Volumetric Deformation: A New Objective Measure to Study Chair Comfort Using 3D Body Scanning Technology

Proper lumbar support is a necessary and fundamental requirement for any well-designed chair. Objective techniques to assess chair comfort necessitate the use of a sensing layer that may change the fundamental characteristics of the chair itself depending on its structure and materials. Other methods have attached equipment to subjects, which may influence their normal sitting behavior. In this study, I utilize new 3D body scanning technology to examine the person-chair interaction in flexible, material back chairs without adding anything to either the chair or the subject. I attempt to develop a new objective measure, volumetric deformation, which assesses the reaction of a flexible, material chair back to a seated user. In addition, this study aims to understand the relationships between perceived chair back comfort, objective volumetric deformation, subject anthropometric attributes, and ratings of perceived chair attribute comfort. Total chair back deformation is found to be significantly related to some subject anthropometric attributes, which provides further evidence that deformation is a useful objective measure for assessment of the chair back. Perceived overall back comfort is significantly associated to the perceived comfort of the lumbar support but not to any of the anthropometric measurements taken. The relationship between chair back deformation and pressure distribution should be explored in future studies.Professor Alan Hedge, Faculty Adviso

Drug utilization study of urinary tract infections in obstetrics and gynecology department

Background: The aim of study was to determine the utilization pattern of antimicrobial agents in obstetrics and gynaecology department. Antimicrobial agents are one of the most commonly used drugs word wide and has main contribution in human health system. UTI infection is one of the most widespread bacterial infections of genitourinary tract which can be treated by AMAs. The main aim of this study is; to identify the pattern of drug utilisation of antimicrobials in prescriptions, to analyse the utilisation of different classes of drugs and to identify the outcome of the treatment. Methods: This prospective, observational and analytical study was conducted in patients of obstetrics and gynaecology department of MMIMSR, Mullana after obtaining approval from institutional ethical committee. Demographic data, medical history, prescribed treatment details (drug name, dose, frequency, dosage form etc) and diagnosis, type of UTI, laboratory investigations and outcome of treatment was evaluated. Results: A total 242 female patients were registered, out of which 200 were included in the study as 42 were dropouts. Majority of female patients were belonging to the age group of 18-37 (63%). Most of the female patients had uncomplicated UTI 188 (94%) (p value=0.35), 186 (93%) had significant pyuria and 64 (32%) had urine culture positive (p value= 0.01). Burning micturation and frequency were the most common symptoms observed in 146 (73%). In the study 67(33.5%) females were pregnant and 133 (66.5%) were non pregnant (p value= 0.01). Out of 200 patients 64 (32%) had positive urine cultures and 136 (68%) had negative urine culture reports. E. coli 28 (14%) was the most common bacteria isolated followed by Klebsiella 16 (8%). Average number of drugs prescribed per prescription to non-pregnant was 3.97 and to pregnant were 4.67. In majority of prescriptions, the drugs were prescribed by oral routes (51%) and most of the drugs prescribed were generic (57%). Most of the patients (93%) were recovered from UTIs in 5-7 days of treatment. Conclusions: Our study concluded that the uses of AMAs for UTI were found to be rational and according to the causative organism and susceptibility pattern.

Correlation of Pap smear and visual inspection with acetic acid for screening of premalignant and malignant lesion of cervix

Background: Cervical cancer still remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among women worldwide. Despite attempts to increase screening over the past several decades, incidence and mortality rates of cancer cervix have not shown substantial reduction. The conventional method of screening by cervical cytology/pap smear has failed to reduce the disease burden due to lack of patient compliance for repeated testing and a relatively sophisticated infrastructure. Therefore, alternative methods such as visual inspection after application of acetic acid (VIA), visual inspection with Lugol's Iodine (VILI) and human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing have been developed. The aim of present study was to compare Pap smear and VIA and evaluate their usefulness as tools for screening of premalignant and malignant lesions of cervix.Methods: This was a crossectional study over 5 months from 1 Jan 2015 to 31 may 2015 in which 212 patients attending the obstetrics and gynecology department, BHU were enrolled. Pap smear was taken followed by VIA. Pap smears were sent to pathology department, BHU where they were reported as per Bethesda System, 2001. Cervical biopsies were done in positive cases. Data obtained and statistically analyzed.Results: The present study was conducted over a period of 6 months among 212 patients age of 18-60 years screened. Positive results obtained from cytology were 26, VIA was positive in 28 women. Cervical biopsy was done in 34 women who had positive results by either test. Histology in 31 cases was suggestive of cervical intraepithelial carcinoma (CIN).Conclusions: VIA, though less specific has comparable sensitivity to Pap smear and may be used as a primary screening tool for cervical cancer. In combination both the tests have a higher predictive accuracy.

