Pancreatic pseudocyst is a common complication that can occur following acute or chronic pancreatitis. Commonly, they are peripancreatic in location. Rarely, they can extend to the mediastinum, and further extension to the neck is even rarer. A 55-year-old man who presented with neck stiffness and dysphagia and on imaging, was found to have a cystic lesion in the neck. Aspiration of the lesion revealed raised amylase levels suggestive of a pancreatic pseudocyst.

ABSTRACT Background: Preeclampsia is one of the major health problems causing maternal morbidity and mortality, complicating 3-8% of pregnancies. It has been suggested that the alterations in the coagulation and fibrinolysis play a role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. The markers of platelet activation include platelet count, platelet distribution width, mean platelet volume and plateletcrit. Study design: It was a case-controlled study which included a total of 60 patients (30 cases and 30 controls). Blood samples were collected and the platelet indices - platelet count, plateletcrit, mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width - were evaluated using the Sysmex XN1000 and compared between the two groups. Results: The MPV and PDW also showed a significant difference (p > 0.05) between the two groups, with a significant positive correlation with increasing blood pressure (MPV - r = +0.6126, p < 0.05 and PDW - r = +0.6441, p < 0.05). The PC and PCT had lower values in the preeclampsia patients, however the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The MPV and PDW showed a significant difference between the two groups and increasing values with increasing BP. However, the PC and PCT in our study did not show a significant correlation with preeclampsia. Thus, the platelet indices, mainly the MPV and PDW, which are economical and easily available, can be reliable in the prediction and early diagnosis of preeclampsia, as well as a marker for the severity of preeclampsia.

Abstract Aim SLE is a systemic autoimmune disease generally affecting woman in the reproductive age. It is associated with an altered level of Tregs and oxidative stress while an increase in Tregs, and different antioxidant mechanisms to combat oxidative stress are essential for successful pregnancy. Hence, this study aims to determine the level of CD4+ and CD8+ Tregs and oxidative stress in pregnant lupus patients. Methods Ten healthy and 10 pregnant lupus volunteers from the North Indian population, within the age group of 20–30 years were enrolled in the study. All the patients were non-smokers, non-alcoholics and were not associated or undergoing therapy for any other disease. They had a SLEDAI of 37.4 ± 7.32 with 5.2 ± 1.93 years of disease duration. Oxidative stress was determined by measuring the enzyme activity of anti-oxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) and the level of reduced glutathione and lipids peroxidised, spectrophotometrically. Flowcytometry was performed for immunophenotyping to determine CD8+ and CD4+ Tregs. Results Elevated CD8+ Tregs and diminished CD4+ Tregs were observed in pregnant lupus patients. Oxidative stress was significantly increased as the activities of anti-oxidant enzymes and level of reduced glutathione was considerably diminished. There was a substantial increase in the amount of lipids peroxidised. Conclusion Pregnant lupus patients undergo considerable level of oxidative stress in comparison to healthy pregnant woman. The decreased level of CD4+ Tregs and an increase in CD8+ Tregs might be another important factor responsible for pregnancy associated complications. Hence, lupus leads to alterations in the necessary conditions for a successful pregnancy, which might eventually cause higher mortality, morbidity and associated complications.

Abstract Stripe rust caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) is one of the most devastating diseases of wheat (Triticum spp.) worldwide. Indian isolates were characterised based on their phenotypic reaction on differential hosts carrying different Yr genes. Based on virulence/avirulence structure, isolates were characterised into ten different pathotypes viz. 70S0-2, 67S64, 70S4, 66S0, 70S64, 66S64-1, 38S102, 47S102, 46S119, and 78S84. These Indian pathotypes of P. striiformis f. sp. tritici and 38 pathotypes of other rust species (P. graminis tritici and P. triticina) were used in this study to analyze their molecular phylogenetic relationship. The nucleotides of rDNA-ITS, partial β-tubulin and ketopantoate reductase genes of all the pathotypes were sequenced directly after PCR. Based on sequence data of rDNA-ITS and β-tubulin, three phylogenetic groups corresponding to three different species of Puccinia were obtained. Asian isolates formed a distinct evolutionary lineage than from those derived from USA. The sequence similarity of Indian pathotypes with other Asian (China and Iran) isolates indicated the same origin of pathotypes. The results will allow rapid identification of Indian P.striiformis f. sp. tritici pathotypes causing stripe rust in wheat, assist in making predictions regarding potential rust pathotypes, and identifying sources of resistance to the disease in advance.

