Role of hydrographical parameters and total organic carbon on mercury allocation along the riverine transect of Beypore, south-west coast of India

1419-1426Distribution of total mercury (THg) was carried out in the sediments of Beypore estuary. The THg concentration in surface sediments varied from 0.03 ppm to 0.17 ppm. The pollution index approach using contamination factor (CF) revealed that the sampling stations are moderately contaminated with respect to mercury. Further, the effects of hydrographical parameters (pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen) and total organic carbon (TOC) of the sediment were studied over the spatial distribution of mercury (Hg). Correlation analysis unveiled THg exhibited significant positive correlations with TOC (R=0.91) and salinity (R=0.744). However significant inverse correlation was observed between pH and Hg (R =-0.93). The C: N ratios suggest that the organic matter is labile in nature. Total organic carbon was found to control the distribution of Hg. It is the first base line study in this estuary

FUSOGENIC LIPOSOME FOR THE TREATMENT OF FUNGAL MENINGITIS: AN OVERVIEW

Fungal meningitis is an infection which is caused by fungus which spreads through the blood to the spinal cord. People with weakened immunity get this disease easily like persons with AIDs, etc. To make sure the disease is fungal meningitis, a sample is taken from the cerebrospinal fluid and it is sent to the laboratory. Usually, fungal meningitis is not mediated from person to person, but it is caused when a fungi are inhaled from the surrounding and spread into the blood to the central nervous system. Normally medications such as vaccines, IV, and oral suspensions are given to the people for curing fungal meningitis. Commonly used drugs are Amphotericin B and fluconazole oral suspension. Amphotericin B is an antifungal, antiprotozoal, and hydrophobic drug. However, these drugs cannot give a directly as medication therapy for the patients, because it offers toxic effect and side effects, absorption rate is slower, and crossing the blood–brain barrier (BBB) is getting difficult. Adverse effects can be minimized with the application of nanotechnology. Therefore, in human medical services, the availability of molecular nanotechnology will provide rapid progress. Nanoparticle (NP) systems help to improve the solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs which has been explained using Noyes–Whitney equations. Nanoparticles offers several advantages as a drug delivery system, such as better drug bioavailability, reduction of dosing frequency enables them for the betterment of diseases, can cross the BBB, and it is very cost-effective. Types of NP include polymeric NP, carbon nanotubes, metallic structures, nanocrystals, and fusogenic liposomes. Fusogenic liposomes are a peculiar class of phospholipid vesicles. The fusogenic liposomes can deliver encapsulated NP into the targeted sites and also can cross the BBB. On comparing with cationic liposomes, fusogenic liposomes are more effective as well as rapid in the drug delivery

A Survey of Dentists' Attitude Towards Parents Accompanying Children in the Dental Operatory

Background: The most significant problems in pediatric dentistry is behavioural resistance of children in the first visit. There is a debate on parental presence in operation room. The literature on dentists' preference of parental presence in the operatory is sparse. Aims: 1. To determine the percentage of dentists in a major city who prefer parental presence in the dental operatory. 2. To correlate parameters like practitioners’ gender, practice type, patient volume, and patient age in allowing parental accompaniment. 3. To determine the significant variable that constraints dentists from allowing parental presence. Methods And Materials: The study group included pediatric dentists and dentists who treat children in their private or institutional practice. Specific variables that were addressed in the questionnaire and used for the correlation included: practitioners age, gender, qualification, years in practice, practice type, volume of children treated by them, attitudes towards parental accompaniment and variables that constraints the dentist while treating children in parental presence. Results: 43% dentists felt comfortable treating children in the presence of parents. Factors like gender, practice type and volume of patients have shown to influence the attitude of dentist towards parental accompaniment. The major constraint reported by dentists is that of parents intercepting orders and thus affecting the rapport between the dentist and child (85.6%, n=89) Conclusion: The dentists practicing in this city demonstrated a positive trend towards increased parental presence in the operatory

ASSESSMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESSORS OF DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY USING DEPRESSION ANXIETY STRESS SCALE-21 IN SOUTH INDIAN HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of the components of psychological stresses like depression, anxiety as a measure of the perception of the stress response (SR) and its influences on physiological functions in healthy human volunteers under various occupational stresses by using depression anxiety stress scale-21 (DASS-21). Methods: A total of 128 healthy subjects from various sites of Ooty were enrolled in this study, according to the inclusion-exclusion criteria in the study protocol. DASS-21 was administered to the subjects, by ‘Questerview' method. The intensity of psychological stresses of depression, anxiety and other mental stress was measured.Results: The incidence of depression, anxiety and their components such as hopelessness, dysphoria, anhedonia, low self-esteem, autonomic arousal, musculoskeletal symptoms, etc. were found high in both men and women participants. In men blood pressures were 136.16±6.6; 84.34±6.4 and in women 130.5±3.9; 86.48±3.4 as systolic, diastolic respectively. The body temperatures and heart rate were not altered, but the respiratory rate was found significantly elevated. The abdominal breathing was 45.21% in men and 52.77% in women indicated poor adaptation response towards the perception of stress. Conclusion: The results are concluding high prevalence of moderate to high-level depression and anxiety indicated stress response triggers a cascade producing a series of changes in human vital physiological functions such as blood pressure, respiratory rate, heart rate were significantly higher. We suggest future researchers are potential for the cumulative health benefits of patients in secondary or tertiary level treatment.Keywords: Psychological stressors, Stress response (SR), Depression anxiety stress scale-21 (DASS-21), Depression, Anxiety, Autonomic ArousalÂ

Allergic contact stomatitis (stomatitis venenata): A case report of oral hypersensitivity reaction to toothpaste

Allergic contact stomatitis (stomatitis venenata) might resemble oral lichen planus or oral lichenoid lesion clinically which can be acute or chronic in nature. Many offending agents have been attributed to their development and the most common being dental restorative materials, lipstick or flavouring agents in toothpaste or chewing gums. Allergic reactions can be in mild form to life-threatening anaphylaxis. The identification of the exact cause for allergy is difficult. Here, we report the case of a 37-year-old patient who presented with allergic contact stomatitis to a conventional daily routine product. Importance of history taking and awareness by the clinician about the contents of any new products being prescribed to the patient are emphasized by this case report

Comparative analysis of conventional and real time PCR for detection of haemoparasites in dogs

9-15Ehrlichiosis and babesiosis are the most pathogenic tick-borne diseases of dogs worldwide. The present study reports that the development of SYBR green based real time PCR (RT-PCR) protocols with novel primers targeting small subunit ribosomal RNA genes to detect natural infections of Ehrlichia canis, Babesia vogeli and B. gibsoni in dogs and its comparison with conventional PCR. Statistical analysis revealed that RT- PCR is more superior to conventional PCR assay to detect low level rickettsaemia (p < 0.05). The high prevalence of these pathogens in the study population also warrants immediate attention to the adoption of efficient and sustainable control strategies

A Comparative Study of Sinusoidal PWM and Space Vector PWM of a Vector Controlled BLDC Motor

Abstract: This paper focuses on the vector control of a BLDC motor with two different concepts of Pulse Width Modulation-the Sinusoidal PWM and the Space Vector Modulation strategy. The paper deals with the basics of a BLDC motor, its dynamic modeling and its speed control using two different strategies of Pulse Width Modulation. The vector control is one of the methods used in variable frequency drives or variable speed drives to control the torque (and thus the speed) of three-phase AC electric motors by controlling the current. The results prove that the Space Vector Modulation technique helps to improve the performance and thus the efficiency of the system

The association of admission blood glucose level with the clinical picture and prognosis in cardiogenic shock - Results from the CardShock Study

Background: Critically ill patients often present with hyperglycemia, regardless of previous history of diabetes mellitus (DM). Hyperglycemia has been associated with adverse outcome in acute myocardial infarction and acute heart failure. We investigated the association of admission blood glucose level with the clinical picture and short-term mortality in cardiogenic shock (CS). Methods: Consecutively enrolled CS patients were divided into five categories according to plasma glucose level at the time of enrolment: hypoglycemia (glucose = 16.0 mmol/L) hyperglycemia. Clinical presentation, biochemistry, and short-term mortality were compared between the groups. Results: Plasma glucose level of 211 CS patients was recorded. Glucose levels were distributed equally between normoglycemia (26% of patients), mild (27%), moderate (19%) and severe (25%) hyperglycemia, while hypoglycemia (2%) was rare. Severe hyperglycemia was associated with higher blood leukocyte count (17.3 (5.8) E9/L), higher lactate level (4.4 (3.3-8.4) mmol/L) and lower arterial pH (7.23 (0.14)) compared with normoglycemia or mild to moderate hyperglycemia (p <0.001 for all). In-hospital mortality was highest among hypoglycemic (60%) and severely hyperglycemic (56%) patients, compared with 22% in normoglycemic group (p <0.01). Severe hyperglycemia was an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality (OR 3.7, 95% CI 1.19-11.7, p = 0.02), when adjusted for age, gender, LVEF, lactate, and DM. Conclusions: Admission blood glucose level has prognostic significance in CS. Mortality is highest among patients with severe hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia. Severe hyperglycemia is independently associated with high in-hospital mortality in CS. It is also associated with biomarkers of systemic hypoperfusion and stress response. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe