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Purpose: To evaluate and compare endothelial cell changes in phacoemulsification and manual small- incision cataract surgery (MSICS) in patients with uncomplicated senile cataracts. Methods: This was a prospective, tertiary care hospital-based, randomized, double-blinded interventional study. In total, 152 patients with an uncomplicated senile cataract of nuclear grade III and above were recruited. Exclusion criteria included patients with preoperative endothelial cell density (ECD) less than 1500 cells/mm3, a history of previous ocular surgery, any other coexisting ocular disease, and intraoperative or postoperative surgical complications. Preoperative and postoperative values of ECD and central corneal thickness (CCT) were measured, analyzed, and correlated with various factors. Results: Patients were randomized into two interventional groups-MSICS and phacoemulsification. Factors associated with significant drop in postoperative ECD following phacoemulsification were patients with advanced age (P = 0.01), higher grades of cataract (P = 0.01), and longer effective phacoemulsification time (P = 0.007). Shallow anterior chamber depth (ACD) was strongly associated with greater ECD loss in both groups (P < 0.0001). A threshold value of 2.86 mm of ACD was defined for minimal endothelial cell loss following phacoemulsification. CCT was observed to slightly increase postoperatively in both groups but was insignificant (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Both MSICS and phacoemulsification have similar postoperative visual outcomes. An increase in postoperative CCT is insignificant following surgery. Greater postoperative ECD loss is associated with phacoemulsification with advanced age, hard nuclear cataracts, and longer effective phacoemulsification time. ACD can be used as an essential parameter preoperatively to determine the choice of surgical technique between MSICS and phacoemulsification
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ABSTRACT Background Procalcitonin may be increased in active ulcerative colitis (UC). We investigated the role of procalcitonin in predicting response in acute severe UC (ASUC). Methods Consecutive patients with ASUC diagnosed on basis of Truelove and Witts criteria were enrolled. Serum procalcitonin levels for consecutive patients were measured at admission and day 3. We assessed role of procalcitonin values at presentation and at day 3 in assessing response on day 3 (Oxford's criteria) and need for second line therapy (day 28). Results Of fifty patients (23 males, mean age: 35.98±13.8 years), 16 did not respond (day 3). Ten (20%) patients required second-line therapy. Baseline procalcitonin was significantly associated with response on day 3 (P=0.016). There was no association between day 1 or day 3 procalcitonin and need for second-line rescue therapy. Conclusion Serial procalcitonin is not an effective biomarker for predicting outcomes or need for second line therapy in ASUC.
RESUMO Contexto A procalcitonina pode estar aumentada em colite ulcerativa ativa. Investigamos o papel da procalcitonina na previsão de resposta na colite ulcerativa aguda grave. Métodos Foram inscritos pacientes consecutivos com colite ulcerativa aguda grave diagnosticados com base nos critérios de Truelove e Witts. Os níveis de procalcitonina sérica dos pacientes foram medidos consecutivamente na internação e no terceiro dia. Avaliamos o papel dos valores procalcitonina na apresentação e na avaliação da resposta no terceiro dia (critérios de Oxford) e necessidade de terapia de segunda linha (dia 28). Resultados Dos 50 pacientes (23 homens, idade média: 35,98±13,8 anos), 16 não responderam (terceiro dia). Dez pacientes (20%) necessitaram de terapia de segunda linha. A procalcitonina de linha de base foi significativamente associada à resposta no terceiro dia (P=0,016). Não houve associação entre o primeiro dia ou o terceiro dia de procalcitonina e necessidade de terapia de resgate de segunda linha. Conclusão A procalcitonina sérica não é um biomarcador eficaz para prever desfechos ou necessidade de terapia de segunda linha em colite ulcerativa aguda grave.
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We describe a highly effi cient and reproducible Agrobacterium-mediated transformation protocol applicable to several varieties of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum, earlier known as Lycopersicum esculentum). Conditions such as co-cultivation period, bacterial concentration, concentration of benzyl amino purine (BAP), zeatin and indole acetic acid (IAA) were optimized. Co-cultivation of explants with a bacterial concentration of 108 cells/ml for three days on 2 mg/l BAP, followed by regeneration on a medium containing 1 mg/ml zeatin resulted in a transformation frequency of 41.4%. Transformation of tomato plants was confi rmed by Southern blot analysis and β-glucuronidase (GUS) assay. The protocol developed showed very high effi ciency of transformation for tomato varieties Pusa Ruby, Arka Vikas and Sioux. The optimized transformation procedure is simple, effi cient and does not require tobacco, Petunia, tomato suspension feeder layer or acetosyringone.
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BACKGROUND, Several studies have reported that the increased risk of hypertension is mainly due to alcohol intake, lack of physical activity, nutritional factors like high fat intake, anthropometric parameters like body weight and waist-to-hip ratio, and metabolic disorders like diabetes mellitus. However, the extensive review of literature suggests that in different parts of the world, the predictive risk factors are associated with risk of hypertension in different combinations.The main objectives of this study were to determine the predictors of hypertension in an urban population of India, using the variables depicting lifestyle, nutrition, and environment. METHODS AND RESULTS, Secondary data collected through a cross-sectional survey in a population proportionate sample were analyzed. Sample size was calculated using prevalence of one of the predictors (obesity) from previous studies.Subjects aged between 15 and 54 years, residing in New Delhi for at least one year were included in the study (n = 494). The WHO STEPS instrument for noncommunicable disease risk factors (Core and Expanded version 1.2) was used for data col-lection.Bivariate logistic regression analysis showed that hypertensive individuals were twice more likely to be male, of significantly higher age, and more likely, had received college education.The full model of logistic regression analysis showed that sex, age, education, weight, and pulse rate were significant predictors of hypertension. CONCLUSION, The most parsimonious regression model included age, sex, educational status, body mass index, physical inactivity, and hip girth as predictors of hypertension. Risk of hypertension may be predicted early in a population by suitable screening procedures.
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OBJECTIVE: Social factors and prevalent norms in the community determine the proportion of teenage pregnancy in the community. In the light of high risk associated with teenage pregnancy, the socio-cultural determinants, which influence the conception among teenagers in Nepal, need to be understood. These determinants may be modified by suitable interventions to reduce teenage pregnancy. Aim of this study was to examine the socio-cultural determinants of teenage pregnancy in eastern Nepal. METHODS: A case-control study design was selected for comparing the education, economic status, family support and freedom towards conception among teenagers as compared to higher age group women. RESULT: Seventy adolescent pregnant women were compared with seventy primigravida women in the 20 to 29 years age group. The teenage pregnant women were less educated, had poor economic background, more likely to have accidental pregnancies as compared to the other group and more likely to have love marriages. Husbands were more likely to decide about continuation of pregnancy. They had less psychological and social support from the family. CONCLUSION: Marriage at young age and pregnancy during teens are associated with less social acceptance and poor support in the family.