3-Ethyl-6-(4-fluoro­phen­yl)-7H-1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thia­diazine

In the title compound, C12H11FN4S, the thia­diazine ring adopts a twist-boat conformation. The dihedral angle between the triazolothia­diazine system and the benzene ring is 10.54 (9)°. The crystal structure is characterized by C—H⋯N hydrogen bonds. The crystal packing also exhibits π–π inter­actions, with a centroid–centroid distance of 3.6348 (15) Å

Crystal structure of 1-benzylsulfonyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline

SJ thanks the Vision Group on Science and Technology, Government of Karnataka, for the award of a major project under the CISE scheme (reference No. VGST/CISE/GRD192/2013-14). BSPM thanks Rajegowda, Department of Studies and Research in Chemistry, UCS, Tumkur University, Karnataka 572 103, India, for his support.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

3-Ethyl-4-[(E)-(4-fluoro­benzyl­idene)amino]-1H-1,2,4-triazole-5(4H)-thione

In the title compound, C11H11FN4S, the dihedral angle between the 1,2,4-triazole ring and the benzene ring is 25.04 (12)° and an intra­moleuclar C—H⋯S inter­action leads to an S(6) ring. In the crystal, inversion dimers linked by pairs of N—H⋯S hydrogen bonds generate R 2 2(8) loops

Ciliary body metastasis in a patient with non-small cell lung carcinoma — incidental detection with 18F-FDG PET/CT

Ciliary body metastasis in a case of lung cancer is very rare. Intraocular metastasis by any cancer most commonly involves choroid followed by iris and ciliary body. We present a case of a 71-year-old male with non-small cell lung cancer who was found to have an 18F-FDG avid right lung mass. Incidentally a focus of abnormal increased 18F-FDG uptake was noted in the region of ciliary body in the right eyeball. The findings were confirmed to be a metastatic lesion in ciliary body on Ultrasonography and MRI. Our case depicts this extremely rare occurrence corroborated by various modalities

Molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of betasatellite molecules associated with okra yellow vein mosaic disease in Sri Lanka

Okra production in Sri Lanka has been severely affected by okra yellow vein mosaic disease (OYVMD), which is caused by begomoviruses and associated betasatellites. These betasatellite molecules commonly determine the development and severity of the disease. Therefore, knowledge about the genetic variability of betasatellites associated with OYVMD could assist okra breeding programs in the selection of resistant varieties. The present study aimed to characterize the betasatellite DNA sequences associated with OYVMD in Sri Lanka and to determine their phylogenetic relationships. Betasatellite DNA of six virus isolates from widely separated geographical locations were sequenced and compared with already reported begomovirus betasatellites. The betasatellite molecules have features common to other betasatellite DNAs: a conserved nonanucleotide TAATATTAC, a coding sequence for the protein βC1, an adenine rich region and a satellite conserved region. Nucleotide diversity among the isolates was relatively low (π = 0.034). A recombination event was detected at a specific region in the genome of all isolates. The isolates shared >96% sequence identity with bhendi yellow vein betasatellites reported from India and phylogenetic analysis confirmed their genetic relationship

Anthropometric cut-offs to identify hyperglycemia in an Afro-Caribbean population: a cross-sectional population-based study from Barbados.

INTRODUCTION: Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) cut-offs associated with hyperglycemia may differ by ethnicity. We investigated the optimal BMI and WC cut-offs for identifying hyperglycemia in the predominantly Afro-Caribbean population of Barbados. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 865 individuals aged ≥25 years without known diabetes or cardiovascular disease was conducted. Hyperglycemia was defined as fasting plasma glucose ≥5.6 mmol/L or hemoglobin A1c ≥5.7% (39 mmol/mol). The Youden index was used to identify the optimal cut-offs from the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Further ROC analysis and multivariable log binomial regression were used to compare standard and data-derived cut-offs. RESULTS: The prevalence of hyperglycemia was 58.9% (95% CI 54.7% to 63.0%). In women, optimal BMI and WC cut-offs (27 kg/m2 and 87 cm, respectively) performed similarly to standard cut-offs. In men, sensitivities of the optimal cut-offs of BMI ≥24 kg/m2 (72.0%) and WC ≥86 cm (74.0%) were higher than those for standard BMI and WC obesity cut-offs (30.0% and 25%-46%, respectively), although with lower specificity. Hyperglycemia was 70% higher in men above the data-derived WC cut-off (prevalence ratio 95% CI 1.2 to 2.3). CONCLUSIONS: While BMI and WC cut-offs in Afro-Caribbean women approximate international standards, our findings, consistent with other studies, suggest lowering cut-offs in men may be warranted to improve detection of hyperglycemia. Our findings do, however, require replication in a new data set.The project was supported by the Ministry of Health of the Government of Barbados. ANW is supported by the Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number K43TW010698. This paper describes the views of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health (USA)

