How Indian physiologists are contributing to the peer review of scientific literature? An audit of publons profiles

Background: Peer review is one of the cornerstones of sound scientific publication. When a paper is submitted to a journal, after an initial assessment, the editor sends the article to reviewers with similar research experiences for comprehensive comments. Aims and Objectives: In this article, we aimed to analyze the pattern of peer review by the reviewers in the physiology domain from India as found in publons.com. Materials and methods: We searched https://publons.com and clicked on 揃rowse� to search the profile of 揜esearchers.� The research field was selected as 揚hysiology� and the country as 揑ndia.� A total of 158 profiles were found with the search criteria. The number of publications, citations, peer review, H-index, and the editorial record was obtained for further analysis. The number of the peer review was tested with the number of publications and citations for any existing correlation. Results: Among the 158 researchers in the physiology domain, an average verified review was 8.09 � 32.12 and an average number of publications were 15.7 � 31.1. Their number of citations was 359.75 � 1296.24 with an average H-index of 4.15 � 7.85. There was a significant positive correlation with peer review versus number of publication (0.39 [95% CI: 0.24 to 0.51], P < 0.0001) and peer review versus number of citation (0.26 [95% CI: 0.11 to 0.41)], P = 0.0008). Conclusion: Peer reviewers in the physiology domain from India have contributed by reviewing an average of 8 peer reviews. However, many of the profiles showed zero contribution. More publications and more citations would expose the researchers to a wider audience worldwide, including the editors. Hence, they would get peer review requests.

Environmental Contamination by Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato Eggs in Relation to Slaughterhouses in Urban and Rural Areas in Tunisia

Hydatidosis has become a real concern for health care institutions and animal rearers in Tunisia. The Tunisian endemicity is aggravated by the growing number of dogs and the difficulty of getting rid of contaminated viscera because of the lack of equipment in most slaughterhouses. Therefore, microscopic and molecular tools were applied to evaluate the role of slaughterhouses in canine infection and Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s. l.) egg dissemination. Exposure risk to E. granulosus s. l. eggs in urban and rural areas was explored in order to implant preventive and adapted control strategies. Microscopic examinations detected taeniid eggs in 152 amongst 553 fecal samples. The copro-PCR demonstrated that 138 of 152 taeniid samples analyzed were positive for E. granulosus s. l. DNA. PCR-RFLP demonstrated that all isolated samples belonged to E. granulosus sensu stricto (s. s.). An important environmental contamination index (25.0%) by E. granulosus s. l. eggs was demonstrated. The average contamination index from the regions around slaughterhouses (23.3%; 95% CI: 17.7-28.9%) was in the same range as detected in areas located far from slaughterhouses (26.0%, 95% CI: 21.3-30.8%). Echinococcosis endemic areas were extended in both rural (29.9%, 95% CI: 24.8-34.9%) and urban locations (18.1%, 95% CI: 13.0-22.9%). The pathogen dissemination is related neither to the presence/absence of slaughterhouses nor to the location in urban or rural areas, but is probably influenced by human activities (home slaughtering) and behavior towards the infected viscera.

Recent Advancement in Non-surgical Interventional Treatment in Congenital Heart Disease at National Institute of Cardiovascular Disease (NICVD)-a Tertiary Care Hospital of Bangladesh.

