A case report of drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome induced by dapsone

Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a distinct, severe, idiosyncratic reaction to a drug characterized by a prolonged latency period. It is followed by a variety of clinical manifestations, usually fever, rash, lymphadenopathy, eosinophilia, and a wide range of mild-to-severe systemic presentations. Among sulfonamides, Dapsone, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim and sulfasalazine are the most common offending drugs. We report here a case of DRESS syndrome due to dapsone

Multi-Modal Analysis of Parkinson Disease data Using Advanced Deep Learning Techniques

Early diagnosis is essential for effective treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD), a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement and cognitive functions. This study presents a multi-modal analysis for PD classification using deep learning algorithms applied to clinical, audio, and handwriting image data. Recurrent neural networks (RNNs), including Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU), and Bidirectional LSTM, are employed for clinical and audio data analysis, while convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are utilized for handwriting image classification. The results demonstrate varying model performance across different data modalities. Among the clinical data models, GRU achieved the highest accuracy of 82.42%, indicating its effectiveness in capturing sequential dependencies in medical records. For audio-based classification, RNN outperformed all other models with 94.87% accuracy, while LSTM and GRU showed comparable performance, each reaching 92.31% accuracy. In the image modality, CNN without Batch Normalization attained 82.93% accuracy, whereas Batch Normalization improved performance to 85.37%, highlighting its role in stabilizing training and enhancing feature extraction. These findings emphasize the importance of modality-specific deep learning models and their potential to enhance early and accurate PD detection. The study emphasise the significance of multi-modal approaches in medical diagnostics, paving the way for improved, non-invasive, AI-driven assessments

Unveiling the Synoptic Research of in Vitro Pharmacological Activities in Methanolic Extracts of Both Fruits and Roots of Coccinia Grandis

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Coccinia grandis is well known for its curative properties and used as folk medicine in India and other countries due to its various pharmacological characteristics due to presence of number of phytochemicals. Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate pharmacological properties of the fruits and roots of Coccinia grandis. Materials and methods: The methanolic extracts of these parts were tested and analyzed for antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, cytoprotective and antidiabetic properties. The antibacterial activity of both extracts was tested against two strains of E.coli and Staphylococcus aureus using agar diffusion method. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activity was done using RBC membrane stabilization method and inhibition of protein denaturation method. The anti-oxidant analysis was done using DPPH, FRAP, SOD, nitric oxide radical scavenging assay. Cytoprotective activities were carried out by MTT assay in 24 hr – HeLA cells. The anti-diabetic activity was done by inhibition of alpha amylase method and non enzymatic glycosylation of hemoglobin method. Results: The methanolic extracts of both roots and fruits had showed variety of phytochemicals alongwith antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and cytoprotective activities. However, fruit extract showed greater activities as compared to root extract. Conclusion: Methanolic fruit extract can serve as promising source for various pharmacological activities. &nbsp

Serum progesterone level as a predictor of pregnancy in frozen embryo transfer

Background: Aim of the study was to know the effect of serum progesterone (P4) level on pregnancy rate in frozen embryo transfer. The retrospective observational study was conducted in Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Madras Medical Mission Hospital, Chennai. Methods: 126 patients underwent frozen embryo transfer with hormone replacement treatment using oral estradiol valerate and intramuscular progesterone beyond 7 mm of endometrial thickness were started on IM micronized progesterone 100 mg once a day till p+4. Morula transfer was done with at least one good-quality embryo. Serum progesterone level was measured one day before embryo transfer at our institute by chemiluminescence immunoassay. Adequate luteal support was given. Results: The receiver operating curve (ROC) cut off showed serum progesterone level of 20.6 ng/ml had a sensitivity of 71.7% and specificity of 56.5%. Overall pregnancy rate was 50.7%. Live birth rate was significantly more in P4 >20.6 ng/ml. Conclusions: In conclusion, the results of our study conclude that Progesterone level before embryo transfer day is an important prognostic factor for pregnancy outcome. According to this study, serum progesterone level >20.6 ng/ml one day before embryo transfer can be a good predictor of pregnancy in morula transfer. Further studies on a large scale on morula transfer are needed to modulate individualized treatment for patients for a successful pregnancy outcome

