Divergent Gender Identity in a Phenotypic Male with 46XX Karyotype Caused by a Mutation in CYP21A2 Gene with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia.

A male patient in his late twenties presented with ambiguous genitalia to our tertiary specialist unit with complaints of short stature and inadequate copulation. There was no history of consanguinity, and a physical examination raised concerns about possible disorders of sexual development (DSD). Karyotyping and fluorescence in situ hybridization results were consistent with the presence of two X chromosomes, revealing the patient to be a genotypic female. Sanger sequencing showed a heterozygous pathogenic mutation in the CYP21A2 gene known to be associated with 21-hydroxylase deficiency, thus confirming the diagnosis of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), Prader stage V. DSD with CAH is distressing for the patient and their families, and the management needs a multidimensional approach involving diverse medical, genetic, and psychological considerations. Cytogenetic and molecular genetic studies play an essential role in diagnosis and decision-making and should be made affordable in developing countries for better patient care.

Accessory infraorbital foramen location using cone-beam computed tomography

Background@#Accessory infraorbital foramen (AIOF) can change the normal course of emerging branches of the infraorbital nerve and blood vessels exiting the infraorbital foramen (IOF). This study aimed to examine the AIOF, number of foramina, and their position in relation to IOF using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). @*Methods@#We performed a retrospective CBCT assessment of hospital records between January 2018 and August 2022. The CBCT of 507 patients were examined to extract information on the prevalence, number, position, linear distance from the IOF, and diameter of AIOF in relation to demographic factors. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the prevalence of AIOF. Mean and standard deviation were used to calculate the linear distance and diameter of the AIOF, respectively. The AIOFs, its distribution, and number were compared between sexes and sides using the chi-square test. The independent t-test and Mann–Mann-Whitney test were used to compare the mean difference between the sexes and sides. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. @*Results@#In this current study, the prevalence of AIOF was 7.1% (36 of the 507 patients). Additionally, the current study examined the number of foramina using a single foramen on each side and double foramina located bilaterally at a distance from the AIOF to the IOF. The mean AIOF diameter was also studied, and the AIOF position with respect to the IOF on CBCT was superomedial or inferomedial. There were no statistically significant associations between any of the parameters assessed in this study when comparing sex and sides. @*Conclusions@#A greater number of patients with AIOF presented with a single foramen and unilateral occurrence, without a statistically significant difference. The AIOF was most commonly located superomedial to the IOF.

The normative values for resting length of pectoralis minor muscle among individuals with asymptomatic shoulder in South Bengaluru: a cross-sectional pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the normative values for resting length of pectoralis minor muscle among males and females with an asymptomatic shoulder in South Bengaluru. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two hundred and forty-six subjects with asymptomatic shoulders were taken by convenience sampling. The subjects were divided into two groups: Group A (123 males) and Group B (123 females). Pectoralis minor muscle resting length was measured on their dominant side in all subjects. Post measurement, the PMI was calculated. The normative values for both groups were determined. The mean PMI was compared between Group A and Group B and was analyzed using statistical tools. RESULTS: In Group A, the mean average Pectoralis minor length (PML) was 14.59 ± 1.61 cm and in Group B, the mean average PML was 12.95 ± 1.42 cm which was statistically significant (p-value <0.00001). In Group A, the mean Pectoralis Minor Index (PMI) was 8.54 ± 0.88 and in Group B, the mean PMI was 8.22 ± 0.90 which was statistically significant (p-value <0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The normative values for resting length of pectoralis minor muscle for males are 8.54 ± 0.88 and for females 8.22 ± 0.90 with an asymptomatic shoulder. There is a difference in the normative values for the resting PML in the asymptomatic shoulder by gender.