Differential item functioning for items in Berger's HIV Stigma Scale: an analysis of cohorts from the Indian, Swedish, and US contexts

PURPOSE: To examine whether items in Berger's HIV Stigma Scale function differently with persons of different age, gender, and cultural backgrounds. METHODS: Secondary data from cohorts, collected in South India (n = 250), Sweden (n = 193), and the US (n = 603) were reanalyzed to evaluate DIF within, between, and across these cohorts. All participants had answered the revised version of the HIV stigma scale consisting of 32 items forming the subscales Personalized stigma, Disclosure concerns, Concerns about public attitudes, and Negative self-image. Differential Item Functioning (DIF) for these items was assessed using hybrid ordinal regression-IRT technique. When DIF was detected, the cumulative impact of DIF on individual subscale scores was evaluated. RESULTS: DIF was detected for 9 items within, between, or across cohorts, but the DIF was negligible in general. Detected DIF between the Swedish and Indian cohorts had a cumulative salient impact on individual scores for the subscale Disclosure Concerns; Disclosure concerns were overestimated in the Swedish cohort and both over- and underestimated in the Indian cohort. CONCLUSIONS: The items in the 32-item version of the HIV stigma scale did not seem to be particularly prone to present DIF. The DIF between the Indian and Swedish cohort for items in the subscale Disclosure Concerns could, however, result in both type I and type II errors if scores should be compared between the Indian and Swedish cohort

Inducing remission of Type 2 diabetes in the Caribbean: findings from a mixed methods feasibility study of a low-calorie liquid diet-based intervention in Barbados.

AIM: In a high proportion of people with recently diagnosed Type 2 diabetes, a short (2-3-month) low-calorie diet is able to restore normal glucose and insulin metabolism. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of this approach in Barbados. METHODS: Twenty-five individuals with Type 2 diabetes diagnosed within past 6 years, not on insulin, BMI ≥ 27 kg/m2 were recruited. Hypoglycaemic medication was stopped on commencement of the 8-week liquid (760 calorie) diet. Insulin response was assessed in meal tests at baseline, 8 weeks and 8 months. Semi-structured interviews, analysed thematically, explored participants' experiences. 'Responders' were those with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) < 7 mmol/l at 8 weeks. RESULTS: Ten men and 15 women (mean age 48, range 26-68 years) participated. Mean (sd) BMI was 34.2 kg/m2 (6.0); FPG 9.2 mmol/l (2.2). Mean weight loss at 8 weeks and 8 months was 10.1 kg [95% confidence interval (CI) 8.1, 12.0] and 8.2 kg (95% CI 5.8, 10.6); FPG was lower by 2.2 mmol/l (95% CI 1.2, 3.2) and 1.7 mmol/l (95% CI 0.8, 2.7) respectively. Nine of 11 (82%) of those who lost ≥ 10 kg were 'responders' compared with 6 of 14 (43%) who lost < 10 kg (P = 0.048). The 30-min insulin increment was higher in responders at baseline and follow-up (P ≤ 0.01). A food culture based on starchy foods and pressures to eat large amounts at social events were among the challenges identified by participants. CONCLUSIONS: The feasibility of this approach to weight loss and diabetes remission in a predominantly black population in Barbados was demonstrated

Differential item functioning for items in Berger's HIV Stigma Scale: an analysis of cohorts from the Indian, Swedish, and US contexts

PURPOSE: To examine whether items in Berger's HIV Stigma Scale function differently with persons of different age, gender, and cultural backgrounds. METHODS: Secondary data from cohorts, collected in South India (n = 250), Sweden (n = 193), and the US (n = 603) were reanalyzed to evaluate DIF within, between, and across these cohorts. All participants had answered the revised version of the HIV stigma scale consisting of 32 items forming the subscales Personalized stigma, Disclosure concerns, Concerns about public attitudes, and Negative self-image. Differential Item Functioning (DIF) for these items was assessed using hybrid ordinal regression-IRT technique. When DIF was detected, the cumulative impact of DIF on individual subscale scores was evaluated. RESULTS: DIF was detected for 9 items within, between, or across cohorts, but the DIF was negligible in general. Detected DIF between the Swedish and Indian cohorts had a cumulative salient impact on individual scores for the subscale Disclosure Concerns; Disclosure concerns were overestimated in the Swedish cohort and both over- and underestimated in the Indian cohort. CONCLUSIONS: The items in the 32-item version of the HIV stigma scale did not seem to be particularly prone to present DIF. The DIF between the Indian and Swedish cohort for items in the subscale Disclosure Concerns could, however, result in both type I and type II errors if scores should be compared between the Indian and Swedish cohort