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Deinococcus radiodurans (D. radiodurans) was accidentally discovered in 1956 when cans of ground meat were exposed to massive doses of ionizing gamma radiation, intended to kill dangerous bacteria. The bacterium can survive doses of radiation, even up to 1,000 times that which is deadly to humans. Among biologists and biophysicists, D. radiodurans is often humorously called “Conan the Bacterium.” This extreme radioresistance of the bacterium has been attributed to its ability to protect the proteome from ROS, which originates from water radiolysis, and also to carry out the effective repair of a large amount of DNA damage.

Chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is estimated to affect 58 million people worldwide and around 700,000 individuals in Brazil. Various non-invasive markers of hepatic fibrosis have been proposed, such as transient hepatic elastography (THE) using FibroScan®. However, the reliability of the performance, by operators in the training phase is undetermined, which hinders its applicability in clinical practice. Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of training an inexperienced operator to perform the examinations using FibroScan® in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Specifically, the frequency of unreliable results throughout the training was assessed. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection including compensated chronic hepatitis C patients who underwent the examinations using FibroScan® between March 2014 and December 2016, performed by two researchers. Included patients were divided into two groups based on the operator's experience in the examination: the Experienced Examiner (EE) group and the Examiner in Training (ET) group, with the latter divided into two phases: phase 1, consisting of the first 100 examinations, and phase 2, comprising subsequent examinations. For the reliability analysis, parameters such as success rate (SR), interquartile range (IQR) to median (Md) ratio (IQR/Md), and reliability criteria of Castéra, et al. and Boursier, et al. were used. Results: Between March 2014 and December 2016, 771 adult HCV-infected individuals were evaluated and divided into EE group (n = 161), ET phase 1 (n = 100), and ET phase 2 (n = 158), showing similar demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics. SR and IQR/Md ratios were similar among EE, ET phase 1, and ET phase 2 groups. The proportion of reliable results was comparable in all three groups, using Castéra, et al. reliability criteria (92.5%, 92.0%, and 97.5%, respectively) and Boursier, et al. criteria (96.9%, 95.0%, and 98.1%, respectively). Conclusion: A short training period (up to 100 examinations) seems to be sufficient for them to have good clinical applicability in the hands of an operator with initial experience in the method

Urine typically has an amber-yellow color due to the amorphous pigment urochrome, a distinct scent, and an average pH of 6.0, which is somewhat acidic. Green urine can result from drug intake, dyes, infections, adverse drug reactions, and other causes. Less than 1% of propofol users experience green urine, a rare and benign side effect. The green tint in urine is caused by the phenolic metabolites of propofol. In this case, a 33-year-old man diagnosed with organophosphorus poisoning and aspiration pneumonia had been given a modest dose of propofol sedation for six hours and began to exhibit green urine. After five hours of halting the propofol infusion, the urine returned to its usual color. Healthcare practitioners should be aware of this unusual but safe side effect of propofol.

The presence of heavy metals (HMs) on Earth is essential to all forms of life. These metals are essential for plant and animal development but can have numerous negative effects on the living environment. In this review, we looked at where HMs come from, why they are harmful, and how they affect plants. Articles indexed in Google Scholar, PubMed, Research Gate, Science Direct, and a few books on heavy metals were consulted for this study. Heavy metals are essential for plant development and growth. According to this analysis, the hazardous effects of HMs are on the rise all throughout the globe, and this trend may be attributed mostly to human activity. Because of its impact on agricultural productivity and environmental changes, soil pollution caused by HMs is among the most crucial elements. Plants have evolved very sophisticated defense systems to deal with these environmental challenges. The threat that HM stress poses to plants has attracted a lot of attention worldwide because it could stunt agriculture’s long-term expansion. In spite of their importance for plants, this study found that HMs pose a significant threat to plant life. The novelty of this review lies in its detailed examination of both the beneficial and detrimental roles of HMs, providing a balanced perspective often overlooked in current literature. The significance of this work is underscored by its potential to inform sustainable agricultural practices and environmental management strategies, as it highlights the delicate balance required to harness the benefits of HMs while mitigating their risks. Despite their necessity for plant development, this review underscores the significant risks HMs pose to plant health and ecosystems.Less than 10 cases have been reported in the literature of the association of germline BRCA1 and Squamous cell Carcinoma – the esophagus. The article focuses on the probable pathogenesis of BRCA1 mutation with non-classic malignancies and the response of Poly adenosine diphosphate ribose polymerase inhibitors (PARP) inhibitors in such a scenario. We report an unusual manifestation of the BRCA1 gene with second primary oesophageal squamous cell cancer occurring five years later to triple-negative breast cancer.

