Effect of Nystatin with and without DMAHDM on Antifungal and Mechanical Properties of Acrylic Resins.

PURPOSE: To investigate antifungal and mechanical properties after the impregnation of Dimethyl Amino-ethyl Hexa-decyl Di-methacrylate (DMAHDM) alone or in combination with Nystatin in polymethylmethacrylate. METHODOLOGY: The control group was fabricated by mixing powder and liquid of PMMA at the ratio of 2.5:1 g/mL. The DMAHDM was added to PMMA liquid and were mixed with PMMA powder. The Nystatin (500,000 International Units (IU)) was mixed with PMMA powder, whereby the composite powder was mixed with the DMAHDM-based liquid. The prepared specimens were tested for fungal adhesion testing (at days 1 and 30), impact strength and flexural strength. Oneway ANOVA post-hoc Tukey's test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Statistical analysis for the adhesion assay revealed that the antifungal activities of unaged and aged specimens in experimental groups were statistically significant as compared to control group A. The groups containing DMAHDM with Nystatin have shown statistically reduced flexural strength. The impact strength test revealed that groups containing 20% DMAHDM alone and DMAHDM with Nystatin showed statistically reduced impact strength compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Antifungal activities of experimental PMMA resin was increased. The addition of DMAHDM alone in PMMA resin has no deleterious effects on impact and flexural strength, however, at higher concentration values were reduced.

Management of a 20-year-old longstanding oroantral fistula: A case report and review of literature.

A systematic treatment plan and an appropriate selection of surgical technique are the critical requirements for an effective closure of oroantral fistula (OAF). A 45-year-old female patient had sinus opening after she underwent a surgical tooth extraction 20 years back. On her frequent visits to the dentists some attempts were made for closure including surgical intervention, only for the lesion to return back. Computerized tomography (CT) scan was taken to rule out any bony extension of a lesion, the CT revealed a 1 × 1 cm radiolucency with a through - through communication from the alveolar bone to the right maxillary sinus because of the bony defect in the floor of maxillary sinus along with thickening of the maxillary sinus lining. The closure of the defect was done by a lateral pedicle flap raised from the right side was elevated and laterally slid to cover the defect without tension and was sutured with 4-0 resorbable interrupted suture while maintaining a bare surgical bed covered by the periosteum and a thin layer of connective tissue. This technique provides immediate repair of the defect to the patient, and also maintains comparatively normal anatomic architecture to the oral cavity. Eight months postoperative follow-up revealed a complete closure of OAF without any complications. The findings of this case suggest that lateral sliding pedicle flap can be a conservative approach in managing a long-standing OAF.

Antimicrobial resistance among aerobic biofilm producing bacteria isolated from chronic wounds in the tertiary care hospitals of Peshawar, Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic wound infections impose major medical and economic costs on health-care systems, cause significant morbidity, mortality and prolonged hospitalisation. The presence of biofilm producing bacteria in these wounds is considered as an important virulence factor that leads to chronic implications including ulceration. The undertaken study aimed to isolate and identify the biofilm aerobic bacterial pathogens from patients with chronic wound infections, and determine their antibiotics resistance profiles Method: During this study, swab specimens were collected from patients with chronic wounds at teaching hospitals of Peshawar, Pakistan between May 2013 and June 2014. The isolated aerobic bacterial pathogens were identified on the basis of standard cultural characteristics and biochemical tests. Antibiotics resistance profiles of biofilm producing bacteria against selected antibiotics were then determined. RESULTS: Among the chronic wound infections, diabetic foot ulcers were most common 37 (37%), followed by surgical ulcers 27 (27%). Chronic wounds were common in male patients older than 40 years. Among the total 163 isolated bacterial pathogens the most prevalent bacterial species were Pseudomonas aeruginosa 44 (27%), Klebsiella pneumoniae 26 (16%), Staphylococcus species 22 (14%) and Streptococcus spp. 21 (13%). The isolation rate of bacterial pathogens was high among patients with diabetic foot ulcers 83 (50.9%). Among bacterial isolates, 108 (66.2%) were observed as biofilm producers while 55 (33.8%) did not form biofilm in our model. The investigated biofilm producing bacterial isolates showed comparatively high resistance against tested antibiotics compared to non-biofilm producing bacterial isolates. The most effective antibiotics were amikacine and cefepime against all isolates. CONCLUSION: Increased multidrug resistance in biofilm producing bacteria associated with chronic wounds was observed in this study. Judicious use of antibiotics is needed to control the wound associated biofilm associated pathogens.

