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Heart failure poses significant challenges in perioperative settings, with an increasing prevalence in India. While much attention has been given to the management of symptomatic heart failure, there is a dearth of literature on asymptomatic left ventricular systolic dysfunction (ALVSD). In this case report, we present the successful perioperative management of a 35-year-old male with ALVSD and a low ejection fraction undergoing lower limb surgery under combined spinal epidural anesthesia. Our approach aimed to maintain hemodynamic stability, minimize myocardial overload, and mitigate the adverse effects of neuraxial blockade.

Background: There is mixed evidence on the extent of association between the allocation of public revenue for healthcare and its indicators of need. Objective: In this study, we examined the relationship between allocations through state health financing (SHF) and the Central Government with infant mortality. Materials and Methods: District-wise infant mortality rate (IMR) was computed using National Family Health Survey-4 data. State-wise data for health budgets through SHF and National Health Mission (NHM, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme), were obtained for the year 2015-16. We used a multivariable analysis through generalized linear model method using identity-link function. Results: We found per capita SHF (₹3169) to be more than 12 times that of public health spending per capita through NHM (₹261). IMR was lower in districts with higher SHF allocation, although statistically insignificant. The allocation through NHM was higher in districts with higher IMR, which is statistically significant. Every unit percentage increase in per capita net state domestic product and female literacy led to 0.31% and 0.54% decline, while a 1% increase in under-five diarrhoea prevalence led to 0.17% increase in IMR. Conclusion: The NHM has contributed to enhancing vertical equity in health-care financing. The States' need to be more responsive to the differences in districts while allocating health-care resources. There needs to be a focus on spending on social determinants, which should be the cornerstone for any universal health coverage strategy.

Simulation-based education is now recognised to be a valuable tool to impart both technical and non-technical skills to healthcare professionals of all levels. Simulation is an well accepted educational tool for cultivating teamwork skills among residents globally. Simulation-based education encompasses diverse modalities, ranging from task trainers and simulated patients to sophisticated high-fidelity patient simulators. Notably, anaesthesiologists globally were early advocates of integrating simulation into education, particularly to instruct anaesthesia residents about the intricacies of perioperative crisis resource management and collaborative interdisciplinary teamwork. Given the inherent high-risk nature of anaesthesia, where effective teamwork is pivotal to averting adverse patient outcomes, and also to improve overall outcome of the patient, simulation training becomes imperative. This narrative review delves into the contemporary landscape of simulation training in perioperative anaesthesia management, examining the pedagogical approaches, simulators, techniques and technologies employed to facilitate this training.

A 59-year-old male presented with diminished vision in the right eye (OD) after undergoing cataract surgery 4 years back. One year later, he developed posterior capsular opacification, for which laser capsulotomy was done. He had good vision since then. His vision deteriorated again for the last 6 months. On examination, OD showed opacification of posterior capsule within the area of laser capsulotomy. A repeat laser capsulotomy was done in OD. Vision was 6/6 (OD) on the follow-up 2 weeks later.

Abstract Background The prevalence of C-sections in India increased from 17.2% in 2016 to 21.5% in 2021. This study examines the variations in C-section prevalence and the factors correlating to these variations in Tamil Nadu (TN) and Chhattisgarh (CG). Methods Delivery by C-section as the outcome variable and several demographic, socio-economic, and clinical variables were considered as explanatory variables to draw inferences from unit-level data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4; 2015-16 and NFHS-5; 2019-21). Descriptive statistics, bivariate percentage distribution, Pearson’s Chi-square test, and multivariate binary logistic regression models were employed. The Slope Index of Inequality (SII) and the Concentration Index (CIX) were used to analyse absolute and relative inequality in C-section rates across wealth quintiles in public- and private-sector institutions. Results The prevalence of C-sections increased across India, TN and CG despite a decrease in pregnancy complications among the study participants. The odds of caesarean deliveries among overweight women were twice (OR = 2.11; 95% CI 1.95–2.29; NFHS-5) those for underweight women. Women aged 35–49 were also twice (OR = 2.10; 95% CI 1.92–2.29; NFHS-5) as likely as those aged 15–24 to have C-sections. In India, women delivering in private health facilities had nearly four times higher odds (OR = 3.90; 95% CI 3.74–4.06; NFHS-5) of having a C-section; in CG, the odds were nearly ten-fold (OR = 9.57; 95% CI:7.51,12.20; NFHS-5); and in TN, nearly three-fold (OR = 2.65; 95% CI-2.27-3.10; NFHS-5) compared to those delivering in public facilities. In public facilities, absolute inequality by wealth quintile in C-section prevalence across India and in CG increased in the five years until 2021, indicating that the rich increasingly delivered via C-sections. In private facilities, the gap in C-section prevalence between the poor (the bottom two quintiles) and the non-poor narrowed across India. In TN, the pattern was inverted in 2021, with an alarming 73% of the poor delivering via C-sections compared to 64% of those classified as non-poor. Conclusion The type of health facility (public or private) had the most impact on whether delivery was by C-section. In India and CG, the rich are more likely to have C-sections, both in the private and in the public sector. In TN, a state with good health indicators overall, the poor are surprisingly more likely to have C-sections in the private sector. While the reasons for this inversion are not immediately evident, the implications are worrisome and pose public health policy challenges.

