Traumatic implantation keratitis caused by Schizophyllum commune in Central India.

We present two cases with a history of trauma to the cornea and after a few days patients developed symptoms of corneal ulcers with one showing hypopyon as well. Due to strong suspicion of fungal keratitis both cases were treated with topical and intravenously voriconazole. Fungal culture showed white fluffy growth which was identified as Schizophyllum commune by conventional and molecular methods. In both cases surgical intervention was essential. Therapeutic keratoplasty was done in both cases but failed. Unfortunately, both patients lost vision in the affected eyes.

Predicting the Climate Impact of Healthcare Facilities Using Gradient Boosting Machines.

Health care accounts for 9-10% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United States. Strategies for monitoring these emissions at the hospital level are needed to decarbonize the sector. However, data collection to estimate emissions is challenging, especially for smaller hospitals. We explored the potential of gradient boosting machines (GBM) to impute missing data on resource consumption in the 2020 survey of a consortium of 283 hospitals participating in Practice Greenhealth. GBM imputed missing values for selected variables in order to predict electricity use and beef consumption (R2=0.82) and anesthetic gas desflurane use (R2=0.51), using administrative data readily available for most hospitals. After imputing missing consumption data, estimated GHG emissions associated with these three examples totaled over 3 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions (MTCO2e). Specifically, electricity consumption had the largest total carbon footprint (2.4 MTCO2e), followed by beef (0.6 million MTCO2e) and desflurane consumption (0.03 million MTCO2e) across the 283 hospitals. The approach should be applicable to other sources of hospital GHGs in order to estimate total emissions of individual hospitals and to refine survey questions to help develop better intervention strategies.

Exploration of molecular interactions between scoparone and associated compounds with Constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) leading to gallstone prevention: an in silico investigation.

Scoparone (6, 7 dimethylesculetin) is a biologically active compound derived from the herb Artemisia capillaris having anti-inflammatory, anti-lipemic, and anti-allergic roles. Activation of the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) in primary hepatocytes of both wild-type and humanized CAR mice by scoparone, accelerates bilirubin and cholesterol clearance in vivo. This can prevent gallstones which is a dreaded gastrointestinal disease. To date, surgery is regarded as the gold standard for treating gallstones. The molecular interactions between scoparone and CAR leading to gallstone prevention are not yet explored. In this study, we have analyzed these interactions through an insilico approach. After extracting the CAR structures (mice and human) from the protein databank and 6, 7-dimethylesuletin from PubChem, energy minimization of both the receptors was done to make them stable followed by docking. Next, a simulation was performed to stabilize the docked complexes. Through docking, H-bonds and pi-pi interactions were found in the complexes, which imply a stable interaction, thus activating the CAR. A similarity search for scoparone was performed and the selected compounds were docked with the CAR receptors. Esculentin acetate and scopoletin acetate interacted with human CAR through pi-alkyl and H-bond respectively. While Fraxidin methyl ether, fraxinol methyl ether, and 6, 7 diethoxycoumarin interacted with mice CAR through H-bond and Pi-Pi T-shaped bonds. The selected complexes were simulated further. Our results are in accordance with the hypothesis in the literature. We have also analyzed the drug likeliness, absorption, non-carcinogenicity, and other properties of scoparone which can support further in vivo studies.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Attitude of Indian nurses towards importance of families in nursing care: A cross-sectional study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the attitudes of Indian nurses towards the importance of family involvement in nursing care and the association between nurse attitudes and sociodemographic characteristics. BACKGROUND: Involving the family in the care process is crucial for delivering family- and patient-centred care and ensuring the best possible patient outcomes. Nevertheless, published literature revealed that the nurses may lack clarity regarding the role of family members in the patient's care, which in turn hinders families' participation in care. DESIGN: Cross-sectional descriptive study. The STROBE checklist was used to report the present study. METHODS: A total of 203 Nurses participated in a prospective cross-sectional study between May 2022 and August 2022. They were recruited through convenience sampling from two tertiary care centres in India. A two-part questionnaire was used to gather the data; the first section contained questions for gathering sociodemographic information, and the second part contained the standardized FINC-NA scale. RESULTS: The mean age of the nurses was (28.08 ± 4.722) years, and their median professional experience was 2.5 (1-5.5) years. Nurses' attitude regarding family's importance in patient care was found to be significantly associated (p ≤ .05) with education level, marital status, religion and hometown region. CONCLUSION: In several items Indian nurses have positive attitudes towards family involvement in care but some of the lower scoring items can present opportunities for focused improvement. Continuing development programmes about family-centered care can constitute important strategies to improve the positive attitudes of nurses towards families in practice. PATIENT AND PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution.

