Comparison of inflammatory markers in low-pressure pneumoperitoneum with deep neuromuscular block versus standard pressure pneumoperitoneum among patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallstone disease: a randomized control trial

BACKGROUND

Low-pressure pneumoperitoneum (LPP) is an attempt to improve laparoscopic surgery. Lower pressure causes lesser inflammation and better hemodynamics. There is a lack of literature comparing inflammatory markers in LPP with deep NMB to standard pressure pneumoperitoneum (SPP) with moderate NMB in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

METHODOLOGY

This was a single institutional prospective randomized control trial. Participants included all patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic gall stone disease. Participants were divided into 2 groups group A and B. Group A-Low-pressure group in which pneumoperitoneum pressure was kept low (8-10 mmHg) with deep Neuromuscular blockade (NMB) and Group B-Normal pressure group (12-14 mmHg) with moderate NMB. A convenience sample size of 80 with 40 in each group was selected. Lab investigations like CBC, LFT, RFT and serum IL-1, IL-6, IL-17, TNF alpha levels were measured at base line and 24 h after surgery and compared using appropriate statistical tests. Other parameters like length of hospital stay, post-operative pain score, conversion rate (low-pressure to standard pressure), and complications were also compared.

RESULTS

Eighty participants were analysed with 40 in each group. Baseline characteristics and investigations were statistically similar. Difference (post-operative-pre-operative) of inflammatory markers were compared between both groups. Numerically there was a slightly higher rise in most of the inflammatory markers (TLC, ESR, CRP, IL-6, TNFα) in Group B compared to Group A but not statistically significant. Albumin showed significant fall (p < 0.001) in Group B compared to Group A. Post-operative pain was also significantly less (p < 0.001) in Group A compared to Group B at 6 h and 24 h. There were no differences in length of hospital stay and incidence of complications. There was no conversion from low-pressure to standard pressure.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed under low-pressure pneumoperitoneum with deep NMB may have lesser inflammation and lesser post-operative pain compared to standard pressure pneumoperitoneum with moderate NMB. Future studies with larger sample size need to be designed to support these findings.

Clinico-Pathological Profiles of Multiple Myeloma Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Multiple myeloma (MM), mature B-cell lineage neoplasm, is characterized by abnormal clonal proliferation of plasma cells and presence of monoclonal protein (M protein). The study was conducted to reveal presenting features, laboratory findings, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status and skeletal survey on patients with multiple myeloma. This descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Haematology, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh from January 2019 to July 2020 with a sample size of 81. Data were collected in a case record form after obtaining informed verbal consent from patients and /or their legal guardians. Relevant ethical issues and data quality assurance were taken into consideration. Data were analyzed with SPSS, Version 25.0 with presentation in figures and tables with frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation based on data nature. Statistical tests were carried out as appropriate with 5.0% level of significance for assessing statistical association. Mean age of the patients was 58.9±12.0 years. Male female ratio was 2:1. 35(43.2%) patients were smokers with only 2(2.5%) had family history of haematological malignancies. Bone pain (72.8%) was the most common presenting feature, while hypertension (59.1%), diabetes mellitus (29.5%), respiratory illness (11.3%) and cardiac disease (11.4%) were the common co-morbidities. Most common ECOG performance status was ECOG-1(48.1%). Mean haemoglobin (Hb) was 9.4±2.3gm/dl and mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was 89.5±42.1 mm in 1st hour. Mean serum creatinine level was 2.0±1.85 mg/dl and ≥2.0mg/dl in 42(34.2%). Among 50 documentation serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was raised in 18(36.0%). Mean serum calcium level was 9.6±1.8mg/dl >11.0mg/dL in 10(14.5%) cases. Serum albumin <3.5gm/dl in 37(49.3%), β2-microglobulin >5.5mg/dl in 37(57.8%) cases, International staging system (ISS) stage III was in 59.4% and Bence Jones Protein (BJP) was present in 46.7% cases. Lytic lesions were present in 75.0%, In 38(74.5%) patients vertebrae were involved, while in 18(35.2%) ribs were involved, in 14(27.5%) patients skull was involved and in 3(5.9%) patients involved bones were femur, humerus, sternum and scapula. Mean plasma cells percentage was 62.1±24.9%. Immuno-Fixation Electrophoresis (IFE) revealed IgG (72.7%), IgA (18.2%), Free light chain (FLC) (9.1%). FLC ratio was ≥100 in 29.0% cases. Significant statistical association was observed between serum creatinine with Hb concentration (p<0.05), serum creatinine level with ISS staging (p<0.05) and serum calcium level (p<0/05), while insignificant association was revealed between BJP present status and serum creatinine level (p>0.05). Bone pain, fatigue, fever and neurological impairment were the common presenting features. Anaemia, renal impairment and skeletal lytic events were the prominent physical findings. ISS staging was statistically associated with serum creatinine level, while serum calcium level was associated with serum creatinine and lytic lesions.

