Latent tuberculosis infection is associated with an enrichment of short chain fatty acid producing bacteria in the stool of women living with HIV.

Background: Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is common in people living with HIV (PLHIV) in high TB burden settings. Active TB is associated with specific stool taxa; however, little is known about the stool microbiota and LTBI, including in PLHIV. Method: Within a parent study that recruited adult females with HIV from Cape Town, South Africa into predefined age categories (18-25, 35-60 years), we characterised the stool microbiota of those with [interferon-γ release assay (IGRA)- and tuberculin skin test (TST)-positive] or without (IGRA- and TST- negative) LTBI (n=25 per group). 16S rRNA DNA sequences were analysed using QIIME2, Dirichlet Multinomial Mixtures, DESeq2 and PICRUSt2. Results: No α- or ß-diversity differences occurred by LTBI status; however, LTBI-positives were Faecalibacterium-, Blautia-, Gemmiger-, Bacteroides-enriched and Moryella-, Atopobium-, Corynebacterium-, Streptococcus-depleted. Inferred metagenome data showed LTBI-negative-enriched pathways included several involved in methylglyoxal degradation, L-arginine, putrescine, 4-aminobutanoate degradation and L-arginine and ornithine degradation. Stool from LTBI-positives demonstrated differential taxa abundance based on a quantitative response to antigen stimulation (Acidaminococcus-enrichment and Megamonas-, Alistipes-, and Paraprevotella-depletion associated with higher IGRA or TST responses, respectively). In LTBI-positives, older people had different ß-diversities than younger people whereas, in LTBI-negatives, no differences occurred across age groups. Conclusion: Amongst female PLHIV, those with LTBI had, vs. those without LTBI, Faecalibacterium, Blautia, Gemmiger, Bacteriodes-enriched, which are producers of short chain fatty acids. Taxonomic differences amongst people with LTBI occurred according to quantitative response to antigen stimulation and age. These data enhance our understanding of the microbiome's potential role in LTBI.

A Comparative Evaluation of Pain Experience and Time of Onset of 2% Lignocaine and 4% Articaine in Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block among Pediatric Population: A Clinical Study.

Aim: The objective of this research was to conduct a comparison and evaluate the pain perception and time of onset of 2% lignocaine 1:80,000 epinephrine with 4% articaine 1:100,000 epinephrine in the pediatric population. Materials and methods: A split-mouth randomized control trial was conducted on 50 children aged 9-14 years who required inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) anesthesia for bilateral dental treatment in the mandibular arch. The time of onset was recorded when no sensation was reported even when maximum electrical stimulus was applied in an electric pulp testing (EPT). The pain perception was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) rated by the patient for subjective symptoms and face, legs, activity, cry, and consolability (FLACC) scale for objective pain rated by the operator. Results: The mean onset of time, pain-VAS, and FLACC score decreased by 1.31, 12.07, and 18.39%, respectively in 4% articaine as compared to 2% lignocaine but the difference did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05), that is, found to be statistically the same.In conclusion, it can be inferred that the utilization of 4% articaine is as potent as 2% lignocaine solution but showed slightly better onset of anesthesia and pain experience among the children although the findings were not statistically significant. Clinical significance: Local anesthesia (LA) is one of the main methods of pain management in pediatric practice which makes it essential to choose an LA agent with a shorter time of onset and less pain on administration. How to cite this article: Singh SS, Koul M. A Comparative Evaluation of Pain Experience and Time of Onset of 2% Lignocaine and 4% Articaine in Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block among Pediatric Population: A Clinical Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(1):67-71.

Analysis of the Microstructural and Mechanical Properties of 3D-Printed Removable Partial Denture Base Materials.

Background: Recent advancements in three-dimensional (3D) printing have introduced novel materials for removable partial dentures (RPD) base fabrication, promising improved mechanical properties, and biocompatibility. Materials and Methods: In this study, three different RPD base materials were evaluated: conventional heat-cured acrylic resin (Control), biocompatible 3D-printed resin (Test Group A), and a novel nanocomposite 3D-printed resin (Test Group B). A total of 30 standardized RPD base specimens (n = 10 per group) were fabricated according to established protocols. Microstructural analysis was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the mechanical properties, including flexural strength and modulus, were determined using a universal testing machine. Results: Microstructural analysis revealed distinct differences among the materials. SEM images showed a well-defined and homogeneous microstructure in Test Group B, while Test Group A exhibited fewer voids compared to the Control group. Mechanical testing results indicated that Test Group B had the highest flexural strength (120 ± 5 MPa), followed by Test Group A (90 ± 4 MPa), and the Control group (75 ± 3 MPa). Similarly, Test Group B demonstrated the highest flexural modulus (3.5 ± 0.2 GPa), followed by Test Group A (2.8 ± 0.1 GPa), and the Control group (2.1 ± 0.1 GPa). Conclusion: These findings suggest that 3D-printed RPD base materials, particularly nanocomposite resins, hold promise for improving the overall quality and durability of removable partial dentures.

