Alien genome mobilization and fixation utilizing an apomixis mediated genome addition (AMGA) strategy in Pennisetum to improve domestication traits of P. squamulatum

An approach to release 'frozen' variability in apomictic species using sexuality of another species, eventually its utilization in crop improvement and de-novo domestication of crop wild relatives is presented. Pennisetum squamulatum, a secondary gene pool species of pearl millet (P. glaucum), harbours many desirable traits. However, it was neither utilized to improve pearl millet fodder traits nor improvement of its own domestication traits was attempted, due to the complexities of genomes and apomictic reproduction. To overcome this, we followed an Apomixis Mediated Genome Addition (AMGA) strategy and utilized the contrasting reproductive capacities (sexuality and apomixis) of both the species to access the otherwise un-available variability embedded in P. squamulatum. Segregating population of interspecific hybrids exhibited significant variability and heterosis for desired morphological, agronomical, and nutritional traits. Elite apomictic and perennial hybrids were evaluated in breeding trials, and eventually a novel grass cultivar was released for commercial cultivation in India. The performance of newly developed cultivar was superior to other adapted perennial grasses of arid and semi-arid rangelands. Through AMGA, the sexuality of one species was successfully utilized to 'release' the 'frozen' variability embedded in another species. Subsequently, the hybrids representing desirable trait combinations were again 'fixed' utilizing the apomixis alleles from the male parent in a back-and-forth apomixis-sexual-apomixis selection cycle. This study also demonstrated the potential of AMGA to improve crop relatives through genomes introgression as well as de novo domestication of new crops from wild species.

Impact of smoking-induced dysregulated human miRNAs in chronic disease development and their potential use in prognostic and therapeutic purposes

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are evolutionary conserved small noncoding RNA molecules with a significant ability to regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level either through translation repression or messenger RNA degradation. miRNAs are differentially expressed in various pathophysiological conditions, affecting the course of the disease by modulating several critical target genes. As the persistence of irreversible molecular changes caused by cigarette smoking is central to the pathogenesis of various chronic diseases, several studies have shown its direct correlation with the dysregulation of different miRNAs, affecting numerous essential biological processes. This review provides an insight into the current status of smoking-induced miRNAs dysregulation in chronic diseases such as COPD, atherosclerosis, pulmonary hypertension, and different cancers and explores the diagnostic/prognostic potential of miRNA-based biomarkers and their efficacy as therapeutic targets.

Opioid withdrawal delirium without convulsions: A Rare Case report

Introduction

Opioid withdrawal symptoms classically include severe muscle cramps, bone aches, autonomic symptoms, anxiety. Patients seldom have other complications like delirium and convulsions unless they have comorbid medical illnesses.

Objectives

We hereby report a case of opioid withdrawal delirium.

Methods

A 20-year-old man with dependence for opiods and nicotine was admitted after compete history and mental status and physical examination, last intake for both substances 2 days back. There was no history of fever, head injury, siezures and other substance use. All investigations done were normal and urine drug screen was negative for other substances. Treatment was started with clonidine and quetiapine for sleep and Nsaids on prn basis. After 2 days there was hallucinatory behaviour, agitation, fleeting episodes of recognising family members, hearing voices and decreased sleep observed. Patient required sedation with 10 mg of lorazepam and haloperidol before he went to sleep.Later on lorazepam 8 mg in divided doses and clonidine was tapered off gradually and patient as discharged on naltrexone 50mg.

Results

In our case we could not find any other reason for delirium.These complications are rare feature of delirium, parker et all reported 5 such cases. One of limitations was we didnt do blood alcohol levels which could have ruled out alcohol use.

Conclusions

This case is unique in terms of presenting with delirium without convulsions after 4 days of abstinence. No associated comorbidities, organic causes, and other substance use in dependence pattern or recently used. Use of a street variety (mixed with impurities) could be a risk factor for delirium in our patient.Psychiatrist need to be aware of complication.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Tumor Suppressor microRNAs in Gastrointestinal Cancers: A Mini-Review

BACKGROUND

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer is associated with a group of cancers affecting the organs in the GI tract, with a high incidence and mortality rate. This type of cancer development involves a series of molecular events that arise by the dysregulation of gene expressions and microRNAs (miRNAs).

