Effect of risk factors on the outcomes of COVID-19-infected intensive care patients: a single-center retrospective study

Background: To date, little attention has been paid to the impact of risk factors on the outcome of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU). This study was performed to examine the effects of risk factors on death among COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the ICU.  Methods: From April 2020 to November 2020, data on 141 COVID-19-infected intensive care patients at 7 Air Force Hospital, Kanpur, were retrospectively retrieved. All analyses were performed using SPSS statistical software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA, 15.0). Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to identify independent risk factors. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Most of study population were males (69.5%) with mean age of 59.8 ± 17.5 years. Out of 141 patients, 60 (42.6%) patients had comorbidities and 81 (57.4%) patients had no comorbidities. ICU death rates were 46.1%. Bivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that male sex (OR:0.45;95%CI:0.21-0.94), diabetes mellitus (OR:2.96; 95%CI:1.16-7.54), coronary artery disease (OR:2.48;95%CI:0.83-7.37), chronic kidney disease (OR:0.13,95% CI:0.02-1.12), patients with one (OR:1.25,95%CI:0.54-2.86) or more than two comorbidities (OR:1.95,95%CI:0.81-4.70), and who required high flow oxygen therapy (OR:13.30,95%CI:5.81-30.43), non-invasive (OR: 0.10,95% CI:0.02-0.45) and invasive ventilators (OR:0.04,95%CI:0.02-0.09) all were associated with higher ICU death rates. Multivariable logistic regression found following independent risk factors for death: patients with one comorbidity (OR:0.10;95%CI:0.02-0.66), non-invasive ventilator (OR:0.005;95%CI:0.000-0.091), and invasive ventilator (OR:0.003;95%CI:0.000-0.032). Conclusion: Identification of risk factors is of utmost importance to reduce death in COVID-19 infected intensive care patients

Differential depression of spinal synaptic transmission <i>in vitro </i>by different hypoxic insults

36-42The effects of hypoxia (O2-free), aglycemia (glucose-free), ischemia (O2- and glucose-free) and chemical anoxia (by 3-nitropropionic acid; 3-NPA) were evaluated on the synaptic transmission in vitro. Stimulation of a dorsal root in hemisecled spinal cord from neonatal rat, evoked monosynaptic (MSR) and polysynaptic reflexes (PSR) in the segmental ventral root. In all the hypoxic conditions, the reflexes were depressed in a time-dependent manner. Hypoxia took longer time (> 240 min) to abolish the reflexes where as, aglycemia and ischemia abolished them within 35 min. Recovery after wash was complete in hypoxia, 60-70% in aglycemia and 20-25% in ischemia. The lime required for 50% depression of reflexes (T-50) was also in the same order (100, 23 and 13 min). The elimination of O2 in hypoxic or ischemic solution by N2 bubbling abolished the reflexes within 16 min. The T-50 values in both the conditions were between 5-8 min. Superfusion of 3-NPA (an irreversible inhibitor of succinate dehydrogenase) depressed the reflexes. The abolition time and T-50 values were shorter with the increasing concentrations of 3-NPA. The present results reveal that the energy production in hypoxic condition with normal glucose level can sustain the synaptic activity for a longer time while the glucose deficiency even in normoxic conditions drastically impair the synaptic activity. Further, aglycemia depressed the reflexes almost in a similar time as seen with ischemia

Impact of surgery and intranasal corticosteroid therapy on quality of life of patients with allergic rhinitis

