Chest X ray score (Timika score): an useful adjunct to predict treatment outcome in tuberculosis

Introduction: Chest X-ray (CXR) has been used since long as an aid in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and also to determine the extent of the disease. The present study was conducted to evaluate the correlation of disease extent on CXR basing on the Timika CXR score with clinical and microbiological parameters at baseline, in sputum positive cases of pulmonary tuberculosis. Material and methods: The study was conducted at a tertiary referral centre for chest diseases in Bangalore, Karnataka from January 2017 to January 2018. This is a prospective study of new sputum smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis cases diagnosed in the department of Pulmonary Medicine. At baseline, patients’ symptoms and signs on chest auscultation were recorded. The clinical scoring was done by the Karfosky performance score (KPS) and TB score I (Bandim TB score) and II. Baseline CXR- PA view of each patient was assessed independently by two chest physicians and evaluated by the Timika CXR scoring method. Routine blood investigations and sputum smear for acid fast bacilli were done. The correlation between the CXR score and other disease severity parameters was analysed. Results: Clinical scores such as the KPS and TB score I (Bandim TB score) and II, did not correlate with the presence of cavitary disease on CXR (p > 0.05). 48.6% of patients with cavitary disease had higher baseline AFB density in sputum (i.e. sputum smear microscopy grade 3+) as compared to 40% of patients with non cavitary disease, which was not statistically significant. CXR score > 71 was significantly associated with longer duration of symptoms, higher clinical scores (KPS and TB score I, II) and lower Body Mass Index (BMI) at diagnosis of PTB (p < 0.05). 65.2% of the patients with CXR score > 71 had significantly higher baseline AFB density as compared to only 32.4% with CXR result ≤ 71 (p 0.04). CXR score > 71 also had significant association with higher ESR. Conclusion: Cavitary disease on CXR is associated with a higher mycobacterial load at baseline. The Timika CXR score is a simple, standard scoring system which can be used by a chest physician in a clinical setting. The CXR score significantly correlates with a broad range of clinical and microbiological measures of disease severity in PTB patients. Thus, it has a role in risk stratification, especially in patients not producing sputum or sputum negative PTB at diagnosis

Aspects of secondary bonding intramolecular interaction in organomercury and organochalcogen derivatives

Recent trends in the area of intramolecularly coordinated organomercury and organochalcogens derivatives are reviewed. Intramolecular coordination in organomercury derivatives facilitates the formation of mercurametallamacrocycle and leads to novel metal-metal interaction with closed shell ions. It also plays a key role in stabilizing telluroxanes as well as in the activation of chalcogen-carbon bonds

Digital Era of Orthodontics: A Review

Orthodontic treatment is a complex dental treatment which sometimes requires an interdisciplinary team where different specialists of dental medicine have to manage a vast quantity of data especially in adult orthodontics. In such complicated cases, good diagnostic tools and easy communication are essential. Computer science has an increasing impact in almost every aspect of the orthodontic practice. This review will discuss into the said aspects in the practice of orthodontics as well as evaluate the applications of computer technology in orthodontics like digital photographs, cone beam computed tomography, virtual study models, communication, three-dimensional craniofacial imaging, virtual reality softwares for prediction and treatment planning, video imaging, manufacture of orthodontic appliance, web-based digital orthodontic records and network-attached storage devices

IN VITRO ANALYSIS OF ANTIMICROBIAL COMPOUNDS FROM ALSTONIA SCHOLARIS

Objective: The increasing prevalence of drug-resistant pathogens has gained the attention of pharmaceutical and scientific communities towardpotential antimicrobial agents from plant-derived sources. The present work deals with the extraction, screening, and characterization of antimicrobialcompounds from Alstonia scholaris against various pathogenic micro-organisms.Methods: The components of crude extracts obtained after soxhlet extraction of plants were characterized through thin layer chromatography(TLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The antimicrobial effect was checked at different concentration against Bacillus subtilisMTCC 121, Staphylococcus aureus MTCC 96, Escherichia coli MTCC 43, Klebsiella pneumonia MTCC 432, Pseudomonas aeruginosa MTCC 424, andStreptococcus pyogenes MTCC 497.Results and Conclusion: A. scholaris extract showed a significant antibacterial effect against selective pathogens. The bioactive compounds wereseparated and identified by TLC and GC-MS, respectively.Keywords: Bioactive metabolites, Extraction, Bioactivity, Pathogens, Minimum inhibitory concentration

An analogical study of two mouth rinses on plaque and gingivitis among school children aged 12-15 years in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India

