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Background: Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common causes of nosocomial and community-acquired infections in all parts of the world. Prevalence of methicillin resistance in staphylococci has increased and become a serious concern worldwide. Clindamycin resistance is on the rise among clinically important staphylococcal isolates. Objectives: Identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from different clinical samples by using Standard Microbiological procedures as per CLSI guidelines. Detection of Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus was carried out by using Cefoxitin screening test. Inducible clindamycin resistance among clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus was tested by using D-test and Vitek -2 compact automated system. Methods: Total 107 Staphylococcus aureus isolates from different clinical specimens were processed in the microbiology department at B.K.L. Walawalkar rural medical college. All samples were tested for Cefoxitin screening test and detection of Inducible clindamycin resistance was carried out by using D test and Vitek 2 panel automated system. Results: Out of 107 samples of Staphylococcus aureus isolates, cefoxitin screening test result showed 19(17.75%) positive result (MRSA). Percentages of inducible clindamycin resistance were higher amongst MRSA as compared to MSSA. The study revealed 32 (29.90 %) isolates are inducible clindamycin resistance detection result were positive (are Macrolides/ Lincosamides/ Streptogramins MLSB phenotype inducible) by Vitek 2 automated system. Conclusion: Detection of inducible clindamycin resistance should be included in the routine antimicrobial susceptibility testing, as it will help in guiding the empirical therapy.

Introduction: Antimicrobials are the most commonly prescribed group of drugs today, but the problem of its overuse or inappropriate use is a global phenomenon. Majority of the antimicrobial use is preoperative during surgical procedures. Methodology: The prescribing trends of antimicrobials used during surgical procedures were assessed in 500 patients and were compared among different types of surgeries. The surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis in clean and clean contaminated surgeries was compared with the published guidelines for prophylaxis. Results: The prescribing pattern shows that average three antimicrobials were prescribed in patients, with cephalosporins being the most commonly prescribed antimicrobial group. About 42% percent of the total antimicrobials were prescribed from outside hospital source and as many as 90.4% of the patients were prescribed one or more antimicrobial from outside the hospital source. Conclusion: There is a considerable scope for improving prescribing pattern of drugs to achieve rational and cost effective antimicrobial use.

Background: Worldwide there are more than 1.2 billion adolescents, more than half of all adolescents live in Asia. Anemia is one of the most common health conditions contributing to morbidity among adolescents. Hence, this study was undertaken to know the prevalence of anemia among adolescents. Objective: To assess the prevalence of anaemia among adolescent boys and girls in rural area. Methods: A community based, cross sectional study was conducted among 600 adolescents in rural area of Dharwad. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaire consisting of demographic details. Hemoglobin estimation was done by Sahli’s method. Data was analyzed using SPSS v21.0. Results: Among the total 600 adolescents, 60.66% were found to be anemic of whom 14.8% had mild, 43.7% moderate and2.2% had severe anemia. Hemoglobin level was significantly different among boys and girls (p=

Abstract Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in maintaining cell homeostasis and function. However, it remains largely unknown whether and how neuronal activity impacts the transcriptional regulation of lncRNAs, or if this leads to synapse-related changes and contributes to the formation of long-term memories. Here, we report the identification of a lncRNA, SLAMR, which becomes enriched in CA1-hippocampal neurons upon contextual fear conditioning but not in CA3 neurons. SLAMR is transported along dendrites via the molecular motor KIF5C and is recruited to the synapse upon stimulation. Loss of function of SLAMR reduces dendritic complexity and impairs activity-dependent changes in spine structural plasticity and translation. Gain of function of SLAMR, in contrast, enhances dendritic complexity, spine density, and translation. Analyses of the SLAMR interactome reveal its association with CaMKIIα protein through a 220-nucleotide element also involved in SLAMR transport. A CaMKII reporter reveals a basal reduction in CaMKII activity with SLAMR loss-of-function. Furthermore, the selective loss of SLAMR function in CA1 disrupts the consolidation of fear memory in male mice, without affecting their acquisition, recall, or extinction, or spatial memory. Together, these results provide new molecular and functional insight into activity-dependent changes at the synapse and consolidation of contextual fear.

