Computational prediction of crucial genes involved in gonorrhea infection and neoplastic cell transformation: A multiomics approach.

Neisseria gonorrheae, the causative agent of genitourinary infections, has been associated with asymptomatic or recurrent infections and has the potential to form biofilms and induce inflammation and cell transformation. Herein, we aimed to use computational analysis to predict novel associations between chronic inflammation caused by gonorrhea infection and neoplastic transformation. Prioritization and gene enrichment strategies based on virulence and resistance genes utilizing essential genes from the DEG and PANTHER databases, respectively, were performed. Using the STRING database, protein‒protein interaction networks were constructed with 55 nodes of bacterial proteins and 72 nodes of proteins involved in the host immune response. MCODE and cytoHubba were used to identify 12 bacterial hub proteins (murA, murB, murC, murD, murE, purN, purL, thyA, uvrB, kdsB, lpxC, and ftsH) and 19 human hub proteins, of which TNF, STAT3 and AKT1 had high significance. The PPI networks are based on the connectivity degree (K), betweenness centrality (BC), and closeness centrality (CC) values. Hub genes are vital for cell survival and growth, and their significance as potential drug targets is discussed. This computational study provides a comprehensive understanding of inflammation and carcinogenesis pathways that are activated during gonorrhea infection.

Precise jaw relation recorder: An innovative device for prosthodontic rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND: The orchestration of jaw relations in edentulous scenarios poses a significant challenge, demanding acumen, and expertise from the clinician. A myriad of devices, substances, and methodologies are employed to gauge the transverse, vertical, and horizontal spectrums of jaw relations. Traditionally, a synthesis of assorted devices and techniques has been requisitioned to chronicle the spatial dynamics between the maxilla and mandible. Yet, the absence of a solitary apparatus capable of concurrently documenting the triad of jaw relations has been a notable lacuna in prosthodontic rehabilitation. PURPOSE: This discourse expounds on an innovative contrivance, termed the Precise Jaw Relation Recorder. This pioneering instrument is adept at capturing the tripartite jaw relation processes: the occlusal plane's alignment in parallelism to the ala-tragus line, the vertical dimension at repose, and the occlusion as well as the centric relation. The device's strategic utility lies in its ability to facilitate the creation of prostheses that are not only functionally superior but also aesthetically more pleasing. CONCLUSION: Its implementation is a stride toward refining the accuracy of prosthodontic outcomes, thereby elevating the standard of patient care in dental practice.

In vitro analysis of monomer leaching in modern dental materials: CAD milled, printed, traditional heat-processed, and auto-polymerizing denture base resins.

PURPOSE: Denture fabrication has shifted from traditional heat-processed and auto-polymerizing materials to computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) milled and printed materials. The monomer in traditional materials can induce an allergic reaction in some patients. With the rise in the edentulous population and increasing demand for the fabrication of dentures, these newer materials should be studied for monomer leaching. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ratio of residual monomer in materials being used for denture bases: CAD-milled polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), printed denture base resin, heat-processed PMMA, and auto-polymerizing PMMA comparatively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Milled, printed, heat-activated, and auto-polymerizing denture base specimens (n = 3 for each group, each test run three times) were fabricated according to manufacturer recommendations. Specimens were first immersed in deuterated chloroform (CDCl3), a deuterated organic solvent, to evaluate monomer leaching and to observe physical properties of the materials. NMR spectroscopy was used to evaluate the dissolution of materials and residual monomer to crosslinked polymer ratios at 1, 4, and 9 days. A second group of specimens was then immersed in deuterium oxide (D2O) to evaluate if the residual monomers would leach out of the system. The solution was then analyzed using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy for 1 month. The deuterated forms of chloroform (CDCl3) and water (D2O) were used to enable sample characterization by NMR. RESULTS: While the heat-processed, auto-polymerizing, and milled specimens possessed residual monomers, no significant monomer leaching was noted in the printed specimen, while immersed in CDCl3. Similarly, the printed specimen was most resistant to dissolution, as compared to the rest; dissolution of the specimen is indicative of little to no cross-linking. No detectable dissolution of monomer was seen when all specimens were immersed in D2O for up to 1 month. CONCLUSIONS: Residual monomers were not found in the printed denture material in this study in either CDCl3 or D2O, whereas CAD-milled and traditionally processed denture bases still have residual monomers within their respective systems when immersed in organic solvent. None of the specimens tested leached monomers into D2O.

Estimation of Titanium Levels in Blood Following Reconstruction of Post-Craniotomy Defect by Titanium Mesh Using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES).