Epidemiology and Burden of Astigmatism: A Systematic Literature Review.

SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first literature review to report the epidemiology, patient burden, and economic burden of astigmatism in the general adult population. The unmet needs of astigmatism patients with coexisting ocular conditions (cataract, glaucoma, dry eye, presbyopia, or macular degeneration) and risks associated with untreated astigmatism are also reviewed and reported. PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify, report, and summarize the published literature on epidemiology, patient burden, and economic burden of astigmatism using a systematic literature review. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched (January 1996 to May 2021). Search results were limited to the English language. Proceedings (2018 to 2021) from ophthalmology congresses were searched along with gray literature using the Google Scholar platform. RESULTS: The literature search yielded 6804 citations, of which 125 met the inclusion criteria (epidemiology, 68; patient burden, 60; economic burden, 6). Astigmatism prevalence in the general population varied from 8 to 62%, with higher rates in individuals 70 years or older. The prevalence of with-the-rule astigmatism was higher in individuals 40 years or younger, whereas rates of against-the-rule and oblique astigmatism increased with age. Astigmatic patients experienced decreased vision quality, increased glare (53 to 77%), haloes (28 to 80%), night-time driving difficulties (66%), falls, and spectacle dependence (45 to 85%). Astigmatic patients performed vision-related tasks slower (1 D, 9% slower; 2 D, 29% slower) and made more errors (1 D, 38% more errors; 2 D, 370% more errors) compared with fully corrected individuals. In cataract patients with astigmatism, the annual mean per-patient productivity loss costs ranged from €55 ($71) to €84 ($108), and mean informal care costs ranged from €30 ($39) to €55 ($71) with a mean of 2.3 to 4.1 hours spent on informal care. CONCLUSIONS: Uncorrected astigmatism decreases patients' vision-related quality of life, decreases productivity among working-age adults, and poses an economic burden on patients and their families.

Microstructural and heavy metal analysis of gallstones prevalent in Jharkhand and its implications in the treatment.

OBJECTIVES: In the present study the structural and compositional analysis of gallstones was carried out by various characterization techniques. Also, the utility of the study was evaluated on how the findings can enhance the treatment and dissolution therapies of gallstones? METHODS: Gallstones from the Jharkhand region were analyzed both structurally as well as chemically using Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, inductively coupled optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), Carbon hydrogen and nitrogen analyzer (CHNS), Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) and other instruments. The content of heavy metal was represented statistically as a mean with standard deviation. RESULTS: FESEM analysis unveiled the crystal and globular structure of cholesterol and pigment gallstones respectively. Through ICP-OES analysis metals such as Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, Cr, Zn etc. were detected in gallstones. FTIR and XRD analysis confirmed the presence of cholesterol and calcium carbonate and other compounds in mixed stones and calcium bilirubinate and bilirubin in pigment gallstones. NMR analysis revealed the presence of monohydrate cholesterol (Crystalline) in Cholesterol and mixed gallstones. Mixed gallstones were found to be predominant in this region in contrast to pigmented stones that were prevalent earlier. CONCLUSION: The present study uncovered the current composition and content of different heavy metals in gallstones of Jharkhand region which can be instrumental in enhancing the dissolution therapies for gallstone treatment. This can serve as a major tool for practitioners for gallstone treatment and change the way they are looked at.

