Comparative Efficacy of Epley, Semont and Gans Maneuver in Treating Posterior Canal Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo.

Pharmacological therapies are used to control Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) symptoms for a brief period, discontinuing them usually results in recurrence. Canalolith repositioning maneuvers, including Epley, Semont, and Gans maneuvers, have been recommended for treating posterior canal BPPV with a high rate of success. A prospective, quasi-randomized study was carried out to compare the efficacy of Epley, Semont, and Gans maneuvers in the treatment of posterior canal BPPV and their durability. All patients over the age of 20 who met the BPPV diagnostic criteria, regardless of gender, were included in the study. Diagnosis of BPPV was done by Dix Hallpike maneuver. Typical posterior canal BPPV, the most frequent form of BPPV, is characterized by paroxysmal nystagmus evoked through the Dix-Hallpike test; the nystagmus is torsional clockwise for the left side, counter-clockwise for the right side, with a vertical up-beating component. The patients were uniformly quasi-randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to be treated with Epley, Semont, and Gans maneuvers. After performing the maneuver, the patients were again subjected to the Dix-Hallpike test. Based on the result of the Dix-Hallpike test's positivity, the maneuvers were repeated up to three times. All the patients were called for a reassessment 30 days after the last intervention to assess the durability of the maneuver. In the study, 54.44% (49) of the 90 patients were female, whereas 45.56% (41) were male. Overall, 83.33% (75) of patients required only one attempt, 15.56% (14) required two attempts, and 1.11% (1) required three attempts to improve. In the Epley maneuvers group, 86.66% (26) required only one attempt, 10% (3) required two attempts, and 3.33% (1) required three attempts. Similarly, 83.33% (25) required only one attempt in the Gans maneuvers group, and 16.67% (5) required two attempts. In Semont maneuver groups, 80% (24) required only one attempt, and 20% (6) required two attempts. The recurrence of the symptoms was seen in a total of 11 patients: 27.27% (3 patients) of the Epley maneuvers group, 36.36% (4 patients) of the Gans maneuvers group, and 36.36% (4 patients) of the Semont maneuvers group. All three maneuvers show equal efficacy in reducing vertigo. The Epley maneuver may be more relevant in the treatment of BPPV compared to others, considering the slightly higher improvement rate and the requirement for fewer attempts for the treatment.

Recurrent Angiolymphoid Hyperplasia with Eosinophilia of the Parotid.

Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia (ALHE) is a benign vasculoproliferative disorder. It usually affects young adults presenting as papules or nodules involving the skin of head and neck region and rarely involves extracutaneous sites. ALHE involving parotid is rare and can be a diagnostic dilemma as it mimics a parotid neoplasm. This is a case of a 23 year old male presenting with a recurrent swelling over the left parotid region post surgery. Ultrasonography revealed a vascular soft tissue lesion in the preauricular region suggestive of a benign lesion. Contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging showed a hyperintense lesion involving the superficial lobe of the left parotid gland. Patient underwent superficial parotidectomy and histopathologically was diagnosed to have ALHE. Very few cases have been reported and this case is highlighted as the facial nerve was enmeshed by the intraparotid lesion which was a surgical challenge.

Biowaste-Derived, Highly Efficient, Reusable Carbon Nanospheres for Speedy Removal of Organic Dyes from Aqueous Solutions.

The current work explores the adsorptive efficiency of carbon nanospheres (CNSs) derived from oil palm leaves (OPL) that are a source of biowaste. CNSs were synthesized at 400, 600, 800 and 1000 °C, and those obtained at 1000 °C demonstrated maximum removal efficiency of ~91% for malachite green (MG). Physicochemical and microscopic characteristics were analysed by FESEM, TEM, FTIR, Raman, TGA and XPS studies. The presence of surface oxygen sites and the porosity of CNSs synergistically influenced the speed of removal of MG, brilliant green (BG) and Congo red (CR) dyes. With a minimal adsorbent dosage (1 mg) and minimum contact time (10 min), and under different pH conditions, adsorption was efficient and cost-effective (nearly 99, 91 and 88% for BG, MG and CR, respectively). The maximum adsorption capacities of OPL-based CNSs for BG were 500 and 104.16 mg/g for MG and 25.77 mg/g for CR. Adsorption isotherms (Freundlich, Langmuir and Temkin) and kinetics models (pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and Elovich) for the adsorption processes of all three dyes on the CNSs were explored in detail. BG and CR adsorption the Freundlich isotherm best, while MG showed a best fit to the Temkin model. Adsorption kinetics of all three dyes followed a pseudo-second-order model. A reusability study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of CNSs in removing the MG dye and showed ~92% efficiency even after several cycles. Highly efficient CNSs with surface oxygen groups and speedy removal of organic dyes within 10 min by CNSs are highlighted in this paper.

Garlic peel based mesoporous carbon nanospheres for an effective removal of malachite green dye from aqueous solutions: Detailed isotherms and kinetics.

