Multimodal imaging in radiation retinopathy following orbital metastasis

Background: Radiation retinopathy is a major cause of vision loss in patients receiving radiotherapy to the head and orbit. Diabetic retinopathy is one of the differential diagnosis owing to similar clinical features, including microaneurysms, cotton-wool spots, hard exudates, and macular edema. The only significant pathological difference is that radiation retinopathy spares pericytes, unlike in diabetic retinopathy. Multimodal imaging helps diagnose and predict the prognosis of radiation retinopathy, which is presented in this case report. Case Presentation: A 55-year-old woman diagnosed with stage-4 metastatic breast carcinoma presented with gradual diminution of vision in the left eye (OS) over 5 months. Vision in the right eye was lost because of orbital radiotherapy for orbital metastasis. The patient underwent multiple sessions of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Examination of the left eye revealed a best-corrected distance visual acuity (BCDVA) of 20/30. Fundus examination of the OS revealed multiple cotton-wool spots and retinal hemorrhages. Fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) showed diffuse macular leakage with capillary nonperfusion. Multicolor imaging (MCI) with Spectralis™ revealed black dots in the blue and green reflectance images, corresponding to capillary dilatation on FFA. Darker dots were more evident in the infrared images. BCDVA improved to 20/20 in OS after tapering the dose of oral steroids for 2 months, with improvements in hemorrhages and cotton-wool spots. Focal laser photocoagulation was recommended for the treatment of persistent macular edema. The patient declined further treatment, was lost to follow-up, and passed away 6 months later. Conclusions: This case highlights the importance of multimodal imaging for the identification and classification of radiation retinopathy. MCI using SpectralisTM has been described for the first time in radiation retinopathy and can be used to complement existing imaging modalities. Future studies involving more patients and a longer follow-up duration may provide better results for the applicability of these imaging modalities in the clinical setting

Pattern of alcohol use and drinking antecedents in alcohol dependent patients with and without co-morbid depression: a comparative study

Background: Few studies have compared the pattern of alcohol use in Alcohol dependence syndrome (ADS) patients with and without co-morbid depression. Assessing the pattern may throw light into prevention of relapses more effectively in alcohol dependent patients with co-morbid depression. This study was undertaken to assess the difference in pattern of drinking of alcohol in patients with alcohol dependence with and without co-morbid depression.Methods: A descriptive comparative study was designed to compare the difference in pattern of alcohol use in alcohol dependent patients with co-morbid depression and without co-morbid depression. Severity of dependence on alcohol was assessed using Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Drinking pattern was assessed using Timeline Follow back Calender and Drinking Pattern Questionnaire. The data were statistically analysed.Results: Total 96 alcohol dependent patients (24 had co-morbid depression and 72 without co-morbid depression) were included in the study. There were no significant differences in alcohol use in both the groups in terms of AUDIT scores, amount of drinking, abstinence days or binge drinking. More frequent drinking was observed in circumstances related to emotional, physiological, financial and children related situations in patients with co-morbid depression (p<0.05).Conclusions: Drinking circumstances like emotional, physiological, financial and children related situations require more attention while assessing, treating and aiming at relapse of prevention in ADS patients with co-morbid depression

A comparative study to assess drinking expectancy and functioning in alcohol dependent patients with and without co-morbid depression

Background: Alcohol dependence syndrome (ADS) and major depressive disorder are highly prevalent. Much less is known about the expectancy of alcohol use in depressed patients with ADS. Few studies had compared the expectancy of alcohol use in ADS patients with and without co-morbid depression. Assessing the above factors may help to formulate effective prevention strategies. This study was designed to assess the difference in expectancy of alcohol use and functioning in patients with ADS with and without co-morbid depression.Methods: The difference in expectancy of alcohol use in 96 alcohol dependent patients, of which 24 had co-morbid depression and 72 without co-morbid depression was studied using drinking expectancy questionnaire. In addition, we compared the difference in functioning between the two groups using GAF.Results: Prevalence of depression in alcohol dependent patients was 25%. ADS patients with co-morbid depression had less expectancy about alcohol use for sexual enhancement and had lower level of functioning compared to ADS patients without depression.Conclusions: Less expectancy on sexual enhancement in patients with ADS and co-morbid depression could be possibly due to reduced libido in depressed patients. The observed lower functioning in ADS patients with co-morbid depression despite no difference in severity of alcohol use may be possibly explained by the added burden of both the diseases

In Situ and Operando Tools and Methods for Characterization of Heterogeneous Catalysts

