Primary Dural Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma as a Diagnostic Pitfall: Report of a Rare Presentation with Review of Literature.

Primary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNSLs) account for 2%-3% of all primary brain tumors. Lymphomas arising from the dura, without brain and other systemic involvement, constitute a tiny fraction of this rare group. Most dural lymphomas present as dural-based masses and an acute presentation as a subdural hematoma is exceptional, with only five such cases reported previously in the literature. We present the case of a 65-year-old female who was admitted with complaints of slurring of speech, visual disturbances, and reduced appetite for 2 days. Computerized tomography scan showed a crescentic hyperdense area in the left fronto-temporo-parietal region with no bony or extracranial involvement suggestive of acute subdural hematoma. There was a history of a similar episode 3 months back, wherein she was operated upon and followed up conservatively. Craniotomy for drainage was performed, and histopathology revealed a non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Primary lymphoma of the dura is a rare subtype of PCNSL. This case is being reported for its unusual presentation as a common entity-an acute subdural hematoma.

Association of predictive factors and neurosurgical postoperative infections: A retrospective analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the factors that predispose neurosurgical patients to surgical site infections (SSI) as well as assess the risk factors attached to infection by a specific microorganism. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective case-control study was conducted at University College of Medical Sciences and G.T.B. Hospital, Delhi. Adult patients (>18 years) undergoing a neurosurgical procedure with a diagnosis of SSI in the year 2021 having a minimum follow up of 30 days postoperatively or until death if they survived less than 30 days were included. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 16 software with level of significance at 0.05. RESULTS: An incidence of 3.15% was observed at our center. Mean age of the study population was 39.2 ± 13.07 years (range 22-70 years) with a male: female ratio of 3:1. Having an underlying infection (p = 0.024), ASA score> 2 (p = 0.041), duration of surgery> 4 h (p = 0.025), diabetes (p = 0.027) and preoperative stay at the hospital (p = 0.036) were found to be statistically significant risk factors in the prediction of SSI in neurosurgical patients which were utilised to create a regression model with an accuracy of 70% and AUC of 0.833. Deep infections were found to have a significant association with positive culture on the collected samples (p = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: This study is a starting point to identify which factors could predict the presence of a particular organism isolated from the site of infection in neurosurgical patients, thereby minimizing AMR.

Neonatal ventriculitis: a case series and review of literature.

Ventriculitis after meningitis is a serious complication in the neonatal age group. The role of intraventricular antibiotics in treatment is controversial. We present five such cases which were refractory to conventional intravenous antibiotic therapy, had persistent features of ventriculitis and in whom raised intracranial pressure (ICP) necessitated insertion of an external ventricular drain (EVD). Three of the five infants required intraventricular antibiotics but also developed EVD-related complications. Early diagnosis of ventriculitis and treatment is necessary to avoid a fatal outcome. Intravenous antibiotics are the treatment of choice, but intraventricular therapy may be considered in refractory cases. As the incidence of EVD-associated ventriculitis is high, proper care of EVDs and their early removal is mandatory.

A rare case of diffuse intracranial aspergillosis masquerading as skull base meningioma in an immunocompetent patient.

Intracranial aspergillosis is rare in immunocompetent patients. Its presentation is subtle, often without any diagnostic characteristics, and is frequently mistaken for tuberculous meningitis, pyogenic abscess, or a space-occupying lesion. The authors report a case of diffuse intracranial aspergillosis, in an immunocompetent 34-year-old male, that mimicked a meningioma on preoperative imaging. The origin, clinical course, radiological features, histopathological findings, and surgical treatment are discussed based on review of literature.
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Intramedullary schwannoma of conus medullaris: rare site for a common tumor with review of literature.

INTRODUCTION: Schwannomas at an intramedullary location constitute only 0.3% of primary spinal tumors. Those in the conus are extremely rare, especially in the absence of neurofibromatosis, with only 12 cases reported in the literature so far, excluding the present case. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 27-year-old female who presented with complaints of backache since 1 year, weakness in both lower limbs with tingling and numbness since 6 months, and urinary incontinence since 1 month. There was no history of trauma or any skin lesions. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine provided a provisional diagnosis of ependymoma. The patient was operated upon, histopathology revealed it to be a schwannoma. DISCUSSION: Intramedullary schwannomas without neurofibromatosis are extremely rare at the conus and can be completely resected unless there is infiltration. Gliomas and ependymomas are commoner entities at this site, which are usually subtotally resected. This case highlights that although extremely rare, the possibility of a schwannoma may be considered in the differentials of an intramedullary spinal lesion.

Assessing soil properties and nutrient availability under conservation agriculture practices in a reclaimed sodic soil in cereal-based systems of North-West India.

