A systematic review of CQ-resistant malaria infections in India.

Introduction: Chloroquine (CQ) is the drug of choice for treating uncomplicated malaria in India. The knowledge about the exact burden of CQ resistance in P. vivax in India is scarce.

Effectiveness of Photobiomodulation Therapy on Neuropathic Pain, Nerve Conduction and Plantar Pressure Distribution in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy - A Systematic Review.

Background: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a severe complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The most common symptoms are neuropathic pain and altered sensorium due to damage to small nerve fibers. Altered plantar pressure distribution is also a major risk factor in diabetic peripheral neuropathy, leading to diabetic foot ulcers.

Erythrocyte miRNA-92a-3p interactions with PfEMP1 as determinants of clinical malaria.

Based on the recently added high throughput analysis data on small noncoding RNAs in modulating disease pathophysiology of malaria, we performed an integrative computational analysis for exploring the role of human-host erythrocytic microRNAs (miRNAs) and their influence on parasite survival and host homeostasis. An in silico analysis was performed on transcriptomic datasets accessed from PlasmoDB and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) repositories analyzed using miRanda, miRTarBase, mirDIP, and miRDB to identify the candidate miRNAs that were further subjected to network analysis using MCODE and DAVID. This was followed by immune infiltration analysis and screening for RNA degradation mechanisms.

Age Related Prevalence of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in the Indian Population and Association of Serum Lipids With Cognitive Dysfunction.

The magnitude of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is ever-increasing in India, and at present, ~77 million people live with diabetes. Studies have established that T2DM increases the risk of neurodegenerative disorders. This study aimed to determine the age-related prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in T2DM patients in the Indian population and to identify link between cognitive dysfunction in T2DM patients and serum lipid composition through untargeted and targeted lipidomic studies.

Effectiveness of customized insoles on maximum plantar pressure in diabetic foot syndrome: A systematic review.

Background And Aims: Diabetic foot syndrome is a severe complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Increased maximum plantar pressure is a strong predictor that may be detrimental and cause a plantar ulcer. This present systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of customized insoles on reducing maximum plantar pressure in diabetic foot syndrome.

Effect of photobiomodulation on serum neuron specific enolase (NSE) among patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy - A pilot study.

Background And Aim: Photobiomodulation is an emerging therapy for Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) of which the management is still a dilemma for clinicians. Elevated Neuron Specific Enolase (NSE) is associated with neuropathy. We aimed this study to assess the effect of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) on Serum Neuron Specific Enolase in Type II Diabetes Mellitus patients with DPN.

Relationship Between Glycated Hemoglobin and Vibration Perception Threshold in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy.

Foot ulcers, infections, and deformity are some of the major sources of mortality and morbidity among the diabetic population. The relationship between glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) has been well established. There is a dearth of literature on the relationship between vibration perception threshold (VPT) and HbA1c values.

Low level laser therapy for the patients with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy - A systematic review.

Background: Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is an emerging treatment modality for management of neuropathic pain. It works by triggering biochemical changes with in cells.

Objective: This systematic review focused on finding evidence on the effectiveness of LLLT on treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy.

2,5-Dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3(2H)-furanone as an Anti-biofilm Agent Against Non-Candida albicans Candida Species.

Background: The predominance of non-Candida albicans Candida (NCAC) species causing healthcare-associated infections has increased over the last decade pertaining to their ability to form biofilms on medical devices. These biofilm-associated infections are challenging to treat as they are resistant to antifungal agents and evade host-immune response resulting in a high risk of device failure or biomaterial removal. Thus, to minimize the risk of biofilm-associated infections, preventing biofilm formation is the best approach which is mediated by the quorum quenching process.

Auxanographic Carbohydrate Assimilation Method for Large Scale Yeast Identification.

Introduction: The auxanographic carbohydrate assimilation had been an important method for differentiation of yeasts. Prevailing methods described in the literature for carbohydrate assimilation has limited scope for use in large scale yeast identification.

Aim: To optimize the large scale auxanographic carbohydrate assimilation method for yeast identification.

Genetic and epigenetic changes in host ABCB1 influences malaria susceptibility to Plasmodium falciparum.

Multiple mechanisms such as genetic and epigenetic variations within a key gene may play a role in malarial susceptibility and response to anti-malarial drugs in the population. ABCB1 is one of the well-studied membrane transporter genes that code for the P-glycoprotein (an efflux protein) and whose effect on malaria disease predisposition and susceptibility to drugs remains to be understood. We studied the association of single nucleotide variations in human ABCB1 that influences its function in subjects with uncomplicated and complicated malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum (Pf).

New molecular detection methods of malaria parasites with multiple genes from genomes.

For the effective control of malaria, development of sensitive, accurate and rapid tool to diagnose and manage the disease is essential. In humans subjects, the severe form of malaria is caused by Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) and Plasmodium vivax (Pv) and there is need to identify these parasites in acute, chronic and latent (during and post-infection) stages of the disease. In this study, we report a species specific and sensitive diagnostic method for the detection of Pf and Pv in humans.

