bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical Profile of Autoimmune Encephalitis
Authors: Bawri Satish , Goswami Munindra , Kayal Ashok Kumar , Das Moromi 
Published: October 2021

Background:
Autoimmune encephalitis causes subacute deficits of memory and cognition, often followed by suppressed level of consciousness or coma. It is a difficult clinical situation due to the similarities in the clinical, imaging, and laboratory findings with many forms of other encephalitides.

Materials and Methods:
The aim of this article is to study the clinical profile of autoimmune encephalitis. This is a prospective observational study and conducted from August 2014 to July 2017 at Gauhati Medical College, Guwahati. Detailed neurological evaluation along with investigation was done in all the patients.

Results and Observation:
All patients are diagnosed and categorized as per diagnosis criteria led done by Graus et al. A total of 18 patients were included among which 13 (72%) patients were definite, 3 (16.66%) on probable, and 2 (11%) were possible. Out of the 18 patients, 8 (44%) were males and 10 (56%) were females. The average mean age was 31 ± 4 years and the duration of symptom was 7 weeks ± 4 days. Most common findings were psychiatric symptoms 16 (89%), cognitive decline and short-term memory loss 15 (83%), seizure 14 (78%), movement disorders (hyperkinetic) 13(72%), speech abnormalities 12 (67%), and autonomic dysfunction 4 (22%). Baseline investigations and cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed pleocytosis along with neural autoantibodies positive in 13 (72%) patients. Electroencephalogram showed epileptiform discharges along with slowing. Magnetic resonance imaging is done in every patient and consistent with the finding of autoimmune encephalitis.

Discussion and Conclusion:
In the present study, patients presented with varied clinical features with positive neural autoantibodies. A broad approach to testing for infectious diseases and various autoantibodies can lead to the correct diagnosis.
Postoperative cardiorespiratory complications and continuous positive airway pressure efficacy in obese patients undergoing noncardiac surgery
Authors: Gobindram Avinash , Yek Jia Lin Jacklyn , Tan Alvin Kah Leong , Chan Yiong Huak , Lee Joyce Lai Ying , Hsu Pon Poh 
Published: October 2021

Background and Aims:One in six Singaporeans has obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) due to obesity compounded by inherent craniofacial features. We assessed the incidence of cardiopulmonary complications and the effectiveness of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy in minimising such complications within an obese population.Methods:A retrospective study of elective noncardiac surgical patients with a body mass index ≥32 kg/m2was conducted. Patients at moderate to severe risk of OSA were offered CPAP therapy. CPAP therapy adherence, postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, and type of anaesthesia were analysed.Results:In total, 1400 patients comprising 174 with low risk of OSA (L-OSA) and 1226 with moderate to high risk of OSA were included. Of these, 332 were started on CPAP therapy (C-OSA) while 894 declined CPAP use (R-OSA). There were 10 (0.05%) cardiac events – one (0.6%) in the L-OSA group, six (0.6%) in the R-OSA group and three (0.9%) in the C-OSA group. There were 37 (2.6%) respiratory events – 2 (1.1%) in the L-OSA group, 23 (2.6%) in the R-OSA group, and 12 (3.6%) in the C-OSA group. Multivariate analysis showed no statistical significance in CPAP therapy minimising cardiac (P= 0.147) and respiratory (P= 0.255) complications, when analysed by intention-to-treat. CPAP therapy adherence was 13.6 and 10.2% pre- and postoperatively, respectively. When analysed per protocol, none of the nine patients compliant with both pre- and postoperative CPAP therapy developed cardiopulmonary complications.Conclusions:Amongst patients with moderate to severe risk of OSA, those who were compliant to perioperative CPAP therapy demonstrated a reduction in cardiopulmonary complications.
Understanding the changes in practice patterns in ophthalmology following COVID-19 lockdown
Authors: Porwal Amit C , Jethani Jitendra N , Honavar Santosh G 
Published: October 2021

Purpose:
Severe acute respiratory syndrome-Coronavirus 2 pandemic has brought the world to a halt. We performed a questionnaire-based survey to know more about these issues which affected them due to this pandemic and resultant lockdown.

Methods:
A questionnaire-based survey (53 questions) was conducted online among Indian ophthalmologists with a 2-week response time. The invitation to participate was also circulated widely among various ophthalmologists as members on different social media platforms and emails. It was mandatory to answer all the questions in the questionnaire to make it a valid response.

