved genes. Finally, the overlapping genes between gene sets ranked on the basis of weighted PPI module centralities (i.e., degree and eigenvector), significant pathway genes, and DEGs from a microarray OSCC dataset were considered as OSCC-specific hub genes. These hub genes were clinically validated using the IHC images available from the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database.

Genotype Variations and Association between PAI-1 Promoter Region (4G/5G and -844G/A) and Susceptibility to Acute Myocardial Infarction and Chronic Stable Angina.

The present study aimed at investigating the 4G/5G and -844G/A polymorphisms and plasma concentration of PAI-1 in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and chronic stable angina (CSA) in Indian population. It included 100 patients with AMI and stable angina and 100 healthy controls. All study subjects were typed for two PAI polymorphisms (4G/5G and -844G/A) through PCR-RFLP and level of PAI through ELISA. The comparison of AMI and CSA independently with control in terms of PAI-1 level was statistically significant but not between AMI and CSA. The frequency of 4G/4G and 4G/5G genotype and 4G allele was significantly higher in AMI cases than in control and was found to increase the risk of AMI. There was a significant relationship between 4G/5G polymorphism and AMI risk under the dominant and codominant genotype. The frequency of 4G/4G genotype and 4G allele was significantly higher in CSA cases than in control group and increases the risk of CSA. There was no significant association between 4G/5G polymorphism and CSA risk under recessive, dominant, and codominant models. The genotype and allelic frequencies difference between the cases (AMI and CSA) and control with regard to -844G/A polymorphisms were statistically nonsignificant. Also, we did not detect any significant association of -844G/A polymorphism with AMI and CSA in recessive, dominant, and codominant models. Along with the traditional risk factors, the 4G/5G allele polymorphism is an independent risk factor for the development of AMI. The detection of 4G/5G allele may therefore be helpful in primary prevention. Patients who carry the 4G/5G allele polymorphism have high concentrations of PAI-1, which might be involved in incidents leading to AMI. The present study for the first time revealed significant association of 4G/5G allele polymorphism with high risk of AMI in Indian population and will be helpful in identifying the genetic risk factors associated with AMI and CSA and for better management of diagnostic measures.

Potential Therapeutic Targets of Quercetin, a Plant Flavonol, and Its Role in the Therapy of Various Types of Cancer through the Modulation of Various Cell Signaling Pathways.

Polyphenolic flavonoids are considered natural, non-toxic chemopreventers, which are most commonly derived from plants, fruits, and vegetables. Most of these polyphenolics exhibit remarkable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. Quercetin (Qu) is a chief representative of these polyphenolic compounds, which exhibits excellent antioxidant and anticancer potential, and has attracted the attention of researchers working in the area of cancer biology. Qu can regulate numerous tumor-related activities, such as oxidative stress, angiogenesis, cell cycle, tumor necrosis factor, proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis. The anticancer properties of Qu mainly occur through the modulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), apoptosis, phosphatidyl inositol-3-kinase (P13K)/Akt (proteinase-kinase B)/mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin), MAPK (mitogen activated protein kinase)/ERK1/2 (extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2), and Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathways. The anticancer potential of Qu is documented in numerous in vivo and in vitro studies, involving several animal models and cell lines. Remarkably, this phytochemical possesses toxic activities against cancerous cells only, with limited toxic effects on normal cells. In this review, we present extensive research investigations aimed to discuss the therapeutic potential of Qu in the management of different types of cancers. The anticancer potential of Qu is specifically discussed by focusing its ability to target specific molecular signaling, such as p53, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), VEGF, signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT), PI3K/Akt, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathways. The anticancer potential of Qu has gained remarkable interest, but the exact mechanism of its action remains unclear. However, this natural compound has great pharmacological potential; it is now believed to be a complementary-or alternative-medicine for the prevention and treatment of different cancers.