B cell responses to a peptide epitope. VII. Antigen-dependent modulation of the germinal center reaction

Germinal center responses to two analogous peptides, PS1CT3 and G32CT3, that differ in sequence only at one position within the B cell epitopic region were examined. In comparison with peptide PS1CT3, peptide G32CT3 elicited a poor germinal center response. By demonstrating equal facility of immune complexes with IgM and IgG Ab isotypes to seed germinal centers, we excluded differences in isotype profiles of early primary anti-PS1CT3 and anti-G32CT3 Ig as the probable cause. Quantitative differences in germinal center responses to the two peptides were also not due to either qualitative/quantitative differences in T cell priming or variation in the frequency of the early Ag-activated B cells induced. Rather, they resulted from qualitative differences in the nature of B cells primed. Analysis of early primary anti-PS1CT3 and anti-G32CT3 IgMs revealed that the latter population was of a distinctly lower affinity, implying the existence of an Ag affinity threshold that restricts germinal center recruitment of G32CT3-specific B cells. The impediment in anti-G32CT3 germinal center initiation could be overcome by making available an excess of Ag-activated Th cells at the time of immunization. This resulted in the appearance of a higher affinity population of G32CT3-specific B cells that, presumably, are now capable of seeding germinal centers. These data suggest that the strength of a germinal center reaction generated is Ag dependent. At least one regulatory parameter represents the quality of B cells that are initially primed

B cell responses to a peptide epitope. VIII. Immune complex-mediated regulation of memory B cell generation within germinal centers

Using an in vivo reconstitution assay, we examine here the role of immune complexes in both formation of germinal centers (GC) and processes that occur subsequently within. The presence of Ag, as immune complexes, was found not to constitute a limiting requirement for the initiation of GC formation. No detrimental effect either on numbers or sizes of the resulting GC was observed when Ag-containing immune complexes were omitted during reconstitution. Thus, both recruitment and proliferation of Ag-activated B cells within GC appear not to be limited by Ag concentrations. In contrast, the presence of immune complexes was observed to be obligatory for the generation of Ag-specific memory B cells. This optimally required immune complexes to be constituted by IgG-class Abs with epitope specificities that were homologous to those of the GC B cells. The GC reaction was also found to be characterized by an enhancement of Ab specificity for the homologous epitope. Although some improvement in specificity was noted in recall responses from immune complex-deficient GC, the presence of appropriate immune complexes served to further optimize the outcome. Here again, isotype and epitope-specificity of the Ab constituent in immune complexes proved to be important

Benzimidazole scaffold as dipodal molecular cleft for swift and efficient naked eye fluoride ion recognition via preorganized N-H and aromatic C-H in aqueous media

