OCT Findings in Myopic Traction Maculopathy

The prevalence of myopia is constantly on a rise. Patients with high myopia and pathological myopia can lose vision due to a number of degenerative changes occurring at the macula. With recent advances in imaging techniques such as spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) and swept-source OCT, our understanding of macular pathology in myopia has improved significantly. New conditions such as myopic traction maculopathy have been identified and defined. Treatment approaches are now being planned on the basis of the pathoanatomy of myopic traction maculopathy on OCT. In this chapter, we discuss the role of OCT imaging in myopic traction maculopathy

Assessment of bioavailable metals in the sediments of Yamuna flood plain using two different single extraction procedures

AbstractThough flood plains are considered as most fertile areas across the world but they have come under severe stress due to the flow of untreated domestic and industrial effluents and therefore, needed attention for its characterisation and subsequent treatment plans. The sediment samples, collected at 0–15, 15–35 and 30–60 cm depth levels during pre and post monsoon season from east and west sides of the river Yamuna around the national capital region of Delhi, were assessed for bioavailability of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and nickel (Ni) using Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetic Acid (EDTA) and acetic acid. The average concentrations of Zn (25 ± 6 mg kg−1) and Pb (33 ± 6 mg kg−1) leached in EDTA were higher than that of in acetic acid (Zn: 22 ± 6 mg kg−1; Pb: 24 ± 5 mg kg−1) whereas Ni (24 ± 6 mg kg−1) leached more in acetic acid compared to EDTA (Ni: 21 ± 4 mg kg−1). The bioavailable concentrations of metals were comparable among 0–15 and 15–35 cm depth samples but decreased in 35–60 cm depth samples. The post monsoon samples contained lower amounts of total metals in comparison to pre-monsoon samples, an indication of washout/dilution effects of flood/high water flow during monsoon season. The percentages of metals, with reference to their respective total concentrations, in the flood plain sediments as extracted by EDTA were in the range of 14–47% for Pb, 17–54% for Zn, and 15–39% for Ni. The Zn, Ni and Pb were soluble in acetic acid in the range of 12–39%, 16.7–36.5% and 14–36%, respectively. The chemical nature of extracting agent affected the metal leaching. Acetic acid, a weak acid, extracted the metals that were present in exchangeable fraction and easily movable whereas EDTA, hexa-dentate complexing agent, extracted metals from carbonate and organically bound fractions of the sediment samples. This could result in metal accumulation in the floodplains, biomagnification, adverse effects on water quality, sediments, aquatic lives and the vegetables grown in the flood plains. Steps should be taken to stop the direct flow of untreated waste into the river to safeguard the floodplains and life forms

Torpedo Retinopathy

Purpose: Torpedo lesions in the retina are rare. This study aimed to investigate torpedoshaped lesions in the retina in an adult population and to determine the spectrum and features of the disease. Methods: The review of a database for clinical diagnosis identified nine patients who were diagnosed with torpedo-shaped lesions in the retina between June 2017 and February 2019. Fundus photography and optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging were used to analyze the cases. Multicolor imaging was also performed. Results: Nine patients with torpedo-shaped lesions in the fundus were identified. Fundus images revealed that the lesion involved the macula in six eyes; in the remaining three eyes, the lesion was present outside the macula. OCT identified six patients with type 1 torpedo lesions, one with type 2, and two with type 3. On multicolor imaging, the lesion was visualized as a region of increased reflectance in blue, green, and infrared light in all eyes, with notably increased infrared reflectance in eyes with focal choroidal excavation. Choroidal neovascular membrane was evident in one patient on OCT angiography. Conclusion: Torpedo lesions in the retina can occur away from the macula and exhibit features similar to those of torpedo maculopathy. As such, the authors propose a change in the nomenclature for torpedo lesions in the retina from “torpedo maculopathy” to “torpedo retinopathy.

Unilateral macular branch retinal vein occlusion in a healthy Indian woman following coronavirus disease vaccination: a case report and comprehensive literature review

Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines exert ocular adverse effects, including episcleritis, scleritis, anterior and recurrent uveitis, acute macular neuroretinopathy, paracentral acute middle maculopathy, ophthalmic vein thrombosis, Graves’ disease, arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy,  non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, central serous chorioretinopathy, Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease, multifocal choroiditis, cranial nerve palsies such as facial or abducens nerve palsy, acute zonal occult outer retinopathy, acute zoster ophthalmicus following re-activation of the varicella-zoster virus, acute retinal necrosis, and multiple evanescent white dot syndrome. In this case report, we explored the possibility of macular branch retinal vein occlusion and its association with COVID-19 vaccination. Case Presentation: A 44-year-old healthy woman presented with unilateral nonprogressive blurring of vision in the right eye (OD). Her best-corrected distance visual acuity (BCDVA) in OD was 20 / 40. The anterior-segment evaluation was normal. Fundus evaluation of the OD revealed macular branch vein occlusion. She had a history of COVID-19 vaccination within 1 month. The interleukin-6 level was elevated six folds to 30.5 pg / mL. However, COVID-19 immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies were negative. Infective etiologies, such as tuberculosis and dengue, were ruled out. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) of the OD showed hyperreflective dots in the posterior vitreous, inner retinal swelling, and cystoid changes in the macula. The maximum central macular thickness was 486 mm. A single dose of bevacizumab was administered at OD intravitreally. At the final follow-up 2.5 months later, her BCDVA had improved to 20 / 20 OD. Fundus evaluation revealed fewer retinal hemorrhages and cotton wool spots. SD-OCT of the OD showed a normal foveal contour and absence of cystoid spaces. Her maximum central macular thickness was 236 mm. Conclusions: A temporal effect of vein occlusion secondary to COVISHIELD™ vaccination may occur in the absence of systemic risk factors. The interleukin-6 level was elevated, and the remaining blood test results were within normal limits. Since this is a case report, it is limited by the absence of strong evidence to prove this causal relationship between macular branch retinal vein occlusion and the specific brand of COVID-19 vaccination