Effects of a health worker-led 3-month yoga intervention on blood pressure of hypertensive patients: a randomised controlled multicentre trial in the primary care setting.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension control remains a major challenge globally. A recent systematic review suggested that yoga has beneficial effects on reducing blood pressure. However, the role of yoga in hypertension management in primary health care has received little attention, and no studies have evaluated the impact of a yoga program fully delivered by health care staff on hypertension. This study, therefore, assessed the effects of a health worker-led yoga intervention on blood pressure reduction among hypertensives patients in the primary care setting. METHODS: This was a multicentric, two-arm, randomised trial conducted among hypertensive patients in seven Ayurveda Health Centres in Nepal between March 2017 and June 2018. One hundred and twenty-one participants who were on or without medications were randomised to intervention (n = 61) and wait-list control (n = 60) groups using stratified block randomisation. Participants in the intervention arm received an intervention consisting of an initial five-day structured yoga training at the centres and then a further home-based practice of yoga for five days a week for the following 90 days. Both intervention and control groups also participated in a 2-h health education session. The primary outcome of this trial was systolic blood pressure at 90-day follow-up. Data were analysed on an intention-to-treat basis using linear mixed-effects regression models. RESULTS: We included all 121 study participants (intervention/control = 61/60) in the primary analysis (52.1% males; mean ± SD age = 47.8 ± 10.8 years). The difference in systolic blood pressure between the intervention group and the control group was - 7.66 mmHg (95% CI: - 10.4, - 4.93). For diastolic blood pressure, the difference was - 3.86 mmHg (95% CI: - 6.65, - 1.06). No adverse events were reported by the participants. CONCLUSIONS: A yoga program for hypertensive patients consisting of a five-day training in health centres and 90 days of practice at home is effective for reducing blood pressure. Significant benefits for hypertensive patients could be expected if such programmes would become a part of the standard treatment practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was prospectively registered with the Clinical Trial Registry of India [ CTRI/2017/02/007822 ] on 10/02/2017.

Hospital Resilience After the 2015 Earthquake in Nepal: Results From Semi-structured Interviews With Hospital Staff.

Background: Resilient hospitals are increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of disaster reduction in global policies such as the Sendai Framework for Action. However, current hospital resilience frameworks emerged from pre-disaster conceptualizations, and have not been verified in real-life disaster contexts nor in the frontlines. Our aim was to study a tertiary hospital's resilience after the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, as experienced by its staff. Methods: We undertook a qualitative study in the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), where we conducted 18 semi-structured interviews with hospital staff. We inductively created themes to describe the earthquake burden to the hospital, and to analyze individual resilience of hospital staff. In addition, we deductively documented the resilience of the hospital as a system, according to the system resilience dimensions: means of resilience (redundancy and resourcefulness), and ends of resilience (robustness and rapidity). Results: In terms of robustness, TUTH increased its capacity for earthquake victims as elective activities were temporarily interrupted and quality of care was not a priority. Three stages of rapidity were identified: critical rapidity to address immediate needs, stabilizing rapidity until the hospital re-started routine activities, and recovery rapidity. In addition to the disaster plan, emerging adaptations played a major role in redundancy and resourcefulness. We found that individual resilience depended on three determinants: safety, meaningfulness, and sense of belonging. Conclusions: Hospital resilience results from a complexity of emerging and planned adaptations, as well as from interdependencies with individual resilience. Frameworks and plans to improve hospital resilience must reflect flexibility of response, and a concern for well-being of hospital staff is central for sustainable disaster response and improved resilience.

Spectral characterization of hydroxyapatite extracted from Black Sumatra and Fighting cock bone samples: A comparative analysis.

