Complex Presentation of Goldenhar Syndrome in a Preterm Neonate: A Case Report.

Goldenhar syndrome, also known as oculo-auriculo-vertebral syndrome, is a rare congenital disorder characterized by craniofacial anomalies, ear malformations, and ocular abnormalities. It is also associated with multiple system involvement, including the central nervous system, renal, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal systems. This case report presents a detailed description of a preterm female neonate diagnosed with Goldenhar syndrome. Many of the classical features, along with ventricular septal defect (VSD), were present in our patient. She was complicated by prematurity and a urinary tract infection and was later diagnosed with a VSD at the age of three months. The multidisciplinary examination and management involving pediatricians, pediatric surgeons, ophthalmologists, and otorhinolaryngologists led to comprehensive care for the patient. This case emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and management for optimal patient outcomes.

Fabrication of magnetite/GO/potassium copper hexacyanoferrate nanocomposite for removal of radioactive cesium ions.

Metal hexacyanoferrates (MHCF) are a class of inorganic adsorbents used for wastewater management due to the presence of interstitial sites for capturing heavy metal ions. In present work, we are reporting the synthesis of magnetic nanocomposite of Fe3O4/graphene oxide/potassium copper hexacyanoferrate via wet chemical and coprecipitation approach. Potassium copper hexacyanoferrate (KCuHCF) and Graphene oxide (GO) both are marvelous adsorbents but their nano-size becomes a major obstacle in their separation process after the adsorption of the radionuclides. Thus, our synthesized nanocomposite Fe3O4/GO/KCuHCF enhances the recovery of KCuHCF even after radioactive Cs+ adsorption with adsorption capacity of 18 mg g-1 coinciding well with the Langmuir adsorption isotherm mechanism. The synthesized adsorbent is characterized thoroughly using UV-Visible spectroscopy, FT-IR, TGA, XPS, Raman spectroscopy, TEM-EDAX and XRD. This synthesized nanocomposite is used for the batch extraction of radioactive Cs+ from low level radioactive waste (LLW). The extraction kinetics followed pseudo-second-order kinetics mechanism.

Fabrication of cellulose-collagen based biosorbent as eco-friendly scavengers for uranyl ions.

The aim of the present research is to fabricate a biosorbent using agricultural waste for removal of uranium from contaminated water i.e. "waste to wealth" approach. Cellulose extracted from wheat straw was mercerized and a novel semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) was fabricated through graft copolymerization of polyvinyl alcohol onto hybrid mercerized cellulose + collagen backbone. Response surface methodology was used for optimization of different reaction parameters as a function of % grafting (195.1 %) was carried out. Semi-IPN was found to possess higher thermal stability. Adsorption results revealed that the optimum parameters for the elimination of uranium using semi-IPN were: adsorbent dose = 0.15 g, pH = 6.0, contact time = 120 min and initial U (VI) concentration = 100 µg/L. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model gave the best description of the adsorption equilibrium data as the calculated qe value is nearest to the experimental qe for the different initial U(VI) concentrations. Adsorption experiments followed Langmuir isotherm with R2 = 0.999. Furthermore, recyclability and reusability studies showed that the adsorption efficiency of semi-IPN was 82 % after 5 cycles indicating the superior recycling execution of fabricated biosorbent. Thus, the fabricated ecofriendly device can be used effectively for the removal of uranium from contaminated wastewater sources.

A Study of the Etiology, Clinical Profile, and Diagnosis of Various Types of Central Nervous System Infections in a Tertiary Care Center.

Introduction Infections affecting the central nervous system (CNS) can stem from various sources, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, manifesting as conditions like meningitis, encephalitis, meningoencephalitis, and brain abscesses. Despite significant advancements in diagnosis and treatment, these infections continue to pose substantial risks to life. Several factors contribute to the causes of CNS infections. Demographic and geographic elements, the health status of individuals, their immune system's strength, the availability of diagnostic tools, and local prevention initiatives, all play pivotal roles. Consequently, the necessity of comprehensive local epidemiological data becomes undeniable as it guides the need for further studies and research. Understanding these factors is crucial for enhancing preventive measures and optimizing treatment strategies in tackling CNS infections. Aims and objectives This research aims to study the etiology and clinical features of different CNS infections among hospitalized patients and to diagnose cases of CNS infections based on laboratory and radiological investigations. Material and methods One hundred adults, seeking treatment for neurological impairments at a specialized tertiary care center in Gujarat, India, volunteered for this cross-sectional observational research. The study investigated the etiology, clinical profiles, and diagnoses of different CNS infections. It delved into the prevalence of these infections across age and sex categories while also observing mortality rates. Results In our research, we observed that bacterial causes were the most prevalent among CNS infections. Tubercular meningitis accounted for 36%, tuberculoma 14%, and pyogenic bacterial infections 23%. Following this, fungal infections emerged as the second most frequent, with mucormycosis at 9% and cryptococcus at 1%. Other less common CNS infections included viral encephalitis (4%), neurocysticercosis (3%), and brain abscess (1%). Middle-aged individuals between 41 and 60 years were most commonly affected (43%), followed by those aged 21-40 years (31%). Males accounted for a higher percentage of cases at 58%. Clinical symptoms revealed fever as the predominant feature (80%), with headaches following closely at 67%. Acute presentations were prevalent, representing 83% of cases, while neck stiffness was noted in 62% of patients. Most patients exhibited normal hemoglobin levels (96%) and a majority had a normal total leukocyte count (79%). Notably, 31% of the studied patients were identified as People Living With HIV (PLHIV). Out of 100 patients, 79 survived with appropriate treatment, resulting in a mortality of 21%. Conclusion The study identified various CNS infections, including bacterial (acute pyogenic meningitis, tubercular meningitis, tuberculoma, brain abscesses, and neurosyphilis), viral (viral meningitis and encephalitis), fungal (cryptococcal meningitis and CNS mucormycosis), and parasitic infections (neurocysticercosis and CNS toxoplasmosis). Tuberculous meningitis emerged as the most prevalent, followed by pyogenic meningitis. Clinical symptoms predominantly featured fever, headache, and altered sensorium, with less common occurrences of seizures, vomiting, weakness, and speech disturbances. Elevated CSF proteins and total leukocyte count were common findings in CSF analysis while consistent radiological observations included hypodensities in brain tissue and leptomeningeal enhancement.

