This study addresses the challenge of respiratory motion in pediatric patients undergoing proton ... more This study addresses the challenge of respiratory motion in pediatric patients undergoing proton therapy for total lymphoid irradiation (TLI), an essential component of reducedintensity conditioning regimens for hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) patients. The primary concern is the interplay effect, which can cause deviations from the planned dose during respiratory motion. The research utilized static and 4D CT images from ten patients to simulate the interplay effect and assess its impact on treatment planning. The study concludes that 4D plan evaluation and robust optimization techniques can help address respiratory motion challenges in proton TLI treatments, especially in cases where other motion management strategies like breath-holding are not feasible due to the patient's young age, the need for anesthesia, or medical conditions. Patient-specific respiratory motion evaluations are crucial to ensure adequate dosimetric coverage in proton therapy for pediatric patients.
Interfacing anatomically conformal electronic components, such as sensors, with biology is centra... more Interfacing anatomically conformal electronic components, such as sensors, with biology is central to the creation of next-generation wearable systems for health care and human augmentation applications. Thus, there is a need to establish computer-aided design and manufacturing methods for producing personalized anatomically conformal systems, such as wearable devices and human-machine interfaces (HMIs). Here, we show that a threedimensional (3D) scanning and 3D printing process enabled the design and fabrication of a sensor-integrated anatomical human-machine interface (AHMI) in the form of personalized prosthetic hands that contain anatomically conformal electrode arrays for children affected by amniotic band syndrome, a common birth defect. A methodology for identifying optimal scanning parameters was identified based on local and global metrics of registered point cloud data quality. This method identified an optimal rotational angle step size between adjacent 3D scans. The sensitivity of the optimization process to variations in organic shape (i.e., geometry) was examined by testing other anatomical structures, including a foot, an ear, and a porcine kidney. We found that personalization of the prosthetic interface increased the tissue-prosthesis contact area by 408% relative to the non-personalized devices. Conformal 3D printing of carbon nanotube-based polymer inks across the personalized AHMI facilitated the integration of electronic components, specifically, conformal sensor arrays for measuring the pressure distribution across the AHMI (i.e., the tissue-prosthesis interface). We found that the pressure across the AHMI exhibited a non-uniform distribution and became redistributed upon activation of the prosthetic hand's grasping action. Overall, this work shows that the integration of 3D scanning and 3D printing processes
The Journal of rural health : official journal of the American Rural Health Association and the National Rural Health Care Association, Jan 10, 2018
Health disparities among LGBTQ people have been documented across various settings and recent res... more Health disparities among LGBTQ people have been documented across various settings and recent research has indicated that many disparities are heightened in the context of rurality. Among these disparities is the decreased rate of primary care utilization by rural LGBTQ individuals. Understanding and addressing provider knowledge and attitudes related to LGBTQ health provides a relevant avenue for addressing underutilization. The study presented was a mail-out survey regarding rural primary care providers' knowledge and experiences regarding LGBTQ health. Publicly available records were compiled to recruit a total sample of 113 primary care providers, at a response rate of 19.8%. A majority of respondents reported experience providing care to LGBTQ patients, while only slightly over half had received LGBTQ health education. Data analyses revealed significant associations between reported experiences and patient characteristics including religion, religiousness, age, length of ti...
Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in the United States remain heavily im... more Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in the United States remain heavily impacted by HIV. The purpose of this study was to describe intergenerational differences in functional knowledge of HIV prevention strategies, perceived risk, recent condomless anal sex (CAS), and HIV testing behavior. Eight hundred sexually active GBMSM were recruited via Facebook from August to September 2015, and administered a Web-based survey which included 12 multiple-choice questions to elicit data regarding functional knowledge of different HIV prevention approaches (e.g., condom use, pre-exposure prophylaxis post-exposure prophylaxis, treatment as prevention, circumcision). Cumulative logit and multivariable logistic models were formulated to examine birth cohort variations across four analytic outcomes. Younger generations were significantly more knowledgeable, as were GBMSM with higher education. Non-Hispanic non-White GBMSM and those reporting a bisexual/other sexual orientatio...
Journal of pediatric hematology/oncology, Jan 10, 2018
Recurrent/refractory hematologic malignancies have a poor prognosis, and there is a need for nove... more Recurrent/refractory hematologic malignancies have a poor prognosis, and there is a need for novel treatment regimens that can be tolerated by this heavily pretreated patient group. Clofarabine has antileukemic activity with an acceptable toxicity profile. In a phase I clinical trial (NCT00824135), we substituted clofarabine for fludarabine in a well-established reduced-intensity conditioning regimen for a T cell-depleted, mismatched-related (haploidentical) donor transplant backbone and explored the maximum tolerated dose of clofarabine in this combination in 15 patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation for recurrent/refractory or secondary leukemia. Clofarabine was well tolerated at a dose of 50 mg/m/d for 5 days in this regimen, with minimal treatment-related mortality in a heavily pretreated group of high-risk patients. All patients exhibited quick hematopoietic recovery, with median times to neutrophil and platelet engraftment being 11 and 16 days, respectively. Tr...
