Biochemical characterization of a high affinity phosphate transporter (PiPT) from root endophyte fungus Piriformospora indica.

We have functionally characterized the high-affinity phosphate transporter (PiPT) from the root endophyte fungus Piriformospora indica. PiPT belongs to the major facilitator superfamily (MFS). PiPT protein was purified by affinity chromatography (Ni-NTA) and Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC). The functionality of solubilized PiPT was determined in detergent-solubilized state by fluorescence quenching and in proteoliposomes. In the fluorescence quenching assay, PiPT exhibited a saturation concentration of approximately 2 µM, at a pH of 4.5. Proteoliposomes of size 121.6 nm radius, showed transportation of radioactive phosphate. Vmax was measured to be 232.2 ± 11 pmol/min/mg protein. We have found Km to be 45.8 ± 6.2 µM suggesting high affinity towards phosphate.

Clinical Profile, Management, and Outcome of Posterior Urethral Valves in Children - Experience from a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Background: Posterior urethral valves (PUV) are the most common obstructive anomaly of the lower urinary tract in children. End-stage renal disease (ESRD) in 17% of the children is due to PUV. The present study helps know the spectrum of the disease, management options, and the outcome in these children. Methods: The present study is a descriptive type of study by review of medical records of all the children presented to the hospital from 2015 to 2019. Profile of PUV includes any abnormality in antenatal ultrasonography (USG), age at presentation, presenting complaints, general condition at the time of presentation, biochemical investigations like serum creatinine and electrolytes at admission, clinical progression during hospital stay and the type of intervention. Outcome variables studied were improvement in the stream and overall well-being of the child, renal function, recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). Follow-up period varied from 1 to 6 years. Results: A total of 73 patients were included in the study. The mean age of presentation was 3.4 years. The most common presenting complaints were poor urinary stream and dribbling of urine. Antenatal USG showed abnormality in 23 patients. Renal function was abnormal in 28 patients. Out of 73 patients, 51 underwent endoscopic ablation of valves, 19 underwent vesicostomy, and three patients underwent supravesical diversion. During the follow-up recurrent UTI was observed in 11 patients, 15 patients progressed to chronic kidney disease, and 15% of patients were hypertensive. Mortality in the present study was 4%. Conclusion: PUV includes a spectrum of diseases from mild form to lethal conditions. Early intervention by relieving obstruction may prevent or delay the ESRD; hence, timely intervention is necessary in these children.

MSKI-RADS: An MRI-based Musculoskeletal Infection Reporting and Data System for the Diagnosis of Extremity Infections.

Background Current terms used to describe the MRI findings for musculoskeletal infections are nonspecific and inconsistent. Purpose To develop and validate an MRI-based musculoskeletal infection classification and scoring system. Materials and Methods In this retrospective cross-sectional internal validation study, a Musculoskeletal Infection Reporting and Data System (MSKI-RADS) was designed. Adult patients with radiographs and MRI scans of suspected extremity infections with a known reference standard obtained between June 2015 and May 2019 were included. The scoring categories were as follows: 0, incomplete imaging; I, negative for infection; II, superficial soft-tissue infection; III, deeper soft-tissue infection; IV, possible osteomyelitis (OM); V, highly suggestive of OM and/or septic arthritis; VI, known OM; and NOS (not otherwise specified), nonspecific bone lesions. Interreader agreement for 20 radiologists from 13 institutions (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]) and true-positive rates of MSKI-RADS were calculated and the accuracy of final diagnoses rendered by the readers was compared using generalized estimating equations for clustered data. Results Among paired radiographs and MRI scans from 208 patients (133 male, 75 female; mean age, 55 years ± 13 [SD]), 20 were category I; 34, II; 35, III; 30, IV; 35, V; 18, VI; and 36, NOS. Moderate interreader agreement was observed among the 20 readers (ICC, 0.70; 95% CI: 0.66, 0.75). There was no evidence of correlation between reader experience and overall accuracy (P = .94). The highest true-positive rate was for MSKI-RADS I and NOS at 88.7% (95% CI: 84.6, 91.7). The true-positive rate was 73% (95% CI: 63, 80) for MSKI-RADS V. Overall reader accuracy using MSKI-RADS across all patients was 65% ± 5, higher than final reader diagnoses at 55% ± 7 (P < .001). Conclusion MSKI-RADS is a valid system for standardized terminology and recommended management of imaging findings of peripheral extremity infections across various musculoskeletal-fellowship-trained reader experience levels. © RSNA, 2024 Supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Schweitzer in this issue.

