Association of serum lipid profile and other systemic risk factors with retinal hard exudates in diabetic retinopathy.

Purpose: Diabetic macular edema is one of the leading causes of vision loss across the world. Hard exudates at the macula can lead to structural abnormalities in the retina leading to irreversible vision loss. Systemic dyslipidemia and other modifiable risk factors when identified and treated early may help prevent substantial vision loss.

Linezolid induced toxic optic neuropathy in drug resistant tuberculosis-A case series.

In developing countries like India, Linezolid is widely used for the treatment of Multi drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and extensively drug resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB). Long-term administration of Linezolid is reported to cause toxic optic neuropathy causing bilateral, progressive visual loss in patients. We report case details of three patients on anti-tubercular therapy presented to us with sudden, progressive, painless blurring of vision of both eyes the cause of which was confirmed to be toxic optic neuropathy due to linezolid.

Genotypic analyses of IncHI2 plasmids from enteric bacteria.

Incompatibility (Inc) HI2 plasmids are large (typically > 200 kb), transmissible plasmids that encode antimicrobial resistance (AMR), heavy metal resistance (HMR) and disinfectants/biocide resistance (DBR). To better understand the distribution and diversity of resistance-encoding genes among IncHI2 plasmids, computational approaches were used to evaluate resistance and transfer-associated genes among the plasmids. Complete IncHI2 plasmid (N = 667) sequences were extracted from GenBank and analyzed using AMRFinderPlus, IntegronFinder and Plasmid Transfer Factor database.

Dry eye symptoms and digital eyestrain - Emerging epidemics among university students due to online curriculum amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study.

Purpose: Increased screen time has been a major concern among the students who have adopted the online curriculum amid the pandemic. The study was conducted to shed light on the changing trends of symptoms pertaining to dry eye disease and digital eyestrain due to the online curriculum and its negative implications on the ocular health of students.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among students of Manipal Academy of Higher Education who are currently following the E-learning curriculum amid the COVID-19 pandemic the participants were surveyed using a pre-validated structured questionnaire.

Microbial Genetics and Clonal Dissemination of Salmonella enterica Serotype Javiana Isolated from Human Populations in Arkansas, USA.

Salmonella is estimated to cause over a million infections and ~400 deaths annually in the U.S. Salmonella enterica serotype Javiana strains (n = 409) that predominantly originated from the State of Arkansas over a six-year period (2003 to 2008) were studied.

Effect of heterogeneous substrate adhesivity of follower cells on speed and tension profile of leader cells in primary keratocyte collective cell migration.

In single keratocyte motility, membrane tension is reported to be high at cell-fronts and believed to establish front coherence. To understand role of membrane mechanics in collective cell migration, we study membrane height fluctuations in cell sheets from fish scales using interference reflection microscopy (IRM). We report the monolayer to have cells lacking substrate adhesion and show that such 'non-sticky' cells can form bridges between leader cells and far-away follower cells.

Urine protein: Urine creatinine ratio correlation with diabetic retinopathy.

Purpose: To investigate the urine protein (UP) and urine creatinine (UC) ratio in diabetes mellitus and report its influence as a risk factor for the presence and severity of diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods: In total, 150 diabetic patients presenting to the outpatient department were included. Detailed history with informed consent and ophthalmic examination, including visual assessment, external ocular examination, anterior segment evaluation, dilated fundus examination by slit-lamp biomicroscopy, and indirect ophthalmoscopy, was done.

Pragmatic Strategy for Fecal Specimen Storage and the Corresponding Test Methods for Diagnosis.

The quality of fecal specimens is one of the factors responsible for successful infection (CDI) diagnosis. The quality depends largely on the storage conditions, including the temperature and time period. In this study, we organized the outputs of previous studies, filled experimental gaps in the knowledge of storage conditions, and introduced a pragmatic strategy for fecal storage for CDI diagnosis.

