Neonatal Diagnostics: Toward Dynamic Growth Charts of Neuromotor Control

© 2016 Torres, Smith, Mistry, Brincker and Whyatt. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY).The current rise of neurodevelopmental disorders poses a critical need to detect risk early in order to rapidly intervene. One of the tools pediatricians use to track development is the standard growth chart. The growth charts are somewhat limited in predicting possible neurodevelopmental issues. They rely on linear models and assumptions of normality for physical growth data – obscuring key statistical information about possible neurodevelopmental risk in growth data that actually has accelerated, non-linear rates-of-change and variability encompassing skewed distributions. Here, we use new analytics to profile growth data from 36 newborn babies that were tracked longitudinally for 5 months. By switching to incremental (velocity-based) growth charts and combining these dynamic changes with underlying fluctuations in motor performance – as the transition from spontaneous random noise to a systematic signal – we demonstrate a method to detect very early stunting in the development of voluntary neuromotor control and to flag risk of neurodevelopmental derail.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

An approach to sign language translation using the Intel Realsense camera

An Intel RealSense camera is used for translating static manual American Sign Language gestures into text. The system uses palm orientation and finger joint data as inputs for either a support vector machine or a neural network whose architecture has been optimized by a genetic algorithm. A data set consisting of 100 samples of 26 gestures (the letters of the alphabet) is extracted from 10 participants. When comparing the different learners in combination with different standard preprocessing techniques, the highest accuracy of 95% is achieved by a support vector machine with a scaling method, as well as principal component analysis, used for preprocessing. The highest performing neural network system reaches 92.1% but produces predictions much faster. We also present a simple software solution that uses the trained classifiers to enable user-friendly sign language translation

Reaction products of ammonium nitrate phosphate fertilizers of varying water-soluble phosphorus content in different Indian soils

Studies were undertaken on the isolation and identification of reaction products of ammonium nitrate phosphate (ANP) fertilizers containing 30, 50 and 70 per cent water-soluble phosphorus (WSP) of total phosphorus in representative soils of the vertisol, oxisol, alfisol, entisol, mollisol and aridisol groups of India. ANP fertilizers were applied in solid form to soil, and reaction products formed at and around the site of ANP fertilizer placement were identified after six weeks incubation in moist soils by X-ray diffraction technique. DCPD (dicalcium phosphate dihydrate- CaHPO4 . 2H2O) was the major reaction product of ANP fertilizers containing 30 and 50 per cent WSP in vertisol, entisol, aridisol, mollisol, oxisol and alfisol, and of ANP containing 70 per cent WSP in vertisol, entisol, alfisol, aridisol and mollisol. DCP (dicalcium phosphate-CaHPO4) was detected with ANP of 30 and 50 per cent WSP in the vertisol, alfisol, entisol, mollisol and aridisol groups of soils. In addition to DCPD, FePO4 . 2H2O (metastrengite) and AlPO4 . 2H2 O-monoclinic (metavariscite) were formed in alfisol and oxisol soils with ANP of 30 and 50 per cent WSP. FePO4 . 2H2O and AlPO4 . 2H2O (metavariscite) were identified in alfisol and oxisol soils while AlPO4 . 2H2O-orthorhombic (variscite) was formed in alfisol soils with ANP of 70 per cent WSP

Study of knowledge, attitude, and practices towards current updates of pharmacovigilance and adverse drug reaction reporting among doctors in a tertiary care teaching hospital of Western India

