STANDARDIZATION OF TALISADI CHOORNA AND GUTI CONTAINING SYNTHETIC VANSHLOCHAN

Talisadi choorna and Guti is routinely used in the treatment of Shwas. Vanshlochan is an important ingredient of Talisadi Choorna and Guti. But Vanshlochan has become extinct due to problems in procurement and availability. It is formed only after twelve years of flowering period in hollow internodes of Bamboo. Hence its synthetic substitute is routinely used in Ayurvedic practice and pharmacy. This substitution of natural by synthetic Vanshlochan, whether results in any change in therapeutic activity is not yet known. In Ayurvedic texts preparation of Guti from choorna makes it Laghu and easy to digest is mentioned In the present study analysis of synthetic Vanshlochan was done. X-ray diffraction of synthetic Vanshlochan emitted a blurred peak at 20 degree. This suggests that the sample was amorphous. Surface electron microscopy images were obtained at 10um with resolution of 1000 and 2500. Elemental analysis was done with the help of spot tests, which showed presence of Sodium, phosphorus, potassium. Iron was detected quantitatively with the help of photo-electric calorimeter. Energy dispersive analysis was done in order to confirm the presence of elements detected in chemical analysis. Along with sodium, potassium and phosphorus, other elements like aluminium, silica, calcium, iron, oxygen were detected. In thermogravimetric analysis weight loss of synthetic Vanshlochan was gradual from 37 degree to 610 degree. At 610 degree the weight loss was maximum. From 610 degree to 700 degree, weight of the sample remained constant. This established the thermal stability of the sample at 610 degree. Talisadi choorna was manufactured according to API standards. Values obtained from the quality control tests performed on Choorna were within standard limits. Process of rolling Guti leads to size and weight variation. Hence tablets of the mixture were prepared. For preparation of tablet, mixture was transformed into granules. Magnesium stearate was added to the granules as a lubricant to avoid friction during tableting. As magnesium stearate is an excipient it does not affect therapeutic action of Guti. Values obtained from quality control tests performed on tablets were within standard limits.

A prospective study of safety, efficacy and acceptability of postpartum insertion of intrauterine contraceptive device in a tertiary care hospital in Maharashtra, India

Background: IUCD (intrauterine contraceptive device) to prevent pregnancy are among the oldest method of contraception. The modern IUCD are highly effective, safe private, long acting and rapidly reversible contraceptive method. Aims and objective of this study was to study the acceptability and safety of postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device (PPIUCD) in postpartum period and to assess the feasibility, safety, efficacy and expulsion rate of IUCD.Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted at tertiary care teaching hospital in Maharashtra from January 2018 to October 2018 and patients were followed up to a period of one-year post IUCD insertion.Results: Majority of patients in this study were in age group 21 to 26 years of age (58.7%) and the least number were in the age group more than 30 years (3.3%). This study showed that majority of patients were primigravida (44%) and the lowest number belonged to gravida 6 (0.3%). Regarding timing of IUCD insertion 73% were done intra caesarean, 22.3% were done post placental and 4.7% were done within 48 hours of delivery. In this study authors found that 4% of patients had per vaginal discharge, 5% had missing IUCD thread and 2% of patients had IUCD expulsion. It was found in this study that 98% of patients continued to use IUCD and only 2% discontinued the usage.Conclusions: From the study authors came to conclusion that PPIUCD insertion is a safe, feasible, effective and reversible method of contraception

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Therapeutic efficacy of different Hemodialysis prescriptions in canine azotemia

Aim: The aim was to determine therapeutic efficacy of different Hemodialysis prescriptions in canine azotemia. Materials and Methods: Patients (n=9) with acute onset of renal dysfunction or chronic patients with superimposed acute factor (component) or patients with known chronic nature of the disease were dialyzed with Fresenius 4008S hemodialysis machine after jugular catheterization. Patients were randomly divided into two groups, one group (n=3) was dialyzed every day and second (n=4) was dialyzed on alternate days. The patients were evaluated for following parameters to compare the efficacy of the dialysis prescription: Urea reduction ratio (URR), creatinine reduction ratio (CRR), Kt/V, time averaged concentration of urea (TAC urea). Result and Discussion: Increasing both dialysis frequency and duration is the superior dialysis schedule. Patient dialyzed every day with total processed blood volume 1.79 L/Kg for 4 h 26 min/session had the lowest TAC of 36.82 mg/dl, thereby was considered it as a better prescription

High-pressure advantages in stoichiometric hydrogenation of carbon dioxide to methanol

