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Liquid Crystals (LCs) constitute a versatile class of soft materials whose combination of molecular order and fluidity enables the creation of nanostructured drug-delivery systems with precisely tunable properties. This review provides a unified and application-oriented evaluation of thermotropic and lyotropic liquid crystal systems, emphasizing how their self-assembly, curvature behavior, and interfacial energetics govern mesophase formation and drug-loading capacity. Particular focus is placed on the biodegradability, biocompatibility, and structural robustness of LC matrices, as these parameters critically determine safety and sustained-release performance. Key preparation strategies, including high-energy top-down dispersion, low-energy bottom-up assembly, and precursor-based methods, are examined alongside characterization tools such as polarized optical microscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering, and dynamic light scattering. The ability of LC nanocarriers to encapsulate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs, minimize burst release, and deliver controlled diffusion through cubic, hexagonal, and lamellar architectures is highlighted. Their high entrapment efficiency, extended-release kinetics, and inherent colloidal stability position these systems as promising candidates for improving the delivery of poorly soluble therapeutics. The review further synthesizes insights into phase transitions, dilution responses, and stimuli-responsive behaviors that enable on-demand or site-specific release. Scalability, compatibility with low-energy processing, and stability under physiological conditions support their translational relevance. Unlike earlier reviews, this article integrates structural phase physics, formulation engineering, and translational evidence into a unified framework, contrasting cubic, hexagonal, and lamellar systems across preparation routes, stimuli responsiveness, release behavior, toxicology, and clinical progress to provide an up-to-date, application-oriented perspective for LC-based nanomedicine. Graphical abstract This schematic links liquid–crystal structure and physical behavior to their functional applications in modern therapeutics and diagnostics. Self-assembly, viscoelasticity, and optical anisotropy underpin the development of delivery depots, biosensors, medical devices, and cosmeceutical systems.

Critical illness can significantly alter the composition and function of the human microbiome, but few studies have examined these changes over time. Here, we conduct a comprehensive analysis of the oral, lung, and gut microbiota in 479 mechanically ventilated patients (223 females, 256 males) with acute respiratory failure. We use advanced DNA sequencing technologies, including Illumina amplicon sequencing (utilizing 16S and ITS rRNA genes for bacteria and fungi, respectively, in all sample types) and Nanopore metagenomics for lung microbiota. Our results reveal a progressive dysbiosis in all three body compartments, characterized by a reduction in microbial diversity, a decrease in beneficial anaerobes, and an increase in pathogens. We find that clinical factors, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunosuppression, and antibiotic exposure, are associated with specific patterns of dysbiosis. Interestingly, unsupervised clustering of lung microbiota diversity and composition by 16S independently predicted survival and performed better than traditional clinical and host-response predictors. These observations are validated in two separate cohorts of COVID-19 patients, highlighting the potential of lung microbiota as valuable prognostic biomarkers in critical care. Understanding these microbiome changes during critical illness points to new opportunities for microbiota-targeted precision medicine interventions. Here, the authors profile the oral, lung, and gut microbiota of 479 patients with acute respiratory failure, revealing that reduced diversity and increased pathogen presence can predict survival outcomes, highlighting the potential for microbiota-based approaches in critical care.

Carfilzomib (CFZ), a second-generation proteasome inhibitor, offers potent activity against multiple myeloma (MM) but suffers from rapid clearance, short half-life (< 30 min), and poor in vivo stability, which limit its therapeutic efficacy. To overcome these challenges, we designed a targeted nanotherapeutic system i.e., anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody (mAb) functionalized carfilzomib loaded PCL nanocomposites (Ab-CFZ-PCL-NPs). Nanocomposites were fabricated using a nanoprecipitation method within a quality by design (QbD) framework and characterized by Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and entrapment efficiency studies. DLS analysis showed that the mean hydrodynamic diameter and PDI of CFZ-PCL-NPs were 103.6 ± 0.134 nm and 0.113 ± 0.177, respectively. In contrast, the Anti-CD38 conjugated nanocomposites exhibited a significantly larger size of 189.9 ± 0.321 nm ( p  < 0.05, Student’s t-test) and a PDI of 0.135 ± 0.126, confirming the successful surface deposition of the Anti-CD38 antibody. The in vitro drug release demonstrated sustained drug diffusion at physiological pH(7.4) with 91.12 ± 1.058% DR (up to 10 days) while a significantly faster drug diffusion (96.78 ± 0.942% (up to 4 days) was observed at tumor stimulating pH(5.5) corroborating a pH responsively behavior of nanosystem .Antibody conjugation significantly improved cellular uptake (> 85%), cytotoxicity (> 90%) in multiple myeloma cells (MM cells), and high tumor growth inhibition(> 85%) compared to non-conjugated nanocomposites. This work highlights the novelty of combining proteasome inhibition with anti-CD38 targeting in a single nano-formulation, offering prolonged drug retention, improved tumor-specific delivery, and reduced systemic limitations of CFZ. The Ab-CFZ-PCL-NPs establish a promising theragnostic platform for advancing precision therapies in multiple myeloma beyond conventional nanoparticle approaches. Highlights Fabrication of Anti-CD38 functionalized carfilzomib-loaded polymeric nanocomposites. The functionalized nanocomposites were prepared using EDC NHS-based carbodiimide chemistry. The nanocomposites showed pH-triggered drug release at tumor pH 5.5. The nanoconjugates showed high cell uptake and cell cytotoxicity in MM cells. The nanoconjugates showed high anti-tumour efficacy in xenograft nude mice.

