Malaria in Pregnancy

Malaria infection during pregnancy is an important public health problem with substantial risks to both the mother and foetus. Pregnant women are the most vulnerable group of malaria‐associated morbidity and mortality. A pregnant woman has an increased risk (up to four times) of getting malaria and twice the chances of dying from malaria, compared to a non‐pregnant adult, becuase the immune system is partially suppressed during pregnancy. Malaria in pregnancy not only affects the mother but also has a dangerous sequel for the developing foetus, resulting in premature delivery or intrauterine growth retardation. Diagnosis of malaria in pregnancy remains a challenge due to the low parasite density and placental sequestration of Plasmodium falciparum. Thus, there is an urgent need for new diagnostic methods to detect malarial parasites in the pregnant women. Though antimalarial drugs are available, which can be safely given in the pregnancy, increasing drug resistance of malarial parasite may pose a big problem in the future. In this chapter, we review the burden of pregnancy‐associated malaria (PAM), its pathogenesis, diagnostic issues during pregnancy and recent guidelines for chemoprophylaxsis and treatment

Klippel Trenaunay Weber syndrome with unilateral polycystic kidney disease: a rare presentation

Klippel Trenaunay Weber syndrome (KTWS) is a rare disease characterized by hemihypertrophy, variceal enlargement of the veins, and arteriovenous (AV) malformations. Renal involvement in KTWS is not known except in rare case reports. Herein, we present a case of KTWS with unilateral polycystic kidney. A 52-year-old male was admitted due to pain left lumbar region for the last three months. The physical findings were increased diameter and increased length of the left leg compared with the right one, diffuse variceal enlargements on left leg, portwine stain on left side on neck, thorax, abdomen, left upper limb and left lower limb and a few hemangiomatous lesions on the left leg. Radiographic findings were cystic lesions in the left kidney, varicose veins in left leg, and hypertrophy of the soft tissues of the proximal left leg. Color Doppler of left lower limb showed incompetence of the saphenofemoral junction. He was diagnosed to have KTWS with these findings. Renal function tests of the patient were in the normal range. Patient’s only complain was left lumbar region pain, mild in intensity. Patient was managed symptomatically

In vitro activity of antiamoebic drugs against clinical isolates of Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar

BACKGROUND: Amoebiasis is a major public health problem in tropical and subtropical countries. Although a number of antiamoebic agents are used for its treatment, yet the susceptibility data on clinical isolates of Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar are not available. Therefore, the present study was aimed to assess the in vitro susceptibility of clinical isolates of E. histolytica and E. dispar to metronidazole, chloroquine, emetine and tinidazole. METHODS: A total of 45 clinical isolates (15 E. histolytica and 30 E. dispar) were maintained in polyxenic cultures followed by monoxenic cultures. In vitro drug sensitivity (IC(50)) of clinical isolates and standard reference strain of E. histolytica (HM1: IMSS) was assessed by nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction assay after exposure to various concentrations of each drug. RESULTS: The results showed that all clinical isolates had a higher IC(50 )compared to reference strain to all the four drugs. E. histolytica isolates appeared to be more susceptible [IC(50 )(μm) 13.2,26.3,31.2 and 12.4] compared to E. dispar isolates [IC(50)(μm) 15.6,28.9,32.8 and 13.2] and the reference strain of E. histolytica [IC(50 )(μm) 9.5, 15.5, 29.9 and 10.2] to the metronidazole, chloroquine, emetine and tinidazole respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that till date, Entamoeba isolates in India do not seem to be resistant to the commonly used antiamoebic drugs

New science on the Open Science Grid

The Open Science Grid (OSG) includes work to enable new science, new scientists, and new modalities in support of computationally based research. There are frequently significant sociological and organizational changes required in transformation from the existing to the new. OSG leverages its deliverables to the large-scale physics experiment member communities to benefit new communities at all scales through activities in education, engagement, and the distributed facility. This paper gives both a brief general description and specific examples of new science enabled on the OSG. More information is available at the OSG web site: www.opensciencegrid.org

Cost-Effectiveness of Adding Cetuximab to Platinum-Based Chemotherapy for First-Line Treatment of Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer

To assess the cost effectiveness of adding cetuximab to platinum-based chemotherapy in first-line treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) from the perspective of the Canadian public healthcare system.We developed a Markov state transition model to project the lifetime clinical and economic consequences of recurrent or metastatic HNSCC. Transition probabilities were derived from a phase III trial of cetuximab in patients with recurrent or metastatic HNSCC. Cost estimates were obtained from London Health Sciences Centre and the Ontario Case Costing Initiative, and expressed in 2011 CAD. A three year time horizon was used. Future costs and health benefits were discounted at 5%.In the base case, cetuximab plus platinum-based chemotherapy compared to platinum-based chemotherapy alone led to an increase of 0.093 QALY and an increase in cost of $36,000 per person, resulting in an incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER) of$386,000 per QALY gained. The cost effectiveness ratio was most sensitive to the cost per mg of cetuximab and the absolute risk of progression among patients receiving cetuximab.The addition of cetuximab to standard platinum-based chemotherapy in first-line treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic HNSCC has an ICER that exceeds $100,000 per QALY gained. Cetuximab can only be economically attractive in this patient population if the cost of cetuximab is substantially reduced or if future research can identify predictive markers to select patients most likely to benefit from the addition of cetuximab to chemotherapy

Experimental Investigation on the Synthesis of Al5086-GRN-ηSiC Hybrid Surface Composite using Additive Powder Fed Friction Stir Processing

305-313In the current research work, graphene (GRN) and nano-silicon carbide (SiC) reinforced Al5086-alloy based hybrid surface composites has been developed using a unique surface engineering technique called additive-powder-fed friction stir processing (APF-FSP) process. Herein, the mechanical exfoliation of graphite into GRN has been carried out using APF-FSP process to improve the microstructural and mechanical properties. The microstructure, morphology, and mechanical properties of as-synthesized hybrid Al5086-GRN-ηSiC surface composite has been investigated. Microscopic analysis has been conducted to scientifically ascertain the grain size, crystal structure and surface morphology of APF-FSP zone. The mechanical properties such as hardness and elastic modulus have also been evaluated using nanoindentation and micro-hardness technique. Nano-indentation and micro-pillar testing techniques have been used to assess mechanical properties in terms of hardness, elastic modulus, and compressive strength of as-developed hybrid Al5086-GRN-ηSiC surface composite. The best optimal condition to obtain the defect free structure is 1800 RPM rotational speed and 40 mm/min transverse speed with trapezoidal shape tool pin geometry. The microstructure and morphological examination reveal that the grain size of Al-matrix gets refined from 30 μm to ~8 μm and reinforcements (GRN/ ηSiC) are uniformly distributed in the matrix, which is expected to improve the mechanical properties. The SEM and TEM morphology analysis show that the diphasic nano-mixture cluster of ηSiC and GRN in the range (100-200 nm) have been formed and GRP coexist in multi-layer of atoms in Al-matrix owing to mechanical exfoliation of graphite. The highest hardness (145 HV0.3) and tensile strength (385±5 MPa) have been obtained. Overall, findings of this work conclude that APF-FSP offers up new possibilities for fabricating functionalized surface composites with improves mechanical properties for aerospace and automobile industries

Real-Time Structural Health Monitoring and Damage Identification Using Frequency Response Functions along with Finite Element Model Updating Technique

Throughout service, damage can arise in the structure of buildings; hence, their dynamic testing becomes essential to verify that such buildings possess sufficient strength to withstand disturbances, particularly in the event of an earthquake. Dynamic testing, being uneconomical, requires proof of concept; for this, a model of a structure can be dynamically tested, and the results are used to update its finite element model. This can be used for damage detection in the prototype and aids in predicting its behavior during an earthquake. In this instance, a wireless MEMS accelerometer was used, which can measure the vibration signals emanating from the building and transfer these signals to a remote workstation. The base of the structure is excited using a shaking table to induce an earthquake-like situation. Four natural frequencies have been considered and six different types of damage conditions have been identified in this work. For each damage condition, the experimental responses are measured and the finite element model is updated using the Berman and Nagy method. It is seen that the updated models can predict the dynamic responses of the building accurately. Thus, depending on these responses, the damage condition can be identified by using the updated finite element models

Klippel Trenaunay Weber syndrome with unilateral polycystic kidney disease: a rare presentation

Klippel Trenaunay Weber syndrome (KTWS) is a rare disease characterized by hemihypertrophy, variceal enlargement of the veins, and arteriovenous (AV) malformations. Renal involvement in KTWS is not known except in rare case reports. Herein, we present a case of KTWS with unilateral polycystic kidney. A 52-year-old male was admitted due to pain left lumbar region for the last three months. The physical findings were increased diameter and increased length of the left leg compared with the right one, diffuse variceal enlargements on left leg, portwine stain on left side on neck, thorax, abdomen, left upper limb and left lower limb and a few hemangiomatous lesions on the left leg. Radiographic findings were cystic lesions in the left kidney, varicose veins in left leg, and hypertrophy of the soft tissues of the proximal left leg. Color Doppler of left lower limb showed incompetence of the saphenofemoral junction. He was diagnosed to have KTWS with these findings. Renal function tests of the patient were in the normal range. Patient’s only complain was left lumbar region pain, mild in intensity. Patient was managed symptomatically