Using modified Fenn diagrams to assess ventilatory acclimatization during ascent to high altitude: Effect of acetazolamide.

High altitude (HA) ascent imposes systemic hypoxia and associated risk of acute mountain sickness. Acute hypoxia elicits a hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR), which is augmented with chronic HA exposure (i.e., ventilatory acclimatization; VA). However, laboratory-based HVR tests lack portability and feasibility in field studies. As an alternative, we aimed to characterize area under the curve (AUC) calculations on Fenn diagrams, modified by plotting portable measurements of end-tidal carbon dioxide ( P ETC O 2 ${P_{{\mathrm{ETC}}{{\mathrm{O}}_{\mathrm{2}}}}}$ ) against peripheral oxygen saturation ( S p O 2 ${S_{{\mathrm{p}}{{\mathrm{O}}_{\mathrm{2}}}}}$ ) to characterize and quantify VA during incremental ascent to HA (n = 46). Secondarily, these participants were compared with a separate group following the identical ascent profile whilst self-administering a prophylactic oral dose of acetazolamide (Az; 125 mg BID; n = 20) during ascent. First, morning P ETC O 2 ${P_{{\mathrm{ETC}}{{\mathrm{O}}_{\mathrm{2}}}}}$ and S p O 2 ${S_{{\mathrm{p}}{{\mathrm{O}}_{\mathrm{2}}}}}$ measurements were collected on 46 acetazolamide-free (NAz) lowland participants during an incremental ascent over 10 days to 5160 m in the Nepal Himalaya. AUC was calculated from individually constructed Fenn diagrams, with a trichotomized split on ranked values characterizing the smallest, medium, and largest magnitudes of AUC, representing high (n = 15), moderate (n = 16), and low (n = 15) degrees of acclimatization. After characterizing the range of response magnitudes, we further demonstrated that AUC magnitudes were significantly smaller in the Az group compared to the NAz group (P = 0.0021), suggesting improved VA. These results suggest that calculating AUC on modified Fenn diagrams has utility in assessing VA in large groups of trekkers during incremental ascent to HA, due to the associated portability and congruency with known physiology, although this novel analytical method requires further validation in controlled experiments. HIGHLIGHTS: What is the central question of this study? What are the characteristics of a novel methodological approach to assess ventilatory acclimatization (VA) with incremental ascent to high altitude (HA)? What is the main finding and its importance? Area under the curve (AUC) magnitudes calculated from modified Fenn diagrams were significantly smaller in trekkers taking an oral prophylactic dose of acetazolamide compared to an acetazolamide-free group, suggesting improved VA. During incremental HA ascent, quantifying AUC using modified Fenn diagrams is feasible to assess VA in large groups of trekkers with ascent, although this novel analytical method requires further validation in controlled experiments.

Safety and Efficacy of an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) in the Detection and Prevention of Cardiac Arrhythmia - A Systematic Review.

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) have been recommended as an effective therapy in treating sudden cardiac deaths. This study evaluates the safety and efficacies of ICDs in detecting arrhythmias. Different ICDs, such as the transvenous cardioverter defibrillator (TV-ICD) and the subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD), are used. This systematic review identified Embase, PubMed, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), and Web of Science as the primary electronic databases for research. Supplementation of the available articles for the review was done using Google Scholar. The population, exposure, control, outcome, and studies (PECOS) criteria were used in this study. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) standard checklist. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used in this systematic review. Two researchers conducted the extraction of data. A pre-designed Excel worksheet (Microsoft, Redmond, Washington) was used in the recording of extracted data. Eight studies were identified for use in this systematic review. Safety of the ICDs was observed with the minimum number of reported inappropriate shocks. Studies conducted identified that women had a lower number of incidences when a long detection setting by sex was conducted. Strategic programming of ICDs was noted as effective in lowering the levels of mortality. Studies claimed that the reduction of inappropriate shocks were important in the reduction of myocardial damage, which resulted in the mortality rate among the patients decreasing. Having high cutoff rates and long intervals for detection in ICD programming was noted to help in reducing ICD therapy intervention among patients. Differences among the male and female populations were inconsequential in the efficacy and safety of ICDs. Their effectiveness in sensitivity, pacing success, and defibrillation success were high and very significant. ICDs were safe in their use in the detection of arrhythmias.

