SNODGRASS Procedure A Versatile Technique for Various Types of Hypospadias Repair

There are about 156 operations described forhypospadias. The sheer number of proceduresindicates that no single procedure is standardfor hypospadias. We report our series of 20patients operated for hypospadias by Snodgrassprocedure. The technical details of the proce-dure and post-operative management protocolis discussed

Degradation of Textile Dye Reactive Navy – Blue Rx (Reactive blue–59) by an Isolated Actinomycete Streptomyces krainskii SUK – 5

The isolated Actinomycete, Streptomyces krainskii, SUK -5 was found to decolorize and degrade textile dye Reactive blue–59.This azo dye was decolorized and degraded completely by Streptomyces krainskii SUK–5 at 24 h in shaking condition in the nutrient medium at pH 8. Induction in the activity of Lignin Peroxidase,and NADH-DCIP Reductase and MR reductase represents their role in degradation .The biodegradation was monitored by TLC, UV vis spectroscopy, FTIR. and GCMS analysis. Microbial and phytotoxicity studies of the product were carried out

RIFAMPICIN LOADED SPRAY-DRIED OLIBANUM GUM RESIN PULMOSPHERES FOR LUNG DELIVERY

Pulmospheres of Rifampicin were prepared successfully with cyclodextrin using olibanum gum resin as a rate controlling biodegradable natural polymer by novel spray drying technique. Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin was used as solubilising agent to enhance the solubility and permeation of poorly soluble rifampicin. The physcochemical characteristics of   rifampicin loaded pulmospheres were evaluated for mean particle size, thermal behaviour and surface morphology. The mean particle size for optimized formulation F1 was found to be 3.5 µm and spray-dried pure rifampicin also showed same value. Scanning Electron Microphotographs of pure drug has shown a typical and regular size indicated crystalline nature, whereas, spray dried pure drug and formulation F1 have shown spherical particles with porous surface indicated the conversion of crystalline drug into amorphous form. Rifampicin loaded spray-dried pulmospheres using olibanum gum resin showed drug release up to 72 hours. The release of rifampicin was greater in simulated physiological fluid of pH 7.4 which was 94 % as compared to simulated lung fluid of pH 5.2 at the end of 72 hours. Rifampicin loaded spray-dried microspheres were proposed for pulmonary drug delivery.   Keywords: Rifampicin, Lung targeting, Olibanum gum resin, Spray-drying, Pulmosphere

Variations in concerns reported on the Patient Concerns Inventory (PCI) in head and neck cancer patients from different health settings across the world

Background: The aim was to collate and contrast patient concerns from a range of different head and neck cancer follow-up clinics around the world. Also, we sought to explore the relationship, if any, between responses to the patient concerns inventory (PCI) and overall quality of life (QOL). Methods: Nineteen units participated with intention of including 100 patients per site as close to a consecutive series as possible in order to minimize selection bias. Results: There were 2136 patients with a median total number of PCI items selected of 5 (2-10). “Fear of the cancer returning” (39%) and “dry mouth” (37%) were most common. Twenty-five percent (524) reported less than good QOL. Conclusion: There was considerable variation between units in the number of items selected and in overall QOL, even after allowing for case-mix variables. There was a strong progressive association between the number of PCI items and QOL

The Age-Specific Cumulative Incidence of Infection with Pandemic Influenza H1N1 2009 Was Similar in Various Countries Prior to Vaccination

Background: During the influenza pandemic of 2009 estimates of symptomatic and asymptomatic infection were needed to guide vaccination policies and inform other control measures. Serological studies are the most reliable way to measure influenza infection independent of symptoms. We reviewed all published serological studies that estimated the cumulative incidence of infection with pandemic influenza H1N1 2009 prior to the initiation of population-based vaccination against the pandemic strain. Methodology and Principal Findings: We searched for studies that estimated the cumulative incidence of pandemic influenza infection in the wider community. We excluded studies that did not include both pre- and post-pandemic serological sampling and studies that included response to vaccination. We identified 47 potentially eligible studies and included 12 of them in the review. Where there had been a significant first wave, the cumulative incidence of pandemic influenza infection was reported in the range 16%-28% in pre-school aged children, 34%-43% in school aged children and 12%-15% in young adults. Only 2%-3% of older adults were infected. The proportion of the entire population infected ranged from 11%-18%. We re-estimated the cumulative incidence to account for the small proportion of infections that may not have been detected by serology, and performed direct age-standardisation to the study population. For those countries where it could be calculated, this suggested a population cumulative incidence in the range 11%-21%. Conclusions and Significance: Around the world, the cumulative incidence of infection (which is higher than the cumulative incidence of clinical disease) was below that anticipated prior to the pandemic. Serological studies need to be routine in order to be sufficiently timely to provide support for decisions about vaccination. © 2011 Kelly et al.published_or_final_versio

Antimicrobial de-escalation in the critically ill patient and assessment of clinical cure: the DIANA study