OBJECTIVES

This mini-review focuses on elucidating the mechanism of tumor suppressor miRNA-mediated oncogenic gene silencing, which may contribute to a better understanding of miRNA-mediated gene expression regulation of cell cycle, proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis in GI cancers. In this review, the biological significance of tumor suppressor miRNAs involved in gastrointestinal cancers is briefly explained.

METHODS

The articles were searched with the keywords 'miRNA', 'gastrointestinal cancers', 'esophageal cancer', 'gastric cancer', 'colorectal cancer', 'pancreatic cancer', 'liver cancer', and 'gall bladder cancer' from the Google Scholar and PubMed databases. A total of 71 research and review articles have been collected and referred for this study.

RESULTS

This review summarises recent research enhancing the effectiveness of miRNAs as novel prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic markers for GI cancer treatment strategies. The expression pattern of various miRNAs has been dysregulated in GI cancers, which are associated with proliferation, cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion.

CONCLUSION

The role of tumor suppressor miRNAs in the negative regulation of oncogenic gene expression was thoroughly explained in this review. Its potential role as a microRNA therapeutic candidate is also discussed. Profiling and regulating tumor suppressor miRNA expression in gastrointestinal cancers using miRNA mimics could be used as a prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic marker, as well as an elucidating molecular therapeutic approach to tumor suppression.

Measurement of Two-Particle Correlations of Hadrons in e^{+}e^{-} Collisions at Belle

The measurement of two-particle angular correlation functions in high-multiplicity e^{+}e^{-} collisions at sqrt[s]=10.52  GeV is reported. In this study, the 89.5  fb^{-1} of hadronic e^{+}e^{-} annihilation data collected by the Belle detector at KEKB are used. Two-particle angular correlation functions are measured in the full relative azimuthal angle (Δϕ) and three units of pseudorapidity (Δη), defined by either the electron beam axis or the event-shape thrust axis, and are studied as a function of charged-particle multiplicity. The measurement in the thrust axis analysis, with mostly outgoing quark pairs determining the reference axis, is sensitive to the region of additional soft gluon emissions. No significant anisotropic collective behavior is observed with either coordinate analyses. Near-side jet correlations appear to be absent in the thrust axis analysis. The measurements are compared to predictions from various event generators and are expected to provide new constraints to the phenomenological models in the low-energy regime.

Measurement of the Nucleon F_{2}^{n}/F_{2}^{p} Structure Function Ratio by the Jefferson Lab MARATHON Tritium/Helium-3 Deep Inelastic Scattering Experiment

The ratio of the nucleon F_{2} structure functions, F_{2}^{n}/F_{2}^{p}, is determined by the MARATHON experiment from measurements of deep inelastic scattering of electrons from ^{3}H and ^{3}He nuclei. The experiment was performed in the Hall A Facility of Jefferson Lab using two high-resolution spectrometers for electron detection, and a cryogenic target system which included a low-activity tritium cell. The data analysis used a novel technique exploiting the mirror symmetry of the two nuclei, which essentially eliminates many theoretical uncertainties in the extraction of the ratio. The results, which cover the Bjorken scaling variable range 0.19<x<0.83, represent a significant improvement compared to previous SLAC and Jefferson Lab measurements for the ratio. They are compared to recent theoretical calculations and empirical determinations of the F_{2}^{n}/F_{2}^{p} ratio.

