Multiphoton photoelectron circular dichroism and photoelectron angular distributions of aligned polyatomic molecules

In this work we have measured photoelectron angular distributions (PADs) from small polyatomic molecules in the weak-field limit. We have conducted experiments in a variety of multiphoton schemes in different polarization geometries with a view to gaining insight into molecular photoionization dynamics. In particular, we have performed novel experiments using the techniques of strong-field alignment and photoelectron circular dichroism. The use of a strong-field alignment pulse has enabled us to approach a molecular frame measurement in the two-photon ionization of aniline and naphthalene. We have compared our measured PADs with calculations performed using the ePolyScat package. In the case of naphthalene good agreement is observed with molecular frame simulations, but in the case of aniline the experimental results cannot be reproduced by the calculations. This is attributed to perturbation of the ionization process by the alignment pulse in the case of aniline. Multiphoton photoelectron circular dichroism (MP-PECD) has been used to study the chiral monoterpenes α-pinene, 3-carene and fenchone. MP-PECD experiments performed with table-top femtosecond UV laser sources have previously been shown to enhance the chiral anisotropy observable in one-photon schemes. In this work we use a picosecond laser source which has enabled us in addition to unravel the vibronic dependence of the photoionization dynamics

Comparative assessment of severity and prognosis of acute pancreatitis through APACHE II and HAPS predictor models

Background: Acute pancreatitis is one of the leading causes of hospitalization amongst all gastrointestinal disorders with high burden of morbidity and mortality. Predicting the progression of AP in terms of course and outcome to determine suitable management strategy and level of care is challenging. A number of predictor models are developed to predict the severity of acute pancreatitis but they vary in their definitions of severity. HAPS have been proposed as a simple scoring tool for assessment of severity and prognosis of acute pancreatitis. Thus, the aim of present study was to investigate the usefulness of HAPS predictor model against APACHE II model.Methods: Current investigation was a hospital based prospective study conducted on 80 proven cases of acute pancreatitis at K. K. hospital, Uttar Pradesh. The serum amylase and lipase levels of all enrolled patients, were tested and measured at admission, and at 48 and 72 hours post admission. The pancreatitis-specific clinical investigations like; HAPS, APACHE II were calculated and assessed statistically in terms of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and accuracy.Results: The findings of present investigation revealed that amongst the two scoring systems, APACHE II was superior predictor model in terms of sensitivity and specificity for various outcomes like severe acute pancreatitis, hospital stay >7 days and in-hospital mortality. However, HAPS exhibited high specificity for all the outcomes.Conclusions: HAPS can be recommended as a useful tool for early evaluation of acute pancreatitis in patients specifically in primary care settings of developing countries like India

Clinical evaluation of cases of lower genitourinary tract trauma with special reference to primary realignment in cases of posterior urethral distraction defect

Background: The exact management strategy for lower genitourinary tract trauma remains controversial. Primary realignment with/without suprapubic catheterization provides definitive procedure with low complications and avoids the need for further open surgeries.Methods: This was a prospective longitudinal study done on 31 cases with different complaints related to lower tract genitourinary trauma. All patients underwent suprapubic catheterization and/or primary realignment. The outcome was measured in the terms of time for discharge, urinary incontinence, stricture formation, erectile dysfunction and impotence.Results: Maximum proportion of patients with lower genitourinary injuries in the study was in 10-20 years age group (48.4%). Blunt trauma was accounted for 93.6% of lower genitourinary injuries. Road traffic accidents were the most common cause (90.32%) of lower genitourinary injuries. Urinary bladder injuries accounted for 41.9% of all lower genitourinary injuries. Blood at meatus is present in only about half of the significant urethral injuries. Primary realignment of urethral injury results in lesser duration of hospital stay (9.24±2.44 days), shorter length of suprapubic catheterization (11.67±4.78 days) and early spontaneous voiding (40.93±15.79 days). The stricture rate following primary realignment is low (31.25%). Erectile dysfunction was noted only in two patients (16.6%).Conclusions: Management of traumatic urethral disruption by primary realignment serves as ultimate therapy in majority of patients

