Feasibility of quantitative ultrasonography for the detection of metabolic bone disease in preterm infants - systematic review.

Metabolic bone disease of prematurity is characterised by disordered bone mineralisation and is therefore an increased fracture risk. Preterm infants are especially at risk due to incomplete in utero bone accretion during the last trimester. Currently, diagnosing metabolic bone disease mainly relies on biochemistry and radiographs. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and quantitative ultrasound (US) are used less frequently. However, biochemical measurements correlate poorly with bone mineralisation and although scoring systems exist for metabolic bone disease, radiographs are subjective and do not detect early features of osteopenia. Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry is the reference standard for determining bone density in older children and adults. However, challenges with this method include movement artefact, difficulty scanning small and sick infants and a lack of normative data for young children. Quantitative US has a relatively low cost, is radiation-free and portable, and may hence be suitable for assessing bone status in preterm infants. This review aims to provide an overview of the use of quantitative US in detecting metabolic bone disease in preterm infants

Comparison of prevalence and characteristics of fractures in term and preterm infants in the first 3 years of life

Background Preterm infants may be more vulnerable to fractures due to various factors, including metabolic bone disease, but an increased risk of fractures up to the age of 2 is unproven. Objective To compare fracture patterns in premature and full-term children in the first 3 years of life. Materials and methods A retrospective study was conducted. We excluded any child who returned with the same injury, with known metabolic bone disease, with any disease or condition known to reduce bone density, who received any medication known to affect Vitamin D metabolism within 3 months of enrollment or who had fractures post-surgery/resuscitation. Variables such as the number of fractures sustained each year, age of presentation to the Emergency Department and mechanism of injury were compared between the preterm and term groups using statistical analysis (χ2 and Fisher exact test for categorical variables and Student’s t-test for continuous variables). Simple linear regression was performed on the total number of fractures sustained by age 3. Results Forty-four children with fractures were included. Of these, none were born extremely preterm, 24 (55%) were preterm, and 20 (45%) were born at term. Mean gestational ages of the preterm and term groups were 32 weeks 3 days and 39 weeks 6 days, respectively. There were no extremely low birth weight or very low birth weight children. There was no significant difference in the number of fractures sustained yearly, the age of presentation to the Emergency Department or the site of fracture between preterm and term groups. Linear regression showed that the total number of fractures sustained by age 3 years was unrelated to prematurity status, gender or birth weight category. Conclusion No significant difference in fracture number or pattern was identified

Xanthogranulomatous hypophysitis: a rare and often mistaken pituitary lesion.

Xanthogranulomatous hypophysitis (XGH) is a very rare form of pituitary hypophysitis that may present both clinically and radiologically as a neoplastic lesion. It may either be primary with an autoimmune aetiology and can occur in isolation or as a part of autoimmune systemic disease or secondary as a reactive degenerative response to an epithelial lesion (e.g. craniopharyngioma (CP), Rathke's cleft cyst, germinoma and pituitary adenomas) or as a part of a multiorgan systemic involvement such as tuberculosis, sarcoidosis or granulomatosis. It may also present with a variation of symptoms in children and adults. Our case series compares the paediatric and adult presentations of XGH and the differential diagnoses considered in one child and two adult patients, highlighting the wide spectrum of this condition. Endocrine investigations suggested panhypopituitarism in all three patients and imaging revealed a suprasellar mass compressing the optic chiasm suggestive of CP or Rathke's cleft cyst in one patient and non-functioning pituitary macroadenoma in two patients. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated mixed signal intensities on T1- and T2-weighted sequences. Following endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery, histological analysis revealed necrotic material with a xanthogranulomatous reaction confirming XGH in two patients and a necrobiotic granulomatous chronic inflammatory infiltrate with neutrophils in one patient, which is not typical of current descriptions of this disorder. This case series describes the wide spectrum of XGH disease that is yet to be defined. Mixed signal intensities on T1- and T2-weighted MRI sequences may indicate XGH and diagnosis is confirmed by histology. Histological variation may indicate an underlying systemic process. LEARNING POINTS: XGH is a rare form of pituitary hypophysitis with a wide clinical and histological spectrum and can mimic a neoplastic lesion.XGH primarily presents with growth arrest in children and pubertal arrest in adolescents. In adults, the presentation may vary.A combination of hypopituitarism and mixed signal intensity lesion on MRI is suggestive of XGH and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of sellar lesions.Radical surgery is the treatment of choice and carries an excellent prognosis with no recurrence

