"Inhaling hazards, exhaling insights: a systematic review unveiling the silent health impacts of secondhand smoke pollution on children and adolescents.

The health risks of smoking are widely known, but the impact of secondhand smoke on children and adolescents is often underestimated. Despite efforts to reduce smoking, exposure to secondhand smoke remains a significant public health concern, especially for young individuals. This systematic review aims to explore the health impacts of secondhand smoking on children and adolescents. Following PRISMA guidelines, 18 eligible studies from 8 countries published between 2015 and 2023 were identified through PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science databases. Findings revealed that passive smoking is associated with respiratory issues like asthma and respiratory infections in children and adolescents aged 4 months to 18 years. Significant correlations were found between asthma severity and cotinine levels, a marker of passive smoking. Additionally, metabolic issues, cardiovascular effects, and ophthalmological changes, and alterations in neurocognitive functions, were noted. Urgent public health interventions are needed to reduce smoking prevalence and protect this vulnerable demographic.

Pro-environmental practice among young population: A scoping review.

INTRO: There is an inequality between pro-environmental knowledge acquisition and behavior. A change in behavior is required to solve both current and future environmental challenges since human behavior has an influence on pro-environmental practices. OBJECTIVE: Of the study was to carry out a critical analysis of current literature on Pro-environmental practices among the Young population. METHOD: The research question formulation on PICO served as the foundation for the search approach. Keywords were searched in different combinations from the popular databases SCOPUS, PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar, EMBASE, Google and Cochrane library Boolean operators (AND and OR) and keywords were employed in the search to avoid oversaturating the data. Fifteen full-text articles were selected for the study. RESULT: Review studies confirmed that youth engagement is highly valued, with evidence from increasing usage of information and communication technologies (education and environmental consciousness among young people. Analysis of pro-environmental practices and environmental behavior has to be given greater attention considering to the adverse impacts of the existing lifestyle on the environment. This made it possible to incorporate and simultaneously explore a variety of variables and effects on environmental practices, furthering the understanding of how these are interpreted. CONCLUSION: This study pointed up and made contributions to the expanding field of environmental practices barriers. The challenges found should be taken into account in its entirety and utilized to directly inform policies and procedures in order to promote adoption for practices reduction and remove the obstacles inhibiting change.

Effect of Digital applications on maternal as well as neonatal outcomes in Young pregnant girls: A Scope Review / Efecto de las aplicaciones digitales en los resultados maternos y neonatales de las jóvenes embarazadas: Una revisión de alcance / Efeito dos aplicativos digitais nos resultados maternos e neonatais de mulheres grávidas jovens: uma revisão de escopo

Objective. To understand the effect of digital applications on maternal and neonatal outcomes in young pregnant girls. Methods. A PubMed, CINAHL and Medline online database search was conducted, and related studies were included the databases were searched in order to carry out a more in detailed search of the available literature utilizing keywords like "digital technology"; "adolescent mothers"; and "infant, newborn", as well as Boolean operators to generate papers pertinent which were correlating with the objective of the study. Results.The findings revealed that the PPPs employed produced both positive and negative effects on mothers and newborns. Some were effective, especially in aspects related to improved mental health, while others did not necessarily support the adolescents in preparing for pregnancy and childbirth, but rather raised their anxiety levels. Similarly, the use of these apps decreased the use of emergency neonatal services by the adolescent mothers and the infants were lower in likelihood of exclusive breastfeeding. Participants appreciated the social media-based instruction, but this exposure did not translate into considerable change in routines and behaviors.

Objetivo. Conocer el efecto de las aplicaciones digitales en los resultados maternos y neonatales en jóvenes embarazadas. Métodos. Se realizó una estrategia de búsqueda en las bases de datos en línea PubMed, CINAHL y Medline utilizando los términos "digital technology"; "adolescent mothers"; y "infant, newborn", y operadores booleanos. Resultados. Los hallazgos revelaron que las APPs empleadas produjeron efectos tanto positivos como negativos sobre las madres y los neonatos. Algunas fueron efectivas, especialmente en los aspectos relacionados con la mejoría en la salud mental, mientras que otras nó ayudaron necesariamente a las adolescentes a prepararse para el embarazo y el parto, sino que más bien elevaron sus niveles de ansiedad. Del mismo modo, el uso de estas aplicaciones disminuyó la utilización de servicios neonatales de urgencia por las madres adolescentes y los neonatos tuvieron menor probabilidad de tener lactancia materna exclusiva. Las participantes apreciaron la instrucción basada en los medios sociales, pero esta exposición no se tradujo en un cambio considerable de rutinas y hábitos. Conclusión. Las soluciones digitales y basadas en la web tuvieron la capacidad de influir en los resultados de los embarazos de adolescentes, pero se requiere de otras investigaciones para evaluar hasta qué punto son útiles estos servicios de apoyo en este grupo poblacional.

