Rhizopus homothallicus, an emerging pathogen causing cavitary lung lesions.

Introduction: Rhizopus homothallicus is an emerging pathogen that causes pulmonary mucormycosis. Case Presentation: We report a case of pneumonia caused by R. homothallicus in a 54-year-old type 2 diabetic patient. The organism was isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and preliminarily identified by fungal morphology and finally by sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer region. Conclusion: Mucormycosis may be associated with cavitary lung lesions against a backdrop of poorly controlled diabetes or other immunosuppressed states. Pulmonary mucormycosis may have variable clinical and radiological presentations. Therefore, strong clinical suspicion and prompt management can address the high fatality associated with the disease.

Psychometric evaluation of Oral Mucositis Daily Questionnaire: A cross-cultural adaptation of the Malay version in multiethnic adult autologous stem cell transplant.

Objective: Mucositis is one of the most feared side effects of cancer treatment. Psychometric analysis of a patient self-assessment score, the oral mucositis daily questionnaire in Malay (OMDQ-Mal) and its construct validity by means of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) is lacking. This research aimed to test the validity and reliability of OMDQ-Mal. Methods: A total of 114 autologous stem-cell transplantation patients aged ≥ 18 years old at a national hematology center in Malaysia from April 2019 to December 2020 completed OMDQ-Mal concurrently with physician scores. Internal consistency and reproducibility were determined by Cronbach alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient, respectively. Correlations with physician scores were determined by Spearman correlation. Discriminative validity and construct validity were determined by Mann-Whitney U and CFA, respectively. Results: OMDQ-Mal demonstrated high internal consistency (α â€‹= â€‹0.874). Test-retest reliability between paired days were moderate to excellent (95% CI â€‹= â€‹0.676-0.953). Items in OMDQ-Mal had moderate to strong correlations with physician scores (ρ â€‹= â€‹0.503-0.721). Discriminative validity indicated that the scores of scales were significantly different between participants with severe and mild conditions. Construct validity results of loading factors 0.708-0.952; composite reliability 0.879-0.974; average variant extracted 0.710-0.841; and heterotrait-monotrait ratio 0.528 established the convergent and divergent validity. Conclusions: In conclusion, the OMDQ-Mal, which captured important quality of life responses, demonstrated adequate validity and reliability. This was supported by a two-component model CFA. The strong correlation of OMDQ-Mal with both physician scores indicated its potential as a comprehensive patient-reported outcome measure of mucositis of the entire alimentary tract.

Indian Guidelines on Nebulization Therapy.