Chronic bacterial prostatitis is a commonly diagnosed genitourinary infection that presents significant challenges both in diagnosis and treatment. In an upcoming era of antibiotic resistance, and limited therapeutic options it becomes imperative to revise current guidelines and to provide more effective treatment strategies. At the Eliava Phage Therapy Center (Tbilisi, Georgia) we utilize bacteriophage therapy as an alternative approach against chronic bacterial infections. Bacteriophages, viruses that target and lyse specific bacterial cells, can be used as a stand-alone treatment or in conjunction with antibiotics. We present a case report of a patient with prostatitis caused by Escherichia coli infection, who prior to addressing our clinic, has been receiving antibiotic therapy without any positive effect. Our approach of combined use of antibiotics and phages was successful not only in complete clinical improvement but also in total bacterial eradication. This outcome shows the potential of bacteriophage therapy as a valuable adjunct to conventional antibacterials in the management of prostatitis.

Dentistry is a challenging and demanding physical profession, and this impacts not only the quality of the task outcomes but also the professional’s quality of life. The nature of dentistry demands prolonged static and awkward seated postures, frequent motions, positioning struggles, and working distances to the oral cavity for strategic procedure management, which become cumulative challenges over the working days, prone to discomfort, pain, or injuries, and musculoskeletal disorders for the operator.The limitations of the naked eye in dentistry, particularly in terms of visual information and resolution, underscore the need for visual aids. These aids are crucial for achieving the precision required for accurate procedures. Also, visual aids, such as magnifying loupes and the operative microscope, have been in the market for a while, and their proper use has shown ergonomic benefits that promote a neutral working posture and changes in work practice-oriented to control unbalanced awkward posture and motions.In this study, the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment RULA compares the posture between naked-eye dentistry, conventional loupes, and operative microscope, and with the observational assessment, determine the risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders and the need for priority of change. The Rodgers muscle fatigue analysis RMFA is used to predict fatigue in the muscular regions of the body during specific dental tasks.

In the last years, there has been an increase in the prescription of drugs in pediatry as a pharmaceutical form of oral suspension. The same is true in commerce there are various producers that provide specific ready-for-use excipients to make more easier to prepare OS in the galenic laboratory. The aim of this work is to verify the advantages of this pharmaceutical form to cover pediatric dosages vs. other forms and also to overcome shortcomings of some crucial registered drugs. In this work scientific literature is reported that also relates to some ready-for-use products as bases-vehicle for suspension and some formulations of interest.

Wheat bran and groundnut shell powder have been used to study the mechanism of diclofenac sodium adsorption from aqueous solution using batch as well as column modes and maximum uptake is 84.3% for wheat bran and 82.4% for groundnut shell powder at pH 6, drug concentration 1mg/L at 298 K for 30min. Isotherm and error analysis reveals that Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms fitted well. Kinetic studies show that the adsorption process follows second-order kinetics and thermodynamic study shows endothermic adsorption process. Column adsorption study is important for industrial scale adsorption and column studies have been carried out using vertical bed and sequential bed adsorption columns at pH 6 which is the optimum pH for maximum adsorption for batch experiments. Vertical and sequential bed columns setup is simple and economical which provides flow under gravity. The effect of varying inlet feed concentration and flow rate on the breakthrough and exhaustion time of columns has been studied to determine the bed capacities of both columns. Thomas model and Yoon-Nelson models fitted well with experimental data for continuous flow column studies.

Treatment for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) remains elusive. 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (DHF), an analog of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and a high-affinity TrkB agonist, has been proposed as a viable therapeutic alternative to BDNF in crossing the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) and promoting growth, differentiation, maintenance, and survival of neurons. Here, we expand on our previous study investigating the therapeutic role of DHF on the cortical and hippocampal brain regions of the Tg26 mice, an animal model of HAND. We detected increased immunoreactivity for ion channels (SUR1, TRPM4) and the water channel aquaporin-4 (AQP4), suggesting an ionic and osmotic imbalance in the brains of Tg26 mice. Tg26 mice also exhibited loss of synaptic stability (SYN, SYP) and nicotinamide metabolism (NAMPT, SIRT1) that were associated with astrogliosis. Furthermore, Tg26 mice demonstrated increased iNOS and reduced HO-1/NRF2 expressions, implicating increased ER and oxidative stress. DHF treatment in Tg26 mice reversed these pathological changes. These data suggest crosstalk among TrkB, Akt, and related transcription factors (NF-κB, STAT3, and NRF2) as an underlying mechanism of Tg26-associated pathology in the brain. Finally, taken together with our prior study, these results further highlight a therapeutic role of DHF in promoting neuroprotection in HAND that may be applied in conjunction with current antiviral therapies.

