Synthesis, structure and luminescence properties of bifunctional KCaF3 phosphor influenced by incorporating Eu3+ ions for solid state lighting and TL dosimetry applications.

Europium doped KCaF3 phosphors (KCaF3:Eu3+) were prepared using various concentrations of Eu3+ by conventional solid-state reaction process. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies confirmed the formation of orthorhombic structured KCaF3:Eu3+ phosphors. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) image of the synthesized phosphor exhibits agglomerated particles with irregular shapes. The composition of the synthesized sample was determined by Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) spectrum and elemental mapping showed the homogeneous dispersion of Eu3+ ions into the synthesized KCaF3:Eu3+ phosphor. The emission peak intensity at 594 nm from photoluminescence (PL) spectra was found to increase with the increase of Eu3+ concentrations from 0.02 mol% to 0.06 mol% and decreased with the further increase of Eu3+ concentration up to 0.1 mol%. CIE1931 chromaticity diagram coordinates (x, y) of KCaF3:(0.06 mol%) Eu3+ phosphors were positioned in the reddish-orange region (x = 0.5736, y = 0.4224). Photoluminescence property confirms the suitability of KCaF3:Eu3+ phosphors for Solid state lighting application. X-ray induced luminescence (radioluminescence, RL) is recorded for KCaF3:Eu3+ phosphors showing the characteristic emission of Eu2+ and Eu3+. ESR study on KCaF3:Eu3+ phosphors confirm the presence of Eu2+ ions. Beta irradiated thermoluminescence (TL) glow curve of Eu3+ doped KCaF3 phosphors is measured and deconvoluted using Gaussian fitting. TL kinetic parameters like activation energy (Ea) and frequency factor (s) are calculated for all the deconvoluted peaks using peak shape method which shows the synthesized KCaF3:Eu3+ phosphors is suitable for dosimetry application.

Indian Academy of Pediatrics Consensus Guidelines on Prevention and Management of Suicidal Behavior in Adolescents.

JUSTIFICATION: Suicide is an important cause of adolescent mortality and morbidity in India. As pediatricians are often the first point of contact for adolescents and their families in the healthcare system, they need guidelines to screen, assess, manage and prevent adolescent suicidal behavior to ensure survival, health and mental well-being of this vulnerable population. OBJECTIVES: To formulate guidelines to aid pediatricians for prevention and management of adolescent suicidal behavior. PROCESS: Indian Academy of Pediatrics, in association with Adolescent Health Academy, formed a multidisciplinary committee of subject experts in June, 2019 to formulate guidelines for adolescent suicide prevention and management. After a review of current scientific literature and preparation of draft guidelines, a national consultative meeting was organized on 16 August, 2019 for detailed discussions and deliberations. This was followed by refining of draft guidelines, and discussions over e-mail where suggestions were incorporated and the final document was approved. GUIDELINES: Pediatricians should screen for mental distress, mental disorders and suicidal and para-suicidal (non-suicidal self-injury) behavior during adolescent health visits. Those with suicidal behavior should be referred to a psychiatrist after providing emergency healthcare, risk assessment, immediate counselling and formulation of a safety plan. Pediatricians should partner with the community and policymakers for primary and secondary prevention of adolescent suicide.

Indian Academy of Pediatrics Consensus Guidelines for Adolescent Friendly Health Services.

JUSTIFICATION: Adolescent health is critical to the current and future well- being of the world. Pediatricians need country specific guidelines in accordance with international and national standards to establish comprehensive adolescent friendly health services in clinical practice. PROCESS: Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) in association with Adolescent Health Academy formed a committee of subject experts in June, 2019 to formulate guidelines for adolescent friendly health services. After a review of current scientific literature and drafting guidelines on each topic, a national consultative meeting was organized on 16 August, 2019 for detailed discussions and deliberations. This was followed by discussions over e-mail and refining of draft recommendations. The final guidelines were approved by the IAP Executive Board in December, 2021. OBJECTIVE: To formulate guidelines to enable pediatricians to establish adolescent friendly health services. Recommendations: Pediatricians should coordinate healthcare for adolescents and plan for transition of care to an adult physician by 18 years of age. Pediatricians should establish respectful, confidential and quality adolescent friendly health services for both out-patient and in-patient care. The healthcare facility should provide preventive, therapeutic, and health promoting services. Pediatricians should partner with the multidisciplinary speciality services, community, and adolescents to expand the scope and reach of adolescent friendly health services.

A Comparative Study of Squash Smear Cytology Diagnosis and Radiological Diagnosis with Histopathology in Central Nervous System Lesions.

Background: Space occupying lesions (SOLs) of central nervous system (CNS) constitutes important cause of neurological morbidity and mortality. Squash cytology is technically a simple and rapid intraoperative diagnostic tool. Radiology is supportive of histopathological diagnosis. Objectives: To enumerate the histopathological patterns of various central nervous system (CNS) lesions, to correlate cytopathological diagnosis with histopathological diagnosis, and to correlate radiological diagnosis with histopathological diagnosis. Materials and Methods: It was a retrospective study of CNS lesion cases from January 2015 to August 2018. Cytological-histopathological concordance and radiological-histopathological concordance were calculated. Chi-square test was the statistical tool used for statistical analysis. Results: Histopathological diagnosis of 50 cases included neoplastic lesions (42 cases [84%]) and non-neoplastic lesions (8 cases [16%]). Correct diagnosis was achieved by squash cytology in 36 cases (72%) and radiological diagnosis in 25 cases (50%) by complete concordance. However, diagnostic accuracy of squash and radiology improved considerably by 90% and 76%, respectively, after applying partial concordance criteria. For the detection of neoplastic lesions, squash cytology had 98% and radiology had 80% diagnostic efficacy. Conclusion: Preoperative radiological investigation and intraoperative squash smear cytology are complementary to each other. A multidisciplinary approach is necessary for the management of patients.

