bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Production of vitamin B12 via microbial strains isolated from marine and food sources in Egypt
Authors: Abdel-Baki Rania M. M. , Khalafalla Galal M. , Barakat Olfat S. , Ahmed Marwa N. 
Published: April 2024

Background
Vitamin B12 is a very important water-soluble vitamin, which was first isolated from the liver as an anti-pernicious anemia factor. The sole source of vitamin B12 is the animal-based food. It has a complicated structure and requires expensive multi-steps to be synthesized chemically. Intriguingly, vitamin B12 can be produced through microbial fermentation by microorganisms in a cheap and more effective manner.

Objective
This study aims to isolate and characterize microorganisms that have the capability to produce vitamin B12. In addition, the current work aims to optimize the vitamin B12 production conditions by isolating strains using suitable waste materials to obtain a high vitamin B12 yield.

Materials and methods
Different bacterial and yeast isolates were isolated from marine and food samples using the pour-plate technique. These isolates were screened for vitamin B12 production using a specific growth medium that lacked vitamin B12 and a test indicator bacterium. The content of vitamin B12 was estimated using spectrophotometer measurement and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The isolates that showed high vitamin B12 productivity were identified using MALDI-TOF technique. The identified strains were implemented for the optimization of vitamin B12 production to reveal the most proper and optimum conditions for the production. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to enhance the production of vitamin B12 in a flask scale. Agro-industrial wastes such as molasses were used for vitamin B12 production using the most optimum conditions as determined by RSM.

Results and conclusion
Eighty-seven actinomycetes, bacterial, and yeast isolates were screened for vitamin B12 production. Out of these isolates, 15 showed high vitamin B12 productivity. We found that bacilli and yeast isolates were the most productive among the tested cocci and actinomycetes isolates. The highly productive Bacillus and yeast isolates were identified using the MALDI-TOF analysis. The isolates were identified as Candida pelliculosa, Geotrichum candidum, Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus sp. One strain of Candida pelliculosa (coded BYI), three strains of Geotrichum candidum (coded as MZYC, MZYD, and MZYG) were selected for studying the effect of sugar type and inoculum size on the yield of vitamin B12 production. Strain MZYD was selected for the statistical modelling using RSM to optimize seven factors for the vitamin B12 production. These factors included temperature, fermentation time, salt concentration, pH, sugar concentration, inoculum size, and aeration. Five factors i.e., temperature, pH, sugar concentration, and inoculum size were shown to significantly improve the vitamin B12 production. A maximum yield of 64.21 μg/100 ml was obtained using the optimized RSM conditions. These optimized conditions were used to produce vitamin B12 using molasses as a raw material for the microbial growth.
Congenital Insensitivity to Pain: A Fatal Entity
Authors: Biswas Debojit , Thander Paramita , Pati Moumita , Halder Pankaj 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Congenital insensitivity to pain (CIP), also known as congenital analgesia, is an autosomal recessive, extraordinarily rare condition, in which a patient cannot feel pain in any part of his or her body. These patients may experience hyperthermia due to anhidrosis and sustain multiple fatal injuries because they are unable to feel pain at all. All these contribute to the early demise of the patient at a young age. Herein, we attempt to highlight the potentially catastrophic effects of CIP in a 4-year-old girl and reevaluate the representative features that a prudent physician should be aware of.
Components and Process of Performance Appraisal of Teaching Faculty
Authors: Shrivastava Saurabh RamBihariLal , Prihatiningsih Titi Savitri 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
In the field of medical and health professions education, performance appraisal has been regarded as one of the crucial aspects to improve the effectiveness and efficiency. Performance appraisal has to be a systematic and well-thought plan, wherein even inputs from the faculty members have been taken for the overall improvement of the existing or novel system. We must remember that performance appraisal is a formal management system that serves the purpose of evaluating the performance of a faculty member or any employee in a wide range of domains in an organization. In conclusion, performance appraisal should not be looked upon as a method to find shortcomings, rather as an opportunity to have a constructive dialog with the faculty to bring about improvement in their performance.
Profile of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) in Infants in North India during the Second Wave of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic
Authors: Kumar Ashna , Maheshwari Anu , Mahajan Akanksha , Mahto Deonath , Sehgal Suchitra , Basu Srikanta 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Background:
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) secondary to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 has affected not only older children, adolescents, and adults but also infants, more so during the second wave of the global pandemic.

