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Microplastics (MPs) pose a significant risk to human health, particularly through seafood consumption. Once ingested, MPs can spread from the digestive system to other organs via phagocytosis and endocytosis, leading to toxicological effects. Accumulation of MPs in tissues causes swelling, blockages, oxidative stress, and Cytotoxicity. Studies show MPs alter metabolism, disrupt immune function, and contribute to autoimmune diseases. Chronic exposure has been linked to neurotoxicity, vascular inflammation, and increased cancer risk due to DNA damage. MPs can cross biological barriers, including the placenta, affecting fetal development. Additionally, they serve as vectors for pollutants and bacteria, further complicating health risks. MPs in the bloodstream can trigger inflammatory responses, endothelial adhesion, and red blood cell coagulation, leading to cardiovascular complications. In vitro studies indicate MPs impair renal function and cause long-term inflammation in distal tissues. Moreover, oxidative stress caused by MPs plays a critical role in carcinogenicity. Despite growing evidence of adverse health effects, further research is necessary to understand the full impact of MPs’ exposure on human health and develop effective mitigation strategies.

A poison is a substance capable of causing illness or harm to a living organism upon contact or introduction to the body. Toxins and venoms are poisons of biological origin, with the latter usually reserved to describe the bites or stings of poisonous animals. In India, the suicide rate is 18.5 suicide deaths for every 100,000 people. The majority (79%) of suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries. Ingestion of poison is one of the most common modes of suicide in low and middle-income countries such as India [1].

Cannabis poses a growing public health challenge in Nigeria, affecting various groups, including students. Evidence shows a significant prevalence of Cannabis use among students nationwide, yet limited research has focused on university students, particularly in the Southeast region. This study aimed to assess the extent of Cannabis use and its impact on students at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire randomly distributed to select undergraduate students from the Faculties of Arts, Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Health Sciences. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 27. Out of 377 participants, 113 (30%) reported using Cannabis. Female students accounted for 35.5% of the respondents, while males made up 65.5%. "Weed" emerged as the most prevalent form/identifier of Cannabis prevalent amongst students. The study identified the frequency and patterns of its use, with a majority (41.8% of the Cannabis users) reporting to use it occasionally. It went ahead to establish the various motivations for Cannabis use, including peer influence, confidence building, emotional issues, and recreational purposes, as well as the influence of the media on its prevalence. The media influenced 15.9% of users, while the leading motivation for Cannabis use was peer pressure (33.33%), and followed by emotional challenges (27.27%). Negative mental health effects were reported by 18.3% of users, while 25.8% experienced disrupted Sleep patterns as a result of Cannabis use. Additionally, 58.7% observed a significantly increased appetite as a result of the use of Cannabis. Consequently, engineering students exhibited the highest prevalence of Cannabis use (86.2%) compared to other faculties, and female students (68.5%) were found to be more significantly represented among Cannabis users than their male counterparts (50.2%). These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions and faculty-specific strategies to address Cannabis use, while also paying attention to gender-specific factors contributing to its prevalence.

Objective: Comparison of visual field progression in patients with Primary Open-angle Glaucoma (POAG) and Pseudo Exfoliative Glaucoma (PEXG).Methods and materials: This is a 2-year longitudinal prospective study including 60 glaucomatous eyes with VA CF ≥ 3 m, IOP ≥ 20 mmHg, CDR ≥ 0.6 and those with Shaffer’s grade 3 or above were categorized as POAG along with signs of Pseudo exfoliative material as PEXG.Patients on anti-glaucoma medications and those who have undergone cataract and glaucoma surgeries are also included in this study. 24-2 visual field test was performed using Humphrey Field Analyzer & the progression was assessed based on 3 parameters- Mean Deviation (MD), Visual Field Index (VFI) & Guided Progression Analysis (GPA).Results: The difference in MD & VFI was higher in PEXG (-5.77 dB) (10.88%) than in POAG (-1.56 dB) (7.17%) respectively & was significant statistically (t - test, p = < 0.001). The GPA showed fast progression in 53.30% of cases in PEXG, 13.30% in POAG (Chi-square, p = < 0.001) about 63.30% of POAG & 46.70% of PEXG showed slow- moderate progression, but 23.30% of POAG subjects had no progression.Conclusion: Compared to POAG, the study showed that PEXG had frequent & faster visual field worsening. Therefore, PEXG patients require more stringent management & treatment than those with POAG.

