Perioperative and functional outcomes following robot-assisted partial nephrectomy: Descriptive analysis of Indian study group on partial nephrectomy database.

Introduction: There is an unmet need for high-quality data for Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) in the Indian population. Indian study group on partial nephrectomy (ISGPN) is a consortium of Indian centers contributing to the partial nephrectomy (PN) database. The current study is a descriptive analysis of perioperative and functional outcomes following RAPN. Methods: For this study, the retrospective ISGPN database was reviewed, which included patients who underwent RAPN for renal masses at 14 centers across India from September 2010 to September 2022. Demographic, clinical, radiological, perioperative, and functional data were collected and analyzed. Ethics approval was obtained from each of the participating centers. Results: In this study, 782 patients were included, and 69.7% were male. The median age was 53 years (interquartile range [IQR 44-62]), median operative time was 180 min (IQR 133-240), median estimated blood loss was 100 mL (IQR 50-200), mean warm ischemia time was 22.7 min and positive surgical margin rates were 2.5%. The complication rate was 16.2%, and most of them were of minor grade. Trifecta and pentafecta outcomes were attained in 61.4% and 60% of patients, respectively. Conclusions: This is the largest Indian multi-centric study using the Indian Robotic PN Collaborative database to evaluate the outcomes of robot-assisted PN, and has proven its safety and efficacy in the management of renal masses.

The process, outcomes and context of the sanitation change induced by the Swachh Bharat Mission in rural Jharkhand, India.

BACKGROUND: The Indian Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) was launched in 2014 with the goal to make India open defecation (OD) free by October 2019. Although it is known that the ambitious goal was not achieved, the nature of the sanitation change brought about by the SBM in different parts of India is poorly understood. One reason is a dearth of case studies that would shed light on the performance of the SBM simultaneously across its different domains. This article provides an example of such study. Employing a Process, Outcomes, Context approach, the objective is to understand the process and outcomes of the SBM-induced sanitation change in a specific context of rural Jharkhand. METHODS: The study utilizes data collected through field research conducted in the rural areas of Ranchi district, Jharkhand, a state in east-central India. This data was obtained via repeated cross-sectional household surveys conducted at the beginning and at the end of the SBM, supplemented by key informant interviews with SBM stakeholders. FINDINGS: We identified political support of SBM implementation and its acceptance amongst the population. Female community workers became key agents of SBM implementation at local level. The SBM increased toilet coverage in the study area from 15% to 85% and lowered the OD rate from 93% to 26%. It substantially reduced structural inequalities in access to toilets, furthered social sanitation norms, improved some of the attitudes towards toilet use, but impacted less on hygiene and sanitation knowledge. The implementation mainly concentrated on the construction of subsidized toilets but less on improving public understanding of safe sanitation practices. CONCLUSIONS: Although the SBM reduced sanitation inequalities in access to toilets in the study area, the behaviour change component was underplayed, focusing more on spreading normative sanitation messages and less on public education. Sustainability of the observed sanitation change remains a key question for the future. This article calls for more systematic production of geographically situated knowledge on the performance of sanitation interventions.

A Cross-Sectional Study to Analyze the Correlation Between Alexithymia and Dental Neglect in Persons Pursuing Dental Care.

Background Alexithymia is a personality trait involving difficulties in emotional regulation (difficulties in identifying feelings, difficulties in describing feelings, and externally oriented thinking). It has a negative impact on health as it evokes poor personal hygiene, poor nutrition, and unhealthy behaviors in affected subjects. Identifying alexithymia in the dental setup is vital as it can compromise the patient-dentist relationship, especially in subjects neglecting oral hygiene. Aims The present study aimed to establish an association between alexithymia and dental neglect among adult subjects seeking dental care by using Dental Neglect Scale (DNS), and alexithymia was assessed on the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Methods The present cross-sectional survey study included adult subjects of age 20 years or more. For all included participants, a structured questionnaire was given to assess dental neglect on demographic profile, six items of the DNS, and alexithymia was assessed on the 20-item TAS-20. The collected data were analyzed using a Chi-square test keeping significance at the p-value of <0.05. Results In 534 adult subjects, females had high scores for both TAS-20 and DNS along with their related factors. With higher education and increasing age, a significant increase in the mean TAS-20 scores and mean DNS scores was seen in the study participants (high mean DNS scores in females (19.55±3.98) compared to male subjects 19.36±4.34). TAS-20 scores were higher in females (59.31±10.78), factor 1 (DIF) (19.54±5.54), factor 2 (DDF) (15.46±4.05), and factor 3 (EOT) (24.34±4.64). Conclusion The present study, considering its limitations, concludes that there is no association between dental neglect and alexithymia in adult subjects seeking dental care. However, higher DNS and TAS-20 scores are seen in females showing them have difficult descriptions and identification of feelings in dental set-up increasing dental neglect among them.

