Upstaging of Tuberculosis in the Post-COVID-19 Era: A Case Series.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the global health system as well as the social and economic impact on tuberculosis (TB) treatment and diagnostic services. A high volume of patients diagnosed and treated for TB were impacted by the pandemic restrictions, particularly reduced access to TB services provided by the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme in India; this in turn increased the number of deaths due to TB. The Indian healthcare system has been struggling with the eradication of TB, and this additional worldwide health crisis caused by SARS-CoV-2 has put the Indian healthcare system under severe stress. Both COVID-19 and TB are infectious diseases that primarily affect the lungs and have similar symptoms such as cough, fever, and difficulty breathing. The need of the hour is to take proper actions to mitigate and reverse these impacts urgently. The immediate priority is to aggressively step up the provision of essential TB services so that the levels of TB case detection and treatment return to at least pre-COVID-19 levels. The diagnosis of genital TB especially needs a high index of suspicion, as most of the cases are asymptomatic and diagnosed by chance in young women being evaluated for fertility. Here, we present a series of advanced genital TB cases that required intensive care and could have been detected and treated at an early stage.

Disease diagnostics using machine learning of immune receptors.

Clinical diagnosis typically incorporates physical examination, patient history, and various laboratory tests and imaging studies, but makes limited use of the human system's own record of antigen exposures encoded by receptors on B cells and T cells. We analyzed immune receptor datasets from 593 individuals to develop MAchine Learning for Immunological Diagnosis (Mal-ID) , an interpretive framework to screen for multiple illnesses simultaneously or precisely test for one condition. This approach detects specific infections, autoimmune disorders, vaccine responses, and disease severity differences. Human-interpretable features of the model recapitulate known immune responses to SARS-CoV-2, Influenza, and HIV, highlight antigen-specific receptors, and reveal distinct characteristics of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Type-1 Diabetes autoreactivity. This analysis framework has broad potential for scientific and clinical interpretation of human immune responses.

Efficacy of Color Doppler Ultrasonography in Differentiation of Ovarian Masses.

AIM: Early and correct diagnosis of ovarian masses has great impact on the ultimate survival. The present study was done to know the role of color Doppler studies in characterization of ovarian masses and to evaluate its efficacy in diagnosis and differentiation of these neoplasms when used along with grayscale (B-mode) ultrasonography (USG). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Over 2 years, in total, 98 patients with adnexal masses were examined, of which only 60 patients who had ovarian masses and were satisfying inclusion criteria were evaluated sonographically. Grayscale transabdominal and transvaginal sonography was followed by color Doppler with fixed parameters and indices. The results differentiated on sonographic and color Doppler examination were compared with the final diagnosis, based on histopathological examination. RESULTS: Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of grayscale ultrasound in detecting malignancy in ovarian masses in the current study were calculated to be 51.85%, 75.75%, 63.63%, and 65.78%, respectively. By combining grayscale and color flow finding, the current study was able to differentiate malignant tumors from benign tumors with a sensitivity of 81.48%, specificity of 93.93%, PPV of 91%, and NPV of 86.11%. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates a significant increase in the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV in establishing the preoperative diagnosis of ovarian masses in terms of benign and malignant nature, when color and spectral Doppler was used in combination with USG as compared to grayscale (B-mode) USG alone.

Comparative evaluation of CMAC and Truview picture capture device for endotracheal intubation in neonates and infants undergoing elective surgeries: A prospective randomized control trial.

BACKGROUND: Videolaryngoscopy has an established role in difficult airway management in adults. However, there is limited literature to support their efficacy in children. The Truview Picture Capture Device has shown promising results for endotracheal intubation in infants in the past. The CMAC videolaryngoscope has launched its novel infant Miller blade, but its performance has not been assessed clinically for routine intubation in infants and neonates. We hypothesized that the CMAC videolaryngoscope would reduce the total time to intubation as compared to the Truview Picture Capture Device in neonates and infants. METHODS: After parental informed consent, 80 prospective infants posted for surgical procedures under general anesthesia were randomized to undergo intubation with either of the two. The two videolaryngoscopes were also compared in terms of time required for glottis view and intubation (primary outcome), modified Cormack and Lehane grade, first attempt and overall success rate, ease of intubation, number of attempts, and any complications. RESULTS: The CMAC significantly reduced the time required for glottic view [8 s (5.25-9) vs 9 s (6.5-12); P = 0.02] and intubation [22 s (18-26) vs 26 s (21.5-32); P = 0.003]. The median difference (95% CI) for time to tracheal intubation and time to glottic view was 4 s (1-7) and 1 (0-4). It also improved the ease of intubation, the Cormack-Lehane grades, and first attempt success rate. Intubation with the CMAC was possible in 100% cases, whereas only 92.5% of patients could be intubated with the Truview. The failed intubations with the Truview could be successfully intubated with the CMAC. CONCLUSION: The CMAC Miller blade reduced the total time taken for tracheal intubation and intubation difficulty as compared to the Truview Picture Capture Device and may be a better tool for intubation in infants.