Resumo Objetivo: Descrever o espectro dos achados de ressonância magnética (RM) em pacientes com manifestações neurológicas de dengue. Materiais e Métodos: Foram incluídos nove pacientes com dengue (três do sexo feminino e seis do sexo masculino; faixa etária: 9–30 anos), todos com manifestações neurológicas. Os exames de RM, realizados em aparelhos de 1,5 T ou 3 T, incluíram sequências ponderadas em T1 e em T2, assim como fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR). Também foi empregada a imagem ponderada em difusão com mapeamento de coeficientes de difusão aparente. Além disso, foram obtidas sequências gradiente-eco ponderadas por suscetibilidade e em fast low-angle shot, bem como imagens ponderadas em T1 pós-contraste, para avaliar o realce parenquimatoso. As imagens de RM foram analisadas quanto à distribuição de lesões e características de imagens. Resultados: Todos os pacientes apresentaram áreas de intensidade de sinal alteradas que apareceram como hiperintensidade em sequências ponderadas em T2 e sequências FLAIR. O local mais comumente afetado foi o complexo gânglios basais-tálamo. Outros locais afetados foram o cerebelo, o córtex cerebral, a substância branca e o tronco encefálico. Em todos os casos observamos áreas irregulares de difusão restrita e áreas focais de hemorragia. Conclusão: A encefalite por dengue geralmente afeta os gânglios basais, o tálamo, o cerebelo, o córtex cerebral e a substância branca. Portanto, a RM deve ser uma parte indispensável da avaliação de pacientes com complicações neurológicas da dengue.

Abstract Objective: To describe the spectrum of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in patients with neurological manifestations of dengue. Materials and Methods: We included nine patients with dengue fever (three females and six males; age range, 9–30 years), all of whom presented with neurological manifestations. The MRI examinations, performed in 1.5 T or 3 T scanners, included T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequences. Diffusion-weighted imaging with apparent diffusion coefficient mapping was also employed. Fast low-angle shot and susceptibility-weighted gradient-recalled echo sequences, as well as contrast-enhanced T1-weighted scans, were also obtained in order to assess parenchymal enhancement. MRI scans were analyzed for lesion distribution and imaging features. Results: All patients showed areas of altered signal intensity that appeared as hyperintensity on T2-weighted and FLAIR sequences. The most commonly affected site was the basal ganglia-thalamus complex. Other affected sites were the cerebellum, cerebral cortex, white matter, and brainstem. In all cases, we observed patchy areas of restricted diffusion and focal areas of hemorrhage. Conclusion: Dengue encephalitis commonly affects the basal ganglia, thalamus, cerebellum, cerebral cortex, and white matter. Therefore, MRI should be an indispensable part of the evaluation of patients with neurological complications of dengue fever.

Resumo Durante dissecção de membro superior direito de um cadáver de 70 anos, do sexo masculino, conduzida em um departamento de anatomia, foram observadas anomalias tanto na origem quanto no curso das artérias radial e ulnar. Após descer 5,5 cm desde a borda inferior do músculo redondo maior, a artéria braquial anomalamente se bifurcava em uma artéria radial medialmente, e em uma artéria ulnar lateralmente. No braço, a artéria ulnar se encontrava ao lado do nervo mediano, e seguia um curso normal no antebraço. A artéria radial se encontrava medialmente ao nervo mediano no braço e, então, no nível do epicôndilo medial, ela cruzava do lado medial para o lado lateral do antebraço, na superfície dos músculos flexores. O curso da artéria radial era superficial e tortuoso em todo o braço e antebraço. As variações das artérias radial e ulnar aqui descritas foram associadas a formação e curso anômalos do nervo mediano no braço. Conhecimento sobre anomalias neurovasculares são importantes para cirurgiões vasculares e radiologistas.