Hereditary Hemochromatosis (HH) is an inherited recessive autosomal disorder characterized by the accumulation of excess iron. When iron-binding proteins become saturated, concentrations of free or Non-transferrin-bound iron (NTBI) rise, a condition thought to be responsible for the adverse effects associated with HH. To investigate whether disturbing iron homeostasis plays a role in free radical injury in HH, protein carbonyls were found to be 1-7 times higher in patients with HH than in controls, with the greatest increases observed in untreated HH patients with high ferritin and > 90% transferrin saturation with iron. An unpaired t-test revealed a p value of 0.0278 (p < 0.05), which is considered statistically significant.In vitro oxidation of transferrin standards with hydrogen peroxide and excess iron, followed by immobilized trypsin digestion (Poroszyme), high-resolution LC-MS/MS analysis (Q-TOF Ultima, Waters), and MS/MS data processing (PEAKS, Bioinformatics Solution), identified several tryptic peptides containing oxidized Methionine (Met), Tryptophan (Trp), and Histidine (His) residues. Using the same methodology, oxidized residues were subsequently detected in transferrin isolated from plasma samples of patients severely affected by HH. Comparison of MS/MS spectra of in vitro oxidized samples with the most fragment ion peaks in common with oxidized peptide MS/MS spectra from patient samples revealed a strong correlation between the two. These data show that elevated NTBI may be involved in the oxidative modification of transferrin and that such modifications may play a significant role in the pathophysiology of HH.

Background: Endometrial Thickness (EMT) is considered an important prognostic factor in assisted reproductive technology (ART), particularly in frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles. Thin endometrium (< 7 mm) is often associated with implantation failure and reduced pregnancy rates, although its precise impact remains controversial.Objective: This thesis summary evaluates the role of thin endometrium in FET cycles, discusses etiologies, diagnostic modalities, treatment approaches, and reviews available patient data.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 69 patients who underwent FET at Saveetha Medical College. Endometrial thickness was assessed via transvaginal ultrasound. Various treatment strategies including hormonal therapies (estradiol, progesterone), vasoactive agents, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), L-arginine, sildenafil citrate, vitamin E, pentoxifylline, and stem cell therapy were reviewed for their efficacy in improving endometrial receptivity.Results: Endometrial thickness < 7 mm correlated with lower pregnancy rates compared to patients with thickness ≥ 7 mm. Hormonal and adjuvant therapies reported varying degrees of success in improving EMT and subsequent pregnancy outcomes. Vascularity, angiogenesis, and Doppler studies also demonstrated a significant association with endometrial receptivity.Conclusion: Thin endometrium remains a critical challenge in ART cycles. Multimodal therapeutic approaches may improve outcomes; however, larger prospective studies are required to establish standardized protocols. Our patient data support that even minimal increases in EMT can enhance implantation success.

Preterm birth, defined as delivery before 37 weeks of gestation, remains a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality globally. One of the developmental challenges in preterm infants is the immaturity of the sucking-swallowing-breathing triad, which hinders successful oral feeding. Non-Nutritive Sucking (NNS) is an innate reflex in neonates that involves sucking motions without the intake of nutrition. This behaviour, often facilitated by pacifiers or a gloved finger, plays a vital role in neurodevelopment, feeding maturity, and physiological regulation in preterm infants. Recent studies also highlight its psychological and lactational benefits for mothers. This review presents a synthesis of current evidence supporting NNS as a low-cost, non-invasive intervention with multidimensional benefits for both preterm infants and their mothers.

Some preliminary results of studies on the assessment of the possibilities and prospects for obtaining products with a high Antioxidant Activity Index (AOA) from the waste of the coffee beverage production industry - "silver skin" (SC, silverskin, CS) are presented.The obtained data on the extraction of SC with aqueous-alcoholic extractants, the effect of extraction conditions on the yield of extracts, and extractive substances are discussed. It is reported on the production of dry powders of extracts that retain their properties during long-term storage.Data on the antioxidant properties of both liquid and dry forms of extracts are presented and good AOA of the studied objects is noted in comparison with the "standard" antioxidant - rosemary extract, and it is also shown that the AOA of dry forms of extracts can be increased by doping with synergists - polyphenols of natural genesis. The antioxidant activity of the obtained compositions was studied on real objects - animal fats and natural dyes, the results of which confirmed the prospects of the studied antioxidants (AO) for practical purposes.

Bifurcation analysis and Multiobjective Nonlinear Model Predictive Control (MNLMPC) calculations were performed on a model of circadian oscillations of the Period (PER) and Timeless (TIM) proteins in Drosophila. The MATLAB program MATCONT was used to perform the bifurcation analysis. The optimization language PYOMO was used along with the state-of-the-art global optimization solvers IPOPT and BARON for the MNLMPC calculations. The bifurcation analysis revealed oscillation causing Hopf bifurcations while the MNLMPC calculations revealed the existence of spikes in the control profiles. Both Hopf bifurcation points and the control profile spikes were eliminated using an activation factor involving the hyperbolic tangent function.