OBJECTIVEParaplegia due to traumatic spinal cord injuries is one of the devastating effects of dorsolumbar vertebral fractures. Treatment modalities for such fractures, such as stabilization, have no effect on the neurological recovery. Thus, various pharmacological and biological treatment modalities have been used. The more recent trend of using autologous stem cells from the iliac crest has been used in some clinical trials with varying success. Thus, more clinical studies are required to study the effect of this novel approach

METHODSThis is a prospective hospital-based cohort study (level IV). The study was conducted in the Dept. of Orthopaedics, University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital, Delhi from November 2010 to March 2012. Ten patients who had sustained traumatic dorsolumbar vertebral fractures with complete paraplegia were recruited for this study. Under suitable anaesthesia, at the beginning of surgery, 100 ml of bone marrow was aspirated. This was centrifuged and buffy coat isolated and then transferred into a sterile tube and sent to the operating room on ice packs. After surgical decompression and stabilization, the buffy coat isolate was injected into the dural sleeve at the site of the injury using a 21G needle. All the patients were evaluated for neurological improvement using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) score and Frankel grade at 6 weeks and 3 months postoperatively.

RESULTSThe evaluation at 6 weeks showed some improvement in terms of the ASIA scores in 2 patients but no improvements in their Frankel Grade. The other 8 patients showed no improvements in their ASIA scores or their Frankel Grades. The current pilot study has shown that there has been no improvement in most of the recipients of the transplant (n=8). Some patients (n=2) who did show some improvement in their sensory scores proved to be of no significant functional value as depicted by no change in their Frankel Grades.

CONCLUSIONThe outcome of current study shows that although this modality of treatment is safe for the patients, it provides no additional benefits on improvement of quality of life among these patients.

Xylophagous termites are capable of degrading lignocellulose by symbiotic gut microorganisms along with the host’s indigenous enzymes. Therefore, the termite gut might be a potential niche to obtain natural yeasts with celluloytic, xylanolytic and ethanologenic traits required for bioethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass. In this study, we cultured 79 yeasts from three different termites viz. Coptotermes heimi, Odontotermes javanicus and Odontotermes obesus. After suitable screening methods, we identified 53 yeasts, which belonged to 10 genera and 16 different species of both ascomycetous and basidiomycetous yeasts. Most yeasts in the present study represent their first-ever isolation from the termite gut. Representative strains of identified yeasts were evaluated for their cellulolytic, xylanolytic, and ethanologenic abilities. None of the isolates showed cellulase activity; 22 showed xylanolytic activity, while six produced substantial quantities of ethanol. Among xylanolytic cultures, Pseudozyma hubeiensis STAG 1.7 and Hannaella pagnoccae STAG 1.14 produced 1.31 and 1.17 IU of xylanase. Among ethanologenic yeasts, the strains belonging to genera Candida and Kodamaea produced high amount of ethanol. Overall, highest ethanol level of 4.42 g/L was produced by Candida tropicalis TS32 using 1% glucose, which increased up to 22.92 g/L at 35 °C, pH 4.5 with 5% glucose. Fermentation of rice straw hydrolysate gave 8.95 g/l of ethanol with a yield of 0.42 g/g using the strain TS32. Our study highlights the gut of wood-feeding termites as a potential source of diverse yeasts that would be useful in the production of xylanase and bioethanol.

Xylophagous termites are capable of degrading lignocellulose by symbiotic gut microorganisms along with the host’s indigenous enzymes. Therefore, the termite gut might be a potential niche to obtain natural yeasts with celluloytic, xylanolytic and ethanologenic traits required for bioethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass. In this study, we cultured 79 yeasts from three different termites viz. Coptotermes heimi, Odontotermes javanicus and Odontotermes obesus. After suitable screening methods, we identified 53 yeasts, which belonged to 10 genera and 16 different species of both ascomycetous and basidiomycetous yeasts. Most yeasts in the present study represent their first-ever isolation from the termite gut. Representative strains of identified yeasts were evaluated for their cellulolytic, xylanolytic, and ethanologenic abilities. None of the isolates showed cellulase activity; 22 showed xylanolytic activity, while six produced substantial quantities of ethanol. Among xylanolytic cultures, Pseudozyma hubeiensis STAG 1.7 and Hannaella pagnoccae STAG 1.14 produced 1.31 and 1.17 IU of xylanase. Among ethanologenic yeasts, the strains belonging to genera Candida and Kodamaea produced high amount of ethanol. Overall, highest ethanol level of 4.42 g/L was produced by Candida tropicalis TS32 using 1% glucose, which increased up to 22.92 g/L at 35 °C, pH 4.5 with 5% glucose. Fermentation of rice straw hydrolysate gave 8.95 g/l of ethanol with a yield of 0.42 g/g using the strain TS32. Our study highlights the gut of wood-feeding termites as a potential source of diverse yeasts that would be useful in the production of xylanase and bioethanol.