Cross infection and sterilization methods: A survey among dental practitioners in Chennai

Transmission of any infectious diseases is possible from one individual to another during dental procedures including blood-borne infections such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. Therefore in dental clinics, the significance of sterilization and personal protection procedures is of utmost important. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice of sterilization and infection control procedures among dental practitioners in Chennai. In this descriptive study, 100 dental practitioners working in private clinics in Chennai were randomly selected to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice of sterilization and infection control procedures using a self-administered questionnaire. 88 Dentists considered their patients as suspected of infection. 94% of the respondents are aware that sterilizing instruments at boiling temperature could not kill all type of microorganisms. 82% has answered that the time required for complete sterilization in an autoclave is 20 minutes. To sterile the instruments in the clinic, 37 dentist use autoclave. Out of 100, only 44 responded that the critical instruments (which penetrate the mucous membrane and skin) should not be sterilized by disinfectants. 66 practitioners are aware that the blood borne infections are HIV, HBV, and HCV. 86 participants are aware that the sharps should be discarded in a separate container. The attitude towards the cross infection is satisfactory nevertheless no adequate knowledge on blood-borne infections among the practitioners. Even though most of the practitioners follow proper sterilization methods, improvement in the practice of handling disinfectant solutions and methods of sterilization of hand pieces are required. We would conclude that the regular continuing education programme and short term courses about cross-infection and infection control procedures are essential

Maternal pregnancy vitamin D supplementation increases offspring bone formation in response to mechanical loading : findings from a MAVIDOS trial sub-study

The Maternal Vitamin D Osteoporosis (MAVIDOS) trial reported higher total body bone mineral content in winter-born infants of mothers receiving vitamin D supplementation [1000 IU/day cholecalciferol] compared with placebo from 14 weeks gestation until delivery. This sub-study aimed to determine whether antenatal vitamin D supplementation altered postnatal bone formation in response to mechanical stimulation. Thirty-one children born to MAVIDOS participants randomised to either placebo (n=19) or cholecalciferol (n=12) were recruited at age 4-5 years. Children received whole body vibration (WBV) for 10 minutes on 5 consecutive days. Fasting blood samples for bone homeostasis, 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), parathyroid hormone (PTH), and bone turnover markers (Pro-collagen Type 1 N-terminal propeptide, P1NP; Cross-linked C-telopeptide of Type I Collagen, CTX) were collected pre-WBV and on day 8 (D8). Mean changes (D) in P1NP (ng/ml) between baseline and D8 in the vitamin-D intervention and placebo groups were 40.6 and -92.6 respectively and mean changes (Δ) in CTX (ng/ml) were 0.034 (intervention) and -0.084 (placebo) respectively. Between-group DP1NP difference was 133.2ng/ml [95% CI 0.4, 266.0; p=0.049] and ΔCTX 0.05ng/ml (95% CI -0.159, 0.26ng/mL; p=0.62). Antenatal vitamin-D supplementation resulted in increased P1NP in response to WBV, suggesting early life vitamin D supplementation increases the anabolic response of bone to mechanical loading in children

Identifying transcriptional profiles and evaluating prognostic biomarkers of HIV-associated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma from Malawi

