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Thoracentesis is tapping of pleural fluid from the pleural cavity for either diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. These are the frequently encountered procedures in the medical practices. Many conditions warrant sending the cases of pleural effusion cases for intervention. Most of the cases had been tried blindly first in their respective departments but failed because of various reasons. It had been documented regarding the advantages and disadvantages of blind and ultrasonography (USG) guided procedures. The aim of the study was to highlight the advantages and benefits of USG guided thoracentesis. We carried out USG guided thoracentesis of fifty cases in our radiology section who were referred to us by various departments. There were 19 female (38%) and 31 male (62%) patients. All these candidates had failed in blind procedures, when tried first. All these cases underwent USG guided thoracentesis with almost negligible complications. These were found to be having pleural fluid collection due to different underlying pathologies. There was no major complication in any of the cases who underwent thoracentesis. We reiterate by this study that USG guided procedures in thoracentesis should be the first choice in the tapping of pleural fluid. This is a quick, affordable, and without any discomfort to the patient.

Because the atmosphere is inherently chaotic, probabilistic weather forecasts are crucial to provide reliable information. In this work, we present an extension to the WeatherBench, a benchmark dataset for medium-range, data-driven weather prediction, which was originally designed for deterministic forecasts. We add a set of commonly used probabilistic verification metrics: the spread-skill ratio, the continuous ranked probability score (CRPS) and rank histograms. Further, we compute baseline scores from the operational IFS ensemble forecast. Then, we compare three different methods of creating probabilistic neural network forecasts: first, using Monte-Carlo dropout during inference with a range of dropout rates; second, parametric forecasts, which optimize for the CRPS; and third, categorical forecasts, in which the probability of occurrence for specific bins is predicted. We show that plain Monto-Carlo dropout does not provide enough spread. The parametric and categorical networks, on the other hand, provide reliable forecasts, with the categorical method being more versatile.

We propose an O(N logN) sorting method by Modified Merge Sort Method, which shows huge potential to sort big data sets, and even better potential to sort big data sets with a smaller range. Six sorting algorithms: Selection Sort, Insertion sort, Merge sort, Quick sort, Bubble Sort and Modified Merge Sort were implemented in C++ programming languages and tested for the random sequence input of length 100, 1000, 4000, 9000 on random numbers and the IPL Dataset.

Eastward-moving upper air troughs in the subtropical westerlies, commonly known as the western disturbances (WDs) in the Asian subcontinent, are primary sources of precipitation over the north-west Himalayan (NWH) region and the northern plains of India during winter. Many simulation case studies with the help of numerical weather prediction models and a few observational case studies have been conducted to understand the spatial structure, dynamics, energy and weather associated with the WDs over the NWH in the past. However, studies using in situ observations on the impacts of the approaching WDs on various surface meteorological variables at a local scale in the high-altitude mountainous regions of the NWH are lacking. The objectives of this study are to examine the impacts of the approaching WDs on various surface meteorological variables for 11 stations in the NWH and the associated precipitation amount in a 24-hr time interval. Changes (departures) in the values of various meteorological variables are examined on the first precipitation day of the occurrence of active WDs to study the impacts of the approaching WDs and the associated precipitation amount in the 24-hr time interval which are found to depend on the altitude and geographic location of a station. The mean drop in the maximum and ambient air temperatures are found to be $$2.0{^{\circ }}$$ and $$0.7{^{\circ }}\hbox {C}$$ , respectively, while the mean rise in the minimum air temperature was found to be $$0.8{^{\circ }}\hbox {C}$$ . A mean drop in the surface atmospheric pressure and a mean increase in the relative humidity are found to be 0.9 hPa and 19.5%, respectively, in a 24-hr time interval. The mean precipitation amount and mean maximum precipitation amount associated with the active WDs in the 24-hr time interval are found to be 8.9 and 68.8 mm, respectively. The results are briefly discussed in the paper. The findings of this study can be useful for operational weather forecasting and a selection of precursor variables for developing a real-time local scale weather forecast model(s) for remote areas of the NWH for the winter season.