Plasma GDNF levels in spinal dysraphism and its relation with neurological impairment in children: A point of care study

AIMS

GDNF plays a crucial role in the stimulation of recovery, neuroplasticity and synaptic reorganization after spinal cord injury providing neuroprotection and neuroregeneration. Plasma GDNF levels are upregulated in cases of spina bifida owing to the intrauterine damage of the exposed spinal cord. Our aim was to compare the plasma GDNF levels in patients of spina bifida with non-spina bifida cases and assess the correlation with neurological impairment at one year of follow up.

METHODS

Single centre prospective analysis of cases of spina bifida from 2020 to 2022 at presentation and after one year of follow up post-surgery. Cases with hernia and hydrocele without any other disorders were recruited into the control group. Plasma GDNF levels were assessed with immunoassay kits and compared with neurological involvement.

RESULTS

85 cases were included in the study. GDNF levels were elevated in cases compared to controls (mean 6.62 vs 1.76) with significant p value (<0.01). Same was observed for open and closed defects (mean 7.63 vs 4.86: p < 0.01). At follow up of 52 cases post-surgery cases with neurogenic bladder with abnormal urodynamic studies, sphincter involvement and motor impairment had significantly elevated baseline levels of GDNF compared with those who did not have this neurological impairment (p < 0.01).

DISCUSSION

The neurotrophic factor up-regulation can reflect an endogenous attempt at neuroprotection against the biochemical and molecular cascades triggered by the spinal cord damage. This upregulation can be represented as important biochemical markers of severe spinal cord damage and can be associated with severity of spine injury in MMC patients. Our results are in keeping with these findings, that, there were increased levels of plasma GDNF levels in cases of spinal dysraphism compared to control population. Also, the type of lesion reflecting the severity whether a closed or an open dysraphism, showed significant difference in levels between them suggesting, yet again, more damage in open defect as expected. The levels were higher with involvement of bladder, sphincter and lower limb power.

CONCLUSION

There is significant elevation of plasma GDNF levels in cases of spina bifida and this elevation is proportional to the degree of spinal damage and hence the neurological impairment. GDNF levels are a good predictor for assessing the severity of the lesion and thus the outcome in these cases. Additional prospective and long-term studies with a larger cohort are needed for a better understanding of neurotrophin pattern modulation in MMC.

Role of non-contrast CT component of prostate-specific membrane antigen PET/CT scan in the detection of peripheral zone prostate cancer

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to look for feasibility of non-contrast CT (NCCT) in detecting peripheral zone prostate cancer (PCa).

METHODS

A retrospective analysis included 50 biopsy-proven PCa patients between April 2019 and March 2022 who underwent staging whole body prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)/CT prior to treatment. The control subjects were 50 randomly selected adult male patients who underwent PET/CT for non-prostate malignancy during the same time period. Two readers independently calculated the Hounsfield unit (HU) of normal peripheral zone, central zone, and corresponding PSMA avid focus in cases.

