Emerging incidence of candidemia in neonatal intensive care unit and sick newborn care unit in a tertiary care hospital of Eastern India

Background: Candida blood stream infection (BSI) is an important cause of sepsis and sepsis-related mortality. Common risk factors for Candida BSI include very low birth weight, central vascular catheterization (CVC), use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, endotracheal intubation, and prolonged hospital stay. Although C. albicans accounts for Candida BSI among infants, but recent studies have detected a shift towards non-albicans Candida (NAC) species. Aims & Objectives: To isolate and identify different species of candida from blood samples. To find out the antifungal sensitivity pattern of the fungus isolated. To identify various risk factors associated with Candidemia in patient admitted in critical care unit. Methods: BACT/ALERT 3D Paediatric bottle was used for fungal blood culture. Inoculation on Blood agar and Sabourads dextrose agar (SDA) was made from the culture positive bottles. After the growth obtained from SDA, Gram staining, Germ tube test, CHROM agar Candida Medium and Sugar fermentation and biochemical Test kits (KB006 Hi Candida Identification Kit) were used for identification of various Candida Spp. Anti fungal susceptibility test was carried out by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Results: Out of 84 different species of Candida, C. albicans were the highest number (32.14%), followed by 23.81% of C. tropicalis, 21.42% C. parapsilosis. Susceptibility for voriconazole, fluconazole and amphotericin B was 85.71%, 75% and 64.28%, respectively. NAC (57 isolates) were more resistant to azole group of antifungal, especially commonly used antifungal like fluconazole (45.6%). Conclusion: Candidemia is a significant problem in Pediatrics age group patients, especially in NICU and SNCU. A gradual but significant epidemiological shift to higher isolation of NCA is being noticed

Unraveling Cellular Heterogeneity: Insights From Single-Cell Omics Technologies

In the era of precision medicine and personalized healthcare, the emergence of single-cell omics technologies has revolutionized our comprehension of cellular biology. This abstract offers an overview of the rapidly expanding field of single-cell omics, which encompasses genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and epigenomics, detailing its transformative impact across various scientific disciplines. Single-cell omics techniques have introduced an unprecedented level of cellular resolution, empowering researchers to meticulously dissect intricate cellular heterogeneity and dynamics within tissues and organisms. Through the profiling of individual cells, these methodologies have shed light on novel insights spanning developmental biology, cancer research, immunology, neurobiology, and microbiology. The integration of multi-modal single-cell data holds the promise of providing a comprehensive view of cellular systems. This abstract underscores the potential of single-cell omics in unraveling the complexities inherent in biological systems, propelling advancements in diagnostics, and catalyzing the development of targeted therapeutics as part of the broader pursuit of precision medicine

Advancing Biomedical Frontiers: Unveiling The Potential Of 3d Bioprinting In Organ Regeneration

The advent of 3D bioprinting marks a pivotal moment in biomedical research and healthcare, unlocking a realm of possibilities. This abstract explores the transformative potential of 3D bioprinting technology, its diverse applications in medical domains, and the inherent challenges it faces. 3D bioprinting represents a revolutionary fusion of three-dimensional printing precision with the intricacies of biological materials. This groundbreaking technology revolutionizes the fabrication of intricate, customized structures by layering bioinks containing living cells, biomaterials, and growth factors. These engineered constructs faithfully replicate the complex architecture of native tissues and organs, presenting unprecedented opportunities for progress in regenerative medicine, drug testing, and disease modeling. The versatility of 3D bioprinting extends across various medical fields. In regenerative medicine, the ability to craft tissue grafts and organ substitutes tailored to individual patients has the potential to transform transplantation procedures, overcoming challenges like donor shortages and organ rejection. Additionally, pharmaceutical companies are employing 3D bioprinting to generate functional tissue models for drug testing, reducing reliance on animal testing and speeding up drug development processes. 3D bioprinting represents a transformative technology with the potential to advance healthcare through personalized regenerative solutions, ethical drug testing practices, and an improved understanding of diseases.However, the adoption of 3D bioprinting is not without its challenges. The intricacy of the bioprinting process necessitates a profound understanding of cellular biology, materials science, and engineering. Overcoming hurdles related to ensuring cell viability and functionality within printed structures is paramount, along with the imperative to scale up production for clinical applications. Ethical and regulatory considerations also emerge, particularly in the context of printing human tissues and organs

Prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases producing isolates obtained from patients of pediatric critical care unit in a tertiary care hospital