Introduction: The movement and steadiness of the shoulder joint is due to both the dynamic and static stabilisers. Recurrent anterior shoulder instability is common due to the Bankart lesion or the Hill Sachs lesion. The bone loss and soft tissue failure due to these lesions causing instability is well compensated by Latarjet procedure which acts by triple blocking effect of the bone graft, the sling effect of the conjoint tendon of subscapularis and the ligament of the coracoacromial ligament stump. Materials and methods: Middle-aged patients with recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation and a mid-range instability on clinical assessment with an isolated glenoid bone loss of 20% or Bankart lesion with engaging Hill Sachs lesion were selected for the study. The surgical procedure included a subscapularis split to expose the glenoid. The coracoid graft harvested was prefixed with Kirschner wires and placed flush over the glenoid ensuring no medial or lateral overhang and fixed with 4.0mm cancellous screws with the washer. The functional outcome was measured with the ROWE score and ASES score and the movements were evaluated. Results: A total of 24 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Post-operatively at final follow-up, the mean ROWE score was 97.08 ±8.45 and the mean ASES score was 94.4±9.10. One patient had screw breakage as a complication and another had restriction of movement which was managed with physiotherapy. Conclusion: Open Latarjet is an effective procedure for recurrent anterior shoulder instability in non-athletic middleaged patients as a excellent functional outcome was achieved with this technique. We therefore recommend open Latarjet as an alternative to arthroscopic treatment in developing countries where patient affordability and the availability of the resources are the issues.

ABSTRACT Thalassemia is an inherited disorder that involves abnormal haemoglobin formation. This cross-sectional study with universal sampling was conducted from May 2018 to January 2019 to evaluate the oral health status of children with thalassaemia. The sample consisted of 54 transfusion-dependent patients between the ages of 3–17 years old, who were registered at the paediatric day-care centre of Hospital Melaka. Oral health status was evaluated which included soft tissue examination, recording of dental caries, malocclusion and oral hygiene status of the children, while their parents answered a pre-validated self-administered questionnaire on sociodemographic and oral health practices and attitudes. The mean deft (decayed, exfoliated and filled teeth) among the 3–5 years old was 6.71±6.07. The mean DMFT (decayed, missing and filled teeth) was 3.00±3.94 among the 13–17 years old and 1.12±1.42 among the 6–12 years old. Most of the 3–5 years old children exhibited good oral hygiene (71.4%). Dentofacial findings among the 3–5 years old were increased overjet (35.7%) and open bite (28.6%) predominantly. Fractured teeth (69.2%), increased overjet (46.2%) and discolouration (23.1%) were the common dentofacial findings among the 6–12 years old while increased overjet (71.4%), soft tissue lesions (57.1%) and posterior crossbite (28.6%) were seen among the 13–17 years old. In this cohort of children with thalassaemia, the prevalence of dental caries was high in preschool children and older children.
Oral Health ; Child Health ; Thalassemia

Introduction: The aim of this study is to assess the outcomes of ala carte posteromedial release in children over two years of age who were not responding to the Ponseti method of treatment of idiopathic clubfoot. Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational study from September 2013 to August 2015 was conducted at a tertiary level medical teaching institution. The clubfeet were classified according to the Harold and Walker classification. Radiographic parameters assessed were the talocalcaneal angle (AP, lateral), talus-first metatarsal angle (AP, lateral) and calcaneal-fifth metatarsal angle. The scar and the functional score, according to Laaveg and Ponseti, were evaluated as outcome measures at the final follow-up. Results: Twenty-four children with a mean age of 43.7 ± 24.7 months were enrolled in the study. There was a total of 36 clubfeet: 21 (65.6%) with a poor functional outcome; 12 (37.4%) with excellent to good scar in both horizontal and vertical components. There was a statistical significance between the pre-operative and post-operative radiological parameters (p<0.05). None of the patients presented with any limitation of activities of daily living despite the poor functional outcome in many of the children. There was no significant association between the qualities of scar (horizontal, vertical) and the functional outcome with age at presentation, pre-operative Harold and Walker classification and pre-operative radiographic angles. Conclusion: Surgical intervention in terms of ala carte posteromedial soft tissue release could not produce a good outcome over four years in CTEV. The threshold for surgery in CTEV should be high, given the poor results.

Introduction: The present inquiry seeks to investigate whether the current regimens of QSEs (QuadricepsStrengthening Exercises) aggravate the disease while mitigating symptoms. Materials and methods: A comparative study was conducted on 32 patients with medial compartment osteoarthritis of knees. While the neutral group of 16 patients was constituted of those with an anatomical-lateral-femorotibial-angle (aFTA) 176-180º, varus group comprised an equal number of patients with an aFTA >180º. A home-based 12-week strength-training program involving weekly visits to hospital for supervised sessions was administered. The outcome measures were visual-analog-scale (VAS), medial patello-femoral joint tenderness (MPFJT), time-up-and-gotest (TUGT), stair-climb test, step test, WOMAC, IKDC scores, aFTA, hip-knee-ankle (HKA) angle, lateral-tibiofemoral-joint-separation (LTFJS), and horizontal-distancefrom-centre-of-knee-to-Mikulicz-line. Results: There was a significant increase in quadriceps strength (p<0.01) in both groups. Values for neutral group with VAS score (p=0.01), MPFJT (p=0.01), TUGT (p=0.01), timing of the stair climb test (p=0.01), WOMAC (p<0.01), and IKDC (p=0.03) were better compared to varus group with VAS score (p=0.13), MPFJT (p=0.03), TUGT (p=0.90), timing of stair climb test (p=0.68), WOMAC (p<0.02), and IKDC (p=0.05). Varus group also showed an increase in aFTA and LTFJS in 12 patients, increase in HKA in 11, and increase in horizontal distance from the centre of knee to the Mikulicz line in 7 patients. Conclusion: The present study brings to the fore the paradoxical role played by QSEs in management of medial knee OA. While there is a radiological progression of the disease in both neutral and varus mal-aligned knees more so in the latter than the former.