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The effect of rat prolactin (rPRL) on basal and LH-, GH- and T3-mediated testosterone and oestradiol secretion was studied in pubertal rat Leydig cells. Purified Leydig cells were cultured for 24 h at 37 °C in a medium containing 4% foetal calf serum (FCS). The medium was then replaced with fresh medium containing different concentrations of rPRL (5–400 ng/mL) for 48 h at 34 °C without FCS. rPRL increased testosterone secretion by Leydig cells at doses of 50–400 ng and maximum stimulation was observed at a dose of 200 ng. Oestradiol secretion was parallel to that of testosterone except at low doses (5–50 ng/mL). To assess the modulatory effect of rPRL on LH-, GH- and T3-induced Leydig cell testosterone and oestradiol secretion, minimum (50 ng) and maximum (200 ng) effective doses of rPRL were co-administered with LH (25/100 ng), GH (10/50 ng) and T3 (25/50 ng). Co-administration of rPRL (50/100 ng) with T3 (25/50 ng) decreased testosterone secretion. While co-administration of T3 (25 ng) decreased rPRL-induced oestradiol secretion, the latter was unaltered at a dose of 50 ng T3. A minimum effective dose of rPRL (50 ng) plus LH (25 ng) stimulated both testosterone and oestradiol secretion. While a maximum effective dose of rPRL (200 ng) did not alter LH (25 ng)-induced testosterone and oestradiol secretion, it inhibited testosterone secretion induced by 100 ng LH and increased oestradiol secretion. Both doses of rPRL (50, 200 ng) plus GH (10/50 ng) inhibited testosterone secretion when compared with testosterone secretion induced by either GH or PRL alone and stimulated oestradiol secretion. The present in vitro study indicates that rPRL stimulates both testosterone and oestradiol secretion by Leydig cells and that this effect can be modulated by LH, GH and T3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depth-sensitive magnetic, structural, and chemical characterization is important in the understanding and optimization of physical phenomena emerging at the interfaces of transition metal oxide heterostructures. In a simultaneous approach we have used polarized neutron and resonant x-ray reflectometry to determine the magnetic profile across atomically sharp interfaces of ferromagnetic La0.67Sr0.33MnO3/multiferroic BiFeO3 bilayers with subnanometer resolution. In particular, the x-ray resonant magnetic reflectivity measurements at the Fe and Mn resonance edges allowed us to determine the element-specific depth profile of the ferromagnetic moments in both the La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 and BiFeO3 layers. Our measurements indicate a magnetically diluted interface layer within the La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 layer, in contrast to previous observations on inversely deposited layers [P. Yu et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 027201 (2010)]. Additional resonant x-ray reflection measurements indicate a region of altered Mn and O content at the interface, with a thickness matching that of the magnetic diluted layer, as the origin of the reduction of the magnetic moment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: In this study, we attempt to compare the pure tone audiometry findings with ossicular chain status intraoperatively in patients of chronic otitis media., Materials and Methods: 102 patients who presented with COM during a period of one year and met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. All patients underwent preoperative pure tone Audiometry and findings were tabulated. All patients were evaluated intraoperatively by the same surgeon and observations were made regarding ossicular chain integrity., Results: Small central perforation was noted in 10%, medium central perforation in 38.57%, large central perforation in 27.14% and subtotal perforation in 24.28%. 71.56% patients had an intact ossicular chain, of which 94.5% was mucosal disease and 5.5% were squamous disease. 29 cases showed eroded/absent ossicles, out of which, 28 had squamous type and 1 case had central perforation. Ossicular status was classified based on Austin Classification. Conductive hearing loss was found to be maximum where all 3 ossicles were eroded/absent, with a mean AB gap of 45.33 and mean air conduction threshold of 60.33., Conclusion: There is a good correlation between the hearing threshold of the patient and the status of ossicular chain. Preoperative knowledge of the degree of hearing loss and status of ossicular chain would allow the surgeon to plan proper ossicular reconstruction and give the patient a better advice regarding prognosis of hearing improvement after surgery., Competing Interests: Conflict of InterestThe author(s) declare none., (© Association of Otolaryngologists of India 2024. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

The physical, mental, financial, social and emotional constraints encountered by an individual having voice disorder can be easily anticipated as communication is the utmost need in day to day life and some professions. To study the clinical epidemiology of voice disorders in surrounding population and identify the risk factors. It also intended to make people aware of vocal hygiene programme. This observational, prospective, cross sectional study was conducted in Chirayu medical college and hospital, Bhopal from September 2016 to August 2017. All the patients were subjected to diagnostic flexible video laryngoscopy and stroboscopy and in some patients Chest X-ray PA view, USG Neck, Computerized tomography and Magnetic resonance imaging were advised for the confirmation. Amongst 45 patients who formed this study group, male preponderance was seen with male to female ratio of 2.2:1. Laryngeal malignancy (13 cases) was the commonest pathology, followed by vocal polyp (7 cases) and vocal cord palsy (6 cases). Rare cases of tubercular laryngitis and hemorrhage were also diagnosed. The largest group of patients belonged to labor/farming occupation suggesting the rural referral to this tertiary care center followed by housewives., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestNone., (© Association of Otolaryngologists of India 2021.)

