Interleukin-18 cytokine gene polymorphism 137G/C (rs187238) and susceptibility to tuberculosis in north India.

Tuberculosis (TB) regained its position globally as the leading cause of mortality from a single infectious agent after being surpassed by COVID-19 for 3 years consecutively. Host genetic factors, particularly cytokine gene polymorphisms, play a significant role in influencing susceptibility to TB. Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a proinflammatory cytokine involved in immune regulation against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Comparative study between ultrasound-guided closed pleural biopsy and thoracoscopic pleural biopsy in undiagnosed exudative pleural effusions.

Pleural biopsies are often required to establish a diagnosis in exudative pleural effusions, which remain undiagnosed after initial pleural fluid analysis. Medical thoracoscopy offers a high diagnostic yield but has limited availability in resource-constrained settings. This prospective comparative study evaluated the diagnostic yield between ultrasound-guided closed pleural biopsy and medical thoracoscopy among patients with undiagnosed exudative pleural effusions with pleural-based lesions at least 10 mm in size.

Effect of high flow nasal cannula conventional nasal cannula oxygen therapy in patients undergoing endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration.

Patients undergoing endobronchial ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration may have multiple comorbidities, contributing to higher risks of hypoxia and adverse events, such as arrhythmias. The current study compared the efficacy of two oxygenation modalities: the high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) vs. conventional oxygen therapy (CNC).

Hyperglycemia modulates M1/M2 macrophage polarization in chronic diabetic patients with pulmonary tuberculosis infection.

Increased susceptibility to bacterial infections like tuberculosis (TB) is one of the complications of type 2 diabetes, however the underlying mechanisms remains poorly characterized. To explore how chronic hyperglycemia in diabetes affects progression of active TB, we examined mRNA expression of M1 (proinflammatory) and M2 (anti-inflammatory) cytokines/markers, in monocyte-derived macrophages obtained from patients with PTB + DM (pulmonary TB + diabetes mellitus type 2), patients with DM alone, patients with PTB alone, and healthy individuals (controls). Our findings indicate a dysregulated cytokine response in patients with both PTB and DM, characterized by decreased expression levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), along with increased expression levels of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and CD206.

Comparative yield of transbronchial cryo-nodal biopsy, transbronchial intra-nodal forceps biopsy, and transbronchial needle aspiration for mediastinal lesions at a tertiary care center in India (COLD-FORCEPS study).

Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)-guided mediastinal cryobiopsy and intranodal forceps biopsy are newer modalities for sampling mediastinal lymph nodes. The data regarding the diagnostic yield of both modalities is scarce. Patients were recruited retrospectively from our existing database.

Clinical utility of intrabronchial antifungal instillation in a complicated case of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis: case report and systematic review of literature.

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is a progressive, debilitating clinical condition associated with significant morbidity. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment for life-threatening hemoptysis in symptomatic patients with simple aspergillomas. However, in patients with chronic cavitary pulmonary aspergillosis, surgical removal of aspergillomas is fraught with difficulty due to debilitating nature of the illness.

Development of double crosslinked sodium alginate/chitosan based hydrogels for controlled release of metronidazole and its antibacterial activity.

Double network sodium alginate/chitosan hydrogels were prepared using calcium chloride (CaCl) and glutaraldehyde as the crosslinking agents by the ionotropic interaction method for controlled metronidazole release. The effect of polymer ratios and CaCl amount is investigated by the developing porosity, gel fraction, and extent of swelling in simulated physiological fluids. Interaction between the polymers with the formation of crosslinked structures, good stability, phase nature, and morphology of the hydrogels is revealed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy.

Enrolment under of Nikshay Poshan Yojana among tuberculosis patients in a tertiary care hospital of Delhi.

Unlabelled: To mitigate malnutrition among tuberculosis burden, Government of India launched Nikshay Poshan Yojana in 2018, providing incentive of INR500 per month to each enrolled patient. Our study tried to find out the status of the scheme and its target benefits amongst the beneficiaries in a tertiary care hospital in Delhi, and also the facilitating factors and barriers towards enrolment, and their knowledge, attitude and practice towards nutrition in TB.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken at a tertiary care hospital involving a calculated sample of 188 patients.

Seizure EEG Quality in Right Unilateral Ultrabrief ECT.

Objective: The aims of this study were to compare threshold and suprathreshold ictal electroencephalograms (EEGs) in right unilateral (RUL) ultrabrief (UB) electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and to identify the differences between these EEGs.

Methods: This study is a retrospective review of 125 pairs EEGs from titration and subsequent sessions across a 2-year period. All EEGs were independently rated for by 2 assessors using a scale based on qualities of an EEG used to guide ECT treatment dose adequacy, for example, midictal amplitude, regularity, interhemispheric coherence, seizure end point, and postictal suppression.

Nanostructured SiO material: synthesis advances and applications in rubber reinforcement.

Silica is a commercially significant material due to its extensive use in widespread applications and products. Synthetic amorphous silica (SAS) is a form of SiO that is intentionally manufactured and has been produced and marketed for decades without significant changes in its physico-chemical properties. The industrial production of nanostructured SiO is nowadays challenged by the expensive raw material use and high energy consumption.

Effect of COVID-19 vaccination status on outcome of adult patients admitted at a tertiary care centre in India.

COVID-19 vaccination was initially started in India on 16th January 2021 after approval from national authorities. This study was carried out to assess the effect of vaccination status on the severity and clinical outcome among patients infected with COVID-19. The study included all adult COVID-19 patients admitted to our hospital from 1st April to 30th June 2021.

Role of Regulatory Proteins Involved in Iron Homeostasis in Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients and Their Household Contacts.

Early identification and treatment of active tuberculosis disease among high risk household contacts could limit new transmission and better clinical outcome, thus decreasing TB burden. Host iron homeostasis is an important yet underevaluated factor in pathophysiology of tuberculosis (TB). One such protein is hepcidin which internalizes ferroportin (membrane iron transporter), thus inhibiting iron export from macrophages which is utilised by bacteria leading to disease severity.

A middle-aged lady with near-fatal respiratory failure.

Tuberculosis is an uncommon cause of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. We present a case of a middle-aged women with near-fatal respiratory failure due to underlying tuberculosis with favorable clinical recovery. Early diagnosis and treatment are imperative to prevent morbidity, mortality, and disease transmission.