Variable Presentations of Emphysematous Liver Abscesses: Experiences From Four Cases at a Tertiary Care Center.

Emphysematous liver abscesses usually present with fever and abdominal pain with radiological investigations showing air inside the abscess cavity and biochemical parameters suggestive of sepsis. This is a condition that needs urgent intervention, but it can present with variable presentations and the gas under the right dome of the diaphragm makes the diagnosis in dilemma, confusing it with hollow viscous perforation. Hereby we present a case series of variable presentations of emphysematous liver abscesses, successfully managed by timely intervention.

Statistical analysis of the unique characteristics of secondary structures in proteins.

Protein folding is a complex process influenced by the primary sequence of amino acids. Early studies focused on understanding whether the specificity or the conservation of properties of amino acids was crucial for folding into secondary structures such as α-helices, β-sheets, turns, and coils. However, with the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), the emphasis has shifted towards the precise nature and occurrence of specific amino acids.

NCCP-ICS joint consensus-based clinical practice guidelines on medical thoracoscopy.

Medical Thoracoscopy (MT) is commonly performed by respiratory physicians for diagnostic as well as therapeutic purposes. The aim of the study was to provide evidence-based information regarding all aspects of MT, both as a diagnostic tool and therapeutic aid for pulmonologists across India. The consensus-based guidelines were formulated based on a multistep process using a set of 31 questions.

Exploring Cu-Doped CoO Bifunctional Oxygen Electrocatalysts for Aqueous Zn-Air Batteries.

The efficiency of oxygen electrocatalysis is a key factor in diverse energy domain applications, including the performance of metal-air batteries, such as aqueous Zinc (Zn)-air batteries. We demonstrate here that the doping of cobalt oxide with optimal amounts of copper (abbreviated as Cu-doped CoO) results in a stable and efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction (ORR) and evolution (OER) reactions in aqueous Zn-air batteries. At high Cu-doping concentrations (≥5%), phase segregation occurs with the simultaneous presence of CoO and copper oxide (CuO).

Groundwater quality assessment using water quality index and principal component analysis in the Achnera block, Agra district, Uttar Pradesh, Northern India.

The qualitative and quantitative assessment of groundwater is one of the important aspects for determining the suitability of potable water. Therefore, the present study has been performed to evaluate the groundwater quality for Achhnera block in the city of Taj, Agra, India, where groundwater is an important water resource. The groundwater samples, 50 in number were collected and analyzed for major ions along with some important trace element.

Structure and energetics guide dynamic behaviour in a T = 3 icosahedral virus capsid.

Although virus capsids appear as rigid, symmetric particles in experimentally determined structures; biochemical studies suggest a significant degree of structural flexibility in the particles. We carried out all-atom simulations on the icosahedral capsid of an insect virus, Flock House Virus, which show intriguing differences in the degree of flexibility of quasi-equivalent capsid subunits consistent with previously described biological behaviour. The flexibility of all the β and γ subunits of the protein and RNA fragments is analysed and compared.

Molecular Insights into the Inhibitory Role of α-Crystallin against γD-Crystallin Aggregation.

Cataracts, a major cause of global blindness, contribute significantly to the overall prevalence of blindness. The opacification of the lens, resulting in cataract formation, primarily occurs due to the aggregation of crystallin proteins within the eye lens. Despite the high concentration of these crystallins, they remarkably maintain the lens transparency and refractive index.

Effect of mutations on the folding and stability of D-crystallin protein.

Interprotein interactions between the partially unfolded states of D-crystallin (D-crys) protein are known to cause cataracts. Therefore, understanding the unfolding pathways of native D-crys is extremely crucial to delineate their aggregation mechanism. In this study, we have performed extensive all-atom Molecular Dynamics simulations with explicit solvent to understand the role of the critical residues that drive the stability of the motifs and domains of D-crys in its wild type and mutant forms.

Understanding the helical stability of charged peptides.

Cationic helical peptides play a crucial role in applications such as anti-microbial and anticancer activity. The activity of these peptides directly correlates with their helicity. In this study, we have performed extensive all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of 25 Lysine-Leucine co-polypeptide sequences of varying charge density ( ) and patterns.

Laparoscopic excision of a schwannoma arising in the psoas muscle.

Schwannoma occurring in the psoas muscle is rare. We report a 49-year-old male who presented to the orthopaedic oncosurgery team with persistent lower back pain radiating to the right lower limb following a fall on the back a few months ago. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a well-defined lesion in the right psoas muscle at the level of third lumbar vertebra (L3).

Can 18F-FDG PET/CT alone or combined with radiology be used to reliably grade cartilage bone neoplasms for surgical decision making?

Objective: Treatment of chondrosarcomas is grade based; intralesional curettage for grade 1 and resection for grade 2 or more. Currently used methods to determine grades before surgery are not highly accurate and create a dilemma for the surgeon. We have used a PET-CT combined with imaging to answer the following study questions: (1) Does SUVmax value from an 18F-FDG PET/CT correlate with the grade of chondrosarcoma? (2) Can a cutoff SUVmax value be used to differentiate between various grades of chondroid neoplasms with sufficient sensitivity and specificity? (3) Does SUVmax guide the clinician and add value to radiology in offering histologic grade-dependent management?

Methods: SUVmax values of patients with suspected chondrosarcoma were retrospectively correlated with the final histology grade for the operated patients.

Extended Curettage for Giant Cell Tumors of Bone: A Surgeon's View.

Unlabelled: The key to intralesional surgical treatment of giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is extended curettage. As GCTB is locally aggressive with a high propensity for local recurrence, a primary factor of surgical treatment is the ability to achieve local tumor clearance. GCTB commonly affects the epimetaphyseal region of the bone, which may compromise the integrity of the articular surface.