Identification of exon regions in eukaryotes using fine-tuned variational mode decomposition based on kurtosis and short-time discrete Fourier transform.

In genomic research, identifying the exon regions in eukaryotes is the most cumbersome task. This article introduces a new promising model-independent method based on short-time discrete Fourier transform (ST-DFT) and fine-tuned variational mode decomposition (FTVMD) for identifying exon regions. The proposed method uses the N/3 periodicity property of the eukaryotic genes to detect the exon regions using the ST-DFT. However, background noise is present in the spectrum of ST-DFT since the sliding rectangular window produces spectral leakage. To overcome this, FTVMD is proposed in this work. VMD is more resilient to noise and sampling errors than other decomposition techniques because it utilizes the generalization of the Wiener filter into several adaptive bands. The performance of VMD is affected due to the improper selection of the penalty factor (α), and the number of modes (K). Therefore, in fine-tuned VMD, the parameters of VMD (K and α) are optimized by maximum kurtosis value. The main objective of this article is to enhance the accuracy in the identification of exon regions in a DNA sequence. At last, a comparative study demonstrates that the proposed technique is superior to its counterparts.

Intensification mechanisms and moisture dynamics of super cyclonic storm 'Amphan' over the Bay of Bengal: Implications for aerosol re-distribution.

The present research investigates the dynamics and underlying causes contributing to the exceptional intensity of Super Cyclonic Storm (SuCS) Amphan (16th to 21st May 2020) over the Bay of Bengal (BoB), as well as its impact on aerosol redistribution along the four cities of eastern coast and north-eastern India. Notably, the SuCS was formed during the first phase of the COVID-19 lockdown in India, giving it a unique aspect of study and analysis. Our analysis based on 30 years of climatology data from Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2 (MERRA-2) reanalysis reveals 'positive' monthly anomalous winds (0.8 to 1.6 m/s) prevailed over the central BoB for May 2020. The present study further found the evolution of 'barrier layer thickness'(BLT) leading up to landfall, noting a thickening trend from 8 to 3 days before landfall, contributing to maintaining warmer sea surface temperatures near the coast. Additionally, utilizing European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), reanalysis version-5 (ERA-5) data, a mean positive sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly of 0.8 to 1 °C was observed 'before' cyclone period (10-15 May 2020) near the cyclogenesis point. A detailed examination of Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) vertical cross-section plots during the cyclone's intensification stage reveals the presence of high-altitude clouds composed primarily of ice crystals. Further, analysis also indicates that the cyclone transported Sea-salt PM2.5 aerosols from the ocean, dispersing them in the landfall region.The aerosol optical Depth (AOD) data obtained from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) 'Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES)' mission and MERRA-2 were also analysed, revealing that the cyclone redistributed aerosols over the Bengal basin region (mainly over 'Kolkata') and three other nearby cities along the track of the cyclone (i.e., Bhubaneswar (Odisha) Agartala (Tripura) and Shillong (Meghalaya) respectively).

