Succinic Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase Deficiency – A Rare Cause of Metabolic Stroke

Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) deficiency is a rare neurometabolic disorder characterized by defective degradation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a major inhibitory neurotransmitter of the brain. Children with SSADH deficiency present with motor and mental delay, intractable seizures, infantile onset hypotonia, speech disturbances, extrapyramidal symptoms and ataxia. This wide spectrum results from increased accumulation of 4hydroxy butyric acid (4HBA) leading to down regulation of GABA receptors, which likely explain epileptogenesis but the pathophysiology of stroke in SSADH deficiency is not much elucidated. Here, we report an infant aged 11 months, product of consanguineous marriage with significant family history of motor delay and intellectual disability, who presented with sudden onset focal neurological deficit preceded by diarrheal illness. Examination revealed an infant with age-appropriate milestones having left uncrossed hemiplegia along with neuroradiological evidence of right globus pallidus ischemic infarct. Urinary organic acid profile by chromatography was suggestive of 4-hydroxybutyricaciduria

Randomized controlled trial of interferon gamma versus amantadine in combination with interferon alpha and ribavirin for hepatitis C genotype 3 non-responders and relapsers

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of triple combination regimens comprising of interferon alpha-2b (IFN-alpha) and ribavirin plus either IFN-gamma or amantadine in genotype 3 patients, responders or relapsers to interferon plus ribavirin combination. METHODS: Patients were randomized to receive IFN-alpha 3MU thrice a week, ribavirin 800-1200 mg per day with either IFN-gamma 2 MU thrice a week or amantadine 100 mg twice daily. Treatment was continued for 48 weeks in patients showing complete or partial (2 log reduction) early virological response (EVR) at 12 weeks and negative PCR at 24 weeks. RESULTS: Total enrollments were 44; 25 were previously non-responders out of them 12 were in the IFN-gamma arm. Nineteen were relapsers, out of them 10 received IFN-Gamma. Overall EVR with triple regimens was 61.4% (27/44). The EVR for IFN-gamma arm was 72.7% (16/22) and for amantadine arm 50% (11/22) (p=0.089). Sustained virological response (SVR) was 50% (11/22) in the gamma arm and 27.3% (6/22) in the amantadine arm (p=0.122). This figure was 60% (6/10) and 44% (5/9) for relapsers (p=0.845), and 41.6% (5/12) and 7.7% (1/13) for non-responders (p = 0.046).Treatment was well tolerated by most of the patients in both arms. CONCLUSIONS: About one third of patients responded to the triple regimens. However IFN-gamma was a better option. Its combination with pegylated interferon and ribavirin needs further evaluation. (Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT00538811)

COVID-19 Predictions Using Regression Growth Model in Ireland and Israel

The World Health Organization (WHO) asserted the recently discovered severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), also known as COVID-19, a pandemic on March 11, 2020. Since the genesis and growth mechanisms of this virus are unclear and impossible to detect, there are still many uncertainties concerning it and no vaccination or effective treatment. The main goal is to halt its global spread. This paper employed a regression growth model with an extended Weibull function on the dynamics of COVID-19 to make predictions about its spread. Our findings demonstrate the viability of using this model to forecast the spread of the virus. Using a logistic growth regression model, the note tabulates the COVID-19-related final epidemic sizes for a few sites, including Ireland and Israel

Green finance, renewable energy investment, and environmental protection: empirical evidence from B.R.I.C.S. countries

Environmental degradation has become a severe concern for the globe; therefore, policymakers in emerging economies are trying to meet the environmental standards. Nowadays, economies have shifted their energy pattern from non-renewable to renewable energy (R.E.U.), but its cost is too high. Undoubtedly, the financial sector also performs well in facilitating such green activities. Therefore, the current study investigates the role of R.E.U. and green finance in environmental quality and collects the data for B.R.I.C.S. economies from 2000 to 2018. The study uses quantile regressions and other advanced techniques to deal with the problems of cross-sectional dependence (C.S.D.) and heterogeneity. The estimated outcomes show that green finance, R.E.U. consumption, and technical innovations perform well in securing the environment by reducing carbon emissions. Likewise, the environmental quality in selected economies is deteriorating due to the rise in non-R.E.U. consumption, economic progress, F.D.I., and trade openness. Therefore, it is time to reshape the local, national and regional growth policies concerning a green investment that can secure our environment. Also, this study proposes future pathways for green finance and other factors relevant to a sustainable environment

