Knowledge,awareness and attitude of eye donation among non-clinical staff of a tertiary eye hospital in South India

Purpose:This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, awareness and attitude of eye donation among non-clinical staff of tertiary eye hospitals and to convey a positive attitude toward eye donation by enhancing their awareness and knowledge.Methods:An online cross-sectional study was conducted among the non-clinical staff from all centers of a tertiary eye care hospital across Tamil Nadu. Quiz link was emailed to non-clinical staff of all the centers. On completion of the quiz, the participants viewed their respective scores and the correct answers to all questions. This activity was presumed to subsequently improve their knowledge and clear up the myths on eye donation.Results:Two hundred twenty-eight non-clinical staff from 11 hospitals participated in the quiz. Mean age was 35.3 ± 9.8 years and 130 were female staff (57.05%). One hundred eighty-one participants (79.39%) scored over 50% of the total 17 queries. One hundred eighty-six (81.58%) and 142 (62.28%) participants scored over 50% in the awareness section and knowledge section, respectively. Eye bank volunteers (73, 32.02%) were the main source of information. Twenty-four (10.53%) had already taken pledge for eye donation and 175 (76.75%) were willing to pledge, 29 (12.72%) were not willing to pledge. Twenty-two out of these 29 (75.86%) had no specific reason for not pledging. Family, religious reasons, lack of clarity and fear were least cited reasons (13.79%).Conclusion:Non-clinical staff of an eye hospital are easily approachable and are expected to be more knowledgeable by the general public around them. They might act as primary motivators in raising awareness within their family, friends, relatives and neighbors.     

Absence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the semen of men recovering from COVID-19 infection: An exploratory study and review of literature

The effect of COVID-19 on the male reproductive tract has been sparsely studied. This exploratory study was designed to determine the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the semen of men recovering from COVID-19. A systematic literature review was also performed as per PRISMA guidelines to gather perspective on this topic. The prospective study included men 21 years and older recovering from COVID-19 with nasopharyngeal swab negative for SARS-CoV-2 or at least two weeks from the last COVID RT-PCR positivity. After clinical evaluation, freshly ejaculated semen sample by masturbation was collected in a sterile container. Samples were processed for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR. Twenty-one patients were contacted for the study, 11 of which consented to provide a semen sample. The mean age of the cohort was 29.72 ± 4.52 years. None of the patients gave a history of epididymo-orchitis or sexual dysfunction at the time of assessment. None of the semen samples demonstrated SARS-CoV-2 on RT-PCR. Median duration of semen sample collection from the COVID positivity was 44 days (Range 19–59 days). Detailed literature review revealed that SARS-CoV-2 is not found in patients recovering from COVID-19 infection. We conclude that SARS-CoV-2 is not found in the semen of patients recovering from COVID-19.     

Evaluation of extravesical and Leadbetter-Politano ureteroneocystostomy in renal transplantation

In a series of 650 renal transplantations performed over a 4- year period, the results were evaluated of 125 Leadbetter-Politano and 125 extravesical ureteroneocystostomies. The Leadbetter-Politano technique had a complication rate of 4%, with 3.2% of these patients having a vesical leak. Extravesical ureteroneocystostomy also had a 4% complication rate but only 1.6% of these patients had a vesical leak. Although there was no statistical difference between the two groups with regard to complications, we feel that extravesical ureteroneocystostomy is a quick and simple procedure and well suited to the special challenge presented by renal transplant recipients.     

Antibodies to human seminal plasma inhibin cause sperm agglutination and impairment of cervical mucus penetration and sperm-egg attachment

Inhibin isolated from human seminal plasma which has 94 amino acids has been shown to be structurally similar to a sperm coating antigen of prostatic origin. Specific antibodies generated against this peptide caused agglutination of human sperm. Using FITC-labeled antibody, antigen was localized on the post-acrosomal head region of sperm. Antiserum to inhibin could also impair the penetration of human spermatozoa into cervical mucus. After 10 and 30 minutes, the depth and density of penetration as well as the motility of the sperm were inhibited. The treatment of sperm with antiserum to inhibin caused an inhibition of sperm attachment to the egg as well as inhibition of penetration.

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Resumen La inhibina aislada del plasma seminal humano, constituído por 94 aminoácidos, ha demostrado ser de estructura similar al antígeno de origen prostático que cubre los espermatozoides. Anticuerpos específicos generados contra este péptido causaron la aglutinación de espermatozoides humanos. Usando anticuerpos FITC marcados, se localizó antígenos en la región post-acrosomal de la cabeza del esperma. El antisuero contra la inhibina también puede afectar la penetración del espermatozoide humano en el moco cervical. A los 10 y a los 30 minutos fueron inhibidas la profundidad y la densidad de la penetración así como la motilidad del espermatozoide. El tratamiento de los espermatozoides con antisuero contra la inhibina causó la inhibición de la fijación del espermatozoide al huevo así como su penetración.