Navigating the challenges: exploring the association between COVID-19 lockdowns and eating behavior in university students: a systematic review and investigation of factors impacting ed levels.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the mental and physical well-being of individuals globally, with university students being particularly susceptible to mental health issues. Factors such as the transition to adulthood, economic hardships, and academic responsibilities, compounded by pandemic-related disruptions like lockdowns and remote learning, have elevated stress levels and altered daily routines. The pandemic has given rise to post-traumatic stress symptoms in certain individuals, including university students which may contribute to the emergence of emotional eating or adopting unhealthy eating patterns as a coping mechanism, leading to excessive consumption or unhealthy dietary choices. This review aims to investigate the influence of COVID-19 restrictions on eating disorders among university students and identifying the contributing factors. CONTENT: Out of 59 identified articles, 10 met the inclusion criteria, involving 23,542 participants (70.2 % women, 29.35 % men, 0.42 % gender fluid/undisclosed). The lockdown led to increased prevalence and severity of eating disorders among university students, particularly in women. SUMMARY: The review highlights a notable increase in eating disorders among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mental health issues, reduced physical activity, and economic stress were significant contributors to this trend, with women being disproportionately affected. OUTLOOK: To mitigate the impact of future pandemics or similar disruptions, universities should implement early screening, provide mental health counseling, virtual support groups, nutritional guidance, and opportunities for physical activity. Encouraging students to seek professional help is crucial for managing mental health and eating habits in such scenarios.

Enhancing construction safety: predicting worker sleep deprivation using machine learning algorithms.

Sleep deprivation is a critical issue that affects workers in numerous industries, including construction. It adversely affects workers and can lead to significant concerns regarding their health, safety, and overall job performance. Several studies have investigated the effects of sleep deprivation on safety and productivity. Although the impact of sleep deprivation on safety and productivity through cognitive impairment has been investigated, research on the association of sleep deprivation and contributing factors that lead to workplace hazards and injuries remains limited. To fill this gap in the literature, this study utilized machine learning algorithms to predict hazardous situations. Furthermore, this study demonstrates the applicability of machine learning algorithms, including support vector machine and random forest, by predicting sleep deprivation in construction workers based on responses from 240 construction workers, identifying seven primary indices as predictive factors. The findings indicate that the support vector machine algorithm produced superior sleep deprivation prediction outcomes during the validation process. The study findings offer significant benefits to stakeholders in the construction industry, particularly project and safety managers. By enabling the implementation of targeted interventions, these insights can help reduce accidents and improve workplace safety through the timely and accurate prediction of sleep deprivation.

SISAL FIBER REINFORCED AND CENOSPHERE HYBRIDIZED POLYPROPYLENE-SEBS COMPOSITE: AN INSIGHT INTO CRYSTALLOGRAPHIC, DYNAMIC MECHANICAL AND RHEOLOGICAL BEHAVIOR.

The current study attempts to explore the crystallographic, rheological and dynamic mechanical properties of the submicron-treated cenosphere (t- CSF) particles and sisal fiber (SF) reinforced Styrene-(Ethylene-Butylene)-Styrene (SEBS) toughened PP hybrid composites. Moreover, the composites reinforced with 25 wt.% of SF and 5 wt.% of CSF (Treated 6 wt.% cetrimonium bromide (CTAB)) demonstrated the most significant storage modulus (E'), loss modulus (E"), and lowest damping (tan δ) factor throughout the temperature range. Likewise, X-ray diffraction techniques were used to assess the samples' crystallographic properties. The composites reported an enhanced ß phase (responsible for high impact strength and reduced α phase of the base matrix compared to pristine PP. Likewise, all the composites' rheological properties showed an improved complex viscosity (η*) compared to the BM but lower than that of the pristine PP. Overall processing parameters of the BM and composites were improved due to the decrement in the η* of all the composites. The rheological properties confirmed the easy processing of the fabricated composites due to the improved flowability. The storage (G') and loss (G") modulus of all the composites were desirably higher than that of the BM.

Inoculants of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Influence Growth and Biomass of Terminalia arjuna under Amendment and Anamendment Entisol.