Background: Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in India have increased from 37.9% in 1990 to 61.8% in 2016. They are slowly progressive are of long duration and are responsible for more than 50% of the global burden of disease Very few studies have been conducted that studied the prevalence of risk factors in non-communicable diseases among medical students. The authors observed that most of the students are at risk of developing NCDs, and the cumulative effect of risk factors bundles up and eventually leads to disease as students advance through their lives.Aim and objectives: (i) To estimate the prevalence of risk factors of NCD amongst medical students, (ii) To study the association between various risk factors and NCDs in study subjects.Settings and design: A cross-sectional analytical study involving 362 undergraduate students of Rama Medical College using simple random sampling.Material and methods: The study used a pretested structured questionnaire which was conducted by using the WHO NCD steps approach.Statistical analysis used: Data analysis was done by using M S Excel and software SPSS version 26.Results: Our study results showed that physical activity is Prevalent in female students at 51% and in male students at 48.9%, almost equal. Junk food consumption had an overall prevalence of 69.34% of females outnumbering males in junk food consumption. The association of BMI with NCD as a risk factor was statistically significant in the current 75 smokers only.Conclusion: There is a huge opportunity to reduce modifiable risk factors and NCD among our future doctors by encouraging them to change their behavior-related lifestyles such as smoking habits, alcohol use, junk food, etc.

This article examines the relationship between Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), neurovascular dynamics, and sensory sensitivities in autistic women during menstruation. The redirection of blood flow to the uterus during the menstrual cycle has been found to exacerbate cerebral perfusion deficits in neurodivergent individuals, particularly in the Prefrontal Cortex (PFC), which contributes to the mood dysregulation and emotional instability characteristic of PMDD. Autistic women, who often exhibit heightened sensory sensitivities, experience intensified discomfort during menstruation, as sensory overload and altered pain perception compound the emotional challenges of PMDD. These findings emphasize the need for neurodivergent-friendly menstrual products that mitigate both physical and emotional discomfort. Additionally, innovations using biodegradable materials, smart fabrics, and custom-fit menstrual solutions are discussed as potential breakthroughs to improve the quality of life for autistic women managing PMDD. This research highlights the importance of addressing both neurobiological and sensory aspects when designing interventions for PMDD in neurodivergent populations.

Uvular injuries are uncommon after general anesthesia and can result from direct trauma to the posterior part of the soft palate or compression and restriction of blood flow to the uvula caused by the inadvertent placement of the airway or suction devices in the oral cavity. There have been cases of inflammation and ulceration occurring in the midline oropharyngeal structures such as the uvula after general anesthesia with a tube or laryngeal mask airway, even in the absence of direct trauma or infection, presumably due to compression ischemia. While sore throat following general anesthesia is a common symptom, it is important to evaluate any severe or persistent pain to exclude uvulitis. Here we present a case of uvulitis that developed after the insertion of a flexometallic endotracheal tube using the midline technique during C-Mac video laryngoscopy. We also emphasize the measures that can be implemented to prevent such a complication. The entrapment of the uvula during intubation often goes unnoticed due to limited oral space after insertion of the video laryngoscope blade, with the intubating anesthetist staying focused on the monitor. This complication following the use of a C-Mac video laryngoscope has not been previously documented.

According to a 2022 systematic review on the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in general hospitals, it was estimated that approximately one-third of medical inpatients present with a coinciding psychiatric condition. However, other studies have reported that a low rate of patients actually obtain an inpatient psychiatric consult; and even fewer patients receive a consultation when it would not be traditionally indicated. Therefore, we have seen an emergence of the use of Proactive Consultation-Liaison (C-L) Psychiatry across many hospital settings. This model of care utilizes systematic screening for active mental health concerns, proactive interventions tailored to individual patients, team-based delivery, and care integration with primary services to provide psychiatric consultation earlier. This study conducted a focused PubMed search to review the research to date on proactive C-L psychiatry and its impact on hospital length of stay (LOS) in patients over 18 years old. Results show a consequential reduction in average hospital LOS when proactive C-L psychiatry services are used compared to reactive, on-request consultation services. A shortened LOS is seen with this practice when there is a quicker time for consultation or referral. Thus, there is evidence of proactive C-L psychiatry’s success in decreasing average hospital LOS and improving patient care. Additional studies are necessary to determine its significance, as little research to date has been completed on the topic. It is recommended to expand the scope of investigation to different patient populations, including but not limited to pediatrics and patients without an underlying mental health illness.