Accuracy of Frozen Section and Clinical/Radiological Diagnosis with Final Histopathology of Pelvic Masses in a Teaching Institute with a Non-oncology Setup, in Northeast India.

Background: Frozen section (FS) is an important decision making intraoperative tool in a non-oncology center especially in a region where women are often "lost to followup". Objectives: Evaluate the use of FS in non-oncology setup for ovarian and uterine masses. Methods: A retrospective analysis of women who had undergone surgery with frozen section for large abdominopelvic masses at Central Referral Hospital, Sikkim, India, from July 2017 to July 2021. Results: 22 women were taken into study out of which 18 had FS for ovarian masses while 4 had frozen section for large uterine masses. All ovarian masses looked malignant on imaging while only 7 looked malignant intraoperatively. FS detected 8 women (44%) with ovarian malignancy out of which 2 were suspicious. The 2 suspicious cases were benign on final histopathology. FS was negative for malignancy in 10 women (56%) out of which 2 were borderline sero-mucinous on final histopathology. FS for ovarian masses showed sensitivity: 66.7% specificity: 83.3%, NPV: 83.3% and Accuracy of 80% when compared to the final histopathology. Intraoperatively 3 out of 4 uterine masses looked malignant. However, all of the uterine masses were negative on FS and final histopathology. Conclusion: Non-oncology centers are burdened with variety of benign surgeries, hence, FS is effective in detecting malignancy in ovarian tumors but not so in large uterine masses. Performing FS prevents "lost to follow ups" in ovarian tumors while avoiding it, saves time of experts while dealing with large uterine masses.

Temperature - A critical abiotic paradigm that governs bacterial heterogeneity in natural ecological system.

A baseline data has been presented here to prove that among the abiotic factors, temperature is the most critical factor that regulates and governs the bacterial diversity in a natural ecosystem. Present study in Yumesamdong hot springs riverine vicinity (Sikkim), parades a gamut of bacterial communities in it and hosts them from semi-frigid region (- 4-10 °C) to fervid region (50-60 °C) via an intermediate region (25-37 °C) within the same ecosystem. This is an extremely rare intriguing natural ecosystem that has no anthropogenic disturbances nor any artificial regulation of temperature. We scanned the bacterial flora through both the culture-dependent and culture-independent techniques in this naturally complex thermally graded habitat. High-throughput sequencing gave bacterial and archaeal phyla representatives of over 2000 species showcasing their biodiversity. Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Chloroflexi were the predominant phyla. A concave down-curve significance was found in temperature-abundance correlation as the number of microbial taxa decreased when the temperature increased from warm (35 °C) to hot (60 °C). Firmicutes showed significant linear increase from cold to hot environment whereas Proteobacteria followed the opposite trend. No significant correlation was observed for physicochemical parameters against the bacterial diversity. However, only temperature has shown significant positive correlation to the predominant phyla at their respective thermal gradients. The antibiotic resistance patterns correlated with temperature gradient where the prevalence of antibiotic resistance was higher in case of mesophiles than that of psychrophiles and there was no resistance in thermophiles. The antibiotic resistant genes obtained were solely from mesophiles as it conferred high resistance at mesophilic conditions enabling them to adapt and metabolically compete for survival. Our study concludes that the temperature is a major factor that plays a significant contribution in shaping the bacterial community structure in any thermal gradient edifice.

Galectin-3 Is Associated with Cardiac Fibrosis and an Increased Risk of Sudden Death.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial fibrosis is a common postmortem finding among individuals with Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD). Numerous in vivo and in vitro studies have shown that increased galectin-3 (gal3) expression into the myocardium is associated with higher incidence of fibrosis. Although elevated gal3 expression is linked with myocardial fibrosis, its role in predicting the risk of SCD is unknown. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical datasets and post-mortem examination of 221 subjects who had died suddenly. We examined myocardial pathology including the extent of cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, and the degree of coronary atherosclerosis in these subjects. In a select group of SCD subjects, we studied myocardial gal3 and periostin expression using immunohistochemistry. To further examine if a higher level of circulating gal3 can be detected preceding sudden death, we measured serum gal3 in a porcine model of subtotal coronary artery ligation which shows an increased tendency to develop lethal cardiac arrhythmias, including ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation. RESULTS: Of the total 1314 human subjects screened, 12.7% had SCD. Comparison of age-matched SCD with non-SCD subjects showed that SCD groups had excessive myocardial fibrosis involving both the left ventricular free wall and interventricular septum. In pigs with subtotal coronary artery ligation and SCD, we detected significantly elevated circulating gal3 levels approximately 10 days preceding the SCD event. Immunohistochemistry showed increased myocardial gal3 and periostin expression in pigs that died suddenly, compared to the controls. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that increased gal3 is associated with a higher risk of myocardial fibrosis and the risk of SCD. This supports the importance of larger translational studies to target gal3 to prevent cardiac fibrosis and attenuate the risk of SCD.