A Current Review of Machine Learning and Deep Learning Models in Oral Cancer Diagnosis: Recent Technologies, Open Challenges, and Future Research Directions.

Cancer is a problematic global health issue with an extremely high fatality rate throughout the world. The application of various machine learning techniques that have appeared in the field of cancer diagnosis in recent years has provided meaningful insights into efficient and precise treatment decision-making. Due to rapid advancements in sequencing technologies, the detection of cancer based on gene expression data has improved over the years. Different types of cancer affect different parts of the body in different ways. Cancer that affects the mouth, lip, and upper throat is known as oral cancer, which is the sixth most prevalent form of cancer worldwide. India, Bangladesh, China, the United States, and Pakistan are the top five countries with the highest rates of oral cavity disease and lip cancer. The major causes of oral cancer are excessive use of tobacco and cigarette smoking. Many people's lives can be saved if oral cancer (OC) can be detected early. Early identification and diagnosis could assist doctors in providing better patient care and effective treatment. OC screening may advance with the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques. AI can provide assistance to the oncology sector by accurately analyzing a large dataset from several imaging modalities. This review deals with the implementation of AI during the early stages of cancer for the proper detection and treatment of OC. Furthermore, performance evaluations of several DL and ML models have been carried out to show that the DL model can overcome the difficult challenges associated with early cancerous lesions in the mouth. For this review, we have followed the rules recommended for the extension of scoping reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA-ScR). Examining the reference lists for the chosen articles helped us gather more details on the subject. Additionally, we discussed AI's drawbacks and its potential use in research on oral cancer. There are methods for reducing risk factors, such as reducing the use of tobacco and alcohol, as well as immunization against HPV infection to avoid oral cancer, or to lessen the burden of the disease. Additionally, officious methods for preventing oral diseases include training programs for doctors and patients as well as facilitating early diagnosis via screening high-risk populations for the disease.

Advancing genome editing with artificial intelligence: opportunities, challenges, and future directions.

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-based genome editing (GED) technologies have unlocked exciting possibilities for understanding genes and improving medical treatments. On the other hand, Artificial intelligence (AI) helps genome editing achieve more precision, efficiency, and affordability in tackling various diseases, like Sickle cell anemia or Thalassemia. AI models have been in use for designing guide RNAs (gRNAs) for CRISPR-Cas systems. Tools like DeepCRISPR, CRISTA, and DeepHF have the capability to predict optimal guide RNAs (gRNAs) for a specified target sequence. These predictions take into account multiple factors, including genomic context, Cas protein type, desired mutation type, on-target/off-target scores, potential off-target sites, and the potential impacts of genome editing on gene function and cell phenotype. These models aid in optimizing different genome editing technologies, such as base, prime, and epigenome editing, which are advanced techniques to introduce precise and programmable changes to DNA sequences without relying on the homology-directed repair pathway or donor DNA templates. Furthermore, AI, in collaboration with genome editing and precision medicine, enables personalized treatments based on genetic profiles. AI analyzes patients' genomic data to identify mutations, variations, and biomarkers associated with different diseases like Cancer, Diabetes, Alzheimer's, etc. However, several challenges persist, including high costs, off-target editing, suitable delivery methods for CRISPR cargoes, improving editing efficiency, and ensuring safety in clinical applications. This review explores AI's contribution to improving CRISPR-based genome editing technologies and addresses existing challenges. It also discusses potential areas for future research in AI-driven CRISPR-based genome editing technologies. The integration of AI and genome editing opens up new possibilities for genetics, biomedicine, and healthcare, with significant implications for human health.

Penile Fracture with Urethral Rupture: The Feasibility of Repair through Penoscrotal Approach.