Progress on deciphering the molecular aspects of cell-to-cell communication in Brassica self-incompatibility response.

The sporophytic system of self-incompatibility is a widespread genetic phenomenon in plant species, promoting out-breeding and maintaining genetic diversity. This phenomenon is of commercial importance in hybrid breeding of Brassicaceae crops and is controlled by single S locus with multiple S haplotypes. The molecular genetic studies of Brassica 'S' locus has revealed the presence of three tightly linked loci viz. S-receptor kinase (SRK), S-locus cysteine-rich protein/S-locus protein 11 (SCR/SP11), and S-locus glycoprotein (SLG). On self-pollination, the allele-specific ligand-receptor interaction activates signal transduction in stigma papilla cells and leads to rejection of pollen tube on stigmatic surface. In addition, arm-repeat-containing protein 1 (ARC1), M-locus protein kinase (MLPK), kinase-associated protein phosphatase (KAPP), exocyst complex subunit (Exo70A1) etc. has been identified in Brassica crops and plays a key role in self-incompatibility signaling pathway. Furthermore, the cytoplasmic calcium (Ca2+) influx in papilla cells also mediates self-incompatibility response in Brassicaceae, but how this cytoplasmic Ca2+ influx triggers signal transduction to inhibit pollen hydration is still obscure. There are many other signaling components which are not well characterized yet. Much progress has been made in elucidating the downstream multiple pathways of Brassica self-incompatibility response. Hence, in this review, we have made an effort to describe the recent advances made on understanding the molecular aspects of genetic mechanism of self-incompatibility in Brassicaceae.

Beware! A simple renal cyst could be a hydatid cyst.

Kidney is one of the most common sites for the cyst formation in the body, and the management of simple cysts is required entirely for its symptoms and complications. Surgical decortication is an established treatment for a large and symptomatic simple renal cyst. On the other hand, hydatid cysts of the kidney are usually multiloculated complex or calcified cysts and are quite rare. Their surgical treatment also differs and requires complete excision with pericystectomy or partial/complete nephrectomy depending upon residual functional parenchyma, using extreme caution to avoid spillage, recurrence or development of severe anaphylactic shock. A simple cyst harboring a hydatid cyst is highly uncommon and quite dangerous; as if not diagnosed preoperatively, it can create huge trouble for both the patient and the operating surgeon which happened in the present case.

Ureteric erosion and obstruction: A rare but dreaded complication of intrauterine contraceptive device.

Though intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) is a safe and most frequently used long-term contraceptive method, it has some complications. Uterine perforation and intra-abdominal migration have been reported often, but a retroperitoneal migration is exceptional. Here, we are reporting an IUCD which perforated the uterus and migrated to the retroperitoneum; impinging into and obstructing left ureter causing severe hydroureteronephrosis due to the development of the left lower ureteric stricture.

A completely calcified prostate.

Prostatic calcification and prostatic calculus formation is commonly seen in adult population with chronic prostatitis, however, gross prostatic calcification which involves more than 3 cm2 of the gland is quite rare. We are presenting here one such case in which almost whole glandular prostate was converted into stone which is never reported so far.

Stem cells: A potential regenerative future in dentistry.

In recent years, the field of dentistry has embossed its presence by taking major leaps in research and further bringing it into practice. The most valuable ongoing research in regenerative dentistry is the study on stem cells. It was instituted that stem cells grow rapidly and have the potential to form specialized dentin, bone, and neuronal cells. These neuronal cells can be used for dental therapies and can provide better treatment options for patients. The stem cells based therapies could help in new advances in treating damaged teeth, inducing bone regeneration and treating neural injury as well.

Treatment and two-year follow-up of a patient with hereditary gingival fibromatosis.

Hereditary gingival fibromatosis is a rare disorder characterized by various degrees of attached gingival overgrowth. Gingival fibromatosis usually develops as an isolated disorder but can be one feature of a syndrome. A case of a 17-year-old female who presented with a generalized severe gingival overgrowth, involving the maxillary and mandibular arches and covering almost the whole dentition. Excess gingival tissue was removed by conventional gingivectomy under local anesthesia. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient's appearance improved considerably. Good esthetic result was achieved without recurrence of the gingival overgrowth. After treatment, regular recall visits are necessary in order to evaluate oral hygiene, and the stability of the periodontal treatment.