Interplay between three important reaction parameters (pressure, temperature, and space velocity) in stoichiometric hydrogenation of carbon dioxide (CO2:H2=1:3) was systematically investigated using a commercial Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst. Their impacts on reaction performance and important ranges of process conditions towards full one-pass conversion of CO2 to methanol at high yield were rationalized based on the kinetics and thermodynamics of the reaction. Under high-pressure condition above a threshold temperature, the reaction overcomes kinetic control, entering thermodynamically controlled regime. Ca. 90% CO2 conversion and &gt;95% methanol selectivity was achieved with a very good yield (0.9-2.4 gMeOH gcat-1 h-1) at 442 bar. Such high-pressure condition induces the formation of highly dense phase and consequent mass transfer limitation. When this limitation is overcome, the advantage of high-pressure conditions can be fully exploited and weight time yield as high as 15.3 gMeOH gcat-1 h-1 could be achieved at 442 bar. Remarkable advantages of high-pressure conditions in the terms reaction kinetics, thermodynamics, and phase behavior in the aim to achieve better methanol yield are discussed.</p

Low temperature synthesis of pure anatase carbon doped titanium dioxide: An efficient visible light active photocatalyst

Low temperature pure anatase Carbon Doped Titanium Dioxide (C-TiO2) is successfully synthesized by using starch as an effective, economical, and nonhazardous carbon source. The synthesized C-TiO2 has been further characterized by X-Ray Diffraction, SEM, TEM, BET, XPS and UV- DRS techniques, which reveal that the particles are crystalline with spherical morphology, high surface area and an optical band gap of 2.79 eV for CTiO2 calcined at 400 °C. Furthermore photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B dye was carried out using asprepared C-TiO2 under visible light irradiation. Prepared C-TiO2 calcined at 200 °C and 400 °C show higher degradation efficiency (85% and 100% in 120 min respectively) as compared to that of undoped TiO2 and commercial Degussa P-25. Result shows that the C-TiO2 containing lower carbon percentage has higher photocatalytic activity. Thus enhanced photocatalytic activity of C-TiO2, may be due to synergic effect of carbon doping and [101] facet enhanced synthesis of anatase C-TiO2

Comparative quantitative analysis of osseous anatomy of the craniovertebral junction of tiger, horse, deer, and humans

Aim: To compare the osseous anatomy of the craniovertebral junction of a horse, deer, and tiger with that of a human being. The variation in the structure of bones in these animals is analyzed. Materials and Methods: Various dimensions of the bones of the craniovertebral junction of the horse, deer, and tiger were quantitatively measured, and their differences with those of human bones were compared and analyzed. Results: Apart from the sizes and weights, there are a number of structural variations in the bones of these animals that depend on their functional needs. The more remarkable difference in joint morphology is noticed in the occipitoatlantal joint. The occipitoatlantal articulation is remarkably large and deep, resembling a ′hinge joint′ in all the three animals studied. The odontoid process is ′C shaped′ in the deer and horse and is ′denslike′ in the tiger and humans. The transverse processes of the atlas are in the form of large wings in all the three animals. The arches of the atlas are large and flat, but the traverse of the vertebral artery resembles, to an extent, to that of human vertebral artery. The rotatory movements of the head at the craniovertebral junction are wider ranged in the horse and deer as compared with those of the tiger and humans. The bones of the craniovertebral junction of all the three animals are adapted to the remarkable thickness and strength of the extensor muscles of the nape of the neck. Conclusions: Despite the wide variations in the size of the bones, the basic patterns of structure, vascular and neural relationship, and joint alignments have remarkable similarities and a definite pattern of differences

A retrospective observational insight into COVID-19 exposures resulting from personal protective equipment (PPE) breaches.

BackgroundHealthcare workers (HCWs) stand the risk of acquiring infection directly, while attending to patients or indirectly while handling and testing patient specimens. Considering this, the present study was planned to assess Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) breaches and exposures among HCWs working in COVID-19 wards/ screening areas and to evaluate their COVID-19 positivity rates post-exposure concerning the level of exposure, type of PPE breach, and the cadre of HCWs exposed in COVID-19 wards.MethodsThis retrospective cross-sectional study involved the analysis of all instances of PPE breaches which occurred during a period of nine months from June 2020 to February 2021 at a tertiary care level hospital in Central India. The analysis included all exposures involving any cadre of HCWs that occurred while handling the patients or while doffing the contaminated PPE in COVID -19 wards.ResultsA total of 347 PPE breaches were analyzed from the available records of the Hospital Infection Control team repository. Amongst the 347 breaches, 268 (77.2%) were classified as low-risk exposures and 79 (22.8%) as high-risk exposures. Cadre wise distribution of high and low-risk exposures revealed that, PPE breaches occurred most commonly in the category of nursing officers (n = 174, 50.1%). Among all of the breaches, 15.2% of high-risk exposures and 2.6% of low-risk exposures resulted in COVID-19 positivity with a cumulative positivity of 5.4%. Collectively, non-mask related breaches accounted for the majority (63.2%) of the positive COVID-19 cases.ConclusionAppropriate use of PPE by HCWs is vital for their protection. However, breaches in the use of PPE may occur while managing COVID-19 patients due to physical and mental exhaustion among HCWs resulting from work overload. Early identification and appropriate management of HCWs with high-risk exposures can help prevent transmission to other hospital staff and patients, thus preserving resources and workforce