Evaluation of risk factors associated with hard-to-heal wound infection in a tertiary care hospital.

Objective: The incidence of hard-to-heal wound infection, especially as a result of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative organisms, has increased in recent years. The reason for the increase is multifactorial and the ability of these pathogenic isolates to form biofilms is one of the important risk factors in wound infection. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors associated with such cases.

A DFT study on substituents, solvent, and temperature effect and mechanism of Diels-Alder reaction of hexafluoro-2-butyne with furan.

Context: Furan and its derivatives constitute a vital class of heterocyclic chemistry used widely in organic synthesis via Diels-Alder reactions. As fluorine incorporation has been of great interest due to the limited possible pathways, the present study on [4 + 2] cycloaddition Diels-Alder reaction, between hexafluoro-2-butyne and 2-substituted (NH, OCH, OTMS, NHBoc) furans, uses the reaction as a likely route. The computational study revealed that that the reaction is feasible in all conditions and is most favorable for NH substituent in furan.

Occurrence, Source and Dietary Exposure of Toxic and Essential Elements in the Indian Food Basket.

In this study, representative urban and peri-urban Indian food baskets have been studied for the presence of toxic and essential elements. The concentration of target toxic and essential elements was used to estimate dietary intakes (EDIs) and health risks. Across all food matrices, toxic elements like Cd and Pb were dominant.

Procalcitonin for Detecting Culture-Positive Sepsis in Neonates: A Prospective, Multicenter Study.

Introduction: It is unclear if serum procalcitonin (PCT) estimated at sepsis suspicion can help detect culture-positive sepsis in neonates. We evaluated the diagnostic performance of PCT in culture-positive sepsis in neonates.

Methods: This was a prospective study (February 2016 to September 2020) conducted in four level-3 units in India.

Choices and Challenges With Drug Therapy in Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome: A Systematic Review.

The literature on pharmacologic treatments for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is inconsistent and unstandardized. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate choices in pharmacologic treatment options for POTS and the challenges encountered in the studies. We searched numerous databases like PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for literature published before April 8, 2023.

Idiopathic Aplastic anemia: Indian Perspective.

Aplastic anemia (AA) is a rare immunologically mediated bone marrow failure syndrome, characterized by progressive loss of hematopoietic stem cells resulting in peripheral pancytopenia. Elaborative investigation including molecular tests is required to exclude inherited bone marrow failure syndrome (IMBFS) as the treatment and prognosis vary dramatically between them. Haematopoietic stem cell transplant with a fully matched sibling donor (MSD-HSCT) is still the only curative treatment.

The Effect of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention on QT Dispersion and the Association Between Them: A Systematic Review.

Electrocardiography (ECG) parameters are significant in the prognosis of ischemia and other cardiovascular conditions. Reperfusion or revascularization techniques are essential in reestablishing blood flow to ischemic tissues. This study aims to demonstrate the association between percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), a revascularization technique, and the electrocardiography (ECG) parameter, QT dispersion (QTd).

Erasmus Syndrome: A Case Series of Rare Co-Occurrence of Silicosis and Systemic Sclerosis.

Erasmus syndrome is the association of silica exposure and subsequent development of systemic sclerosis. Here we discuss five cases that presented with progressive shortness of breath, arthralgia, skin tightening, and Raynaud's phenomenon. History of exposure to silica dust was present in all cases, and further serological (Anti-Scl-70 antibody positive), radiological, and histopathological (skin biopsy) investigations confirmed the diagnosis of systemic sclerosis.

Bacteriological profile of paediatric skin and soft tissue infections and their antibiogram at a tertiary care teaching hospital in north India.

The increasing complexity of wound care in pediatric patients along with delay in the initiation of treatment predisposes these patients to many complications such as pressure ulcers, non-healing surgical wounds and skin damage. A retrospective study was conducted over a period of five years to gain insight into the etiology of pediatric wound infection. A total of 2819 wound culture positive cases were included.

A review on point of care tests in parasitology.

Background: Infectious diseases can be of serious public concerns because of its transmissibility. The parasitic infectious diseases in particular are often seen as neglected diseases of poverty. The diagnostic tests for parasitic diseases barring malaria are not easily available specially in low resources settings where they are needed most.

