Prevalence of thrombocytopenia and its relation with WHO clinical and immunological staging among human immunodeficiency virus-infected children

Objective: The aim was to study the thrombocytopenia in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected children and its relationwith WHO clinical and immunological HIV/AIDS staging. Study Design: Observational analytic cross-sectional study. Materialsand Methods: 47 ambulatory and clinically stable HIV-infected children (confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay forHIV-1 and HIV-2) aged 18 months-18 years attending the out-patient Department of anti-retroviral therapy center at tertiary caresetting, were included in this study. Detailed history was taken, and thorough clinical examination was done in all cases. Blood samplefor complete blood count and CD4 count was taken. Primary Outcome: Thrombocytopenia in HIV-infected children. SecondaryOutcome: WHO clinical and immunological HIV/AIDS staging in HIV-infected children and its relation to thrombocytopenia.Results: Of 47 studied children, thrombocytopenia was found in 14 (29.78%) cases. Patients with thrombocytopenia were found inall stages of the disease; however, it was strongly associated with increasing immunological stages (correlation coefficient, r = 0.948).Conclusion: Thrombocytopenia commonly occurs in children with HIV and its occurrence increases with an increase in WHO clinicaland immunological HIV/AIDS staging

Validation of Ponseti method for clubfoot deformity correction

Background: Idiopathic Congenital Talipes Equino-Varus (CTEV) is a complex deformity of foot that is difficult to treat. The goal of treatment is to gain a functional, pain free, plantigrade foot, with good mobility and without callosities. Currently, the most accepted and popular method is the Ponseti method which allows correction of all components of CTEV by manipulation and serial casting without any major surgical intervention. This prospective study was done in a tertiary care centre to statistically assess the efficacy of Ponseti method.Methods: We treated 150 children (210 feet) with idiopathic clubfoot deformity, using Ponseti technique. The severity of foot deformities were assessed by Pirani scoring system and were also recorded clinically, radiologically and podographically. The changes in the mean Catterall-Pirani scores at different follow ups were evaluated statistically.Results: The mean number of casts that were applied to obtain correction was 7.86 (range 5 to 11 casts). Percutaneous tendoachilles tenotomy was done in 70% of feet. All children were given foot abduction orthosis after the correction. The results were graded according to Ponseti and Smoley criteria. Good results were obtained in 83% of feet, acceptable results in 7% of feet and poor results in 10% of cases. Statistically significant correction was achieved in manipulation and casting stage which was maintained during bracing phase. The recurrences of the deformity were primarily due to poor compliance in the use of orthosis in post correction phase.Conclusion: The Ponseti method of correction is a safe and effective treatment for congenital idiopathic clubfoot and radically decreases the need for extensive corrective surgery. Non-compliance with orthotics is the main factor causing relapse of the deformity.

Perbandingan Metode Seleksi Fitur Pada Analisis Sentimen (Studi Kasus Opini PILKADA DKI 2017)

In sentiment analysis, feature selection is a crucial step as it improves the performance and efficiency of sentiment analysis models. Feature selection also helps reduce the complexity of data dimensions, enabling faster and more efficient analysis. However, selecting relevant features poses a challenge as choosing the wrong features can decrease the accuracy of the constructed models. In this study, sentiment analysis was conducted on tweet data from the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election using TF-IDF feature selection combined with Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE), Chi Square, and Mutual Information. The models were evaluated using Naïve Bayes Classification (NBC) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithms. Evaluation metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-Score were used. The experimental results showed that the TfidfVectorizer + RFE combination in the NBC model achieved the highest accuracy of 71.1111% and demonstrated significant performance in terms of precision, recall, and F1-Scor

Formulation Development and Evaluation of Floating Microsphere of Famotidine for the Treatment of Peptic Ulcer

The purpose of this research was to prepare a floating drug delivery system of famotidine. The floating microspheres can be prepared for the improvement of absorption and bioavailability of famotidine by retaining the system in the stomach for prolonged period of time. Floating microspheres of famotidine were prepared using different polymers like ethyl cellulose, hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose by solvent diffusion-evaporation method. The microspheres had smooth surfaces with free-flowing and good-packing properties. The yield of the microspheres was up to 73.32±0.14% and ethyl cellulose microspheres entrapped the maximum amount of the drug. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed their hollow structures with sizes in 331.6 nm. The prepared microspheres exhibited prolonged drug release and Percentage buoyancy was found to 73.25±0.23. The formulated batches were evaluated for percentage yield, particle size measurement, flow properties, percent entrapment efficiency, swelling studies. The formulations were subjected to stability studies and In-vitro release and release kinetics data was subjected to different dissolution models. It was concluded that developed floating microspheres of famotidine offers a suitable and practical approach for prolonged release of drug over an extended period of time and thus oral bioavailability, efficacy and patient compliance is improved. Keywords: Famotidine, Solvent diffusion evaporation method, Ethyl cellulose, Hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulos

A bibliography of parasites and diseases of marine and freshwater fishes of India

With the increasing demand for fish as human food, aquaculture both in freshwater and salt water is rapidly developing over the world. In the developing countries, fishes are being raised as food. In many countries fish farming is a very important economic activity. The most recent branch, mariculture, has shown advances in raising fishes in brackish, estuarine and bay waters, in which marine, anadromous and catadromous fishes have successfully been grown and maintained

Ossiculoplasty: A Prospective Study of 80 Cases

Introduction: The use of ossicular graft material in ossicular chain reconstruction has significantly improved hearing results hearing after tympanoplasty and tympanomastoid surgery for chronic otitis media. Today, otologists have a wide array of tools from which to choose, but may find it difficult to know which middle ear implant works best.   Materials and Methods: A prospective study of 80 patients who underwent ossiculoplasty was performed in the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) department at a tertiary health care facility from 2011 to 2013. Patients with chronic suppurative otitis media with an air-bone gap (ABG) of >25 dB with ossicular involvement were included in the study. Total ossicular replacement prosthesis (TORP), partial ossicular replacement prosthesis (PORP), and refashioned incus were used. Success was defined as ABG   Results: The majority patients were of middle age with moderate conductive hearing loss. Incus was the most susceptible ossicle. Overall success rate in this study was 80.0% with an average change of 15.76 dB in ABG.   Conclusion:  With continuing advances in our understanding of middle ear mechanics, the results of ossiculoplasty are improving and results can be very rewarding in experienced hands. Severity of preoperative ear discharge, preoperative mastoid cellularity, presence of disease, and surgical procedure proved to be significant prognostic factors. Autograft incus and PORP fared better when the malleus handle was present while TORP gave better results when the malleus handle was eroded

Core–Shell Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks for Enhanced Hydrogen Storage

Core–shell ZIF-8@ZIF-67- and ZIF-67@ZIF-8-based zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) were synthesized solvothermally using a seed-mediated methodology. Transmission electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, line scan, elemental mapping, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy analyses were performed to confirm the formation of a core–shell structure with the controlled Co/Zn elemental composition of ∼0.50 for both the core–shell ZIFs. The synthesized core–shell ZIF-8@ZIF-67 and ZIF-67@ZIF-8 frameworks conferred enhanced H₂ (2.03 and 1.69 wt %) storage properties at 77 K and 1 bar, which are ca. 41 and 18%, respectively, higher than that of the parent ZIF-8. Notably, the distinctly remarkable H₂ storage properties shown by both the core–shell ZIFs over the bimetallic Co/Zn-ZIF and the physical mixture of ZIF-8 and ZIF-67 clearly evidenced their unique structural properties (confinement of porosity) and elemental heterogeneity due to the core–shell morphology of the outperforming core–shell ZIFs. Moreover, H₂ adsorption isotherm data of these frameworks are best fitted with the Langmuir model (<i>R</i>² ≥ 0.9999). Along with the remarkably enhanced H₂ storage capacities, the core–shell ZIFs also displayed an improved CO₂ capture behavior. Hence, we demonstrated here that the controlled structural features endorsed by the rationally designed porous materials may find high potential in H₂ storage applications

Plant-Endophyte Interaction during Biotic Stress Management

Plants interact with diverse microbial communities and share complex relationships with each other. The intimate association between microbes and their host mutually benefit each other and provide stability against various biotic and abiotic stresses to plants. Endophytes are heterogeneous groups of microbes that live inside the host tissue without showing any apparent sign of infection. However, their functional attributes such as nutrient acquisition, phytohormone modulation, synthesis of bioactive compounds, and antioxidant enzymes of endophytes are similar to the other rhizospheric microorganisms. Nevertheless, their higher colonization efficacy and stability against abiotic stress make them superior to other microorganisms. In recent studies, the potential role of endophytes in bioprospecting has been broadly reported. However, the molecular aspect of host–endophyte interactions is still unclear. In this study, we have briefly discussed the endophyte biology, colonization efficacy and diversity pattern of endophytes. In addition, it also summarizes the molecular aspect of plant–endophyte interaction in biotic stress management