Background: Over the past decades, antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria commonly Enterobacteriaceae such as Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae have increased significantly. These microorganisms have great clinical importance because they increase hospital stay of the patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) leading to high morbidity and mortality. Because of their role in increasing morbidity and mortality, this study was performed to isolate extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Gram-negative bacilli screened by phenotypical method and further projected into molecular characterization by polymerase chain reaction. Aims and Objectives: The aims and objectives are to isolate the Gram-negative multidrug-resistant strains from clinically suspected bacterial infections in patients of neonatal, sick newborn, and pediatric ICU and to study antibiotic sensitivity pattern of isolated Gram-negative multidrug-resistant strains with special reference to molecular characterization. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 Gram-negative bacilli were isolated. Screening of ESBL positivity was done by double-disk synergy test (combined disc test method). Their antibiogram profile was interpreted. With the use of designed primers, 26 ESBL isolates each of E. coli and Klebsiella spp. were processed for molecular analysis of beta-lactamase family genes TEM and CTX-M. Results: Within the 100 samples, majority of the isolates (45%) were Klebsiella spp. and 40% was E. coli isolates. Highest ESBL-producing organisms were observed within E. coli (65%). Prevalence bla-TEM gene was highest followed by bla-CTX-M. These ESBL-producing organisms were found to be resistant to multiple classes of antibiotics. With extensive ESBL surveillance and proper usage of antibiotics, this threatening rise of antibiotic resistance can be mitigated. Conclusion: Gram-negative isolates showed high resistance to commonly used antibiotics. Significant proportions of them were MDR strains. Such high antibiotic resistance is associated with significant morbidity and mortality among pediatric population. MDR along with possession of ESBL associated resistance genes among Gram-negative bacilli pose a serious problem in therapeutic management of patients. Our study signifies that there is a high probability of Gram- negative bacilli to be multi-drug resistant and ESBL positive and earliest detection of such cases should be made

Synthesis of vertically aligned and tree-like carbon nanostructures

A thin film of a new type of carbon nanostructures is synthesised, by plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition. Individual nanostructure has a multi-walled carbon nanotube aligned perpendicular to the surface of the substrate, with carbon films attached to the nanotube like branches, giving it a tree like appearance. Raman spectroscopy confirmed that the material is overall graphitic in nature. Different deposition parameters are varied to understand the growth mechanism of the nanostructures and the factors affecting its morphology. It is understood that in a condition where a higher content of carbon is present in the plasma than for the condition in which aligned carbon nanotubes are formed, the formation of the branches on the carbon nanotubes takes place, resulting in the tree like nanostructures. The material can be deposited in different substrates irrespective of the roughness, the conductivity or the nature of the substrate and exhibits superhydrophobicity. This novel carbon nanostructured thin film with a very high exposed surface area has a potential of application in all fields which require high surface area, structured or superhydrophobic material. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Technology Transfer in Spatial Competition when Licensees are Asymmetric

We study technology transfer in a spatial competition with two asymmetric licensees (firms) with an outside innovator who decides how many licenses to offer and the optimal licensing contract. We show the optimal licensing policy is pure royalty contract to both licensees leading to a complete diffusion of the new technology. The result holds irrespective of the cost differentials between the licensees and for innovation of all sizes, that is, drastic or non‐drastic. This robust finding although supports the dominance of royalty licensing in practice; however, consumers may not be necessarily better off. We also throw light on the situation where the innovator sells the patent right to one of the firms. Interestingly, we find that the inefficient firm acquires the new technology and further licenses it to the efficient rival

Vertically aligned tree-like carbon nanostructure as an electrode of the electrochemical capacitor

The thin film of a vertically aligned tree-like carbon nanostructure is synthesised to study its performance as a novel electrode material of the electrochemical capacitor. The individual constituent nanostructures of the film are multiwalled carbon nanotubes aligned perpendicular to the substrate with carbon films attached to it like branches. This unique nanostructured carbon thin film has a regular geometrical arrangement with a very high surface area due to the distinctive structural morphology along with a good contact with the conducting substrate on which it is directly deposited. This makes the material an attractive candidate as the electrode of an electrochemical capacitor. The performance of this nanostructured material has been studied in a symmetric two-electrode configuration. The material has shown an electrochemical double-layer capacitance-type behaviour, the characteristic of carbon-based electrodes, along with a good cyclic retentivity. The material has shown a specific capacitance of 0.55mFcm(-2) (3.7Fcm(-3)) at a current density of 0.88mAcm(-2), while the aligned carbon nanotube films of similar thickness has exhibited a specific capacitance of 0.08mFcm(-2) (0.66Fcm(-3)) for the same current density