Serum Leptin Correlates with Obesity But Does Not Differ Between Gestational Diabetes and Normal Glucose Tolerance during 24-28 Weeks of Gestation

Leptin is an adipocytokine secreted by adipocytes which positively correlates with obesity. It is considered as a potential mediator for precipitating Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) which is more evident during 24-28 weeks of gestation. This study was conducted to see serum leptin level during 24-28 weeks of gestation in GDM at the Department of Endocrinology, BSMMU, Bangladesh from March 2019 to August 2020. Pregnant women (N=108) were challenged with 75gm oral glucose (OGTT) at 24-28 weeks of gestation and divided into GDM [n=45, age: 27.80±3.98 years, mean±SD; BMI: 27.88 (24.46-30.43) kg/m², median Interquartile range (IQR)] and normal glucose tolerance [NGT; n=62, age: 26.19±5.30 years, mean±SD; BMI: 25.80 (23.65-28.42) kg/m², median (IQR)] on basis of WHO-2013 diagnostic criteria. Fasting serum leptin and glucose were measured by ELISA and glucose oxidase method respectively. No statistically significant difference was found between GDM and NGT for leptin [26.05(16.92-50.55) vs. 23.50(14.95-38.30) median (IQR), p=0.360]. It was also not different statistically between GDM and NGT either for age groups (p=NS for all) or for Asian categories of BMI subgroups (p=NS for all). However, it was higher in subjects with BMI ≥23kg/m² than that with BMI ≤23kg/m² for both GDM [16.65 (6.39, 35.75) vs. 28.35 (19.60, 51.10) median (IQR), p=0.114] and NGT [14.65(9.19, 19.60) vs. 26.00 (17.30, 43.40) median (IQR), p=0.002]. It was also statistically similar in the GDM subgroups divided by Asian BMI cut-off (p=NS). BMI correlated with leptin in NGT (r=0.495, p<0.001) but not in GDM (r=0.177, p=0.251) and regression analysis revealed BMI (kg/m²) as predictor for high leptin (p=0.008). ROC curve analysis for leptin showed AUC for GDM was 0.553 (p=0.360) suggesting it as a poor predictor. It is concluded that fasting leptin in 24-28 weeks of gestation better relates with BMI but does not differ between GDM and NGT anddoes not seem to be a good predictor for GDM. Further study is required to make a comment on its prediction over GDM.

Citizen seismology helps decipher the 2021 Haiti earthquake

The August 14, Mw7.2, Nippes earthquake in Haiti occurred within the same fault zone as its devastating, Mw7.0, 2010 predecessor but struck the country when field access was limited by insecurity and conventional seismometers from the national network were inoperative. A network of citizen seismometers installed in 2019 provided near-field data critical to rapidly understand the mechanism of the mainshock and monitor its aftershock sequence. Their real-time data define two aftershock clusters that coincide with two areas of coseismic slip derived from inversions of conventional seismological and geodetic data. Machine learning applied to data from the citizen seismometer closest to the mainshock allows us to forecast aftershocks as accurately as with the network-derived catalog. This shows the utility of citizen science contributing to the understanding of a major earthquake.

Search for a Light Higgs Boson in Single-Photon Decays of ϒ(1S) Using ϒ(2S)→π^{+}π^{-}ϒ(1S) Tagging Method

We search for a light Higgs boson (A^{0}) decaying into a τ^{+}τ^{-} or μ^{+}μ^{-} pair in the radiative decays of ϒ(1S). The production of ϒ(1S) mesons is tagged by ϒ(2S)→π^{+}π^{-}ϒ(1S) transitions, using 158×10^{6} ϒ(2S) events accumulated with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric energy electron-positron collider. No significant A^{0} signals in the mass range from the τ^{+}τ^{-} or μ^{+}μ^{-} threshold to 9.2  GeV/c^{2} are observed. We set the upper limits at 90% credibility level (C.L.) on the product branching fractions for ϒ(1S)→γA^{0} and A^{0}→τ^{+}τ^{-} varying from 3.8×10^{-6} to 1.5×10^{-4}. Our results represent an approximately twofold improvement on the current world best upper limits for the ϒ(1S)→γA^{0}(→τ^{+}τ^{-}) production. For A^{0}→μ^{+}μ^{-}, the upper limits on the product branching fractions for ϒ(1S)→γA^{0} and A^{0}→μ^{+}μ^{-} are at the same level as the world average limits, and vary from 3.1×10^{-7} to 1.6×10^{-5}. The upper limits at 90% credibility level on the Yukawa coupling f_{ϒ(1S)} and mixing angle sinθ_{A^{0}} are also given.

