IPGMER and SSKM Hospital, or in its full name Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education and Research and Seth Sukhlal Karnani Memorial Hospital, colloquially known as P. G. Hospital (Presidency General Hospital), also known as PGI KOLKATA, is a government medical school and tertiary referral government hospital for the state of West Bengal, India and is a national research institute.Located near Race Course ground and the Victoria Memorial Hall of Kolkata, its location is in the heart of Kolkata surrounded by cultural and historical landmarks like the Nandan complex, Rabindra Sadan, Academy of Fine Arts the Saint Paul's Cathedral, the Red Road and the Indian Museum. It faces the Maidan of Kolkata - a hot-spot for political rallies in the city. The Bangur Institute of Neurosciences is adjacent and functionally attached to this institution.
A continuous hybrid treatment system on integration of cross-flow flat-sheet nanofiltration (NF) membrane system with persulphate-based oxidation was developed for efficient removal and degradation of antibiotic residues from water. The cross-flow configuration significantly reduced fouling through enhanced surface sweeping, enabling stable operation. Antibiotic rejection increased with transmembrane pressure and cross-flow rate, confirming uncoupled solute-solvent transport in NF. Maximum permeate fluxes of 352, 188, and 136 L m(-2) h(-1) were obtained for NF-2, NF-20, and NF-1 membranes, respectively, at 14 bar and 800 LPH. Overall rejection exceeded 96%-98%, following the order azithromycin > ofloxacin > ciprofloxacin. Azithromycin rejection was dominated by steric hindrance, while ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin were mainly rejected through Donnan and electrostatic exclusion mechanisms. Optimal performance was achieved at pH 9, where all antibiotics existed in anionic form and strong charge repulsion dominated separation. The NF concentrate was subsequently treated using persulphate oxidation, and process parameters were optimized via response surface methodology. Under optimized conditions (persulphate 6.1 mg L-1, flow rate 36 mL min(-1), residence time 40 min), degradation efficiencies of 98.88% for azithromycin, 97.96% for ofloxacin, and 97.65% for ciprofloxacin were achieved. The results demonstrate a robust, low-fouling, and scalable tertiary treatment strategy for antibiotic-contaminated water.
Graves’ Orbitopathy (GO) is an inflammatory autoimmune disorder associated with Graves’ Disease (GD). It is characterized by orbital tissues remodelling due to fibrosis and adipogenesis. Circulating fibrocytes derived from monocytes share common characteristics with orbital fibroblast. Fibrocytes also play an important role in orbital tissue remodelling in GO. This study aims to observe (i) adipocyte differentiation of cultured fibrocytes and (ii) expressions of adipogenic markers and their association with clinical parameters in GO. Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) were isolated from patients with GO (n = 20), GD (n = 20), and HC (n = 10) and cultured to obtain fibrocytes. Adipocyte differentiation was observed by using Oil Red O staining. Adiponectin and PPAR-γ expressions were measured by sandwich ELISA. Adiponectin and PPAR-γ expressions were further correlated with maximum EOM thickness, CAS, and proptosis in GO. Cultured fibrocytes exhibited spontaneous differentiation into lipid accumulating cells. Expressions of adiponectin and PPAR-γ were significantly higher in GO compared to GD and HC(p < 0.05). Adiponectin and PPAR-γ expressions were strongly positively correlated with maximum EOM thickness, CAS and proptosis in GO. This finding suggests that fibrocytes contribute to the pathogenesis of GO through adipocytes differentiation. Elevated adiponectin and PPAR-γ expressions and their correlation with disease activity indicate their potential as biomarkers in disease progression. This study explores the therapeutic strategies targeting fibrocyte-mediated adipogenesis in GO.
