bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vitreomacular traction release: Finding the edge
Authors: Shah Dhaivat
Published: July 2022

Background:

Vitreomacular traction (VMT) is a commonly encountered entity in our routine practice. The key question is whether to observe or operate by clinical and imaging based judgement of the visual prognosis in every case.

Purpose:

This video encapsulates diagnostics, surgical method, and prognosis in a case of VMT released with vitrectomy.

Synopsis:

A 56-year-old businessman was diagnosed with VMT in the OPD and was advised surgical release of the same. The patient was extremely keen to know the visual prognosis, where the OCT imaging helped. The surgical method demonstrates the method to find the edge of the PVD to release the traction. Also, a simple ILM peel procedure has been described to reduce recurrences in cases like these.

Highlights:

1. Judging the prognosis in VMT cases on basis of imaging. 2.Finding the edge (FTE) method of inducing the PVD. 3. ILM peeling simplified.

Online Video Link:

https://youtu.be/oSZQGQgYmQ8
Guidelines in establishing telerehabilitation services for people with vision impairment
Authors: Christy Beula , Mahalakshmi Mojjada , Aishwarya TV , Jayaraman Deiva , Das Anthony Vipin , Rani Padmaja Kumari
Published: July 2022

Telerehabilitation is a viable option to provide continuum of rehabilitation intervention in situations like the ongoing pandemic. Presently, there is no policy guidelines to the minimum standard of telerehabilitation. This paper describes procedures for telerehabilitation for people with blindness and low vision from the evidence-based practices from a premier eye institute in South India. The suggested guidelines can help develop and replicate similar models of telerehabilitation to reach people in need in difficult situations like COVID 19 pandemic.
Management and surgical outcomes of pediatric retinal detachment associated with familial exudative vitreoretinopathy – Our experience at a tertiary care ophthalmic center in North India
Authors: Agrawal Vishal , Kalia Sonal
Published: July 2022

Purpose:

To report the clinical profile, management, and long-term anatomical and visual acuity (VA) outcomes of pediatric macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) secondary to familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR).

Methods:

This was a prospective, interventional study of 14 eyes of 13 children aged ≤18 years with macula-off FEVR-RRD. The primary outcomes were anatomical reattachment and VA changes.

Results:

The mean (±SD) age of the study population was 12.14 (±3.23) years (range 6–18 years) with a male preponderance (M:F – 10:3). Of the 14 eyes, 10 underwent vitrectomy with silicone oil injection, while four underwent scleral buckling surgery. Significant improvement in VA was noted at a mean (±SD) follow-up duration of 3.32 (±1.34) years, with the mean (±SD) LogMAR VA improving from 1.42 (±0.48) (Snellen equivalent 2/60; range from 6/36 to counting finger close to face [CFCF]) to 0.6 (±0.31) (Snellen equivalent 6/24; range 6/9–6/36) (P < 0.00001) at the final visit. Successful anatomical reattachment was achieved in 13/14 eyes (92.85%). Screening of the other eye and family members was performed for FEVR and treated with laser photocoagulation when deemed necessary (7/10 contralateral eye; 12/20 siblings; 0/24 parents).

Conclusion:

To conclude, RRD may arise in eyes with FEVR at a young age and with a male predilection in Indian population. Timely surgical intervention by scleral buckling procedure or vitrectomy, based on the patient profile, can achieve excellent anatomical and VA outcomes. Careful clinical and angiographic screening of the other eye and family members is vital.
Long-term efficacy of dexamethasone intravitreal implant in the treatment of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease relapsing posterior uveitis
Authors: Elhamaky Tarek R
Published: July 2022

Purpose:

To investigate the efficacy and safety of dexamethasone intravitreal implant in the treatment of relapsing posterior uveitis in patients with chronic recurrent Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada (VKH) disease.

Methods:

This was a prospective study of 29 eyes of 16 patients with posterior uveitis in chronic recurrent VKH disease. All patients received previous systemic steroid and immunosuppressive regimens. All patients underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic examination, including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), Indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). All patients underwent intravitreal injection with sustained-release dexamethasone 0.7 mg implant (Ozurdex®). Primary outcome measures included mean change in BCVA and central foveal thickness (CFT) at 24 months of follow-up compared to the baseline.

Results:

At 24 month of follow-up, the mean BCVA improved from 0.82 ± 0.13 to 0.38 ± 0.06 logMAR (P < 0.0001). The mean CFT reduced from 505 ± 29 to 244 ± 23 um (P < 0.0001). The mean intraocular pressure (IOP) changed from 15.1 ± 2.2 to 16.9 ± 3.1 mmHg with no significant value (P-value = 0.0955). Twenty-one eyes (72.4%) received one injection, whereas eight eyes (27.6%) required two injections. The mean number of injections was 1.2 ± 0.60. The mean follow-up time was 24.75 ± 0.9 months. No serious ocular or systemic adverse events were noted during the follow-up period. Ocular hypertension was recorded in three (10.3%) eyes and controlled by IOP lowering medications. Cataract progression occurred in 11 (37.9%) eyes.