Introduction: Titanium and its alloys are the most popular choice of materials for the reconstruction of craniofacial defects. They have lighter weight and are nonferromagnetic, which makes them an advantage in cranial defect reconstruction. Although the formed oxide layer makes them corrosion-resistant, levels of titanium in blood have been seen in trace amounts. This is the first study as per authors' knowledge that a study of such kind has been conducted. Materials and methods: A pilot study was carried out at a tertiary level hospital, considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria in patients who were planned for the reconstruction of the residual defect using titanium mesh. Preoperative and 03- and 06-months postoperative blood samples were collected and analyzed for estimating the levels of titanium ions in blood by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Results: Friedman's two-way analysis of variance by ranks was considered for testing of hypothesis summary, owing to the smaller sample size. The analysis suggested an increase in levels was minimal. Considering the asymptotic significances (two-tailed significance), a significance level was 0.050, which directed us to reject the null hypothesis. Pairwise comparison suggested the presence of negative values indicating steady increase in levels. Cluster analysis indicated that although minimal there is a cluster of difference in the values at all three stages. Continuous field information was used to determine the level with regard to the level of titanium at the three stages of study. Conclusion: The study revealed that the levels of titanium ions increase on prolonged contact with living tissues. The trace elements have to be analyzed at regular intervals. This first-of-the-time study if extended to larger sample size would reveal interesting facts.

Volumetric Analysis and Healing Ratio: Refining Prognostic Assessment in Maxillofacial Cysts Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography.

Introduction: Volumetric analysis with imaging techniques provides clinicians with the capability to visualize the spatial extent of the lesions. CBCT offers images with minimal radiation, facilitating a detailed assessment of cystic dimension's relationships. This crucial information helps in formulating appropriate strategies, including excision, enucleation, or nonsurgical approaches. The "Healing ratio" emerges as a valuable technique for prognostic evaluation. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study focused on outpatient cases with, clinic-radiologically diagnosed cases of odontogenic keratocyst or radicular cysts. Preoperative CBCT was utilized for volumetric analysis through MIMIC Software. Subsequent analyses were performed at 24 and 48 weeks postoperatively. The healing ratio was calculated for further correlation. Results: A total of 21 cases were included in the study, with a mean age of 36.67 years with predominance of males (72.6%, n = 16). Healing ratio estimation revealed minimal or no association with age, gender, and location on point-biserial analysis. Noteworthy implications were observed concerning total cyst volume and the specific diagnosis of the cyst. Results suggested more favorable healing outcomes in smaller cysts and those diagnosed as radicular cysts. Discussion: Proficiency in deciphering three-dimensional CBCT images accurately demands specialized training. The crux of our study lies in the application of volumetric analysis, particularly the "Healing Ratio," as a robust means of evaluating prognoses in management. The Healing Ratio, derived from three-dimensional imaging techniques, offers a comprehensive insight into the spatial dynamics of cystic lesions. Our findings underscore its significance as the optimal technique for prognostic assessment in the context of cyst management. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12663-024-02168-7.

Diagnostic accuracy of Dengue NS1 lateral flow immunoassay in comparison to reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and enzyme linked Immunosorbent Assay.

The most widely used invitro diagnostic qualitative screening method for dengue virus infection is the lateral flow immunoassay technique. Testing of dengue non-structural antigen NS1 offers specificity in determining the active infection while testing of IgM and IgG helps in differentiating the primary and secondary dengue infections. The ELISA functions as the golden standard for dengue testing and PCR credits for the most accurate determination tool at the genetic level. The RT-PCR endorsed NS1 gene and in ELISA or LFIA NS1 antigen is used as the marker owing to the specificity and lesser chances of mutation effects. This study evaluated the performance of AG-Q Dengue NS1 LFIA kit in comparison with RT-PCR quantification cycle (Cq) Values and ELISA NS1 quantitation. The study also focused on differentiating the samples among dengue serotypes using the RealStar Dengue Type RT-PCR Kit 1.0. Dengue serotype 2 is the prominent viral strain in Kerala region succeeded by serotype 3 and 1 with a prevalence rate of 64 %, 20 % and 6 % respectively. Dengue serotype 4 was not reported during this study period. 10 % co-infection with DENV 1 & DENV 2 was also reported. The AG-Q Dengue NS1 kit stood as efficient in screening by providing positive results with samples having RT-PCR Cq values up to 43 and ELISA NS1 quantification minimum of 14 Panbio units.

