Estimation of Height from Foot Dimensions

Introduction: Height determination by measuring various body parts is of value in medicolegal investigations as well as in anthropology. The current study was conducted to analyze interrelation between foot dimensions and stature, and to predict stature from foot dimensions. Methods: The study was done in medical students where stature, foot length, and foot breadth were quantified using standard instruments. We calculated correlations between variables with correlation test and predicted stature from foot length and foot breadth using linear regression. Results: The correlation between foot length and stature, and foot breadth and stature were statistically significant in both gender (p < 0.05). Greater correlation coefficient between foot length and stature than that for foot breadth and stature indicated stronger correlation between foot length and stature. Separate formulae were drawn for calculation of stature from foot breadth and foot length by regression analysis. Conclusion: Both foot breadth and foot length were correlated with stature. Foot length was found to be a better predictor of stature

Pattern of Head Injuries in Western Hilly Region of Nepal: A Hospital-based Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Subtle or gross structural changes of scalp, skull and its contents due to application of direct or indirect external force are known as head injuries. Head being the most vulnerable and prominent part of body, injuries to it cause major mortality and morbidity globally. This study focussed to find the pattern of traumatic head injuries in patients presented to Lumbini Medical College Teaching Hospital, Palpa, Nepal. Methods: The data was collected from 252 patients (164 males and 88 females) with head injuries attending Emergency or out-patient department of Neurosurgery of the institute. All patients with traumatic head injuries (scalp injury, skull fracture, intracranial haemorrhage and brain injury) were included in the study and brought dead patients and patients with non-traumatic brain lesions were excluded. Results: Among the various modes of head injuries, the most frequent was road traffic accidents accounting 125 (49.60%) cases and fall from height 108 (42.86%) cases was second to it followed by physical assault 12 (4.76%) and others 7(2.78%). Manner of injuries were unintentional in 238 (94.44%) of cases. Among males, intentional injuries were present in 5 (2.98%) cases and among females, 9 (10.72%) cases presented with intentional injuries. In 105 (41.67%) of the cases, head injuries were associated with injuries to the other body parts as well. Conclusion: The most common cause of head injury was found to be road traffic accident followed by fall from height. Intentional injuries were more common in females when compared to males

Viral Vectors Expressing Interleukin 2 for Cancer Immunotherapy

Interleukin 2 (IL-2) plays a crucial role in T cell growth and survival, enhancing the cytotoxic activity of natural killer and cytotoxic T cells and thus functioning as a versatile master proinflammatory anticancer cytokine. The FDA has approved IL-2 cytokine therapy for the treatment of metastatic melanoma and metastatic renal cell carcinoma. However, IL-2 therapy has significant constraints, including a short serum half-life, low tumor accumulation, and life-threatening toxicities associated with high doses. Oncolytic viruses (OVs) offer a promising option for cancer immunotherapy, selectively targeting and destroying cancer cells while sparing healthy cells. Numerous studies have demonstrated the successful delivery of IL-2 to the tumor microenvironment without compromising safety using OVs such as vaccinia, Sendai, parvo, Newcastle disease, tanapox, and adenoviruses. Additionally, by engineering OVs to coexpress IL-2 with other anticancer transgenes, the immune properties of IL-2 can be further enhanced. Preclinical and clinical studies have shown promising antitumor effects of IL-2-expressing viral vectors, either alone or in combination with other anticancer therapies. This review summarizes the therapeutic potential of IL-2-expressing viral vectors and their antitumor mechanisms of action.Peer reviewe