Introduction: Prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) in India ranges from 10% to 15%. AR significantly affects the quality of life (QOL). This study was designed with an objective to assess the impact of surgery and 3 months of intranasal corticosteroids therapy on the QOL of patients with AR. Materials and Methods: A before and after comparison cross-sectional study was conducted between April 2012 and December 2013. A total of fifty consecutive patients in the age group of 19-59 years suffering from moderate-severe AR presenting at KKR ENT Hospital and Research Institute were included in the study after taking their consent. Individuals with contraindications for the surgery or intranasal corticosteroid therapy were excluded from the study. QOL was assessed using the mini rhinoconjunctivitis QOL questionnaire before the surgery and 3 months after starting corticosteroid therapy following the surgery. The study was approved by the Institutional Ethical and Scientific Committee. Absolute eosinophil count (AEC) and QOL scores were used to measure the impact. Descriptive statistics and paired t-tests were used to analyze the data and lend statistical support. Results: Mean AEC reduced from 517.66 (±74.42) to 322.70 (±54.68) after surgery and 3 months of intranasal corticosteroid therapy, and this reduction was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Mean QOL scores reduced from 2.624 (±0.445) to 2.031 (±0.386) after surgery and 3 months of intranasal corticosteroid therapy, and this reduction was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Within 3 months after the surgery and intranasal corticosteroid therapy, the mean AEC as well as the mean QOL scores reduced significantly indicating a reduction in the allergic reaction and an improvement in the QOL of patients suffering from AR

Brolucizumab for Choroidal Neovascular Membrane with Pigment Epithelial Tear and Subretinal Fluid

The aim of this study was to determine the utility of brolucizumab in the management of choroidal neovessels (CNV) with a retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) tear and subretinal fluid. We used a case series of patients with CNV who developed an RPE tear either spontaneously or following an intravitreal injection. All patients received intravitreal brolucizumab as primary or switch therapy. Appropriate data were collected. Follow-up was one year. The paired t-test was used to determine the significance of the results. The primary outcome measure was the change in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Secondary outcome measures were the change in subretinal fluid and complications, if any. A total of five patients were included in the analysis. The age range was 67−74 years and baseline BCVA was from 20/80 to 20/100. On average, all patients showed improvement in BCVA (p = 0.012) and also showed a significant anatomical improvement (p = 0.03). None of the patients had any complications, and all patients responded to additional anti-VEGF injections. In conclusion, all patients showed significant visual and anatomical improvement with brolucizumab; no complications were noted. All patients, including those who received switch, demonstrated a favorable anatomical and visual response to intravitreal brolucizumab without safety concerns

SRE1 and SRE2 are two specific steroid-responsive modules of Candida drug resistance gene 1 (CDR1) promoter

CDR1 gene encoding an ATP-driven drug extrusion pump has been implicated in the development of azole-resistance in Candida albicans. Although the upregulation of CDR1 expression by various environmental factors has been documented, the molecular mechanism underlying such process is poorly understood. We have demonstrated earlier that the CDR1 promoter encompasses a large number of cis-regulatory elements, presumably mediating its response to various drugs. In this study we have identified a novel steroid responsive region (SRR) conferring β-oestradiol and progesterone inducibility on the CDR1 promoter. The SRR is located −696 to −521 bp upstream of the transcription start site; it is modular in nature and can confer steroid responsiveness to a heterologous promoter (ADH1) linked to a GFP reporter gene. In vitro DNase I protection analyses of SRR revealed two progesterone responsive sequences (−628 to −594 and −683 to −648) and one β-oestradiol responsive sequence (−628 to −577), which was further corroborated by the gel mobility shift assay. Deletion analyses within the SRR further delimited these steroid responsive sequences into two distinct elements, viz. SRE1 and SRE2. While SRE1 (−677 to −648) responds only to progesterone, SRE2 (−628 to −598) responded to both progesterone and β-oestradiol. Both SRE1 and SRE2 were specific for steroids, as they did not respond to other drugs, such as cycloheximide, miconazole and terbinafine. In silico comparison of the SRE½ with the promoter sequences of other MDR (CDR2 and PDR5) and non-MDR (HSP90) steroid-responsive genes revealed a similarity with respect to conservation of three 5 bp stretches (AAGAA, CCGAA and ATTGG). Taken together, we have identified a novel steroid responsive cis-regulatory sequence in the CDR1 promoter, which presumably can be instrumental in understanding the steroid response cascade in Candida albicans