RESULTS

No significant difference was seen in the mean HU value of normal peripheral zone between cases and controls. Significant difference in the mean HU was seen between the PSMA avid focus in cases (40.1 ± 6.2) and normal peripheral zone of cases (28.2 ± 7.0) and controls (27.7 ± 5.8). No significant difference was found between the mean HU values of high-grade PCa and non-high-grade PCa. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed a mean HU cut-off of ≥35 for detecting PCa with a sensitivity and specificity of 86% and 90%, respectively, between cases and controls (AUC 0.88).

CONCLUSION

Detection of clinically significant PCa is possible on routinely performed NCCT scans. Radiologists should routinely look for and convey these findings to facilitate further work-up and early detection of PCa.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

Our study adds to the knowledge that NCCT scans performed for unrelated indications can serve as a screening tool for clinically significant PCa.

Ammonia gas treatment in low cost biological reactor

Ammonia gas contributes to a number of environmental and human health concerns. The use of chalk, a cheap alkalinity source may reduce costs for biological systems. This research studies a closed liquid flow reactor to treat ammonia gas using chalk as biomass media and alkalinity source with high value calcium nitrate fertilizer production. The proposed reactor showed complete ammonia gas removal at high rate (500 mg N/L/day) and with low cost; where chalk dissolution and ammonia gas absorption contributed to alkalinity in the water for nitrification. High calcium ion concentration (up to 10,000 mg Ca2+ as CaCO3/L) showed only minor effects on ammonia absorption and nitrification rate.

Evaluation of Dual Dye Technique for Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Breast Cancer: Two-Arm Open-Label Parallel Design Non-Inferiority Randomized Controlled Trial

INTRODUCTION

Radioisotope and blue dye are standard agents for performing sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in breast cancer. The paucity of nuclear medicine facility poses logistic challenge. This study evaluated performance of radioisotope & methylene blue (MB) with indocyanine green (ICG) and MB for SLNB.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This randomized controlled trial was conducted from December 2019 to July 2022 comparing SLN identification proportions of radioisotope-blue dye [Group A] with dual dye (MB + ICG; Group B]. Secondary objective included time required and cost effectiveness of performing SLNB. Sample size of 70 (35 in each arm) was calculated. Upfront operable node negative early breast cancer was included in the study. Clinico-demographic data, number & type of SLN, time taken were noted. Cost analysis was done including the equipment, manpower & consumables. Chi-square/Fisher exact test was used to compare proportion between two groups. p value of less than 0.05 was considered to represent statistical significance.

RESULTS

Seventy patients randomized to either group were similar in clinico-demographic and tumor characteristics. SLN identification rate (IR) was 91.43% in group A and 100% in group B. Overall IR of MB, radioisotope and ICG were 91.43%, 91.43% and 100%, respectively. Mean number of SLNs identified were 3 in group A and 4 in group B. Median time required for SLNB was 12 min and 14 min in either group, respectively. Cost of performing SLNB was higher in Group B.

CONCLUSION

SLNB using dual dye is non-inferior to radioisotope-blue dye in upfront operable early breast cancer. Trial registration number Clinical Trial registry India CTRI/2020/02/023503.

Urinary tract infection caused by Lactococcus garvieae in a premature neonate: A case report

Lactococcus garvieae is a gram-positive cocci that has primarily been described as a pathogen in various fish species, but has increasingly been reported to cause endocarditis and other infections in humans [1]. Neonatal infection caused by Lactococcus garvieae has not been previously reported. Here we describe a premature neonate who developed a urinary tract infection with this organism and was successfully treated with vancomycin therapy.

Microplastics assessment in Arabian Sea fishes: accumulation, characterization, and method development