Effect of Surface Topography on the Primary Stability of Miniscrew Implants in Orthodontics-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This present study has the purpose of determining how surface topography of implants affects the initial stability of miniscrew implants (MSIs). Electronic databases like PubMed Central, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library, as well as reference lists, were thoroughly searched up until September 2022. Clinical trials involving individuals who got anchorage through mini-implants, along with information on categories of mini-implants dimension, shape, thread design, and insertion site, were required as part of the eligibility criteria. Primary and secondary stability were also assessed. We carried out selection process for the study, extraction of data, quality assessment, and a meta-analysis. The qualitative synthesis included 10 papers: three randomized, four prospective, and four retrospective clinical investigations. The results of this meta-analysis demonstrate that the clinical state of MIs is controlled by their geometrical surface qualities, which are also influenced by their shape and thread design. According to the evidence this meta-analysis produced, this circumstance exists. The duration of the follow-up period and MI success rates did not correlate with one another.

Lecithin Organogel: A Promising Carrier for the Treatment of Skin Diseases.

Skin is the largest organ of the human body, as it protects the body from the external environment. Nowadays, skin diseases and skin problems are more common, and millions of people are affected daily. Skin diseases are due to numerous infectious pathogens or inflammatory conditions. The increasing demand for theoretical research and practical applications has led to the rising prominence of gel as a semisolid material. To this end, organogels has been widely explored due to their unique composition, which includes organic solvents and mineral or vegetable oils, among others. Organogels can be described as semisolid systems wherein an organic liquid phase is confined within a three-dimensional framework consisting of self-assembled, cross-linked, or entangled gelator fibers. These gels have the ability to undergo significant expansion and retain substantial amounts of the liquid phase, reaching up to 99% swelling capacity. Furthermore, they respond to a range of physical and chemical stimuli, including temperature, light, pH, and mechanical deformation. Notably, due to their distinctive properties, they have aroused significant interest in a variety of practical applications. Organogels favor the significant encapsulation and enhanced permeation of hydrophobic molecules when compared with hydrogels. Accordingly, organogels are characterized into lecithin organogels, pluronic lecithin organogels, sorbitan monostearate-based organogels, and eudragit organogels, among others, based on the nature of their network and the solvent system. Lecithin organogels contain lecithin (natural and safe as a living cell component) as an organogelator. It acts as a good penetration enhancer. In this review, first we have summarized the fundamental concepts related to the elemental structure of organogels, including their various forms, distinctive features, methods of manufacture, and diverse applications. Nonetheless, this review also sheds light on the delivery of therapeutic molecules entrapped in the lecithin organogel system into deep tissue for the management of skin diseases and provides a synopsis of their clinical applications.

Elucidation of population stratifying markers and selective sweeps in crossbred Landlly pig population using genome-wide SNP data.

The present study was aimed at the identification of population stratifying markers from the commercial porcine SNP 60K array and elucidate the genome-wide selective sweeps in the crossbred Landlly pig population. Original genotyping data, generated on Landlly pigs, was merged in various combinations with global suid breeds that were grouped as exotic (global pig breeds excluding Indian and Chinese), Chinese (Chinese pig breeds only), and outgroup pig populations. Post quality control, the genome-wide SNPs were ranked for their stratifying power within each dataset in TRES (using three different criteria) and FIFS programs and top-ranked SNPs (0.5K, 1K, 2K, 3K, and 4K densities) were selected. PCA plots were used to assess the stratification power of low-density panels. Selective sweeps were elucidated in the Landlly population using intra- and inter-population haplotype statistics. Additionally, Tajima's D-statistics were calculated to determine the status of balancing selection in the Landlly population. PCA plots showed 0.5K marker density to effectively stratify Landlly from other pig populations. The A-score in DAPC program revealed the Delta statistic of marker selection to outperform other methods (informativeness and FST methods) and that 3000-marker density was suitable for stratification of Landlly animals from exotic pig populations. The results from selective sweep analysis revealed the Landlly population to be under selection for mammary (NAV2), reproductive efficiency (JMY, SERGEF, and MAP3K20), body conformation (FHIT, WNT2, ASRB, DMGDH, and BHMT), feed efficiency (CSRNP1 and ADRA1A), and immunity (U6, MYO3B, RBMS3, and FAM78B) traits. More than two methods suggested sweeps for immunity and feed efficiency traits, thus giving a strong indication for selection in this direction. The study is the first of its kind in Indian pig breeds with a comparison against global breeds. In conclusion, 500 markers were able to effectively stratify the breeds. Different traits under selective sweeps (natural or artificial selection) can be exploited for further improvement.

