Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis in a child: A rare entity

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGP) is chronic pyelonephritis uncommonly described in adults and is rare in children. It ischaracterized by the replacement of renal parenchymal tissue by lipomatous cells making it nonfunctional and may be mistaken forpyonephrosis, cystic or solid tumor, and the most commonly, Wilms tumor. It often presents as abdominal mass in children and morecommonly involves left kidney. Imaging by computed tomography (CT) scan is characteristic, and histology is diagnostic. We arereporting a case of a child who presented with prolonged febrile illness and documented urinary tract infection with nephrolithiasiswithout any abdominal lump and received antibiotics for multiple times without any improvement. Ultrasonography was suggestiveof pyonephrosis and multiple abscesses. However, on CT scan, was diagnosed as XGP of the right kidney which was confirmed onhistology. After documenting, no function in affected kidney with other being normal, unilateral nephrectomy was done resultingin rapid symptomatic improvement

Clinical Profile of Indoor Covid-19 Patients at a Medical Institute In India: A Retrospective analysis

Background: COVID-19 has caused a very high burden of morbidity and mortality across the world, India being  also badly affected. The disease has a wide spectrum ranging from asymptomatic to severe illness and death. Research work on the epidemiological and clinical profile of patients is scarce in India. Objectives: This study was conducted to know the clinico-epidemiological profile of indoor hospitalized Covid 19 patients. Methods: a retrospective analysis (record based) conducted at a designated COVID tertiary care center. Study period-1st August 2020 to 31st October 2020. Study Unit- Laboratory confirmed COVID 19 patients admitted in the hospital. Sample size- All the 894 patients with complete record were included in the study. Results: The mean age was 47.68± 17.62 years. Around 14.1% of the population was asymptomatic. 75.7%  were classified as having a mild disease. The cure rate was 82.9% and deaths were reported in 9.4%. Conclusions: Our findings were similar to findings observed in other studies. A positive significant correlation was noticed between age, duration, clinical severity and outcome of patient. The clinical severity was also found to be associated with age, duration of symptoms and outcome of patient

M. tuberculosis Sliding β-Clamp Does Not Interact Directly with the NAD+ -Dependent DNA Ligase

The sliding β-clamp, an important component of the DNA replication and repair machinery, is drawing increasing attention as a therapeutic target. We report the crystal structure of the M. tuberculosis β-clamp (Mtbβ-clamp) to 3.0 Å resolution. The protein crystallized in the space group C2221 with cell-dimensions a = 72.7, b = 234.9 & c = 125.1 Å respectively. Mtbβ-clamp is a dimer, and exhibits head-to-tail association similar to other bacterial clamps. Each monomer folds into three domains with similar structures respectively and associates with its dimeric partner through 6 salt-bridges and about 21 polar interactions. Affinity experiments involving a blunt DNA duplex, primed-DNA and nicked DNA respectively show that Mtbβ-clamp binds specifically to primed DNA about 1.8 times stronger compared to the other two substrates and with an apparent Kd of 300 nM. In bacteria like E. coli, the β-clamp is known to interact with subunits of the clamp loader, NAD+ -dependent DNA ligase (LigA) and other partners. We tested the interactions of the Mtbβ-clamp with MtbLigA and the γ-clamp loader subunit through radioactive gel shift assays, size exclusion chromatography, yeast-two hybrid experiments and also functionally. Intriguingly while Mtbβ-clamp interacts in vitro with the γ-clamp loader, it does not interact with MtbLigA unlike in bacteria like E. coli where it does. Modeling studies involving earlier peptide complexes reveal that the peptide-binding site is largely conserved despite lower sequence identity between bacterial clamps. Overall the results suggest that other as-yet-unidentified factors may mediate interactions between the clamp, LigA and DNA in mycobacteria

From Logic to Artificial Intelligence

45-47<span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";mso-ansi-language:="" en-us;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="" lang="EN-US">LOGIC is one of the major sub-topics of subjects like mathematics, computer science and physics. Any science student familiar with Boolean Algebra knows about gates (NOT, OR, AND) and rules or principles of this Algebra. Aristotle was the first one to talk about this notion of distinction between true and false. This was called syllogism.</span

Education Stress Syndrome

15HAS the modern education system led to an increasing dependence on coaching institutes? It seems to be so. Modern parents are putting their children into coaching classes or tuitions at a very early age. Right from the time of primary schooling these kids start going to tuitions for English, Mathematics and so on. Even in ‘single income’ families nobody sits with these kids. Of course, a housewife has a right on rest and entertainment but the kids are over-burdened by these extra hours of study and are robbed of their rest and entertainment. Why do we need these coaching institutes? Population, employment, age restrictions etc. are major reasons that force children to become a part of the rat race. There are a few hidden reasons as well. Our children need to get more than 90%. But, they get more than 90% and still don’t get admissions and jobs. The result is depression, stress and suicide. We saw all this in the recently released movie 3 Idiots

Knowledge Attitude & Practices towards Voluntary Blood Donation among Medical Students in Barabanki

Introduction:  Blood Donation can save million lives. Voluntary blood donations are the cornerstone of a safe and adequate supply of blood and blood products. The safest blood donors are voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors from low-risk populations. Objectives: The present study was undertaken with an aim to understand the factors like knowledge, attitude and practices associated with voluntary blood donation among the medical students in a medical college. Materials & Methods: This is a cross sectional study with a sample size of 278. A pre-tested semi structured questionnaire was used to assess the level of knowledge, attitude and practices regarding blood donation in the study subjects. The data was analyzed by applying suitable statistical methods. Results:  The knowledge about the recommended age and interval of blood donation was 90 % & 48.9% respectively. Nearly 23% of students had ever donated blood and the majority of subjects (56.5%) did not have an opportunity to donate blood. 75.54 % of students were willing to donate blood at the time of study. Conclusion: Creating the opportunities regarding the blood donation may lead to the achievement of goal of 100% non-remunerated voluntary blood donation

Comparison of surgically induced astigmatism in various incisions in manual small incision cataract surgery

AIM:To determine the surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) in Straight, Frown and Inverted V shape (Chevron) incisions in manual small incision cataract surgery (SICS).METHODS:A prospective cross sectional study was done on a total of 75 patients aged 40y and above with senile cataract. The patients were randomly divided into three groups (25 each). Each group received a particular type of incision (Straight, Frown or Inverted V shape incisions). Manual SICS with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation was performed. The patients were compared 4wk post operatively for uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and SIA. All calculations were performed using the SIA calculator version 2.1, a free software program. The study was analyzed using SPSS version 15.0 statistical analysis software.RESULTS:The study found that 89.5% of patients in Straight incision group, 94.2% in Frown incision group and 95.7% in Inverted V group attained BCVA post-operatively in the range of 6/6 to 6/18. Mean SIA was minimum (-0.88±0.61D×90 degrees) with Inverted V incision which was statistically significant.CONCLUSION:Inverted V (Chevron) incision gives minimal SIA