Baseline metagenome-assembled genome (MAG) data of Sikkim hot springs from Indian Himalayan geothermal belt (IHGB) showcasing its potential CAZymes, and sulfur-nitrogen metabolic activity.

Here we present the construction and characterization of metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs) from two hot springs residing in the vicinity of Indian Himalayan Geothermal Belt (IHGB). A total of 78 and 7 taxonomic bins were obtained for Old Yume Samdong (OYS) and New Yume Samdong (NYS) hot springs respectively. After passing all the criteria only 21 and 4 MAGs were further studied based on the successful prediction of their 16 S rRNA. Various databases were used such as GTDB, Kaiju, EzTaxon, BLAST XY Plot and NCBI BLAST to get the taxonomic classification of various 16 S rRNA predicted MAGs. The bacterial genomes found were from both thermophilic and mesophilic bacteria among which Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were the abundant phyla. However, in case of OYS, two genomes belonged to archaeal Methanobacterium and Methanocaldococcus. Functional characterization revealed the richness of CAZymes such as Glycosyl Transferase (GT) (56.7%), Glycoside Hydrolase (GH) (37.4%), Carbohydrate Esterase family (CE) (8.2%), and Polysaccharide Lyase (PL) (1.9%). There were negligible antibiotic resistance genes in the MAGs however, a significant heavy metal tolerance gene was found in the MAGs. Thus, it may be assumed that there is no coexistence of antibiotic and heavy metal resistance genes in these hot spring microbiomes. Since the selected hot springs possess good sulfur content thus, we also checked the presence of genes for sulfur and nitrogen metabolism. It was found that MAGs from both the hot springs possess significant number of genes related to sulfur and nitrogen metabolism.

Post-monsoon seasonal variation of prokaryotic diversity in solfataric soil from the North Sikkim hot spring / Variación estacional posterior al monzón de la diversidad procariótica en el suelo solfatárico de las aguas termales del norte de Sikkim

The solfataric soil sediments of the hot springs of Sikkim located at Yume Samdung and Lachen valley were studied for deciphering the bacterial diversity. The main aim here is to present a comparative study and generate a baseline data on the post-monsoon seasonal variation for the months of October and December, analyzed through 16S rRNA V3-V4 amplicon sequencing. The results have shown that there is not much variation at phylum level in the month of October in all the three hot springs such as New Yume Samdung (NYS), Old Yume Samdung (OYS), and Tarum (TAR) hot spring. The abundant phyla mainly present were Firmicutes, followed by Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. Similarly, in the month of December, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes were prevalent; however, the percent relative abundance of these phyla in the month of December is relatively less. Besides this decrease in percent abundance, it was interestingly seen that relatively more phyla were found contributing towards the bacterial diversity in the month of December. Similar to phylum level, at genus level, there was not much variation seen among various prevalent genera of the three studied hot springs in both months. The major genera prevalent in both months among all the three hot springs were followed by Bacillus, Desulfotomaculum, Lactobacillus, and Paenibacillus. A similar trend was also seen at gene level that relative abundance of various genera was higher in the month of October but more genera were found to be contributing towards bacterial diversity in the month of December. Few distinct genera were found to be more abundant in the month of December such as Rhodopirellula and Blastopirellula. The results may conclude that there is not much variation in the abundance and type of bacterial communities during the post-monsoon season in the month of October and December...(AU)

Family listening/circle program: The experience of community action projects to promote family and community wellness in three tribal communities in New Mexico.