Understanding the association between intimate partner violence and sexually transmitted infections among women in India: a propensity score matching approach.

BACKGROUND: Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women can significantly impact their overall health. While numerous studies in developing nations highlight the association between IPV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), the evidence available within the Indian context remains limited. Therefore, this study aims to fill this knowledge gap by investigating the relationship between exposure to different forms of IPV and the occurrence of STIs, using a quasi-experimental approach. METHODS: The study used a sample of 63 851 women aged 15-49 years from the latest National Family Health Survey-5. Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to assess the 'treatment effect' from exposure to IPV (physical, emotional or sexual) in the past 12 months on STIs. RESULTS: About 12.2% of women (95% CI: 11.7% to 12.8%) reported symptoms of STIs at the time of the survey. Approximately 31.9% (95% CI: 31.2% to 32.7%) of women reported experiencing at least one form of IPV-either physical, emotional or sexual IPV. Of all forms of IPV, physical IPV was the most prevalent, reported by 28.6%, followed by emotional IPV (13.2%) and sexual IPV (5.7%). Women who experienced any form of IPV-whether physical, sexual or emotional-reported a higher prevalence of STIs (17.8%) as compared with those who did not experience any IPV (9.5%). The findings from the PSM analysis indicated that among the three forms of IPV, the impact of sexual IPV on STIs was the most pronounced. The average treatment effect on the treated from exposure to sexual IPV on STIs was 0.15 (95% CI 0.13 to 0.17). CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence of a significant association between IPV and STIs among women in India and underscores the urgent need for intensified efforts and interventions to address both IPV and STIs, to improve the overall health and well-being of women in India.

Longitudinal Lower Airway Microbial Signatures of Acute Cellular Rejection in Lung Transplantation.

Rationale: Acute cellular rejection (ACR) after lung transplantation is a leading risk factor for chronic lung allograft dysfunction. Prior studies have demonstrated dynamic microbial changes occurring within the allograft and gut that influence local adaptive and innate immune responses. However, the lung microbiome's overall impact on ACR risk remains poorly understood. Objective: To evaluate whether temporal changes in microbial signatures were associated with the development of ACR. Methods: We performed cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses (joint modeling of longitudinal and time-to-event data and trajectory comparisons) of 16S rRNA gene sequencing results derived from lung transplant recipient lower airway samples collected at multiple timepoints. Measurements and Main Results: Among 103 lung transplant recipients, 25 (24.3%) developed ACR. In comparing samples acquired one month after transplant, subjects who never developed ACR demonstrated lower airway enrichment with several oral commensals (e.g., Prevotella and Veillonella spp.) compared to those with current or future (beyond one month) ACR. However, a subgroup analysis of those who developed ACR beyond one month revealed delayed enrichment with oral commensals occurring at the time of ACR diagnosis compared to baseline, when enrichment with more traditionally pathogenic taxa was present. In longitudinal models, dynamic changes in alpha diversity (characterized by an initial decrease and a subsequent increase) and in the taxonomic trajectories of numerous oral commensals were more commonly observed in subjects with ACR. Conclusion: Dynamic changes in the lower airway microbiota are associated with the development of ACR, supporting its potential role as a useful biomarker or in ACR pathogenesis.

Unveiling the molecular mechanisms of arsenic tolerance and resilience in the primitive bryophyte Marchantia polymorpha L.

