Recovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from L?wenstein-Jensen media contaminated with other organisms

Growth of contaminating organisms along with Mycobacterium tuberculosis on L?wenstein-Jensen (LJ) medium is common. However, there is no documented evidence on the decontamination procedure adopted in mycobacteriology laboratories to recover M. tuberculosis from the contaminants grown on LJ medium. At the National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, of 1048 LJ slopes with M. tuberculosis received from intermediate reference laboratories, 98 (9%) were contaminated. Of these, 87 (89%) M. tuberculosis cultures were retrieved after decontamination with 1% cetrimide. The use of cetrimide as a decontaminating agent to retrieve M. tuberculosis cultures grown with contaminants is documented.     

High performance p-channel and ambipolar OFETs based on imidazo[4,5-f]-1,10-phenanthroline-triarylamines

A series of phenanthroline functionalized triarylamines (TAA) has been designed and synthesised to evaluate their OFET characteristics. Solution processed OFET devices have exhibited p-channel/ambipolar behaviour with respect to the substituents, in particular methoxyphenyl substitution resulted with highest mobility (μ_h) up to 1.1 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ with good I_on/off (10⁶) ratio. These compounds can be potentially utilized for the fabrication of electronic devices.

A series of phenanthroline functionalized triarylamines (TAA) has been designed and synthesised to evaluate their OFET characteristics. Solution processed OFET devices have exhibited p-channel/ambipolar behaviour with respect to the substituents.     

Organic semiconductor/graphene oxide composites as a photo-anode for photo-electrochemical applications

An intimate physical mixture of graphene oxide (GO) and semiconducting organic molecules like bromophenathrene (BrPh) and bromopyrene (BrPy) was prepared by using a ball milling technique. The structural, microstructural, physical and chemical properties of the mixtures (20 wt% of GO) were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, SEM, FT-IR, TGA and TCSPC studies. Furthermore, the electrochemical properties like AC electrical conductivity, transient photocurrent response (PCTR) and open circuit voltage (OCVD) of the samples were analyzed. It has been observed from TCSPC and OCVD measurements that 20 wt% of GO in the semiconductor composite leads to an enhanced life-time of photo-generated charge carriers. The physical mixture composites exhibit a higher photocurrent than pure BrPh and BrPy.

New organic materials with longer life-times of the charge carrier and enhancement of photocurrent generation were developed.     

Giant Inguinoscrotal Hernia—Report of a Rare Case With Literature Review

Massive inguinoscrotal hernias extending below the midpoint of the inner thigh, in the standing position constitute giant inguinoscrotal hernias. We report a patient who presented with giant right inguinal hernia with bilateral hydrocele for 25 years. He had no cardiorespiratory illnesses. He was taken up for surgery under general anesthesia after preoperative respiratory exercises. Sliding hernia with entire greater omentum, small bowel, and appendix as contents was identified. Meshplasty after omentectomy with bilateral subtotal excision of sac, right orchidectomy, and scrotoplasty were done. Giant inguinoscrotal hernias pose significant problems while replacing bowel contents because of the increase in intraabdominal and intrathoracic pressures. Recurrence is another complication seen after successful surgical management. Various techniques such as preoperative pneumoperitoneum, debulking abdominal contents with extensive bowel resections, or omentectomy and phrenectomy have been tried. Postoperative elective ventilation is also needed in many cases. We describe simple reduction with omentectomy as a viable technique in this patient. He did not need elective ventilation due to preoperative respiratory exercises and preparation and review of the literature.Key words: Debulking, Giant inguinoscrotal hernia, Massive inguinoscrotal hernia, Phrenectomy, VentilationGiant inguinoscrotal hernias are defined as those extending below the midpoint of the inner thigh, in the standing position.¹ These hernias are rare and usually the result of neglect or fear of surgical procedures and are prevalent in the rural population.² These massive hernias pose significant problems resulting from cardiorespiratory compromise following sudden increase in intra-abdominal pressure during replacement of herniated viscera.³ In order to circumvent these complications, techniques such as debulking, phrenectomy, and progressive pneumoperitoneum have been described.³ Here, we present a patient with giant inguinoscrotal hernia where simple reduction with omentectomy was successful, and we review the literature.     