Bayesian inference of the viscoelastic properties of a Jeffrey's fluid using optical tweezers.

Bayesian inference is a conscientious statistical method which is successfully used in many branches of physics and engineering. Compared to conventional approaches, it makes highly efficient use of information hidden in a measured quantity by predicting the distribution of future data points based on posterior information. Here we apply this method to determine the stress-relaxation time and the solvent and polymer contributions to the frequency dependent viscosity of a viscoelastic Jeffrey's fluid by the analysis of the measured trajectory of an optically trapped Brownian particle.

Genotypic and Phenotypic Characterization of Incompatibility Group FIB Positive Serovar Typhimurium Isolates from Food Animal Sources.

is one of the most common bacterial foodborne pathogens in the United States, causing illnesses that range from self-limiting gastroenteritis to more severe, life threatening invasive disease. Many strains contain plasmids that carry virulence, antimicrobial resistance, and/or transfer genes which allow them to adapt to diverse environments, and these can include incompatibility group (Inc) FIB plasmids. This study was undertaken to evaluate the genomic and phenotypic characteristics of IncFIB-positive serovar Typhimurium isolates from food animal sources, to identify their plasmid content, assess antimicrobial resistance and virulence properties, and compare their genotypic isolates with more recently isolated Typhimurium isolates from food animal sources.

Mycotic keratitis due to : Successful salvage of the eye.

We hereby report a successfully salvaged eye due to mycotic keratitis by Cylindrocarpon lichenicola in a 60-year-old female from Kasaragod (Kerala). The patient came with a history of pain, photophobia and decreased vision of the right eye. The microbiological investigations of the corneal scraping revealed C.

Critical Slowing Down at the Abrupt Mott Transition: When the First-Order Phase Transition Becomes Zeroth Order and Looks Like Second Order.

We report that the thermally induced Mott transition in vanadium sesquioxide shows critical slowing down and enhanced variance ("critical opalescence") of the order parameter fluctuations measured through low-frequency resistance-noise spectroscopy. Coupled with the observed increase of the phase-ordering time, these features suggest that the strong abrupt transition is controlled by a critical-like singularity in the hysteretic metastable phase. The singularity is identified with the spinodal point and is a likely consequence of the strain-induced long-range interaction.

Immunomagnetic Capture of Big Six Shiga Toxin-Producing Strains in Apple Juice with Detection by Multiplex Real-Time PCR Eliminates Interference from the Food Matrix.

Having reliable methods for detecting Shiga toxin-producing (STEC) in foods is an important food safety goal. The majority of STEC outbreaks have involved either the O157:H7 serotype or one of six non-O157 serogroups, O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145, termed "The Big Six." We have compared detection by PCR of the Shiga toxin genes and from STEC bacteria isolated from unclarified apple juice by simple centrifugation with the use of an immunocapture technique to minimize contaminants (such as pectin and polyphenols that may copurify with DNA) that may interfere with DNA amplification efficiencies and limit sensitivity.

Using the Theory of Planned Behavior to Understand Factors Influencing South Asian Consumers' Intention to Seek Pharmacist-Provided Medication Therapy Management Services.

The study purpose was to use the theory of planned behavior to understand factors influencing South Asian consumers' intention to seek pharmacist-provided medication therapy management services (MTMS). Specific objectives were to assess effects of attitude, subjective norm (SN), perceived behavioral control (PBC), and socio-demographics on South Asian consumers' intention to seek MTMS. Participants who were ≥18 years of age, of South Asian origin, with a previous visit to a pharmacy in the US for a health-related reason, and with ability to read and comprehend English were recruited from independent pharmacies in New York City.

Effects of Medication Nonadherence and Comorbidity on Health Resource Utilization in Schizophrenia.

Background: Medication nonadherence to antipsychotic drugs, which is commonly seen in patients with schizophrenia who have comorbidities, not only affects the quality of life of individuals suffering from the condition, but can also lead to worsening of disease condition, adverse outcomes, excessive use of health care resources, and higher medical costs.