Materials and Methods:
All sequentially admitted infants hospitalized during 6 months who fulfilled the World Health Organization criteria for MIS-C or American Heart Association 2017 criteria for Kawasaki disease (KD) (and positive coronavirus disease-2019 [COVID-19] serology) were included in the present study.

Results:
A total of 19 infants were studied. Thirteen (68.3%) had evidence of recent COVID-19 infection. The median age of presentation was 2 months (interquartile range 25–75th, 0.5–3). The most common presenting symptoms were fever (68.4%), gastrointestinal complaints (63.1%), and edema (36.8%). Other predominant signs were shock (78.9%), myocarditis (52.6%), and neurological complaints (26.3%). Incomplete KD was present in 21% of patients. Elevated C-reactive protein, ferritin, D-Dimer, N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide, and reduced fibrinogen were markers of severe illness. All subjects received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) (100%), 31.5% received a second dose of IVIG, and 63.1% received pulse intravenous methylprednisolone. A total of 5 (26.3%) died as a result of the disease process.

Conclusion:
The spectrum of MIS-C in infants can be varied and is different from older children. A high index of suspicion is therefore needed in infants who present with critical illness and do not respond appropriately to conventional antibiotics and supportive care. The addition of IVIG and corticosteroids to the treatment regimen leads to a favorable outcome.
Serum Ferritin as a Prognostic Marker in COVID-19
Authors: Nongtdu Balary , Ruram Alice Abraham , Tiewsoh Iadarilang , Sundaram Shanthosh Priyan , Boruah Polina 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Background and Objectives:
This study was conducted during the peak of COVID-19 disease with the objective to find the association of serum ferritin and COVID-19 disease severity, to evaluate the utility of serum ferritin as a prognostic marker in COVID-19, and to determine a cutoff value for serum ferritin as a prognostic marker for COVID-19.

Materials and Methods:
A retrospective study was conducted by the department of biochemistry, in collaboration with the department of medicine in a tertiary care center among 103 patients who were admitted with COVID-19 infection after fulfilling the eligibility criteria. Patients were grouped according to the disease severity and also on the outcome during hospitalization.

Results:
The serum ferritin level was found to be significantly higher in the severe and critical groups when compared to the mild and moderate groups. However, the difference was not significant between mild and moderate and also between severe and critical groups. The serum ferritin level was also significantly higher in those who did not survive when compared to those who survived. A cutoff value of 635.25 ng/ml was found to have 76% sensitivity and 90.5% specificity to identify patients with severe COVID-19 disease. A cutoff value of 760.65 ng/ml was able to predict mortality with 73.3% sensitivity and 84.1% specificity.

Conclusion:
Estimating serum ferritin levels in all COVID-19 patients can be beneficial in predicting the progress of the disease and hence aid in the selection of appropriate management.
Antibiotic Resistance Pattern of Pseudomonas aeruginosa-associated Pneumonia over a Period of 6 Years at a Teaching Hospital in Northern India
Authors: Kar Mitra , Dubey Akanksha , Fatima Nida , Sahu Chinmoy 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Background:

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major cause of multidrug resistant (MDR) nosocomial pathogen isolated from clinical samples of patients admitted to the intensive care unit. Treating the ever-increasing antimicrobial resistance in P. aeruginosa isolates has turned into a challenge.

Materials and Methods:
All data were extracted from the hospital information system on P. aeruginosa pneumonia from July 2017 to July 2022. All isolates were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry and routine biochemicals. A comparison between the consequences of antibiotic susceptibility testing, demographics, and risk factors between the patients with community-acquired and nosocomial-acquired pneumonia due to either P. aeruginosa or multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa was performed.