AI in ECG: Validating an ambulatory semiology labeller and predictor.

OBJECTIVES: Early prediction of epileptic seizures can help reduce morbidity and mortality. In this work, we explore using electrocardiographic (ECG) signal as input to a seizure prediction system and note that the performance can be improved by using selected signal processing techniques. METHODS: We used frequency domain analysis with a deep neural network backend for all our experiments in this work. We further analysed the effect of the proposed system for different seizure semiologies and prediction horizons. We explored refining the signal using signal processing to enhance the system's performance. RESULTS: Our final system using the Temple University Hospital's Seizure (TUHSZ) corpus gave an overall prediction accuracy of 84.02 %, sensitivity of 87.59 %, specificity of 81.9 %, and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.9112. Notably, these results surpassed the state-of-the-art outcomes reported using the TUHSZ database; all findings are statistically significant. We also validated our study using the Siena scalp EEG database. Using the frequency domain data, our baseline system gave a performance of 75.17 %, 79.17 %, 70.04 % and 0.82 for prediction accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and AUROC, respectively. After selecting the optimal frequency band of 0.8-15 Hz, we obtained a performance of 80.49 %, 89.51 %, 75.23 % and 0.89 for prediction accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and AUROC, respectively which is an improvement of 5.32 %, 10.34 %, 5.19 % and 0.08 for prediction accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and AUROC, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The seizure information in ECG is concentrated in a narrow frequency band. Identifying and selecting that band can help improve the performance of seizure detection and prediction. SIGNIFICANCE: EEG is susceptible to artefacts and is not preferred in a low-cost ambulatory device. ECG can be used in wearable devices (like chest bands) and is feasible for developing a low-cost ambulatory device for seizure prediction. Early seizure prediction can provide patients and clinicians with the required alert to take necessary precautions and prevent a fatality, significantly improving the patient's quality of life.

Case of lead poisoning secondary to intake of herbal medicine for diabetes mellitus in a tertiary care hospital in Kerala.

Summary: Although most published cases of lead poisoning come from occupational exposures, some traditional remedies may also contain toxic amounts of lead. Here, we report the case of a 58-year-old female who presented with abdominal pain, generalized tiredness, and decreased food intake, with anemia and elevated levels of lead. The patient was found to be taking herbal capsules for diabetes prior to the presentation. This case highlights the need for increased awareness that some herbal remedies may contain potentially harmful levels of heavy metals, and people who use them are at risk of developing associated toxicities. Learning points: Individuals who support traditional medicine often incorrectly believe that herbal remedies for diabetes are free from side effects, leading them to favor these treatments over contemporary medications. Herbal medications are freely available online, even without a prescription. The accessibility of herbal medicines without prescriptions, coupled with the false belief in their lack of side effects, misleads educated individuals toward quackery treatments. Misinformation spread via social media exacerbates this issue. Heavy metals are present in toxic levels in the drugs, causing complications. Lead is the most common heavy metal found in such herbal medicines. Lead poisoning leads to anemia and other systemic complications which could have been fatal if not found in time.

Awareness of Oral Submucous Fibrosis among the Quid-Chewing South-Asian Expatriates in the United Arab Emirates.

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic disorder prevalent in South and Southeast Asia and is mainly related to the habit of chewing betel quid. Although there are numerous South-Asian studies about OSF, there is no study that evaluates the awareness of OSF among expatriate populations of South-Asian origin. Evaluated the awareness of OSF among South-Asian expatriate patients reporting to a dental hospital in Sharjah. Prevalidated questionnaires were given to 150 expatriate patients of South-Asian origin with quid-chewing habit reporting to the teaching clinics of a dental hospital in the United Arab Emirates. Among the 150 patients, 103 responded to the questionnaire. Among the 103 respondents, 11.65% were aware of OSF. Respondents living in shared residency and labor camps had significantly (P = 0.43) lower awareness of OSF compared to respondents living with their families. The results of our study show that the awareness of OSF is lower among the respondents living in labor camps and shared residencies. The younger respondents had more awareness of OSMF and were more likely to quit the quid-chewing habit.

Interim management of Pierre Robin sequence using a custom-made face mask.

