Communication outcomes following cochlear implantation in a child with cystic cochleovestibular anomaly

AbstractCochlear implantation is one of the best amongst the various management options available for children and adults with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss. Inner ear and internal auditory canal (IAC) malformations accounts to approximately 25% of congenital sensorineural hearing loss in children. The primary goal of this report was to evaluate the communication outcomes after cochlear implantation in a child with cystic cochleovestibular anomaly (CCVA). The child was evaluated through various standardized outcome measures at regular intervals to track the progress in terms of auditory and spoken language skills. The scores on Categories of Auditory Perception (CAP), Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (MAIS), Speech Intelligibility Rating (SIR), Meaningful Use of Speech Scale (MUSS), and listening and spoken language skills showed a significant leap in 12 months duration post implantation. The report thus highlights and correlates the significant progress in auditory and spoken language skills of the child with congenital malformations to appropriate auditory rehabilitation and intensive parental training

Progress in Tropical Cyclone Predictability and Present Status in the North Indian Ocean Region

Tropical cyclone (TC) is an important research area since it has a significant impact on human life, properties and environment. The researchers all over the world have been studying fundamental and advanced processes to better understand and thereby predict the genesis and evolution of TCs. This review chapter provides a brief overview on TC climatology, their basic characteristics, movement and intensification, research on structure analysis and prediction of these fascinating storms, with primary emphasis to North Indian Ocean (NIO). The role of ocean and atmosphere in determining the genesis and intensification of TCs is discussed. This chapter reviews the past and current research activities including inter-annual and intra-seasonal changes in TCs, current status of TC research using numerical weather prediction, gaps identified and relevant measures taken by the meteorological and government agencies in this direction, along with future directions in order to improve the understanding and predictability over the NIO region

Speech and Language Characteristics in Kabuki Syndrome

The aim of this study was to delineate the language difficulties in Kabuki Syndrome. At presentation, the child with Kabuki Syndrome had waddling gait, dolicocephaly, and frontal bossing. On administering an Indian standardized test (Linguistic Profile Test), different aspects of spontaneous language production were analysed. Receptive language skills were within normal limits, but expressive language skills showed deficits in semantic and syntactic areas. Articulation errors appeared mainly due to poor oral-motor coordination and hypotonia. A dull flat pattern of speech was characteristic to the child

Structural and Optical Properties of Nanocrystalline TiO2 with Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes and Its Photovoltaic Studies Using Ru(II) Sensitizers

In this study, the in situ sol–gel method has been deployed to prepare the titanium dioxide/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (TiO2/MWCNTs) nanocomposite (NCs) powders with varying content of MWCNTs (0.01–1.0 wt %), to construct the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). First, binder-free NCs were deposited on a transparent-conducting F:SnO2 (FTO) glass substrate by a doctor-blade technique and then anchored with Ru(II)-based dyes to either N719 or ruthenium phthalocyanine (RuPc). The structural and optical properties and interconnectivity of the materials within the composite are investigated thoroughly by various spectral techniques (XRD, XPS, Raman, FT-IR, and UV–vis), electron microscopy (HRTEM), and BET analysis. The experimental results suggest that the ratio of MWCNTs and TiO2 in NCs, morphology, and their interconnectivity influenced their structural, optical, and photovoltaic properties significantly. Finally, the photovoltaic performances of the assembled DSSCs with different content of MWCNTs to TiO2 films anchored with two different dyes were tested under one sun irradiation (100 mW/cm2). The measured current–voltage (IV) curve and incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) spectra of TiO2/0.1 wt % MWCNTs ([email protected] C) for N719 dye show three times more power conversion efficiency (η = 6.21%) which is opposed to an efficiency (η = 2.07%) of [email protected] C for RuPc dye under the same operating conditions

The Cellular Stress Response Interactome and Extracellular Matrix Cross-Talk during Fibrosis: A Stressed Extra-Matrix Affair

Diverse internal and external pathologic stimuli can trigger cellular stress response pathways (CSRPs) that are usually counteracted by intrinsic homeostatic machinery, which responds to stress by initiating complex signaling mechanisms to eliminate either the stressor or the damaged cells. There is growing evidence that CSRPs can have context-dependent homeostatic or pathologic functions that may result in tissue fibrosis under persistence of stress. CSRPs can drive intercellular communications through exosomes (trafficking and secretory pathway determinants) secreted in response to stress-induced proteostasis rebalancing. The injured tissue environment upon sensing the stress turns on a precisely orchestrated network of immune responses by regulating cytokine-chemokine production, recruitment of immune cells, and modulating fibrogenic niche and extracellular matrix (ECM) cross-talk during fibrotic pathologies like cardiac fibrosis, liver fibrosis, laryngotracheal stenosis, systemic scleroderma, interstitial lung disease and inflammatory bowel disease. Immunostimulatory RNAs (like double stranded RNAs) generated through deregulated RNA processing pathways along with RNA binding proteins (RBPs) of RNA helicase (RNA sensors) family are emerging as important components of immune response pathways during sterile inflammation. The paradigm-shift in RNA metabolism associated interactome has begun to offer new therapeutic windows by unravelling the novel RBPs and splicing factors in context of developmental and fibrotic pathways. We would like to review emerging regulatory nodes and their interaction with CSRPs, and tissue remodeling with major focus on cardiac fibrosis, and inflammatory responses underlying upper airway fibrosis

Postauricular Transcanal Posterior Tympanectomy (PT²) Approach – A Modified Surgical Technique for Jugulotympanic Paragangliomas

Introduction The surgical management of jugulotympanic paragangliomas has remained challenging. They are the second most common type of tumor of the temporal bone after acoustic neuroma. It has been noticed by the authors that the jugulotympanic paragangliomas may have extensions to the epitympanum and aditus in addition to the mesotympanum and hypotympanum. The modified technique could be an alternative to the conventional facial recess technique for complete removal of the tumors

External Jugular Vein Aneurysm with Thrombus Presenting as Painful Neck Mass: A Case Report

Abstract External jugular vein aneurysm with thrombosis presenting as neck swelling is a rare clinical entity and rarely encountered in routine clinical practice. We present a case of a 45-year-old female with external jugular vein aneurysm presenting as a painful lump in the neck. Ultrasound of the neck and CT angiography showed saccular dilation of the lower end of the external jugular vein with thrombosis within the aneurysm. Saccular aneurysm of the external jugular vein is very uncommon and can lead to thrombotic complications with serious consequence

Irreversible laryngeal palsy: An induced complication of carboplatin 450mg/m2 and paclitaxel 250mg/m2 - Case report

Introduction: Unilateral vocal cord paralysis is common than bilateral palsy and is mostly idiopathic in origin. Other causes may include malignancy, secondary to neck or recurrent laryngeal nerve trauma, intubation or secondary to surgery however, taxanes induces paresis which can lead to paralysis following paresis of larynx. Case summary: A female patient presented with cancer of cervix (Endometrium) and developed vocal cord paralysis after completion of five cycles of treatment with injections paclitaxel 250mg/m2 and carboplatin 450mg/m2. Patient's stroboscopic examination, electromyography (EMG) confined that one vocal cord lateralized in paramedian position. Voice analysis revealed low pitch and loudness and with breathy quality. Discussion: The vocal cord paralysis was believed to have occurred due to neurotoxic effect of carboplatin and paclitaxel, as an added complication of these drugs. Carboplatin and paclitaxel above than cumulative dose can induce bilateral or unilateral vocal cord paresis or sometimes paralysis also. The concurrent amount of dose used of carboplatin and paclitaxel might have contributed to this illness in patient