Percutaneous tricuspid valvotomy for pacemaker lead-induced tricuspid stenosis

AbstractPermanent pacemaker lead-induced tricuspid regurgitation is extremely uncommon. We report a patient with severe tricuspid stenosis detected 10 years after permanent single chamber pacemaker implantation in surgically corrected congenital heart disease. The loop at the level of the tricuspid valve may have caused endothelial injury and eventually led to stenosis. Percutaneous balloon valvotomy for such stenosis has not been reported from India

High sensitivity C - reactive protein (hs-CRP) and clinical characteristics, endocrine, metabolic profile in Indian women with PCOS: a correlation

Background: Role of hs-CRP was studied in PCOS women.Methods: Correlation between serum hs-CRP and endocrine, metabolic profile was studied in 30 healthy women and 88 PCOS women. In PCOS women correlation between hs-CRP and clinical characteristics viz obesity, infertility, acne, hirsutism, acanthosis nigricans (AN) was also studied. Serum levels of hs-CRP, Luteinizing hormone (LH), Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), LH:FSH ratio, Testosterone (Testo), fasting insulin, fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (Tg), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) were estimated.Results: Mean serum hs-CRP in PCOS women was higher than that in control women (6.9 ± SE 0.84 v/s 2.0 ± SE 0.19mg/L, P=0.005).  In PCOS group overweight/obese had higher hs-CRP as compared to normal weight women (P=0.0051). In control group hs-CRP was positively correlated with age (r=0.385 p=0.035) and LDL (r=0.38 P=0.036). PCOS women showed positive correlation between hs-CRP and cholesterol, LDL, fasting insulin, HOMA. PCOS women showed a significant negative correlation between hs-CRP and LH. AN positive PCOS women showed higher serum hs-CRP levels as compared to AN negative PCOS women (11 ± SE 0.7 v/s 5.5 ± SE 2.3, P=0.0439).Conclusions: Serum hs-CRP is raised in Indian PCOS women reflecting association of low grade chronic inflammation. A positive correlation is present between hs-CRP and AN, insulin in PCOS women and obesity may aggravate this association. A positive correlation between hs-CRP and TC, LDL in the background of normal lipid profile is suggestive of precedence of chronic inflammation over dyslipidemia in PCOS

ZnO/CuSCN nano-heterostructure as a highly efficient field emitter: a combined experimental and theoretical investigation

We report the synthesis of two-dimensional porous ZnO nanosheets, CuSCN nanocoins, and ZnO/CuSCN nano-heterostructure thin films grown on fluorine-doped tin oxide substrates via two simple and low-cost solution chemical routes, i.e., chemical bath deposition and successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction methods. Detail characterizations regarding the structural, optoelectronic, and morphological properties have been carried out, which reveal high-quality and crystalline synthesized materials. Field emission (FE) investigations performed at room temperature with a base pressure of 1 × 10–8 mbar demonstrate superior FE performance of the ZnO/CuSCN nano-heterostructure compared to the isolated porous ZnO nanosheets and CuSCN nanocoins. For instance, the turn-on field required to draw a current density of 10 μA/cm2 is found to be 2.2, 1.1, and 0.7 V/μm for the ZnO, CuSCN, and ZnO/CuSCN nano-heterostructure, respectively. The observed significant improvement in the FE characteristics (ultralow turn-on field of 0.7 V/μm for an emission current density of 10 μA/cm2 and the achieved high current density of 2.2 mA/cm2 at a relatively low applied electric field of 1.8 V/μm) for the ZnO/CuSCN nano-heterostructure is superior to the isolated porous ZnO nanosheets, CuSCN nanocoins, and other reported semiconducting nano-heterostructures. Complementary first-principles density functional theory calculations predict a lower work function for the ZnO/CuSCN nano-heterostructure (4.58 eV), compared to the isolated ZnO (5.24 eV) and CuSCN (4.91 eV), validating the superior FE characteristics of the ZnO/CuSCN nano-heterostructure. The ZnO/CuSCN nanocomposite could provide a promising class of FE cathodes, flat panel displays, microwave tubes, and electron sources