Inhalational therapy, today, happens to be the mainstay of treatment in obstructive airway diseases (OADs), such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and is also in the present, used in a variety of other pulmonary and even non-pulmonary disorders. Hand-held inhalation devices may often be difficult to use, particularly for children, elderly, debilitated or distressed patients. Nebulization therapy emerges as a good option in these cases besides being useful in the home care, emergency room and critical care settings. With so many advancements taking place in nebulizer technology; availability of a plethora of drug formulations for its use, and the widening scope of this therapy; medical practitioners, respiratory therapists, and other health care personnel face the challenge of choosing appropriate inhalation devices and drug formulations, besides their rational application and use in different clinical situations. Adequate maintenance of nebulizer equipment including their disinfection and storage are the other relevant issues requiring guidance. Injudicious and improper use of nebulizers and their poor maintenance can sometimes lead to serious health hazards, nosocomial infections, transmission of infection, and other adverse outcomes. Thus, it is imperative to have a proper national guideline on nebulization practices to bridge the knowledge gaps amongst various health care personnel involved in this practice. It will also serve as an educational and scientific resource for healthcare professionals, as well as promote future research by identifying neglected and ignored areas in this field. Such comprehensive guidelines on this subject have not been available in the country and the only available proper international guidelines were released in 1997 which have not been updated for a noticeably long period of over two decades, though many changes and advancements have taken place in this technology in the recent past. Much of nebulization practices in the present may not be evidence-based and even some of these, the way they are currently used, may be ineffective or even harmful. Recognizing the knowledge deficit and paucity of guidelines on the usage of nebulizers in various settings such as inpatient, out-patient, emergency room, critical care, and domiciliary use in India in a wide variety of indications to standardize nebulization practices and to address many other related issues; National College of Chest Physicians (India), commissioned a National task force consisting of eminent experts in the field of Pulmonary Medicine from different backgrounds and different parts of the country to review the available evidence from the medical literature on the scientific principles and clinical practices of nebulization therapy and to formulate evidence-based guidelines on it. The guideline is based on all possible literature that could be explored with the best available evidence and incorporating expert opinions. To support the guideline with high-quality evidence, a systematic search of the electronic databases was performed to identify the relevant studies, position papers, consensus reports, and recommendations published. Rating of the level of the quality of evidence and the strength of recommendation was done using the GRADE system. Six topics were identified, each given to one group of experts comprising of advisors, chairpersons, convenor and members, and such six groups (A-F) were formed and the consensus recommendations of each group was included as a section in the guidelines (Sections I to VI). The topics included were: A. Introduction, basic principles and technical aspects of nebulization, types of equipment, their choice, use, and maintenance B. Nebulization therapy in obstructive airway diseases C. Nebulization therapy in the intensive care unit D. Use of various drugs (other than bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids) by nebulized route and miscellaneous uses of nebulization therapy E. Domiciliary/Home/Maintenance nebulization therapy; public & health care workers education, and F. Nebulization therapy in COVID-19 pandemic and in patients of other contagious viral respiratory infections (included later considering the crisis created due to COVID-19 pandemic). Various issues in different sections have been discussed in the form of questions, followed by point-wise evidence statements based on the existing knowledge, and recommendations have been formulated.

Prediction of Weaning Outcome from Mechanical Ventilation Using Diaphragmatic Rapid Shallow Breathing Index.

Background: Diaphragmatic dysfunction has been increasingly documented to play a critical role to determine ventilator dependency and failure of weaning. Objective: The goal was to study the diagnostic accuracy of diaphragmatic rapid shallow breathing index (D-RSBI) as a predictor of weaning outcomes in comparison to RSBI. Materials and methods: A prospective observational study on consecutively admitted patients who were intubated and mechanically ventilated for a duration of at least 48 hours was carried out. The right hemidiaphragm displacement [diaphragm displacement (DD)] was calculated by M-mode ultrasonography, and respiratory rate (RR) and tidal volume (TV) were documented from the ventilator readings. Rapid shallow breathing index (RSBI) was measured as RR/TV (in liters); D-RSBI was calculated as RR/DD (in millimeters) and expressed as breath/minute/millimeter. Extubation failure was defined as the reinstitution of mechanical ventilation at the end of, or during the spontaneous breathing trial (SBT), re-intubation or the need of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) for the patient within 48 hours of extubation. Results: Of 101 screened patients, 50 patients met the inclusion criteria, of whom 45 patients had successful SBT, and finally, 41 patients could be successfully extubated. Hence, the overall rate of weaning failure in the study population was 18%. The areas under the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves for D-RSBI and RSBI were 0.97 and 0.70, respectively (p <0.0001). The Pearson's correlation among RSBI and D-RSBI was 0.81 (p-value <0.001). Conclusion: Diaphragmatic rapid shallow breathing index has a positive correlation and greater diagnostic accuracy than RSBI, the conventional weaning index. How to cite this article: Shamil PK, Gupta NK, Ish P, Sen MK, Kumar R, Chakrabarti S, et al. Prediction of Weaning Outcome from Mechanical Ventilation Using Diaphragmatic Rapid Shallow Breathing Index. Indian J Crit Care Med 2022;26(9):1000-1005.

Improvement in Dysphagia Outcomes Following Clinical Target Volume Reduction in the De-ESCALaTE Study.

