Hanbury Brown-Twiss approach for imaging through a dynamic scattering medium.

The Hanbury Brown-Twiss approach, associated with the correlation of intensity fluctuations at two different points in a wave field, unveils fundamental aspects of light. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate an imaging and phase recovery technique through a dynamic scattering medium using the Hanbury Brown-Twiss approach. A detailed theoretical basis is presented and verified by experimental demonstrations. To validate the application of the proposed technique, the randomness of the dynamically scattered light is exploited using temporal ergodicity for evaluating the correlation of intensity fluctuations and consequently applying it in the reconstruction of the object hidden behind the dynamic diffuser.

On-axis phase-shifting correlation holography with un-polarized light.

We propose and experimentally demonstrate an on-axis phase-shifting correlation holography technique with un-polarized light. The randomness of the un-polarized light is exploited to evaluate the higher-order polarization correlation and to consequently apply it in the reconstruction of the hologram from the randomness. A detailed theoretical analysis is developed and verified by numerical simulations and followed by experimental demonstrations. To validate the application of the proposed technique, imaging of different helical phase objects with randomness is presented. A good affinity is found between simulation and experimental results, which validates the accuracy of the proposed technique.

Structured transmittance illumination coherence holography.

The coherence holography offers an unconventional way to reconstruct the hologram where an incoherent light illumination is used for reconstruction purposes, and object encoded into the hologram is reconstructed as the distribution of the complex coherence function. Measurement of the coherence function usually requires an interferometric setup and array detectors. This paper presents an entirely new idea of reconstruction of the complex coherence function in the coherence holography without an interferometric setup. This is realized by structured pattern projections on the incoherent source structure and implementing measurement of the cross-covariance of the intensities by a single-pixel detector. This technique, named structured transmittance illumination coherence holography (STICH), helps to reconstruct the complex coherence from the intensity measurement in a single-pixel detector without an interferometric setup and also keeps advantages of the intensity correlations. A simple experimental setup is presented as a first step to realize the technique, and results based on the computer modeling of the experimental setup are presented to show validation of the idea.

Unscrambling OAM mode using digital phase-shifting in the Stokes fluctuations correlation.

In this Letter, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a new, to the best of our knowledge, non-interferometric and highly stable technique to unscramble the incident orbital angular momentum (OAM) state and quantitatively measure the phase structure from the non-imaged random light. A new theoretical basis is developed and also verified by numerical simulation and experimental demonstration. We also quantitatively investigate the OAM modes of the incident light using orthogonal projection.

A Randomized, Double-blind Study of Amorolfine 5% Nail Lacquer with Oral Fluconazole Compared with Oral Fluconazole Alone in the Treatment of Fingernail Onychomycosis.

BACKGROUND: It is a challenge to treat onychomycosis due to frequent treatment failures and relapses. Systemic and topical therapies need to be combined to improve cure rates. Antifungal susceptibility might play a role in the treatment resistance of onychomycosis. AIMS: To compare the safety and effectiveness of amorolfine 5% nail lacquer + oral fluconazole versus only oral fluconazole in the treatment of fingernail onychomycosis. METHODOLOGY: In this double-blind trial (CTRI/2015/02/005369), patients were randomized (1:1) into amorolfine 5% nail lacquer + fluconazole and dummy lacquer + fluconazole. Treatment was given for 3 months with monthly follow-ups. Antifungal sensitivity was carried out for Candida. Effectiveness was assessed by reduction in the number and percentage area of nails involved and mycological cure. At the end of 3-month treatment period, the association between drug sensitivity and treatment response was explored for the Candida infections. RESULTS: Among 30 study participants, the combination group showed significantly lower number of nail involvement (P = 0.004) and percentage nail involvement (P = 0.005) than only fluconazole group. Pretreatment fungal culture showed a comparable number of dermatophytes, Candida, Aspergillus in both the groups. Sensitivity testing was done for the isolated Candida species. Antifungal sensitivity for Candida (n = 11) was tested, and 8 (72.7%) of the organisms were sensitive to fluconazole (minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] 1.25 ± 1.19 µg/ml), 100% were sensitive to itraconazole (MIC 0.0726 ± 0.021 µg/ml), and 3 (27.3%) were susceptible-dose dependent (S-DD) to fluconazole (MIC 16 µg/ml). Fluconazole only group patients with Candida who showed resistance to fluconazole did not respond to therapy; however, patients in the combination group showed moderate improvement (reduction in area involvement = 55.56 ± 35.36%). CONCLUSION: The combination of amorolfine/fluconazole achieved a higher cure rate not only for sensitive fungus but also for those which were S-DD to fluconazole.

A randomized, double-blind trial of amorolfine 0.25% cream and sertaconazole 2% cream in limited dermatophytosis.

