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Background: After the peak of the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic, we faced a surge of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. This study was aimed to estimate the severity, clinical course, and outcome of RSV-infected children admitted in pediatric intensive care unit and to identify the predictors of development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Subjects and Methods: This retrospective study included children below 5 years with influenza-like illnesses (ILI) due to RSV infection. The clinical, laboratory, treatment, and outcome-related parameters were assessed and a compared between ARDS and non-ARDS group. Results: Out of 44 ILI patients, 36 had RSV infection. Most of them (88.9%) were infants. Twenty-four (66.7%) patients developed ARDS and 9 (25%) were ventilated. Infants below 6 months, low birth weight (LBW) babies, consolidations (≥3 zones), interstitial edema (≥3 zones) in lung ultrasound, high pediatric sequential organ failure assessment (pSOFA), and Pediatric Risk of Mortality III score were significantly associated with ARDS. Conclusions: RSV-infected children with young age (1–6 months), LBW, higher lung ultrasound, and pSOFA score should alert physicians for progression to ARDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Despite the reported high prevalence of dysphagia and reflux, patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are not routinely screened for dysphagia or reflux during conventional OSA management. The purpose of this exploratory study was to (a) identify prevalences of dysphagia and reflux self-reported symptoms in patients with OSA and (b) determine associations between dysphagia and reflux symptoms and demographic and clinical variables. Method: A chart review was completed on 75 patients with treated OSA during routine medical management at a university-affiliated sleep center. All participants completed the 10-Item Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) and Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) questionnaires, which are patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) of swallowing and reflux symptoms, respectively. Relevant demographic and clinical variables were extracted. A binary logistic regression was computed to examine the relationships between dysphagia and reflux PROMs and demographic and clinical variables. Result: Sixty-three participants met eligibility criteria (Mage = 64 years). In addition, 14% (n = 9) and 11% (n = 7) of patients with OSA syndrome reported swallowing and reflux symptoms, respectively. Among the demographic and clinical variables investigated, there were no significant predictive factors for EAT-10 scores. Age and apnea-hypopnea index were significant predictive factors for RSI scores. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first preliminary study to investigate swallowing and reflux symptoms concurrently in OSA, as well as potential mitigating factors. Although our findings suggest a relatively low percentage of patients with OSA report dysphagia and reflux symptoms, the true prevalences of swallowing and reflux disorders may be higher based on previous evidence suggesting that pharyngeal afferent (sensory) dysfunction may cause patients to underestimate their symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was undertaken to screen methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in mastitis buffalo milk samples from northern India. A total of 120 buffalo mastitis milk samples were collected from individual quarter over a one year period mainly from animals reared by marginal farmers. The isolates were presumptively confirmed by growing the organism in selective media and biochemical tests. A total of 52 samples were presumptively confirmed as Staphylococci on the basis of growth in Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA); out of which 12 samples were coagulase positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) by growth in Baird Parker Agar (BPA) and tube coagulase test. Antibacterial profiling and growth on Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MeReSa) Agar indicated five isolates as MRSA. Further PCR of specific gene segments and their subsequent characterization based on 16S ribosomal RNA, of staphylo-coagulase and mecA confirmed the findings. The study accentuates the importance of determining the causal agents of mastitis, antibacterial profiling so as to enable the clinicians and researchers to intervene and adopt effective control measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detection of 2009 Leonid, Perseid and Geminid meteor showers over Agartala, Tripura, India (Lat: 23.0° N, Long: 91.4° E) will be reported here by using two VLF receivers tuned to subionospheric transmitted VLF signals at the frequency 16.4 kHz from Aldra Island, Norway (Lat: 66.42° N, Long: 13.13° E) and the other at 18.2 kHz from Vijayananarayanam, India (Lat: 8.4° N; Long: 77.7° E). The received signals exhibited their peak values on November 17, 2009 when ZHR (Zenithal Hourly Rate) was highest. Some typical variations which are observed in the records of amplitude during the 2009 