Pierre Robin sequence poses a great challenge for anesthesiologists during laryngoscopy and intubation, making oxygenation and ventilation difficult. The role of early surgical intervention is recommended for the improvement of the airway and overall survival of the neonate. The situation becomes even more challenging, when the neonate may not be fit for such surgical interventions. The present case posed such a challenge to the team. To the authors' knowledge, the decision to use a face mask as an interim life-saving measure was considered for the first time. This provided a greater window of opportunity for further course of action, only to be later managed by distraction osteogenesis of the mandible. The unconventional use of orthopedic appliances for the management of threatened airways may provide the clinician with time, where further management may be carried out. The present article will explain such a procedure that was carried out as a life-saving measure.

Adverse outcomes in patients hospitalized with pneumonia at age 60 or more: A prospective multi-centric hospital-based study in India.

BACKGROUND: Limited data exists regarding risk factors for adverse outcomes in older adults hospitalized with Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) in low- and middle-income countries such as India. This multisite study aimed to assess outcomes and associated risk factors among adults aged ≥60 years hospitalized with pneumonia. METHODS: Between December 2018 and March 2020, we enrolled ≥60-year-old adults admitted within 48 hours for CAP treatment across 16 public and private facilities in four sites. Clinical data and nasal/oropharyngeal specimens were collected by trained nurses and tested for influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and other respiratory viruses (ORV) using the qPCR. Participants were evaluated regularly until discharge, as well as on the 7th and 30th days post-discharge. Outcomes included ICU admission and in-hospital or 30-day post-discharge mortality. A hierarchical framework for multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models identified risk factors (e.g., demographics, clinical features, etiologic agents) associated with critical care or death. FINDINGS: Of 1,090 CAP patients, the median age was 69 years; 38.4% were female. Influenza viruses were detected in 12.3%, RSV in 2.2%, and ORV in 6.3% of participants. Critical care was required for 39.4%, with 9.9% in-hospital mortality and 5% 30-day post-discharge mortality. Only 41% of influenza CAP patients received antiviral treatment. Admission factors independently associated with ICU admission included respiratory rate >30/min, blood urea nitrogen>19mg/dl, altered sensorium, anemia, oxygen saturation <90%, prior cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, and private hospital admission. Diabetes, anemia, low oxygen saturation at admission, ICU admission, and mechanical ventilation were associated with 30-day mortality. CONCLUSION: High ICU admission and 30-day mortality rates were observed among older adults with pneumonia, with a significant proportion linked to influenza and RSV infections. Comprehensive guidelines for CAP prevention and management in older adults are needed, especially with the co-circulation of SARS-CoV-2.

A Monte Carlo simulation-based decision support system for radiation oncologists in the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme.

In the present research, we have developed a model-based crisp logic function statistical classifier decision support system supplemented with treatment planning systems for radiation oncologists in the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). This system is based on Monte Carlo radiation transport simulation and it recreates visualization of treatment environments on mathematical anthropomorphic brain (MAB) phantoms. Energy deposition within tumour tissue and normal tissues are graded by quality audit factors which ensure planned dose delivery to tumour site thereby minimising damages to healthy tissues. The proposed novel methodology predicts tumour growth response to radiation therapy from a patient-specific medicine quality audit perspective. Validation of the study was achieved by recreating thirty-eight patient-specific mathematical anthropomorphic brain phantoms of treatment environments by taking into consideration density variation and composition of brain tissues. Dose computations accomplished through water phantom, tissue-equivalent head phantoms are neither cost-effective, nor patient-specific customized and is often less accurate. The above-highlighted drawbacks can be overcome by using open-source Electron Gamma Shower (EGSnrc) software and clinical case reports for MAB phantom synthesis which would result in accurate dosimetry with due consideration to the time factors. Considerable dose deviations occur at the tumour site for environments with intraventricular glioblastoma, haematoma, abscess, trapped air and cranial flaps leading to quality factors with a lower logic value of 0. Logic value of 1 depicts higher dose deposition within healthy tissues and also leptomeninges for majority of the environments which results in radiation-induced laceration.