Entisol soil is hard and compact in nature, rendering it high in bulk density, which influences root penetration adversely and thereby poor plant growth. In this experiment, used seven treatments in different combination in normal soil, were used as growth media for the Terminalia arjuna seedling. T3 (60% entisol) found the best as it gave the highest biomass in the species regardless of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) treatment. AMF treatment enhanced the growth and biomass of plants significantly in all the given treatments. AMF colonization observed a maximum in tertiary roots. T1 (100% entisol soil) exhibited the highest degree of AMF colonization in tertiary roots, resulting in the highest mycorrhiza dependency of plants for this soil. The addition of normal soil to entisol soil was found to decrease the bulk density, resulting in increased root diameter, and T3 plants exhibited the highest biomass and AMF compatibility for T. arjuna species. The T. arjuna plant's growth and biomass responded positively to AMF in all types of treatments. The plant's growth and biomass were highest in the T3 treatment, which had a bulk density of 1.50 g/cm3. In this study, we combined the entisol with mycorrhizal inoculation of the nursery growing medium to promote plant growth and biomass, improve the plant's ability to hold water and absorb nutrients, and lower the entisol's bulk density. The T. arjuna (Roxb) plant responds very favorably to mycorrhiza inoculation in nursery conditions with the entisol growth medium.

Recent Biochemical Advances in Antitubercular Drugs: Challenges and Future.

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of death world-wide after AIDS. It infects around one-third of global population and approximately two million people die annually from this disease because it is a very contagious disease spread by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The increasing number of drug-resistant strains and the failure of conventional treatments against this strain are the challenges of the coming decades. New therapeutic techniques aim to confirm cure without deterioration, to reduce deaths, contagions and the formation of drug-resistant strains. A plethora of new diagnostic tests are available to diagnose the active tuberculosis, screen latent M. tuberculosis infection, and to identify drug-resistant strains of M. tuberculosis. When effective prevention strategies do not prevail, high rates of early case detection and successive cures to control TB emergence would not be possible. In this review, we discussed the structural features of M. tuberculosis, Multi drug resistance tuberculosis (MDR-TB), extremely drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB), the mechanism of M. tuberculosis infection, the mode of action of first and second-line antitubercular drugs, the mechanism of resistance to the existing drugs, compounds in preclinical and clinical trial and drugs presently available for the treatment of tuberculosis. Moreover, the new diagnostic techniques to detect M. Tuberculosis are also discussed in this review.

Manganese-catalyzed C-C and C-N bond formation with alcohols via borrowing hydrogen or hydrogen auto-transfer.

Transition-metal-mediated "borrowing hydrogen" also known as hydrogen auto-transfer reactions allow the sustainable construction of C-C and C-N bonds using alcohols as hydrogen donors. In recent years, manganese complexes have been explored as efficient catalysts in these reactions. This review highlights the significant progress made in manganese-catalyzed C-C and C-N bond-formation reactions via hydrogen auto-transfer, emphasizing the importance of this methodology and manganese catalysts in sustainable synthesis strategies.

Natural autophagy activators: A promising strategy for combating photoaging.

BACKGROUND: Photodamage to the skin stands out as one of the most widespread epidermal challenges globally. Prolonged exposure to sunlight containing ultraviolet radiation (UVR) instigates stress, thereby compromising the skin's functionality and culminating in photoaging. Recent investigations have shed light on the importance of autophagy in shielding the skin from photodamage. Despite the acknowledgment of numerous phytochemicals possessing photoprotective attributes, their potential to induce autophagy remains relatively unexplored. PURPOSE: Diminished autophagy activity in photoaged skin underscores the potential benefits of restoring autophagy through natural compounds to enhance photoprotection. Consequently, this study aims to highlight the role of natural compounds in safeguarding against photodamage and to assess their potential to induce autophagy via an in-silico approach. METHODS: A thorough search of the literature was done using several databases, including PUBMED, Science Direct, and Google Scholar, to gather relevant studies. Several keywords such as Phytochemical, Photoprotection, mTOR, Ultraviolet Radiation, Reactive oxygen species, Photoaging, and Autophagy were utilized to ensure thorough exploration. To assess the autophagy potential of phytochemicals through virtual screening, computational methodologies such as molecular docking were employed, utilizing tools like AutoDock Vina. Receptor preparation for docking was facilitated using MGLTools. RESULTS: The initiation of structural and functional deterioration in the skin due to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) or sunlight-induced reactive oxygen species/reactive nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) involves the modulation of various pathways. Natural compounds like phenolics, flavonoids, flavones, and anthocyanins, among others, possess chromophores capable of absorbing light, thereby offering photoprotection by modulating these pathways. In our molecular docking study, these phytochemicals have shown binding affinity with mTOR, a negative regulator of autophagy, indicating their potential as autophagy modulators. CONCLUSION: This integrated review underscores the photoprotective characteristics of natural compounds, while the in-silico analysis reveals their potential to modulate autophagy, which could significantly contribute to their anti-photoaging properties. The findings of this study hold promise for the advancement of cosmeceuticals and therapeutics containing natural compounds aimed at addressing photoaging and various skin-related diseases. By leveraging their dual benefits of photoprotection and autophagy modulation, these natural compounds offer a multifaceted approach to combatting skin aging and related conditions.