Leptin in non PCOS and PCOS women: a comparative study

Background: Leptin, a hormone secreted by adipose tissues, controls body weight through regulation of appetite and thermogenesis.  The present study was aimed to observe role of leptin in healthy and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women.Methods: Correlation between serum leptin and anthropometric, endocrine and metabolic profile was studied in 30 apparently healthy women (control group) and 38 PCOS women (PCOS group). Each group was stratified based on body mass Index (BMI), as normal weight (BMI<23) and overweight/obese (BMI>23).Results Leptin level was high in 30% control group and in 65.79% PCOS group. Mean leptin (ng/ml) in PCOS group was higher compared to control group (18±1.9 v/s 12±1.7, p<0.05). Mean leptin levels were higher in overweight/obese subgroup as compared to normal weight subgroup in both Control (p<0.05) and PCOS groups (p=<0.05). In control group, leptin showed positive correlation with waist circumference (WC) (r=-0.49, p<0.01) and negative correlation with Cholesterol: HDL ratio (p<0.05). In PCOS group, leptin showed positive correlation with BMI (r=0.377,p<0.05) and Triglyceride (r=0.34,<0.05) and negative correlation with Fasting Blood Glucose( FBG)(r=-0.33,p<0.05). In normal weight subgroup among control group (n=25), leptin showed positive correlation with LDL (r=0.49, p<0.05). In control overweight/obese subgroup (n=5), leptin showed positive correlation with Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) (r=+1.0, p<0.05) and inverse correlation with testosterone(r=-1.0,p<0.05). In normal weight subgroup among PCOS group, leptin had a positive correlation with LDL: HDL ratio (r=0.488, p<0.05). Conclusions: Hyperleptinemia is common in obesity. Leptin controls glycemic status in patients with IR. Correlation of leptin with FSH and testosterone is influenced by obesity and PCOS.  Leptin regulation of lipid homeostasis is influenced by obesity or PCOS

Identifikacija ptičjih vrsta lančanom reakcijom polimerazom i analizom slijeda mitohondrijskoga gena 12S rRNA

Authentic identification and differentiation of avian species is a vital step in conservative, taxonomic, forensic, legal and other ornithological interventions. The present investigation involved the application of molecular biological approach to identify and differentiate avian species i.e. two species of birds, namely black kite (Milvus migrans) and parakeet (Psittacula krameri). The DNA was isolated from blood samples of each species and a part of the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene was amplified through polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR products were sequenced and aligned using Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) of the GenBank (NCBI). Based on the alignment and similarity/divergence, these avian species were accurately identified and differentiated.Autentična identifikacija i razlikovanje ptičjih vrsta od presudnoga su značenja u različitim konzervirajućim, taksonomskim, sudbenim, zakonskim i drugim ornitološkim aktivnostima. Ovo istraživanje bavi se molekularnobiološkim pristupom identifikaciji i razlikovanja dviju ptičjih vrsta: crvenkaste lunje (sokola) (Milvus migrans) i papige (Psittacula krameri). DNA je bila izdvojena iz uzoraka njihove krvi te je dio mitohondrijskoga 12S rRNA bio umnožen lančanom reakcijom polimerazom. Proizvodi PCR-a bili su sekvencirani i analizirani upotrebom Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) genske banke GenBank (NCBI). Na osnovi sličnosti odnosno različitosti nalaza identificirane su te dvije pretraživane vrste

