Study of Surface Modifications of Textile Card Clothing (AISI 1065 Alloy) by Laser Shock Peening.

AISI 1065 is a carbon steels that is widely used in manufacturing industrial components owing to its high tensile strength and wear resistance. One of the major applications of such high-carbon steels is the manufacturing of multipoint cutting tools for materials such as metallic card clothing. The quality of the yarn is determined by the transfer efficiency of the doffer wire, which depends on its saw tooth geometry. The life and efficiency of the doffer wire depends on its hardness, sharpness, and wear resistance. This study focuses on the output of laser shock peening on the surface of the cutting edge of samples without an ablative layer. The obtained microstructure is bainite, which is composed of finely dispersed carbides in the ferrite matrix. The ablative layer induces 11.2 MPa more surface compressive residual stress. The sacrificial layer acts as a thermal protectant by decreasing surface roughness to 30.5%. The sample with a protective layer has a value of 216 HV, which is 11.2% greater than that of the unpeened sample.

Comparative study on costs incurred for treatment of patients with bacterial and fungal keratitis - A retrospective analysis.

Purpose: To compare the costs associated with medications and travel of patients with smear-proven bacterial keratitis and fungal keratitis in a tertiary care center in India. Methods: Retrospective analysis of case records of a cohort of patients who presented between April 2017 and March 2018 to a tertiary care center in India, with infectious keratitis who were smear-positive for bacteria or fungi, and whose costs of treatment and travel were supported by a philanthropic program. Results: In total, 672 case records of 177 smear-positive bacterial keratitis (BK) and 495 smear-positive fungal keratitis (FK) were included in the study. Further, 62% of BK and 75% of FK received more than one antimicrobial drug (P < 0.001). The mean total medication cost (INR) was significantly more in FK (959.1 ± 675.2) compared to BK (674.9 ± 463.7) (P < 0.0001). The mean medication cost (INR) per visit was also more for FK (201.1 ± 109.4) compared to BK (155.2 ± 84.1) (P < 0.0001). The mean total medication cost was significantly more for FK for both patients who healed with medical treatment (611.6 ± 395.6 for BK, 801.5 ± 599.9 for FK, P = 0.0005) and for patients who required TPK (953.7 ± 653.1 for BK, 1374.6 ± 701.5 for FK, P = 0.0023) compared to their respective counterparts in BK. Conclusion: Patients with fungal keratitis incurred significantly more on medications compared to patients with bacterial keratitis irrespective of whether they had healed with successful medical treatment or required therapeutic keratoplasty. Prolonged duration of treatment and the high costs of antifungal medications account for the significant economic burden of fungal keratitis.

A study of behavioral and disease patterns among transgenders in a tertiary care center.

INTRODUCTION: Transgenders are a group whose sexual identity, orientation, and practices differ from majority of the society. AIM: The aim of the study is to highlight the presence of infectious and noninfectious dermatological and venereal diseases among transgender population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 120 transgender patients who attended DVL OPD from January 2011 to April 2015. The demographic profile, behavioral patterns, and prevalence of infectious and noninfectious dermatological and venereal diseases were studied. RESULTS: All transgenders were male to females. Almost 46.6% (56) of transgenders belonged to age group 21-30, 25% (30) to 11-20 and 30-40, and 3.4% to >40 years. Nearly 61.3% (74) completed high school, 14.7% (18) graduation, 12% (14) primary school, 9% (10) higher secondary, and 1.3% (2) were illiterate and postgraduates each. All had multiple sex partners at certain point of time, of which 25% (31) are now committed to a single partner and 15% (19) involved in commercial sex. The safe sexual practice was followed by 68% (84). Among sexual practices, oral contributed 97.3% (117), anal 92% (110.4), finger 9% (11), thigh 6% (7), and vaginal 24% (28.8). Of 120 patients, 63.3% (76) had infectious diseases, 42.5% (51) had noninfectious diseases, and 5.9% (7) had both. Nearly 76.3% (58) had infectious dermatological diseases 76.3 (58) and 23.7% (18) had venereal infections. Noninfectious dermatological diseases accounted for 96.1% (49) and venereal diseases for 4% (2). CONCLUSION: There was relatively lower prevalence of infectious venereal diseases among transgender population, attributable to the good level of awareness among them.

Porous orbital implant after enucleation in retinoblastoma patients: indications and complications.

This study aims to identify risk factors associated with complications in retinoblastoma patients following primary and secondary enucleations with porous implant placement. A retrospective case-control study was performed between 2010 and 2015. Data pertaining to subjects' demographics, medical history, clinical, and pathological findings, implant characteristics and complications were collected. The analysis included 103 eyes of 101 patients age 27.8 ± 21.9 months undergoing enucleation for retinoblastoma. Postoperatively, 19/103 (18%) eyes developed exposure, extrusion, or hematoma requiring subsequent surgery. Exposure was the most common postoperative complication (12/19, 63%). Age at enucleation 24 months or younger, Hispanic ethnicity, female gender, and intravenous chemotherapy prior to enucleation were associated with increased odds of implant complications. In contrast, patients who were given intravitreal melphalan (IM), subtenons carboplatin (SC), or external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) did not demonstrate an increased risk of complications. In this cohort of retinoblastoma patients undergoing primary or secondary enucleation with porous implants, implant exposure was the most common postoperative complication. Our findings suggest that female gender, Hispanic ethnicity, age at enucleation 24 months or younger, and intravenous chemotherapy prior to enucleation may increase the risk of complications.

Tackling multiple antibiotic resistance in enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) clinical isolates: a diarylheptanoid from Alpinia officinarum shows promising antibacterial and immunomodulatory activity against EPEC and its lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation.

Antibiotic treatment for infectious diseases commonly leads to host inflammatory responses. Molecules with bifunctional antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties could provide a solution for such clinical manifestations. Here we report such bifunctional activity for a diarylheptanoid (5-hydroxy-7-(4''-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-3-heptanone) isolated from Alpinia officinarum, a medicinal plant belonging to the Zingiberaceae family, against enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC). The diarylheptanoid showed inhibitory and bactericidal activity against EPEC clinical isolates and efficiently suppressed EPEC lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In silico docking analysis revealed that the diarylheptanoid could interact with subunit A of E. coli DNA gyrase. Such molecules with bifunctional activity may be potential therapeutics for infectious diseases.

Secondary interventions following endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm.

PURPOSE: To review the outcomes of endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) procedures, to determine the incidence of adverse events, and to assess the need for secondary radiological/surgical interventions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from 57 consecutive patients entered in a prospective EVAR database were studied. In addition to database interrogation, case notes and radiology records were reviewed. Frequency and outcome of complications were evaluated after stent-graft placement (mean follow up 20 months). RESULTS: Overall, 24 adverse events were recorded in 57 patients (42%). The events were endoleaks (14/24), stent migrations (3/24), deployment problems (2/24), limb occlusions (2/24), limb kink (1/24), and femoro-femoral crossover occlusions (2/24). Of all the endovascular patients studied, 23% (13/57) required secondary interventions to maintain aneurysm exclusion. The mean time to secondary intervention in this series was 14 months. CONCLUSION: Over 40% of EVAR procedures were associated with suboptimal clinical outcomes, and more than 20% of the patients required secondary interventions within 5 years of surgery. This high incidence of late secondary intervention is a cause for concern and emphasizes the need for lifelong follow-up.