Echocardiographic comparison of regional wall motion abnormality between patients with acute anteroseptal and acute extensive anteior ST segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Post myocardial infarction (MI) short and long-term clinical outcome is largely determined by the size of the infarcted area. It is generally assumed that as the lead involvement in electrocardiography (ECG) is less in anteroseptal ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (AS-STEMI), where ST segment elevation (STE) is limited to leads V1 to V3, myocardial damage is likely to be less; and in extensive anterior STEMI (EA-STEMI), as the STE extends further upto V6, the myocardial damage is likely to be more. This study was intended to compare regional wall motion abnormality (RWMA) between acute anteroseptal STEMI and acute extensive anterior STEMI patients. 90 patients with AS-STEMI and 106 patients with EA-STEMI, admitted in between October 2012 and September 2013, were included. For each patient, a transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) was performed within 24-48 hours of MI and was interpreted by an independent investigator blinded to the patient's ECG data. No differences were observed between the two groups in baseline characteristics; except AS-STEMI group had more patients with diabetes and EA-STEMI group had more patients with family history of coronary artery disease. Distribution, extent of wall motion abnormalities and mean number of total involved segments were similar between patients with AS-STEMI and those with EA-STEMI (p > 0.05). Regarding regional dysfunction, the apical septal (99.1% vs. 92.2%, p < 0.05) and apical (76.4% vs. 60.0%, p < 0.05) segments were the only two segments that were affected significantly more in patients with EA-STEMI than in patients with AS-STEMI. So, the term AS-STEMI may be a misnomer, as it implies that only the anteroseptal segments of the left ventricle are involved. This study shows that regional dysfunction in patients with AS-STEMI extends beyond the anteroseptal region. So, any patients with anterior wall involvement, either anteroseptal or extensive anterior STEMI, should be treated with equal importance.

Metabolic syndrome is a risk factor for development of heart failure in acute myocardial infarction.

There is a relationship between metabolic syndrome with heart failure. A case control study was designed to see the association of metabolic syndrome with heart failure. The study was conducted from August 2009 to May 2010. Hundred cases were selected as study population which was taken from Department of Cardiology Mymensingh Medical College, Mymensingh. Among them 50 were in Group A, 50 were in Group B. Group A was the patient with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with metabolic syndrome. Group B was the patient with AMI without metabolic syndrome. It revealed that 23(46%) in Group A and 10 (20%) in Group B developed heart failure. Which is statistically significant (p<0.05). The study concluded that metabolic syndrome is significantly associated with heart failure.

Long-term survival in an un-operated single ventricle.

Single ventricle is a rare and complex congenital heart disease. Neonates with single ventricle have a high mortality. Survival into adulthood is rare without surgical intervention. A case of single ventricle with double inlet and double outlet combined with severe valvular pulmonary stenosis and mitral regurgitation (Grade II) is being reported here. A 36 years old man was admitted for bluish discoloration of lips, tongue and fingers; shortness of breath and recurrent palpitation. His ECG showed atrial fibrillation with fast ventricular rate. Chest X-Ray depicted an enlarged cardiac shadow and right sided pleural effusion. Final diagnosis was made by echocardiogram which demonstrated single ventricle with double inlet and double outlet, severe valvular pulmonary stenosis and mitral regurgitation (Grade II) with good ventricular systolic function.