This study addresses the pressing issue of high arsenic (As) contaminations, which poses a severe threat to various life forms in our ecosystem. Despite this prevailing concern, all organisms have developed some techniques to mitigate the toxic effects of As. Certain plants, such as bryophytes, the earliest land plants, exhibit remarkable tolerance to wide range of harsh environmental conditions, due to their inherent competence. In this study, bryophytes collected from West Bengal, India, across varying contamination levels were investigated for their As tolerance capabilities. Assessment of As accumulation potential and antioxidant defense efficiency, including SOD, CAT, APX, GPX etc. revealed Marchantia polymorpha as the most tolerant species. It exhibited highest As accumulation, antioxidative proficiency, and minimal damage. Transcriptomic analysis of M. polymorpha exposed to 40 µM As(III) for 24 and 48 h identified several early responsive differentially expressing genes (DEGs) associated with As tolerance. These includes GSTs, GRXs, Hsp20s, SULTR1;2, ABCC2 etc., indicating a mechanism involving vacuolar sequestration. Interestingly, one As(III) efflux-transporter ACR3, an extrusion pump, known to combat As toxicity was found to be differentially expressed compared to control. The SEM-EDX analysis, further elucidated the operation of As extrusion mechanism, which contributes added As resilience in M. polymorpha. Yeast complementation assay using Δacr3 yeast cells, showed increased tolerance towards As(III), compared to the mutant cells, indicating As tolerant phenotype. Overall, these findings significantly enhance our understanding of As tolerance mechanisms in bryophytes. This can pave the way for the development of genetically engineered plants with heightened As tolerance and the creation of improved plant varieties.

The relationship between viral clearance rates and disease progression in early symptomatic COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-regression analysis.

BACKGROUND: Effective antiviral drugs accelerate viral clearance in acute COVID-19 infections; the relationship between accelerating viral clearance and reducing severe clinical outcomes is unclear. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of antiviral therapies in early symptomatic COVID-19, where viral clearance data were available. Treatment benefit was defined clinically as the relative risk of hospitalization/death during follow-up (≥14 days), and virologically as the SARS-CoV-2 viral clearance rate ratio (VCRR). The VCRR is the ratio of viral clearance rates between the intervention and control arms. The relationship between the clinical and virological treatment effects was assessed by mixed-effects meta-regression. RESULTS: From 57 potentially eligible RCTs, VCRRs were derived for 44 (52 384 participants); 32 had ≥1 clinical endpoint in each arm. Overall, 9.7% (R2) of the variation in clinical benefit was explained by variation in VCRRs with an estimated linear coefficient of -0.92 (95% CI: -1.99 to 0.13; P = 0.08). However, this estimate was highly sensitive to the inclusion of the recent very large PANORAMIC trial. Omitting this outlier, half the variation in clinical benefit (R2 = 50.4%) was explained by variation in VCRRs [slope -1.47 (95% CI -2.43 to -0.51); P = 0.003], i.e. higher VCRRs were associated with an increased clinical benefit. CONCLUSION: Methods of determining viral clearance in COVID-19 studies and the relationship to clinical outcomes vary greatly. As prohibitively large sample sizes are now required to show clinical treatment benefit in antiviral therapeutic assessments, viral clearance is a reasonable surrogate endpoint.

Clinical antiviral efficacy of favipiravir in early COVID-19 (PLATCOV): an open-label, randomised, controlled, adaptive platform trial.

In early symptomatic COVID-19 treatment, high dose oral favipiravir did not accelerate viral clearance. BACKGROUND: Favipiravir, an anti-influenza drug, has in vitro antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. Clinical trial evidence to date is inconclusive. Favipiravir has been recommended for the treatment of COVID-19 in some countries. METHODS: In a multicentre open-label, randomised, controlled, adaptive platform trial, low-risk adult patients with early symptomatic COVID-19 were randomised to one of ten treatment arms including high dose oral favipiravir (3.6g on day 0 followed by 1.6g daily to complete 7 days treatment) or no study drug. The primary outcome was the rate of viral clearance (derived under a linear mixed-effects model from the daily log10 viral densities in standardised duplicate oropharyngeal swab eluates taken daily over 8 days [18 swabs per patient]), assessed in a modified intention-to-treat population (mITT). The safety population included all patients who received at least one dose of the allocated intervention. This ongoing adaptive platform trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05041907) on 13/09/2021. RESULTS: In the final analysis, the mITT population contained data from 114 patients randomised to favipiravir and 126 patients randomised concurrently to no study drug. Under the linear mixed-effects model fitted to all oropharyngeal viral density estimates in the first 8 days from randomisation (4,318 swabs), there was no difference in the rate of viral clearance between patients given favipiravir and patients receiving no study drug; a -1% (95% credible interval: -14 to 14%) difference. High dose favipiravir was well-tolerated. INTERPRETATION: Favipiravir does not accelerate viral clearance in early symptomatic COVID-19. The viral clearance rate estimated from quantitative measurements of oropharyngeal eluate viral densities assesses the antiviral efficacy of drugs in vivo with comparatively few studied patients.

