CORRELATION BETWEEN NEURAL RESPONSE TELEMETRY (NRT) MESUREMENT LEVEL AND BEHAVIORL (T-LEVEL AND C-LEVEL) IN PRELINGUAL COCHLEAR IMPLANT PATIENTS

 Objectives: To study the correlation between Neural Response Telemetry (NRT) measurement level and behavioral (Threshold level and Comfort level) in pre lingual cochlear implant patients age between 2 -10 years old at one and three months post implant. Methods: A cross sectional study conducted at University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center from September 2010 to January 2012. Total numbers of hundred patients were involved in this study.All recipients implanted with Nucleus 24 cochlear implant and had full insertion and normal activation of the electrode array. Comparison between intra-operative NRT measurement level and behavioral (T-level and C-level) in cochlear implant patients at one month and three months post implantation were obtained respectively. Results: This study showed the intra-operative NRT levels were seen to fall between the T and C levels in one and three months respectively. There was also a positive correlation between NRT value measurements and both T and C value measurements in both one and three months (p value 0.01). There is a fair strength of the linear relationship between NRT and behavioral level in both one and three month post implant as shown by the r value (0.4 at one month, 0.2 at three months) Conclusion: It is useful to use the NRT values to predict the behavioral T and C values in prelingual children and an additional tool for the mapping. Key words: Neural Response Telemetry (NRT); Threshold level; Comfort level; Nucleus 24 cochlear implant.

SARS-CoV-2 Syncytium under the Radar: Molecular Insights of the Spike-Induced Syncytia and Potential Strategies to Limit SARS-CoV-2 Replication

SARS-CoV-2 infection induces non-physiological syncytia when its spike fusogenic protein on the surface of the host cells interacts with the ACE2 receptor on adjacent cells. Spike-induced syncytia are beneficial for virus replication, transmission, and immune evasion, and contribute to the progression of COVID-19. In this review, we highlight the properties of viral fusion proteins, mainly the SARS-CoV-2 spike, and the involvement of the host factors in the fusion process. We also highlight the possible use of anti-fusogenic factors as an antiviral for the development of therapeutics against newly emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and how the fusogenic property of the spike could be exploited for biomedical applications

A Time-Series Analysis of Economic Growth in the Context of Indian Economy

India has a sizable and successful consumer class, which is critical given that household consumption accounts for 60% of GDP. Total market value is calculated by adding the monetary or market values of all final goods and services produced inside a nation's borders. Additionally, the gross domestic product at market value (GDP at market value) may be employed to reflect this total market value. Total domestic production is defined in terms of GDP to assess the economy's health. GDP is computed on a quarterly or yearly basis, depending on the state of the economy at the moment. Human capital is a country's most important natural resource, and it must be used appropriately and acknowledged to accomplish long-term economic goals sustainably. India is the world's second-most populated nation, with 1.3 billion people behind China. According to the World Bank, India's global influence has grown in lockstep with its consistent economic success. Compared to wealthier nations, emerging countries have several obstacles, including a lack of infrastructure and a low per capita income. Another issue that has to be addressed is the growth of rural economic systems. According to some experts, India's current economic instability will culminate in an unprecedented economic boom, which they believe has already begun

Urine Tests for Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases and Antibiotic-Resistant Pathogens

The relation between disease and urine was recognized by physicians since the earliest civilization BC. Urine is considered an ideal diagnostic specimen for its noninvasive and easy method of collection. Urinalysis encompasses a wide range of tests, which includes a variety of chemical tests, urine microscopy, bacterial cultures, and molecular tests. Importantly, urine tests can diagnose patients with antibiotic-resistant urinary tract infections (UTI), directly from urine and/or bacterial culture. This chapter summarizes the most common urine tests in the infectious disease field, with a special focus on diagnosing UTI and characterizing their antibiotic resistant. In addition to describing the advantages and limitation of these tests, the chapter explores the promising emerging technologies and methods in this field. This chapter is beneficial for scientists and healthcare workers in the field

Collagen-calcium alginate film dressing with therapeutic ultrasound to treat open wound in rats

About 24 healthy female Sprague-Dawley rats weighing between 300-350 g were used in this study over a 20 day period. They were allocated randomly into 4 groups of 6 animals each. After the creation of 2x2 cm open wound, group 1 was control treated with Gentamycin ointment. Groups 2-4 were treated with Therapeutic ultrasound massage, collagen-calcium alginate film and collagen-calcium alginate film with therapeutic ultrasound. On application, the collagen-calcium alginate film with therapeutic ultrasound was well accepted by the animals without any adverse reaction. Mean percentage of wound contraction were significantly better in group 4 (p<0.05). Faster epithelialization was also seen in the collagen-calcium alginate film with therapeutic ultrasound treated group as compared to the other groups. Collagen is a biocompatible protein that does not interfere with the body’s normal immunologic response and can be used in non-healing chronic wounds which require a trigger to stimulate the normal healing process. In extensive wounds when there is lack of autologous tissue, biomaterials like collagen-calcium alginate may be beneficial and can be used