AIMS: The De-ESCALaTE study showed an overall survival advantage for the administration of synchronous cisplatin chemotherapy with radiotherapy in low-risk oropharyngeal cancer when compared with synchronous cetuximab. During the trial, a radiotherapy quality assurance protocol amendment permitted centres to swap from the original radiotherapy contouring protocol (incorporating the whole oropharynx into the high-dose clinical target volume (CTV); anatomical protocol) to a protocol that incorporated the gross tumour volume with a 10 mm margin into the CTV (volumetric protocol). The purpose of this study was to examine both toxicity and tumour control related to this protocol amendment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Overall survival and recurrence at 2 years were used to compare tumour control in the two contouring cohorts. For toxicity, the cohorts were compared by both the number of severe (grades 3-5) and all grades acute and late toxicities. In addition, quality of life and swallowing were compared using EORTC-C30 and MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory, respectively. RESULTS: Of 327 patients included in this study, 185 were contoured according to the anatomical protocol and 142 by the volumetric protocol. The two cohorts were well balanced, with the exception of significantly more patients in the anatomical cohort undergoing prophylactic feeding tube insertion (P < 0.001). With a minimum of 2 years of follow-up there was no significant difference in overall survival or recurrence between the two contouring protocols. Similarly, there was no significant difference in the rate of reported severe or all grades acute or late toxicity and no sustained significant difference in quality of life. However, there was a significant difference in favour of volumetric contouring in several domains of the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory questionnaire at 1 year, which persisted to 2 years in the dysphagia functional (P = 0.002), dysphagia physical (P = 0.009) and dysphagia overall function (P = 0.008) domains. CONCLUSION: In the context of the unplanned post-hoc analysis of a randomised trial, measurable improvement in long-term dysphagia has been shown following a reduction in the CTV. Further reductions in the CTV should be subject to similar scrutiny within the confines of a prospective study.

On an SE(Is)(Ih)AR epidemic model with combined vaccination and antiviral controls for COVID-19 pandemic.

In this paper, we study the nonnegativity and stability properties of the solutions of a newly proposed extended SEIR epidemic model, the so-called SE(Is)(Ih)AR epidemic model which might be of potential interest in the characterization and control of the COVID-19 pandemic evolution. The proposed model incorporates both asymptomatic infectious and hospitalized infectious subpopulations to the standard infectious subpopulation of the classical SEIR model. In parallel, it also incorporates feedback vaccination and antiviral treatment controls. The exposed subpopulation has three different transitions to the three kinds of infectious subpopulations under eventually different proportionality parameters. The existence of a unique disease-free equilibrium point and a unique endemic one is proved together with the calculation of their explicit components. Their local asymptotic stability properties and the attainability of the endemic equilibrium point are investigated based on the next generation matrix properties, the value of the basic reproduction number, and nonnegativity properties of the solution and its equilibrium states. The reproduction numbers in the presence of one or both controls is linked to the control-free reproduction number to emphasize that such a number decreases with the control gains. We also prove that, depending on the value of the basic reproduction number, only one of them is a global asymptotic attractor and that the solution has no limit cycles.

COVID-19 with and without anosmia or dysgeusia: A case-control study.

Various new clinical signs and symptoms, such as dysfunction of smell (anosmia) and taste (dysgeusia) have emerged ever since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic begun. The objective of this study was to identify the clinical presentation and factors associated with 'new loss/change of smell (anosmia) or taste (dysgeusia)' at admission in patients positive by real time polymerase chain reaction for SARS-CoV-2 infection. All adult COVID-19 patients with new onset anosmia or dysgeusia at admission were included in study group. Equal number of age and gender matched COVID-19 patients without anosmia or dysgeusia at admission were included in the control group. A total of 261 COVID-19 patients were admitted during the study period of which 55 (21%) had anosmia and or dysgeusia. The mean (SD) age was 36 (13) years and majority were males (58%, n = 32). Comorbidity was present in 38% of cases (n = 21). Anosmia and dysgeusia were noted in more than 1/5th of the cases. Anosmia (96%, n = 53) was more common than dysgeusia (75%, n = 41). Presence of both ansomia and dysgeusia was noted in 71% of patients (n = 39). On comparing the cases with the controls, on univariate analysis, fever (higher in cases), rhinitis (lower in cases), thrombocytopenia, elevated creatinine and bilirubin (all higher in cases) were significantly associated with anosmia or dysgeusia. On multivariate analysis, only rhinitis (odds ratio [OR]: 0.28; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.09-0.83; p = .02) thrombocytopenia (OR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.99-0.99; p = .01) and elevated creatinine (OR: 7.6; 95% CI: 1.5-37.6; p = .01) remained significant. In this retrospective study of COVID-19 patients, we found anosmia and dysgeusia in more than 1/5th of the cases. Absence of rhinitis, low platelet counts and elevated creatinine were associated with anosmia or dysgeusia in these patients.

