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

Neurological manifestations in speech after snake bite: a rare case

The patient was admitted after reporting a snake bite from which he later developed neurological signs and symptoms among which a flaccid dysarthria. The patient underwent speech therapy and showed significant improvement over a short period of time. The favorable outcome of the present study highlights the role of speech therapy in such a case, where it often remains un-emphasized

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

Study of haematological abnormalities in HIV infected patients and its correlation with CD4 counts

Background: To study and correlate the haematological abnormalities with CD4 cell counts in HIV infected patients diagnosed on OPD basis in S.C.B Medical College, Cuttack, before they are initiated on Antiretroviral (ARV) therapy.Methods: A 100, ELISA positive, untreated HIV patients were included in the study while those patients with history of any haematological disease, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), Chronic Liver Disease (CLD), underlying malignancy or on chemotherapy were excluded. Following clinical evaluation, haemoglobin levels (Hb. %), Total Leucocyte Count (TLC), Differential Leucocyte Count (DLC), Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), Platelet Count (PC), CD4 counts (by flow cytometry) and peripheral smear examination was done. They were staged as per WHO clinical staging guidelines given by NACO and statistical analysis was drawn by Fischer Exact Test and association between CD4 counts and haematological abnormalities were inferred.Results: The mean age of the patients was found to be 36.85±6.2 years with males (63%), married (80%) and rural population (78%) showing commonest mode of transmission of the virus as heterosexual route (94%). Most common clinical finding was found to be pallor (68%) with majority in stage III of AIDS. Mean TLC count was found to be 5872±2210 cells/mm 2.40% had leucopenia on TLC and 29% had neutropenia, 30% lymphocytopenia and 20% monocytopenia on DLC. Mean CD4 count was 89 cells per microliter and 79% were anaemic. CD4 counts did not statistically correlate either with WHO staging or cytopenias or haemoglobin levels. However, there was positive association between CD4 counts with anaemia, WHO stages of AIDS, lymphocytopenia and monocytopenia in this study.Conclusions: In this study we could ascertain that, majority were in WHO stage III of AIDS with CD4 counts <200 cells per microliter and blood findings of various cytopenias and anaemia. From our findings, we could correlate between WHO stage of AIDS, CD4 counts and haematological abnormalities thus, establishing the essence of our study

Can neck irradiation be an alternative to neck dissection in early stage carcinoma oral tongue operated for primary alone? Experience from a single institute

Purpose: To study pattern of failure, locoregional control rates (LCR) and disease free survival (DFS) in post-operative patients of carcinoma oral tongue, and to study the impact of nodal dissection on DFS in stage I and II patients.Methods: 102 patients of carcinoma oral tongue treated between January 2009 and December 2013 were analyzed. All patients were operated for primary disease, but neck dissection was done in 78 (76.5%) patients only. However, radiation to primary site along with neck region was received by all patients. Pattern of failure, LCR and DFS were estimated.Results: At median follow up of 12 months, 10.8% patients failed locally, 10.8% in nodal region, 2.9% both at local and nodal site, and 5.9% patients failed distally. 2 year LCR and DFS was 71.2%, 90.9%, 79.5%, 0% and 55.2%, 64.4%, 57.8%, 0% in stage I, II, III, IV respectively. 2 year DFS in stage I patients, who underwent nodal dissection and post-operative radiation (14 patients) was 64.3% and in whom only neck irradiation was done (15 patients), it was 45.8%, however difference was not significant (p = 0.5). But in stage II patients, 33 patients who underwent nodal dissection and post-operative radiation, 2 year DFS was 85.4% and it was 21.4% in 7 patients who underwent neck radiation only, and difference showed trend towards significance (p = 0.05). 2 or more positive lymph nodes post dissection was the only poor prognostic factor that correlated with DFS (p = 0.02)Conclusion: While in stage I, neck irradiation alone can be a possible alternative to neck dissection and post-operative radiation; for stage II, neck dissection is mandatory

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

Evaluation of Reirradiation in Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancers: Toxicity and Early Clinical Outcomes

Objectives. Locoregional recurrence is the predominant pattern of treatment failure in advanced head and neck cancers. Reirradiation is a useful modality to treat inoperable head and neck cancer patients with recurrent disease. The aim of the present study was to analyze the treatment toxicity and early clinical outcomes in patients undergoing reirradiation. Methods. Twenty patients of head and neck cancers with recurrences or second cancers were evaluated. Reirradiation was done using simultaneous integrated boost volumetric modulated arc therapy (SIB VMAT), intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), or conventional radiotherapy using 6MV photons. Dose prescription ranged from 30 to 60 Gy in conventional fractionation. Results. Seventeen males and three females were evaluated in this analysis. The median age of patients under study was 56.5 years. At time of analysis 8 patients (40%) had a complete response, 7 patients (35%) had progressive disease, and 25% had partial response or stable disease. Grade III-IV mucositis, dermatitis, xerostomia, dysphagia, and trismus were seen in 20%, 20%, 50%, 35%, and 45% patients, respectively, during retreatment. Patients receiving a radiotherapy dose less than 45 Gy showed a higher incidence of progressive disease (p=0.01). The median disease-free survival for patients receiving reirradiation dose of ≥46 Gy was 19±3.3 months (median ± S Error) compared to 8±2.61 months for those with a dose prescription less than 45 Gy (p=0.03). At 18-month follow-up 26% of patients undergoing reirradiation were disease-free. Conclusions. Our results show improved tumor control using a prescription of doses ≥46 Gy in retreatment setting

Impact of Sleep and Circadian Disruption on Energy Balance and Diabetes: A Summary of Workshop Discussions

A workshop was held at the National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases with a focus on the impact of sleep and circadian disruption on energy balance and diabetes. The workshop identified a number of key principles for research in this area and a number of specific opportunities. Studies in this area would be facilitated by active collaboration between investigators in sleep/circadian research and investigators in metabolism/diabetes. There is a need to translate the elegant findings from basic research into improving the metabolic health of the American public. There is also a need for investigators studying the impact of sleep/circadian disruption in humans to move beyond measurements of insulin and glucose and conduct more in-depth phenotyping. There is also a need for the assessments of sleep and circadian rhythms as well as assessments for sleep-disordered breathing to be incorporated into all ongoing cohort studies related to diabetes risk. Studies in humans need to complement the elegant short-term laboratory-based human studies of simulated short sleep and shift work etc. with studies in subjects in the general population with these disorders. It is conceivable that chronic adaptations occur, and if so, the mechanisms by which they occur needs to be identified and understood. Particular areas of opportunity that are ready for translation are studies to address whether CPAP treatment of patients with pre-diabetes and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) prevents or delays the onset of diabetes and whether temporal restricted feeding has the same impact on obesity rates in humans as it does in mice