Not Available

Not AvailableBackground. The investigation on different aspects of the reproductive biology is valuable information in the development of breeding technologies towards initiating conservation and other management measures of the indigenous fish stocks. Mastacembelus armatus (Lacepede, 1800) is a commercially important fish species in the river Ganges of India. But, the data on the reproductive biology of this species is limited. Hence, this study was done to gather information on some aspects of the reproductive biology of M. armatus to address the gap in the current knowledge. Materials and methods. Some biological traits relating to the reproduction of the Zig-zag eel M. armatus were examined from the Ganga River through the monthly sampling for one year from April 2015 to March 2016. About 286 fish specimens were collected comprising 167 males and 119 females. Weight-Length- relations for both the sexes were estimated employing regression analysis. The fecundity was calculated following the gravimetric method. The length at 50% maturity (L50) for the male and female were assessed employing maturity status data. The spawning season was predicted employing Gonado-somatic index and maturity status data. Results. Monthly sex ratio (F ÷ M) ranging between 0.22 ÷ 1 and 2.75 ÷ 1 with a mean of 0.71 ÷ 1 observed in the population was significantly different from 1 ÷ 1. Analysis of mean monthly Gonado- Somatic Index (GSI) and the existence of matured (IV and V) and spent (VI) individuals, indicated year-round spawning with two breeding seasons. The first breeding season occurred between February to May, and the other between July to November in the Ganga River. The L50 of Mastacembelus armatus female and male were determined as 362.2 and 385.6 mm total length (TL), respectively. The reproductive potential in terms of absolute fecundity ranged between 2546 and 6058 with a mean of 3962 ova. Conclusion. The current investigation helps to report the size at maturity in the female and the male for the first time from Indian waters. This species has got a low fecundity indicated that this species possess a comparatively lower reproductive potential, making it more vulnerable to the fishing operation. For the sustainable management of this species, it is necessary to utilise the resources wisely and avoid overfishing in the River Ganga

Not Available

Not AvailableFood and feeding biology of freshwater zig-zag eel Mastacembelus armatus (LACEPÈDE, 1800) was investigated from the Allahabad waters of the river Ganga from April 2015 to March 2016. The Stomach contents of 326 individuals of M. armatus were collected monthly from the Daraganj fish landing centre located on the bank of the river Ganga. The composition of food content was expressed as percentage of the frequency of occurrence (%Oi) and percentage of the volume (Vi). The main food items were estimated by Index of preponderance (Ii). The three major food items of M. armatus were the small sized teleosts, insects, and molluscs. The analyses of the relative gut length (RGL) revealed it carnivorous type of feeding habit. The Gastro-Somatic Index (GaSI) in the male and female ranged between 2.65 and 4.41 with a mean of 3.42 ± 0.09 and 2.84 and 3.43 with a mean value of 3.05 ± 0.03. The mean GaSI value differed significantly at 5% level of significance (F = 6.72, p = 0.01) in both the male and female indicated significant variation in the feeding habits between both the sexes. This study furnishes baseline information on the food and feeding habits of M. armatus which could be useful in formulation of the management and conservation strategies of this species in the region.Not Availabl

Multicore optical fibers for multi-band laser and amplifier

We report the fabrication and characterisation of rare-earth-doped multicore optical fiber with the aim to develop multi-band optical fiber laser sources and amplifiers to exploit future novel multicore fiber laser and amplifiers

Not Available

Not AvailableThe basic informations on length-weight relationships for a number of small indigenous tropical freshwater species of fish are still scanty or not available on the FishBase. Present investigation reports the weight –length relationships of four teleost species from the river Gang in India. A total of 795 fresh fish specimens belonging to four species were collected from the four different locations along the stretches of the River Ganga from June 2017 to August 2018. The r2 and b values for the four fish species ranged from 0.949 to 0.998 and 2.55 to 2.849, respectively. For three of these species, length-weight relationships data represent the first information.NMC