Stress triggers a multitude of physiological responses including alterations in surface temperature aimed at maintaining homeostasis of animal. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the comparative seasonal effect of thermal stress on body surface temperature during the critical period of late gestation and early life. For this, late gestational Sahiwal cows (n=48) were selected and categorized into four groups: natural heat stressed (NHS), cooling treated (CLT), spring and winter groups, and their neonate calves born in summer (IUHS-intra uterine heat stressed and IUCL-intra uterine cooled), spring and winter season. The thermal profile obtained from infrared thermography (IRT) showed a trend of surface temperature for each region examined over varied THI (temperature humidity index). Body surface temperature in NHS was significantly higher, followed by spring, CLT and least in winter group cows. Within the group, study revealed numerically high surface temperature of eye, front and udder on the day of parturition, while slightly lower temperature of flank portion. NHS, CLT and spring cows had non-significant variations in udder temperature. Insulation breakage from the legs at a colder temperature was observed. In neonates, significantly high surface temperature was observed in IUHS, followed by IUCL and spring calves, while significantly low surface temperature in winter calves. Thus, cooling treatment in the late gestation significantly lowered body surface temperature in both dams and calves. Further, it is also concluded that out of different anatomical regions, eye and feet temperature is the most reliable indicator for assessing seasonal stress with changing THI.

Purpose: To profile vitreoretinal (VR) fellows-in-training from India exposed to the Eyesi surgical simulator, to identify potential barriers to voluntary use, and enumerate the most preferred tools and tasks before incorporating them into a formal skill-transfer curriculum. Methods: A questionnaire consisting of 22 questions was designed and circulated through an online portal (surveymonkey.com) to four different institutes of India having a VR surgical fellowship program and using a functional Eyesi (Haag–Streit) simulator. All fellows and trainees who were exposed to the simulator were eligible to participate, irrespective of time spent on the simulator and exposure to training steps on real patients. The responses collected were private and anonymous. Results: Of the 37 respondents, most (n = 25, 68%) considered surgical simulators to be the best training tool before operating on the human eye. A majority (n = 35, 94.5%) of participants spent

Over the past decade, endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) has become an indispensable tool in the diagnostic armamentarium of the pulmonologist. As the expertise with EBUS-TBNA has evolved and several innovations have occurred, the indications for its use have expanded. However, several aspects of EBUS-TBNA are still not standardized. Hence, evidence-based guidelines are needed to optimize the diagnostic yield and safety of EBUS-TBNA. For this purpose, a working group of experts from India was constituted. A detailed and systematic search was performed to extract relevant literature pertaining to various aspects of EBUS-TBNA. The modified GRADE system was used for evaluating the level of evidence and assigning the strength of recommendations. The final recommendations were framed with the consensus of the working group after several rounds of online discussions and a two-day in-person meeting. These guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations encompassing indications of EBUS-TBNA, pre-procedure evaluation, sedation and anesthesia, technical and procedural aspects, sample processing, EBUS-TBNA in special situations, and training for EBUS-TBNA.

We report an unusual presentation of a 10-month-old girl with left eye (LE) redness and watering. Evaluation showed an iris vascular lesion and lens opacity in her LE. Child underwent USG B-scan and ultrasound biomicroscopy, by which an extensive mass lesion arising from iris and ciliary body with absent calcification was revealed. Following extensive evaluation, child underwent cataract extraction and trans-scleral total excision of the mass lesion. Histopathology proved it as juvenile xanthogranuloma (JXG) with vascular proliferation. JXG is a rare benign self-limiting dermatologic disorder affecting mainly infants and small children. Ocular lesions are the most common extracutaneous manifestation. Cataract in JXG is less frequently reported. This case is reported due to its rarity and as it presented solely as an intraocular lesion with combined diffuse infiltration into ciliary body and cataract which is unusual. Early recognition and systematic approach helped in sight saving and organ salvaging.

An electrostatic hexapole lens is used to manipulate the transverse properties of a beam of barium fluoride molecules from a cryogenic buffer gas source. The spatial distribution of the beam is measured by recording state-selective laser-induced fluorescence on an emccd camera, providing insight into the intensity and transverse position spread of the molecular beam. Although the high mass and unfavorable Stark shift of barium fluoride pose a considerable challenge, the number of molecules in the low-field seeking component of the N = 1 state that pass a 4 mm diameter aperture 712 mm behind the source is increased by a factor of 12. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the molecular beam can be displaced by up to ±5 mm by moving the hexapole lens. Our measurements agree well with numerical trajectory simulations. We discuss how electrostatic lenses may be used to increase the sensitivity of beam experiments such as the search for the electric dipole moment of the electron.

Recently, we have demonstrated a method to record the longitudinal phase-space distribution of a pulsed cryogenic buffer gas cooled beam of barium fluoride molecules with high resolution. In this paper, we use this method to determine the influence of various source parameters. Besides the expected dependence on temperature and pressure, the forward velocity of the molecules is strongly correlated with the time they exit the cell, revealing the dynamics of the gas inside the cell. Three observations are particularly noteworthy: (1) The velocity of the barium fluoride molecules increases rapidly as a function of time, reaches a maximum 50–200 µ s after the ablation pulse and then decreases exponentially. We attribute this to the buffer gas being heated up by the plume of hot atoms released from the target by the ablation pulse and subsequently being cooled down via conduction to the cell walls. (2) The time constant associated with the exponentially decreasing temperature increases when the source is used for a longer period of time, which we attribute to the formation of a layer of isolating dust on the walls of the cell. By thoroughly cleaning the cell, the time constant is reset to its initial value. (3) The velocity of the molecules at the trailing end of the molecular pulse depends on the length of the cell. For short cells, the velocity is significantly higher than expected from the sudden freeze model. We attribute this to the target remaining warm over the duration of the molecular pulse giving rise to a temperature gradient within the cell. Our observations will help to optimize the source parameters for producing the most intense molecular beam at the target velocity.

Background: Problematic internet use (PIU) among school going adolescents constitutes a major area of concern. However, no comprehensive reports are available to determine the magnitude of the problem. This study aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of PIU among school going adolescents in India. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta analysis of 15 studies conducted in various parts of India. Results: The prevalence of moderate and severe PIU among Indian school going adolescents was 21.5% (95% CI: 17.0%–26.8%) and 2.6% (95% CI: 1.6%–4.2%) based on the Young Internet Addiction Test (Y IAT) cutoff points of 50 and 80, respectively. In subgroup analysis, it was found that the year of publication, gender, sampling method, and severity of addiction had a significant effect on the prevalence estimates. Conclusions: Currently, the use of the internet is rampant in India and our findings reflect nationally representative data on the magnitude of PIU among school going adolescents. About one fifth of school going adolescents are at risk of PIU in this setting. There is a need for further research in the reconsideration of cut off points of the Y IAT among Indian adolescents.

As the knowledge about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is increasing day by day, we are learning about various manifestations of COVID-19. The disease is a systemic illness that also involves the gastrointestinal system including the pancreas. Here, we report the case of a 14-year-old girl who presented with a pancreatic type of pain abdomen. She was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis (AP) based on clinical symptoms, ≥3 times the elevation of serum amylase, and imaging evidence of AP. Her Bedside Index of Severity in AP was 2/5 and the Modified Computed Tomography Severity Index was 10/10. She had positive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction for COVID-19. Her workup for common and rare causes of AP was negative. She was managed conservatively as per standard protocol for the management of AP. The aim of this case is to highlight the importance of causal association of COVID-19 with AP.