This Retrospective observational study was done over a period of 5 years, consisting of 2530 patients with chronic otitis media (COM) attended ENT OPD of a tertiary care hospital of Central India.COM commonly occurs in the age group from 11 to 20 years (37.12%). Females are more predominantly effected than males. Mucosal type (76.4%) is more common. Complications were associated with squamous type of COM.Pus culture showed positive growth of Pseudomonas in 33.9% cases. COM is a common public health problem that is often wrongly trivialized by people. Health awareness campaign, improved health education and easy accessibility to health care facilities can reduce the morbidity and mortality of this disease and therefore can reduce the incidence of this disease., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThere is no conflict of interest., (© Association of Otolaryngologists of India 2017.)

Evaluation of the accuracy of objective diagnostic modalities for nasal obstruction and their comparison to each other to reach the correct diagnosis with minimum cost and highest accuracy. This study was conducted in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head Neck Surgery, Chirayu Medical College and Hospital, Bhopal from August 2016 to September 2017. A total of 50 patients from age group 1-70 years irrespective of sex with complaints of chronic nasal obstruction, which were unresponsive to routine appropriate medical therapy, were selected for this study. Comparative study among findings of nasal endoscopy and CT scan of the paranasal sinuses done. After clinical examination, patients were subjected to high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of paranasal sinuses and diagnostic nasal endoscopy (DNE). The diagnostic results of both modalities were compared. The most common symptoms were nasal obstruction and nasal discharge 100%, followed by post nasal drip 62%. The complaints related to eye and ears were less frequent, found in 4% only. CRS (Chronic Rhinosinusitis) was most common pathology of nose for nasal obstruction which is in 72% cases. Sinonasal polyp is present in 20% of cases. Inverted papilloma in 4% cases. Granulomatous disease (Rhinosporidiosis) in 2% cases. Malignancy in 2% cases. In this series of 50 cases, nasal endoscopy revealed various pathological abnormalities mainly in the osteomeatal area. These include mucopurulent discharge in middle meatus seen in 100% of cases (50 patients). This could not be revealed in HRCT. Oedematous and polypoid infundibular mucosa/polyp in nasal cavity in 28% cases (14 patients) where it was not diagnosed in HRCT in three patients. Hence DNE proved superior to HRCT. Other abnormalities detected on nasal endoscopy were septal deviation 80% of cases (40 patients), inferior turbinate hypertrophy 66% of cases (33 patients), middle turbinate hypertrophy/concha bullosa in 48% of cases (24 patients). DNS was diagnosed in 42 patients in HRCT other causes of nasal obstruction such as Agar nasi cell is detected in 16% (8 patients), medialised uncinate process in 16% (8 patients), paradoxical MT in 30% cases were diagnosed more accurately in nasal endoscopy than HRCT. So nasal endoscopy proved better than CT scan. Nasal obstruction is the most common presenting complaint in day to day otolaryngology practice. Nobody would disagree with the role of CT scan and diagnostic nasal endoscopy in diagnosing the nasal and paranasal pathologies. But as a treating physician we are always concerned about early diagnosis and cost effectiveness. At the same time we also have to consider about patient waiting and work load. In this study we attempted to find out whether diagnostic nasal endoscopy can be better then CT scan, so that we can treat our patient appropriately. Though there has been an increased demand for imaging the paranasal sinuses with coronal CT because of functional endoscopic sinus surgery, nasal endoscopy is a better option in diagnosing and assessing the extent of disease and anatomy., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestAll authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (© Association of Otolaryngologists of India 2018.)

Ferroelastic domain switching significantly affects piezoelectric properties in ferroelectric materials. The ferroelastic domain switching and the lattice deformation of both a-domains and c-domains under an applied electric field were investigated using in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction in conjunction with a high-speed pulse generator set up for epitaxial (100)/(001)-oriented tetragonal Pb(Zr 0.4 Ti 0.6 )O 3 (PZT) films grown on (100) c SrRuO 3 //(100)KTaO 3 substrates. The 004 peak (c-domain) position shifts to a lower 2θ angle, which demonstrates the elongation of the c-axis lattice parameter of the c-domain under an applied electric field. In contrast, the 400 peak (a-domain) shifts in the opposite direction (higher angle), thus indicating a decrease in the a-axis lattice parameter of the a-domain. 90° domain switching from (100) to (001) orientations (from a-domain to c-domain) was observed by a change in the intensities of the 400 and 004 diffraction peaks by applying a high-speed pulsed electric field 200 ns in width. This change also accompanied a tilt in the angles of each domain from the substrate surface normal direction. This behaviour proved that the 90° domain switched within 40 ns under a high-speed pulsed electric field. Direct observation of such high-speed switching opens the way to design piezo-MEMS devices for high-frequency operation.