Outcome analysis of upper and lower limb motor functions after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for degenerative cervical disc disease

Background: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is the most commonly performed surgical procedure for symptomatic cervical disc disease. In this study, we analysed the upper and lower limb motor functions after ACDF for disc prolapse in patients with degenerative cervical disc disease. Methods: One hundred consecutive adult patients who underwent ACDF for single or two-level cervical disc prolapse during the study period (October 2015 to October 2017) were included in the study. Results: Preoperative motor deficits in limbs were noted in 73% (73/100) of the patients. Enhance recovery of motor deficits was noted in 72.6% (53/73) of these patients and persisting motor deficits in the remaining patients (20/73- 27.4%). Five patients (5/27- 18.5%) without any preoperative motor deficits developed motor deficits after ACDF. Detailed pre and postoperative (at the time of discharge) motor power (graded by MRC grade) in all 4 limbs (Shoulder abduction/adduction/flexion/extension, elbow flexion/extension, wrist flexion/extension, hip abduction/adduction/flexion/extension, knee flexion/extension, ankle flexion/extension) was recorded. Statistically significant improvement in motor power (as recorded at the time of discharge) was noted in all the tested muscle groups after ACDF. Conclusion: Early improvement in preoperative motor deficits can be expected in the majority of the patients with cervical PIVD following ACDF

External ventricular drainage for intraventricular hemorrhage

Background: Intervention to reduce intracranial pressure using External Ventricular Drain (EVD) is a common life saving measure in a neurosurgery intensive care unit(ICU). Objective: The present study was undertaken to assess the outcome of patients who underwent external ventricular drainage for intraventricular hemorrhage(IVH). Methods: The available data of the patients who underwent placement of external ventricular drain from February 2012 to May 2016 for intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) at Narayana Medical College and Hospital, Nellore, was retrieved from the hospital case records and analyzed. Results: Total of 69 patients were included in this study. Mean age was 53.7 ±11.6 years. Clinical presentation included altered sensorium in 66 patients (96%), hemiparesis in 62 patients (90%) , vomiting in 40 patients (58%) and seizures in 9 patients (13%). Fifty two patients (75%) were known hypertensives and 10 patients (15%) were diabetic. Past history of smoking was recorded in 16(23%) patients and alcohol intake in 17 patients (25%). GCS at the time of admission was 3-8 (low) in 39 patients (57%), 9-12 in 23 patients(33%) and 13-15 in 7 patients (10%). At the time of admission, 60 patients ( 87%) had diastolic blood pressure more than 90 mmHg, 63 patients (91%) had systolic blood pressure more than 140 mmHg. Major site of hemorrhage was basal ganglia in 24 (35%), thalamus in 13 (19%), cerebellum in 5 (7%), brain stem in 3, frontal/temporal in 2 patients. SAH with IVH was noted in 12 patients (17%) and only IVH was noted in 10 patients (14%). Mean duration of external ventricular drainage was 4.6+1.7 days (Range 1-9 days). Mean hospital stay was 11.3±7.5 days and mean ICU stay was 8+5.4 days. Thirty eight patients (55%) died during hospital stay. At the time of discharge, poor out come (Glagow out come score 1-3) was noted in 52 patients (75%) and good out come (Glagow out come score-4,5) was noted in 17 patients. Among various parameters analyzed , poor GCS (3-8) at admission, history of smoking and alcohol intake were found to correlate significantly with poor outcome. None of the other factors like old age, site of bleed, pupillary asymmetry at admission, high blood pressure at admission, past history of hypertension and diabetes were found to correlate with poor outcome. Conclusions: Majority of the patients with intracranial hematomas with intraventricular extension presented in poor neurological condition (GCS= 3-8). Poor neurological condition at the time of admission, past history of smoking and alcohol intake were associated with poor outcome

Abstracts of National Conference on Research and Developments in Material Processing, Modelling and Characterization 2020

This book presents the abstracts of the papers presented to the Online National Conference on Research and Developments in Material Processing, Modelling and Characterization 2020 (RDMPMC-2020) held on 26th and 27th August 2020 organized by the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Science in Association with the Department of Production and Industrial Engineering, National Institute of Technology Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India. Conference Title: National Conference on Research and Developments in Material Processing, Modelling and Characterization 2020Conference Acronym: RDMPMC-2020Conference Date: 26–27 August 2020Conference Location: Online (Virtual Mode)Conference Organizer: Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, National Institute of Technology JamshedpurCo-organizer: Department of Production and Industrial Engineering, National Institute of Technology Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, IndiaConference Sponsor: TEQIP-

Multi-messenger Observations of a Binary Neutron Star Merger

International audienceOn 2017 August 17 a binary neutron star coalescence candidate (later designated GW170817) with merger time 12:41:04 UTC was observed through gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor independently detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) with a time delay of $\sim 1.7\,{\rm{s}}$ with respect to the merger time. From the gravitational-wave signal, the source was initially localized to a sky region of 31 deg(2) at a luminosity distance of ${40}_{-8}^{+8}$ Mpc and with component masses consistent with neutron stars. The component masses were later measured to be in the range 0.86 to 2.26 $\,{M}_{\odot }$. An extensive observing campaign was launched across the electromagnetic spectrum leading to the discovery of a bright optical transient (SSS17a, now with the IAU identification of AT 2017gfo) in NGC 4993 (at $\sim 40\,{\rm{Mpc}}$) less than 11 hours after the merger by the One-Meter, Two Hemisphere (1M2H) team using the 1 m Swope Telescope. The optical transient was independently detected by multiple teams within an hour. Subsequent observations targeted the object and its environment. Early ultraviolet observations revealed a blue transient that faded within 48 hours. Optical and infrared observations showed a redward evolution over ∼10 days. Following early non-detections, X-ray and radio emission were discovered at the transient’s position $\sim 9$ and $\sim 16$ days, respectively, after the merger. Both the X-ray and radio emission likely arise from a physical process that is distinct from the one that generates the UV/optical/near-infrared emission. No ultra-high-energy gamma-rays and no neutrino candidates consistent with the source were found in follow-up searches. These observations support the hypothesis that GW170817 was produced by the merger of two neutron stars in NGC 4993 followed by a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) and a kilonova/macronova powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei synthesized in the ejecta