Boundary Layer Impact on Mountain Waves across Western Ghats of India

A two- layer model has been developed assuming a steady, non- rotating and frictionless flow of vertically unbounded Boussinesq fluid across 2-D profile of Western Ghats of India. Further, it is assumed that lower layer is inviscid with neutral stability (N=0) and upper layer has constant static stability with respect to height, given by N= Constant (where N is Brunt- Väisälä frequency). The analytical expressions for vertical velocities and mountain drag have been derived across Western Ghats of India. It is found that vertical velocities are dependent on the characteristics like size and height of ridge as well as plateau region to the eastern side of the Western Ghats. However, the mountain drag is not dependent on the above characteristics of the plateau region to the east of Western Ghats confirming the earlier findings

10 years after the birth of India’s first cloned farm animal, where is buffalo cloning heading

191-192India owns the best buffalo breeds, particularly Murrah which is famous all over the world for high milk production. India’s white and pink revolution cannot be imagined without the contribution of buffalo and to achieve these, the best productive animals need to be produced through scientific interventions. Animal cloning is a technique used to produce multiple copies of the best animals without normal reproduction. In India, buffalo cloning has already happened and India’s first cloned buffalo was produced in 2009. Later, several buffalo clones were produced and attempts are ongoing to produce stock of more elite animals. Buffalo cloning has made its way from scientific curiosity to farmer’s farm. In this viewpoint article, we provide an overview of the progress of buffalo cloning and we discuss some of the public perceptions of animal cloning such as aging and food safety of cloned animal products

Indian scenario and an institutional experience of fatalities in COVID-19: a narrative review

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is an ongoing global pandemic that has devastated our globalized economic system. Apart from infecting 12,102,328 human beings and taking a toll of over 551,046 lives globally by the 11th of July 2020, it has fundamentally affected the way we live, work, travel, and relate to each other. Despite imposing early preventive measures, India has crossed a total caseload of 820,916 with a total death of 22,123 till-date, ranking third in the descending list of worst-affected nations. Although comparatively lower, the case fatality rate in India is 2.72% against the global fatality of 4.53%. It is an empirical fact that every process and institution must evolve to meet the needs of its time. A model for categorization of fatality among real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positive COVID-19 patients has been developed at Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences (UPUMS), to address the issue of patients being transferred very late in the course of the disease to level-3 facilities. The UPUMS model of categorization of fatalities of COVID-19 patients at level-3 center comprises of category-1 as ‘Institutional COVID-19 fatalities’, category-2 as ‘Imported COVID-19 fatalities’ and category-3 being ‘Imminent with Incidental COVID-19’ fatalities. This endeavor of categorizing COVID-19 fatalities is an opportunity to analyze facts and contemporary science to assess our response to this pandemic and thereby take lessons to prepare better for the future. Following proper analysis, we noted that most of these fatalities (64%) at the higher center are because of delayed referrals hence termed as imported fatalities, which need a modality of early attention and referral. However, there are fatalities which occur because of severe systemic illness like liver failure, cardiovascular accident (CVA), myocardial infarction (MI), etc. They need due treatment at a regional center. These constitute up to 18%. Authors found that actual COVID-19 deaths constitute only 18% of the total projected fatalities

Bilateral floating knee: a rare case report with review of literature

Floating knee injuries are commonly seen nowadays due to increase in road traffic accidents. However, bilateral presentation of floating knee is a rare injury and challenging to orthopaedicians for a good functional outcome. We hereby present a rare case of bilateral floating knee injury in a 45 year old male treated with open reduction and internal fixation in a staged procedure. Functional assessment was done using modified Karlstrom-Olerud criteria which showed excellent outcome. Union was achieved in approximately 7 months. Decreased knee movements over left side as compared to right side was only complication seen

Genetic diversity of maize genotypes on the basis of morpho-physiological and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers

In this investigation, an attempt was made to assess the genetic diversity among 91 maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes using morpho-physiological and molecular markers. Variability was observed for six morpho-physiological traits namely, SPAD chlorophyll meter reading, canopy temperature, plant height, yield per plant, fodder yield and plant biomass as well as with simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. All the amplification products with 40 SSRs were in the range of 58 to 410 bp. A total of 124 alleles were generated and the number of alleles scored for 40 SSR loci ranged from 2 to 5 with a mean of 3.1 alleles per locus. Polymorphism information content ranged from 0.054 to 0.82 with a mean of 0.55 suggesting that all the selected genotypes possessed high level of polymorphism. The study indicates that five genotypes, RJR-247, RJR-159, NSJ-179, RJR-55 and Z101-15 were most diverse, so it is suggested that they may be used as genetic resources for maize improvement programme in future quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping for different agronomic traits and for developing new varieties with adaptation to a broad range of environments.Key words: Maize, SSR markers, genetic diversity, dendrogram

Fracture of neck of femur with fracture of posterior column of acetabulum: a rare case of floating hip

Injuries around the hip joint are one of the most common orthopedic injuries and these types of injuries are grossly debilitating until treated properly. Simultaneous occurrence of fracture of proximal femur with fracture of ipsilateral acetabulum or pelvis is termed as floating hip injury. These injuries are very rare, only to be found 1 in 10,000 as well as there is lack of literature support regarding proper treatment protocol. Here we are going to present a case of fracture of neck of left femur along with fracture of left acetabulum in a 45 years old male undergone road traffic accident.