Bacterial profile of blood stream infections and their antibiograms

Background: Blood culture provides essential information for the evaluation of a variety of diseases like endocarditis, pneumonia, and pyrexia of unknown origin particularly, in patients with suspected sepsis. Septicaemia is one of the leading causes of neonatal mortality along with perinatal hypoxia. Objectives: To study the bacterial flora of blood stream infections in adults & pediatric patients including neonates. To study the risk factors and duration of incubation for obtaining positive cultures. To study their antibiotic resistant pattern and compare results with those of other investigators in this field.Methods: This prospective study was conducted in the department of microbiology, Narayana medical college and hospital, Nellore over a period of six months, from March 2014 to September 2014. During the six months period, 200 samples received from various departments were processed and relevant findings were noted.Results: Out of 200 blood samples growth was obtained in 34 samples (17%). Among them Gram positive bacteria were 11 (5.5%). Gram negative bacilli were 23 (11.6%). Among the gram positive bacteria maximum resistance was seen with methicillin and imipenum. No resistance was seen with vancomycin and erythromycin. Most of gram negative bacilli were multidrug resistant. Maximum resistance was seen with piperacillin, amikacin, ceftizoxime and amoxyclav.  Conclusion: Early diagnosis & appropriate treatment of bacterial infections can make difference between life & death. It would reduce mortality from septicaemia, reduce time & improve patient management.

Frontal plane tibio-femoral alignment and its association with knee pain among patients with early osteoarthritis of the knee in a population presenting to a tertiary hospital in South India

Background: Frontal plane knee malalignment may increase the progression of knee osteoarthritis (OA) and worsen functional capacity.Methods: In our study, the aim was to find the correlation of frontal plane tibiofemoral alignment with knee pain in early OA knee patients. After meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 195 patients with 314 knees (104 females, 91 males) were studied. Clinical and radiological measurements of frontal plane tibiofemoral alignment, using landmark of hip, knee, and ankle, compared with knee pain.Results: The accepted Statistical significance was p<0.05. Patients with 130 knees (41%) were normal alignment, and 184 knees (59%) were abnormal alignment. The mean±SD age in our study was 54.6±8.9 years. The mean±SD BMI in our study to be 25.86±1.96. Mean±SD Q-angle in patients with normal and abnormal alignment was 14.76±1.54 and 14.63±1.9 respectively. There is statistically no significant correlation between BMI and VAS score (r=0.054, p=0.344). Means±SD of mLDFA, mMPTA, mTFA, aTFA, and JOA were 88.86±2.73, 84.96±3.00, 5.96±4.01, 4.55±3.67, and 2.37±1.88 respectively. JOA and mTFA had statistically significant weak positive correlation with VAS (knee pain) score, (r=0.281) (p=0.000) and (r=0.236) (p=0.000) respectively. The rest of the angles were not had statistically significant correlation with VAS score. The mTFA had statistically significant weak positive correlation with all the angles. We found that Frontal plane tibiofemoral alignment correlates with knee pain in patients with early OA. Conclusions: The mTFA may be considered one important criterion in designing treatment and planning surgery for patients with primary osteoarthritis. The Q angle acts as a good alternative clinical tool in assessing frontal plane alignment. BMI was not correlating with knee pain (VAS score)

Synthesis and structural studies of first row transition metal complexes of N-(2-nitro)-benzilidine-3-hydrazino quinoxaline-2-one

Cr(III), Mn(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes of N-(2-nitro)-benzilidene-3-hydrazino quinoxaline-2-one (NBHQO) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, conductance, thermal, spectral and magnetic data. NBHQO acts as a bidentate ON donor in all the complexes except in Ni(II) complex in which it acts as a tridentate ONO donor. Octahedral geometries have been proposed for all the complexes except for Cu(II) complex to which the square planar geometry is assigned. KEY WORDS: Metal complexes, N-(2-nitro)-benzilidene-3-hydrazino quinoxaline-2-one, ON donor  Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2008, 22(3), 385-390

Escitalopram reduces severity of depression and improves quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in an open label parallel group study

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterised by progressive and persistent airflow limitation with frequent exacerbations and hospitalizations contributing to overall morbidity and mortality. We evaluated the efficacy of antidepressant escitalopram therapy in depressed individuals suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Methods: The sample comprised of sixty patients. Thirty patients received antidepressant escitalopram, while the remaining half served as controls. Hamilton depression rating and WHO–BREF questionnaire were the tools to assess severity of depression and quality of life. The severity of COPD was recorded using spirometry (FEV1%). Clinical assessments were at baseline and at week-2 and week-8 of follow up in both intervention and control groups.Results: It was found that both the groups were similar on the severity of the illness (COPD) at entry. FEV 1% of both the groups showed similar improvement after 8 weeks. Treatment with escitalopram showed a significant decrease in the severity of depression score and improvement on all the domains of quality of life when compared with the baseline. After the intervention, it was found that the HAM-D scores in the experimental group decreased from 24.44 to 17.50 while in the control group, it was from 20.11 to 19.67.  The magnitude of improvement was significantly higher with intervention compared to controls.Conclusions: Escitalopram reduces severity of depression and improves quality of life which was independent of improvement in FEV1. It could be asserted that this antidepressant improved the patient’s mood, fatigue and helplessness, which could have improved the quality of life of these patients