Soil quality degradation associated with resources scarcity is the major concern for the sustainability of conventional rice-wheat system in South Asia. Replacement of conventional management practices with conservation agriculture (CA) is required to improve soil quality. A field experiment was conducted to assess the effect of CA on soil physical (bulk density, penetration resistance, infiltration) and chemical (N, P, K, S, micronutrients) properties after 4 years in North-West India. There were four scenarios (Sc) namely conventional rice-wheat cropping system (Sc1); partial CA-based rice-wheat-mungbean system (RWMS) (Sc2); CA-based RWMS (Sc3); and CA-based maize-wheat-mungbean (Sc4) system. Sc2 (1.52 Mg m-3) showed significantly lower soil bulk density (BD). In Sc3 and Sc4, soil penetration resistance (SPR) was reduced and infiltration was improved compared to Sc1. Soil organic C was significantly higher in Sc4 than Sc1. Available N was 33% and 68% higher at 0-15 cm depth in Sc3 and Sc4, respectively, than Sc1. DTPA extractable Zn and Mn were significantly higher under Sc3 and Sc4 compared to Sc1. Omission study showed 30% saving in N and 50% in K in wheat after four years. Therefore, CA improved soil properties and nutrient availability and have potential to reduce external fertilizer inputs in long run.

Spinal cysticercosis: A report of two cases with review of literature.

Neurocysticercosis is the most common parasitic infection of the central nervous system worldwide. However, Cysticercosis affecting the spine is considered extremely rare. We report two cases of spinal cysticercosis with review of literature.

Further evidence that a terminal drought tolerance QTL of pearl millet is associated with reduced salt uptake.

Earlier, we established that a major drought tolerance QTL on linkage group 2 of pearl millet is also associated with reduced salt uptake and enhanced growth under salt stress. Present study was undertaken to re-assess the performance of drought tolerant (PRLT 2/89-33) and drought sensitive (H 77/833-2) parents along with two QTL-NILs (ICMR 01029 and ICMR 01040), under salinity stress specifically imposed during post-flowering growth stages when plants had developed their ion sinks in full. Time course changes in ionic accumulation and their compartmentalization in different plant parts was studied, specifically to monitor and capture changes conferred by the two alleles at this QTL, at small intervals. Amongst different plant parts, higher accumulation of toxic ion Na+ was recorded in roots. Further, the Na+ concentration in roots of the testcross hybrid of the drought-sensitive parent (H 77/833-2) reached its maximum at ECiw 15 dS m-1 within 24 h after salinity imposition, whereas it continued to increase with time in the testcross hybrids of the drought tolerant parent PRLT 2/89-33 as well as those of its QTL-NILs (ICMR 01029 and ICMR 01004) and reached at its maximum at 120 h stage. Comparison of differential distribution of toxic ions in individual leaves revealed that Na+ ions were not uniformly distributed in the leaves of the drought-tolerant parent and drought-tolerant QTL-NILs; but accumulated preferentially in the older leaves, whereas the hybrid of the drought-sensitive parent showed significantly higher Na+ concentration in all main stem leaves irrespective of their age. Dynamics of chlorophyll and proline concentration variation studied under salt stress at late flowering stages revealed a greater reduction, almost twice, in both leaf chlorophyll and proline concentrations in younger leaves in the hybrids of the sensitive parent as compared to the tolerant parent and QTL NILs. Imposition of salinity stress even at flowering stage affected the yield performance in pearl millet, wherein higher yield was recorded in drought tolerant parent and the two QTL-NILs compared to drought sensitive parent.

Remote sensing and geographic information system for appraisal of salt-affected soils in India.

Quantification of the nature, extent, and spatial distribution of salt-affected soils (SAS) for India and the world is essential for planning and implementing reclamation programs in a timely and cost-effective manner for sustained crop production. The national extent of SAS for India over the last four decades was assessed by conventional and remote sensing approaches using diverse methodologies and class definitions and ranged from 6.0 to 26.1 million hectares (Mha) and 1.2 to 10.1 Mha, respectively. In 1966, an area of 6 Mha under SAS was first reported using the former approach. Three national estimates, obtained using remote sensing, were reconciled using a geographic information system, resulting in an acceptable extent of 6.73 Mha. Moderately and severely salt-encrusted lands having large contiguous area have been correctly mapped, but slightly salt-encrusted land having smaller affected areas within croplands has not been accurately mapped. Recent satellite sensors (e.g., Resourcesat-1, Cartosat-2, IKONOS-II, and RISAT-2), along with improved image processing techniques integrated with terrain and other spatial data using a geographic information system, are enabling mapping at large scale. Significant variations in salt encrustation at the surface caused by soil moisture, waterlogging conditions, salt-tolerant crops, and dynamics of subsurface salts present constraints in appraisal, delineation, and mapping efforts. The article provides an overview of development, identification, characterization, and delineation of SAS, past and current national scenarios of SAS using conventional and remote sensing approaches, reconciliation of national estimates, issues of SAS mapping, and future scope.

Post tsunami changes in soil properties of Andaman Islands, India.

A post tsunami study was conducted to assess the changes in soil properties in the Andaman Island, in India. The present study reported tsunami led conversion of acid soils to saline acid soils and acid sodic soils to acid saline sodic soils in the areas South Andaman inundated during tsunami and permanently receded later and in the low-lying area submerged during high tides. Upon intense leaching acid saline soils and acid saline sodic may further develop typical characteristics of acidic soils and acidic sodic soil, respectively. The soil at Guptapara inundated almost due to tsunami with minimal pyrite oxidation has potential to develop into highly acidic soils upon drainage. The tsunami by and large has modified some depositional layer affecting the salt accumulation to a greater extent and iron to a lesser extent and least to sodicity.