Introduction: The Family Listening/Circle Program (FLCP) is a community-based participatory research (CBPR), culture-centered, intergenerational family strengthening program that was co-developed in partnership with the University of New Mexico's Center for Participatory Research (UNM-CPR) and three tribal communities (Pueblo of Jemez, Ramah Navajo, and Mescalero Apache) in New Mexico. The Family Listening/Circle Program brings together fourth and fifth graders, their parents, caregivers, and elders to reduce risky behaviors associated with the initiation of substance use among the youth, and to strengthen family communication and connectedness to culture and language as protective factors. Methods: The tribal research teams (TRTs) from each community worked with UNM-CPR to co-create, pilot, implement, and evaluate the tribally-specific FL/CP curricula centered in their own tribal histories, language, knowledge, visions, and actions for the future. A key component of the FL/CP involved the planning and completion of community action projects (CAPs) by participating families. During the final session of the program, the families present their community action projects on poster boards, with children leading the presentations. The TRTs and UNM team document narratives of what was shared and learned by the families. Results: The CAPs provide an empowerment and community benefit focus based on Paulo Freire's philosophy that people can become agents of change if they identify and work on issues that are important to them. The community action projects are also centered in Indigenous values and practices of reciprocity, responsibility, and being active members of the community. Discussion: The CAPs added unique contributions to the Family Listening/Circle Program as the participants' learnings were strengthened when they had the opportunity to give back to their communities. The CAPs were important to document as they illustrated the potential range of effectiveness with their capacity to empower participants to address challenges within their communities, strengthen cultural norms and values, and improve the wellbeing of community members.

Effects of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter Inhibitor Use in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients With Heart Failure.

The advances in the development of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have expanded the variety of favorable approaches to treating diabetes mellitus. It is possible to have an improvement in insulin resistance and natriuresis by inhibiting the reabsorption of sodium and glucose at the proximal tubules in the kidney, and a decrease in cardiovascular mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). In addition, SGLT2i provides renoprotection by reducing intraglomerular higher blood pressure. The usage of SGLT2i also provides hemodynamic and metabolic benefits. SGLT2i demonstrates large cardiovascular benefits in patients both with and without diabetes, as well as in existing heart failure patients. These SGLT2i have direct and indirect effects on the kidney, likely contributing to stated cardiovascular benefits. Here we review the literature on the direct effects of SGLT2 inhibitors in diabetic patients with heart failure (HF). We assume that the benefit in cardiac cells modulated by SGLT2i is due to the inhibition of sodium transporters affecting intracellular sodium homeostasis. In conclusion, the sodium transporters in cardiac cells provide, at least partly, an example of the clinical benefits of SGLT2i observed in HF patients.

ELOVL6 deficiency aggravates allergic airway inflammation through the ceramide-S1P pathway in mice.

BACKGROUND: Elongation of very-long-chain fatty acids protein 6 (ELOVL6), an enzyme regulating elongation of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids with C12 to C16 to those with C18, has been recently indicated to affect various immune and inflammatory responses; however, the precise process by which ELOVL6-related lipid dysregulation affects allergic airway inflammation is unclear. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate the biological roles of ELOVL6 in allergic airway responses and investigate whether regulating lipid composition in the airways could be an alternative treatment for asthma. METHODS: Expressions of ELOVL6 and other isoforms were examined in the airways of patients who are severely asthmatic and in mouse models of asthma. Wild-type and ELOVL6-deficient (Elovl6-/-) mice were analyzed for ovalbumin-induced, and also for house dust mite-induced, allergic airway inflammation by cell biological and biochemical approaches. RESULTS: ELOVL6 expression was downregulated in the bronchial epithelium of patients who are severely asthmatic compared with controls. In asthmatic mice, ELOVL6 deficiency led to enhanced airway inflammation in which lymphocyte egress from lymph nodes was increased, and both type 2 and non-type 2 immune responses were upregulated. Lipidomic profiling revealed that the levels of palmitic acid, ceramides, and sphingosine-1-phosphate were higher in the lungs of ovalbumin-immunized Elovl6-/- mice compared with those of wild-type mice, while the aggravated airway inflammation was ameliorated by treatment with fumonisin B1 or DL-threo-dihydrosphingosine, inhibitors of ceramide synthase and sphingosine kinase, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study illustrates a crucial role for ELOVL6 in controlling allergic airway inflammation via regulation of fatty acid composition and ceramide-sphingosine-1-phosphate biosynthesis and indicates that ELOVL6 may be a novel therapeutic target for asthma.

Post-monsoon seasonal variation of prokaryotic diversity in solfataric soil from the North Sikkim hot spring.

