Can a brief period of double J stenting improve the outcome of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for renal calculi sized 1 to 2 cm?

Rakesh Sharma,Arpan Choudhary,Ranjit Kumar Das,Supriya Basu,Ranjan Kumar Dey,Rupesh Gupta,Partha Pratim Deb 대한비뇨의학회 2017 Investigative and Clinical Urology Vol.58 No.2

Purpose: Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is an established modality for renal calculi. Its role for large stones is being questioned. A novel model of temporary double J (DJ) stenting followed by ESWL was devised and outcomes were assessed. Materials and Methods: The study included 95 patients with renal calculi sized 1 to 2 cm. Patients were randomized into 3 groups. Group 1 received ESWL only, whereas group 2 underwent stenting followed by ESWL. In group 3, a distinct model was applied in which the stent was kept for 1 week and then removed, followed by ESWL. Procedural details, analgesic requirements, and outcome were analyzed. Results: Eighty-eight patients (male, 47; female, 41) were available for analysis. The patients' mean age was 37.9±10.9 years. Stone profile was similar among groups. Group 3 received fewer shocks (mean, 3,155) than did group 1 (mean, 3,859; p=0.05) or group 2 (mean, 3,872; p=0.04). The fragmentation rate was similar in group 3 (96.7%) and groups 1 (81.5%, p=0.12) and 2 (87.1%, p=0.16). Overall clearance in group 3 was significantly improved (83.3%) compared with that in groups 1 (63.0%, p=0.02) and 2 (64.5%, p=0.02) and was maintained even in lower pole stones. The percentage successful outcome in groups 1, 2, and 3 was 66.7%, 64.5%, and 83.3%, respectively (p=0.21). The analgesic requirement in group 2 was higher than in the other groups (p=0.00). Group 2 patients also had more grade IIIa (2/3) and IIIB (1/2) complications. Conclusions: Stenting adversely affects stone clearance and also makes the later course uncomfortable. Our model of brief stenting followed by ESWL provided better clearance, comfort, and a modest improvement in outcome with fewer sittings and steinstrasse in selected patients with large renal calculi.

Influence of maternal and socioeconomic factors on breast milk fatty acid composition in urban, low‐income families

Nayak, Uma,Kanungo, Suman,Zhang, Dadong,Ross Colgate, E.,Carmolli, Marya P.,Dey, Ayan,Alam, Masud,Manna, Byomkesh,Nandy, Ranjan Kumar,Kim, Deok Ryun,Paul, Dilip Kumar,Choudhury, Saugato,Sahoo, Sushama John Wiley and Sons Inc. 2017 Maternal & child nutrition Vol.13 No.4

<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P>The lipid composition of breast milk may have a significant impact on early infant growth and cognitive development. Comprehensive breast milk data is lacking from low‐income populations in the Indian subcontinent impeding assessment of deficiencies and limiting development of maternal nutritional interventions. A single breast milk specimen was collected within 6 weeks postpartum from two low‐income maternal cohorts of exclusively breastfed infants, from Dhaka, Bangladesh (<I>n</I> = 683) and Kolkata, India (<I>n</I> = 372) and assayed for percentage composition of 26 fatty acids. Mature milk (>15 days) in Dhaka (<I>n</I> = 99) compared to Kolkata (<I>n</I> = 372) was higher in total saturated fatty acid (SFA; mean 48% vs. 44%) and disproportionately lower in ω3‐polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), hence the ω6‐ and ω3‐PUFA ratio in Dhaka were almost double the value in Kolkata. In both sites, after adjusting for days of lactation, increased maternal education was associated with decreased SFA and PUFA, and increasing birth order or total pregnancies was associated with decreasing ω6‐PUFA or ω3‐PUFA by a factor of 0.95 for each birth and pregnancy. In Dhaka, household prosperity was associated with decreased SFA and PUFA and increased ω6‐ and ω3‐PUFA. Maternal height was associated with increased SFA and PUFA in Kolkata (1% increase per 1 cm), but body mass index showed no independent association with either ratio in either cohort. In summary, the socioeconomic factors of maternal education and household prosperity were associated with breast milk composition, although prosperity may only be important in higher cost of living communities. Associated maternal biological factors were height and infant birth order, but not adiposity. Further study is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of these effects.</P>

Understanding Bacterial Biofilm Stimulation Using Different Methods – a Criterion for Selecting Epiphytes by Plants

Shashi Bhushan,Mandakini Gogoi,Abhispa Bora,Sourav Ghosh,Sinchini Barman,Tethi Biswas,Mathummal Sudarshan,Ashoke Ranjan Thakur,Indranil Mukherjee,Subrata Kumar Dey,Shaon Ray Chaudhuri 한국미생물·생명공학회 2019 한국미생물·생명공학회지 Vol.47 No.2