In situ and operando spectroscopic characterization of catalysts is a powerful tool to explore the nature of species that may be involved in a heterogeneous catalytic cycle. In combination with methodologies to discriminate passive and active species, it can inform researchers on the presence of spectator and true reaction intermediate species. Towards this goal, this dissertation encompasses novel tools and methods to detect adsorbed species, differentiate spectator species from likely intermediate species, and their application via in situ and operando spectroscopic methods at relevant reaction conditions. First, we introduce a commercial in situ diffuse reflectance (DR) mirror optics cell that was modified for use at high temperatures with fiber optics and with reduced void volume. Such design enabled the development of a technique named oxygen gold plasmon sensing (O2-GPS). The O2-GPS combines in situ/operando DR UV-Vis spectroscopy and the determination of gold surface plasmon resonance (Au SPR) peak shifts as a sensor for adsorption of oxygen on gold catalysts via a simple correlation based on Drude’s free electron model for gold nanoparticles. Such method allowed, for the first time, the observation via in situ/operando UV-Vis spectroscopy of O2 adsorbed at the gold-support interface during O2 flow and under CO oxidation reaction conditions. This work also describes a unique and powerful mathematical framework for the discrimination of spectator species and likely intermediate species. The method is called modulation excitation-phase sensitive detection-diffuse reflectance Fourier infrared spectroscopy (ME-PSD-DRIFTS) as it is applied to in situ/operando DRIFTS data that has been collected under periodic changes of surface species coverages and processed via phase sensitive detection methods that employ Fourier analysis. Such approach allowed the collection of infrared spectra with enhanced signal-to-noise ratio of reacting species while avoiding the presence of spectator species. Here, it is also shown how ME-PSD-DRIFTS can be used to study surface reacting and likely intermediate species on a Co-Al2O3 catalyst with enhanced properties for ethanol dehydration. Along with ex situ characterization and kinetics measurements, ME-PSD-DRIFTS demonstrated the enhanced hydrophobic surface properties of this catalyst which reduced inhibition by water typical of the parent γ-Al2O3. The technique also allowed the sensitive detection of adsorbed ethanol and ethoxide species as well as terminal and bridging hydroxyls bonded to octahedral and tetrahedral Al on Al2O3 (100) and (110) facets as likely reaction intermediates in the conversion of ethanol to diethyl ether and ethylene

Assessing Heart Rate Variability Using A 12 lead ECG In Patients With Alcohol Dependence Syndrome

Heavy or hazardous drinking is associated with an increased risk of cardiac morbidity and mortality and this has been attributed to abnormalities in cardiac autonomic regulation. Current study aimed to assess the role of simple indices derived from 12 lead ECG in subjects with chronic alcohol dependence. Data suggested that alcohol group had significantly lower 12 lead ECG derived RR variability compared to age and gender matched controls. Study further supports the implication of 12 lead derived RR variability indices in various clinical settings

SPECTROSCOPIC ANALYSIS AND ANTIBACTERIAL EFFICACY OF BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS FROM LIMONIA ACIDISSIMA L. FRUIT EXTRACT AGAINST CLINICAL PATHOGENS

Objective: To determine the phytochemical composition using spectral analysis and antibacterial activity of Limonia acidissima fruit methanol extract.Methods: Phytochemical analysis was performed to determine the total alkaloids, saponins, total phenols and flavonoids content of fruit extract. Secondary metabolite compounds were determined performed by FT-IR and GC-MS analysis. Antibacterial activity assay was performed using agar well diffusion technique.Results: The alkaloid and saponins contents of the crude methanol extract were found to be 38.47 g/100 g and 0.13 g/100 g dry matter respectively. The LF methanol extract showed total phenol contents of 33.38 µg/mg and the flavonoids was found to be 33.80 µg/mg extract. FT-IR analysis indicated the presence of phenols, alkanes, amino acids, α, β-unsaturated esters, alkenes, nitro compounds, aromatics, aliphatic amines, carboxylic acid, alkenes, and alkyl halides functional groups. The GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of linoleic acid, octadecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, maltol, vinly guaiacol, furanone, and ascorbic acid. The antibacterial activity assay showed dose dependent inhibition against clinical pathogens.Conclusion: This study elucidated the prospective value of L. acidissima fruit as a nutritional and medicinal source. Â

3-(4-Bromo­phen­yl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one

In the title compound, C14H9BrN2O, the quinazoline unit is essentially planar, with a mean deviation of 0.058 (2) Å from the least-squares plane defined by the ten constituent ring atoms. The dihedral angle between the mean plane of the quinazoline ring system and the 4-bromo­phenyl ring is 47.6 (1)°. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked by inter­molecular C—H⋯N and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming infinite chains of alternating R 2 2(6) dimers and R 2 2(14) ring motifs

ANTI-BIOFILM EFFICACY OF PLECTRANTHUS AMBOINICUS AGAINST STREPTOCOCCUS PYOGENES ISOLATED FROM PHARYNGITIS PATIENTS

ABSTRACTObjective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the anti-biofilm efficacy of Indian medicinal plant Plectranthus amboinicus extracts against thebiofilm forming Streptococcus pyogenes isolated from pharyngitis patients.Methods: The plant extracts (methanol and ethyl acetate) were screened for their preliminary phytochemical components. The solvent extract withhigher phytochemical yield was subjected to quantitative analysis using the Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) technique. In vitroanalysis of the anti-biofilm study was performed using the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) assay, biofilm inhibitory concentration assay,growth curve analysis, anti-bacterial activity, and light microscopy analysis.Results: The methanol extract showed the highest phytochemical content. GC-MS analysis of the methanol extract showed a total of thirty two phytocompounds among which most of the compounds were medicinally important. MIC assay showed that the inhibition of test pathogens was at anaverage concentration of 2 mg/ml. The agar well diffusion method elucidated that at sub-MIC the methanol and ethyl acetate extracts did not inhibitthe growth of the test pathogen. Growth curve analysis was carried out at the concentration sub-MIC, in which the solvent extracts did not show anysignificant inhibition on the planktonic cells, whereas the biofilms of the test pathogens were significantly reduced and were dose dependent at subMIClevelsas confirmed bythe lightmicroscopicanalysis.Conclusion: These preliminary results indicated that the methanol extract of P. amboinicus leaves consisted of pharmacologically active componentsand could be used as an anti-biofilm agent at minimal concentrations thereby successful preventing the formation of biofilms.Keywords: Plectranthus amboinicus, GC-MS, Anti-biofilm activity, Light microscopy, S. pyogenes