Comparative Efficacy of Transsphenoidal Endonasal Endoscopic and Microscopic Pituitary Surgery at Single Center of a Developing Country.

 This study was aimed to compare comparative efficacy of transsphenoidal endonasal endoscopic and microscopic pituitary surgery at single center of a developing country.  This study included 198 patients in which 50 patients were studied prospectively and 148 patients were studied retrospectively, diagnosed with pituitary adenoma who presented to neurosurgery department at Sawai Man Singh hospital in Jaipur, India, and were operated via transsphenoidal route between 2013 and 2018. Patients' records were reviewed and relevant clinical and surgical data were collected.

Looking through glass: Knowledge discovery from materials science literature using natural language processing.

Most of the knowledge in materials science literature is in the form of unstructured data such as text and images. Here, we present a framework employing natural language processing, which automates text and image comprehension and precision knowledge extraction from inorganic glasses' literature. The abstracts are automatically categorized using latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) to classify and search semantically linked publications.

Immunogenicity and safety of two quadrivalent influenza vaccines in healthy adult and elderly participants in India - A phase III, active-controlled, randomized clinical study.

Background: This study was conducted to compare the immunogenicity and safety profile of two quadrivalent influenza vaccines (QIVs) in healthy adults (18-60 years) and elderly (>61 years) participants.

Method: This phase III study was conducted from March 2018 to April 2018 across 12 sites in India. In this randomized, observer-blind, active-controlled study, 480 participants were randomized to receive a single dose of test vaccine (subunit, inactivated influenza vaccine; Influvac® Tetra, Abbott) (n = 240) or reference vaccine (split virion, inactivated influenza vaccine; VaxiFlu-4, Zydus Cadilla Healthcare) (n = 240).

Reconstructive Challenges of Distal Tibia Bone Tumors: Extracorporeally Irradiated Autograft Combined with a Nonvascularized Autograft Fibula for Superior Reconstruction and Functional Outcomes When Compared to Ipsilateral Pedicled Fibula Transfer Alone.

Introduction: Traditionally, centralization of the fibula with fusion across the tibiotalar joint has been used to reconstruct distal tibial defects. Although effective, it requires long periods of protected weight-bearing. The fibula or the fixation often fails before fibular hypertrophy necessitating multiple additional surgeries.

Do irradiated osteo-articular recycled tumor autografts still hold promise for biological joint reconstruction? Our experience with acetabular and proximal ulna ECRT.

Background: Joint reconstruction following resection of malignant bone tumors is challenging in itself in spite of several options in hand. Ability to restore joint anatomy, function and mobility while achieving optimal oncological outcomes are the requirement of reconstructions today. While biological reconstructions (allograft or recycled tumor autografts) following tumor bone surgery are popular for intercalary resections not involving the joint, their use for osteo-articular reconstructions are associated with concerns over cartilage and joint health.

Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of Azilsartan in Adult Patients with Essential Hypertension: A Randomized, Phase-III Clinical Study in India.

Background: Globally, women and men over the age of 25 years suffer from hypertension, the need for new treatment strategies to treat hypertension is due to the multi-faceted nature of the disease. Lack of optimal blood pressure control can lead to multiple complications. Therefore, this phase 3 study was conducted to assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of potential product azilsartan hydrochloride for reduction in blood pressure in Indian patients with essential hypertension.

Does a Modified Technique to Achieve Arthrodesis of the Wrist After Resection of the Distal Radius and Translocating the Ipsilateral Ulna as a Vascularized Graft to Reconstruct the Defect Improve Grip Strength and Outcomes Scores?

Background: Ten years ago, we reported the results of a procedure in which we translocated the ipsilateral ulna as a vascularized autograft to reconstruct defects of the distal radius after tumor resection, with excellent functional results. At that time, wrist arthrodesis was achieved by aligning the translocated ulna with the scapholunate area of the carpus and usually the third metacarpal. This resulted in wrist narrowing.

Gossypiboma: What Happens When a Mop is Left in a Thigh for ten Years.

Introduction: Gossypiboma is an iatrogenic lesion, caused by a retained surgical sponge in the operating field. It is an extremely rare event following musculoskeletal procedures and has devastating medicolegal consequences. It is hardly ever reported, and hence, the incidence is difficult to determine.

Chemokine SDF1 Mediated Bone Regeneration Using Biodegradable Poly(D,L-lactide--glycolide) 3D Scaffolds and Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Implication for the Development of an "Off-the-Shelf" Pharmacologically Active Construct.

There is an increasing need for bone substitutes for reconstructive orthopedic surgery following removal of bone tumors. Despite the advances in bone regeneration, the use of autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) presents a significant challenge, particularly for the treatment of large bone defects in cancer patients. This study aims at developing new chemokine-based technology to generate biodegradable scaffolds that bind pharmacologically active proteins for regeneration/repair of target injured tissues in patients.

Fighting Megaprosthetic Infections: What are the Chances of Winning?

Background: Megaprosthetic infections continue to be a leading mode of failure after limb salvage surgery. Though challenging, amputations can be avoided with proper management in majority of the cases. This study aims to describe the spectrum of mega-endoprosthetic infections at our institute and assess the treatment efficacy in these patients.

Tuberculosis (T.B.) masquerading as tumor. An 8-year study on 25 cases of long bone tuberculosis presenting as tumors.

Aim: To highlight radiological features and emphasize the need for tissue diagnoses to confirm bone pathology. Tuberculosis is known to present without constitutional symptoms and with unconventional imaging features mimicking sarcomas as shown in our series of 25 patients; where the imaging and biopsy protocols at our institute helped to solve these diagnostic dilemmas.

Material And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical and radiological features and tissue diagnoses in 25 patients referred to the department of orthopedic oncology with radiological suspicion of tumor.