A district-level geospatial analysis of anaemia prevalence among rural men in India, 2019-21.

BACKGROUND: Despite its considerable impact on health and productivity, anemia among men has received limited attention. In a country as diverse as India, characterized by extensive geographic variations, there is a pressing need to investigate the nuanced spatial patterns of anemia prevalence among men. The identification of specific hotspots holds critical implications for policymaking, especially in rural areas, where a substantial portion of India's population resides. METHODS: The study conducted an analysis on a sample of 61,481 rural men from 707 districts of India, utilizing data from the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-21). Various analytical techniques, including Moran's I, univariate LISA (Local Indicators of Spatial Association), bivariate LISA, and spatial regression models such as SLM (Spatial Lag Model), and SEM (Spatial Error Model) were employed to examine the geographic patterns and spatial correlates of anaemia prevalence in the study population. RESULTS: In rural India, three out of every ten men were found to be anemic. The univariate Moran's I value for anaemia was 0.66, indicating a substantial degree of spatial autocorrelation in anaemia prevalence across the districts in India. Cluster and outlier analysis identified five prominent 'hotspots' of anaemia prevalence across 97 districts, primarily concentrated in the eastern region (encompassing West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Odisha), the Dandakaranya region, the Madhya Pradesh-Maharashtra border, lower Assam, and select districts in Jammu and Kashmir. The results of SLM revealed significant positive association between anaemia prevalence at the district-level and several key factors including a higher proportion of Scheduled Tribes, men in the 49-54 years age group, men with limited or no formal education, individuals of the Muslim faith, economically disadvantaged men, and those who reported alcohol consumption. CONCLUSIONS: Substantial spatial heterogeneity in anaemia prevalence among men in rural India suggests the need for region-specific targeted interventions to reduce the burden of anaemia among men in rural India and enhance the overall health of this population.

Development of Rapid and Affordable Virus-Mimicking Artificial Positive Controls.

A major bottleneck in the development of detection assays is the availability of positive controls. Their acquisition can be problematic, their maintenance is expensive, and without them, assays cannot be validated. Herein, we present a novel strategy for the development of virus-mimicking artificial positive controls (ViMAPCs). The time between design and application is less than 5 days, unlike alternatives which normally take several weeks to obtain and implement. The ViMAPCs provide a realistic representation of natural infection unlike alternatives and allow for an effortless recognition of laboratory-based contamination. The feasibility and adaptability of the strategy was evaluated using several RNA and DNA plant viruses. ViMAPCs can be used in diagnostics laboratories but also in the monitoring of pathogen outbreaks where rapid response is of utmost importance.

Antiviral efficacy of molnupiravir versus ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir in patients with early symptomatic COVID-19 (PLATCOV): an open-label, phase 2, randomised, controlled, adaptive trial.