In silico guided designing of optimized benzochalcones derivatives as potent CYP1B1 inhibitors: An integrated in vitro and ONIOM study.

Cytochrome P4501B1 (CYP1B1) is reported to be overexpressed in various malignancies including ovarian, lung, lymph, and breast cancers. The overexpression of this enzyme is accountable for the biotransformation-based inactivation of some anti-cancer drugs i.e. Docetaxel, Paclitaxel, and Cisplatin. To circumvent solutions to this issue, the current study reports some optimized derivatives of benzochalcone as selective CYP1B1 inhibitors. The optimized derivatives were screened using some structure-based drug-designing approaches including molecular docking and molecular dynamics. The implemented approaches revealed that all the designed molecules demonstrated not only essential interactions with key amino acid residues but also maintained stability within the active site of CYP1B1. Furthermore, to validate the in-silico results and develop a SAR, the designed molecules were subsequently synthesized and tested for their ability to selectively inhibit CYP1B1 over CYP1A1 using well established EROD assay. This assay results suggested that compounds 1(c), 1(d), and 1(e) are eightfold more selective CYP1B1 inhibitors over CYP1A1 with IC50 values ranging from 0.06 to 0.09 µM respectively. Among these, compound 1(d) manifested potent inhibitory activity i.e. IC50 of 0.06 µM with 24 folds selectivity over 1A1. To have a better insight into the binding pattern of 1(d) within CYP1B1 and precisely compute binding affinity for 1(d)-CYP1B1 complex, one of the advanced QM/MM approaches i.e. ONIOM has been implemented. Where 1(d)-CYP1B1 complex conferred comparable binding affinity in terms of ΔG (kcal/mol) with that of ANF-CYP1B1 complex. This research could provide a suitable starting point for the development of more potent multi-functional compounds with CYP1B1 inhibitory activity.

Association of MTHFR 677C>T polymorphism with breast cancer risk: A case-control study and meta-analysis.

Background and Objectives: Breast cancer is a complex, multifactorial disease that arises as a result of interactions between multiple genes and environmental factors. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is a low susceptibility gene, involved in folate metabolism. It assists in conversion of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate to 5-methyltetrahydrofolate which further leads to DNA methylation. 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate assists in conversion of uracil to thymine and purine synthesis for DNA synthesis. MTHFR 677C>T polymorphism alters the activity of MTHFR enzyme potentially effecting DNA repair and synthesis, hence a potential risk for cancer like breast cancer. Hence, the present study was conducted to evaluate association of MTHFR 677C>T polymorphism and breast cancer in Punjabi population. Moreover, a meta-analysis was conducted to address the same. Materials and Methods: A total of 247 breast cancer patients and 247 controls were selected from Punjabi population for analysis using PCR-RFLP method. For meta-analysis, 67 studies were selected, and allele contrast, homozygous, heterozygous, dominant, and recessive models were used to evaluate the association between MTHFR 677C>T and breast cancer. Results: The frequencies of CC, CT, and TT genotype were 68.4% versus 74.5%, 28.7% versus 23.5%, and 2.9% versus 2.0% in patients and controls, respectively. There was no significant difference found. In meta-analysis, significant association was found in overall and Asian population while no significant association was found in Caucasians. Interpretation and Conclusions: MTHFR 677C>T polymorphism is not a risk factor for breast cancer in Punjabi population. Inconsistency with the meta-analysis can be due to ethnic diversity.

A randomized double blinded placebo controlled clinical trial for the evaluation of green coffee extract on immune health in healthy adults.