Engineered titania nanomaterials in advanced clinical applications

Significant advancement in the field of nanotechnology has raised the possibility of applying potent engineered biocompatible nanomaterials within biological systems for theranostic purposes. Titanium dioxide (titanium(IV) oxide/titania/TiO₂) has garnered considerable attention as one of the most extensively studied metal oxides in clinical applications. Owing to the unique properties of titania, such as photocatalytic activity, excellent biocompatibility, corrosion resistance, and low toxicity, titania nanomaterials have revolutionized therapeutic approaches. Additionally, titania provides an exceptional choice for developing innovative medical devices and the integration of functional moieties that can modulate the biological responses. Thus, the current review aims to present a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of TiO₂-based nanotherapeutics and the corresponding future challenges.

Screening the efficacy of extracts of different spices in inhibiting the growth of foodborne bacterial isolates

Owing to the presence of a diverse group of phytochemicals, spices could be potential sources of antibacterial and antioxidant agents. The present investigation was aimed to determine and compare the antimicrobial activities of different spices. A total of 5 spices including cardamom (Seeds, Elettaria cardamomum), cinnamon (Barks, Cinnamomum verum), clove (Flower buds, Syzygium aromaticum), Indian bay leaf or Tejpat (Dried leaves, Cinnamomum tamala), and cumin (Seeds, Cuminum cyminum) were collected. Different extracts (crude, aqueous, ethanolic, and methanolic) of spices were prepared and examined for antimicrobial activity against previously isolated foodborne bacterial isolates. Extracts from the tested spices showed significant inhibitory effects (mostly with >10 mm mean zone of inhibition) as revealed by the agar well diffusion technique. Clove among the tested spices was found to be the prominent one in eliminating foodborne pathogens. Methanolic extracts followed by ethanolic extracts were determined to be most effective against the bacterial isolates when the relative effectivity of different extracts was compared. The frequently encountered minimal inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations of the spices were 12 and 24 mg/mL, respectively. All the spice extracts showed considerable antimicrobial traits which validate their potential and applicability as natural food preservatives and decontaminants.

A Brief Review on the Regulatory Roles of MicroRNAs in Cystic Diseases and Their Use as Potential Biomarkers

miRNAs are small endogenous conserved non-coding RNA molecules that regulate post-transcriptional gene expression through mRNA degradation or translational inhibition, modulating nearly 60% of human genes. Cystic diseases are characterized by the presence of abnormal fluid-filled sacs in the body, and though most cysts are benign, they can grow inside tumors and turn malignant. Recent evidence has revealed that the aberrant expression of a number of miRNAs present in extracellular fluids, including plasma or serum, urine, saliva, follicular fluid, and semen, contribute to different cystic pathologies. This review aims to describe the role of different miRNAs in three worldwide relevant cystic diseases: polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), polycystic kidney disease (PKD), and pancreatic cyst tumors (PCTs), as well as their potential use as novel biomarkers.

The Emerging Role of MicroRNAs in Bone Diseases and Their Therapeutic Potential

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small (20-24 nucleotides), highly conserved, non-coding RNA molecules whose main function is the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression through sequence-specific manners, such as mRNA degradation or translational repression. Since these key regulatory molecules are implicated in several biological processes, their altered expression affects the preservation of cellular homeostasis and leads to the development of a wide range of pathologies. Over the last few years, relevant investigations have elucidated that miRNAs participate in different stages of bone growth and development. Moreover, the abnormal expression of these RNA molecules in bone cells and tissues has been significantly associated with the progression of numerous bone diseases, including osteoporosis, osteosarcoma, osteonecrosis and bone metastasis, among others. In fact, miRNAs regulate multiple pathological mechanisms, including altering either osteogenic or osteoblast differentiation, metastasis, osteosarcoma cell proliferation, and bone loss. Therefore, in this present review, aiming to impulse the research arena of the biological implications of miRNA transcriptome in bone diseases and to explore their potentiality as a theragnostic target, we summarize the recent findings associated with the clinical significance of miRNAs in these ailments.

