Rajarajeswari Medical College & Hospital

The pathogenic variants of TMEM151A are known to be the genetic cause for Paroxysmal Kinesigenic Dyskinesia apart from PRRT2 variants. Through whole exome sequencing, we identified a known variant (c.368G > C; p. Arg123Pro) in the affected siblings of family-1 and a novel heterozygous variant (c.335T > C; p. Leu112Pro) in the patient of family-2.

Microorganisms such as Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis), Enterobacteriaceae, and Candida albicans (C. albicans) are associated with persisting infections and causing endodontic failure. The addition of herbals to calcium hydroxide increases the microbial efficacy within the root canal.

The study aimed at evaluating and comparing the pH change, calcium ions release, along with antimicrobial potential of various nanoparticle calcium hydroxide preparations as an intracanal medicament against E. faecalis and C. albicans.

Decoronation of 40 single-rooted teeth was done, canals were enlarged, and segregated into four categories (each group containing 10 samples): Nano calcium hydroxide (CH) + sterile distilled water, nano CH + nano clove, nano CH + nano triphala, and nano CH + nano activated charcoal. The formulations were prepared, placed within the canals, and suspended in glass vials. Calcium ion concentration and pH changes were analyzed up to 30 days. The antimicrobial efficacy against E. faecalis and C. albicans was measured by agar diffusion test/disk diffusion test and direct contact test. To compare the zone of inhibition, absorbance values, and pH values, the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was employed. Kruskal-Wallis test was employed to measure colony-forming units (CFU) between four categories.

Calcium hydroxide with distilled water group was observed with maximum sustained release of calcium ions compared with the other three herbal combinations. The maximum mean zone of inhibition against C. albicans was achieved by nano CH + clove. Nano CH + with distilled water had maximum mean zone of inhibition against E. faecalis.

Herbal combinations of CH showed enhanced antimicrobial activity against C. albicans and E. faecalis and can be used in endodontic treatment.

Vijaya PS, Siddaiah SB, Somanna P, et al. Comparative Evaluation of Antimicrobial Effect, Calcium Ion Release, and pH Change Using Herbal Combinations of Nanoparticle Calcium Hydroxide: An In Vitro Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2025;18(9):1103-1109.

Real-world investigations focused on gender-associated characteristics of Acute Heart failure (AHF) are lacking. The current study, from a national heart failure registry, aims to investigate gender-based patterns and outcomes among AHF patients in India.

This prospective Indian College of Cardiology National Heart Failure Registry enrolled patients admitted with AHF in 17 centres from 2019 to 2021. Demographics, aetiology, co-morbidities, laboratory investigations, electrocardiogram, and echo parameters were captured. In-hospital 30-day and one-year mortality rates were recorded. The prescription and adherence to the three Guideline Directed Medical Therapy (GDMT) prescription in 2019-2021 were also captured at discharge. Mortality rate Gender-based comparisons were tested at a 5 % level of significance.

The study enrolled 5182 AHF patients, 66.7 % male (M) and 33.3 % female (F). The mean age of the male (M) population was 60.9 ± 13.3, and the female (F) population was 62.8 ± 14 years. Women had a higher prevalence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)(F:12.9 %, M:7.3 %;P < 0.0001), hypertension (F: 57.2 %, M: 52.4 %; P = 0.0011) and arrhythmia (F:15.2 %, M:11.7 %;P = 0.0005). Men had a higher incidence of ischemic heart disease (M:76.2 %, F:67.5 %; P < 0.001). Adherence to Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors, Beta-blockers and Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) was low (18.8 % (M); 15.9 % (F)). The mortality rate, in-hospital mortality was 6.9 % (M:6.5 %, F:7.7 %), up to one-month was 11.8 % (M:11.6 %, F:12.3 %) or one-year was 18.1 % (M:17.8 %, F:18.6 %).

Women represent one-third of the population with AHF. Hypertension and HFpEF were more common in women, while ischemic heart disease was more prevalent in men. No gender-based differences were observed in the mortality outcomes. Both groups had low GDMT adherence. This calls for effective strategies to improve HF care in the country.