Frequency Of Psychiatric Illnesses And Opinion/Vantage Of Patients Attending Neurology Out-Patient Department.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the Frequency of psychiatric illnesses in patients with neurological conditions, and to take their opinion about psychiatric disorders. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted from June 1 to August 30, 2021, at the Neurology Outpatient Department of Allied Hospital, Faisalabad, Pakistan, and comprised patients of either gender aged 12-70 years from among those visiting the outpatient clinic. Data was collected through interviews and the 41-item Depression Anxiety Stress Scale. Data was analysed using SPSS 21. RESULTS: Of the 201 patients, 160(79.6%) were females and 41(20.4%) were males. The overall mean age was 34.5+/- 9.38 years. Primary neurological problem was headache 119(59.2%). Overall, 155(77.2%) patients met the criteria of psychiatric disorders; 55(27.4%) anxiety, 37(19.4%) had depressive disorder, 42(20.8%) mixed anxiety depressive disorder, and 19(9.5%) had other psychiatric illnesses. Also, 101(50.2%) patients lacked awareness about psychiatry illnesses, 35(17.4%) had fear of stigma, and 28(13.9%) had misconceptions. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of psychiatric disorders among those visiting the neurology outpatient department was high, and was associated with negative views about such illnesses.

Perceived social support and psychological well-being among patients with epilepsy.

This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the relationship between perceived social support and psychological well-being in patients with epilepsy. The study was conducted, from January to December 2019, after ethical approval from the research ethical committee of FMU (Faisalabad Medical University, Faisalabad). A sample of 90 patients, attending free epilepsy camp in Mujahid Hospital Madina Town Faisalabad and psychiatry OPD of government General hospital G.M. Abad Faisalabad, was collected by using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (Urdu version). Moreover, Psychological well-being was assessed by Ryff Scale. Statistical analysis was done through data Correlation and T-test SPSS version 21. A positive correlation between psychological well-being and perceived social support in epileptic patients was established (p<0.001). This study concludes that on the one hand, strong social support enhances psychological well-being, while, on the other hand, both these factors collaboratively improve the mental health of PWE, thus promoting a better outcome.

An Optimized Hyperparameter of Convolutional Neural Network Algorithm for Bug Severity Prediction in Alzheimer's-Based IoT System.

Softwares are involved in all aspects of healthcare, such as booking appointments to software systems that are used for treatment and care of patients. Many vendors and consultants develop high quality software healthcare systems such as hospital management systems, medical electronic systems, and middle-ware softwares in medical devices. Internet of Things (IoT) medical devices are gaining attention and facilitate the people with new technology. The health condition of the patients are monitored by the IoT devices using sensors, specifically brain diseases such as Alzheimer, Parkinson's, and Traumatic brain injury. Embedded software is present in IoT medical devices and the complexity of software increases day-by-day with the increase in the number and complexity of bugs in the devices. Bugs present in IoT medical devices can have severe consequences such as inaccurate records, circulatory suffering, and death in some cases along with delay in handling patients. There is a need to predict the impact of bugs (severe or nonsevere), especially in case of IoT medical devices due to their critical nature. This research proposes a hybrid bug severity prediction model using convolution neural network (CNN) and Harris Hawk optimization (HHO) based on an optimized hyperparameter of CNN with HHO. The dataset is created, that consists of the bugs present in healthcare systems and IoT medical devices, which is used for evaluation of the proposed model. A preprocessing technique on textual dataset is applied along with a feature extraction technique for CNN embedding layer. In HHO, we define the hyperparameter values of "Batch Size, Learning Rate, Activation Function, Optimizer Parameters, and Kernel Initializers," before training the model. Hybrid model CNN-HHO is applied, and a 10-fold cross validation is performed for evaluation. Results indicate an accuracy of 96.21% with the proposed model.

Silencing a Myzus persicae Macrophage Inhibitory Factor by Plant-Mediated RNAi Induces Enhanced Aphid Mortality Coupled with Boosted RNAi Efficacy in Transgenic Potato Lines.

