Comparison of ultrasound guided pulsed radiofrequency of genicular nerve with local anesthetic and steroid block for management of osteoarthritis knee pain

( Babita Ghai ),( Muthu Kumar ),( Jeetinder Kaur Makkar ),( Vijay Goni ) 대한통증학회 2022 The Korean Journal of Pain Vol.35 No.2

Background: To compare ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) of the genicular nerve with the genicular nerve block using local anesthetic and steroid for management of osteoarthritis (OA) knee pain. Methods: Thirty patients with OA knee were randomly allocated to receive either ultrasound-guided PRF of the genicular nerve (PRF group) or nerve block with bupivacaine and methylprednisolone acetate (local anesthetic steroid [LAS] group). Verbal numeric rating scale (VNRS) and Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores were measured at pre-procedure and 1-, 4-, and 12-weeks post-procedure. Results: VNRS scores decreased significantly (P < 0.001) in both the groups at 12 weeks and other follow up times compared to baseline. Seventy-three percent of patients in the PRF group and 66% in the LAS group achieved effective pain relief (≥ 50% pain reduction) at 12 weeks (P > 0.999). There was also a statistically significant (P < 0.001) improvement in WOMAC scores in both groups at all follow up times. However, there was no intergroup difference in VNRS (P = 0.893) and WOMAC scores (P = 0.983). No complications were reported. Conclusions: Both ultrasound-guided PRF of the genicular nerve and blocks of genicular nerve with local anesthetic and a steroid provided comparable pain relief without any complications. However, PRF of the genicular nerve is a procedure that takes much more time and equipment than the genicular nerve block.

Extended duration pulsed radiofrequency for the management of refractory meralgia paresthetica: a series of five cases

( Babita Ghai ),( Deepanshu Dhiman ),( Sekar Loganathan ) 대한통증학회 2018 The Korean Journal of Pain Vol.31 No.3

Meralgia paresthetica (MP) is a sensory mononeuropathy, caused by compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) of thigh. Patients refractory to conservative management are treated with various interventional procedures. We report the first use of extended duration (8 minutes) pulsed radiofrequency of the LFCN in a case series of five patients with refractory MP. Four patients had follow up for 1-2 years, and one had 6 months follow up. All patients reported remarkable and long lasting symptom relief and an increase in daily life activities. Three patients came off medications and two patients required minimal doses of neuropathic medications. No complications were observed. (Korean J Pain 2018; 31: 215-20)

Vertically aligned carbon nanotubes‑coated aluminium foil as flexible supercapacitor electrode for high power applications

Viney Ghai,Kingshuk Chatterjee,Prabhat K. Agnihotri 한국탄소학회 2021 Carbon Letters Vol.31 No.3

Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotubes (VACNTs)-coated flexible aluminium (Al) foil is studied as an electrode for supercapacitor applications. VACNTs are grown on Al foil inside thermal Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) reactor. 20 nm thick layer of Fe is used as a catalyst while Ar, H2 and C2H2 are used as precursor gases. The effect of growth temperature on the structure of CNTs is studied by varying the temperature of CVD reactor from 550 °C to 625 °C. Better alignment of VACNTs arrays on Al foil is recorded at 600 °C growth temperature in comparison to other processing temperatures. Cyclic voltammetry results shows that VACNTs-coated Al foil has a specific capacitance of ~ 3.01 F/g at a scan rate of 50 mV/s. The direct growth of VACNT array results in better contact with Al foil and thus low ESR values observed in impedance spectroscopy analysis. This leads to a fast charge–discharge cycle as well as a very high value of power density (187.79 kW/ kg) suitable for high power applications. Moreover, wettability study shows that the fabricated VACNT electrode has a contact angle of more than 152° which signifies that it is a superhydrophobic surface and hence shows lower specific capacitance in comparison to reported values for VACNT array. Therefore, it is necessary to develop suitable post-processing strategies to make VACNTs hydrophilic to realize their full potential in supercapacitor applications.