Conclusion:

Our cohort highlights the beneficial effects of the dexamethasone implant of 0.7 mg in the treatment of VKH disease relapsing posterior uveitis improving visual acuity, reducing macular edema, and minimizing the burden of systemic steroids in this sample study.
Morphological variations influencing the outcomes in posterior polar cataract
Authors: Aswin PR , Harika Kandukuri , Shekhar Madhu , Sankarananthan R , Shah Amish , Lakshmanan P , Aravind Haripriya
Published: July 2022

Purpose:

To study the intraoperative complications and postoperative clinical outcomes in different types of posterior polar cataract (PPC) following phacoemulsification, based on morphological classification.

Methods:

All consecutive patients with PPC who underwent phacoemulsification during the study period from 2016 to 2019 were included and sub-grouped based on the morphological characteristics according to Daljit Singh’s classification. Intraoperative complications such as posterior capsular rupture (PCR), vitreous loss, nucleus drop, and Postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at day 1 and day 30 were documented.

Results:

A total of 388 eyes of 380 patients were included. Eighty nine (22.9%) eyes belonged to type 1, 135 (34.8%) belonged to type 2, 8 (2.1%) belonged to type 3, and 156 (40.2%) belonged to type 4. Thirty-five (9.3%) eyes had intraoperative PCR, with vitreous loss in 21 (60%) eyes, and nucleus/cortex drop in 5 (1.3%) eyes. Six (75%) eyes of type 3, 14 (10.04%) eyes of type 2, 12 (17.7%) eyes of type 4, and 3 (3.4%) eyes of type 1 PPC had PCR. PCR occurred more during the emulsification of the nucleus (18 cases, 51.4%). A significant correlation was seen between intraoperative PCR and type of PPC with a higher incidence in type 3 (P < 0.001). BCVA was found to be significantly worse on day 1 among patients with PCR compared to those who did not and improved well by day 30.

Conclusion:

PPC morphology is significantly co-related with the occurrence of PCR, emphasizing the need for careful grading of posterior polar cataracts in predicting the risk of intraoperative complications.
Comparison of clinical and biometric characteristics between nanophthalmic children and age-matched controls
Authors: Rajendrababu Sharmila , Vaishali Venkatraman , Senthilkumar Vijayalakshmi A , Ramesh Sujitha , Uduman Mohammed Sithiq
Published: July 2022

Purpose:

To compare the clinical and biometric characteristics of children presenting with nanophthalmos (NO group) with that of age-matched controls (CO group).

Methods:

Electronic medical records of 40 children (<18 years of age) with diagnosis of nanophthalmos (NO), presented to a tertiary center in Tamil Nadu between January 2010 and December 2019, were reviewed and compared with 30 age-matched controls (CO) presenting for routine eye examination between October 2019 and December 2019. Clinical parameters compared were best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), axial length (AxL), keratometry (K), anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), retinochoroidal scleral thickness (RCS), corneal diameter, central corneal thickness (CCT), intraocular pressure (IOP), lens axial length factor (LAF), and lens thickness/anterior chamber depth ratio (LT/ACD).

Results:

Mean age of the NO group was 8.95 ± 4.0 years. Mean spherical equivalent (SE) in NO group was 10.87 ± 3.1 D and was inversely correlated to AxL (r = −0.46, P value = 0.003). All biometric parameters (AxL, ACD, LT, RCS, LAF, and LT/ACD), except CCT were significantly different between NO and CO groups. NO group children had 52.5% visual impairment with BCVA ≤ 6/24 and 17.5% had esotropia. Common ocular associations in NO group were amblyopia (64.3%), primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) (17.8%), pigmentary retinopathy (14.3%), and retinal detachment (3.6%). Angle-closure disease was seen in 50% of NO group and 30% underwent laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI). There was a significant difference in SE, ACD, and LAF among NO children with AxL <17 mm or >17 mm. Multivariable regression analysis revealed a significant correlation of SE and ACD with AxL.

Conclusion:

Nanophthalmos in children often present as amblyopia with visual impairment and strabismus. NO group with AxL <17 mm, had angle-closure disease as a common association with significantly lower ACD, higher SE, and LAF. All morphometric characteristics, except CCT, were significantly different between NO and CO groups. Close monitoring with serial biometry in NO group is needed for the timely diagnosis and prompt intervention to avoid visual impairment, due to glaucoma.
Congenital corneal anesthesia: A case series
Authors: Jayarajan Aruna P , Sharma Ashok , Sharma Rajan , Nirankari Verinder S , Narayana Shivananda , Christy Josephine S
Published: July 2022

Congenital corneal anesthesia (CCA) is an extremely rare condition where the cornea is affected in isolation or as a part of congenital syndrome, or can be associated with systemic anomalies. This case series of 12 eyes provides an overview of various clinical presentations and their final treatment outcomes. The average age of presentation was 3.2 years with a female preponderance (75%). Fifty percent of the patients had bilateral involvement and 50% had corneal ulcers at presentation. Two eyes required therapeutic keratoplasty for corneal perforation. All patients had isolated CCA except for one who had an associated hereditary and sensory autonomic neuropathy.
Potpourri of retinopathies in rare eye disease – A case series
Authors: Pawar Neelam , Manayath George J , Verghese Shishir , Chandrakanth Prithvi , Shah Virna , Raut Ashwini , Gaikwad Swarna , Patil Parth A , Daswani Mansha , Meenakshi R , Narendran Kalpana , Narendran Venkatapathy
Published: July 2022

