Prevalence of neonatal candidemia in a tertiary care institution in Hyderabad, South India

Background: Candida species are known to be the most common fungal pathogens isolated from blood cultures of neonates. Recent reports from our country indicates trend towards an increasing prevalence of non-albicans candidemia. Candida species possess a number of virulence factors which enable them to cause hematogenously disseminated infections in susceptible hosts with increased morbidity and mortality. Objective of current study was to know the prevalence of nonalbicans candidemia in neonates and their antifungal susceptibility pattern. Methods:Blood samples from suspected cases of neonatal septicaemia were subjected to culture, incubated for 7 days and subcultures performed. Culture yielding pure growth of Candida were included for the study and identified by standard methodology. Antifungal susceptibility was performed.Results:A total of 255/500 (51%) cases were blood culture positive. Pure growth of Candida species was isolated from 52/255 (20.39%) cases. A total of 52 Candida isolates were obtained over a period of one year accounting for 20.39% of all neonatal septicemia cases. Among 52 isolates, 14/52 (26.92%) were Candida albicans, followed by C. tropicalis 19/52 (36.53%), C. glabrata 10/52 (19.23%), C. parapsilosis 4/52 (7.69%), C. guillermondii 2/52 (3.84%) and C. krusei 1/52 (1.92%). C. tropicalis, the most common species isolated, was 91 per cent susceptible to fluconazole, whereas C. parapsilosis and C. glabrata showed lower sensitivity rates of 67.8% and 62.5% respectively.Conclusion:In this study non albicans candida was the common isolate & they showed decreased resistance to Fluconazole. In neonatal septicemia speciation& antifungal susceptibility may help in management.

Droplet impact on immiscible liquid pool: Multi-scale dynamics of entrapped air cushion at short timescales

We have detected unique hydrodynamic topology in thin air film surrounding the central air dimple formed during drop impact on an immiscible liquid pool. The pattern resembles spinodal and finger-like structures typically found in various thin condensed matter systems. However, similar structures in thin entrapped gas films during drop impacts on solids or liquids have not been reported to date. The thickness profile and the associated dewetting dynamics in the entrapped air layer are investigated experimentally and theoretically using high-speed reflection interferometric imaging and linear stability analysis. We attribute the formation of multiscale thickness perturbations, associated ruptures, and finger-like protrusions in the draining air film as a combined artifact of thin-film and Saffman-Taylor instabilities. The characteristic length scales depend on the impact Weber number, the ratio of the liquid pool to droplet viscosity, and the ratio of air-water to air-oil surface tension

Prediction of an HMG-box fold in the C-terminal domain of histone H1: insights into its role in DNA condensation

In eukaryotes, histone H1 promotes the organization of polynucleosome filaments into chromatin fibers, thus contributing to the formation of an important structural framework responsible for various DNA transaction processes. The H1 protein consists of a short N-terminal "nose," a central globular domain, and a highly basic C-terminal domain. Structure prediction of the C-terminal domain using fold recognition methods reveals the presence of an HMG-box-like fold. We recently showed by extensive site-directed and deletion mutagenesis studies that a 34 amino acid segment encompassing the three S/TPKK motifs, within the C-terminal domain, is responsible for DNA condensing properties of H1. The position of these motifs in the predicted structure corresponds exactly to the DNA-binding segments of HMG-box-containing proteins such as Lef-1 and SRY. Previous analyses have suggested that histone H1 is likely to bend DNA bound to the C-terminal domain, directing the path of linker DNA in chromatin. Prediction of the structure of this domain provides a framework for understanding the higher order of chromatin organization

Objective structured practical examination as a formative assessment tool for IInd MBBS microbiology students

Background: Assessment drives learning. It is well known that conventional or Traditional Practical Examination (TPE) has several limitations, especially in terms of subjectivity. In OSPE the procedures are standardized, so objectivity is ensured and also reliability maximized. Objectives of the study were to compare TPE & OSPE examination in formative assessment for IInd MBBS microbiology students on the topic culture media and to obtain feedback from students attending OSPE, and faculty.Methods: 76 students were taught about culture media and simultaneously were sensitized about OSPE and TPE, which followed the next week. Informed consent was taken. All students were randomly divided into 2 batches (TPE and OSPE) based on roll call. 71 students were tested, 33 for OSPE and 38 for TPE. Eight OSPE stations were set up with 8 culture media, plus a rest station after station 4. TPE students went for viva-voce to one examiner for same eight culture media. Both OSPE and TPE students were evaluated for a score of 20. OSPE students and the faculty were given a pre-validated questionnaire for feedback.Results: Mean scores, standard deviation (SD) and “p” values were calculated using the T-test from the scores obtained. The mean scores for OSPE and TPE were found to be statistically significant- p-value <0.01. Feedback from OSPE students & faculty was also evaluated.Conclusions: OSPE is more structured and eliminates examiner bias better, and should be practiced in formative assessments and also be introduced in summative assessments

Inclusive Market Oriented Development (IMOD) at ICRISAT

IMOD is the unifying conceptual framework for ICRISAT’s work for the period 2011-2020. It emerged from the extensive global consultations, analyses and deliberations of the 2010 Strategic Planning process.In a nutshell, IMOD is a development model that frames ICRISAT’s strategy to help the poor to harness markets while managing risks, in order to most effectively reduce poverty, hunger, malnutrition and environmental degradation across the dryland tropics. This brief birds-eye view of IMOD and its origin sets the context for describing its features in more detail, below..