Purpose: The DIANA study aimed to evaluate how often antimicrobial de-escalation (ADE) of empirical treatment is performed in the intensive care unit (ICU) and to estimate the effect of ADE on clinical cure on day 7 following treatment initiation. Methods: Adult ICU patients receiving empirical antimicrobial therapy for bacterial infection were studied in a prospective observational study from October 2016 until May 2018. ADE was defined as (1) discontinuation of an antimicrobial in case of empirical combination therapy or (2) replacement of an antimicrobial with the intention to narrow the antimicrobial spectrum, within the first 3 days of therapy. Inverse probability (IP) weighting was used to account for time-varying confounding when estimating the effect of ADE on clinical cure. Results: Overall, 1495 patients from 152 ICUs in 28 countries were studied. Combination therapy was prescribed in 50%, and carbapenems were prescribed in 26% of patients. Empirical therapy underwent ADE, no change and change other than ADE within the first 3 days in 16%, 63% and 22%, respectively. Unadjusted mortality at day 28 was 15.8% in the ADE cohort and 19.4% in patients with no change [p = 0.27; RR 0.83 (95% CI 0.60\u20131.14)]. The IP-weighted relative risk estimate for clinical cure comparing ADE with no-ADE patients (no change or change other than ADE) was 1.37 (95% CI 1.14\u20131.64). Conclusion: ADE was infrequently applied in critically ill-infected patients. The observational effect estimate on clinical cure suggested no deleterious impact of ADE compared to no-ADE. However, residual confounding is likely

Search for Eccentric Black Hole Coalescences during the Third Observing Run of LIGO and Virgo

Despite the growing number of confident binary black hole coalescences observed through gravitational waves so far, the astrophysical origin of these binaries remains uncertain. Orbital eccentricity is one of the clearest tracers of binary formation channels. Identifying binary eccentricity, however, remains challenging due to the limited availability of gravitational waveforms that include effects of eccentricity. Here, we present observational results for a waveform-independent search sensitive to eccentric black hole coalescences, covering the third observing run (O3) of the LIGO and Virgo detectors. We identified no new high-significance candidates beyond those that were already identified with searches focusing on quasi-circular binaries. We determine the sensitivity of our search to high-mass (total mass $M>70$ $M_\odot$) binaries covering eccentricities up to 0.3 at 15 Hz orbital frequency, and use this to compare model predictions to search results. Assuming all detections are indeed quasi-circular, for our fiducial population model, we place an upper limit for the merger rate density of high-mass binaries with eccentricities $0 < e \leq 0.3$ at $0.33$ Gpc$^{-3}$ yr$^{-1}$ at 90\% confidence level.Comment: 24 pages, 5 figure

Not Available

Not AvailableStudies to evaluate the release threshold level of potassium in Vertisols (shrink-swell soils) in different agro-ecological regions of India and how that may help in K fertility interpretations are rare. Thus the objectives of this study were (i) to evaluate the K status of Vertisols through release threshold levels and (ii) to relate the findings with soil K release and fertilizer management. Three established soil series samples were collected from Vertisols of different agro-ecological regions of India. Release threshold level (RTL) was assessed after equilibrating soil with 0.01M CaCl2 solution having series of soil: solution ratio, after which the remaining amount of exchangeable K was extracted with 1N NH4OAc (pH 7). Total amount of K extracted (KT = K desorbed in CaCl2 solution plus K extracted with 1 N NH4OAc) remained more or less constant with decreasing K-level up to a certain value ( say threshold value) below which KT increased sharply indicating K release from non-labile form. The threshold value in terms of K concentrations (Release Threshold Concentration) of Panjari, Nagpur, Maharashtra (TypicHaplusterts, Sub-humid dry), Teligi, Bellary, Karnataka (SodicHaplusterts, Semi-arid dry) and Kheri, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh (TypicHaplusterts, Sub-humid moist) soils were 0.044 – 0.049, 0.034 – 0.062 and 0.043 – 0.11 m M, respectively. The high release threshold K levels in terms of concentration and activity ratio (AR) were observed in soils of Teligi and Kheri series as compared to soils of Panjari series due to high content of trioctahedral mica in the former two soils. The relationships between clay minerals, release threshold level, exchangeable potassium and non-exchangeable potassium determined by 1 N HNO3 and sodium tetra-phenylborate (NaBPh4) have been discussed.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableStudies to evaluate the release threshold level of potassium in Vertisols (shrink-swell soils) in different agro-ecological regions of India and how that may help in K fertility interpretations are rare. Thus the objectives of this study were (i) to evaluate the K status of Vertisols through release threshold levels and (ii) to relate the findings with soil K release and fertilizer management. Three established soil series samples were collected from Vertisols of different agro-ecological regions of India. Release threshold level (RTL) was assessed after equilibrating soil with 0.01 M CaCl2 solution having series of soil: solution ratio, after which the remaining amount of exchangeable K was extracted with 1 N NH4OAc (pH 7). Total amount of K extracted (KT = K desorbed in CaCl2 solution plus K extracted with 1 N NH4OAc) remained more or less constant with decreasing K-level up to a certain value (say threshold value) below which KT increased sharply indicating K release from non-labile form. The threshold value in terms of K concentrations (Release Threshold Concentration) of Panjari, Nagpur, Maharashtra (Typic Haplusterts, Sub-humid dry), Teligi, Bellary, Karnataka (Sodic Haplusterts, Semi-arid dry) and Kheri, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh (Typic Haplusterts, Sub-humid moist) soils were 0.044–0.049, 0.034–0.062 and 0.043–0.11 mm, respectively. The high release threshold K levels in terms of concentration and activity ratio (AR) were observed in soils of Teligi and Kheri series as compared to soils of Panjari series due to high content of trioctahedral mica in the former two soils. The relationships between clay minerals, release threshold level, exchangeable potassium and non-exchangeable potassium determined by 1 N HNO3 and sodium tetra-phenyl borate (NaBPh4) have been discussed.Not Availabl