Recent Articles

Few cases of ankle tuberculosis have been reported in the literature. We describe two cases of tuberculosis of ankle presented to Orthopaedics OPD at Rajindra Hospital, Patiala. Case one was a 34 year male with complain of swelling of the left ankle since 3 years and a discharging sinus at the tip of the old healed scar on the left ankle for 6 months. The patient was an old case of Pulmonary Tuberculosis treated with anti-tubercular therapy 6 years back. On laboratory evaluation, CBC, ESR and CRP were normal. Ankle X-Ray showed a lytic lesion in both malleoli. The patient was admitted and debridement of the left ankle was done, and the tissue specimen CB-NAAT was positive. The patient was subsequently put on anti-tubercular therapy for 11 months. His follow-up visits were uneventful. Case two was a 31 old year female presented to us with complaint of pain at right ankle since 5 months. Pain was followed by swelling which progressed over a period of time of one month. MRI was done which showed bone defect with erosions Tissue sample were sent for histopathological examination and CBNAAT.CBNAAT result came to be positive. Patient was put on ATT. Patient improved after ATT. Ankle TB is a rare entity ,must be considered in the differential diagnosis of a swelling of the foot and ankle., requiring a high index of suspicion. As the disease is progressive and promotes degenerative changes of the articular cartilage, early identification is critical for successful treatment and to avoid permanent functional disability.

This narrative review of the literature suggests that school closings during COVID-19 were associated with reduced transmission of the virus but also reduced academic performance and mental health problems including anxiety, depression and disrupted sleep rhythms. These problems have been exacerbated by excessive screen time, inactivity and over-eating. Re-openings were less often studied, but infection rates typically increased as well as stress levels and insufficient sleep. Methodological limitations include the typically absent baseline data and the questionable reliability of parents reporting on the activities and feelings of their youth.

Osteosarcoma is a dominant type of bone cancer, associated with osteophytes (bone cells). Afflicts all age groups; generally manifesting in long bones of human physiology(also other parts; including fine joints). Chemotherapy, surgery and radiation are the current therapeutics – with uncertain results; often associated with high degree of failure; swift relapse; rebound aggression and above all with debilitating post treatment out come conditions. In this investigation in silico drug designing procedures have been used to predict natural compounds from Kaempferia parviflora (black ginger) as possible drug candidates for osteosarcoma. 8 of its phyto-compounds (PCs) are found to be non-toxic and also pass the Lipinski’s rule of 5 (@ 100%) vis-à-vis the over expressed Signal Transducer And Activator Of Transcription 3(STAT3) protein of the dreaded osteosarcoma. All the 8 PCs indicate better binding affinity (greater likeness) than the current best popular allopathic drug Zoledronic acid (Toxic). All the 8 offer good-excellent likeness. Alpha- Copaene (non Toxic) emerges as the Champion.

Background: Recent studies indicate that imbalanced gut microbiota and gut inflammation lead to various gut-related disorders. Natural dietary supplementation is a complementary approach to address gut inflammation and gut-related disorders. In this context, Consolax®developed, a patent-filed innovative plant fiber formula with prebiotic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of Consolax® on gut health/inflammation among human subjects with imbalanced gut microbiota, gut inflammation, and inflammatory bowel syndrome. Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, parallel reference-controlled study among 24 of 29 subjects screened for the Rome IV Diagnostic Criteria for functional inflammatory disease, predominantly irritable bowel syndrome. The subjects were randomized into the test and reference groups (each, n=12). The test group underwent supplementation with Consolax® powder 5 g daily (b.i.d.) and the reference group received the reference product (psyllium husk powder) at the same dose of 5 g daily (b.i.d.). Both supplements were administered orally for 30 days along with standard care. Efficacy and safety outcomes were evaluated at four different time intervals, days 7+2 (visit 1), 14+2 (visit 2), 21+2 (visit 3), and 30+2 (visit 4). Results: Consolax® supplementation lowered abdominal pain (based on the Visual Analog Scale) within the treatment groups during visits 3 and 4 compared to the baseline. Beneficial bacterial levels increased (p

The different metamorphic mineral assemblages can reflect the difference of metamorphic temperature and pressure and determine the different metamorphic facies. The identification and determination of the occurrence of characteristic metamorphic minerals and the symbiotic association of typical metamorphic minerals can determine the metamorphic phase of graphite and its surrounding rock, and further infer the formation conditions of graphite. In this paper, the mineral assemblage relationship of a graphite deposit and its surrounding rock in the south of Hebei province is studied by means of microscopic observation and Electron Probe Micro Analysis (EPMA), and the metamorphic facies of the graphite deposit and the temperature and pressure conditions of the deposit are deduced. The study shows that the metamorphic facies of the graphite deposit is low amphibolite facies and the ore-forming conditions are medium temperature and medium pressure.