Background and Aims: Propofol is the drug of choice for sedation in daycare procedures due to its pharmacokinetic properties. Propofol delivery using target-controlled infusion (TCI) pump reduces adverse effects like hypotension and apnoea. In this study, we estimated the median effective effect-site concentration of propofol in patients undergoing dilatation and curettage. Methods: Patients of the American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status class I–III, aged 40–70 years, undergoing elective dilatation and curettage were recruited for the study. All patients received 1 μg/kg fentanyl and 20 mg lignocaine. The first patient received an effect-site concentration of propofol at 4 μg/mL with TCI Schneider pharmacokinetic model. Failure was defined as patient movement at any time during the procedure. According to the 'BiasedCoin Design' up-and-down sequential method, the response of the previous patient determined the effect-site concentration of propofol of the next patient. The study was terminated once forty patients completed the procedures successfully. Probit analysis was used to determine EC50. Results: Fifty-three patients were recruited for the study. The various effect-site concentrations of propofol EC50, EC90, and EC95 in providing sedation for dilatation and curettage were 3.38 μg/mL, 4.29 μg/mL, and 4.60 μg/mL, respectively. The incidence of hypotension and apnoea were comparable among the various concentrations of propofol. The mean duration of the propofol infusion was 20 ± 2.86 min. The time to recovery from propofol sedation was 6.97 ± 1.76 min. Conclusion: A median effective effect-site concentration of 3.38 μg/mL of propofol is required to prevent patient movement during uterine dilatation and curettage.

Background: In Kerala, according to National Family Health Survey 4, 37.5% of males and 1.6% of females use alcohol. Even though the physical and mental health morbidity of alcohol dependence is well-known, studies are less. The study assessed the severity of alcohol dependence and its different socio-demographic and clinical correlates. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among alcohol dependence syndrome patients. Total sample size 100 was achieved by consecutive sampling. Data was collected using a semi-structured proforma, which included severity of alcohol use using severity of alcohol dependence questionnaire (SADQ). Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were done to find the relationship between variables. Results: All the participants were males. The majority were between 30-60 years, from a rural background (64%), belonged to low socioeconomic (85%) nuclear families (65%). The majority of the participants had started using alcohol before 20 years of age (85%), were using alcohol for more than ten years (97%), had comorbid nicotine use (80%), at least one previous admission (91%) and a positive family history of alcohol use (72%). All the participants in the study had moderate to severe ADS. On comparing different variables with the severity of ADS, age of onset, the number of previous admissions and comorbid nicotine use were significant. Logistic regression analysis found the age of onset (p-value 0.019) and nicotine use (p-value 0.002) as the predictors of severity of ADS. Conclusion: Study points to the need for early intervention programs targeting the high-risk population and the need for addressing nicotine use among persons with ADS.

To accurately assess pain and support broadly-based analgesic protocols to mitigate swine pain, it is imperative to develop and validate a species-specific pain scale. The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical validity and reliability of an acute pain scale (UPAPS) adapted for newborn piglets undergoing castration. Thirty-nine male piglets (five days of age, 1.62 ± 0.23 kg BW) served as their own control, were enrolled in the study and underwent castration in conjunction with an injectable analgesic administered one-hour post-castration (flunixin meglumine 2.2 mg/kg IM). An additional 10, non-painful female piglets were included to account for the effect of natural behavioral variation by day on pain scale results. Behavior of each piglet was video recorded continuously at four recording periods (24 h pre-castration, 15 min post-castration, 3 and 24 h post-castration). Pre- and post-operative pain was assessed by using a 4-point scale (score 0-3) including the following six behavioral items: posture, interaction and interest in surroundings, activity, attention to the affected area, nursing, and miscellaneous behavior. Behavior was assessed by two trained blinded observers and statistical analysis was performed using R software. Inter-observer agreement was very good (ICC = 0.81). The scale was unidimensional based on the principal component analysis, all items except for nursing were representative (rs ≥ 0.74) and had excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha ≥ 0.85). The sum of scores were higher in castrated piglets post-procedure compared to pre-procedure, and higher than in non-painful female piglets confirming responsiveness and construct validity, respectively. Scale sensitivity was good when piglets were awake (92.9%) and specificity was moderate (78.6%). The scale had excellent discriminatory ability (area under the curve > 0.92) and the optimal cut-off sum for analgesia was 4 out of 15. The UPAPS scale is a valid and reliable clinical tool to assess acute pain in castrated pre-weaned piglets.

