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Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread to nearly every corner of the globe, causing societal instability. The resultant coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) leads to fever, sore throat, cough, chest and muscle pain, dyspnoea, confusion, anosmia, ageusia and headache. These can progress to life-threatening respiratory insufficiency, also affecting the heart, kidney, liver and nervous systems. The diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection is often confused with that of influenza and seasonal upper respiratory tract viral infections. Due to available treatment strategies and required containments, rapid diagnosis is mandated. This Review brings clarity to the rapidly growing body of available and in-development diagnostic tests, including nanomaterial-based tools. It serves as a resource guide for scientists, physicians, students and the public at large. This Review highlights the progress that has been made in the development of diagnostic tools for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the fight against COVID-19.

Viscoelasticity of soft tissue is often related to pathology, and therefore, has become an important diagnostic indicator in the clinical assessment of suspect tissue. Surgeons, particularly within head and neck subsites, typically use palpation techniques for intra-operative tumor detection. This detection method, however, is highly subjective and often fails to detect small or deep abnormalities. Vibroacoustography (VA) and similar methods have previously been used to distinguish tissue with high-contrast, but a firm understanding of the main contrast mechanism has yet to be verified. The contributions of tissue mechanical properties in VA images have been difficult to verify given the limited literature on viscoelastic properties of various normal and diseased tissue. This paper aims to investigate viscoelasticity theory and present a detailed description of viscoelastic experimental results obtained in tissue-mimicking phantoms (TMPs) and ex vivo tissues to verify the main contrast mechanism in VA and similar imaging modalities. A spherical-tip micro-indentation technique was employed with the Hertzian model to acquire absolute, quantitative, point measurements of the elastic modulus (E), long term shear modulus (η), and time constant (τ) in homogeneous TMPs and ex vivo tissue in rat liver and porcine liver and gallbladder. Viscoelastic differences observed between porcine liver and gallbladder tissue suggest that imaging modalities which utilize the mechanical properties of tissue as a primary contrast mechanism can potentially be used to quantitatively differentiate between proximate organs in a clinical setting. These results may facilitate more accurate tissue modeling and add information not currently available to the field of systems characterization and biomedical research.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are the common designation for ectosomes, microparticles and microvesicles serving dominant roles in intercellular communication. Both viable and dying cells release EVs to the extracellular environment for transfer of cell, immune and infectious materials. Defined morphologically as lipid bi-layered structures EVs show molecular, biochemical, distribution, and entry mechanisms similar to viruses within cells and tissues. In recent years their functional capacities have been harnessed to deliver biomolecules and drugs and immunological agents to specific cells and organs of interest or disease. Interest in EVs as putative vaccines or drug delivery vehicles are substantial. The vesicles have properties of receptors nanoassembly on their surface. EVs can interact with specific immunocytes that include antigen presenting cells (dendritic cells and other mononuclear phagocytes) to elicit immune responses or affect tissue and cellular homeostasis or disease. Due to potential advantages like biocompatibility, biodegradation and efficient immune activation, EVs have gained attraction for the development of treatment or a vaccine system against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) infection. In this review efforts to use EVs to contain SARS CoV-2 and affect the current viral pandemic are discussed. An emphasis is made on mesenchymal stem cell derived EVs' as a vaccine candidate delivery system.

The majority of conventional medications and food supplements are created following the processing of medicinal plants. As majority of the medicinal plants are collected from the forests, the rise in the demand for herbal goods is placing significant strain on the forests while encouraging unsustainable wild harvesting of therapeutic plants. The current study's objective is to gain insight into current debates on the value chain of medicinal or therapeutic plants, role of various Indian acts, i.e., Forest Act, Forests Right Act, export, and other variables affecting the sustainable supply of herbs. A targeted literature search on online databases, scientific studies, and authentic texts was performed to understand the value chain, consumption, export, Indian laws, endangered species, and capacity building institutions, limitations, and future of medicinal plants. The World Flora Online database was used to verify the scientific names of the plants. Value chains for medicinal plants are wide and complex. There is need to weaken the role of middlemen and giving forest gatherers and farmers more negotiating leverage especially through artificial intelligence. The Ministry of AYUSH and National Medicinal Plants Board both play significant roles in India's medicinal plant sector. The different acts and rules pertaining to medicinal plants conservation, usage, transit, and trade should work in harmony and there is need for exclusive medicinal plants policy across India. Maintaining a balance between the protection of medical plant species and a sustainable supply of herbs to support the sector based on medicinal plants while empowering forest gatherers is urgently needed.

