Analysis of FNAC in diagnosis of lymphadenopathy-a retrospective study from a regional cancer centre, Cuttack, Odisha

Background: Lymphadenopathy is one of the most common clinical presentations and major causes of morbidity. Thus, clinical recognition and urgent diagnosis is of paramount importance. So, we aimed to analysis the diagnostic role of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in superficial lymphadenopathy in a regional cancer centre, Odisha, India.Methods: A total 1129 cases were retrieved from the hospital record retrospectively from the patients who had presented with superficial lymphadenopathy from January 2015 to December 2015.Results: Out of 1129 lymphadenopathy cases, 671 (59.43%) were male and 458 (40.56%) were female with male to female ratio 1.46:1. The age of the patients ranged from 4 years to 83 years with mean age 48.57 years. The most common site was observed in cervical lymph node 493 (43.66%) followed by submandibuar lymph nodes 198 (17.53%) and supraclavicular lymph nodes 172 (15.23%). 584 (51.27%) were malignant and 545 (48.27%) were benign. Reactive hyperplasia was most common 318 (58.34%) among benign cases where as metastatic squamous cell carcinoma was the most common 261 (50.77%) among malignant lesions. By FNAC all benign lesions were correctly diagnosed, and primary sites of malignancy identified in 442 (85.59%) cases. Cyto-histo correlation was done in 399 cases. The overall diagnostic accuracy of FNAC was found to be   93.98%, sensitivity 93.88%, specificity 94.64%, positive predictive value 99.8% and negative predictive value 71.62%.Conclusions: FNAC is a highly sensitive and specific tool for early detecting primary malignancy and metastatic lesions. Many inflammatory lesions can be treated based on FNAC alone

Minerals, Toxic Heavy Metals, and Antioxidant Properties of Honeys from Bangladesh

The study reports on major and trace elements as well as antioxidant properties of honey samples from Bangladesh. Four major cationic elements, seven trace elements, and three heavy metals were determined in the 12 honey samples using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Nutritional values in these honey samples were further investigated according to their antioxidant properties. The content of major elements was in the range of 62.75–616.58, 579.48–2219.43, 69.42–632.25, and 0.13–1.20mg/kg for sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium, respectively. The trace elements varied in the range of 0.41–28, 0.12–3.54, 1.54–2.85, 0.29– 0.59, 0.02–0.35, and 0.01–0.06mg/kg for iron, zinc, copper, nickel, cobalt, and cadmium, respectively. Among the heavy metals, only lead (0.17–2.19 mg/kg) was detected.The results of antioxidant analysis based on phenolics, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, reducing sugar, and proteins (as nonphenolic antioxidants) revealed that multifloral raw honey samples contain significantly higher levels of reducing agents than monofloral and commercial brand honeys. The study provides a useful insight on the minerals, heavy metals, and antioxidant properties of honey samples commonly consumed in Bangladesh and found to be rich source of antioxidants and minerals. Some samples might pose some risk to the health due to lead contamination

Production of He-4 and (4) in Pb-Pb collisions at root(NN)-N-S=2.76 TeV at the LHC

Results on the production of He-4 and (4) nuclei in Pb-Pb collisions at root(NN)-N-S = 2.76 TeV in the rapidity range vertical bar y vertical bar <1, using the ALICE detector, are presented in this paper. The rapidity densities corresponding to 0-10% central events are found to be dN/dy4(He) = (0.8 +/- 0.4 (stat) +/- 0.3 (syst)) x 10(-6) and dN/dy4 = (1.1 +/- 0.4 (stat) +/- 0.2 (syst)) x 10(-6), respectively. This is in agreement with the statistical thermal model expectation assuming the same chemical freeze-out temperature (T-chem = 156 MeV) as for light hadrons. The measured ratio of (4)/He-4 is 1.4 +/- 0.8 (stat) +/- 0.5 (syst). (C) 2018 Published by Elsevier B.V.Peer reviewe

Technological Innovations, Behavioural Interventions, and Household Energy Conservation: Policy Insights and Lessons

The threats associated with climate change and the worsening ecological crisis have led to a growing interest in energy-conservation policies. Policymakers across the globe have been scrambling to find cost-effective and sustainable methods to meet the world’s growing energy demands. Traditional policies have so far largely focused on supply-side interventions aimed at encouraging energy efficiency via green innovation and new technologies. However, as several studies have indicated, supply-side policies alone are unlikely to be adequate to achieve the ambitious changes required to make our future sustainable. This review article draws on recent studies in behavioural economics to emphasize the need to reorient public policy towards altering consumer end-uses through behavioural interventions. In an attempt to draw out important lessons for public policy, the article reviews this emerging strand of literature and underlines the complex factors that influence energy consumption in a household. Although preceding studies have primarily focused on developed nations, the output of these studies could guide policymakers in developing and emerging market economies as well