Cellulose is the most abundant and renewable source for hydrogel production and has much attention and research attraction in the last two years. Cellulose has intellectual features for hydrogel production such as cost-effectiveness, water absorption, swelling ability, biodegradability, flexibility, stimuli responsiveness, etc. Hydrogels are tailored foods with 3D cross-linked networks in the modern world. At present, cellulose-based hydrogels (CBHs) have been used in the food industry as an important means for various aspects due to their functional properties. The structural interchangeable/stimuli-responsive property, the CBHs have been widely studied in the areas of functional food, food packaging, drug delivery, and food safety. This review highlighted the recent progress and application of CBHs in the food industry. The review also provides knowledge for the development of edible functional CBHs, prospects, and opportunities for future research. In conclusion, the CBHs can be used effectively in the food processing industries for various purposes highlighted in the review.

Consumption of onion seed sprouts is getting popular for its flavour and texture. However, there is limited information on changes in the phytonutrients during sprouting of onion seed. The objective of this study was to determine the temporal variations in the phytonutrient content during the sprouting of onion seeds and to determine the appropriate time of sprouting for better nutrition. Seeds of three onion varieties (Bhima Red, Bhima Raj and Bhima Kiran) were germinated for different periods (5, 10 and 15 days). Changes in phytonutrients and antioxidant potential were analyzed. The highest flavonoids, thiosulfinates, and DPPH activity were observed in 10 days old sprouts, which were 38.78%, 160.71%, and 97.45% higher than seeds. Pyruvic acid, total phenols and ABTS activity was maximum in 15 days old sprouts, which was 682.69%, 189.03%, and 79.38% higher than seeds respectively. The sugars increased initially but declined with sprout age and the lowest levels were recorded in 15 days old sprouts. Sprouting enhanced the health-promoting phytonutrients and antioxidant activity of onion seeds and sprouts harvested at 10 and 15 days had a higher quantity of health-promoting phytonutrients.

Garcinia indica popularly known as ‘Kokum’ or Murugalu”, is a medium-sized evergreen tree found in the western-ghats of India. This tree species is highly exploited to produce anti-obesity drugs and culinary purposes. Its population is threatened by overexploitation and loss of habitat. The development of microsatellite markers would help in understanding the genetic structure and further to develop appropriate conservation strategies. In this study, using next generation sequencing platform Illumina Hiseq 2000, we have sequenced the partial genome of G. indica and identified 3725 microsatellites. Forty-eight microsatellite markers were analyzed using 30 accessions. Polymorphism information content (PIC) values ranged from 0.718 to 0.968 with a mean value of 0.922. Allele per locus ranged from 3 to 33 per locus. The probability of identity values ranged from 0.00329 to 0.30489. Cross-species amplification SSR primers in the related species showed a moderate transferability from 12.5 % (for G. morella) to 18.7%(for G. gummigutta)

During the times of the ongoing COVID pandemic, aerosol-generating procedures such as bronchoscopy have the potential of transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 to the healthcare workers. The decision to perform bronchoscopy during the COVID pandemic should be taken judiciously. Over the years, the indications for bronchoscopy in the clinical practice have expanded. Experts at the Indian Association for Bronchology perceived the need to develop a concise statement that would assist a bronchoscopist in performing bronchoscopy during the COVID pandemic safely. The current Indian Association for Bronchology Consensus Statement provides specific guidelines including triaging, indications, bronchoscopy area, use of personal protective equipment, patient preparation, sedation and anesthesia, patient monitoring, bronchoscopy technique, sample collection and handling, bronchoscope disinfection, and environmental disinfection concerning the coronavirus disease-2019 situation. The suggestions provided herewith should be adopted in addition to the national bronchoscopy guidelines that were published recently. This statement summarizes the essential aspects to be considered for the performance of bronchoscopy in COVID pandemic, to ensure safety for both for patients and healthcare personnel.