AIDS education and prevention : official publication of the International Society for AIDS Education, 2018
HIV testing is the gateway into both prevention and treatment services. It is important to unders... more HIV testing is the gateway into both prevention and treatment services. It is important to understand how men who have sex with men (MSM) perceive HIV self-tests. We conducted focus groups and individual interviews to collect feedback on two HIV self-tests, and on a dried blood spot (DBS) specimen collection kit. Perceptions and attitudes around HIV self-testing (HIVST), and willingness to distribute HIV self-tests to others were assessed. MSM reported HIVST to be complementary to facility-based testing, and liked this approach because it offers privacy and convenience, does not require counseling, and could lead to linkage to care. However, they also had concerns around the accuracy of HIV self-tests, their cost, and receiving a positive test result without immediate access to follow-up services. Despite these issues, they perceived HIVST as a positive addition to their HIV prevention toolbox.
Although several options are available to address adjacent segment disease (ASD), the most effect... more Although several options are available to address adjacent segment disease (ASD), the most effective surgical treatment has not been determined. In addition, it is important to subdivide ASD into stenosis with or without instability to determine if a decompression alone vs an extension of fusion is necessary. A systematic search of multiple medical reference databases was conducted for studies on surgical treatment of ASD. The primary outcome measures used were radiographic and clinical success rates. Meta-analysis was completed to determine effect summary values, 95% confidence intervals, and Q statistic and I(2) values, using the random effects model for heterogeneity. The search yielded 662 studies, of which 657 were excluded. A total of 5 (level IV) studies with a total of 118 patients were included in this review. In 2 studies (46 patients), stenosis without instability was the indication for reoperation for ASD. However, extension of fusion was the modality of choice for the t...
OBJECTIVE The flexed posture of the proximal (L1-3) or distal (L4-S1) lumbar spine increases the ... more OBJECTIVE The flexed posture of the proximal (L1-3) or distal (L4-S1) lumbar spine increases the diameter of the spinal canal and neuroforamina and can relieve symptoms of neurogenic claudication. Distal lumbar flexion can result in pelvic retroversion; therefore, in cases of flexible sagittal imbalance, pelvic retroversion may be compensatory for lumbar stenosis and not solely compensatory for the sagittal imbalance as previously thought. The authors investigate underlying causes for pelvic retroversion in patients with flexible sagittal imbalance. METHODS One hundred thirty-eight patients with sagittal imbalance who underwent a total of 148 fusion procedures of the thoracolumbar spine were identified from a prospective clinical database. Radiographic parameters were obtained from images preoperatively, intraoperatively, and at 6-month and 2-year follow-up. A cohort of 24 patients with flexible sagittal imbalance was identified and individually matched with a control cohort of 23 p...
The recently updated White House National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) includes specific progress ind... more The recently updated White House National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) includes specific progress indicators to improve the HIV care continuum in the USA, but the economic and epidemiological effect of achieving those indicators remains unclear. We aimed to project the impact of achieving NHAS goals on HIV incidence, prevalence, mortality, and costs among adults in the USA over 10 years. We constructed a dynamic transmission model of HIV progression and care engagement based on literature sources and the most recent published US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. We specifically considered achievement of the 2020 targets set forth in NHAS progress indicator 1 (90% awareness of serostatus), indicator 4 (85% linkage within 1 month), and indicator 5 (90% of diagnosed individuals in care). At current rates of engagement in the HIV care continuum, we project 524 000 (95% uncertainty range 442 000-712 000) new HIV infections and 375 000 deaths (364 000-578 000) between 2016 and ...
Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (Chicago, Ill. : 2002)
Online HIV prevention studies have been limited in their ability to obtain biological specimens t... more Online HIV prevention studies have been limited in their ability to obtain biological specimens to measure study outcomes. We describe factors associated with willingness of men who have sex with men (MSM) to take a free home HIV test as part of an online HIV prevention study. Between March and April 2009, we interviewed 6163 HIV-negative MSM and assessed the willingness to test for HIV infection using a home collection kit. Men reported being very likely (3833; 62%) or likely (1236; 20%) to accept a home HIV test as part of an online HIV prevention study. The odds of being willing to home test were higher for men who were offered incentives of $10 or $25, were black, had unprotected anal intercourse in the past 12 months, and were unaware of their HIV status. Home testing offered as part of online HIV prevention research is acceptable overall and in important subgroups of high-risk MSM.
Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) continue to be disproportionately impacted by the Hum... more Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) continue to be disproportionately impacted by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) epidemic in the United States (US). Testing for HIV is the cornerstone of comprehensive prevention efforts and the gateway to early engagement of infected individuals in medical care. We sought to determine attitudes towards six different HIV testing modalities presented collectively to internet-using MSM and identify which options rank higher than others in terms of intended usage preference. Methods: Between October and November 2012, we surveyed 973 HIV-negative or -unknown status MSM and assessed their acceptability of each of the following services hypothetically offered free of charge: Testing at a physician's office; Individual voluntary counseling and testing (VCT); Couples' HIV counseling and testing (CHCT); Expedited/express testing; Rapid home self-testing using an oral fluid test; Home dried blood spot (DBS) specimen self-collection for laboratory testing. Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to determine whether the stated likelihood of using each of these modalities differed by selected respondent characteristics. Men were also asked to rank these options in order of intended usage preference, and consensual rankings were determined using the modified Borda count (MBC) method. Results: Most participants reported being extremely likely or somewhat likely to use all HIV testing modalities except DBS self-collection for laboratory testing. Younger MSM indicated greater acceptability for expedited/express testing (P < 0.001), and MSM with lower educational levels reported being more likely to use CHCT (P < 0.001). Non-Hispanic black MSM indicated lower acceptability for VCT (P < 0.001). Rapid home self-testing using an oral fluid test and testing at a physician's office were the two most preferred options across all demographic and behavioral strata. Conclusions: Novel approaches to increase the frequency of HIV testing among US MSM are urgently needed. Combination testing packages could enable high risk MSM in putting together annual testing strategies personalized to their circumstances, and warrant due consideration as an element of combination HIV prevention packages.
Background-Often in public health, we are interested in promoting routine preventive screenings (... more Background-Often in public health, we are interested in promoting routine preventive screenings (e.g., blood glucose monitoring, hypertension screening, or mammography). Evaluating novel interventions to encourage frequent screenings using randomized controlled trials can help inform evidence-based health promotion programs. When the desired behavior change is a recurrent event, specifying the most meaningful study outcomes may prove challenging. Methods-To understand the efficiency of multiple approaches for evaluating an intervention seeking to increase regular health screenings we (a) simulated several replications of a trial with a positive intervention effect under various censoring scenarios, (b) formulated three different analytical outcome definitions (screening a certain number of times during the entire study period versus not, screening at least once within a clinically meaningful time period versus not, "hazard" or instantaneous rate of screening), and (c) compared them with regard to interpreting results and estimating power at different sample sizes. Results-Approaches which better utilize detailed prospective data, while also accounting for within-participant correlations, are less likely to miss the actual underlying benefits conferred by a new prevention strategy compared to relying on a dichotomous measure derived from aggregating events over the study duration. Such approaches are also more powerful in realistic scenarios wherein some participants are lost to follow-up over time. Conclusions-Researchers should carefully consider the choice of analytical outcomes and strive to employ more efficient approaches that model comprehensive event-specific information,
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) can eradicate chemorefractory leukemia ... more Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) can eradicate chemorefractory leukemia through the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) activity of donor T cells. However, the clinical success of allo-HSCT is limited by the graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) activity of donor T cells. We have reported previously that donor bone marrow precursors of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pre-pDCs) can activate donor T cells toward T-helper 1 immune polarization in murine allogeneic HSCT. To optimize the GVL activity of these activated donor T cells and limit their graft versus host activity, we engineered the cellular constituents of an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell graft with highly purified hematopoietic stem cells, T cells, and pre-pDCs and studied their GVL and GVHD activities in a murine model of allogeneic HSCT. Transplanted donor pre-pDCs expanded in vivo for 2 weeks after transplant, and they markedly augmented the activation and GVL activity of donor T cells while attenuating the...