Prevalence of Hepatitis D in HBsAg positive patients visiting liver clinics

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of hepatitis D in HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen) positive patients visiting liver clinics. Methodology: All HbsAg positive patients who had visited two liver clinics; in Karachi and in Jacobabad, from October 2007 to March 2008, were included in this study. These patients were tested for HBV DNA and HDV RNA by PCR technique, HBeAg and anti-HDV. Clinical status of the patients was evaluated by examination, routine biochemical tests and ultrasound. Results: Total numbers of patients included in the study were 362 comprising of 151 patients from the clinic in Jacobabad and 211 from Karachi. The patients ranged from 4 to 70 years age (mean age 29.75 ±11.27). Out of the total patients 297 (82%) were males. All the patients were screened for HDV antibody out of which 212 (58.6%) tested positive. Total 65 anti-HDV positive patients were tested for the HDV RNA by PCR, out of which 30 (46.2%) tested positive for the virus. Three hundred and forty (340) patients were screened for HBeAg, out of which 71 (20.9%) tested positive. Three hundred and seven patients were screened for HBV DNA by PCR, out of which 88 (28.7%) were positive for the virus. HBV DNA was positive in 16.2% of HbeAg negative patients (pre-core mutants). The frequency of positive HDV antibody was 69.23% in patients from Kashmore, 67% in Jacobabad, 65.4% in Jaffarabad, 65.21% in Quetta, 60% in Naseerabad, 36.58% in Karachi, 58.33% in other areas of Balochistan and 60.71% in other areas of Sindh. Positive HDV antibody status was associated with more severe and advanced disease (p\u3c0.0001) Conclusion: This data shows extremely high prevalence of hepatitis D in the referred patients from some areas of Southern Pakistan. Effective preventive measures are the need of the hour and Pakistan may be considered as one of the areas of highest HDV prevalence around the globe (JPMA 59:434; 2009)

Electrodeposition of Copper Indium Sulfide Films from Organic Solutions

We report on organic solutions ofCuCl 2 ,InClg, and elemental sulfur for electrodepositing CuIn x Sv films. CuInS 2 and CuInSe 2 are promising solar cellmaterials; our work on CuInSg prefaces planned work on plating CuInSe 2 from nonaqueous solvents. Two promising solvent systems are (1) mixed propylcne carbonate and water and (2) mixed ethylene glycol, propionic acid, and water (Engelken et al., 1988). Gray-brown films ofCuInx Sy (nominally GuInS2 ) have been plated from both baths. Major problems include (1) reduction ofCu+2 to Cu and Cu x S by the solvent at high temperatures (T\u3el()0°C), hence depleting Cu+2,(2) poor adherence/uniformity, (3) controlling stoichiometry, and (4) sluggish indium deposition. The paper willdiscuss our routes to solving these problems and present filmdata

Improved Methods for Electroplating Cadmium Sulfide Thin Films

We report improved methods for electroplating cadmium sulfide (CMS) films. Aprevious problem was cracking/flaking of films deposited from organic solutions of elemental sulfur; attempts to improve adhesion via bath additives reduced grain size. Aqueous baths of thiosulfate ions yield cadmium-richness at low T temperatures (T), long deposition times, and/or poor bath stability. Developments in our work to be discussed include (1) plating ofuniform, adherent, and stoichiometric CdS from tetraethylene baths of CdCl 2 and elemental sulfur at T \u3e70° C with minimal cracking/flaking, (2) improved uniformity/ adherence by use of CdL\u3e, and (3) swept voltage methods in aqueous thiosulfate baths to plate stoichiometric (vs. Cd-rich) films near room temperature

Cholecystocolonic Fistula

Cholecystocolonic fistula (CCF) is a rare complication of gallstone disease with a variable clinical presentation. It is difficult to diagnose CCF pre-operatively despite modern diagnostic and imaging modalities as they are often asymptomatic or incidentally discovered, often peri-operatively. However, management of this uncommon yet important finding is not very well described in the literature. The most common fistula is the cholecystoduodenal fistula, followed by the cholecystocolonic fistula; the cholecystogastric fistula is reportedly the least commonly reported. We report our experience with three cases of cholecystocolonic fistula discovered on imaging which were subsequently confirmed through surgery

Regression Model of Land Area and Amount of Production to the Selling Price of Corn

Currently, land area, production and maize prices in West Nusa Tenggara province are sometimes unstable. One of the factors affecting the instability of maize prices is the shift in planting patterns at the farm level. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of land area and total production on the selling price of maize. The method used is quantitative with data analysis techniques using multiple linear regression. The source of data is from the Central Bureau of Statistics, Department of Agriculture and Plantation of NTB. The regression equation found is Y = 3109.911 + 0.007X1 - 0.001X2. This result shows that the X1 variable of 0.007 means that every time there is an increase in the land area variable by 1%, the selling price increases by 7%. While the X2 variable decreased by 1%. The hypothesis with the calculation of the partial t-test of land area is 1.249, which means that land area has no influence on the selling price of NTB corn in 2012-2021. In future research, it is necessary to conduct research on the development of corn planting land area, production, productivity per unit of land area nationally associated with the rate of population growth, corn demand, and the growth of corn imports nationally