Introduction: Ensuring accessible and affordable primary healthcare services of optimal quality is a core component of universal health coverage (UHC). Though a substantial percentage of population avail healthcare services from informal healthcare providers (IHPs) in rural India, the information regarding the extent of out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure during such encounters is limited. Method: The study analyzed publicly available data of 75th National Sample Survey (NSS) to understand the household expenditure pattern on availing service from IHPs. OOP expenditure for services availed from IHPs were extracted from main data sets and analyzed for both out-patient care and hospitalization. The OOP was summarized across the five wealth quintiles based on monthly per capita expenditure (MPCE) and disease groupings derived from the ailments recorded during the survey. Results: In total, 721 households accessed IHPs as part of out-patient consultation for infectious disease (67%). Households from rural areas (78%), households belonging to backward groups (75%), households from the poorest quintile and women (52%) access the services of IHPs. The median OOP for all services was INR 240 (IQR 120–600) and more than 90% of total OOP is accounted for medical expenditure. Conclusion: The programs need to define healthcare packages to engage IHPs to increase the reach and reduce OOP expenditure on households.

Pneumosinus dilatans is a rare entity that is documented only by a few reports. It is an abnormal expansion of the aerated frontal sinus, with sinus walls of normal thickness. The bone expansion is focal. A case was reported in our dental college; a 28-year-old male complaining of prominence on his forehead and it has an unknown cause and no functional problems. Computed tomography shows extension pneumatization and expansion of frontal sinus, which is extended from one side of the skull to the other side. It is benign and found to be asymptomatic. No evidence of pathological changes and no bone destruction seen. We discuss this case of etiology, clinical features, and radiological features.

Background: Septoplasty is often performed under sedation with local anesthesia. Midazolam is one of the commonly used sedative but it lacks analgesic effect. Dexmedetomidine is now preferred, owing to the side effects of midazolam. However, there seems to be addressable literature void in this regard. This study was aimed to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of sedation between midazolam and dexmedetomidine infusions for procedural sedation during septoplasty under local anesthesia Patients and Methods: This was a randomized clinical trial involving sixty patients undertaking elective septoplasty under local anesthesia randomized into Group A that received intravenous dexmedetomidine 1 μg/kg over 10 min, followed by continuous infusion 0.5 μg/kg/h and Group B receiving intravenous midazolam 50 μg/kg (over 10 min), followed by continuous infusion 50 μg/kg/h. The Ramsay sedation score (RSS) and patient and surgeon satisfaction scores were documented. The analysis was done using the Chi-square test and Student t-test. Results: A significant change in the heart rate from 10 to 60 min was observed between the two groups (P < 0.05). The midazolam group showed a significant increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) from baseline to 40 min time interval (P < 0.05). The respiratory rate remained constant in both groups. Patients attaining target RSS of 3–4 were significantly higher in the dexmedetomidine group (P < 0.05). Patient satisfaction score and surgeon satisfaction score were higher in the dexmedetomidine group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine for septoplasty under local anesthesia is more effective than midazolam infusion in providing adequate sedation and provides stable hemodynamics and well-preserved respiratory functions.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of different types of fluoride on tensile properties and surface roughness of titanium based archwires clinically. Materials and methods: Three groups of archwires, namely nickel–titanium (NiTi), heat activated NiTi, and TMA was evaluated clinically. Each group comprised four subgroups, namely as received group, nonfluoride control group, APF gel group (received one application of 1.23% APF gel), and sodium fluoride mouthwash group (patients rinsed twice daily with 0.2% sodium fluoride mouthwash). All the archwires were removed after 3 weeks of clinical use and evaluated for surface roughness with three dimensional optical profiler. Tensile strength and elongation rate was determined with Instron universal testing machine. Results: NiTi, heat activated NiTi, and TMA archwires with APF gel application showed the highest reduction in tensile strength and elongation rate and highest value for surface roughness, followed by sodium fluoride mouthwash group and finally wires without fluoride application. NiTi wires had the highest reduction in tensile strength with APF gel followed by heat activated NiTi and TMA. Conclusion: APF gel with highest concentration of fluoride caused most degradation in the tensile properties and surface roughness of titanium based arch wires.

