Incidentally detected solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of pancreas in a child with an ovarian cyst: a case report

Solid pseudopapillary neoplasms (SPN) are the most common as well as very rare pediatric tumors of the pancreas. Most of the literature is derived from adult SPNs. As per world health organization, these tumors considered as low grade malignant with excellent survival outcomes after complete surgical resection. We report a case of incidentally detected SPN in a 16-year-old female child with an ovarian cyst. She underwent pylorus preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy and ovarian cystectomy. Histopathology revealed well differentiated SPN of the pancreas head and ovarian cystadenoma. She is symptom-free at the 6th month follow up

Groundnut

Groundnut, a crop rich in nutrients, originated in South America and spread to the rest of the world. Cultivated groundnut contains a fraction of the genetic diversity present in their closely related wild relatives, which is not more than 13 %, due to domestication bottleneck. Closely related ones are placed in section Arachis , which have not been extensively utilized until now due to ploidy differences between the cultivated and wild relatives. In order to overcome Arachis species utilization bottleneck, a large number of tetraploid synthetics were developed at the Legume Cell Biology Unit of Grain Legumes Program, ICRISAT, India. Evaluation of synthetics for some of the constraints showed that these were good sources of multiple disease and pest resistances. Some of the synthetics were utilized by developing ABQTL mapping populations, which were screened for some biotic and abiotic constraints. Phenotyping experiments showed ABQTL progeny lines with traits of interest necessary for the improvement of groundnut

Highlights From the Annual Meeting of the American Epilepsy Society 2022

With more than 6000 attendees between in-person and virtual offerings, the American Epilepsy Society Meeting 2022 in Nashville, felt as busy as in prepandemic times. An ever-growing number of physicians, scientists, and allied health professionals gathered to learn a variety of topics about epilepsy. The program was carefully tailored to meet the needs of professionals with different interests and career stages. This article summarizes the different symposia presented at the meeting. Basic science lectures addressed the primary elements of seizure generation and pathophysiology of epilepsy in different disease states. Scientists congregated to learn about anti-seizure medications, mechanisms of action, and new tools to treat epilepsy including surgery and neurostimulation. Some symposia were also dedicated to discuss epilepsy comorbidities and practical issues regarding epilepsy care. An increasing number of patient advocates discussing their stories were intertwined within scientific activities. Many smaller group sessions targeted more specific topics to encourage member participation, including Special Interest Groups, Investigator, and Skills Workshops. Special lectures included the renown Hoyer and Lombroso, an ILAE/IBE joint session, a spotlight on the impact of Dobbs v. Jackson on reproductive health in epilepsy, and a joint session with the NAEC on coding and reimbursement policies. The hot topics symposium was focused on traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic epilepsy. A balanced collaboration with the industry allowed presentations of the latest pharmaceutical and engineering advances in satellite symposia

An in vitro study to determine fracture resistance of tooth roots after different instrumentation techniques

Aim: The aim was to study the influence of rotary and hand instruments techniques on the susceptibility of the root to fracture. Materials and Methods: Forty extracted human maxillary permanent first and second molars without any defects were selected as sample. Teeth were randomly divided into four groups of ten teeth in each group. Palatal canals were instrumented depending on the instrumentation techniques used in the groups. Group 1: 0.02 taper K-files and Gates Glidden drills (Mani Inc., Japan); group 2: Hand ProTaper (Dentsply-Maillefer, France); group 3: Rotary ProTaper (Dentsply-Maillefer, France); and group 4: Endowave (J. Morita, Japan). After instrumentation, palatal roots were resected and apical 7 mm sectionally obturated. Obturated roots were embedded in putty impression material and mounted on Universal testing machine (Lloyd instruments, UK). Vertical load was applied by means of a spreader inserted into the canal and load at fracture was recorded for each tooth. Fractured roots were embedded in self-cure resin, sectioned horizontally, and viewed under operating microscope to determine the direction of fracture line: Maximum and minimum remaining dentin thickness was measured at coronal, middle, and apical thirds. Statistical analysis of data was accomplished by one-way ANOVA and post-hoc tests with Tukey honest significant difference. Results: Mean fracture loads was 20.6 ± 3.8 kg (group 1), 9.5 ± 2.4 kg (group 2), 8.4 ± 1.4 kg (group 3), and 13.4 ± 3.1 kg (group 4). There was statistical significance in the values between group 1 and groups 2, 3, and 4 (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Preparation of canals with a conventional hand instrumentation technique using 0.02 taper K-files showed highest fracture resistance with least amount of dentin removed at all levels followed by Endowave, ProTaper Hand, and Rotary files

Recent advances in the development of high efficiency quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs): A review

Quantum dots play an important role in third-generation photovoltaics. The key focus on quantum dots is due to their cost effect, capacity to work in diffused light, ease of fabrication, light weight, and flexibility which pique curiosity to further research. The incorporation of quantum dots into photovoltaics results in theoretically high thermodynamic conversion efficiencies of up to 40%, but in practise, the efficiencies are lower than those of dye-sensitized solar cells. Recent developments of different components like photoanode, quantum dot sensitizer, electrolyte, and counter electrode were discussed in detail. It was observed that by changing the synthesis methods, the adhesion properties might vary, which leads to enhancing the photovoltaic properties such as power conversion efficiency (PCE), open circuit voltage (Voc), short circuit current (Jsc), and fill factor (FF). The first report on the efficiency of Quantum Dot Sensitized Solar Cells (QDSSCs) was 0.12%. As of today, the efficiency is reported as 18.1 %, and further, the researchers are working to improve the efficiency of QDSSCs

