Clinically insignificant association between anterior knee pain and patellofemoral lesions which are found incidentally.

Patellofemoral chondral lesions are frequently identified incidentally during the arthroscopic treatment of other knee pathologies. A role has been described for arthroscopic debridement of such lesions when symptoms are known to originate from pathology of the patellofemoral joint. However, it remains unclear how to manage lesions which are found incidentally whilst tackling other pathologies. The purpose of this study was to establish the strength of association between anterior knee pain and patellofemoral lesions identified incidentally in a typical arthroscopic population. A consecutive series of patients undergoing arthroscopy for a range of standard indications formed the basis of this cross section study. We excluded those with patellofemoral conditions in order to identify patellofemoral lesions which were solely incidental. Pre-operative assessments were performed on 64 patients, where anterior knee pain was sought by three methods: an annotated photographic knee pain map (PKPM), patient indication with one finger and by palpated tenderness. A single surgeon, who was blinded to previous recordings, performed standard arthroscopies and recorded patellofemoral lesions. Statistical correlations were performed to identify the association magnitude. Associations were identified between incidental patellofemoral lesions and tenderness palpated on the medial patella (P=0.007, χ2=0.32) and the quadriceps tendon (P=0.029, χ2=0.26), but these associations were at best fair, which could be interpreted as clinically insignificant. In which case incidental patellofemoral lesions are not necessarily associated with anterior knee pain, we suggest that they could be left alone. This recommendation is only applicable to patellofemoral lesions which are found incidentally whilst addressing other pathology

Use of CHROMagar Candida for the presumptive identification of Candida species directly from clinical specimens in resource-limited settings

Introduction: Identification of yeast isolated from clinical specimens to the species level has become increasingly important. Ever-increasing numbers of immuno-suppressed patients, a widening range of recognized pathogens, and the discovery of resistance to antifungal drugs are contributing factors to this necessity. Material and methods: A total of 487 yeast strains were studied for the primary isolation and presumptive identification, directly from clinical specimen. Efficacy of CHROMagar Candida has been evaluated with conventional methods including morphology on Corn meal-tween 80 agar and biochemical methods by using API 20 C AUX. Results: The result of this study shows that CHROMagar Candida can easily identify three species of Candida on the basis of colonial color and morphology, and accurately differentiate between them i.e. Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Candida krusei. The specificity and sensitivity of CHROMagar Candida for C. albicans calculated as 99%, for C. tropicalis calculated as 98%, and C. krusei it is 100%. Conclusion: The data presented supports the use of CHROMagar Candida for the rapid identification of Candida species directly from clinical specimens in resource-limited settings, which could be very helpful in developing appropriate therapeutic strategy and management of patients.Keywords: CHROMagar Candida; resource-limited settings; presumptive identificatio

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B and C Genotypes Among Young Apparently Healthy Females of Karachi-Pakistan

INTRODUCTION: Although the prevalence of hepatitis virus infections in Pakistan is still unknown, limited data indicate that the exposure rate to HBV is 35-38% with 4% being carriers and 32% having anti-HBV surface antibodies through natural conversion [1,2,3]. Studies in Pakistan have shown that the prevalence rate of HCV is 4.8-14% for, and that it is continuously increasing. Hence there is an urgent need to create awareness about the prevalence of both hepatitis B and C, and to develop preventive measures aimed at minimizing the prevalence of these diseases in the country.Study Design: Prospective, descriptive study. The study took place from March 2002 till October 2006 at two university campuses in Karachi.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 4000 healthy female students were screened for HBs Ag, anti-HBs antibodies and anti-HCV antibodies by rapid immunochromatography, ELISA and PCR.RESULTS: A total of 3820 volunteers (95.5%) were negative by all three methods, 181 (4.5%) tested positive for HB surface antigen and 20 (0.5%) were positive for anti HB surface antibodies; 208 volunteers (5.2%) were positive for HCV. Double infection with HBV and HCV was found in only one patient (0.025%). Out of 180 HBs antigen positive samples 151 (83.89%) were genotype D, 28 (15.56%) showed mixed infection with genotypes B and D, and one patient (0.56%) showed mixed infection with genotypes C and D. Out of 208 samples positive for HCV antibodies, 107 (51.44%) were genotype 3a, 50 (24.04%) were mix of genotype 3a and 3b, 33 (15.87%) were genotype 3b, 10 (4.81%) were genotype 1b while, 8 (3.84%) samples could not be typed.CONCLUSION: Although the presence of these pathogenic viruses was not very high in our young healthy female population, it is still a matter of concern to control the unregulated spread of these deadly infections by promoting increased awareness and regular immunization programs in the community. Local manufacturing of vaccines and related products may reduce these infections

Polymeric blends for sensor and actuation dual functionality

The invention described herein supplies a new class of electroactive polymeric blend materials which offer both sensing and actuation dual functionality. The blend comprises two components, one component having a sensing capability and the other component having an actuating capability. These components should be co-processable and coexisting in a phase separated blend system. Specifically, the materials are blends of a sensing component selected from the group consisting of ferroelectric, piezoelectric, pyroelectric and photoelectric polymers and an actuating component that responds to an electric field in terms of dimensional change. Said actuating component includes, but is not limited to, electrostrictive graft elastomers, dielectric electroactive elastomers, liquid crystal electroactive elastomers and field responsive polymeric gels. The sensor functionality and actuation functionality are designed by tailoring the relative fraction of the two components. The temperature dependence of the piezoelectric response and the mechanical toughness of the dual functional blends are also tailored by the composition adjustment