Hindi version of short form of douleur neuropathique 4 (S-DN4) questionnaire for assessment of neuropathic pain component: a cross-cultural validation study

( Kapil Gudala ),( Babita Ghai ),( Dipika Bansal ) 대한통증학회 2017 The Korean Journal of Pain Vol.30 No.3

Background: Pain with neuropathic characteristics is generally more severe and associated with a lower quality of life compared to nociceptive pain (NcP). Short form of the Douleur Neuropathique en 4 Questions (S-DN4) is one of the most used and reliable screening questionnaires and is reported to have good diagnostic properties. This study was aimed to cross-culturally validate the Hindi version of the S-DN4 in patients with various chronic pain conditions. Methods: The S-DN4 is already translated into the Hindi language by Mapi Research Trust. This study assessed the psychometric properties of the Hindi version of the S-DN4 including internal consistency and test-retest reliability after 3 days` post-baseline assessment. Diagnostic performance was also assessed. Results: One hundred sixty patients with chronic pain, 80 each in the neuropathic pain (NeP) present and NeP absent groups, were recruited. Patients with NeP present reported significantly higher S-DN4 scores in comparison to patients in the NeP absent group (mean (SD), 4.7 (1.7) vs. 1.8 (1.6), P < 0.01). The S-DN4 was found to have an AUC of 0.88 with adequate internal consistency (Cronbach`s α = 0.80) and a test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.92) with an optimal cut-off value of 3 (Youden`s index = 0.66, sensitivity and specificity of 88.7% and 77.5%). The diagnostic concordance rate between clinician diagnosis and the S-DN4 questionnaire was 83.1% (kappa = 0.66). Conclusions: Overall, the Hindi version of the S-DN4 has good internal consistency and test-retest reliability along with good diagnostic accuracy. (Korean J Pain 2017; 30: 197-206)

Performance Enhancement in Hill-Climbing Approach for Test Case Prioritization using Functional Dependency Technique

Sarabjit Kaur,Saloni Ghai 보안공학연구지원센터 2016 International Journal of Software Engineering and Vol.10 No.11

Test case prioritization is basically the process of prioritizing the execution order of test cases in order to increase the fault detection rate. If fault detection rate is being gradually improved during regression testing then it will provide faster feedback to system developers which ultimately deliver the software earlier. Many of the existing test case prioritization techniques illustrated that test cases can be executed in any order but the concept of functional dependency plays an important role between test cases. In this paper we have described about testing, its types, test case prioritization and its techniques. Regression testing is normally being used to retest the component of a system that verifies that defects are removed or not from the effected part of the software after modifications. This paper enhances the hill climbing approach for test case prioritization by using functional dependency technique. This prioritization approach schedules test cases based upon functional dependency technique .Our approach is quiet efficient as compare to any other technique. Regression testing is quite popular as it helps to make the system error free after modifications.

Usefulness of four commonly used neuropathic pain screening questionnaires in patients with chronic low back pain: a cross-sectional study

( Kapil Gudala ),( Babita Ghai ),( Dipika Bansal ) 대한통증학회 2017 The Korean Journal of Pain Vol.30 No.1

Background: Recently symptoms-based screening questionnaires have gained attention for screening for a neuropathic pain component (NePC) in various chronic pain conditions. The present study assessed the usefulness of four commonly used NePC screening questionnaires including the Self-completed douleur neuropathique 4 (S-DN4), the ID Pain, the painDETECT questionnaire (PDQ), and the Self-completed Leeds Assessment of neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (S-LANSS) questionnaire in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) to assess the presence of NePC. Methods: This is a single-center cross-sectional study where patients with CLBP, with or without leg pain, were included. Participants were initially screened for NePC presence by a physician according to the regular practice, and later assessed using screening questionnaires. The diagnostic accuracy of these questionnaires was compared assuming the physician-made diagnosis as the gold standard. Results: A total of 215 patients with CLBP of which 164 (76.3%, 95% CI, 70.2-81.5) had a NePC were included. S-DN4, ID Pain, and PDQ have an area under the curve (AUC) > 0.8 indicating excellent discrimination. However, S-LANSS has an AUC of 0.69 (0.62-0.75), indicating low discrimination. S-DN4 has a significantly higher AUC as compared to ID Pain (d(AUC) = 0.063, P < 0.01) and S-LANSS (d(AUC) = 0.197, P < 0.01). But the AUC of S-DN4 does not significantly differ from that of PDQ (d(AUC) = 0.013, P = 0.62). Conclusions: S-DN4, ID Pain, and PDQ, but not S-LANSS, have good discriminant validity to screen for NePCs in patients with CLBP. Despite using all the tests, 20-30% of patients with an NePC were missed. Thus, these questionnaires can only be used as an initial clue in screening for NePCs, but do not replace clinical judgment. (Korean J Pain 2017; 30: 51-8)

