Demographic profile and clinical characteristics of patients presenting with acute ocular burns

Purpose: To study and compare the demographic and clinical profile of acute ocular burns (AOB) in children and adults. Methods: This retrospective case series included 271 children (338 eyes) and 1300 adults (1809 eyes) who presented to two tertiary eye care centers within one month of sustaining AOB. Data regarding demographics, causative agents, severity of injury, visual acuity (VA), and treatment were collected and analyzed. Results: Males were more commonly affected particularly among adults (81% versus 64%, P < 0.00001). Among children, 79% sustained domestic injuries, whereas 59% of adults had work?place injuries (P < 0.0001). Most cases were due to alkali (38%) and acids (22%). Edible lime (chuna, 32%), superglue (14%), and firecrackers (12%) in children, and chuna (7%), insecticides, lye, superglue (6% each), toilet cleaner (4%) and battery acid (3%) in adults, were the main causative agents. The percentage of cases with Dua grade IV?VI was greater in children (16% versus 9%; P = 0.0001). Amniotic membrane grafting and/or tarsorrhaphy were needed in 36% and 14% of affected eyes in children and adults, respectively (P < 0.00001). The median presenting VA was logMAR 0.5 in children and logMAR 0.3 in adults (P = 0.0001), which improved significantly with treatment in both groups (P < 0.0001), but the final VA in eyes with Dua grade IV?VI burns was poorer in children (logMAR 1.3 versus logMAR 0.8, P = 0.04). Conclusion: The findings clearly delineate the at?risk groups, causative agents, clinical severity, and treatment outcomes of AOB. Increased awareness and data?driven targeted preventive strategies are needed to reduce the avoidable ocular morbidity in AOB

Quality assurance of malaria rapid diagnostic tests: An aid in malaria elimination

Background & objectives: India targets malaria elimination by 2030 in a phased manner, so malaria’s assured diagnosis is crucial. Introduction of rapid diagnostic kits in India in 2010 has revolutionized malaria surveillance. The storage temperature of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), kit components and handling in transportations impact the results of RDTs. Therefore, quality assurance (QA) is required before it reaches end-users. The Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Malaria Research (ICMR-NIMR) has a World Health Organization (WHO) recognized lot-testing laboratory facility to assure the quality of RDTs. Methods: The ICMR-NIMR receives RDTs from different manufacturing companies as well as various agencies such as National and State Programmes and Central Medical Services Society. The WHO standard protocol is followed to conduct all the tests, including long-term and post-dispatch testing. Results: A total of 323 lots tested during January 2014-March 2021 were received from different agencies. Amongst them, 299 lots passed the quality of test and 24 failed. In long-term testing, 179 lots were tested and only nine failed. A total of 7741 RDTs were received from end-users for post-dispatch testing of which 7540 qualified the QA test with a score of 97.4 per cent. Interpretation & conclusions: RDTs received for quality testing showed compliance with QA evaluation of malaria RDTs based on the protocol recommended by the WHO. However, continuous monitoring of the quality of RDTs is required under QA programme. Quality-assured RDTs have a major role, especially in areas where low parasitaemia of parasites persists.

The case report of a non-resident Indian with Plasmodium ovale curtisi from Kerala, India

India’s target of malaria elimination by 2030 may not be achieved solely by detecting Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax, the two common Plasmodium species causing infections in humans. Sporadic reports have been documented on other Plasmodium species in the country, associated mostly with travel history. A febrile patient of Indian origin (Non-resident Indian (NRI)) was diagnosed with an infection of Plasmodium ovale curtisi malaria on his arrival from Sudan. A case report from Kerala was published in December 2020 and this is second report. Due to the inaccessibility of molecular techniques for routine diagnosis, this neglected non-falciparum malaria goes undetected. For an accurate diagnosis, suspected malaria cases should be tested using PCR and other advanced methods.

