An annual algal diversity of Lakhna, Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, India

The nature of an ecosystem can be easily assumed by the presence of planktonic diversity, as they have a major role in oxygen amelioration, binding and removal of toxic substances from water body. The present enumeration deals with the annual algal diversity from the Lakhna town of Etawah, Uttar Pradesh. During this one year period, total fifty-four species of Algae recorded viz. Achnanthes minutissima, Amphora ovalis, Anabaena oscillarioides, A. oryzae, Ankistrodesmus falcatus, Aphanocapsa littoralis, Aphanothece microscopica, Arthrospira sp., Calothrix gloeocola, Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorococcum  humicola, Chroococcus minor, C. minutes, Cladophora glomerata, Closterium venus, Coelosphaerium kuetzingianum, Cyclotella meneghiniana, Cylindrospermum minutissimum, Euglena minuta, Fragilaria crotonensis, Gloeocapsa magma, Gloeotrichia pisum, Gomphonema parvulum, Hydrodictyon reticulatum, Lyngbya contorta, L. epiphytica, L. majuscula, Merismopedia glauca, M. tenuissima, Microcystis aeruginosa, M. flos-aquae, M. robusta, Mougeotia calcarea, Navicula ambigua, N. brebissonii, N. lata, Nostoc commune, N. punctiforme, Oscillatoria formosa, O. subuliformis, O. princeps, Pediastrum  boryanum, Phormidium ambiguum, P. fragile, P. lucidum, Rivularia aquatica, Scenedesmus bijuga, S. obliquus, Spirogyra affinis, S. submaxima, Spirulina gigantea, S. major, Ulothrix  zonata, Zygnema collinsianum. This information can be used as baseline data and may be further used to assess any change in algal diversity of Gangetic plain after a sufficient gap to understand the impact of changing climate on it

Preoperative and postoperative features of macular holes on en face imaging and optical coherence tomography angiography

AbstractPurposeTo characterize and quantify the pre- and postoperative foveal structural and functional patterns in full-thickness macular holes.MethodsSubjects presenting with a full-thickness macular hole that had pre- and postoperative imaging were included. En face optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) was performed. Foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, macular hole size, number and size of perifoveal cysts were measured.ResultsFive eyes from 5 patients were included in the study. The hole was closed in all eyes after the initial surgery. OCTA showed enlargement of the FAZ and delineation of the holes within the FAZ. Mean preoperative FAZ area was 0.41 ± 0.104 mm2. Visual acuity was improved and mean FAZ area was reduced to 0.27 ± 0.098 mm2 postoperatively (P < 0.05) with resolution of the macular hole and adjacent cystic areas. En face images of the middle retina showed a range of preoperative cystic patterns surrounding the hole. Smaller holes showed fewer but larger cystic areas and larger holes had more numerous but smaller cystic areas.Conclusions and ImportanceQuantitative evaluation of vascular and cystic changes following macular hole repair demonstrates the potential for recovery due to neuronal and vascular plasticity. Perifoveal microstructural patterns and their quantitative characteristics may serve as useful anatomic biomarkers for assessment of macular holes

Physico Chemical Characteristics of Lakhna Devi Temple Water Tank, Lakhna, Bakewar, Etawah, U.P. with reference to Cyanobacterial Diversity

Fresh water bodies in populated plains of tropical countries face various disturbances in the form of pollutant and nutrient inflow, heavy metal and elemental precipitation (wet or dry) and constant silt inflow (natural or anthropogenic). The physico-chemical characteristics are very much important for any water body. In lentic water bodies these characteristics shows very much variation because in summer they have less and in rains large amount of water. These adverse constrain effectively influence the algal assemblage and can be a good indicator of overall health of the water body. In the study different Physico-chemical characteristics and algal diversity were monthly observed for one year duration (Jun. 2008 to May 2009). Some of 31 species of Cyanobacteria recorded from the study site viz. Microcystis aerughinosa, M. flos-aquae, M. robusta, Chroococcus minor, C.minutes, Gloeocapsa magma, Aphanocapsa littoralis, Aphanothece microscopis, Coelosphaerium kuetzingianum, Merismopedia glauca, M. tenuissima, Arthrospira spriulinoides, Spirulina gigantean, S. major, Oscillatoria formosa, O. subuliformis, O. princeps, Phormidium ambiguum, P. fragile, P. lucidum, Lyngbya contorta, O. epiphytica, O.majuscule, Cylindrospermum minutissimum, Nostoc commune, N. punctiforme, Anabaena oscillarioides, A. oryzae, Calothrix gloeocola, Rivularia aquatic and Gloeotrichia pisum

Scleral Buckling for Primary Retinal Detachment: Outcomes of Scleral Tunnels versus Scleral Sutures