This case series describes the ocular and retinal manifestations of rare eye diseases in systemic syndromes. This observational case series consists of five patients with varied ophthalmic manifestations and documentation of imaging in rare pediatric and adult retinopathies. Two patients had Kearns Sayre syndrome (KSS) based on the classical triad of external ophthalmoplegia, pigmentary retinopathy, and onset before 20 years of age. In one patient of KSS, the mitochondrial retinopathy was seen in an asymmetric pattern, and the second patient presented with KSS after being mis-diagnosed as myasthenia gravis elsewhere. A case of Senior Loken syndrome in pediatric age is described in this series with varied ophthalmic manifestations ranging from retinitis pigmentosa to orbital abscess. This series also enlightens features of Hallervorden Spatz syndrome presenting with bull’s eye maculopathy and a case of spino-cerebellar ataxia type 7 presenting with pigmentary retinopathy.
Ophthalmic registries for rare eye diseases
Authors: Sharma Mohita , Jain Neha , Singh Vibha , Singla Silkee , Aftab Insha
Published: July 2022

The prevalence of rare diseases has been estimated to be around 6%–8%, most of which are genetic in origin. Rare eye diseases constitute a critical public health concern. The major concerns for people suffering from these conditions are diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, limited resources, and health infrastructure. Also, as the number of people suffering from these disorders is less, it becomes difficult to study the epidemiological distribution and natural course of the disease. Thus, there is a need to establish registries for such rare disorders. This will help in creating a database of those suffering from rare eye diseases and will prove advantageous for both the patients and the researchers. For patients, it will be helpful as it will provide them will access to families suffering from similar problems, provide rehabilitation services, and provide access to clinical trials working on the development of new treatments for these rare disorders. From the researchers’ point of view, it will be beneficial for them as they will then have access to a pool of data that can be used as a starting point of research on these rare disorders. At present, very few registries exist around the world and none in India. A systematic review of registries for rare eye diseases on Google and PubMed was done for existing registries, their methodology, services provided, applications, and advantages.
Prevalence, clinical profile, investigations, and visual outcome of sarcoid intermediate uveitis in a tertiary eye care center in South India
Authors: Ramdoss Jeyasooriya , Jain Anupreeti , Thejesvi GN , Biswas Jyotirmay
Published: July 2022

Purpose:

To report the prevalence, clinical profile, investigations, and visual outcomes of sarcoid intermediate uveitis in a tertiary eye care center in South India.

Methods:

Retrospective, observational case series. Records of 29 patients with sarcoid intermediate uveitis were retrieved. Complete ophthalmic evaluation and systemic examination by a pulmonologist with appropriate laboratory investigations were done. Results were analyzed using SPSS software.

Results:

Mean age group was 42.14 ± 11.31 years. The bilateral presentation was more common and females were more affected than males. Anterior chamber cells and flares in 22.4% of cases (N = 11 eyes), posterior synechiae in 20.4% (N = 10 eyes), and both small and mutton fat keratic precipitates in 14.2% of cases (N = 7 eyes) were noted; only one eye had Busacca nodules similar to other granulomatous uveitis. Cystoid macular edemas were present in three eyes. Treatment with oral steroids and systemic immunosuppression resulted in good visual recovery. The mean presenting visual acuity in right and left eye were 0.2 and 0.3, respectively. The mean final visual acuity in right and left eye was 0.1 and 0.3, respectively.

Conclusion:

Sarcoid intermediate uveitis is quite common in a tuberculosis endemic country like India. A complete review of systems with appropriate investigations is essential to prevent visual complications.
Prevalence of primary angle-closure disease in retinitis pigmentosa
Authors: Pradhan Zia S , Shroff Sujani , Bansod Apurva , Poornachandra B , Shetty Anisha , Devi Sathi , Rao Dhanaraj A S , Puttaiah Narendra K , Rao Harsha L
Published: July 2022

Purpose:

To determine the prevalence of primary angle-closure disease (PACD) in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

Methods:

This was a retrospective review of the electronic medical records of all RP patients over the age of 10 years attending the Genetics Eye Clinic of a tertiary-care hospital during a 7-year period. Information regarding age, gender, vision, refraction, lens, intraocular pressure (IOP), type of RP, and inheritance pattern using pedigree charts for all patients were obtained. Patients with a shallow anterior chamber, high IOP, or glaucomatous optic discs were referred to the glaucoma department where they underwent additional IOP measurements, a gonioscopy, and disc evaluation by a glaucoma specialist. The prevalence of PACD was determined.

Results:

A total of 618 RP patients were examined during the study period, of which 95.1% had typical RP. The prevalence of primary angle-closure suspects was 2.9%, primary angle closure was 0.65%, and primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) was 2.27%. In contrast, the prevalence of primary open-angle glaucoma was 1.29%. The prevalence of PACG in those older than 40 years was 3.8% (95% confidence interval: 1.6–6.0).

