Estimation of serum cortisol levels and its correlation with salivary cortisol levels in coronary artery disease patients with and without periodontitis: a cross sectional study

Background: Atherosclerosis refers to combination of changes in the intima of arteries, consisting of focal accumulation of lipids, complex carbohydrates, blood and blood products, fibrous tissue, calcium deposits and associated medical changes. Ischemic heart disease (IHD) refers to a group of closely related syndromes that is caused by an imbalance between myocardial oxygen demand and blood supply.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 63 patients, aged 30-65 years, with known coronary artery disease. Estimation of serum and salivary cortisol levels were assessed with specific ELISA kit for cortisol (R&D Systems) and their comparison was performed in patients with and without periodontitis. Statistical analysis was done using Mann-Whitney U test and Pearson Correlation test.Results: The clinical parameters showed statistically significant association (p<0.001) between coronary artery disease and periodontitis and comparative levels of serum and salivary cortisol displayed varying degrees of positive correlation.Conclusions:Saliva along with serum has great potential as a diagnostic fluid and it showed good correlation with cortisol levels in coronary artery disease patients with and without periodontitis.

SEROPREVALENCE AND GENOTYPING OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS AMONG HOSPITAL BASED GENERAL POPULATION IN VIJAYPUR, INDIA

Objective: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has emerged as a leading cause of chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. According to World Health Organization (WHO) there are 180 million people affected with HCV worldwide and about 12.5 million carriers in India. Genotypes of HCV can vary in pathogenecity and can impact on treatment outcome. Hence this study was undertaken to know the seroprevalence and different genotypes of HCV among hospital based general population in Vijaypur, Karnataka.Methods: Study subjects were those attending various Out-Patient Department (OPD) and In-Patient Department (IPD) of Shri B. M. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Vijaypur, Karnataka. 5 ml of blood sample was aseptically collected in plain vial from the study subjects. Serum was separated and aliquoted in different vials. All the 1,200 serum samples were tested for HCV antibodies by third generation Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The serum samples positive by ELISA were tested for HCV RNA by Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Serum samples positive for HCV RNA were subjected to geno typing by RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) and direct sequencing.Results: Of the 1,200 samples tested, 32 (2.6%) were positive for anti-HCV antibody and 25 (2.1%) were positive for HCV RNA. HCV genotype 1 (68%) was found to be the most predominant type followed by genotype 3 (32%). The subtypes of genotype 1 were 1a and 1b, whereas subtypes of genotype 3 were 3a and 3b.Conclusion: The seroprevalence of HCV in this study was 2.6% and HCV genotype 1 and genotype 3 were found to be the predominant genotypes respectively. For physicians, knowing the genotype of hepatitis C virus is helpful in deciding type and duration of therapy. In addition, knowledge of circulating genotypes could impact on future vaccine formulations.Â

Balancing Trade-off between Data Security and Energy Model for Wireless Sensor Network

An extensive effort to evolve various routing protocol to ensure optimal data delivery in energy efficient way is beneficial only if there is additional means of security process is synchronized. However, the security process consideration introduces additional overhead thus a security mechanism is needed to accomplish an optimal trade-off that exists in-between security as well as resource utilization especially energy. The prime purpose of this paper is to develop a process of security in the context of wireless sensor networks (WSN) by introducing two types of sensor node deployed with different capabilities. The proposed algorithm Novel Model of Secure Paradigm (N-MSP) which is further integrated with WSN. However, this algorithm uses a Hash-based Message Authentication Code (HMAC) authentication followed by pairwise key establishment during data aggregation process in a WSN. The extensive simulation carried out in a numerical platform called MATLAB that depicts that the proposed N-MSP achieves optimal processing time along with energy efficient pairwise key establishment during data aggregation proces

Prospective study of bedside inoculation of blood culture bottles with ascitic fluid versus delayed inoculation for the detection of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