Ordered silicon nanocones arrays for label-free DNA quantitative analysis by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

published_or_final_versio

Validation of an electrogoniometry system as a measure of knee kinematics during activities of daily living

Purpose: The increasing use of electrogoniometry (ELG) in clinical research requires the validation of different instrumentation. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the concurrent validity of an ELG system during activities of daily living. Methods: Ten asymptomatic participants gave informed consent to participate. A Biometrics SG150 electrogoniometer was directly compared to a 12 camera three dimensional motion analysis system during walking, stair ascent, stair descent, sit to stand, and stand to sit activities for the measurement of the right knee angle. Analysis of validity was undertaken by linear regression. Standard error of estimate (SEE), standardised SEE (SSEE), and Pearson’s correlation coefficient r were computed for paired trials between systems for each functional activity. Results: The 95% confidence interval of SEE was reasonable between systems across walking (LCI = 2.43 °; UCI = 2.91 °), stair ascent (LCI = 2.09 °; UCI = 2.42 °), stair descent (LCI = 1.79 °; UCI = 2.10 °), sit to stand (LCI = 1.22 °; UCI = 1.41 °), and stand to sit (LCI = 1.17 °; UCI = 1.34 °). Pearson’s correlation coefficient r across walking (LCI = 0.983; UCI = 0.990), stair ascent (LCI = 0.995; UCI = 0.997), stair descent (LCI = 0.995; UCI = 0.997), sit to stand (LCI = 0.998; UCI = 0.999), and stand to sit (LCI = 0.996; UCI = 0.997) was indicative of a strong linear relationship between systems. Conclusion: ELG is a valid method of measuring the knee angle during activities representative of daily living. The range is within that suggested to be acceptable for the clinical evaluation of patients with musculoskeletal conditions

Pola Resistensi Bakteri Terhadap Antibiotik Pada Penderita Pneumonia Di Rsup Dr. Soeradji Tirtonegoro Klaten Periode Agustus 2013– Agustus 2015

Pneumonia is one of the acute respiratory infection caused by microorganisms in the end of bronhiolus and alveoli. The use of broad-spectrum antibiotics to treat pneumonia too often increases the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics so antibiotics should be used based on the resistance patterns of bacteria that causes pneumonia. The purpose of this study was to determine the pattern of bacterial resistance to antibiotics as well as the appropriateness of use of antibiotics based on the results of bacteria sensitivity test in patients with pneumonia in Dr. Soeradji Tirtonegoro Hospital Klaten between August 2013 and August 2015. This study was a non-experimental study with retrospective data collection in patients with pneumonia in Dr. Soeradji Tirtonegoro Hospital Klaten between August 2013 and August 2015 and analyzed descriptively. The data collected was the data of culture and bacteria sensitivity test results to antibiotics as well as data on the use of antibiotics in patients with pneumonia. The results showed that most pneumonia-causing bacteria isolated from sputum and blood specimens in 40 patients with pneumonia in Dr. Soeradji Tirtonegoro Hospital Klaten between August 2013 and August 2015 was Pseudomonas sp and Staphylococcus epidermidis with a percentage of 12,91%. Resistance patterns showed that the Pseudomonas sp were resistant to amoxicillin clavulanic acid and ampicillin (87,5%), cefixime (75%), gentamicin (75%), cotrimoxazole (62,5%), and ciprofloxacin (50%). Staphylococcus epidermidis were resistant to ampicillin, cefixim, cotrimoxazol with a percentage of 87,5%, gentamicin, and ciprofloxacin (62,5%). The results of the analysis of appropriateness of definitive antibiotics showed that 52,64% of antibiotics were given in accordance with the culture results, sensitivity test, as well as antibiotic spectrum activity. Keywords: resistance, antibiotics, pneumoni

Effects of Graptopetalum paraguayense extract on tert-butylhydroperoxide-induced oxidative stress

[[abstract]]BACKGROUND: Graptopetalum paraguayense E. Walther is used in folk medicine to lower blood pressure, protect liver function and relieve pain and infection. The effect and mechanism of its 50% ethanolic extract (GE50) were investigated in tert-butylhydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced Wistar rats. The serum was analysed for aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities while the tissue cytosols were analysed for lipid peroxidation, antioxidant level and enzyme activities. RESULTS: The liver was the primary target organ while the heart appeared to be the least responsive organ for t-BHP treatment among the three tissues investigated. t-BHP treatment increased serum AST and ALT activities, which are indicators of liver toxicity, while GE50 pretreatment reduced t-BHP-induced liver damage. t-BHP treatment induced lipid peroxidation in the liver and brain but not in the heart. GE50 pretreatment prevented t-BHP-induced lipid peroxidation by maintaining superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity as well as glutathione (GSH) and vitamin C levels in the liver and vitamin E level in the brain. Although t-BHP treatment did not induce lipid peroxidation in the heart, it caused a decrease in antioxidant level. GE50 pretreatment prevented the t-BHP-induced decrease in vitamin C level in the heart. CONCLUSION: GE50 pretreatment in rats protects the liver and brain from possible damage by t-BHP-induced lipid peroxidation. (c) 2007 Society of Chemical Industry