The study aims to compare the prevalence of TORCH (Toxoplasma, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus and Herpes virus) IgG and IgM titres in hearing-impaired children with normal-hearing children within the 1 to 5 year age group. It also seeks to examine long-term outcomes, in terms of speech using modified CAP (Categories of Auditory Performances) scores and SIR (Speech Intelligibility Rating) scores, for TORCH-positive versus TORCH-negative cochlear implant candidates in an age-specific manner. The study was conducted between April 2022 and September 2023 in the outpatient department of a tertiary care teaching hospital, with children aged between 1 and 5 years. 550 hearing-impaired children were screened for TORCH IgG and IgM titres over 1.5 years. 385 TORCH-positive children (children who had detectable IgG or IgM antibodies to any of the TORCH pathogens) and 165 TORCH-negative children were enrolled in the study following the inclusion criteria. In our study, we defined TORCH-positive children as those who had detectable IgG or IgM antibodies to any of the TORCH pathogens. This is purely a serological conclusion, and most children were clinically asymptomatic. From these 385 TORCH-positive children, 50 were selected through random sampling after exclusion. From the 165 TORCH-negative children, another 50 children were selected following random sampling after exclusion. The 100 hearing-impaired children underwent cochlear implant and followed up for 1 year with auditory verbal therapy, and assessment of speech outcome was done using the modified CAP score and SIR score. One hundred normal-hearing children from OPD were tested for the prevalence of TORCH IgG and IgM titers according to convenient sampling, aged between 1 and 5 years. For TORCH-positive, hearing-impaired children, the highest prevalence was observed for Rubella IgG (n = 44, 88
Diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable disease that remains endemic in several developing countries. Neurological complications, such as polyneuropathy, are rare but serious, often mimicking other neuromuscular disorders and leading to delayed diagnosis. Herein, we report the case of a 20-year-old incompletely immunised woman who presented with bilateral ptosis, multiple cranial neuropathies, and mild limb weakness following a prodrome of fever, headache, and peri-orbital pain. Initial investigations revealed albumin-cytologic dissociation in the cerebrospinal fluid, raising suspicion of Guillain-Barré syndrome, for which intravenous immunoglobulin was administered; however, there was no clinical improvement. Myasthenia gravis and botulism were also considered but excluded based on clinical and laboratory findings. Throat swab culture indicated the presence of Corynebacterium diphtheriae, confirming the diagnosis of diphtheritic polyneuropathy. The patient was treated with diphtheria antitoxin and erythromycin, resulting in an improvement of bulbar symptoms; nonetheless, ptosis persisted at discharge. Prophylaxis was provided to close contacts, and the patient was scheduled for diphtheria vaccination. This case highlights the significance of considering diphtheria in the differential diagnosis of acute cranial neuropathies in endemic regions and the role of vaccination in preventing such life-threatening complications.
BACKGROUND:Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), poses significant diagnostic challenges, particularly in South-East Asia, where its prevalence has risen sharply. Although endoscopic biopsies and histopathological evaluations are central to IBD management, inconsistencies in sampling, processing and reporting hinder accurate and reliable diagnosis. METHODS:To address these gaps, the Indian Association of Pathologists and Microbiologists (IAPM), the Indian Society of Gastroenterology (ISG) and the Colitis and Crohn's Foundation, India, (CCFI) collaborated to formulate comprehensive guidelines. Using a structured Delphi process and expert consensus, recommendations were developed to standardize biopsy protocols, histological evaluation and reporting of mucosal biopsies and tackling critical diagnostic challenges. RESULTS:The recommendations cover biopsy sampling, optimal processing, orientation, interpretation methods, histopathological algorithms, recommendations on histological scoring, follow-up biopsies and differentiation of IBD from its mimickers based on existing literature and expert's experience. Reporting formats were suggested to ensure uniformity in practice. CONCLUSION:These evidence-based, practical recommendations aim to enhance diagnostic precision, unify practices and improve patient outcomes in IBD care, providing pathologists in resource-diverse settings with a standardized approach to gastrointestinal mucosal biopsy evaluation.