Background: In general, adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are global problems causing both morbidity and mortality. Spontaneous ADR reporting is important to monitor adverse effects of medicines but under reporting is still very prevalent so, there is a need of constant monitoring and rectification of system of Pharmacovigilance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of the healthcare professionals about Pharmacovigilance and to identify the reason for under reporting of ADRs.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out using a pretested questionnaire among doctors with minimum qualification MBBS or B.D.S. including faculties, senior and junior residents. Subsequently, analysis of association between education and experience was done by chi square test at P-value <0.05.Results: A pretested questionnaire was distributed among 403 doctors and 240 (59.16%) responded voluntarily. In general, 131 (54.58%) participants noted lack of time to report ADR while 90 (37.50%) participants noted no benefit of reporting already known ADR. On the other hand, total 104 (43.33%) participants were aware about need to report a serious adverse event during “Clinical Trial” within 24 hours to the Ethics Committee. Only 87 (36.25%) participants noted a need of reporting of already known ADR.Conclusions: Participants had good knowledge and attitude towards pharmacovigilance, but the actual practice of ADR reporting is still deficient among them that can be improved by sensitization training and involvement of grass root level health care workers

Absorption of gamma-emitting fission products and activation products by rice under flooded and unflooded conditions from two tropical soils

The absorption of gamma-emitting fission products 106Ru,125Sb,137Cs and144Ce and activation products59Fe,58Co.54Mn and65Zn by rice plants grown on two contrasting tropical soils, namely, a blak soil (pellustert) and a laterite (oxisol), and the effects of flooding were studied under controlled conditions. Results indicated greater uptake of 106Ru and 125Sb from the black soil than from the laterite. In contrast, the uptake of 144Ce and 137Cs was greater in the laterite than in the black soil. Flooding treatment enhanced the uptake of all these fission products by rice plants in the laterite soil whereas this effect was observed only for 125Sb and 137Cs in the black soil. The plant uptake of activation products from the two soil types showed maximum accumulation of 65Zn followed by 54Mn,59Fe and 58Co in both soil types. Besides, uptake of these nuclides was greater from the laterite soil than from the black soil. Flooding treatment for rice while showing a reduction of 59Fe uptake, showed an increase in plant uptake of 58Co,54Mn and 65Zn in both soil types

Abusive supervision in commercial kitchens:Insights from the restaurant industry

This mixed-method study investigates how abusive supervision and bullying impact job satisfaction and turnover intentions among employees in an environment plagued by ingrained incivility: commercial kitchens. Underpinned by social learning theory, we draw from 832 survey responses and 20 in-depth interviews to explore the extent to which supervisory abuse and workplace bullying negatively impact employee perceptions of their working environment while also investigating positive alternatives therein (e.g., authentic leadership and encouragement of creativity). Results suggest that, despite day-to-day challenges posed by abusive leadership, a strong sense of camaraderie and passion for kitchen work stimulated a commitment to the job. Accordingly, the study concludes that the inherently creative nature of commercial kitchen work and the personalities of fellow staff played a significant role in retaining employees. It thus highlights the complexity of food service employee retention and suggests that a holistic understanding of both leadership dynamics and intrinsic motives is essential

Evaluation of oxidative stress biomarkers and inflammation in pathogenesis of diabetes and diabetic nephropathy

This study aims to increase understanding of the association of oxidative stress and inflammation with type-2 diabetes and diabetic nephropathy to provide a basis for investigating improved diagnostic possibilities, treatment and prevention of disease. Blood samples were collected from 498 West Indian individuals aged 42–72 years. Differences in the level of oxidative stress markers (MDA, GSH, SOD and CAT) and inflammation (TNF-α and IL1-α) was determined in patients (type 2 diabetic and diabetic nephropathy) and control participants. A significant decrease of SOD, GSH and significant increase of MDA and CAT activity were seen in patients with nephropathy compared to DM patients as well as controls. Significantly higher level of expression of TNF-α and IL1-α (P< 0.05) was observed in DM and DN patients as compared to controls. Oxidative stress and inflammation are triggered in patients of type 2 diabetes and diabetic nephropathy due to hyperglycemia

Cruciate retaining versus posterior-stabilized total knee arthroplasty: a short-term comparative study

