ABSTRACT
In India, the incidence of mucormycosis reached high levels during 2021-2022, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to this, we established a multicentric ambispective cohort of patients hospitalised with mucormycosis across India. In this paper, we report their baseline profile, clinical characteristics and outcomes at discharge. Patients hospitalized for mucormycosis during March-July 2021 were included. Mucormycosis was diagnosed based on mycological confirmation on direct microscopy (KOH/Calcofluor white stain), culture, histopathology, or supportive evidence from endoscopy or imaging. After consent, trained data collectors used medical records and telephonic interviews to capture data in a pre-tested structured questionnaire. At baseline, we recruited 686 patients from 26 study hospitals, of whom 72.3% were males, 78% had a prior history of diabetes, 53.2% had a history of corticosteroid treatment, and 80% were associated with COVID-19. Pain, numbness or swelling of the face were the commonest symptoms (73.3%). Liposomal Amphotericin B was the commonest drug formulation used (67.1%), and endoscopic sinus surgery was the most common surgical procedure (73.6%). At discharge, the disease was stable in 43.3%, in regression for 29.9% but 9.6% died during hospitalization. Among survivors, commonly reported disabilities included facial disfigurement (18.4%) and difficulties in chewing/swallowing (17.8%). Though the risk of mortality was only 1 in 10, the disability due to the disease was very high. This cohort study could enhance our understanding of the disease's clinical progression and help frame standard treatment guidelines.
ABSTRACT
Synthesis of micro- and nanoparticles of pre-designed shape and surface properties is an integral part of soft and synthetic active matter. We report synthesis of matchstick-shaped (MS) magnetodielectric particles and demonstrate their potential as active agents with field-controllable trajectories in a nematic liquid crystal (NLC). The MS particles with homeotropic anchoring in NLCs align either parallel or perpendicular to the director depending on the dipolar or quadrupolar director distortions. When subjected to transverse electric and magnetic fields, the particles experience electric and magnetic torques trying to align them in the respective field directions. At equilibrium, the long axis is tilted at an angle with respect to the director. The change in orientation alters the surrounding elastic distortion, which results in unbalanced electroosmotic flows. These flows provide the necessary impetus for propelling the particles in various directions with different velocities depending on their orientations.
ABSTRACT
Bismuth-based composite materials have unique structural, chemical, optical, and electrical properties that are highly beneficial in Photocatalysis. The layered structure and tunable bandgap properties of the Bismuth-based composites are advantageous for the absorption of solar light efficiently. Also, these properties help the separation and recombination of photogenerated charge carriers, leading to enhancement in the photocatalytic activity. Synthesis of the catalyst at a lower temperature to produce catalyst reduces the production cost and electrical energy consumption. This review provides an overview of the recent development in Bismuth-based composite nanostructured photocatalytic materials, mainly using low-temperature driven synthesis methods. Herein, we have mainly summarized the primarily used low temperature-based synthetic routes, particularly in the temperature range of 50-300 °C for synthesizing Bismuth-based composite materials. In addition to this, the photocatalytic mechanism, the textural, structural, electronic, and photocatalytic properties of the synthesized photocatalysts are discussed. The literature shows that the surface area of the composite Bismuth-based photocatalytic materials synthesized using the low-temperature synthetic route is in the range of 1.5-81 m2/g and can be activated by solar, ultraviolet, and Light Emitting Diode (LEDs) light irradiation based on the synthetic route. Their photocatalytic performance and structural stability are excellent and utilized for several runs. The comprehensive understanding of the low-temperature synthesis of Bismuth-based composite materials for visible light-activated photocatalytic applications provided will be useful for developing photocatalytic materials on an industrial scale due to energy-efficient synthetic routes. Furthermore, the prospects of low temperature-driven Bismuth-based composite synthesis routes are discussed.
ABSTRACT
We compared the effects of oral calcium and vitamin D separately and together on relevant variables in 22 postmenopausal volunteers with initial serum 25OHD levels below 60 nmol/L. Subjects were allocated randomly to two regimens: group 1 received 1 week of calcium 1,000 mg, followed by 7 weeks with additional vitamin D3 1,000 i.u. daily; group 2 received 7 weeks of D3 1,000 i.u. daily, followed by 1 week with additional calcium 1,000 mg. We measured serum calcium, phosphate, PTH, 25OHD, CTX, and ALP at baseline and after 1 and 8 weeks in group 1 and after 7 and 8 weeks in group 2. There were no significant changes in ALP from either vitamin D or calcium. Calcium caused significant elevation of serum 25OHD as well as major suppression of serum CTX, which could not easily be accounted for by suppression of PTH. Vitamin D caused no significant change in any variable except elevation of serum 25OHD. The suppressive effect of calcium (whether given first or second) on serum CTX was threefold greater than that of vitamin D (whether given first or second) (P < 0.001), although their suppressive effects on serum PTH were the same. Calcium and vitamin D yielded greater and more significant effects on all variables (except ALP) than either treatment alone. We suggest that calcium may elevate serum 25OHD by prolonging its half-life and that it may have an inhibitory effect on bone resorption independent of, or in addition to, its suppression of PTH.