Background: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is the most common bacterial infection in cirrhosis, accounting for 10%-30% of all reported bacterial infections in the patients admitted to hospital. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is the most frequent and life-threatening infection in patients with liver cirrhosis. All forms of cirrhosis have been reported to be complicated by SBP. A delay in the time period between the collection of the ascitic fluid sample, and its inoculation into the blood culture media, has been one of the reasons implicated to account for low-test positivity. There was lack of studies for comparing the bacterial yield between bedside inoculated blood culture bottles with ascitic fluid over delayed inoculation in the detection of SBP. Hence this study is done to compare the bacterial yield between bedside inoculated blood culture bottles with ascitic fluid over delayed inoculation for the detection of SBP.Methods: Cross sectional study.Results: Maximum number of cases of cirrhosis with ascites with SBP was seen in the age group of 31-40years (54.4%) with mean age of study population being 39.66years, more common in males, bed side inoculation yielded more positive culture reports compared to delayed inoculation and E. coli and klebsilla being the common organisms.Conclusions: Difference between 2 culture methods in isolating organism in SBP cases was not statically significant. But, among culture positive cases, this study demonstrates that bedside inoculation of blood culture bottles is superior to delayed laboratory inoculation

Morphometric analyses of human dry tali of South Indian origin

Background: Talus is the key bone of the human body as it carries the whole weight of the body. Since the talus endures a lot of differential forces during locomotion, the stress patterns across the talus influence its overall dimensions. Research in skeletal biology and methodological approaches to the identification of human skeletal remains have advanced significantly in recent years. This study was undertaken because of the scarcity of the morphometric data in adult human dry tali of South Indian origin. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to estimate the angles of declination and inclination in adult human dry tali; to estimate the differences in the angles between right and left tali; and to report and estimate the differences in other morphological parameters such as maximum anterioposterior length of the talus, maximum transverse width of the talus, trochlear length, length of the sulcus tali, and width of the sulcus tali of right and left sides. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out on 50 (25 right and 25 left) adult dry tali of unknown ages and sexes over a period of 6 months in the Department of Anatomy, Amala Institute of Medical Sciences. The angles of declination and inclination were measured with goniometer. Other parameters were measured with digital Vernier calipers. Results: The mean angles of declination were 26° and 27° and those of inclination were 120° and 122° on the right and left sides, respectively. All the parameters measured showed no statistically significant difference between the right and left sides. Conclusion: The values of this study were relatively closer to the other studies. The parameters of this study may be helpful to surgeons, orthopedicians, and forensic anthropologists

Retrospective study of chemotherapy induced cardiotoxicity from a tertiary cancer centre in South India

Background: Ever increasing therapeutic modalities in treatment of various malignancies has resulted in an enormous number of cancer survivors. Cancer survivors face various issues in their long term health due to the cancer and/or its treatment. Late effects including organ damage, functional disability and risk of second malignancy continue to be elucidated. One of the most debilitating and serious toxicity is cardiotoxicity due to chemotherapy.Methods: This study was a retrospective analysis of all patients who developed chemotherapy induced cardiotoxicity between January 2013 to December 2015.Results: A total of 16 patients developed cardiotoxicity. 13 patients had doxorubicin induced toxicity. Cardiotoxicity was noted to occur at low cumulative doses. 2 patients had complete recovery of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) on follow up. 1 patient had progressive worsening of LVEF. 1 patient died due to cardiotoxicity. On detection of cardiotoxicity, most of the patients received cardiac remodeling drugs - angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (mostly enalapril), other drugs used were carvedilol and diuretics.Conclusions: In Indian patients, cardiotoxicity can occur at very low cumulative doses of doxorubicin and in young patients too. Most of the patients did not have any underlying comorbid illnesses. We wish to highlight the need to diligently repeat cardiac screening investigations at frequent intervals to detect asymptomatic cardiotoxicity

Physico-electrochemical Characterization of Pluripotent Stem Cells during Self-Renewal or Differentiation by a Multi-modal Monitoring System.

