National intercomparisons of I radioactivity measurements in nuclear medicine centres in India

National intercomparisons of activity measurements of ¹³¹I, a radioisotope widely used for diagnosis and therapy of thyroid related ailments, were initiated in 1979 as a quality assurance program, towards improving radiation safety procedures and related dosimetry in Nuclear Medicine Centres (NMCs) in India. Oral administration of a known quantity of radioiodine to patients requires accurate radioactivity measurements to be performed on a well-calibrated isotope calibrators. Under or over estimation of the activity due to a faulty or uncalibrated isotope calibrator could provide misleading results. Calibration of isotope calibrators and the traceablity of subsequent measurements to the national standards laboratory is one of the essential basic radiation safety requirement of the IAEA. In view of the stringent quality assurance requirements for activity measurements imposed by Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, a National Intercomparison Program was initiated and to date ten such intercomparison programs have been conducted by the Radiation Safety Systems Division, of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. This program has benefited the participants by making their measurements traceable to the National Primary Standards. Over the years there has been a marked increase in the number of NMCs participating in the intercomparison programs. As a result, the number of institution showing large deviation from the correct value has decreased considerably over the years. This program thus, has enabled participating NMCs to check their isotope calibrators so as to ensure proper delivery of radiation dose to the patients and hence to optimise patient exposure.     

NEUROCYSTICERCOSIS IN CHILDREN PRESENTING WITH AFEBRILE SEIZURE: CLINICAL PROFILE,IMAGING AND SERODIAGNOSIS

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is one of the major causes of childhood seizures in developing countries including India and Latin America. In this study neurological pediatric cases presenting with afebrile seizures were screened for anti-Cysticercus antibodies (IgG) in their sera in order to estimate the possible burden of cysticercal etiology. The study included a total of 61 pediatric afebrile seizure subjects (aged one to 15 years old); there was a male predominance. All the sera were tested using a pre-evaluated commercially procured IgG-ELISA kit (UB-Magiwell Cysticercosis Kit ^™). Anti-Cysticercus antibody in serum was positive in 23 of 61 (37.7%) cases. The majority of cases with a positive ELISA test presented with generalized seizure (52.17%), followed by complex partial seizure (26.08%), and simple partial seizure (21.73%). Headaches were the major complaint (73.91%). Other presentations were vomiting (47.82%), pallor (34.78%), altered sensorium (26.08%), and muscle weakness (13.04%). There was one hemiparesis case diagnosed to be NCC. In this study one child without any significant findings on imaging was also found to be positive by serology. There was a statistically significant association found between the cases with multiple lesions on the brain and the ELISA-positivity (p = 0.017). Overall positivity of the ELISA showed a potential cysticercal etiology. Hence, neurocysticercosis should be suspected in every child presenting with afebrile seizure especially with a radio-imaging supportive diagnosis in tropical developing countries or areas endemic for taeniasis/cysticercosis.     

An assessment of stress analyses in the theory of abfraction

Wedged-shaped lesions at the cemento-enamel junction of teeth have been attributed primarily to biomechanical loading forces that cause flexure and failure of enamel and dentin. This theory, termed abfraction, remains controversial. This review examined studies on mechanical properties of enamel and dentin and studies on bite forces and mastication as background information. Abfraction is based principally on a few early finite element analysis and photoelastic models showing stress concentration at the dental cervical area without actually showing enamel and dentin fracture. However, a review of more recent dental stress analyses has been contradictory. Particularly, analyses of the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone, not modeled in previous studies, have shown that those structures may dissipate occlusal loading forces from the cervical areas. In addition, some models may not fully represent intricate dental anatomy and complex occlusal function. Therefore, the key basis of the abfraction theory may be flawed.     

The progins progesterone receptor gene polymorphism is not related to endometriosis-associated infertility or to idiopathic infertility

OBJECTIVE:

This study aimed to determine the frequency of the PROGINS polymorphism in women with endometriosis‐associated infertility, in infertile women without endometriosis and in controls.

INTRODUCTION:

The human progesterone receptor gene has two isoforms that modulate the biological action of progesterone: isoform A, which is capable of inhibiting the activation of the estrogen receptors, and isoform B, which has the capacity to activate the estrogen receptors. Several polymorphisms have been described for this gene, among which one stands out: a polymorphism named PROGINS, which has been speculated to be related to the genesis of endometriosis by several studies with conflicting results.

METHODS:

This was a prospective study that included 148 patients with endometriosis‐associated infertility, 50 idiopathic infertile patients and 179 fertile women as controls. The PROGINS polymorphism was studied by PCR.

RESULTS:

Genotypes P1P1, P1P2 and P2P2 (P2 representing the PROGINS polymorphism) of the progesterone receptor gene presented frequencies of 93.9%, 5.4% and 0.7%, respectively, in the women with endometriosis‐associated infertility (p = 0.2101, OR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.24‐1.09); 94.4%, 4.2% and 1.4%, respectively, in the patients with minimal/mild endometriosis (p = 0.2725, OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.20‐1.43); 93.5%, 6.5% and 0%, respectively, among the patients with moderate/severe endometriosis (p = 0.3679, OR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.18‐1.31); 86.0%, 14.0% and 0%, respectively, in idiopathic infertile women (p = 0.8146, OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 0.46‐2.63); and 88.3%, 10.6% and 1.1%, respectively, in the control group.

CONCLUSION:

The data suggest that PROGINS is not related either to endometriosis‐associated infertility or to idiopathic infertility in the population studied.     

