A Rare Case of a Systemic Non-Langerhans Histiocytosis Presenting with Diabetes Insipidus and a Tentorial Mass

Introduction The histiocytoses are a group of clinically diverse diseases distinguished from one another based on the specific immunophenotype of the lesional cells, implying derivation from the same precursor cell. Langerhans cell histiocytoses (LCH) diseases stem from abnormal dendritic cell lineages, while the non-Langerhans cell histiocytoses (non-LCH) are usually derived from an abnormal monocyte/macrophage cell line.1 Non-LCH with central nervous system (CNS) involvement is predictive of poor outcome. Histopathology is used to make a diagnosis of non-LCH. Immunohistochemistry and the clinical setting are used to differentiate between the various subtypes of non-LCH.1 The non-LCH can be divided into cutaneous non-LCH, cutaneous with a major systemic component, and systemic non-LCH.1 Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) and Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) are systemic non-LCH diseases. First described in 1930, ECD is characterized by xanthogranulomatous accumulations. The extent of infiltration is heterogeneous and can include skin, bones, lungs, kidneys, and the CNS. Approximately 500 cases have been reported so far.2 The majority of ECD patients harbor an activating mutation of the proto-oncogene BRAF, namely BRAF-V600E.3 Recent studies indicate CNS involvement as a predictor of highest mortality among ECD patients.4 First described in 1969, RDD is characterized by accumulation of histiocytes exhibiting emperipolesis in lymph nodes, in the head and neck or in extranodal sites. Extranodal sites include the CNS, skin, soft tissue and gastrointestinal tract. The clinical presentation is typically painless cervical lymphadenopathy with leukocytosis and a fever.5 The etiology of RDD is unknown.6 RDD with CNS involvement is rare and approximately 210 cases have been reported. CNS involvement typically lacks extracranial lymphadenopathy and resembles meningioma radiologically and clinically. 1 Select cases have demonstrated a combined presentation of ECD and RDD.2 In this report we describe a rare case presenting with headache and with clinically and pathologically overlapping features of RDD and ECD. We describe treatment and complications and review the existing literature regarding diagnosis and treatment for these rare conditions

A Privacy-preserving Mobile and Fog Computing Framework to Trace and Prevent COVID-19 Community Transmission

To slow down the spread of COVID-19, governments around the world are trying to identify infected people and to contain the virus by enforcing isolation and quarantine. However, it is difficult to trace people who came into contact with an infected person, which causes widespread community transmission and mass infection. To address this problem, we develop an e-government Privacy Preserving Mobile and Fog computing framework entitled PPMF that can trace infected and suspected cases nationwide. We use personal mobile devices with contact tracing app and two types of stationary fog nodes, named Automatic Risk Checkers (ARC) and Suspected User Data Uploader Node (SUDUN), to trace community transmission alongside maintaining user data privacy. Each user's mobile device receives a Unique Encrypted Reference Code (UERC) when registering on the central application. The mobile device and the central application both generate Rotational Unique Encrypted Reference Code (RUERC), which broadcasted using the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology. The ARCs are placed at the entry points of buildings, which can immediately detect if there are positive or suspected cases nearby. If any confirmed case is found, the ARCs broadcast pre-cautionary messages to nearby people without revealing the identity of the infected person. The SUDUNs are placed at the health centers that report test results to the central cloud application. The reported data is later used to map between infected and suspected cases. Therefore, using our proposed PPMF framework, governments can let organizations continue their economic activities without complete lockdown.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figures, 1 table, 1 algorith

Progressive optic neuropathy in congenital glaucoma associated with the Sirsasana yoga posture

The authors describe a case of progressive optic neuropathy in a patient with congenital glaucoma who had routinely practiced the Sirsasana (headstand) yoga posture for several years. Ophthalmic examination included best-corrected visual acuity, anterior segment examination, indirect oplithalmoscopy, ultrasound pachymetry for central corneal thickness, and intraocular pressure before, during, and after maintaining the Sirsasana posture for 5 minutes. Intraocular pressure increased significantly during the Sirsasana posture. Transient elevation in intraocular pressure during yoga exercises may lead to progressive glaucomatous optic neuropathy, especially in susceptible patients with congenital glaucoma

