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Surgical Management of a Wound with Myiasis in a Bengal Monitor Lizard (Varanus bengalensis)
No full textAn Adult male Bengal Monitor Lizard weighing around 2.3 kg rescued by a wildlife conservationist from a metal trap and presented with incised wound with inverted skin noticed around the neck region exposing the neck muscles. The neck wound was infested with live maggots, after the removal of the maggots wound was irrigated with metronidazole + povidone iodine solution and bandaged. Ivermectine tablet (Neomec -Intas) was administered as single dose (0.2 mg/kg)†the lizard was anaesthetized using inj. Ketamine hydrochloride at a rate 10mg/kg body weight intramuscularly and kept on dorsal recumbency. The wound edges were debrided and freshened, then the skin edges were sutured using polyglactin 910 (2-0) in cross mattress pattern under aseptic condition. A collagen based Gentamicin ointment was applied over the suture line and was bandaged. Inj. Amoxicillin and cloxacillin combination at a rate 10mg/Kg body weight was administered intramuscularly for five days. After wound healing the sutures were removed on 10th post-operative day and the lizard was released in the forest
Detecting GPC3-Expressing Hepatocellular Carcinoma with L5 Peptide-Guided Pretargeting Approach: An In Vitro MRI Experiment
Get PDFBackground and Aim: Glypican-3 (GPC3) is a novel molecular target for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study investigated the potential of an L5 peptide-guided pretargeting approach to identify GPC3-expressing HCC cells using ultra-small super-paramagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) as the MRI probe.Methods: Immunofluorescence with carboxyfluorescein (FAM)-labeled L5 peptide was performed in HepG2 and HL-7702 cells. Polyethylene glycol-modified ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (PEG-USPIO) and its conjugates with streptavidin (SA-PEG-USPIO) were synthesized, and hydrodynamic diameters, zeta potential, T2 relaxivity, and cytotoxicity were measured. MR T2-weighted imaging of HepG2 was performed to observe signal changes in the pretargeting group, which was first incubated with biotinylated L5 peptide and then with SA-PEG-USPIO. Prussian blue staining of cells was used to assess iron deposition.Results: Immunofluorescence assays showed high specificity of L5 peptide for GPC3. SA-PEG-USPIO nanoparticles had ≈36 nm hydrodynamic diameter, low toxicity, negative charge and high T2 relaxivity. MR imaging revealed that a significant negative enhancement was only observed in HepG2 cells from the pretargeting group, which also showed significant iron deposition with Prussian blue staining.Conclusion: MR imaging with USPIO as the probe has potential to identify GPC3-expressing HCC through L5 peptide-guided pretargeting approach
Strategies for HIV AND AIDS Prevention Programmes among In-School Adolescents in Imo State, Nigeria
Get PDFIntroduction: Strategies to prevent Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS among adolescents remain the greatest challenge in human sustainable development especially in developing countries like Nigeria. It is necessary to provide in-school adolescents with appropriate HIV and AIDS preventive interventions. Effective interventions for sustainable HIV prevention among adolescents are limited in Nigeria. This study investigated the effects of using Class-room Instruction (CI) and Drama (DR) as strategies for HIV and AIDS prevention among in-school adolescents in Imo State, Nigeria.Materials and Method: A quasi-experimental design using 165 students from three randomly selected co-educational secondary schools was adopted. There were two experimental groups (CI and DR) and control (CG). Baseline data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire with 29-point knowledge and 9-point attitudinal scales. To analyse knowledge, scores of <15 and ≥15 were classified as poor and good respectively; while for attitude, scores of <5 and ≥5 were categorised as negative and positive. The results for baseline studies were used to design interventions that were implemented for 8 weeks. Also mid-term and follow-up evaluations were conducted during the study. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, t-test and ANOVA at p=0.05.Results: The mean ages of the respondents in CI, DR and control group CG were 13.4 ± 1.2, 13.9 ± 1.5 and 13.8 ± 1.2 years respectively. Knowledge scores on HIV and AIDS at baseline were 20.5±2.7, 20.4 ± 2.6 and 21.1 ± 2.7 for CI, DR and CG respectively. These scores increased to 22.7 ± 2.7, 22.6±1.8 and 21.2 ± 0.3 at mid-term for CI, DR and CG respectively. At follow-up, scores for CI and DR increased to 23.9 ± 1.8 and 24.5 ± 1.4 respectively while the score for the CG dropped to 20.0 ± 2.8. Scores for attitude among CI, DR and CG during baseline study were 5.3 ± 1.4, 4.9 ± 1.5 and 5.3 ± 1.0 respectively. For mid-term, attitude scores were 5.1 ± 1.2, 5.0 ± 0.9 and 4.7 ± 1.5 for CI, DR and CG respectively while scores for follow-up were 5.3 ± 1.2, 5.6 ± 0.7 and 4.5 ± 1.2, indicating greater increase among the intervention groups than that of control.Conclusion: Intervention using drama yielded more positive outcomes in both knowledge gained and in attitudinal change than others. Drama is therefore recommended as the most appropriate HIV intervention strategy for sustainable HIV and AIDS prevention among in- school adolescents in Imo State, Nigeria
An Estimation of HIV/AIDS’s Cost in the Voluntary Counseling and Testing Center of Imam Khomeini Hospital in 2010-2011
Get PDFIntroduction: Undoubtedly, HIV/AIDS is one of the most important emerging infectious disease in the late twentieth century; and its control is possible only with proper and organized program. To attain this goal, one of the most serious issues is the budget planning and distribution. The present study calculated the total costs of AIDS in Voluntary Counseling and Testing center of Imam Khomeini Hospital in 2010-2011.Methods: The total cost of AIDS at this center was divided into four categories: health care, training and educating, research and services. All costs for 2010-2011 were extracted and classified based on documents and bills which were found in the center.Results: According to the calculations, the center had a total of 6,603,479,058 IRR in 2010-2011, of which 49.5% (3,271,089,796 IRR) was allocated for health care expenditure, 20.3% (1,335,186,000 IRR) for research, 12.6% (834,000,000 IRR) for training and 17.6% (1,163,203,262 IRR) for services. The average expense for each person living with HIV was 2276 US dollars. The cost of treatment by drugs for each person eligible for treatment was 782 US dollars.Conclusion: The percentage of budget distribution in the center is equal to the same percentage in low and middle income countries; although, more percentage is allocated for research than the mentioned countries. Also, the expenditure spent for treatment by drugs is more than the average of the same found in low and middle income countries. Overall, the budget distribution in this center is almost in accordance with the international standards
Acceptability of HIV Rapid Testing in Diverse Clinical Settings in Iran
Get PDFIntroduction: Rapid HIV testing in clinical settings can identify previously undiagnosed persons and link them to care, as well provide patients with knowledge of their serostatus and risk reduction counseling. We conducted a survey to characterize factors affecting the acceptance or declining of rapid HIV testing among Iranian patients.Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted from October 2014 to December 2014 with patients in three different health care centers (an emergency department in an urban hospital, a rural health centre, a voluntary counseling and testing centre (VCT) within Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran and a rural health centre). Participants completed a semi-structured face-to-face questionnaire and were tested by an HIV rapid test (Chembio Sure Check).Results: Of 222 participants, 25 participants were from the urban emergency department, 40 from the urban VCT program, and 157 from the rural health care centre. All did the rapid HIV test; all were HIV negative. HIV-related risk profiles found the urban emergency department patients more likely to have multiple partners (26%, P<0.01) and history of sexually transmitted diseases (27%, P<0.001) compared to VCT patients (9% and 3%, respectively) and rural clinic patients (4% and 1%, respectively). Emergency department patients were also more willing to pay for a HIV rapid test (44%, P<0.01), doing a rapid self-test at home (84%,P=0.01), preferring pharmacies as a place for providing rapid tests (80%, P=0.001). Also level of participants’ awareness was considerably different between mentioned centres (median=11, 12, 10 for emergency department, VCT and rural Health care centre respectively; P=0.012).Conclusions: Increasing knowledge about HIV rapid testing, its availability, and keeping costs low can expand the desire to use the test and ultimately prevent the spread of HIV through lack of knowing one’s serostatus and lack of treatment. Emergency departments in urban Iran may be an opportunity to test persons at high risk for HIV infection