Penile fracture with an associated urethral injury is a rare urological emergency resulting from trauma to the erect penis during vigorous sexual intercourse. The patient often presents with swelling of the penis, discoloration of the penile skin, localized pain, and hematuria with a typical history of sudden detumescence during intercourse. Subcoronal penile degloving incision has been conventionally described and is frequently used by many clinicians for the management of penile fracture-urethral injury. Here, we describe a case of complex penile fracture managed through the vertical penoscrotal incision. The penoscrotal approach confers excellent exposure to both the ruptured corpus cavernosum and urethra. This approach ensures successful outcomes in such an emergency procedure without having disadvantages of the degloving incision.

Cellulose Nanocrystal Aqueous Colloidal Suspensions: Evidence of Density Inversion at the Isotropic-Liquid Crystal Phase Transition.

The colloidal suspensions of aqueous cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are known to form liquid crystalline (LC) systems above certain critical concentrations. From an isotropic phase, tactoid formation, growth, and sedimentation have been determined as the genesis of a high-density cholesteric phase, which, after drying, originates solid iridescent films. Herein, the coexistence of a liquid crystal upper phase and an isotropic bottom phase in CNC aqueous suspensions at the isotropic-nematic phase separation is reported. Furthermore, isotropic spindle-like domains are observed in the low-density LC phase and high-density LC phases are also prepared. The CNCs isolated from the low- and high-density LC phases are found to have similar average lengths, diameters, and surface charges. The existence of an LC low-density phase is explained by the presence of air dissolved in the water present within the CNCs. The air dissolves out when the water solidifies into ice and remains within the CNCs. The self-adjustment of the cellulose chain conformation enables the entrapment of air within the CNCs and CNC buoyancy in aqueous suspensions.

Trifecta and Pentafecta Outcomes in Laparoscopic and Robotic Nephron-Sparing Surgery for Highly Complex Renal Tumors: A Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Analysis.

Purpose: To compare the trifecta and pentafecta outcomes of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) and robotic partial nephrectomy (RPN) in highly complex renal tumors (RENAL nephrometry score ≥10) using a matched cohort analysis. Methods: Patients undergoing LPN or RPN for renal tumors with RENAL score ≥10 between January 2014 and December 2019 were matched using 1:2 propensity score match analysis based on age, body mass index, gender, laterality of tumor, RENAL score, and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score. The two groups were compared for trifecta and pentafecta outcomes. Results: Thirty patients undergoing LPN (Group A) were matched with 60 patients undergoing RPN (Group B). The mean age (standard deviation) was 53.7 (12.9) years. The median (interquartile range) RENAL score was 10 (10-11). In comparison, the mean warm ischemia time in Group A was significantly longer than that in Group B (26.2 vs 23.0 minutes, p = 0.013). The overall complication rate was 36.7% in Group A as compared with 20% in Group B (p = 0.440). The trifecta outcomes could be achieved in 11 patients (36.7%) in Group A compared with 40 patients (66.7%) in Group B (p = 0.012). Moreover, 10 patients (33.3%) in Group A and 28 patients (46.7%) in Group B achieved pentafecta outcomes (p = 0.227). Conclusions: In a matched cohort of patients undergoing nephron-sparing surgery for highly complex renal tumors (RENAL score ≥10), the robotic approach offers a superior advantage in the achievement of trifecta outcomes as compared with the laparoscopic approach. However, both LPN and RPN can achieve similar pentafecta outcomes.

Rutin ameliorates malaria pathogenesis by modulating inflammatory mechanism: an in vitro and in vivo study.

Rutin (3, 3', 4' 5 and 7-pentahydroxyflavone-3-rhamnoglucoside) is a flavonoid glycoside, found in many edible plants such as buckwheat and berries. Severe malaria is an inflammatory response triggered by oxidative stress that results in multi-organ pathologies and a high mortality rate in children and pregnant women worldwide. Rutin is recommended as a food supplement for the treatment of various diseases due to its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, which prompted us to investigate its ameliorative effects in severe malaria pathogenesis against oxidative stress and inflammatory response using in vitro and in vivo bioassays. Rutin was examined in this work for its anti-plasmodial activity against chloroquine-sensitive and resistant Plasmodium falciparum strains, as well as its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activity against LPS-stimulated macrophage cells. The in vitro data were subsequently verified in mice fed orally with rutin alone or in combination with chloroquine in Plasmodium berghei-induced malaria pathogenesis. The anti-plasmodial and anti-inflammatory properties of rutin were demonstrated in in vitro results. Apart from its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects in malaria pathogenesis, in vivo efficacy studies indicated that oral treatment with rutin reduced parasitaemia, increased mean survival time, and restored haemoglobin and glucose levels in mice at lower dose. Interestingly, both rutin and chloroquine demonstrated synergy in in vitro and in vivo experiments. The findings of the present study thus highlighted the suitability of rutin for further study in the management of drug resistant malaria in combination with standard anti-malarial drugs.

