Comparative study of nerve conduction parameters in peripheral nerves of upper limb (dominant hand) in mobile users with different usage time and type

Background: With the advancement in digital world, but smart phone usage has increased among all age groups but youngsters are involved in heavy gaming on smart phones which has led to increased risk of ill-effects especially on eyes and hands. Aim and Objectives: The study was designed to study the ill-effects of excessive usage if smart phones on peripheral nerves of hands especially of dominant hand among young adults. Materials and Methods: Nerve conduction study was performed on 100 young adults who were divided into three groups on the basis of mobile usage time. Nerve conduction velocities as well as distal latencies of motor and sensory nerves of the dominant hand were measured among different groups. Results: One-way ANOVA test was applied to study the results among different groups. Although no significant difference in conduction velocity or latency was observed in motor or sensory nerves among three groups, Ulnar sensory conduction velocity has been found to be slow as well as distal latency was found to be prolonged in third group with heavy usage of smart phones as compared to other groups. Conclusion: The reason for the above results could be due to less usage time in hours as well as in years due to which no significance differences were observed in conduction velocity/distal latency in our study. Hence, further studies are suggested with more sample size and more usage time in terms of years as well as in hours.

Effect of body mass index on VO2 max among apparently healthy male young adults: A cross-sectional study

Background: Factors determine the change in aerobic capacity (VO2 max). This study discovered an association between body mass index (BMI) with aerobic capacity (VO2 max) in apparently healthy male young adults. Aims and Objectives: The study aimed to determine the effect of obesity on cardiopulmonary health of apparently healthy male young adults with following objectives: (i) To compare the VO2 max in different BMI groups and (ii) to study the correlation of BMI with VO2 max. Materials and Methods: A study was conducted among 100 male subjects of 18–30 years assessing BMI (height/weight2) and VO2 max by CPET Ergo-bike machine. Statistical analysis was done with unpaired t-test. Results: In correlation between four BMI groups and their respective VO2 max, we found that VO2 max in the underweight group (BMI <18.5) is positively correlated and statistically significant. In the normal group (BMI 18.5–24.9), it is negatively correlated and insignificant. In the overweight group (BMI 24.9–29.9), it is negatively correlated and significant and in the obese group (BMI ?30), it is negatively correlated and not significant. Conclusion: VO2 max is gradually increasing with BMI toward the normal range and decreasing away from the normal range significantly in both underweight and overweight groups. Whereas, this change of VO2 max is not so significant in both normal and obese groups as per. As BMI is inversely related to cardiopulmonary function, persons having high BMI can be motivated toward a healthy lifestyle.

Early detection of multi-drug resistance and common mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from Delhi using GenoType MTBDRplus assay.

Purpose: There is scarcity of prevalence data of multi-drug–resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) data and common mutations responsible in North India. This study aimed to detect MDR-TB among MDR-TB suspects from Delhi and mutation patterns using GenoType MTBDRplus assay. Materials and Methods: All MDR suspects in fi ve districts of New Delhi were referred to the laboratory from 1st October 2011 to 31st December 2012 as per criterion defi ned by Programmatic Management of Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (PMDT). GenoType MTBDRplus assay was performed on 2182 samples or cultures and mutations in the rpoB gene for rifampicin (RIF) and katG and inhA genes for isoniazid (INH) were analyzed. Results: A total of 366 (16.8%) MDR-TB cases were diagnosed. MDR rate was found to be 32%, 16.6% and 10.2% during criterion A, B and C respectively. The most common mutation detected for RIF was S531L (59.0%) and for INH was S315T1 (88.3%). Mutations S531L and S315T1 occurred signifi cantly higher in MDR strains as compared to RIF mono-resistant and INH mono-resistant strains, respectively. Average laboratory turn-around time (TAT) for dispatch of result to districts for test conducted on samples was 4.4 days. Conclusion: GenoType MTBDRplus is a useful assay for rapid detection of MDR-TB. The common mutations for RIF and INH were similar to those seen in other regions. However, mutations determining MDR strains and mono-resistant strains differed signifi cantly for both RIF and INH.

Presumptive identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex based on cord formation in BACTEC MGIT 960 medium.

We considered samples received for culture of mycobacteria using BACTEC MGIT 960 system over a period of 1 year. Tubes flagged positive by MGIT were evaluated for presence of serpentine cording. The cord formation was compared with isolates identified as Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) based on p-nitrobenzoic acid (PNB) test. Cords were found in 591 isolates of which 584 (98.8%) were confirmed as MTC. The sensitivity and specificity of cord formation were found to be 99.7% and 89.9%, respectively.

