Artificial intelligence for smart patient care: transforming future of nursing practice

Artificial intelligence (AI) in today’s era has been described as “the new electricity” as it continually transforms today’s world by affecting our way of living in many different spheres. Extensive government programs in most countries and enhanced technology investments thereof are set to rapidly advance AI. Consequently, healthcare teams will be majorly affected by intelligent tools and systems to be launched into healthcare and patient homecare settings. AI represents a variety of functions under an umbrella of terms like machine learning (ML), deep learning, computer vision, natural language processing (NLP) and automated speech recognition (ASR) technologies. Each of these when used individually or in combination has the potential to add intelligence to applications. Understanding of AI in medical field is crucial for nurses. Utilization of AI in nursing will accelerate innovation and fasten up decision making for them thus saving their time and improving patient outcome plus satisfaction with nursing care provided. Of utmost importance while partnering with AI is the requirement for AI to be safe and effective. A major concern for AI practitioners in the current scenario is managing bias. To realize the full potential of AI, stakeholders (AI developers and users) need to be confident about two aspects: (1) reliability and validity of the datasets used and (2) transparency of AI based system. Issues encompassing AI are novel yet complex, and there is still much to be learnt about it. Nursing experience, knowledge, and skills will transit into new ways of thinking and processing information. This will give new roles to nurses-like information integrators, data managers, informatics specialists, health coaches and above all deliverers of compassionate caring-not replaced by AI technologies yet supported by them

Potential of Aegilops sp. for Improvement of Grain Processing and Nutritional Quality in Wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Wheat is one of the most important staple crops in the world and good source of calories and nutrition. Its flour and dough have unique physical properties and can be processed to make unique products like bread, cakes, biscuits, pasta, noodles etc., which is not possible from other staple crops. Due to domestication, the genetic variability of the genes coding for different economically important traits in wheat is narrow. This genetic variability can be increased by utilizing its wild relatives. Its closest relative, genus Aegilops can be an important source of new alleles. Aegilops has played a very important role in evolution of tetraploid and hexaploid wheat. It consists of 22 species with C, D, M, N, S, T and U genomes with high allelic diversity relative to wheat. Its utilization for wheat improvement for various abiotic and biotic stresses has been reported by various scientific publications. Here in, for the first time, we review the potential of Aegilops for improvement of processing and nutritional traits in wheat. Among processing quality related gluten proteins; high molecular weight glutenins (HMW GS), being easiest to study have been explored in highest number of accessions or lines i.e., 681 belonging to 13 species and selected ones like Ae. searsii, Ae. geniculata and Ae. longissima have been linked with improved bread making quality of wheat. Gliadins and low molecular weight glutenins (LMW GS) have also been extensively explored for wheat improvement and Ae. umbellulata specific LMW GS have been linked with wheat bread making quality improvement. Aegilops has been explored for seed texture diversity and proteins like puroindolins (Pin) and grain softness proteins (GSP). For nutrition quality improvement, it has been screened for essential micronutrients like Fe, Zn, phytochemicals like carotenoids and dietary fibers like arabinoxylan and β-glucan. Ae. kotschyi and Ae. biuncialis transfer in wheat have been associated with higher Fe, Zn content. In this article we have tried to compile information available on exploration of nutritional and processing quality related traits in Aegilops section and their utilization for wheat improvement by different approaches

Zinc inhibits ovariectomy induced microarchitectural changes in the bone tissue

Purpose: The purpose of the current study was to examine the effect of zinc supplementation as a nutritional supplement in case of osteopenia induced microarchitectural changes in rat model. Methods: Forty eight animals in two batches of twenty four animals each were assigned to four groups: Control, Zinc, Ovariectomized (OVX) and OVX + Zinc. The treatment period was continued for eight weeks. Histoarchitecture analysis was performed on both the bones i.e. femur and tibia using light as well as electron microscopy. Also, the bone calcium content was estimated using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: The body weight of the animals in the OVX group was significantly higher in comparison to the control animals. The body weight was found to increase significantly upon zinc supplementation to OVX animals till the 4th week and then was almost comparable till the termination of treatment period. Calcium content in both femur and tibia were found to be significantly reduced in the ovariectomized group. The connectivity of trabeculae was lost following ovariectomy. Zinc administration restored bone calcium content as well bone tissue morphology including trabecular thickness. Conclusion: These findings suggest that changes in the trabecular bone attributed to estrogen deficiency are arrested by zinc supplementation

Evaluation of immunogenic potential of 75kDa and 56kDa proteins of newcastle disease virus (NDV)

889-895 The R2B strain of virus of new castle disease virus (NDV) was propagated in 9-11 day old embryonated chicken eggs via allantoic cavity route and after seven serial passages virus was purified from allantoic fluid. Purified virus was analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis which yielded six major polypeptides ranging from 38-200 kDa. Protein fractions, corresponding to 75 and 56kDa, resembling haemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) and fusion (F) proteins were used to ascertain their immunization potential. Immunization of viral proteins was compared with the whole virus vaccine. Among different group of birds, highest haemagglutination inhibition (HI) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) titers were obtained in birds immunized with whole virus vaccine followed by viral proteins, 75 and 56kDa in combination which was comparable with birds immunized with 56kDa protein alone. Despite lower values of HI and ELISA titers elicited by viral subunits in immunized birds, when challenged with virulent NDV strain, protection accorded by viral proteins in combination (75 +56kDa) or 56kDa alone was comparable with whole virus vaccine.</smarttagtype