Efficacy of low level laser therapy on painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Background & Aims: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) accounts for most common complications of T2DM. Painful DPN is associated with functional limitation & poor quality of life. Therefore, objective of the study is to find the effect of low level laser therapy on painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) Materials & methods: The study design is pre-post observational design.

Categorical complexities of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in individuals is associated with genetic variations in ADORA2A and GRK5 genes.

In the erythrocytes, malaria parasite entry and infection is mediated through complex membrane sorting and signaling processes. We investigated the effects of single-locus and multilocus interactions to test the hypothesis that the members of the GPCR family genes, adenosine A2a receptor (ADORA2A) and G-protein coupled receptor kinase5 (GRK5), may contribute to the pathogenesis of malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) independently or through complex interactions. In a case-control study of adults, individuals affected by Pf malaria (complicated n=168; uncomplicated n=282) and healthy controls (n=450) were tested for their association to four known SNPs in GRK5 (rs2230345, rs2275036, rs4752307 and rs11198918) and two in ADORA2A (rs9624472 and rs5751876) genes with malaria susceptibility, using techniques of polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphisms and direct DNA sequencing.

Host genetic variations in glutathione-S-transferases, superoxide dismutases and catalase genes influence susceptibility to malaria infection in an Indian population.

Antioxidant enzymes can contribute to disease susceptibility or determine response to therapy in individuals with malaria. Genetic variations due to polymorphisms in host genes encoding antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione S-transferases-theta, mu, pi (GSTT, GSTM, GSTP), superoxide dismutases (SOD) and catalase (CAT), may therefore, influence inter-individual response to malaria pathology and propensity of infection caused by Plasmodium vivax (Pv) and Plasmodium falciparum (Pf). Therefore, using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and DNA sequencing, we investigated the association of deletions of GSTT1 and GSTM1, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of GSTP1 (rs1695), SOD1 (rs2234694), SOD2 (rs4880, rs1141718), SOD3 (rs2536512) and CAT (rs1001179) in individuals infected with Pf (n = 100) and Pv (n = 100) against healthy controls (n = 150).

Intrinsic foot muscle and plantar tissue changes in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder with involvement of the neurovascular and muscular system. Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is thought to be the principal cause of foot complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, foot evaluation using ultrasonography early in the course of diabetes has not gained due importance.

Community-acquired multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infective endocarditis.

We describe two cases of bacterial endocarditis secondary to multidrug-resistant Gram-negative organisms. In both cases, the diagnosis was made in accordance with the modified Duke's criteria and confirmed by histopathological analysis. Furthermore, in both instances there were no identifiable sources of bacteraemia and no history of contact with hospital or other medical services prior to the onset of symptoms.

A young woman with seizures and psychosis.

We present a case of a 24-year-old woman with abnormal behaviour of recent onset. She had been diagnosed previously with epilepsy and had been started on antiepileptic medication. Clinical examination confirmed features of psychosis including paranoid delusions and auditory hallucination.

Hot and cold: coexistent Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis in a patient with Schmidt's syndrome.

A 37-year-old housewife presented with generalised fatigue, palpitations and weight loss over the past 3 months. Physical examination revealed signs of hyperthyroidism. Thyroid function tests confirmed the presence of thyrotoxicosis.

Herpes simplex keratitis-induced endophthalmitis in a patient with AIDS with disseminated tuberculosis.

We present the case of a 42-year-old man with AIDS who had lost complete vision of his left eye for the past 15 days. MRI and brightness scan ultrasonography were performed on his eyes that suggested of endophthalmitis with dendritic involvement in the left eye. Viral DNA PCR was performed in aqueous humour sample that confirmed the presence of herpes simplex virus and showed a negative result for cytomegalovirus.

Simultaneous occurrence of internal capsule infarct and cerebellar haemorrhage in a patient with hemiplegia.

A 68-year-old woman with hypertension with no history of cerebrovascular events presented with a left-sided hemiplegia which had developed acutely 2 days ago. She was not on maintenance therapy with antiplatelets or anticoagulants. A CT scan showed acute ischaemic infarction of the right internal capsule and cerebellar haemorrhage.

Primary presentation of chronic calcific pancreatitis with massive unilateral pleural effusion.

We described a 45-year-old previously healthy man presenting with progressively worsening breathlessness for 10 days. Physical examination was suggestive of a left-sided pleural effusion. A chest X-ray was confirmatory.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms of ADRB2 gene and their association with susceptibility for Plasmodium falciparum malaria and asthma in an Indian population.

The essential route to blood parasitaemia in malaria, erythrocyte invasion is facilitated by activation of the G-protein coupled receptor signaling pathway mediated by the β2-adrenoreceptor as one of the proteins on the surface of red blood cells. The effectiveness of bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids in the clinical treatment for asthma patients also depend on polymorphisms in the β2-adrenoreceptor gene (ADRB2). In a case control study, individuals affected by Plasmodium falciparum malaria, asthma and controls were tested for association of six ADRB2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) viz.