Conclusion:

The prevalence of PACG in RP patients over 40 years was higher than that found in the general population of a similar age (3.8% vs. 0.8%). In our cohort of RP patients, 5.9% had PACD. Hence, gonioscopy is warranted in all RP patients to identify this condition and treat it appropriately.
Rare eye diseases in India: A concise review of genes and genetics
Authors: Jeyabalan Nallathambi , Ghosh Anuprita , Mathias Grace P. , Ghosh Arkasubhra
Published: July 2022

Rare eye diseases (REDs) are mostly progressive and are the leading cause of irreversible blindness. The disease onset can vary from early childhood to late adulthood. A high rate of consanguinity contributes to India’s predisposition to RED. Most gene variations causing REDs are monogenic and, in some cases, digenic. All three types of Mendelian inheritance have been reported in REDs. Some of the REDs are related to systemic illness with variable phenotypes in affected family members. Approximately, 50% of the children affected by REDs show associated phenotypes at the early stages of the disease. A precise clinical diagnosis becomes challenging due to high clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Technological advances, such as next-generation sequencing (NGS), have improved genetic and genomic testing for REDs, thereby aiding in determining the underlying causative gene variants. It is noteworthy that genetic testing together with genetic counseling facilitates a more personalized approach in the accurate diagnosis and management of the disease. In this review, we discuss REDs identified in the Indian population and their underlying genetic etiology.
Exudative retinal detachment as an initial presentation of retinopathy of prematurity: Clinical profile and outcomes of a rare presentation
Authors: Agarwal Komal , Jayanna Sushma , Padhi Tapas Ranjan , Jalali Subhadra
Published: July 2022

Purpose

To describe the clinical profile and treatment outcomes of infants with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) presenting with isolated exudative retinal detachment (ERD).

Methods

Retrospective interventional case series. Preterm infants diagnosed with ROP with ERD at presentation were included. All demographic details, clinical findings, and treatment given were documented. The anatomical outcome was categorized as good, fair, and poor. Refractive outcome was classified into mild, moderate, and severe according to spherical equivalent at the last visit.

Results

Fifteen eyes (8 patients) were included. Mean gestational age was 31.3 weeks, and birth weight was 1462.6 g. All eyes presented with aggressive ROP. Patches of retinal edema in avascular retina were seen in all eyes. A total of 86.6% of eyes had vascular sclerosis while 86.6% of eyes had subretinal exudates. The anatomical outcome was good in all eyes. In addition, 40% of eyes had a mild refractive error.

Conclusion

Exudative retinal detachment in ROP is rare. The use of unregulated oxygen can be a contributory factor. Vascular sclerosis is consistent with hyperoxia-induced retinopathy models. Retinal edema and subretinal exudates indicate disrupted inner and outer blood-retinal barrier. Treatment outcomes are good when diagnosed and treated in time.
Ocular manifestations in Kindler syndrome
Authors: Maharana Prafulla K , Sahay Pranita , Mandal Sohini , Nagpal Ritu , Sharma Namrata
Published: July 2022

We aimed describe the chronic ocular sequelae of Kindler syndrome. All cases of Kindler syndrome with ocular involvement that presented to a tertiary eye care center were included. Three cases of Kindler syndrome with ocular changes were reviewed. Case 1 (10 years, female) had recurrent epithelial breakdown with severe dry eye and corneal opacity secondary to keratitis. Case 2 (28 years, male) had symblepharon , ocular surface keratinization , and severe dry eye. Case 3 (16 years , female ) had partial limbal stem cell deficiency with dry eye. All cases were treated with topical lubricants, short course of low-potency steroids and immuno-modulators. Attention must be paid to the eye in addition to the oro-an-genital mucosa to avoid longterm ocular sequelae.
Tessier cranio-facial clefts presenting to a tertiary eye care center in Northern India: Ophthalmic features and a review of management
Authors: Das Deepsekhar , Modaboyina Sujeeth , Agrawal Sahil , Pushker Neelam , Meel Rachna , Bajaj Mandeep S
Published: July 2022

Purpose:

Tessier classification is used to classify congenital facial cleft disorders utilizing the anatomical location of the cleft and its extension. The orbital and ocular morbidities associated with the birth disorder are numerous. The authors decided to perform a retrospective analysis of the clinical features of the patients who presented to a tertiary care hospital with orbito-cranial clefts.

Methods:

The authors retrospectively evaluated the records of patients with craniofacial clefts who had presented to a tertiary eye care hospital in northern India in the last 2 years (January 2019–December 2020). The clinical features were studied, entered in MS Excel, and the data were evaluated.

Results:

The data of 40 patients with Tessier cleft were found. The majority of the patients were male and presented in the pediatric age group. Unilateral involvement was more common, with maxillary hypoplasia being the most common facial anomaly associated. Eyelid coloboma and euryblepharon was the most common periocular finding; lateral epibulbar dermoid and corneal opacity were the most common ocular surface anomaly. The majority of patients had presented for cosmetic correction. The syndromic association was with Goldenhar syndrome (n = 13), Fraser (n = 2), and one each of Treacher Collins, blepharocheilodontic, organoid nevus, and oculo-dento-digital syndrome. Combined clefts were also seen.