BACKGROUND: Molnupiravir and ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir are the two leading oral COVID-19 antiviral treatments, but their antiviral activities in patients have not been compared directly. The aim of this ongoing platform trial is to compare different antiviral treatments using the rate of viral clearance as the measure of antiviral effect. METHODS: PLATCOV is an open-label, multicentre, phase 2, randomised, controlled, adaptive pharmacometric platform trial running in Thailand, Brazil, Pakistan, and Laos. The component of the trial reported here was conducted in the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. We recruited low-risk adult patients aged 18-50 years with early symptomatic COVID-19 (<4 days of symptoms). Eligible patients were randomly assigned using block randomisation via a centralised web app to one of seven treatment groups: molnupiravir, ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir, casirivimab-imdevimab, tixagevimab-cilgavimab, favipiravir, fluoxetine, or no study drug. The no study drug group comprised a minimum proportion of 20% of patients at all times, with uniform randomisation ratios applied across the active treatment groups. Results for the concurrently randomised molnupiravir, ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir, and no study drug groups are reported here. The primary endpoint was the rate of oropharyngeal viral clearance assessed in a modified intention-to-treat population, defined as patients with more than 2 days of follow-up. Safety was assessed in all participants who took at least one dose of the medication. The viral clearance rate was derived under a Bayesian hierarchical linear model fitted to the log10 viral densities in standardised duplicate oropharyngeal swab eluates taken daily over 1 week (18 measurements). Treatment groups with a probability of more than 0·9 that viral clearance was accelerated by more than 20% compared with no drug entered a non-inferiority comparison (with a 10% non-inferiority margin) compared with the platform's current most effective drug. This ongoing trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05041907. FINDINGS: Between June 6, 2022, and Feb 23, 2023, 209 patients in Thailand were enrolled and concurrently randomly assigned to molnupiravir (n=65), ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir (n=59), or no study drug (n=85). 129 (62%) of the patients were female and 80 (38%) were male. Relative to the no study drug group, the rates of viral clearance were 37% (95% credible interval 16-65) faster with molnupiravir and 84% (54-119) faster with ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir. In the non-inferiority comparison, viral clearance was 25% (10-38) slower with molnupiravir than ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir. Molnupiravir was removed from the study platform when it reached the prespecified inferiority margin of 10% compared with ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir. Median estimated viral clearance half-lives were 8·5 h (IQR 6·7-10·1) with ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir, 11·6 h (8·6-15·4) with molnupiravir, and 15·5 h (11·9-21·2) with no study drug. Viral rebound occurred more frequently following nirmatrelvir (six [10%] of 58) compared with the no study drug (one [1%] of 84; p=0·018) or the molnupiravir (one [2%] of 65; p=0·051) groups. Persistent infections following molnupiravir had more viral mutations (three of nine patients had an increased number of single nucleotide polymorphisms in samples collected at 7 or more days compared with those at baseline) than after nirmatrelvir (zero of three) or no study drug (zero of 19). There were no adverse events of grade 3 or worse, or serious adverse events in any of the reported treatment groups. INTERPRETATION: Both molnupiravir and ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir accelerate oropharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 viral clearance in patients with COVID-19, but the antiviral effect of ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir was substantially greater. Measurement of oropharyngeal viral clearance rates provides a rapid and well tolerated approach to the assessment and comparison of antiviral drugs in patients with COVID-19. It should be evaluated in other acute viral respiratory infections. FUNDING: Wellcome Trust through the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator.

Phyllocoptes parviflori is a distinct species and a vector of the pervasive blackberry leaf mottle associated virus.

Several viruses are transmitted by eriophyid mites (Acariformes: Eriophyoidea) including blackberry leaf mottle-associated emaravirus (BLMaV) (Emaravirus rubi). BLMaV is transmitted by an unidentified eriophyid species and is involved in blackberry yellow vein, a devastating disease in the southeastern United States. In this study, we assessed the eriophyid mite Phylocoptes parviflori as a vector of BLMaV and clarified its taxonomic status as it was previously synonymized with Phyllocoptes gracilis. P. parviflori can efficiently transmit BLMaV. The virus was found to cause yellow vein disease symptoms on 'Ouachita' blackberry marking a paradigm shift as disease symptoms have always been associated with multiple virus infections. Therefore, we propose renaming the virus to blackberry leaf mottle virus. The occurrence of P. parviflori on wild and cultivated blackberries, as well as its ability to colonize other Rubus species, enhances its importance as a major contributor to the spread of yellow vein disease.

Decomposing the rural-urban gap in hygienic material use during menstruation among adolescent women in India.