Hand hygiene practices among health providers working in tertiary care hospitals in and around Hyderabad, Telangana State, South India

Background:Infection control is ac knowledge universally as a solid and essential basis towards patients’ safety and support the reduction of health care association infection and their consequences. Simple hand hygiene is cost effective method in preventing cross transmission of microorganism. The compliance of health providers with hand washing guidelines seems to be vital in preventing the disease transmission among patients but unfortunately hand hygiene practices have been found to be faulty in most of the health care facilities including tertiary care hospitals.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the awareness and compliance of hand hygiene among different health care providers, that includes 100 doctors, 100 nurses, 100 medical students, 50 ward boys working in different tertiary care Hospitals attached  to medical colleges, in and around Hyderabad, in Telangana state (India) from April to July - 2014. Knowledge was assessed using WHO hand hygiene questionnaire. Attitude and practices was evaluated by using self-structure questionnaire. A value less than 0.05 was considered significant.Results: Only 16.5 % of participants had good knowledge regarding hand hygiene. Nurses’ knowledge is better than doctors, Knowledge, attitude and practices of doctor and nurses were better than medical students and ward boys, trained staff have better knowledge on hand hygiene and effective infection control committees have some impact on hand hygiene practicesConclusion:Hand hygiene practices among health providers irrespective of public sector or private sector hospitals were found to be low. It was concluded that serious efforts are need to improve the hand hygiene practices among all health providers.

Seroprevalence of dengue virus in a tertiary care hospital, Andhra Pradesh, South India

Background: Dengue fever and Dengue Haemorrhagic fever (DF/DHF) is an acute viral disease caused by Dengue virus. The infection is transmitted by the bite of an infected female mosquito- Aedes aegypti. The Dengue virus causes significant morbidity and mortality in many parts of the world, including India, where it was first isolated in Calcutta, West Bengal during 1945. This study was conducted to know the seroprevalence of Dengue virus in a tertiary care hospital, HyderabadMethods: Blood for serological studies are carefully collected taking due universal precautions from suspected DF/DHF cases (a) as soon as possible after hospital admission or attendance. All the patients were screened for anti-Dengue IgG and IgM antibodies By Enzyme Immunoassay. The study period was 18 months from 2012. Results: From a total of 1327serum samples tested were screened for Dengue IgM and IgG among which 706(53.2%) were positive. 125(17.7%) were only IgM positive and 198(28.05%) of the tested samples showed only IgG positive. 383(54.25%) of the tested samples revealed positive for both IgM and IgG antibodies. Conclusion: Surveillance is prerequisite for monitoring the dengue situation in the area and should be carried out regularly for early detection of an impending outbreak and to initiate timely preventive and control measures

To evaluate the prevalence of female genital tuberculosis in Hyderabad

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is an increasing public health concern worldwide. It is one of the most important causes of infectious morbidity and mortality. Genital TB is one form of extra pulmonary TB and is not uncommon, particularly in communities where pulmonary TB is prevalent. The objective of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of female genital tuberculosis in Hyderabad and its presentational symptoms and methods of diagnosis.Methods: A total of 1102 cases of suspected genital TB who had been registered and treated in the AIMSR and few selected government urban health post and private hospitals and clinics in different zones of Hyderabad, from 2012 January to 2013 March were retrospectively and prospectively studied. From this group, 23 women were diagnosed as having genital TB based on the standard pathological and microbiological criteria of tissue specimens. Results:Out of 23 cases diagnosed as having genital tuberculosis, 3 patients (13.04 %) presented with abdominal or pelvic pain. In 17cases (73.91%) tuberculosis was diagnosed during studies performed to evaluate the cause of their infertility, and the most common diagnostic procedure was endometrial curettage. Remaining 3 cases (13.05 %) have past, present or contact history of tuberculosis. Female genital TB accounted for 2.08 % of all tuberculosis patients in this study.Conclusions: This study indicates the presence of a strong relationship between genital TB and infertility; therefore genital TB would be more frequently diagnosed if this possibility was considered in the evaluation of every infertile patient in areas where tuberculosis is endemic

An Adaptive Technique for Crime Rate Prediction using Machine Learning Algorithms

Any country must give the investigation and preventive of crime top priority. There are a rising amount of cases that are still pending due to the rapid increase in criminal cases in India and elsewhere. It is proving difficult to classify and address the rising number of criminal cases. Understanding a place's trends in criminal activity is essential to preventing it from occurring. Crime-solving organisations will be more effective if they have a clear awareness of the patterns of criminal behavior that are present in a particular area. Women's safety and protection are of highest importance despite the serious and persistent problem of crime against them.&nbsp;This study offers predictions about the kinds of crimes that might occur in a particular location using ensemble methods. This facilitates the categorization of criminal proceedings and subsequent action in a timely manner. We are applying machine learning methods like KNN, Linear regression, SVM, Lasso, Decision tree and Random forest in order to assess the highest accuracy

Thin films of perfectly polar crystallites with uniaxial orientational ordering

The family of metal-organic complexes,(4-dialkylaminopyridyl)bis(acetylacetonato)zinc(II) which show perfectly polar assembly in the crystalline state are found to grow as orientationally ordered crystallites in vapor deposited thin films on glass substrates. A unique crystallographic axis of the crystallites, the longest unit cell axis in most cases, is oriented perpendicular to the substrate plane. The fact that the current observations cover a family of compounds is novel and of general significance for oriented thin film growth on amorphous substrates. Crystal structure, thin film morphology and second harmonic generation of a representative system are presented; the crystallites in the thin films do not show azimuthal orientational ordering