Anchor Failures at a Deep Excavation

The Paper describes failures of some high tensile strength steel tensioned rock anchors at a deep excavation. The failures are attributed to stress corrosion to which the high tensile strength steel is particularly susceptible. The method which was used to estimate the life of remaining anchors on the project is described. The need for ensuring a high level of care during transportation, storage and installation of such high tensile strength steel bars is emphasised

PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECT OF THE AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF TABERNAEMONTANA DIVARICATA FLOWER IN WISTER RATS

Objective: To determine the phytochemical analysis and anti-inflammatory effect of the aqueous extract of Tabernaemontanadivaricata flower in Wister Rats.Methods: The aqueous extract of fresh flowers of the plant Tabernaemontanadivaricata (family-Apocyanaceae) were prepared and analyzed for phytochemical constituents using standard methods. The anti-inflammatory activity of the plant extracts was examined with the help of rat models by taking diclofenac as a standard drug against T. divericata oil extract by using carrageenan induced rat paw edema method with the help of the instrument plethesmometer.Results: The present experiment shows the phytochemical analysis, anti-inflammatory activity of the aqueous extract of fresh flowers of the plant Tabernaemontanadivaricata (family-Apocyanaceae). Various phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of saponins, flavonoids, glycosides, steroids, proteins, phenols, amino acids and tannins. The oil extract of the plant showed much effective anti-inflammatory activity against the standard drug.Conclusion: It can be concluded aqueous extract of the flower of the plant Tabernaemontanadivaricata (family-Apocyanaceae) contain the high presence of phytochemicals. This extract was found to possess promising antimicrobial activity when compared with the standards

Diffusion tensor imaging in assessment of demyelinating diseases of central nervous system

Background: Conventional MR plays an important role in detection of demyelinating lesions. Involvement of the lesion core, perilesional region and normally appearing white matter (NAWM) cannot be quantified using routine T2/FLAIR sequences. DTI is an important tool in assessment of anisotropy in affected and apparently normal region of brain. 3D Tractography maps are useful in showing white matter fibre loss. Aim was the assessment of white matter damage and neuroaxonal loss using DTI in demyelinating lesionsMethods: Cross sectional observational study including clinically suspected 30 patients of demyelinating disease. Patients were studied in 3Tesla Siemens Skyra MRI scanner with phased array coils. T1w, T2w, FLAIR, DWI, DTI, post contrast T1w images were included and FA, ADC, Tractography maps were generated. ANOVA test and BONFERONI analysis were used.Results: We found mean FA of core lesion was 0.307±0.06, of perilesional region 0.444±0.03 and NAWM 0.567±0.06. The mean ADC value of core of the lesion was 1.24×10-3mm2/sec±0.11×10-3mm2/sec, perilesional region 1.16×10-6mm2/sec ±0.1×10-3mm2/sec and NAWM 1.04×10-3mm2/sec±0.06×10-3mm2/sec.Conclusions: DTI is a useful MR technique that allows quantification of extent of demyelination in the white matter measuring FA and ADC values. The FA values which denote diffusivity and directionality are more reliable marker of demyelination compared to ADC values. DTI Tractography shows white matter tract disruption which may play role in assessing clinical outcome of patients

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Brain in Evaluation of Floppy Children: A Case Series

How to Cite This Article: Sanyal Sh, Duraisamy Sh, Garga ChU. MRI Brain in Evaluation of Floppy Children: A Case Series. Iran J Child Neurol. Autumn 2015; 9(4): 65-74.AbstractObjectiveHypotonia is a common clinical entity well recognized in pediatric age group, which demands experienced clinical assessment and an extensive array of investigations to establish the underlying disease process. Neuroimaging comes as great help in diagnosing the disease process in rare cases of central hypotonia due to structural malformations of brain and metabolic disorders and should always be included as an important investigation in the assessment of a floppy child. In this article, we discuss the MRI features of eight cases of central and two cases of combined hypotonia and the importance of neuroimaging in understanding the underlying disease in a hypotonic child

Zinner syndrome—a rare developmental anomaly of the mesonephric duct diagnosed on magnetic resonance imaging

AbstractDevelopmental anomalies of the urogenital tract are rare but often encountered. Zinner's syndrome is a rare congenital abnormality of mesonephric (Wolffian) duct consisting of unilateral renal agenesis, ipsilateral seminal vesicle cyst, and ipsilateral ejaculatory duct obstruction due to developmental arrest in early embryogenesis affecting the caudal end of Mullerian duct and only approximately a 100 cases have been reported so far. Radiologic modalities such as intravenous pyelography, ultrasonography, vasovesiculography, contrast enhanced computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging are all helpful in diagnosis of this unusual entity. We present here an extremely rare developmental anomaly involving the Mullerian ducts, which would remain undiagnosed but for radiologic imaging. The patient presented with symptoms of lower urinary tract irritation