The use of hygienic materials (sanitary napkins, locally prepared napkins, tampons, and menstrual cups) during menstruation among adolescent women in India has improved over the years, yet a significant rural-urban gap in the usage persists at the national level. This study investigates how this rural-urabn gap varies across different states and union territories (UTs) of India and uses Fairlie decomposition to quantify the contribution of various factors to this gap. The study uses data on 114,805 adolescent women (aged 15-19 years) from the fifith round of National Family Health Survey (2019-21). The utilization of hygienic materials during menstruation among adolescent women in rural India stood at 43%, whereas in urban areas, it was 68%, indicating a significant 25 percentage point (pp) difference between the two. The rural-urban gap in the hygienic material use varied significantly across Indian states and UTs. The gap exceeded 20 pp in Madhya Pradesh (36 pp), Odisha (26 pp), Jammu and Kashmir (25 pp), Assam (25 pp), Uttar Pradesh (23 pp), Jharkhand (22 pp), Chhattisgarh (21 pp), and Rajasthan (21 pp). In contrast, the gap in Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana was less than 10 pp. The decomposition analysis of the rural-urban gap (25 pp) revealed that the variables included in the anlaysis explained about 70% of the gap. The difference in the household wealth between rural and urban areas contributed about 69% of the explained gap. Other significant contributors to the explained gap were 'transportation to health facility' (5.6%), 'mass-media exposure' (4.9%), and 'level of education (4.4%). The findings underscore the necessity for state-specific interventions aimed at vulnerable groups, particularly individuals from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, those with lower levels of education, and limited exposure to mass media, in order to reduce the existing rural-urban disparity in hygienic material use among adolescent women.

Neutropenic enterocolitis in aplastic anemia - a case report from Nepal.

Introduction and importance: Neutropenic enterocolitis (NE) is a life-threatening necrotizing enterocolitis, particularly in neutropenic patients. Case presentation: We are presenting a case of a 22-year-old male who presented chief complaints of abdominal pain, reddish black stool, abdominal distention, and low-grade fever with laboratory and bone marrow findings suggestive of aplastic anemia. Computed tomography scan of the abdomen and pelvis with contrast was used to establish the diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis. Nonsurgical management including broad-spectrum antimicrobials, bowel rest, nasogastric suction, fluid and nutritional support, and blood product support, helped this patient to recover. Clinical discussion: NE is a life-threatening inflammatory condition of the small and large intestines. Typical symptoms of NE include diffuse abdominal pain, fever, and watery or bloody diarrhea. Diagnosis of NE is done by clinical and imaging findings. Management of the primary disease is important to improve the ultimate survival of the disease. Conclusion: Early identification and management of neutropenic enterocolitis help to reduce mortality.

Transfluthrin is Associated with High Susceptibility to Asthma in Children with Promoter Variants of Beta Chain of High-Affinity Receptor IgE and Tumour Necrosis Factors-α Genes.

This study investigates the genetic variations in FcεR1ß-109 C/T (rs512555) and TNF-α-308 G/A (rs1800629) genes and examines whether the mosquito repellent transfluthrin (TFT) modifies the risk for asthmatic children. A case-control study was conducted involving 130 asthmatic children and 123 age-sex matched controls. Differential leukocyte counts, IgE, and hs-CRP levels were estimated using a five-part haematology analyzer and Beckman Coulter (AU480), respectively. Genetic variations in FcεR1ß-109 and TNF-α-308 were analysed using restriction fragment length polymorphism. Serum TFT levels were measured using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Asthmatic children had significantly increased total leukocyte, neutrophil, lymphocyte, eosinophil, and basophil counts (p < 0.0001), while their monocyte counts were lower compared to controls (p < 0.0001). TFT levels were higher in asthmatic children (1.38 ± 0.91 vs. control 0.69 ± 0.41µg/L, p < 0.0001), which predominantly induced wheezing. Elevated TFT levels were associated with an increased risk of childhood asthma (OR: 3.08, p < 0.0001). Children with the FcεRIß TT (OR: 2.39, p < 0.017) and TNF-α GG genotypes (OR: 7.17, p < 0.0001) were more susceptible to asthma. TFT synergistically enhanced the risk of asthma in both FcεRIß-109 TT (OR: 5.3, p = 0.001) and TNF-α-308 GG (OR: 17.18, p < 0.0001) genotypes. TFT levels were correlated with IgE (r = 0.363; p = 0.006), hs-CRP (r = 0.324; p = 0.049) and eosinophil (r = 0.300; p = 0.038), respectively. IgE and eosinophils were correlated (r = 0.599, p = 0.001) in the FcεRIß TT genotype-carrying asthmatic children. Similarly, neutrophils and hs-CRP were correlated (r = 0.768, p < 0.0001) in asthmatic children with TNF-α GG genotype. The risk of asthma is inherently higher in children with FcεRIß TT and TNF-α GG variants. TFT exposure amplifies the risk of asthma in children among all the subgenotypes of both genes. TFT influences IgE and eosinophil in FcεRIß TT genotype while it influences neutrophils and hs-CRP in TNF-α GG genotypes.