Decrypting the multi-functional biological activators and inducers of defense responses against biotic stresses in plants

Plant diseases are still the main problem for the reduction in crop yield and a threat to global food security. Additionally, excessive usage of chemical inputs such as pesticides and fungicides to control plant diseases have created another serious problem for human and environmental health. In view of this, the application of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) for controlling plant disease incidences has been identified as an eco-friendly approach for coping with the food security issue. In this review, we have identified different ways by which PGPRs are capable of reducing phytopathogenic infestations and enhancing crop yield. PGPR suppresses plant diseases, both directly and indirectly, mediated by microbial metabolites and signaling components. Microbial synthesized anti-pathogenic metabolites such as siderophores, antibiotics, lytic enzymes, hydrogen cyanide, and several others act directly on phytopathogens. The indirect mechanisms of reducing plant disease infestation are caused by the stimulation of plant immune responses known as initiation of systemic resistance (ISR) which is mediated by triggering plant immune responses elicited through pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). The ISR triggered in the infected region of the plant leads to the development of systemic acquired resistance (SAR) throughout the plant making the plant resistant to a wide range of pathogens. A number of PGPRs including Pseudomonas and Bacillus genera have proven their ability to stimulate ISR. However, there are still some challenges in the large-scale application and acceptance of PGPR for pest and disease management. Further, we discuss the newly formulated PGPR inoculants possessing both plant growth-promoting activities and plant disease suppression ability for a holistic approach to sustaining plant health and enhancing crop productivity

Integrated proteomic, transcriptomic, and genomic analysis identifies fibrinogen beta and fibrinogen gamma as key modulators of breast cancer progression and metastasis

Background: As per the WHO, more than 2 million new cases are diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 685,000 deaths have been reported in 2020. Incidence of recurrence and metastasis has also risen and poses a challenge for developing new therapies with the identification of newer targets. Methods: The objective of this study is to analyze and integrate various data across genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic levels to find promising markers linked with tumor progression and metastasis development in breast cancer. This study begins with the extraction of data of differentially expressed proteins and subsequently analyzes their gene expression changes and genomic alterations to integrate all three omics data. We used curated breast cancer datasets of different proteomic experiments from dbDEPC3.0 and TCGA datasets of the Metastatic Breast Cancer Project to compare gene expressions and genomic alterations. We further used cBioportal, GeneMania, GEPIA2, Reactome, and canSAR computational tools for identifying the most significant genes associated with tumor progression and metastasis. Results: Based on false discovery rate, 14 genes were subjected to pathway analysis in Reactome and the top 25 significant pathways were analyzed out of a total of 170 pathways. Our study found fibrinogen gamma (FGG) and fibrinogen beta (FGB) linked to pathways connecting RAS-MAPK, its downstream mutants, integrin signaling, and extracellular matrix remodeling pathways. Conclusion: Survival analysis suggested that FGG (P = 0.0065) and FGB (P = 0.013) have a significant positive correlation along with their stage-wise changes in copy number variations and genomic alterations play a pivotal role in controlling tumor progression and metastasis

Acute kidney injury profile of COVID-19 patients and associated risk factors a rural hospital-based retrospective study from Vadodara, Gujarat

Background: Clinical outcome of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and acute kidney injury (AKI) are not well understood. The clinical significance of abnormal electrolytes and renal outcome in COVID-19 patients have been poorly documented. We aim to exhibit the electrolyte abnormalities, renal outcome and associated risk factors in hospitalized COVID-19 patients in rural tertiary care hospital in Vadodara district, Western India. Method: A hospital record based retrospective study was conducted. Total 994 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 between 1st April 2021 to 30th June 2021 and those meeting inclusion criteria were included for the analysis. The laboratory data of interest included electrolytes reports like Na+, K+, CL-, creatinine and blood urea. Result: Of the total hospitalized COVID-19 patients, 324 patients were eligible. For the criteria for suspected AKI - 279 (86.11%) and no AKI - 45 (13.88%) patients were found. Suspected AKI patients were classified into four conditions: 1) HYPERNATREMIA (14.33%); HYPERKALEMIA (2.15%); BCR ratio >20 (65.59%); HIGH Cl- (17.92%). Out of total AKI patients, (36.91%) died whereas (13.3%) patients died in no AKI group. All patients were provided antibiotics, steroids and anti-viral therapies irrespective of AKI status, which we presume might have contributed in high mortality among suspected AKI.&nbsp

Antioxidants and Ageing

Antioxidants are the molecules that reduce the chance of ageing by diminishing or maintaining the level of oxidants with or without free radical activity. Therefore, to many people, “antioxidants” and “anti-aging” go hand-in-hand. Antioxidants can be supplied with dietary supplements for body, or can be used in osmetics for skin, can be touted as the antidote to cell-damaging free radicals and finally, they act as the key to long-lasting youth. Although, present study reveals a complicated relation between aging and antioxidants, the rate of ageing is predicted to be more important than lifespan.Therefore, in a life span, slowing the process of ageing is more important.</p

C-reactive protein (CRP) and Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) as diagnostic and early prognostic marker of adverse disease outcomes in critical COVID-19 patients

Background: We used standard laboratory test to determine tissue injury and inflammatory state on the physiological condition of fever, cough, headache in 672 patients tested for CRP and 407 patients tested for LDH out of a total of 994 COVID-19 admissions during the period of April 2021-September 2021 at Parul Sevashram Hospital, Vadodara. The data was stratified based on the survivor/non-survivor status and severity of disease condition based on Ward or ICU admissions. The results were correlated with the vales of serum CRP and LDH levels for determining their prognostic significance. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective, single-centre, observational study using the data collected from MRD division through electronic records and standardized data collection template. It included patients who were tested for CRP and LDH at times of admission. Mean, Standard deviation, Median and Interquartile range (IQR) were used to present continuous variables. Student’s t-test was used for testing differences between the two groups applicable. For study of single variables, Z-score was performed. The SPSS version 16 software was used for performing linear regression in this study and statistical analysis was done.&nbsp;&nbsp

