Clinical screening for congenital heart disease at birth: A prospective study in a community hospital in Kerala

Objective  

To develop a clinical strategy for detection of Congenital heart disease (CHD) in the newborn through a combination of clinical signs and pulse oximetry.     

Inclusion body myositis (IBM)

Clinical, histological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural features of 5 cases of inclusion body myositis -4 sporadic (s-IBM) and one hereditary (h-IBM) form are described. These patients (3 men, 2 women) had chronic progressive weakness of varying severity in all 4 extremities with sparing of cranial muscles. Elevation of CPK was noted in 2 patients. Electromyography revealed features of myopathy in 4 and additional neurogenic changes in 2 subjects. Clinical diagnosis was often other than inclusion body myositis. Presence of characteristic eosinophilic inclusions within the vacuoles established the diagnosis. The inclusions were congophilic and showed positivity to ubiquitin, beta-amyloid and SMI-31 in the sporadic cases while congophila was absent in the hereditary form. Immunostaining to hyperphosphorylated-tau was negative in both s-IBM and h-IBM. Membraneous whorls were observed at ultrastructural level. None of the patients improved with steroids and trial with other immunosuppressants was unsuccessful.     

Consumption of dopamine hydrochloride by nitroglycerine: Preliminary clinical and experimental observations

Background Hypotension in twenty seven patients following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery did not respond to increasing doses of dopamine hydrochloride. This was observed when Dopamine was delivered in the same lumen of the central venous catheter alongwith nitroglycerine (NTG). When infused through separate ports of the central venous line dopamine was observed to achieve the optimum blood pressure response in smaller doses while keeping the same concentration and dose of nitroglycerine on flow. Rationale behind this observation was investigated. Methods Twenty seven patients who underwent CABG received Dopamine & Nitroglycerine infusion in the immediate postoperative period formed the clinical study group. Laboratory experiments were done to determine nitric oxide generation under various conditions spectrophotometrically. Nitrous acid was also detected by color reactions. Results (a) Clinical: Dopamine was more effective when it was delivered in a separate line from NTG. (b) Experimental: Experiments revealed that the cause of persistent hypotension when Dopamine hydrochloride and NTG were mixed was due to the consumption of Dopamine by NTG.     

Nickel oxide decorated MoS2 nanosheet-based non-enzymatic sensor for the selective detection of glucose

Understanding blood glucose levels in our body can be a key part in identifying and diagnosing prediabetes. Herein, nickel oxide (NiO) decorated molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) nanosheets have been synthesized via a hydrothermal process to develop a non-enzymatic sensor for the detection of glucose. The surface morphology of the NiO/MoS₂ nanocomposite was comprehensively investigated by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis. The electro-catalytic activity of the as-prepared NiO/MoS₂ nanocomposite towards glucose oxidation was investigated by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and amperometry in 0.1 M NaOH. The NiO/MoS₂ nanocomposite-based sensor showed outstanding electrocatalytic activity for the direct electro-oxidation of glucose due to it having more catalytic active sites, good conductivity, excellent electron transport and high specific surface area. Meanwhile, the NiO/MoS₂ modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) showed a linear range of glucose detection from 0.01 to 10 mM by amperometry at 0.55 V. The effect of other common interferent molecules on the electrode response was also tested using alanine, l-cysteine, fructose, hydrogen peroxide, lactose, uric acid, dopamine and ascorbic acid. These molecules did not interfere in the detection of glucose. Moreover, this NiO/MoS₂/GCE sensor offered rapid response (2 s) and a wide linear range with a detection limit of 1.62 μM for glucose. The reproducibility, repeatability and stability of the sensor were also evaluated. The real application of the sensor was tested in a blood serum sample in the absence and presence of spiked glucose and its recovery values (96.1 to 99.8%) indicated that this method can be successfully applied to detect glucose in real samples.

This study reported that NiO/MoS₂ based nanocomposite can be used as an electrocatalytic material to detect glucose with high selectivity in a blood serum.     

Prevalence of peripheral neuropathy among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in a rural health centre in South India

International Journal of Diabetes in Developing Countries - There is a huge burden of diabetes-related complications, both microvascular and macrovascular, in India. With the rising prevalence of...     

Efficacy of the Q-switched Neodymium: Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Laser in the Treatment of Blue-black Amateur and Professional Tattoos

Background:

Q-switched neodymium: yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd: YAG) laser at a wavelength of 1064 nm primarily targets dermal melanin and black tattoo ink. Recent studies have shown that this laser is effective in treating black tattoos. There are few studies conducted in India for the same.

Aim:

The aim was to assess the effectiveness of Q-switched Nd: YAG laser (QSNYL) in the treatment of blue-black tattoos following 3 treatment sessions.

Materials and Methods:

This study, a prospective interventional study included a total of 12 blue-black tattoos. Following informed consent for the procedure, as well as for photographs, a questionnaire was administered, and improvement perceived by the patient was recorded. In addition, global assessment score (GAS) by a blinded physician was also recorded. Photographs were taken at baseline and at every follow-up. Each patient underwent three treatment sessions with 1064 nm QSNYL at 4–6 weekly intervals. Fluences ranged from 1.8 to 9 J/cm². The follow-up was done monthly for 4 months from the first treatment session. The response was assessed by patient assessment (PA) and GAS by comparing photographs.

Results:

After three treatment sessions, although no patient achieved clearance, most patients showed good response with few adverse effects. An average of 64.1% (GAS) and 54.2% (PA) improvement was observed in 12 tattoos. Tattoos more than 10-year-old showed quicker clearing than those less than 10-year-old. Amateur tattoos also showed a better response in comparison to professional tattoos.

Conclusion:

Totally, 1064 nm QSNYL is safe and effective for lightening blue-black tattoos in pigmented Indian skin. All patients achieved near complete clearance following the continuation of treatment (an average of six sessions) although this was spaced at longer intervals.