Category: Nevin Manimala

Arch Microbiol. 2023 Dec 27;206(1):44. doi: 10.1007/s00203-023-03779-3.

ABSTRACT

Prodigiosin is a red pigment commonly produced as a secondary metabolite by Serratia marcescens. It exhibits inherent bioactivities, including antimicrobial and anticancer, with low to no toxic effects on normal cells. The present study investigates a bioactive prodigiosin production from an atypical, red-pigmented, potentially novel Janthinobacterium sp. ERMR3:09 isolated from a glacial moraine. Statistically optimized culture parameters, i.e., w/v 1.0% glucose and 0.08% peptone as carbon and nitrogen sources, temperature 20 °C, and media pH 7, resulted in a four-fold increase in the pigment yield. The upscaled production in an 8 L volume resulted in higher pigment production within a shorter period of 48 h. The ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) analysis validated the identity of the purified pigment as prodigiosin that showed thermostability at 75 °C for 3 h. Evaluation of antimicrobial activity showed potent inhibitory effects (> 50%) against the opportunistic pathogenic fungal and Gram-positive bacterial strains. The pigment showed significant cytotoxicity (p < 0.05) towards A549 and HeLa cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 42.2 μM and 36.11 μM, respectively. The study demonstrated that microbial communities from extreme niches can be ideal sources of bioactive pigments with immense pharmaceutical potential vital for the development of non-synthetic therapeutic agents.

PMID:38151568 | DOI:10.1007/s00203-023-03779-3

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2023 Dec 27. doi: 10.1007/s11356-023-31473-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The Lancang River flows through the alpine canyon region of southwest China, an area that has experienced frequent geological disasters over the years. Early monitoring of geological hazards is essential for disaster prevention and mitigation. However, traditional ground monitoring techniques are limited by the complex terrain conditions in high-altitude valley regions. In contrast, interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) technology can provide a high-precision, wide-range monitoring of slow rock-slope deformation, making it an effective tool for studying geological hazards. Within the study area, multiple synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images from the Sentinel-1A satellite were collected, and surface deformation was obtained using the small baseline subset InSAR (SBAS-InSAR). The results demonstrate that combining ascending and descending orbit images can be successfully applied to landslide monitoring in complex mountainous areas. Over 30 potential landslides were identified by combining InSAR results with optical images. The Line-Of-Sight (LOS) direction deformation features and their relationship with precipitation were analyzed based on two typical landslides, and two-dimensional/three-dimensional (2D/3D) deformation decomposition was carried out to reveal its motion characteristics. It was found that the cumulative deformation fluctuation amplitude was higher during the rainy season, and the main movement direction of the landslide was east-west. In addition, based on the spatial distribution and statistical analysis of deformation points along with meteorological data, geological elements, human activities, and topographic conditions, it is inferred that factors such as low vegetation coverage, tectonic movements, human activities, and high-altitude glacier thawing may contribute to the occurrence of disasters. And it was found that areas with high vegetation cover, high rainfall, and snow cover exhibit lower coherence coefficients. This study offers valuable insights for investigating large-scale geological in alpine canyon regions.

PMID:38151559 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-023-31473-w

Immunogenetics. 2023 Dec 27. doi: 10.1007/s00251-023-01329-1. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the relationship between long COVID and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients discharged for 6 months. It included 192 patients with a history of severe COVID-19 and 192 patients with a history of non-severe COVID-19 patients that were selected through quota sampling methods from the Medical Care Monitoring Center (MCMC) of hospitals in Shiraz, Iran, in 2020. Phone-based interviews were conducted to collect data using the short form of the 12-item health-related quality of life (SF-12) questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, including mean (standard deviation) and frequency (percentage), were utilized. Statistical tests, such as the chi-squared test, independent samples t-test, Fisher’s exact test, and multiple linear regression models were performed. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software version 24, with a significance level of 0.05. Among 384 patients, 79.95% were married, with a mean age of 53.95 years. The majority of patients in both groups were male (57.81% in the severe group and 51.04% in the non-severe group). Patients with severe COVID-19 had significantly lower quality of life scores compared to those with non-severe COVID-19 (p < 0.001, 34.45 [SD = 6.59] versus 39.64 [SD = 5.07]). Furthermore, multiple linear regression analysis indicated that severe COVID-19 inducts a significant negative effect on HRQOL in patients after adjustment of confounders (p < 0.001, B = – 4.84). Patients with severe COVID-19 had lower HRQOL compared to those with a non-severe level. It is necessary to consider implementing policies aimed at providing social, psychological, or medical support to improve the HRQOL of patients with a history of severe COVID-19.

PMID:38151544 | DOI:10.1007/s00251-023-01329-1

Sci Rep. 2023 Dec 27;13(1):22996. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-49626-9.