Myzus persicae causes considerable losses to crops as a major pest. The damage is direct by feeding and also partly indirect because it vectors plant viruses. The currently available control strategies rely on unsafe and nonecofriendly chemical pesticide applications. Plant-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) has emerged as a powerful tool in crop protection from insect pests. Aphid salivary proteins are essential for phloem feeding and act as mediators of the complex interactions between aphids and their host plants. We documented the efficacy of dsRNA directed against macrophage inhibitory factor (MIF1) of M. persicae to induce aphid mortality and gene silencing through the generation of transgenic potato lines. A binary construct harbouring dsMIF1 driven by the CaMV35S promoter was introduced into the local potato variety 'AGB-white' by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. PCR and Southern blotting validated the transgene presence and genomic integration in seven transgenic potato lines. An in vitro detached leaf assay revealed a significantly high aphid mortality of 65% in the transgenic potato line sDW-2, while the aphid mortality was 77% in the sDW-2 transgenic line during the in planta bioassay in comparison with 19% aphid mortality in the control nontransgenic potato line. A significantly high silencing effect was observed in the mRNA expression of MIF1, which was reduced to 21% in aphids fed on the transgenic potato line sDW-2. However, variable knockdown effects were found among six other transgenic potato lines, ranging from 30 to 62%. The study concluded that plant-mediated silencing of aphid RNA induces significant RNAi in M. persicae, along with enhanced aphid mortality.

Expression of ice recrystallization inhibition protein in transgenic potato lines associated with reduced electrolyte leakage and efficient recovery post freezing injury.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is considered to be frost-susceptible as short spells of frost can reduce the tuber yield and quality. Ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI) protein helps prevent growth of ice crystals in the cell apoplast during frost and help prevent damage associated with freezing stress. In this study, we investigated the in planta potential of Lolium perenne derived IRI3 transgene in improving the tolerance of transgenic potato lines for freezing stress. The codon optimized IRI3 transgene was introduced into potato cultivar Diamant through Agrobacterium mediated transformation. Three transgenic potato lines were successfully generated which were confirmed for transgene insertion and genomic integration by polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot. It was evident that the IRI3 transcript decreased in initial 24 h of cold stress treatment while the IRI3 mRNA expression up regulated in subsequent hours of cold treatment with maximum increase to 20 folds at 96 h post stress. A similar trend was also revealed in ion-leakage assay which showed that during cold stress, the transgenic potato lines depicted reduced ion leakage of 14-22% as compared to non-transgenic control plants. Further, the generated transgenic potato lines were tolerant to the frost spell in quarantine field conditions as compared to the non-transgenic potato lines. Additionally, the transgenic lines exhibited efficient recovery post frost injury in field conditions. The biochemical profiles of chlorophyll, proline and higher levels of antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase, Catalase) activity and malondialdehyde levels showed that despite the phenotypic impact of low temperature, the transgenic potato lines quickly adjusted to maintain their cellular homeostasis post freezing stress by increasing the antioxidant defenses. This study suggests that up regulation of IRI3 transcript and regulatory network of cold stress response in transgenic potato lines improve frost tolerance and help stabilize yield in cultivated potato.

Evaluation of Larvicidal Efficacy of Ricinus communis (Castor) Plant Extract and Synthesized Green Silver Nanoparticles against Aedes albopictus.

BACKGROUND: Aedes mosquitoes are the most important group of vectors having ability of transmitting pathogens including arboviruses that can cause serious diseases like Chikungunya fever, Dengue fever and Zika virus in human. Biosynthesis and the use of green silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is an important step in the search of reliable and ecofriendly control of these vectors. METHODS: In this study an aqueous leaves extract of Ricinus communis (castor) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized from this extract were evaluated as larvicidal agent for 2nd and 3rd instar larvae of the Aedes albopictus. Different concentrations (50, 100, 150, 200 and 250ppm) of plant extract and synthesized nanoparticles were prepared and applied on second and third instar larvae. The percent mortality was noted after 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42 and 48H of exposure and subjected to probit analysis to calculate LC50 and LC90. RESULTS: Synthesized Ag+ nanoparticles were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (XRD). The nanoparticles were more toxic against larvae of Ae. albopictus with LC50 value (49.43ppm) and LC90 value (93.65ppm) for 2nd instar larvae and LC50 (84.98ppm) and LC90 (163.89ppm) for 3rd instar larvae as compared to the plant extract (149.58ppm, 268.93ppm) and (155.58ppm, 279.93ppm) for 2nd and 3rd instar larvae of Ae. albopictus respectively after 48H. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest the extract of R. communis and synthesized nanoparticles as excellent replacement of chemical pesticides to control the vector mosquitoes.

Advances in exogenous RNA delivery techniques for RNAi-mediated pest control.

