Whole genome analysis of Human Mastadenovirus D causing Keratoconjunctivitis in India - A multicentre study.

INTRODUCTION: Human mastadenovirus (HAdV) types 8, 37, 64 have been considered the major contributors in Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC) epidemics, but recent surveillance data have shown the involvement of emerging recombinants, including HAdV-53, HAdV-54, and HAdV-56. In our initial work, positive samples for adenovirus revealed that our strains were closer to HAdV-54 than HAdV-8. Hence, the current study aimed to use whole genome technology to identify the HAdV strain correctly. METHODOLOGY: Oxford Nanopore technique was used, wherein a Targeted sequencing approach using long-range PCR amplification was performed. Primers were designed using HAdV-54 (AB448770.2) and HAdV-8 (AB897885.1) as reference sequences. Amplicons were sequenced on the GridION sequencer. Sequences were annotated using Gatu software, and similarities with standard reference sequence was calculated using Bioedit software. The phylogenetic tree was built after alignment in MEGA v7.0 using Neighbour joining method for each of the genes: Penton, Hexon, and Fiber. The effect of novel amino acid changes was evaluated using the PROVEAN tool. The Recombination Detection Program (RDP) package Beta 4.1 was used to identify recombinant sequences. RESULTS: Of the five samples sequenced, OL450401, OL540403, and OL540406 showed nucleotide similarity to HAdV-54 in the penton region. Additionally, OL450401 showed a statistically significant recombination event with HAdV-54 as minor and HAdV-8 as major parents. This was further supported by phylogenetic analysis as well. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, we have found evidence of a shift from HAdV-8 towards HAdV-54, thus stressing the need for surveillance of HAdVs and to stay updated on the rise of new recombinants.

Epidemiology of Keratoconjunctivitis Across India from 2017 to 2019: A Multicentric Hospital-Based Study.

PURPOSE: Conjunctivitis is one of the most common ocular conditions in clinical practice. Human adenoviruses have been the common causative agents known to cause epidemic kerato-conjunctivitis (EKC) in India from 1996 to 2019 with a positivity range of 13.8%-65.2%. The current study was initiated to throw light on the distribution of keratoconjunctivitis causing agents across India covering a span of 3 years. METHODS: A total of 709 swabs were collected from patients in viral transport medium (VTM), and real-time PCR was done to identify agents including Adenovirus (HAdV), Enterovirus, HSV, and Chlamydia. RESULTS: 47.8% of the samples were positive for HAdV followed by HSV (3.4%), Enterovirus (2.7%), and Chlamydia (0.6%). Overall, 386 people (54.4%) tested positive for one of these infections, with Chandigarh (88.4%) and Port Blair (71.7%) showing higher positivity rate. Pre-auricular lymphadenopathy and follicles were significantly associated with increased risk of conjunctivitis. CONCLUSION: Epidemiology of keratoconjunctivitis in the current study revealed HAdV to be predominant causative agent. Knowledge gained in such epidemiological studies guide us in outbreak expectations, limit antibiotic over-prescription, and enhance disease prevention.

Cumulative Mortality and Factors Associated With Outcomes of Mucormycosis After COVID-19 at a Multispecialty Tertiary Care Center in India.

Importance: An outbreak of COVID-19-associated rhino-orbitocerebral mucormycosis (CAM) has occurred in many parts of the world. Although the clinical profile and risk factors for CAM have been studied, cumulative mortality and its risk factors have not. Objective: To report the cumulative mortality rates at different times in cases with CAM and identify risk factors for CAM-associated mortality. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective case-control study was conducted from March 1 to May 30, 2021, in a tertiary care multispecialty hospital in western India. All patients diagnosed with CAM and with a minimum follow-up of 30 days or those who died before 30 days due to CAM were included. Main Outcomes and Measure: Cumulative mortality in CAM using survival analysis. Results: A total of 73 consecutive patients with CAM with a mean (SD) age of 53.5 (12.5) years were included in the analysis, of whom 48 (66%) were men. CAM developed at a median of 28 (IQR, 15-45; range, 4-90) days after recovery from COVID-19. Of the 73 patients with CAM, 26 (36%) died; the cumulative probability of death was 26% (95% CI, 16%-41%) at day 7 and doubled to 53% (95% CI, 39%-69%) at day 21. Sinus debridement was performed in 18 of 51 patients (35%), and 5 of 52 (10%) underwent exenteration, whereas intravenous lyophilized amphotericin B was administered to 48 patients (66%). A multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that receiving mechanical ventilation in the past was associated with a nearly 9-fold increased risk of death (hazard ratio [HR], 8.98; 95% CI, 2.13-38.65; P = .003), and patients who had visual acuity of light perception or better had a 46% lower risk of death (HR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.32-0.98; P = .04). Intravenous amphotericin B administration was associated with a reduced rate of exenteration (0 vs 5 of 25 [20%]; P < .001). On multivariate analysis, those who received intravenous amphotericin B had a 69% reduced risk of death (HR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.06-1.43; P = .13). Conclusions and Relevance: These findings suggest that the mortality rate after rhino-orbitocerebral mucormycosis is high and that a subgroup of patients with severe COVID-19 or presenting with severe orbital disease are more likely to die within 10 days of admission.

