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Purpose: To explore straight incision technique in terms of efficacy for intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering by small-incision cataract surgery (SICS) trab versus modified \"frown\" incision with triangular scleral flap technique. Methods: This study was done at a tertiary health center. It included 44 eyes diagnosed with cataract and coexisting primary glaucoma that underwent SICS with trabeculectomy using modified \"frown\" incision with triangular scleral flap technique and straight incision in group A (n = 22) and B (n = 22), respectively. Postoperative evaluation was done at first postoperative day, then at the end of first week, third week, and 6 weeks; at the end of third month and finally at the end of sixth months. Data were entered and analyzed via Microsoft Excel sheet and SPSS software using Mann-Whitney U test for averages and Chi-square test for categorical values. Results: Mean preoperative IOP in groups A and B were 38.6 and 29.1 mm Hg respectively, by applanation tonometry. After 6-month follow-up, mean of difference in IOP (preoperative - postoperative) for group A was 20.8 ± 8.3 mm Hg and that for group B was 17.2 ± 13.5 mm Hg. Conclusion: Capacity of IOP reduction of both techniques was found to be comparable and did not show much difference up to the end of 6 months. Mastering technique of group A (modified \"frown\" incision with triangular scleral flap technique) requires more expertise; the simpler straight incision technique provided in group B may be effectively used by the novice and current era Ophthalmologists to combat glaucoma coexistant with cataract.

The human decidua and placenta form a distinct environment distinguished for its promotion of immunotolerance to infiltrating semiallogeneic trophoblast cells to enable successful pregnancy. The maternal-fetal interface also successfully precludes transmission of most pathogens. This barrier function occurs in conjunction with a diverse influx of decidual immune cells including natural killer cells, macrophages and T cells. However, several viruses, among other microorganisms, manage to escape destruction by the host adaptive and innate immune system, leading to congenital infection and adverse pregnancy outcomes. In this review, we describe mechanisms of pathogenicity of two such viral pathogens, Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and Zika virus (ZIKV) at the maternal-fetal interface. Host decidual immune cell responses to these specific pathogens will be considered, along with their interactions with other cell types and the ways in which these immune cells may both facilitate and limit infection at different stages of pregnancy. Neither HCMV nor ZIKV naturally infect commonly used animal models [e.g., mice] which makes it challenging to understand disease pathogenesis. Here, we will highlight new approaches using placenta-on-a-chip and organoids models that are providing functional and physiologically relevant ways to study viral-host interaction at the maternal-fetal interface.

The Ganga basin is witnessing accelerated deterioration of agricultural fields, with severe soil erosion leading to nutrients leaching into the river, wreaking havoc on the river's ecosystems. Many Ganga River management plans have been implemented in the past, but a more coordinated and integrated effort that tries to implement basin management strategies with technology preparedness considered critical for the preservation of agricultural regions had been lacking. The Namami Gange Program (NGP) is a first of its kind integrated conservation mission pillared on sustainable water management policies and practices, launched in 2014. Unfortunately, scientific literature on its overall functioning and progress is almost non-existent. This review presents its overall functioning, critically analyses its associated components, and presents case studies, pilot studies, along with analytical critiques. An objective analytical evaluation of the NGP has been provided concluding with sectoral interventions. We have concluded that the ambitions for boosting energy production, irrigation, manufacturing, and expanding the river as an inland waterway interfere with the Ganga cleanup because they are both part of the growth strategy pushed by the administration.

The present investigation was done to assess cytomorphologic parameters as indicators of genotoxicity as it is a simpler method and could be suggested for rapid screening of the vast range of agrochemicals used all over the world. The excessive and indiscriminate use of agrochemicals is responsible for increasing the level of pollutants in the soil environment resulting in cellular and molecular damage to the plants. The cellular damage caused manifestation of the resulting oxidative stress due to pollutants which can go up to the level of DNA. The roots of Allium cepa were treated with 0.5 mg N ml −1 concentration of ammonium nitrate fertilizer for 3, 6, 9 and 12 h, and in mitotic preparation of their respective root, mitotic index, phase indices and the genotoxic markers viz. chromosomal aberrations and binucleate cells were observed and the data statistically analysed. A significant decrease in mitotic index and increase in abnormality percentage as compared to control was observed which increased with the treatment duration. Chromosomal aberrations like stickiness, fragmentation, precocious movement, bridges and disorientations were observed in varying frequencies. A cytomorphologic study revealed that the interphase cell volume of cells of treated roots and their respective interphase nuclear volume were reduced as compared to control. The ratio between nuclear and cytoplasmic volume has been reported to relate to cell integrity. Both these markers viz. cytomorphologic and genotoxic can be used for assessment of the toxicity of agrochemicals including fertilizer; in our study, they have revealed the cytogenotoxic behaviour of ammonium nitrate fertilizer.