Biowaste based nanoadsorbents have gained much attention in the recent times for wastewater decolourization owing to their low cost, high surface area and high adsorption capacities. In the present research, garlic peel based nanoparticles (GCNP) were synthesized at different temperatures by a one step pyrolytic green approach for the effective removal of cationic dye, malachite green from the aqueous medium. The surface properties of Garlic nanoparticles were elucidated by N2 adsorption- desorption and all the GCNP samples were found to exhibit Type IV(a) isotherm indicating the presence of mesopores in carbon matrix. Using BET calculations, highest surface area (380 m2/g) was obtained for GCNP synthesized at 1000 ◦C. Characterization of nanoparticles was done by XRD, EDAX, SEM and FTIR studies before and after the dye treatment. Adsorption studies conducted using different parameters like contact time, concentration and pH and dosage of adsorbent showed removal efficiency above 90% for the contact time of 70 min. Best adsorption experimental results were obtained for GCNP synthesized at 1000 °C ascribable to its high surface area, higher total pore volume (0.26 cm2/g) and higher carbon content. Four adsorption isotherm models were used to validate batch equillibrium studies and the results showed data in good agreement with Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms with maximum Langmuir adsorbtion capactiy to be 373.7 mg/g. Kinetic modelling of the data showed best fit with the Pseudo second order model with rate constant value of 48.726 g mg-1 min-1. Regenerative studies were conducted conducted upto 6 cycles. Also the GC nanoparticles were tested for their compatibility in membrane form wherein, removal efficiency results were obtained for GCNP anchored in polyvinyl difluoride (PVDF) and polysulfone (PSF) membrane matrix for dye adsorption.

Non-enzymatic electrochemical determination of salivary cortisol using ZnO-graphene nanocomposites.

Electrochemically deposited ZnO nanoparticles on a pencil graphite electrode (PGE) coated with graphene generate a noteworthy conductive and selective electrochemical sensing electrode for the estimation of cortisol. Electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry (CV) analysis and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic (EIS) tests were adopted to analyze and understand the nature of the modified sensor. Surface morphological analysis was done using various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques like X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Structural characterization was conducted by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The effect of scan rate, concentration, and cycle numbers was optimized and reported. Differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) analysis reveals that the linear range for the detection of cortisol is 5 × 10-10M - 115 × 10-10 M with a very low-level limit of detection value (0.15 nM). The demonstrated methodology has been excellently functional for the determination of salivary cortisol non-enzymatically at low-level concentration with enhanced selectivity despite the presence of interfering substances.

Mesoporous carbon nanospheres derived from agro-waste as novel antimicrobial agents against gram-negative bacteria.

Porous carbon nanospheres were synthesized from agro-waste garlic peels by a one-pot facile and easy to scale-up pyrolysis method. Surface morphology and structural features of the nanospheres have been studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and N2 adsorption desorption experiments were explored to detect surface functionality, surface area, and porosity. Average particle diameter of the synthesized nanospheres was 31 ± 6.3 nm and zeta potential of - 25.2 mV ± 1.75 mV. Nanoscale carbon was mesoporous in nature with type IV isotherms, mean pore diameter of 15.2 nm, and total pore volume of 0.032 cm3/g. Minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration values of carbon nanospheres against Escherichia coli are 480 ± 0.5 µg/ml and 495 ± 0.5 µg/ml, respectively. Synthesized nanospheres exhibited gram-selective antimicrobial action against Escherichia coli probably linked to membrane deformity due to interaction of nanocarbon with the bacterial membrane. Carbon nanospheres resulting from waste to wealth transformation emerged as promising candidates for antibacterial application. Graphical abstract.

Unique Host Matrix to Disperse Pd Nanoparticles for Electrochemical Sensing of Morin: Sustainable Engineering Approach.

Biomass-based carbon nanospheres derived from Mimosa pudica (commonly called "Touch-me-not") smeared on carbon fiber paper have been used as a host matrix for electrochemical deposition of palladium nanoparticles. The physicochemical characterization of modified electrodes was performed by field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to study the electroanalytical properties of the electrodes. The modified electrode demostrated an excellent electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of a flavonoid, morin, which gave a sensitive anodic peak at -0.30 V (vs SCE). An ultralow-level detection limit of 572 fM with a linear dynamic range of 37.50-130 pM was achieved. The proposed electrochemical sensor was successfully employed for the analysis of morin in mulberry and guava leaves. This is a sustainable engineering approach where a perfect unique host matrix is created using carbon nanospheres from biomass.

Deroofing of auricular pseudocyst: our experience.

AIM: To ascertain a definitive treatment modality for a frequently recurring condition, pseudocyst of pinna in the form of deroofing and compression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients were diagnosed with pseudocyst of pinna from July 2011 to March 2013. All 30 patients underwent surgical deroofing of the pseudocyst along with compression by buttoning. The patients were followed up for a period of six months Results: No recurrence was seen in 29 patients in the follow up period of six months (96.7%). One patient had recurrence 15 d following the procedure. The recurrence in the case could be attributed to the usage of improper buttons for compression. CONCLUSION: Despite numerous treatment options for pseudocyst of pinna, there remains high recurrence rate in patients. Additionally, some treatments carry the risk of cartilage damage or visible distortion of the auricle. Surgical deroofing followed by compression using buttons can be considered as first line treatment of this entity as it is associated with very less rate of recurrence and gives a cosmetically acceptable result.