World Journal of Laparoscopic Surgery with DVD, 2008
Objective: To assess feasibility, advantages, oncological safety, cost effectiveness and long ter... more Objective: To assess feasibility, advantages, oncological safety, cost effectiveness and long term results of laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer in a government sector hospital. Method: From January 2005 to May 2007, 20 patients of operable cancer rectum were subjected to laparoscopic curative resection. Surgical technique, postoperative morbidity and clinical results were reviewed in close follow-up for median period of 20 months (12 wks to 30 months). Results: Fourteen patients underwent LAPR and 6 patients LAR. Median age was 39 years. Median operating time for Lap APR was 296 minutes, initial 7 cases taking an average of 368 minutes, while subsequent 7 cases average operating time was 232.5 minutes. In Lap AR, average duration of surgery was 356 minutes, first 4 cases taking 400 minutes while for last 2 cases, and mean operating time was 300 min. There was no intraoperative complication in either group. All patients mobilized on POD: (1) Incidence of PONV was significantly less. Oral feeds were routinely started on POD, (2) Incidence of wound infection was also reduced (2/20). Hospital stay on an average was 11 days as ours being a government sector hospital, patients were discharged only after drain removal and thus stay was slightly prolonged. Of the 20 patients, 17 were diagnosed to be Adenocarcinoma, 2 with Malignant Melanoma and 1 with GIST. Two patients of malignant melanoma developed locoregional recurrence and 2 patients developed distant metastasis after approximately 1 year. No incidence of port metastasis in any patient. : Laparoscopic colorectal surgery is safe, feasible and meets oncologic requirements of radicality. Pattern of local recurrence and distant metastasis is similar to open surgery. Lap surgery has a steeper learning curve. Cost of treatment decreased by use of Ligaclips for intracorporeal vascular control and extracorporeal division of gut whenever possible.
International Journal of Smart Grid and Clean Energy, 2018
This paper presents identification of a best selection process for selecting the most effective s... more This paper presents identification of a best selection process for selecting the most effective stabilizing signal to improve damping of inter area oscillations in a multimachine power system. Phasor Measurement Units or PMUs are a key element of the Wide Area Measurement Systems (WAMS). The large amount of data collected by PMUs need to be channelized to regional and global data centers where real-time state estimation, and protection, stabilization decisions are made. It is shown in this paper that how different signal selection techniques provides different control loop for damping of a particular inter area mode of oscillations. In spite of these the controller locations were obtained for optimum placement of phasor measurement units for wide area measurement systems. It is resulted from the two area 4 machine system that the HSV based signal selection approach performs excellent in both small and large disturbance for the test system compared to both residue and geometric measure of joint controllability and observability approach. Non-linear simulations are carried out in order to evaluate the performance of different approaches of signal selection under study.
Cystic nephroma is a rare benign renal neoplasm that is purely cystic and is lined by an epitheli... more Cystic nephroma is a rare benign renal neoplasm that is purely cystic and is lined by an epithelium. Bilateral cystic nephromas are even rarer with only a handful cases reported in the literature. A case of a 2-year-old male child who presented with bilateral renal cystic masses later diagnosed as cystic nephromas is presented here. Ultrasound, CT scan and histopathological investigations aided in arriving at the correct diagnosis. The most concerning feature was the presence of a fluid filled cystic mass in the lungs, most probably a pleuropulmonary blastoma which is a rare malignant neoplasm known to be associated with bilateral cystic nephromas. The most common presenting symptoms of cystic nephroma are painless abdominal mass, abdominal or flank pain and haematuria. These tumours usually follow a benign course and nephrectomy alone is curative. A close surveillance of such patients is recommended because of elevated risk of other tumours.
The incidence of falciparum malaria is very high in India. Falciparum malaria is a multiorgan dis... more The incidence of falciparum malaria is very high in India. Falciparum malaria is a multiorgan disease which can present with extremely varied presentations. The severity of the disease and difficulty in its diagnosis require a keen sense of suspicion on the part of the treating physician to diagnose it. Here is an unusual case of falciparum malaria presenting as acute appendicitis. This case did not respond to artemether therapy and that also points towards drug resistance emerging in malaria. The child was operated upon and appendix was found to be inflamed. After a tumultuous postoperative course with symptoms suggestive of acute renal failure, a diagnosis of falciparum malaria was made and quinine started. Recovery was uneventful thereafter.
Tropical gastroenterology : official journal of the Digestive Diseases Foundation
Necrosis of the entire stomach is extremely rare in neonates. We report a case of total gastric n... more Necrosis of the entire stomach is extremely rare in neonates. We report a case of total gastric necrosis in a full-term neonate. The possible pathophysiology, diagnostic features and therapeutic options for gastric necrosis in a newborn are discussed.
Choledochal cyst in an uncommon congenital anomaly with classic presentation triad of abdominal p... more Choledochal cyst in an uncommon congenital anomaly with classic presentation triad of abdominal pain, jaundice and right upper abdominal mass. Presentation due to biliary peritonitis following cyst rupture is extremely rare. One such case which was successfully treated is being reported.
