Search

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is the causative agent of tuberculosis. Here, a macrophage infection model was used to unravel the role of the histone deacetylase sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) in Mtb‐triggered regulation of the innate immune response. Mtb infection downregulated microRNA‐26a and upregulated its target SIRT6. SIRT6 suppressed glycolysis and expression of HIF‐1α‐dependent glycolytic genes during infection. In addition, SIRT6 regulated the levels of intracellular succinate which controls stabilization of HIF‐1α, as well as the release of interleukin (IL)‐1β. Furthermore, SIRT6 inhibited inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and proinflammatory IL‐6 but augmented anti‐inflammatory arginase expression. The miR‐26a/SIRT6/HIF‐1α axis therefore regulates glycolysis and macrophage immune responses during Mtb infection. Our findings link SIRT6 to rewiring of macrophage signaling pathways facilitating dampening of the antibacterial immune response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The brachial plexus is a variable nerve plexus in its formation and branching pattern. Variations in the brachial plexus are not uncommon, and its area of supply and associations with other adjacent anatomical structures require clinical and surgical attention. Aim: To find out any anatomical variations in the formation and branching pattern of the brachial plexus in human foetuses. Materials and Methods: A morphometric prospective observational study was conducted from January 2020 to July 2022, on 30 stillborn or Intrauterine Dead (IUD) human foetuses were taken in the study. Gestation age from 28 to 40 weeks of gestation were included in the study, while those with gross anomalies or morphological anomalies of the cranium and vertebral column were excluded. The dissection includes vertical midline incision of the skin from the external occipital protuberance to the lower limit of the thoracic vertebra (T12). The skin was cut in the midline and reflected laterally. All superficial and deep muscles of the neck were dissect out to clear the cervical and thoracic parts of the vertebral column. The vertebral column was cut and opened to visualise the spinal cord and spinal nerves. Based on gestational age, the foetuses were divided into three groups: four in the first group (28-31 weeks), twelve in the second group (32-35 weeks), and fourteen in the third group (36-40 weeks) were divided for descriptive purposes. The gender of foetuses was determined based on the external genitalia. Results: A total of 60 brachial plexuses were dissected, of which 49 (81.66%) had the usual anatomical formation of the trunks: the upper trunk formed by C5 and C6 roots, the middle trunk by the C7 root, and the lower trunk by the C8 and T1 roots. Eleven (18.34%) plexuses presented variations in trunk formation. Specifically, 8 (13.3%) brachial plexuses were of the prefix type, where the upper trunk was formed by the C5 and C6 roots with an additional contribution from the C4 root; there was inter-branch communication between C6 and C7 in one (1.7%) case; the middle and lower trunks united by C7, C8, and T1 roots formed the lower trunk in another (1.7%) case, and finally, one (1.7%) case exhibited the post-fix type. Conclusion: In this study, out of the 30 foetuses examined, 11 showed variations, which is not uncommon. The prefix type of brachial plexus is quite common among the possible variations, although anatomists and neurosurgeons cannot ignore the possibility of other variations, like post-fix type or communication between the roots of the brachial plexuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigations were carried out at Research Farm, Nawabganj, C.S. Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, during the year 2019-2020. Research Farm is situated in a semi-arid zone of subtropical climate, falling between 25.26 to 26.28° North latitude and 79.31 to 80.34° East longitude. The height of the Farm is about 125.90 meters above sea level. The annual rainfall is 46.0 mm, most of which is received from July to September, with some scattered showers in winter from North-East Monsoon. The maximum temperature goes up to 36.7°C during summer. The experiment was conducted for the control of termite, which was laid out in Randomized Block Design with three replications with plot measuring 4 x 5 m. For confirmation test on germination, counted seed of each treatment were sown in the field. The result of germination showed a non-significant difference in all treatments. The incidence of termite after three weeks of sowing was not seen in any of the treatments. However, the incidence of termite after four weeks of sowing was very low in all treatments which ranged from 0.41 to 0.79% while in the untreated plot it was 3.28%. The incidence of termite after five weeks of sowing ranged from 1.10 to 1.76% in comparison to 3.37% in untreated check. Significantly less damaged shoots were recorded in plots treated with fipronil 5 SC @ 6.0 ml/kg seeds and thiamethoxam 25 WG @ 3.2 g/kg seeds, which was at par imidacloprid 600 FS @ 2.0 ml/kg seeds. All the remaining insecticide and biopesticides were found to be effective in reducing termite damage as compared to untreated check. Percent damaged effective tillers/m row were minimum in fipronil 5 SC @ 6.0 ml/kg seeds (1.10%) and in thiamethoxam 25 WS @ 3.2 g/kg seeds (1.23%) and were on par with imidacloprid 600 FS @ 2.0 ml/kg seeds (1.30%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Firearm injuries (FAIs) continue to be a global public health problem possessing substantial emotional, physical and financial burdens on hospital resources. Although FAIs are rare in children, their incidence is gradually increasing., Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate various aspects of FAI in children that were managed at a tertiary care centre located in the rural part of India., Materials and Methods: This clinical observational study of children <18 years of age, all due to FAI, was conducted at a tertiary care centre located in the rural part of India. Data of all children admitted with FAI over 4 years from January 2016 to December 2019 were collected. Recorded data included age, sex, motive (intentional/unintentional) and circumstances leading to injury, type and license status of firearm used, time of injury, pre-hospital care, mode of transport to hospital, duration between injury and arrival to hospital, body parts and organs injured, trauma scores, management, complications, length of hospital stay and outcomes. The recorded data were entered into a worksheet and analysed., Results: Out of 283 cases of FAI admitted, only 24 were children with age <18 years (8.48%). The mean age was 12.66 years (male:female = 2.4:1). Sixteen were intentional (66.67%) and eight were unintentional (33.33%). The family feud was the most common reason in case of intentional FAI (43.75%), and mishandling was the most common reason in case of unintentional FAI. Country made gun was the most common firearm used (62.5%). The chest and upper back were the most common sites of injury (54.16%). Intercostal drainage tube insertion was the most common surgical procedure performed (33.33%). There were three mortalities (12.5%)., Conclusion: The present study found that intentional FAIs in children were more common than unintentional FAIs with family feuds and mishandling being the most common causes, respectively. The unlicensed country-made gun was the most common firearm causing injury in children., (Copyright © 2024 Copyright: © 2024 African Journal of Paediatric Surgery.)

Background: Congenital hernia of the umbilical cord (CHUC) is the rarest type of anterior abdominal wall defect, in which an intact umbilical ring is always present and viscera pass through the base of normal-looking umbilicus., Objectives: This study was conducted to document the intraoperative findings and postoperative outcomes of patients with congenital hernia of the umbilical cord up to discharge from a tertiary care center., Methods: This study was a retrospective observational study conducted for two years (August 2020 to July 2022) in the Department of Pediatric Surgery, at the tertiary health care center of UP, India., Results: During this two-year duration, a total of 10 cases with CHUC were seen in our department and were surgically managed. In this study, out of these 10 patients (male 7 and female 3), eight had normal gastrointestinal tract, one had accessory liver tissue on thin pedicle, and one had features of gangrenous bowel. Of these 10 cases, three patients developed postsurgical complications in which two patients developed superficial wound infection while one developed wound dehiscence. No mortality was noted., Conclusions: Congenital hernia of the umbilical cord induces stress on parents and relatives. In this study, we conclude that the majority of cases had normal gastrointestinal tract and had no serious postoperative complications up to discharge., Competing Interests: All authors declared no conflicts of interest., (© 2024 Acta Medica Philippina.)