Diphyllobothriasis in a nine-year-old child in India: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>The <it>Diphyllobothrium </it>genus belongs to the <it>Diphyllobothridea </it>order of tapeworms. <it>Diphyllobothrium </it>spp., which is commonly known as fish tapeworm, is generally transmitted in humans, but also in other species, such as bears, dogs, cats, foxes, and other terrestrial carnivores. Although worldwide in distribution, the original heartland of <it>Diphyllobothrium </it>spp. spreads across Scandinavia, northern Russia, and western Serbia. We report a rare case that occurred in India.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A nine-year-old south Indian girl was brought to the casualty at the Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences with complaints of vomiting and loose stools that had started three days earlier. The vomit did not have a foul smell and contained no blood or mucus, but it did contain undigested food particles. The patient described a history of recurrent abdominal pain. She was a non-vegetarian and said she had a history of eating fish.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The incidence of <it>Diphyllobothrium </it>spp. infection is infrequent in India. Since this is only the fourth reported case in India, and since the previously reported cases also involved observed pediatric patients, we emphasize the need for clinical microbiologists and pediatricians to suspect fish tapeworm infection and recommend epidemiological study of <it>Diphyllobothrium </it>spp. infection.</p

Bayesian Decentralized Spectrum Sensing in Cognitive Radio Networks

This paper considers the problem of spectrum sensing, i.e., the detection of whether or not a primary user is transmitting data by a cognitive radio. The Bayesian framework is adopted, with the performance measure being the probability of detection error. A decentralized setup, where N sensors use M observations each to arrive at individual decisions that are combined at a fusion center to form the overall decision is considered. The unknown fading channel between the primary sensor and the cognitive radios makes the individual decision rule computationally complex, hence, a generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT)-based approach is adopted. Analysis of the probabilities of false alarm and miss detection of the proposed method reveals that the error exponent with respect to M is zero. Also, the fusion of N individual decisions offers a diversity advantage, similar to diversity reception in communication systems, and a tight bound on the error exponent is presented. Through an analysis in the low power regime, the number of observations needed as a function of received power, to achieve a given probability of error is determined. Monte-Carlo simulations confirm the accuracy of the analysis

Fungal infection of gingiva in a patient with hyperimmunoglobulin-E (Job′s) syndrome

Hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome (HIES), also known as Job′s syndrome, is a rare primary immunodeficiency characterized by eczema, recurrent skin and lung infections, elevated serum IgE, and connective tissue and skeletal abnormalities. Individuals with HIES share a characteristic facial appearance and many oral manifestations including retained primary dentition, a high-arched palate, variations of the oral mucosa and gingiva, and recurrent oral candidiasis. An 18-year-old lady presented with gingival swelling, bleeding from the gums, recurrent skin infections, and recurrent respiratory infections with intermittent fever. After thorough extra oral, intra oral and radiographic examination, serological investigations were performed. Growth of candida hyphae in the biopsy specimen of gingiva and increased levels of serum IgE with typical extra oral findings established the diagnosis as Job′s syndrome (hyper IgE syndrome). Treatment with anti-fungal antibiotics and phase-I therapy including scaling and root planing followed by gingivoplasty using diode laser (980 nm) was performed. HIES was previously defined on the basis of clinical manifestations and laboratory markers that were not specific to the disease. With the identification of STAT3 mutations as the cause of HIES, we can definitively characterize the disease at molecular and immunologic levels. This case emphasizes the role of the dentist in the diagnosis of rare syndromes which alters the treatment plan

Hemangiopericytoma of the prostate. a rare case report and novel treatment strategy

