Could plasma zinc be a predictor for mortality and severity in sepsis syndrome?

Background: While many factors are known to play a role in outcomes of sepsis, the role of micronutrients such as zinc remains a gray area. This study assesses the correlation of plasma zinc levels with mortality and severity of sepsis. Objective was to study the association between plasma zinc levels with mortality and severity of sepsis.Methods: Comparative prospective observational study which included 89 patients with proven sepsis according to the society of critical care medicine (SCCM) guidelines. The study was conducted at a tertiary care centre in South India. A total of 89 patients who were admitted into the medical ICU directly from ER, from December 2014 to August 2015 were chosen for the study after satisfying specific inclusion criteria and divided into 2 outcome groups based on mortality.Results: There was a significant association between plasma zinc (categorized as low, normal and high plasma zinc) and outcome. While the severity of sepsis as per SOFA score on admission did not have an association, there was a significant association between plasma zinc and the 48-hour SOFA score.Conclusions: Higher plasma zinc values had lower mortality and lower 48 hours SOFA score, strengthening the hypothesis regarding the role of zinc in the immune response to sepsis. More research is needed regarding the role of zinc in assessing the severity and predicting the mortality of patients with sepsis

Triple threat: pregnancy, SLE, EBV as potential triggers in secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

We present a case of hemophagocytic lymphocytosis (HLH) that occurred secondary to a combination of Epstein Barr virus (EBV) infection and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in early pregnancy. A 29-years-old lady presented with complaints of fever, vomiting and loose stools. She underwent successful in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer 20 days prior to the onset of these symptoms. Her blood investigations revealed anemia, neutropenia, hyperferritinemia and hypertriglyceridemia, eventually resulting in a diagnosis of HLH further substantiated by bone marrow examination. Additional investigations revealed positive anti-dsDNA and EBV IgM antibodies amongst other findings, adding SLE and EBV to the diagnoses. They were considered potential triggers for HLH. However, the occurrence of these events following IVF poses the question of whether pregnancy played a role in the development of HLH. Our patient responded well to pulse steroid therapy and has had an uneventful course till date

Diversity in Global Mining: Where We Are and What We Need to Do

We explore how diversity plays out in a historically male-dominated domain of international business – mining – by analyzing the diversity statements and initiatives reported by 25 of the top 50 global mining firms in terms of market value. We find that home country organizational field configurations play a pivotal role in determining how mining firms perceive diversity and the specific diversity dimensions they focus on. We distinguish between accommodative, defensive and reactive configurations to understand regional variation in the way mining firms manage diversity. We provide actionable recommendations to key stakeholders on adopting a proactive approach towards advancing diversity.</jats:p

Subsurface Dykes - Case Study for its Suitability in Kerala

The average annual rainfall of 3000 mm in Kerala is 3 to 5 times more than many other states. But. in Kerala, rainwater is not much retained on the land due to the steep/undulating topography and low water holding capacity and shallow depth of topsoil. Most of the water stored in the soil during rainy season escape to the lower reaches and then to the rivers/sea. The subsurface dykes constructed at AMPRS, Odakkali using black polyethylene sheet and at Thrangalikadavu. across Bharatapuzha. using Sand-Cement-Bentonite grout was effective in increasing the sub-soil water reserve. The study revealed that water level during summer season at the dyke upstream rose by about 60 to 80cm. The wells constructed near the dyke. both for drinking water supply and lift irrigation yielded more water for longer duratio

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Not AvailableThe experiment was carried out in polyhouse condition to study the potency of entomopathogenic fungi for the management of whiteflies on gerbera. Studies showed Beauveria bassiana and Lecanicillium lecanii to effect 70.81 and 85.65% and 69.54 and 84.90% mortality over control inthe first and second trial respectively. M. anisopliae caused 77.86 and 74.35% mortality while spirotetramat caused 79.41 and 96.93% and Buprofezin 72.67 and 99.95 % mortality.The differences among the treatments were larger during the first 14 days, but decreased thereafter, becoming insignificant after the second spray. On 14 th day of second spray, the mortality caused by fungal pathogens was reduced to 23-45% while chemicals caused 31- 49% and were significantly on par with each other. This study shows that entomopathogens can be components in an IPM under moderate levels of whitefly infestations on gerbera in polyhouses.Not Availabl

Parthenium pollen induced feeding by <i>Zygogramma bicolorata</i> (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on sunflower (<i>Helianthus annuus</i>) (Compositae)

AbstractZygogramma bicolorata Pallister (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) of Mexican origin, introduced for biological control trials against the weed Parthenium hysterophorus (Compositae), was found to feed on the tender leaves of the related plant sunflower (Helianthus annuus Linnaeus) at a few places in Kolar district in Karnataka State, India. The insects in these populations exhibited variability in feeding response to sunflower under laboratory and field conditions. The sesqueterpene lactone parthenin, specific to P. hysterophorus, was found to induce feeding by the adults of Z. bicolorata on treated sunflower leaves within six hours, as compared to 4–7 days on untreated leaves. Further investigations resulted in the novel finding that dusting of parthenium pollen, or smearing its extract which contains parthenin, on sunflower leaves also induced feeding responses in adults. Parthenium pollen was detected on sunflower leaves growing in close proximity to the weed stand, suggesting that this could be one of the factors influencing variability in the feeding behaviour of Z. bicolorata.</jats:p

Joint Manifestations Following COVID-19 Infection- A Case Series of Six Patients

A rare subset of Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) positive patients has musculoskeletal manifestations including arthritis, arthralgia, myalgia and non specific body aches. Moreover, postviral Reactive Arthritis (ReA) has been reported following COVID-19 infection. This article reports the characteristic joint manifestations of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Corona Virus-2 (SARSCoV-2) infection in 6 out of 211 consecutive patients with laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 and treated at dedicated hospital. One 49-year-old female patient developed arthritis while having active COVID-19 infection, one 54-year-old male had post-COVID-19 ReA, and one 48-year-old female was found to have undifferentiated arthritis. One 58-year-old female patient was initially thought to have ReA the diagnosis was reconsidered later when her symptoms resolved without any disease modifying agents. Two patients 37-year-old male and 63-year-old female, developed arthralgia following COVID-19 infection. Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and steroids were found to be beneficial in the series of patients. The key point to be noted is that not all arthritis or arthralgia following COVID-19 is ReA.</jats:p