Context and Background: Mechanical methods are known for prevention and control of periodontal diseases since long. It is important to consider these procedures too yet they are labor-intensive and difficult for many patients. Based upon this consideration and aiming to make dental plaque control more accessible to a significant proportion of population, less labor-intensive methods are highly desirable. Consequently, efforts have been made to utilize chemical agents in conjunction with or even instead of mechanical plaque control procedures and have been tested by incorporating them into mouthwashes.Methods: Using a double blind randomized controlled clinical trial, 60 subjects aged 12-15 years were grouped into 3 groups: CHX; CHX+NaF; and Placebo. In each one of the 3 groups, the subjects discontinued all oral hygiene measures and continued with the experimental set-up randomly assigned. Levels of gingivitis and plaque scores were assessed at baseline and at the end of 1and 3 months by using Silness and Loe Plaque Index and Loe and Silness Gingival Index.Results: The effectiveness of CHX+NaF mouth rinse is superior with regard to inhibition of plaque and gingivitis scores as compared to CHX alone. For CHX+NaF, mean reduction was 1.37854 whereas for CHX, it was 1.18486 for plaque score between baseline and 3 months. For gingivitis score, the mean reduction was 1.0516 for CHX+NaF whereas 1.0659 for CHX between baseline and 3 months.Conclusion: Chlorhexidine in combination with active ingredient Sodium Fluoride inhibit the plaque and gingivitis more effectively as compared to Chlorhexidine alone. This combination along with the well-established effect of fluoride in the prevention of caries is an important contribution to dental public health

A Conceptual Examination of Distrusting Beliefs in Older Adults about the Internet

Older adults are adopting the Internet in increasing numbers today. At the same time they are also experiencing uncertainties about their safety and information privacy on this medium. Several media reports have shown a rising number of incidents involving older Internet user, that indicate lack of awareness of Internet-related security and privacy issues. This conceptual paper provides a framework to help understand the reasons why older adults might distrust the commercial websites in general. Based on established theoretical frameworks about trust, distrust and aging-based technology adoption challenges, we develop several postulates to explain distrusting beliefs that can result in precautious Internet behavior. Implications of this framework will be found in building educational programs and interventions for the population over the age of 55

Feasibility Study of Processing Estane-based LOVA Gun Propellant

Low vulnerability ammunition (LOVA) propellant are currently being developed globally toreplace all types of single-base, double-base and triple-base gun propellants, because LOVApropellants possess advantage like low vulnerability without compromising on ballistic properties.The objective of present study is to establish processing of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE);estane-based LOVA gun propellant in cord/heptatubular geometry.  Keeping in view variousadvantages of TPE such as simple processing, greater dimensional stability, lower productionlosses, superior insensitivity, and mechanical properties of the propellants, estane 5731(polyurethane-ester-MDI, aromatic polyester) is selected for feasibility study as a binder inLOVA-based gun propellant composition, processed by solvent and semi-solvent methods andcompared feasibility of processing as well as their evaluation wrt ballistics, vulnerability, andmechanical properties. The results indicate that gun propellants processed by semi-solventmethod and extruded at elevated temperatures exhibit better ballistics, mechanical, andvulnerability properties

Performance studies on millet processing machinery for tribal livelihood promotion

A Millet Processing Centre for processing of minor millets in a tribal village in Tamil Nadu, has been established with the following millet processing machinery viz., Destoner, Millet Mill, Grain Polisher, Pulveriser, Flour Sifter and Packaging Machinery for enhancement of tribal livelihood. Performance studies on the machinery for processing minor millets viz., little millet, foxtail millet and finger millet grown in the tribal area were carried out. Based on the performance evaluation, the output capacity of destoner cum cleaner was found to be 230 kg/h and 233 kg/h for little and foxtail millet respectively with a cleaning efficiency of 89 and 90% respectively for the above millets. The performance of millet mill revealed that the output capacity was 90-92 kg/h for little and foxtail millet with a dehulling efficiency of 86 and 87% respectively with small percentage of brokens (< 5 %). The capacity of grain polisher was 60-61 kg/h with a polishing efficiency of 85% & 86% respectively for little and foxtail millet. The pulveriser was evaluated for finger millet flour making whereby the output capacity of the machine was 75 kg/h with a milling efficiency of 90% respectively. The cost economics revealed that the tribal farmers could save 85% of the processing cost. The benefit cost ratio was found to be 2.05.The total profit to the tribal Society through Millet Processing Centre was Rs. 21,000/- during the first harvesting season of millets. The above studies have paved way for satisfactory functioning of the Millet Processing Centre in the tribal area

Glycidyl Azide Polymer-based Enhanced Energy LOVA Gun Propellant

In this study, cyclotrimethylene trinitramine propellants with triacetin (TA)-plasticisedcellulose acetate (CA) and nitrocellulose (NC) combination as binders were evaluated for lowvulnerable ammunition (LOVA). Triacetin was replaced by energetic plasticiser; glycidyl azidepolymer (GAP) in increments to enhance the performance in terms of force constant . In additionto ballistics, parameters like vulnerability, mechanical and thermal properties of GAP-basedpropellants in comparison to those of TA-based propellants, were also determined. The studybrings out that the incorporation of 2-6 per cent GAP in place of TA resulted in the enhancementof force constant by 22-70 J/g and improved overall combustion characteristics. DSC revealedthat thermal decomposition of GAP-LOVA propellants evolved more energy than TA-LOVApropellants. GAP-based LOVA propellant similar to TA-plasticised LOVA propellant, was foundsuperior to NQ propellant in vulnerability tests as well as in hot fragment conductive ignition(HFCI) studies. As regards mechanical properties, incorporation of GAP resulted in improvedcompression strength