Clinical Outcome and its Predictors in Children With Newly Diagnosed Immune Thrombocytopenia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the predictors for chronic and/or persistent immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) among children with newly diagnosed ITP. METHODS: Ours was a mixed-design study (prospective: January 2020 to March 2022 and retrospective: January 2014 to December 2019), wherein we enrolled children, aged 1 month to 18 years presenting with newly diagnosed ITP. RESULTS: Of the 64 enrolled participants, 58 were followed up for atleast 1-year duration and 6 children were followed up for 3 to 12 months' duration. The median (IQR) age of the cohort was 8 (5, 11) years with a female preponderance (62.5%). Wet bleeding was seen in 56%; 6.25% developed intracranial bleeding. 67.2% (43/64) and 41.4% (24/58) children developed persistent and chronic ITP, respectively. Of the 34 children who achieved complete response at 12-months follow up, 21 (62%) achieved complete response by 3 months and the rest achieved complete response over the next 9 months. Development of overall response (complete or partial) at 3 and 12 months, was associated with a higher absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) at admission. The median ALC (×103/µL) at admission was 3.77 and 2.87 in children who had overall response and no response at 3 months, respectively (P = 0.03). The median ALC (×103/µL) at admission was 3.99 and 2.96 in children who had overall response and no response at 12 months, respectively (P = 0.04). Response rate was lesser in the treated group by approximately 10% compared to the non-treated group. CONCLUSION: The rate of chronicity and intracranial bleeding in our cohort is more than the reported rates in literature. Higher ALC was found to be associated with response.

Synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular docking study of pyrimidine linked thiazolidinedione derivatives as potential antimicrobial and antitubercular agents.

The design and development of novel antimicrobial agents are highly desired to combat the emergence of medication resistance against microorganisms that cause infections. A series of new pyrimidine-linked thiazolidinedione derivatives (5a-j) were synthesized, characterized, and their antimicrobial properties assessed in the current investigation. Here, novel pyrimidine-linked thiazolidinedione compounds were designed using the molecular hybridization approach. Elemental and spectral techniques were used to determine the structures of the synthesized hybrids. The majority of compounds showed encouraging antibacterial properties. Among the active compounds, 5g, 5i, and 5j showed 1.85, 1.15, and 1.38 times the activity of streptomycin against S. aureus, respectively, with MIC values of 6.4, 10.3, and 8.6 µM. With MIC values of 10.8, 21.9, and 15.4 µM, respectively, the compounds 5g, 5i, and 5j showed 2.14, 1.05, and 1.50 times the activity of linezolid against the methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strain. Furthermore, when compared to the reference medications, compounds 5g, 5i, and 5j demonstrated broad-range antimicrobial efficacy against all tested strains of bacteria and fungus. Out of all the compounds that were investigated, compounds 5g, 5i, and 5j showed noteworthy anti-tubercular activity. 5g is the most effective, 1.59 times more effective than reference drug isoniazid. To anticipate the binding manner, the synthesized potent compounds were subjected to molecular docking into the active binding site of MRSA and the mycobacterial membrane protein large 3 (MmpL3) protein. The compounds 5g, 5i, and 5j may eventually serve as lead compounds in the search for antimicrobial and anti-TB therapeutic agents.

Zinc solubilization and organic acid production by the entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium pingshaense sheds light on its key ecological role in the environment.

We report for the first-time higher zinc (Zn) solubilization efficiency and plant growth promotion by an entomopathogenic fungus (EPF), Metarhizium pingshaense IISR-EPF-14, which was earlier isolated from Conogethes punctiferalis, a pest of global importance. The Zn solubilizing efficiency of the fungus varied depending on the type of insoluble source of Zn used, which was observed to be 1.6 times higher in Zn3(PO4)2-amended media compared to ZnO media. In liquid media, there was a 6.2-fold increase in available Zn in ZnO-amended media, whereas a 20.2-fold increase in available Zn was recorded in Zn3(PO4)2 medium. We ascribe the production of various organic acids such as gluconic, keto-gluconic, oxalic, tartaric, malonic, succinic and formic acids, which in general, interact with insoluble Zn sources and make them soluble by forming metal cations and displacing anions as the major mechanism for Zn solubilization by M. pingshaense. However, the type and amount of organic acid produced in the media varied depending on the source of Zn used and the incubation period. Application of the fungus alone and in combination with insoluble Zn sources enhanced various plant growth parameters in rice and cardamom plants. Moreover, the uptake of Zn in rice plants was enhanced up to ~2.5-fold by fungal application. The fungus also exhibited various other plant growth-promoting traits, such as production of Indole-3-acetic acid, ammonia, siderophores, solubilization of mineral phosphate, and production of hydrolytic enzymes such as α-amylase, protease, and pectinase. Hence, apart from its use as a biological control agent, M. pingshaense has the potential to be used as a bio-fortifier to enhance the solubilization and uptake of Zn from nutrient poor soils under field conditions. Our findings shed light on the broader ecological role played by this fungus and widen its scope for utilization in sustainable agriculture.

Erythematous ulcero-proliferative exophytic lesion in an oral squamous cell carcinoma patient- An unusual case of Trichosporonosis.

