Early outcome of radiculopathy with local application of steroid in perineural space in lumbar discectomy

Lumbar disc herniation resulting in compression and inflammation of nerve roots causes low back pain and radiculopathy. Per-operative use of steroids may help reduce inflammatory reaction and scar formation, causing less postoperative pain. The study aimed to assess the early outcome of radiculopathy with local application of steroids in peri-neural space after lumbar discectomy. This experimental study was carried out in the Department of Neurosurgery of the National Institute of Neuroscience and Hospital (NINS&H), Dhaka from March 2019 to August 2020. A total of 68 patients operated for prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc (PLID) at L4/L5 and /or L5/S1 levels were divided into two groups. Patients who did not receive steroids (n=34) and those who received steroids (n=34) in peri-neural space were considered group A and group B, respectively. Patients were examined on the 1st, 2nd and 14th postoperative days to measure the pain intensity by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Pre-operatively mean (standard deviation, sd) VAS was 7.41 (1.28) in Group A and 7.91 (0.9) in Group B (p-value >.05). Mean (sd) improvement of pain intensity on day 1, was 58.82 (17.55)% in Group A and 70.59 (12.26)% in Group B from pre-operative VAS. On day 2, 71.69 (12.43)% improvement was seen in Group A and 79.78 (9.74)% in Group B. On day 14, 75.37 (9.96)% improvement was seen in Group A and 83.46 (7.36)% in Group B from pre-operative. The improvements of VAS in all 1st, 2nd and 14th days were statistically significant (p-value <.05) between the two groups. Local application of steroids in peri-neural space found effective in reducing early postoperative radiculopathy following lumbar discectomy. BSMMU J 2022; 15(2): 107-10

Stealth cranioplasty in symptomatic adult chiari 1 malformations: Experience at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University

Background: The surgical management of symptomatic adult Chiari malformation type 1 (CM1) with or without syringomyelia (SM) continues to be a dilemma considering the outcomes. Objectives: The study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes between stealth cranioplasty (SC) and one of the most commonly practiced standard procedures, posterior fossa decompression with duraplasty (PFDD). Clinical outcomes between SC and another procedure posterior fossa decompression (PFD) were also compared. Methods: This comparative cross-sectional study was carried out on 37 males and 16 females symptomatic adult CM1 patients, ranging from 18 to 47 years of age from June 2019 to May 2021. Clinical outcomes were assessed, compared, and analyzed in terms of changes in clinical symptoms and signs, chicago chiari outcome scale (CCOS) score, and occurrence of complications.  Results: Of the 53 patients, 23, 19 and 11 underwent SC, PFDD, and PFD, respectively. There were no significant post-operative changes in symptoms and signs among groups except changes in limb weakness between SC and PFDD (P=0.004). Considering average CCOS score, SC performed better only than PFDD (P=0.003), while category-wise SC was better than both PFDD (P=0.004) and PFD (P=0.010). Considering complications, the PFDD group had a significantly higher rate of complications than the SC group (P=0.001), while there was no significant difference in the rate of complications between the PFD and SC groups. Conclusion: SC was found to have better clinical outcomes than the PFDD and PFD groups as a technique. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Journal 2023;16(1): 08-1

Stealth cranioplasty in symptomatic adult chiari 1 malformations: Experience at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University

Background: The surgical management of symptomatic adult Chiari malformation type 1 (CM1) with or without syringomyelia (SM) continues to be a dilemma considering the outcomes. Objectives: The study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes between stealth cranioplasty (SC) and one of the most commonly practiced standard procedures, posterior fossa decompression with duraplasty (PFDD). Clinical outcomes between SC and another procedure posterior fossa decompression (PFD) were also compared. Methods: This comparative cross-sectional study was carried out on 37 males and 16 females symptomatic adult CM1 patients, ranging from 18 to 47 years of age from June 2019 to May 2021. Clinical outcomes were assessed, compared, and analyzed in terms of changes in clinical symptoms and signs, chicago chiari outcome scale (CCOS) score, and occurrence of complications.  Results: Of the 53 patients, 23, 19 and 11 underwent SC, PFDD, and PFD, respectively. There were no significant post-operative changes in symptoms and signs among groups except changes in limb weakness between SC and PFDD (P=0.004). Considering average CCOS score, SC performed better only than PFDD (P=0.003), while category-wise SC was better than both PFDD (P=0.004) and PFD (P=0.010). Considering complications, the PFDD group had a significantly higher rate of complications than the SC group (P=0.001), while there was no significant difference in the rate of complications between the PFD and SC groups. Conclusion: SC was found to have better clinical outcomes than the PFDD and PFD groups as a technique. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Journal 2023;16(1): 08-1