Objetivo. Conhecer o efeito dos aplicativos digitais nos resultados maternos e neonatais em gestantes jovens. Métodos. Foi realizada uma estratégia de busca nas bases de dados online PubMed/Medline e CINAHL e utilizando os termos "tecnologia digital"; "mães adolescentes"; e "bebê, recém-nascido" e operadores booleanos. Resultados. Os resultados revelaram que os APPs utilizados produziram efeitos positivos e negativos nas mães e nos neonatos. Alguns foram eficazes, especialmente em termos de melhoria da saúde mental, enquanto outros não ajudaram necessariamente os adolescentes a prepararem-se para a gravidez e o parto, mas antes aumentaram os seus níveis de ansiedade. Da mesma forma, o uso desses aplicativos diminuiu a utilização de serviços neonatais de emergência por mães adolescentes e os neonatos tiveram menor probabilidade de serem amamentados exclusivamente. Os participantes apreciaram a instrução baseada nas redes sociais, mas esta exposição não se traduziu em mudanças consideráveis nas rotinas e hábitos. Conclusão. As soluções digitais e baseadas na web tiveram a capacidade de influenciar os resultados da gravidez na adolescência, mas são necessárias mais pesquisas para avaliar até que ponto estes serviços de apoio são úteis neste grupo populacional.

Surface engineering of two-dimensional hexagonal boron-nitride for optoelectronic devices.

Two-dimensional hexagonal boron nitride (2D h-BN) is being extensively studied in optoelectronic devices due to its electronic and photonic properties. However, the controlled optimization of h-BN's insulating properties is necessary to fully explore its potential in energy conversion and storage devices. In this work, we engineered the surface of h-BN nanoflakes via one-step in situ chemical functionalization using a liquid-phase exfoliation approach. The functionalized h-BN (F-h-BN) nanoflakes were subsequently dispersed on the surface of TiO2 to tune the TiO2/QDs interface of the optoelectronic device. The photoelectrochemical (PEC) devices based on TiO2/F-h-BN/QDs with optimized addition of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and scattering layers showed 46% improvement compared to the control device (TiO2/QDs). This significant improvement is attributed to the reduced trap/carrier recombination and enhanced carrier injection rate of the TiO2-CNTs/F-h-BN/QDs photoanode. Furthermore, by employing an optimized TiO2-CNTs/F-h-BN/QDs photoanode, QDs-sensitized solar cells (QDSCs) yield an 18% improvement in photoconversion efficiency. This represents a potential and adaptability of our approach, and pathway to explore surface-engineered 2D materials to optimize the interface of solar energy conversion and other emerging optoelectronic devices.

Facile synthesis of carbon quantum dot/silver nanocomposite and its antimicrobial, catalytic and sensing applications.

Environmentally benign synthesis of nanocomposite, a pivotal facet of nanotechnology, and gaining prominence due to the increasing demand for facile, sustainable, and safe synthesis methods. The present research reports an facile/cost-effective method for the preparation of carbon dots (CDs) and carbon dot silver nanocomposites ( CD@AgNCs) via a hydrothermal treatment of peanut shells. The well-dispersed and spherical CDs with an average diameter of 5-6 nm were obtained and further employed for the preparation of CD@AgNCs. The formation of CD@AgNCs. was confirmed by optical and microscopic studies and ared shift in the λmax from 277 nm (CDs) to 450 nm (CD@AgNCs) with a size range of 30-40 nm was observed. The synthesized CD@AgNCs exhibit excellent catalytic potency for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol, and also displaying a unique interaction and sensing ability towards heavy metal ions (Hg2+), causing a pronounced change in color from reddish-brown to transparent with limit of detection (LOD) of 23.47 ppm. Also, the prepared composite exhibit efficient antimicrobial potential against gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria. Consequently, this study delves into a unified effective remediation platform with the integration of catalysis, sensing, and antimicrobial potentials.