Radiotherapy for Oropharyngeal Carcinoma With an Uninvolved Contralateral Neck: The Safety of Omission of Contralateral High Level II and Retropharyngeal Lymph Nodes From Elective Target Volumes.

AIMS: To analyse outcomes and patterns of failure in patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma (OPC) treated with definitive volumetric modulated arc therapy with omission of contralateral high level II lymph nodes (HLII) and retropharyngeal lymph nodes (RPLN) in the contralateral uninvolved neck. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with OPC treated between January 2016 and July 2019 were retrospectively identified. In the absence of contralateral neck disease, institutional protocols allowed omission of contralateral HLII and contralateral RPLN in the additional absence of ipsilateral RPLN, soft palate/posterior pharyngeal wall primary. RESULTS: In total, 238 patients with OPC and an uninvolved contralateral neck received definitive (chemo)radiotherapy with bilateral neck treatment. The median follow-up was 30.6 months. Two-year local control, regional control and overall survival were 91.0, 91.6 and 86.5%, respectively. Contralateral HLII were omitted in 159/238 (66.8%) patients; this included 106 patients in whom the primary tumour was at/crossed the midline. The contralateral RPLN region was omitted from elective target volumes for 175/238 (73.5%); this included 114 patients with a primary tumour at/crossed the midline. The mean contralateral parotid dose when contralateral HLII and RPLN were both omitted was 24.4 Gy, compared with 28.3 Gy without HLII/RPLN omission (P < 0.001). Regional progression occurred in 18/238 (7.6%) patients, all involving the ipsilateral neck with one bilateral. There were no recurrences in the contralateral HLII or RPLN regions. CONCLUSION: In patients with OPC and an uninvolved contralateral neck receiving bilateral (chemo)radiotherapy, the omission of contralateral RPLN and HLII from elective target volumes was safe and could lead to reduced contralateral parotid doses.

Multirate Audio-Integrated Feedback Active Noise Control Systems Using Decimated-Band Adaptive Filters for Reducing Narrowband Noises.

Audio-integrated feedback active noise control (AFANC) systems deliver wideband audio signals and cancel low frequency narrowband noises simultaneously. The conventional AFANC system uses single-rate processing with fullband adaptive active noise control (ANC) filter for generating anti-noise signal and fullband audio cancelation filter for audio-interference cancelation. The conventional system requires a high sampling rate for audio processing. Thus, the fullband adaptive filters require long filter lengths, resulting in high computational complexity and impracticality in real-time system. This paper proposes a multirate AFANC system using decimated-band adaptive filters (DAFs) to decrease the required filter lengths. The decimated-band adaptive ANC filter is updated by the proposed decimated filtered-X least mean square (FXLMS) algorithm, and the decimated-band audio cancelation filter can be obtained by the proposed on-line and off-line decimated secondary-path modeling algorithms. The computational complexity can be decreased significantly in the proposed AFANC system with good enough noise reduction and fast convergence speed, which were verified in the analysis and computer simulations. The proposed AFANC system was implemented for an active headrest system, and the real-time performances were tested in real-time experiments.

A Multicentre UK Study of Outcomes of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Treated With Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy ± Chemotherapy.