Introduction: In oral and maxillofacial surgery, their clinical application has largely been restricted to soft tissue. Hence, the aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of erbium-yttrium aluminum garnet (Er: YAG) laser in bone cutting for removal of impacted lower third molar teeth and to compare its outcomes with that of surgical bur. Materials and Methods: The study comprised forty subjects requiring removal of impacted mandibular third molar, randomly categorized into two equal groups of 20 each, who had their impacted third molar removed either using Er: YAG laser or surgical bur as per their group, using standard methodology of extraction of impacted teeth. Clinical parameters such as pain, bleeding, time taken for bone cutting, postoperative swelling, trismus, wound healing, and complications were compared for both groups. Results: Clinical parameters such as pain, bleeding, and swelling were lower in laser group than bur group, although the difference was statistically not significant. However, postoperative swelling showed a significant difference in the two groups. Laser group required almost double the time taken for bone cutting with bur. Trismus persisted for a longer period in laser group. Wound healing and complications were assessed clinically and there was no significant difference in both the groups. Conclusion: Based on the results of our study, the possibility of bone cutting using lasers is pursued, the osteotomy is easily performed, and the technique is better suited to minimally invasive surgical procedures. The use of Er: YAG laser may be considered an alternative tool to surgical bur, especially in anxious patients.

Background: Early childhood caries (ECC) is an aggressive, destructive form of dental caries that affects the children younger than 6 years of age. Candida is known to increase the adherence of Streptococcus mutans to the oral biofilm and produce acids that cause tooth demineralization. Aim of the Study: To evaluate the efficacy of six commercially available children's toothpaste on clinical isolates of Candida albicans obtained from ECC patients. Materials and Methods: The study population comprised 60 children aged 3–6 years having ECC. Samples were divided into six groups comprising ten children in each group. Samples were collected using sterile cotton swabs, inoculated on Sabouraud dextrose agar, and incubated at 37°C for 24 h. Species identification was done by germ tube test and growth on corn meal agar. After the confirmed growth of C. albicans, the six commercially available children's toothpaste namely Organic Children's Coconut Oil Toothpaste®, Aloe Dent Children's Toothpaste®, Patanjali Dant Kanti Junior Toothpaste®, Colgate Kids Toothpaste®, Pediflor Kids Toothpaste®, and Crest Pro-Health Stages Kids Toothpaste® and distilled water as control group were subjected for antifungal activity of C. albicans. Agar plates were incubated at 37°C for 48 h, and the diameter of the zones of inhibition was measured and recorded. Data were tabulated and statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Science (16.0) version. Results: Pediflor kids toothpaste® showed maximum antifungal activity and Aloe Dent children's toothpaste® showed minimum antifungal activity. Conclusion: All brands of children's toothpaste show antifungal activity against Candida albicans.

Background and Aims: Minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of inhalational agent denotes the requirement of it to maintain adequate plane of general anaesthesia. The precision to the maintenance of anaesthesia can be further guided by use of entropy to titrate the depth of anaesthesia. Regional anaesthesia and the concomitant deafferentation will decrease the need of general anaesthetics. We conducted a randomised double-blind trial to quantify the effect of addition of regional anaesthesia to sevoflurane based general anaesthesia technique guided by entropy to achieve satisfactory depth of anaesthesia. Methods: Forty patients posted for elective laparotomies were randomised to two groups. All patients received a bolus followed by an epidural infusion. Group GE (general anaesthesia + epidural bupivacaine) received 0.25% epidural bupivacaine and Group GS received epidural saline. Both groups received narcotic, relaxant and sevoflurane anaesthesia guided by entropy monitoring. The state entropy (SE) was maintained at 40–60 by titrating end tidal sevoflurane concentration (ETsevo). Heart rate, blood pressure, SpO2, end tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) and sevoflurane were recorded. Results: Both groups were similar in heart rate and mean blood pressure during anaesthesia maintenance. The minimum ETSevorequired to maintain entropy between 40 and 60 in group GE was 0.53% compared to 0.95% in group GS the epidural saline group (P < 0.001). The end-tidal sevoflurane requirement to maintain adequate depth of anaesthesia dropped by 44.2% in group GE.Conclusion: Lower concentrations of volatile anaesthetic are required when entropy-guided general anaesthesia is combined with regional blockade.