The Effectiveness of Cyrene as a Solvent in Exfoliating 2D TMDs Nanosheets.

The pursuit of environmentally friendly solvents has become an essential research topic in sustainable chemistry and nanomaterial science. With the need to substitute toxic solvents in nanofabrication processes becoming more pressing, the search for alternative solvents has taken on a crucial role in this field. Additionally, the use of toxic, non-economical organic solvents, such as N-methyl-2 pyrrolidone and dimethylformamide, is not suitable for all biomedical applications, even though these solvents are often considered as the best exfoliating agents for nanomaterial fabrication. In this context, the success of producing two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (2D TMDs), such as MoS2 and WS2, with excellent captivating properties is due to the ease of synthesis based on environment-friendly, benign methods with fewer toxic chemicals involved. Herein, we report for the first time on the use of cyrene as an exfoliating agent to fabricate monolayer and few-layered 2D TMDs with a versatile, less time-consuming liquid-phase exfoliation technique. This bio-derived, aprotic, green and eco-friendly solvent produced a stable, surfactant-free, concentrated 2D TMD dispersion with very interesting features, as characterized by UV-visible and Raman spectroscopies. The surface charge and morphology of the fabricated nanoflakes were analyzed using ς-potential and scanning electron microscopy. The study demonstrates that cyrene is a promising green solvent for the exfoliation of 2D TMD nanosheets with potential advantages over traditional organic solvents. The ability to produce smaller-sized-especially in the case of WS2 as compared to MoS2-and mono/few-layered nanostructures with higher negative surface charge values makes cyrene a promising candidate for various biomedical and electronic applications. Overall, the study contributes to the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly methods for the production of 2D nanomaterials for various applications.

Approach to Left Bundle Branch Pacing.

Cardiac pacing refers to the implantation tool serving as a treatment modality for various indications, the most common of which is symptomatic bradyarrhythmia. Left bundle branch pacing has been noted in the literature to be safer than biventricular pacing or His-bundle pacing in patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB) and heart failure, thereby becoming the focus of further research on cardiac pacing. A review of the literature was conducted using a combination of keywords, including "Left Bundle Branch Block," "Procedural techniques," "Left Bundle Capture," and "Complications." The following factors have been investigated as key criteria for direct capture: paced QRS morphology, peak left ventricular activation time, left bundle potential, nonselective and selective left bundle capture, and programmed deep septal stimulation protocol. In addition, complications of LBBP, inclusive of septal perforation, thromboembolism, right bundle branch injury, septal artery injury, lead dislodgement, lead fracture, and lead extraction, have also been elaborated on. Despite clinical implications based on clinical research comparing the use of LBBP with other forms such as right ventricular apex pacing, His-bundle pacing, biventricular pacing, and left ventricular septal pacing, a paucity in the literature on long-term effects and efficacy has been noted. LBBP can thus be considered to have a promising future in patients requiring cardiac pacing, assuming that additional research on clinical outcomes and the limitation of significant complications such as thromboembolism can be established.

Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance: A Comprehensive Review.

Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS) is an asymptomatic premalignant plasma cell dyscrasia with a predominate rise of the IgG immunoglobulin fraction without end-organ damage, often diagnosed incidentally. Despite its progression into various subsequent forms of hematological malignancies, MGUS remains underdiagnosed. A literature search was conducted using the Medline, Cochrane, Embase, and Google Scholar databases, including articles published until December 2022. Keywords used encompassed "Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance," "Plasma Cell dyscrasia," "Monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance," and "IgM Monoclonal gammopathy of Undetermined Significance," This study aimed to conduct a critical review to update knowledge regarding the pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical features, diagnostic protocols, complications, and current and novel treatments for MGUS. We recommend a multidisciplinary approach to manage MGUS due to the complexity of the illness's etiology, diagnosis, and therapy. This comprehensive review also highlights future prospects, such as developing screening protocols for at-risk populations, prevention of disease progression by early diagnosis through genome-wide association studies, and management using Daratumumab and NSAIDs.

Recent advances in Lewy body dementia: A comprehensive review.

