Study of Cardiac Abnormalities in HIV Patients and their Correlation with CD4 Count

INTRODUCTION: Human immunodeficiency virus is a retrovirus that affects all systems in the body. Among this cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of non HIV related death in HIV patients. Although many cardiovascular complications have been described like pulmonary hypertension, systemic hypertension, infective endocarditis and accelerated atherosclerosis in HIV patients, the most common complications include diastolic dysfunction, left ventricular systolic dysfunction, pericardial effusion, dilated cardiomyopathy and coronary artery disease. As the disease progresses the CD4 count declines which increases the cardiovascular complications leading to death. So echocardiographic screening should be performed in all HIV patients with low CD4 count for early detection and management of the complications. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To assess the cardiac abnormalities such as systlolic dysfunction, diastolic dysfunction, dilated cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease, pulmonary hypertension and infective endocarditis and their correlation with CD4 count. 2. To evaluate whether this parameter can be used as prognostic marker of disease progression in HIV patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study Population: This study was conducted among 200 HIV positive patients coming to ART Centre, Govt. Rajaji Hospital, Madurai. Study Protocol: Cases were classified as HIV patients into four groups depending upon the CD4 cell count >500 ( stage1),CD4 cell count 200 – 500 (stage 2), and 50-200(stage 3) and <50 (stage 4). CD4 count, ECG and Echocardiograrm were done in all the participants of the study. RESULTS: In this study pericardial effusion was the most common finding and was present in 15% of the study population, followed by systolic dysfunction (13%),diastolic dysfunction (11.5%) and dilated cardiomyopathy (9%) and all were statistically significant. All cardiac abnormalities were present in patients in stage 3&4 with low CD4 count (<200/microlitre). CONCLUSION: Cardiovascular abnormalities are more common and predictable complications in late stages of HIV infection. So all HIV patients with low CD4 count (<200/microlitre) should be screened for cardiac abnormalities. Early diagnosis and management of these complications is associated with increased survival rates and clinical outcomes in HIV patients

Resource Management in Fog Networking of Cloud Computing using KNN Algorithm

It is necessary to deploy any application in Cloud environment to reduce the investment cost, maintenance cost and licence of hardware/software. Keeping these benefits, it is advised to go for cloud computing environment for any application deployment. The major challenge in this environment is fault tolerance of resources to support for continuous availability of resources to client for working. Especially in IoT applications, we use Fog networking connecting to cloud computing. In this scenario, it is advised to use KNN (K- Nearest Neighbour) resource identification and allocation algorithm to increase the throughput to user requirement. We are presenting an approach to allocate the required resources with optimal distance resource allocation, so as to improve the throughput of user requirement

The influence of site aspect and pruning types on Pinot noir phenology and shoot growth

Aim: Managing the influence that terroir in vineyards has on vine development depends on improving our understanding the effect of the interaction of within-site variability, within-vine variability, and management practices (such as pruning types) on phenology and vine development. This study evaluates the consequence of site aspect and pruning management on budburst, leaf appearance rate, and shoot growth in Pinot noir vines. Methods and results: Two rows of 19-year-old Pinot noir vines were selected within a commercial vineyard with south, hilltop, and north-facing aspects (note: the north-facing slope is sun-facing in the Southern Hemisphere). Vines were either cane- or spur-pruned, retaining 20 nodes per vine. Budburst, shoot development, and leaf appearance were assessed, and vine trunk circumference was measured to quantify the accumulated differences in vine vigour. Hilltop plots had smaller trunk circumferences when compared to the south- and north-facing plots. Irrespective of topographical positions, budburst was earlier in cane-pruned vines compared to spur-pruned vines, but no differences were observed by the time of 12-leaf stage. The rate of shoot growth reflected the variations in topographical positions and trunk circumference. Cane-pruning exhibited more significant within-vine variation in budburst, budburst duration, and shoot growth when compared with spur-pruning. Shoots from hilltop vines were shorter relative to the vines at other plots for both pruning systems. Conclusions: The rate of shoot growth and development was associated more with site and vine vigour as determined by trunk circumference than pruning type. Spur-pruned vines had a later but more uniform budburst when compared to cane-pruned vines. Significance and impact of the study: Pruning type and within-site variability may lead to differences in canopy density and vine vigour, which can ultimately impact subsequent growth and development of the grapevine. Determining the influence of terroir within the vineyard on budburst, leaf appearance, and shoot growth variability will enable the development of improved phenology and growth models to describe within vineyard variability

Perspective Chapter: Current Situation of Insecticide Residues in Food Commodities and Possible Strategies for Management of Residues

Pesticides have evolved into a crucial instrument in agriculture’s evolution as a plant protection agent for increasing food output. Moreover, pesticides contribute significantly by preventing a number of terrible diseases. However, both occupational and environmental pesticide exposure can lead to a number of health issues in people. It has been noted that pesticide exposures are becoming more and more associated with immune system suppression, hormone disruption, lowered intellect, abnormalities in reproduction, and cancer. Because of the great demand for farm produce and their lack of awareness of the hazardous consequences of pesticide residues in food, some farmers do not wait long enough for the residues to wash off after spraying before harvesting. As a result, residues in food products have appeared as a result of increased pesticide use in agriculture. Some of the primary tactics for reducing human exposure to pesticides are pesticide safety, regulation of pesticide usage, appropriate application technology, and integrated pest management

Missense mutation of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) alters neurocognitive performance in patients with mild traumatic brain injury: a longitudinal study

The predictability of neurocognitive outcomes in patients with traumatic brain injury is not straightforward. The extent and nature of recovery in patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) are usually heterogeneous and not substantially explained by the commonly known demographic and injury-related prognostic factors despite having sustained similar injuries or injury severity. Hence, this study evaluated the effects and association of the Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) missense mutations in relation to neurocognitive performance among patients with mTBI. 48 patients with mTBI were prospectively recruited and MRI scans of the brain were performed within an average 10.1 (SD 4.2) hours post trauma with assessment of their neuropsychological performance post full Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) recovery. Neurocognitive assessments were repeated again at 6 months follow-up. The paired t-test, Cohen’s d effect size and repeated measure ANOVA were performed to delineate statistically significant differences between the groups [wildtype G allele (Val homozygotes) vs. minor A allele (Met carriers)] and their neuropsychological performance across the time point (T1 = baseline/ admission vs. T2 = 6th month follow-up). Minor A allele carriers in this study generally performed more poorly on neuropsychological testing in comparison wildtype G allele group at both time points. Significant mean differences were observed among the wildtype group in the domains of memory (M = -11.44, SD = 10.0, p = .01, d = 1.22), executive function (M = -11.56, SD = 11.7, p = .02, d = 1.05) and overall performance (M = -6.89 SD = 5.3, p = .00, d = 1.39), while the minor A allele carriers showed significant mean differences in the domains of attention (M = -11.0, SD = 13.1, p = .00, d = .86) and overall cognitive performance (M = -5.25, SD = 8.1, p = .01, d = .66).The minor A allele carriers in comparison to the wildtype G allele group, showed considerably lower scores at admission and remained impaired in most domains across the timepoints, although delayed signs of recovery were noted to be significant in the domains attention and overall cognition. In conclusion, the current study has demonstrated the role of the BDNF rs6265 Val66Met polymorphism in influencing specific neurocognitive outcomes in patients with mTBI. Findings were more detrimentally profound among Met allele carriers

‘Reading and Interpreting Brecht’ – Q&A with Director Dr Wang Xiaoying

Invited panelis