Anti-bacterial activity of neoandrographolide derivatives: In silico interaction with the bacterial target

Natural products and their semi synthesized molecules have been used as efficient antibiotics since a long time. The present global health scenario has raised the demand for novel antimicrobial agents and drug targets that are effective against drug resistant pathogens, emerging infections etc. The current study has promoted the antibacterial activity of the glucoside labdane ‘neoandrographolide’, isolated from the methanolic extract of the medicinal plant Andrographis paniculata. Further modification at its glucoside hydroxyl groups to generate ester and acetonide derivatives was done and the antibacterial potential of these compounds was screened against common bacterial pathogens. Among various derivatives, 4?,6?-O-(4-methoxybenzylidene) neoandrographolide exhibited promising results. In addition, molecular modeling study of the active compound was also explored to identify its probable binding mode on the bacterial target. The present study reported antibacterial activity of neoandrographolide derivatives for first time and also the bioactive molecule, 4?,6?-O-(4-methoxybenzylidene) neoandrographolide was examined as a potent antibacterial agent against different strains.

Multiplex loop mediated isothermal amplification (m-LAMP) as a point of care technique for diagnosis of malaria

Diagnosis of malaria is a prominent challenge due to the endemic nature of infection. Malaria poses a great threat to global public health. The disease can be diagnosed by several techniques out of which microscopy is a known gold standard. High sensitivity of molecular techniques is making them more reliable and popular as tools for diagnosis of malaria. However, new methods are required which can fulfill the criteria of being Point of Care Test (POCT) as defined by WHO. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technique amplifies DNA in an isothermal condition, and surpasses the disadvantages of conventional molecular techniques such as polymerase chain reaction. Multiplex LAMP, a modification of LAMP may emerge as a new POC for malaria diagnosis. This review deals with the use of LAMP and multiplex LAMP in diagnosis of malaria and its prospective use as point of care techniques.

T cell/histiocyte rich large B cell lymphoma of ascending colon: a rare entity

Colonic T cell/histiocyte rich large B cell lymphoma (THRLBCL) is a very unusual occurrence never described before. A 41-year anaemic male presented with loss of weight and appetite for 7 months and fever with Malena for 1 month. Abdominal examination revealed a 4×6 cm retroperitoneal lump in the right iliac fossa. Radiological investigations (USG and CECT whole abdomen) reported an asymmetrical ill-defined growth in ascending colon and caecum with loco-regional lymphadenopathy. Surgical exploration revealed an ascending colon mass with retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy. Right hemi-colectomy with end ileostomy was done and specimen was sent for histopathology which diagnosed it to be a case of THRLBCL of colon. Patient was followed up after 2 weeks and was planned for chemotherapy.

In vitro sensitivity pattern of chloroquine and artemisinin in Plasmodium falciparum.

Artemisinin (ART) and its derivatives form the mainstay of antimalarial therapy. Emergence of resistance to them poses a potential threat to future malaria control and elimination on a global level. It is important to know the mechanism of action of drug and development of drug resistance. We put forwards probable correlation between the mode of action of chloroquine (CQ) and ART. Modified trophozoite maturation inhibition assay, WHO Mark III assay and molecular marker study for CQ resistance at K76T codon in Plasmodium falciparum CQ-resistant transporter gene were carried out on cultured P. falciparum. On comparing trophozoite and schizont growth for both CQ-sensitive (MRC-2) and CQ-resistant (RKL-9) culture isolates, it was observed that the clearance of trophozoites and schizonts was similar with both drugs. The experiment supports that CQ interferes with heme detoxification pathway in food vacuoles of parasite, and this may be correlated as one of the plausible mechanisms of ART.

Male function for ensuring pollination and reproductive success in Berberis lycium Royle: A novel mechanism.

In Berberis lycium anthers on alternate stamens dehisce, thus prolonging the male function so that pollination is affected and reproduction is ensured. The large pollen sac of each bithecous anther after the appearance of longitudinal dehiscence slit moves away from the filament while remaining attached at the tip of the connective and then orients in such a way that pollen-laden surface faces the stigma. No pollen is available to receptive stigma as pollen grains remain stuck to the anther sac. They do not get dispersed even by wind. Pollination and consequently reproduction is ensured through the intervention of insect, which does not affect pollen transfer to the stigma directly but by touching the base of the staminal filament while foraging nectar secreted by nectaries at the base of corolla, thus leading to staminal movement. This makes the dehisced anthers stick to the stigma and deposit pollen there.