AIMS: To report the outcomes of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in adults across three large centres in a non-endemic region in the era of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated in three large cancer centres with IMRT ± chemotherapy with curative intent between 2009 and 2016 were identified from institutional databases. Radiotherapy was delivered with 70 Gy in 33-35 daily fractions. A univariable analysis was carried out to evaluate the relationship of patient, tumour and treatment factors with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival. RESULTS: In total, 151 patients were identified with a median follow-up of 5.2 years. The median age was 52 years (range 18-85). Seventy-five per cent were of Caucasian origin; 75% had non-keratinising tumours; Epstein Barr virus status was only available in 23% of patients; 74% of patients had stage III or IV disease; 54% of patients received induction chemotherapy; 86% of patients received concurrent chemotherapy. Five-year overall survival, PFS, local disease-free survival, regional disease-free survival and distant disease-free survival were 70%, 65%, 91%, 94% and 82%, respectively. Keratinising squamous cell carcinoma, older age, worse performance status, smoking and alcohol intake were associated with inferior overall survival and PFS. CONCLUSIONS: Local, regional and distant disease control are relatively high following IMRT ± chemotherapy in a non-endemic population. There was considerable heterogeneity in terms of radiotherapy treatment and the use of chemotherapy, encouraging the development of treatment protocols and expert peer review in non-endemic regions.

Evaluation of Locoregional Recurrence Patterns Following Adjuvant (Chemo)Radiotherapy for Oral Cavity Carcinoma.

AIMS: To evaluate patterns of locoregional recurrence following adjuvant (chemo)radiotherapy for oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and one patients who received adjuvant radiotherapy ± chemotherapy for oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma between 2013 and 2016 were analysed. For documented locoregional recurrence, recurrence imaging was deformably co-registered to the planning computed tomography scan. The volume of recurrence was delineated (Vrec). Vrec coverage by 95% of the corresponding planning target volume prescription dose was determined and the location compared with planning target volumes. Sites of recurrence were classified using a combined volume and centroid-based method: (A) central high dose, (B) peripheral high dose, (C) central low dose, (D) central peripheral dose, (E) extraneous. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 36 months. Forty-three per cent and 53% of patients received radiotherapy to the ipsilateral neck only and bilateral neck, respectively. Three-year overall survival, disease-free survival, local control, regional control and distant metastases-free survival were 63.0, 65.6, 88.0, 85.1 and 85.3%, respectively. Of 10 episodes of primary site recurrences, five were type A, four type B and one was type E. Of 14 episodes of regional recurrence, five were type A, two type C, two type D and five type E. Five of 21 (24%) patients with oral tongue carcinoma with an undissected/unirradiated contralateral neck had a type E contralateral neck recurrence, including 2/11 with pN0, 1/4 with pN1 and 2/6 with pN2 disease. CONCLUSIONS: Marginal and out-of-field recurrences remain a significant pattern of failure. We advocate generous target delineation postoperatively and, for oral tongue carcinomas, a comprehensive approach with bilateral neck irradiation.

An unusual case of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy presenting with organizing pneumonia as cavitary lesions.

A young woman presented with gradually progressive breathlessness, cough and muscle weakness for one and a half year. Her chest radiograph showed multiple, bilateral thin-walled cavitary lesions. Her serum was found to be positive for anti-Jo1 antibodies on serology. Histopathology of lung lesions was suggestive of organizing pneumonia. The muscle biopsy demonstrated a myopathic pattern. On the basis of these findings she was diagnosed to be the case of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy. Her condition improved significantly after treatment with steroids.

Quality Assurance Peer Review of Head and Neck Contours in a Large Cancer Centre via a Weekly Meeting Approach.

AIMS: To assess the impact of weekly scheduled peer review of head and neck contours for definitive and adjuvant radiotherapy cases based on rates of recommended changes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of a prospective database. Recommended changes were prospectively classified as 'major' (change in gross tumour volume and/or high-dose clinical target volume, dose/fractionation) or 'minor' (change in intermediate or elective dose clinical target volumes or organs at risk). Univariate analysis to explore associations between recommended changes and tumour site/stage and radical/adjuvant indication. RESULTS: In total, 307/375 (82%) head and neck cases treated with volumetric-modulated arc therapy were prospectively peer reviewed over a 12-month period; 195 (64%) cases received definitive and 112 (36%) received adjuvant radiotherapy. Overall, 43/307 (14.0%) changes were recommended within the peer review meetings. This comprised 27/307 (8.8%) major changes and 16/307 (5.2%) minor changes; 33/43 (77%) changes were in the clinical target volume. Rates of recommended changes were significantly higher for adjuvant versus definitive radiotherapy (odds ratio 2.26, P = 0.014) and for larynx compared with oropharynx (odds ratio 3.02, P = 0.02). There was no overall correlation between clinician experience and rates of change (P = 0.62). CONCLUSION: Routine weekly meeting contour-based peer review resulted in a number of major and minor changes to treatment. Compliance was high. Peer review was potentially beneficial for all tumour sites/stages/indications and any degree of clinician experience.