Does physical exercise improve the capacity for independent living in people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment: an overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Objective: To summarise existing systematic reviews which assessed the effects of physical exercise on activities of daily living, walking, balance and visual processing in people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment.

Methods: In this overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses, seven electronic databases were searched to identify eligible reviews published between January 2015 and April 2021.

Results: A total of 30 systematic reviews were identified and included in the overview.

Colistin Resistance Among Multiple Sequence Types of Is Associated With Diverse Resistance Mechanisms: A Report From India.

The resistance to colistin and carbapenems in infections have been associated with increased morbidity and mortality worldwide. A retrospective observational study was conducted to determine the prevalence and molecular events contributing to colistin resistance. Clinical samples were screened for colistin resistance and underlying mechanisms were studied by PCR-based amplification and sequence analysis of genes of two-component regulatory system ( and ), regulatory transmembrane protein-coding , and mobilized colistin resistance genes ().

Comparison of efficacy and safety of thalidomide vs hydroxyurea in patients with Hb E-β thalassemia - a pilot study from a tertiary care Centre of India.

Introduction: Hemoglobin (Hb)-F inducers are known to improve Hb level and transfusion dependence in thalassemia. This pilot study was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of Hb-F inducer thalidomide compared to hydroxyurea (HU) in Hb E-β thalassemia patients.

Methods: This was a prospective interventional single-centre study with 45 Hb E-beta thalassemia patients equally divided into group-I (thalidomide+folic acid), group-II (HU + folic acid) and group-III (folic acid).

Can sputum gram stain be used to predict lower respiratory tract infection and guide empiric antimicrobial treatment: Experience from a tertiary care hospital.

Background: The mortality associated with lower respiratory tract infection is high. Indiscriminate use of antimicrobials leads to alteration of respiratory tract flora and development of multi-drug resistance. Rapid diagnostic tests to confirm infection can guide the clinicians about antimicrobial treatment.

Phenotypic and molecular characterization of Acinetobacter baumannii isolates causing lower respiratory infections among ICU patients.

Background: Multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii has emerged as important nosocomial pathogen associated with various infections including lower respiratory tract. Limited therapeutic options contribute to increased morbidity and mortality. Acinetobacter baumannii has the ability to persist in the environment for prolonged periods.

Practices of Health Care Personnel Regarding Occupational Exposure.

Introduction: With advancing health care sciences, the prevalence of Accidental Exposure to Patient's Blood (AEBP) amongst Health Care Personnel (HCP) is bound to increase. The only means of preventing such accidental exposure is safe working practices. It is the responsibility of the teachers to inculcate these practices amongst their students.

Immobilized lipase catalyzing glucose stearate synthesis and their surfactant properties analysis.

Sugar fatty acid esters are practical importance and have a variety of applications that include surfactants and as an emulsifying agent. In this study, we report glucose stearate synthesis using lipase-FeO nanoparticles catalyst. The influence of various reaction factors, such as silica gel concentration, molar ratio of sugar/acid, reaction temperature and speed of agitation on esterification by immobilized enzyme was analyzed.

Untreated Active Tuberculosis in Pregnancy with Intraocular Dissemination: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Background. Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease that affects hundreds of millions of people across the world. However, the incidence in developed countries has decreased over the past decades causing physicians to become unfamiliar with its unspecific symptoms.

Knowledge and attitude of doctors and nurses regarding indication for catheterization and prevention of catheter-associated urinary tract infection in a tertiary care hospital.

Background And Aims: Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is one of the most common health care acquired infection encountered in clinical practice. The present study was planned to assess the knowledge and attitude of health care providers regarding the indications for catheterization and methods of preventing CAUTI.

Methods: A prospective questionnaire-based survey was done from March 2011 to August 2011.

Comparison of an in-house multiplex PCR with two commercial immuno-chromatographic tests for rapid identification and differentiation of MTB from NTM isolates.

Background: Species specific diagnosis of mycobacterial infection is crucial because treatment of infections caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) differs from that of non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) species. The species identification used to be cumbersome and non-reproducible a decade ago.

Objectives: Recently, some commercial tests have been made available to differentiate the MTB and NTM growths in culture media.