At present, chicken business is occupying a major portion in the market and huge amount of bone wastes are dumped into the open places lead in environmental pollution. In this analysis, natural hydroxyapatite was extracted by thermal calcination process at different temperature ranges from 700 °C, 900 °C and 1100 °C and compared its spectral characteristics. The crystalline nature, functional groups and morphological characteristics of hydroxyapatite obtained from both bone samples were studied using XRD, FTIR and SEM analysis. The crystallite size, lattice parameters, specific surface area, volume and degree of crystallinity were measured using XRD data. The mean grain size of Black Sumatra and Fighting Cock bone hydroxyapatite was 62.67 nm and 31.34 nm respectively. The FTIR spectrum showed major peaks at 634.58 cm-1 and 470.63 cm-1, 1413.82 cm-1 and 1460 cm-1 indicates the presence of carbonate group and phosphate groups in both samples. The SEM micrograph confirmed the existence of maximum pores in matrix of fighting cock bone than Black Sumatra bone sample. Thus, the comparative analysis concluded that nano-sized hydroxyapetite obtained from bone wastes of fighting cock can be utilized as a low-cost biomaterial for the production of various implant coating materials and substitute for ceramics in bones and dentistry applications.

Design and performance of an improved thermo-optometric equipment for the measurement of the solidus and liquidus at high temperatures.

Experimental determination of solidus and liquidus in reactive systems at very high-temperatures requires special equipment and is rather complex. In the present study, we describe setting up an experimental facility based on the "spot-technique." It was demonstrated that this setup could be used to measure phase transformation temperatures involving liquids in refractory systems that comprise reactive and radioactive components, in the range of 1273 K-2273 K, by using a thermo-optometric technique, namely, the "spot-technique." The equipment and the method were validated by measuring the melting points of high purity metals, namely, gold, copper, nickel, and zirconium. A measurement accuracy of ±2 K could be realized at temperatures as high as 2128 K. The solidus and liquidus temperatures of nuclear reactor fuels as well as some binary alloys were also measured by using this setup. The research involved in building this equipment and the key features of the equipment and method are described in detail.

Levothyroxine overdose in a hypothyroid patient with adjustment disorder: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Levothyroxine (T4) overdose is not frequently encountered and for the clinical signs to materialize, the ingested dose, the rate of conversion of T4 to T3 and chronicity of overdose can be held accountable. CASE REPORT: A 29-year-old female, a known case of hypothyroidism and adjustment disorder, under levothyroxine, propranolol and sertraline, intentionally ingested 2.5 mg of levothyroxine but remained asymptomatic with sudden surge in T4 in initial hours of ingestion which gradually started declining along with reciprocal change in TSH. However, the change in T3 was almost negligible. DISCUSSION: T3, the active thyroid hormone, when in excess accounts for toxic effects. The duration during physiological process of deiodination and half life of hormone correlates with onset and duration of symptoms. Propranolol which blocks peripheral conversion of T4 to T3 and sertraline which is also reported to reduce the efficacy of levothyroxine, which is evident from low T3 in thyroid profile, must have led to patient being asymptomatic despite lack of early gastric decontamination. CONCLUSION: Levothyroxine overdose up to 4mg/day may be asymptomatic but in patients with concomitant neurotic or psychiatric illness, who intentionally take it, are also put on drugs like sertraline and propranolol, the effects of which on thyroid hormones must be contemplated for possible explanation of being asymptomatic.

Changes in patient admissions after the 2015 Earthquake: a tertiary hospital-based study in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Literature on earthquake impact on hospital admissions is lacking, particularly in low-resource settings. Our aim was to study the pattern of admissions before and after the 2015 earthquake in a tertiary hospital in Nepal. We used routine hospital data from 9,596 admissions, and defined four periods: pre-earthquake (pre-EQ), acute (EQ1), post-acute (EQ2), and post-earthquake (post-EQ). We compared length of hospital stay (LOS) across the study periods using negative binomial regressions. We used logistic regressions to study changes in probability of admission for diagnostic categories, and Generalized Additive Models to model the difference in number of admissions compared to pre-EQ baseline. LOS was longer in EQ1 than during pre-EQ, in particular for injury-related admissions. In EQ1, the odds of injury admissions increased, while they decreased for the majority of other diagnoses, with the odds of pregnancy-related admissions remaining low until post-EQ. The number of admissions dropped in EQ1 and EQ2, and returned to pre-EQ trends in post-EQ, accumulating 381 admissions lost (CI: 206-556). Our findings suggest that hospital disaster plans must not only foresee injury management after earthquakes, but also ensure accessibility, in particular for pregnant women, and promote a quick return to normality to prevent additional negative health outcomes.