Comparison of predictive values of Mannheim peritonitis index, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation-II and Portsmouth-POSSUM scoring systems for prognosis of mortality in patients with perforation peritonitis

Background: Perforation peritonitis has emerged as one of the very common cause of surgical emergencies, particularly in developing countries like India. If left untreated for long due to improper prognosis or late diagnosis, perforation peritonitis may prove potentially fatal with a high mortality and morbidity rate. Scoring systems like APACHE-II (acute physiology and chronic health evaluation), p-POSSUM (Portsmouth-POSSUM) and MPI (Mannheim peritonitis index) may serve as simple, critical, and efficient prognostic tools in predicting the mortality in patients with perforation peritonitis. Thus, the aim of the current investigation was to examine the usefulness and accuracy of these scoring systems for predicting the mortality rate in perforation peritonitis.Methods: Current study was a prospective observational comparative study conducted at department of general surgery, KK Hospital, Lucknow. Detailed clinical and lab investigations of the participating patients were done and their demographic details were documented. Using history, clinical examination and lab values p-POSSUM, APACHE-II and MPI scores were calculated. Scores of each scoring system were statistically analyzed in prognosticating the mortality rate.Results: Mean age of the participating patients was 41.24±19.32 years. Abdominal pain and vomiting were observed as the most common symptoms in majority of patients.  No mortality was observed in patients with ≤20 MPI score, ≤20 APACH-II scores and ≤55 p-POSSUM score. Whereas mortality rate was observed to be 21.53% in patients with >20 MPI score, 82% in >20 APACH-II scores and 78% in >55 p-POSSUM score.Conclusions: APACHE II and p-POSSUM scores had a higher sensitivity and specificity in comparison to MPI for predicting the mortality in perforation peritonitis

Pre-operative predictors of difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy and its correlation with post-cholecystectomy syndrome and its impact on quality of life in North Indian population

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the most preferable surgical procedure worldwide. LC is not completely risk-free and 2 to 15% of attempted LC procedures have to be converted to open cholecystectomy. The aim of the study was to assess the predictors of difficult LC procedures and for knowing the impact of difficult LC procedures on post-cholecystectomy syndrome and quality of life of patients.Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted on patients who underwent LC. Clinical, demographic, radiological and biochemical parameters along with detailed history of patients were documented. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was then done on patients using standard technique. Level of difficulty in LC procedure was assessed and graded. Occurrence of post-cholecystectomy syndrome was investigated and quality of patient’s life was assessed using SF-36 inventory.Results: The difficulty rate in LC procedure was observed to be 17.4%. The clinical predictors of difficult LC procedures were old age and prior history of abdominal surgery. Contracted gall bladder, peripancreatic fluid and thick gallbladder wall were radiological predictors and presence of adhesions, longer duration of surgery and conversion to open procedures were intraoperative predictors of difficult LC procedures. Early PCS was affected by difficult LC procedures; though with passage of time it reduced. Post-operative quality of life was affected more by PCS incidence than the difficult LC procedure.Conclusions: The findings of the study would help in anticipating predictors of difficult LC procedures and in understanding the phenomenology and determinants of PCS along with its relationship with operative difficulty and quality of life of patients

Prospective randomised study of cases of pelvic fracture urethral distraction defects managed by early alignment versus initial suprapubic urinary diversion with delayed urethroplasty