Intercalation study of curcumin into zinc layered hydroxide

Zinc layered hydroxide (ZLH) intercalated with curcumin was successfully prepared by ion exchange method. The synthesised nanocomposite was characterised by Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The obtained intercalation compound, ZLH-curcumin nanocomposite (ZiCUR), showed a basal spacing of 10.0 Å when 0.01M of curcumin solution was used in the synthesis. The shifting in the stretching frequency of the curcumin anion provides strong evidence that the anion is bonded to the ZLH through electrostatic force. In FTIR, after intercalation, there is a noticeable shift of the O-H stretching vibrational bands. This is due to the formation of strong hydrogen bonds between curcumin and –OH groups in ZLH. Thus, this indicates that curcumin anions are present in the sample and were intercalated between positively charged ZLH layers, as indicated by the characteristics of PXRD pattern

Faraq Perkahwinan bagi Pasangan Tak Sah Taraf di Negeri Sembilan

Islam stressed on the importance of a valid marriage. If a marriage does not comply its requirement and conditions according to Shariah, it will raise negative implications not only on the status of the marriage, but also it will effect the status of the child. Hence, the marriage must be separated. Generally, the Muslim scholars define faraq as separation or dissolution of marriage through talaq or otherwise. However, according to Islamic law in Malaysia, faraq is not a dissolution of marriage via talaq, but it is an annulment of marriage due to non-fulfillment of terms and conditions which laid down by Shariah. In context of abiding the conditions and terms to marriage, having a wali is one of the conditions in solemnization of a valid marriage. Marriage which is solemnized by a non-qualified wali such as in cases of illegitimate children will cause the marriage to be separated. Data in this article is obtained from the reported cases tried in the Shariah Courts in Negeri Sembilan. Interviews were conducted with those legal practitioners such as syaria lawyers, religious officers, and judges from Shariah Courts in Negeri Sembilan who deal directly with faraq cases

Case Series of Cystic Echinococcosis Over a Twelve-year Period at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman

Objectives: Cystic echinococcosis is a worldwide zoonosis that is endemic in many countries including some in the Middle East. Exact prevalence rates for human echinococcosis are unknown for Oman. Methods: Following obtaining ethical approval, data from January 2010 to December 2021 were retrieved from hospital electronic records of Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat. Results: Over a 12-year period we saw nine cases of hydatid disease; two cases in females and seven cases in males. The median age of our patients was 31 years old. Four patients had pulmonary cysts, four had hepatic cysts, and one patient had pulmonary and hepatic cysts. The majority of patients were from the Ad Dakhiliyah governorate. Contact with animals was reported by three patients, denied by two, and unknown for four. Albendazole was prescribed to three patients with pulmonary cysts that subsequently ruptured reflecting the unfamiliarity of clinicians to best manage pulmonary hydatid cysts. Conclusions: The prevalence of cystic echinococcosis in Oman is unknown but appears rare. For optimal management of this disease, clinicians must become more aware of its diagnosis and management

Effect of compost and green manure to growth performance of Hibiscus sabdariffa.L and grown on BRIS soil

Fertility of BRIS soil was evaluated for growth performance of Hibiscus sabdariffa.L (Roselle) and to determine on the potential of Sesbania grandiflora as green manure for improvement of BRIS soil fertility. Growth performance of Hibiscus sabdariffa.L (Roselle) was determined by using three different media; BRIS soil, BRIS soil with compost and BRIS soil with green manure under two different light conditions (30% and 50%). The growth performance analysis of Roselle was carried out in the study to determine the effects on height of stem, number of leaves, stem diameter and biomass production (fresh and dry weight) of Roselle plants. The result showed that, the highest performance of stem height of Roselle was in BRIS soil with compost under 30% light intensity, while the best performance in term of number of leaves was BRIS soil with compost under 50% light intensity. In term of stem diameter, the highest value was in BRIS soil with compost under 50% light intensity. The highest performance of biomass production (fresh and dry weight) of roots, stems and fruit was treatment BRIS soil with compost under 50% light intensity. Based on statistical analysis using non-parametric method, the result indicated that there was significant different in the comparison of media BRIS soil and BRIS soil with compost under two different light conditions (30% and 50%). However, there was no significant different in comparison of media BRIS soil and BRIS soil with green manure. BRIS soil with compost showed the highest potential for growth performance of Roselle. In conclusion, compost is the best treatment that suitable for BRIS soil as it improves the fertility and structure of BRIS soil. Similarly, the light condition of 50% was better than 30% as sufficient amount of light is important for photosynthesis process and for growth and yield of plants