The solfataric soil sediments of the hot springs of Sikkim located at Yume Samdung and Lachen valley were studied for deciphering the bacterial diversity. The main aim here is to present a comparative study and generate a baseline data on the post-monsoon seasonal variation for the months of October and December, analyzed through 16S rRNA V3-V4 amplicon sequencing. The results have shown that there is not much variation at phylum level in the month of October in all the three hot springs such as New Yume Samdung (NYS), Old Yume Samdung (OYS), and Tarum (TAR) hot spring. The abundant phyla mainly present were Firmicutes, followed by Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. Similarly, in the month of December, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes were prevalent; however, the percent relative abundance of these phyla in the month of December is relatively less. Besides this decrease in percent abundance, it was interestingly seen that relatively more phyla were found contributing towards the bacterial diversity in the month of December. Similar to phylum level, at genus level, there was not much variation seen among various prevalent genera of the three studied hot springs in both months. The major genera prevalent in both months among all the three hot springs were followed by Bacillus, Desulfotomaculum, Lactobacillus, and Paenibacillus. A similar trend was also seen at gene level that relative abundance of various genera was higher in the month of October but more genera were found to be contributing towards bacterial diversity in the month of December. Few distinct genera were found to be more abundant in the month of December such as Rhodopirellula and Blastopirellula. The results may conclude that there is not much variation in the abundance and type of bacterial communities during the post-monsoon season in the month of October and December. However, this may be assumed that there is the accumulation or increase in the bacterial communities during the winter (relatively higher temperature among hot springs) and may favor few mesophilic and more thermophilic communities as well.

Steady-state chemoreflex drive captures ventilatory acclimatization during incremental ascent to high altitude: Effect of acetazolamide.

Ventilatory acclimatization (VA) is important to maintain adequate oxygenation with ascent to high altitude (HA). Transient hypoxic ventilatory response tests lack feasibility and fail to capture the integrated steady-state responses to chronic hypoxic exposure in HA fieldwork. We recently characterized a novel index of steady-state respiratory chemoreflex drive (SSCD), accounting for integrated contributions from central and peripheral respiratory chemoreceptors during steady-state breathing at prevailing chemostimuli. Acetazolamide is often utilized during ascent for prevention or treatment of altitude-related illnesses, eliciting metabolic acidosis and stimulating respiratory chemoreceptors. To determine if SSCD reflects VA during ascent to HA, we characterized SSCD in 25 lowlanders during incremental ascent to 4240 m over 7 days. We subsequently compared two separate subgroups: no acetazolamide (NAz; n = 14) and those taking an oral prophylactic dose of acetazolamide (Az; 125 mg BID; n = 11). At 1130/1400 m (day zero) and 4240 m (day seven), steady-state measurements of resting ventilation (V̇I ; L/min), pressure of end-tidal (PET )CO2 (Torr), and peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2 ; %) were measured. A stimulus index (SI; PET CO2 /SpO2 ) was calculated, and SSCD was calculated by indexing V̇I against SI. We found that (a) both V̇I and SSCD increased with ascent to 4240 m (day seven; V̇I : +39%, p < 0.0001, Hedges' g = 1.52; SSCD: +56.%, p < 0.0001, Hedges' g = 1.65), (b) and these responses were larger in the Az versus NAz subgroup (V̇I : p = 0.02, Hedges' g = 1.04; SSCD: p = 0.02, Hedges' g = 1.05). The SSCD metric may have utility in assessing VA during prolonged stays at altitude, providing a feasible alternative to transient chemoreflex tests.

The Key Role of Glutathione Compared to Curcumin in the Management of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Systematic Review.

In recent years, many documented cases of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have been on the rise. The complicated pathophysiology of the disease makes it challenging to manage. Two databases, PubMed and Google Scholar, have a detailed screening using keywords and Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) combinations. The words are "Systemic Lupus Erythematosus OR SLE OR Lupus," "Glutathione," and "Curcumin." Articles had a detailed process of screening and quality appraisal. Using the English language as a primary filtering parameter, papers over the last 20 years, dating from 2002 to 2022, are the basis of this review. We reviewed all possible human studies documenting the use of curcumin and glutathione for treating SLE. A total of 15 articles are part of this systematic review. Curcumin and glutathione can act as potent drugs for treating lupus. Curcumin can be a more promising alternative since it operates on various pathways and is a more easily accessible source.

Coexistence of Heavy Metal Tolerance and Antibiotic Resistance in Thermophilic Bacteria Belonging to Genus Geobacillus.

