Evaluate the effectiveness of tonsillectomy and long-acting penicillin on the levels of the antistreptolysin O titer in children with recurrent tonsillitis

Background: Tonsillitis is widespread among children and has serious poststreptococcal complications, and both the patients and clinician have to face the question on what is the role and benefit of using long-acting penicillin and whether it is an alternative method of treatment to surgery?. This study was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of tonsillectomy compared with long-acting penicillin in the treatment of recurrent tonsillitis, comparing their effects on the levels of the antistreptolysin O titer (ASOT).Methods: A total of 100 patients aged 4-15 years with recurrent tonsillitis and signs of chronic tonsillitis, after exclusion of patients with bleeding diathesis, anemia, chronic illness, and criteria of rheumatic fever, were included in this study, they were divided to two groups comprising 50 patients each. The first group was treated by tonsillectomy, whereas the second group was treated using long-acting penicillin monthly for 6 months. They were clinically evaluated, ASOT levels were recorded for all patients before management and after 6 months.Results: The mean ASOT readings before management and after 6 months for the tonsillectomy group were 518.29 and 117.13 IU/ml, respectively (P value <0.004), whereas for the penicillin group, they were 526.70 and 262.98 IU/ml, respectively (P value <0.072).Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the first line of treatment of recurrent chronic tonsillitis is tonsillectomy, as it is both clinically effective and cost-effective for children and that the second line of treatment is long-acting penicillin with a long-term follow-up and in patients have contraindications for surgery such as bleeding diathesis

An unusual presentation of postauricular swelling: cholesterol granuloma

Post auricular swellings are not uncommon encounterances in surgical practice. Common differential diagnosis would include dermoid and lymph nodes. Cholesterol granulomas are cystic swellings formed with a multi-nucleated giant cell reaction to red blood cells’ breakdown products, haemosiderin and cholesterol crystals. Any aerated portion of the temporal bone may develop a cholesterol granuloma; the mastoid air cells are the most common location and are the most common cystic lesion of the petrous apex. This is the first, unique and rare case of post auricular presentation of a cholesterol granuloma. 21-year-old female presented with a painless swelling behind the left ear from last four years. The radiological examination revealed a left-sided, soft-tissue mass extending into the posterior fossa. She underwent a surgical exploration and complete resection was achieved. The histopathological and radiological features were consistent with a cholesterol granuloma. Authors have seen first case of a mastoid cholesterol granuloma presented as a postauricular swelling. This case illustrates the need to consider cholesterol granuloma in daily clinical practice. Otologists should be aware of uncharacteristic invasive cholesterol granulomas of the mastoid, which require aggressive surgical obliteration

The significance of expression of Her2neu in squamous cell carcinoma of uterine cervix

Background: Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer related deaths among females. It arises from precursor lesions i.e. squamous intraepithelial lesions which are closely associated with infection by HPV. The ERBB2 protooncogene encodes for a cellular transmembrane protein (erb-b2) which has tyrosine kinase activity and has been implicated in the regulation of cellular growth and proliferation in various cancers. Application of monoclonal antibodies against Her2neu has shown higher response and improved survival. The aim of the study was to evaluate the expression of Her2neu in squamous cell carcinoma of cervix in relation to tumor characteristics and to compare the expression with normal control subjects.Methods: It was a cross-sectional analytical study. Paraffin embedded tissue blocks from 30 cases of squamous cell carcinoma were obtained from the archives. Twenty age matched cases of normal cervix removed for lesions other than that related to cervix (like leiomyoma) were taken as control. Tumour characteristics were noted from the records. Her2neu immunostaining was done. Her2neu expression was scored as positive or negative according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the College of American Pathologists (ASCO/CAP) scoring system for Her2neu. The Chi-square test was used to compare and find association between the variables. Student t-test was used to compare the variable between cases and controls.Results: Her2neu was positive in 20% and negative in 80% cases of the study group. Her2neu positivity is not associated with size, histological grade and FIGO stage of the tumor. We found that all Her2neu positive cases showed no lymph node metastasis. This association between Her2neu positivity and lymph node status was statistically significant.Conclusions: Her2neu immunoexpression is variable across various categories of squamous cell carcinoma. Her2neu positivity might be negatively associated with lymph node metastasis. However, a more comprehensive study encompassing various factors related to Her2neu overexpression is required to validate these results

