Parallelism between hypovitaminosis D3 and recently detected myopia in children with amplified screen use in the COVID-19 era-A preliminary study.

Purpose: This introductory study aims to analyze the association of serum vitamin D3 levels with recently detected myopia in Indian children following home confinement post-COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Children aged 5-15 years who had not attended physical school in the past 1 year and visited the ophthalmology department with various ocular symptoms were divided into two groups: the myopic group with recently detected myopia and the non-myopic group with ocular ailments other than myopia. All children underwent basic ophthalmic evaluation and a general physical examination. Blood samples were collected for serum vitamin D3 levels. A pretested questionnaire inquiring about the duration of exposure to a digital screen, outdoor activities, and socioeconomic status was filled out for all children. Results: The mean serum vitamin D3 level in the myopic group was 28.17 ± 15.02 ng/dl in comparison to 45.36 ± 17.56 ng/dl in the non-myopic group (P value < 0.05). Linear regression of the data establishes that myopia is associated with hypovitaminosis D3 (OR- 13.12, 95% CI 2.90-50.32, a P value of 0.001). The correlation between spherical equivalent and vitamin D3 levels was significant (Pearson correlation value: 0.661). In the myopic group, 63.3% of children had screen use >6 hours against 43.3% of children in the non-myopic group. In the myopic group, 33.3% of the children had an outdoor activity duration of <2 hours against 6.6% of children in the non-myopic group. Conclusion: This study proposes hypovitaminosis D3 as a strong factor associated with the development of myopia in children. Although it is a preliminary study, it suggests that the trial for vitamin D3 supplementation in young children to delay or cease the development of myopia is warranted.

Effect of Ionic Strength, Nanoparticle Surface Charge Density, and Template Diameter on Self-Limiting Single-Particle Placement: A Numerical Study.

For the bottom-up approach where functional materials are constructed out of nanoscale building blocks (e.g., nanoparticles), it is essential to have methods that are capable of placing the individual nanoscale building blocks onto exact substrate positions on a large scale and on a large area. One of the promising placement methods is the self-limiting single-particle placement (SPP), in which a single nanoparticle in a colloidal solution is electrostatically guided by electrostatic templates and exactly one single nanoparticle is placed on each target position in a self-limiting way. This paper presents a numerical study on SPP, where the effects of three key parameters, (1) ionic strength (IS), (2) nanoparticle surface charge density (σNP), and (3) circular template diameter (d), on SPP are investigated. For 40 different parameter sets of (IS, σNP, d), a 30 nm nanoparticle positioned at R⃗ above the substrate was modeled in two configurations (i) without and (ii) with the presence of a 30 nm nanoparticle at the center of a circular template. For each parameter set and each configuration, the electrostatic potentials were calculated by numerically solving the Poisson-Boltzmann equation, from which interaction forces and interaction free energies were subsequently calculated. These have identified realms of parameter sets that enable a successful SPP. A few exemplary parameter sets include (IS, σNP, d) = (0.5 mM, -1.5 µC/cm2, 100 nm), (0.05 mM, -0.5 µC/cm2, 100 nm), (0.5 mM, -1.5 µC/cm2, 150 nm), and (0.05 mM, -0.8 µC/cm2, 150 nm). This study provides clear guidance toward experimental realizations of large-scale and large-area SPPs, which could lead to bottom-up fabrications of novel electronic, photonic, plasmonic, and spintronic devices and sensors.

Heat Stress Impacts on Cardiac Mortality in Nepali Migrant Workers in Qatar.

BACKGROUND: Qatar is a major destination country for Nepali migrant workers (NMWs; main age range 25-35 years) in the construction trade. These 120,000+ NMWs are exposed to various occupational hazards, including excessive heat, and 3-4 workers die each week. Our study aimed to show whether heat exposure caused deaths. METHODS: The worker population and mortality data of NMWs were retrieved from government institutions in Nepal. Heat exposure was assessed by monthly estimates of daily wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT), for in-shade conditions, from data collected at the Doha weather station from 2009 to 2017. Working in the sun during the middle of the day would add 2-3°C to the in-shade WBGT values. Daily deaths and their causes were obtained from the records of the Foreign Employment Promotion Board (FEPB) in Nepal, 2009-2017. Interviews with returning NMWs about their working conditions and the impacts of these conditions added information. The association between the heat variable and mortality was tested with standard statistical methods. RESULTS: The average annual death rate for NMWs in Qatar was 150 deaths/100,000. According to interviews, the majority of NMWs were found working in high WBGT (>31°C) each working day during hot months. The major cause of these deaths was recorded as cardiovascular problems (cardiovascular disease; CVD). Unfortunately, the causes of death were poorly described, and many deaths were listed as "cardiac arrest." We included these deaths in the broader category of "cardiovascular causes." There was a strong correlation between average monthly afternoon heat levels (WBGT) and CVD mortality. It is likely that a large proportion of these CVD deaths during hot months were due to serious heat stroke. Global studies show that approximately 15% of deaths in the age group 25-35 years are due to CVD causes. However, in this NMW population, the figures were 22% during the cool season and 58% during the hot season. CONCLUSIONS: The increased CVD mortality during hot periods is most likely due to severe heat stress. As many as 200 of the 571 CVD deaths during 2009-2017 could have been prevented if effective heat protection had been implemented as a part of local occupational health and safety programs. There is an urgent need for protection against such heat effects among NMWs, and rising temperatures from ongoing climate change are further increasing the health risks. Cause of death records for workers dying in hot conditions should be more precise than "cardiac arrest."