Background: Care givers, who are the front-line health workers during Covid-19 outbreak. Their emotional responses and adaptation of coping strategies are very important for health of themselves as well health services. Logically care givers emotional response and coping strategies measures their emotional well-being which also affects their work productivity. Hence, this study is undertaken to assess the emotional response and coping strategies of care givers in Covid-19 department at Civil hospital, Ahmedabad. Aims and objectives: To assess the emotional response and coping strategies of care givers worked in Covid-19 department at Civil hospital, Ahmedabad. To assess the association between emotional response and demographic variables, coping strategies and demographic variables. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted among 100 care givers worked in Covid-19 department at Civil hospital, Ahmedabad using Random sampling technique. Data were obtained using structured rating scale and checklist to assess emotional response and coping strategies of care givers. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze demographic data, rating scale and checklist. Results and Conclusions: The study reveled that majority of 73% of caregivers had emotionally strong response and 86% of caregivers adopted healthy coping strategies. Study also revealed that there is significant association between selected emotional responses and selected demographic variables. Also significant association between coping strategies and selected demographic variables.

Refractory Status Epilepticus (RSE) is a neurological emergency associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. The molecular mechanisms contributing to neuroinflammation in RSE are increasingly being recognized. Despite its severity, high‐quality and conclusive evidence is lacking for many RSE treatments, especially regarding the optimization of antiseizure medications and emerging immunotherapies. In this manuscript, the use of immunotherapy as a valuable treatment option in RSE is reviewed. The example of Toclizumab is used, its potential efficacy demonstrated by a case series from our center. Traditional clinical trial designs have proven inadequate in efficiently addressing these evidence gaps for this complex and heterogeneous condition. In examining the wider evidence for the use of anti‐inflammatory agents, including early immunotherapy, the scope for adaptive platform trials is explored to be utilized to develop an evidence base in this area. Neuroinflammation plays a role in propagating seizures and associated neuronal injury in RSE; these pathways may be amenable to immunomodulation. In this review, the limitations of existing observational data and the need for efficient, quickly translatable clinical trials are highlighted to evaluate multiple interventions for RSE. Innovative trial designs, such as adaptive platform trials, help generate robust evidence for rapid uptake in RSE. Refractory status epilepticus (RSE) is a life‐threatening neurological emergency with high rates of death and long‐term disability, but treatments for it are often based on limited evidence. RSE is now understood to involve neuroinflammation, which has led to the exploration of anti‐inflammatory and immunomodulatory agents like Tocilizumab. Traditional clinical trials are not well‐suited to study this complex condition, so innovative trial designs, such as adaptive platform trials, are urgently needed to efficiently evaluate new therapies and generate the high‐quality evidence required to improve patient outcomes.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is critical for maintaining brain homeostasis but is susceptible to inflammatory dysfunction. While transporter-dependent efflux of some lipophilic substrates across the BBB shows circadian variation due to rhythmic transporter expression, basal transporter–independent permeability and leakage is nonrhythmic. Whether daily timing influences BBB permeability in response to inflammation is unknown. Here, we induced systemic inflammation through repeated LPS injections either in the morning (ZT1) or evening (ZT13) under standard lighting conditions; we then examined BBB permeability to a polar molecule that is not a transporter substrate, sodium fluorescein. We observed clear diurnal variation in inflammatory BBB permeability, with a striking increase in paracellular leak across the BBB specifically following evening LPS injection. Evening LPS led to persisting glia activation as well as inflammation in the brain that was not observed in the periphery. The exaggerated evening neuroinflammation and BBB disruption were suppressed by microglial depletion or through keeping mice in constant darkness. Our data show that diurnal rhythms in microglial inflammatory responses to LPS drive daily variability in BBB breakdown and reveal time of day as a key regulator of inflammatory BBB disruption.