A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to summarize and review the current literature surrounding quercetin in breast cancer and evaluate its efficacy as an anticancer agent in human breast cancer cell lines. Electronic databases, PUBMED, WEB OF SCIENCE and MEDLINE were systematically searched in December 2020 using the key terms, Quercetin AND Breast cancer AND apoptosis OR cell cycle. Fourteen papers surrounding effects of quercetin on cell viability were obtained. Risk of bias assessment revealed that most papers were reliable. Three meta-analyses were conducted to confirm the efficacy of quercetin at the concentrations of 40-50 µM, 100µM, and >100µM (120- 200 µM). Two subgroup analyses on incubation time and cell type were performed to ascertain whether these factors affect mechanisms of quercetin. Results showed that the decrease in percentage cell viability is directly proportional to increasing concentration. The greatest decrease in cell viability was observed in 100 µM (Risk Ratio (RR) = 0.56; p

There is a large amount of enrichment of rare earth elements in Zhungeer coal and coal ash, making it possible to use fly ash as a source for industrial production of rare earth elements. In order to optimize the leaching process of rare earth elements in fly ash and increase the leaching rate, the circulating fluidized bed fly ash of Zhungeer Power Plant was used as the material, and the single factor test and orthogonal test were used to influence the leaching rate of rare earth elements in the acid leaching process of fly ash The factors were discussed, and the results showed that when fly ash and 3mol/L hydrochloric acid were leached at a ratio of 1:10 for 2h at 130 0C, the element leaching effect was the best, and the leaching rate could reach 97%.

Medicinal plants have been used by the population since the beginning as a tool to prevent and fight diseases. In addition, to strengthening local culture and offering cheaper labor, this practice is an alternative to conventional therapies. The use of these plants in metabolic disorders has been studied worldwide. It has shown promising results in reducing glycemic levels and profiles related to diabetes, such as LDL lipid profile, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). These results can be potential sources for pharmacological treatments, through the production of medicines, as well as the implementation of these plants in the diet, dispensing with the use of commercialized drugs.

Fournier’s gangrene is a rare and progressive necrotizing infection affecting the perineal, periureteral, perianal, or genital area associated with high mortality rates. A 34-year-old obese man went to the emergency room, complaining of painful perianal and perineal swelling. He was hospitalized and the computed tomography (CT) scan revealed large bilateral anorectal abscesses, anteriorly extended to the base of the scrotum and on the right to the ischiorectal fossa. A diagnosis of Fournier’s gangrene was made and broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy was started. After the abscesses drainage, microbiological examinations were performed. However, the clinical conditions furtherly worsened and the patient was moved to the medical intensive care unit. The microbiological analyses tested positive for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and the antibiotic therapy was modified accordingly. Despite the treatment, the hypotension worsened and the patient died from sepsis and multi-organ failure. Upon autopsy, we observed an external macroscopic picture devoid of the typical destructive lesions that usually characterize Fournier’s gangrene. Therefore, we found ourselves faced with an atypical case which, in the absence of the clinical data, would certainly have been difficult to diagnose based on the autopsy findings only. The presented case is deemed of interest for both clinicians and medical examiners since it is about a highly aggressive and fatal Fournier’s gangrene in the absence of destructive external manifestations. Moreover, this atypical case of Fournier’s gangrene was sustained by an emerging and highly aggressive microbial agent, eventually evolved into sudden death.

Sphenoid wing meningiomas commonly present with headaches and visual changes. Some presentations may vary depending on the meningioma’s site of growth. Here we present a gentleman with no headaches, a very mild proptosis that went unnoticed, together with a rapid visual loss that progressed over 4 months. Prior to presenting at the eye casualty, he has been assessed by other doctors and opticians, who diagnosed his fundal toxoplasmosis scar as the cause of his visual loss. Only through a thorough examination and measurement, did the mild proptosis become a significant part of the investigations and diagnosis. Neuroradiological investigations confirmed a diagnosis of spheno-orbital meningioma, for which he underwent 2 surgeries to achieve satisfactory debulking of the mass. This case report is to highlight the importance of having a systematic approach when reviewing patients with proptosis, and to always explore other potential causes for visual loss. A brief review of literature looking at the various causes of unilateral proptosis and different presentations of spheno-orbital meningiomas is included.