Around the globe, plastic has been entering the aquatic system and is ingested by organisms. Identification, optimal digestion method, and characterization of the polymers to trace sources are of growing importance. Hence, the present work investigated microplastics accumulation, digestion protocol efficiency, and characterization of polymers with FTIR analysis in the guts of five fishes (Lethrinus nebulosus, Rastrelliger kanagurta, Acanthopagrus arabicus, Otolithes ruber, and Euryglossa orientalis) from the Karachi coastal area, Arabian Sea. A total of 1154 microplastics (MPs) were ingested by 29 out of 33 fish species (87%). The highest average MP/fish was recorded in Otolithes ruber (54) and the lowest in Rastrelliger kanagurta (19.42). Microfibers were the most abundant shape with the highest numbers (35.52%) as compared to the rest of the MPs identified. Transparent microfibers were recorded as the highest in numbers followed by red, black, blue, and green. In this study, KOH with different concentrations and exposure times along with oxidizing agent hydrogen peroxide was tested (Protocols 3 and 4). Results showed these bases were highly efficient in obtaining optimal digestion of the samples. FTIR analysis confirmed that the majority of the polymers found in the fish guts were polyethylene and polypropylene. This study validated for the first time the presence of these polymers of plastic in marine fish from Pakistan.

A commercial monovalent canine parvovirus vaccine performs better than a commercial combination vaccine in puppies

Thirty puppies were randomly divided in to 3 groups for comparative evaluation of two commercial CPV vaccines. Each group was further subdivided in to < 6 months and < 3 months -old puppies and either vaccinated with a monovalent vaccine: Primodog, a combination vaccine: Duramune or maintained as a non-vaccinated control. Humoral immune response was determined by Hemagglutination Inhibition (HAI) on 21 and 35 -days after vaccination. The geometric mean titer (GMT) induced by Duramune, 21 and 35 -days post-vaccination was GMT 73.3 and 137.2, respectively. Comparatively, Primodog demonstrated higher GMT on 21 and 35 -days after vaccination: 97.0 and 168.9, respectively. The older puppies (< 6 months old) demonstrated higher seroconversion to both vaccines.

HLA B27 in Ankylosing Spondylitis: Differences in Frequency and Relative Risk in American Blacks and Caucasians

Twenty-eight HLA alleles of the A and B loci were determined in 23 American Blacks and 50 Caucasians with primary ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The prevalence of HLA B27 was significantly increased in American Black patients (48 per cent) vs Black controls (two per cent), but was much less than the 94 per cent found in Caucasian patients (controls eight per cent). The lower prevalence of B27 in American Black patients vs Caucasian patients was significant (p < 0.001), and indicated that susceptibility to AS is not as closely associated with B27 in Blacks as in Caucasians. No other HLA antigen was significantly associated with AS in either racial group. Among B27 positive individuals, the relative risk of developing AS was significantly lower in American Blacks than in Caucasians. These data indicate that for diagnostic purposes, the absence of B27 is less important in ruling out AS in Blacks than in Caucasians.

[The high-intensity pulsed magnetic therapy in the medical rehabilitation of children. (Literature review)]

In recent decades, a promising area of physiotherapy has been intensively developed In Russia and abroad - magnetic therapy, based on the use of various types of magnetic fields for preventive, curative and rehabilitative purposes. The use of high-intensity pulsed magnetotherapy is promising. The effectiveness of the method in a number of diseases of childhood, which has an active stimulating effect on the state of the neuromuscular apparatus, has been proven.

[Medical rehabilitation of children with obstructive uropathy]

Obstructive uropathy in children is predominantly urinary system malformation and one of the leading causes of chronic renal failure. Antenatal ultrasound can detect obstructive uropathy in infants. It is important to conduct diagnostics not only to identify the obstruction level in urinary system, but to assess renal function, renal blood flow and urination. Children are given conservative and surgical treatment methods to restore urodynamics, prevent infectious complications, improve renal blood flow. Currently, there are no principles, approaches and technologies for medical rehabilitation of patients with obstructive uropathy, therefore, the use of selective chromotherapy, which has an activating effect on regional circulation, and sound stimulation improving muscles tone of pelvis and ureters, is pathogenetically reasonable and promising.

OBJECTIVE

To develop technologies of physiotherapy application (sound stimulation, selective chromotherapy) for inclusion in comprehensive medical rehabilitation of children with megaloureter.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Clinical observations and special examinations have been performed in 90 children with megaloureter aged from 1 to 10 years. The patients were divided into 2 groups: 30 children (study group) received sound stimulation combined with selective chromotherapy; 30 children (the 1st comparison group) - sound stimulation; 30 children (the 2nd comparison group) - selective chromotherapy (blue spectrum). General clinical methods, ultrasound of kidneys and bladder with Doppler monitoring of intrarenal blood flow, functional methods of bladder examination were used.