BACKGROUND: Dermatophytosis is becoming increasingly unresponsive to conventional antifungals. Newer topical antifungals may be more effective in these patients. AIMS: To evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of amorolfine 0.25% cream and sertaconazole 2% cream in limited tinea cruris/corporis. METHODS: A single-center, randomized (1:1), double-blind, parallel group, active-controlled trial (CTRI/2014/12/005246) was performed. Sixty-six untreated adults with acutely symptomatic tinea cruris/corporis were included in the study. All patients had limited cutaneous involvement and were KOH mount positive. Group A received amorolfine 0.25% cream, and group B received sertaconazole 2% cream twice daily application to the lesions for 4 weeks. After the baseline visit, four follow-up visits were carried out. The outcome measures for effectiveness were clinical and mycological cure. Safety parameters studied were treatment-emergent adverse events and changes in routine laboratory parameters. RESULTS: Both sertaconazole and amorolfine significantly reduced symptoms (P < 0.001) in both groups. However, improvement in symptoms (pruritus, burning sensation, erythema, scaling and crusting) was significantly greater in the sertaconazole group at every follow-up visit. Sertaconazole cream was also more effective than amorolfine cream in reducing the number of lesions (P = 0.002 at 12 weeks) and improving the Dermatology Life Quality Index (P < 0.001) at all the follow-up visits. Adverse events were similar in the two groups (P = 0.117). Fungal cultures became negative in 92.3% of the sertaconazole group as compared to 80% in the amorolfine group (P = 0.010). LIMITATIONS: Antifungal susceptibility testing could not be done. CONCLUSION: Sertaconazole 2% is superior to amorolfine 0.25%, both in terms of effectiveness and tolerability. Improvement can be appreciated from second week onwards.

Effectiveness and safety of levocetirizine 10 mg versus a combination of levocetirizine 5 mg and montelukast 10 mg in chronic urticaria resistant to levocetirizine 5 mg: A double-blind, randomized, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Chronic urticaria is a vexing problem for patients and treating physicians alike. The EAACI/GA[2]LEN/EDF/WAO guidelines advocate an increased antihistamine dosage up to four times the standard, before adding leukotriene receptor antagonists. Patients are frequently intolerant of these higher dosages. We conducted this study to determine whether the addition of leukotriene receptor antagonists to the standard antihistamine dose was comparable to higher dosages of antihistamines alone, in terms of efficacy, safety and quality of life changes. We compared levocetirizine 10 mg (double dose of standard) versus a combination of levocetirizine 5 mg and montelukast 10 mg in cases of chronic urticaria not responding to single daily dose of 5 mg levocetirizine. METHODS: A single-center, double-blind, randomized, active-controlled, parallel group phase IV trial (CTRI/2014/12/005261) was conducted on 120 patients of chronic urticaria of either sex not responding to 5 mg levocetirizine. Patients were randomized into receiving either levocetirizine 10 mg or levocetirizine 5 mg + montelukast 10 mg for 4 weeks. Primary outcome measures were Urticaria Activity Score (UAS) and Urticaria Total Severity Score (TSS). Routine hematological and biochemical tests and treatment-emergent adverse events were monitored for safety. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients on levocetirizine 10 mg group and 51 patients on levocetirizine 5 mg + montelukast 10 mg group were analyzed. UAS and TSS reduced significantly in both treatment groups and reduction of score were comparable in between the groups (P = 0.628, P = 0.824, respectively). Among adverse effects, sedation was noted significantly more (P = 0.013) in levocetirizine 10 mg group. Quality of life was significantly improved in levocetirizine 5 mg + montelukast 10 mg group (P = 0.031). LIMITATIONS: The limitation of the study was that the follow-up period was 4 weeks. CONCLUSION: EAACI/GA[2]LEN/EDF/WAO guidelines need to be more flexible in allowing usage of montelukast before escalation of anti-histamine dosage.

Immunotherapy in viral warts with intradermal Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine versus intradermal tuberculin purified protein derivative: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial comparing effectiveness and safety in a tertiary care center in Eastern India.

BACKGROUND: Current therapeutic modalities for viral warts are mostly ablative and are limited by high recurrence rates besides being unsuitable for numerous lesions. Immunotherapy has the potential to overcome these limitations. AIMS: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness and safety of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine versus tuberculin purified protein derivative in the immunotherapy of warts. METHODS: Patients received three doses of 0.1 ml of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine or tuberculin purified protein derivative intradermally over the deltoid region at 4-weekly intervals. They were followed-up for another month. Number of warts, complete cure rates and quality of life were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 60 patients were included. Complete clearance was noted in 16 (48.5%) out of 33 patients in the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin group and in 5 (18.5%) out of 27 in the tuberculin purified protein derivative group (P = 0.121). The number of lesions reduced statistically significantly from baseline in both the groups (P < 0.001) from the first follow-up visit onward (P < 0.05). The reduction was statistically significantly more in the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin group than in the tuberculin purified protein derivative group from the second follow-up onward. Dermatologic life quality index improved statistically significantly with both treatments. Adverse events (pain during injection, abscess formation and scarring at injection site) were more frequent with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin. No recurrence was seen after lesions cleared. LIMITATIONS: Patients were not followed up for more than 4 weeks after treatment. We could not estimate the cytokine levels or the peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferation in response to Bacillus Calmette-Guerin/tuberculin purified protein derivative injections. CONCLUSION: Both intradermal Bacillus Calmette-Guerin and tuberculin purified protein derivative hold promise in the treatment of viral warts. Bacillus Calmette-Guerin may be more effective, though it had more adverse events in our study.