Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness analysis in normal, ocular hypertensive, and primary open angle glaucoma: an optical coherence tomography study

Background: To correlate the findings of optical coherence tomography (OCT) evaluation of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in primary open angle glaucoma, ocular hypertensive and normal eyes.Methods: A 34 consecutive normal, 26 consecutive ocular hypertensives and 40 consecutive glaucomatous eyes underwent a complete ophthalmic examination, including applanation tonometry, disc evaluation, gonioscopy and perimetry. Thickness of the RNFL around the optic disc was determined with 3.4 mm diameter-wide 3D 2000 TOPCON OCT. Average and segmental RNFL thickness values were compared among all groups.Results: Of the 100 eyes enrolled, the mean RNFL thickness was significantly less in glaucomatous eyes (83.165±15.938) than in normal’s (102.42±15.2) and ocular hypertensive’s (100.45±7.38). RNFL, average thicknesses in all four quadrants in POAG patients were significantly decreased compared with the OHT and the control groups.Conclusions: RNFL measurement with SD-OCT could provide important information for detection of early stages of glaucoma. (pre-perimetric glaucoma) as well as help in evaluating progression of glaucoma

Imaging spectrum of renal masses on multi-slice computed tomography

Background: Multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) is the mainstay for preoperative assessment of many complex renal masses in current clinical practice. Benign renal processes may simulate malignant renal tumors and could be defined correctly by CT. MSCT has also an important role in tumor staging. The purpose of this article is to understand the imaging spectrum of renal masses on MSCT and assess the usefulness of CT in surgical planning and management.Methods: Studied 500 patients with suspected renal lesions who underwent MSCT during the period July 2017 to July 2020 at state-of-art imaging center. CT imaging was done in those patients in whom clinical examination and ultrasonography (USG) revealed possibility of diagnosis of renal masses for further detailed evaluation and deciding management.Results: Out of 500 total subjects, the common age group in this study is 51 to 60 years (25%). Male preponderance (59%) was noted. The most common presentation was pain (84%) followed by lump (29.4%) and haematuria (17.8%). Malignant masses (51%) were more common followed by benign (39%) and inflammatory masses (10%) respectively. Renal cell carcinoma has more incidence (30%) followed by simple cyst (20%). Calcification (19.6%), perinephric extension (78%) and vascular invasion (21.5%) are more common in malignant masses. Conclusion: MSCT is the modality of choice for the diagnosis of renal masses and deciding management approach in current practice. Detection of tumoral spread, invasion of surrounding organs and vascular structure are better with CT. MSCT also has a role in postoperative follow-up of renal masses

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness analysis in normal, ocular hypertensive, and primary open angle glaucoma: an optical coherence tomography study

Background: To correlate the findings of optical coherence tomography (OCT) evaluation of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in primary open angle glaucoma, ocular hypertensive and normal eyes.Methods: A 34 consecutive normal, 26 consecutive ocular hypertensives and 40 consecutive glaucomatous eyes underwent a complete ophthalmic examination, including applanation tonometry, disc evaluation, gonioscopy and perimetry. Thickness of the RNFL around the optic disc was determined with 3.4 mm diameter-wide 3D 2000 TOPCON OCT. Average and segmental RNFL thickness values were compared among all groups.Results: Of the 100 eyes enrolled, the mean RNFL thickness was significantly less in glaucomatous eyes (83.165±15.938) than in normal’s (102.42±15.2) and ocular hypertensive’s (100.45±7.38). RNFL, average thicknesses in all four quadrants in POAG patients were significantly decreased compared with the OHT and the control groups.Conclusions: RNFL measurement with SD-OCT could provide important information for detection of early stages of glaucoma. (pre-perimetric glaucoma) as well as help in evaluating progression of glaucoma

Effects of the activation temperature on the polyacrylonitrile / acrylamide-based activated carbon fibers

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/acrylamide (AM) precursor fibers prepared using a solvent-free coagulation process were stabilized, carbonized, and physically activated by carbon dioxide (CO2) into activated carbon fibers (ACFs). The activation temperature varied from 800 to 900 °C while the activation time was 60 minutes. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs show that the porosity increased after the activation process, resulting from the loss of volatile components. The specific surface area increased markedly after the activation process; it was several hundred times greater than before the process. It was concluded that there is a big potential for PAN/AM-based ACFs prepared using solvent-free coagulation bath as an adsorbent of natural gas

Microstructure of polyacrylonitrile-based activated carbon fibers prepared from solvent-free coagulation process

Polyacrylonitrile precursor fibers prepared using a solvent-free coagulation process were stabilized, carbonized, and physically activated by carbon dioxide into activated carbon fibers (ACFs). The activation temperature varied from 600 to 900°C while the activation time was 1 h. Atomic force microscopy was used to observe the surface morphology, as well as the surface roughness of the ACFs. Higher pyrolysis temperature formed rougher surfaces, and increased the pore sizes. Meanwhile, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed more conversion of oxygen containing functional groups to carbonaceous materials as the activation temperature increased. Moreover, the microstructure properties were thoroughly characterized by the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. XRD analysis showed that the activation of the ACFs shrank the ordered structure, reducing the D-spacing from 0.358 to 0.347 nm for the fibers prepared at activation temperatures of 600 to 900°C. Meanwhile, XPS analysis concluded that that the oxygen containing functional groups were still retained even at high activation temperatures while the nitrogen containing functional groups were reduced during the high temperature activation in the CO2 atmosphere

Radioactive decontamination of water by membrane processes - a review

The recent accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2012 reminded us vividly of the serious hazards of radioactive substances spread over a wide range of the affected region. Currently, there is a great concern over the effect of contaminated soil and water on the health and safety of the inhabitants of the region. Hence, the advancement in the technologies of nuclear waste treatment is of vital importance if we decide to live with nuclear power to maintain our modern civilization. Among various separation technologies used, membrane technologies have been chosen in this article since they are considered as one of the emerging technologies with many advantages over the conventional processes. In this review the membrane technology is classified into different processes and, for each process, progress made since the onset of this millennium in the radioactive decontamination of water is shown. The new directions are shown by considering the progress made in membrane manufacturing and membrane processes. Thus, the combined efforts of the researchers who are engaged in membrane and membrane process design with those who are engaged in nuclear waste treatment near the plant sites were highlighted

Synthesis, Crystal Structural Characterization and Biological Properties of Thiosemicarbazones of Schiff Bases Derived from 4-Acyl-2-pyrazoline-5-one

Abstract: A novel synthesis, single crystal and biological activity of 4-acylthiosemicarbazone-3-methyl-1-(4`-methylphenyl)-2-pyrazolin-5-one by condensation of 4-acyl-3-methyl-1-(4`-methylphenyl)-2-pyrazolin-5-one with thiosemicarbazide was carried out. The compounds were characterized on the basis of elemental analysis, IR, 1 H NMR, Mass, DSC and 13 C NMR spectral data. The compounds were tested for their antibacterial activity against various gram +ve and -ve bacteria. The results were compared with the marketed drugs. The crystal structure was determined by single x-ray diffraction. 4-Acetyl thiosemicarbazone-3-methyl-1-(4`-methylphenyl)-2-pyrazolin-5-one(AcPTMP-ths) crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P21/n with a=6.082