Lewy Body Dementia is the second most frequent neurodegenerative illness proven to cause dementia, after Alzheimer's disease (AD). It is believed to be vastly underdiagnosed, as there is a significant disparity between the number of cases diagnosed clinically and those diagnosed via neuropathology at the time of postmortem autopsy. Strikingly, many of the pharmacologic treatments used to treat behavioral and cognitive symptoms in other forms of dementia exacerbate the symptoms of DLB. Therefore, it is critical to accurately diagnose DLB as these patients require a specific treatment approach. This article focuses on its pathophysiology, risk factors, differentials, and its diverse treatment modalities. In this study, an English language literature search was conducted on Medline, Cochrane, Embase, and Google Scholar till April 2022. The following search strings and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms were used: "Lewy Body Dementia," "Dementia with Lewy bodies," and "Parkinson's Disease Dementia." We explored the literature on Lewy Body Dementia for its epidemiology, pathophysiology, the role of various genes and how they bring about the disease, biomarkers, its differential diagnoses and treatment options.

Effect of Digital applications on maternal as well as neonatal outcomes in Young pregnant girls: A Scope Review.

Objective: To understand the effect of digital applications on maternal and neonatal outcomes in young pregnant girls. Methods: A PubMed, CINAHL and Medline online database search was conducted, and related studies were included the databases were searched in order to carry out a more in detailed search of the available literature utilizing keywords like "digital technology"; "adolescent mothers"; and "infant, newborn", as well as Boolean operators to generate papers pertinent which were correlating with the objective of the study. Results: The findings revealed that the PPPs employed produced both positive and negative effects on mothers and newborns. Some were effective, especially in aspects related to improved mental health, while others did not necessarily support the adolescents in preparing for pregnancy and childbirth, but rather raised their anxiety levels. Similarly, the use of these apps decreased the use of emergency neonatal services by the adolescent mothers and the infants were lower in likelihood of exclusive breastfeeding. Participants appreciated the social media-based instruction, but this exposure did not translate into considerable change in routines and behaviors. Conclusion: Digital and web-based solutions had the ability to influence adolescent pregnancy outcomes, but further research is needed to assess the extent to which these support services are useful in this Population Group.

Non-pharmacological integrative therapies for chronic cancer pain.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic pain is one of the most detrimental symptoms exhibited by cancer patients, being an indication for opioid therapy in up to half of the patients' receiving chemotherapy and in 90% of advanced cases. Various successful non-pharmacological integrative therapy options have been explored and implemented to improve the quality of life in these patients. This review aims to highlight the mechanisms implicated; assessment tools used for cancer pain and summarize current evidence on non-pharmacological approaches in the treatment of chronic cancer pain. DATA SOURCES: A review of the literature was conducted using a combination of MeSH keywords including "Chronic cancer pain," "Assessment," "Non-pharmacological management," and "Integrative therapy." DATA SUMMARY: Data on the approach and assessment of chronic cancer pain as well as non-pharmacological integrative options have been displayed with the help of figures and tables. Of note, non-pharmacological integrative management was divided into three subcategories; physical therapy (involving exercise, acupuncture, massage, and transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation), psychosocial therapy (e.g. mindful practices, supportive therapy), and herbal supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: The use of non-pharmacological integrative therapy in the management of chronic cancer pain has been grossly underestimated and must be considered before or as an adjuvant of other treatment regimens to ensure appropriate care.

Efficacy of Modified Masood Scoring System (MMSS) in Cytological Diagnosis of Breast Lesions.

INTRODUCTION: Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) breast is generally considered a reliable diagnostic tool to distinguish non-proliferative from proliferative breast lesions. Nevertheless, differentiating these breast lesions on FNAC poses a diagnostic challenge. Modified Masood Scoring System (MMSS) based on cytomorphological examination has been used to help in differentiating these lesions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 67 patients were included in this prospective study done from November 2012 to May 2014 and the breast lesions were cytologically categorized by conventional and as per MMSS criteria, followed by comparison to a histopathological examination, which was taken as a gold standard. Relevant frequencies and proportions were calculated along with the sensitivity and specificity of the MMSS. RESULTS: The age of the patients ranged from 15 to 85 years with a mean age of 44.3 ± 14.8 years. Females predominated in the study and right-sided breast lesions were more common compared to the left side. Overall diagnostic specificity (100%) and accuracy (97%) were higher using MMSS as compared to conventional cytology in which case specificity was 83.6% and accuracy was 82.1%. CONCLUSIONS: Cytological grading system based on MMSS allowed accurate and reproducible diagnosis compared to the standard histopathological diagnosis. It is essential to differentiate non-proliferative lesions from proliferative lesions as the line of treatment and prognosis varies.