Results:
A total of 903 responses were received across the country. A majority of these responses, 403 (44.6%), were from private practitioners. Almost 876 (97%) of the responders had either kept the daily working hours as same as pre-COVID-19 era or had reduced the actual working hours. Overall, 547 (60.6%) responders did not downsize their staff and 569 (63%) did not reduce the staff salary. Consultation charges were not revised by a majority (659, 73%) of responders. Total of 663 (73.4%) were following the appointment system and 702 (77.7%) responders had reduced the number of patients to less than 6 an hour. Only 106 (11.7%) were doing a mandatory RT-PCR test before surgery, whereas 567 (62.8%) did on the basis of suspicious symptoms.

Conclusion:
Our survey gives valuable inputs regarding the changes made by different ophthalmologist groups during the times of COVID-19 and lockdown.
Correlation of aqueous humor electrolytes with serum electrolytes in cataract patients
Authors: Bansal Amol , Amin Hrishikesh , Rekha R 
Published: October 2021

Purpose:
To correlate the aqueous humor electrolytes with serum electrolytes in patients with cataract.

Methods:
In this study, 348 eyes of patients undergoing cataract surgery, who had presented between 1st January 2019 and 30th June 2020, were included. Serum electrolytes were obtained and 0.15 ml of aqueous humor was obtained during surgery using an insulin syringe via the side port incision. Mean and standard deviation was used to analyze all the categorical and continuous data including all the electrolytes levels. Pearson’s correlation of coefficient was used to analyze the comparison between serum and aqueous humor electrolytes. Student T-test was used to compare electrolyte values between the serum and aqueous humor.

Results:
We observed a significant correlation of the aqueous humor electrolytes with their serum counterparts. The coefficient of correlation is 0.155, 0.44, and 0.405 for Na+, K+, and Cl−, respectively. There is also a significant increase in the aqueous humor electrolytes as compared to the serum levels.

Conclusion:
A significant increase in electrolytes levels in the aqueous humor of cataract patients possibly could have a role in the etiology of cataract.
A practical continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis self-training system
Authors: Dong Jing , Wang Xiaogang , Wang Xiaoliang , Li Junhong 
Published: October 2021

Purpose:
To describe a practical, self-assembled continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC) self-training system to facilitate resident self-training and shorten the CCC learning curve.

Methods:
This was a prospective experimental study that included a total of 600 capsulorhexis cases. A device for CCC practice was self-assembled and used for training and testing. Based on capsulorhexis manipulation experience, three main groups of residents (A, capsulorhexis experience with <50 cases; B, capsulorhexis experience with 400–500 cases; and C, capsulorhexis experience with >1000 cases) were created. Furthermore, based on different capsulorhexis conditions, each main group was divided into four subgroups (1, CCC without an anterior chamber cover and capsulorhexis marker; 2, CCC with an anterior chamber cover without a capsulorhexis marker; 3, CCC with an anterior chamber cover and a capsulorhexis marker; and 4, CCC with an anterior chamber cover and a capsulorhexis marker under 2.5 times magnification). Three CCC-related parameters, including acircularity index (AI), axis ratio (AR), and capsulorhexis time, were statistically evaluated.

Results:
We compared the differences in study parameters among 50 consecutively completed capsulorhexis cases by one trainee with different capsulorhexis experience in each subgroup. The CCC-related parameter values in subgroups 1 and 4 were significantly different among the three groups (P < 0.001). The capsulorhexis time in subgroup 2 was significantly different among the three groups (P < 0.001). The capsulorhexis time and AI in subgroup 3 were significantly different among the three groups (P < 0.001). Moreover, with increasing manipulation experience (from group A–C), the capsulorhexis time, the AI, and AR tended to decrease. With the help of the CCC marker, in subgroups 3 and 4, the AI and AR were closer to 1.0.

Conclusion:
This self-assembled CCC self-training system is practical. The CCC marker seems helpful for size specification and centration during self-training.
Impact of COVID-19 nationwide lockdown on retinoblastoma treatment and outcome: A study of 476 eyes of 326 children
Authors: Bansal Rolika , Aishwarya Ankita , Rao Raksha , Christy Marem C , Sen Mrittika , Regani Harika , Bagai Poonam , Reddy Vijay A , Mulay Kaustubh , Bongoni Pramila , Honavar Santosh G 
Published: October 2021

Purpose:
The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and the resultant nationwide lockdown and travel restrictions led to difficulty in providing timely and regular treatment to patients with childhood cancers such as retinoblastoma. This study is aimed at assessing the demography, clinical presentation, treatment strategies, and outcome of treatment defaulters due to the lockdown.