Background: Treatment of Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) is either Surgical or Interventional. Medical management is mainly symptomatic / palliative. Although surgery is the main mode of treatment but in the recent past non-surgical Interventional method is replacing it because of its multiple advantages over surgical procedures. Since 2005, we started our journey in National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases with a PDA device closure. In this article we tried to review the success rate of the interventional procedures in this hospital. Methods: The aim of this retrospective study is to review the short term & Intermediate outcome of the non surgical interventional treatment of congenital heart diseases. We included all the interventional rocedures done in this Institute since 2005 upto December 2013. Results: During this period, we performed total 150 cases of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) device, 20 cases of PDA Coil closure, 60 cases of atrial septal defect (ASD) device, 90 cases of Balloon Pulmonary Valvuloplasty (BPV), 20 cases of Balloon Aortic Valvuloplasty (BAV), 22 cases of Coarctation Balloon Angioplasty, 35 cases of Mitral Valvuloplasty (PTMC), 15 cases of Balloon Atrial Septostomy. Almost all of our intervention procedures were successful except one case of mortality related to procedure of PDA device closure, 4 device embolization (2 ASD & 2 PDA) and one case of PDA coil with persistent Intravascular hemolysis. All the embolized devices were subsequently retrieved surgically with repair. All other patients of interventional treatment are enjoying new life without any morbidity. Conclusion: Thus, we concluded that interventional methods of suitably selected case of congenital heart disease may be an alternative lucrative safe & effective option of remedy for many of the congenital heart diseases.

[Gene expression profiling in breast cancer]

Gene expression profiling has been increasingly used to determine new cancer markers. This technology holds major promises for improving the management of patients with breast cancer in which traditional clinicopathologic parameters do not account for all the heterogeneity of this disease and its distinct prognostic groups. Gene expression profiling has resulted in new classification of breast cancer and new assays are being developed and commercialized as prognostic and predictive tests. However, the use of these tests in a clinical setting presents many issues. The accuracy of this new technology is often overestimated and its limitations should be addressed. Although early results are promising, further validation and well designed clinical trials are required before incorporating these tests in routine clinical practice

[Flat epithelial atypia of the breast]

"Flat epithelial atypia" is the adopted term by the WHO working group on breast tumor referring to an early neoplastic breast lesion affecting the terminal duct-lobular units. Pathologists have described this lesion under a variety of names including columnar cell lesions and low-grade clinging carcinoma in situ. It is usually encountered on breast biopsies performed for mammographically-identified microcalcifications. Because of its relatively frequent association with carcinomas, its recognition in biopsy specimens is important. This review will focus on the histopathologic features, differential diagnosis, biologic potential, clinical significance and management of this lesion

Polypoid gall bladder lesions: is it necessary for immediate surgery?

Ultrasonographic study of hepatobiliary system was done in 481 patients with acute right hypochondriac pain to find out any pathology in hepatobiliary system. A total of 57 patients with polypoid lesions in gall bladder were diagnosed and underwent extensive follow-up. In 31 patients, who underwent surgery, the histological findings were cholesterol polyp/cholesterosis (n=14), cholesterosis with fibrous displasia of gall bladder (n=7), adenomyomatosis (n=3), hyperplastic cholecystosis (n=5) and adenocarcinoma (n=2). Remaining 26 patients were under follow-up up to 18 months from first diagnosis. Though most of the polyps diagnosed on ultrasound appeared to be benign without any risk of malignant transformation, it, however, may be recommended to go for surgery in a persistent symptomatic patient.

Mycoplasma pneumonia and acute chest syndrome in sickle cell disease

Acute chest syndrome [ACS] is the leading cause of hospitalization, morbidity, and mortality in patients with sickle cell disease. Radiographic and clinical findings in ACS resemble pneumonia, however etiologies other than infectious pathogens have been implicated, including pulmonary fat embolism [PFE] and infarction of segments of the pulmonary vasculatures. Data were analyzed from the prospective study of 70 patients with ACS with sickle cell disease, ACS was defined as a new pulmonary infiltrate involving at least complete segment of the lung, excluding atelectasis. In addition, the patients had to have chest pain, fever >38.5C, tachypnea, wheezing or cough. Samples of blood and deep sputum were analyzed for evidence of bacteria. Mycoplasma pneumonia infection was determined by analysis of paired serologies. Detailed information on patient characteristics, presenting signs and symptoms, treatment and clinical outcome were collected. 12.5% of 70 patients with ACS had serological and PCR evidence of mycoplasma pneumonia, infection was higher in patients ages 5 to 9.9 years reaching 50%, all infection occurred in hemoglobin type SS. M. pneumonia is commonly associated with sickle cell disease and occurs in very young children. Aggressive treatment with broad spectrum antibiotics, including Ig from the macrolide class, is recommended for all patients as well as bronchodilator therapy, early transfusion, and respiratory support when clinically indicated

