Objectives: The objective of the study is to evaluate the prevalence and severity of lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) in children with cerebral palsy (CP) through focused non-invasive ultrasound assessments of post-void residual urine (PVR) and average bladder wall thickness (aBWT). Materials and Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2023 to May 2024 at a tertiary care center in Northeast India. Forty-one children with CP and 41 age- and sex-matched controls (age range: 4–12 years) were enrolled. LUTD was assessed using the Dysfunctional Voiding Symptom Score (DVSS) questionnaire, and a blinded radiologist performed ultrasound measurements of PVR and aBWT. Statistical analyses were performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 25.0. Tests included the Student’s t -test, Chi-square test, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Results: The mean age of the CP group was 8 ± 3 years. Median DVSS score in the CP group was 12 (interquartile range [IQR] 9–15), significantly higher than the control group (median 4 [IQR 3–6], P < 0.0001). LUTD was more prevalent in the CP group, with 70.7% showing bladder and bowel dysfunction ( P < 0.0001). Mean aBWT was significantly greater in the CP group (2.22 ± 0.67 mm) compared to controls (1.02 ± 0.60 mm), with a mean difference of 1.20 mm (95% confidence interval: 0.94–1.46 mm; P < 0.0001). Median PVR in the CP group was 10 mL (range: 3–48 mL), compared to 6 mL (range: 2–18 mL) in controls. A moderate positive correlation was found between DVSS scores and aBWT (r = 0.617, P < 0.0001). Conclusion: Children with CP demonstrated significantly higher DVSS scores, aBWT, and PVR compared to controls, consistent with increased prevalence and severity of LUTD. The use of focused non-invasive ultrasound and symptom scoring showed good feasibility and acceptability in this population.

Tangled relations: rights of nature and Indigenous agrarian lifeworlds in Northeast India

The genus Ptyctolaemus (Peters, 1864) has a restricted distribution in northeast India, Indo-Burma and Indochina region. Ptyctolaemus currently includes six nominal species. Previous molecular studies suggested the presence of a genetically distinct lineage from northern Myanmar. I studied a historic series of Ptyctolaemus specimens collected from Myanmar housed at the Natural History Museum in London (n=29) and the California Academy of Sciences (n=17) in the USA. The specimens collected from Kachin State in northern Myanmar are morphologically distinct from the currently recognised species and are described here as a new species. The addition of another new species of Ptyctolaemus highlights the underestimated diversity of agamid lizards in the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot. An identification key to the species in the genus Ptyctolaemus is provided herein.

Geospatial assessment of land cover dynamics and urban heat Island in eight state capital cities of Northeast India from 1994 to 2024

Squamous cell carcinoma of oropharynx (OPSCC), a head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) subtype, exhibits a remarkably high incidence rate in the North-Eastern regions of India. The development of OPSCC is associated with the exposure to smokeless tobacco with or without consumption of alcohol and smoking tobacco. Despite advanced treatment modalities, OPSCC patients still face a dismal prognosis, necessitating a deeper exploration of the underlying molecular characteristics of the disease. While promoter CpG methylation-driven gene expression alterations in OPSCC have been studied, DNA methylation within gene bodies and its biological significance in this cancer subtype remain largely uncharted. This study represents the first endeavour to investigate gene-body specific DNA methylation-driven transcriptome alterations leading to immune response modulation on a genome-wide scale in OPSCC. The genome-wide assay of DNA methylation and RNA-sequencing in paired tumour and adjacent normal tissues, employing high-throughput platforms (Illumina), identified gene-body specific somatic alterations within the DNA methylome that led to transcriptomic changes in OPSCC patients from Meghalaya. Integrative analysis of gene-body specific methylation and transcriptome data unveiled 98 epigenetically repressed and 39 epigenetically overexpressed genes. Major discoveries emerged from this study include deregulation of Tryptophan (Trp) metabolism pathway by the gene-body driven epigenetically modulated (TDO2, KYNU and TPH2) genes along with the conjoint impact of the upregulated IDO1, IDO2. The IFN-γ mediated PD-L1/PD-1, PD-L2/PD-1 interactions and dysregulation of Trp metabolism pathway collectively contributed to the depletion of cytotoxic T cells in OPSCC tissues. Upregulation of multiple chemokines-CCL2, CXCL1, CXCL2 promoting abundant infiltration of mast cell and neutrophils having pro-tumour phenotype in tumour microenvironment were observed. These key alterations within tumour cells might effectively modulate the immune dynamics, leading to immune evasion by oropharyngeal malignant cells. The findings offer deep understanding of OPSCC and suggests novel immunotherapeutic targets, for the treatment of this challenging disease.