ABSTRACT

Knowledge of the frequencies of synonymous triplets in protein-coding and non-coding DNA stretches can be used in gene finding. These frequencies depend on the GC content of the genome or parts of it. An example of interest is provided by stop codons. This is relevant for the definition of Open Reading Frames. A generic case is provided by pseudo-random sequences, especially when they code for complex proteins or when they are non-coding and not subject to selection pressure. Here, we calculate, for such sequences and for all 25 known genetic codes, the frequency of each amino acid and stop codon based on their set of codons and as a function of GC content. The amino acids can be classified into five groups according to the GC content where their expected frequency reaches its maximum. We determine the overall Shannon information based on groups of synonymous codons and show that it becomes maximum at a percent GC of 43.3% (for the standard code). This is in line with the observation that in most fungi, plants, and animals, this genomic parameter is in the range from 35 to 50%. By analysing natural sequences, we show that there is a clear bias for triplets corresponding to stop codons near the 5′- and 3′-splice sites in the introns of various clades.

PMID:38151539 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-023-49626-9

Eur J Pediatr. 2023 Dec 27. doi: 10.1007/s00431-023-05390-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Accurate diagnosis of paediatric appendicitis remains a challenge due to its diverse clinical presentations and reliance on subjective assessments. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with an expert’s ”clinical sense” has the potential to improve diagnostic accuracy. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Artificial Intelligence Pediatric Appendicitis Decision-tree (AiPAD) model in enhancing the diagnostic capabilities of trainees and compare their performance with that of an expert supervisor. Between March 2019 and October 2022, we included paediatric patients aged 0-12 years who were referred for suspected appendicitis. Trainees collected clinical findings using five predefined parameters before ordering any imaging studies. The AiPAD model, which was blinded to the surgical team, made predictions from the supervisor’s and trainees’ findings independently. The diagnosis verdicts of the supervisor and the trainees were statistically evaluated in comparison to the prediction of the AI model, taking into account the revealed correct diagnosis. A total of 136 cases were included, comprising 58 cases of acute appendicitis (AA) and 78 cases of non-appendicitis (NA). The supervisor’s correct verdict showed 91% accuracy compared to an average of 70% for trainees. However, if trainees were enabled with AiPAD, their accuracy would improve significantly to an average of 97%. Significantly, a strong association was observed between the expert’s clinical sense and the predictions generated by AiPAD.

CONCLUSION: The utilisation of the AiPAD model in diagnosing paediatric appendicitis has significant potential to improve trainees’ diagnostic accuracy, approaching the level of an expert supervisor. This hybrid approach combining AI and expert knowledge holds promise for enhancing diagnostic capabilities, reducing medical errors and improving patient outcomes.

WHAT IS KNOWN: • Sharpening clinical judgement for pediatric appendicitis takes time and seasoned exposure. Traditional training leaves junior doctors yearning for a faster path to diagnostic mastery.

WHAT IS NEW: • AI-generated models unlock the secrets of expert intuition, crafting an explicit guide for juniors to rapidly elevate their diagnostic skills. This leapfrog advancement empowers young doctors, democratizing medical expertise and paving the way for brighter outcomes in clinical training.

PMID:38151531 | DOI:10.1007/s00431-023-05390-6

Ann Hematol. 2023 Dec 28. doi: 10.1007/s00277-023-05593-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Hematologic diseases and various therapeutic stages can impact the presentation of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant infection. This study retrospectively analyzed data on Omicron infection in children with acute leukemia treated at our hospital between January 16, 2023, and February 25, 2023, using questionnaires. The prevalence of Omicron infection in children undergoing consolidation chemotherapy, maintenance chemotherapy, drug withdrawal, and healthy children was 81.8%, 75.2%, 55.2%, and 61.9%, respectively. The observed differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). During the course of infection, children with leukemia undergoing chemotherapy, including both the consolidation and maintenance chemotherapy groups, exhibited a prolonged time to achieve SARS-CoV-2 negativity compared to the drug withdrawal and healthy groups. However, there was no significant increase in the incidence of symptoms across all body systems, and no children experienced serious sequelae or death. Furthermore, our observations indicated that all manifestations of Omicron infection in children with leukemia after drug withdrawal were not significantly different from those in healthy children. This suggested, to a certain extent, that the immune function of children with leukemia recovers effectively after the cessation of drug treatment. These findings are crucial for guiding clinical management and alleviating concerns about infection for both children with leukemia and their parents.