Results:
In this study, 576 (576/19224, 2.99%) patients developed P. aeruginosa pneumonia over 6 years. There were 114 (19.79%) cases of community-acquired pneumonia and 462 (80.21%) cases of nosocomially acquired pneumonia in this study. P. aeruginosa showed high resistance to cefoperazone-sulbactam and imipenem, which was statistically significant in cases of patients suffering from nosocomially acquired pneumonia compared to community-acquired pneumonia. High susceptibility to colistin was statistically significant in cases of community-acquired pneumonia compared to nosocomially acquired pneumonia. A total of 182 (182/576, 31.59%) deaths occurred among cases of P. aeruginosa pneumonia.

Conclusion:
This study explains the emergence of resistance among the P. aeruginosa isolates causing community-acquired pneumonia or nosocomially acquired pneumonia over 6 years.
Cough-induced Reflex Epilepsy – A Mystery yet Unfolded
Authors: Sahoo Haramohan , Chandra Krishna 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Stimulus-induced epilepsy is termed reflex epilepsy. It is an uncommon entity. It can be induced due to exposure to stimuli such as flashes of light, music, hot water, or while eating, running, brushing teeth, or micturating. In reflex epilepsy, the patient can have any kind of seizure semiology. Treatment of these entities in many cases is difficult. Counseling of the patient and antiepileptic drugs are the mainstay of treatment. We present here a case of reflex epilepsy who developed it every time he had a prolonged cough.
Sociodemographic profile and pattern of congenital heart disease in referred children at tertiary cardiac centre – An observational study
Authors: Harikesh Hridaya , Sudha Reddy V. R. , Anand Shivaraja , Shankar Gautam 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Background:
Sparse data are available regarding congenital heart disease (CHD) from southern India. This study was designed to document the sociodemographic factors, clinical profile and pattern of CHD at a referral centre.

Methods:
A cross-sectional observational study was done by direct interview method and review of medical records of 414 participants using internally validated, pre-defined proforma.

Results:
More than half of the cases (54.6%) referred were within 1 year of age. Wasting was present in 45%. Most of the cases belonged to middle and lower socio-economic status group (79%) and were referred by paediatricians (70%); 48% had travelled more than 500 km to avail cardiac services. Predominant symptoms of referral were respiratory distress (61.8%), feeding difficulties (50%), cyanosis (43.7%) and palpitation (24.9%). Major abnormalities detected were ventricular septal defect (31.2%) and tetralogy of Fallot (21.7%).

Conclusions:
This study highlights the need of prioritising and planning for the implementation of affordable and accessible cardiac infrastructure to people from rural areas with low socio-economic background.
Platelet indices and plasma gelsolin in patients presenting with acute stroke
Authors: Kailash J , Mohan Reenaa , Sindhuri R. , Kumar Prem , Badrinath A. K. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Background:
Cerebrovascular diseases are the most common and devastating disorders. Early diagnosis using biochemical tests plays a significant role.

Methods:
This hospital-based analytical cross-sectional study conducted over 18 months using a pre-designed structured questionnaire. Patients (n = 82) presenting with aute stroke belonged to age group of 30-85 years were included in the study. Patients with an old stroke, transient ischaemic attacks and those on antiplatelet and statin therapy were excluded. We studied the correlation between serum platelet indices and plasma gelsolin (GSN) levels in patients presenting with acute stroke.

Results:
Among the study participants 59.8% were males; 31.7% were 56–65 years of age. Ischaemic stroke was evident in 78.5% of the study participants; the others had haemorrhagic stroke. There was a weak negative correlation between platelets and GSN levels, which was not statistically significant. There was no correlation between platelet count and platelet distribution width (DW) and severity of the stroke, and a weak correlation was observed between mean platelet volume (MPV) and severity of stroke (r = 0.142, P = 0.21).

Conclusions:
MPV and pGSN can be used as an indicator to determine the severity and prognosis of the patient.
Assessment of Long-Term Success and Survival Rates of Different Types of Intracanal Medicaments
Authors: Ron Akshata , Jena Debkant , Dwivedi Vartul , Sharma Durgesh Kumar , Late Laxmikant , Jethlia Ankur , Makkad Ramanpal Singh 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACT

Background:
Antimicrobial endodontic intracanal medicaments play a vital role along with biomechanical preparation in the elimination of bacteria present in the pulp area to achieve success in endodontic therapy.