Evaluation of Collagen, Calcium Alginate Protectants on Healing of External Wound on Teat in Cows
Get PDFA total number of 36 cross bred jersey cows with external teat injury without involving the teat cistern and with exposed teat sinus were subjected for the present study. Clinical examination of teat for its shape, length, distance from the ground and etiology of the teat wounds were recorded. Following preoperative evaluation, the animals were divided into Group I with 12 animals and treatment group with 24 animals each. Group I were treated with Povidone iodine solution. In treatment (Group II), after suturing the wound was protected with sheets of collagen and calcium alginate as protectants. The application of collagen based teat protectant is an effective methodology for favoring healing process of external injuries when compared to the conventional antiseptic drugs using Povidone iodine
The Modified Oral Palatopharyngoplasty or Modified Ahern Procedure
No full textAn oral palatopharyngoplasty, was a surgical procedure developed in the 1980’s and first published in 1992. The purpose of the procedure was to reduce the incidence of palatal instability (PI) and subsequent dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP). In the years following the first publication, the procedure underwent numerous modifications to improve the likelihood of obtaining useful increases in tension in the tissues supporting the palatine aponeurosis and at the same time reducing the incidence of wound breakdown. These changes have led to the present technique now referred to as a Modified Oral Palatopharyngoplasty or Modified Ahern Procedure
HIV-TB Co-Infection among Clients Attending an Integrated Counselling & Testing Centre at Agra: Comparison with Studies in other Regions of India
No full textSettings: This prospective cross-sectional hospital based study was carried out in order to determine the prevalence of HIV-TB co-infection among patients attending an ICTC of this Institute at Agra.Methods: The socio-demographic characteristics and clinical profile of 5391 clients attending the ICTC were analyzed at the time of testing in the context of symptoms. All clients were screened for the presence of the signs and symptoms of TB disease. TB patients were referred to DOTS centre and HIV-positive patients were referred to ART centre, S.N.Medical College, Agra for further care and management.Results: In this study, HIV prevalence among clients was found to be 24% and HIV-TB co-infection was 12%. Major symptoms among these clients, at the time of testing, were weight loss, fever, cough and chronic diarrhea. Both HIV-positivity and HIV-TB co-infection were found to be higher among males, in the age group of 21-35 years, married, illiterate and working as daily laborers.Conclusion: Our study emphasizes the need for routine screening of clients for HIV and TB patients which, in turn, would guide the clinicians in deciding the appropriate treatment regimens in the management of HIV- TB co-infected patients
Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults Associated with Von Recklinghausen’s Disease (Neurofibromatosis Type 1)
Get PDFIntroduction: Endocrine disorders during Von Recklinghausen’s Disease or neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) are rare and particularly observed in children. However, autoimmune diabetes mellitus (DM) remains exceptional and unusual during this phacomatosis. We report an original case of Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA) associated with NF1.Case Report: A 32-year-old Tunisian male, known to have NF1 since childhood, was admitted for significant recent weight loss (10 kg in one month) with high blood glucose levels. The biological tests confirmed the diagnosis of DM with marked ketoacidosis: fast blood glucose at 16 mmol/l, postprandial glucose at 21 mmol/l, and HbA1c at 9.9%. Radiological and endoscopic investigations did not indicate pancreatic and/or duodenal tumors. Anti-GAD and anti-IA2 autoantibodies were positively confirming the diagnosis of LADA. The assessment of degenerative complications and screening for possible other autoimmune diseases were negative. The evolution was favorable under intensive insulinotherapy.Conclusion: The association of DM type 1 with NF1 remains exceptional and only four cases are found in the literature, all pediatrics. Our observation is, to our knowledge, the first reporting this association in adult (LADA with NF1)