Prevalence and antibiotic sensitivity of uropathogens isolated from type-ii diabetic patients having urinary tract infection (UTI): A retrospective study from a rural tertiary care hospital

Background: Patients with Diabetes Mellitus are more prone to Urinary tract infection (UTI) than non-diabetic patients. Diabetes Mellitus has certain negative effects on the genital system and increases the incidence of urinary tract infection in diabetic patients. Design: Record based retrospective study. Methods:&nbsp; Records of patients with type-II diabetes having symptoms of UTI were reviewed from August 2021 to January 2022. &nbsp;Result: Out of 210 diabetic patients, the UTI rate was higher in females 59% than male 41%. The most common agents for causing UTI were E.coli followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella spp., Candida albicans and Candida non-albicans, Enterococcus, S.aureus and other organisms. About 70.68% Gram-negative isolates were resistant against ampicillin, 75.17% resistant against gentamycin, and 48.16% resistant against amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. Gram-positive isolates were 83.33% resistant against penicillin and 83.33% resistant against ciprofloxacin. However, both gram-negative and gram-positive were susceptible to nitrofurantoin. The overall multidrug resistance was observed in 201 out of 210 (95.71%) bacterial and candiduria isolates, while 3.33% of the isolates were resistant to one only antibiotic. Conclusion: Most common etiological agent is E.coli with high drug resistance to ampicillin and susceptible to nitrofurantoin. Therefore, performing urine culture and regular monitoring of UTI is essential

Clinical variants of acrodermatitis enteropathica and its co-relation with genetics

Acrodermatitis enteropathica (AE) is a rare disorder of zinc deficiency, which manifests as acral and periorificial dermatitis, alopecia, intractable diarrhea, and failure to thrive. It is classified as primary zinc deficiency, genetically based deficiency, and acquired secondary deficiency. We hereby report a case series of genetically based AE in two nonidentical twins of age two months and two siblings of age 3 and 6 months. After reviewing the literature, we have also emphasized the possible role of genetics in the manifestation of AE

Metabolic syndrome correlates with significantly adverse disease outcomes in COVID-19 patients during the second wave of pandemic

Background: This Retrospective Study was conducted by collecting patient records from the COVID-19 registry of Parul Sevasharm Hospital. The goal of this study was to investigate the risk and mortality of COVID-19 patients with Metabolic Syndrome especially during the second wave of pandemic. Methods: This Retrospective Study was conducted by collecting patient records from the COVID-19 registry of Parul Sevasharm Hospital. The record of COVID-19 patients admitted during the second wave of pandemic (April – June, 2021) were included and analyzed for Metabolic syndrome, Demographic characteristics and Clinical Outcomes. Comorbidities were classified into the following Groups: DM (having DM with or without comorbidities), only DM (having DM without other comorbidities); HT (having HT with or without other comorbidities), only HT (having HT without other comorbidities); CVD (having CVD with or without comorbidities), only CVD (having CVD without other comorbidities). Correlation analysis was also done for sub-groups of DM+CVD, CVD+HT, HT+DM, (with or without other comorbidities). Results: Among 994 Patients with COVID-19, 748/994 (75.25%) were discharged as cured and 246 (24.74%) succumbed to death. The mean age of the study population was 52.64±14.72, in which 366 (36.82%) were Females and 628/994 (63.57%) were Males.&nbsp

Assessing the improvement in cement effectiveness by the geometry of implant abutment surface

Aim: The present study was conducted to assess the effect of the topography or surface geometry of implant abutments for their effect on the retentive strength of the prosthesis cemented using zinc phosphate on grooved, sandblasted, and standard machined implant abutments and to compare them. Methods: 12 implant abutments of a similar shape were divided into 3 groups of 4 each having a 6-degree taper and 6mm height. The 3 groups were Group I included standard machined abutments without grooves, Group II included group I abutments sandblasted, and Group III included abutments having prefabricated circumferential grooves. In addition, among these 12 abutments, 4 each were taken to assess the retentive force of zinc phosphate cement. 12 similar cast copings were made to fill the 12 abutments, and were cemented with zinc phosphate. After 6 days of storage in the water bath and thermal cycling, using the tensile testing machine, a retention test was done. Results: Concerning zinc phosphate cement, among three study groups the statistically significant difference was seen with p&lt;0.05.&nbsp

Assessing the Improvement in Cement Effectiveness by the Geometry of Implant Abutment Surface

Aim: The present study was conducted to assess the effect of the topography or surface geometry of implant abutments for their effect on the retentive strength of the prosthesis cemented using zinc phosphate on grooved, sandblasted, and standard machined implant abutments and to compare them. Methods: 12 implant abutments of a similar shape were divided into 3 groups of 4 each having a 6-degree taper and 6mm height. The 3 groups were Group I included standard machined abutments without grooves, Group II included group I abutments sandblasted, and Group III included abutments having prefabricated circumferential grooves. In addition, among these 12 abutments, 4 each were taken to assess the retentive force of zinc phosphate cement. 12 similar cast copings were made to fill the 12 abutments, and were cemented with zinc phosphate. After 6 days of storage in the water bath and thermal cycling, using the tensile testing machine, a retention test was done. Results: Concerning zinc phosphate cement, among three study groups the statistically significant difference was seen with p&lt;0.05.&nbsp