CANAL DISH (CD), THE NEW ANTIMICROBIAL TESTING APPARATUS

Objective: This writing aims to introduce new antimicrobial test apparatus called Canal Dish (CD), theoretically.Methods: We have designed two types of CD such as Circular CD (CCD) and Square CD (SCD). Internally, the CCD is a 80 mm diameter circular while the SCD is a 80×80 mm square CD plate. Both of them contain 2(40×2) mm parallel travelling canals from the each CD-centre having radius of 3 mm. Canals are 6 mm in depth.Results: The features of CCD and SCD indicate possible allowance of various size, low media consuming, the inclusion of multiple microorganisms and/or test samples/doses, ease of handling; therefore, understanding, rapidity, and economy.Conclusion: CD may replace currently used Petri dishes due to its cost-effectiveness, rapidity, ease of handling and a wider range of applicability.Keywords: Antimicrobial assay, Canal dish, Circular, Square, New apparatu

MACERATION-VORTEX-TECHNIQUE (MVT), A RAPID AND NEW EXTRACTION METHOD IN PHYTO-PHARMACOLOGICAL SCREENING

Extraction is a process of preparation of extracts from biological materials (plant/animal/microorganism) in the essence of drug discovery and development scienticism. This writing is aimed at proposing a new, rapid, economical and easy extraction method, Maceration-Vortex-Technique (MVT). For this 2-5 g of powdered materials is sucked into 5-10 ml of solvent recommended for extraction. A cleaned, small amber-colored glass bottle of 20-25 ml capacity is needed for this purpose. Powdered materials are mixed with the solvent, then followed by shaking vigorously; shaken for 1.5-2 h and vortexed for 5 min. The extract is collected by immediate filtration through filter paper (Whatmann no. 1) and allowed for concentration and/or solvent partitioning. The MVT allows a 3 h extraction of plant materials. A small amount of extraction material is needed along with a small quantity of solvent which is a marker for the economy of this extraction process. In conclusion, rapidity in the extraction process is the rapidity in the screening process of biological materials. The MVT may be one of the speediest and most economical extraction processes.Keywords: Extraction, Maceration-Vortex-Technique, New method, Phyto-pharmacological screenin

{4-Phenyl-1-[1-(1,3-thia­zol-2-yl)ethyl­idene]­thio­semicarbazidato}{4-phenyl-1-[1-(1,3-thia­zol-2-yl)ethylidene]­thio­semi­carbazide}nickel(II) chloride mono­hydrate

In the title compound, [Ni(C12H11N4S2)(C12H12N4S2)]Cl·H2O, the NiII ion is chelated by two 2-acetyl­thia­zole-3-phenyl­thio­semicarbazone ligands, forming a distorted octa­hedral complex. The metal ion is coordinated via the thia­zole nitro­gen, imine nitro­gen and thione sulfur atoms from each thio­semicarbazone ligand, and two coordinating units lie almost perpendicular to each other give dihedral angle = 81.89 (1)°]. One thio­semicarbazone unit is found to bind a chloride anion through two hydrogen bonds, while the other is linked with the disordered crystal water molecule. Two mol­ecules are connected to each other through an inter­molecular N—H⋯S inter­action, forming a centrosymmetric dimer. Dimers are linked into sheets by π–π stacking of two phenyl rings [shortest C⋯C distance = 4.041 (3) Å]