Conclusion:

Tessier cleft classification is a useful tool to classify cranio-facial left anomalies. Multitudes of ocular and orbital anomalies can be associated with their different forms. Better knowledge and understanding of the classification will aid immensely in predicting the ocular defects and planning their management.
Benign Metastasizing Leiomyoma
Authors: Adeniran Adeseye A. , Jimoh Olanrewaju Saheed , Omoyiola Oluwatosin Z. , Vaughan Adetokunbo T.
Published: July 2022

Benign metastasizing leiomyoma (BML) is an uncommon disorder characterized by occurrence of benign smooth muscle tumor with identical features as uterine myoma in extrauterine sites. The most documented site is the lungs, but other areas of the body have been reported. The case of a 44-year-old woman who had BML following an earlier open myomectomy is reported. The presentation mimicked an advanced intra-abdominal tumor with lung involvement, and this posed a diagnostic dilemma, especially with the worsening breathlessness and rapid deterioration of the patient's clinical condition. Autopsy provided an insight into this rare case which was confirmed by histology and immunohistochemistry of the masses in the thoracic and abdominal cavities. BML can easily be misdiagnosed but, if promptly detected, medical and surgical management options could be lifesaving for the affected patients. There is a need for a high index of suspicion in patients who have had previous surgeries for fibroids presenting with pressure symptoms from regions other than the pelvis.
Drug-induced priapism
Authors: Dayapule Sreedhar , Prabhat Arvind Kumar , Parthasri Mallipeddi
Published: July 2022

Priapism is defined as persistent penile erection that continues more than 4-h unrelated to sexual stimulation, arising from dysfunction of regulating mechanism of tumescence, rigidity and flaccidity. It is a rare condition with an incidence of 0.7/100,000 men per year, in the age group of 20–50 years. We are reporting the case of drug-induced priapism in a 30-year-old male and managed by aspiration of intracorporeal blood. Hence, initial management of priapism in early hours relieves most of the cases of ischaemic priapism.
Chronic myeloid leukaemia presenting as acute pulmonary thromboembolism
Authors: Shetty Mallikarjuna , Purushotham Reddy Rami Reddy Gari , Kumar Srigadha Vivek , Kumar Dasarapu Sravan
Published: July 2022

Myeloproliferative neoplasms are associated with increased viscosity and thrombosis most commonly leading to splanchnic vein thrombosis and Budd Chiari syndrome. Pulmonary thromboembolism is a rare possibility. Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia commonly present with anaemia, splenomegaly. In cases presenting with thrombosis, leucocytosis is generally observed. Eosinophilia is also a rare presentation of CML. Here we present a case of young male presented with unprovoked Acute Pulmonary Embolism and eosinophilia. On evaluation found to be having Philadelphia Chromosome positive and improved on treatment with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors. This case highlights the importance of consideration of pulmonary embolism as one of cause of acute onset shortness of breath especially when there are suggestive ECG changes and emphasises the need for evaluation of cause of Acute thromboembolism.
Congenital Orbital Teratoma
Authors: Oladigbolu Kehinde K. , Abdullahi Hawwa S. , Elijah Peter Ndako , Abdullahi Maryam Husaini
Published: July 2022

Teratomas are germ cell tumors that may contain several tissues derived from one or more of the three germ layers. Congenital orbital teratomas are rare. We report a case of congenital orbital teratoma in a 7-h-old male neonate who was noticed to have periocular swelling and progressive proptosis of the left eye at birth. Orbital teratoma was suspected based on the clinical presentation and imaging findings. Treatment was conducted by modified exenteration, and the diagnosis was confirmed histologically as mature teratoma.
Clinical Characteristics and Outcome of Pediatric Cases Managed During the First Wave of the Covid-19 Pandemic at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria
Authors: Garba Maria A. , Mohammed Abdullahi A , Mohammed Aisha J. , Musa Sani , Rufai Hafsat A.
Published: July 2022

Context:

Over 161 million cases of COVID-19 have so far been confirmed globally with over 3.3 million deaths. An understanding of the local epidemiological characteristics in the pediatric population is necessary to enable proper planning of mitigation strategies.

Aim:

To describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of pediatric patients with COVID-19.

Setting and Design:

We conducted a retrospective study on cases of COVID-19 diagnosed by the real-time polymerase chain reaction of nasopharyngeal samples and oropharyngeal swabs managed during the first wave of the pandemic at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital. The severity of illness was graded based on clinical features as classified by the World Health Organization. Statistical Analysis was carried out using IBM SPSS Version 23 (California, USA).

Results:

Forty-six children met the above criteria. The median age was 7 yrs (IQR = 3.75-12). There were more females than males with Covid-19 infection (M:F = 1:1.55). A third (32.6%) of children were asymptomatic while half (50%) had only mild symptoms. Although school-aged children aged 6-11 years were the most infected (30.4%), more severe disease was seen in infants (25%) and those with co-morbidities. Nasal discharge, cough, and fever were the most common presentation occurring in 34.8%, 32.6%, and 26.1%, respectively. The case fatality rate was 6.5%, all occurring amongst those with comorbidities.

