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COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has led to a worldwide crisis. In view of emerging variants time to time, there is a pressing need of effective COVID-19 therapeutics. Setomimycin, a rare tetrahydroanthracene antibiotic, remained unexplored for its therapeutic uses. Herein, we report our investigations on the potential of setomimycin as COVID-19 therapeutic. Pure setomimycin was isolated from Streptomyces sp. strain RA-WS2 from NW Himalayan region followed by establishing in silico as well as in vitro anti-SARS-CoV-2 property of the compound against SARS-CoV-2 main protease (M pro ). It was found that the compound targets M pro enzyme with an IC 50 value of 12.02 ± 0.046 μM. The molecular docking study revealed that the compound targets Glu166 residue of M pro enzyme, hence preventing dimerization of SARS-CoV-2 M pro monomer. Additionally, the compound also exhibited anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant property, suggesting that setomimycin may be a viable option for application against COVID-19 infections. Graphical abstract

A novel and simple sol–gel route has been used for the fabrication of composite structure composed of carbon fibers and silicon carbide nanowires embedded in dense silicon carbide matrix. The carbonaceous silica sol was impregnated in the carbon fiber preform at atmospheric pressure. The sol impregnated carbon preform was cured and heat treated to convert into silicon carbide. The analysis by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray tomography, and transmission electron microscopy indicates that the impregnated carbonaceous silica gel converts to β-silicon carbide with dense and wire morphology. Different morphological silicon carbide was uniformly distributed inside carbon fiber preform and there was no degradation in thermophysical properties of carbon composite during processing. These results reveal high efficient reinforcement of different morphological silicon carbide in carbon composite, demonstrate a new mechanism of carbon composite reinforcement and suggest a new direction to carbon composite reinforcement. Graphical Abstract

Usage of psychotropics during pregnancy and lactation has always been a topic of debate and controversy. The debate stems from the potential adverse effects on the growing fetus or infants due to the transfer of psychotropic drugs through placenta or breast milk of mothers receiving them; and the problem of discontinuing psychotropics in lactating mother considering chances of relapse. However, most of the psychotropics are found to be relatively safe when used cautiously during the lactation phase. This article describes available data on the use of psychotropics in lactating mothers, in particular, in relation to the safety profile of infants.

This paper traces the role of alcohol production and use in the daily lives of people in India, from ancient times to the present day. Alcohol use has been an issue of great ambivalence throughout the rich and long history of the Indian subcontinent. The behaviors and attitudes about alcohol use in India are very complex, contradictory and convoluted because of the many different influences in that history. The evolution of alcohol use patterns in India can be divided into four broad historical periods (time of written records), beginning with the Vedic era (ca. 1500–700 BCE). From 700 BCE to 1100 CE, (“Reinterpretation and Synthesis”) is the time of emergence of Buddhism and Jainism, with some new anti-alcohol doctrines, as well as post-Vedic developments in the Hindu traditions and scholarly writing. The writings of the renowned medical practitioners, Charaka and Susruta, added new lines of thought, including arguments for “moderate alcohol use.” The Period of Islamic Influence (1100–1800 CE), including the Mughal era from the 1520s to 1800, exhibited a complex interplay of widespread alcohol use, competing with the clear Quranic opposition to alcohol consumption. The fourth period (1800 to the present) includes the deep influence of British colonial rule and the recent half century of Indian independence, beginning in 1947. The contradictions and ambiguities—with widespread alcohol use in some sectors of society, including the high status caste of warriors/rulers (Kshatriyas), versus prohibitions and condemnation of alcohol use, especially for the Brahmin (scholar-priest) caste, have produced alcohol use patterns that include frequent high-risk, heavy and hazardous drinking. The recent increases in alcohol consumption in many sectors of the general Indian population, coupled with the strong evidence of the role of alcohol in the spread of HIV/STI infections and other health risks, point to the need for detailed understanding of the complex cross-currents emerging from the past history of alcohol use and abuse in India.

This study in North India compared acute brief psychosis--defined by acute onset, brief duration and no early relapse--with other remitting psychoses, over a 12-year course and outcome. In a cohort of incident psychoses, we identified 20 cases of acute brief psychosis and a comparison group of 43 other remitting psychoses based on two-year follow-up. Seventeen people (85%) in the acute brief psychosis group and 36 (84%) in the comparison group were reassessed at five, seven and 12 years after onset, and were rediagnosed using ICD-10 criteria. At 12-year follow-up, the proportion with remaining signs of illness was 6% (n = 1) for acute brief psychosis versus 50% (n = 18) for the comparison group (P = 0.002). Using ICD-10 criteria, the majority in both groups were diagnosed as having schizophrenia. Acute brief psychosis has a distinctive and benign long-term course when compared with other remitting psychoses. This finding supports the ICD-10 concept of a separable group of acute and transient psychotic disorders. To effectively separate this group, however, the ICD-10 criteria need modification.

