Laparoscopic management of adnexal masses in admitted patients at tertiary care centre, Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, India

Background: Laparoscopy is most widely accepted procedure in gynaecological cases both for diagnostic and operative purposes. It is associated with early recovery, shorter hospital stay and significant patient satisfaction. This study has been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of laparoscopy in the management of adnexal masses. Our Primary aim was to find out indications, intraoperative findings and different interventions to deal with adnexal mass. The objective of the study was to determine laparoscopic management of adnexal mass in all women attending Obstetrics and Gynaecology department, Shanakaracharya Institute of Medical Science, Bhilai, Chhattisgarh.Methods: This is a retrospective record-based observational study conducted over a period of one year from March 2020 to March 2021 after getting approval from the institutional ethical committee. Patients diagnosed with adnexal mass were evaluated and data was collected and analyzed.Results: Of the 130 cases of adnexal mass admitted in the hospital during the period under review, 43 cases (33%) were diagnosed as ovarian cyst among which simple cystic ovarian cyst was found to be most common etiology followed by ectopic pregnancy (41 cases). Majority of cases were managed laparoscopically with a good success rate, better outcome and short hospital stay. Conversion rate to laparotomy was 3.8% mainly seen in cases with complex ovarian mass or dense adhesions.Conclusions: Diagnosis of adnexal mass is important and it may affect females of any age group. Laparoscopy is a better approach to deal with adnexal masses (except malignancy) as it has better paronamic vision with less complications, less post-operative pain, shorter hospital stay. Careful patient selection should also be taken into account. Current study is an overview in favor of laparoscopic management of adnexal mass

PRANIC HEALING: A STRESS BUSTER FOR CANCER PATIENTS.

Pranic healing is a highly developed and tested system of energy based healing techniques that utilizes \"Prana\" to balance harmonize and transform the body\'s energy processes. \"Prana\" is a Sanskrit word that means \"Life-force\" This invisible bio-energy or vital energy keeps the body alive and maintains a state of good health. In acupuncture, the Chinese refer to this subtle energy as \"Chi\". It is also called \"Ruah\" or the \"Breath of life\" in the old testament. Pranic healing is a simple yet powerful and effective no touch energy healing. It is based on the fundamental principle that the body is a \"Self-repairing\" living entity that possesses the innate ability to heal itself. Pranic healing works on the principle that the healing process is accelerated by increasing the life force or vital energy on the affected part of the physical body. Pranic healing influences this natural life force to being about a healthier physical body. Pranic healing is applied on the bio-electromagnetic field known as the aura, which contains the mold and blueprint of the physical body. This bioplasmic body absorbs life energy and distributes it to the organs and glands. Disease first appear as energetic disruption in the energy field before manifesting as ailments in the physical body. With all diseases including cancer the first objective is to understand that the cause is thoughts one\'s own guilt or harmful thoughts and feeling created by one\'s upon himself. To heal from cancer one must fully cleanse the physical, emotional and mental layers of body system

A comparative evaluation of frictional resistance and surface roughness of silver coated and uncoated stainless-steel bracket wire assembly- An in-vitro study

Silver ions act as potent antimicrobial agents. Silver coating of brackets and the archwires can help reduce the formation of white spot lesions and caries which is commonly seen with fixed orthodontic treatment. However, this may affect the friction and surface roughness of the bracket-wire assembly which in turn affects the biological tooth movement. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 60 samples were included in the study which was divided into four groups. Group-1: * 15 silver coated 0.022 x 0.028" slot MBT prescription maxillary central incisor brackets * 15 silver coated 0.019 x 0.025" stainless-steel wires; Group-2: * 15 uncoated 0.022 x 0.028" slot MBT prescription maxillary central incisor brackets * 15 silver coated 0.019 x 0.025" stainless-steel wires; Group-3: * 15 silver coated 0.022 x 0.028" slot MBT prescription maxillary central incisor brackets * 15 uncoated 0.019 x 0.025" stainless-steel wires; Group-4: * 15 uncoated 0.022x0.028" slot MBT prescription maxillary central incisor brackets * 15 uncoated 0.019 x 0.025" stainless-steel wires. All brackets and wires used were of American Orthodontics, St. Paul, USA. Surface modification of wires and brackets was carried out using the Vacuum Coating Unit model by Thermal Vacuum Evaporation method with silver nanoparticles (10 nm size). The frictional resistance of all brackets and wires was checked using Universal Testing Machine. RESULTS: On comparison of maximum load, it was found that friction was highest in group 3, followed by group 1, group 4 and group 2. The mean difference between all groups was found to be statistically significant with a P value Group 1> Group 2> Group 3 *Wire roughness: Group 4> Group 1> Group 2> Group 3. CONCLUSIONS: This study concluded that friction was least when only the wire was coated with silver and the bracket was uncoated and it was the most when the bracket was coated and the wire was uncoated. The surface roughness after the friction test was the least when the wire was uncoated. Key words:Silver nanoparticles, Frictional Resistance, Surface Roughness