Oxidative stress is a deteriorating condition that arises due to an imbalance between the reactive oxygen species and the antioxidant system or defense of the body. The key reasons for the development of such conditions are malfunctioning of various cell organelles, such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi complex, as well as physical and mental disturbances. The nervous system has a relatively high utilization of oxygen, thus making it particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress, which eventually leads to neuronal atrophy and death. This advances the development of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration-associated disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, dementia, and other memory disorders. It is imperative to treat such conditions as early as possible before they worsen and progress to irreversible damage. Oxidative damage can be negated by two mechanisms: improving the cellular defense system or providing exogenous antioxidants. Natural antioxidants can normally handle such oxidative stress, but they have limited efficacy. The valuable features of nanoparticles and/or nanomaterials, in combination with antioxidant features, offer innovative nanotheranostic tools as potential therapeutic modalities. Hence, this review aims to represent novel therapeutic approaches like utilizing nanoparticles with antioxidant properties and nanotheranostics as delivery systems for potential therapeutic applications in various neuroinflammation- and neurodegeneration-associated disease conditions.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected more than 38 million people world-wide by person to person transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Therapeutic and preventative strategies for SARS-CoV-2 remains a significant challenge. Within the past several months, effective treatment options have emerged and now include repurposed antivirals, corticosteroids and virus-specific antibodies. The latter has included convalescence plasma and monoclonal antibodies. Complete viral eradication will be achieved through an effective, safe and preventative vaccine. To now provide a comprehensive summary for each of the pharmacotherapeutics and preventative strategies being offered or soon to be developed for SARS-CoV-2. Graphical abstract

Rapid urbanization, industrial expansion, and reliance on fossil fuels cause serious air pollution. Air pollution affects public health, especially in developing countries like Pakistan. Pakistan is among the most affected nations, particularly its major urban centers, which experience recurrent seasonal smog episodes. This study assesses the effectiveness of Sentinel-5P satellite products integrated with Google Earth Engine (GEE) for monitoring spatiotemporal variations of key air pollutants: nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O₃) in Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, and Gujranwala from 2018 to 2023. Monthly, seasonal, and annual composites of cloud-filtered Sentinel-5P TROPOMI data were analyzed using GEE, and statistical regression and correlation analyses were applied to examine relationships between pollutant concentrations and land surface temperature (LST). The results reveal pronounced seasonal variability in air pollutant levels, with elevated NO₂ and CO concentrations during winter due to intensified anthropogenic emissions and atmospheric stability, while O₃ concentrations peaked during spring and summer due to enhanced photochemical reactions driven by high temperatures and solar radiation. Quantitatively, wintertime NO₂ concentrations reached approximately 0.009 mol m⁻², whereas summer O₃ concentrations peaked at about 0.30 mol m⁻². Strong temperature–pollutant relationships were observed in highly urbanized cities such as Lahore and Faisalabad, reflecting the combined effects of dense infrastructure, industrial activity, and urban heat island intensity. Additionally, the COVID-19 lockdown period provided evidence of temporary reductions in pollutant concentrations and LST, highlighting the dominant role of anthropogenic activities in air quality degradation. Overall, the findings demonstrate that Sentinel-5P data, combined with automated cloud-based platforms such as GEE, provides a robust, cost-effective framework for large-scale air quality monitoring. This approach can support informed policymaking, targeted mitigation strategies, and sustainable urban planning to reduce smog intensity and protect public health in Pakistan.