Inequities in maternal postnatal visits among public and private patients: 2004 Pelotas cohort study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The postnatal period is the ideal time to deliver interventions to improve the health of both the newborn and the mother. However, postnatal care shows low-level coverage in a large number of countries. The objectives of this study were to: 1) investigate inequities in maternal postnatal visits, 2) examine differences in postnatal care coverage between public and private providers and 3) explore the relationship between the absence of maternal postnatal visits and exclusive breastfeeding, use of contraceptive methods and maternal smoking three months after birth.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In the calendar year of 2004 a birth cohort study was started in the city of Pelotas, Brazil. Mothers were interviewed soon after delivery and at three months after birth. The absence of postnatal visits was defined as having no consultations between the time of hospital discharge and the third month post-partum. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association between absence of postnatal visits and type of insurance scheme adjusting for potential confounding factors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Poorer women, black/mixed, those with lower level of education, single mothers, adolescents, multiparae, smokers, women who delivered vaginally and those who were not assisted by a physician were less likely to attend postnatal care. Postnatal visits were also less frequent among women who relied in the public sector than among private patients (72.4% vs 96% among public and private patients, respectively, <it>x</it>²p < 0.001) and this difference was not explained either by maternal characteristics or by health care utilization patterns. Women who attended postnatal visits were more likely to exclusively breastfeed their infants, to use contraceptive methods and to be non-smokers three months after birth.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Postpartum care is available for every woman free of charge in the Brazilian Publicly-funded health care system. However, low levels of postpartum care were seen in the study (77%). Efforts should be made to increase the percentage of women receiving postpartum care, particularly those in socially disadvantaged groups. This could include locally-adapted health education interventions that address women's beliefs and attitudes towards postpartum care. There is a need to monitor postpartum care and collected data should be used to guide policies for health care systems.</p

COFFEE: A HEALTH FUEL-BLOT POPULAR DRINKING

Now, the days begin with cups of coffee worldwide. Caffeine is the main component of coffee, which is vastly consumed as a psychoactive agent, and in varieties of dietary supplements. Day by day coffee and caffeinated-consumption areas are expanding. Only a single cup of coffee contains thousands of biochemical. Otherwise, during roasting, some of which turn to convert other chemicals moieties. Thus, the coffee is an interesting item to the drug scientists. Upon this jackpot, a number of researches have been done on coffee and its chemical components; in which many postulations are still in contentious and some are unclear to the coffee users. Upon going through the stand-point, this study has been snapshot to sketch a complete overview on coffee and its components. Our finding depicts constituents of coffee to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-Alzheimer's disease, anti-Parkinson's disease, and cardioprotective activities. But the anti-cancerous effect of coffee components is not clear yet. In conclusion, coffee, and its constituents are in important in phytopharmacological research.Keywords: Coffee, Coffee components, Health-effect

The development and application of a new tool to assess the adequacy of the content and timing of antenatal care

Abstract Background: Current measures of antenatal care use are limited to initiation of care and number of visits. This study aimed to describe the development and application of a tool to assess the adequacy of the content and timing of antenatal care. Methods: The Content and Timing of care in Pregnancy (CTP) tool was developed based on clinical relevance for ongoing antenatal care and recommendations in national and international guidelines. The tool reflects minimal care recommended in every pregnancy, regardless of parity or risk status. CTP measures timing of initiation of care, content of care (number of blood pressure readings, blood tests and ultrasound scans) and whether the interventions were received at an appropriate time. Antenatal care trajectories for 333 pregnant women were then described using a standard tool (the APNCU index), that measures the quantity of care only, and the new CTP tool. Both tools categorise care into 4 categories, from ‘Inadequate’ (both tools) to ‘Adequate plus’ (APNCU) or ‘Appropriate’ (CTP). Participants recorded the timing and content of their antenatal care prospectively using diaries. Analysis included an examination of similarities and differences in categorisation of care episodes between the tools. Results: According to the CTP tool, the care trajectory of 10,2% of the women was classified as inadequate, 8,4% as intermediate, 36% as sufficient and 45,3% as appropriate. The assessment of quality of care differed significantly between the two tools. Seventeen care trajectories classified as ‘Adequate’ or ‘Adequate plus’ by the APNCU were deemed ‘Inadequate’ by the CTP. This suggests that, despite a high number of visits, these women did not receive the minimal recommended content and timing of care. Conclusions: The CTP tool provides a more detailed assessment of the adequacy of antenatal care than the current standard index. However, guidelines for the content of antenatal care vary, and the tool does not at the moment grade over-use of interventions as ‘Inappropriate’. Further work needs to be done to refine the content items prior to larger scale testing of the impact of the new measure