Screening and analysis of single nucleotide polymorphism in the 3'-UTR microRNA target regions and its implications for lung tumorigenesis.

Aim: The study aims to identify high-impact single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in miRNA target sites of genes associated with lung cancer.Materials & methods: Lung cancer genes were obtained from Uniprot KB. miRNA target site SNPs were mined from MirSNP, miRdSNP and TargetScan. SNPs were shortlisted based on binding impact, minor allele frequency and conservation. Gene expression was analyzed in genes with high-impact SNPs in healthy versus lung cancer tissue. Additionally, enrichment, pathway and network analyzes were performed.Results: 19 high-impact SNPs were identified in miRNA target sites of lung cancer-associated genes. These SNPs affect miRNA binding and gene expression. The genes are involved in key cancer related pathways.Conclusion: The identified high-impact miRNA target site SNPs and associated genes provide a starting point for case-control studies in lung cancer patients in different populations.

[Box: see text].

A novel multi-model estimation of phosphorus in coal and its ash using FTIR spectroscopy.

The level of phosphorus must be carefully monitored for proper and effective utilization of coal and coal ash. The phosphorus content needs to be assessed to optimize combustion efficiency and maintenance costs of power plants, ensure quality, and minimize the environmental impact of coal and coal ash. The detection of low levels of phosphorus in coal and coal ash is a significant challenge due to its complex chemical composition and low concentration levels. Effective monitoring requires accurate and sensitive equipment for the detection of phosphorus in coal and coal ash. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) is a commonly used analytical technique for the determination of phosphorus content in coal and coal ash samples but proves challenging due to their comparatively weak fluorescence intensity. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) emerges as a promising alternative that is simple, rapid, and cost-effective. However, research in this area has been limited. Until now, only a limited number of research studies have outlined the estimation of major elements in coal, predominantly relying on FTIR spectroscopy. In this article, we explore the potential of FTIR spectroscopy combined with machine learning models (piecewise linear regression-PLR, partial least square regression-PLSR, random forest-RF, and support vector regression-SVR) for quantifying the phosphorus content in coal and coal ash. For model development, the methodology employs the mid-infrared absorption peak intensity levels of phosphorus-specific functional groups and anionic groups of phosphate minerals at various working concentration ranges of coal and coal ash. This paper proposes a multi-model estimation (using PLR, PLSR, and RF) approach based on FTIR spectral data to detect and rapidly estimate low levels of phosphorus in coal and its ash (R 2 of 0.836, RMSE of 0.735 ppm, RMSE (%) of 34.801, MBE of - 0.077 ppm, MBE (%) of 5.499, and MAE of 0.528 ppm in coal samples and R 2 of 0.803, RMSE of 0.676 ppm, RMSE (%) of 38.050, MBE of - 0.118 ppm, MBE (%) of 4.501, and MAE of 0.474 ppm in coal ash samples). Our findings suggest that FTIR combined with the multi-model approach combining PLR, PLSR, and RF regression models is a reliable tool for rapid and near-real-time measurement of phosphorus in coal and coal ash and can be suitably modified to model phosphorus content in other natural samples such as soil, shale, etc.

Effect of prostaglandin treatment on the estrus behaviour, follicular and luteal morphometry and serum hormone profile in sub-estrus buffaloes during non-breeding season.

