Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology of the thyroid is usually performed on an outpatient basis. The results of FNA are operator dependent and may be affected by the lesion characteristics and the aspiration technique. In current practice ultrasound (US) is widely used to guide the needle for aspiration of nondominant nodules. Our study aimed to compare the free-hand FNA with US-guided FNA in the evaluation of thyroid nodules. A total of 91 cases of thyroid lesions were studied at the Department of Pathology, Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences, Hubli, India. All the cases underwent free-hand and US-guided FNA. The cytological samples from both procedures were analyzed for adequacy, cytological features, and possible diagnosis. The results were correlated with histopathological diagnosis whenever possible. Of 91 aspirates, 89 were satisfactory and 2 were unsatisfactory on US-guided FNA, whereas 85 were satisfactory and 6 were unsatisfactory in free-hand FNA. Of 91 cases 68 (74.7%) were nonneoplastic lesions and 21 (23.1%) were neoplastic lesions in US-guided FNA, whereas 67 cases (73.6%) were nonneoplastic and 18 cases (19.8%) were neoplastic in free-hand FNA. Histopathological study was possible in 25 patients, among whom 15 lesions were nonneoplastic and 10 were neoplastic. Sensitivity and specificity of US-guided FNA to detect neoplastic lesions were 81.81% and 92.85%, respectively, compared with free-hand FNA, for which the sensitivity and specificity were 54.54% and 92.85%, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of guided FNA was 88% against the 76% accuracy rate of free-hand FNA. US-guided FNA provides a better representative sample and has a higher diagnostic rate in the evaluation of thyroid lesions.
Since the emergence of the Nipah virus (NiV) in Malaysia in 1998, it has returned multiple times and continues to pose a significant threat to global public health. It is characterised by high mortality and fatality rates and increasing evidence of human-to-human transmission. The epidemiological pattern of NiV has shifted considerably over the past 2 decades, from transmission primarily associated with infected pigs to repeated spillover events linked to Pteropus fruit bats, contaminated food sources, and close human contact. NiV infection is marked by severe respiratory involvement, immune dysregulation, acute encephalitis and widespread endothelial damage contributing to rapid clinical deterioration and poor outcomes. The World Health Organisation classified the Nipah virus as a priority pathogen with high mortality and pandemic potential, with recognised outbreaks showing case fatalities ranging from 40% to 100%. The virus has been detected in the Indian subcontinent and is carried by fruit bats. Recent outbreaks reported in India through 2026 have further highlighted the ongoing threat posed by the virus and the challenges of outbreak containment in densely populated regions. Current advances in serological and Molecular diagnostics have improved early detection; however, therapeutic options remain limited, and no licenced vaccine is currently available for human use. Ongoing therapeutics research involving monoclonal antibodies, recombinant vaccines, and antiviral agent platforms continues to expand the prospects for future prevention and disease control. Outbreaks must be prevented by prompt diagnosis and the application of infection control measures. However, the lack of knowledge regarding the pathophysiology, clinical features, and current treatment of Nipah virus disease makes it difficult to design such trials. The current advances summarised herein strengthen the scientific foundation for improved diagnostic platforms, antiviral interventions, vaccine development, and integrated One Health surveillance approaches targeting Nipah Virus.
This paper aims to design a hybrid quadcopter that can be used for multiple detecting applications in which its performance parameters are studied under various maneuverings such as forward and vertical movements based on computational studies. In order to enhance the endurance, the conventional rectangular cross-sectional arm was replaced by airfoil cross sectional arm which helps in reduction of overall drag. The proposed idea is a combination of both tilt wing and tilt rotor configurations to the hybrid unmanned aerial vehicle (HUAV). The CAD modeling of UAV components such as wing and propeller is done using Autodesk Fusion 360 and the fluid flow analysis is carried out using ANSYS Workbench 23 software. Different test cases including the Computational fluid dynamics (CFD), Fluid structure interaction (FSI) analysis are executed to estimate the performance of the configuration. Analyzing from a stability point of view, a mathematical model was designed for control of altitude increment, hold and forward velocity accordingly, and tuning of the controller was taken over. This UAV is capable of attaining stability during harsh environments which is analyzed using control dynamics study and controller design processes executed. As a preliminary work for validation, grid convergence study is performed to obtain reliable outcome for the computational study taken over, in addition to the execution of analytical validation for estimation of aerodynamic forces and deflection of wing due to impingement of drag force over frontal area of wing and experimental validations to determine the thrust produced by propeller. The steady fluid flow analysis is carried over for wing planform and transient flow analysis is done for both vertical and forward propellers using advanced CFD techniques. Based on the FSI approach, structural analysis was carried over for wing and propeller through which the material selection was done. From which, GY-70-CFRP composite was concluded as the best performing material by analyzing the performance parameters including total deformation etc., among various different imposed materials based on aerodynamical loading. Interpreting from the performed analyses, the proposed configuration seems to operate at less power considering the lift forces induced, which also enables it to reach better altitudes at less RPM. The structural efficiency happens to be achieved due to the reduction in the RPM as there is a contribution in lift production as the angle of attack of the proposed wing increases, which also decreases rotors' burden during forward motion and other maneuverings.