Knowledge, attitude and practice of preventing spread of COVID-19 amongst orthopaedic surgeons and residents in a tertiary care hospital in Navi-Mumbai

Background: With on-going coronavirus pandemic, there is high incidence of COVID-19 occupational risk exposure among health care professionals. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) amongst orthopaedic surgeons and residents regarding prevention of spread of COVID-19 at a tertiary care hospital.Methods: A cross-sectional, observational, web-based questionnaire study was conducted at orthopaedic department of a tertiary care hospital in Navi Mumbai. The study included orthopaedic surgeons and residents of either sex. A predesigned KAP questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding prevention of spread of COVID-19. The web-based questionnaire was circulated to eligible participants and the responses obtained were analysed.Results: Overall, the knowledge regarding hand hygiene, mask etiquette and COVID-19 diagnoses was high. Majority participants knew the proper technique of personal protective equipment (PPE), but few 25% and 35% lacked correct technique for donning and doffing of PPE respectively. Majority participants knew the indications and pre/post-operative protocols for orthopaedic surgeries in COVID-19. Around 40% only knew the type of pressure system used in the COVID-19 operation theatre (OT). Majority felt that mask, hand hygiene and PPE were essential kit for prevention. In practice, majority participants were taking drug prophylaxis and were adequately practicing mask/hand hygiene.Conclusions: Overall, KAP regarding prevention of spread of COVID-19 among orthopaedicians were adequate. Further formal preventive education on COVID-19 and structured hands-on experience workshops are necessary to advance the proper techniques of PPE handling

Mechanisms and Functions of Spatial Protein Quality Control

A healthy proteome is essential for cell survival. Protein misfolding is linked to a rapidly expanding list of human diseases, ranging from neurodegenerative diseases to aging and cancer. Many of these diseases are characterized by the accumulation of misfolded proteins in intra- and extracellular inclusions, such as amyloid plaques. The clear link between protein misfolding and disease highlights the need to better understand the elaborate machinery that manages proteome homeostasis, or proteostasis, in the cell. Proteostasis depends on a network of molecular chaperones and clearance pathways involved in the recognition, refolding, and/or clearance of aberrant proteins. Recent studies reveal that an integral part of the cellular management of misfolded proteins is their spatial sequestration into several defined compartments. Here, we review the properties, function, and formation of these compartments. Spatial sequestration plays a central role in protein quality control and cellular fitness and represents a critical link to the pathogenesis of protein aggregation-linked diseases

Distinct Proteostasis Circuits Cooperate in Nuclear and Cytoplasmic Protein Quality Control

Protein misfolding is linked to a wide array of human disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and type II diabetes1,2. Protective cellular protein quality control (PQC) mechanisms have evolved to selectively recognize misfolded proteins and limit their toxic effects3,4,5,6,7,8,9, thus contributing to the maintenance of the proteome (proteostasis). Here we examine how molecular chaperones and the ubiquitin–proteasome system cooperate to recognize and promote the clearance of soluble misfolded proteins. Using a panel of PQC substrates with distinct characteristics and localizations, we define distinct chaperone and ubiquitination circuitries that execute quality control in the cytoplasm and nucleus. In the cytoplasm, proteasomal degradation of misfolded proteins requires tagging with mixed lysine 48 (K48)- and lysine 11 (K11)-linked ubiquitin chains. A distinct combination of E3 ubiquitin ligases and specific chaperones is required to achieve each type of linkage-specific ubiquitination. In the nucleus, however, proteasomal degradation of misfolded proteins requires only K48-linked ubiquitin chains, and is thus independent of K11-specific ligases and chaperones. The distinct ubiquitin codes for nuclear and cytoplasmic PQC appear to be linked to the function of the ubiquilin protein Dsk2, which is specifically required to clear nuclear misfolded proteins. Our work defines the principles of cytoplasmic and nuclear PQC as distinct, involving combinatorial recognition by defined sets of cooperating chaperones and E3 ligases. A better understanding of how these organelle-specific PQC requirements implement proteome integrity has implications for our understanding of diseases linked to impaired protein clearance and proteostasis dysfunction

Outcome Analysis of Intra-Articular Scapula Fracture Fixation with Distal Radius Plate: A Multicenter Prospective Study

