Variation of antibacterial and antioxidant secondary metabolites and volatiles in leaf and callus extracts of Phulai (Acacia Modesta Wall.).

BACKGROUND: Acacia species are economically significant as medicinal plants that have been utilized since ancient times. Acacia modesta has been reported to possess potent antibacterial and antioxidant properties, but its growth rate is slow. In this study, we hypothesized that inducing callus in vitro from A. modesta could enhance the production of antibacterial and antioxidant secondary metabolites, thereby circumventing the issues of slow growth and excessive harvesting of the plant. RESULTS: The callus was induced from axillary buds on MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/L of 2,4-D and 1 mg/L of BAP. The secondary metabolites, volatile compounds, antibacterial activity, and antioxidant activity of the callus and parent plant leaf extracts were evaluated. The results revealed that the content of phenolics and flavonoids, the number of volatile compounds, and the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of the callus extract were significantly enhanced (P ≤ 0.05) compared to the leaf extract. The antibacterial and antioxidant effects were strongly correlated with the total phenolic and flavonoid content in the extracts. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that in vitro callus culture increases the production of phenolics, flavonoids, and volatile compounds. This subsequently enhances the antibacterial and antioxidant properties of A. modesta.

Safety and efficacy of addition of hyaluronidase to a mixture of lidocaine and bupivacaine in scalp nerves block in elective craniotomy operations; comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing craniotomy operations are prone to various noxious stimuli, many strategies are commenced to provide state of analgesia, for better control of the stress response and to overcome its undesired effects on the haemodynamics and post-operative pain. Scalp nerves block are considered one of these strategies. This study was conceived to evaluate the effect of addition of hyaluronidase to the local anaesthetic mixture used in the scalp nerves block in patients undergoing elective craniotomy operations. METHODS: 64 patients undergoing elective craniotomy operations were enrolled in this prospective randomized, double-blind comparative study. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups. Group LA, patients subjected to scalp nerves block with 15 ml bupivacaine 0.5%, 15 ml lidocaine 2%, in 1:400000 epinephrine. Group H as Group LA with15 IU /ml Hyaluronidase. RESULTS: Patients in the H group showed lower VAS values for 8 h postoperative, compared to the LA group. The haemodynamic response showed lower values in the H group, compared to the LA group. Those effects were shown in the intraoperative period and for 6 h post-operative. No difference was detected regarding the incidence of complications nor the safety profile. CONCLUSION: Our data supports the idea that addition of hyaluronidase to the local anesthetic mixture improves the success rates of the scalp nerves block and its efficacy especially during stressful intraoperative periods and in the early postoperative period. No evident undesirable effects in relation to the addition of hyaluronidase. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trial registry on ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT 03411330 , 25-1-2018.

Continuous and noninvasive hemoglobin monitoring reduces red blood cell transfusion during neurosurgery: a prospective cohort study.

Continuous, noninvasive hemoglobin (SpHb) monitoring provides clinicians with the trending of changes in hemoglobin, which has the potential to alter red blood cell transfusion decision making. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of SpHb monitoring on blood transfusions in high blood loss surgery. In this prospective cohort study, eligible patients scheduled for neurosurgery were enrolled into either a Control Group or an intervention group (SpHb Group). The Control Group received intraoperative hemoglobin monitoring by intermittent blood sampling when there was an estimated 15% blood loss. If the laboratory value indicated a hemoglobin level of ≤10 g/dL, a red blood cell transfusion was started and continued until the estimated blood loss was replaced and a laboratory hemoglobin value was >l0 g/dL. In the SpHb Group patients were monitored with a Radical-7 Pulse CO-Oximeter for continuous noninvasive hemoglobin values. Transfusion was started when the SpHb value fell to ≤l0 g/dL and was continued until the SpHb was ≥l0 g/dL. Blood samples were taken pre and post transfusion. Percent of patients transfused, average amount of blood transfused in those who received transfusions and the delay time from the hemoglobin reading of <10 g/dL to the start of transfusion (transfusion delay) were compared between groups. The trending ability of SpHb, and the bias and precision of SpHb compared to the laboratory hemoglobin were calculated. Compared to the Control Group, the SpHb Group had fewer units of blood transfused (1.0 vs 1.9 units for all patients; p ≤ 0.001, and 2.3 vs 3.9 units in patients receiving transfusions; p ≤ 0.0 l), fewer patients receiving >3 units (32 vs 73%; p ≤ 0.01) and a shorter time to transfusion after the need was established (9.2 ± 1.7 vs 50.2 ± 7.9 min; p ≤ 0.00 l). The absolute accuracy of SpHb was 0.0 ± 0.8 g/dL and trend accuracy yielded a coefficient of determination of 0.93. Adding SpHb monitoring to standard of care blood management resulted in decreased blood utilization in high blood loss neurosurgery, while facilitating earlier transfusions.

