Automated Detection and Segmentation of Exudates for the Screening of Background Retinopathy.

Exudate, an asymptomatic yellow deposit on retina, is among the primary characteristics of background diabetic retinopathy. Background diabetic retinopathy is a retinopathy related to high blood sugar levels which slowly affects all the organs of the body. The early detection of exudates aids doctors in screening the patients suffering from background diabetic retinopathy.

Monocarbonyl curcuminoids as antituberculosis agents with their moderate in-vitro metabolic stability on human liver microsomes.

Tuberculosis, an airborne infectious disease, results in a high morbidity and mortality rate. The continuous emergence of TB resistance strains including MDR (multidrug-resistant tuberculosis), XDR (extensive drug-resistant tuberculosis), and especially TDR (totally drug-resistant tuberculosis) is a major public health threat and has intensified the need to develop new antitubercular agents. A natural product, curcumin, possesses diverse biological activities but suffers due to a lack of water solubility and bioavailability.

Synthesis of novel monocarbonyl curcuminoids, evaluation of their efficacy against MRSA, including ex vivo infection model and their mechanistic studies.

In continuation of our effort to improve the physiological stability and the antibacterial activity of curcuminoids against drug-resistant bacteria, a series of novel monocarbonyl curcuminoids were synthesized and screened for antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli strains.

NSC 18725, a Pyrazole Derivative Inhibits Growth of Intracellular by Induction of Autophagy.

The increasing incident rates of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) is a global health concern and has been further complicated by the emergence of extensive and total drug-resistant strains. Identification of new chemical entities which are compatible with first-line TB drugs, possess activity against DR-, and metabolically less active bacteria is required to tackle this epidemic. Here, we have performed phenotypic screening of a small molecule library against BCG and identified 24 scaffolds that exhibited MIC values of at least 2.

Newborn Screening for Five Conditions in a Tertiary Care Government Hospital in Bengaluru, South India-Three Years Experience.

Purpose: Newborn screening is the need of the hour in a developing country like India as there is paucity of data from studies conducted in government hospitals with large sample size. The purpose of the study is to estimate incidence rate and recall rates for five conditions screened in the neonatal period namely congenital hypothyroidism, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, galactosemia and phenyl ketonuria (PKU).

Methods: The study was conducted at VaniVilas Hospital attached to Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute.

Clinical Features, Risk Factors, and Short-term Outcome of Ischemic Stroke, in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: Data from a Population-based Study.

Objectives: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac rhythm disorder associated with stroke. This study was done to describe risk factors, clinical features, and short-term outcomes of stroke patients with AF.

Materials And Methods: This study was a part of the Indian Council of Medical Research funded "Ludhiana urban population based Stroke Registry.

Surgical Intervention in Gastric Carcinoid is Associated With Improved Survival in Local and Regional Disease.

Introduction: Gastric carcinoid is a rare entity with complex management options. This study aims to determine if surgical intervention in patients with local, regional, and metastatic gastric carcinoid is associated with prolonged survival.

Materials And Methods: The California Cancer Registry merged with the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development was queried for patients with a diagnosis of gastric carcinoid (2000 to 2011).

Radioembolization following Liver Resection: Safety and Dosing Considerations.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of previous liver resection on the safety of resin microsphere radioembolization (RE).

Materials And Methods: A single-center retrospective review was performed of 22 patients who underwent resin microsphere RE after liver resection during the period 2009-2014. Prescribed patient dose using the body surface area (BSA) model and a theoretical dose calculated from the actual liver volume on imaging were recorded.

Colorectal liver metastases: making the unresectable resectable using irreversible electroporation for microscopic positive margins - a case report.

Background: Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a non-thermal injury tissue ablation technique that uses electrical pulses to cause cell death. IRE damages the endothelial cells of blood vessels; however these cells re-grow, and thus IRE does not result in permanent damage to blood vessels. We report the novel use of IRE for ablation of microscopically positive margins after resection of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) impinging on hepatic veins.

Techniques for prevention of pancreatic leak after pancreatectomy.