Leonid, Perseid and Geminid meteor showers will be presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Fresh sub-surface peat samples were collected and palynologically investigated from two different locations at Rajarhat area, N-24Paraganas, 20 km northeast of Kolkata where work was done in connection with building construction. The pollen analytical investigation of the collected peat samples reflected the existence of a large number of core mangroves and some fresh water elements and ferns from a peat layer located at the depth of about 2.2 m–3.5 m below the surface. The present investigation reveals the age of the peat layers ranging from 2665 to 6530 BP, confirming the Holocene age of the samples. The dominant pollen grains recorded from the samples were Heritiera, Excoecaria, Avicennia, Bruguiera, Barringtonia, Rhizophora, Sonneratia, Suaeda, Phoenix paludosa, Nipa and a large number of fern spores including Acrostichum and grass pollen, reflecting a diversity of mangrove vegetation. The variability of the vegetation in the peat from bottom to top shows the change of monsoon months during the Holocene in the BengalBasin. The swampy halophytic vegetation of the Holocene is to some extent comparable to the present day vegetation of the Sunderbans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several experiments were undertaken at Kolkata (latitude: 22°34′N, longitude: 88°30′E) on the solar eclipse day of August 1, 2008 to observe the effects of the solar eclipse on Fair Weather Field (FWF) and VLF amplitude and phase. The experimental results presented here show significant deviations of the observed parameters from their normal values, as they are determined by the average of the records obtained on 5 days adjacent to the day of the solar eclipse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outcome of the results of some analyses of electromagnetic emissions recorded by VLF receivers at 6 kHz and 9 kHz over Agartala, Tripura, the North-Eastern state of India (Lat. 23° N, Long. 91.4° E) during the large earthquake at Muzaffarabad (Lat. 34.53° N, Long. 73.58° E) at Kashmir under Pakistan have been presented here. Spiky variations in integrated field intensity of atmospherics (IFIA) at 6 and 9 kHz have been observed 10 days prior (from midnight of 28 September 2005) to the day of occurrence of the earthquake on 8 October 2005 and the effect continued, decayed gradually and eventually ceased on 16 October 2005. The spikes distinctly superimposed on the ambient level with mutual separation of 2-5 min. Occurrence number of spikes per hour and total duration of their occurrence have been found remarkably high on the day of occurrence of the earthquake. The spike heights are higher at 6 kHz than at 9 kHz. The results have been explained on the basis of generation of electromagnetic radiation associated with fracture of rocks, their subsequent penetration into the Earth's atmosphere and finally their propagation between Earth-ionosphere waveguide. The present observation shows that VLF anomaly is well-confined between 6 and 9 kHz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: To identify risk factors for scrub typhus in Darjeeling, India, we compared 62 scrub typhus cases (acute fever with eschar and specific IgM) with 62 neighbourhood controls. Cases were more likely to live close to bushes [matched odds ratio (MOR) 10; 95% CI 2.3–63] and wood piles (MOR 3.5; 95% CI 1.5–9.5), to work on farms (MOR 10; 95% CI 2.7–63), to observe rodents at home (MOR 3.6; 95% CI 1.4–11) and at work (MOR 9; 95% CI 2.4–57), and to rear domestic animals (MOR 2.4; 95% CI 1.1–5.7). Cases were less likely to wash after work (MOR 0.4; 95% CI 0.1–0.9) and change clothes to sleep (MOR 0.2; 95% CI 0.1–0.5). A cleaner, rodent-controlled environment may prevent exposure to scrub typhus. Personal protection measures and better hygiene could further reduce individual risk. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The effects of 2009 Leonid Meteor Shower upon the two VLF subionospheric transmitted signals and vertical electric potential gradient from the ground surface have been studied from Kolkata (Lat: 22.56°N, Long: 88.5°E) on November 17, 2009. The received signals showed their peak values when ZHR (Zenithal Hourly Rate) was highest. Some typical variations in the outcome of these measurements during the meteor showers will be presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The variation of the first Schumann resonance (SR) frequency spectra observed from the recorded data over Kolkata (22.56°N, 88.5°E) during a solar proton event (SPE) on July 14, 2000 has been presented. It shows increase in frequency during X-ray bursts and decrease during the period of occurrence of an SPE. The results from some other locations for the same event are also reported. The severe X-ray bursts recorded just before the proton event exhibit enhancement in frequency of the first mode due to enhancement of ionization in the D-region of the ionosphere. Some attempts are made to explain the observed variation during solar proton events in terms of the perturbations within the Earth–ionosphere waveguide on the basis of two-layer-model. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]