Thermal Performance of Screen Mesh Wick Cylindrical Heat Pipe using Al 2 O 3 Nanofluid

ABSTRACT: In this research, the effect of using aluminum oxide Nanofluid (pure water mixed with Al 2 O 3 nanoparticle With 35 nm diameter) on the thermal efficiency enhancement of a heat pipe on the different operating state was investigated. The heat pipe was made of a straight copper tube with an outer diameter of 8mm and length 190 mm and stainless steel of 1mm wick-thickness for heat pipe. In the heat pipe tube, there is a 90° curve between the evaporator and condenser sections. The tested concentration levels of Nanofluid are 0%, 1% and 3%wt. Results show that by charging the Nanofluid to the heat pipe, thermal performance is enhanced by reducing the thermal resistance and wall temperature difference. The thermal efficiency of heat pipe charged with Nanofluid is compared with pure water

Prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus and perinatal outcome: a rural tertiary teaching hospital based study

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus is the commonest medical disorder in pregnancy. Women with GDM are at increased risk for adverse obstetric and perinatal outcome. Prevalence of GDM is known to vary widely depending on region of the country, dietary habits and socio-economic status. This study was undertaken to evaluate the prevalence of GDM and risk factors associated with it among women delivered in a rural tertiary teaching hospital in Telangana and further assess its impact on feto-maternal outcome.Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at Mediciti Institute of Medical Sciences on GDM cases delivered from May 2015 to April 2017. GDM was diagnosed using 2 step procedure of screening with glucose challenge test followed by confirmation with oral glucose tolerance test using Carpenter and Couston criteria. Demographic data and details about perinatal outcome were obtained from medical records and analyzed.Results: The prevalence was low (1.83%) compared to other studies. Majority of the women did not have risk factors. Preeclampsia is the commonest maternal complication seen (18%). Hypothyroidism is more often associated with GDM (15%). Caesarean section rate was high (62%). Though the NICU admission rate was high (76%), neonatal outcome was found to be satisfactory.Conclusions: The low prevalence of GDM seen highlights the importance of carrying out studies in different population groups of India to know the exact prevalence of GDM in the country. Pregnancies in women with GDM continue to be at increased risk of maternal and perinatal complications

The amazing spectrum of light – LASER

“In right light at right time everything is extraordinary”- says Aaron Rose. This is very true with respect to lasers. Discovery of lasers from the spectrum of light has revolutionized the technology in many fields. The word “LASER” means Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. They offer many useful clinical applications for general dentists in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. There are many clinical, aesthetic, and psychological reasons to use lasers. Herein we present a brief overview of “THE AMAZING SPECTRUM OF LIGHT

Prevalence and determinants of caesarean section in a rural tertiary teaching hospital: a 6-year retrospective study

Background: Caesarean section is the most commonly performed surgery in obstetrics and there is a rise in caesarean section rates in recent times. This study was undertaken to know the changing trends in caesarean section rate in a rural hospital and to examine the indications contributing to it. The objective of the present study was to know the prevalence and changing trends in caesarean section over the last 6 years (April 2012-March 2018).Methods: Demographic data for all the deliveries, mode of delivery and indications of caesarean sections performed from April 2012 to March 2018 that occurred at MIMS were collected in a retrospective manner.Results: Among a total of 12,522 women delivered during the study period of 6 years, 44.93%, 48.49%, 48.41%, 50.9%, 45.48% and 49.62% were delivered by caesarean section during 2012-2013, 2013-2014, 2014-2015, 2015-2016, 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 respectively. Increase in repeat caesarean section is the primary reason for these increased rates followed by fetal distress. There is a rise in the repeat caesarean section from 44.36% in 2012-2013 to 55.67% in 2016-2017 and 47% in 2017-2018. Whereas primary caesarean section rate reduced from 55.63% in 2012-2013 to 44.32% in 2016-2017 and 53% in 2017-2018.Conclusions: As repeat caesarean section and fetal distress are the most common causes of caesarean section we need to address these to bring down the caesarean section rate

Intrusion Detection Recording System with Biometric Lock

The spread of COVID-19 in the entire world has put humankind in danger. The assets of probably the biggest economies are worried because of the enormous infectivity and contagiousness of this illness. The ability of machine learning algorithms to predict the number of possible COVID-19 patients is generally seen as a potential challenge to mankind. The undermining components of COVID-19 were determined using four normal estimating models: Support Vector Machine (SVM), least total shrinkage, and determination administrator (LASSO), linear regression (LR). Any one of the models makes three types of predictions, such as the number of newly infected occurrences, the number of passings, and the rate of recoveries, but they cannot predict the exact result for the patients. To defeat the issue, the Proposed strategy utilizing exponential smoothing (ES) The number of cases of COVID-19 and the impact of COVID-19 preventive steps including certain social insulation and latch on infectious diseases was expected in the next 30 days to come