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Resumé Il a été démontré que l'inhibine isolée du liquide séminal humain, qui contient 94 acides aminés, avait une structure analogue à celle d'un antigène d'origine prostatique enveloppant le sperme. Des anticorps spécifiques produits contre ce peptide se sont révélés la cause d'une agglutination du sperme humain. A l'aide d'un anticorps marqué au FITC, l'antigène a été localisé dans la partie post-acrosomale du spermatozoïde. L'antisérum à l'inhibine a aussi eu pour effet de compromettre la pénétration des spermatozoïdes humains dans le mucus cervical. Après 10 et 30 minutes, la pénétration en profondeur et en densité du sperme, ainsi que sa motilité, se sont trouvées inhibées. En soumettant le sperme à l'antisérum de l'inhibine on a déterminé l'inhibition non seulement de sa fusion avec l'ovule mais aussi de sa pénétration.

     

Synthesis and evaluation of conformationally restricted pyridino N‐alkylated nicotine analogs as nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonists

Previous work has shown that quaternization of the pyridine‐N atom of S‐(–)‐nicotine (NIC) affords compounds such as N‐n‐octylnicotinium iodide (NONI) and N‐n‐decylnicotinium iodide (NDNI) that act as competitive nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) antagonists at α3β2* and α4β2* subtypes, respectively. To ascertain the rotameric preference about the C3‐C2′ bond of NONI and NDNI for interaction with several nAChR subtypes, two classes of bridged analogs representing extreme rotameric conformations (syn and anti) of NONI and NDNI were synthesized. NIC‐evoked [³H]dopamine ([³H]DA) release from superfused rat striatal slices was used to determine the activity of the analogs at the α3β2* nAChR. [³H]NIC and [³H]methyllycaconitine ([³H]MLA) binding to rat brain membranes were used to determine affinity for α4β2* and α7* nAChRs, respectively. With the exception of BCDD (IC₅₀ value = 1,580 nM), all analogs potently and selectively inhibited NIC‐evoked [³H]DA release (IC₅₀ values = 30–660 nM), indicating antagonism of α3β2* nAChRs. None of the analogs inhibited either [³H]NIC or [³H]MLA binding, indicating a lack of interaction with α4β2* and α7* nAChR subtypes. Interestingly, the C_{10 N}‐alkyl chain analogs, ACD and BCD, had negligible affinity for the α4β2* subtype compared to the high affinity exhibited by NDNI, suggesting that the α4β2* subtype does not recognize the unique stereochemistry of these conformationally restricted analogs. Thus, conformational restriction of N‐n‐alkylnicotinium iodides eliminated inhibitory activity at α4β2* nAChRs, but more importantly afforded high affinity and selectivity for α3β2* nAChRs. Conformational restriction of N‐n‐alkyl analogs of NIC appears to be a viable approach for the development of α3β2*‐selective nAChR antagonists. Drug Dev. Res. 55:172–186, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

FLT3 mutated acute myeloid leukemia: 2021 treatment algorithm

Approximately 30% of patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) harbor mutations in the fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) gene. While the adverse prognostic impact of FLT3-ITD^mut in AML has been clearly proven, the prognostic significance of FLT3-TKD^mut remains speculative. Current guidelines recommend rapid molecular testing for FLT3^mut at diagnosis and earlier incorporation of targeted agents to achieve deeper remissions and early consideration for allogeneic stem cell transplant (ASCT). Mounting evidence suggests that FLT3^mut can emerge at any timepoint in the disease spectrum emphasizing the need for repetitive mutational testing not only at diagnosis but also at each relapse. The approval of multi-kinase FLT3 inhibitor (FLT3i) midostaurin with induction therapy for newly diagnosed FLT3^mut AML, and a more specific, potent FLT3i, gilteritinib as monotherapy for relapsed/refractory (R/R) FLT3^mut AML have improved outcomes in patients with FLT3^mut AML. Nevertheless, the short duration of remission with single-agent FLT3i’s in R/R FLT3^mut AML in the absence of ASCT, limited options in patients refractory to gilteritinib therapy, and diverse primary and secondary mechanisms of resistance to different FLT3i’s remain ongoing challenges that compel the development and rapid implementation of multi-agent combinatorial or sequential therapies for FLT3^mut AML.Subject terms: Acute myeloid leukaemia, Targeted therapies     

The compound as a locus of fertility management: The case of The Gambia

To explain the persistence of high fertility and low contraceptive prevalence in rural sub-Saharan Africa, demography has relied heavily on a framework that emphasizes institutional barriers to individual behavioural change. Such an approach assumes that in traditional societies, institutions such as polygyny exert a uniform effect on fertility for all women and hence, actors have little agency in fertility decision-making. One consequence of this approach is its inability to perceive how women might use such social institutions for their own ends: Most notably, their efforts to plan their childbearing and to safeguard their own health. This paper uses data from a micro-level study in the North Bank region of The Gambia to investigate the management of fertility within the context of polygynous households. The results suggest that a woman's success in pacing her childbearing, using contraception, and finally 'retiring' from childbearing depends not only on her own fertility status but that of other co-resident women. Findings underscore the need to develop new approaches to the study of fertility processes in societies that have yet to experience substantial fertility decline.     

Laryngeal schwannomas-case reports with rare presentations

Schwannomas also known as Neurilemmomas are benign encapsulated, slow growing perineural tumours of Neuro-ectodermal origin that arise from the sheet of schwann cells. Two cases are being presented due to their rarity and in both cases the diagnosis was arrived at after the excision of the tumour.