Engagement of culturally diverse communities in primary care research.

BACKGROUND: The underrepresentation of ethnic minorities and low-income groups in primary care (PC) research hinders the development of effective treatments for diverse populations. AIM: To develop a framework that general practice staff and researchers can use to improve the participation of underserved groups in PC research. METHOD: This study was undertaken across 10 GP practices in South London serving 150 658 patients. Practices are distributed across ethnically diverse and highly deprived communities. A mixed-methods approach was utilised. Retrospective data were collected on patient participation in research studies across the practices between July 2022 and July 2023. Professional and patient focus groups, and a patient questionnaire, were undertaken to understand awareness and knowledge of, enablers for, and barriers to research participation. RESULTS: Over the 12-month period, 627 patients participated in PC research studies across the 10 practices. Black African and Black Caribbean patients accounted for 26% of the practices' patient population but were significantly underrepresented in research, comprising only 11% of participants. Patients of Asian backgrounds accounted for 11% of the practices' population but made up 20% of research participants. Lack of awareness of research participation opportunities, fear of side effects, language barriers, and mistrust of researchers were some of the barriers to participation. Participants highlighted that trust in their GP, education, and transparency of research processes were key to building long-term engagement. CONCLUSION: This study provides insights into poor recruitment of specific ethnic minorities into primary care studies. The authors identified adaptations to research engagement activities, which are required to ensure that participation is improved.

Automated Detection of Patients at High Risk of Polypharmacy including Anticholinergic and Sedative Medications.

Ensuring that medicines are prescribed safely is fundamental to the role of healthcare professionals who need to be vigilant about the risks associated with drugs and their interactions with other medicines (polypharmacy). One aspect of preventative healthcare is to use artificial intelligence to identify patients at risk using big data analytics. This will improve patient outcomes by enabling pre-emptive changes to medication on the identified cohort before symptoms present. This paper presents a mean-shift clustering technique used to identify groups of patients at the highest risk of polypharmacy. A weighted anticholinergic risk score and a weighted drug interaction risk score were calculated for each of 300,000 patient records registered with a major regional UK-based healthcare provider. The two measures were input into the mean-shift clustering algorithm and this grouped patients into clusters reflecting different levels of polypharmaceutical risk. Firstly, the results showed that, for most of the data, the average scores are not correlated and, secondly, the high risk outliers have high scores for one measure but not for both. These suggest that any systematic recognition of high-risk groups should consider both anticholinergic and drug-drug interaction risks to avoid missing high-risk patients. The technique was implemented in a healthcare management system and easily and automatically identifies groups at risk far faster than the manual inspection of patient records. This is much less labour-intensive for healthcare professionals who can focus their assessment only on patients within the high-risk group(s), enabling more timely clinical interventions where necessary.

Improving the management of type 2 diabetes through large-scale general practice: the role of a data-driven and technology-enabled education programme.