This paper examines mapping and related data-gathering at geographical locations of vulnerable urban groups with regard to risky sexual behaviors and alcohol/drug use in the capital city of Delhi. The aim is to describe the situations of special geographic locations and sub-groups in relation to alcohol/drug use and risks of HIV/STI infections. The study was part of a community program for alcohol and drug users in slum communities in West and East Delhi carried out by the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) of the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), New Delhi, India. As part of a WHO multi-centered qualitative study among selected groups, mapping was done at different sites concerning alcohol use, social contexts, involvement in sexual risk behavior, availability of sex partners and related factors. Easy access to alcohol and drugs, accompanied by availability of sex workers appeared as compound risk factors in the study sites. Reported risky sexual behaviors included nonuse or irregular use of condoms, multiple sex partners, group sex, and anal sex with hijras (eunuchs).

One hundred ten alkalo-tolerant thermophilic bacteria were isolated from 17 samples (water and sediment) collected from Manikaran. Of 110 isolates, 70 showed the production of xylanases and were further screened for growth and production of xylanases at different temperature ranging from 40 to 75°C. Eleven isolates that showed growth and xylanase production at temperatures ≥50°C were selected for quantitative estimation in modified Reese mineral liquid medium containing wheat bran. Maximum xylanase activity was produced by isolate H-7 followed by H-9 and R-9 and was statistically superior to other isolates. The microscopic observation showed that the isolates possessed the typical rod with endospore, characteristic of genus Bacillus . The isolates were found to be oxidase and catalase positive. Using BIOLOG Microlog 3 software, the isolates H7, H9 and R9 were identified as Paenibacillus ehemensis, Bacillus cereus / B. thuringiensis and B. subtilis respectively, based on utilization of 95 carbon sources. PCR-RFLP analysis of 16S rDNA indicated that the isolates were genetically different from each other. DNA sequencing of the three isolates and phylogenetic analysis revealed that all the isolates obtained from Manikaran thermal springs showed 97 to 100% similarity with the sequences within the GenBank. The closest phylogenetic neighbours according to the 16S rRNA gene sequence data for the three isolates H-7, H-9, and R-9 were Paenibacillus ehemensis, Bacillus cereus and Bacillus subtilis , respectively.

This study explored the relation of level of socio-economic development to the course of non-affective psychosis, by extending the analysis of urban/rural differences in course in Chandigarh, India. The proportion of 'best outcome' cases between urban (n = 110) and rural (n = 50) catchment areas were compared at two-year follow-up, separately for CATEGOS+ and non-S+ schizophrenia. The proportion of subjects with 'best outcome' ratings at the urban and rural sites, respectively, was similar for CATEGOS+ schizophrenia (29 v. 29%), but significantly different for non-S+ psychosis (26 v. 47%). The fact that in rural Chandigarh, psychoses have a more favourable course than in the urban area may be explained in large part by psychoses distinct from 'nuclear' schizophrenia.

Background: Given the constraints of resources, thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is under evaluation in developing countries. Prothrombin time (PT), platelet count and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) may not be feasible within the time window. Aim: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of thrombolysis in selected patients without the coagulation profile. Design: Open, nonrandomized, observational study. Materials and Methods: Fifty-four stroke patients were classified using TOAST criteria (large artery atherosclerotic = 13; cardioembolic = 12; small vessel occlusion = 22; other determined etiology =three; undetermined etiology = four). The mean time to reach emergency was 2.4h (1.15-3.4), the mean door to CT, 24 min (10-47) and the door to recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (r-tPA) injection, 26.8 min (25-67). The NIHSS scores ranged from 11 to 22 (mean = 15.5 ± 2.7). Patients with history of liver or renal disease or those on anticoagulants were excluded. The PT, aPTT and platelet count were not done. Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator was administered at a dosage of 0.9 mg/Kg. Results: Thirty-five patients (65%) significantly improved on NIHSS at 48h (≥4 points) (mean change = 10; range= 4-17). At one month, 43 (79%) improved on Barthel Index (mean change = 45%). One each developed small frontal lobe hemorrhage and recurrent stroke; one died of aspiration; and eight showed no improvement. Conclusions: Hyperacute thrombolysis was found useful and safe in selected patients with AIS even without the coagulation studies.