Preterm General Movements in Prediction of Neurodevelopmental Disability and Cerebral Palsy at Two Years: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background A neurological assessment before discharge from the NICU would enable early targeted intervention to mitigate the risk and severity of cerebral palsy (CP) and neurodevelopmental disability. Objective To assess the accuracy of general movements (GM) in the preterm and fidgety movement periods in predicting neurodevelopmental disability and cerebral palsy in very preterm infants (≤32 weeks gestational age) at 18–24 months corrected gestational age. Study design Prospective cohort study Participants One hundred and seventy very preterm infants, mean (SD) gestation 29.8 (1.32) weeks, and birthweight 1215 (226) g. Outcomes Infants underwent GM assessments in the preterm period (31–36 weeks post-conception age) and fidgety movement period (8–18 weeks post term age). Neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed in 127 children using the Griffiths Mental Developmental Scales-2. Results Nine children had neurodevelopmental disability (two infants with cerebral palsy and seven with global developmental delay. The relative risk (95% CI) for neurodevelopmental disability was 1.46 (0.31–6.89) with preterm movements and 6.07 (0.97–38.05) with fidgety movements. Sensitivity and specificity values for the prediction of neurodevelopmental disability were 33% and 64% in the preterm period and 25% and 92% in the fidgety movement period, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity values for prediction of CP were 50% and 63% in the preterm period and 100% and 93% in the fidgety movement period, respectively. Conclusion Preterm movements showed lower sensitivity and specificity than fidgety movements in predicting later CP and neurodevelopmental disability in preterm infants.acceptedVersio

Histomorphological analysis of phyllodes tumors at a tertiary care center

Background: Phyllodes tumors (PT) are rare biphasic neoplastic breast lesions. They account for 0.3–0.5% of female breast tumours1 and have an incidence of about 2.1 per million, the peak of which occurs in women aged 45–49 years. There is sometimes difficulty in dividing tumors into the three recognized grades based on histomorphological features. It is because of the subjective variation and absence of a definitive grading system. More importantly, they do not always correlate with clinical outcome in terms of predicting recurrence, malignant transformation, metastasis, and overall survival. Aims and Objectives: (1) The aim of the study was to study the clinicopathological and histomorphological features of the PT and classify the tumors based on 2019 WHO classification. Materials and Methods: This study was done in the Department of Pathology at Government General Hospital Nizamabad. Total 68 cases are included in this study over a period of 5 years (3 1⁄2 years retrospective and 11/2 year prospective) from 2017 March to 2022 March. PT cases were analyzed based on 2019 WHO classification criteria. The age of the patients, tumor locations, and the relevant details were obtained from the pathology records. Results: Of the 68 PT cases, 53 (78%) were classified as benign, 8 (12%) borderline and 7 (10%) malignant PT based on histomorphological features based on 2019 WHO classification. Conclusion: Our study showed that tumors occurring in older age group with a large tumor size and the presence of malignant heterologous elements, infiltrating borders, and surgical margins &lt;1 cm were usually malignant phyllodes.</jats:p

Association of Acinetobacter baumannii with Soft Rot Disease of Carrot in India

Soft rot disease of carrots is an important limiting factor of carrot production. In this study, carrot roots showing typical soft rot symptoms were identified in the fields, and diseased and healthy root samples were collected for pathogen identification. The pathogen was isolated using an enriched bell pepper method. The bell pepper developed a water-soaked lesion around the pricking region when it was pricked after stabbing the diseased root whereas, no symptoms were produced when bell pepper was pricked after stabbing a healthy carrot root. From samples of the infected roots, circular, whitish, smooth, mucoid, round, convex, and medium-sized colonies were formed on the nutrient agar medium and were morphologically identified as Acinetobacter spp. Pure culture for four isolates was obtained, and one of the isolates (AB1) was further subjected to 16S rDNA sequencing. The BLAST analysis of the 16S rDNA confirmed the identity of AB1 as Acinetobacter baumannii. Pathogenicity test using whole-root assay and slice assay proved AB1 as pathogenic on carrot by producing water-soaked lesion, maceration, and rotting symptoms, whereas water inoculated roots remain healthy. The rotting symptoms on the artificially diseased carrot roots were similar to those caused by Pectobacterium caratovorum and Klebsiella variicola on the carrot. Based on the colony morphology, biochemical tests, and 16S rDNA sequence identity followed by pathogenicity assays, it is evident that A. baumannii causes soft rot disease in carrots. This report is essential for developing specific diagnostics and management against this newly emerging bacterial pathogen of carrot.</jats:p