Pancreatic resections are some of the most technically challenging operations performed by surgeons, and post-operative pancreatic fistula (POPF) are not uncommon, developing in approximately 13% of pancreaticoduodenectomies and 30% of distal pancreatectomies. Multiple trials of various operative techniques in the creation of the pancreatic ductal anastomosis have been conducted throughout the years, and herein we review the literature and outcomes data regarding these techniques, although no one technique of pancreatic ductal anastomosis has been shown to be superior in decreasing rate of POPF. Similarly, we review the literature regarding techniques of pancreatic closure after distal pancreatectomy.

Development and characterization of nano-fiber patch for the treatment of glaucoma.

In the present work polymeric nano-fiber patches was developed for the effective treatment of glaucoma using timolol maleate and dorzolamide hydrochloride as model drugs. The nano-fibers were prepared by electrospinning technique and were characterized on the basis of fiber diameter, morphology, entrapment efficiency, mucoadhesive strength, and drug release behavior, etc. Final formulations were inserted in the cul-de-sac of glaucoma induced rabbits and the efficacy of the formulation was evaluated.

90% hepatectomy with a porto-hepatic shunt in a canine model: a feasibility study.

We postulated that a surgical shunt between the portal and hepatic veins (portohepatic shunt) could improve the function and regeneration of the liver remnant after extensive hepatic resection. Using a canine model, we designed a survival study to test the feasibility of 90% hepatectomy with a portohepatic shunt. Of eight mixed-hound canines, it was necessary to sacrifice two animals for postmortem study of hepatic anatomy; we used the results to design a procedure for removing all of the liver except portions of two lobes.

Invasive IPMN and MCN: same organ, different outcomes?

Background: The efficacy of surgery for invasive mucinous neoplasms is unclear. We examined the natural history of invasive mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCN) and invasive intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) in patients who underwent pancreatic resection.

Methods: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (1996-2006) was queried for cases of resected invasive MCN and IPMN.

Chemical Investigation of Crataeva nurvala Buch. Ham. Fruits.

Chemical investigation of fruits of Crataeva nurvala has revealed the presence of four known compounds which are pentadecane, octanamide, 12-tricosanone and friedelin. These compounds have been characterized on the basis of spectral and other data. These are being reported for the first time from the fruits of this plant.

Type VI biliary cyst: report of a case.

An isolated cyst of the cystic duct is an extremely rare lesion. Only single case reports are documented in the literature. The most accepted classification system of biliary cysts, the Todani classification, does not include this lesion.

Gallbladder mass with a carbohydrate antigen 19-9 level in the thousands: malignant or benign pathology? Report of a case.

Tumor markers such as carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) are commonly measured in the serum of patients with suspected pancreaticobiliary malignancies. Moderate elevations of CA 19-9 may be seen in benign disease, but levels in the thousands are indicative of malignancy. We report the case of a 64-year-old man with an elevated CA 19-9 of 5791 U/ml and radiological findings suggestive of metastatic gallbladder carcinoma.

Living related donor nephrectomy in transfusion refusing donors.

Many transplant programs are averse to evaluate potential kidney donors with preferences against accepting human blood products. We examined the donor and graft outcomes between our transfusion-consenting (TC) and transfusion-refusing (TR) live kidney donors to determine whether a functional or survival disadvantage resulted from the disallowance of blood product transfusion during live donor (LD) nephrectomy. From July, 1999 to August, 2005, 82 live donor nephrectomies were performed, eight of who were TR donors (10%).

Left extended hepatectomy for a metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor after a disease-free interval of 17 years: report of a case.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), although rare, are frequently diagnosed with liver metastasis. These metastatic GISTs are poorly responsive to conventional chemotherapy; however, recent studies report improved survival after complete surgical resection of liver metastases. On the other hand, few reports describe the treatment of delayed liver metastasis after resection of a primary GIST.

Impact of a transfusion-free program on non-Jehovah's Witness patients undergoing liver transplantation.

Background: Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is associated with a large amount of blood loss. This article examines the impact of the initiation of a transfusion-free program in January 2000 for Jehovah's Witnesses (JWs) on the overall use of blood products in non-JW patients undergoing OLT.

Design: Retrospective review of OLT from January 1997 through December 2004.