Aim:
The present research was conducted with the objective of evaluating and comparing intracanal medicaments regarding antibacterial properties against Enterococcus faecalis.

Materials and Methods:
One hundred and twenty healthy human premolars of the mandible were used. All premolar crowns were removed, keeping the standardized length of the root as 15 mm. Category 1 received triple antibiotic paste (TAP) (n = 30), Category 2 received double antibiotic paste (DAP) (n = 30), Category 3 received augmentin (n = 30), and Category 4 received calcium hydroxide (n = 30). Hygienic paper points were placed in each root canal, then they were moved to a tube containing 1 mL of brain-heart infusion medium and left there for bacteriological testing. Colony-forming units (CFUs) of E. faecalis were then observed and counted after the plates had been incubated overnight at a temperature of 37°C.

Results:
During intracategory comparisons, there was a significant reduction in colonies of E. feacilis in each category (P ≤ 0.001). When there were intercategory comparisons, there was a maximum reduction in CFU in specimens of Category 1 (TAP) followed by Category 3 (Augmentin) and Category 2 (DAP).

Conclusion:
Intracanal medicaments like TAP, DAP, and augmentin are effective against root canal E. faecalis.
Evaluation of Conventional and Novel Risk Factors in Young and Aged Patients, Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
Authors: Chakrabarty Ushnish , Yadav Surendra S. , Datta Swarnendu 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACT

Aim:
The aim of this study was to find out the relationship of conventional and/or novel cardiovascular risk factors with coronary artery disease severity in terms of SYNTAX scores in young (≤45 years) and aged (>45 years) patients.

Materials and Methods:
The final number of patients included in the study was 132 and divided into 2 groups: Group A was young patients with age less than 45 years, and in group B, the age was more than 45 years. The SYNTAX score was determined for each case based on the preoperative coronary angiogram using the Online SYNTAX score calculator version 2.11.

Results:
It was seen that 33% of patients in group A had high SYNTAX scores, as compared to only 8% in group B. This definitely shows that the younger population has more COMPLEX coronary artery lesions than the elderly.

Conclusion:
YOUNG patients have significantly higher levels of homocysteine as compared to the elderly. Serum homocysteine correlates with SYNTAX scores in YOUNG patients, with a sensitivity of 83.33%, specificity 91.67%, and diagnostic accuracy 86.67%. Percentage of Low HDL in YOUNG is significantly higher than in the elderly.
Assessment of Unmet Needs of Family Planning in Extended Postpartum Period in Women of Urban Slum of Maharashtra
Authors: Pande Bhanupriya Shivshankar , Patel Aashutosh Ramakant , Patel Shraddha , Gaikwad Sayali Raju , Pande Shivshankar J 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Context:
Unmet need for family planning (FP) refers to the gap between the intentions to use FP methods and actual use. This poses a challenge to the FP program.

Aims:
The aim of this study was to find out the extent of unmet needs, associated sociodemographic factors, and possible reasons for unmet needs among women during the extended postpartum period (EPP).

Settings and Design:
This was a cross-sectional analytical study in a slum community of Nagpur coming under a preview of urban primary health center.

Subjects and Methods:
The listing of females who are in EPP was made. Two hundred seventy women were selected by systematic random sampling for a period of 7 months in an urban slum using pretested semi-structured questionnaire.

Statistical Analysis Used:
Descriptive statistics was used for summarization of the data. Statistical association was determined using the Chi-square test.

Results:
In the present study, the extent of unmet needs during EPP was 145 (39.189%), 110 (75.862%) for spacing the birth, and 35 (24.137%) for limiting the birth. Unmet need was significantly associated with socioeconomic status and number of living children. The main reason for the unmet need for FP was fear of side effects. (n = 127, 87.56%).