Abstract During dissection conducted in an anatomy department of the right upper limb of the cadaver of a 70-year-old male, both origin and course of the radial and ulnar arteries were found to be anomalous. After descending 5.5 cm from the lower border of the teres major, the brachial artery anomalously bifurcated into a radial artery medially and an ulnar artery laterally. In the arm, the ulnar artery lay lateral to the median nerve. It followed a normal course in the forearm. The radial artery was medial to the median nerve in the arm and then, at the level of the medial epicondyle, it crossed from the medial to the lateral side of the forearm, superficial to the flexor muscles. The course of the radial artery was superficial and tortuous throughout the arm and forearm. The variations of radial and ulnar arteries described above were associated with anomalous formation and course of the median nerve in the arm. Knowledge of neurovascular anomalies are important for vascular surgeons and radiologists.

Abstract The antagonistic potential of Trichoderma strains was assayed by studying the effect of their culture filtrate on the radial growth of Sclerotium rolfsii, the causal agent of chickpea collar rot. Trichoderma harzianum-1432 (42.2%) and Trichoderma atroviride (40.3%) were found to be strong antagonists. To enhance their antagonistic potential, mutagenesis of these two selected strains was performed. Two mutants, Th-m1 and T. atroviride m1, were found to be more effective than their parent strains. The enzymatic activities of the selected parent and mutant strains were assayed, and although both mutants were found to have enhanced enzymatic activities compared to their respective parent strains, Th-m1 possessed the maximum cellulase (5.69 U/mL) and β-1,3-glucanase activity (61.9 U/mL). Th-m1 also showed high competitive saprophytic ability (CSA) among all of the selected parent and mutant strains, and during field experiments, Th-m1 was found to successfully possess enhanced disease control (82.9%).

Este trabalho apresenta uma análise das práticas e discursos iliberais da Guerra Global Contra o Terror (GWoT, na sigla em inglês) e demonstra como os Estados Unidos da América usaram o argumento liberal como uma métrica qualitativa do seu sucesso e fracasso na GWoT. Argumento que o “estranhamento do outro” (salafistas jihadistas) – bem como o envolvimento militar no Afeganistão e Iraque foram filosoficamente enraizadas no pensamento liberal de Immanuel Kant e John Stuart Mill, que tradicionalmente têm guiado a política externa estadunidense. Mais significativamente, essas filosofias liberais da história e das relações internacionais têm dentro de si as sementes do iliberalismo ao descrever sociedades/organizações não-liberais e antidemocráticas como “bárbaras” – e, como tal, os principais candidatos para a intervenção e mudança de regime. Predicado nessa lógica, o discurso da GWoT enquadrou a Al Qaeda como uma ameaça existencial chave, não apenas para os Estados Unidos, mas também para o “mundo civilizado” em geral, exigindo então uma “guerra defensiva liberal” em resposta. Foi o sucesso da securitização da Al Qaeda que essencialmente permitiu aos Estados Unidos adotarem políticas profundamente iliberais para combater esta dita ameaça existencial utilizando-se de todos os meios à sua disposição

This paper offers an analysis of the illiberal practices and discourse of the Global War on Terror (GWoT) and demonstrates how the United States of America used the liberal argument as a qualitative metric of its success and failure in the GWoT. I argue that ‘the othering’ of Salafi Jihadists as well the full military involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq were both philosophically rooted in the liberal thinking of Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill, which have traditionally guided US foreign policy. More significantly, these liberal philosophies of history and international relations hold within them the seeds of illiberalism by depicting non-liberal, undemocratic societies/organisations as ‘barbaric’ – and as such prime candidates for intervention and regime change. Predicated upon this logic, the discourse of the GWoT framed Al Qaeda as a key existential threat to not only the United States but also the ‘civilised world’ in general and one which required a ‘liberal defensive war’ in response. It was the successful securitisation of Al Qaeda that essentially enabled the United States to adopt deeply illiberal policies to counter this so-called existential threat by using any means at its disposal.