Objective: To determine the effect of nonadherence to antipsychotics and related disease comorbidities on medical care utilization with respect to inpatient hospital visits, outpatient visits, office visits, and emergency room (ER) visits.

Methods: Retrospective, cross-sectional research data was obtained from the Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys (MEPS) for the years 2010-2014.

Impact of co-carriage of IncA/C plasmids with additional plasmids on the transfer of antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella enterica isolates.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella enterica is often plasmid encoded. A key resistance plasmid group is the incompatibility group (Inc) A/C plasmids that often carry multiple resistance determinants. Previous studies showed that IncA/C plasmids were often co-located with other plasmids.

Evaluation of the Genetics and Functionality of Plasmids in Incompatibility Group I1-Positive Salmonella enterica.

Salmonella is a predominant foodborne pathogen in the United States and other countries. Mobile genetic elements such as plasmids allow Salmonella to adapt to external stress factors such as nutrient deprivation and host factors. Incompatibility group I1 (IncI1) plasmid-carrying Salmonella enterica strains were examined to determine the presence of plasmid-associated genes and their influence on phenotypic characteristics.

Draft Genome Sequences of Isolates Containing Incompatibility Group I1 Plasmids from Swine, Poultry, and Human Sources.

The draft genome sequences of eight isolates from various sources were evaluated for the influence of incompatibility group I1 (IncI1) plasmids on virulence. Strains SE142, SE143, SE144, and SE146 originated from swine, SE36N and SE89N from poultry-related sources, and SE991 and SE1148 from human patients.

Development of a Flow Cytometry-Based Method for Rapid Detection of Escherichia coli and Shigella Spp. Using an Oligonucleotide Probe.

Standard methods to detect Escherichia coli contamination in food use the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and agar culture plates. These methods require multiple incubation steps and take a long time to results. An improved rapid flow-cytometry based detection method was developed, using a fluorescence-labeled oligonucleotide probe specifically binding a16S rRNA sequence.

Molecular Characterization of Salmonella enterica Serovars Isolated from a Turkey Production Facility in the Absence of Selective Antimicrobial Pressure.

This study evaluated antimicrobial resistance and virulence factors in Salmonella enterica isolated from a turkey flock in which the birds were raised in an environment where antimicrobials were not administered to the birds, either through feed or water. Salmonella was isolated from turkeys and various environmental samples in the facility using conventional microbiological procedures. Isolates were serotyped and analyzed phenotypically by antimicrobial resistance profiling and genotypically by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) fingerprinting, integron analysis, plasmid profiling, replicon-based incompatibility (Inc) group typing, and virulence gene profiling.

Diversity of Clostridium perfringens isolates from various sources and prevalence of conjugative plasmids.

Clostridium perfringens is an important pathogen, causing food poisoning and other mild to severe infections in humans and animals. Some strains of C. perfringens contain conjugative plasmids, which may carry antimicrobial resistance and toxin genes.

Impact of FDA Black Box Warning on Psychotropic Drug Use in Noninstitutionalized Elderly Patients Diagnosed With Dementia: A Retrospective Study.

Background: The study seeks to investigate the impact of Food and Drug Administration's black box warning (BBW) on the use of atypical antipsychotics (AAP) and nonantipsychotic psychotropic alternatives in noninstitutionalized elderly population diagnosed with dementia.

Method: The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (2004 through 2007) was utilized as the data source. Medication use in elderly patients (≥65 years) was defined as taking at least 1 medication for dementia.

Aqueous penetration of orally and topically administered moxifloxacin.

Aim: To assess the intraocular penetration of 0.5% moxifloxacin hydrochloride into aqueous humour after oral and topical administration.

Methods: A prospective, interventional study of 42 patients scheduled to undergo cataract surgery was carried out.