Conclusion:

COVID-19 infection in children is largely mild or asymptomatic. Symptoms when present are indistinguishable from symptoms of other common viruses causing upper respiratory tract infections. Severe disease and mortality were observed among infants and children with co-morbidities.
A Critical Review of Diet Supplementation
Authors: Adelowo Abiodun Bamidele
Published: July 2022

There has been a massive surge in the intake of dietary supplements in recent years, with millions of people taking the “magic pills” worldwide, either with the hope of achieving general well-being, treat specific disease, or retard the aging process. Supplementing the diet with multivitamins and minerals (MVMs) has revolutionized modern healthcare, with many “experts” claiming such drugs have a critical role to play in the prevention and treatment of many health conditions. Many are of the opinion that since dietary supplements are mere extracts from certain foods and herbs, so unlike drugs, have no significant side effects, are “all natural,” and are therefore “safe” for a non-medical prescription. The association of the deficiency of some MVMs, such as vitamins C, D, and Zinc, with the increased incidence and progression of COVID-19, has also strengthened the argument in favor of routine diet supplementation. The objectives of this article are to investigate the health and therapeutic claims attributed to some dietary supplements, their safety concerns, and their possible role in modern healthcare. A review of related online free-full articles written in the English language published from 2000 to 2021 was done. While the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of some dietary supplements are clearly understood and established, others are still shrouded in serious confusions and safety concerns, especially for long-term use. Until more evidence is available, routine intake of dietary supplements should be discouraged, except there are clear medical indications. Rather, all people should ensure they get their required nutrients from whole foods.
Anticonvulsant Effect of Flavonoid-Rich Fraction of Ficus platyphylla Stem Bark on Pentylenetetrazole Induced Seizure in Mice
Authors: Hassan Madinat , Bala Sunday Z. , Gadanya Aisha M.
Published: July 2022

Context:

Epilepsy is characterized by recurrent spontaneous seizures. Several antiepileptic drugs have been used over the years and these drugs have shown serious side effects, thereby prompting the use of medicinal plants to avert the resultant side effects of anti-epileptic drugs.

Aim:

To evaluate the anticonvulsant effect of the flavonoid-rich fraction (FRF) of Ficus platyphylla stem bark (FPSB) on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced seizures in mice.

Study Design:

Experimental cohort study.

Subjects and Methods:

We evaluated the anticonvulsant effect of the flavonoid-rich fraction (FRF) of Ficus platyphylla stem bark (FPSB) on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced seizures in mice by measuring its antioxidant activity in vivo and in vitro and identify possible flavonoids present via Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy (LC MS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR).

Statistical Analysis:

One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the level of significance at a 95% confidence interval followed by Tukey's multiple comparison test using SPSS software.

Result:

The FRF of FPSB exhibited weak anticonvulsant activity against PTZ-induced seizure in mice. Maximum anticonvulsant activity (25% protection) was observed at a dose of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg with a delay in the meantime of onset of myoclonic jerks and latency to tonic seizure. The effect of the fraction was found to be dose-independent. The FRF contains a flavanone Astilbin (flavonoid 3 O glycosides) which may have effectuated the high antioxidant activity against 2,2 diphenyl 1 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide (NO) while increasing brain glutathione content and decrease in malondialdehyde content.

Conclusion:

Although the anticonvulsant capacity of FRF on PTZ-induced mice was minimal, this further requires an exploration of other seizure models to ascertain its mechanism of action.
Evaluation of radiological pattern of HSG in female patients with infertility in Katsina Northwestern Nigeria
Authors: Saidu Habiba B. , Mohammed Mustapha , T. Abdullahi Naimatu A. T. , El habeeb Mohammed A. , Salihu Fatai A. , Ibrahim Habib , Suwaid Mohammad A. , Hikima Mustapha S. , Sunusi Abubakar S. , Haruna Maikudi M. , Umar Aliyu M. , Hamza Mohammed A. , Sani Abdullahi A. , Abdulwaheed Murtala O. , Abdulrasheed S. , Abubakar S. M.
Published: July 2022

Context:

Hysterosalpingography (HSG), is the radiographic evaluation of the uterine cavity and fallopian tubes after the administration of a contrast medium through the cervical canal.

Aims:

To determine the pattern of infertility, the risk factors for infertility in women presenting for HSG, and the findings among women with infertility at Federal Medical Centre Katsina.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional, descriptive study design.

Materials and Methods:

This was a retrospective study of HSG findings done at the federal medical center Katsina over a 12-month period. Information on the patients was obtained from the Picture Archiving Communication System (PACS) system which includes the presenting clinical history, the age, and the outcome of HSG.

Statistical Analysis:

Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 23.0.

Results:

A total of one hundred and forty-four (144) women were examined. Their age ranged from 17 48 years with a mean of 31.2 ± 6.3 years. The most common indication for the procedure was infertility, accounting for 89.6% of all cases. The most common Radiological finding was tubal occlusion (factor), which was seen in 40 patients constituting 28% of the radiological findings. The right tubal occlusion was seen at 11.8% while the left tubal occlusion was seen at 6.9%. Bilateral tubal occlusion was seen in 9.0%.

Conclusions:

The frequent indication for HSG is infertility and the common finding on HSG was a tubal factor with hydrosalpinx being the frequent cause of infertility in our environment. The right tubal occlusion constitutes a higher percentage than the left. Secondary infertility was more common than primary infertility
Pattern of Substance Abuse in Northwestern Nigeria
Authors: Musa Sanni , Ibrahim Zainab Uba , Isah Idris Ainavi , Abdulsalam Kabiru
Published: July 2022

Context:

Available information indicates that substance abuse poses a major political, social, and health challenge worldwide. Availability of drugs, negative peer pressure, poverty, and frustration are among the factors that increase the burden of substance abuse. Urine drug testing (UDT) is a reliable laboratory method of analyzing substances of abuse because many drugs and their metabolites remain detectable in the urine for longer periods.