The torsional deformation behavior of an elastic bar with a circular cross-section was investigated by applying invariant dyadic analysis, where the small finite displacement functions advocated by Saint-Venant (1855) were fully employed. It was found that the previously overlooked circumferential shear force field generated by pure torsion on the side walls of a bar produces an unusual torque term induced by the skew-symmetric part of the deformation tensor and exhibits quadratic length dependence along the z-axis of the bar. The adaptation of this torque term for a helical conformation of α-peptides creates moments acting on the circular cross-sections and is directed along the surface normal of circular cross-sections, which coincides with the tangent vector of the helix. The projection of this torque along the z-axis of the helix varies quadratically with the azimuthal angle. The radial component of the unusual torque, which also lies along the principal normal vector of the helix, starts to perform a precession motion by tracking a spiral orbit around the z-axis, whereas its apex angle decreases asymptotically with the azimuthal angle and finally reaches a finite value depending on the height of the helix along the z-axis. The ordinary torque terms, which are also deduced from the self- and anti-self-conjugate parts of the deformation tensor, have magnitudes half that of the full torque term reported in the literature. The present results were applied to the helical conformation of α-peptides designated by {3.611} to show that the mechanical stability of strained open-ended helical conformations can be successfully achieved by spontaneous readjustments of the surface and bulk Helmholtz free energies under isothermal isochoric conditions. It has been demonstrated that the main contribution to the mechanical stability of α-peptide 3.611 cannot come alone from the electrostatic dipole-dipole interaction potential of the anti-align excess dipole pairs but also from the surface Helmholtz free energy, which is characterized by a binding free energy of -15.5 eV/molecule (-32.56 Kcal/mole) for an alpha-peptide composed of 11 amino acid residues with a critical arc length of approximately 10 nm, assuming that the shear modulus is G = 1GPa and the surface Helmholtz specific free energy density is fs = 800 erg/cm2. This result was in excellent agreement with the experimental observations of the AH-1 conformation of (Glu)n Cys at pH 8. The present theory indicates that only two excess permanent anti-align dipole pairs for one α-Helical peptide molecule is requirement to stabilize the whole secondary structure of the protein that is exposed to heavy torsional deformation during the folding processes which amounts to 7.75 eV/molecule stored electrostatic energy compared to the interfacial Helmholtz free energy of -23.25 eV/molecule, which is exposed to hydrophobic environments.

A recurrent miscarriage may be defined in the African context as the foetal demise of two or more successive pregnancies before the attainment of the age of viability. A literature review was done to assess the trend of recurrent miscarriage in sub-Saharan Africa. Identifying the main causes, considering the population at risk, and the availability of accurate diagnostic utilities to effectively ensure good management of recurrent miscarriage is an important gynaecologic issue. Over the years, studies have identified several etiologies and yet there’s been no tangible implementation of therapeutic strategies. Routine modifications should also be employed to develop new approaches to reproductive prognosis. There is notably scanty information on the cases of spontaneous abortion due to chromosomal abnormalities. Genetic and immunological factors should be considered in the work-up plan for women with RM. About 70% of the cases of RM are considered unexplained, and this may be due to limited resources. We concluded that there is relatively poor management of miscarriage and cases of missed and inaccurate diagnosis of the causes of spontaneous abortion in sub-Saharan Africa. More studies are needed in order to assess the extent of genetic induced miscarriage, where resources are limited, folic acid supplements should be provided for pregnant women.