Assessment of water quality condition and spatiotemporal patterns in selected wetlands of Punjab, India.

Wetlands are one of the most productive aquatic ecosystems on earth, and their water quality is an indicative of their suitability for maintaining various ecosystem services. In this study, different statistical techniques and water quality index (WQI) were employed to access the status and spatiotemporal patterns in water quality of seven selected (two natural and five manmade) wetlands of Punjab. The results revealed that the status of water quality in the selected wetlands was between good and poor during studied seasons (summer, monsoon, and winter) of year 2019. The principal component analysis identified three groups of wetlands with distinct water quality characteristics with spatial patterns: Kahnuwan Chhamb and Keshopur Miani having nearly similar values of pH, total dissolve salts, electrical conductivity, chemical oxygen demand, total alkalinity, bicarbonate and ammonium content; Ropar, Kanjli, and Harike having higher value of nutrients than the other wetlands; and Ranjit Sagar and Nangal with low value of measured water quality characteristics. Further, analysis of variance revealed that all analyzed water quality parameters showed temporal patterns in water quality except water pH, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, and phosphate content. This comparative study enhanced our knowledge about the spatiotemporal patterns in water quality and in the future will be helpful to the policymakers and concerned authorities for developing better water quality management strategies for these wetlands.

A Rare Case of Gastrointestinal Mucormycosis.

Gastrointestinal Mucormycosis (GIM) is a rare life-threatening angio-invasive infection. The classic risk factors include immunosuppression and metabolic derangement. Usually, there are classical risk factors in patients affected by Ileocecal mucormycosis. Few case reports have shown the absence of salient clinical presentation of mucormycosis in prolonged hospitalisation. The presence of association of mucormycosis in patients of typhoid infection is rare. Here, we present a case of invasive ileal mucormycosis occurring as a sequel to typhoid infection which lacked the typical risk factors for mucormycosis.

Bidirectional Superionic Conduction in Surface-Engineered 2D Hexagonal Boron Nitrides.

We designed functionalized hexagonal boron nitride (FhBN) nanoflakes with high proton conductivity in both in- and through-plane directions as next generation polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) for energy storage and conversion systems. The synthesis and functionalization of hBN nanoflakes with sulfonic acid (SA) groups are obtained by one-step and in situ liquid-phase exfoliation with excellent dispersibility and stability over a period of three months. The physico/chemical properties of FhBN nanoflakes were investigated by different spectroscopic and microscopic characterization, confirming chemical interactions between hBN lattice and SA groups. High concentrations (65 and 75 wt %) of FhBN nanoflakes composed with Nafion solution formed stable FhBN-Nafion nanocomposite PEMs, offering extra proton conduction sites, doubling ion-exchange capacity, and reducing the swelling ratio compared to those of Nafion. Our results demonstrate that both the in-plane and through-plane proton conductivities of FhBN-Nafion PEMs significantly improve under various conditions comparative to that of Nafion. The maximum values of both in- and through-plane conductivities for FhBN75%-Nafion PEM at 80% of humidity and 80 °C are 0.41 and 0.1 S·cm-1, respectively, which are 7 and 14 times higher than those of Nafion. The bidirectional superionic transport in highly concentrated FhBN PEMs is responsible for outstanding properties, useful for electrochemical energy devices.

Plasmon-Free Polymeric Nanowrinkled Substrates for Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy of Two-Dimensional Materials.

We report plasmon-free polymeric nanowrinkled substrates for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Our simple, rapid, and cost-effective fabrication method involves depositing a poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate (PEGDA) prepolymer solution droplet on a fully polymerized, flat PEGDA substrate, followed by drying the droplet at room conditions and plasma treatment, which polymerizes the deposited layer. The thin polymer layer buckles under axial stress during plasma treatment due to its different mechanical properties from the underlying soft substrate, creating hierarchical wrinkled patterns. We demonstrate the variation of the wrinkling wavelength with the drying polymer molecular weight and concentration (direct relations are observed). A transition between micron to nanosized wrinkles is observed at 5 v % concentration of the lower molecular-weight polymer solution (PEGDA Mn 250). The wrinkled substrates are observed to be reproducible, stable (at room conditions), and, especially, homogeneous at and below the transition regime, where nanowrinkles dominate, making them suitable candidates for SERS. As a proof-of-concept, the enhanced SERS performance of micro/nanowrinkled surfaces in detecting graphene and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) is illustrated. Compared to the SiO2/Si surfaces, the wrinkled PEGDA substrates significantly enhanced the signature Raman band intensities of graphene and h-BN by a factor of 8 and 50, respectively.