GIS Based Mapping for a Better Crop Planning for Perumpadappu Block of Ponnani Kole Lands in Kerala

Kole lands are one of the biggest saline, humid tropical wetland ecosystems. It spreads across  Thrissur and Malappuram districts of Kerala state. They serve as a water storage structure during  rainy season. After rains, the stored water is dewatered and circulated in various Kole padasekarams and channels to cultivate paddy. However, the problem is the lack of a proper water management plan resulting in crop loss. The current study is conducted in the Perumpadappu block of Ponnani Kole lands in Malappuram district. In this study, both GIS and Remote sensing technology have been collaborated to plan the crop calendar. The cropping calendar of Ponnai Kole was developed mainly for 37 Kole padashekharams of Perumpadappu block. Data about elevation, transportation, irrigation, weather and soil were collected to arrive at the crop calendar. Together, by adopting participatory rural appraisal methods and local knowledge were integrated. The final crop calendar was wetted with farmers and experts

Spatial distribution of Nematalosa nasus (Bloch, 1795) of the Northern Indian Ocean in a changing climate

Globally, ocean climate is changing at unprecedented rates. Shifts of species distribution towards the northern latitudes are evident in many seas. The Northern Indian Ocean is warming at an alarming rate as compared to the other oceans. The increased rate of warming will cause substantial responses in the distribution of the pelagic fish species. Many fishes of the family Clupeidae form the mainstay of the marine fisheries of the countries bordering the Northern Indian Ocean. Nematalosa nasus is one of the important pelagic fish found in the region. This study tries to understand the distributional shifts of this species from the region in two future climate scenarios (RCP 6.0 & 8.5). The results indicate a higher influence of the current vector and mean temperature on the distribution of this species. A northward shift in the distribution range is observed in both the future scenarios as compared to the predicted current distribution

Indicators of increased ER stress and UPR in aged D2-mdx and human dystrophic skeletal muscles

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive muscle disease that results in muscle wasting, wheelchair dependence, and eventual death due to cardiac and respiratory complications. In addition to muscle fragility, dystrophin deficiency also results in multiple secondary dysfunctions, which may lead to the accumulation of unfolded proteins causing endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the unfolded protein response (UPR). The purpose of this investigation was to understand how ER stress and the UPR are modified in muscle from D2-mdx mice, an emerging DMD model, and from humans with DMD. We hypothesized that markers of ER stress and the UPR are upregulated in D2-mdx and human dystrophic muscles compared to their healthy counterparts. Immunoblotting in diaphragms from 11-month-old D2-mdx and DBA mice indicated increased ER stress and UPR in dystrophic diaphragms compared to healthy, including increased relative abundance of ER stress chaperone CHOP, canonical ER stress transducers ATF6 and pIRE1α S724, and transcription factors that regulate the UPR such as ATF4, XBP1s, and peIF2α S51. The publicly available Affymetrix dataset (GSE38417) was used to analyze the expression of ER stress and UPR-related transcripts and processes. Fifty-eight upregulated genes related to ER stress and the UPR in human dystrophic muscles suggest pathway activation. Further, based on analyses using iRegulon, putative transcription factors that regulate this upregulation profile were identified, including ATF6, XBP1, ATF4, CREB3L2, and EIF2AK3. This study adds to and extends the emerging knowledge of ER stress and the UPR in dystrophin deficiency and identifies transcriptional regulators that may be responsible for these changes and be of therapeutic interest.This article is published as Krishna S, Spaulding HR, Koltes JE, Quindry JC, Valentine RJ and Selsby JT (2023) Indicators of increased ER stress and UPR in aged D2-mdx and human dystrophic skeletal muscles. Front. Physiol. 14:1152576. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1152576