Association of diabetes, smoking, and alcohol use with subclinical-to-symptomatic spectrum of tuberculosis in 16 countries: an individual participant data meta-analysis of national tuberculosis prevalence surveys

Summary Background Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and NCD risk factors, such as smoking, increase the risk for tuberculosis (TB). Data are scarce on the risk of prevalent TB associated with these factors in the context of population-wide systematic screening and on the association between NCDs and NCD risk factors with different manifestations of TB, where ∼50% being asymptomatic but bacteriologically positive (subclinical). We did an individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis of national and sub-national TB prevalence surveys to synthesise the evidence on the risk of symptomatic and subclinical TB in people with NCDs or risk factors, which could help countries to plan screening activities. Methods In this systematic review and IPD meta-analysis, we identified eligible prevalence surveys in low-income and middle-income countries that reported at least one NCD (e.g., diabetes) or NCD risk factor (e.g., smoking, alcohol use) through the archive maintained by the World Health Organization and by searching in Medline and Embase from January 1, 2000 to August 10, 2021. The search was updated on March 23, 2023. We performed a one-stage meta-analysis using multivariable multinomial models. We estimated the proportion of and the odds ratio for subclinical and symptomatic TB compared to people without TB for current smoking, alcohol use, and self-reported diabetes, adjusted for age and gender. Subclinical TB was defined as microbiologically confirmed TB without symptoms of current cough, fever, night sweats, or weight loss and symptomatic TB with at least one of these symptoms. We assessed heterogeneity using forest plots and I2 statistic. Missing variables were imputed through multi-level multiple imputation. This study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021272679). Findings We obtained IPD from 16 national surveys out of 21 national and five sub-national surveys identified (five in Asia and 11 in Africa, N = 740,815). Across surveys, 15.1%–56.7% of TB were subclinical (median: 38.1%). In the multivariable model, current smoking was associated with both subclinical (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.27–2.40) and symptomatic TB (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.34–1.66). Self-reported diabetes was associated with symptomatic TB (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.17–2.40) but not with subclinical TB (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.55–1.55). For alcohol drinking ≥ twice per week vs no alcohol drinking, the estimates were imprecise (OR 1.59, 95% CI 0.70–3.62) for subclinical TB and OR 1.43, 95% CI 0.59–3.46 for symptomatic TB). For the association between current smoking and symptomatic TB, I2 was high (76.5% (95% CI 62.0–85.4), while the direction of the point estimates was consistent except for three surveys with wide CIs. Interpretation Our findings suggest that current smokers are more likely to have both symptomatic and subclinical TB. These individuals can, therefore, be prioritised for intensified screening, such as the use of chest X-ray in the context of community-based screening. People with self-reported diabetes are also more likely to have symptomatic TB, but the association is unclear for subclinical TB

Tobacco smoking clusters in households affected by tuberculosis in an individual participant data meta-analysis of national tuberculosis prevalence surveys: Time for household-wide interventions?

Tuberculosis (TB) and non-communicable diseases (NCD) share predisposing risk factors. TB-associated NCD might cluster within households affected with TB requiring shared prevention and care strategies. We conducted an individual participant data meta-analysis of national TB prevalence surveys to determine whether NCD cluster in members of households with TB. We identified eligible surveys that reported at least one NCD or NCD risk factor through the archive maintained by the World Health Organization and searching in Medline and Embase from 1 January 2000 to 10 August 2021, which was updated on 23 March 2023. We compared the prevalence of NCD and their risk factors between people who do not have TB living in households with at least one person with TB (members of households with TB), and members of households without TB. We included 16 surveys (n = 740,815) from Asia and Africa. In a multivariable model adjusted for age and gender, the odds of smoking was higher among members of households with TB (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.23; 95% CI: 1.11–1.38), compared with members of households without TB. The analysis did not find a significant difference in the prevalence of alcohol drinking, diabetes, hypertension, or BMI between members of households with and without TB. Studies evaluating household-wide interventions for smoking to reduce its dual impact on TB and NCD may be warranted. Systematically screening for NCD using objective diagnostic methods is needed to understand the actual burden of NCD and inform comprehensive interventions