A quality improvement (QI) scheme was launched in 2017, covering a large group of 25 general practices working with a deprived registered population. The aim was to improve the measurable quality of care in a population where type 2 diabetes (T2D) care had previously proved challenging. A complex set of QI interventions were co-designed by a team of primary care clinicians and educationalists and managers. These interventions included organisation-wide goal setting, using a data-driven approach, ensuring staff engagement, implementing an educational programme for pharmacists, facilitating web-based QI learning at-scale and using methods which ensured sustainability. This programme was used to optimise the management of T2D through improving the eight care processes and three treatment targets which form part of the annual national diabetes audit for patients with T2D. With the implemented improvement interventions, there was significant improvement in all care processes and all treatment targets for patients with diabetes. Achievement of all the eight care processes improved by 46.0% (p<0.001) while achievement of all three treatment targets improved by 13.5% (p<0.001). The QI programme provides an example of a data-driven large-scale multicomponent intervention delivered in primary care in ethnically diverse and socially deprived areas.

Vegetation Analysis and Environmental Relationships of Riverain Plants in the Aswan Reservoir, Egypt.

The present study analyses plant diversity and evaluates the relationship between edaphic variables and the distribution and grouping of plant species in the Aswan Reservoir area, South Egypt. The dominant families were Fabaceae, Poaceae, and Asteraceae, forming 38.82% of the total flora recorded. The main bulk of the flora recorded (50.59%) belonged to the cosmopolitan, neotropical, pantropical, and palaeotropical chorotypes. A TWINSPAN analysis produced 10 vegetation clusters. Inundation levels showed a high correlation with species richness. The seasonally inundated area in Bute El-Hasaya and Maezana Belal (cluster V) had the highest species richness (36.50), while the lowest species richness (4.50) was in the shoreline of Philae, Awad, and Heisa islands (cluster IX). The DCA ordination depicted the environmental gradient expressed by the cluster analysis, and the resulting vegetation groups represented a distinct microhabitat. The CCA ordination indicates that the separation of vegetation group (A) along the axis was affected by the concentration of K, Mg, and CO3, and the vegetation group (B) was significantly associated with the total dissolved salts and the concentration of Cl. Moreover, the vegetation group (C) correlated significantly with pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter content, and SO3, HCO3, PO4, Na, and Ca concentrations.

Ischemia-modified Albumin as a Biomarker for Prediction of Poor Outcome in Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury: An Observational Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Biomarkers can assist in outcome prediction and therapeutic decision making after traumatic brain injury (TBI). The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) in the prediction of mortality in patients with TBI. METHODS: In this observational study IMA was measured on admission to intensive care unit (D0) and 24 hours later (D1) in a cohort of patients with mixed TBI severity. The primary outcome was the correlation between IMA and 28-day mortality. Secondary outcomes included the incidence of elevated IMA, and the correlation between the severity of TBI and IMA, and between IMA and change in Glasgow coma score (GCS). The area under receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to detect optimal IMA cut-off value for the detection of mortality. RESULTS: Fifty-four patients were included in the study; IMA was elevated in 49 (90.7%) on admission to the intensive care unit. Of the 49 patients with elevated IMA, 22 had a decrease in IMA while 27 had an increase by 24 hours. IMA levels were higher at D0 and D1 (P<0.001 for both) in patients who died compared with those who survived. Twenty-one patients died (mortality rate 38.9%); all had elevated IMA on D0 and D1 and higher IMA levels at D1 compared with D0. Optimal cut-off values for IMA predicted mortality with 76.2% sensitivity and 81.8% specificity at D0 and with 100% sensitivity and specificity at D1. IMA values at D0 and D1 were correlated with D0 and D1 GCS, respectively (both P<0.001). CONCLUSION: IMA levels were elevated in patients following TBI, and can predict mortality with high sensitivity and specificity.

Utility of multislice computed tomography and reformatted images: identification of migratory intraventricular clot exacerbating obstructive hydrocephalus.