Background: The frequency of latex allergy is increasing, posing a major health problem. This increase is related to the widespread use of latex materials and cross-reactions between latex proteins and certain foods. This cross-reactivity makes latex avoidance difficult, and latex sensitization is likely to worsen atopic conditions. Objective: The authors evaluated the role of latex sensitization in the poor control of asthma and rhinitis. Methodology: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 1860 patients of all ages and genders, followed up for allergic asthma and rhinitis since March 2012 in the Immuno-Allergology Unit of the Cocody University Hospital in Abidjan. Prick tests with native extracts and the European standard battery were performed to identify allergenic sensitization. The impact of latex sensitization on asthma and rhinitis control was assessed by calculating odds ratios. Results: A high frequency of latex sensitization was associated with asthma and rhinitis. The risks of poor control were related to monosensitization to latex and were even higher in the context of polysensitization. Conclusion: The impact of latex sensitization on the progression of asthma and rhinitis has been well demonstrated. It is recommended to integrate the latex sensitization status into the therapeutic management strategy of these two pathologies.

Carbon footprint refers to the total amount of greenhouse gas emitted in the atmosphere by an individual or by an organization causing global warming. There are various causes of greenhouse gas emissions and anaesthetic gases are one amongst them. Greenhouse gases warm the earth by absorbing infrared energy and slowing the rate at which the energy escapes into space. Each greenhouse gas has two important properties. One is the amount of infrared energy that a gas can absorb and the other is the lifetime of that gas in the atmosphere. Anaesthesia as a speciality contributes to carbon footprinting in three ways: direct emission, energy use, and operating room wastes and supplies. Direct emission of Waste Anaesthetic Gases (WAG) from anaesthesia workstations can either be scavenged and thrown out into the environment causing a green greenhouse gas effect or can pollute the operating room due to poor scavenging. Various techniques such as reducing direct emissions, energy use optimisation, and waste management have been tried in minimising carbon footprint in anaesthesia practice but providing safety to the patient is considered of utmost importance.

Calorie restriction has been shown to slow the aging process in numerous organisms including primates. Caloric excess states, such as type 2 diabetes, are associated with accelerated aging and the incidence and severity of chronic diseases. The nutrient-sensing pathways and intestinal microbiome are important systems that affect aging and chronic disease development. This manuscript reviews the various pathways involved with aging and chronic disease development and examines the pharmacological manipulation of these systems which appear to slow aging and the chronic diseases of aging in experimental model organisms and collaborating human data when available. Finally, the abundance of experimental and human data suggesting the newer diabetic medications, the sodium-glucose transport inhibitors, are potent anti-aging agents is provided.

Numerous instances of consecrated communion wafers turning into human tissue and blood have been reported throughout history and the contemporary international media, referred to as Eucharistic miracles. Various suggestions have been put forth to explain such phenomena, ranging from miraculous to natural. Here, a novel demonstration is provided showing that the appearance of a bleeding host can occur by placing ordinary, non-consecrated wafers under similar conditions as described for many of these events. Using basic forensic methods, distinctions between ensuant reddish areas and genuine blood were noted. In previous studies with miracle wafers, isolated DNA was resistant to amplification with human-specific primers, which has been attributed to its divine nature. The current study shows that multiple types of non-human DNA existed in unconsecrated wafers, providing an alternative explanation for such findings. Finally, a minimal protocol of scientific examination is outlined to aid in the standardization of such investigations in the future, including a distinctive approach to authenticate the genuine shared origin of such occurrences.

Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV) can infect pigs of any age, but the disease severity varies significantly, particularly affecting neonatal piglets due to their immature immune system. Various vaccination strategies have been questioned for their efficacy, especially since outbreaks have occurred even on vaccinated farms. Recent suggestions indicate that exposure to the virus may enhance the effectiveness of inactivated vaccines, highlighting the potential benefits of using attenuated viruses to generate immunity in sows without prior exposure. This study aimed to evaluate the humoral and cytokine responses in pregnant sows and their piglets after inoculation of affected piglet intestinal contents and a virus isolated. We measured immune parameters such as IL-12, IL-22, IgG, and IgA, as well as neutralizing antibodies in serum, colostrum, and milk. Notably, higher titers of neutralizing antibodies were found in sows immunized with the viral inoculum, while IL-12 and IL-22 levels showed no significant differences. Additionally, we assessed productive parameters like total piglets born, weaning mortality, average birth weight, and stillborn rates. The results indicated that sows treated with affected piglet intestinal contents had higher mortality (48.31%) and stillborn rates (20.96%) compared to those receiving the isolated virus (30.02% and 10.44%, respectively). These findings suggest that using an isolated virus can offer a safe, long-lasting, and specific immune response, underscoring the importance of thorough analysis of both systemic and mucosal immune responses against PEDV.