Draft Genome Sequence of the Sulfur-Oxidizing Bacterium 'Candidatus Sulfurovum sediminum' AR, Which Belongs to the Epsilonproteobacteria

Park, S.-J.,Ghai, R.,Martin-Cuadrado, A.-B.,Rodriguez-Valera, F.,Jung, M.-Y.,Kim, J.-G.,Rhee, S.-K. American Society for Microbiology 2012 Journal of Bacteriology Vol.194 No.15

Corrigendum to “Poor Functional Outcome in Patients with Voluntary Knee Instability after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction”

Munish Sood,Vikas Kulshrestha,Julie Sachdeva,Amresh Ghai,Ajaydeep Sud,Shalendra Singh 대한정형외과학회 2020 Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery Vol.12 No.4

In the article entitled “Poor Functional Outcome in Patients with Voluntary Knee Instability after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction,”1) the name of one of the authors was incorrectly presented: Shalender Singh should read Shalendra Singh.

Poor Functional Outcome in Patients with Voluntary Knee Instability after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Munish Sood,Vikas Kulshrestha,Julie Sachdeva,Amresh Ghai,Ajaydeep Sud,Shalender Singh 대한정형외과학회 2020 Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery Vol.12 No.3

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) remains the gold standard treatment for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. However, a good functional outcome even after a successful surgery depends on multiple factors. It has been observed that certain patients with a chronic ACL injury demonstrate knee instability voluntarily. The authors observed that these patients might not perform well even after a successful surgery. This study aims to assess the outcome after ACL and other ligament reconstruction in patients with voluntary knee instability. Methods: From a total of 824 patients who underwent ACLR, 13 patients with a history of voluntary knee instability were selected, and data of these patients (demographic and clinical profile) were obtained. Outcomes of surgery in this group of patients were evaluated by using Lysholm score and Tegner activity level. Results: All patients were young men with a chronic ACL injury and manifested instability. Associated injuries were lateral meniscus tear in 3 patients, medial meniscus tear in 2, and posterolateral corner (PLC) injury in 3. ACLR was done using the semitendinosus- gracilis graft in all patients. Further, anterolateral ligament reconstruction was done in 2 patients and PLC reconstruction, in 3 patients. The mean Lysholm score was 54.76 (range, 48–62) preoperatively and 60.92 (range, 54–78) at a mean follow-up of 14.3 months (range, 11–26 months). The median Tegner activity level was 6 (range, 5–7) before injury and 4 (range, 3–5) at the final follow-up. Twelve of the 13 patients were able to demonstrate instability voluntarily at the time of the final follow-up. Conclusions: In patients with ACL and other ligament injuries who demonstrated voluntary knee instability, the functional outcome even after successful ligament reconstruction was poor.

Chemopreventive Effects of Orange Peel Extract (OPE). I. OPE Inhibits Intestinal Tumor Growth in ApcMin/+ Mice

Kan Yang,Kunhua Fan,Naoto Kurihara,Sadanori Abe,Chi-Tang Ho,Geetha Ghai 한국식품영양과학회 2007 Journal of medicinal food Vol.10 No.1

Orange peel is a rich source of flavonoids with polymethoxyflavones as major constituents, compounds asso-ciated with potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor activities. We studied the effect of an orange peel extract(OPE) on intestinal tumor growth in ApcMin/. mice, a mouse model for human familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). TheOPE contained 30% polymethoxyflavones, a mixture that included tangeretin (19.0%), heptamethoxyflavone (15.24%), tetram-ethoxyflavone (13.6%), nobiletin (12.49%), hexamethoxyflavone (11.06%), and sinensitin (9.16%). ApcMin/. mice were fedi.e., AIN-76A diet modified with decreasedcalcium, vitamin D, and methyl-donor nutrients and increased lipid content); (3) NWD with 0.25% OPE; and (4) NWD with0.5% OPE, with all additives premixed in the diet. After 9 weeks of feeding NWD to the ApcMin/. mice, tumors increasedmainly in the colon, with tumor multiplicity increasing 5.3-fold and tumor volume increasing 6.7-fold. After feeding 0.5%OPE in NWD, the development of tumors markedly decreased, with multiplicity decreasing 49% in the small intestine and38% in the colon. NWD also led to increased apoptosis in intestinal tumors, and 0.5% OPE in NWD further increased apop-model of FAP, and increased apoptosis may have contributed to this effect.