RESULTS

The positive effects of separate and combined application of sound stimulation and selective chromotherapy on clinical and laboratory indicators, urodynamics of urinary tract and renal blood flow in children with megaloureter after surgery have been revealed. The efficacy of selective chromotherapy use in children with megaloureter and comorbid neurologic bladder dysfunction has been proven.

CONCLUSION

Modern technologies for the application of physiotherapy, namely selective chromotherapy and sound stimulation, to include them in the comprehensive medical rehabilitation of children with megaloureter, have been developed for the first time and their high efficacy has been proven.

Successful Pregnancy with SLE-associated Antiphospholipid Syndrome: A Case Report

Pregnancy in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with an increased risk of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Risk is significantly increased when SLE pregnancy is complicated by anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS). Here, we present a case of a 21 year-old multi-gravid lady with SLE- associated APS who was diagnosed as such when she presented with multisystem flare at her 16 weeks of gestation. At presentation she had fever, multiple joint pain in both upper and lower limbs, loss of hair, history of recurrent oral ulcer, skin rash over hand and feet. Physical examination and laboratory evaluation were consistent with an active SLE flare. A diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) was made based on her clinical presentation and laboratory findings. The reported patient had APS secondary to SLE. She had all the risk factors that would confer a remarkably high risk of pregnancy morbidity: positive anti-SSA(RO) antibody and lupus anticoagulant, history of one neonatal death due to congenital heart block and two consecutive first trimester pregnancy loss. Multidisciplinary management approach with appropriate intervention and close monitoring can bring a successful outcome.

Evaluation of HE4 as a prognostic biomarker in uterine cervical cancer. Cancer Treat Res Commun 2023;34:100672. [PMID: 36525756 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctarc.2022.100672]

INTRODUCTION

Uterine cervical cancer (UCC) is the fourth most common health problem worldwide among women. Currently available biomarkers CA125, CA199, and CEA for diagnosis or prognostic evaluation of UCC have not got widespread acceptance.

METHOD

Whole blood samples of 64 patients with UCC were collected along with 63 healthy females and tested for serum levels of HE4 (sHE4). A cut-off value for positive result 64.0 pmol/L was set. Statistical analysis of different clinical variables was done.

RESULT

Serum level of HE4 has a significant role in the diagnosis of uterine cervical cancer. Its level increases with age, higher parity (P < 0.05), stage (P < 0.16), tumor size, and parametrial invasion. Negative result was seen with vaginal invasion, lymph node involvement & cases which had recurrence. Various histological types showed variable results. So the serum level of HE4 (sHE) level may play a role in the diagnosis & therapeutic monitoring of UCC. But the prognostic evaluation needs further studies.

CONCLUSION

sHE4 is useful in the diagnosis of cervical cancer, but its prognostic significance is under the question marks. It may be associated with higher values in higher stages. Higher parity of the patient is associated with higher level of HE4 in UCC.

Molecular epidemiology and phylogenetic analysis of Tams I gene of Theileria annulata in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Theileriosis is a hemoparasitic disease that affects a wide range of different animal species and is caused by various species of Theileria. This study aimed to determine the molecular epidemiology of Theileria annulata through microscopy and PCR, in crossbred cattle in some districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. For this study, a total of 384 blood samples were collected from cattle in the Peshawar (n=120), Charsadda (n=94), Nowshera (n=84), and Swabi (n=86) districts. Microscopy and PCR were used to determine the overall prevalence of theileriosis, which was found to be 15.8 and 22.6%, respectively. Theileria annulata was detected in blood samples through PCR in the study area, and the target gene i.e., Tams 1, of positive samples was sequenced. The sequences in the current study revealed high sequence homology (ranging from 96 to 100%) with Tams 1 sequences of neighboring countries present in the NCBI database. Season, breed, age, and sex were found to be important risk factors among the several risk factors examined, whereas, among different clinical manifestations, lymphadenopathy showed a strong association with theileriosis. According to Cohen's kappa and ROC analysis, microscopy was proven to be a fair diagnostic test for detecting theileriosis in cattle, and may be used in combination with molecular techniques for screening a large number of animals.