Accuracy of Response Assessment Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography Following Definitive Radiotherapy Without Chemotherapy for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

AIM: There are few data to inform on the use of response assessment 2-[fluorine-18]-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) following radical radiotherapy without chemotherapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This retrospective study evaluated the accuracy of PET-CT in HNSCC following radical radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 138 patients with HNSCC treated with radical radiotherapy without chemotherapy who underwent a baseline and response assessment FDG PET-CT were identified. FDG PET-CT outcomes were analysed with reference to clinicopathological outcomes. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 26 months. FDG-avid disease at baseline was present for the primary site and lymph nodes in 118 and 86 patients, respectively. With regard to the primary tumour, the negative predictive value (NPV) of a complete metabolic response (CMR) was 95%; the positive predictive value (PPV) of equivocal uptake and a positive scan were 6% and 82%, respectively. The likelihood ratios for a CMR, equivocal and positive scans of the primary site were 0.19, 0.22, 14.8, respectively. With regard to lymph node disease, the NPV of a CMR was 91%, the PPV of equivocal uptake and a positive scan were 33% and 88%, respectively. Likelihood ratios for lymph node disease for CMR, equivocal and positive scans were 0.19, 0.97 and 15.1, respectively. CONCLUSION: Compared with the accuracy reported in the literature following chemoradiotherapy, response assessment FDG PET-CT following radical radiotherapy without chemotherapy had a similarly high NPV, whereas the PPV following a positive scan was higher.

Phenotypic and molecular characterization of Acinetobacter baumannii isolates causing lower respiratory infections among ICU patients.

BACKGROUND: Multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii has emerged as important nosocomial pathogen associated with various infections including lower respiratory tract. Limited therapeutic options contribute to increased morbidity and mortality. Acinetobacter baumannii has the ability to persist in the environment for prolonged periods. Breach in infection control practices increases the chances of cross transmission between patients and inter/intraspecies transmission of resistance elements. The present prospective work was conducted among patients with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in the intensive care unit (ICU) to study the etiology with special reference to Acinetobacter baumannii and the role of immediate patient environment in the ICU as possible source of infection. Acinetobacter baumannii were characterized for antimicrobial susceptibility, mechanism of carbapenem resistance and virulence determinants. Molecular typing of the clinical and environmental isolates was undertaken to study the probable modes of transmission. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Appropriate respiratory samples from 107 patients with LRTI admitted to ICU during September 2016 to March 2017 were studied for likely bacterial pathogens. Environmental samples (n = 71) were also screened. All the samples were processed using conventional microbiological methods. Consecutive Acinetobacter spp. isolated from clinical and environmental (health care workers and environment from ICU) samples were included in the study. Antimicrobial susceptibility was performed as per CLSI guidelines. Carbapenem resistance, mediated by carbapenemase genes (blaOXA-23-like,blaOXA-24-like,blaOXA-58-like and blaNDM-1) were studied by PCR. Biofilm forming ability was tested phenotypically using microtitre plate method. Pulse Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to study clonality of the clinical and environmental isolates. RESULTS: The prevalence of Acinetobacter baumannii was 26.2% (28/107) and 11.26% (8/71) among patients with LRTI and environmental samples respectively. The carbapenem resistance was high, 96.42% (27/28) and 87.5% (7/8) in clinical and environmental isolates respectively. The most common carbapenemase associated with resistance was blaOXA-23-like gene followed by blaNDM-1 among both the clinical and environmental isolates. All isolates were sensitive to colistin (MIC ≤ 1 µg/ml). Biofilm production was observed among all clinical (n = 28) and 87.5% (7/8) of the environmental isolates. Line listing of the cases suggests the occurrence of infections throughout the study period with no significant clustering. On PFGE, 12 clusters were observed and 16/36 isolates were present in one single cluster that included both clinical and environmental isolates which were either carbapenem resistant or sensitive. DISCUSSION: Carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) is an important cause of LRTI in the ICU. PFGE suggests spread of carbapenem resistant isolates via cross transmission among patients and the environment. The detection of blaNDM-1 gene among Acinetobacter baumannii and existence of carbapenem resistant and sensitive isolates within the same clones suggests horizontal transmission of resistant genes among various bacterial species. The ability of Acinetobacter baumannii to form biofilms may contribute to its persistence in the environment. This along with breach in infection control practices are the likely factors contributing to this transmission. This information can be used to strengthen and monitor infection control (IC) and the hospital cleaning and disinfection practices to prevent spread of resistant organisms within the ICU. Colistin remains drug of choice for management of CRAB.