Effect of violence films viewing on serum catecholamines and nitrites in male adolescents

This study is an attempt to determine the physiological effects of violence films viewing [VFV] in teenagers. For this purpose, 100 male teenagers volunteers [11-15 years] participated in this study. They were divided into 2 equal groups. The first group [Group I] was accustomed to VFV, while the second group [Group II] was not accustomed to VFV. Violence films [Natural Born Killer and Scream I "R-rated"] were viewed to participant volunteers for 3 hours. Blood samples were withdrawn before and after VFV [pre and post viewing samples]. Serum catecholamines [epinephrine [E], norepinephrine [N] and dopamine [D]] and nitrites [as an indicator of nitric oxide [NO]] were measured in pre-viewing and post viewing samples so that each participant acted as his own control. Results of the first group clearly revealed that serum catecholamines [E, N and D] levels were significantly increased. While nitrite levels were significantly decreased in post viewing samples compared to, pre- viewing samples. In the second group, serum E and nitrites were significantly increased, while serum N and D were significantly decreased in post viewing samples compared to pre-viewing samples. It is concluded that previous experience with VFV caused an aggressive stress response in group I; while lack of this past experience in group II was reflected as an attenuated stress response

Cardiovascular effects of violence films in male adolescents

In this study, the cardiovascular [CV] effects of violence film viewing [VFV] were studied. For this purpose, two groups of adolescent volunteers participated in this study. The first group [50 males aged 11-15 years] was violent film viewers, whereas the second group [50 males aged 11-15 years] was not accustomed to view violent film. Before included in the study, written consent and clinical examination were done. The CV parameters [blood pressures and ECG parameters] were recorded before and after VFV, so that each participant acted as his own control. These parameters were: Heart rate [HR], systolic and diastolic blood pressure [SBP and DBP], mean pressure [MP], pulse pressure [PP], the durations of P-R interval, QRS, Q-Tc, R-R interval, S-T segment and interval and the voltage of R and T waves. Statistical analysis of data showed that there were a significant increase in HR, SBP, DBP, PP and MP in group I after VFV compared to their control pre-viewing values. There were significant decrease in R wave and T wave voltage, the durations of P-R, QRS, Q-Tc, R-R and ST in group I after VFV compared to their control previewing values. In group II, there were significant decrease in HR. SBP, DBP, PP and MP after VFV compared with their previewing control values. While there were significant increase in R and T waves voltage, durations of P-R, QRS, Q-Tc [Q-T correct], R-R and ST after VFV compared with their control previewing values there. Previous experience with VFV resulted in sympathetic reactions whereas non accustomed to VFV showed parasympathetic reaction. This may be due to aggressive stress response associated with previous experience with VFV in group I while lack of this past experience could lead to less aggressive reactions in group II

Effect of the black seed oil [Nigella Sativa oil] on experimentally-induced gastric mucosal injury in albino rats

The present study was done to investigate the possible effect of Nigella sativa oil [NSO] on cold restraint [CR] and indomethacin [I] induced gastric ulcer in albino rats. Thirty-six adult male albino rats were used in this study; they were divided into six equal groups. Pyloric ligation was done in all rats to collect gastric juice. Gastric ulcer was induced by CR and I treatment. Oral treatment with NSO daily for two weeks was given to control [non-stressed] and to CR and I treated rats before ulcer induction. Gastric ulcer scores, gastric juice analysis for acidity, proteolytic activity and mucin, gastric mucosa1 histamine, glutathione [GSH], prostaglandin E2 [PGE2] and lipid peroxides as well as serum total antioxidant status [TAS] were determined and the mean levels were compared with control non treated parameters. It can be concluded that NSO imparted a protective action against CR- and I-induced ulcer in rats and can be recommended for prophylaxis and treatment of gastric mucosa1 injury