Background: Scapula fractures occur in approximately 1% of all fractures and constitute about 3% - 5% of all injuries of the shoulder joint. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of 20 surgically treated patients with displaced glenoid fractures after stabilization with distal radius plate. Methods: Between 2012 and 2015, at 2 centers (HMCH & SHCE) of Bhubaneswar Odisha, we stabilized 20 scapular intra-articular fractures surgically with distal radius locking plate and studied the outcome of the surgeries. The outcome of the 20 fractures was determined using the Constant and Murley score. Both shoulders were assessed and the score on the injured side was given as a percentage of that on the uninjured side. Results: The median score was 88% (mean 65%, range 30 to 100). The median score for strength was 21/25 (mean 19, range 0 to 25) and that for pain 11/15 (mean 11, range 5 to 15). The median functional score was 16/20 (mean 15, range 0 to 20). The mean range of active abduction of the shoulder was 135° (20 to 180), the mean range of flexion 138° (20 to 180) and the mean range of external rotation 38° (0 to 100). Five patients showed excellent result; 11 patients showed good result; three patients showed fair result and one patient had poor outcome according to the Constant-Murley score. A superficial infection settled with antibiotics after operation in one patient whose score at final follow-up was 96%. In one patient, delayed healing was reported because of infection. One patient with stiffness of the shoulder at six weeks underwent manipulation under anesthesia with a follow-up score of 81%. Conclusions: Various fixation modalities have been described in the literature, however fixation of intra-articular fracture of glenoid with distal radius locking plate for articular reconstruction in the presented series provides good functional outcome with early restoration of the range of motion of the shoulder

Relative oral bioavailability of three formulations of vitamin D3: An open-label, three-treatment study

Background: Supplementation of vitamin D2 or vitamin D3 is recommended for vitamin D deficiency. Weekly supplementation of 60,000 IU of vitamin D3 increases serum 25(OH) D to optimal values. Various marketed forms of vitamin D3 include tablets, capsule, granules and oral solution. The main objective of this study is to compare the relative bioavailability of vitamin D3 oral solution with vitamin D3 tablet and capsule.Methods: This is an open-label, randomized, single-dose, three-treatment study to compare the relative bioavailability of vitamin D3 oral solution with capsule and tablet. Subjects (n=70) were supplemented with single dose of one of these formulations and their blood sample were assessed for Cmax, AUC0-28d and Tmax.Results: The logarithmic transformed data of pharmacokinetic parameters were analyzed for 90% Confidence Intervals (CI) using ANOVA. The mean (90% CI) values of vitamin D3 oral solution against tablet for the ratio of Cmax and AUC0-28d were 113.00 (105.32-121.23) and 105.54 (97.95-113.72) respectively. The mean (90% CI) values of vitamin D3 oral solution against capsule for the ratio of Cmax and AUC0-28d were 115.02 (106.38 - 124.37) and 112.33 (104.44 - 120.81) respectively. These values were within the bioequivalence range of 80-125%.Conclusions: It is concluded that vitamin D3 Oral Solution formulated with nanotechnology is bioequivalent to vitamin D3 tablet and capsule. However, oral solution of vitamin D3 shows higher Cmax and AUC when compared to tablet and capsule formulations

Effect of in situ Rainwater Harvesting and Mulching on Growth, Yield and Fruit Quality in Mango Var. Arka Neelachal Kesri in Eastern India

A field study was conducted at Central Horticultural Experiment Station (ICAR-IIHR), Bhubaneswar, India, during 2007-2013 in a new mango orchard of the variety 'Arka Neelachal Kesri' at 5m x 5m spacing, to conserve rain-water and to enhance soil moisture availability during dry periods for augmenting plant growth and fruit production. Among the four in situ rain-water harvesting techniques (cup-and-plate, half-moon, full-moon, and trench) evaluated in combination with three types of mulch (no mulch, inorganic mulch, and organic mulch), the cup-and-plate system resulted in maximum annual increment in vegetative growth and fruit yield (4.67kg/plant), while, organic (paddy straw) and inorganic (black polythene, 100μ thickness) mulches improved vegetative growth, fruit yield and TSS in fruit significantly over no mulch

Nonlinear magnetization dynamics driven by strong terahertz fields

We present a comprehensive experimental and numerical study of magnetization dynamics in a thin metallic film triggered by single-cycle terahertz pulses of ∼20  MV/m electric field amplitude and ∼1  ps duration. The experimental dynamics is probed using the femtosecond magneto-optical Kerr effect, and it is reproduced numerically using macrospin simulations. The magnetization dynamics can be decomposed in three distinct processes: a coherent precession of the magnetization around the terahertz magnetic field, an ultrafast demagnetization that suddenly changes the anisotropy of the film, and a uniform precession around the equilibrium effective field that is relaxed on the nanosecond time scale, consistent with a Gilbert damping process. Macrospin simulations quantitatively reproduce the observed dynamics, and allow us to predict that novel nonlinear magnetization dynamics regimes can be attained with existing tabletop terahertz sources