Purpose: There are primarily two techniques for affixing the scleral buckle (SB) to the sclera in the repair of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD): scleral tunnels or scleral sutures. Methods: This retrospective study examined all patients with primary RRD who were treated with primary SB or SB combined with vitrectomy from January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015 across six sites. Two cohorts were examined: SB affixed using scleral sutures versus scleral tunnels. Pre- and postoperative variables were evaluated including visual acuity, anatomic success, and postoperative strabismus. Results: The mean preoperative logMAR VA for the belt loop cohort was 1.05 ± 1.06 (Snellen 20/224) and for the scleral suture cohort was 1.03 ± 1.04 (Snellen 20/214, p = 0.846). The respective mean postoperative logMAR VAs were 0.45 ± 0.55 (Snellen 20/56) and 0.46 ± 0.59 (Snellen 20/58, p = 0.574). The single surgery success rate for the tunnel cohort was 87.3% versus 88.6% for the suture cohort (p = 0.601). Three patients (1.0%) in the scleral tunnel cohort developed postoperative strabismus, but only one patient (0.1%) in the suture cohort (p = 0.04, multivariate p = 0.76). All cases of strabismus occurred in eyes that underwent SB combined with PPV (p = 0.02). There were no differences in vision, anatomic success, or strabismus between scleral tunnels versus scleral sutures in eyes that underwent primary SB. Conclusion: Scleral tunnels and scleral sutures had similar postoperative outcomes. Combined PPV/SB in eyes with scleral tunnels might be a risk for strabismus post retinal detachment surgery

A rare case of endobronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the lung presenting as non-resolving pneumonia

Background: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is the most common malignant salivary gland tumor, and MECs of the lung are rare, accounting for 0.1–0.2% of malignant lung tumors. Pulmonary MECs are commonly found in the segmental or lobar bronchi, rarely presenting as endobronchial lesions. Case presentation: Here we describe the case of a 21-year-old female with no comorbid conditions who presented at the emergency room with a cough, yellow phlegm, pleuritic chest pain, and a subjective fever. These symptoms had been present for approximately one week prior to the patient's arrival at the hospital. A chest X-ray revealed right lower lobe alveolar infiltrate and computed tomography of the chest showed dense consolidation of the right lower lobe with ovoid intraluminal density in the right main stem bronchus. Upon fiber optic bronchoscopy, an endobronchial lesion was found in the right main stem sparing the right upper lobe uptake. Endobronchial biopsy results was consistent with MEC of the lung. The patient underwent a bilobectomy with complete resection of the tumor. Conclusion: Endobronchial MEC is a rare type of salivary gland tumor. Patients with low-grade MECs have a good prognosis, whereas those with high-grade MECs, which are aggressive and associated with metastatic disease, have a poor prognosis. However, early identification and surgical resection can result in a good prognosis. Keywords: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma, Endobronchial lesio

Lichen as Bioindicator for Monitoring Environmental Status in Western Himalaya, India

The use of bioindicator communities (lichen) to assess the environmental status of an area is a well-proved strategy to monitor any habitat without any logistic and instrumental facilities. In the present study, 13 bioindicator communities of lichen have been used to assess the environmental status of holy pilgrimage (Badrinath), western Himalaya, India. Three sites (i.e. Badrinath, Mana &amp; pilgrimage route from Bhimpul to Vasudhara) have been comparatively assessed. The results of the study reveals that Badrinath site is less polluted and experiences low degree of anthropogenic disturbances compared to Mana, and pilgrimage route (Bhimpul to Vasudhara). Human settlements, construction of civil works, vehicular emission, and trampling and trekking by tourists are the major threats on these habitats, which ultimately decrease the quality of vegetation and adjacent environment. Controlled vehicular use, promotion of modern way of cooking and managed trekking in these pilgrimage routes could be helpful to combat the decreasing vegetation and environmental quality therein.INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTVolume-5, Issue-2, Mar-May 2016 page: 1-15</p

Economic Impact Analysis of Custom Pak® on Cataract and Vitreoretinal Surgery in the United States

PURPOSE: Implicit costs of surgical preparation and materials management for cataract/anterior segment and retinal/posterior segment procedures are often unquantified. Use of ophthalmological surgical procedure packs is common in these surgeries; however, there is little in the literature demonstrating their time and cost impacts. Understanding the costs and potential benefits of surgical pack procedure use is important for administrators in purchasing decision-making. The objective of this study is to estimate the economic impact of Alcon Custom Pak METHODS: We conducted a study in 2019 among US hospitals and ASCs using an online survey and a surgery timing exercise. Surgical technicians and supply chain managers were surveyed regarding current cataract and retina surgery practices including OR, materials management, and accounting tasks. Surgical technicians timed cataract and retina surgeries, recording activity timestamps and surgical supply use from Alcon Custom Pak and other sources. Using the survey and timing exercise inputs and literature and government sources, we developed a budget impact model (BIM) to quantify hidden costs of time and labor spent across the entire surgery supply life cycle. RESULTS: Representing a geographical mix of 99 facilities, surgical technicians (56 cataract/46 retina) and supply chain managers (23 cataract/24 retina) provided data for their institutions. Technicians timed 290 cataract and 250 retina surgeries. In the BIM, increasing baseline Custom Pak utilization to 100% of surgeries while also sourcing all relevant supplies from Custom Pak results in annual cost savings ranging from $92,273 to$217,675 across procedure type and setting, allowing for between 75 (retina ASC) and 266 (cataract hospital) potential additional procedures per facility/year. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that increasing Custom Pak usage can potentially save time, reduce hidden costs, and increase throughput

Multiple Evanescent White Dot Syndrome

<p>Multiple Evanescent White Dot Syndrome- Eyewiki</p> <p>Original article contributed by: Brian Toussaint MD<br>All contributors: Bryan Kun Hong, Brian Toussaint MD, Koushik Tripathy, Omesh P. Gupta, MD, MBA and Vinay A. Shah M.D.</p> <p> </p> <p>http://eyewiki.org/Multiple_Evanescent_White_Dot_Syndrome</p> <p> </p