Monitoring pluripotent stem cell behaviors (self-renewal and differentiation to specific lineages/phenotypes) is critical for a fundamental understanding of stem cell biology and their translational applications. In this study, a multi-modal stem cell monitoring system was developed to quantitatively characterize physico-electrochemical changes of the cells in real time, in relation to cellular activities during self-renewal or lineage-specific differentiation, in a non-destructive, label-free manner. The system was validated by measuring physical (mass) and electrochemical (impedance) changes in human induced pluripotent stem cells undergoing self-renewal, or subjected to mesendodermal or ectodermal differentiation, and correlating them to morphological (size, shape) and biochemical changes (gene/protein expression). An equivalent circuit model was used to further dissect the electrochemical (resistive and capacitive) contributions of distinctive cellular features. Overall, the combination of the physico-electrochemical measurements and electrical circuit modeling collectively offers a means to longitudinally quantify the states of stem cell self-renewal and differentiation

A Study on Estimation of Cortisol levels in Cerebrospinal Fluid for differentiating Bacterial from Non-Bacterial meningitis

PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT: Meningitis remains serious clinical problem in developing countries. Delayed diagnosis and treatment remit in significant morbidity and mortality. Meningitis represents a serious disease that is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Outcomes of bacterial meningitis have remained stable since the advent of antibiotics, with the case fatality being as high as 25%. Long-term sequelae such as hearing loss, palsies and personality changes affect approximately 40% of survivors. Early antibiotic therapy is crucial for optimizing the outcome of bacterial meningitis. Therefore, it is important to distinguish bacterial meningitis from aseptic meningitis during the acute phase of the disease, when clinical symptoms are often similar as this could help to avoid complications and to limit unnecessary antibiotic use .However, a sensitive laboratory test that is easy to perform is still required, so that all patients with bacterial meningitis can be identified reliably on admission. BACKGROUND: Signs and symptoms, results of routine CSF analysis and radiological findings are inadequate in making a definitive diagnosis. Gram’s stain and AFB stain of CSF are rapid technique for detection of organism but lack sensitivity. Similarly CSF culture is another method of diagnosis but it is time consuming. PCR is highly specific and sensitive but costly and not widely available. In the view of these limitations, determination of CSF CORTISOL levels in differentiating bacterial from nonbacterial meningitis is useful as a diagnostic and valuable marker. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The study was aimed to evaluate the utility of CSF Cortisol in differentiating Bacterial from Non Bacterial meningitis. DATA COLLECTION AND THE SOURCE: For all patients admitted in CMCH, who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria CSF cortisol estimation is done and routine CSF analysis for diagnosing meningitis. 10 normal control subjects with no neurological illness undergoing spinal anesthesia are included. Control CSF cortisol estimation is done. Informed consent was taken from all patients. METHODS: A cross sectional observational study was done in forty of suspected meningitis of varied etiologies and 10 control subjects without any pre-existing neurological disorders who have undergone lumbar puncture during spinal anesthesia were included in the study. All the patients were thoroughly examined clinically by preformed proforma and investigated. Case Definition: Patients with clinical suspicion of meningitis presenting with fever, vomiting, altered sensorium, and nuchal rigidity. RESULTS: Mean cerebrospinal fluid cortisol activity was 13.06:g/dl,4.44:g/dl, 2.29:g/dl and 1.05:g/dl in neutrophilic meningitis, lymphocytic meningitis, aseptic meningitis and controls respectively. Mean CSF Cortisol level in neutrophilic meningitis was significantly higher as compared to other groups. CONCLUSION: CORTISOL activity in CSF is a rapid, relatively inexpensive and simple procedure, and can be of great value in the early differentiation of neutrophilic, lymphocytic and aseptic meningitis, thus helping in earlier institution of appropriate treatment and thereby decreasing morality and complications

Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the colon: a rare diagnosis

Report of a rare colon tumor treated successfully using conventional chemotherapy regimen.