Abstract Background Finding time in the medical curriculum to focus on motivational interviewing (MI) training is a challenge in many medical schools. We developed a software-based training tool, “Real-time Assessment of Dialogue in Motivational Interviewing” (ReadMI), that aims to advance the skill acquisition of medical students as they learn the MI approach. This human-artificial intelligence teaming may help reduce the cognitive load on a training facilitator. Methods During their Family Medicine clerkship, 125 third-year medical students were scheduled in pairs to participate in a 90-minute MI training session, with each student doing two role-plays as the physician. Intervention group students received both facilitator feedback and ReadMI metrics after their first role-play, while control group students received only facilitator feedback. Results While students in both conditions improved their MI approach from the first to the second role-play, those in the intervention condition used significantly more open-ended questions, fewer closed-ended questions, and had a higher ratio of open to closed questions. Conclusion MI skills practice can be gained with a relatively small investment of student time, and artificial intelligence can be utilized both for the measurement of MI skill acquisition and as an instructional aid.

ABSTRACT: Eubiotics are water and/or feed additives used in poultry to promote gut health and control enteric burden of pathogens, including Clostridium perfringens. While several eubiotic compounds (ECs) are being introduced commercially, it is essential to devise an in vitro model to screen these compounds to assess their immunomodulatory and antimicrobial properties prior to their testing in vivo. A chicken macrophage cell-line (MQ-NCSU) was used to develop an in vitro model to screen the immunological and anti-C. perfringens properties of 10 ECs: monobutyrin, monolaurin, calcium butyrate, tributyrin, carvacrol, curcumin, green tea extract, rosemary extract, monomyristate, and tartaric acid. An optimal concentration for each EC was selected by measuring the effect on viability of MQ-NCSU cells. Cells were then treated with ECs for 6, 12, and 24 h. and expression of interferon-gamma (IFNγ), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-10, transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) and cluster of differentiation (CD40) genes, as well as major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-II protein were evaluated. At 6 h post-stimulation, monobutyrin, calcium butyrate, and green tea extract treatments induced a significant downregulation of IFNγ, IL-6, or IL-1β gene transcription and MHC-II expression, while the IL-10 or TGFβ gene expression in these treatments as well as those receiving rosemary extract and tartaric acid was significantly upregulated, when compared to control, suggesting immunomodulatory properties of these ECs. Finally, pretreatment of macrophages with these selected 5 ECs for 24 h followed by C. perfringens infection showed that monobutyrin, green tea extract, rosemary extract, and calcium butyrate treatments can inhibit bacterial growth significantly at 12 and/or 24 h post-infection, when compared to the control. Collectively, our findings show that ECs possessing immunomodulatory and anti-C. perfringens properties can be selected using an in vitro avian macrophage cell-based model so that such ECs can further be tested in vivo for their disease prevention efficacy.

Background: COVID-19, a respiratory illness caused by SARS-CoV-2virus, has been implicated in hepatic injury. Abnormal liver function tests are found in 14-53% of COVID-19 cases. Objectives: Present study was conducted to study the spectrum of hepatic injury and its association with COVID-19 disease severity among patients aged ≥18 years treated at a tertiary care hospital in Central Karnataka. Methods: It was a retrospective study based on review of medical records of diagnosed COVID-19 patients aged ≥18 years treated on in-patient basis at a tertiary care hospital. Patients’ COVID disease severity and in-hospital outcomes were noted. Presence of COVID associated hepatic injury such as hepatocellular, cholestatic and mixed type liver injuries were documented. Results: Severe COVID-19 disease and death rates were significantly higher among patients with COVID-19 associated Hepatic injury’ (73.1%, 46.3% respectively). Inflammatory markers such as D-dimer, CRP, LDH and Ferritin were significantly elevated in ‘COVID-19 associated Hepatic injury (Q2: 442ng/ml, 07mg/dl, 588U/L, 838ng/ml respectively). Conclusion: Hepatic injuries in COVID patients are due to SARS-CoV-2 associated inflammation and were significantly associated with severe COVID disease and mortality. For physicians at Emergency Department, it gives crucial information to decide whether patient requires hospital admission or scheduled outpatient re-evaluation.