Identification of microRNAs from Medicinal Plant Murraya koenigii by High-Throughput Sequencing and Their Functional Implications in Secondary Metabolite Biosynthesis

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNA molecules that play crucial post-transcriptional regulatory roles in plants, including development and stress-response signaling. However, information about their involvement in secondary metabolism is still limited. Murraya koenigii is a popular medicinal plant, better known as curry leaves, that possesses pharmaceutically active secondary metabolites. The present study utilized high-throughput sequencing technology to investigate the miRNA profile of M. koenigii and their association with secondary metabolite biosynthesis. A total of 343,505 unique reads with lengths ranging from 16 to 40 nt were obtained from the sequencing data, among which 142 miRNAs were identified as conserved and 7 as novel miRNAs. Moreover, 6078 corresponding potential target genes of M. koenigii miRNAs were recognized in this study. Interestingly, several conserved and novel miRNAs of M. koenigii were found to target key enzymes of the terpenoid backbone and the flavonoid biosynthesis pathways. Furthermore, to validate the sequencing results, the relative expression of eight randomly selected miRNAs was determined by qPCR. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the M. koenigii miRNA profile that may provide useful information for further elucidation of the involvement of miRNAs in secondary metabolism. These findings might be crucial in the future to generate artificial-miRNA-based, genetically engineered M. koenigii plants for the overproduction of medicinally highly valuable secondary metabolites.

Measurement of Differential Branching Fractions of Inclusive B→X_{u}ℓ^{+}ν_{ℓ} Decays

The first measurements of differential branching fractions of inclusive semileptonic B→X_{u}ℓ^{+}ν_{ℓ} decays are performed using the full Belle data set of 711  fb^{-1} of integrated luminosity at the ϒ(4S) resonance and for ℓ=e, μ. With the availability of these measurements, new avenues for future shape-function model-independent determinations of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element |V_{ub}| can be pursued to gain new insights in the existing tension with respect to exclusive determinations. The differential branching fractions are reported as a function of the lepton energy, the four-momentum-transfer squared, light-cone momenta, the hadronic mass, and the hadronic mass squared. They are obtained by subtracting the backgrounds from semileptonic B→X_{c}ℓ^{+}ν_{ℓ} decays and other processes, and corrected for resolution and acceptance effects.

Phytochemicals mediated modulation of microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs in cancer prevention and therapy

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are two main categories of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) that can influence essential biological functions in various ways, as well as their expression and function are tightly regulated in physiological homeostasis. Additionally, the dysregulation of these ncRNAs seems to be crucial to the pathogenesis of human diseases. The latest findings indicate that ncRNAs execute vital roles in cancer initiation and progression, and the cancer phenotype can be reversed by modulating their expression. Available scientific discoveries suggest that phytochemicals such as polyphenols, alkaloids, terpenoids, and organosulfur compounds can significantly modulate multiple cancer-associated miRNAs and lncRNAs, thereby inhibiting cancer initiation and development. However, despite promising outcomes of experimental research, only a few clinical trials are currently being conducted to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of these compounds. Nevertheless, understanding phytochemical-mediated ncRNA regulation in cancer and the underlying molecular mechanisms on tumor pathophysiology can aid in the development of novel therapeutic strategies to combat this deadly disease.