Methods:
Cross-sectional, observational study of retinoblastoma patients at a tertiary care ocular oncology center during the first wave of COVID-19 and the resulting nationwide lockdown.

Results:
Of the 476 eyes of 326 patients undergoing active management with a median age of 57 months (range: 4–214 months), 205 (63%) patients returned for follow-up after a mean delay of 45.8 ± 24.3 weeks (range: 8–80 weeks) and 121 (37%) were defaulters according to the data analyzed till June 30, 2021. Distance of residence was ≥1000 km for 148 patients (46%). In terms of need for active treatment, the number of emergent cases was 2 (<1%), 11 (3%) were urgent, and 313 (96%) were semi-urgent. International classification groups D (n = 107 eyes, 23%) and E (n = 173 eyes, 36%) were in majority, and 13 eyes (4%) and 4 eyes (1%) were at stages 3 and 4, respectively. Prior to lockdown, 86 eyes (18%) had active tumor, which remained unchanged (n = 26, 30%) or worsened (n = 49, 60%) after failure to follow-up. Vision (47%), eye (92%), and life salvage (98%) were achieved by individualized protocol-based management after the patients returned for further management. Five children succumbed to intracranial extension.

Conclusion:
The COVID-19-related nationwide lockdown has deprived retinoblastoma patients of optimal and timely management, leading to prolonged treatment interruptions, delays, permanent default, and death. It is of paramount importance for all the stakeholders to increase awareness, make necessary travel and logistic arrangements, and ensure continuity of care for children with retinoblastoma.
Long-term perimetric stabilization with a management algorithm of set target intraocular pressure in different severities of primary angle-closure glaucoma
Authors: Sihota Ramanjit , Shakrawal Jyoti , Sharma Ajay K , Gupta Amisha , Dada Tanuj , Pandey Veena 
Published: October 2021

Purpose:
To evaluate long-term perimetric stabilization at set Target (IOPs) in primary angle-closure glaucoma with visual field defects.

Methods:
Two hundred forty-eight eyes, of 124 primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) patients on medical treatment, and 124 eyes, of 95 patients after trabeculectomy performed at least 5 years prior were evaluated. One hundred eighty-five eyes had a follow-up of ≥10 years. Target IOPs for mild, moderate, and severe glaucomatous optic neuropathy were set at ≤18, ≤15, and ≤12 mmHg, respectively. Progression was evaluated by event-based changes on guided progression analysis. Primary outcome measure was therapy required to achieve individualized Target IOP. Secondary outcome measure was assessment of perimetric change over time.

Results:
Mean baseline IOP was 23.34 ± 6.16 mmHg in medically treated and 36.08 ± 9.73 mmHg in surgically treated eyes (P = 0.0001). All eyes with a baseline IOP of <25 mmHg were on medications alone, 65.33%, of those with a baseline IOP of 25–30 mmHg were on medications, while 34.67% required trabeculectomy. In total, 91.4% of eyes with a baseline IOP of >30 mmHg underwent a trabeculectomy for achieving Target IOP. Perimetric stabilization was achieved in 98.17% of PACG eyes. “Target” IOP was achieved for mild, moderate, and severe glaucomatous optic neuropathy, medically in 90.2, 73.9, and 29.7%, and surgery was required in 9.8, 26.1, and 70.3%, respectively. Overall analysis found that percentage reduction in IOP was significantly more after trabeculectomy than medical treatment, 64.16 ± 14.91 and 43.61 ± 13.73%, P = 0.0001. Decrease in IOP was significantly greater 5–9 years after trabeculectomy, in comparison to ≥10 years, P = 0.001.