Projection of lightning over South/South East Asia using CMIP5 models

Product of Bowen ratio with the sum of precipitation rate and evaporation rate has been used as proxy to evaluate the seasonal and annual spatial distributions of lightning flash rate over South/Southeast Asian region (60–120° E, 0–40° N) with 9 models from the Coupled Model Inter-comparison Project-Phase 5 (CMIP5). The model-simulated mean LFR with each model is positively correlated with the satellite-observed LFR on both seasonal and annual scales. The satellite-observed LFR is correlated with the ensemble mean LFR of the models with a correlation coefficient of 0.93 over the region. The model-simulated LFR has also been used for projection of lightning in the late twenty-first century. Overall, the projected LFR over whole study area shows a 6.75% increase during the (2079–2088) period in high radiative forcing scenario (RCP8.5) as compared to the historic period of (1996–2005). Rise in LFR is also identified using another projected period (2051–2060) and a lower radiative forcing scenario condition (RCP4.5), though lesser in magnitude, as expected. For the projected period (2051–60) in the RCP8.5 case, LFR over the domain shows an increase of 4.3%; whereas for a lower future scenario condition (RCP4.5), it indicates a rise by 5.36% at the end of the twenty-first century. Moreover, results indicate an increase in extreme events of severe convective storms with intense lightning in mountainous dry regions at the end of the twenty-first century. It is suggested that the proxy used here is favourable for projection of LFR in this region and perhaps for the whole tropical area

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Miller Fisher Variant of Guillain-Barre Syndrome Secondary to Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Case Report with Review of Literature

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is one of the common causes for acute flaccid paralysis in adults and mostly preceded by infection. Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS) is a rare variant of GBS with incidence of 1 to 2 in 1,000,000. This syndrome has a triad of ataxia, areflexia, and ophthalmoplegia and diagnosed when two out above three features are present. It usually preceded by viral infection, most commonly Campylobacter jejuni, cytomegalovirus, and Epstein–Barr virus. However, it is very rarely reported in pulmonary tuberculosis. The pathogenesis involves an aberrant immune response due to molecular mimicry against myelin gangliosides. Hereby we are presenting an unusual case of MFS variant of GBS associated with pulmonary tuberculosis

Spatio-temporal changes in the Machoi glacier Zanskar Himalaya India using geospatial technology

We present the temporal changes of Machoi glacier, Zanskar region of the north-western Himalaya, India using multi-temporal Landsat satellite data from 1973 to 2018. The results suggest that the Machoi glacier has retreated consistently from last 45 years with an uneven retreat rate. The temporal fluctuations since 1973 AD reveal that the glacier snout has retreated ∼563 m at an average of ∼12.51 m yr−1. However, the snout has retreated at variable rates during different time intervals e.g., 80 m (average of ∼11.43 m yr−1) from 1973 to 1980 AD, 120 m (average of ∼12.0 m yr−1) from 1980 to 1990 AD, 123 m (average of ∼12.3 m yr−1) from 1990 to 2000 AD, 128 m (average of ∼12.8 m yr−1) from 2000 to 2010 AD and 112 m (average of ∼14 m yr−1) from 2010 to 2018AD. The highest rate of snout (∼14 m yr−1) retreat during 2010–2018 AD is linked to the changing climate in the region as observed from the meteorological data. The analysis of meteorological data suggests that during this period temperature as well as the liquid precipitation have increased due to global warming whereas the extent of solid precipitation has decreased which might be the possible causes of higher retreat of Machoi glacier

Minerals, Toxic Heavy Metals, and Antioxidant Properties of Honeys from Bangladesh

The study reports on major and trace elements as well as antioxidant properties of honey samples from Bangladesh. Four major cationic elements, seven trace elements, and three heavy metals were determined in the 12 honey samples using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Nutritional values in these honey samples were further investigated according to their antioxidant properties. The content of major elements was in the range of 62. 75-616.58, 579.48-2219.43, 69.42-632.25, and 0.13-1.20 mg/kg for sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium, respectively. The trace elements varied in the range of 0. 41-28, 0.12-3.54, 1.54-2.85, 0.29-0.59, 0.02-0.35, and 0.01-0.06 mg/kg for iron, zinc, copper, nickel, cobalt, and cadmium, respectively. Among the heavy metals, only lead (0.17-2.19 mg/kg) was detected. The results of antioxidant analysis based on phenolics, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, reducing sugar, and proteins (as nonphenolic antioxidants) revealed that multifloral raw honey samples contain significantly higher levels of reducing agents than monofloral and commercial brand honeys. The study provides a useful insight on the minerals, heavy metals, and antioxidant properties of honey samples commonly consumed in Bangladesh and found to be rich source of antioxidants and minerals. Some samples might pose some risk to the health due to lead contamination