PMID:38151521 | DOI:10.1007/s00277-023-05593-9

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2023 Dec 26:tpmd230479. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.23-0479. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Improving the quality of malaria clinical case management in health facilities is key to improving health outcomes in patients. The U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative Impact Malaria Project has supported implementation of the outreach training and supportive supervision (OTSS) approach in 11 African countries to improve the quality of malaria care in health facilities through the collection and analysis of observation-based data on health facility readiness and health provider competency in malaria case management. We conducted a secondary analysis of longitudinal data collected during routine supervision in Cameroon (April 2021-March 2022), Mali (October 2020-December 2021), and Niger (November 2020-September 2021) using digitized checklists to assess how service readiness affects health worker competencies in managing patients with fever correctly and providing those with confirmed uncomplicated malaria cases with appropriate treatment and referral. Linear or logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the effect of facility readiness and its components on observed health worker competencies. All countries demonstrated significant associations between health facility readiness and malaria case management competencies. Data from three rounds of OTSS visits in Cameroon, Mali, and Niger showed a statistically significant positive association between greater facility readiness scores (including the availability of commodities, materials, and trained staff) and health worker competency in case management. These findings provide evidence that health worker performance is likely affected by the tools and training available to them. These results reinforce the need for necessary tools and properly trained staff if high-quality malaria case management services are to be delivered at health facilities.

PMID:38150737 | DOI:10.4269/ajtmh.23-0479

Nanotechnology. 2023 Dec 27. doi: 10.1088/1361-6528/ad18e2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Smart energy storage systems, such as electrochromic supercapacitor (ECSC) integrated technology, have drawn a lot of attention recently, numerous developments have been made owing to their reliable performance. Developing novel electrode materials for ECSCs that embed two different technologies in a material is an exciting and emerging field of research. To date, the researches of ECSCs’ electrode materials have been ongoing with excellent efforts, which need to be systematically reviewed so that they can be used for developing more efficient ECSCs. This mini-review provides general composition, main evaluation parameters and future perspectives for electrode materials of ECSCs as well as a brief overview of the published reports about ECSCs along with performance statistics on the existing literature in this field.

PMID:38150723 | DOI:10.1088/1361-6528/ad18e2

Bol Med Hosp Infant Mex. 2023;80(6):339-344. doi: 10.24875/BMHIM.23000040.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Women are the primary caregivers of children in palliative care. Research has shown that the presence of intimate partner violence at home exacerbates the vulnerability of the caregiver. Current statistics indicate a high prevalence of violence in Mexico present in the intersectionality between intimate partner violence and the role of the primary caregiver. This study aimed to describe the frequency of intimate partner violence among primary palliative caregivers at the Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez.

METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional and prospective study with convenience sampling; no sample calculation was performed. All female primary caregivers of children in the palliative care unit were invited to participate. The Scale of Violence and Index of Severity of Violence was used as the measuring instrument.

RESULTS: One hundred women participated in the study by submitting their survey in a designated mailbox. No sociodemographic data or patient diagnoses were collected. The frequency of intimate partner violence was 28%, of which 16% were considered severe cases. Women reported psychological violence (36%), sexual violence (23%), and physical violence (22%).

CONCLUSIONS: Almost one-third of female primary caregivers of pediatric patients at the Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez have been victims of some form of violence by current partners. This study highlights a previously unreported problem and opens the door for studies to correlate intimate partner violence among primary caregivers and the quality of life of children in palliative care.

PMID:38150715 | DOI:10.24875/BMHIM.23000040

Bol Med Hosp Infant Mex. 2023;80(6):374-380. doi: 10.24875/BMHIM.23000103.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common surgical disease in the neonatal period with a high mortality rate. To date, there is no consensus on the indications for surgery in the absence of pneumoperitoneum. This study aimed to determine the indications for surgery in pre-term infants with NEC and their mortality.

METHODS: We conducted a descriptive, observational, cross-sectional, and retrospective study including pre-term infants with NEC from two perinatal hospitals in Toluca, Mexico, between 2017 and 2022. Descriptive and inferential statistics and group comparisons were performed using Fisher and Kruskal-Wallis tests.

RESULTS: Of 236 patients with NEC, 52 (22%) required surgery; we analyzed 42 cases with complete clinical records. The indications for surgery were divided into (a) clinical deterioration (33.3%); (b) radiographic findings (31%); (c) laboratory alterations (19%); and (d) positive paracentesis (16.7%). The group of radiographic findings underwent surgery later, up to 2 days after the other groups. The mortality rate of surgical NEC was 42.9%.

CONCLUSIONS: The most common indication for surgery in pre-term infants with NEC was clinical worsening despite optimal medical management; radiographic findings were the indication associated with the highest mortality. Laboratory abnormalities and positive paracentesis were the indications with the best outcomes but the least used.

PMID:38150710 | DOI:10.24875/BMHIM.23000103