Water Dynamics in Composite Aqueous Suspensions of Cellulose Nanocrystals and a Clay Mineral Studied through Magnetic Resonance Relaxometry.

1H spin-lattice relaxation time (T1) measurements were performed to probe the dynamic behavior of water in aqueous suspensions of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and a layered smectite clay mineral with different degrees of concentration. 1H-T1 experiments were carried out over a wide frequency domain, ranging from a few kilohertz to 500 MHz, with the aid of conventional and fast field cycling nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques. The experimental relaxometry data illustrate differences between the dynamic behavior of bulk water and that confined in the vicinity of CNC-clay surfaces. Clay alone in moderate concentration was found to enforce almost no effect on the water dynamics, whereas introducing CNCs to the system presented a significantly enhanced relaxivity. The modeling of the relaxation dispersions allowed the determination of dynamical processes and variables explaining the dynamic behavior of water in CNC-clay suspensions. It turned out that reorientations mediated by translational displacements are a leading NMR relaxation mechanism for water interacting with the surfaces of CNC-clay particles in the low-frequency domain. In the high-frequency regime, however, the inner-sphere paramagnetic relaxation mechanism dominates, which is caused by the interaction of water protons with dissolved Fe ions.

Role of laparoscopy in the era of robotic surgery in urology in developing countries.

With the rapid expansion of robotic platforms in urology, there is an urgent and unmet need to review its cost and benefits in comparison to the traditional laparoscopy, especially in reference to a developing country. A nonsystematic review of the literature was conducted to compare the outcomes of pure laparoscopic and robot-assisted urologic procedures. Available literature over the past 30 years was reviewed. Robot-assisted surgery and laparoscopy were found to have similar outcomes in the areas of radical prostatectomy, partial and radical nephrectomy, radical cystectomy, retroperitoneal lymph node (LN) dissection, inguinal LN dissection, donor nephrectomy, and kidney transplantation. Robot-assisted surgery was found to be significantly costlier than pure laparoscopy. In the absence of a clear advantage of robot-assisted surgery over pure laparoscopy, lack of widespread availability and the currently prohibitive cost of robotic technology, laparoscopic urological surgery has a definite role in the developing world.

The Bioactive Potential of Culturable Fungal Endophytes Isolated From the Leaf of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don.

INTRODUCTION: Endophyte is considered a source of natural bioactive secondary metabolites that provides an array of bioactive lead compounds. The present study was aimed to determine the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory potential of fungal endophytes isolated from Catharanthus roseus. METHODS: A total of seven fungal endophytes crude extract were screened against bacterial pathogens. Of these, Curvularia geniculata CATDLF7 crude extract exhibited the most potent inhibitory activity against bacterial pathogens. Hence, CATDLF7 crude extract was subjected to chromatographic separation. This purification leads to the isolation of six pure compounds (1PS - 6PS). Of these, 3PS was found to be a major constituent and most effective against clinical isolates of methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 100 to 200 µg/ml. Based on the spectroscopic data, 3PS was characterized as α,ß- dehydrocurvularin. This compound also showed synergistic interaction with norfloxacin and reduced its MIC up to 32-folds with a fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) of 0.09. RESULTS: To understand the possible antibacterial mechanism of action, α,ß-dehydrocurvularin alone (100 µg/ml) exhibited efflux pump inhibitory potential by 0.84 fold decreasing in ethidium bromide (EtBr) fluorescence. In addition, α,ß-dehydrocurvularin inhibited inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 production, which is further validated by molecular docking scores -4.921 and -5.641, respectively, for understanding orientation and binding affinity. CONCLUSION: Overall, the results highlighted identifying bioactive compound α,ß-dehydrocurvularin, which could be used as an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agent.