No Abstract. African Journal of Urology Vol. 11(3) 2005: 236-23

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Not AvailableTechnology demonstration component of NICRA was implemented in village clusters by KVKs in 100 climatically vulnerable districts and by 7 core research institutes. Drought, floods, cyclone and unseasonal rainfall were the major climatic events that were experienced during 2014-15. A number of climate resilient practices and technologies were demonstrated in the village clusters in natural resource management, crop production systems, livestock & fisheries and institutional interventions. Rainwater harvesting and recycling potential created in NICRA villages in rainfed districts increased the resilience of crop production both in kharif and rabi seasons despite deficit rainfall. About 1572 demonstrations covering 1360 ha were taken up during 2014-15. About 918 demonstrations on improved planting methods in several kharif and rabi crops showed promise in enhancing resilience with higher productivity and income. About 594 demonstrations on zero till cultivation in rabi crops indicated its potential as a sustainable alternative to conventional planting of wheat, lentil, mustard, maize and vegetable crops. In the North Eastern states, sustainable intensification in rice fallows was demonstrated with the adoption of zero till sowing / raised and sunken bed planting method for cultivation of grain legumes and vegetable crops.Monsoon action plans were prepared by NICRA-KVKs and implemented in 60 village clusters across districts that experienced an unfolding drought like situation. Contingency crop plans for delayed planting (after mid July) involving appropriate crop and soil moisture management measures were implemented. Contingency crops such as sesame, castor, blackgram, pigeonpea, sunflower, foxtail millet, pearl millet, horsegram, cluster bean, toria and basmati rice were adopted by farmers at different locations. About 3000 demonstrations of short duration and stress tolerant cultivars and resilient intercropping systems in place of sole crops contributed to stabilizing productivity in vulnerable districts. Demonstration of location specific fodder production and its storage by silage making addressed fodder needs during the lean season in deficit rainfall districts in Maharashtra,Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. In districts affected by extreme events (hudhud cyclone), timely advisories to minimize further damage were issued and demonstrated to farmers in NICRA villages. Soil moisture deficit induced blossom end rot was successfully corrected by application of deficient nutrient. Zero till sown wheat in rice residue in Punjab and Haryana suffered less damage due to lodging and water logging at the time of maturity during unseasonal rains experienced in March, 2015 compared to conventionally sown wheat.Village Level Climate Risk Management Committees (VCRMC) managed Custom Hiring Centers for farm implements and generated a revenue of Rs 8 lakhs. Work on evolving a framework for climate resilient villages (CRVs) and quantifying resilience was initiated during the year. Capacity development program for scientists from all participating KVKs was undertaken. About 36 KVKs were monitored by Zonal Monitoring Committees to suggest improvements in technology demonstrations. About 722 courses in different thematic areas of climate resilience were taken up for awareness and capacity building of participating farmers. Video documentation to capture the climate resilient interventions in action was initiated for widespread dissemination of project achievements. Performing KVKs in each Zone and farmers in all the NICRA villages were recognized and awarded. Village level carbon balance studies were completed for Gujarat and Rajasthan. An orientation workshop was organized for 21 new KVKs joining the Technology Demonstration Component in the XII Plan. An ICAR-DAC interface workshop on NICRANMSA was organized in which 27 proven climate resilient practices and technologies were identified for up-scaling.Not Availabl

Wear behavior of chromium nitride coating in dry condition at lower sliding velocity and load

The wear behavior of the chromium nitride (CrN) coating on piston ring material against liner material was investigated under dry conditions at room temperatures. Cat iron alloy, widely used in manufacturing of piston rings and cylinder liners, was coated by physical vapor deposition method. Wear tests were carried out on a Pin-on-Disc tribometer. Simultaneous effect of sliding velocities (0.3, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 m/s) and corresponding loads (10, 20, 30, and 40 N) on wear rate, friction coefficient, and temperature was analyzed. In conclusion, specific wear rate is decreasing by increase in load and velocity. The rise of temperature is 28 to 42 °C at the wear track room temperature resulting in a reduced coefficient of friction (COF) when the increase of load if from 10 to 40 N. The wear mechanism is a combination of mild to severe wear, three-body abrasion, and oxidation wear for dry conditions

Single-cell analysis reveals a stem-cell program in human metastatic breast cancer cells

Despite major advances in understanding the molecular and genetic basis of cancer, metastasis remains the cause of >90% of cancer-related mortality(1). Understanding metastasis initiation and progression is critical to developing new therapeutic strategies to treat and prevent metastatic disease. Prevailing theories hypothesize that metastases are seeded by rare tumour cells with unique properties, which may function like stem cells in their ability to initiate and propagate metastatic tumours(2–5). However, the identity of metastasis-initiating cells in human breast cancer remains elusive, and whether metastases are hierarchically organized is unknown(2). Here we show at the single-cell level that early stage metastatic cells possess a distinct stem-like gene expression signature. To identify and isolate metastatic cells from patient-derived xenograft models of human breast cancer, we developed a highly sensitive fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS)-based assay, which allowed us to enumerate metastatic cells in mouse peripheral tissues. We compared gene signatures in metastatic cells from tissues with low versus high metastatic burden. Metastatic cells from low-burden tissues were distinct owing to their increased expression of stem cell, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, pro-survival, and dormancy-associated genes. By contrast, metastatic cells from high-burden tissues were similar to primary tumour cells, which were more heterogeneous and expressed higher levels of luminal differentiation genes. Transplantation of stem-like metastatic cells from low-burden tissues showed that they have considerable tumour-initiating capacity, and can differentiate to produce luminal-like cancer cells. Progression to high metastatic burden was associated with increased proliferation and MYC expression, which could be attenuated by treatment with cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors. These findings support a hierarchical model for metastasis, in which metastases are initiated by stem-like cells that proliferate and differentiate to produce advanced metastatic disease