The effect of selected commercially available mouth-rinses vs. curcumin photosensitizers in an artificial mouth model mimicking their use before meals on early colonizers single species biofilm.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the bacterial-adherence to the experimental pellicle pretreated with commercially available oral-rinse/ photosensitizer (mimicking use of oral-rinse/ photosensitizer before meals). MATERIALS AND METHODS: An artificial mouth (NAM) system was used for the development of single-species biofilm (Actinomyces viscosus, Streptococcus mitis and Streptococcus sanguinis respectively). Two commercially available oral-rinses containing active ingredients [Essential oils (EO) and Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX) were used. Curcumin photosensitizer (PS) was used as a photosensitizer against the microbes. For the adherence study, the experimental pellicle on the beads (in the capillary tubes of the NAM system) was pretreated with the oral-rinse and photosensitizer before the inoculation of bacteria; this would resemble the use of rinse/ photosensitizer before meal. The bacterial population of the biofilm was determined using serial dilution assay and expressed as colony forming unit per ml. Deionized distilled water was used in place of oral-rinse/photosensitizer and served as a negative-control. For the qualitative study, bacterial population viewing was carried out using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). RESULTS: It was observed that on treatment with the oral-rinses the bacterial population of S.mitis, S.sanguinis and A.viscosus (adherence) was significantly reduced where the reduction was less for EO-based oral-rinse compared with that of CHX and curcumin PS in the following sequence EO

Evaluation of Early Renal Involvement in Essential Hypertension by Measuring Urinary Biomarkers.

Hypertensive kidney damage results in glomerular as well as tubular dysfunction. Albuminuria is a well-known marker of glomerular damage. On the other hand, urinary uromodulin is increasingly considered as a potential biomarker of early tubular dysfunction. The aim of the study was to assess glomerular and tubular function of the kidney by measuring urinary albumin and uromodulin excretion in hypertensive subjects. This cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2018 to June 2019 in Hypertension Clinic of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka and Kidney Care and Research Centre, Sonargaon, Narayanganj, Bangladesh. In this study 122 hypertensive subjects with age >30 years, duration of hypertension <5 years, without accelerated or malignant BP, absence of dipstick proteinuria and eGFR >60ml/min were included. There were also 33 normotensive individuals included as healthy controls. Albumin-creatinine ratio (uACR mg/g), urine uromodulin-creatinine ratio (uUMODµg/g), urinary sodium-creatinine ratio (mEq/g) and potassium-creatinine ratio (mEq/g) were measured from single morning spot urine sample. Urinary uromodulin levels were measured by ELISA method. The hypertensive and normotensive subjects were age matched 49.0±12.0 vs. 48.0±11.0, years (p=NS). The mean uACR was 29.0±65.0 versus 5.6±2.7mg/g, (p<0.001) respectively. The median uUMOD in hypertensive subjects was 3.38 (1.73-9.06) and in normotensives 3.85(2.28-5.69) µg/g (p=non significant). Multivariate analysis showed significant inverse association between diastolic blood pressure and urinary uromodulin excretion. A uUMOD cut-off of 2.9 (25th percentile) showed eGFR, urinary sodium and potassium excretions were significantly lower at low uromodulin group. The glomerular involvement was found in 21.0% of hypertensive subjects as evidenced by albuminuria. No difference was observed in urinary uromodulin level between hypertensive and normotensive subjects. Low urinary uromodulin level was associated with lower eGFR, Na+ and K+ excretion which indicate simultaneous tubular and glomerular involvement.

Disseminated tuberculosis presenting as acute coronary syndrome.

