Clinical Spectrum and Treatment Response of Malignant Otitis Externa Patients: A Rural Tertiary Care Centre Experience.

Introduction: Malignant otitis externa (MOE) is an invasive external ear infection that has a tendency to spread through the temporal bone and can further progress to involve intracranial structures. Though the prevalence of MOE is rare, high morbidity and mortality are often associated. Complications of advanced MOE include cranial nerve involvement, most commonly facial nerve, and intracranial infections such as abscesses and meningitis.

Independent endothelial functions of PIEZO1 and TRPV4 in hepatic portal vein and predominance of PIEZO1 in mechanical and osmotic stress.

Background & Aims: PIEZO1 and TRPV4 are mechanically and osmotically regulated calcium-permeable channels. The aim of this study was to determine the relevance and relationship of these channels in the contractile tone of the hepatic portal vein, which experiences mechanical and osmotic variations as it delivers blood to the liver from the intestines, gallbladder, pancreas and spleen.

Methods: Wall tension was measured in freshly dissected portal veins from adult male mice, which were genetically unmodified or modified for either a non-disruptive tag in native PIEZO1 or endothelial-specific PIEZO1 deletion.

Poly (A)-specific ribonuclease deficiency impacts oogenesis in zebrafish.

Poly (A)-specific ribonuclease (PARN) is the most important 3'-5'exonuclease involved in the process of deadenylation, the removal of poly (A) tails of mRNAs. Although PARN is primarily known for its role in mRNA stability, recent studies suggest several other functions of PARN including a role in telomere biology, non-coding RNA maturation, trimming of miRNAs, ribosome biogenesis and TP53 function. Moreover, PARN expression is de-regulated in many cancers, including solid tumours and hematopoietic malignancies.

Rivastigmine for Cognitive Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis: A Prospective Randomized Open Label study with Blinded End-Point Assessment.

Background And Objective: Nearly 40-65% patients with MS develop cognitive impairment during the disease. There is no treatment clearly effective in improving the cognitive deficits. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Rivastigmine in cognitively impaired MS patients.

Risk factors for clinically significant diffuse parenchymal lung abnormalities persisting after severe COVID-19 pneumonia.

Background & Objectives: The risk factors for clinically significant diffuse parenchymal lung abnormalities (CS-DPLA) persisting after severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia remain unclear. The present study was conducted to assess whether COVID-19 severity and other parameters are associated with CS-DPLA.

Methods: The study participants included patients who recovered after acute severe COVID-19 and presented with CS-DPLA at two or six month follow up and control group (without CS-DPLA).

Outcomes of Neurorehabilitation Among Patients With Prolonged Disorders of Consciousness.

Background:  The impact of neurorehabilitation on patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness (PDOC) is not well known. We assessed the range of motion (ROM), muscle girth and power, level of consciousness, development of musculoskeletal deformity, and superficial sensation.

Methods:  A retrospective observational record-based study was done, which included the data of patients diagnosed with PDOC admitted at Thumbay Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Hospital, Ajman, UAE, between 2020 and 2022.

Costal Cartilage Considerations: Novel Use of Handheld Ultrasound Device in Rhinoplasty.

Handheld ultrasound devices can be used in revision rhinoplasty to evaluate the calcification of costal rib cartilage that is to be harvested for grafting. This article provides instructions on how to perform this technique. Laryngoscope, 134:651-653, 2024.

Carbon Nanocomposites in Aerospace Technology: A Way to Protect Low-Orbit Satellites.

Recent advancements in space technology and reduced launching cost led companies, defence and government organisations to turn their attention to low Earth orbit (LEO) and very low Earth orbit (VLEO) satellites, for they offer significant advantages over other types of spacecraft and present an attractive solution for observation, communication and other tasks. However, keeping satellites in LEO and VLEO presents a unique set of challenges, in addition to those typically associated with exposure to space environment such as damage from space debris, thermal fluctuations, radiation and thermal management in vacuum. The structural and functional elements of LEO and especially VLEO satellites are significantly affected by residual atmosphere and, in particular, atomic oxygen ().

Clinical Outcomes of Tivozanib Monotherapy as First-Line Treatment for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Multicentric UK Real-World Analysis.

Background: Tivozanib is a licensed as first-line treatment for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).

Objective: To evaluate the outcomes from tivozanib in a real-world mRCC population.

Patients And Methods: Patients with mRCC commencing first-line tivozanib between March 2017 and May 2019 were identified across four specialist cancer centres in the UK.

An investigation of relationships between body compassion, social physique anxiety and physical appearance perfectionism in young people from Iran.

Background: Previous studies have shown that physical appearance perfectionism could play an important role in social physique anxiety; however, the moderating role of body compassion has not been studied. The current study aims to explore the moderating role of body compassion in the relationship between physical appearance perfectionism and social physique anxiety in undergraduate students.

Methods: A sample of 418 undergraduates (n = 418; 217 female and 201 males) from three universities in Tehran, Iran completed online questionnaires measuring physical appearance perfectionism, body compassion and social physique anxiety.

Position statement from the Indian Society of Gastroenterology, Cardiological Society of India, Indian Academy of Neurology and Vascular Society of India on gastrointestinal bleeding and endoscopic procedures in patients on antiplatelet and/or anticoagulant therapy.

Antiplatelet and/or anticoagulant agents (collectively known as antithrombotic agents) are used to reduce the risk of thromboembolic events in patients with conditions such as atrial fibrillation, acute coronary syndrome, recurrent stroke prevention, deep vein thrombosis, hypercoagulable states and endoprostheses. Antithrombotic-associated gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is an increasing burden due to the growing population of advanced age with multiple comorbidities and the expanding indications for the use of antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants. GI bleeding in antithrombotic users is associated with an increase in short-term and long-term mortality.