Conclusion:
Medications controlled IOP to “Target” in PACG eyes with mild and moderate glaucoma for over ≥10 years, when the baseline IOP off treatment was <30 mmHg. Trabeculectomy was necessary in PACG eyes having severe glaucomatous optic neuropathy, or with a baseline IOP of >30 mmHg to achieve Target IOP. These appropriate initial therapeutic interventions and Target IOPs are therefore suggested as a clinically validated algorithm of care for different severities of PACG.
Foldscope: A smartphone based diagnostic tool for fungal keratitis
Authors: Parmar Dipali P , Rathod Jay S , Karkhanawala Minhaz M , Bhole Pradnya K , Rathod Darshana S 
Published: October 2021

Purpose:
Smartphone-based microscopy tool like foldscope (FS) may serve the purpose of a low-cost diagnostic alternative to the compound light microscope especially in areas with limited resources. The purpose of this study was to detect fungal pathogens causing keratitis on direct smear by smartphone-mounted FS and to evaluate the efficacy of FS against routine compound light microscope (CLM).

Methods:
The prospective study was conducted at a tertiary eye care center from September 2019 to March 2020. The study included 60 smear examinations (Gram stain [GM] n = 30, Lactophenol Cotton Blue [LCB] n = 30) to detect fungal pathogens from corneal scraping material of clinically suspected fungal keratitis (FK) cases. The diagnostic utility of FS was compared with CLM for both GM and LCB wet mount. Data collected were used to quantify the agreement using Cohen’s kappa between CLM and FS imaging.

Results:
Forty-six samples out of 60 were positive for fungi using CLM. GM stain and LCB showed 22/30 (73.33%) and 24/30 (80%) positive results with CLM, respectively. Moderate agreement (0.49) was observed between CLM and FS with the smartphone method. LCB mount showed high specificity of 1.00 over 0.87 of GM stain for FS with the smartphone.

Conclusion:
Direct smear can be an early and sensitive measure to diagnose FK other than clinical suspicion. The smartphone-mounted FS has limited sensitivity as an alternative to CLM, but excellent specificity in the present study for FK. The FS as a smartphone-based diagnostic tool is simple, portable, and inexpensive in resource-constrained rural or remote clinical and public health settings in the absence of CLM and other higher diagnostic modalities.
Assessing the role of systemic inflammation in the etiopathogenesis of advanced stage keratoconus
Authors: Reyhan Ali H , Karadağ Ayşe Sevgi , Çınar Şerife Şule 
Published: October 2021

Purpose:
It was aimed to compare the levels of inflammation-related parameters, such as neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), in patients with advanced keratoconus (KC) and healthy controls. Also, we evaluated the relationships between these parameters and several corneal topography values used in the KC diagnostic index.

Methods:
Forty patients with advanced and 40 healthy volunteers were included in this study. In the KC group, 20 patients were nonprogressive KC and 20 patients were progressive KC. In all participating individuals, we evaluated detailed ophthalmologic examination findings and complete blood count data, while corneal topographic measurements were also recorded in patients with KC.

Results:
The mean NLR value was 2.3 ± 1.19 in the progressive KC group; nonprogressive KC values were 1.99 ± 1.69 and 1.81 ± 0.72 in the control group. Mean PLR value was 113.24 ± 48.44 in the progressive KC group, nonprogressive KC values were 96.47 ± 31.04 and 104.09 ± 35.14 in the control group. No statistically significant difference was found between patients with progressive KC, nonprogressive KC, and healthy volunteers in terms of mean NLR and PLR values (P > 0.05). NLR values were found to demonstrate significant positive correlations with the corneal topography parameters, Symmetry Index front (r = 0.278, P = 0.025), KC Vertex front (r = 0.247, P = 0.048), and Baiocchi Calossi Versaci front (r = 0.273, P = 0.028); there was no significant relationship between corneal topography parameters and PLR values.

Conclusion:
Although there was no significant difference between the progressive KC, nonprogressive KC, and control groups in inflammation parameters such as NLR and PLR, a positive correlation was observed between the NLR value and some corneal topography findings used in the diagnosis of KC. The role of inflammation in the etiology of KC can be better understood by clinical studies and laboratory tests conducted with prospective studies involving a higher number of patients.
Etiological spectrum of irreversible blindness in Kashmir in North India
Authors: Kaushik Madhurima , Nawaz Shah , Mufti Haniyaa , Qureshi Tariq Syed 
Published: October 2021

Purpose:
To determine the etiological spectrum of irreversible blindness in Kashmir Valley in India.

Methods:
Patients presenting to a tertiary care hospital in Kashmir, India, with unilateral or bilateral blindness from April 2019 to March 2020 were included in this cross-sectional study. Blindness was defined using the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. All subjects had a complete ophthalmologic examination and information was gathered regarding their demographic profile, nature of ocular disorder whether primary or secondary and laterality, if the ocular involvement was unilateral.

