Bioactivities of natural product geodin congeners and their preliminary structure activity relationship.

A series of 6 novel ester derivatives 2-7 of natural product geodin 1 were designed and semi-synthesized through one mild step reaction with high yield. Compounds 2-7 showed strong inhibitory activities against Staphylococcus aureus in the range of 2.35-9.41 µM. Compounds 4 and 7 showed very strong inhibitory activities against antifouling bacteria Aeromonas salmonicida with MICs of 2.42 µM and 4.56 µM respectively. Most notably compounds 3-7 showed potent antifungal activities against Candida albicans in the range of 0.59-2.44 µM. Particularly, compound 3 showed the highest antifungal activity against C. albicans with a MIC value of 0.59 µM. The preliminary structure activity relationship of these derivatives showed that replacement of 4-OH group with benzoyl substituents could enhance the antibacterial and antifungal activities of geodin 1.

Removal of Brilliant Green Dye from Water Using Ficus benghalensis Tree Leaves as an Efficient Biosorbent.

The presence of dyes in water stream is a major environmental problem that affects aquatic and human life negatively. Therefore, it is essential to remove dye from wastewater before its discharge into the water bodies. In this study, Banyan (Ficus benghalensis, F. benghalensis) tree leaves, a low-cost biosorbent, were used to remove brilliant green (BG), a cationic dye, from an aqueous solution. Batch model experiments were carried out by varying operational parameters, such as initial concentration of dye solution, contact time, adsorbent dose, and pH of the solution, to obtain optimum conditions for removing BG dye. Under optimum conditions, maximum percent removal of 97.3% and adsorption capacity (Qe) value of 19.5 mg/g were achieved (at pH 8, adsorbent dose 0.05 g, dye concentration 50 ppm, and 60 min contact time). The Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms were applied to the experimental data. The linear fit value, R2 of Freundlich adsorption isotherm, was 0.93, indicating its best fit to our experimental data. A kinetic study was also carried out by implementing the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models. The adsorption of BG on the selected biosorbent follows pseudo-second-order kinetics (R2 = 0.99), indicating that transfer of internal and external mass co-occurs. This study surfaces the excellent adsorption capacity of Banyan tree leaves to remove cationic BG dye from aqueous solutions, including tap water, river water, and filtered river water. Therefore, the selected biosorbent is a cost-effective and easily accessible approach for removing toxic dyes from industrial effluents and wastewater.

When The Silence Prevails, Images Talk: The Characteristic Ct Features Of Vocal Cord Paralysis, Causes Of Missed Palsy By Radiologists And Mimics Of Vocal Cord Palsy Unveiled.

BACKGROUND: Causes of vocal cord palsy (VCP) can be identified even before its clinical presentation if a radiologist has knowledge about signs of vocal cord palsy, its various mimics and the anatomy of recurrent laryngeal nerve. Objectives are to know the signs and underlying causes leading to VCP and various mimics which may lead to the false positive diagnosis of VCP. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional pilot study comprising 54 patients with vocal cord palsy proven by IDL was conducted. 3 groups were identified. The first group comprised missed VCP on cross-sectional imaging. The second group was, of missed cause of VCP in patients with clinical diagnoses. The third group was patients with mimics of the palsy. RESULTS: Thirteen (76.5%) patients had missed diagnosis due to lack of knowledge of signs and 23.5% due to lack of time, overwork and tiredness. A vigilant search for the cause was not done in 31.6% of patients and in 68.4% of patients, the cause was identified but not correlated. A total of 8 patients had false positive diagnoses due to failure to differentiate from mimics. CONCLUSIONS: There is an increasing trend of missed diagnosis of vocal cord palsy on cross-sectional imaging in patients with established clinical diagnosis due to a lack of knowledge of VCP signs and missed causes along the course of recurrent laryngeal nerve.

Impact of COVID pandemic upon radiological services in a tertiary care hospital - A clinical audit.

Background and Objectives: Radiology emerged as one of the frontline clinical services in the COVID-19 pandemic. This audit study aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on the radiological services in a tertiary care hospital in terms of workload and case mix. Methods: We compared the overall workload of the radiology department between March 2019 to December 2020, emphasizing the number of CTs and Chest radiographs performed during the pandemic. The first period starting when the first confirmed case presented to our hospital and the second control period in the same months in 2019. The imaging parameters included the total number of CTs, MRIs, Ultrasounds, Radiographs, CTs from the emergency room (ER), OPD, IPD, CT chest performed for COVID-19 and other emergency indications. All parameters were calculated by taking average each month in both study periods. Results: An overall decrease was observed in the number of all primary imaging modalities during the pandemic, with ultrasound showing a maximum reduction in numbers (36.5%) followed by radiographs (29.6%) and MRIs (13.8%) compared to 2019. However, total CTs showed a minimal decrease of 1.6% with a significant leap in HRCTs performed reaching up to 80.5%. Conclusion: COVID-19 and resultant movement restrictions, although they did lead to a reduction in overall radiology work volume, were compensated by an increase in the number of studies performed through emergency and for management of COVID-19 infection.

Correction to a novel framework for rapid diagnosis of COVID-19 on computed tomography scans.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1007/s10044-020-00950-0.].