Attractive red-coloured pericarp is one of the most important factors in the consumer decision to purchase litchi(Litchi chinensis Sonn.). Red colour of the pericarp turns brown within 2-3 days after harvest which reduces themarketability and commercial value of the fruit drastically and finally incurring huge financial losses to growers.This study was carried out to evaluate the possibility of using combinational application of sodium hypochlorite withsodium chlorite and carnauba wax on the quality of harvested litchi during storage (2016–17). Postharvest treatmentsincluded sequential dipping in sodium hypochlorite (0.2%) (T1), sodium hypochlorite (0.2%) + sodium chlorite (0.05%) (T2), sodium hypochlorite (0.2%) + carnauba wax (10%) (T3) and untreated (control) (T4). Treated fruit werethen packed inplastic punnets and stored at 2°C and 90-95% relative humidity (RH). All the treatments signiï¬cantlyreduced pericarp browning over control. The most remarkable effect was obtained in fruits treated with sodiumhypochlorite (0.2%) in combination with sodium chlorite (0.05%) as evidenced by delayed anthocyanin degradation,lower polyphenol oxidase activity, fruit decay and weight loss. This treatment also maintained better fruit quality asindicated by higher total soluble solids and phenolic content in fruits, thus can be used as a cost-effective method toreduce pericarp browning and prolong marketable life of litchi up to 25 days.

The study was carried out at the experimental orchard of Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi (2019-20) to evaluate the pre-harvest effect of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) on postharvest quality of Kinnow mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) under low temperature storage. Fruits were sprayed on tree with four concentrations of MeJA (0.1 mM, 0.3 mM, 0.5 mM, 0.7 mM) and control (distilled water) at 40 days and 20 days before commercial harvesting. The harvested fruits were stored consecutively at 2oC for 20 days followed by at 6oC for 20 days with 85-95% relative humidity. All the treatments showed significant results than control, but fruits treated with 0.5 mM MeJA retained higher moisture content (least water loss) and firmness with increase in TSS, acidity, total phenols, ascorbic acid, antioxidant and peroxidase enzyme activity during the storage period of 40 days. Therefore, pre-harvest spray @ 0.5mM MeJA could be an effective alternative to synthetic chemical use in maintaining the quality of Kinnow mandarin fruits during low temperature storage.

With an objective to study vegetable oils supplementation on nutrient utilization and ruminal fermentation, 24 multiparous lactating Surti goats were divided into four groups as basal diet supplemented with no oil (CON), 3% of DMI soybean oil (SBO), 3% of DMI of rice bran oil (RBO) and equi-proportional blend of 1.5% of DMI of soybean oil and rice bran oil each (SRBO). DM, CP, NDF and ADF intake (g/d) and their digestibility (%) remained statistically similar amongst dietary treatments groups, except EE which was significantly improved in all the oil supplemented groups as compared to control. Nitrogen balance of experimental groups remained unaffected and all the animals were under positive nitrogen balance. Rumen metabolites like pH and total nitrogen and its fractions (ammonia N, TCA precipitable N and soluble N) remained similar amongst treatment except TVFA. Thus, soybean oils and/or rice bran oils at level of 3% of DMI can be effectively incorporated in ration of lactating Surti goats without affecting nutrient utilization and rumen fermentation.

Male germ cells have the potential to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) during different stages of differentiation, laboratory manipulation and during their interaction with dissolved oxygen in extender. These ROS and its subset reactive nitrogen species (RNS) perform a concentration specific bimodal role, favouring oxidative eustress at physiological concentrations. The present study was aimed to investigate the dose and time dependent effect of the most potent RNS, i.e. nitric oxide (NO) compounds, specifically SNP (Sodium nitroprusside) and L-NAME (N-Nitro-L-Arginine Methyl Ester) supplementation in extender on progressive motility. The semen samples were divided into 8 aliquots comprising of various concentrations of SNP (Control, 0.1, 1 and 10 μmol/L) and L-NAME (Control, 1, 10 and 100 μmol/L) and refrigerated for 0, 6, 24 and 48 h. The progressive motility (%) improved significantly particularly with the addition of 1 μM SNP and 10 μM L-NAME as compared to control during all time intervals. Subsequently semen sample was cryopreserved with optimum level of SNP (1μmol/L) and L-NAME (10 μmol/L) from these results by adding it in extender and assessed for progressive motility before cryopreservation and after 24 h, 1 month and 2 months of cryopreservation. It is concluded that the addition of SNP and L NAME in cryopreservation media at 1 μM and 10 μM respectively improved the sperm motility significantly. On further evaluation a significant increase in progressive motility was observed for L-NAME treated extender at 24 h and SNP treated extender at 1 and 2 month interval in comparison to control.