Positron Emission Tomography 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Uptake and Prognosis in Patients with Surgically Treated, Stage I Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review

Background18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake holds potential as a noninvasive biomarker in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We aimed to investigate the association between tumor FDG uptake and survival in patients with surgically resected, stage I NSCLC.MethodsWe used systematic methods to identify studies for inclusion, assess methodological quality, and abstract relevant data about study design and results.ResultsOur literature search identified 1578 citations, of which nine retrospective, cross-sectional studies met eligibility criteria. In all studies, higher degrees of FDG uptake in the primary tumor were associated with worse overall or disease free survival after 2 to 5 years of follow-up, but these differences were statistically significant in only five studies. Across studies, the median overall or disease free survival was 70% for patients with higher FDG uptake compared with 88% for patients with lower FDG uptake. In three studies that performed multivariable analysis, the adjusted hazard of death or recurrence was 1.9 to 8.6 times greater in patients with higher FDG uptake.ConclusionCurrent evidence suggests that increasing tumor FDG uptake is associated with worse survival in patients with stage I NSCLC. FDG uptake has the potential to be used as a biomarker for identifying stage I patients who are at increased risk of death or recurrence and therefore could identify candidates for participation in future trials of adjuvant therapy

CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF PURVA KARMA PRIOR TO NASYA W.S.R. SNEHA NASYA

Ayurveda Panchakarmas are an all-time big name for both Ayurveda doctors and patients. Their efficacy of targeting the body holistically and evacuating toxins, thereby, addressing most of the problems of an individual makes it a hit. This paper aims at estimating the contribution of Purva Karma (procedures prior to instillation of medicine) in the outcome, especially in the context of Sneha Nasya (instillation of unctuous medicine). Nasal route of administration may help address the hitches accompanying to poor bioavailability, slow absorption, drug degradation, and possible adverse events in the gastro intestinal tract and avoids the first-pass metabolism in the liver. However, when considering nasal delivery, appropriate measures need to be taken to address the limitations of drug delivery in this region. Purva Karma starts with drug preparation and ends with stage of instillation of medicine (8 check points). The role of each of them on overcoming the limitations and delivering the results is reviewed

Concept of ‘Snehasaro Ayam Purushaha’ and its assessment through examination of Akshi and Karna

Shareera is considered as the essence of Sneha. Also the importance of Snehabhava for proper functioning of the Shareera is well known. A proper functioning of Jataragni, Dhatwagni and Dhatu Parinama results in optimal amount of Snehabhava in the Shareera. Functioning of Jataragni can be assessed by examination of Purisha, assessing Jarana Shakti etc., whereas for assessing the functioning of Dhatwagni and the condition of other internal environment, we need to have a close examination of other Shareera Malas, where in Mutra Pareeksha is considered to be an excellent choice. But due to practical difficulties it is impossible to conduct the same on a daily basis on all the patients. This paper aims at a complete literary review in understanding the concept of Shareera and Kleda and showing importance of the examination of other Malayanas like Akshi and Karna for understanding the overall condition of the Shareera. For the same, regular examinations in the Eye and ENT OPDs like general eye examination, otoscopy etc. and investigations like tear osmolarity can be used judiciously. These examinations can give a general idea about the functioning of Dhatwagni and thus the status of Sneha in Shareera, which can further be used for selection and administration of treatment modalities

Pindi and Bidalaka - A Review

Ocular Therapeutics can be broadly divided into two i.e., either in the form of Kriyakalpa (local therapeutics) or systemic therapeutics. Kriya Kalpas are the Topical ocular Therapeutics indicated in various Netra Rogas which has several advantages over oral administration of medicines as it provides more time for bio availability. Contemporary sciences also make use of transdermal absorption of medicines and are considered as an efficient method of drug delivery. As Pindi and Bidalaka are the modified forms of Lepa Kalpana, same route is followed by these two also. In this article probable mode of action and importance of Pindi and Bidalaka will be discussed

Groundwater Geochemistry of Neyveli Lignite Mine-Industrial Complex, Tamil Nadu, India and Its Suitability for Irrigation

