Molecular characterization of corneal ulcers causing Staphylococcus aureus

Background: The human eye is one of the most remarkable sensory systems. Human beings gather most of the information about the external environment through their eyes and thus rely on sight more than on any other sense, with the eye being the most sensitive organ we have. Molecular characterization of Staphylococcus aureus from the cases of corneal ulcers.Methods: A total of 300 samples of corneal ulcers collected from various ophthalmology hospitals, government hospital and clinical laboratories of different places of Maharashtra, India. The Isolates were identified based on the colony morphology and biochemical reaction. The isolates were subjected for antibiotic sensitivity test and perform its molecular characterization.Results: In present study, 39 coagulase positive Staphylococcus aureus, pathogenic bacteria isolated from corneal ulcers.Conclusions: Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most significant pathogens in bacterial keratitis. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are needed to minimize the possibility of permanent vision loss and reduce structural damage to the cornea

Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study

Background Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide.Methods A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study-a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital.Findings Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.85 [95% CI 2.58-5.75]; p<0.0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63.0% vs 82.7%; OR 0.35 [0.23-0.53]; p<0.0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer.Interpretation Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised

The impact of immediate breast reconstruction on the time to delivery of adjuvant therapy: the iBRA-2 study

Background: Immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) is routinely offered to improve quality-of-life for women requiring mastectomy, but there are concerns that more complex surgery may delay adjuvant oncological treatments and compromise long-term outcomes. High-quality evidence is lacking. The iBRA-2 study aimed to investigate the impact of IBR on time to adjuvant therapy. Methods: Consecutive women undergoing mastectomy ± IBR for breast cancer July–December, 2016 were included. Patient demographics, operative, oncological and complication data were collected. Time from last definitive cancer surgery to first adjuvant treatment for patients undergoing mastectomy ± IBR were compared and risk factors associated with delays explored. Results: A total of 2540 patients were recruited from 76 centres; 1008 (39.7%) underwent IBR (implant-only [n = 675, 26.6%]; pedicled flaps [n = 105,4.1%] and free-flaps [n = 228, 8.9%]). Complications requiring re-admission or re-operation were significantly more common in patients undergoing IBR than those receiving mastectomy. Adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy was required by 1235 (48.6%) patients. No clinically significant differences were seen in time to adjuvant therapy between patient groups but major complications irrespective of surgery received were significantly associated with treatment delays. Conclusions: IBR does not result in clinically significant delays to adjuvant therapy, but post-operative complications are associated with treatment delays. Strategies to minimise complications, including careful patient selection, are required to improve outcomes for patients

Global, regional, and national progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 for neonatal and child health: all-cause and cause-specific mortality findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 has targeted elimination of preventable child mortality, reduction of neonatal death to less than 12 per 1000 livebirths, and reduction of death of children younger than 5 years to less than 25 per 1000 livebirths, for each country by 2030. To understand current rates, recent trends, and potential trajectories of child mortality for the next decade, we present the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 findings for all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality in children younger than 5 years of age, with multiple scenarios for child mortality in 2030 that include the consideration of potential effects of COVID-19, and a novel framework for quantifying optimal child survival. Methods We completed all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality analyses from 204 countries and territories for detailed age groups separately, with aggregated mortality probabilities per 1000 livebirths computed for neonatal mortality rate (NMR) and under-5 mortality rate (USMR). Scenarios for 2030 represent different potential trajectories, notably including potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the potential impact of improvements preferentially targeting neonatal survival. Optimal child survival metrics were developed by age, sex, and cause of death across all GBD location-years. The first metric is a global optimum and is based on the lowest observed mortality, and the second is a survival potential frontier that is based on stochastic frontier analysis of observed mortality and Healthcare Access and Quality Index. Findings Global U5MR decreased from 71.2 deaths per 1000 livebirths (95% uncertainty interval WI] 68.3-74-0) in 2000 to 37.1 (33.2-41.7) in 2019 while global NMR correspondingly declined more slowly from 28.0 deaths per 1000 live births (26.8-29-5) in 2000 to 17.9 (16.3-19-8) in 2019. In 2019,136 (67%) of 204 countries had a USMR at or below the SDG 3.2 threshold and 133 (65%) had an NMR at or below the SDG 3.2 threshold, and the reference scenario suggests that by 2030,154 (75%) of all countries could meet the U5MR targets, and 139 (68%) could meet the NMR targets. Deaths of children younger than 5 years totalled 9.65 million (95% UI 9.05-10.30) in 2000 and 5.05 million (4.27-6.02) in 2019, with the neonatal fraction of these deaths increasing from 39% (3.76 million 95% UI 3.53-4.021) in 2000 to 48% (2.42 million; 2.06-2.86) in 2019. NMR and U5MR were generally higher in males than in females, although there was no statistically significant difference at the global level. Neonatal disorders remained the leading cause of death in children younger than 5 years in 2019, followed by lower respiratory infections, diarrhoeal diseases, congenital birth defects, and malaria. The global optimum analysis suggests NMR could be reduced to as low as 0.80 (95% UI 0.71-0.86) deaths per 1000 livebirths and U5MR to 1.44 (95% UI 1-27-1.58) deaths per 1000 livebirths, and in 2019, there were as many as 1.87 million (95% UI 1-35-2.58; 37% 95% UI 32-43]) of 5.05 million more deaths of children younger than 5 years than the survival potential frontier. Interpretation Global child mortality declined by almost half between 2000 and 2019, but progress remains slower in neonates and 65 (32%) of 204 countries, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia, are not on track to meet either SDG 3.2 target by 2030. Focused improvements in perinatal and newborn care, continued and expanded delivery of essential interventions such as vaccination and infection prevention, an enhanced focus on equity, continued focus on poverty reduction and education, and investment in strengthening health systems across the development spectrum have the potential to substantially improve USMR. Given the widespread effects of COVID-19, considerable effort will be required to maintain and accelerate progress. Copyright (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd

<span style="font-size: 22.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Crystallization kinetics of Fe_{<span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">78</span>}<span style="font-size:22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">B₁_{<span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">3</span>}<span style="font-size:22.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Si_{<span style="font-size:16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">9</span>}<span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> <span style="font-size:22.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">metallic glass before and after high-energy heavy ion irradiation </span></span></span></span></span>

198-205<span style="font-size: 15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">Crystallization kinetics or virgin and irradiated (at three different fluences with high energy heavy ion; Ni11 <span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 5.0pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">+ <span style="font-size:15.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">or (150 MeV ) specimens of <span style="font-size:22.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:15.0pt; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"="">Fe78<span style="font-size:22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:15.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight:="" bold"="">B1<span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"="">3Si<span style="font-size:16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-weight:="" bold"="">9 <span style="font-size:15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">glass has been studied using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) under non-isothermal condition. Only one set or geometry has been used for irradiation at different fluences. It has been found that, the crystallization process is completed in two phases. The DSC data have been analyzed in terms or kinetic parameter, viz. <span style="font-size: 15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">activation energy <span style="font-size:14.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:7.5pt; font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">(Ec), Avrami exponent <span style="font-size:14.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:7.5pt; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">(n), dimensionality or growth <span style="font-size:13.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:6.5pt; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">(m ) <span style="font-size:15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif""="">and frequency factor (K0) <span style="font-size:15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif""="">using two different theoretical models. The lower activation energy in case or second crystallization occurring at higher temperature indicates the <span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;font-family:HiddenHorzOCR;mso-hansi-font-family:" times="" new="" roman";="" mso-bidi-font-family:hiddenhorzocr"="">easier <span style="font-size:15.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">nucleation of second phase, which is termed Fe<span style="font-size:13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:6.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">2B bet phase. The abnormally high value of Avrami exponent <span style="font-size:15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;line-height:115%; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";="" mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:="" en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="">indicates very high nucleation rate during second crystallization.</span

Study of structural, electrical and thermal properties of polyaniline/ZnO composites synthesized by <i>in- situ</i> polymerization

456-463This paper reports the structural, electrical and thermal properties of the polyaniline doped with ZnO composites. Conducting polymer composites of polyaniline/zinc oxide (PANI/ZnO) have been synthesized by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">in-situ polymerization of aniline using various compositions (10, 20, 30, 40, 50 wt %) of ZnO in PANI using ammonium persulphate as an oxidant. The amorphous nature of the composites has been ascertained by the X-ray diffraction. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirms the interaction between PANI and dopant. Thermal stability of polymer composites has been analyzed by TGA and corresponding thermal kinetic parameters were calculated using Horowitz-Metzger method. Thermal analysis shows higher thermal stability of PANI/ZnO composites than pure PANI. The surface morphology of these composites was analyzed with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), which also confirms the presence of ZnO in the composites. The dc conductivity behaviour of these composites has also been investigated as a function of temperature and concentration in the temperature range 313-393 K and the results were compared with pure PANI. The dc electrical conductivity of PANI/ZnO composites decreased as the ZnO content increased in PANI but increased with the increase in temperature.</span

<span style="font-size: 22.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Crystallization kinetics of Ni_x Ti_{<span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">100-</span>}_{<span style="font-size:22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">x</span>}<span style="font-size:22.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:15.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> (x=35,40) glasses before and after high energy heavy ion irradiation </span></span>

457-461<span style="font-size: 17.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">Non-isothermal crystallization process in amorphous alloys Ni35Ti65 <span style="font-size:17.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif""="">and Ni<span style="font-size:13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:6.0pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">40Ti60 before and after high-energy heavy ion irradiation with 150 MeV Ni+11 <span style="font-size:17.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif""="">ions have been investgated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The alloys have been irradiated with fluences varying between 1 ×1011<span style="font-size:12.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:5.5pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""=""> and 1 × 10<span style="font-size:12.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:5.5pt; font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">13 <span style="font-size:17.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">ions/ cm-2. <span style="font-size:17.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif""="">DSC traces have been analyzed in terms of activation energy for crystallization, Avrami exponent dimensionality of growth by using four different models viz. Kissinger equation [J Res NBS, 57 (1956) 2 17], Ozawa equation [Bull Chem Soc Jpn , 35 (1956) 881], Matusita equation [J <span style="font-size:17.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">Mater Sci, 19 (1986) 291] and Gao and Wang equation <span style="font-size:17.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">[J <span style="font-size:17.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">Non-Cryst Solids, <span style="font-size:17.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">87 (1980) 129]. No effect of heavy ion irradiation <span style="font-size: 17.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">of above mentioned energy, on the crystallization kinetics has been found. </span