Conclusions:
The extended period of postpartum is an opportunity to provide FP services by adding more components on counseling and alleviating fear among women.
Knowledge, attitude, and practices of areca nut and betel quid chewing among the adult population – A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Gupta Juhi , Jain Vipul 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACTBackground:The use of areca nut also known as supari or chaali is an age-old tradition and very popular in people living in South Asian countries. However, in general, people know very little about its ill effects.Aims:This study aimed to examine knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding the health risks associated with chewing areca nuts and betel quid among the adult population and to evaluate the knowledge about its possible role as a contributing factor in oral cancer among the adult population.Materials and Methods:The unicentric cross-sectional survey was conducted on 1644 adult subjects belonging to the adult population of Aligarh and nearby places between March 2021 and December 2021. We analyzed the data using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 22.Results:The overall average age of the participants was 39.32 ± 14.18. The male-to-female ratio was 2:1. Among the study subjects, 54% were betel nut or betel quid chewers. Only 30.8% knew that areca nut may cause oral cancer and with low knowledge related to its systematic effect.Conclusion:Areca nut is a known carcinogenic agent and carries the risk of cancer even if it is used alone. However, information about the systemic ill effect especially its carcinogenic effect is very low among the general population.
Students’ perception toward traditional versus interactive lectures in preclinical operative dentistry course: A comparative cross-sectional study
Authors: Ahmed Marwa Abdalrhman , Sulaiman Aliaa Omer , Zain Israa Mohamed , Aljack Kamal Mubark , Awooda Elhadi Mohieldin 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACT

Background:
A lecture is one of the most common methods of teaching in higher education. The lecture is generally divided into interactive and traditional.

Objectives:
This study aimed to assess and compare senior and junior preclinical dental students’ perceptions of interactive lectures versus traditional lectures during the preclinical operative course.

Materials and Methods:
This was a descriptive, comparative cross-sectional study among 100 undergraduate students from Igraa College, Sudan. Students from 2 class years were involved; the first one was batch 2 (semester 6) and the second group was batch 3 (semester 5). Fourteen preclinical operative dentistry lectures were delivered to both classes (7 lectures were interactive and 7 were traditional) during the full-time course. At the end of the course, a self-administered questionnaire included questions about students’ demographic data and their perceptions toward traditional and interactive lectures. A comparison between different nonparametric data was done by Chi-square test with the level of significance set at P < 0.05.

Results:
The response rate was 77%, where male students were 26 (33.8%) and female students were 51 (66.2%). There was no statistically significant difference between sex and class year in terms of the student’s preference for the types of lecture. Female students 42 (54.5%) and male students 24 (31.2%) agreed that interactive lectures increase focus on the material more than traditional lectures. The majority of students from both class years agreed that interactive lectures help them in leadership skills 58 (75.4%) and improving their communication between professors and students 65 (84.4%).

Conclusions:
interactive teaching has been greatly accepted by students who were accustomed to traditional teaching with differences in the preference of either type of lecture.
From classroom to clinic: A cross sectional survey on fostering awareness of biomedical waste management among the dental students
Authors: Nitya K. , Perumal P. , Kumarasamy Baskaran , Gangadharamurthy Bhuvaneshwari 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACT

Background:
In dental practices, biomedical waste (BMW) management is essential to preserving a clean and safe atmosphere for patients and medical personnel. Dental facilities generate different forms of BMW, which include sharps, contaminated materials, and/or potentially infectious substances, which require proper handling, storage, and disposal to minimize the risk of infection and environmental contamination.

Aim:
The study aimed to assess the knowledge and awareness of BMW management among dental students in Chennai city using paper-based questionnaire.

Materials and Methods:
An observational cross-sectional survey containing 28 questions was framed to assess the knowledge and awareness of BMW management among the final-year BDS, interns, and postgraduate students (a total of 100 students). Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 27.0.

Results:
The results of our study showed statistically significant results with P = 0.01 among the study groups. The overall knowledge, attitude, and practice score was observed to be 67.5% for final-year BDS students, 68.09% for interns, and 71.76% for postgraduates.

Conclusion:
The knowledge assessed was found to be average among the participants. Hence, proper training and assessment are necessary for the proper handling and practice of BMW management.