Establishing a Robot-Assisted Kidney Transplant Program: Independent Evaluation of the Learning Curve and Surgical Nuances.

Background: Robot-assisted kidney transplantation (RAKT) is a technically challenging procedure and there has been limited reporting of its learning curve (LC), mostly by a single surgical working group. The aim of the current study was to perform an independent analysis of LC and describe our modifications in the technique of RAKT. Materials and Methods: All consecutive cases performed at our center from April 2016 to March 2020 were reviewed. LC was analyzed by using the cumulative summation method for total anastomosis time (technical outcome) and serum creatinine at days 7 and 30 (functional outcome). Patient safety was assessed by using Shewhart control charts, and a comparison of safety outcomes before and after achieving LC was done by using Chi-square or Fischer exact test as appropriate. A descriptive review of technical modifications made during our experience was conducted. Results: Ninety patients underwent robot-assisted renal transplant during the study period. LC was crossed at 24 cases (total anastomosis time) and 15 to 25 cases (serum creatinine). Shewhart control charts showed that total anastomosis time remained below alert/alarm line in 94.4%/98.9% cases, with the alert line being crossed a significantly greater number of times before the LC. Serum creatinine values remained below alert/alarm line in 85.5%/90% cases at day 7 and 92.2%/96.7% cases at day 30, with no difference made due to LC. Key technical modifications included arterial and ureteric spatulation at bench, use of polypropylene 5 to 0 holding stitch in graft vessels to facilitate intraoperative handling, keeping anterior arterial wall smaller to visualize posterior arterial wall anastomosis, and leaving a small amount of fatty tissue on the supero-lateral surface of the kidney for handling after jacket removal. Conclusion: Our LC of RAKT was crossed at 24 cases (technical outcome) and 15 to 25 cases (functional outcome). We have also detailed valuable technical modifications in the procedure.

Neuronavigation based 10 sessions of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy in chronic migraine: an exploratory study.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic migraine is a disease of altered cortical excitability. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation provides a novel non-invasive method to target the nociceptive circuits in the cortex. Motor cortex is one such potential target. In this study, we targeted the left motor cortex using fMRI-guided neuronavigation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty right-handed patients were randomized into real and sham rTMS group. Baseline subjective pain assessments were done using visual analog scale (VAS) and questionnaires: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Becks Depression Inventory, and Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) questionnaire. Objectively, pain was assessed by means of thermal pain thresholds using quantitative sensory testing. For corticomotor excitability parameters, resting motor thresholds and motor-evoked potentials were mapped. For rTMS total, 600 pulses in 10 trains at 10 Hz with an intertrain interval of 60 s were delivered in each session. Ten such sessions were given 5 days per week over 2 consecutive weeks. The duration of each session was 10 min. Real rTMS was administered at 70% of Resting MT. All the tests were repeated post-intervention and after 1 month of follow-up. There are no studies reporting the use of fMRI-based TMS for targeting the motor cortex in CM patients. RESULTS: We observed a significant reduction in the mean VAS rating, headache frequency, and MIDAS questionnaire in real rTMS group which was maintained after 1 month of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Ten sessions of fMRI-based rTMS over the left motor cortex may provide long-term pain relief in CM, but further studies are warranted to confirm our preliminary findings.

Chemical composition, bactericidal kinetics, mechanism of action, and anti-inflammatory activity of Isodon melissoides (Benth.) H. Hara essential oil.

Present study was aimed to investigate the antibacterial activity, bactericidal mechanism of action, killing kinetics and anti-inflammatory activity of Isodon melissoides (Benth.) H. Hara essential oil. The gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed the presence of carvacrol (45.4%), p-cymene (11.6%) and thymol (11.3%) as major constituents of the oil. The oil displayed broad spectrum significant antibacterial activity (MIC: 0.13-8.33 ppm; MBC: 0.13->33.34 ppm) against test strains. The oil exhibited a time and dose-dependent bactericidal effect. The oil disrupted the cell membrane by changing the cell membrane permeability. The essential oil significantly decreased the overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines in LPS-induced inflammation in HaCaT cells without any cytotoxic effect. I. melissoides essential oil can be a promising alternative antimicrobial agent for the control of methicillin resistant staphylococci and other pathogenic bacteria tested, and also useful for the topical anti-inflammatory properties.