Lymphoma incidence in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is increasing due to HIV and population aging. Diffuse Large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the most common lymphoma in SSA and worldwide, is highly associated with HIV, but molecular studies of HIV-associated DLBCL are scarce globally. We describe profiling of DLBCL from Malawi, aiming to elucidate tumor biology and identify clinically meaningful biomarkers specifically for SSA. Between June 1, 2013 and June 1, 2016, 59 cases of DLBCL (32 HIV+/27 HIV−) enrolled in the Kamuzu Central Hospital Lymphoma Study were characterized, of which 54 (92%) were negative for Epstein–Barr virus. Gene expression profiling (GEP) by whole transcriptome sequencing was performed on the first 36 cases (22 HIV+/14 HIV−). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and GEP results were compared with published data and correlated to clinical outcome and pathologic features. Unsupervised clustering strongly segregated DLBCL by HIV status (p = 0.0003, Chi-squared test), indicating a marked contribution of HIV to expression phenotype. Pathway analysis identified that HIV-associated tumors were enriched in hypoxia, oxidative stress, and metabolism related gene expression patterns. Cell-of-origin subtype, determined by sequencing and IHC, did not associate with differences in overall survival (OS), while Ki-67 proliferation index ≥80% was associated with inferior OS in HIV+ DLBCL only (p = 0.03) and cMYC/BCL2 co-expression by IHC was negatively prognostic across the entire cohort (p = 0.01). This study provides among the first molecular characterizations of DLBCL from SSA, demonstrates marked gene expression differences by HIV status, and identifies genomic and immunophenotypic characteristics that can inform future basic and clinical investigations

Subtyping sub-Saharan esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by comprehensive molecular analysis

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is endemic in regions of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where it is the third most common cancer. Here, we describe whole-exome tumor/normal sequencing and RNA transcriptomic analysis of 59 patients with ESCC in Malawi. We observed similar genetic aberrations as reported in Asian and North American cohorts, including mutations of TP53, CDKN2A, NFE2L2, CHEK2, NOTCH1, FAT1, and FBXW7. Analyses for nonhuman sequences did not reveal evidence for infection with HPV or other occult pathogens. Mutational signature analysis revealed common signatures associated with aging, cytidine deaminase activity (APOBEC), and a third signature of unknown origin, but signatures of inhaled tobacco use, aflatoxin and mismatch repair were notably absent. Based on RNA expression analysis, ESCC could be divided into 3 distinct subtypes, which were distinguished by their expression of cell cycle and neural transcripts. This study demonstrates discrete subtypes of ESCC in SSA, and suggests that the endemic nature of this disease reflects exposure to a carcinogen other than tobacco and oncogenic viruses

Report of the Committee on Amendments to Criminal Law

"Dear Prime Minister, This Committee was constituted by GOI Notification No. SA (3003)E, dated December 23, 2012 to look into possible amendments of the Criminal Law to provide for quicker trial and enhanced punishment for criminals committing sexual assault of extreme nature against women. In view of the significance and urgency of the task, the Committee undertook to perform it within 30 days, which task has been completed. Accordingly, the Committee has prepared its Report, which is enclosed herewith. It is the Committee's hope that the promptitude with which this Committee was constituted within a few days of the brutal gang rape in Delhi on December 16, 2012, will continue to accomplish the task by speedy implementation of its Recommendations to retain public confidence in good governance. With regards, Yours Sincerely, J.S. Verma [Committee Chair]

Report of the Committee on Amendments to Criminal Law

"Dear Prime Minister, This Committee was constituted by GOI Notification No. SA (3003)E, dated December 23, 2012 to look into possible amendments of the Criminal Law to provide for quicker trial and enhanced punishment for criminals committing sexual assault of extreme nature against women. In view of the significance and urgency of the task, the Committee undertook to perform it within 30 days, which task has been completed. Accordingly, the Committee has prepared its Report, which is enclosed herewith. It is the Committee's hope that the promptitude with which this Committee was constituted within a few days of the brutal gang rape in Delhi on December 16, 2012, will continue to accomplish the task by speedy implementation of its Recommendations to retain public confidence in good governance. With regards, Yours Sincerely, J.S. Verma [Committee Chair]