Earlier studies by our group revealed that gallic acid in phytochemicals stimulated biofilm production in epiphytes, while caffeic acid in phytochemicals inhibited biofilm production in non-epiphytes. It is well documented that antimicrobial secretion by some epiphytic bacteria inhibits non-epiphytic bacterial growth on leaf surfaces. These selection criteria help plants choose their microbial inhabitants. Calcium and iron in phytochemicals also stimulate biofilm formation and thus, may be selection criteria adopted by plants with respect to their native epiphytic population. Furthermore, the processing of leaves during phytochemical extraction impacts the composition of the extract, and therefore its ability to affect bacterial biofilm formation. Computation of the Hurst exponent using biofilm thickness data obtained from the Ellipsometry of Brewster Angle Microscopic (BAM) images is an efficient tool for understanding the impact of phytochemicals on epiphytic and non-epiphytic populations when compared to fluorescent microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and staining techniques. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that uses the Hurst exponent to elucidate the mechanism involved in plant microbe interaction.

Understanding Bacterial Biofilm Stimulation Using Different Methods - a Criterion for Selecting Epiphytes by Plants

Bhushan, Shashi,Gogoi, Mandakini,Bora, Abhispa,Ghosh, Sourav,Barman, Sinchini,Biswas, Tethi,Sudarshan, Mathummal,Thakur, Ashoke Ranjan,Mukherjee, Indranil,Dey, Subrata Kumar,Chaudhuri, Shaon Ray The Korean Society for Microbiology and Biotechnol 2019 한국미생물·생명공학회지 Vol.47 No.2

Earlier studies by our group revealed that gallic acid in phytochemicals stimulated biofilm production in epiphytes, while caffeic acid in phytochemicals inhibited biofilm production in non-epiphytes. It is well documented that antimicrobial secretion by some epiphytic bacteria inhibits non-epiphytic bacterial growth on leaf surfaces. These selection criteria help plants choose their microbial inhabitants. Calcium and iron in phytochemicals also stimulate biofilm formation and thus, may be selection criteria adopted by plants with respect to their native epiphytic population. Furthermore, the processing of leaves during phytochemical extraction impacts the composition of the extract, and therefore its ability to affect bacterial biofilm formation. Computation of the Hurst exponent using biofilm thickness data obtained from the Ellipsometry of Brewster Angle Microscopic (BAM) images is an efficient tool for understanding the impact of phytochemicals on epiphytic and non-epiphytic populations when compared to fluorescent microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and staining techniques. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that uses the Hurst exponent to elucidate the mechanism involved in plant microbe interaction.

<i>Shigella</i> Outer Membrane Protein PSSP-1 Is Broadly Protective against <i>Shigella</i> Infection

Kim, Jae-Ouk,Rho, Semi,Kim, Su Hee,Kim, Heejoo,Song, Hyo Jin,Kim, Eun Jin,Kim, Ryang Yeo,Kim, Eun Hye,Sinha, Anuradha,Dey, Ayan,Yang, Jae Seung,Song, Man Ki,Nandy, Ranjan Kumar,Czerkinsky, Cecil,Kim, American Society for Microbiology 2015 CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY Vol.22 No.4

<P>In developing countries, <I>Shigella</I> is a primary cause of diarrhea in infants and young children. Although antibiotic therapy is an effective treatment for shigellosis, therapeutic options are narrowing due to the emergence of antibiotic resistance. Thus, preventive vaccination could become the most efficacious approach for controlling shigellosis. We have identified several conserved protein antigens that are shared by multiple <I>Shigella</I> serotypes and species. Among these, one antigen induced cross-protection against experimental shigellosis, and we have named it pan-<I>Shigella</I> surface protein 1 (PSSP-1). PSSP-1-induced protection requires a mucosal administration route and coadministration of an adjuvant. When PSSP-1 was administered intranasally, it induced cross-protection against <I>Shigella flexneri</I> serotypes 2a, 5a, and 6, <I>Shigella boydii</I>, <I>Shigella sonnei</I>, and <I>Shigella dysenteriae</I> serotype 1. Intradermally administered PSSP-1 induced strong serum antibody responses but failed to induce protection in the mouse lung pneumonia model. In contrast, intranasal administration elicited efficient local and systemic antibody responses and production of interleukin 17A and gamma interferon. Interestingly, blood samples from patients with recent-onset shigellosis showed variable but significant mucosal antibody responses to other conserved <I>Shigella</I> protein antigens but not to PSSP-1. We suggest that PSSP-1 is a promising antigen for a broadly protective vaccine against <I>Shigella</I>.</P>