Effect of Surface Treatment on the Physical, Chemical, and Mechanical Properties of Palm Tree Leaf Stalk Fibers

A new class of leaf stalk fibers of the palm tree were extracted and treated with a 5% NaOH solution for 1 h, 2 h, 6 h, and 12 h. The treated fibers were then characterized by tensile strength testing, chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and solid state NMR. The tensile strength of the fibers was improved with an alkali treatment, and the 6 h treatment resulted in the maximum fiber strength. The maximum cellulose content was present in the 6 h-treated fibers; cellulose content was reduced with a longer treatment (12 h). Similarly, SEM, FTIR, XRD, and NMR confirmed the removal of hemicelluloses from the raw fiber surface and the formation of new hydrogen bonds between the cellulose fibril chains with respect to the duration of the treatment. The 5% alkali treatment also improved the fiber density from 0.85 gm/cc (raw fiber) to 1.05 gm/cc, 1.13 gm/cc, 1.17 gm/cc, and 1.25 gm/cc after the 1 h, 2 h, 6 h, and 12 h treatments, respectively

Traffic Noise and its Impact on Wellness of the Residents in Sambalpur City – a Critical Analysis

Noise is unwanted sound judged to be unpleasant, loud or disruptive to hearing. Like air pollution, noise pollution is one of the serious matters of concern in urban areas. Noise pollution occurs when noise level exceeds certain limit and has deleterious effects on human health and wellness. The major sources of noise pollution are industries, road traffic, railways, airplane traffic and social celebrations. The traffic noise is notably high in cities due to higher density of population, frequent movement of people, good transport system coupled with increasing numbers of vehicles (on road). In this work, the assessments of traffic noise in Sambalpur city is presented. Twelve important locations were chosen for the assessment. Noise contours were drawn to visualize the spreading of traffic noise into its surroundings. At the same time, the effect of noise pollution on wellness of the exposed people was studied. The study shows that the traffic noise level and its effects, are both in an alarming stage in the city

Diversity and Inclusion Activities in Database Conferences: A 2021 Report

International audienceDiversity and Inclusion (D&I) are core to fostering innovative thinking. Existing theories demonstrate that to facilitate inclusion, multiple types of exclusionary dynamics, such as self-segregation, communication apprehension, and stereotyping and stigmatizing, must be overcome. A diverse group of people tends to surface different perspectives, which help to understand and address D&I. Fostering D&I in research communities must address issues related to inclusive interpersonal and small group dynamics, rules and codes of conduct, increasing diversity in under-represented groups and disciplines, and organizing D&I events, and long-term efforts to champion change

Diversity and Inclusion Activities in Database Conferences: A 2021 Report

International audienceDiversity and Inclusion (D&I) are core to fostering innovative thinking. Existing theories demonstrate that to facilitate inclusion, multiple types of exclusionary dynamics, such as self-segregation, communication apprehension, and stereotyping and stigmatizing, must be overcome. A diverse group of people tends to surface different perspectives, which help to understand and address D&I. Fostering D&I in research communities must address issues related to inclusive interpersonal and small group dynamics, rules and codes of conduct, increasing diversity in under-represented groups and disciplines, and organizing D&I events, and long-term efforts to champion change

Diversity and Inclusion Activities in Database Conferences: A 2021 Report

International audienceDiversity and Inclusion (D&I) are core to fostering innovative thinking. Existing theories demonstrate that to facilitate inclusion, multiple types of exclusionary dynamics, such as self-segregation, communication apprehension, and stereotyping and stigmatizing, must be overcome. A diverse group of people tends to surface different perspectives, which help to understand and address D&I. Fostering D&I in research communities must address issues related to inclusive interpersonal and small group dynamics, rules and codes of conduct, increasing diversity in under-represented groups and disciplines, and organizing D&I events, and long-term efforts to champion change