Background: Total knee arthroplasty has got excellent results. Among the techniques (posterior-stabilized vs posterior cruciate retaining total knee arthroplasty) it is unclear whether one design has superior outcome over another. The purpose of the present study was to directly compare clinical and radiological outcomes of these two designs.Methods: A prospective study involving 36 patients who received a cruciate-retaining implant were compared to 30 patients who received posterior-stabilized prosthesis. At 3 months follow-up time clinical and radiological evaluation done and results were analyzed.Results: At 3 months follow-up time mean knee society scores improved from 49.9/46.9 (objective/subjective score) points to 80.9/82.5 points in the cruciate-retaining group and from 48.2/43 (objective/subjective score) points to 80.4/80.2 points in the posterior-stabilized group. The ranges of motion was 117.2° (range, 90° to 130°) and 125.3° (range, 100° to 140°) in the cruciate-retaining and posterior-stabilized group respectively, at 3 month follow-up. One patient had post-operatively periprosthetic fracture reported after 2 weeks (treated conservatively), one had superficial infection (treated with dressing) and one patient with superfical infection required debridement.Conclusions: This study did not conclusively demonstrate the superiority of one knee design over the other, suggesting that the choice of implant should be based on surgeon preference, patients knee dimensions, pre-op knee deformity and existing pathology of the posterior cruciate ligament

Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors as anti-diabetic agents: a review

The incidence and prevalence of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have been increasing worldwide. However, existing therapeutic classes of anti-diabetic drugs are not adequately effective in achieving and maintaining long-term glycemic control in the most patients. The majority of the drugs control blood sugar without addressing the basic pathology of insulin resistance and relative deficiency. Moreover, side effects such as hypoglycemia and weight gain, of both new and established drugs need to be considered prior to treating a patient. An emerging anti-hyperglycemic intervention, the sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor acts by a novel mechanism. Under physiological conditions, SGLT2 accounts for 90% of the glucose re-absorption in the kidney, while the SGLT2 inhibitors result in an increase in urinary excretion of glucose and lower plasma glucose levels. Here, the pros and cons of SGLT2 inhibitors are considered, while approaching a patient with T2DM. The basic biochemistry and physiology underlying the mechanisms of SGLT2 inhibitors are discussed alongside its clinical pharmacology, with a focus on metabolic changes associated with urinary glucose loss. Finally, a consideration of Food and Drug Administration safety concerns associated with acidosis due to SGLT2 inhibitor usage is presented, to allow a complete understanding of the utility of these molecules in the light of existing T2DM therapies

Evaluation of prescription pattern of antifungal drugs in the dermatology department of a tertiary care teaching hospital

Background: In general, fungal infections are one of the contributors of disease burden in the community, but irrational use of antifungal drugs can result in unwanted adverse events or antifungal drugs resistance. The present study was designed to analyze the prescription pattern of antifungal drugs prescribed in the dermatology department of a tertiary care teaching hospital. Methods: After getting permission from the ethics committee, this prospective observational cross-sectional study was conducted by analysis of prescriptions of 900 voluntary participant patients over a period of seven months in the dermatology outpatient department of a tertiary care teaching hospital in western India. Prescribed medicines’ parameters were analyzed as per WHO/INRUD prescription indicators. Results: Overall 900 prescriptions were analyzed, and among them around 50% patients were having tinea corporis and tinea cruris, making it the most common fungal infection. The most commonly prescribed antifungals were Clotrimazole (34.59%), followed by Fluconazole (31.61%) and Luliconazole (23.52%). Percentage of drugs prescribed from the WHO model list of essential medicines was 71.22%. Average number of antifungal drugs per prescription was 2.83 ± 0.57%. Conclusions: This study indicates prescribing practices of anti-fungal drugs and supportive medicines at tertiary care hospital that can be further improved by promoting prescribing by generic names. Overall final list of essential medicines at district level, state level and national level may vary as compared to the WHO list for anti-fungal drugs and doctors can consider alternative drugs as per domestic resistant pattern