A series of elegantly designed cleft-like dipodal receptors, N,N'-bis-(5-(un)substituted-1H-benzoimidazol-2-ylalkyl)-isophthal-amides (RA-RD) has been synthesized and characterized for colorimetric detection of fluoride ion in 9:1 DMSO-water. The phenyl ring in the molecular framework of receptors is symmetrically armed with two benzimidazole moieties using amide groups as linkers to yield dipodal receptors, with multiple hydrogen bond donor sites for anion sensing. Anion binding studies, conducted qualitatively and spectroscopically in 9:1 DMSO-water, show that the receptor RC binds fluoride ion exclusively with a detection limit of 1.5 ppm over other anions. UV-visible spectra of receptor RC shows a considerable bathochromic shift of 117 nm from 348 nm to 465 nm upon addition of varying concentrations of fluoride ion (tetrabutylammonium salt). Jobs plot and mass spectroscopic data confirm 1:1 stoichiometric ratio between receptor RC and fluoride ion. 1H NMR titration reveals the presence of hydrogen binding interactions between receptor RC and fluoride ion responsible for naked eye colour change. 19F NMR titration further supports the binding interaction between receptor RC and fluoride ion. The binding constant of receptor RC for fluoride ion is calculated to be 5.59×103 M-1

Tissue distribution and antileishmanial activity of liposomised Amphotericin-B in Balb/c mice

Antileishmanial activity and organ distribution of the antifungal drug Amphotericin-B in free and liposomised form have been studied in Balb/c mice infected with Leishmania donovani. Results indicate that Amphotericin-B in the liposomised form is significantly more active than the free form. This increase in the activity is perhaps related to the reduced drug toxicity rather than the altered drug distribution at the site of infection

Topical corticosteroid therapy: clobetasol propionate 0.025%

Topical corticosteroids have been the cornerstone of treatment over the last six decades for various dermatoses characterized by dry, scaly, crusted, or erythematous skin as well as those associated with inflammation and pruritus. The potency of a topical steroid depends on the specific molecule, the amount of drug reaching the target, absorption through the skin (0.25%–3%), and the formulation. Clobetasol propionate (CP) 0.025% cream formulation is a potent, fifth-generation topical corticosteroid. It is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration to be applied twice daily for the treatment of moderate-to–severe psoriasis in adults. This case series covers the clinical experience of various dermatologists, including their expert opinion on the safety and efficacy of ImpoyzTM (CP) cream 0.025% in different skin disorders

Tuberculous dilated cardiomyopathy: an under-recognized entity?

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is a common public health problem in many parts of the world. TB is generally believed to spare these four organs-heart, skeletal muscle, thyroid and pancreas. We describe a rare case of myocardial TB diagnosed on a post-mortem cardiac biopsy. CASE PRESENTATION: Patient presented with history suggestive of congestive heart failure. We describe the clinical presentation, investigations and outcome of this case, and review the literature on the involvement of myocardium by TB. CONCLUSION: Involvement of myocardium by TB is rare. However it should be suspected as a cause of congestive heart failure in any patient with features suggestive of TB. Increasing recognition of the entity and the use of endomyocardial biopsy may help us detect more cases of this "curable" form of cardiomyopathy

Star Formation in the First Galaxies I: Collapse Delayed by Lyman-Werner Radiation

We investigate the process of metal-free star formation in the first galaxies with a high-resolution cosmological simulation. We consider the cosmologically motivated scenario in which a strong molecule-destroying Lyman-Werner (LW) background inhibits effective cooling in low-mass haloes, delaying star formation until the collapse or more massive haloes. Only when molecular hydrogen (H2) can self-shield from LW radiation, which requires a halo capable of cooling by atomic line emission, will star formation be possible. To follow the formation of multiple gravitationally bound objects, at high gas densities we introduce sink particles which accrete gas directly from the computational grid. We find that in a 1 Mpc^3 (comoving) box, runaway collapse first occurs in a 3x10^7 M_sun dark matter halo at z~12 assuming a background intensity of J21=100. Due to a runaway increase in the H2 abundance and cooling rate, a self-shielding, supersonically turbulent core develops abruptly with ~10^4 M_sun in cold gas available for star formation. We analyze the formation of this self-shielding core, the character of turbulence, and the prospects for star formation. Due to a lack of fragmentation on scales we resolve, we argue that LW-delayed metal-free star formation in atomic cooling haloes is very similar to star formation in primordial minihaloes, although in making this conclusion we ignore internal stellar feedback. Finally, we briefly discuss the detectability of metal-free stellar clusters with the James Webb Space Telescope.Comment: 22 pages, 1 new figure, accepted for publication in MNRA