Evaluation of Regenerative Efficacy of Amnion and Chorion Membrane in Treatment of Mandibular Molar Furcation Defects: A Clinico-radiographic Study.

AIM: Amnion and chorion membranes possess unique inherited biological properties that enhance wound healing and may accelerate periodontal regeneration. The present study aims to evaluate and compare the efficacy of amnion and chorion membranes in the treatment of furcation defects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 20 patients were selected and were randomly allocated to group I and group II with 10 subjects in each group. Amnion and chorion membranes are placental-derived membranes that accelerate regeneration by having natural growth factors with their antimicrobial and inflammation reduction properties. Group I was treated using bone grafting with decalcified freeze-dried bone allograft (DFDBA) and placement of amnion as a membrane for guided tissue regeneration (GTR) whereas group II was treated using bone grafting with DFDBA and placement of chorion as a membrane for GTR. The patients were followed for clinical and radiographic parameters and were evaluated between 3 and 6 months after surgery. RESULT: In intragroup comparison, a significant difference was evident in both the groups for all the clinical and radiographic parameters within the groups. (p = 0.01) This means both amnion and chorion membranes showed statistically significant regenerative efficacy. In intergroup comparison, the results show that all the clinical parameters and radiographic parameters show no significant difference between the groups. CONCLUSION: The amnion and chorion membranes had similar regenerative efficacy in combination with DFDBA in patients with buccal degree II furcation defects in mandibular molars. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The amnion and chorion membranes have shown significant improvement in clinical and radiographic parameters when used for the treatment of buccal degree II furcation defects in mandibular molars. How to cite this article: Mallapragda S, Gupta R, Gupta S, et al. Evaluation of Regenerative Efficacy of Amnion and Chorion Membrane in Treatment of Mandibular Molar Furcation Defects: A Clinico-radiographic Study. J Contemp Dent Pract 2024;25(2):160-167.

Emerging role of tumor suppressing microRNAs as therapeutics in managing non-small cell lung cancer.

Lung cancer (LC) is the second leading cause of death across the globe after breast cancer. There are two types of LC viz. small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC accounts for approximately 85% of all LC cases. NSCLC affects smokers and people who do not smoke and mainly arises in bronchi and peripheral lungs tissue. LC is often characterized by the alterations of key genes such as EGFR, Wnt/ß-catenin signaling, ALK, MET, K-Ras and p53 and downstream signaling pathways associated with tumor growth, differentiation, and survival. Numerous miRNAs have been discovered as a result of advances in biotechnology to treat LC. Various miRNAs those have been identified to treat LC include mir-Let7, mir-34a, mir-134, mir-16-1, mir-320a, mir-148a, mir-125a-5p, mir-497, mir-29, mir-133a, and mir-29a-3p. These miRNAs target various signaling pathways that are involved in pathogenesis of LC. However, due to rapid RNAse degradation, quick clearance, and heat instability, associated with necked miRNA leads to less effective therapeutic effect against LC. Therefore, to overcome these challenges nanocarrier loaded with miRNAs have been reported. They have been found promising because they have the capacity to target the tumor as well as they can penetrate the tumors deep due to nanometer size. Some of the clinical trials have been performed using miR-34a and let-7 for the treatment of LC. In the present manuscript we highlight the role miRNAs as well as their nanoparticle in tumor suppression.

Bidirectional and cross-lag relationship between social media use and psychological wellbeing: evidence from an Indian adolescent cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: In an online era like today, the relationship between social media and depression among adolescents and young adults is erratic and still continues to be a debatable subject. The study aims to examine the association and bi-directional relationship between social media usage and depressive symptoms among the adolescent boys and girls in India. METHODS: The study uses data from two waves of Understanding the Lives of Adolescents and Young Adults (UDAYA) project survey conducted in two Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Depression was measured by a Patient Health Questionnaire. Logistic regression has been used for analyzing the data comprising the same time period, whereas the bidirectional relationship between two time periods has been evaluated by Cross-Lagged Path Model. RESULT: Findings suggest that the percentage of moderate depressive symptoms increased from 1.7% to 3.0% from Wave 1 to Wave 2. Depression among adolescent girls increased slightly from wave 1 to wave 2 whereas a slight decrement was noticed in the moderate form of depressive symptom among adolescent girls using social media for the two waves. Socioeconomic factors like education, age, gender played an important role in affecting depression among adolescents in both the Wave of the survey. The path relationship reveals that social media users in Wave 1 [ß=0.22, p<0.001] were positively associated with social media users in Wave 2. Similar patterns were observed for depressive symptoms at both the waves of the survey. However, cross lagged relations between social media use and depression could not be established between the survey periods. CONCLUSION: A significant degree of association was found between social media use and depression among adolescent boys and girls in the study. The present study concludes that factors like age, gender and education showed significant relationships with social media use and depression.