The silent threat: investigating the incidence and clinical characteristics of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in women from tertiary care hospitals of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Background: Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia are medical conditions that can cause severe complications, such as maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to assess the incidence and characteristics of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. Methods: From July 2021 to July 2022, the authors conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of a tertiary care hospital in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo). Out of 1236 total deliveries, 40 patients aged 18-35 years with pre-eclampsia and/or eclampsia with complete data in medical records were studied. Results: In the studied group, 3.23% of women (40 cases) experienced pre-eclampsia or eclampsia, with the majority (75%, 30 cases) occurring before childbirth. Among these, 62.5% (25 cases) were first-time mothers. The main complications observed in the mothers included HELLP syndrome and placental abruption, whereas their newborns frequently exhibited delayed in-utero growth. Caesarean delivery was the prevalent birthing method, and the treatments most often used for effective management were magnesium sulfate and nicardipine. Conclusion: The research highlights the common occurrence of eclampsia among patients in the DRC and stresses the critical need for prompt detection of hypertensive complications during pregnancy, aiming to reduce negative health impacts on both mothers and their children.

Empowering the Vehicular Network with RIS Technology: A State-of-the-Art Review.

Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) are expected to bring about a revolutionary transformation in vehicular networks, thus paving the way for a future characterized by connected and automated vehicles (CAV). An RIS is a planar structure comprising many passive elements that can dynamically manipulate electromagnetic waves to enhance wireless communication by reflecting, refracting, and focusing signals in a programmable manner. RIS exhibits substantial potential for improving vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication through various means, including coverage enhancement, interference mitigation, improving signal strength, and providing additional layers of privacy and security. This article presents a comprehensive survey that explores the emerging opportunities arising from the integration of RIS into vehicular networks. To examine the convergence of RIS and V2X communications, the survey adopted a holistic approach, thus highlighting the potential benefits and challenges of this combination. In this study, we examined several applications of RIS-aided V2X communication. Subsequently, we delve into the fundamental emerging technologies that are expected to empower vehicular networks, encompassing mobile edge computing (MEC), non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), millimeter-wave communication (mmWave), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and visible light communication (VLC). Finally, to stimulate further research in this domain, we emphasize noteworthy research challenges and potential avenues for future exploration.

Identification of a novel Sorcin isoform with a different C-terminal but intact dimerization property.

Sorcin (Sri), a member of penta EF-hand protein family plays a diverse role in maintaining calcium homeostasis, cell cycle and vesicular trafficking. Sri is highly conserved amongst mammals and consists of N-terminal glycine rich domain and C-terminal calcium binding domain that mediates its dimerization and interacts with different compounds. In the present study, with the help of combination of computational and molecular biology techniques, we have identified a novel isoform (Sri-N) in mouse which differs only in the C-terminal domain with that of Sri reported earlier. The novel isoform contains a new last exon that is different from the one present in the reported transcript (Sri). The presence of the novel isoform was further validated in different tissues by RT-PCR and DNA sequencing. The transcript was conceptually translated and subjected to in-silico analysis using different bioinformatics tools. The novel transcript variant encodes for a longer protein isoform without any change in the sub-cellular localization as predicted by PSORT-II online tool. Molecular modelling was performed to compare the structural changes in Sri-N and Sri isoforms. The structural characterization of the novel isoform using MD simulation depicted its overall stability under the physiological conditions. The molecular docking of proteins with various chemotherapeutic drugs revealed that their binding affinity is more for Sri-N as compared to that for the previously reported transcript Sri.

A Case of Cyanosis With Saturation Gap: Dapsone-Induced Methemoglobinemia.

Dapsone is an antibiotic used in the management of dermatologic infections and opportunistic infection prophylaxis in developed countries. Methemoglobinemia (MetHb) is a known complication of dapsone use that can result in cyanosis. MetHb is an aberrant form of hemoglobin produced physiologically by auto-oxidation. An impairment in the process of auto-oxidation due to genetic defects or the use of drugs/toxins causes its levels to rise. Management involves timely recognition and the use of methylene blue (MB) or ascorbic acid. We describe the diagnosis and management of a patient with acquired MetHb as a result of dapsone use.

Concealed Malignancy as a Rare Cause of Refractory Lactic Acidosis: A Fatal Case.

Lactic acidosis is a state in which there is a buildup of lactate in the body to form an excessively low pH in the blood. Elevated lactate levels are often thought to be indicative of relative tissue hypoxia or type A lactic acidosis. Shock, severe anemia, and thromboembolic events can all cause elevated lactate due to tissue hypoperfusion. Malignancy can also lead to an elevation in lactate, a phenomenon described as type B lactic acidosis. Here, we report a case of a 66-year-old male with elevated lactate level, which was refractory to medical treatment. Despite adequate management, including continuous renal replacement therapy, the lactate continued to rise, and consequently, the patient died due to cardiac arrest. Type B lactic acidosis must be considered in patients with elevated lactate levels without hypotension as it has a high mortality rate.