This study addresses the challenge of respiratory motion in pediatric patients undergoing proton ... more This study addresses the challenge of respiratory motion in pediatric patients undergoing proton therapy for total lymphoid irradiation (TLI), an essential component of reducedintensity conditioning regimens for hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) patients. The primary concern is the interplay effect, which can cause deviations from the planned dose during respiratory motion. The research utilized static and 4D CT images from ten patients to simulate the interplay effect and assess its impact on treatment planning. The study concludes that 4D plan evaluation and robust optimization techniques can help address respiratory motion challenges in proton TLI treatments, especially in cases where other motion management strategies like breath-holding are not feasible due to the patient's young age, the need for anesthesia, or medical conditions. Patient-specific respiratory motion evaluations are crucial to ensure adequate dosimetric coverage in proton therapy for pediatric patients.
Interfacing anatomically conformal electronic components, such as sensors, with biology is centra... more Interfacing anatomically conformal electronic components, such as sensors, with biology is central to the creation of next-generation wearable systems for health care and human augmentation applications. Thus, there is a need to establish computer-aided design and manufacturing methods for producing personalized anatomically conformal systems, such as wearable devices and human-machine interfaces (HMIs). Here, we show that a threedimensional (3D) scanning and 3D printing process enabled the design and fabrication of a sensor-integrated anatomical human-machine interface (AHMI) in the form of personalized prosthetic hands that contain anatomically conformal electrode arrays for children affected by amniotic band syndrome, a common birth defect. A methodology for identifying optimal scanning parameters was identified based on local and global metrics of registered point cloud data quality. This method identified an optimal rotational angle step size between adjacent 3D scans. The sensitivity of the optimization process to variations in organic shape (i.e., geometry) was examined by testing other anatomical structures, including a foot, an ear, and a porcine kidney. We found that personalization of the prosthetic interface increased the tissue-prosthesis contact area by 408% relative to the non-personalized devices. Conformal 3D printing of carbon nanotube-based polymer inks across the personalized AHMI facilitated the integration of electronic components, specifically, conformal sensor arrays for measuring the pressure distribution across the AHMI (i.e., the tissue-prosthesis interface). We found that the pressure across the AHMI exhibited a non-uniform distribution and became redistributed upon activation of the prosthetic hand's grasping action. Overall, this work shows that the integration of 3D scanning and 3D printing processes
The Journal of rural health : official journal of the American Rural Health Association and the National Rural Health Care Association, Jan 10, 2018
Health disparities among LGBTQ people have been documented across various settings and recent res... more Health disparities among LGBTQ people have been documented across various settings and recent research has indicated that many disparities are heightened in the context of rurality. Among these disparities is the decreased rate of primary care utilization by rural LGBTQ individuals. Understanding and addressing provider knowledge and attitudes related to LGBTQ health provides a relevant avenue for addressing underutilization. The study presented was a mail-out survey regarding rural primary care providers' knowledge and experiences regarding LGBTQ health. Publicly available records were compiled to recruit a total sample of 113 primary care providers, at a response rate of 19.8%. A majority of respondents reported experience providing care to LGBTQ patients, while only slightly over half had received LGBTQ health education. Data analyses revealed significant associations between reported experiences and patient characteristics including religion, religiousness, age, length of ti...
Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in the United States remain heavily im... more Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in the United States remain heavily impacted by HIV. The purpose of this study was to describe intergenerational differences in functional knowledge of HIV prevention strategies, perceived risk, recent condomless anal sex (CAS), and HIV testing behavior. Eight hundred sexually active GBMSM were recruited via Facebook from August to September 2015, and administered a Web-based survey which included 12 multiple-choice questions to elicit data regarding functional knowledge of different HIV prevention approaches (e.g., condom use, pre-exposure prophylaxis post-exposure prophylaxis, treatment as prevention, circumcision). Cumulative logit and multivariable logistic models were formulated to examine birth cohort variations across four analytic outcomes. Younger generations were significantly more knowledgeable, as were GBMSM with higher education. Non-Hispanic non-White GBMSM and those reporting a bisexual/other sexual orientatio...
Journal of pediatric hematology/oncology, Jan 10, 2018
Recurrent/refractory hematologic malignancies have a poor prognosis, and there is a need for nove... more Recurrent/refractory hematologic malignancies have a poor prognosis, and there is a need for novel treatment regimens that can be tolerated by this heavily pretreated patient group. Clofarabine has antileukemic activity with an acceptable toxicity profile. In a phase I clinical trial (NCT00824135), we substituted clofarabine for fludarabine in a well-established reduced-intensity conditioning regimen for a T cell-depleted, mismatched-related (haploidentical) donor transplant backbone and explored the maximum tolerated dose of clofarabine in this combination in 15 patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation for recurrent/refractory or secondary leukemia. Clofarabine was well tolerated at a dose of 50 mg/m/d for 5 days in this regimen, with minimal treatment-related mortality in a heavily pretreated group of high-risk patients. All patients exhibited quick hematopoietic recovery, with median times to neutrophil and platelet engraftment being 11 and 16 days, respectively. Tr...