Association of diabetes, smoking, and alcohol use with subclinical-to-symptomatic spectrum of tuberculosis in 16 countries: an individual participant data meta-analysis of national tuberculosis prevalence surveys

Background Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and NCD risk factors, such as smoking, increase the risk for tuberculosis (TB). Data are scarce on the risk of prevalent TB associated with these factors in the context of population-wide systematic screening and on the association between NCDs and NCD risk factors with different manifestations of TB, where ∼50% being asymptomatic but bacteriologically positive (subclinical). We did an individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis of national and sub-national TB prevalence surveys to synthesise the evidence on the risk of symptomatic and subclinical TB in people with NCDs or risk factors, which could help countries to plan screening activities. Methods In this systematic review and IPD meta-analysis, we identified eligible prevalence surveys in low-income and middle-income countries that reported at least one NCD (e.g., diabetes) or NCD risk factor (e.g., smoking, alcohol use) through the archive maintained by the World Health Organization and by searching in Medline and Embase from January 1, 2000 to August 10, 2021. The search was updated on March 23, 2023. We performed a one-stage meta-analysis using multivariable multinomial models. We estimated the proportion of and the odds ratio for subclinical and symptomatic TB compared to people without TB for current smoking, alcohol use, and self-reported diabetes, adjusted for age and gender. Subclinical TB was defined as microbiologically confirmed TB without symptoms of current cough, fever, night sweats, or weight loss and symptomatic TB with at least one of these symptoms. We assessed heterogeneity using forest plots and I2 statistic. Missing variables were imputed through multi-level multiple imputation. This study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021272679). Findings We obtained IPD from 16 national surveys out of 21 national and five sub-national surveys identified (five in Asia and 11 in Africa, N = 740,815). Across surveys, 15.1%–56.7% of TB were subclinical (median: 38.1%). In the multivariable model, current smoking was associated with both subclinical (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.27–2.40) and symptomatic TB (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.34–1.66). Self-reported diabetes was associated with symptomatic TB (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.17–2.40) but not with subclinical TB (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.55–1.55). For alcohol drinking ≥ twice per week vs no alcohol drinking, the estimates were imprecise (OR 1.59, 95% CI 0.70–3.62) for subclinical TB and OR 1.43, 95% CI 0.59–3.46 for symptomatic TB). For the association between current smoking and symptomatic TB, I2 was high (76.5% (95% CI 62.0–85.4), while the direction of the point estimates was consistent except for three surveys with wide CIs. Interpretation Our findings suggest that current smokers are more likely to have both symptomatic and subclinical TB. These individuals can, therefore, be prioritised for intensified screening, such as the use of chest X-ray in the context of community-based screening. People with self-reported diabetes are also more likely to have symptomatic TB, but the association is unclear for subclinical TB

Experimental and theoretical study on extraction and recovery of naphthenic acid using dicyanamide-based ionic liquids

Naphthenic acid is a toxic component that is present in the crude oil. It causes severe operational problems for oil refineries. However, naphthenic acid is a useful raw material for many industrial processes. Thus, it is advantageous to extract and recover the naphthenic acid from crude oil. Ionic liquid has been considered as an environmental friendly material that can be used to extract naphthenic acid from crude oil. However, the characteristics of the ionic liquids to achieve the best extraction efficiency is still not completely known. In this research, the performance of the ionic liquids consists of diazabicyclo undecene (DBU) based cations and dicyanamide (DCN) anion in the extraction of naphthenic acid from acidic model oil was studied. Computer simulation of a mixture of naphthenic acid, ionic liquid, and n-dodecane was also performed. The study showed that the DBU-DCN based ionic liquids can effectively extract naphthenic acid from highly acidic model oil. The increase in the alkyl chain length on the cation increases the percent naphthenic acid extraction. Molecular simulation studies showed that the dicynamide anion interacting directly with the naphthenic acid. The alkyl chain on the DBU cation does not form any cage around the naphthenic acid as previously proposed. The study suggests that the biggest factor affecting naphthenic acid extraction efficiency is the extent of solubility of the polar ionic liquid in the non-polar oil

Association between current smoking of people with TB and the same in their household members.

Association between current smoking of people with TB and the same in their household members.</p

Association between alcohol drinking of people with TB and the same in their household members.

Association between alcohol drinking of people with TB and the same in their household members.</p

Association between BMI of people with TB and the same in their household members.

Association between BMI of people with TB and the same in their household members.</p