Sub-estrus buffaloes do not exhibit estrus signs despite being cyclic contributing to extended service periods and inter-calving intervals causing significant economic loss. The present study described the effect of synthetic prostaglandin (PGF2α) on estrus behaviour, follicular and luteal morphometry, and serum estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) profile in sub-estrus buffaloes during the non-breeding season. The incidence of sub-estrus was 38.4% during the non-breeding season. The sub-estrus buffaloes (n = 33) were divided into two groups, viz., Control (n = 16) and PGF2α treatment (Inj. Cloprostenol 500 µg, i.m., n = 17). Estrus induction response was significantly greater in the treatment (100 vs. 18.75%, p < .001), and a relatively greater proportion of animals conceived in the treatment group (29.41 vs. 6.25%, p = .08). The time elapsed to induction of estrus and insemination following treatment was significantly lower in the treatment group than control. A significant increment in the follicle diameter (9.72 ± 0.45 vs. 13.00 ± 0.45 mm, P < .0001) and serum estradiol (E2) concentration (66.01 ± 11.92 vs. 104.9 ± 13.21 pg/mL, p = .003) observed at the post-treatment period in the PGF2α treatment group. At the same time, CL diameter was reduced significantly at a higher regression rate in the PGF2α treated buffaloes than those of control. Of the responded buffaloes, only 30% showed high-intensity estrus attributed to the expulsion of cervico-vaginal mucus (CVM), uterine tonicity, micturition, and mounting response by a teaser bull. From this study, it can be concluded that the administration of PGF2α could induce estrus in the sub-estrus buffaloes during the non-breeding season. Behavioural changes, along with sonographic observation of POF, regressing CL, and serum E2 and P4 concentration would be useful to determine the right time of insemination in sub-estrus buffaloes during non-breeding season.

Recombinant YopE and LcrV vaccine candidates protect mice against plague and yersiniosis.

No licensed vaccine exists for the lethal plague and yersiniosis. Therefore, a combination of recombinant YopE and LcrV antigens of Yersinia pestis was evaluated for its vaccine potential in a mouse model. YopE and LcrV in formulation with alum imparted a robust humoral immune response, with isotyping profiles leaning towards the IgG1 and IgG2b subclasses. It was also observed that a significantly enhanced expression of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-2, and IL-1ß from the splenic cells of vaccinated mice, as well as YopE and LcrV-explicit IFN-γ eliciting T-cells. The cocktail of YopE + LcrV formulation conferred complete protection against 100 LD50Y. pestis infection, while individually, LcrV and YopE provided 80 % and 60 % protection, respectively. Similarly, the YopE + LcrV vaccinated animal group had significantly lower colony forming unit (CFU) counts in the spleen and blood compared to the groups administered with YopE or LcrV alone when challenged with Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and Yersinia enterocolitica. Histopathologic evidence reinforces these results, indicating the YopE + LcrV formulation provided superior protection against acute lung injury as early as day 3 post-challenge. In conclusion, the alum-adjuvanted YopE + LcrV is a promising vaccine formulation, eliciting a robust antibody response including a milieu of pro-inflammatory cytokines and T-cell effector functions that contribute to the protective immunity against Yersinia infections. YopE and LcrV, conserved across all three human-pathogenic Yersinia species, provide cross-protection. Therefore, our current vaccine (YopE + LcrV) targets all three pathogens: Y. pestis, Y. pseudotuberculosis, and Y. enterocolitica. However, the efficacy should be tested in other higher mammalian models.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Features of Plantar Vein Thrombosis.

Plantar vein thrombosis (PVT) is an underdiagnosed condition affecting the deep plantar veins, with challenging clinical diagnosis, often presenting with non-specific symptoms that mimic other foot pathologies. This study assessed the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of patients diagnosed with PVT to contribute to the understanding of this condition. We performed the comprehensive analysis of a substantial dataset, including 112 patients, with a total of 130 positive MRI scans (86 of the forefoot and 44 of the ankle) presenting with PVT. Upon evaluating all the veins of the feet, we observed a higher frequency of involvement of the lateral plantar veins (53.1%) when compared to the medial veins (3.8%). The most affected vascular segments in the forefeet were the plantar metatarsal veins (45.4%), the plantar venous arch (38.5%), and the plantar communicating veins (25.4%). The characteristic findings on MRI were perivascular edema (100%), muscular edema (86.2%), venous ectasia (100%), perivascular enhancement (100%), and intravenous filling defects (97.7%). Our study provides valuable insights into the imaging evaluation of PVT and shows that MRI is a reliable resource for such diagnosis.