Aims:

To detect the laboratory pattern of substance abuse among youths in North-Western Nigeria and to make recommendations based on the overall pattern to curtail the effect on society.

Settings and Design:

A retrospective cross-sectional survey of secondary data of patients who presented to a clinical laboratory for urine drug tests.

Methods and Material:

Trained personnel carried out a supervised collection of fresh urine samples, which were analyzed using a qualitative immunoassay technique. The presence of a drug was determined by reaching the drug's limit of detection.

Statistical Analysis Used:

Data were analyzed using a Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) version 2 software.

Results:

The screen prevalence of substance abuse was 60.9%. Among those who tested positive, 97% were males, whereas 3% were females. The majority of participants were youths below 30 years of age. The observed pattern revealed a few of the participants (26.48%) had only one drug substance present in their urine, whereas 73.53% tested positive for multiple substances ranging from two to five drugs in a urine sample.

Conclusion:

A high prevalence of substance abuse was observed and most of the participants were multidrug users.
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) Estimation using Point of Care Testing Devices
Authors: Ezegbogu Mark Onyemaechi , Ugwoke Clement Uchenna , Ibrahim Zainab , Abdulsalam Kabiru
Published: July 2022

Since the development of the first Point-of-care Testing device (POCT) in 1962, POCTs have found their way into nearly every facet of laboratory diagnostics due to their rapid turn-around-times, testing convenience, ease of use, and relatively lower costs. This review provides an update on the progress in the development of POCTs for TSH assays while highlighting the challenges of these methods and suggesting ways of overcoming them. To achieve this, a literature search of the appropriate databases (Google Scholar, MEDLINE, Science Direct, and PubMed) was conducted using the keywords: POCT, TSH, hyperthyroidism, and hypothyroidism. Relevant articles were identified, duplicates eliminated, then critically analyzed, and discussed in terms of their relevance to the research questions. The different sensitivities of the POCTs reported in the scientific literature are traceable to the peculiarities of the detection technique adopted and the sensitivity of the immune complex recognition, i.e., labelled versus unlabeled immunoassay methods. The main factors limiting the wide acceptance of POCTs are concerns over their clinical usefulness, accuracy, and data (in)security. Routine assessment of the technical competence of POCT operators and regular quality checks of the performance of these devices are critical to maintaining the clinical usefulness of POCTs in TSH measurement. Finally, further research is required to understand the dynamic expectations of clinicians regarding POCT use in diagnosing thyroid dysfunction especially in low- and middle-income countries where data on this subject is lacking.
Quadcopter Vehicle Proportional-Integral-Derivative Controller (PIDC) Tuning by Particle-Swarm Optimization (PSO)
Authors: Al Gizi Abdullah
Published: July 2022

Inspection of the faults and damages in high voltage transmission lines is not only unsafe and costly but also a very time-consuming process. In addition, it demands highly skilled manpower for the operation at tens of meters above the ground on cables carrying thousands of Volts. Meanwhile, the Quadcopter Aerial Vehicle (QAV) system became a popular alternative for aerial photography applications due to its low cost, ease of usage, and fast response wherein the proportional-integral-derivative controller (PIDC) is used. The PID controller compares the expected location of the drone with the actual measured position thereby can accurately detect the faults in the transmission lines. Based on these factors, in this study, the flight simulation is done according to the desired flight path, and drone imagery is used for (insulator, power line, and porcelain) flaw identification. Furthermore, three movements (roll, pitch, and yaw) of the quadcopter were controlled by different PIDC that were optimized using the particle swarm optimization (PSO). The MATLAB/Simulink application was used to develop the system and simulate the results (R2021b). This clearly suggested that the quadcopter continues to fly on a trajectory with minimum inaccuracy, wherein the PIDC operated as a closed-loop adaptive controller. Finally, the PSO-PIDC outperformed the PIDC due to the critical nature of manual gain modification for quadcopter flight stability.
Trust in Virtual Teams: A Systematic Review of Information Systems Literature
Authors: Watanuki Hugo Martinelli , Moraes Renato de Oliveira
Published: July 2022

The issue of trust development amongst members of virtual teams is gaining increasing attention from Information Systems (IS) scholars due to the advancement of virtual collaboration in organizations. The objective of this study is to evaluate the issue of trust development in virtual team research from the perspective of main IS journals, and to consolidate the contributions made by IS researchers. To this aim, a systematic review of the literature has been conducted, supported by bibliometric and Social Network Analysis (SNA). An IS-centric review of trust concepts and research paradigms has been presented along with opportunities for future research.
V italijanskih testeninah na papirju in spletu
Authors: Stritar Kučuk Mojca
Published: July 2022