Results:
248 patients were enrolled in the study. The mean age of the patients was 57.17 years. The male: female ratio was 2.17:1. The commonest cause of unilateral or bilateral blindness was glaucoma (22.58%) followed by diabetic retinopathy (DR) (17.74%). Unilateral blindness was seen in 78.62% of the patients. Unilateral blindness occurred mainly due to glaucoma (16.41%), DR (14.87%), age-related macular degeneration (13.33%), and trauma (pellet injury: 10.76%, non-pellet injury: 10.25%). The major causes of bilateral blindness were glaucoma (45.28%), DR (28.30%), and hereditary/congenital retinal diseases (16.98%). Socioeconomic status and educational status were significantly associated (P < 0.05 each) while age, gender, place of residence, and occupation were not significantly associated (P > 0.05 each) with the number of eyes affected by blindness.

Conclusion:
Glaucoma and DR are the foremost causes of irreversible blindness in Kashmir. Public health plans aimed at encouraging good health education of patients should be developed in this region. Moreover, patients should be screened effectively for glaucoma and diabetes at the level of primary health care facilities.
A comparative cross-sectional analysis on outcomes of Covid-19 patients requiring dialysis
Authors: Gokhale Chinmay N. , Chavhan Smita S. , Mahajan Harshal N. , Adsul Balkrishna B. , Kumbhar Maharudra A. , Ingale Aniket R. 
Published: October 2021

Context:
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020. COVID-19 disproportionately affects patients with pre-existing comorbidities including those undergoing dialysis at intermittent intervals. These patients requiring renal replacement therapy like intermittent hemodialysis have a preponderance to go into severe clinical states. Hence, this study was planned to analyze the outcomes of such patients requiring dialysis and suffering from the COVID-19 disease.

Objectives:
This study was carried out to compare the outcomes of the COVID-19 patients requiring hemodialysis with those not requiring hemodialysis.

Materials and Methods:
This cross-sectional observational study was carried out between April 2020 and August 2020 at a dedicated COVID-19 hospital and included COVID-19 patients requiring hemodialysis at the time of admission and an equal number of controls matched for age and sex.

Results:
The study included 271 COVID-19-positive patients requiring dialysis and 271 COVID-19-positive controls without the requirement of a dialysis matched for age and sex; 10.3% cases needed intensive care. There were 18.8% deaths in cases as opposed to 8.9% among controls. Multivariate analysis showed that advancing age (OR 2.6 in cases and 1.06 in controls) need for intensive care (OR 27.9 in cases and 331 in controls), and diabetes alone and with other comorbidities were significant predictors of mortality.

Conclusions:
This study showed that the mortality proportions were more in cases as compared to controls; and advancing age, diabetes, and need for intensive care unit (ICU) were significant predictors. The study also highlighted the crisis faced by patients who require dialysis at regular intervals due to this COVID-19 pandemic.
National guidelines for sanitation services
Authors: Siddharth Vijaydeep , Singh Angel Rajan , Sharma D. K. , Satpathy Sidhartha , Kaushal Vipin Kumar , Lathwal Amit , Sain Anil , Misra Shweta , Kausar Mohammad , Garg Ruchi 
Published: October 2021

Background:
Cleanliness is one of the main reasons for poor satisfaction among the patients and their attendants visiting healthcare facilities.

Objective:
To elevate and transform the sanitation in public sector facilities, a committee was constituted by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India to study the existing system of Housekeeping in Central Government Hospitals and draft the Guidelines for house-keeping services, since no such literature is available in context of the healthcare facilities in India.

Methods:
The committee ascertained the housekeeping services in three tertiary care hospitals of Central Government and simultaneously conducted the literature review of the best practices in hospital sanitation and housekeeping.

Results:
Formulated national guidelines focus on various aspects of sanitation services in health facilities, i.e., hospital infrastructure; organization of sanitation services; human resource requirements; qualification, experience and training needs of sanitation staff; roles and responsibilities of different personnel; risk categorization of hospital areas; mechanized cleaning; cleaning agents; cleaning standards and standard operating procedures; effective supervision and monitoring; procurement of these services, etc.

Conclusion:
Formulated guidelines can be adopted by developing countries aiming for standardizing cleaning practices in public health facilities.