AIDS education and prevention : official publication of the International Society for AIDS Education, 2018
HIV testing is the gateway into both prevention and treatment services. It is important to unders... more HIV testing is the gateway into both prevention and treatment services. It is important to understand how men who have sex with men (MSM) perceive HIV self-tests. We conducted focus groups and individual interviews to collect feedback on two HIV self-tests, and on a dried blood spot (DBS) specimen collection kit. Perceptions and attitudes around HIV self-testing (HIVST), and willingness to distribute HIV self-tests to others were assessed. MSM reported HIVST to be complementary to facility-based testing, and liked this approach because it offers privacy and convenience, does not require counseling, and could lead to linkage to care. However, they also had concerns around the accuracy of HIV self-tests, their cost, and receiving a positive test result without immediate access to follow-up services. Despite these issues, they perceived HIVST as a positive addition to their HIV prevention toolbox.
Although several options are available to address adjacent segment disease (ASD), the most effect... more Although several options are available to address adjacent segment disease (ASD), the most effective surgical treatment has not been determined. In addition, it is important to subdivide ASD into stenosis with or without instability to determine if a decompression alone vs an extension of fusion is necessary. A systematic search of multiple medical reference databases was conducted for studies on surgical treatment of ASD. The primary outcome measures used were radiographic and clinical success rates. Meta-analysis was completed to determine effect summary values, 95% confidence intervals, and Q statistic and I(2) values, using the random effects model for heterogeneity. The search yielded 662 studies, of which 657 were excluded. A total of 5 (level IV) studies with a total of 118 patients were included in this review. In 2 studies (46 patients), stenosis without instability was the indication for reoperation for ASD. However, extension of fusion was the modality of choice for the t...
OBJECTIVE The flexed posture of the proximal (L1-3) or distal (L4-S1) lumbar spine increases the ... more OBJECTIVE The flexed posture of the proximal (L1-3) or distal (L4-S1) lumbar spine increases the diameter of the spinal canal and neuroforamina and can relieve symptoms of neurogenic claudication. Distal lumbar flexion can result in pelvic retroversion; therefore, in cases of flexible sagittal imbalance, pelvic retroversion may be compensatory for lumbar stenosis and not solely compensatory for the sagittal imbalance as previously thought. The authors investigate underlying causes for pelvic retroversion in patients with flexible sagittal imbalance. METHODS One hundred thirty-eight patients with sagittal imbalance who underwent a total of 148 fusion procedures of the thoracolumbar spine were identified from a prospective clinical database. Radiographic parameters were obtained from images preoperatively, intraoperatively, and at 6-month and 2-year follow-up. A cohort of 24 patients with flexible sagittal imbalance was identified and individually matched with a control cohort of 23 p...
The recently updated White House National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) includes specific progress ind... more The recently updated White House National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) includes specific progress indicators to improve the HIV care continuum in the USA, but the economic and epidemiological effect of achieving those indicators remains unclear. We aimed to project the impact of achieving NHAS goals on HIV incidence, prevalence, mortality, and costs among adults in the USA over 10 years. We constructed a dynamic transmission model of HIV progression and care engagement based on literature sources and the most recent published US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. We specifically considered achievement of the 2020 targets set forth in NHAS progress indicator 1 (90% awareness of serostatus), indicator 4 (85% linkage within 1 month), and indicator 5 (90% of diagnosed individuals in care). At current rates of engagement in the HIV care continuum, we project 524 000 (95% uncertainty range 442 000-712 000) new HIV infections and 375 000 deaths (364 000-578 000) between 2016 and ...
Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (Chicago, Ill. : 2002)
Online HIV prevention studies have been limited in their ability to obtain biological specimens t... more Online HIV prevention studies have been limited in their ability to obtain biological specimens to measure study outcomes. We describe factors associated with willingness of men who have sex with men (MSM) to take a free home HIV test as part of an online HIV prevention study. Between March and April 2009, we interviewed 6163 HIV-negative MSM and assessed the willingness to test for HIV infection using a home collection kit. Men reported being very likely (3833; 62%) or likely (1236; 20%) to accept a home HIV test as part of an online HIV prevention study. The odds of being willing to home test were higher for men who were offered incentives of $10 or $25, were black, had unprotected anal intercourse in the past 12 months, and were unaware of their HIV status. Home testing offered as part of online HIV prevention research is acceptable overall and in important subgroups of high-risk MSM.
Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) continue to be disproportionately impacted by the Hum... more Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) continue to be disproportionately impacted by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) epidemic in the United States (US). Testing for HIV is the cornerstone of comprehensive prevention efforts and the gateway to early engagement of infected individuals in medical care. We sought to determine attitudes towards six different HIV testing modalities presented collectively to internet-using MSM and identify which options rank higher than others in terms of intended usage preference. Methods: Between October and November 2012, we surveyed 973 HIV-negative or -unknown status MSM and assessed their acceptability of each of the following services hypothetically offered free of charge: Testing at a physician's office; Individual voluntary counseling and testing (VCT); Couples' HIV counseling and testing (CHCT); Expedited/express testing; Rapid home self-testing using an oral fluid test; Home dried blood spot (DBS) specimen self-collection for laboratory testing. Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to determine whether the stated likelihood of using each of these modalities differed by selected respondent characteristics. Men were also asked to rank these options in order of intended usage preference, and consensual rankings were determined using the modified Borda count (MBC) method. Results: Most participants reported being extremely likely or somewhat likely to use all HIV testing modalities except DBS self-collection for laboratory testing. Younger MSM indicated greater acceptability for expedited/express testing (P < 0.001), and MSM with lower educational levels reported being more likely to use CHCT (P < 0.001). Non-Hispanic black MSM indicated lower acceptability for VCT (P < 0.001). Rapid home self-testing using an oral fluid test and testing at a physician's office were the two most preferred options across all demographic and behavioral strata. Conclusions: Novel approaches to increase the frequency of HIV testing among US MSM are urgently needed. Combination testing packages could enable high risk MSM in putting together annual testing strategies personalized to their circumstances, and warrant due consideration as an element of combination HIV prevention packages.
Background-Often in public health, we are interested in promoting routine preventive screenings (... more Background-Often in public health, we are interested in promoting routine preventive screenings (e.g., blood glucose monitoring, hypertension screening, or mammography). Evaluating novel interventions to encourage frequent screenings using randomized controlled trials can help inform evidence-based health promotion programs. When the desired behavior change is a recurrent event, specifying the most meaningful study outcomes may prove challenging. Methods-To understand the efficiency of multiple approaches for evaluating an intervention seeking to increase regular health screenings we (a) simulated several replications of a trial with a positive intervention effect under various censoring scenarios, (b) formulated three different analytical outcome definitions (screening a certain number of times during the entire study period versus not, screening at least once within a clinically meaningful time period versus not, "hazard" or instantaneous rate of screening), and (c) compared them with regard to interpreting results and estimating power at different sample sizes. Results-Approaches which better utilize detailed prospective data, while also accounting for within-participant correlations, are less likely to miss the actual underlying benefits conferred by a new prevention strategy compared to relying on a dichotomous measure derived from aggregating events over the study duration. Such approaches are also more powerful in realistic scenarios wherein some participants are lost to follow-up over time. Conclusions-Researchers should carefully consider the choice of analytical outcomes and strive to employ more efficient approaches that model comprehensive event-specific information,
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) can eradicate chemorefractory leukemia ... more Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) can eradicate chemorefractory leukemia through the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) activity of donor T cells. However, the clinical success of allo-HSCT is limited by the graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) activity of donor T cells. We have reported previously that donor bone marrow precursors of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pre-pDCs) can activate donor T cells toward T-helper 1 immune polarization in murine allogeneic HSCT. To optimize the GVL activity of these activated donor T cells and limit their graft versus host activity, we engineered the cellular constituents of an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell graft with highly purified hematopoietic stem cells, T cells, and pre-pDCs and studied their GVL and GVHD activities in a murine model of allogeneic HSCT. Transplanted donor pre-pDCs expanded in vivo for 2 weeks after transplant, and they markedly augmented the activation and GVL activity of donor T cells while attenuating the...