Complex airway reconstruction in children with tracheobronchial injuries: a case series

Paediatric airway surgery in the setting of complex tracheobronchial defects is challenging. This report describes the surgical management and outcomes of pericardial flap repair in three children. The first patient was a 4-month-old boy with a history of tracheoesophageal fistula repair who presented after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. He was treated by re-do tracheobronchial reconstruction of the carina using a pedicled pericardial flap. The second patient was an 11-month-old boy who presented following aspiration of a button battery. Bronchoscopy showed erosion of the battery through both main bronchi and the oesophagus. The patient underwent emergency reconstruction of the extensive tracheobronchial defect with pedicled right and left pericardial patches. The third patient was a 5-year-old girl who fell from a swing, resulting in avulsion of the right main bronchus. Pedicled pericardium was used to reconstruct the damaged posterior tracheal wall and the right and left main bronchi. All three patients underwent successful repair of complex tracheobronchial defects with good outcomes in terms of survival and quality of life during 6 to 21 months of follow-up. Pedicled pericardial flap repair may be a viable option for achieving improved results in children with severe tracheobronchial defects.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Solution Processable Poly(pyrazolines)

Solution‐processable poly(dibenzalacetone) and poly(dibenzalcyclohexanone) are prepared by the condensation of 1,4‐dialkoxy‐bisbenzaldehyde and acetone/cyclohexanone using classic Claisen–Schmidt condensation. The prepared polymers are readily soluble in common organic solvents due to the presence of alkoxy chains present on the aromatic ring. The availability of α,β‐unsaturated ketone on the backbone is readily functionalized with hydrazine hydrate to obtain poly(pyrazoline acetate), a nonconjugated polymer on the backbone, which shows enhanced emission characteristics on comparison with the pristine polymer and small molecule analogues. The highest occupied molecular orbital–lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO–LUMO) of levels of poly(pyrazolines) has a band gap of 1.54 eV as calculated from cyclic voltammetry and UV–vis studies. Uniform thin film is obtained by spin casting as 1% solution on chlorobenzene and annealing under vacuum. Atomic force microscopy analysis shows fine morphology of the thin film. I–V characterization of the film shows low turn‐on voltage of 5.3 V. HOMO–LUMO is calculated by density functional theory and the result suggests that these molecules have great potential toward polymer organic light‐emitting diode applications.     

Cutaneous histoplasmosis with prominent parasitization of epidermal keratinocytes: report of a case

Disseminated histoplasmosis most commonly occurs in immunosuppressed individuals and involves the skin in approximately 6% of patients. Cutaneous histoplasmosis with an intraepithelial‐predominant distribution has not been described. A 47‐year‐old man was admitted to our institution with fever and vancomycin‐resistant enterococcal bacteremia. He had been diagnosed with T‐cell prolymphocytic leukemia 4 years earlier and had undergone matched‐unrelated‐donor stem cell transplant 2 years earlier; on admission, he had relapsed disease. His medical history was significant for disseminated histoplasmosis 6 months before admission, controlled with multiple antifungal regimens. During this final hospitalization, the patient developed multiple 2–5 mm erythematous papules, a hemorrhagic crust across the chest, shoulders, forearms, dorsal aspect of the fingers, abdomen and thighs. Skin biopsy revealed clusters of oval yeast forms mostly confined to the cytoplasm of keratinocytes and within the stratum corneum; scattered organisms were present in the underlying superficial dermis without any significant associated inflammatory infiltrate. Special stains and immunohistochemical studies confirmed these to be Histoplasma organisms. We highlight this previously unrecognized pattern of cutaneous histoplasmosis to ensure its prompt recognition and appropriate antifungal therapy.