A Rare Case of An Atypical Solitary Fibrous Tumour of Orbit.

Solitary fibrous tumours are of mesenchymal origin and comprise of uncommon spindle cell neoplasias. Most commonly the lesions arise from pleura but other rarer sites include lungs, peritoneum, pericardium, nasal cavities, thyroid, parotid gland and orbit. We report the case of a 41-year-old male patient who presented to us with a painless, progressive growth of a mass in the superior part of left orbit with proptosis and inferotemporal displacement of the left eye. Computed Tomography (CT) scan revealed homogeneous enhancing lesion in the superior compartment of left orbit in the extraconal region, extending intraconally and distorting the globe. Upon imaging, the differential diagnosis were lacrimal gland tumour, atypical cavernous haemangioma and nerve sheath tumour. Surgical treatment included complete excision of the mass with the intraoperative finding of mass extending upto the superior oblique tendon, a part of which was excised. Histopathological examination revealed CD34 positive, Bcl-2 and MIC-2 positive tumour with the diagnosis of a solitary fibrous tumour with atypical features but no malignant features. After a follow-up of 18 months, no recurrence was detected.

The assessment of sleep apnoea as a risk factor in glaucoma.

BACKGROUND: The risk of developing open angle glaucoma increases in the presence of associated disorders such as hypertension, Diabetes mellitus and migraine. In recent years, sleep apnoea is also being investigated as a risk factor in the development of open angle glaucoma. AIM: To ascertain the significance of sleep apnoea as a risk factor in patients with glaucoma. Study Setting and Design: A non - randomised, cross sectional study was undertaken at an urban teaching hospital. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A sleep disturbance questionnaire and the Epworth sleepiness scale were used to screen the potential cases of sleep apnoea amongst 40 glaucomatous subjects, with both Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG) and Normotensive Glaucoma (NTG), as well as 40 controls. Those which gave a positive response to the questionnaire were subjected to poly-somnography for the diagnosis of sleep apnoea, with the calculation of the Apnoea Hypopnoea Index. The data was analysed by using the Chi - square test and the odds ratio calculations. RESULTS: Positive responses to the sleep apnoea questionnaire were obtained from a total of twenty participants, 16 (40%) from the glaucoma Group and four (10%) were obtained from the control Group. In the glaucoma Group, ten (37.03%) of the 27 POAG individuals, and six (46.15%) of the 13 NTG cases showed significant positive responses to the questionnaire. Four subjects (10%) (1POAG, 3 NTG) from the glaucoma Group and one (2.5%) from the control Group were diagnosed to have sleep apnoea by polysomnography. The percentage of the sleep apnoea positive cases was higher among the NTG subjects (23.07%) than among the POAG subjects (3.7 %). This study had an odds ratio of 4.333 (>1) and a p value of 0.382. CONCLUSION: Although the odds ratio was significant, this study did not find the association between sleep apnoea and glaucoma to be statistically significant.

Malignant melanoma in eviscerated eyeball.

A 65-year-old woman presented with malignant melanoma of the right socket following evisceration of her right eye for ocular trauma 8 years previously. Computed tomography demonstrated a solid mass adjacent to the residual eviscerated eyeball without extra-orbital extension. The tumour was removed by total exenteration of the orbit. The clinical and radiological features of this condition, and a review of the literature are presented.