Kapetansky-Juri Technique to Correct the Whistlers Lip in the Multiple Operated Cleft Patient.

PURPOSE: One of the common sequels of a cleft lip repair may be "whistling lip deformity" but other deformities are also seen particularly in failed or multiple resurgery cases. This retrospective study was carried out to evaluate the usefulness of "Kapetansky-Juri" advancement flap technique to correct such deformities. METHODS: Ten patients of bilateral cleft lip with history of minimum five failed cleft lip surgeries and having residual lip deformity were operated using "Kapetansky-Juri" advancement flap technique and were followed up to minimum 36 months. RESULTS: All patients showed good tissue fullness and complete correction of the deformity. There was no contracture of surrounding skin or vermilion during follow-up period. In eight patients minimal scar formation was seen while two showed midline scar formation. CONCLUSION: No tissue loss due to vascular insufficiency was observed. The technique gives good tissue distribution and minimal surface scar formation.

Management of Late Post-traumatic Facial Artery Pseudoaneurysmal Cyst: Review of Literature.

Pseudoaneurysms of the branches of the external carotid artery as a result of trauma are rare in oral and maxillofacial surgery practice. The most affected branches are the superficial temporal artery, internal maxillary artery and distal part of facial artery, usually where they pass over the bone. Very few cases of facial artery pseudoaneurysms of proximal parts (from external carotid artery up to the lower border of the mandible) are reported in the literature. We present a review of literature for management of late post-traumatic pseudoaneurysmal cyst and a case report involving proximal part of facial artery in the submandibular region following open reduction and rigid fixation of the condylar fracture in a 25-year-old male. To our knowledge this is the fourth reported case of proximal facial artery pseudoaneurysm.

Mandibular subsigmoid access osteotomy in the management of parapharyngeal space tumors.

Primary parapharyngeal space tumors are rare presentation in the head, face, neck region. Most of these tumors are benign in nature and significantly cast a challenge in terms of diagnosis and their surgical management. Anatomical location of these tumors, either prestyloid or poststyloid, size of the tumor, and proximity to the vital structures determine the appropriate surgical approach. The surgical approach to the parapharyngeal tumors should provide adequate visibility and access for complete removal, preserving the adjacent vital structures and also preventing recurrence. We report our experience in diagnostic workup and management of a series of 18 primary parapharyngeal space tumors with long-term follow-up.

Incidence and Pattern of Cranio-Maxillofacial Injuries: A 22 year Retrospective Analysis of Cases Operated at Major Trauma Hospitals/Centres in Pune, India.

This study aims to retrospectively analyze the incidence and pattern of cranio-maxillofacial injuries in the developing world in a hope to emphasize on authorities the need of improvising infrastructural facilities, medical and other. Hospital medical records with available radiographs of 6,872 patients treated for cranio-maxillofacial injuries at major trauma centres in Pune, India over a 22 year period (from July 1989 to June 2010) were reviewed. Relevant data pertaining to patients' age, sex, cause of injury, sites of injury, associated injuries, anaesthesia, various treatment modalities and complications were recorded and analyzed statistically. A total of 6,872 patients sustained maxillofacial injuries of which 5,936 (86.4 %) were caused by road traffic accidents (RTA), followed by fall in 608 cases. Distribution pattern of sex revealed male predominance (M:F-2.5:1) and the third decade age group (2,416) sustained maximum cranio-maxillofacial injuries. Of 12,503 cranio-maxillofacial sites involved, mandible (6,456) predominated, while there was middle third involvement in 5,024 cases. Most of the patients (4,856) were treated with open reduction and internal fixation without maxillo-mandibular fixation and complications were noted in 320 patients. In comparison to similar recent studies reported in the literature, our findings show that RTA remains the most common cause of cranio-maxillofacial injuries with male preponderance. Also RTA remains the major preventable etiological factor of cranio-maxillofacial injuries, which should prompt authorities to take "Herculean effort" to implement rules and educate people.