A CROSS-SECTIONAL RESEARCH TO ASSESS THE HEARING LOSS INDUCED BY VARIOUS OCCUPATIONAL NOISE CONDITIONS AMONG INDUSTRIAL WORKERS

Objective: The aim of our study was to check out the hearing limit of industrial workers along with a comparison between noise-exposed as well as unexposed groups. Methodology: We carried out an observational cross-sectional research at Services Hospital, Lahore (September 2016 to October 2017). We formulate two groups for our cross-sectional study. Group “A” consist of fifty industrial workers who work in consistent huge level noise and correlate with the similar group “B”. Subjective test “Pure tone audiometry” was performed to measure hearing limits at different frequencies. Results: Hearing loss in group “A” was too common, as well as the characteristic dip of the auditory range, was noted at a frequency of 4000 Hz. Conclusion: The working staff of industries is at greater risk of developing Sensor-neural hearing loss (SNHL) with respect to the common population. These workers can comfortably be picked in the initial stages by audiometry as well as suitable securing steps advised to stop or hamper the silent development of the disease. Keywords: Hearing threshold, Sensor-neural hearing loss (SNHL), Pure tone audiometry, Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), spiral ganglion neurons (SGN)

Acute kidney injury in lymphoma: a single centre experience

Background. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common but least studied complication of lymphoma. Objective. To determine the frequency and predictors of AKI in lymphoma and to study the impact of AKI on hospital stay and mortality. Methods. Retrospective review of medical records of hospitalized lymphoma patients aged ≥14 years between January 2008 and December 2011 was done. Results. Out of 365 patients, AKI was present in 31.8% (116/365). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that independent predictors for AKI included sepsis (odds ratio (OR) 3.76; 95% CI 1.83-7.72), aminoglycosides (OR 4.75; 95% CI 1.15-19.52), diuretics (OR 2.96; 95% CI 1.31-6.69), tumor lysis syndrome (OR 3.85; 95% CI 1.54-9.59), and R-CVP regimen (OR 4.70; 95% CI 1.20-18.36). AKI stages 2 and 3 was associated with increased hospital stay (OR 2.01; 95% CI 1.19-3.40). Conclusion. AKI was significantly associated with sepsis, aminoglycoside, diuretics, presence of tumor lysis syndrome, and use of R-CVP regimen. Presence of AKIN (Acute Kidney Injury Network) stages 2 and 3 AKI had increased hospital stay. AKI was also associated with increased mortality

D-dimer trends elaborate the heterogeneity of risk in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: A multi-national case series from different waves

IntroductionVariable D-dimer trends during hospitalization reportedly result in distinct in-hospital mortality. In this multinational case series from the first and second waves, we show the universality of such D-dimer trends.MethodsWe reviewed 405 patients with COVID-19 during the first wave admitted to three institutions in the United States, Italy, and Colombia, and 111 patients admitted to the U.S. site during the second wave and 55 patients during the third wave. D-dimer was serially followed during hospitalization.ResultsDuring the first wave, 66 (15%) patients had a persistently-low pattern, 33 (8%) had early-peaking, 70 (16%) had mid-peaking, 94 (22%) had fluctuating, 30 (7%) had late-peaking, and 112 (26%) had a persistently-high pattern. During the second and third waves, similar patterns were observed. D-dimer patterns were significantly different in terms of in-hospital mortality similarly in all waves. Patterns were then classified into low-risk patterns (persistently-low and early-peaking), where no deaths were observed in both waves, high-risk patterns (mid-peaking and fluctuating), and malignant patterns (late-peaking and persistently-high). Overall, D-dimer trends were associated with an increased risk for in-hospital mortality in the first wave (overall: HR: 1.73) and stayed the same during the second (HR: 1.67, p < 0.001) and the third (HR: 4.4, p = 0.001) waves.ConclusionD-dimer behavior during COVID-19 hospitalization yielded universal categories with distinct mortality risks that persisted throughout all studied waves of infection. Monitoring D-dimer behavior may be useful in the management of these patients

Improvement of Bacillus strains by mutation for overproduction of exopolygalacturonases