Monthly and seasonal prevalence of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the District Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Background

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are the major airway diseases and are increasingly important causes of mortality, morbidity, and disability globally. This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine monthly and seasonal patterns of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the study area during 2020–2021. The data of the indoor patients for the study period were obtained from the official records maintained in the District Head Quarter teaching hospital Dera Ismail Khan.

Results

A total of 2179 cases of asthma were recorded including 1609 (73.8%) in 2020 and 570 (26.2%) in 2021, and 740 cases of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were also recorded in 2020. Overall asthma was highest in March with 1128 (51.8%) cases and was lowest in July with 29 (1.3%) cases. Seasonal prevalence/pattern show that asthma relatively more prevailed during winter and early spring (December through March). Out of a total of 740 cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the highest 405 (54.7%) cases were recorded in February and the lowest 0 in April. Seasonal distribution indicated that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was relatively higher in winter (January–February).

Conclusions

Seasonal variation and pattern in prevalence exist both in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as both indicated relatively higher prevalence in winter compared to summer and autumn.

A secure healthcare 5.0 system based on blockchain technology entangled with federated learning technique

In recent years, the global Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) industry has evolved at a tremendous speed. Security and privacy are key concerns on the IoMT, owing to the huge scale and deployment of IoMT networks. Machine learning (ML) and blockchain (BC) technologies have significantly enhanced the capabilities and facilities of healthcare 5.0, spawning a new area known as "Smart Healthcare." By identifying concerns early, a smart healthcare system can help avoid long-term damage. This will enhance the quality of life for patients while reducing their stress and healthcare costs. The IoMT enables a range of functionalities in the field of information technology, one of which is smart and interactive health care. However, combining medical data into a single storage location to train a powerful machine learning model raises concerns about privacy, ownership, and compliance with greater concentration. Federated learning (FL) overcomes the preceding difficulties by utilizing a centralized aggregate server to disseminate a global learning model. Simultaneously, the local participant keeps control of patient information, assuring data confidentiality and security. This article conducts a comprehensive analysis of the findings on blockchain technology entangled with federated learning in healthcare. 5.0. The purpose of this study is to construct a secure health monitoring system in healthcare 5.0 by utilizing a blockchain technology and Intrusion Detection System (IDS) to detect any malicious activity in a healthcare network and enables physicians to monitor patients through medical sensors and take necessary measures periodically by predicting diseases. The proposed system demonstrates that the approach is optimized effectively for healthcare monitoring. In contrast, the proposed healthcare 5.0 system entangled with FL Approach achieves 93.22% accuracy for disease prediction, and the proposed RTS-DELM-based secure healthcare 5.0 system achieves 96.18% accuracy for the estimation of intrusion detection.

295 SPEP IT UP! DEVELOPING AN ALGORITHM FOR ABNORMAL SERUM PLASMA ELECTROPHORESIS RESULTS IN HIP FRACTURE PATIENTS

Background

Hip fracture is a common manifestation of osteoporosis. All patients who sustain a hip fracture should receive a specialist bone health assessment, including Serum Protein Electrophoresis (SPEP) because plasma cell disorders such as multiple myeloma are an important differential diagnosis. SPEP results can be challenging to interpret without training and expertise. We aimed to review the proportion of abnormal SPEP results in hip fracture patients and used a newly developed algorithm to assess urgency of referral to haematology.

Methods

The Orthogeriatrics and Haematology teams collaborated to develop an algorithm to help facilitate decision making in hip fracture patients with abnormal SPEP results. A retrospective study was then conducted using data from the local Hip Fracture Database from Quarters 1 and 3 in 2020, and the hospital electronic laboratory system. The algorithm was used to retrospectively determine which patients warranted haematology review. The electronic appointment system was then accessed to review whether those who warranted haematology referral had appointments on the system.