Progression and Resolution of COVID-19 Pneumonia on Chest Radiograph.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the temporal changes on serial chest radiographs (CXRs)of hospitalised COVID-19 positive patients till their outcome(discharge/death); to determine the severity of CXR score and its correlation with clinical outcome (hospital stay, chest intubation and mortality). STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Shifa International Hospital (SIH), Islamabad from March to June 2020. METHODOLOGY: After IRB approval, 112 patients were consecutively enrolled, having laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 and hospitalised in SIH. Patients' demographics and clinical data were retrieved from Radiology Information System (RIS). Chest radiographs (CXR) were retrieved from picture archive and communication system (PACS). CXR severity scoring was determined by three radiologists, and results were analysed. RESULTS: Lung opacities (98.2%), involvement of both lungs (96.4%), both peripheral and central region involvement (62.5%) and upper/mid/lower zone distribution (61.6%) were the most frequent findings. Males affected more than females with a mean age of 58.9 ± 13.1 years. Zonal involvement, density and extent of opacities peaked on 10-13th day of illness. In the last CXR, opacities showed decrease in extent as well as density, reduction in zonal involvement, and few having mixed interstitial thickening/fibrosis. One hundred and five out of 112 (93.8%) patients had residual radiographic abnormalities on discharge. CONCLUSION: Serial chest radiography can be used to monitor disease progression and temporal changes after initial HRCT. Patients who have CXR severity score of 4 or more at the time of admission, is a red flag for prolonged hospital stay and possible intubation. Severity of CXR findings peaked at 10-13 days. It is recommended to repeat CXRs every 3-4th day during hospital stay. Majority of the patients has residual radiographic abnormality on discharge. Key Words: COVID-19, Radiography, Thoracic, Pandemic, Chest X-ray.

A novel framework for rapid diagnosis of COVID-19 on computed tomography scans.

Since the emergence of COVID-19, thousands of people undergo chest X-ray and computed tomography scan for its screening on everyday basis. This has increased the workload on radiologists, and a number of cases are in backlog. This is not only the case for COVID-19, but for the other abnormalities needing radiological diagnosis as well. In this work, we present an automated technique for rapid diagnosis of COVID-19 on computed tomography images. The proposed technique consists of four primary steps: (1) data collection and normalization, (2) extraction of the relevant features, (3) selection of the most optimal features and (4) feature classification. In the data collection step, we collect data for several patients from a public domain website, and perform preprocessing, which includes image resizing. In the successive step, we apply discrete wavelet transform and extended segmentation-based fractal texture analysis methods for extracting the relevant features. This is followed by application of an entropy controlled genetic algorithm for selection of the best features from each feature type, which are combined using a serial approach. In the final phase, the best features are subjected to various classifiers for the diagnosis. The proposed framework, when augmented with the Naive Bayes classifier, yields the best accuracy of 92.6%. The simulation results are supported by a detailed statistical analysis as a proof of concept.

Radiological Assistance In Managing Workflow In Medical And Surgical Indications At Shifa International Hospital In COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Novel Corona Virus took the world by storm under the name of COVID-19, metamorphosing the whole health care structure and alienating what we the medical community considered normalcy. The sudden unexpected need for social distancing resulted in dire dependency on imaging for expert diagnosis and management. The purpose of the present study is to describe in-depth strategies that were taken by radiology department at our hospital as a part of a coordinated hospital system-wide response in managing workflow of patients presenting to our hospital for various medical and surgical semi-urgent/urgent indications requiring hospital admission. This article may assist and provide guidance for preparation and management for other radiology departments in the early stages or in dire need of providing services in a secure environment, especially in low-income countries such as ours, while maintaining the quality of radiological reports, dealing with increased workloads. It was a descriptive qualitative study, conducted at Shifa international hospital, Radiology Department, from 28 March to 5 June 2020. METHODS: After approval from IRB, a descriptive qualitative study was carried out, which included all patients regardless of age or gender who underwent radiological imaging including CT and radiograph chest, at our department from 28 March to 5 June, 2020. RESULTS: Overall, on a yearly basis, the number of CT scans decreased 30% (total), 53.4% (OPD), and 0.61% (IPD), respectively, in 2020 when compared with figures in 2019. However, no. of HRCTs performed were significantly increased compared to 2019, in same months 568 (0.09%), compared to 2020 where a majority of total CTs performed were HRCTs for COVID alone. CONCLUSION: The radiology department plays a central role in streamlining the patient inflow admitted for surgical or medical indications and thus needs to be prepared for patient surges and increased volumes, with large influxes of patients to the emergency department that will require diagnostic imaging and interventional services.

Co-existing Bilateral Pulmonary Embolism and Intra-cardiac Mass: A Case of Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome-like Disease.

Young patients presenting with thrombotic events like pulmonary embolism and cardiological phenomenon such as presence of an intracardiac mass, without any underlying risk factors, should be promptly investigated for thrombophilias including antiphospholipid syndrome (APLS). This case is reported to highlight rare occurrence of co-existing bilateral extensive pulmonary embolism and an intra-cardiac mass at presentation of antiphospholipid syndrome as well as progression to near catastrophic APLS.

Erbium(iii)-based metal-organic frameworks with tunable upconversion emissions.

A series of lanthanide-based metal-organic frameworks (Ln-MOFs) with significantly improved and tunable upconversion emissions were prepared. Y-MOFs co-doped with Yb3+/Er3+ ions have exhibited characteristic upconversion emissions at 520, 545, and 658 nm under 980 nm laser excitation, the intensities of which vary with Yb3+/Er3+ concentrations. In addition, experimental results have indicated that an excited state absorption mechanism is responsible for the upconversion process of Y-MOF:Yb/Er materials. This study has provided a novel design principle and experimental basis for the preparation of luminescent Ln-MOF materials.