Climate change imposes a great threat to world food security and encourages insect pest proliferation and spreading. Because of these challenges, identifying novel biotechnology pest management and its applications is inevitable. RNA interference (RNAi) is a gene regulatory process used for the maintenance and regulation of host defences against invading viruses. Nevertheless, it is widely used for the analysis of gene function. In recent years, the potential use of RNA interference (RNAi) as a tool for manipulating crop traits, as well as an alternative for crop protection, has undergone outstanding developments. In this review, we describe some genes involved in insect dsRNA uptake and discuss the reasons for varying RNAi response in insect pests, emphasizing the presence of nucleases and double-stranded RNA binding protein. We explore recent breakthroughs in innovative dsRNA delivery for efficient and effective knockdown in insect pests. Conclusively, topical delivery of dsRNA combined with a nanoparticle complex holds great potential for RNAi-mediated pest control.

Resistance to Chilo infuscatellus (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea) in transgenic lines of sugarcane expressing Bacillus thuringiensis derived Vip3A protein.

Sustainable agriculture requires management of insect pests through resistance development. The biological potential of Cry toxins and Vip protein, derived from Bacillus species, is widely recognized in this context. The identification, evaluation of new insecticidal protein genes with different mode of action and entomotoxicity against sugarcane stem borer (Chilo infuscatellus) is important to overcome evolved insect resistance. In this study, we reported the generation of transgenic sugarcane lines expressing Vip3A toxin driven by polyubiquitin promoter for resistance against sugarcane stem borer. The V0 transgenic sugarcane plants were initially characterized by GUS histochemical staining, PCR and Southern blot assays that confirmed genetic transformation of twelve independent sugarcane lines. Variable transgene expression was found among transgenic sugarcane lines when revealed through Realtime quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) with highest in S10 line while minimum was observed in V5 line. A similar expression pattern was observed in transgenic sugarcane lines for Vip3A protein concentration which ranged from 5.35 to 8.89 µg/mL. A direct correlation was observed between the Vip3A protein and Vip3A transgene expression in the transgenic sugarcane lines. In in-vitro insect bioassay on V1, Vip3A transgenic sugarcane lines exhibited high resistance to C. infuscatellus with upto 100% mortality compared to the control sugarcane line. Our findings suggest that a single copy insertion of Vip3A gene in transgenic sugarcane lines render them resistant to borer and these lines can be potentially used for generation of insect resistant transgenic sugarcane and could also be employed in gene pyramiding with Bt toxin to prolong resistance.

Identification and validation of potential reference gene for effective dsRNA knockdown analysis in Chilo partellus.

Chilo partellus is an invasive polyphagous pest that has not been effectively managed with chemical pesticides. To select potential dsRNAs for use in an alternate control strategy, it is crucial to identify and evaluate stable reference genes for knockdown expression studies. This study evaluates the expression stability of seven candidate reference genes in C. partellus larvae fed on crude bacterially-expressed dsRNAs and purified dsRNAs at different time intervals, as well as the developmental stages and sexes. The expression stabilities of the reference genes were evaluated with different software programmes, such as BestKeeper, NormFinder, deltaCt, geNorm, and RefFinder. The overall results rank ELF as the most stably expressed reference gene when larvae were fed with crude bacteria-induced dsRNAs and purified dsRNA. However, Tubulin and HSP70 were more stable under different developmental stages and sexes. The expression levels of larvae that were fed crude bacteria-induced dsRNAs of Chitinase and Acetylcholinesterase were normalized with the four most stable reference genes (ELF, HSP70, V-ATPase and Tubulin) and the least stable reference gene (18S and HSP70) based on the geNorm algorithm. The least stable reference gene showed inconsistent knockdown expression, thereby confirming that the validation of a suitable reference gene is crucial to improve assay accuracy for dsRNA-targeted gene selection in C. partellus.

Mini Review - Epigenetics: Quest for no-escape to HIV, a persistent pathogen.

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a disease infection mix, which is primarily because of 'deficient' immune system. Human Immune-deficiency Virus (HIV) makes the immune system susceptible to many infections by infiltrating it. Many researchers believe that HIV is a mutated form of Simian Immune-deficiency Virus (SIV). After being clinically discovered in 1981 in America, it is said to have caused 36 million deaths. Treatment of AIDS has been a 'burning ' issue ever since its discovery. There is no cure for AIDS! Although, Recombinant Transcriptase Inhibitors (RTis) are being considered a major treatment against HIV that can not only lessen the effect of HIV but also can prolong the life of HIV positive patients. More recent advancement includes 'transplantation of transgenic stem cells' in HIV positive patients. As latency of HIV provirus in host genome is the preeminent weapon of this virus against RTis that compel it to hide from host immune system and a persistent pathogen thereof. Thus, epigenetic activation of latent provirus pool by methyl inhibitors along with non¬toxic chemical drugs seems to be a more promising treatment to avoid the burden of lifelong RTI.