Systemic lupus erythematosus nephritis and COVID-19 disease.

Of the more than 20 studies published on SLE patients with COVID-19, none of the studies focused on lupus nephritis. We report the outcomes of renal biopsy-proven systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) nephritis patients after COVID-19 disease. Our institute has been declared as a state COVID-19 hospital in the last week of March 2020. From then till now, we have admitted and managed COVID-19 patients from several districts of Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring states. We collected the data of patients with SLE nephritis contemporaneously from admission to the outcomes on a computerised proforma. We had identified sixteen patients with SLE nephritis who were admitted with COVID-19 disease. Of them, fourteen were females and two were males. The mean age was 29.3 years. Out of sixteen patients, seven required a mechanical ventilator and dialysis and eventually succumbed. One more patient died due to disseminated tuberculosis. Our results suggested that with an approximately 50% mortality rate, the COVID-19 disease had a calamitous effect on SLE nephritis patients. Key Points • We identified the significant risk factors for mortality: younger age, higher serum creatinine at presentation, higher CT severity score and lower serum albumin. • After the analysis done for this article, we decided to reduce the medications for SLE nephritis to prednisolone 10 mg/day when COVID-19 disease is contracted.

A Comparative Study in the Management of Chronic Rhinosinusitis by Nasal Douching with Hypertonic Saline vs Isotonic Saline.

Chronic rhinosinusitis is one of the most commonly diagnosed medical conditions affecting all age groups. Hypertonic saline solution and isotonic saline solution are used in management of chronic rhinosinusitis. In this study we compare the effectiveness of isotonic saline and hypertonic saline in alleviation of symptoms and clinical outcome of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. In our study 60 patients diagnosed with chronic rhinosinusitis are divided into two groups; Group A treated with isotonic saline and Group B with 3.5% hypertonic saline for a period of 6 weeks. The symptoms were evaluated using SNOT-20 score before and after treatment. It was found that hypertonic saline solution is more efficacious than isotonic saline solution in the treatment of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.

Quality of Life in Patients with Nasal Septal Deviation After Septal Correction.

Septal Correction is an age-old procedure being practiced for the major part of a century now. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life after Septal Correction. Fifty patients with complaints of nasal obstruction, trouble breathing via the nose, headache and facial pain were selected for the study. Initial pre-operative assessment was done based on a symptomatic score [Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation Scale (NOSE Scale)]. The presence of a septal deviation was confirmed with an X-ray and computed tomography of the paranasal sinuses along with a diagnostic nasal endoscopy. Based on the extent and location of deviation, the malformed part was corrected. Post-operative assessment was done after a period of 8 weeks based on the NOSE Scale. The results were co-related and documented. It was found that the scores were better post-surgery. Thus, it can be concluded that Septal Correction as a surgical procedure is still relevant in today's World for symptomatic betterment and for a healthier lifestyle.

Comparative cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of cobalt (II, III) oxide, iron (III) oxide, silicon dioxide, and aluminum oxide nanoparticles on human lymphocytes in vitro.

Despite the extensive use of nanoparticles (NPs) in various fields, adequate knowledge of human health risk and potential toxicity is still lacking. The human lymphocytes play a major role in the immune system, and it can alter the antioxidant level when exposed to NPs. Identification of the hazardous NPs was done using in vitro toxicity tests and this study mainly focuses on the comparative in vitro cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of four different NPs including cobalt (II, III) oxide (Co3O4), iron (III) oxide (Fe2O3), silicon dioxide (SiO2), and aluminum oxide (Al2O3) on human lymphocytes. The Co3O4 NPs showed decrease in cellular viability and increase in cell membrane damage followed by Fe2O3, SiO2, and Al2O3 NPs in a dose-dependent manner after 24 h of exposure to human lymphocytes. The oxidative stress was evidenced in human lymphocytes by the induction of reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, and depletion of catalase, reduced glutathione, and superoxide dismutase. The Al2O3 NPs showed the least DNA damage when compared with all the other NPs. Chromosomal aberration was observed at 100 µg/ml when exposed to Co3O4 NPs and Fe2O3 NPs. The alteration in the level of antioxidant caused DNA damage and chromosomal aberration in human lymphocytes.

Development of a microplate-based scintillation proximity assay for MraY using a modified substrate.

MraY is an established target for the discovery of antibacterial agents. The conventional assay for MraY uses radioactive substrate and analysis of products after paper chromatography or butanol extraction. Synthesis of radiolabeled substrate has been done in vitro using purified enzymes or by growing cells on radiolabeled precursors. The authors report a simple and rapid method to chemically radiolabel MraY substrate, UDP-MurNAc-pentapeptide. Specific activity obtained by this method was more than 100 times higher than the conventionally labeled substrate, and yields are high enough to support the requirements of high-throughput screening (HTS). The authors have developed a microplate-based homogeneous assay for MraY in which the product is captured on wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) scintillation proximity assay (SPA) beads. The assay was validated by showing inhibition by specific inhibitors of MraY but not by inhibitors of other enzymes of peptidoglycan synthesis. The assay uses wild-type membranes of Escherichia coli, giving it an advantage over recently described assays that need the protein to be overexpressed. In addition, it has an advantage over the high-throughput MraY-MurG coupled assay reported in the literature because it is MraY specific, and therefore hits obtained in this assay do not need further deconvolution. It has potential for use in HTS approaches to find novel inhibitors of MraY.