SHARE AND USE

Android is one of the most user friendly mobile platforms that have grasped the attention of smart phone users around the globe. According to stats available there are 1.4 billion people who have used Android mobile platform. And this has led to the development of android application exponentially; there are around 2.8 million android applications available in play store. Many of the available application do not fit into low specification smart phones due to some reasons. Share and Use is an android application that lets you use another smart phones application by your phone without actually installing it on your phone. Share and Use lets user to use application installed on other phones and access applications on their smart phones. Share and Use helps phones with lower specification android phones to use applications that are not be able to install in them

Oxidative and pro-inflammatory impact of regular and denicotinized cigarettes on blood brain barrier endothelial cells: is smoking reduced or nicotine-free products really safe?

Background: Both active and passive tobacco smoke (TS) potentially impair the vascular endothelial function in a causative and dose-dependent manner, largely related to the content of reactive oxygen species (ROS), nicotine, and pro-inflammatory activity. Together these factors can compromise the restrictive properties of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and trigger the pathogenesis/progression of several neurological disorders including silent cerebral infarction, stroke, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease. Based on these premises, we analyzed and assessed the toxic impact of smoke extract from a range of tobacco products (with varying levels of nicotine) on brain microvascular endothelial cell line (hCMEC/D3), a well characterized human BBB model. Results: Initial profiling of TS showed a significant release of reactive oxygen (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in full flavor, nicotine-free (NF, “reduced-exposure” brand) and ultralow nicotine products. This release correlated with increased oxidative cell damage. In parallel, membrane expression of endothelial tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin were significantly down-regulated suggesting the impairment of barrier function. Expression of VE-cadherin and claudin-5 were also increased by the ultralow or nicotine free tobacco smoke extract. TS extract from these cigarettes also induced an inflammatory response in BBB ECs as demonstrated by increased IL-6 and MMP-2 levels and up-regulation of vascular adhesion molecules, such as VCAM-1 and PECAM-1. Conclusions: In summary, our results indicate that NF and ultralow nicotine cigarettes are potentially more harmful to the BBB endothelium than regular tobacco products. In addition, this study demonstrates that the TS-induced toxicity at BBB ECs is strongly correlated to the TAR and NO levels in the cigarettes rather than the nicotine conten

In-vitro evaluation of antibacterial potential of cyanoacrylate tissue adhesives for intraoral wound closure

Background: Cyanoacrylate tissue adhesives have been used as a substitute to silk for intraoral wound closure. Placement of sutures provides a corridor for accumulation of microorganisms into tissue which leads to infection. Cyanoacrylate-based adhesives exhibit many properties of an ideal wound closure agent, minimizing the problems generated by suturing thread. The antimicrobial properties of cyanoacrylates have been extensively assessed in other fields of medicine. However, there is a dearth in the literature on the antibacterial effect of cyanoacrylates in oral environment against oral microflora. Aim: To assess the antibacterial properties of two commonly used formulations of cyanoacrylate tissue adhesives against oral pathogens. Materials and Methods: Iso-amyl cyanoacrylate and a blend of n-butyl and 2-Octyl cyanoacrylates were applied on sterile filter paper discs and placed on culture plates. Plates for aerobic & anaerobic bacterial cultures were incubated in blood agar & Brain-Heart infusion agar respectively.Following incubation period, the bacterial inhibitory halos were measured in millimeters. In order to evaluate the bactericidal efficacy, samples were collected from the inhibitory halos and re-cultured on new bacterial culture plates. Antibacterial activity was assessed against five bacteria: A.actinomycetemcomitans, P.gingivalis, T.forsythia, L.amylovorus and S.aureus. Statistical analysis used:  The data collected was analysed using Mann Whitney u test. Results: Cyanoacrylates demonstrated potent inhibitory effects against all test organisms. The zones of inhibition against gram positive bacteria were found to be larger than gram negative bacteria. The bactericidal activity of Iso amyl cyanoacrylate was found to be more potent than n-butyl + 2 octyl cyanoacrylate. Conclusions: Due to its potent antibacterial properties, cyanoacrylate tissue adhesives can be considered as appealing alternatives to silk sutures for intraoral wound closure and help prevent postoperative