Edema, or tissue swelling, is a characteristic component of the tissue response to cutaneous injury and, therefore, a potentially useful diagnostic target for assessing wound severity and viability in vivo. Currently, there is no widely available pre-clinical or clinical technique that can identify the extent and distribution of tissue water content (TWC), the primary indicator of edema, early and accurately. We have previously shown that reflective terahertz (THz) imaging can rapidly and non-invasively generate native, pathology-specific contrast in superficial tissue based on hypothesized variations in TWC. TWC-based contrast and the sensing depth of THz imaging, however, have yet to be verified with a well-established TWC-sensing technique. Moreover, early and repeatable visualization of TWC in pre-clinical wound models may further support THz imaging as an emerging diagnostic tool in patients sustaining severe burns, surgical trauma, or other conditions leading to tissue edema. This work details the iterative development, characterization, and pre-clinical testing of THz TWC imaging in phantom, ex vivo, and in vivo wound models for early wound and tissue viability assessment. First, the sensitivity of a novel, reflective THz system to variation in water concentration was calibrated through the use of gelatin phantoms for quantitative comparison of THz imagery of targets. Second, the ability of reflective THz imaging to track TWC changes was correlated with depth-resolved magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in both an ex vivo porcine burn model and in vivo, burn-induced model of edema in rats. This work offers the first in vivo correlative assessment of mobile TWC as a major contributor to THz imaging contrast. Third, improved THz imaging methodologies were developed and implemented in vivo to acquire reproducible THz-TWC maps of burn wounds and interpret these results in the context of burn edema pathophysiology. These advancements included 1) an image registration method to reliably compare THz-TWC measurements with histological wound outcome; 2) a reproducible contact-burn induction technique; and 3) the use of multiple dielectric windows. Finally, the first in vivo pilot study was performed to investigate the utility of reflective THz TWC imaging for early assessment of tissue flap viability, the most significant determinant of tissue survival in reconstructive surgery. Collectively, these results demonstrate important implications of THz imaging in edema monitoring of wounds and skin evaluation and the potential use of this technology as an augmentation to the standard clinical assessment of superficial tissue.

Introduction The Nurture Early for Optimal Nutrition (NEON) study is a multiphase project that aims to optimize feeding, care and dental hygiene practices in South Asian children <2 years in East London, United Kingdom. The multiphase project uses a participatory learning and action (PLA) approach facilitated by a multilingual community facilitator. In this paper, we elaborate on the process and results of the Intervention Development Phase in the context of the wider NEON programme. Methods Qualitative community‐based participatory intervention codevelopment and adaptation. Setting Community centres in East London and online (Zoom) meetings and workshops. Participants In total, 32 participants registered to participate in the Intervention Development Phase. Four Intervention Development workshops were held, attended by 25, 17, 20 and 20 participants, respectively. Results Collaboratively, a culturally sensitive NEON intervention package was developed consisting of (1) PLA group facilitator manual, (2) picture cards detailing recommended and nonrecommended feeding, care and dental hygiene practices with facilitators/barriers to uptake as well as solutions to address these, (3) healthy infant cultural recipes, (4) participatory Community Asset Maps and (5) list of resources and services supporting infant feeding, care and dental hygiene practices. Conclusion The Intervention Development Phase of the NEON programme demonstrates the value of a collaborative approach between researchers, community facilitators and the target population when developing public health interventions. We recommend that interventions to promote infant feeding, care and dental hygiene practices should be codeveloped with communities. Recognizing and taking into account both social and cultural norms may be of particular value for infants from ethnically diverse communities to develop interventions that are both effective in and accepted by these communities. Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Considerable efforts were placed on Patient/Participant and Public Involvement and Engagement. Five community facilitators were identified, each of which represented one ethnic/language group: (i) Bangladeshi/Bengali and Sylheti, (ii) Pakistani/Urdu, (iii) Indian/Gujrati, (iv) Indian/Punjabi and (v) Sri Lankan/Tamil. The community facilitators were engaged in every step of the study, from the initial drafting of the protocol and study design to the Intervention Development and refinement of the NEON toolkit, as well as the publication and dissemination of the study findings. More specifically, their role in the Intervention Development Phase of the NEON programme was to: 1. Support the development of the study protocol, information sheets and ethics application. 2. Ensure any documents intended for community members are clear, appropriate and sensitively worded. 3. Develop strategies to troubleshoot any logistical challenges of project delivery, for example, recruitment shortfalls. 4. Contribute to the writing of academic papers, in particular reviewing and revising drafts. 5. Develop plain language summaries and assist in dissemination activities, for example, updates on relevant websites. 6. Contribute to the development of the NEON intervention toolkit and recruitment of the community members. 7. Attend and contribute to Intervention Development workshops, ensuring the participant's voices were the focus of the discussion and workshop outcomes.