Multidetector CT has become widely available and with it the ability to rapidly create detailed reformatted images. Multiplanar images can be created depicting the anatomy in planes other than the traditional axial plane, using isotropic to near-isotropic data. It is important for both clinicians and radiologists to be aware of this capability in order to take advantage of such images. To illustrate the value of this type of imaging, the authors present a case of a third ventricular clot that migrated into the cerebral aqueduct exacerbating hydrocephalus.

Spinal epidural hematoma after spinal manipulative therapy in a patient undergoing anticoagulant therapy: a case report.

OBJECTIVE: We report on the case of a patient with spinal epidural hematoma (SEH) after spinal manipulative therapy and review features of reported cases of a similar nature. CLINICAL FEATURES: The patient was undergoing Coumadin anticoagulant therapy for atrial fibrillation and presented to the chiropractor complaining of a stiff neck. After cervical manipulation, he developed paresthesia in both feet, progressing to motor deficits in all 4 extremities. He required a laminectomy and evacuation of a clot indenting the spinal cord. RESULTS: Review of the literature revealed 7 reported cases of SEH after manipulation; 5 patients underwent cervical manipulation and 1 patient received Coumadin therapy. CONCLUSION: Practitioners of spinal manipulative therapy should be aware of SEH as a possible complication of manipulation in patients at risk and should exercise caution in the care of patients undergoing anticoagulant therapy.

Three-dimensional tomographic features of dome-shaped macula by swept-source optical coherence tomography.

PURPOSE: To study the tomographic and pathomorphologic features of dome-shaped maculas with swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT). DESIGN: Prospective, cross-sectional study. METHODS: The macular area of 51 highly myopic eyes (35 patients) with dome-shaped maculas was studied with swept-source OCT at 1050 nm. Three-dimensional (3-D) data sets were obtained with raster scanning covering a 12 × 8-mm(2) area; 3-D images of the posterior pole were constructed by autosegmentation of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). RESULTS: In all reconstructed 3-D images of the RPE, 2 outward concavities were seen within the posterior staphyloma and a horizontal ridge was formed between these 2 concavities. In 42 of these eyes, this horizontal ridge was band shaped. The vertical OCT section through the fovea showed a convex configuration of RPE, but the horizontal section showed an almost flat RPE line. In 9 eyes, 3-D images showed a typical dome-shaped convexity within the staphyloma. OCT scans showed no outward protrusions in the external scleral surface, but marked scleral thinning was seen consistent with the 2 outward concavities of the RPE. The sclera of the fovea (518.6 ± 97.6 µm) was significantly thicker than that in all 4 quadrants of the parafoveal area (range, 277.2 to 360.3 µm; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: In highly myopic eyes with a dome-shaped macula, a horizontal ridge is formed within the posterior staphyloma by uneven thinning of the sclera.

Frameless robotically targeted stereotactic brain biopsy: feasibility, diagnostic yield, and safety.

OBJECT: Frameless stereotactic brain biopsy has become an established procedure in many neurosurgical centers worldwide. Robotic modifications of image-guided frameless stereotaxy hold promise for making these procedures safer, more effective, and more efficient. The authors hypothesized that robotic brain biopsy is a safe, accurate procedure, with a high diagnostic yield and a safety profile comparable to other stereotactic biopsy methods. METHODS: This retrospective study included 41 patients undergoing frameless stereotactic brain biopsy of lesions (mean size 2.9 cm) for diagnostic purposes. All patients underwent image-guided, robotic biopsy in which the SurgiScope system was used in conjunction with scalp fiducial markers and a preoperatively selected target and trajectory. Forty-five procedures, with 50 supratentorial targets selected, were performed. RESULTS: The mean operative time was 44.6 minutes for the robotic biopsy procedures. This decreased over the second half of the study by 37%, from 54.7 to 34.5 minutes (p < 0.025). The diagnostic yield was 97.8% per procedure, with a second procedure being diagnostic in the single nondiagnostic case. Complications included one transient worsening of a preexisting deficit (2%) and another deficit that was permanent (2%). There were no infections. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic biopsy involving a preselected target and trajectory is safe, accurate, efficient, and comparable to other procedures employing either frame-based stereotaxy or frameless, nonrobotic stereotaxy. It permits biopsy in all patients, including those with small target lesions. Robotic biopsy planning facilitates careful preoperative study and optimization of needle trajectory to avoid sulcal vessels, bridging veins, and ventricular penetration.