Tuberculosis is a major public health problem in Bangladesh. Though tuberculosis is common but acute myopericarditis can rarely be caused by tuberculosis infection. A case of disseminated tuberculosis presenting with features of acute coronary syndrome is presenting here. A 26 years old man was admitted for severe central chest pain for 2 days and fever for 2 months. His ECG showed ST segment elevation in chest leads, V1 to V4 with elevated Troponin I and high ESR. Chest X-Ray depicted an enlarged cardiac shadow. Echocardiography demonstrated multiple dynamic cavitary lesions involving interventricular septum as well as anterior wall of the left ventricle within myocardium with moderate pericardial effusion with trivial mitral regurgitation. A CT scan of chest with contrast revealed multiple calcific communicating cavities within endocardium and myocardium involving interventricular septum and anterior wall of the left ventricle of heart and multiple cavitary lesions in the mid zone of left lung with bilateral mild pleural effusion. The patient made an excellent recovery on management of acute coronary syndrome and on antitubercular therapy.

Assessment of Euphorbia retusa and Pulicaria undulata activity against Leishmania major and Toxoplasma gondii.

Leishmaniasis and toxoplasmosis are parasitic protozoal diseases that pose serious health concerns, especially for immunocompromised people. Leishmania major and Toxoplasma gondii are endemic in Saudi Arabia and are particularly common in the Qassim Region. The present work was conducted to evaluate the in vitro antileishmanial and antitoxoplasmal activity of methanolic extracts and phytochemical fractions from two plants, Euphorpia retusa and Pulicaria undulata, which are ethnobotanical agents used to treat parasitic infection. Whole E. retusa and P. undulata plants were extracted with methanol and fractionated using petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and water and then were tested in vitro against L. major promastigote and the amastigote stages of T. gondii; the cytotoxicity of the extracts was tested against Vero cell line. The methanolic extracts of E. retusa and P. undulata exhibited promising antitoxoplasmal activity against T. gondii with EC50 values 5.6 and 12.7 µg mL-1, respectively. The chloroform fraction of P. undulata was the most potent, exhibiting an EC50 of 1.4 µg mL-1 and SI value of 12.1. It was also the most active fraction against both L. major promastigotes and amastigotes, exhibiting an EC50 of 3.9 and 3.8 µg mL-1 and SI values 4.4 and 4.5, respectively. The chloroform fraction from P. undulata is a very good candidate for the isolation of active antitoxoplasmal and antileishmanial ingredients; therefore, further phytochemical analysis for active compound isolation is highly recommended.

A case report of right ventricular mass.

Primary Cardiac tumors are uncommon during infancy and childhood. Myxomas originating in the right ventricles are even less common in paediatric patient. Our patient baby Rani, 3 months of age presented with shortness of breath and chest indrawing. Antenatal history and delivery was uneventful. The baby was under weight and also malnourished but there was no cyanosis and clubbing. Her respiratory rate was 25/minute. On precordium examination, first heart sound (S1) was normal but pulmonary component of second heart sound (P2) was soft. There was an ejection systolic murmur (Grade-3/6) in the left upper para-sternal area. Chest X-ray revealed cardiomegaly. Echocardiogram revealed a large mass (11x10mm) in the right ventricle, dynamically obstructing the right ventricular out-flow tract and compressing the left ventricle. There was a Tricuspid regurgitation (Grade-2) and moderate pulmonary hypertension (PASP-50 mmHg).

The first two months epidimiological study of COVID-19, related public health preparedness, and response to the ongoing epidemic in Pakistan.

