Drug induced methemoglobinemia: a case report

Methemoglobinemia (MetHb) is an uncommon cause of central cyanosis and hence, not frequently considered in the differential diagnosis. Methemoglobin is an abnormal form of hemoglobin which is produced physiologically due to autooxidation. If this process of autooxidation is disturbed, either due to genetic or due to exogeneous drugs/toxins, its level rises in blood leading to tissue hypoxia. It causes central cyanosis when its level exceeds 3%. We present the case of a 19-year-old male patient who was diagnosed with methemoglobinemia due to the use of dapsone for acne vulgaris. Our case emphasizes the significance of detailed history taking, knowledge and high index of suspicion for drug-induced methemoglobinemia.

Novel R2R Manufacturable Photonic-Enhanced Thin Film Solar Cells; January 28, 2010 -- January 31, 2011

Final subcontract report for PV Incubator project 'Novel R2R Manufacturable Photonic-Enhanced Thin Film Solar Cells.' The goal of this program was to produce tandem Si cells using photonic bandgap enhancement technology developed at ISU and Lightwave Power that would have an NREL-verified efficiency of 7.5% on 0.25 cm{sup 2} area tandem junction cell on plastic substrates. This goal was met and exceeded within the timeframe and budget of the program. On smaller area cells, the efficiency was even higher, {approx}9.5% (not verified by NREL). Appropriate polymers were developed to fabricate photonic and plasmonic devices on stainless steel, Kapton and PEN substrates. A novel photonic-plasmon structure was developed which shows a promise of improving light absorption in thin film cells, a better light absorption than by any other scheme

Quantum Electronic Transport through a Precessing Spin

The conductance through a local nuclear spin precessing in a magnetic field is studied by using the equations-of-motion approach. The characteristics of the conductance is determined by the tunneling matrix and the position of equilibrium chemical potential. We find that the spin flip coupling between the electrons on the spin site and the leads produces the conductance oscillation. When the spin is precessing in the magnetic field at Larmor frequency ($\omega_{L}$), the conductance develops the oscillation with the frequency of both $\omega_{L}$ and 2$\omega_{L}$ components, the relative spectrum weight of which can be tuned by the chemical potential and the spin flip coupling.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Phytochemical Screening of Methanolic Extract and Antibacterial Activity of Active Principles of Hepatoprotective Herb, Eclipta alba

Aerial parts of Eclipta alba are used traditionally for the treatment of several diseases of liver, skin and stomach. Methanolic extract and active principle compound of a well known Indian hepatoprotective herb, Eclipta alba was tested for in vitro antimicrobial studies. It was evaluated using zone of inhibition studies and minimum inhibitory concentration. The extract exhibited activity against all six strains studied. Phytochemical screening of the extract revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, coumestans, saponins and alkaloids etc. Ethylacetate fraction and further pure isolated wedelolactone showed enhanced antimicrobial activity. Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhimurium were most susceptible. Shigella flexneri was the most resistant bacterial strain. These results suggest coumestans/wedelolactone as a promising antimicrobial agent

Study of operative management of proximal humerus fracture treated with locking plates

Background: This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of Philos plate and to specifically study the clinical outcome of the patient treated with Philos plate for proximal humerus fracture on the radiological head shaft angle basis.Methods: 40 cases of proximal humerus fracture fixed by using Philos plate were reviewed.Results: Average constant shoulder score as Neer type-3 fracture is 83.8% and for type- 4 part fracture is 86%. Average radiological union was seen at 10.2 weeks. There was no major difference in clinical and radiological union. Conclusions: Good functional outcome with Philos plate irrespective of fracture type was obtained

Quantifying dwarf satellites through gravitational imaging: the case of SDSS J120602.09+514229.5

SDSS J120602.09+514229.5 is a gravitational lens system formed by a group of galaxies at redshift z=0.422 lensing a bright background galaxy at redshift z=2.001. The main peculiarity of this system is the presence of a luminous satellite near the Einstein radius, that slightly deforms the giant arc. This makes SDSS J120602.09+514229.5 the ideal system to test our grid-based Bayesian lens modelling method, designed to detect galactic satellites independently from their mass-to-light ratio, and to measure the mass of this dwarf galaxy despite its high redshift. Thanks to the pixelized source and potential reconstruction technique of Vegetti and Koopmans 2009a we are able to detect the luminous satellite as a local positive surface density correction to the overall smooth potential. Assuming a truncated Pseudo-Jaffe density profile, the satellite has a mass M=(2.75+-0.04)10^10 M_sun inside its tidal radius of r_t=0.68". We determine for the satellite a luminosity of L_B=(1.6+-0.8)10^9 L_sun, leading to a total mass-to-light ratio within the tidal radius of (M/L)_B=(17.2+-8.5) M_sun/L_sun. The central galaxy has a sub-isothermal density profile as in general is expected for group members. From the SDSS spectrum we derive for the central galaxy a velocity dispersion of sigma_kinem=380+-60 km/s within the SDSS aperture of diameter 3". The logarithmic density slope of gamma=1.7+0.25-0.30 (68% CL), derived from this measurement, is consistent within 1-sigma with the density slope of the dominant lens galaxy gamma~1.6, determined from the lens model. This paper shows how powerful pixelized lensing techniques are in detecting and constraining the properties of dwarf satellites at high redshift.Comment: Submitted to MNRAS; Abstract abridge

Implications of Neutron Decoupling in Short Gamma Ray Bursts

Roughly half of the observed gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) may arise from the shocking of an ultra-relativistic shell of protons with the interstellar medium (ISM). Any neutrons originally present in the GRB fireball may, depending on the characteristics of the central engine, dynamically decouple as the fireball accelerates. This leads to outflow consisting of separate fast proton and slow neutron components. We derive detailed implications of neutron decoupling for the observed lightcurves of short bursts. We show that the collision of a neutron decayed shell with a decelerating outer shell is expected to result in an observable second peak in the GRB lightcurve. There may be substantial optical emission associated with such an event, so the upcoming Swift satellite may be able to place constraints on models for short bursts. We also discuss interesting inferences about central engine characteristics allowed by existing BATSE data and a consideration of neutron decoupling.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figure

PRESCRIPTION PATTERN ANALYSIS OF NON-STEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Objective: The aim of the study was to analyze the prescription pattern of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and to identify the commonly used NSAIDs and their drug-related problems (DRPs). Methods: A prospective and cross-sectional study on prescription pattern analysis of NSAIDs was conducted for the period of 6 months. Results: Prescriptions of 150 patients containing at least one NSAIDs were analyzed. About 56% of the prescription were prescribed for males and 44% prescription were female. NSAIDs were more prescribed for below 60-year age group (47%) but were most frequently used by 61–70-year age group (21%). Subjects were regularly prescribed with acetaminophen (95%) and diclofenac (22%). Among all the prescriptions, (19%) of the prescriptions contained NSAIDs in the form of fixed dose combinations (FDCs). About 37% of prescriptions had other analgesic coprescribed along with NSAIDs amid which tramadol was in majority (22%). Prescription was also coprescribed with antibiotic (90%) and gastroprotective agents (GPAs) (97%) that consisted of pantoprazole belonging to the class of proton pump inhibitors which was the persistently prescribed GPA (86%). Due to coprescription, (3%) suspected drug-drug interactions (DDIs) were observed. Conclusion: The goal of studying prescribing patterns was to monitor, assess, and, if required, advise changes in medical practitioners’ prescribing behavior to offer quality medical treatment and reasonable drug use. The prescribing pattern was rational and in accordance with national list of essential medicine (NLEM-2015) but was not in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) model list of essential medicines