Imposition of social and health behavior mitigations are important control measures in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Although postulated that these measures may impact the human microbiota including losses in diversity from heightened hygiene and social distancing measures, this hypothesis remains to be tested. Other impacts on the microbiota and host mental and physical health status associations from these measures are also not well-studied. Here we examine changes in stool and oral microbiota by analyzing 16S rRNA gene sequence taxonomic profiles from the same individuals during pre-pandemic (before March 2020) and early pandemic (May-November 2020) phases. During the early pandemic phase, individuals were also surveyed using questionnaires to report health histories, anxiety, depression, sleep and other lifestyle behaviors in a cohort of predominantly Caucasian adults (mean age = 61.5 years) with the majority reporting at least one underlying co-morbidity. We identified changes in microbiota (stool n = 288; oral n = 89) between pre-pandemic and early pandemic time points from the same subject and associated these differences with questionnaire responses using linear statistical models and hierarchical clustering of microbiota composition coupled to logistic regression. While a trend in loss of diversity was identified between pre-pandemic and early pandemic time points it was not statistically significant. Paired difference analyses between individuals identified fewer significant changes between pre-pandemic and early pandemic microbiota in those who reported fewer comorbidities. Cluster transition analyses of stool and saliva microbiota determined most individuals remained in the same cluster assignments from the pre-pandemic to early pandemic period. Individuals with microbiota that shifted in composition, causing them to depart a pre-pandemic cluster, reported more health issues and pandemic-associated worries. Collectively, our study identified that stool and saliva microbiota from the pre-pandemic to early pandemic periods largely exhibited ecological stability (especially stool microbiota) with most associations in loss of diversity or changes in composition related to more reported health issues and pandemic-associated worries. Longitudinal observational cohorts are necessary to monitor the microbiome in response to pandemics and changes in public health measures.

Refractory status epilepticus (RSE) is defined as prolonged or repeated seizures without recovery despite the initiation of at least two anti-seizure medications (ASMs). It is a neurological emergency, with potentially devasting short term consequences and significant risk of longer-term morbidity.Tocilizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody against the IL-6 receptor, used primarily for rheumatological conditions and cytokine-release syndrome. It is thought to promote an anti-seizure effect for patients with status epilepticus via downregulation of IL-6, a component of the acute phase response. Tocilizumab has been successful in treating new onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE) that has been refractory to other treatments, including rituximab, though has been associated with significant adverse events.We present five cases of RSE, including two with a pre-existing history of seizures. Toclizumab administered within 18 days of presentation (8mg/kg, second dose after 4 weeks) terminated status in four cases, longer term outcomes varied depending on the underlying aetiology.All patients were received steroids and a minimum of five ASMs in the context of sedation pre-Toclizumab. Plasma exchange had been given in four cases.There is a potential role for Toclizumab in the early treatment of RSE.asha.patel1@nhs.net

Fluoride pollution (with concentration >1.0 mg/L) in groundwater has become a global threat in the recent past due to the lesser availability of potable groundwater resource. In between several defluoridation techniques discovered so far, the adsorption process proved to be most economic and efficient. This study is an effort to evaluate defluoridation efficiency of powdered rice husk, fine chopped rice husk and sawdust by the batch adsorption process. Optimum defluoridation capacity is achieved by optimizing various parameters, viz. dose of adsorbent, pH, contact time and initial concentration. It was found that all three materials can be employed for the defluoridation technique, but powdered rice husk is the best adsorbent in the midst of all three. Powdered rice husk showed fluoride removal efficiency ranging between 85 and 90 % in the contact period of 7 h only in conditions of all optimized parameter. Following this parameter optimization, adsorption efficiency was also evaluated at natural pH of groundwater to minimize the cost of defluoridation. No significant difference was found between fluoride adsorption at optimized pH (pH = 4) and natural one (pH = 7), which concludes that powdered rice husk can be efficiently used for the defluoridation technique at field scale. The adsorption isotherm using this adsorbent perfectly followed Langmuir isotherms. The value of calculated separation factor also suggests the favourable adsorption of fluoride onto this adsorbent under the conditions used for the experiments. The field application for defluoridation of groundwater using this adsorbent (based on pH of natural groundwater there and seasonal variation of temperature) showed the high success rate.

In today's modern world, the construction has made vast changes in design. Some of the utility and service ducts are important parts of modern building construction. Web openings in a beam adversely affect its strength and stiffness resulting in excessive deflections, which may lead to unpleasant appearance and collapse of the structure. Therefore, such beams are required to strengthen to restore their strength. The newly developed technique of jacketing the deficit beam with layers of Fiber Reinforced Polymer has proven to be very efficient in restoring and increasing the strength of the beam. The present work is to explore the behavior of rectangular RC beams with rectangular opening under torsion load. The torsional capacity of beams with opening is extracted experimentally. The study is extended by retrofitting the beams with four layers of bidirectional woven GFRP fabric applied by following orientation [0/90]2 . The restoring torsion capacity, crack patterns are observed and the strength has been increased by retrofitting.