Introduction: Infection of the skin and soft tissue due to injury, surgery, or burns may result in the formation of allexudates. Dead leucocytes, cellular debris and necrotic tissue are responsible for formation of exudates. Relentless exposure to devitalized tissue associated with a slow-healing chronic wound is likely to promote the colonisation and establishment of a wide range of bacteria. Mixed populations of both aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms are accountable for most acute and chronic wound infections. Therefore this study was carried out to investigate the aerobic bacterial isolates responsible for pyogenic wound infections and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern for clinical management. Material and Methods: Pus samples were collected with sterile disposable cotton swabs and pus aspirates in syringes from suspected patients of pyogenic wound infections. They were processed using standard microbiological techniques and identification of isolate from positive cultures was done using conventional biochemical test. The antibiotic sensitivity testing of all isolates was performed by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method on Muller Hinton agar and interpreted as per CLSI guidelines. Results: In our study out of 288 samples, 192(66.66%) were culture positive isolates and 96 (33.33%) were culture negative isolates. Out of 192 culture positive isolates, 76(39.58%) were Gram positive isolates and 116(60.41%) were Gram negative isolates. Staphylococcus aureus was most commonly isolated among all culture positive isolates. Conclusion: This study gives an outline of antibiotic susceptibility pattern of clinical isolates causing pyogenic wound infections which will help in empirical treatment of patients.

Background: Majority of the AIDS patients will get opportunistic infections due to their low immune system and as result, these opportunistic infections incurs sever health issue among the HIV patients. Methods: The study was conducted on 370 immunocompromised patients selected from government civil hospital ART centre, Vijayapur district Karnataka. Results: majority 302(81.6%) had CD4 count less than 500 cell/ mm3.Metabolic disorder ,PPD and Photosend were considered to be significant opportunist infections and were significant correlation with CD4 count of the patients. Conclusion: It was concluded that some of the opportunistic infections such as metabolic disorder, PPD and photosend was highly correlated with CD4 count among the autoimmunocompromised patients.

Natural fibre reinforced polymer composites have drawn the attention of researchers in the creation of novel materials suitable for industrial applications. These polymer composites have favourable mechanical characteristics. Epoxy polymer's versatility and diversity make it suitable for a wide range of industrial applications. The mould casting technique approach was utilised in this work to develop polymer composites using alkali-treated banana fibres and filled with MgO nanoparticle. The study was conducted on the characteristics of Nano MgO, as well as its mechanical qualities such as fracture toughness and surface morphology. The incorporation of Nano MgO enhanced the fracture toughness of the polymer composites with the addition of 1 % MgO. The scanning electron microscopy analysis of the surface morphology revealed the presence of brittle fracture in the specimen.

Abstract Introduction Availability of essential medicines that meet the expected quality standards, in appropriate dosage forms at affordable prices is a fundamental prerequisite to fulfill healthcare needs of given a population. This study assessed available products, prices and affordability of essential medicines (EM) in community pharmacies in Sri Lanka with comparison of registration status from the National Medicines Regulatory Authority(NMRA). Methods A cross-sectional island-wide survey of 80 pharmacies was conducted according to World Health Organization and Health Action International Manual (WHO/HAI). Hundred medicines were selected from the global core list(n = 14), regional core list(n = 16) and the Sri Lanka Essential Medicine List (SL-EML) (n = 70) based on healthcare needs. Number of registered products in 2015 and 2021 were compared. Findings Average availability was 85.4%(± 12.31) and availability was lowest in the Northern province (69.38 ± 21.18%)(p = 0.008). Availability between the state owned, franchise and privately owned pharmacies was not significantly different (p > 0.05). 89.4% medicines were affordable except for amiodarone, hydroxychloroquine, sitagliptin, soluble insulin, isophane insulin, losartan, levodopa carbidopa combination, clonazepam and ceftriaxone. The median price ratio (MPR) of 33.7% of medicines was less than 1 and MPR of 37.1% originator brands (OB) was over 3. Median number of generic brands in the market was 8(range 2–44), 9% of medicines had 20 or more products in the market and 72.7% medicines had more products available than the number registered in 2015. The average number of registered products were similar in 2015 (8.27) and 2021(7.59) (p = 0.15). Conclusion The overall availability of EMs in Sri Lanka was high in all categories of community pharmacies. Medicines were largely affordable and reasonably priced in 2015, although OBs were generally more expensive. Majority of medicines had more products in the market than the number of registered products.