As an underdeveloped country, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic has posed a major risk to the health and economy of Pakistan. The SIR (susceptible-infected-recovered) model of epidemiologic analysis predicts that there should have been more cases since late March 2020 in Pakistan. We therefore sought to investigate COVID-19's prevalence and epidemiologic trends in Pakistan. Research for COVID-19 is still in its early stages, so data were collected from official websites and research journals, then analyzed for the disease's prevalence, epidemiology, mortality and recoveries. The results indicated that a rapid increase had indeed occurred in the number of COVID-19 infections in Pakistan, with the first case reported on 25 February, 2020. From 25 February 25 to April, 2020, COVID-19 infected 11,155 people in Pakistan, with 237 deaths (2.12%) and 2527 recoveries (19.96%). We found a statistically significant positive correlation between the prevalence of COVID-19 and the mortality ratio (r = 0.983, r 2 = 0.966; p ≤ 0.05). We concluded that proper management must be undertaken to improve the quarantine system, and the World Health Organization guidelines must be closely followed to cope with COVID-19. There is no vaccine for COVID-19, so antiviral drugs (interferon alfa, ribavirin) may be useful to prevent COVID-19; however, severe control measures implemented in China have significantly mitigated the spread of COVID-19. Suspected and confirmed cases must be treated in separate rooms. Staying home and social distancing are the safe way to proceed.

Homology of cytokine synthesis inhibitory factor (IL-10) to the Epstein-Barr virus gene BCRFI.

Complementary DNA clones encoding mouse cytokine synthesis inhibitory factor (CSIF; interleukin-10), which inhibits cytokine synthesis by TH1 helper T cells, were isolated and expressed. The predicted protein sequence shows extensive homology with an uncharacterized open reading frame, BCRFI, in the Epstein-Barr virus genome, suggesting the possibility that this herpes virus exploits the biological activity of a captured cytokine gene to enhance its survival in the host.

Autologous olfactory [corrected] mucosal transplant in chronic spinal cord injury: an Indian Pilot Study.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective Pilot Study. OBJECTIVES: To determine the safety and feasibility of autologous olfactory mucosal transplantation into the spinal cord in chronic spinal cord injured using the technique developed by Carlos Lima et al. SETTING: Spinal Injury Center, New Delhi. METHODS: Five chronic, motor complete, traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) patients with neurological level C5-T12 underwent the procedure. Participants were assessed at baseline and at 6 monthly intervals. Safety and tolerability were evaluated through monitoring for any adverse events and tests including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation. Efficacy assessment was done through neurological, functional and psychological evaluation, electrophysiological studies and urodynamics. RESULTS: Surgery was tolerated well by all American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS) A participants. The only AIS B participant lost sensory scores significantly after surgery but is gradually regaining it. MRI evaluation revealed a syrinx in one participant and increase in length of myelomalacia in four participants. There were no other adverse findings on MRI evaluation. There was no significant improvement in any of the neurological, electrophysiological or urodynamic efficacy variables. Statistically significant improvement was seen in functional scores as evaluated by Spinal Cord Independence Measure, Beck Depression Inventory scores and life impact scores on International Spinal Cord Injury Scale. CONCLUSIONS: The procedure is relatively safe and feasible in AIS A participants with thoracic level injuries at 18 month follow-up. No efficacy could be demonstrated which could be attributed to the procedure.

Pattern of Disease among Patients Attending Cardiology Outpatient Department of a Private Hospital of Mymensingh, Bangladesh.

Epidemiologic transition is taking place in every part of the world. Cardiovascular diseases became the most common cause of death accounting for 30% of deaths worldwide, with 80% of the burden now occurring in developing countries. The objective of the study was to assess the Pattern of disease among patients attending Cardiology outpatient department of a private hospital. The cross sectional descriptive type of observational study was conducted among 550 patients attending Cardiology outpatient department (COPD) of Sodesh Hospital, Mymensingh, Bangladesh from March 2016 to June 2016. All the new patients attending COPD of Sodesh Hospital were selected purposively for the study. Data were collected by interview, physical examination and laboratory investigations of patients using a case record form. Mean age of the patients was 45.1 years with a SD of 15.6 years. Among the patients male were 291(52.9%), a bit higher than the female 259(47.1%). It was observed that more than half of the patients (281, 51.1%) visited cardiologist with non-cardiac problems. Less than one third of the patients (169, 30.7%) attended with cardiac problems and 100(18.2%) patients visited with both cardiac and non-cardiac problems. Among the cardiac diseases and symptoms hypertension was on the top of the list 176(65.4%). Ischemic heart diseases was present in 35(13.0%) and palpitation was in 30(11.1%) patients. On the other hand among the non-cardiac diseases or presentations, 121(43.1%) patients had non-specific chest pain, 63(22.4%) had shortness of breath and 17(6.1%) had diabetes mellitus. Hypertension was found the most frequent cardiovascular disease (65.4%) followed by ischemic heart disease (13.0%). More than half (51.1%) of the patients visit cardiologist with non-cardiac problems. Screening at the level of general practitioner (GP) and appropriate referral system can reduce extreme burden of patients to the cardiologists in the Cardiology outpatient department.