Design of nanoscaled heterojunctions in precursor-derived t-ZrO2/SiOC(N) nanocomposites: Transgressing the boundaries of catalytic activity from UV to visible light.

In this work, nanocomposites made of nanosized zirconia crystallized in situ in an amorphous silicon oxycarbo(nitride) (SiOC(N)) matrix have been designed through a precursor route for visible light photocatalytic applications. The relative volume fraction of the starting precursors and the pyrolysis temperatures not only influences the phase fraction of zirconia crystallites but also stabilizes the tetragonal crystal structure of zirconia (t-ZrO2) at room temperature. The presence of carbon in interstitial sites of zirconia and oxygen vacancy defects led to drastic reduction in the band gap (2.2 eV) of the nanocomposite. Apart from being a perfect host avoiding sintering of the active phase and providing mechanical stability, the amorphous matrix also reduces the recombination rate by forming heterojunctions with t-ZrO2. The reduction in band gap as well as the formation of heterojunctions aids in harnessing the visible light for photocatalytic activity.

Buccal infiltration injection without a 4% articaine palatal injection for maxillary impacted third molar surgery

Objectives@#Palatal infiltration is the most painful and uncomfortable anesthesia technique for maxillary impacted third molar surgery (MITMS). This approach could cause patients distress and aversion to dental treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anesthetic efficacy of a buccal infiltration injection without a palatal injection in MITMS. @*Materials and Methods@#This prospective research study was a crossover split mouth-randomized controlled trial. Twenty-eight healthy symmetrical bilateral MITMS patients (mean age, 23 years) were randomly assigned to two groups. Buccal infiltration injections without palatal injections were designated as the study group and the buccal with palatal infiltration cases were the control group, using 4% articaine and 1:100,000 epinephrine. The operation started after 10 minutes of infiltration. Pain assessment was done using a visual analogue scale and a numeric rating scale after each injection and extraction procedure. Similarly, the success rate, hemodynamic parameters, and additional requested local anesthetic were assessed. @*Results@#The results showed that the pain associated with local anesthetic injections between both groups were significantly different. However, the success rates between the groups were not significantly different. Postoperative pain was not significant between both groups and a few patients requested an additional local anesthetic, but the results were not statistically significant. For hemodynamic parameters, there was a significant difference in systolic pressure during incision, bone removal, and tooth elevation. In comparison, during the incision stage there was a significant difference in diastolic pressure; however, other steps in the intervention were not significantly different between groups. @*Conclusion@#We concluded that buccal infiltration injection without palatal injection can be an alternative technique instead of the conventional injection for MITMS.

Judgement in artificial eruption of embedded teeth from an oral surgery perspective: review article

Impacted teeth are a frequent phenomenon encountered by every clinician. The artificial eruption of embedded teeth is the process of directing an impacted tooth into normal occlusion. This procedure is currently attracting attention, with the aim of finding the best technique to use according to each case. This article presents key information regarding impacted incisors, canines, and premolars. In addition, we describe the most common techniques to use for artificial eruption, the open and closed techniques. We review the literature concerning these techniques and outline how clinicians can manage every type of impacted tooth.

Judgement in artificial eruption of embedded teeth from an oral surgery perspective: review article

Impacted teeth are a frequent phenomenon encountered by every clinician. The artificial eruption of embedded teeth is the process of directing an impacted tooth into normal occlusion. This procedure is currently attracting attention, with the aim of finding the best technique to use according to each case. This article presents key information regarding impacted incisors, canines, and premolars. In addition, we describe the most common techniques to use for artificial eruption, the open and closed techniques. We review the literature concerning these techniques and outline how clinicians can manage every type of impacted tooth.