ABSTRACT: The emergence of non-Candida yeast infections in humans has been increasingly recognized over the last decades. Trichosporon is the third most isolated non-candidal yeast in patients with an impaired immune system. We report a rare case of Trichosporon asahii causing erythematous oral lesion in a patient with squamous cell carcinoma. Our case highlights the occurrence of unusual yeast pathogens in patients with cancer with typical clinical presentations and warrants suspicion of fungal etiology to prevent misdiagnosis of trichosporonosis.

Superficial acral fibromyxoma: insights from case management and comprehensive literature review.

Superficial acral fibromyxoma, also known as digital fibromyxoma, is a slow-growing, benign, solitary soft tissue tumor. First described in 2001 by Fetsch et al., it is a condition that often occurs in middle-aged individuals. However, it has also been reported across a wide range of ages, ranging from 4 to 86 years, with males more commonly reported. The condition often presents as solitary soft tissue swelling over the periungual or subungual. We present the management experience of the rare presentation of this rare tumor and a detailed review of the past literature on this condition. Detailed management of the condition has been described, along with the outcome after 2 years of follow-up and treatment experience. Our detailed analysis shows that 2 years is the shortest duration of follow-up to rule out recurrence. Hence, most of the cases reported earlier had given the false sense of the recurrence rate of the tumor, which could lead to undertreatment of the condition. The purpose of this article is to allow the readers to understand better the tumor's characteristics with bone involvement and the tumor's diagnostic strategies and treatment options.

Contribution of infection and vaccination to population-level seroprevalence through two COVID waves in Tamil Nadu, India.

This study employs repeated, large panels of serological surveys to document rapid and substantial waning of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at the population level and to calculate the extent to which infection and vaccination separately contribute to seroprevalence estimates. Four rounds of serological surveys were conducted, spanning two COVID waves (October 2020 and April-May 2021), in Tamil Nadu (population 72 million) state in India. Each round included representative populations in each district of the state, totaling ≥ 20,000 persons per round. State-level seroprevalence was 31.5% in round 1 (October-November 2020), after India's first COVID wave. Seroprevalence fell to 22.9% in round 2 (April 2021), a roughly one-third decline in 6 months, consistent with dramatic waning of SARS-Cov-2 antibodies from natural infection. Seroprevalence rose to 67.1% by round 3 (June-July 2021), with infections from the Delta-variant induced second COVID wave accounting for 74% of the increase. Seroprevalence rose to 93.1% by round 4 (December 2021-January 2022), with vaccinations accounting for 63% of the increase. Antibodies also appear to wane after vaccination. Seroprevalence in urban areas was higher than in rural areas, but the gap shrunk over time (35.7 v. 25.7% in round 1, 89.8% v. 91.4% in round 4) as the epidemic spread even in low-density rural areas.

Uncertainty evaluation of non-invasive multi-parameter detector measurements in quality assurance of diagnostic radiology.

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the patient dose and image quality through quality assurance (QA) of diagnostic x-ray equipment and to ensure compliance with international and national standards in x-ray specification parameters, the use of contactless and quick non-invasive instruments has gained importance. Considering the importance of equipment qualification and the intervention level for equipment management, it is vital to account for uncertainties in the measurement of parameters in diagnostic radiology. However, the limits and measurement uncertainties associated with the parameter measurement are not well established and many technical and scientific literature provide different tolerance values, either as absolute or in terms of percentage. METHODS AND MATERIALS: In this paper, the authors analyze non-invasive multi-parameter detector measurements with the aim to (i) improve the accuracy in measurement of x-ray parameters (kilovoltage, dose, and exposure time); (ii) estimate the uncertainty associated with such measurements; (iii) analyze the tolerance values prescribed by various professional and regulatory bodies and propose an improvised method of reporting the parameters. The approach adopted in this paper takes into account the uncertainties associated with traditional instruments and the subjectivity in the measurements. RESULTS: Estimated uncertainty for kV measurements in the range between 1.45 kV at 40 kV measurements and 4.88 kV at 150 kV measurements. The MU associated with the dose measurement is estimated to be 6.2% at 110 kVp, 100 mA, and 500 msec. Maximum MU estimated at 10 msec exposure time is 4.5% and with MU of 5% deviation added to 9.5%. CONCLUSIONS: The current practice of reporting the measured mean values deviation without considering the inherent measurement uncertainty may not be a correct quantification procedure in QA. This is evident from the case study that 3% addition to the measured kV, 6.2% addition in the measured dose, and 4.5% to the measured time accounts for measurement uncertainty.