World Journal of Laparoscopic Surgery with DVD, 2008
Objective: To assess feasibility, advantages, oncological safety, cost effectiveness and long ter... more Objective: To assess feasibility, advantages, oncological safety, cost effectiveness and long term results of laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer in a government sector hospital. Method: From January 2005 to May 2007, 20 patients of operable cancer rectum were subjected to laparoscopic curative resection. Surgical technique, postoperative morbidity and clinical results were reviewed in close follow-up for median period of 20 months (12 wks to 30 months). Results: Fourteen patients underwent LAPR and 6 patients LAR. Median age was 39 years. Median operating time for Lap APR was 296 minutes, initial 7 cases taking an average of 368 minutes, while subsequent 7 cases average operating time was 232.5 minutes. In Lap AR, average duration of surgery was 356 minutes, first 4 cases taking 400 minutes while for last 2 cases, and mean operating time was 300 min. There was no intraoperative complication in either group. All patients mobilized on POD: (1) Incidence of PONV was significantly less. Oral feeds were routinely started on POD, (2) Incidence of wound infection was also reduced (2/20). Hospital stay on an average was 11 days as ours being a government sector hospital, patients were discharged only after drain removal and thus stay was slightly prolonged. Of the 20 patients, 17 were diagnosed to be Adenocarcinoma, 2 with Malignant Melanoma and 1 with GIST. Two patients of malignant melanoma developed locoregional recurrence and 2 patients developed distant metastasis after approximately 1 year. No incidence of port metastasis in any patient. : Laparoscopic colorectal surgery is safe, feasible and meets oncologic requirements of radicality. Pattern of local recurrence and distant metastasis is similar to open surgery. Lap surgery has a steeper learning curve. Cost of treatment decreased by use of Ligaclips for intracorporeal vascular control and extracorporeal division of gut whenever possible.
International Journal of Smart Grid and Clean Energy, 2018
This paper presents identification of a best selection process for selecting the most effective s... more This paper presents identification of a best selection process for selecting the most effective stabilizing signal to improve damping of inter area oscillations in a multimachine power system. Phasor Measurement Units or PMUs are a key element of the Wide Area Measurement Systems (WAMS). The large amount of data collected by PMUs need to be channelized to regional and global data centers where real-time state estimation, and protection, stabilization decisions are made. It is shown in this paper that how different signal selection techniques provides different control loop for damping of a particular inter area mode of oscillations. In spite of these the controller locations were obtained for optimum placement of phasor measurement units for wide area measurement systems. It is resulted from the two area 4 machine system that the HSV based signal selection approach performs excellent in both small and large disturbance for the test system compared to both residue and geometric measure of joint controllability and observability approach. Non-linear simulations are carried out in order to evaluate the performance of different approaches of signal selection under study.
Cystic nephroma is a rare benign renal neoplasm that is purely cystic and is lined by an epitheli... more Cystic nephroma is a rare benign renal neoplasm that is purely cystic and is lined by an epithelium. Bilateral cystic nephromas are even rarer with only a handful cases reported in the literature. A case of a 2-year-old male child who presented with bilateral renal cystic masses later diagnosed as cystic nephromas is presented here. Ultrasound, CT scan and histopathological investigations aided in arriving at the correct diagnosis. The most concerning feature was the presence of a fluid filled cystic mass in the lungs, most probably a pleuropulmonary blastoma which is a rare malignant neoplasm known to be associated with bilateral cystic nephromas. The most common presenting symptoms of cystic nephroma are painless abdominal mass, abdominal or flank pain and haematuria. These tumours usually follow a benign course and nephrectomy alone is curative. A close surveillance of such patients is recommended because of elevated risk of other tumours.
The incidence of falciparum malaria is very high in India. Falciparum malaria is a multiorgan dis... more The incidence of falciparum malaria is very high in India. Falciparum malaria is a multiorgan disease which can present with extremely varied presentations. The severity of the disease and difficulty in its diagnosis require a keen sense of suspicion on the part of the treating physician to diagnose it. Here is an unusual case of falciparum malaria presenting as acute appendicitis. This case did not respond to artemether therapy and that also points towards drug resistance emerging in malaria. The child was operated upon and appendix was found to be inflamed. After a tumultuous postoperative course with symptoms suggestive of acute renal failure, a diagnosis of falciparum malaria was made and quinine started. Recovery was uneventful thereafter.
Tropical gastroenterology : official journal of the Digestive Diseases Foundation
Necrosis of the entire stomach is extremely rare in neonates. We report a case of total gastric n... more Necrosis of the entire stomach is extremely rare in neonates. We report a case of total gastric necrosis in a full-term neonate. The possible pathophysiology, diagnostic features and therapeutic options for gastric necrosis in a newborn are discussed.
Choledochal cyst in an uncommon congenital anomaly with classic presentation triad of abdominal p... more Choledochal cyst in an uncommon congenital anomaly with classic presentation triad of abdominal pain, jaundice and right upper abdominal mass. Presentation due to biliary peritonitis following cyst rupture is extremely rare. One such case which was successfully treated is being reported.
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Papers by akshay sharma