Role of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Treatment of Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background and Objective: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic disease characterized by widespread, persistent musculoskeletal pain in association with impaired health-related quality of life. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an emerging tool for the management of fibromyalgia. There is no standardized protocol of rTMS for the treatment of FMS, and both low- and high-frequency stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) are described in the literature with variable efficacy. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of rTMS in people with fibromyalgia and compare the response of low- and high-frequency stimulation with sham stimulation. Materials and Methods: This study was a single-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Ninety patients with the diagnosis of FMS were randomly allocated into one of the following three groups: low-frequency (1 Hz) group, high-frequency (10 Hz) group, and sham group. Pain, depression, anxiety, and quality of life were measured using the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), and Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR) immediately following treatment as well as at 1 and 3 months after treatment. The data was statistically analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 23 software. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Intergroup analysis revealed a significant improvement in NPRS, HAM-A, HDRS, and FIQR scores in both low- and high- frequency groups immediately following treatment and for 3 months after treatment. No significant difference in the efficacy of low- and high-frequency stimulation was noticed. Conclusions: rTMS is an effective mode of treatment in people with FMS. Both low and high frequencies of stimulation at DLPFC are equally effective in reducing pain and associated symptoms.

Electrophoretic Deposition of 58S Bioactive Glass- Polymer Composite Coatings on 316L Stainless Steel: An Optimization for Corrosion, Bioactivity, and Cytocompatibility.

This study presents a facile fabrication of 58S bioactive glass (BG)-polymer composite coatings on a 316L stainless steel (SS) substrate using the electrophoretic deposition technique. The suspension characteristics and deposition kinetics of BG, along with three different polymers, namely ethylcellulose (EC), poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), have been utilized to fabricate the coatings. Among all coatings, 58S BG and EC polymers are selected as the final composite coating (EC6) owing to their homogeneity and good adhesion. EC6 coating exhibits a thickness of ∼18 µm and an average roughness of ∼2.5 µm. Herein, EC6 demonstrates better hydroxyapatite formation compared to PAA and PVP coatings in simulated body fluid-based mineralization studies for a period of 28 days. Corrosion studies of EC6 in phosphate-buffered saline further confirm the higher corrosion resistance properties after 14 days. In vitro cytocompatibility studies using human placental mesenchymal stem cells demonstrate an increase in cellular viability, attachment, and higher proliferation compared to the bare SS substrate. EC6 coatings promote osteogenic differentiation, which is confirmed via the upregulation of the OPN and OCN genes. Moreover, the EC6 sample exhibits improved antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus compared to the uncoated ones. The findings of this work emphasize the potential of electrophoretically fabricated BG-EC composite coatings on SS substrates for orthopedic applications.

Cell Penetrability of a γ-Crystallin Peptide Fragment from the Discarded Cataractous Eye Emulsion.

The efficiency of the intracellular transport of medication and target specificity is frequently hampered by biological obstacles. The potential for therapeutic use of peptide fragments from naturally occurring proteins is promising, as peptides exhibit high selectivity due to several possibilities of interaction with their target. Certain peptide sequences, often referred to as cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), are those that can penetrate cell membranes. Our goal is to find these sequences in the discarded postcataractery surgery emulsion known as the cataractous eye protein isolate (CEPI). One peptide fragment from this discarded protein has been identified to be a potential CPP based on the similarities with other well-known CPPs. Cell membrane penetrability and cytotoxicity of the peptide have been investigated. Fibroblast cells were incubated with the fluorescently labeled peptide and were observed under fluorescence as well as under confocal microscopy. It was found that the peptide possesses a cell-penetrating ability.