Background: The immune system functions to protect the host from a broad array of infectious diseases. Here, we evaluated the in vitro immunomodulatory effects of green coffee extract (GCE), and conducted a double-blinded, randomized and placebo-controlled trial among apparently healthy individuals. Methods: We determined the levels and functions of inflammatory and immune markers viz., phospho-NF-κB p65 ser536, chemotaxis, phagocytosis, TH1/TH2 cytokines and IgG production. We also evaluated several immunological markers such as total leukocyte counts, differential leukocyte counts, NK cell activity, CD4/CD8 ratio, serum immunoglobulin, C-reactive protein (CRP) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α). Results and conclusion: GCE significantly inhibited LPS-induced NF-κB p65 ser536 phosphorylation, MCP-1-induced chemotaxis and significantly enhanced phagocytosis and IgG production. In addition, GCE modulated PMA/PHA-induced TH1/TH2 cytokine production. Clinical investigations suggested that the expression of CD56 and CD16 was markedly augmented on NK cells following GCE treatment. GCE significantly enhanced IgA production before and after influenza vaccination. Similarly, IL-6, TNF-α and CRP levels were significantly inhibited by GCE. Together, GCE confers several salubrious immunomodulatory effects at different levels attributing to optimal functioning of immune responses in the host. Taxonomy: Cell biology, Clinical study, Clinical Trial.

Sustainable and green manufacturing of gravure printing cylinder for flexible packaging printing application.

Rotogravure printing cylinders are engraved by electro-mechanical engraving (EME) process in India used for printing purpose. But this process has drawbacks of the emissions of hazardous gases, solid and water pollution. EME cylinders are better in cell size, depth and needed higher copper and chrome plating thickness. By laser engraving (LE) copper and chromium thickness were reduced by 75 µm and 5 µm in a cylinder by laser engraving with also a reduction in power consumption and plating time. The carbon footprints were also reduced by 227 g per cylinder with a cost-effective solution for rotogravure printing process.

Use of kisspeptin to trigger oocyte maturation during in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment.

Infertility is a major global health issue and is associated with significant psychological distress for afflicted couples. In vitro fertilisation (IVF) utilises supra-physiological doses of stimulatory hormones to induce the growth of multiple ovarian follicles to enable surgical retrieval of several oocytes for subsequent fertilisation and implantation into the maternal endometrium. The supra-physiological degree of ovarian stimulation can lead to potential risks during IVF treatment, including ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and multiple pregnancy. The choice of oocyte maturation trigger, such as human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) or gonadotrophin releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa), can impact both the efficacy of IVF treatment with a bearing on luteal phase hormonal dynamics and thus the degree of luteal phase support required to maintain optimal pregnancy rates, as well as on safety of treatment with particular respect to the risk of OHSS. Kisspeptin regulates gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) release and is therefore a key regulator of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. Kisspeptin has been shown to be requisite for the occurrence of the physiological ovulatory luteinising hormone (LH) surge. In this review, we discuss the potential use of kisspeptin as a novel trigger of oocyte maturation.

Impact of the Drug Prices Control Order (2013) on the Utilization of Anticancer Medicines in India: An Interrupted Time-Series Analysis.

Objectives The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority introduced a series of Drug Prices Control Orders since 1970 to regulate the prices of essential medicines in India. This study evaluated the impact of the Drug Prices Control Order of 2013 on the utilization of anticancer medicines in the Indian private sector. Methods We used monthly sales audit data for a period of 2012-15, provided by Intercontinental Medical Statistics (IMS) Health. Through interrupted time series design and segmented regression models, we estimated the change in utilization of anticancer medicines following the drug pricing policy implementation. Results Of 1556 anticancer drug packs, 22.3% (n= 347) were price-controlled. The policy led to an immediate monthly reduction of 27.3% (95% CI -38.6%, -13.9%; p=0.001) and a long-term monthly reduction of 0.7% (95% CI -1.6%, 0.3%; p=0.16) in price-controlled formulation's utilization. In the final study month, the price-controlled formulation's utilization was 5.03 thousand standard units lower than what would have been expected without the policy. Melphalan showed the highest immediate reduction, and alpha-interferon showed the highest long-term reduction in utilization. Conclusion Drug prices control order 2013 caused an immediate and long-term decline in the utilization of anticancer medicines in the Indian private sector. However, study data was limited to a specific part of the Indian anticancer drug market, which must be considered when interpreting findings.