Egg shell and yolk quality characteristics of layers fed with sugarcane press residue in soya and fish based diets

Aim: Sugarcane press residue (SPR), a by-product of sugarcane industry, which is rich in inorganic salts was assessed at different levels in both soya based and fish based diets of layers for egg shell and yolk quality characteristics. Materials and Methods: SPR was incorporated in 32-week-old white leghorn layer diets at 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% either in the soya based or fish based diets to form T1 to T8 diets, respectively. Each diet was offered to five replicates of four laying hens each constituting a total of one sixty birds kept for 84 days under colony cages. Results: Mean egg shell thickness obtained from eggs of experimental hens measured was 0.342, 0.329, 0.320, 0.322, 0.319, 0.332, 0.328 and 0.336 mm in T1 through T8 groups, respectively. About the main factor effects, both showed non-significant results. Similarly, influence of different treatment diets, in imparting colour to the yolks, was found to be non-significant (p>0.05) at different 28-day time intervals. Further, the average yolk index values ranged non-significantly from 0.360 (T6) to 0.383 (T4). Conclusion: The SPR can be incorporated into layer diet as a source of inorganic as well as organic nutrients without affecting its egg quality characteristics

IVC Filters-Trends in Placement and Indications, a Study of 2 Populations.

Inferior vena cava filter (IVCF) placement appears to be expanding over time despite absence of clear directing evidence.Two populations were studied. The first population included patients who received an IVCF between January 2005 and August 2013 at our community hospital center. Demographic information, indications for placement, and retrieval rate was recorded among other variables. The second population comprised of patients receiving an IVCF from 2005 to 2012 according to the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) using ICD-9CM coding. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the year of admission for comparison, that is, first group from 2005 to 2008 and the second from 2009 to 2012. In addition, we analyzed annual trends in filter placement, acute venothromboembolic events (VTE) and several underlying comorbidities within this population.At our center, 802 IVCFs were placed (55.2% retrievable); 34% for absolute, 61% for relative, and 5% for prophylactic indications. Major bleeding (27.5%), minor self-limited bleeding (13.7%), and fall history (11.2%) were the commonest indications. Periprocedural complication rate was 0.7%, and filter retrieval rate was 7%. The NIS population (811,487 filters) saw a decline in IVCF placement after year 2009, following an initial uptrend (Ptrend \u3c 0.01). IVCF use among patients with neither acute VTE nor bleeding among prior VTE saw a 3-fold absolute reduction from 2005 to 2012 (33,075-11,655; Ptrend \u3c 0.01). Patients from 2009 to 2012 were more likely to be male and had higher rates of acute VTE, thrombolytic use, cancer, bleeding, hypotension, acute cardiorespiratory failure, shock, prior falls, blood product transfusion, hospital mortality including higher Charlson comorbidity scores. The patients were younger, had shorter length of stay, and were less likely to be associated with strokes including hemorrhagic or require ventilator support. Prior falls (adjusted odds ratio-aOR 2.8), thrombolytic use (aOR 1.76), and shock (aOR 1.45) were most predictive of IVCF placement between 2009 and 2012 on regression analysis.Recent trends suggest that a higher proportion of patients receive temporary IVCF, for predominantly relative indications. Nationally, the number of filters being placed is decreasing, especially among those who did not experience acute VTE or bleeding events. Prior falls, thrombolytic therapy, and shock were most predictive of IVCF placement in latter half of the study period

A Rare Case of Short-Chain Acyl-COA Dehydrogenase Deficiency: The Apparent Rarity of the Disorder Results in Under Diagnosis

Short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (ACAD) deficiency is an extremely rare inherited mitochondrial disorder of fat metabolism. This belongs to a group of diseases known as fatty acid oxidation disorders. Screening programmes have provided evidence that all the fatty acid oxidation disorders combined are among the most common inborn errors of metabolism. Mitochondrial beta oxidation of fatty acids is an essential energy producing pathway. It is a particularly important pathway during prolonged periods of starvation and during periods of reduced caloric intake due to gastrointestinal illness or increased energy expenditure during febrile illness. The most common presentation is an acute episode of life threatening coma and hypoglycemia induced by a period of fasting due to defective hepatic ketogenesis. Here, the case of a 4 month old female patient who had seizures since the third day of her birth and persistent hypoglycemia is described. She was born to parents of second degree consanguinity after 10 years of infertility treatment. There was history of delayed cry after birth. Metabolic screening for TSH, galactosemia, 17-OHP, G6PD, cystic fibrosis, biotinidase were normal. Tandem mass spectrometric (TMS) screening for blood amino acids, organic acids, fatty acids showed elevated butyryl carnitine (C4) as 3.40 μmol/L (normal <2.00 μmol/L), hexanoyl carnitine (C6) as 0.92 μmol/L (normal <0.72 μmol/L), C4/C3 as 2.93 μmol/L (normal <1.18 μmol/L). The child was started immediately on carnitor syrup (carnitine) 1/2 ml twice daily. Limitation of fasting stress and dietary fat was advised. Baby responded well by gaining weight and seizures were controlled. Until now, less than 25 patients have been reported worldwide. The limited number of patients diagnosed until now is due to the rarity of the disorder resulting in under diagnosis