Modeling correlation indices between bladder and Foley's catheter balloon dose with CT-based planning using limited CT slices in intracavitary brachytherapy for carcinoma of cervix

Purpose: To derive and validate an index to correlate the bladder dose with the catheter balloon dose using limited computed tomography (CT) slices. Materials and Methods: Applicator geometry reconstructed from orthogonal radiographs were back-projected on CT images of the same patients for anatomy-based dosimetric evaluation. The correlation indices derived using power function of the catheter balloon dose and the bladder volume dose were validated in 31 patients with cervical cancer. Results: There was significant correlation between International Commission on Radiation Units (ICRU)-38 balloon reference dose (Dr) and the dose received by 25% bladder volume (D 25 ) (P < 0.0001). Significant correlation was also found between the reference dose of mid-balloon point (D rm ) and the dose to D 25 (P < 0.0001). Average percentage difference [100 x (observed index - expected index) / expected index] of observed value of I\u2032 25 (index for the dose to D25 bladder with respect to mid-balloon reference point) from that of expected value was 0.52%, when the index was modeled with reference dose alone. Similarly the average percentage difference for I\u203210cc (index for the dose to 10 cc volume of bladder with respect to mid balloon point) was 0.84%. When this index was modeled with absolute bladder volume and reference dose, standard deviation of the percentage difference between observed and expected index for D rm reduced by approximately 2% when compared to D r . Conclusion: For clinical applications, correlation index modeled with reference dose and volume predicts dose to absolute volume of bladder. Correlation index modeled with reference dose gives a good estimate of dose to relative bladder volume. From our study, we found D rm to be a better indicator of bladder dose than D r

Incidence of rebleed following 23 gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy for vitreous hemorrhage due to vascular etiologies

Context: There has been speculation among surgeons on whether the incidence of rebleeds is higher whilst using the small gauge surgery and the concern is probably due to the higher reported incidence of post-operative hypotony in sutureless wounds. Hence, we carried out this study to report the incidence of rebleed following 23 gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy (TSV) for vitreous hemorrhage (VH) due to vascular etiologies. Aims: The aim of our study was to study the incidence of rebleed following 23 gauge TSV for VH due to vascular etiologies. Settings and Design: Retrospective case series. Materials and Methods: One hundred and nineteen eyes underwent 23-gauge TSV for VH due to proliferative diabetic retinopathy (n = 95), retinal vein occlusion (n = 15) and vasculitis (n = 9). Patients were examined post-operatively on day 1, 30, 90, and finally at 180 days. Statistical Analysis Used: Paired t-test and Fisher test. Results: Rebleed was noted in 17 patients of whom 3 had spontaneous clearance while 14 (11.8%) had a non-clearing post-operative vitreous hemorrhage. Of these 14 eyes, re-vitrectomy was performed in 8 eyes while six patients underwent air blood exchange. Conclusions: The incidence of non-clearing VH requiring intervention following 23 gauge TSV is 11.8%. All the eyes had clear media at final follow-up

Impact of Wheat Cultivation under Conservation Practices on Resourceuse Efficiency in Karnal and Kurukshetra Districts of Haryana

A study was conducted to examine the resource-use efficiency of wheat cultivation under conservation and conventional methods in Haryana. A sample of 120 wheat producers was surveyed in four villages in the study area during 2012-13.The allocative efficiency of labour and irrigation in wheat cultivation using zero seed drill indicated over-use of these resources. The allocative efficiency of wheat cultivation under conventional tillage system showed that labour-use efficiency was 0.83 and fertilizer-use efficiency was 0.53. The allocative efficiency of wheat cultivation with rotavator showed that fertilizer-use and irrigation-use efficiency were over-used. The estimated mean technical efficiency of wheat farms under zero-tillage was 96% in their use of inputs. The technical efficiency of cultivation by rotavator was found to be 95%, indicating that average return of wheat could be increased by 5% by adopting the technology more scientifically. The economic efficiency measure was 62%, 52% and 34% in zero, rotavator and conventional tillage, respectively, indicating that there was scope to increase the returns by 38%, 48% and 64%, respectively, with optimum resource allocation. The study revealed that the farmers were inefficient in using their resources

Correlation between clinical features, biochemical parameters, and histopathological findings in women with patterned baldness: Study from North India

Background: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a non-scarring alopecia with a characteristic pattern in genetically predisposed men and women. Hormonal abnormalities namely hyperandrogenism, hair cycle defects, genetic predisposition, and follicular miniaturization have been implicated as the causative factors for AGA. Aim: To analyze women with patterned hair loss and correlate their clinical findings with the histopathology and biochemical parameters. Materials and Methods: Female patients between 18 and 45 years of age with a history of hair loss on the crown, temporal area, and recession of hairline were clinically examined. These patients were then subjected to histopathological examination, and on confirmation of diagnosis of female pattern hair loss (FPHL), they were included in the study. Their morning blood sample was taken on 3rd–5th day of the menstrual cycle for hormonal analysis. The study was carried out on 30 patients and 30 age- and sex-matched controls. Results: A statistically significant difference was observed between the mean values of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, prolactin, androstenedione, and free triiodothyronine of cases and controls. The most common histopathological finding in our study was an increase in the percentage of telogen hair. Conclusion: The biochemical findings in our study corroborate the role of hyperandrogenism as one of the major etiological factors in FPHL with the role of adrenal androgens being central, and therefore all female patients with FPHL should be evaluated for underlying hormonal imbalances. The role of histopathology in FPHL can be used as a prognostic marker

Beta-Boswellic Acid Reverses 3-Nitropropionic Acid-Induced Molecular, Mitochondrial, and Histopathological Defects in Experimental Rat Model of Huntington’s Disease

Huntington’s disease (HD) is distinguished by a triple repeat of CAG in exon 1, an increase in poly Q in the Htt gene, and a loss of GABAergic medium spiny neurons (MSN) in the striatum and white matter of the cortex. Mitochondrial ETC-complex dysfunctions are involved in the pathogenesis of HD, including neuronal energy loss, synaptic neurotrophic decline, neuronal inflammation, apoptosis, and grey and white matter destruction. A previous study has demonstrated that beta Boswellic acid (β-BA), a naturally occurring phytochemical, has several neuroprotective properties that can reduce pathogenic factors associated with various neurological disorders. The current investigation aimed to investigate the neuroprotective potential of β-BA at oral doses of 5, 10, and 15 mg/kg alone, as well as in conjunction with the potent antioxidant vitamin E (8 mg/kg, orally) in 3-NP-induced experimental HD rats. Adult Wistar rats were separated into seven groups, and 3-NP, at a dose of 10 mg/kg, was orally administered to each group of adult Wistar rats beginning on day 1 and continuing through day 14. The neurotoxin 3-NP induces neurodegenerative, g, neurochemical, and pathological alterations in experimental animals. Continuous injection of 3-NP, according to our results, aggravated HD symptoms by suppressing ETC-complex-II, succinate dehydrogenase activity, and neurochemical alterations. β-BA, when taken with vitamin E, improved behavioural dysfunctions such as neuromuscular and motor impairments, as well as memory and cognitive abnormalities. Pharmacological treatments with β-BA improved and restored ETC complexes enzymes I, II, and V levels in brain homogenates. β-BA treatment also restored neurotransmitter levels in the brain while lowering inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress biomarkers. β-BA’s neuroprotective potential in reducing neuronal death was supported by histopathological findings in the striatum and cortex. As a result, the findings of this research contributed to a better understanding of the potential role of natural phytochemicals β-BA in preventing neurological illnesses such as HD