A study of complexity of oral mucosa using fractal geometry

Background: The oral mucosa lining the oral cavity is composed of epithelium supported by connective tissue. The shape of the epithelial-connective tissue interface has traditionally been used to describe physiological and pathological changes in the oral mucosa. Aim: The aim is to evaluate the morphometric complexity in normal, dysplastic, well-differentiated, and moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral mucosa using fractal geometry. Materials and Methods: A total of 80 periodic acid–Schiff stained histological images of four groups: normal mucosa, dysplasia, well-differentiated SCC, and moderately differentiated SCC were verified by the gold standard. These images were then subjected to fractal analysis. Statistical Analysis: ANOVA and post hoc test: Bonferroni was applied. Results: Fractal dimension (FD) increases as the complexity increases from normal to dysplasia and then to SCC. Normal buccal mucosa was found to be significantly different from dysplasia and the two grades of SCC (P < 0.05). ANOVA of fractal scores of four morphometrically different groups of buccal mucosa was significantly different with F (3,76) = 23.720 and P< 0.01. However, FD of dysplasia was not significantly different from well-differentiated and moderately differentiated SCC (P = 1.000 and P = 0.382, respectively). Conclusion: This study establishes FD as a newer tool in differentiating normal tissue from dysplastic and neoplastic tissue. Fractal geometry is useful in the study of both physiological and pathological changes in the oral mucosa. A new grading system based on FD may emerge as an adjuvant aid in cancer diagnosis

Gastroprotective Effect of Samudradya Churna wsr of Parinama Shula: A Classical Review

According to several researches on the number of cases of duodenal ulcers, these conditions are believed to affect 5 to 15% of the general population. While dyspepsia is among the most common accompanying symptom of duodenal ulcers, the presentation can range in severity, including gastrointestinal bleeding, gastric outlet obstruction, perforation, or fistula development. This whole entity compared as Parinama Shoola is an Avaranjanya Tridoshaja Vyadhi caused by Vata vitiation, which causes avarana in Kapha and Pitta. It worsens during meal digestion and 3-4 hours after food intake when it gets to the intestines. In modern science, there are drugs for symptomatic relief in the treatment of ulcers (Parinama Shula) that have severe adverse consequences over time. In the Current era, there is a critical need to protect the microbiota of the gut as well as digestive health through the use of Ayurvedic formulations both for preventive and therapeutic purposes. Finally, it is discussed the use of one of the Ayurveda Formulation “Samudradya Churna” with respect to its role in health and disease. This article reviews the indications, contraindications, pharmaceutical action, adverse events, and other key elements in the clinical setting as relates to the essential points

Comparative study of recurrence after pterygium excision with conjunctival autografting and amniotic membrane transplantation

Introduction: Pterygium is ocular surface lesion thought to originate from damage to limbal stem cells by chronic ultra violet light exposure. It has high recurrence rates following resection. Both amniotic membrane and conjunctival autograft are source of stem cells. We compare recurrence after pterygium excision with conjunctival autografting and amniotic membrane grafting. Methods: Prospective case study of seventy patients after pterygium excision with Amniotic membrane transplantation or Conjunctival autografting. Thirty five patients divided in each group and fibrin glue used for both Amniotic membrane transplantation and Conjunctival autografting. Results: Six follow up from first postoperative day to one year were done in each group. Group A (Amniotic membrane transplantation) had less Post operative complaints. In group A, all patients have well placed graft while in group B (conjunctival autografting) nine patients have graft displacement on first post operative day. It was statistically significant (p value 0.001). The recurrence occurring four patients in group A (11.42%) while in 7 patients in group B (20%). The recurrence was more in group B although it was statistically insignificant (p value &lt;0.511). Amniotic membrane transplantation with fibrin glue having less postoperative complaints, better graft stability and less recurrence as compare to conjunctival autografting. Conclusion: Our study shows good outcome with Amniotic membrane transplantation. Probably this is because of anti- inflammatory property of amniotic membrane, minimum surgical trauma and uniform thickness of graft

Biofortified Crops Generated by Breeding, Agronomy, and Transgenic Approaches Are Improving Lives of Millions of People around the World

Biofortification is an upcoming, promising, cost-effective, and sustainable technique of delivering micronutrients to a population that has limited access to diverse diets and other micronutrient interventions. Unfortunately, major food crops are poor sources of micronutrients required for normal human growth. The manuscript deals in all aspects of crop biofortification which includes—breeding, agronomy, and genetic modification. It tries to summarize all the biofortification research that has been conducted on different crops. Success stories of biofortification include lysine and tryptophan rich quality protein maize (World food prize 2000), Vitamin A rich orange sweet potato (World food prize 2016); generated by crop breeding, oleic acid, and stearidonic acid soybean enrichment; through genetic transformation and selenium, iodine, and zinc supplementation. The biofortified food crops, especially cereals, legumes, vegetables, and fruits, are providing sufficient levels of micronutrients to targeted populations. Although a greater emphasis is being laid on transgenic research, the success rate and acceptability of breeding is much higher. Besides the challenges biofortified crops hold a bright future to address the malnutrition challenge