Precise Measurement of the D^{0} and D^{+} Lifetimes at Belle II

We report a measurement of the D^{0} and D^{+} lifetimes using D^{0}→K^{-}π^{+} and D^{+}→K^{-}π^{+}π^{+} decays reconstructed in e^{+}e^{-}→cc[over ¯] data recorded by the Belle II experiment at the SuperKEKB asymmetric-energy e^{+}e^{-} collider. The data, collected at center-of-mass energies at or near the ϒ(4S) resonance, correspond to an integrated luminosity of 72  fb^{-1}. The results, τ(D^{0})=410.5±1.1(stat)±0.8(syst)  fs and τ(D^{+})=1030.4±4.7(stat)±3.1(syst)  fs, are the most precise to date and are consistent with previous determinations.

Search for B^{+}→K^{+}νν[over ¯] Decays Using an Inclusive Tagging Method at Belle II

A search for the flavor-changing neutral-current decay B^{+}→K^{+}νν[over ¯] is performed at the Belle II experiment at the SuperKEKB asymmetric energy electron-positron collider. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 63  fb^{-1} collected at the ϒ(4S) resonance and a sample of 9  fb^{-1} collected at an energy 60 MeV below the resonance. Because the measurable decay signature involves only a single charged kaon, a novel measurement approach is used that exploits not only the properties of the B^{+}→K^{+}νν[over ¯] decay, but also the inclusive properties of the other B meson in the ϒ(4S)→BB[over ¯] event, to suppress the background from other B meson decays and light-quark pair production. This inclusive tagging approach offers a higher signal efficiency compared to previous searches. No significant signal is observed. An upper limit on the branching fraction of B^{+}→K^{+}νν[over ¯] of 4.1×10^{-5} is set at the 90% confidence level.

774 Paediatric Appendicitis Score (PAS): A Local Trial of a Risk Prediction Pathway

Aim

Right iliac fossa (RIF) pain remains the commonest acute general surgical presentation in children. Our centre had been an outlier compared with the national average in terms of negative appendicectomy rates. Thus, we designed and implemented a local pathway for risk stratification and management of children with RIF pain.

Method

The first phase was a retrospective analysis of all appendicectomies performed between April 2018 and March 2019, in children aged five to seventeen years old. Pre-operative inflammatory markers, clinical signs, and histology findings were analysed. Second phase involved designing a pathway utilizing Paediatric Appendicitis Score (PAS), a ten-point scoring system when assessing children with RIF pain. The final phase was a prospective analysis of appendicectomy results performed between August and November 2019, after implementing PAS pathway.

Results

92 cases were recruited in the first phase (mean age 12.3). 22 cases were analysed in the final phase after implementing PAS pathway (mean age 10.9). Our negative appendicectomy rates had reduced from 25% to 15.4%. In addition, we found that 96% of positive appendicectomies had either raised inflammatory markers (WCC or CRP), raised PAS (Score of ≥ 4), or both.

Conclusions

There is noticeable difference in our negative appendicectomy rates since the introduction of PAS pathway. A diagnosis of appendicitis in a child with normal inflammatory markers and PAS score seemed unlikely. Our goal is to continue utilizing the PAS pathway in our department in order to reduce unnecessary surgeries in children.

Enhanced solid-state plasmon catalyzed oxidation and SERS signal in the presence of transition metal cations at the surface of gold nanostructures

The effect of several metal cations (Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺) on the photochemical conversion of 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP) into 4,4'-dimercaptoazobenzene (DMAB) is probed using surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The coupling reaction is carried out on the surface of Au nanoparticles and Au nanorods using 532 nm and 632.8 nm laser excitations, respectively, in the absence and presence of metal cations. Here, we report that DMAB formation on the surface of Au nanostructures - when carried out in the solid state - is augmented significantly (by a factor of 1.98 to 4.07 and 3.34 to 5.74 for Au nanoparticle and Au nanorod substrates, respectively, and depending on the metal). Furthermore, the SERS signal is also markedly enhanced. Thus, the results underpin a new way of carrying out a photochemical reaction with a higher yield along with a higher SERS signal.