Gut microbiota and microbiota-derived metabolites promotes endometriosis

Endometriosis is a pathological condition of the female reproductive tract characterized by the existence of endometrium-like tissue at ectopic sites, affecting 10% of women between the age 15 and 49 in the USA. However, currently there is no reliable non-invasive method to detect the presence of endometriosis without surgery and many women find hormonal therapy and surgery as ineffective in avoiding the recurrences. There is a lack of knowledge on the etiology and the factors that contribute to the development of endometriosis. A growing body of recent evidence suggests an association between gut microbiota and endometriosis pathophysiology. However, the direct impact of microbiota and microbiota-derived metabolites on the endometriosis disease progression is largely unknown. To understand the causal role of gut microbiota and endometriosis, we have implemented a novel model using antibiotic-induced microbiota-depleted (MD) mice to investigate the endometriosis disease progression. Interestingly, we found that MD mice showed reduced endometriotic lesion growth and, the transplantation of gut microbiota by oral gavage of feces from mice with endometriosis rescued the endometriotic lesion growth. Additionally, using germ-free donor mice, we indicated that the uterine microbiota is dispensable for endometriotic lesion growth in mice. Furthermore, we showed that gut microbiota modulates immune cell populations in the peritoneum of lesions-bearing mice. Finally, we found a novel signature of microbiota-derived metabolites that were significantly altered in feces of mice with endometriosis. Finally, we found one the altered metabolite, quinic acid promoted the survival of endometriotic epithelial cells in vitro and lesion growth in vivo, suggesting the disease-promoting potential of microbiota-derived metabolites. In summary, these data suggest that gut microbiota and microbiota-derived metabolome contribute to lesion growth in mice, possibly through immune cell adaptations. Of translational significance, these findings will aid in designing non-invasive diagnostics using stool metabolites for endometriosis

Autoantibodies to Peptidylarginine Deiminase 2 Are Associated With Less Severe Disease in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Objective: Peptidylarginine deiminases (PAD) 2 and 4 are key enzymes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis due to their ability to generate the protein targets of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA). Anti-PAD4 antibodies that cross-react with PAD3 (anti-PAD3/4) have been identified and are associated with severe joint and lung disease. Here, we examined whether anti-PAD2 antibodies were present in patients with RA and defined their clinical significance.Patients and Methods: A PAD2 ELISA was established to screen for anti-PAD2 IgG in sera from RA patients from a prospective observational cohort study (n = 184) and healthy controls (n = 100). RA patient characteristics were compared according to anti-PAD2 antibody status. Multivariable models were constructed to explore the independent associations of anti-PAD2 antibodies with clinical variables.Results: Anti-PAD2 antibodies were found in 18.5% of RA patients and 3% of healthy controls (p < 0.001). Among RA patients, anti-PAD2 antibodies were not associated with traditional genetic or serologic RA risk factors, including HLA-DRβ1 shared epitope alleles, ACPA, rheumatoid factor (RF), or anti-PAD3/4 antibodies. In addition, antibodies to PAD2 were associated with fewer swollen joints, a lower prevalence of interstitial lung disease, and less progression of joint damage. In subset analyses in which patients were stratified by the baseline presence of ACPA/RF or anti-PAD3/4 antibodies, anti-PAD2 antibodies provided additional value in identifying patients with the least progressive joint disease.Conclusions: Anti-PAD2 antibodies represent a novel serologic marker in RA that identifies a genetically and clinically unique subset of patients with less severe joint and lung disease

Dynamics of Hot QCD Matter -- Current Status and Developments

The discovery and characterization of hot and dense QCD matter, known as Quark Gluon Plasma (QGP), remains the most international collaborative effort and synergy between theorists and experimentalists in modern nuclear physics to date. The experimentalists around the world not only collect an unprecedented amount of data in heavy-ion collisions, at Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC), at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) in New York, USA, and the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland but also analyze these data to unravel the mystery of this new phase of matter that filled a few microseconds old universe, just after the Big Bang. In the meantime, advancements in theoretical works and computing capability extend our wisdom about the hot-dense QCD matter and its dynamics through mathematical equations. The exchange of ideas between experimentalists and theoreticians is crucial for the progress of our knowledge. The motivation of this first conference named "HOT QCD Matter 2022" is to bring the community together to have a discourse on this topic. In this article, there are 36 sections discussing various topics in the field of relativistic heavy-ion collisions and related phenomena that cover a snapshot of the current experimental observations and theoretical progress. This article begins with the theoretical overview of relativistic spin-hydrodynamics in the presence of the external magnetic field, followed by the Lattice QCD results on heavy quarks in QGP, and finally, it ends with an overview of experiment results.Comment: Compilation of the contributions (148 pages) as presented in the `Hot QCD Matter 2022 conference', held from May 12 to 14, 2022, jointly organized by IIT Goa & Goa University, Goa, Indi