Extra Skeletal Ewing's Sarcoma Involving Perineum of a Young Male Patient.

Ewing's Sarcoma is the second most common primary malignant bone tumor in children and young adults after osteosarcoma but exceptionally it can arise from extra skeletal sites also. Extra skeletal Ewing's sarcoma is of neuroectodermal origin and usually involves extremities, retroperitoneum and paravertebral regions. No case of extra skeletal Ewing's sarcoma involving perineum is yet reported. A 16 years old male patient admitted to colorectal surgery department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh in July 2015 having swellings in perineum as well as both inguinal regions. The swelling was near to anal verge. FNAC from perineal swelling and inguinal lymph node demonstrate small blue round cell tumor. After operation the tumor size was 5cm×4cm, cell type was malignant round cell arranged in sheet and perivascular forming rosette. Extra skeletal Ewing's sarcoma can be a differential diagnosis of soft tissue tumor arising in perineum.

Standardization of marketed Kumariasava--an Ayurvedic Aloe vera product.

Kumariasava is a marketed ayurvedic formulation containing Aloe vera as one of the main ingredients. Present study aims to standardize Kumariasava based upon chromatographic and spectral studies. Various extracts of Kumariasava have been prepared and evaluated. Chloroform extract indicated presence of three well-resolved fluorescent components. Spectral data of these three fractions (III-V) have been reported as a valuable analytical tool for routine standardization of Kumariasava. Fraction V indicated presence of anthraquinones, which is reported as the main constituent of aloe, namely aloin. Hence, isolation and evaluation of aloin has been undertaken. Aloin can be used as possible marker compound for standardization of Kumariasava.

Deep sequencing in library selection projects: what insight does it bring?

High throughput sequencing is poised to change all aspects of the way antibodies and other binders are discovered and engineered. Millions of available sequence reads provide an unprecedented sampling depth able to guide the design and construction of effective, high quality naïve libraries containing tens of billions of unique molecules. Furthermore, during selections, high throughput sequencing enables quantitative tracing of enriched clones and position-specific guidance to amino acid variation under positive selection during antibody engineering. Successful application of the technologies relies on specific PCR reagent design, correct sequencing platform selection, and effective use of computational tools and statistical measures to remove error, identify antibodies, estimate diversity, and extract signatures of selection from the clone down to individual structural positions. Here we review these considerations and discuss some of the remaining challenges to the widespread adoption of the technology.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of a whole-arm translocation involving chromosomes 18 and 20 with alpha-satellite DNA probes: detection of a centromeric DNA break?

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with alpha-satellite DNA probes was used to study whole-arm chromosome translocation products in a family in which the propositus was shown to have a monosomy 18p/trisomy 20p imbalance. By this approach, we show that the chromosome 18 alpha-satellite DNA block is split into 2 smaller units, whereas the chromosome 20 breakpoint is not included within the alpha-satellite DNA region. We found no evidence to suggest that this split alpha-satellite DNA region has reduced or impaired the function of the centromere or that it contributed to the phenotype of the propositus. The FISH technique critically demonstrated the involvement of a whole-arm translocation in this case and provided accurate identification of breakpoints, which was not possible with standard banding techniques.