The efficacy of paravertebral block evaluated by pain-related biomarkers and reactive oxygen species (ROS) following surgery for breast cancer: A randomized controlled study

Background and Aims

Paravertebral block has been found to be a recommended method of analgesia for breast surgeries. We aimed to assess the efficacy of paravertebral block compared to morphine by means of the visual analogue scale (VAS), pain-related biomarkers, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in adult patients undergoing breast cancer surgeries under general anesthesia.

Methodology

Forty patients undergoing breast surgery with or without lymph outcome were randomly divided into two groups. Group M received general anesthesia with intraoperative injection morphine (0.1 mg/kg) and group P received general anesthesia with paravertebral block with 0.25% bupivacaine (0.3 ml/kg). The primary objective was to compare the postoperative pain using VAS at baseline, 2 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hours. Secondary objectives were to compare the levels of pain-related biomarkers and ROS in both the groups at baseline, 24 hours, and 48 hours and to study the correlation between the VAS and level of pain-related biomarkers and ROS.

Results

There was no significant difference in the postoperative VAS scores in both the groups (P = 0.252, 0.548, 0.488 at baseline, 24 hours, and 48 hours, respectively) and no significant difference in the mean biomarkers in both the groups. The mean VAS negatively correlated with biomarker levels at 24 hours and 48 hours, but the change in VAS after 24 hours and 48 hours did not significantly correlate with the change in the biomarkers.

Conclusion

Paravertebral block is equally efficacious to intraoperative morphine for breast surgeries for postoperative analgesia. The biomarker levels were not significantly different when patients received paravertebral block or morphine.

Bacillus sp. extract used to fabricate ZnO nanoparticles for their antagonist effect against phytopathogens

In order to achieve the food demand of a growing population, agricultural productivity needs to be increased by employing safe strategies. In the present study we have evaluated ZnONPs that were synthesized from the culture supernatant of Bacillus subtilis. Bio mimetically synthesized ZnONPs showed a surface resonance peak of 355 nm corresponding to NPs formation. Further, NPs were examined for their size, shape and element confirmation by DLS, AFM, SEM, TEM and EDAX, which confirmed the synthesized NPs were nearly spherical in size with average diameter of 32 nm by TEM. Surface charge of + 34.3 mV was observed for NPs with a low poly-dispersity index of 0.21. In vitro efficacy studies against fungi Colletotrichum capsici, Sclerotium rolfsii, Alternaria solani and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cicero showed up to 99% mycelial growth inhibition at 0.125% ZnONPs. Further, in-vitro disk-diffusion assay showed inhibition zones of 23 ± 0.4 mm and 12.67 ± 0.24 mm for Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. punicae (Xap) and Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) bacterial cultures. Plant toxicity study was observed that ≤ 0.14% NPs concentration was safe under greenhouse conditions. Overall, the present study emphasizes the potential effect of ZnONPs against agricultural pathogens which play an important role in agriculture production.

Snake Venom-specific Phospholipase A2: A Diagnostic Marker for the Management of Snakebite Cases

Background

Snakebites are a common cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in tropical countries. Snakebites in any community are managed based on the clinical features and intravenous administration of antisnake venom (ASV). The administration of ASV is either deficient or given in excess based on clinical decisions and whole blood clotting test results. The present study is designed to analyze the level of snake venom component in the blood of snakebite in association with the clinical features.

Patients and methods

Blood samples were collected from the patients admitted to Karnataka Institute of Medical (KIMS) hospital with a history of snakebite considering the inclusion criteria. Serum was collected from the blood of snakebite patients before and after ASV and used to assess the level of venom-specific phospholipase A2 (PLA2) enzyme using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.

Results

Quantitative ELISA results revealed that the snake venom-specific PLA2 in the victim's blood was in the range of 0.3-1.27 mg/mL before the administration of ASV. However, the concentration of PLA2 after 24 hours of ASV administration was decreased in most of the patients. Further, it was observed that envenomation complications were directly proportional to the amount of snake venom-specific PLA2 found in the blood of the snakebite patient.

Conclusion

The study concludes that snake venom-specific PLA2 in the blood of snakebite patients could be used as a reliable venom marker, which helps in determination of appropriate ASV dosage in snakebite patients.

How to cite this article

Kaulgud RS, Hasan T, Vanti GL, Veeresh S, Uppar AP, Kurjogi MM. Snake Venom-specific Phospholipase A2: A Diagnostic Marker for the Management of Snakebite Cases. Indian J Crit Care Med 2022;26(12):1259-1266.

Prevalence of hypertension and its associated risk factors in Dharwad population: A cross-sectional study

The study aims to determine the prevalence of hypertension and associated risk factors. The study includes 9754 participants, out of which 6403 were found to be associated with hypertension. Among 6403 participants 27.75% were newly diagnosed with hypertension during examination. The present study showed, age as one of the significant risk factors for prevalence of hypertension. Further observations revealed that, the prevalence of hypertension was higher in alcohol-intake, tobacco-smoking/chewing participants and sedentary life style is also one of significant risk factor for hypertension. Overall increased rate of hypertension pose a biggest challenge for health sector in Dharwad district.

Synthesis and application of chitosan-copper nanoparticles on damping off causing plant pathogenic fungi

Damping-off disease in seeds and young seedlings in agricultural crops is a major fungal disease that limits the agriculture production. Frequent use of synthetic fungicides against damping-off diseases is known to hamper the environmental balance. Thus, an alternative approach needs to be explored for the management of such economically important fungal diseases. In the present study, simple, economically feasible chitosan-coupled copper nanoparticles (Ch-CuNPs) were synthesized and demonstrated antifungal activity against damping-off disease causing phytopathogens, Rhizoctonia solani and Pythium aphanidermatum. Physico-chemical studies confirmed the size, shape, surface charge, element confirmation and mono-dispersed nature of Ch-CuNPs. In vitro efficacy studies revealed up to 98% mycelial growth inhibition at 0.1% Ch-CuNPs. An extracellular conductivity study of the mycelium showed cellular content leakage within 12 h of treatment. Further, plant toxicity study against chili, cowpea and tomato plants; showed that ≤0.2% NPs were safe under greenhouse conditions. NPs also exhibited growth-promoting activity with chili seeds, by overcoming the limited germination rate of susceptible seeds. Overall, the present study emphasizes the benefits of synthesized Ch-CuNPs on agricultural crops as fungicide and growth-promoter, as well as a safe alternative to pesticides in order to avoid hazardous effect on the environment.