Candidate genes for infertility: an in-silico study based on cytogenetic analysis.

BACKGROUND: The cause of infertility remains unclear in a significant proportion of reproductive-age couples who fail to conceive naturally. Chromosomal aberrations have been identified as one of the main genetic causes of male and female infertility. Structural chromosomal aberrations may disrupt the functioning of various genes, some of which may be important for fertility. The present study aims to identify candidate genes and putative functional interaction networks involved in male and female infertility using cytogenetic data from cultured peripheral blood lymphocytes of infertile patients. METHODS: Karyotypic analyses was done in 201 infertile patients (100 males and 101 females) and 201 age and gender matched healthy controls (100 males and 101 females) after 72 h peripheral lymphocyte culturing and GTG banding, followed by bioinformatic analysis using Cytoscape v3.8.2 and Metascape. RESULTS: Several chromosomal regions with a significantly higher frequency of structural aberrations were identified in the infertile males (5q2, 10q2, and 17q2) and females (6q2, 16q2, and Xq2). Segregation of the patients based on type of infertility (primary v/s secondary infertility) led to the identification of chromosomal regions with a significantly higher frequency of structural aberrations exclusively within the infertile males (5q2, 17q2) and females (16q2) with primary infertility. Cytoscape identified two networks specific to these regions: a male specific network with 99 genes and a female specific network with 109 genes. The top enriched GO terms within the male and female infertility networks were "skeletal system morphogenesis" and "mRNA transport" respectively. PSME3, PSMD3, and CDC27 were the top 3 hub genes identified within the male infertility network. Similarly, UPF3B, IRF8, and PSMB1 were the top 3 hub genes identified with the female infertility network. Among the hub genes identified in the male- and female-specific networks, PSMB1, PSMD3, and PSME3 are functional components of the proteasome complex. These hub genes have a limited number of reports related to their respective roles in maintenance of fertility in mice model and humans and require validation in further studies. CONCLUSION: The candidate genes predicted in the present study can serve as targets for future research on infertility.

Evaluation of gallstone classification and their diagnosis through serum parameters as emerging tools in treatment: a narrative review.

The treatment of gallstones is a matter of real concern as they may cause gallbladder cancer if not properly attended to. Evaluating the classification of gallstones can give major clues in their treatment as it will decide their etiology, chemical composition, and pathogenesis. Also, serum parameters have emerged as an efficient tool for diagnosing gallstones. They can be probed to evaluate different biochemicals and the changes in their levels in gallstone patients which can be correlated with early prediction of the formation of gallstones. In the present review, a thorough search of the available literature was done starting from the earliest approaches for the classification of gallstones up to the recent advancements. The alteration in the level of serum parameters was also studied in gallstone patients so that it can act as a potential diagnostic tool for early detection of gallstone formation. The earliest classification of gallstones was done in 1896 by Naunyn. He classified them into pure cholesterol stones, laminated cholesterol stones, ordinary gallbladder stones, mixed bilirubin stones, and rare forms. The most recent classification of gallstones was done by Peter et al in 2020 and they classified them as pure, mixed, composite cholesterol, carbonate stones, black and brown pigment stones. The altered of levels of serum parameters was analyzed by Reuben (1985) and in recent times by Peter et al (2020). The various serum parameters studied were as RDW-CV test (red blood cell distribution width), PCT (prolactin) test, MPV (mean platelet count), LYM (lymphocyte) test, and EOS (eosinophil and eosinophil count test). Also, we discussed some practical considerations for gallstones that can be taken into account for gallstone prevention and diagnosis. Further research is required to detect gallstone type in the gallbladder by using the alteration in the levels of serum parameters.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of arthroscopic injection of a bioadhesive hydrogel implant in conjunction with microfracture for the treatment of focal chondral defects of the knee - an Australian perspective.

