A study on the effect of topical lidocaine gel versus drops on surgeon’s comfort during manual small incision cataract surgery

Background: Cataract is a frequent surgical procedure performed worldwide. The study compared lidocaine 4% drops with 2% gel on surgeon’s comfort, need for supplemental anaesthesia and duration of surgery in patients who underwent manual small incision cataract surgery.Methods: This was a Prospective, Comparison study conducted at a Single centre by multiple surgeons. Patients enrolled for surgeries were divided into Group A: Lidocaine 4% drops 1ml was instilled in the conjunctival sac 5 minutes before surgery and Group B: Lidocaine 2% gel 2ml was applied. Endpoints evaluated were surgeon’s comfort, need for supplemental anesthesia and duration of surgery.Results: The mean duration of surgery for gel was 20±8 minutes as compared to 29±6 minutes with drops (p*- value<0.001). 26 (87%) patients in gel did not require any supplemental anesthesia as compared to 3 (10%) patients in drops. Peribulbar supplementation was required for 20 (67%) patients in drops as compared to 1 (3%) patient in gel (p*- value<0.001). 26 (87%) patients in gel were operated comfortably by the surgeon as compared to 2 (6%) patients in drops. Mild to Moderate discomfort was experienced by the surgeon in operating 27 (90%) patients in drops as compared to 3(10%) patients in gel (p*- value<0.001).Conclusions: The surgeons were more comfortable using gel with least requirement of supplemental anaesthesia and faster completion compared to drops

A synthesis of strategies to recruit adults of ethnic minorities into clinical trials.

There is a long history of BAME under-representation in medical research. Underrepresentation of minority ethnic groups have been assessed by several studies, showing that black and minority ethnic groups were less likely to participate and engage in medical research when compared to white British groups (in relation to education, occupation, health, belief, and attitudes to medical research).There may be several strategies that improve inclusivity, including translation of participant information, culturally specific recruitment, and adaptations to the invitation process. However, with a dearth of literature in the area, there is now a need to contextualise these strategies in relation to renal research

MANAGEMENT OF TEA (CAMELLIA SINENSIS) DISEASES WITH APPLICATION OF MICROBES: A REVIEW

Tea (Camellia spp.) is one of the most economically important plantation crops and the second-largest non-alcoholic beverage in the world next to water being consumed by people in different forms. It is cultivated mainly in Assam, West Bengal covering the regions such as Darjeeling, Dooars, Terai, and South India in about 6.36 lakh hectares with a production of about 1338 million Kg made teas. Darjeeling tea is world famous for its specific aroma and flavor whereas Assam is known for premier CTC teas. Among various challenges encountered on its bountiful production and desired quality, the occurrence of numerous diseases is one of the major factors. Different fungal and one algal genus are considered as the major phytopathogens to cause leaf, stem, and root diseases. Blight (blister, gray, and brown), dieback, charcoal stem rot, root rot (brown and violet), and black rot are the major threat to tea sustainability. These diseases can be managed through the timely adoption of good agricultural practices. For the past couple of decades, due to the increased awareness about the adverse effects of synthetic fungicides usage, people have been looking for ideal alternative strategies to take care of tea diseases in India under the organic production system. Microbes such as genus Trichoderma, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Actinomycetes are capable of providing a protective umbrella to this crop against different diseases

Insight into tomato plant immunity to necrotrophic fungi

The recent outbreak of the emerging pathogenic races of Fusarium wilt and early blight causing pathogens capable of infecting numerous commercial tomato varieties/cultivars highlights the need for robust disease resistance in crop plants. To breed plants with increased and robust disease resistance using quantitative disease resistance genes and resistance gene pyramids is being used to combat Fusarium wilt and early blight resistance, but broader acceptance of these methods is required to maintain resistance effectiveness. A greater understanding of the molecular basis of plant disease resistance at host levels offers further possibilities for Fusarium wilt and early blight resistance using omics approaches, such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. These omics technologies are delivering us many candidate genes that might lead to increased disease resistance through genetic engineering. There are several strategies for manipulating these genes, which can come from plants, pathogens, or other organisms. However, truly durable tomato cultivars with Fusarium wilt and early blight resistance appear a doubtful prospect in the face of frequently evolving virulent populations of associated pathogens. This article discusses recent developments and future perspectives for improving tomato plants resistant to Fusarium wilt and early blight