Results

Of 270 hip fracture presentations, 19 duplicate records were excluded. Five patients had no data and three patients had passed away. Of the remaining 243 patients, 193 (79.42%) had SPEP’s sent. Abnormalities were detected in 116 patients (47.74%). According to the SPEP referral pathway, two patients warranted routine referral and one patient required an urgent referral, none of whom appeared to have been referred to haematology. Two patients who did not warrant haematology referral were already under haematology for different conditions.

Conclusion

Not all patients who sustain acute osteoporotic fractures with an abnormal SPEP result require haematology referral. The need for an urgent or routine haematology can be guided by the SPEP result along with other clinical features. With the introduction of this pathway, it is proposed that all hip fracture patients will be triaged in a timely, appropriate, and consistent manner.

Community- vs. hospital-based management of multidrug-resistant TB in Pakistan

BACKGROUND Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) treatment takes 18-24 months and is complex, costly and isolating. We provide trial evidence on the WHO Pakistan recommendation for community-based care rather than hospital-based care.METHODS Two-arm, parallel-group, superiority trial was conducted in three programmatic management of drug-resistant TB hospitals in Punjab and Sindh Provinces, Pakistan. We enrolled 425 patients with MDR-TB aged >15 years through block randomisation in community-based care (1-week hospitalisation) or hospital-based care (2 months hospitalisation). Primary outcome was treatment success.RESULTS Among 425 patients with MDR-TB, 217 were allocated to community-based care and 208 to hospital-based care. Baseline characteristics were similar between the community and hospitalised arms, as well as in selected sites. Treatment success was 74.2% (161/217) under community-based care and 67.8% (141/208) under hospital-based care, giving a covariate-adjusted risk difference (community vs. hospital model) of 0.06 (95% CI -0.02 to 0.15; P = 0.144).CONCLUSIONS We found no clear evidence that community-based care was more or less effective than hospital-based care model. Given the other substantial advantages of community-based care over hospital based (e.g., more patient-friendly and accessible, with lower treatment costs), this supports the adoption of the community-based care model, as recommended by the WHO.

Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Diagnostic Tests: A Glimpse

Mass testing for COVID-19 infection is one of the core measures in tackling the global spread of the disease. Testing is vital to diagnose and estimate cases, attack rates and case fatality rates- critical data for policy-making. As COVID-19 continues to spread globally, the demand for more extensive laboratory testing and innovative technology increases. However, countries around the world have been struggling to keep up pace with the worldwide demand to expand testing strategy. The pandemic evolves, so does our knowledge and understanding of diagnostic tests of COVID-19. Here we aim to review major challenges related to COVID-19 diagnostic tests and future development. So, the ongoing urgency and demand for tests would certainly steer the rapid uptake of novel techniques, which in turn would boost our understanding of diagnostic tests for COVID-19.

Identification of SCAR markers for genetic authentication of Dendrobium nobile Lindl

Dendrobium nobile Lindl. is an orcid plant with important medicinal values. This is a colourful houseplant, and also a popular herb in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The variants of this plant from different geographic regions might be high, and in this study, we aimed to develop specific sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers for the identification of specific variant of this plant. Different cultivars of D. nobile were collected from nine different places of China, and one cultivar from Myanmar. DNA materials were extracted from the plant samples, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) were developed, cloned and sequenced for the development of SCAR markers. We have developed four SCAR markers, which are specific to the cultivar from Luzhou China, and clearly distinguishable (genetically) from other cultivars. These SCAR markers are deposited in GenBank (accession number MZ417502, MZ484089, MZ417504 and MZ417505). Four SCAR markers for D. nobile are effective molecular technique to genetically identify the different cultivars or species, and this method is applicable for genetic characterization and identification of other plant species too.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on quality of partner relationship and sexual activity among COVID positive males: a cross sectional study