Indian Academy of Pediatrics Revised Guidelines on School Reopening: First Revision, September 2021.

JUSTIFICATION: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected schooling for more than 24 crores students, since March 2020. Students need a respite from the long standing social isolation so that they regain their chance to develop holistically, but after the devastating effects of the second wave, the administrators as well as parents are skeptical about the decision of school reopening. PROCESS: The Indian Academy of Pediatrics constituted a task force comprising of national and international experts in the field who deliberated on the issue. OBJECTIVES: To bring out scientifically supported guidelines on the prerequisites of opening and attending the schools, in the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic. RECOMMENDATIONS: The task force recommends i) Decentralization of the school reopening decision; ii)Three epidemiological parameters, case positivity rate (<5 or steadily declining number of cases for past two weeks), number of new cases(<20 per lakh population per day for past two weeks) and vaccination coverage (>60% of the vaccine-eligible population) to be met at the local level, before the schools reopen; and iii) Criteria regarding health and vaccination to be met by the schoolattendees.

Study of Risk factors and treatment modalities of ectopic pregnancy.

INTRODUCTION: In the past two decades globally, the incidence of ectopic pregnancy has been increasing exponentially. One of the major triggering factors being the introduction of medical assisted procreation techniques. The present study emphasis more on clinical presentations, risk factors, associated maternal morbidity and mortality with respect to ectopic pregnancy. METHODOLOGY: Patients diagnosed with ectopic pregnancy in reproductive age group (15-44 years) after clinical examination and investigations during one year period were included in the study. It was a prospective study using contingency table analysis and Chi-square test. RESULTS: A total of 42 patients were diagnosed and treated as ectopic pregnancy during the study period. Risk factors were found in 37 patients, of which most common were white discharge per vagina (WDPV) in 20 and tubectomy in 6 patients. PID was seen in 5 and no risk factors in 5 patients. Of the 42 patients, 37 underwent surgery as primary modality of treatment and 5 patients underwent medical management. Only 2 patients had complete resolution with medical management while 3 failed medical management. Post operative period was uneventful. CONCLUSION: As the incidence of ectopic pregnancy has been on the rise, screening of high risk cases, early diagnosis and early intervention are required to enhance maternal survival and conservation of reproductive capacity.

The utility of caesarean myomectomy as a safe procedure: a retrospective analysis of 21 cases with review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Myomectomy at the time of caesarean delivery has been discouraged because of the risk of intractable haemorrhage and increased postoperative morbidity. The aim of this study is to determine the safety and feasibility of caesarean myomectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective case control study done between June 2012 to May 2013 in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Karnataka, India which included 21 pregnant women with uterine fibroids who underwent myomectomy during caesarean section and were compared with 42 matched controls without uterine fibroids who had caesarean section alone during the same period. Primary outcome measures studied were incidence of haemorrhage and need for blood transfusion. Secondary outcome measures were duration of operation, length of hospital stay, postpartum fever and wound infection. Statistical analysis is done using IBMSPSS 20.0 software and students t-test. For calculation of incidence of haemorrhage Fisher's exact test is used. RESULTS: Mean age of the 21 cases was 31.81yrs and 47.62% were primigravida. Total 37 fibroids were removed. Subserosal were 30 cases(81.08%) while 1(2.07%) was submucous. 21(56.76%)fibroids were situated in fundal region and 3(8.11%) were in lower segment. Mean change in the haemoglobin from preoperative to postoperative period in the cases was 1.3gm/dl(±1.155mg/dl) and control was 1.05% (±.854mg/dl). Two of the cases(9.52%) required blood transfusion compared to none in control. None in either group required hysterectomy. Mean duration of surgery was 68.57min (±15.012min)and 51.55min (±9.595min) for controls which is statistically significant. CONCLUSION: This study shows that myomectomy during caesarean section is a safe procedure and is not associated with major intraoperative and postoperative complications.

Genetic analysis of traditional and evolved Basmati and non-Basmati rice varieties by using fluorescence-based ISSR-PCR and SSR markers.

The objective of the present study was to make use of efficient molecular marker systems to reveal genetic relationships in traditional and evolved Basmati (EB) and semidwarf non-Basmati (NB) rice varieties. A subset of three rice groups was analyzed by using 19 simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci and 12 inter-SSR-PCR primers. A total of 70 SSR alleles and 481 inter-SSR-PCR markers were revealed in 24 varieties from the three groups. The lowest genetic diversity was observed among the traditional Basmati varieties, whereas the EB varieties showed the highest genetic diversity by both the marker assays. The results indicated that the subset of aromatic rice varieties analyzed in the present study is probably derived from a single land race. The traditional Basmati (TB) and semidwarf NB rice varieties used in the present study were clearly delineated by both marker assays. A number of markers, which could unambiguously distinguish the TB varieties used in the present study from the evolved and NB rice varieties, were identified. The potential use of these markers in Basmati rice-breeding programs and authentication of TB varieties used in the present study are envisaged.