Hot springs are thought to be potential repositories for opportunistic infections, such as antibiotic-resistant strains. However, there is a scarcity of information on the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) uptake, occurrence, and expression in thermophilic bacteria. Furthermore, because the genesis and proliferation of ARGs in environmental microorganisms are unknown, the research on antibiotic resistance profiles and probable mechanisms in thermophilic bacteria will become increasingly important. The goals of this study are to explore bacterial diversity, antibiotic and heavy metal resistance, and the prevalence and presence of ARG and metal resistance gene (MRG) in Geobacillus species. The 16S rRNA sequencing was used to determine the culturable bacterium diversity of 124 isolates. Standard Kirby Bauer Disc Diffusion and tube dilution procedures were used to determine antibiotic sensitivity and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The tube dilution method was also used to check metal tolerance. To detect ARG and heavy MRG (HMRG), whole genome sequencing studies of the type species of the genus Geobacillus and five randomly selected Geobacillus species were performed. Graph Pad Prism and XLSTAT were used to perform statistical analyses such as ANOVA, EC50 analysis, and principal component analysis (PCA). The phylum Firmicutes and the genus Geobacillus dominated the culture-dependent bacterial diversity. Surprisingly, all thermophilic isolates, i.e., Geobacillus species, were sensitive to at least 10 different antibiotics, as evidenced by the lack of ARGs in whole genome sequencing analysis of numerous Geobacillus species. However, some of these isolates were resistant to at least five different heavy metals, and whole genome sequencing revealed the presence of MRGs in these thermophilic bacteria. The thermophilic genus Geobacillus is generally antibiotic sensitive, according to this study. In contrast, heavy metal is tolerated by them. As a result, it is possible that ARGs and MRGs do not coexist in these bacteria living in hot springs.

Bacterial diversity, physicochemical and geothermometry of South Asian hot springs.

Extreme ecosystems with enormous arrays of physicochemical or biological physiognomies serve as an important indicator of various processes occurred and/or occurring in and on the Earth. Among extreme habitats, hot springs represent geothermal features which are complex systems with a well-defined plumbing system. Besides geological tectonic based hypsography and orology annotations, the hot springs have served as hot spots for ages where there is an amalgamation of nature, religion, faith, health, and science. Thus, there remains an escalating scope to study these hot springs all over the world. The Himalayan Geothermal Belt (HGB) banquets three densely demographic countries i.e. Pakistan, India and China, that hosts numerous hot springs. Studies on the hot springs distributed over these countries reveal Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria as the predominant bacterial phyla. The bacterial diversity shows a significant positive correlation with physicochemical parameters like temperature, pH, Na+, HCO3 -, etc. Physicochemical analyses of these hot springs indicate the water mainly as Na-Cl, Na-HCO3, SO4-Cl, and mixed type, with temperature ranging approximately between 100-250°C as predicted by various geothermometers. Numerous studies although done, not much of a comprehensive database of the analysis are provided on the hot springs harboured by the HGB. This review aims to give a cumulative illustration on comparative facets of various characteristic features of hot springs distributed over the HGB. These are found to be of great importance with respect to the exploitation of geothermal energy and microflora in various sectors of industries and biotechnology. They are also important sources in terms of socio-economic perspective, and routes to eco-medical tourism.

Crude Extracts of Bacopa Monnieri Induces Dendrite Formation in Rodent Neural Stem Cell Cultures-A Possible Use in Neuronal Injury.

