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Background: Bispectral index score (BIS) is a processed electroencephalographic parameter used to measure level of sedation in anaesthetised patients. In few studies of psychiatric patients undergoing electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), it was observed that the BIS values were lower at baseline. It is not clear from those studies whether the BIS values are really low. Also, it is not clear whether the lower values are related to the primary psychiatric illness or the due to the effect of ECT. Therefore, we studied the BIS values in psychiatric illnesses and compared them with the normal controls. Materials and Methods: BIS index was recorded in 237 patients with various psychiatric illness (Group P) and 40 control patients without any psychiatric illness undergoing spinal surgery (Group C). BIS values were recorded in supine position before breakfast and before the morning doses of antipsychotic/benzodiazepine medications. It was recorded during resting state in all the subjects. Results: BIS values were lower in group P compared to control group (a mean of 89.8 ± 7.8 vs 95.7 ± 2.4, P < 0.0001). In the group P, the patients with psychosis and bipolar disorder had significantly lower BIS values than the patients with depression ( P= 0.04). Conclusions: BIS values in psychiatric patients are lower than those in the control group. Psychotic and bipolar disorders are associated with significantly lower BIS values than the depression.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common problem in critical care settings and conferred an increased risk of morbidities and mortality. The pendulum has shifted to the increasing number of children with comorbidities exposed to potential kidney damage. AKI is a complex clinical syndrome due to heterogeneous etiology. There has been an evolution in the definition and staging of AKI over the past two decades. However, estimating glomerular filtration rate in rapidly changing kidney function remains challenging. Although biomarkers are promising in AKI identification, timing is crucial in deciding which biomarker to measure. The outcome of AKI is not always recovery, but it is an interconnected syndrome with acute and chronic kidney disease.

Background: Pediatric acute central nervous system (CNS) infections are associated with severe neuromorbidity. This study aimed to study the effect of glucose variability on clinical outcomes in comatose children due to acute CNS infections admitted in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Subjects and Methods: A prospective cohort study enrolled comatose children aged 1 month to 12 years due to acute CNS infection. Within 6 h, continuous glucose monitoring was started (Freestyle Libre Pro, Abbott). The unit practice was targeting blood glucose (BG, mg/dL) of 126, >140, >180, >200, and 126). The primary outcome was new-onset organ dysfunction. The secondary outcomes were organ support, length of mechanical ventilation, hospital (including PICU) stay, and 90-day composite poor outcome (mortality or severe neurodisability). Results: Total BG values measured were 27,792 from 66 patients (mean [standard deviation (SD)] 421.1 [212.6] values per patient). The mean (SD) BG was 103.2 (37.7) (minimum: 42.1; maximum: 228.8). The new-onset organ dysfunction has occurred in 83.3% (n = 55/66), and no difference was noted among normoglycemic and abnormal glycemic groups (84.4% vs. 80.9%; relative risk = 1.09, 95% confidence interval: 0.67–1.76). The median (interquartile range) PICU stay (days) was higher in the normoglycemic group (7, 5–14 vs. 4, 3.5–8.5; P = 0.014). No difference was noted in other outcomes. Conclusions: Glucose variability was not significantly associated with new-onset organ dysfunction and poor outcome in comatose children due to acute CNS infections.

In vitro studies were carried out to determine the antifungal properties of crude extracts of five medicinal plants using the broth microdilution method against nine fungi. Results showed that the hexane extract of the two plants, viz., Azima tetracantha inhibit the growth of Trichophyton mentagrophytes (125 µg/mL), Epidermophyton floccosum (250 µg/mL), T. simii (125 µg/mL), Curvularia lunata (62.5 µg/mL), T. rubrum (125 µg/mL) and Magnethophora (125 µg/mL), and Bauhinia tomentosa inhibit the growth of T. mentagrophytes (62.5 µg/mL) and E. floccosum (62.5 µg/mL). Remaining plants did not show any significant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose to carry out studies on the properties of interstellar dust using TAUVEX. Through the multi-band TAUVEX observations, particularly with the use of filters optimized for extinction observations of the 2175 Å feature, combined with optical observations and 2MASS archived data, we can derive the extinction curve from UV to near-IR for stars located in different regions and environments. The extinction curve is a sensitive indicator of the properties of the interstellar dust and, as such, will allow us to trace the properties and evolution of the interstellar dust as a function of environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]