Nigeria and the open university system

Abstract available : p.x-xvi (vol. 1

The Santa Helena Dam on Compressible Foundation

The Paper describes the performance of a 28 m high compacted earthfill dam for water supply in Northeast Brazil. For mainly economic reasons, the dam was founded, in part, over soft to very soft silty clays to a depth exceeding 8 metres. Large diameter sand drains were provided to accelerate consolidation in the foundation during construction. Maximum construction settlements of approximately 240 cm were recorded. Results of settlement of spillway structures, pore pressure measurements in the fill and long term settlements, are described in this paper. Transverse cracking of fill occurred as a result of large deformations in the compressible sediments. The cracks were repaired, and the dam is currently operating satisfactorily

Niska masa szkieletu ważnym czynnikiem predykcyjnym osteoporozy u mężczyzn zakażonych wirusem HIV w Indiach

Introduction: This study evaluated prevalence and predictors of osteoporosis and sarcopenia in men with HIV. Material and methods: 220 men with HIV were screened, of which 115 men, 30–50 years-age, having at least 1-year follow-up, underwent hormonal and DEXA analysis. 40 controls were also evaluated. Results: Males with HIV had significantly lower BMD and Z-scores at all sites. Osteoporosis was diagnosed in 64.35%; commonest site being radius total (49.56%), followed by radius 33% (45.21%), radius ultra distal (36.52%), lumbar spine (19.13%), neck of femur (17.39%), total femur and greater trochanter (7.82% each). HIV patients had significantly lower fat mass (FM), lean mass (LM), total fat percent, bone mineral content, gynoid fat, percent skeletal muscle mass (PSMM). Men with osteoporosis had higher use of anti retroviral therapy (ART), immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS), tuberculosis, lower FM, LM and PSMM. Logistic regression revealed PSMM, age and delta (Δ) CD4 count (change in CD4 count after 6–12 months of ART, compared to pre-ART) were best predictors of osteoporosis. Greater PSMM was associated with decreased osteoporosis, without adjusting for any variable (Model-1), adjusting for disease duration, tuberculosis and IRIS (Model-2), and model-2 plus gonadotropins and sex steroids (Model-3). Greater ΔCD4 count and age were associated with increased osteoporosis after adjusting for different models. Sarcopenia was observed in 40% men and none in controls. Conclusions: Men with decreased skeletal mass, age, severe immune dysfunction at diagnosis, having rapid increase in CD4 count following ART and IRIS have higher risk of osteoporosis in the long run.Introduction: This study evaluated prevalence and predictors of osteoporosis and sarcopaenia in men with HIV. Material and methods: A total of 220 men with HIV were screened, of which 115 men, 30–50 years-age, having at least one-year follow-up, underwent hormonal and DEXA analysis. Forty controls were also evaluated. Results: Males with HIV had significantly lower BMD and Z-scores at all sites. Osteoporosis was diagnosed in 64.35%, the common­est site being radius total (49.56%), followed by radius 33% (45.21%), radius ultra distal (36.52%), lumbar spine (19.13%), neck of femur (17.39%), and total femur and greater trochanter (7.82% each). HIV patients had significantly lower fat mass (FM), lean mass (LM), total fat percentage, bone mineral content, gynoid fat, and percentage skeletal muscle mass (PSMM). Men with osteoporosis had higher use of anti-retroviral therapy (ART), immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS), tuberculosis, and lower FM, LM, and PSMM. Logistic regression revealed that PSMM, age, and delta (Δ) CD4 count (change in CD4 count after 6–12 months of ART, compared to pre-ART) were the best predictors of osteoporosis. Greater PSMM was associated with decreased osteoporosis, without adjusting for any variable (Model-1), adjusting for disease duration, tuberculosis and IRIS (Model-2), and model-2 plus gonadotropins and sex steroids (Model-3). Greater ΔCD4 count and age were associated with increased osteoporosis after adjusting for different models. Sarcopaenia was observed in 40% of men and in none of the controls. Conclusions: Men with decreased skeletal mass, age, severe immune dysfunction at diagnosis, having rapid increase in CD4 count fol­lowing ART and IRIS have higher risk of osteoporosis in the long run. Wnioski: Mężczyźni z obniżoną masą szkieletu, w starszym wieku i z ciężkimi niedoborami immunologicznymi w czasie rozpoznania, u których następuje gwałtowny wzrost liczby limfocytów CD4 po ART i IRIS, cechują się wyższym ryzykiem osteoporozy w perspektywie długoterminowej