Background: Incidence of intertrochanteric fractures has been found to be significantly increasing in today’s modern human populations. Generally, intramedullary fixation and extramedullary fixation are the 2 primary options for treatment of such fractures. The dynamic hip screw (DHS), commonly used in extramedullary fixation, has become a standard implant in treatment of these fractures. Proximal femoral nail (PFN) and Gamma nail are 2 commonly used devices in the intramedullary fixation. Hence; we prospectively analyzed and compared the DHS and the PFN method of fixation in intertrochanteric fracture of femur in the adults. Materials & Methods: Analysis of a total of 100 patients reporting from 2010 to 2014 with intertrochanteric femur fracture was done in the present analysis. Out of 100 patients 50 patients were treated with P.F.N. and 50 with D.H.S. In this study more than 50 years of age patient were surgically fit who has been diagnosed as having intertrochanteric fractures. The fracture was classified using Orthopaedic Trauma Association classification. Implant either DHS or PFN was randomly selected by operating surgeon. A combination of 3rd generation Cephalosporin and Amino glycoside was administered intravenously 30 min. prior to the skin incision. Patients were encouraged calf and ankle exercises from day one and mobilized non-weight bearing from the second postoperative day depending upon the physical condition of the patient. All drains were removed by 24 h. Follow-up the patients were maintained and results were analyzed. Results: 00 confirmed cases of intertrochanteric femur reporting from 2010 to 2014 were analyzed. Out of 100 cases, 50 were treated by a dynamic hip screw and 50 were treated by proximal femoral nail. The average age was 64.5 years. Out of 100, 40 were males and 60 were females. Accidents were the most common reason for occurrence of fractures in the present study. There were a total of 12 A-1 fractures, 29 A-2 fractures and 9 A-3 fractures. Measurement of blood loss was done by using mop count and collection in suction drain. Blood loss was comparatively less for PFN cases. The average blood loss in the P.F.N group and DHS group were 110 ml and 260 ml respectively. Blood transfusion was required in 10 cases of DHS group. At one month’s follow-up time, hip score in the D.H.S group was less than that of the P.F.N group. Conclusion: Fracture dimensions and quality of bone decides the type of fixation. For the achievement of best post-surgical results, a good quality reduction and proper positioning of the implants favour good prognosis.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and smoking on periodontal parameters and on the levels of salivary matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-8). One hundred and twenty five subjects were divided into five groups: group 1, systemically and periodontally healthy subjects (n = 25); group 2, systemically healthy subjects but with chronic periodontitis (n = 25); group 3, subjects with type 2 DM and chronic periodontitis (n = 25); group 4, smokers with chronic periodontitis (n = 25); group 5, diabetic-smokers with chronic periodontitis (n = 25). MMP-8 level in saliva was estimated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using Quantikine human total MMP-8 immunoassay kit. The result showed that the clinical periodontal parameters and the mean levels of the salivary MMP-8 were significantly higher for diabetic-smokers than other study groups. A highly significant positive correlation (r) between MMP-8 and periodontal parameters was also observed in diabetic-smoker patients. The findings suggest that diabetic-smokers have increased periodontal breakdown and are associated with an increased extent and severity of periodontitis. (J Oral Sci 58, 1-6, 2016).

Objective: Although many studies reported more severe periodontal disease and the existing proinflammatory conditions in patients with diabetes but only few have examined the effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) on salivary matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) level and other periodontal parameters. This study aims to evaluate the effect of type 2 DM on salivary MMP-8 levels and periodontal parameters, which might be useful in monitoring periodontal disease in diabetes. Materials and Methods: A total of 90 subjects were selected for the study and were divided into three groups: Group I included 30 healthy subjects; Group II included 30 subjects without type 2 DM but with chronic periodontitis, and Group III included 30 subjects with type 2 DM and chronic periodontitis. Periodontal parameters such as plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), pocket probing depth (PPD), and clinical attachment level (CAL) were taken. The salivary MMP-8 level was estimated by Quantikine Human total MMP-8 immunoassay kit using ELISA method. Results: The mean value of the salivary MMP-8 of Group III was highest followed by Group II and Group I, the least. The other periodontal parameters PI, GI, PPD, CAL, was comparatively highest for Group III. Conclusion: This study suggests that diabetes is associated with an increased prevalence, extent, and severity of periodontitis. Furthermore, the increased levels of MMP-8 indicate the influence of diabetes on their salivary concentration.

Aims Even though worldwide evidences tend to prove that smoking adversely influences periodontal health, there are few studies demonstrating the effect of levels of salivary matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) in smokers. This study aimed to compare and quantify the levels of MMP-8 in smokers and also to evaluate the effect of smoking on periodontal indices in smokers and nonsmokers with chronic periodontitis. Methods A total number of 60 subjects were selected for the study and were divided into three groups: group I, healthy nonsmoking subjects; group II, nonsmoking patients with chronic periodontitis; group III, smoking patients with chronic periodontitis. Each group consisted of 20 subjects. Saliva sample was collected for the estimation of MMP-8 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method using Quantikine human total MMP-8 immunoassay kit. Results The levels of the salivary MMP-8 of group III was highest followed by group II and group I, the least. The other periodontal indices, viz. plaque index (PI), probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), were highest for group III, except for gingival index (GI). Conclusion This study suggests that MMP-8 is involved in periodontal destruction associated with smoking. Additionally, smoking exerts disastrous effects on immune response and can affect the pathogenesis of disease; hence, smoking results in increased severity of periodontal destruction.