AIM: JointRep is a bioadhesive hydrogel arthroscopically injected to facilitate cartilage regeneration. The cost-effectiveness of JointRep with microfracture surgery compared to microfracture alone was evaluated from the Australian healthcare system perspective, in patients with symptomatic focal chondral defects (Outerbridge Grade 3 or 4) of the knee who had failed conservative treatment and were indicated for surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A de novo Markov model comprising two health states- 'Alive' and 'Dead' was developed. Model transition probability was based on the general population mortality rates. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores, a validated patient-reported tool measuring pain, stiffness, and physical function. The utility was derived by mapping WOMAC scores to EQ-5D scores using a published algorithm. Cost inputs were based on published Australian costs from AR-DRGs, Medicare Benefits Schedule, and Prostheses List. Model outcomes included costs, Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). Base-case analysis was conducted for a time horizon of 3 years and a cycle length of 1 year. Cost and health outcomes were discounted at 5% per annum. Sensitivity and scenario analyses were also conducted. RESULTS: Total QALYs were estimated to be higher for JointRep with microfracture surgery (2.61) compared to microfracture surgery alone (1.66), an incremental gain of 0.95 QALY. JointRep with microfracture surgery was associated with an incremental cost of $6,022 compared to microfracture surgery alone, thus leading to an ICER of $6,328. Results were substantially robust to varying parameters in the sensitivity analyses conducted, alternative model settings and assumptions in scenario analyses. LIMITATIONS: The clinical inputs used in the model were based on data from short duration, non-randomized, post-market clinical trial. CONCLUSIONS: JointRep with microfracture surgery is a cost-effective treatment option compared to microfracture alone from the Australian health care system perspective.

Urease Inhibitory Kinetic Studies of Various Extracts and Pure Compounds from Cinnamomum Genus.

Urease is an enzyme that plays a significant role in the hydrolysis of urea into carbonic acid and ammonia via the carbamic acid formation. The resultant increase in pH leads to the onset of various pathologies such as gastric cancer, urolithiasis, hepatic coma, hepatic encephalopathy, duodenal ulcers and peptic ulcers. Urease inhibitors can reduce the urea hydrolysis rate and development of various diseases. The Cinnamomum genus is used in a large number of traditional medicines. It is well established that stem bark of Cinnamomum cassia exhibits antiulcerogenic potential. The present study evaluated the inhibitory effect of seven extracts of Cinnamomum camphora, Cinnamomum verum and two pure compounds Camphene and Cuminaldehyde on urease enzyme. Kinetic studies of potential inhibitors were carried out. Methanol extract (IC50 980 µg/mL) of C. camphora and a monoterpene Camphene (IC50 0.147 µg/mL) possess significant inhibitory activity. The Lineweaver Burk plot analysis suggested the competitive inhibition by methanol extract, hexane fraction and Camphene. The Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis of hexane fraction revealed the contribution of various terpenes. The present study targets terpenes as a new class of inhibitors that have potential therapeutic value for further development as novel drugs.

Severe COVID-19 in Third Trimester Pregnancy: Multidisciplinary Approach.

The rapidly expanding cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have exposed vulnerable populations, including pregnant women to an unprecedented public health crisis. Recent data show that pregnancy in COVID-19 patients is associated with increased hospitalization, admission of the intensive care unit, and intubation. However, very few resources exist to guide the multidisciplinary team in managing critically ill pregnant women with COVID-19. We report our experience with managing a morbidly obese pregnant woman at 36 weeks' gestation with history of asthma and malignancy who presented with persistent respiratory symptoms at an outside hospital after being tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Early in the course of the hospitalization, patient received remdesivir, convalescent plasma, bronchodilator, systemic steroids, and IV heparin for COVID-19 and concomitant asthma exacerbation and pulmonary embolism. Due to increasing oxygen requirements, she was eventually intubated and transferred to our institution for higher level of care. Respiratory acidosis, severe hypoxemia, and vent asynchrony were managed with vent setting adjustment and paralytics. After 12 hours from spontaneous rupture of her membranes and with stabilization of maternal status, patient underwent a term cesarean delivery for nonreassuring fetal heart tracing. The neonate was discharged on the 2nd day of life, while the patient was extubated on the 6th postpartum day and was discharged to acute inpatient rehabilitation facility on the 19th hospital day. This report highlights the disease progression of COVID-19 in a pregnant woman, the clinical challenges in the critical care aspect of patient management, and the proposed multidisciplinary strategies utilizing an algorithmic approach to optimize maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Case Series of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis from a Tertiary Care Centre: An Underdiagnosed Entity.

