Seasonal flooded rice area extent dataset during dry seasons 2016 to 2019 at the Telangana state scale, South-India.

Indian agriculture largely depends on the timely and spatially variable availability of water resources which are replenished during the monsoon season. In the state of Telangana, a significant portion of the available water is utilized for flooded rice cultivation, both in surface water-fed command areas and in groundwater-dependent regions. The spatial extent of seasonal rice cultivation varies annually in response to water availability that is a key indicator of how farmers adapt to regional and global environmental and socio-economic changes.

Modified low-cost EndoVac is safe and efficacious for treatment of postoperative leaks even at low pressures.

Background: Postoperative gastrointestinal leaks are often treated using Endoscopic Vacuum therapy (EndoVac). We aim to study the role of modified low-cost EndoVac (mEndoVac) for treatment of postoperative leaks when used at low pressure for upper GI and standard pressure for lower GI leaks.

Methods: Retrospective review of prospectively maintained endoscopy database from January 2022 till March 2024 was done for patients who underwent treatment for upper and lower GI leaks using mEndoVac.

Exploring rare earth elements in coalmine overburden: nanoscale insights from FESEM, TEM and XPS analysis.

Rare earth elements and yttrium (REY) are critical for various advanced technologies, particularly in electronics, and play a vital role in the economic growth of any country. Coal and its by-products could be potential precursors of these commodities and other natural resources. While coal and coal fly ash have been assessed for their REY content, the coal mine overburden (OB) or waste remains unexplored as a potential source of rare earth elements.

Exploiting Archaeal/Thermostable Enzymes in Synthetic Chemistry: Back to the Future?

Billions of years of evolution have led to the selection of (hyper)thermophiles capable of flourishing at elevated temperatures. The corresponding native (hyper)thermophilic enzymes retain their tertiary and quaternary structures at near-boiling water temperatures and naturally retain catalytically competent conformational dynamics under these conditions. And yet, while hyper/thermophilic enzymes offer special opportunities in biocatalysis and in hybrid bio/chemocatalytic approaches to modern synthesis in both academia and industry, these enzymes remain underexplored in biocatalysis.

Phase III randomized trial comparing neoadjuvant paclitaxel plus platinum with 5-fluorouracil plus platinum in esophageal or gastroesophageal junction squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced esophageal or gastroesophageal junction squamous cancer, 5-fluorouracil plus platinum, is toxic and logistically challenging; alternative regimens are needed.

Methods: This was a phase III randomized open-label noninferiority trial at Tata Memorial Center, India, in resectable locally advanced esophageal or gastroesophageal junction squamous cancer. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to 3 cycles of 3-weekly platinum (cisplatin 75 mg/m2 or carboplatin area under the curve 6) with paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 (day 1) or 5-fluorouracil 1000 mg/m2 continuous infusion (days 1-4), followed by surgery.

Robotic radical thymectomy-right-sided approach for a thymoma.

The utilization of a radical robotic thymectomy, with clearance of the mediastinal tissue between the two phrenic nerves for a thymoma, is well established. The complex mediastinal anatomy, limited space and the location of the heart introduce a distinctive challenge, particularly when adopting a right-sided approach to identify and dissect along the left phrenic nerve. We present our technique for performing a robotic radical thymectomy from a right-sided approach, tailored for a localized thymoma.

SALTT study: A retrospective analysis of 111 SAlivary gland tumors of Lung and Tracheobronchial Tree.

Introduction: Primary pulmonary salivary gland-type tumours (PPSGT) are rare lung neoplasms arising from submucosal seromucinous glands in the central airway.

Methods And Results: We retrospectively analysed the clinicopathological features of 111 PPSGTs diagnosed at our institute between 2003 and 2021. The mean age at diagnosis was 43.

Treatment Response to Neoadjuvant Therapy in Squamous Esophageal Cancer-Correlation Between Metabolic Response and Histopathology.

Purpose: Esophageal cancer is among the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Patients presenting with localized and loco-regionally advanced cancer without distant metastases have reasonable survival with multimodality management. Adequate and comprehensive staging is the backbone for proper selection of patients fit for curative treatment.

Clinical Utility of Stepwise Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Analysis in Diagnosing and Managing Lung Infiltrates in Leukemia/Lymphoma Patients With Febrile Neutropenia.

Purpose: Febrile neutropenia (FN) is a serious complication in hematologic malignancies, and lung infiltrates (LIs) remain a significant concern. An accurate microbiological diagnosis is crucial but difficult to establish. To address this, we analyzed the utility of a standardized method for performing bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) along with a two-step strategy for the analysis of BAL fluid.

Changes in an Enzyme Ensemble During Catalysis Observed by High Resolution XFEL Crystallography.

Enzymes populate ensembles of structures with intrinsically different catalytic proficiencies that are difficult to experimentally characterize. We use time-resolved mix-and-inject serial crystallography (MISC) at an X-ray free electron laser (XFEL) to observe catalysis in a designed mutant (G150T) isocyanide hydratase (ICH) enzyme that enhances sampling of important minor conformations. The active site exists in a mixture of conformations and formation of the thioimidate catalytic intermediate selects for catalytically competent substates.

Exploration of human pancreatic alpha-amylase inhibitors from Physalis peruviana for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycemia, accounts for ∼90% of all types of diabetes. Pancreatic α-amylase is a potential drug target for preventing postprandial hyperglycemia and inhibiting T2D in humans. Although many synthetic drugs have been identified against pancreatic α-amylase, however, reported several side effects, and plant-derived natural products are less explored against T2D.