Background: In complex pelvic fracture urethral distraction defects (PFUDD), early management prevents incidence of devastating complications such as urinary incontinence, restenosis and urethra cutaneous fistula. The aim of the present study was to study the outcome of patients with PFUDD undergoing early alignment (either by rail roading or endoscopic) compared with initial suprapubic urinary diversion with delayed urethroplasty.Methods: This was a prospective randomized study done at KGMU, Lucknow; having PFUDD during the period from June 2014 to July 2017. Patients with PFUDD were randomized in to two groups. Group A included 22 patients and managed by supra pubic cystostomy followed by delayed urethroplasty. Group B included 23 patients and managed by primary alignment by rail-roading and early endoscopic alignment. Patients were followed up after 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months for measuring the primary and secondary outcomes during follow up.Results: The most common age group that sustained pelvic fracture urethral distraction defects injury are male of 21-40 years. In group A, stricture was present in all patients at 6 weeks post-surgery. Open urethroplasty was done at 3 months in 60% and 10% patients at 6 months.  In group B, stricture was present in 80% at 6 weeks, 40% at 3 months and 10% at 6 months. The incidence of ED in group A at 6 weeks, 3 months, was 25% patient which reduced to 20% at 6 months. In group B, ED was present in 30% patients 6 weeks, 3 months and which reduced to 25% at 6 months. No incontinence was observed in both groups.Conclusions: Primary realignment has significant benefits compared to SPC as realignment approach is associated with a 50%-55% decrease in stricture formation

Multiphoton photoelectron circular dichroism and photoelectron angular distributions of aligned polyatomic molecules

In this work we have measured photoelectron angular distributions (PADs) from small polyatomic molecules in the weak-field limit. We have conducted experiments in a variety of multiphoton schemes in different polarization geometries with a view to gaining insight into molecular photoionization dynamics. In particular, we have performed novel experiments using the techniques of strong-field alignment and photoelectron circular dichroism. The use of a strong-field alignment pulse has enabled us to approach a molecular frame measurement in the two-photon ionization of aniline and naphthalene. We have compared our measured PADs with calculations performed using the ePolyScat package. In the case of naphthalene good agreement is observed with molecular frame simulations, but in the case of aniline the experimental results cannot be reproduced by the calculations. This is attributed to perturbation of the ionization process by the alignment pulse in the case of aniline. Multiphoton photoelectron circular dichroism (MP-PECD) has been used to study the chiral monoterpenes α-pinene, 3-carene and fenchone. MP-PECD experiments performed with table-top femtosecond UV laser sources have previously been shown to enhance the chiral anisotropy observable in one-photon schemes. In this work we use a picosecond laser source which has enabled us in addition to unravel the vibronic dependence of the photoionization dynamics

Evaluation of SYBR green I based visual loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for genus and species-specific diagnosis of malaria in P. vivax and P. falciparum endemic regions

Background & objectives: Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is an emerging nucleic acid based diagnostic approach that is easily adaptable to the field settings with limited technical resources. This study was aimed to evaluate the LAMP assay for the detection and identification of Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax infection in malaria suspected cases using genus and species-specific assay. Methods: The 18S rRNA-based LAMP assay was evaluated for diagnosis of genus Plasmodium, and species-specific diagnosis of P. falciparum and P. vivax, infection employing 317 malaria suspected cases, and the results were compared with those obtained by 18S nested PCR (n-PCR). All the samples were confirmed by microscopy for the presence of Plasmodium parasite. Results: The n-PCR was positive in all Plasmodium-infected cases (n=257; P. falciparum=133; P. vivax=124) and negative in microscopy negative cases (n=58) except for two cases which were positive for P. vivax, giving a sensitivity of 100% (95% CI: 97.04-100%) and a specificity of 100% (95% CI: 88.45-99.5%). Genus-specific LAMP assay missed 11 (3.2%) microscopy and n-PCR confirmed vivax malaria cases. Considering PCR results as a reference, LAMP was 100% sensitive and specific for P. falciparum, whereas it exhibited 95.16% sensitivity and 96.7% specificity for P. vivax. The n-PCR assay detected 10 mixed infection cases while species-specific LAMP detected five mixed infection cases of P. vivax and P. falciparum, which were not detected by microscopy. Interpretation & conclusion: Genus-specific LAMP assay displayed low sensitivity. Falciparum specific LAMP assay displayed high sensitivity whereas vivax specific LAMP assay displayed low sensitivity. Failed detection of vivax cases otherwise confirmed by the n-PCR assay indicates exploitation of new targets and improved detection methods to attain 100% results for P. vivax detection