OBJECTIVE: Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is an uncommon, life-threatening hyperinflammatory syndrome, caused by severe hypercytokinemia, due to an overstimulated but ineffective immune process. The presenting features of HLH are non-specific, mimicking many other diseases, and hence its early recognition still remains a challenge. It requires a high index of suspicion and detailed analysis of clinical and laboratory findings to arrive at a conclusive diagnosis. The objective of this study is to present detailed clinical and laboratory features of a series of HLH cases. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective study was conducted wherein all the bone marrow aspirate smears diagnosed as HLH between January 2015 to June 2018 were reviewed. Detailed correlation of clinical and laboratory criteria was done with the bone marrow findings. RESULTS: A total of twelve cases were diagnosed as HLH from January 2015 to June 2018. Ten patients fulfilled 5 out of 8 clinical and lab diagnostic criteria of HLH (2004). After correlating clinical and laboratory criteria along with bone marrow findings the diagnosis of HLH was suggested. CONCLUSION: We present a series of twelve cases of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis from a tertiary care hospital in New Delhi which will add not only to the understanding of this rare life threatening disease but also to the early diagnosis and intervention.

Cervical vertebral maturation method and mandibular growth peak: a longitudinal study of diagnostic reliability.

Background/objectives: The capability of the cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) method in the identification of the mandibular growth peak on an individual basis remains undetermined. The diagnostic reliability of the six-stage CVM method in the identification of the mandibular growth peak was thus investigated. Subjects/Methods: From the files of the Oregon and Burlington Growth Studies (data obtained between early 1950s and middle 1970s), 50 subjects (26 females, 24 males) with at least seven annual lateral cephalograms taken from 9 to 16 years were identified. Cervical vertebral maturation was assessed according to the CVM code staging system, and mandibular growth was defined as annual increments in Co-Gn distance. A diagnostic reliability analysis was carried out to establish the capability of the circumpubertal CVM stages 2, 3, and 4 in the identification of the imminent mandibular growth peak. Results: Variable durations of each of the CVM stages 2, 3, and 4 were seen. The overall diagnostic accuracy values for the CVM stages 2, 3, and 4 were 0.70, 0.76, and 0.77, respectively. These low values appeared to be due to false positive cases. Limitations: Secular trends in conjunction with the use of a discrete staging system. In most of the Burlington Growth Study sample, the lateral head film at age 15 was missing. Conclusions/Implications: None of the CVM stages 2, 3, and 4 reached a satisfactorily diagnostic reliability in the identification of imminent mandibular growth peak.

Chemical composition of processed bamboo for structural applications.

Natural materials are a focus for development of low carbon products for a variety of applications. To utilise these materials, processing is required to meet acceptable industry standards. Laminated bamboo is a commercial product that is currently being explored for structural applications, however there is a gap in knowledge about the effects of commercial processing on the chemical composition. The present study utilised interdisciplinary methods of analysis to investigate the effects of processing on the composition of bamboo. Two common commercial processing methods were investigated: bleaching (chemical treatment) and caramelisation (hygrothermal treatment). The study indicated that the bleaching process results in a more pronounced degradation of the lignin in comparison to the caramelised bamboo. This augments previous research, which has shown that the processing method (strip size) and treatment may affect the mechanical properties of the material in the form of overall strength, failure modes and crack propagation. The study provides additional understanding of the effects of processing on the properties of bamboo.