Arenesulfonyl indole: new precursor for diversification of C-3 functionalized indoles.

Arenesulfonyl indoles, bearing a good leaving group, are effective precursors for vinylogous imine intermediates which are generated in situ under basic conditions. This intermediate can readily react with other nucleophilic reagents to obtain C-3 substituted indole derivatives. In the last few years, a plethora of exciting synthetic applications of this substrate have been exploited. The stability of arylsulfonyl-containing substrates, mild reaction conditions, and the large variety of nucleophiles involved in these procedures are the key to their success in organic synthesis.

Recent advances in the catalytic synthesis of 3-aminooxindoles: an update.

3-Substituted-3-aminooxindoles are versatile scaffolds and they are common core structural motifs found in many natural products and biologically active compounds. In the last few years, a variety of synthetic methodologies have been developed for the synthesis of this moiety. In this review, we are presenting the recent advances in the catalytic synthesis of 3-aminooxindole derivatives.

Establishing an Anti-Müllerian Hormone Cutoff for Diagnosis of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in Women of Reproductive Age-Bearing Indian Ethnicity Using the Automated Anti-Müllerian Hormone Assay.

CONTEXT: Polycystic ovary syndrome diagnosed by Rotterdam criteria, is the most common cause of anovulatory infertility. The criteria of polycystic ovarian morphology (PCOM) are subject to operator variability and technological advances. Serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) level has been proposed as a more reliable alternative to antral follicle count. There is a paucity of data on use of AMH for diagnosis of PCOS in Indian women. AIM AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to determine a cutoff level for AMH that could facilitate diagnosis of PCOS and its phenotypes in women of Indian origin using the automated (Roche) assay and to compare the competence of oocytes in PCOS and non-PCOS women undergoing in vitro fertilization-intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF-ICSI). MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY: A total of 367 women undergoing treatment at our fertility center between February 2017 and August 2017 were prospectively enrolled in this study. Of these, 133 were diagnosed with PCOS, 69 had isolated PCOM, and 165 (controls) had normal ovaries on ultrasound examination. Serum AMH levels were assessed using the fully automated Roche Elecsys® immunoassay. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist protocol was used for IVF-ICSI in all patients. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Quantitative variables were compared using the Mann-Whitney test. Qualitative variables were correlated using the Chi-square test. P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS: Mean AMH concentrations in women with PCOS was higher (7.56 ± 4.36 ng/mL) in comparison to PCOM and controls. Serum AMH concentration >5.03 ng/mL could facilitate diagnosis of PCOS (area under the curve = 0.826); sensitivity -70.68%, specificity of 79.91%. There was no difference in the ratio of mature to total oocytes retrieved in the three groups (P > 0.05). Mean number of mature oocytes was lower in controls than PCOS and PCOM (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Serum AMH concentration >5.03 ng/mL could be used as cutoff value for the diagnosis of PCOS in women of Indian origin.

Occurrence of human urogenital myiasis due to neglected personal hygiene: a review.

Myiasis, the infestation of tissues or organs of vertebrate animals with dipteran larvae, is a common parasitic problem among domestic and wild mammals. The condition, which is also witnessed in humans, is relatively frequent in rural areas where people are in close contact with domestic animals. It is a subject of medical and veterinary importance, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Human myiasis is generally encountered in open neglected wounds but can also affect body orifices with foetid discharge, such as the oral cavity, eyes, ears, anus and urogenital tract. Urogenital myiasis involves infestation of the urinary tract, as well as genital organs such as vaginal or penile orifices, with fly larvae. The condition is a rare among humans inhabiting developed countries but relatively more common in patients of low socio-economic status with poor hygienic conditions in developing countries. Damage varies from superficial to massive infestation, which may result in severe problems or even death of the individual. In the present study, the authors reviewed the past literature describing the cases of human urogenital myiasis, causative fly species and risk factors. The aim of the present article is to document the predisposing risk factors and provide guidelines for prevention and control of urogenital myiasis among humans. Besides poor genital hygienic conditions, other factors leading to urogenital myiasis include psychiatric disorders, the use of urinary catheters and uterine prolapse. Prevention of the condition is of utmost importance and involves the dressing and covering of open wounds, maintaining proper personal hygiene and control of fly populations.