Comparison of the mechanical properties of platelet-rich fibrin and ankaferd blood stopper-loaded platelet-rich fibrin.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) can be named as a natural fibrin-based biomaterial favorable to increasing vascularization and able to guide epithelial cell migration to its surface. The membrane has a significant positive effect on protecting open wounds and accelerating healing. Similar to PRF Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS) also has positive effects on wound healing. The aim of this study was to detect if we can improve known physical properties of PRF combining with ABS. This idea was based on the known mechanism of ABS in forming protein network without damaging any blood cells. Materials and Methods: A total of 25 adult rabbits used for collecting 5-7 ml of blood passively with the help of winged blood collection needle to the test tube. Collected samples were centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 min. Two similar samples obtained from each animal and one of the samples was placed in 20% ABS 80% saline solution for 5 min. Mechanical properties of the membrane samples were measured using Universal Testing Machine. Results: There is the statistically significant difference between PRF and ABS added PRF in elongation/mm (dL) and elongation/% at break values. Maximum force (fMax) and modulus values did not show any statistically significant differences. CONCLUSION: ABS loaded PRF causes better physical properties. This combination seems to exhibit superior performance when used as a membrane barrier solely. Advanced studies can be done on biological properties of ABS loaded PRF, especially on tissue healing.

Changes in Patient-reported Swallow Function in the Long Term After Chemoradiotherapy for Oropharyngeal Carcinoma.

AIMS: To assess long-term patient-reported swallow function after chemoradiotherapy for oropharyngeal carcinoma and to evaluate the frequency of deterioration/improvement over years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-nine patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma treated with parotid-sparing intensity-modulated radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy between 2010 and 2012 had previously completed the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) at a median of 34 months (range 24-59) after treatment. An MDADI was posted to 55 alive and disease-free patients after a 30 month interval; 52/55 replies were received, a median of 64 months (range 52-88) after treatment; 27/52 (52%) had been managed with a prophylactic gastrostomy. A 10 point or greater change in the MDADI scores was defined as clinically significant. RESULTS: Overall, in the whole cohort, patient-reported swallow function showed a small absolute improvement in MDADI composite score on the second MDADI questionnaire (>5 years after treatment) compared with the first MDADI (>2 years after treatment); mean 68.0 (standard deviation 19.3) versus 64.0 (standard deviation 16.3), P = 0.021. Using the composite score, swallow function was stable over time in 29/52 (56%) patients; a clinically significant improvement in swallow function over time was noted in 17/52 (33%) patients; conversely 6/52 (12%) patients experienced a clinically significant deterioration with time. Abnormality of pre-treatment diet and a prophylactic gastrostomy correlated with an inferior MDADI composite score on the later questionnaire (P = 0.029 and P = 0.044, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term dysphagia is prevalent >5 years after treatment. Although long-term swallow function is stable in most patients, it is not static in a minority. On MDADI composite summary scores, 33% of patients experienced an improvement, whereas 12% deteriorated with time. Further investigation is needed to determine underlying mechanisms behind these divergent outcomes.

Estimation type results related to Fejér inequality with applications.

This paper deals with some new theorems and inequalities about a Fejér type integral inequality which estimate the difference between the right and middle part in Fejér inequality with new bounds. Also some applications to higher moments of random variables, an error estimate for trapezoidal formula, and some inequalities in connection with special means are given.