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to assess sexual activity, partner relationships among males who had been infected with COVID-19, to study the impact of COVID-19 infection on partner relationship and to find out the association between partner and sexual relationship during lockdown.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross sectional study was conducted in Saudi Arabia through social media platforms via online questionnaire between December 1, 2020 and January 31, 2021 among 871 participants after a pilot study among 20 participants of which 497 were included in the study. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 20.0 (IBM Inc., Armonk, NY, USA). Responses were presented as frequencies and percentages and the association was studied using Chi squared test/Fisher's exact test. The value of p ≤ .05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

Out of the total study participants, nearly 85% of them belonged to the age range of 18 to 39 years, more than half of the participants were married. In the six months prior to the study being conducted, 268 respondents (53.9%) did not have sexual relationships. Respondents with positive COVID-19 infection reported that their partner lived with them in the same house during home isolation and was also found to be significantly associated with having intact sexual relationships in the last six months of the lockdown period (p-value < .001). Moreover, respondents who reported having good relationships with their partners during the pandemic were found to be significantly associated with having intact sexual relationships during the pandemic lockdown (p-value < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Among the COVID-19-positive respondents, sexual activity and partner relationships were largely found to be intact during the pandemic lockdown period.

Epidemiological studies on lower respiratory tract infection in children in the District Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Background

Lower respiratory tract infections are the leading cause of death in children globally and are transmitted by inhaling airborne droplets. The study demonstrated the prevalence of lower respiratory tract infections in children admitted to the Women and Children Hospital Bannu from February through November 2019. The cross-sectional study was conducted by obtaining indoor data from the official record maintained in the children’s wards.

Results

Males accounted for 649 (61.6%) and females 405 (38.4%) cases out of 1054 cases of the disease. Age group of ≤ 6 months showed 36.2% prevalence, followed by > 6 m ≤ 1 y (25.6%), > 1 y ≤ 2 y (17.1%), > 2 y ≤ 5 y (14.3%), > 5 ≤ 10 y (6.0%), and > 10 y ≤ 15 y (0.8%). Pediatric patients of age ≤ 2 y and ≤ 5 y contributed 78.9% and 93.3% to overall disease, respectively. The disease was at its peak in February (17.9%) while lowest in May (5.5%). The age group (≤ 6 m) was the dominant group in all months except August when replaced by the age group (> 6 m ≤ 1 y). The disease revealed higher prevalence during February-April and October-November.

Conclusions

Different age groups showed variation in the prevalence of the disease with an age group of ≤ 5 y contributing the largest share and seasonal peaks in the disease occurred. The present findings help in adopting strategies for effective control of the disease in different age groups of the children for their peak season.

Activity of Fosfomycin Against The Spectrum of Uropathogens Causing Cystitis

Background:

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most frequent bacterial infections, commonly seen in females. High degree of antimicrobial resistance in uropathogens has challenged the use of therapeutic agents. Fosfomycin which is an old antibiotic with distinctive characteristics, seems to be a promising novel therapeutic agent with a good bactericidal activity towards multi-drug resistant (MDR) uropathogens.

Objective:

The main objective of the study is to evaluate the antibacterial activity of fosfomycin among uropathogens causing cystitis.

Methods:

The study was carried out between 2017-2018. A total of 2060 UTI suspects from outpatient department (OPDs) and inpatient department (IPDs) were screened. Out of 2060 screened patients 1658 were IPD patients and 402 were OPD patients. Patient’s midstream urine samples were collected aseptically and processed according to standard protocols. The frequency of extended-spectrum-beta lactamases (ESBLs) producer and carbapenem resistance were estimated respectively. Cultures with significant growth of uropathogens were identified and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) to fosfomycin was determined by agar dilution (AD) and by E-test methods.

Results:

184 out of 2060 (8.9%) urine samples showed significant growth of uropathogens. Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) (64%,118/184) was found to be the mostly isolated uropathogen. Among these Gram-negative uropathogens, 80% were ESBLs producers, 43.2% were carbapenem-resistant and 78% isolates were found to be MDR. The fosfomycin susceptibility for UPEC was 95% by AD method.

Conclusions:

This study suggests that Fosfomycin is reasonably effective and can be used in the treatment of MDR uropathogens along with uncomplicated UTIs.