Synthesis, properties and potential applications of photoluminescent carbon nanoparticles: A review.

Photoluminescent-carbon nanoparticles (PL-CNPs) are a new class of materials that received immense interest among researchers due to their distinct characteristics, including photoluminescence, high surface-to-volume ratio, low cost, ease of synthesis, high quantum yield, and biocompatibility. By exploiting these outstanding properties, many studies have been reported on its utility as sensors, photocatalysts, probes for bio-imaging, and optoelectronics applications. From clinical applications to point-of-care test devices, drug loading to tracking of drug delivery, and other research innovations demonstrated PL-CNPs as an emerging material that could substitute conventional approaches.

Histomorphological Analysis of Ovarian Neoplasms According to the 2020 WHO Classification of Ovarian Tumors: A Distribution Pattern in a Tertiary Care Center.

Background: In 2018, ovarian carcinoma ranked as the eighth most common cancer diagnosed and the leading cause of cancer death in women. High-grade serous carcinoma is the most common histological type seen among malignant cases. A diverse group of neoplasms is seen in the ovary with variable clinical, morphological, and histological features, so assessing the nature of ovarian neoplasms further assists in the treatment of the disease.

Multiplexed Host-Induced Gene Silencing of Genes Confers Aflatoxin Resistance in Groundnut.

Aflatoxins are immunosuppressive and carcinogenic secondary metabolites, produced by the filamentous ascomycete , that are hazardous to animal and human health. In this study, we show that multiplexed host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) of genes essential for fungal sporulation and aflatoxin production (, , , and confers enhanced resistance to infection and aflatoxin contamination in groundnut (<20 ppb). Comparative proteomic analysis of contrasting groundnut genotypes (WT and near-isogenic HIGS lines) supported a better understanding of the molecular processes underlying the induced resistance and identified several groundnut metabolites that might play a significant role in resistance to infection and aflatoxin contamination.

Direct Electron Transfer of Glucose Oxidase on Pre-Anodized Paper/Carbon Electrodes Modified through Zero-Length Cross-Linkers for Glucose Biosensors.

A disposable paper-based glucose biosensor with direct electron transfer (DET) of glucose oxidase (GOX) was developed through simple covalent immobilization of GOX on a carbon electrode surface using zero-length cross-linkers. This glucose biosensor exhibited a high electron transfer rate (ks, 3.363 s) as well as good affinity (km, 0.

Trends in Positive Surgical Margins in cT3-T4 Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Objective: Positive surgical margins in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma are associated with cost escalation, treatment intensification, and greater risk of recurrence and mortality. The positive margin rate has been decreasing for cT1-T2 oral cavity cancer over the past 2 decades. We aim to evaluate positive margin rates in cT3-T4 oral cavity cancer over time, and determine factors associated with positive margins.

Nebulized amphotericin B for preventing exacerbations in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is complicated by exacerbations in more than one-third of the subjects. Whether nebulized amphotericin B (NAB) therapy prevents ABPA exacerbations remains unclear.

Objectives: The primary objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the frequency of subjects remaining exacerbation-free, one year after initiating NAB.

Multipronged investigation of morphometry and connectivity of hippocampal network in relation to risk for psychosis using ultrahigh field MRI.

Hippocampal abnormalities are associated with psychosis-risk states. Given the complexity of hippocampal anatomy, we conducted a multipronged examination of morphometry of regions connected with hippocampus, and structural covariance network (SCN) and diffusion-weighted circuitry among 27 familial high-risk (FHR) individuals who were past the highest risk for conversion to psychoses and 41 healthy controls using ultrahigh-field high-resolution 7 Tesla (7T) structural and diffusion MRI data. We obtained fractional anisotropy and diffusion streams of white matter connections and examined correspondence of diffusion streams with SCN edges.

Risk factors for pulmonary mucormycosis in subjects with diabetes mellitus-A case-control study.

Background: Factors associated with pulmonary mucormycosis (PM) among subjects with diabetes mellitus (DM) remain unclear. Following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19)-associated mucormycosis outbreak in India, specific environmental exposures (especially cattle dung exposure) were proposed as possible aetiology. We hypothesized that environmental factors are associated with PM.

Food physics insight: the structural design of foods.

Understanding food materials from the classical realm of physics including soft condensed matter physics has been an area of interest especially in the structural design engineering of food products. The contents of this review would help the reader in understanding the thermodynamics of food polymer, structural design principles, structural hierarchy, steps involved in food structuring, newer structural design technologies, and structure measurement techniques. Understanding the concepts of free volume would help the food engineers and technologists to study the food structural changes, manipulate process parameters and, the optimum amount of nutraceuticals/ingredients to be loaded in the food matrix.

Impact of Fingernail Polish on Pulse Oximetry Measurements: A Systematic Review.

Background: The effect of application of fingernail polish on S measurement remains unclear. We conducted this systematic review to ascertain the impact of fingernail polish on S measurement.

Methods: We queried PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL databases for publications indexed through December 2022.

A Comparative Study on Predictive Validity of Modified Shock Index, Shock Index, and Age Shock Index in Predicting the Need for Mechanical Ventilation among Sepsis Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Introduction: The shock index (SI), modified shock index (MSI), and age multiplied by SI (ASI) are used to assess the severity of shock. They are also used to predict the mortality of trauma patients, but their validity for sepsis patients is controversial. The aim of this study is to assess the predictive value of the SI, MSI, and ASI in predicting the need for mechanical ventilation after 24 h of admission among sepsis patients.