Generation, annotation, and analysis of ESTs from midgut tissue of adult female Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Malaria is a tropical disease caused by protozoan parasite, <it>Plasmodium</it>, which is transmitted to humans by various species of female anopheline mosquitoes. <it>Anopheles stephensi </it>is one such major malaria vector in urban parts of the Indian subcontinent. Unlike <it>Anopheles gambiae</it>, an African malaria vector, transcriptome of <it>A. stephensi </it>midgut tissue is less explored. We have therefore carried out generation, annotation, and analysis of expressed sequence tags from sugar-fed and <it>Plasmodium yoelii </it>infected blood-fed (post 24 h) adult female <it>A. stephensi </it>midgut tissue.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We obtained 7061 and 8306 ESTs from the sugar-fed and <it>P. yoelii </it>infected mosquito midgut tissue libraries, respectively. ESTs from the combined dataset formed 1319 contigs and 2627 singlets, totaling to 3946 unique transcripts. Putative functions were assigned to 1615 (40.9%) transcripts using BLASTX against UniProtKB database. Amongst unannotated transcripts, we identified 1513 putative novel transcripts and 818 potential untranslated regions (UTRs). Statistical comparison of annotated and unannotated ESTs from the two libraries identified 119 differentially regulated genes. Out of 3946 unique transcripts, only 1387 transcripts were mapped on the <it>A. gambiae </it>genome. These also included 189 novel transcripts, which were mapped to the unannotated regions of the genome. The EST data is available as ESTDB at <url>http://mycompdb.bioinfo-portal.cdac.in/cgi-bin/est/index.cgi</url>.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>3946 unique transcripts were successfully identified from the adult female <it>A. stephensi </it>midgut tissue. These data can be used for microarray development for better understanding of vector-parasite relationship and to study differences or similarities with other malaria vectors. Mapping of putative novel transcripts from <it>A. stephensi </it>on the <it>A. gambiae </it>genome proved fruitful in identification and annotation of several genes. Failure of some novel transcripts to map on the <it>A. gambiae </it>genome indicates existence of substantial genomic dissimilarities between these two potent malaria vectors.</p

Lablab purpureus—A Crop Lost for Africa?

In recent years, so-called ‘lost crops’ have been appraised in a number of reviews, among them Lablab purpureus in the context of African vegetable species. This crop cannot truly be considered ‘lost’ because worldwide more than 150 common names are applied to it. Based on a comprehensive literature review, this paper aims to put forward four theses, (i) Lablab is one of the most diverse domesticated legume species and has multiple uses. Although its largest agro-morphological diversity occurs in South Asia, its origin appears to be Africa. (ii) Crop improvement in South Asia is based on limited genetic diversity. (iii) The restricted research and development performed in Africa focuses either on improving forage or soil properties mostly through one popular cultivar, Rongai, while the available diversity of lablab in Africa might be under threat of genetic erosion. (iv) Lablab is better adapted to drought than common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) or cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), both of which have been preferred to lablab in African agricultural production systems. Lablab might offer comparable opportunities for African agriculture in the view of global change. Its wide potential for adaptation throughout eastern and southern Africa is shown with a GIS (geographic information systems) approach

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Research Paper - The influence of some azoles on wound healing in albino rats

Objective: To investigate the effect of azoles viz metronidazole (MTZ), tinidazole (TNZ), ketoconazole (KCZ), and fluconazole (FLZ) on resutured incision, excision, and dead space wounds in albino rats. Materials and methods: Resutured incision, excision, and dead space wounds were inflicted in albino rats of either sex under light ether anesthesia, taking aseptic precautions. Control animals received vehicle, and other groups received MTZ, TNZ, KCZ, and FLZ orally for a period of 10 days in incision and dead space wounds, whereas in excision wounds till their complete closure. On the 11th day, after estimating breaking strength of resutured incision wounds (under anesthesia), animals were sacrificed and granulation tissue removed from dead space wounds to estimate breaking strength, hydroxyproline content, quantification of granulation tissue, and histological studies in control and treated groups. In the excision wound model, wound closure rate, epithelization time, and scar features were studied from the day of wounding till the day of scab falling off with no residual raw area. Results: Except ketoconazole, rest of the azoles significantly (P<0.01, <0.05) promoted the healing process in all the three wound models studied. Conclusion: Metronidazole, tinidazole and fluconazole promote wound healing, whereas ketoconazole does not do so

Conversation Modeling with Neural Network

The ability to process, understand and interact in natural language carries high importance for building a Intelligent system, as it will greatly affect the way of communicating with the system. Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) have achieved excellent performance for many of machine learning problems and are widely accepted for applications in the field of computer vision and supervised&nbsp; learning. Although DNNs work well with availability of large labeled training set, it cannot be used to map complex structures like sentences end-to-end. Existing approaches for conversational modeling are domain specific and require handcrafted rules. This paper proposes a simple approach based on use of neural networks’ recently proposed sequence to sequence framework. The proposed model generates reply by predicting sentence using chained probability for given sentence(s) in conversation. This model is trained end-to-end on large data set. Proposed approach uses Attention to focus text generation on intent of conversation as well as beam search to generate optimum output with some diversity.Primary findings show that model shows common sense reasoning on movie transcript data set