Anti-amyloidogenic amphipathic arginine-dehydrophenylalanine spheres capped selenium nanoparticles as potent therapeutic moieties for Alzheimer's disease.

Aggregation of both amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide and hyperphosphorylated tau proteins is the major pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Moieties that carry anti-amyloidogenic potency against both of the aggregating entities are considered to be promising drug candidatures for the disease. In the current work, we have synthesized amphipathic dipeptide vesicle-templated selenium nanoparticles (RΔF-SeNPs) as potential entities to combat AD.

Caffeine improves memory and cognition via modulating neural progenitor cell survival and decreasing oxidative stress in Alzheimer's rat model.

Aims: Caffeine possesses potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activities against a variety of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). The goal of this study was to investigate the protective role of a psychoactive substance like caffeine on hippocampal neurogenesis and memory functions in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced neurodegeneration in rats.

Background: Caffeine is a natural CNS stimulant, belonging to the methylxanthine class, and is a widely consumed psychoactive substance.

Crosstalk between Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis and Its Role in Alzheimer's Disease.

The functional and developmental unit of neurogenesis is neural stem cells (NSCs). These NSCs have self-renewal capacity and produce new neurons throughout life in different neurogenic niche. Neurogenesis in adult brain is associated with synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory in dentate gyrus (DG) of hippocampus and olfactory bulb.

ACE2/ANG-(1-7)/Mas receptor axis activation prevents inflammation and improves cognitive functions in streptozotocin induced rat model of Alzheimer's disease-like phenotypes.

Activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), by Angiotensin converting enzyme/Angiotensin II/Angiotensin receptor-1 (ACE/Ang II/AT1 R) axis elicits amyloid deposition and cognitive impairment. Furthermore, ACE2 induced release of Ang-(1-7) binds with the Mas receptor and autoinhibits ACE/Ang II/AT1 axis activation. Inhibition of ACE by perindopril has been reported to improve memory in preclinical settings.

Lipidomics and proteomics: An integrative approach for early diagnosis of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder and considered to be responsible for majority of worldwide prevalent dementia cases. The number of patients suffering from dementia are estimated to increase up to 115.4 million cases worldwide in 2050.

Activation of Angiotensin-converting Enzyme 2 Protects Against Lipopolysaccharide-induced Glial Activation by Modulating Angiotensin-converting Enzyme 2/Angiotensin (1-7)/Mas Receptor Axis.

Neuroinflammation is associated with activation of glial cells and pro-inflammatory arm of the central Renin Angiotensin System (RAS) namely, Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme/Angiotensin II/Angiotensin Type 1 Receptor (ACE/Ang II/AT1R) axis. Apart from this, another axis of RAS also exists, Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/Angiotensin (1-7)/Mas Receptor (ACE2/Ang (1-7)/MasR), which counters ACE/Ang II/AT1R axis by showing anti-inflammatory properties. However, the role of ACE2/Ang (1-7)/MasR axis has not been explored in glial activation and neuroinflammation.

Robotic esophagectomy and 3-field lymphadenectomy with intraoperative nerve monitoring.

The standard of care for esophageal malignancies has evolved over the years from open transthoracic esophagectomy to a minimally invasive approach due to the reduction in surgical trauma and significant impact on postoperative outcomes. Minimally invasive approaches include video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. These minimally invasive approaches have an attendant learning curve that early-career surgeons are required to negotiate before achieving proficiency in the procedure.

Biomacromolecule-Assisted Screening for Reaction Discovery and Catalyst Optimization.

Reaction discovery and catalyst screening lie at the heart of synthetic organic chemistry. While there are efforts at catalyst design using computation/artificial intelligence, at its core, synthetic chemistry is an experimental science. This review overviews biomacromolecule-assisted screening methods and the follow-on elaboration of chemistry so discovered.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 Activation Mitigates Behavioral Deficits and Neuroinflammatory Burden in 6-OHDA Induced Experimental Models of Parkinson's Disease.

Hypertension is reported to cause major brain disorders including Parkinson's disease (PD), apart from cardiovascular and chronic kidney disorders. Considering this, for the first time, we explored the effect of modulation of the ACE2/Ang (1-7)/MasR axis using diminazene aceturate (DIZE), an ACE2 activator, in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) induced PD model. We found that DIZE treatment improved neuromuscular coordination and locomotor deficits in the 6-OHDA induced PD rat model.

Self-Fluorescent Lone Tryptophan Nanoparticles as Theranostic Agents Against Alzheimer's Disease.

Aggregation of β-amyloid (Aβ42) peptide in the neural extracellular space leads to cellular dysfunction, resulting in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The hydrophobic core of the amyloidogenic Aβ42 peptide contains aromatic residues that play an important role in the self-assembly and subsequent aggregation of the peptide. Hence, targeting these hydrophobic core residues by potent low molecular agents can be a promising therapeutic approach toward AD.

Uniportal VATS left lower lobectomy: Fissure first technique.

This video tutorial describes a left lower lobectomy performed by the uniportal approach. A single 2-cm incision in the lateral chest wall is used as the utility port. The procedure begins with division of the inferior pulmonary ligament and isolation of the inferior pulmonary vein.