Subsidized artemisinin based combination treatments for Africa

Malaria-associated mortality and morbidity have increased in recent decades, with the worldwide spread of chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistant parasites. Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) have been proposed as an alternative to conventional antimalarial drugs. ACTs are effective against multidrug-resistant infections, work quickly, are safe and well tolerated, and seem to decrease transmission by inactivating gametocytes. The affordable medicines facility-malaria (AMFm) - an initiative aiming at increasing the availability of affordable ACTs through public and private practice - is trying to accelerate the large-scale use of ACT worldwide. This began with an initial pilot phase in a selected group of African countries. However, the epidemiology of malaria, the economic context, and healthcare infrastructure of African countries differ considerably from those prevailing in Asia, where ACTs were first implemented in the 1990s. ACT implementation in Africa must therefore be accompanied by control and operational measures to maintain the efficacy of ACT and to protect patients against misuse. We discuss the expected benefits of the AMFm initiative in Africa and stress the importance of dealing with operational issues before implementation in the field, focusing particularly on drug resistance.     

A study of mental stress and antioxidant profile in the Assamese-speaking diabetic population of Assam,India

The aim of this study is to compare the biochemical stress in persons with diabetes and their anxiety level (mental stress). Normal volunteers and persons with diabetes of either sex between the age of 35 and 55 years were selected for the present study. They were divided into four groups (n = 30). Groups I and III consisted of normal male and female volunteers without diabetes, while groups II and IV consisted of males and females patients with diabetes, respectively. All participants reported early morning to the testing centres, and their blood samples withdrawn to check fasting blood sugar levels (FBS), lipid profile and serum antioxidant entities, respectively. Simultaneously, they were subjected to psychological testing. Their physical parameters were also analysed. The results were analysed using ANOVA. The blood sugar, lipid profile, malondialdehyde (MDA) and anxiety levels of male and female patients with diabetes (groups II and IV) were significantly higher than male and female subjects without diabetes (groups I and III). The postprandial sugar levels and glycosylated haemoglobin (HB1Ac) in females with diabetes were significantly higher than males with diabetes. The serum antioxidant levels in groups II and IV were significantly reduced than in groups I and III. The study concludes that people with diabetes has elevated lipid and reduced serum antioxidant profiles. The anxiety levels in them were also higher, but the anxieties of males with diabetes were significantly higher than females with diabetes.

     

Application of fundamental parameter method for investigation of the branching intensity of 1001-keV gamma energy of Pa

The intensity of the 1001-keV gamma line of ^234mPa can be used to estimate the quantity of ²³⁸U in a matrix. However, the branching intensity value currently accepted for this line seems to be in error. In the present work, the branching intensity of the 1001-keV gamma line of ^234mPa has been re-evaluated using high-resolution gamma spectrometry. We obtained a value of 0.92±0.02 % which is close to 1.6 times the value of Bjornholm and Nielsen (Bjornholm, S., Nielson, O.B., 1963. The decay of the 1.14 min isomer of ²³⁴Pa (UX2). Nucl. Phys. 42, 642).     

Ex Vivo Responses of Plasmodium falciparum Clinical Isolates to Conventional and New Antimalarial Drugs in Niger

Little is known about resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to antimalarials in Sahelian countries. Here we investigated the drug susceptibilities of fresh isolates collected in Niger post-deployment of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs). We found that the parasites remained highly susceptible to new (dihydroartemisinin, lumefantrine, pyronaridine, and piperaquine) and conventional (amodiaquine and chloroquine) antimalarial drugs. The introduction of ACTs in 2005 and their further deployment nationwide have therefore not resulted in a decrease in P. falciparum susceptibilities to these antimalarials.     

Pattern of Lower Intestinal Ostomies in a Low-Income Country: Case of Southeast of Niger Republic

Background

Intestinal ostomies are common surgical procedures performed in visceral surgery as part of management for several gastrointestinal diseases. This study aims to report the socio-demographic characteristics, indications and prognosis of intestinal ostomies in low-income country.

Methods

This was a 4-year retrospective study (January 2013 to December 2016) at Zinder National Hospital (Niger). All patients with a digestive ostomy on an ileum or colic segment were included in the study.

Results

During the study period, 2437 patients underwent digestive surgery, including 328 gastrointestinal stomas (13.5%). Patients classified ASA3 were 60.7% (n = 199). The median age was 12 years (IQ: 7–25). Children represent 64% (n = 210) of patients with ostomy. The sex ratio was 2.60. The stoma was performed in emergency in 96.3% (n = 316) of cases. Acute peritonitis was the main indication of the stoma in 70.73% (n = 232). The ileostomies accounted for 75.61% (n = 248). Ostomy was intended as temporary in 97.3% of cases (n = 319). Complications were observed in 188 patients (57.3%). Mortality was 14.02% (n = 46). The indigent status (OR: 4.15 [2.20–7.83], P = 000), ASA score 4 (OR: 2.53 [1.54–4.15], P = 0.0003), Altemeier class IV (OR: 4.03 [2.10–7.73], P = 0.0000) and ileostomy (OR: 2.7853 [1.47–5.29], P = 0.0018) were statistically associated with the occurrence of major complications. The mean time for stoma closure was 59.3 ± 14.5 days.

Conclusion

Acute peritonitis was the main indication of digestive ostomy. The occurrence of major complications was associated with bad socioeconomic status, ASA4 score, Altemeier class IV and ileostomy.