Judgement in artificial eruption of embedded teeth from an oral surgery perspective: review article

Impacted teeth are a frequent phenomenon encountered by every clinician. The artificial eruption of embedded teeth is the process of directing an impacted tooth into normal occlusion. This procedure is currently attracting attention, with the aim of finding the best technique to use according to each case. This article presents key information regarding impacted incisors, canines, and premolars. In addition, we describe the most common techniques to use for artificial eruption, the open and closed techniques. We review the literature concerning these techniques and outline how clinicians can manage every type of impacted tooth.

Clinical and demographic profile of admitted victims in a tertiary hospital after the 2015 earthquake in Nepal.

BACKGROUND: In 2015, an earthquake killing 9,000 and injuring 22,000 people hit Nepal. The Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), a reference tertiary hospital, was operational immediately after the earthquake. We studied the profile of earthquake victims admitted in TUTH and assessed what factors could influence hospital length of stay. METHODS: An earthquake victim dataset was created based on patient records, with information on sex, age, date of admission and discharge, diagnosis, and surgical intervention. We performed an initial descriptive overview of the earthquake victims followed by a time-to-event analysis to compare length of hospital stay in different groups, using log rank test and cox regression to calculate Hazard Ratios. RESULTS: There were in total 501 admitted victims, with the peak of admissions occurring on the fifth day after the earthquake. About 89% had injury as main diagnosis, mostly in lower limbs, and 66% of all injuries were fractures. Nearly 69% of all patients underwent surgery. The median length of hospital stay was 10 days. Lower limb and trunk injuries had longer hospital stays than injuries in the head and neck (HR = 0.68, p = 0.009, and HR = 0.62 p = 0.005, respectively). Plastic surgeries had longer hospital stays than orthopaedic surgeries (HR = 0.57 p = 0.006). Having a crush injury and undergoing an amputation also increased time to discharge (HR = 0.57, p = 0.013, and HR = 0.65 p = 0.045 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Hospital stay was particularly long in this sample in comparison to other studies on earthquake victims, indirectly indicating the high burden TUTH had to bear to treat these patients. To strengthen resilience, tertiary hospitals should have preparedness plans to cope with a large influx of injured patients after a large-scale disaster, in particular for the initial days when there is limited external aid.

Association of Androgenetic Alopecia with Metabolic Syndrome: A Case-control Study on 100 Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital in South India.

BACKGROUND: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common cause of hair loss. Although it is a medically benign condition, it can have a significant psychosocial impact on patients. "Metabolic syndrome" (MetS) is a collection of clinical signs that focus on cardiovascular and diabetes-related parameters. Despite the high burden of AGA and MetS in India, specific data on the participants are relatively sparse. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of is to study the association of AGA with MetS and its parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A case-control study was undertaken in a tertiary care hospital from December 2015 to November 2016 with 100 cases and controls in the age group of 20-50 years. Diagnosis of MetS was based on the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III. Independent t-test was used as a test of significance. Categorical data were assessed using Chi-square test of significance. P <0.05 was considered to be significant. RESULTS: MetS was seen in 53% of cases and 17% of controls (P = 0.001). The mean serum triglyceride level (P = 0.015, P < 0.05), mean systolic blood pressure (P = 0.003, P < 0.05), high-density lipoprotein levels in males (P < 0.001), and waist circumference in males (P = 0.022, P < 0.05) were statistically significant in patients with androgenetic alopecia when compared to healthy controls. CONCLUSION: A higher prevalence of MetS was noted in androgenic alopecia. Early screening for MetS is beneficial in patients with androgenic alopecia.

Injection practices in Nepal: health policymakers' perceptions.