This study was undertaken to assess the quality of groundwater for irrigation and level of trace metal concentration in the surface and groundwater bodies from Neyveli lignite mine-industrial complex which is located in Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu, India. The hydrogeology of the Neyveli groundwater basin is extremely complex, consisting of a series of productive, confined aquifers below the lignite seam in both Mine I and II areas, while a semi-confined aquifer lies above the seam and occurs only in the Mine II area. The suitability of groundwater quality for agricultural purposes in and around Neyveli lignite mine-industrial complex was assessed by measuring physicochemical parameters, including major cation and anion compositions, pH, total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, and trace metals. The results of the chemical analysis of the groundwater showed that concentrations of ions vary widely and the most prevalent water type is mixed CaNaHCO3, followed by other water types: mixed CaMgCl types and NaCl which is in relation with their interactions with the geological formations of the basin, dissolution of feldspars and chloride and bicarbonate minerals, and anthropogenic activities. The most dominant class is C1-S1, C2-S1 (85% PRM and 74% POM) in the study area, indicating that sodicity is very low and salinity is medium, and that these waters are suitable for irrigation in almost all soils.Based on sodium absorption ratio the groundwater of the study area is suitable for all types of crops and soil except for those crops sensitive to Na and based RSC values of the groundwater, considered safe. Based on the parameters such as TDS, EC, SO4, Cl and Wilcox diagram about 99% of samples are suitable for irrigation. The average concentration of trace metals (Fe, Mn, Cr, Zn, Pb, and Cu) in groundwater samples fall within the permissible limit, with the exception of Ni which is recorded higher than the permissible limit which may retard growth and metabolic activities while the groundwater used for irrigation

Development of a strontium optical lattice clock for the SOC mission on the ISS

The ESA mission "Space Optical Clock" project aims at operating an optical lattice clock on the ISS in approximately 2023. The scientific goals of the mission are to perform tests of fundamental physics, to enable space-assisted relativistic geodesy and to intercompare optical clocks on the ground using microwave and optical links. The performance goal of the space clock is less than $1 \times 10^{-17}$ uncertainty and $1 \times 10^{-15} {\tau}^{-1/2}$ instability. Within an EU-FP7-funded project, a strontium optical lattice clock demonstrator has been developed. Goal performances are instability below $1 \times 10^{-15} {\tau}^{-1/2}$ and fractional inaccuracy $5 \times 10^{-17}$. For the design of the clock, techniques and approaches suitable for later space application are used, such as modular design, diode lasers, low power consumption subunits, and compact dimensions. The Sr clock apparatus is fully operational, and the clock transition in $^{88}$Sr was observed with linewidth as small as 9 Hz.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, SPIE Photonics Europe 201

A human lung tumor microenvironment interactome identifies clinically relevant cell-type cross-talk.

BackgroundTumors comprise a complex microenvironment of interacting malignant and stromal cell types. Much of our understanding of the tumor microenvironment comes from in vitro studies isolating the interactions between malignant cells and a single stromal cell type, often along a single pathway.ResultTo develop a deeper understanding of the interactions between cells within human lung tumors, we perform RNA-seq profiling of flow-sorted malignant cells, endothelial cells, immune cells, fibroblasts, and bulk cells from freshly resected human primary non-small-cell lung tumors. We map the cell-specific differential expression of prognostically associated secreted factors and cell surface genes, and computationally reconstruct cross-talk between these cell types to generate a novel resource called the Lung Tumor Microenvironment Interactome (LTMI). Using this resource, we identify and validate a prognostically unfavorable influence of Gremlin-1 production by fibroblasts on proliferation of malignant lung adenocarcinoma cells. We also find a prognostically favorable association between infiltration of mast cells and less aggressive tumor cell behavior.ConclusionThese results illustrate the utility of the LTMI as a resource for generating hypotheses concerning tumor-microenvironment interactions that may have prognostic and therapeutic relevance

A Study on the Potential Role of Social media as a Driving force for Jallikattu Protest

Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp and Instagram are extensively used to share knowledge around the world, with the power of “Immediate reach” and “Ease to edit”. This ends up in the result of Uncontrollable flow of information reaches to many recipients. This is apparent in the widespread protests in the Middle East and North Africa known as the “Arab Spring” in the years of December 2010-December 2012, and locally in Tamilnadu- India “Pro-Jallikattu Protest” in January 2017. This study tries to find how social media played a vital role to influence the ordinary people as an active participant of Jallikattu protest.