Subdural interhemispheric grid electrodes for intracranial epilepsy monitoring: feasibility, safety, and utility: clinical article.

OBJECT: Intracranial monitoring for epilepsy has been proven to enhance diagnostic accuracy and provide localizing information for surgical treatment of intractable seizures. The authors investigated their experience with interhemispheric grid electrodes (IHGEs) to assess the hypothesis that they are feasible, safe, and useful. METHODS: Between 1992 and 2010, 50 patients underwent IHGE implantation (curvilinear double-sided 2 × 8 or 3 × 8 grids) as part of arrays for invasive seizure monitoring, and their charts were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 50 patients who underwent intracranial investigation with IHGEs, 38 eventually underwent resection of the seizure focus. These 38 patients had a mean age of 30.7 years (range 11-58 years), and 63% were males. Complications as a result of IHGE implantation consisted of transient leg weakness in 1 patient. Of all the patients who underwent resective surgery, 21 (55.3%) had medial frontal resections, 9 of whom (43%) had normal MRI results. Localization in all of these cases was possible only because of data from IHGEs, and the extent of resection was tailored based on these data. Of the 17 patients (44.7%) who underwent other cortical resections, IHGEs were helpful in excluding medial seizure onset. Twelve patients did not undergo resection because of nonlocalizable or multifocal disease; in 2 patients localization to the motor cortex precluded resection. Seventy-one percent of patients who underwent resection had Engel Class I outcome at the 2-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The use of IHGEs in intracranial epilepsy monitoring has a favorable risk profile and in the authors' experience proved to be a valuable component of intracranial investigation, providing the sole evidence for resection of some epileptogenic foci.

How long should cerebrospinal fluid cultures be held to detect shunt infections? Clinical article.

OBJECT: Infections of CSF hardware may be indolent, and some patients have received antibiotic treatment for various reasons before CSF is obtained to check for a shunt infection. At present, there are few data in the literature to guide the decision as to how long to hold CSF specimens when attempting to diagnose hardware infections, and institutions vary in the duration at which cultures are considered "final." METHODS: The authors reviewed the microbiology data from CSF specimens obtained from shunts, ventriculostomies, reservoirs, and lumbar drains at their institution over a 36-month period to discover how long after collection cultures became positive. The authors also sought to discover whether this time was affected by prior treatment with antibiotics. RESULTS: Of 158 positive CSF specimens obtained from hardware, the time to recovery ranged between 1-10 days, with a mean of 3.02 days (SD 2.37 days, 95% CI 2.66-3.38 days). One hundred and twenty-seven positive specimens were associated with clinical infections, and approximately 25% of these grew organisms after > 3 days, with some as long as 10 days after specimens were obtained. The most common organisms grown from individual patients were coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp (34 cultures), Propionibacterium spp (21), Bacillus spp (6), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4), and Staphylococcus aureus (4 cultures). Mean and maximum days to recovery were different across species, with S. aureus showing the shortest and Propionibacterium spp showing the longest incubation times. There appeared to be no significant difference in the time to recovery between specimens obtained in patients who had received prior antibiotic treatment versus those who had not. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial number of positive CSF specimens obtained in patients with clinical infections grew bacteria after > 3 days, with some requiring as long as 10 days. Thus, a routine 10-day observation period for CSF specimens can be justified.