BACKGROUND: The unnecessary and unsafe use of injections is common in developing countries like Nepal. Policymakers have an important role in promoting rational and safe injection use. Hence, the present study was carried out to explore the perception of health policymakers regarding safe injection practice in Nepal. METHODS: An exploratory qualitative study design was used in this study. Key policymakers from both the central and regional level were selected using purposive sampling. A semi-structured questionnaire advocated by the World Health Organization (WHO) was used after modifying the context. Interviews were conducted to clarify doubts and obtain additional information. The data was analyzed manually using deductive content analysis technique. RESULTS: In total, eleven policymakers participated. All unanimously agreed that injection safety is a problem and seven participants reported that injections are overused. They shared the opinion that injections are administered by various providers, including formal and informal health providers, and also quacks. Almost half the respondents reported that the National Drug Policy discourages injection overuse, while others reported that the policy contains no provisions regarding injection overuse. Most policymakers stated that only single-use disposable injection equipment is used to provide injection, while others thought that sterilizable glass syringe is also used. More than half of the participants believed that the quality of injection equipment available in the Nepalese market is not regulated by any government institution. Almost two-third of the policymakers stated that syringes and needles are not reused, while the rest thought syringes might be reused without sterilization in some parts of the country. Almost half of the respondents stated that illegal commercialization of used syringes exists in Nepal. Almost all respondents thought that health care institutions have a waste management plan, while more than half of them opined that such plans are limited to tertiary care hospitals located in the capital. CONCLUSIONS: The result of this study revealed a divergence of views among policymakers, even among those in the same ministry. Though there has been some effort from the government to increase the safety of injection practices, greater efforts are required, especially with regard to standardization of policies and procedures related to injection practice.

Calcific myonecrosis of the leg treated by debridement and limited access dressing.

Calcific myonecrosis is a rare late complication of limb trauma characterized by liquefaction and dystrophic calcification of muscles in the single compartment, usually in the leg. This occurs many years after the trauma and is probably due to chronic compartment syndrome. We report 2 cases of calcific myonecrosis involving the anterior compartment of the leg that presented to us in an advanced stage of multiple sinuses discharging calcific material. Incision and drainage had been attempted at a local hospital prior to presentation at our hospital resulting in a non healing wound. Both patients had a history of antecedent trauma to the leg a few years ago. Patients were treated by thorough debridement of the involved muscles in the anterior compartment. Limited access dressing (LAD) was used to manage the dead space left after debridement. After application of the LAD, the wound was covered with split skin grafting. In both patients, healing of the cavity following debridement was facilitated by application of limited access dressing. While the wound completely healed, the disability due to extensive debridement of anterior compartment of the leg persisted. At the latest follow-up, the patients were asymptomatic without any recurrence. Thorough debridement of the compartment involved and application of LAD may be another option of treating calcific myonecrosis of the leg, which was initially considered a "do not touch" lesion. Morbidity due to surgery and need of repeated surgeries for recurrences should be kept in mind and regular follow-up should be considered.

The impact of vitamin A supplementation on mortality inequalities among children in Nepal.

OBJECTIVE: This paper examines gender, caste and economic differentials in child mortality in the context of a cluster-randomized trial of vitamin A distribution, in order to determine whether or not the intervention narrowed these differentials. DESIGN: The study involved secondary analysis of data from a placebo-controlled randomized field trial of vitamin A supplements. The study took place between 1989-1991 in rural Sarlahi District of Nepal, with 30,059 children age 6 to 60 months. The main outcome measures were differences in mortality between boys and girls, between highest Hindu castes and others, and between the poorest quintile and the four other quintiles. RESULTS: Without vitamin A, girls in rural Nepal experience 26.1 deaths per 1000, which is 8.3 deaths more than the comparison population of boys. With vitamin A the mortality disadvantage of girls is nearly completely attenuated, at only 1.41 additional deaths per 1000 relative to boys. Vitamin A supplementation also narrowed mortality differentials among Hindu castes, but did not lower the concentration of mortality across quintiles of asset ownership. The vitamin A-related attenuation in mortality disadvantage from gender and caste is statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that universal supplementation with vitamin A narrowed differentials in child death across gender and caste in rural Nepal. Assuring high-coverage vitamin A distribution throughout Nepal could help reduce inequalities in child survival in this population.