Analysis of Chromium (Cr) and Nickel (Ni) in the West Coast of Karimun Island Riau Archipelagos Province

This research was conducted in March 2015 by collecting samples of water and sediments from the west coast of Karimun island. The purpose of this study was to determine the concentration of heavy metals chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni) in seawater and sediments. Sample collection was done by purposive sampling method in which the three selected station. The highest Cr concentration in sea water was found in Station 2 (0.148 mg/L) and Ni in Station 3 (0.071 mg/L) whilst highest Cr and Ni concentrations in Station 2 (4.643 and 2.289 μg/g). Compared tothe Standard Quality Guideline for Sediment, the concentrations of Cr and Ni were still below the value of ERL and still very far below the value of ERM. In contrast with Ni, which has negative correlation with its concentration in sediment, the Cr concentration in sea water was positively correlated with its concentration in sediment

The efficacy of low vision devices for students in specialized schools for students who are blind in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

In Nepal, children with low vision attend specialized schools for students who are totally blind and are treated as if they were totally blind. This study identified children with low vision and provided low vision devices to them. Of the 22% of the students in the school who had low vision, 78.5% benefited from the devices. Proper devices and counseling improved the quality of life of a significant number of these students. ©2008 AFB, All Rights Reserved

Effects of 1,3,4-thiadiazine compound with antidepressant properties in ligation model of acute pancreatitis

Based on hypotheses concerning the role of stress in acute pancreatitis development, the experimental approach for the decrease stress damage via the use the compound with proven antistress/neuroleptic action was conducted. The study was aimed to discover 2-morpholino-5-phenyl-6H-1,3,4-thiadiazine hydrobromide (compound L-17) therapeutic action in experimental acute pancreatitis. The experimental model used was the ligation model. The trial was carried out on 50 male Wistar rats with average body weight 180-240g. Histological picture of the pancreas was studied and biochemical and enzyme-immunoassays were carried out on the first and seventh days. The significant reduction in mortality on the background of L-17 compound administration was observed. While levels of all cytokines increased in induced experimental acute pancreatitis groups, the cytokine level rise was decreased when compound L-17 was administered. On the cellular level, the study revealed L-17’s ability to prevent granulocytosis and decrease granulocytes infiltration to inflammatory foci. The decrease in inflammatory reaction magnitude and prevention of abscess formation in experimental acute pancreatitis accompanied by sistemic inflamamtion was due to L-17’s ability to reduce neutrophilia and neutrophil entry into the injury zone. © 2018, Slovak Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.Government Council on Grants, Russian FederationMinistry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Minobrnauka: 17.7255.2017/8.9AAAA-A18-118020690020-1Funding information. Partly the study was supported by the Act 211 of the Government of Russian Federation, contract No 02.A03.21.0006; Government contract of Russian Federation with Institute of Immunology and Physiology (AAAA-A18-118020690020-1) and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation (# 17.7255.2017/8.9)

Multifaceted contributions : health workers and smallpox eradication in India

Smallpox eradication in South Asia was a result of the efforts of many grades of health-workers. Working from within the confines of international organisations and government structures, the role of the field officials, who were of various nationalities and also drawn from the cities and rural enclaves of the countries in these regions, was crucial to the development and deployment of policies. However, the role of these personnel is often downplayed in official histories and academic histories, which highlight instead the roles played by a handful of senior officials within the World Health Organization and the federal governments in the sub-continent. This article attempts to provide a more rounded assessment of the complex situation in the field. In this regard, an effort is made to underline the great usefulness of the operational flexibility displayed by field officers, wherein lessons learnt in the field were made an integral part of deploying local campaigns; careful engagement with the communities being targeted, as well as the employment of short term workers from amongst them, was an important feature of this work