Mycobacterial infections in human immuno-deficiency virus seropositive patients: role of non-tuberculous mycobacteria.

BACKGROUND: There is high prevalence of tuberculosis in patients with HIV infection; hence the role of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in HIV patients has always been undermined. NTM may be responsible for clinical disease in a substantial number of immuno-compromised HIV sero-positive individuals even in a country endemic for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). The study was designed to look for the contribution of NTM to morbidity in HIV seropositive patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a prospective study of ninety-four HIV seropositive individuals presenting with pulmonary or extra-pulmonary symptoms suggestive of mycobacterial infection, appropriate samples were collected and processed. Detailed clinical history was utilized to differentiate colonization or contamination by NTM from true lung disease. RESULTS: Fourteen samples grew mycobacterial species, 8(57.2%) being NTM. The distribution of NTM was--3 M. avium complex, 2 M. fortuitum, 2 M. vaccae, 1 M. phlei. 6 isolates were M. tuberculosis. CONCLUSION: NTM may be responsible for a significant proportion of mycobacterial infections in HIV seropositive individuals. Despite the high endemicity of tuberculosis in developing countries like India, the presence of NTM should be ruled out; especially in immuno-compromised HIV seropositive individuals before instituting anti-tubercular therapy empirically. In addition, non-response of NTM to ATT may be wrongly attributed to multi-drug resistant tuberculosis.

Accessory Tendon and Tripartite Insertion Pattern of Fibularis Longus Muscle: A Case Report / Tendón Accesorio y Padrón de Inserción Trifurcada del Músculo Fibular Largo: Reporte de Caso

The fibular muscles are the chief everters of foot and play an important role in stabilizing its subtalar motion. In the present case detected incidentally, we report a case of an accessory tendon and tripartite insertion pattern of fibularis longus muscle in the left leg, out of which two slips were attached to plantar and lateral aspects of base of first metatarsal and the third slip was found blending with first dorsal interosseous muscle. Awareness and precise knowledge of such anatomical variants are important to surgeons performing reconstructive procedures.

Los músculos fibulares son los que evierten el pie y juegan un importante rol en la estabilización de los movimientos subtalares. En el presente caso detectado accidentalmente, reportamos un caso de un tendón accesorio e inserción trifurcado del músculo fibular largo en la pierna izquierda, dos de los cuales estaban fijados en las caras plantar y lateral de la base del primer hueso metatarsiano y el tercero fue encontrado mezclándose con el primer músculo interóseo dorsal. El exacto conocimiento de estas variaciones anatómicas son importantes para los cirujanos en los procedimientos reconstructivos.

Topical lincomycin gel in acne vulgaris: a multicentric placebo controlled study.

INTRODUCTION: Acne vulgaris is commonly treated with topical antibacterials. We evaluated lincomycin gel, a new topical formulation for mild to moderate acne. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A multicentric, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, clinical trial was conducted with lincomycin hydrochloride in 2% gel form in 200 patients with grade II and grade III acne. The severity of acne lesions was noted at baseline and after 4 weeks. RESULTS: About 70% cases in the study group showed a good to excellent response, which was significantly more as compared to 23% in the placebo group. The frequency and severity of adverse reactions in the two groups were similar. CONCLUSION: Lincomycin hydrochloride gel is an effective and safe treatment option for mild to moderate acne vulgaris.

Evaluation of various diagnostic signs on percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography in obstructive jaundice.

Twenty patients of obstructive jaundice were subjected to percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) of which 17 were operated on. Patients were divided in 4 groups according to the site of obstruction. The diagnostic signs observed were: Complete block with interface having convexity downwards (4), convexity upwards (3), biconcave caudal cut off (6), smooth edged cut off (one), irregular edged cut off (one) and non-specific appearance (one); incomplete block with interface having convexity upwards (one); biconcave caudal cut off (2) and multiple smooth central filling defects (2). In one case there was incomplete obstruction at two sites giving rise to two different signs. PTC was 100% correct in accurately telling the site of lesion. As regards the nature of the lesion the diagnosis on PTC was found correct in 15 out of 17 cases (88.5%).

Study of interaction between catechin and native and modified bovine serum albumin by physico-chemical methods.

The interaction of native and modified bovine serum albumin (BSA) with catechin, a flavanoid having vitamin P activity, has been studied using equilibrium dialysis, pH-metric, viscosity and spectrophotometric methods. The order of reactivity of catechin binding to proteins was found to be: esterified BSA greater than BSA greater than formylated BSA greater than acetylated BSA with log K values of 3.778, 3.879, 3.748 and 3.813 and free energy change equal to -5.11, -5.16, -5.07 and -5.15 kcal/mole, respectively.