ABSTRACT
Objectives: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a motor impairment syndrome leading to disorders of movement and posture. Screening of electrophysiological parameters Hoffman reflex (H-reflex and nerve conduction velocities) becomes a necessary for the early detection and management of the disease. The study aimed to assess the various electrophysiological parameters of nerve conduction velocity in CP and age-matched normal children. Matrials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was performed between children suffering from CP and healthy control. A total of 27 children of 12–24 months of age of either sex were examined. Among them, six children were normal (with age match), seven were diagnosed with spastic CP and remaining 14 children were diagnosed with hypotonic CP The electrophysiological parameters were recorded in the right lower limb (posterior tibial nerve-soleus muscle) of all children. Results: In electrophysiological parameters, H-reflex latency in secs values was significantly decreased in all CP children. The maximum amplitudes of reflexly excitable motor neurons (Hmax) (mV) and Hmax/maximum amplitude of motor response ratio in the gastrocnemius-soleus muscle were significantly increased in spastic CPas compared to control. H-reflex conduction velocity (HRCV) was significantly higher than motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) in hypotonic CP children. Conclusion: The electrophysiological parameters were altered in spastic CP children. The electrophysiological parameters in hypotonic CP were within range, indicating they did not suppress the neuronal motor pool. However, HRCV was significantly more than MNCV in hypotonic CP, suggesting some myelination process defect/white matter injury in motor neurons. We concluded that the electrophysiological parameters of the nerve conduction study are a reliable test for the assessment of tone of muscles in children. Thus, it may help in the early initiation of the treatment and therapies in CP children.
ABSTRACT
Background: Reactive oxygen species released on stimulation by periodontal pathogens cause oxidation of biomolecules and play significant role in periodontal disease pathogenesis. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the levels of oxidative by?products malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8?hydroxy deoxyguanosine (8?OHdG) as biomarkers in chronic periodontitis patients compared to healthy as well as before and after nonsurgical periodontal therapy. The correlation between biomarkers and clinical attachment level was also evaluated. Settings and Design: A total of 112 subjects were included in this study. The subjects were divided into two groups (Group I included 56 healthy subjects and Group II constituted 56 chronic periodontitis patients) on the basis of clinical periodontal parameters. Materials and Methods: Group I subjects received no treatment and were evaluated once only for clinical and oxidative stress biomarker parameters. Nonsurgical periodontal therapy was carried out in Group II patients and they were evaluated at baseline and 3 months after therapy. Results: Both salivary and serum levels of MDA and 8?OHdG were found to be increased in chronic periodontitis patients as compared to healthy subjects. After nonsurgical periodontal therapy, the levels of MDA and 8?OHdG significantly reduced. Linear correlation between clinical attachment level and oxidative stress parameters was found to be positive and highly significant. Conclusion: It can be concluded that periodontal therapy is effective in improving the oxidative stress condition.
ABSTRACT
Background: Dermatophytosis is a major public health problem in our country. Although resistance to conventional oral and topical antifungal agents is being increasingly encountered, the sensitivity pattern of dermatophytes has not been systematically analysed. Aims: We aimed to determine the sensitivity pattern of dermatophyte isolates to amphotericin B and six oral antifungal drugs. Materials and Methods: Patients with dermatophytosis attending the outpatient department of dermatology were enrolled in the study. Samples were collected for mycological examination and in vitro antifungal sensitivity testing was done by broth microdilution as per the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute M38-A standards. Results: A total of 804 patients were enrolled. Specimens from 185 patients (23%) were both KOH and culture positive, and 44 of these isolates (41 Trichophyton mentagrophytes and 3 Trichophyton rubrum) were subjected to sensitivity testing. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of itraconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole and amphotericin B were comparable. The median MIC to fluconazole was higher than the other tested drugs. Dermatophytes were most susceptible to ketoconazole and voriconazole, followed by itraconazole, amphotericin B, fluconazole and griseofulvin. A high incidence of resistance was found to terbinafine and the difference was statistically significant in comparison to fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, ketoconazole (P = 0.001) and griseofulvin (P = 0.003). The strains were more sensitive to amphotericin B as compared to griseofulvin (P = 0.02) and terbinafine (P < 0.001). Limitations: This was a hospital-based study and may not reflect the true pattern in the community. Only a few of the isolates were selected for study. The clinical response of patients, whose isolates were studied for in vitro sensitivity of the antifungals, was not studied. Conclusions: The sensitivity pattern of dermatophytes to various antifungals including amphotericin B, ketoconazole, voriconazole and itraconazole were determined. The studied isolates were least susceptible to terbinafine.
ABSTRACT
Background: WHO MDT is the main drug regimen for treating leprosy and has been used for more than three decades. Many cases of relapse of leprosy have been reported, which points towards the emergence of drug resistance with the antileprotic drugs. Objectives: To find the resistance with the antileprotic drugs by detecting the mutations in drug resistance determining region of the rpoB, folP1 and gyrA genes of Mycobacterium leprae. Methods: Leprosy patients with bacterial index ≥2 were included in the study. The slides were further processed to extract genomic DNA, and polymerase chain reactions were performed to amplify the drug resistance determining region (DRDR) of rpoB, folP1 and gyrA genes. The samples in which genes could be amplified were subjected to DNA sequencing to detect mutations. Results: Out of 78 samples rpoB gene was amplified in 39 (50%), folP1 in 32 (41%) and gyrA in 45 (57.7%). In 20 (25.6%) samples no gene was amplified. Only 32 samples of rpoB, 25 samples of folP1 and 38 samples of gyrA gene were included in the study, rest were excluded due to sequencing error. No mutation was seen in rpoB gene and in folP1 gene. In gyrA gene samples mutations were seen in 8 (21%) samples, and were present at codon 91 GCA → GTA (Alanine → Valine). Limitations: Small sample size and less efficient method to detect resistance. Conclusion: Resistance is not a problem with conventional drugs in MDT. It is more common with quinolones.