Background Repair of nervous tissue injury impairs positive functional outcome. Major challenges involved are formation of new neuronal cells at the site of injury, growth and development of existing or stem cell-derived neuronal cells, and proper anatomical alignment of the cells required for the functional organization of the nervous system. Stem cells and various agents have been tried to overcome the above challenges yielding only limited positive results. Bacopa has been in frequent usage for cognitive impairment in Ayurvedic medicine. The assumption that Bacopa monnieri (BM) extracts may lead to certain specific changes at the cellular structural level benefitting the central nervous system repair, prompted us for the present study. Objective This is an in vitro study evaluating the effect of BM extracts (bacopasides and analogues) on the neuronal stem cells (NSC) culture in various concentrations. The study investigates the possibility of BM as an agent for the regeneration and differentiation of nervous tissue injury. This may have clinical and therapeutic implications. Materials and Methods NSC were harvested from the newborn albino rats, Rattus norvegicus, and the BM extracts were obtained from product "brahmi" manufactured by Himalaya Drug Company. Aqueous suspension of 2 µL of alcoholic extract of BM was locally added to the culture plates of NSC in concentrations of 5, 10, and 20 µg/mL after development of NSC in the media. The control NSC (without BM) and BM-rich NSC were simultaneously observed at regular unit intervals after inoculation. The morphological change in the NSC were observed and recorded. Result NSC could be successfully cultured from the newborn rat's brain harvested at 3 and 6 hours of birth. NSCs derived at 3 hours of birth were more primitive (predominantly neurospheres) than derived those at 6 hours of birth. BM had significant positive effect on the neurospheres, that is, dendritic formation was seen in the NSC predominating when 2 µL of suspensions containing 5 and 10 µg/mL concentration of the extracts were used but showed relatively lesser effect at concentration of 20 µg/mL. The positive effect was biologically significant. Conclusion NSC can be cultured from brain of the newborn rodent. BM and its extracts act positively on NSC in terms of dendritic formation when used in proper appropriate concentration. The study opens up a new area of research and explores newer avenues in nervous tissue injury repair. It may have future clinical implication in the treatment of injury of central and peripheral nervous tissue. However, the hypothesis needs to be validated by adequate number of experimental runs as well as in vivo studies to know the reproducibility of the findings in other centers.

Advances in HPV Screening Tests for Cervical Cancer-A Review.

HPV is responsible for almost all cases of cervical cancer which in turn is one of the common causes of death among female genital malignancies. Cervical cancer being a preventable disease, screening plays a vital role in its reduction. In this era of advanced health care system and technologies this cancer is still in the increasing trend, especially in the Low and Middle Income Countries, which reflects the poor coverage of women for screening. Advances in screening tests and techniques for better and larger coverage of women is the need of the hour globally. Clinicians also need to be aware of the various promising technologies available for screening of cervical cancer precursors, application of which in general practice can be of immense help in cervical cancer reduction.

Efficacy and Safety of Medical Marijuana in Migraine Headache: A Systematic Review.

Medical marijuana treatment for migraine is becoming more common, although the legality and societal acceptance of marijuana for medical purposes in the United States have been challenged by the stigma attached to it as a recreational drug. These substances function to reduce nociception and decrease the frequency of migraine by having an impact on the endocannabinoid system. Our study reviewed the clinical response, dosing, and side effects of marijuana in migraine management. Using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we conducted a literature search in PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct, and nine studies were included in the systematic review. The studies demonstrated that medical marijuana has a significant clinical response by reducing the length and frequency of migraines. No severe adverse effects were noted. Due to its effectiveness and convenience, medical marijuana therapy may be helpful for patients suffering from migraines. However, additional clinical trials and observational studies with longer follow-ups are required to study the efficacy and safety of the drug.

A Molecular Basis Approach of Eczema and Its Link to Depression and Related Neuropsychiatric Outcomes: A Review.

"What about my eczema do I love the most? The hurt? A scratch? The humiliation of the public? Oh, there are so many options available!" Studies have shown an association between atopic eczema (AE), a common inflammatory skin condition, and an increased risk of mental health problems. Despite this, experts are still examining the causes of the links between common mental diseases (such as depression and anxiety) and skin conditions. We collected studies that were published in the past 10 years. We searched the following databases: PubMed, PubMed Central, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. Further relevant research was assessed by examining the bibliographies of eligible studies and related ones. Two reviewers looked at the titles and abstracts of the studies to see if they were eligible, and then they read the full texts. We went through eczema and depression relationships, their etiopathogenesis, molecular basis, immune response, the role of genetic factors, and possible interactions between neurons and the immune system. Another possible contributing factor could be a change in cutaneous microbiota in eczema patients. Part of the initial connection could be explained by psychological stress, which further leads to depression in eczema patients. Healthcare professionals treating eczema patients must be aware of the comorbidity of mental problems and the potential that people with poor mental health may need social or emotional support. Patients with eczema, especially youngsters, can benefit from routine health checks since they can help identify neuropsychiatric issues like depression early and lessen the burden of both physical sickness and poor mental health. Given that AE is a condition that appears to be related to depression and anxiety, more research with larger samples is needed to determine a potential role for targeted mental health screening in people with AE, as well as the possibility of mental health modification through improved AE control (e.g., using new biologic agents).