Prevalence of visual impairment, cataract surgery and awareness of cataract and glaucoma in Bhaktapur district of Nepal: The Bhaktapur Glaucoma Study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cataract and glaucoma are the major causes of blindness in Nepal. Bhaktapur is one of the three districts of Kathmandu valley which represents a metropolitan city with a predominantly agrarian rural periphery. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of visual impairment, cataract surgery and awareness of cataract and glaucoma among subjects residing in this district of Nepal.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Subjects aged 40 years and above was selected using a cluster sampling methodology and a door to door enumeration was conducted for a population based cross sectional study. During the community field work, 11499 subjects underwent a structured interview regarding awareness (heard of) and knowledge (understanding of the disease) of cataract and glaucoma. At the base hospital 4003 out of 4800 (83.39%) subjects underwent a detailed ocular examination including log MAR visual acuity, refraction, applanation tonometry, cataract grading (LOCSΙΙ), retinal examination and SITA standard perimetry when indicated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The age-sex adjusted prevalence of blindness (best corrected <3/60) and low vision (best corrected <6/18 ≥3/60) was 0.43% (95%C.I. 0.25 - 0.68) and 3.97% (95% C.I. 3.40 - 4.60) respectively. Cataract (53.3%) was the principal cause of blindness. The leading causes of low vision were cataract (60.8%) followed by refractive error (12%). The cataract surgical coverage was 90.36% and was higher in the younger age group, females and illiterate subjects. Pseudophakia was seen in 94%. Awareness of cataract (6.7%) and glaucoma (2.4%) was very low. Among subjects who were aware, 70.4% had knowledge of cataract and 45.5% of glaucoma. Cataract was commonly known to be a 'pearl like dot' white opacity in the eye while glaucoma was known to cause blindness. Awareness remained unchanged in different age groups for cataract while for glaucoma there was an increase in awareness with age. Women were significantly less aware (odds ratio (OR): 0.63; 95%, confidence interval (CI): 0.54 - 0.74) for cataract and (OR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.50 - 0.81) for glaucoma. Literacy was also correlated with awareness.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The low prevalence of visual impairment and the high cataract surgical coverage suggests that cataract intervention programs have been successful in Bhaktapur. Awareness and knowledge of cataract and glaucoma was very poor among this population. Eye care programs needs to be directed towards preventing visual impairment from refractive errors, screening for incurable chronic eye diseases and promoting health education in order to raise awareness on cataract and glaucoma among this population.</p

Prospects for the use of a <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> metabolites-based feed additive in dairy farming

Laboratory and field experiment on use of the feed additive based on Bacillus subtilis endo- and exometabolites for the cows in different physiological periods are described in the paper. The feed additive impact on main body systems of the tested cows (n = 30), milk production parameters, growth rate of the calves (n = 18) born to the said cows were examined. The feed additive was added to the diets for the cows of test groups, 15 g per cow. The feed additive was found to have a positive effect on immunohematological and metabolic processes in postpartum cows. Neutrophils’ phagocytic activity increased by 12.5% and 14.6% in the animals of test group 1 and test group 2, respectively, as compared to that one in control animals (42.8 ± 1.9%). Neutrophil absorbency increased by 2.5 times, 3.2 times and 2.1 times in the animals of test group 1, test group 2 and control group, respectively. The proportion of T-lymphocytes in blood of animals in test group 1 and test group 2 was 44.5 and 48.9%, respectively, proportion of T-lymphocytes in blood of control animals equaled to 37.5%. Trend for increase in total protein concentration in cow sera owing to increase in albumin fraction was observed in postpartum period: it was 72.91 ± 3.45 g/l in test group 1; 75.54 ± 4.12 g/l in test group 2; 70.95 ± 4.25 g/l in control group. Average daily milk yield in cows of test group 1, test group 2 and control group for the 150 days of lactation was 24.50 ± 1.86 kg; 25.33 ± 1.45 kg and 22.75 ± 4.41 kg, respectively. Higher growth rate was reported for the calves born to the cows received the diet supplemented with the said feed additive. Heifers of test group 1 and test group 2 have reached body weight of 193.51 ± 5.76 and 195.33 ± 3.76 kg and in control group – of 187.33 ± 4.98 kg within 6 months. Feed additive based on endo- and exometabolites of Bacillus subtilis is recommended for cow diets for highly productive dairy herd creation and food-producing animal welfare maintenance