The article analyses a case-oriented grammatical task undertaken by South Slavic speakers of Slovenian as L2. Students learning Slovenian in the Year Plus module are compared in two groups: one solved the test on paper, while the other learned Slovenian partly online and also took the test online. Cases proved difficult for all of the students, with the most challenging being the locative in plural and the non-prepositional use of the dative. The group that took the exam online was more successful, supposedly due to less teacher control during the exam and thus easier access to various language tools. However, the speakers in this group made more spelling and lexical errors. The Macedonian students were more successful than the Bosnian, Croatian, Montenegrin and Serbian students, particularly those from the group that took the test online.
Obravnava mita lepote v delih Govekarja, Kersnika, Kvedrove in Pajkove
Authors: Jančič Nika , Pribožič Katarina
Published: July 2022

The article is based on research into the beauty myth in the literary works of Fran Govekar, Janko Kersnik, Zofka Kveder and Pavlina Pajk. It systematically outlines the methodology and findings of the research, which was undertaken as part of a master’s thesis at the Department of Slovenian Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana. We address the question of the beauty myth in literature according to previous research by Jonathan Gottschall, who applied the beauty myth question to the corpus of tales from around the world, and Igor Žunkovič, who was the first to apply it to the Slovenian literary world, focusing on recipients of the Kresnik Award. Our research showed that the beauty myth cannot be fully confirmed, which contradicts the research on tales from around the world, but is more in line with the Kresnik Award research results.
Knjižnice na Slovenskem v zgodnjem novem veku
Authors: Vidmar Luka
Published: July 2022

The paper examines libraries in the Slovenian lands between the late fifteenth and the early nineteenth centuries with regard to their types (ecclesiastical, private and public libraries) and subtypes (e.g., libraries of the mendicant orders, castle and aristocratic libraries, public scholarly libraries). It presents the development, size, inner arrangement, language structure, users, significance and current state of the most important libraries.
Heavy Metals Content in Laboratory Wastewater: A Case Study of Selected Units of Bayero University, Kano-Nigeria.
Authors: Bashir M. , Mohammed S.Y. , Atiku M.K. , Bello A.U. , Yakasai H.A.
Published: July 2022

Heavy metals are well-known environmental pollutants due to their toxicity, persistence in the environment and bio-accumulative in nature. They contribute immensely in the environmental pollution and their sources include weathering of metal bearing rocks, mining, industrial and agricultural activities. Laboratory is a major point of research activities. This study is aimed at accessing the level of heavy metals in some laboratories wastewater in Bayero University, Kano. Four different laboratories where selected (Biochemistry, Chemistry, Microbiology and Central Laboratory complex) from Bayero University Old Campus. The wastewater samples were collected four times with one week interval and some heavy metals were determined using microwave plasma atomic emission spectrometry (MP-AES). The average mean concentrations of Cd, Cr, Co, Mn, Ni and Pb in each laboratory were compared with WHO standard in wastewater. The Results obtained from Biochemistry Laboratory for Cd, Cr, Co, Mn, Ni and Pb are 0.0067±0.0001, 0.0000±0.0000, 0.000±0.0000, 0.010±0.001, 0.027±0.0001 and 0.106±0.0001 mg/L respectively. Similarly Central laboratory with 0.07±0.001, 0.47±0.002, 0.00±0.00, 0.31±0.003, 0.10±0.002 and 0.20±0.001 mg/L. While Microbiology Laboratory with 0.00±0.00, 0.00±0.00, 0.00±0.00, 0.063±0.001, 0.027±0.001 and 0.093±0.0001 mg/L respectively. And Chemistry laboratory with 0.000±0.00, 0.607±0.0001, 0.053±0.002, 2.183±0.001, 0.127±0.0001 and 0.263±0.0002 respectively. Among all the laboratories, chemistry laboratory was found to have higher average mean concentrations of Mn, Ni and Pb and are above WHO Standard. However some heavy metals like Cr and Cd were found to be lower compared to WHO Standard. Therefore the wastewater studied contained some heavy metals which contribute to the environmental pollution and measures should be taken by the management concerned to ensure good laboratory waste management.
Caractérisation des paramètres physico-chimiques du sol de la zone rizicole de Saga (Niamey) dans la vallée du fleuve Niger
Authors: Tahirou Seydou , Zerbo Patrice , Ouattara Sadia , Ado Maman Nassirou
Published: July 2022

La présente étude a pour objectif de contribuer à la connaissance les propriétés physico-chimiques qui caractérisent la couche superficielle du sol dans la zone rizicole de Saga.La méthodologie adoptée pour conduire l’étude a combiné les enquêtes de terrain pour effectuer un échantillonnage et les travaux au laboratoire. Des échantillons de sol ont été prélevés à l'horizon [0-20] cm et [20-40] cm à l'aide d'une tarière. Préparé à partir de 105 échantillons de sol prélevés à raison de 15 échantillons par GMP, deux échantillons composites de GMP sont générés par profondeur. Un total de 14 échantillons emballés et étiquetés analysés en laboratoire. Les résultats d'analyse montrent une caractéristique pédologique de texture argilo-sableux, argile limono-sableuse, argilo-limoneuse. D'autre part, ces sols présentent également un déséquilibre entre une faible capacité de rétention des éléments nutritifs (faible CEC) et des effets échangeables. De plus, la capacité d'échange de cations indique une limite avec une faible capacité de rétention des nutriments car l'importance de la CEC diminue à mesure que la teneur en matière organique du sol augmente. Au terme de cette étude, on peut conclure que le sol environnant est propice à la culture du riz avec une fertilité considérable.