RESUMO
Purpose: To describe the long?term outcomes of transcutaneous retrobulbar amphotericin B (TRAMB) in COVID?19?associated mucormycosis. Methods: In total, 18 cases of COVID?19?associated mucormycosis were reviewed. In addition to the recommended treatment protocol, all patients were to be given 3.5 mg/ml/day of TRAMB for five days. Results: Of the 18 patients, 2 presented with stage 3a disease, 13 had stage 3c disease, and 3 patients had central nervous system (CNS) involvement (stage 4a and 4c). In addition to planned retrobulbar doses, five patients were given more while two patients received fewer injections (i.e., <5). At the last mean follow?up of 34.67 (±8.88) weeks, 11 patients were in radiological regression and 4 had stable disease while 2 patients had to undergo exenteration; one mortality was observed because of disease progression. Clinical regression in terms of visual and ptosis improvement was seen in seven and nine patients, respectively. Conclusion: Rhino?orbito?cerebral mucormycosis is a serious condition which warrants an aggressive treatment strategy. In unprecedented situations witnessed recently, TRAMB turned out to be an effective and economical alternative. Though large randomized studies are needed to establish its efficacy, TRAMB still manages to halt progression and salvage the globe in significant number of patients, and hence its use should be encouraged on a case?to?case basis especially in developing countries with limited resources
RESUMO
Background: Selenium has been reported to be insulinomimetic and to reduce blood glucose level in type 2 diabetes.Material & Methods:This study describes an inverse correlation of serum selenium with blood glucose level. This is a case control study conducted among 30 low BMI and 70 normal BMI diabetes and 50 low BMI non-diabetic controls. Serum selenium concentration was determined by atomic absorption graphite spectrophotometry.Results:Serum selenium concentration was estimated to be 44�礸/L, 48�礸/L and 59�礸/L respectively in low BMI (<18.5) and normal BMI (18.5-24.9) diabetics and low BMI non-diabetics controls. A trend of inverse correlation was found between serum selenium and blood glucose levels. Serum selenium level at > 40 (41-60) 礸/L was found to be inversely correlated (p<0.05) with blood glucose level.Conclusions:Lower serum selenium was observed in the diabetic patients and it was inversely correlated with blood glucose level
RESUMO
The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of bromoxynil herbicide on soil microorganisms, with the hypothesis that this herbicide caused suppression in microbial activity and biomass by exerting toxic effect on them. Nine sites of Punjab province (Pakistan) those had been exposed to bromoxynil herbicide for about last ten years designated as soil 'A' were surveyed in 2011 and samples were collected and analyzed for Microbial Biomass Carbon (MBC), Biomass Nitrogen (MBN), Biomass Phosphorus (MBP) and bacterial population. Simultaneously, soil samples from the same areas those were not exposed to herbicide designated as soil 'B' were taken. At all the sites MBC, MBN and MBP ranged from 131 to 457, 1.22 to 13.1 and 0.59 to 3.70 µg g-1 in the contaminated soils (Soil A), which was 187 to 573, 1.70 to 14.4 and 0.72 to 4.12 µg g-1 in the soils without contamination (soil B). Bacterial population ranged from 0.67 to 1.84x10(8) and 0.87 to 2.37x10(8) cfu g-1 soil in the soils A and B, respectively. Bromoxynil residues ranged from 0.09 to 0.24 mg kg-1 at all the sites in soil A. But no residues were detected in the soil B. Due to lethal effect of bromoxynil residues on the above parameters, considerable decline in these parameters was observed in the contaminated soils. Results depicted that the herbicide had left toxic effects on soil microbial parameters, thus confirmed that continuous use of this herbicide affected the quality of soil and sustainable crop production.