Dietary polyphenols of Millets have received more attention after the FAO declared 2023 the “International Year of Millets”. The question we addressed is how the human body addresses the xenobiotic nature of millet polyphenols during absorption. Our primary objective was to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the antioxidative effects exhibited by polyphenol-derived metabolites. Furthermore, we underscored the mounting evidence substantiating a bidirectional synergistic relationship between gut microbiota and the bioavailability of dietary phenols. We conducted a literature search using specific databases such as Pubmed and Google Scholar. We used various combinations of keywords such as millets, phenolic compounds, polyphenol metabolism, antioxidant activity, bioavailability, gut microbiota, and gut health environment. Our inclusion criteria were to select articles reporting on phenolic compounds found in millets, their antioxidant properties, and mechanisms of action. We excluded editorial/letters, conference proceedings, or other types of articles to maintain a sharp focus on our objectives. We reviewed the antioxidant potentials of dietary polyphenols identified in several varieties of millet crops for the first time, presented a mechanistic insight into the antioxidative bioactivity, and assessed a strong association between gut microbiota and phenolic bioavailability. Millets are viewed as future crops, and there is an increased interest in using millets as a superfood and antioxidant dietary source. This is the first review to examine the antioxidant capabilities of phenolic compounds produced in different millet varieties. Further, establishing a favorable two-way link between microbiota and polyphenolic bioavailability would be a significant way forward. Graphical Abstract

In a pluralistic health care delivery model, it is important to assess whether the individual's health care choices are based upon evidences of efficacy and safety. Since the essence of medical pluralism lies in the fact that all such systems are equally accessible to a seeker, in such situation, it is highly relevant to check what defines such choices in real life. To identify the factors influencing the health care choices in a subpopulation seeking Ayurveda health care in an Ayurvedic teaching hospital. The study was an all-inclusive cross sectional survey, done on randomly selected out patients visiting an Ayurveda teaching hospital. The data was collected using a 21 items questionnaire refined through pilot testing from 7.9.2017 to 30.9.2017. The data of 289 respondents who have given their consent were included in statistical analysis. Out of 21 variables studied for their agreement or disagreement in the study population 8 were found to have a significant proportion in favour of agreement. Among these relative safety (Item 9); disease eradicating potential (Item 14); belief (Item 3) and indirect evidences of efficacy (Item 4) were found to have high significance (p < 0.001). Participants chose Ayurveda treatment due to its perceived safety and probability of helping in a particular clinical condition. Contrary to the common perception, enabling factors like availability, accessibility and affordability were given less importance by the participants in making health care choices related to Ayurveda.

Bruton’s tyrosine kinase ( Btk ) deficiency preferentially eliminates autoreactive B cells while sparing normal humoral responses, but has not been studied in mucosal immunity. Commensal microbes and intact BTK signaling have been independently shown to be essential for arthritis development in K/BxN mice. Here, we examine how BTK-mediated signaling interfaces with the gut microbiome. Btk -deficient K/BxN mice were found to have small Peyer’s Patches with reduced germinal center and IgA class-switched B cells. IgA-switched plasma cells in small intestines were reduced, especially in villi of Btk -deficient mice. IgH CDR3 sequencing showed similar V gene diversity and somatic hypermutation frequency despite Btk deficiency but showed reduced CDR3 amino acid polarity, suggesting potential qualitative differences in the gut plasma cell repertoire. Small intestinal IgA was low and IgA coating of commensal bacteria was reduced. IgA-seq showed a shift in small intestinal microbes that are normally IgA-coated into the uncoated fraction in Btk -deficient mice. Overall, this study shows that BTK supports normal intestinal IgA development in response to commensals. This manuscript was previously published as a preprint at: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.10.434762v2 .