Traditional healing practice and ethnomedicinal plants used to cure wounds in North East India: A systematic review

Introduction: Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma (JNA) is a benign yet highly vascular tumour that primarily affects adolescent males. Surgical resection is the standard treatment; however, it is often associated with significant intraoperative blood loss and increased morbidity. Preoperative Transarterial Embolisation (TAE) has emerged as an adjunctive procedure to minimise vascularity, thereby reducing surgical complications. Aim: To evaluate the impact of preoperative embolisation of JNA on the surgical outcome including intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative time and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admissions in North Eastern India. Materials and Methods: The hospital-based prospective interventional study was conducted in the Department of Radiology at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Guwahati, Assam, India, from November 2023 to October 2024 on 50 patients diagnosed with JNA and referred for preoperative embolisation from the Departments of Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) and Paediatrics. Patients underwent Contrast Enhanced Computed Tomography (CECT) evaluation by the Philips Brilliance iCT 256 slice CT machine for staging (Radowski). Embolisation was done under the Siemens Artis Zee Biplane Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) machine by using Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) particles. Preoperative embolisation used PVA particles in all cases and parameters such as stage of tumour, grade of devascularisation, mean intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative time, postoperative complications and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission were obtained. These data were entered into Statistical Pacakge for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 26.0 and Chi-square and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) tests were applied. Results: The study included 50 patients (all males) aged 8 to 17 years with mean age of 14.18 years. In the present study, 6 patients (12.0%) were classified as stage IA JNA, while 18 patients (36.0%) had stage IB. All cases were embolised using PVA particles. The mean intraoperative blood loss was 246.16±110.18 mL. The mean operative time was 122.10±41.52 minutes. Mostly grade II devascularisation was achieved in the majority (58%) of patients. There was a significant association between grade of devascularisation and intraoperative blood loss, time and ICU admissions (p-value<0.05). No significant Post-embolisation complications were encountered. Conclusion: Preoperative embolisation of nasopharyngeal angiofibroma is a safe and effective technique to reduce intraoperative blood loss and reduce postoperative complications. Minor complications may be encountered, but major complications are rare if done using the correct technique.

Sub-acute toxicity studies and dynamics-based molecular insights on the in vivo antimalarial activity of Ilex umbellulata (Wall.) Loes bark in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice.

Ethnic fermentation secrets of Northeast India and emerging functional food insights.

ABSTRACT Easterine Kire, who belongs to the Angami Naga community in Northeast India, documents and incorporates the Indigenous stories, rituals, and cultural motifs of the community in her writings. In this conversation, she explores the profound significance of oral traditions in preserving identity, fostering resilience, and connectedness of individuals with their ancestors and the land. She also delves into the ways storytelling facilitates cross-cultural dialogue, creating bridges between Indigenous nations and the wider world, and highlighting its power to educate and heal. She emphasizes the importance of storytelling, the role of elder members of the community, and how Indigenous narrative traditions continue to survive in the contemporary context through a sharing of stories that sustain communal identity and keep oral traditions alive across the generational divide. Kire also offers her personal insights into the enduring power of oral traditions and their role in shaping a more inclusive and interconnected future.

Demographics of free-roaming dogs in Guwahati, India: Assessing population characteristics and comparing population size estimation methods.

Molecular insights into viral agents of acute gastroenteritis detected among under five children in Assam, India.

Decadal shifts in aerosol hotspots and source attribution over IGP, north-east India and Himalayas: A 25-year (2000–2024) study

Ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemical composition, and pharmacological potential of Hedychium J. Koenig in Northeast India: A comprehensive review

Prediction of soil available nitrogen using machine learning and digital mapping techniques in Northeast India

Rhynchotechum ellipticum (Wall. ex D. Dietr.) A.DC. as an underexplored medicinal plant of Northeast India: Current evidence and future directions

Emergence of a novel subgenotype 2.4 of classical swine fever virus in India.

Ocean–atmosphere drivers of Northeast Indian monsoon: Linking ENSO–IOD teleconnections along with machine learning forecasts

Pei governance of the Rongmei indigenous tribe of Northeast India: traditional practices and emerging challenges

Outlet septum ventricular septal defects (VSDs) are notably more prevalent in North-Eastern India and often associated with aortic valve prolapse, leading to a need for surgical intervention. While surgical methods remain the conventional approach, there is an opportunity to explore the effectiveness of transcatheter closure techniques. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and follow-up of transcatheter closure for outlet and outlet muscular type VSDs using three distinct devices: Amplatzer ADO II, KONAR MF VSD Occluder, and Cocoon VSD Occluder. This Descriptive study with follow-up observation up to 1 year was conducted at Health City Hospital in Guwahati, India, from March 2023 to November 2025, involving 21 patients who met the criteria for inclusion. Among the 21 patients, transcatheter closure was successfully achieved in 16 individuals, resulting in a success rate of 76.2%. The mean diameter of the VSDs was 3.8mm, with 66.6% of the cases showing pre-existing aortic valve prolapse. Closure attempts were unsuccessful in five patients, who subsequently received surgical intervention. In the successful cases, the Amplatzer ADO II was implanted in 7 patients (43.7%), the KONAR MFO in 8 patients (50%), and the Cocoon VSD occluder in 1 patient (6.3%). Seven patients exhibited mild intra-device residual shunts, and 37.5% (6/16) experienced a transient increase in aortic regurgitation (AR) after 24hours post-procedure. Importantly, follow-up after one year showed static or non-progression of pre-existing AR, with worsening of AR (moderate severity) observed only in one patient, and the majority of residual shunts resolved. No major complications like outflow obstruction or device embolization were reported in the present study. The results indicate that transcatheter closure of outlet and outlet muscular type VSDs is a promising option for selected patients, yielding positive short- to mid-term outcomes. Further long-term follow-up will enhance our understanding of the procedure's safety and efficacy, paving the way for broader application of this technique in clinical practice.