Indices of Defective Autophagy in Whole Muscle and Lysosome Enriched Fractions From Aged D2-mdx Mice

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a fatal, progressive muscle disease caused by the absence of functional dystrophin protein. Previous studies in mdx mice, a common DMD model, identified impaired autophagy with lysosomal insufficiency and impaired autophagosomal degradation as consequences of dystrophin deficiency. Thus, we hypothesized that lysosomal abundance would be decreased and degradation of autophagosomes would be impaired in muscles of D2-mdx mice. To test this hypothesis, diaphragm and gastrocnemius muscles from 11 month-old D2-mdx and DBA/2J (healthy) mice were collected. Whole muscle protein from diaphragm and gastrocnemius muscles, and protein from a cytosolic fraction (CF) and a lysosome-enriched fraction (LEF) from gastrocnemius muscles, were isolated and used for western blotting. Initiation of autophagy was not robustly activated in whole muscle protein from diaphragm and gastrocnemius, however, autophagosome formation markers were elevated in dystrophic muscles. Autophagosome degradation was impaired in D2-mdx diaphragms but appeared to be maintained in gastrocnemius muscles. To better understand this muscle-specific distinction, we investigated autophagic signaling in CFs and LEFs from gastrocnemius muscles. Within the LEF we discovered that the degradation of autophagosomes was similar between groups. Further, our data suggest an expanded, though impaired, lysosomal pool in dystrophic muscle. Notably, these data indicate a degree of muscle specificity as well as model specificity with regard to autophagic dysfunction in dystrophic muscles. Stimulation of autophagy in dystrophic muscles may hold promise for DMD patients as a potential therapeutic, however, it will be critical to choose the appropriate model and muscles that most closely recapitulate findings from human patients to further develop these therapeutics.This article is published as Krishna S, Spaulding HR, Quindry TS, Hudson MB, Quindry JC and Selsby JT (2021) Indices of Defective Autophagy in Whole Muscle and Lysosome Enriched Fractions From Aged D2-mdx Mice. Front. Physiol. 12:691245. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2021.691245.This work was funded in part by the Michael’s Cause and Ryan’s Quest (JS and JQ) as well as Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (JS and JQ)

Botany, chemistry, and pharmaceutical significance of Sida cordifolia: a traditional medicinal plant

Sida cordifolia Linn. belonging to the family, Malvaceae has been widely employed in traditional medications in many parts of the world including India, Brazil, and other Asian and African countries. The plant is extensively used in the Ayurvedic medicine preparation. There are more than 200 plant species within the genus Sida, which are distributed predominantly in the tropical regions. The correct taxonomic identification is a major concern due to the fact that S. cordifolia looks morphologically similar with its related species. It possesses activity against various human ailments, including cancer, asthma, cough, diarrhea, malaria, gonorrhea, tuberculosis, obesity, ulcer, Parkinson’s disease, urinary infections, and many others. The medical importance of this plant is mainly correlated to the occurrence of diverse biologically active phytochemical compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, and steroids. The major compounds include β-phenylamines, 2-carboxylated tryptamines, quinazoline, quinoline, indole, ephedrine, vasicinone, 5-3-isoprenyl flavone, 5,7-dihydroxy-3-isoprenyl flavone, and 6-(isoprenyl)- 3-methoxy- 8-C-β-D-glucosyl-kaempferol 3-O-β-D-glucosyl[1–4]-α-D-glucoside. The literature survey reveals that most of the pharmacological investigations on S. cordifolia are limited to crude plant extracts and few isolated pure compounds. Therefore, there is a need to evaluate many other unexplored bioactive phytoconstituents with evidences so as to justify the traditional usages of S. cordifolia. Furthermore, detailed studies on the action of mechanisms of these isolated compounds supported by clinical research are necessary for validating their application in contemporary medicines. The aim of the present chapter is to provide a detailed information on the ethnobotanical, phytochemical, and pharmacological aspects of S. cordifolia