PCR for the diagnosis and species identification of microsporidia in patients with keratitis

AbstractCorneal scrapings from 30 patients with microbial keratitis were subjected to microsporidial PCR. PCR was positive for microsporidia in ten of 30 patients. The species was identified as Vittaforma corneae by sequencing in all ten patients. The remaining 20 patients were negative for microsporidia and showed the growth of other organisms (Acanthamoeba, fungi or bacteria)

Examining adherence and sexual behavior among patients on antriretroviral therapy in India

"Very high levels of patient adherence (greater than 95 percent) are required for antiretroviral therapy (ART) to be effective and to prevent the emergence of resistant viral strains (Paterson et al. 2000; Ickovics et al. 2002). Since 1997, antiretroviral (ARV) medications have been available in India through the private sector and some employer-supported health insurance programs. It is estimated that India has 5.1 million HIV-infected persons (NACO 2004), some of whom have been on ART for several years. However, very little information is available on the levels of adherence to ART among people living with HIV/AIDS in India. With increased availability of ART, HIV-positive individuals are living healthier lives and continuing or resuming sexual activity. But, optimism related to ART's success in slowing disease progression, reducing viral load, and improving health status may lead to more risky sexual practices and a possible increase in transmission of infections. Determining the sexual behavior of HIV-positive persons on ART is therefore an area of special interest and concern. To meet these knowledge gaps, the Horizons Program, in collaboration with research partners in Delhi and Pune, conducted a study to assess current levels of adherence to ART among a sample of people living with HIV/AIDS, identify the factors that influence their adherence to treatment, and determine their sexual risk behaviors. The study also examined the economic burden of ART on the household. Findings from the study provide important insights that are immediately relevant to the scale-up of the national ART program, which was launched in April 2004." [OCLC Accession No.: 70645391

Examining adherence and sexual behavior among patients on antiretroviral therapy in India

With increased availability of ART, HIV-positive individuals are living healthier lives and continuing or resuming sexual activity. However, optimism related to ART’s success in slowing disease progression, reducing viral load, and improving health status may lead to more risky sexual practices and a possible increase in transmission of infections. To determining the sexual behavior of HIV-positive persons on ART, the Horizons program, in collaboration with research partners in Delhi and Pune, conducted a study to assess current levels of adherence to ART among a sample of people living with HIV/AIDS, identify the factors that influence their adherence to treatment, and determine their sexual risk behaviors. The study also examined the economic burden of ART on the household. The findings from the study presented in this report provide important insights that are immediately relevant to the scale-up of the national ART program, including a need to expand the scope of prevention programs to include HIV-positive populations, with a special focus on facilitating disclosure of HIV status and consistent condom use with regular partners

COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTS OF ANTIDEPRESSANTS ON COGNITION FUNCTIONS IN PATIENTS OF MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDERS IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN HARYANA

Objective: Depression is one of the most common mood disorders. Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) usually present alterations in various cognitive functions. Several cost-effective interventions have shown favorable recovery and positive outcomes in the care and management of depression. The objective of the study was to compare the effect of fluoxetine (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), and venlafaxine (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors) on cognitive functioning in patients with MDD. Methods: This prospective, single-blinded, randomized, and comparative interventional clinical study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Haryana. Fifty-two patients of MDD (ICD-10) were randomly divided into two groups: Group F and Group V, allocated to receive fluoxetine and venlafaxine, respectively. The assessment was done during the enrolment and at the end of the 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 12th weeks of treatment using the ABC-Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) Scale. Statistical Analysis Used: The intragroup analysis was performed using repeated measures ANOVA while intergroup analysis was performed using unpaired “t”-test. p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Mean HAM-D score was clinically as well as statistically significant at the end of the 12th week of treatment as compared to baseline in both the groups while on the intergroup comparison, there was no statistically significant difference in both groups. The mean MoCA score was (25±2.19) in Group F and (23.76±6.97) in Group V at the end of the 12th week. On intergroup analysis at the 12th week, a statistically significant improvement in cognitive functions was observed in patients Group F as compared to Group V (p<0.05). Conclusions: The study of fluoxetine comparatively better improves cognition functions as compared to venlafaxine

High Pressure phase transitions in BaWO4

Using in-situ angle dispersive x-ray diffraction, we have shown that barium tungstate, which exists in scheelite phase at ambient conditions, transforms to a new phase about seven giga pascal. Analysis of our data based on Le bail refinement suggests that this phase could be fergusonite and not mercuric molybdate type, which was proposed earlier from the Raman investigations. Beyond fourteen giga pascal this compound undergoes another phase transformation to a significantly disordered structure. Both the phase transitions are found to be reversible.Comment: 14 pages with 4 figures and 1 tabl

The association of retinopathy and low GFR in type 2 diabetes

We sought to determine characteristics which strengthen the association between markers of diabetic kidney disease and retinopathy

Analysis of \Lambda_b \rar \Lambda \ell^+ \ell^- transition in SM4 using form factors from Full QCD

Using the responsible form factors calculated via full QCD, we analyze the $\Lambda_{b}\rightarrow \Lambda \ell^{+}\ell^{-}$ transition in the standard model containing fourth generation quarks (SM4). We discuss effects of the presence of $t'$ fourth family quark on related observables like branching ratio, forward-backward asymmetry, baryon polarization as well as double lepton polarization asymmetries. We also compare our results with those obtained in the SM as well as with predictions of the SM4 but using form factors calculated within heavy quark effective theory. The obtained results on branching ratio indicate that the $\Lambda_{b}\rightarrow \Lambda \ell^{+}\ell^{-}$ transition is more probable in full QCD comparing to the heavy quark effective theory. It is also shown that the results on all considered observables in SM4 deviate considerably from the SM predictions when $m_{t'}\geq 400 GeV$.Comment: 22 Pages and 21 Figure