Socioeconomic inequalities in risk factors for non communicable diseases in low-income and middle-income countries: results from the World Health Survey

Abstract Background Monitoring inequalities in non communicable disease risk factor prevalence can help to inform and target effective interventions. The prevalence of current daily smoking, low fruit and vegetable consumption, physical inactivity, and heavy episodic alcohol drinking were quantified and compared across wealth and education levels in low- and middle-income country groups. Methods This study included self-reported data from 232,056 adult participants in 48 countries, derived from the 2002–2004 World Health Survey. Data were stratified by sex and low- or middle-income country status. The main outcome measurements were risk factor prevalence rates reported by wealth quintile and five levels of educational attainment. Socioeconomic inequalities were measured using the slope index of inequality, reflecting differences in prevalence rates, and the relative index of inequality, reflecting the prevalence ratio between the two extremes of wealth or education accounting for the entire distribution. Data were adjusted for confounding factors: sex, age, marital status, area of residence, and country of residence. Results Smoking and low fruit and vegetable consumption were significantly higher among lower socioeconomic groups. The highest wealth-related absolute inequality was seen in smoking among men of low- income country group (slope index of inequality 23.0 percentage points; 95% confidence interval 19.6, 26.4). The slope index of inequality for low fruit and vegetable consumption across the entire distribution of education was around 8 percentage points in both sexes and both country income groups. Physical inactivity was less prevalent in populations of low socioeconomic status, especially in low-income countries (relative index of inequality: (men) 0.46, 95% confidence interval 0.33, 0.64; (women) 0.52, 95% confidence interval 0.42, 0.65). Mixed patterns were found for heavy drinking. Conclusions Disaggregated analysis of the prevalence of non-communicable disease risk factors demonstrated different patterns and varying degrees of socioeconomic inequalities across low- and middle-income settings. Interventions should aim to reach and achieve sustained benefits for high-risk populations.</p

Correction to: inhibition of p38 MAPK activity leads to cell type-specific effects on the molecular circadian clock and time-dependent reduction of glioma cell invasiveness

Following publication of the original article [1], we have been notified that the tagging of one of the author names was done incorrectly in the XML version of the paper. The online and pdf versions of this paper are not affected by the change. Original and corrected tagging can be seen below. The original article has been corrected

Socioeconomic inequalities in risk factors for non communicable diseases in low-income and middle-income countries: results from the World Health Survey

Background: Monitoring inequalities in non communicable disease risk factor prevalence can help to inform and target effective interventions. The prevalence of current daily smoking, low fruit and vegetable consumption, physical inactivity, and heavy episodic alcohol drinking were quantified and compared across wealth and education levels in low- and middle-income country groups. Methods: This study included self-reported data from 232,056 adult participants in 48 countries, derived from the 2002-2004 World Health Survey. Data were stratified by sex and low- or middle-income country status. The main outcome measurements were risk factor prevalence rates reported by wealth quintile and five levels of educational attainment. Socioeconomic inequalities were measured using the slope index of inequality, reflecting differences in prevalence rates, and the relative index of inequality, reflecting the prevalence ratio between the two extremes of wealth or education accounting for the entire distribution. Data were adjusted for confounding factors: sex, age, marital status, area of residence, and country of residence. Results: Smoking and low fruit and vegetable consumption were significantly higher among lower socioeconomic groups. The highest wealth-related absolute inequality was seen in smoking among men of low-income country group (slope index of inequality 23.0 percentage points; 95% confidence interval 19.6, 26.4). The slope index of inequality for low fruit and vegetable consumption across the entire distribution of education was around 8 percentage points in both sexes and both country income groups. Physical inactivity was less prevalent in populations of low socioeconomic status, especially in low-income countries (relative index of inequality: (men) 0.46, 95% confidence interval 0.33, 0.64; (women) 0.52, 95% confidence interval 0.42, 0.65). Mixed patterns were found for heavy drinking. Conclusions: Disaggregated analysis of the prevalence of non-communicable disease risk factors demonstrated different patterns and varying degrees of socioeconomic inequalities across low- and middle-income settings. Interventions should aim to reach and achieve sustained benefits for high-risk population

Additional file 2: of Inhibition of p38 MAPK activity leads to cell type-specific effects on the molecular circadian clock and time-dependent reduction of glioma cell invasiveness

Full western blots of gels from Fig. 5. (DOXC 200kb