Environmental pollution is one of the major problems of these days. One of the reasons of environmental pollution is the indiscriminate use of agrochemicals in agriculture. Fungicides are being extensively used in agriculture for enhancing crop yield and growth by controlling fungal growth. Fungicide carbendazim is widely applied to soil and seeds of vegetable/cereal crops in India and is effective against a very broad spectrum of fungi. The present study was designed to monitor the cyto-genotoxic effects of carbendazim directly in treated soils by cytogenetical analysis using Allium cepa root tip bioassay. In a pot experiment, fungicide carbendazim was added to soil at the rates of 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 mg kg −1 soil and uniform size onion bulb was planted in each pot, and three replicates were maintained for each dose at 1, 7, 15, 30, and 45 days after application and roots from onion bulbs were fixed for cytogenetical analysis. Findings indicate that carbendazim treatment leads to a significant dose and duration-dependent decrease in percent mitotic index with related increase in mitotic inhibition. Statistical analysis showed a significant effect of carbendazim doses and duration of treatment on the percentage relative abnormality rate of A. cepa . Phase indices of our study showed high numbers of cells in prophase as compared to other phases at some doses of treatment. The different types of chromosomal abnormalities observed in our study serve as indicators of genotoxicity of carbendazim and we report for the first time the effect of its application directly in soil using a plant test system.

Presenile cataract is commonly idiopathic in origin. However, patients with presenile cataract could have an underlying genetic abnormality of galactose metabolism. We studied the association, if any, between idiopathic presenile cataract and galactose-1 -phosphate uridyl transferase (GALT) gene mutation. We selected 50 patients with idiopathic presenile cataract, <45 years of age, and 50 age- and sex-matched controls for the study. Mutations in the GALT gene were determined by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism. The classical galactosaemia was characterized by Q188R and K285N mutations, whereas Duarte galactosaemia by N314D mutations (Duarte-2: N314D with IVS5-24G >A and Duarte-1: N314D without IVS5- 24G>A). The most common mutation observed was the N314D (Duarte) mutation. The frequencies of classical and N31 4D alleles in patients with presenile cataract (16%) and controls (26%) were not statistically different (p=0.32, OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.20-1.45). Similarly, there was no statistically significant difference in the frequency distribution of Duarte-1 (p=0.77, OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.23-0.24) and Duarte-2 (p=0.44, OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.07-2.03) galactosaemia mutations in patients and controls. Duarte galactosaemia, a milder form of the disease, is more common than classical galactosaemia in the Indian population. Duarte galactosaemia is unlikely to be a causative factor in presenile cataract.

Aloe vera is a polysaccharide‐ and phenolic‐rich bioresource for developing clean‐label edible films and coatings that mitigate microbial spoilage, oxidative deterioration, and textural loss in perishable foods. Its gel fraction, composed of > 98% water and 0.5%–1.0% solids containing acemannan, sugars, vitamins, and trace anthraquinones, provides a natural matrix for biopolymer integration. This narrative review consolidates advances reported between 2000 and 2025 in A . vera ‐based preservation systems, describing antioxidant, antimicrobial, and barrier mechanisms exploited in polymer composites, emulsions, and nano‐enabled coatings that extend shelf life. Based on multiple studies reviewed, reported formulations typically reduce microbial load and weight loss by 30%–60% and retard lipid oxidation in meat and dairy products by up to 45%, depending on matrix and formulation. Nanoformulation strategies, such as nanoparticle stabilization (10–100 nm) and biocomposite films, enhance adhesion, strength, and controlled release of active constituents. The review further examines hydroxyanthracene derivative (HAD) toxicity (≤ 25 ppm in gel) alongside current regulatory frameworks. Several Aloe ‐based coating systems demonstrate characteristics consistent with TRL 5–6 in defined food matrices. However, progression toward higher readiness levels required for large‐scale adoption faces challenges in compositional standardization, regulatory clearance, scalable processing integration, and long‐term safety validation, particularly for incorporating HADs or nano‐enabled components.