509-517Pectinases, produced by microorganisms, have wide range application in food industry, textile processing, paper making, coffee and tea fermentation, etc. It accounts for 10% of the global industrial enzymes produced. The most important and widely used commercial pectinase polygalacturonase is produced by alkalophilic strains of Bacillus sp. and Streptomyces sp. Here, we explored 29 bacterial strains isolated from rotten mango samples for polygalacturonase production and selected 16 strains through preliminary screening by well-plate method for enzyme activity. The maximum zone of inhibition of pectin was observed up to 28 mm in diameter but one strain ZM11 was exhibiting no activity. Quantitative dinitrisalicylic acid (DNS) assay for polygalacturonase enzyme was also performed for the selected bacterial isolates. All the strains bestowed significant enzyme activity with the highest activity of 2.4 U/µL exhibited by strain ZM3 (P ≤0.05). Characterization of the isolates was performed using different biochemical tests which also confirmed the isolates as members of the genus Bacillus. Mutation was induced to the selected strains by UV light and acridine orange for different periods of time. Qualitative and quantitative assays of the mutant bacterial isolates showed that the enzyme activity increased to 4.62 U/µL which clearly indicated that induced mutation enhanced the ability of Bacillus strains to produce more polygalacturonase enzyme up to 3-fold as compared to the wild strains (P ≤0.05). Molecular characterization by 16S rRNA sequences further confirmed that the bacterial isolates belong to Bacillus subtilis and B. amyloliquefaciens

Exercise induced muscle weakness in a young adult: McArdle’s disease unusual presentation

McArdle’s disease (Glycogen storage disease type V) is a rare inherited autosomal recessive disease involving defect in enzyme, glycogen phosphorylase (PYGM) which results in accumulation of glycogen mainly affecting skeletal muscles. It commonly presents in childhood and rarely in adults with symptoms like exercise intolerance, muscle weakness, cramps and fatigue. Herein, we report an unusual case of a 22 years old male in Pakistan with probable McArdle’s Disease presenting with repeated episodes of generalized cramping muscle pain, exercise intolerance and haematuria. The diagnostic approach to identifying this disease as well as the differentials of other rare types of skeletal muscle disorders that should be kept in mind while dealing with a similar clinical picture, irrespective of the age of presentation, have been discussed. Keywords: Glycogen Storage Disease Type V, Myoglobinuria

Improved High-Temperature Thermoelectric Properties of Dual-Doped Ca₃Co₄O₉

[Image: see text] Layered structured Ca(3)Co(4)O(9) has displayed great potential for thermoelectric (TE) renewable energy applications, as it is nontoxic and contains abundantly available constituent elements. In this work, we study the crystal structure and high-temperature TE properties of Ca(3–2y)Na(2y)Co(4–y)Mo(y)O(9) (0 ≤ y ≤ 0.10) polycrystalline materials. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis shows that all samples are single-phase samples and without any noticeable amount of the secondary phase. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) measurements depict the presence of a mixture of Co(3+) and Co(4+) valence states in these materials. The Seebeck coefficient (S) of dual-doped materials is significantly enhanced, and electrical resistivities (ρ) and thermal conductivities (κ) are decreased compared to the pristine compound. The maximum thermoelectric power factor (PF = S(2)/ρ) and dimensionless figure of merit (zT) obtained for the y = 0.025 sample at 1000 K temperature are ∼3.2 × 10(–4) W m(–1) K(–2) and 0.27, respectively. The zT value for Ca(2.95)Na(0.05)Co(3.975)Mo(0.025)O(9) is about 2.5 times higher than that of the parent Ca(3)Co(4)O(9) compound. These results demonstrate that dual doping of Na and Mo cations is a promising strategy for improving the high-temperature thermoelectric properties of Ca(3)Co(4)O(9)

D-dimer trends elaborate the heterogeneity of risk in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: A multi-national case series from different waves

Q2Q1Pacientes con COVID-19Introduction: Variable D-dimer trends during hospitalization reportedly result in distinct in-hospital mortality. In this multinational case series from the first and second waves, we show the universality of such D-dimer trends. Methods: We reviewed 405 patients with COVID-19 during the first wave admitted to three institutions in the United States, Italy, and Colombia, and 111 patients admitted to the U.S. site during the second wave and 55 patients during the third wave. D-dimer was serially followed during hospitalization. Results: During the first wave, 66 (15%) patients had a persistently-low pattern, 33 (8%) had early-peaking, 70 (16%) had mid-peaking, 94 (22%) had fluctuating, 30 (7%) had late-peaking, and 112 (26%) had a persistently-high pattern. During the second and third waves, similar patterns were observed. D-dimer patterns were significantly different in terms of in-hospital mortality similarly in all waves. Patterns were then classified into low-risk patterns (persistently-low and early-peaking), where no deaths were observed in both waves, high-risk patterns (mid-peaking and fluctuating), and malignant patterns (late-peaking and persistently-high). Overall, D-dimer trends were associated with an increased risk for in-hospital mortality in the first wave (overall: HR: 1.73) and stayed the same during the second (HR: 1.67, p < 0.001) and the third (HR: 4.4, p = 0.001) waves. Conclusion: D-dimer behavior during COVID-19 hospitalization yielded universal categories with distinct mortality risks that persisted throughout all studied waves of infection. Monitoring D-dimer behavior may be useful in the management of these patients.https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3975-2835https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2297-1855https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3743-6268Revista Internacional - IndexadaA1N