Variations of the superficial venous Pattern in cubital fossa among First Year Medical Students of SKIMS Medical College,Srinagar by using the Tourniquet in Right Upper limb and its importance in Laboratory Medicine

Aim: The aim of this study was to observe pattern of superficial veins in cubital fossa in first year MBBS students in SKIMS medical college, Srinagar. Material and methods:After applying tourniquet in right arm and taking a proper consent, the study was conducted in 100 first year MBBS students with equal participation of males and females. In a proper supine position, tourniquet was applied about 10 cm above the elbow joint for about 2 to 3 minutes until all the veins of the upper limb(especially around cubital fossa) became prominent.After that, pattern of veins was observed in the cubital fossa and photographs were taken with a digital camera.Results: We found four types of patterns of superficial veins in right cubital fossa in our subjects. Median cubital vein joining cephalic to basic vein (Type I) was most common pattern seen in both males and females (45%). Type 3i.e Cephalic vein running from lateral to medial side to join basilic vein was second most common pattern seen in cubital fossa in both genders (31%). Type 2 pattern i.e Median antebrachial vein joins basilic vein with no communication between cephalic and basilic vein was noticed in 17% in our subjects. Type 4 pattern i.e median antebrachial vein dividing into median cephalic and median basilic veins in cubital fossa to join the cephalic and basilic veins respectively, was least type of pattern seen in both males and females (7%). Statistically, the pattern of different types of superficial veins in cubital fossa was non-significant when compared to males to females.Conclusion: To avoid complications, knowledge of the patterns of superficial veins in cubital fossa is essential for medical professionals and Laboratory technicians since they play important role for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures

Novel anti-tumour necrosis factor receptor-1 (TNFR1) domain antibody prevents pulmonary inflammation in experimental acute lung injury

BACKGROUND: Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is a pleiotropic cytokine with both injurious and protective functions, which are thought to diverge at the level of its two cell surface receptors, TNFR1 and TNFR2. In the setting of acute injury, selective inhibition of TNFR1 is predicted to attenuate the cell death and inflammation associated with TNF-α, while sparing or potentiating the protective effects of TNFR2 signalling. We developed a potent and selective antagonist of TNFR1 (GSK1995057) using a novel domain antibody (dAb) therapeutic and assessed its efficacy in vitro, in vivo and in a clinical trial involving healthy human subjects. METHODS: We investigated the in vitro effects of GSK1995057 on human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HMVEC-L) and then assessed the effects of pretreatment with nebulised GSK1995057 in a non-human primate model of acute lung injury. We then tested translation to humans by investigating the effects of a single nebulised dose of GSK1995057 in healthy humans (n=37) in a randomised controlled clinical trial in which subjects were subsequently exposed to inhaled endotoxin. RESULTS: Selective inhibition of TNFR1 signalling potently inhibited cytokine and neutrophil adhesion molecule expression in activated HMVEC-L monolayers in vitro (P<0.01 and P<0.001, respectively), and also significantly attenuated inflammation and signs of lung injury in non-human primates (P<0.01 in all cases). In a randomised, placebo-controlled trial of nebulised GSK1995057 in 37 healthy humans challenged with a low dose of inhaled endotoxin, treatment with GSK1995057 attenuated pulmonary neutrophilia, inflammatory cytokine release (P<0.01 in all cases) and signs of endothelial injury (P<0.05) in bronchoalveolar lavage and serum samples. CONCLUSION: These data support the potential for pulmonary delivery of a selective TNFR1 dAb as a novel therapeutic approach for the prevention of acute respiratory distress syndrome. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01587807

The Potential Impact of Smog Spell on Humans’ Health Amid COVID-19 Rages

Rapid and unchecked industrialization and the combustion of fossil fuels have engendered a state of fear in urban settlements. Smog is a visible form of air pollution that arises due to the over-emissions of some primary pollutants like volatile organic compounds (VOCs), hydrocarbons, SO2, NO, and NO2 which further react in the atmosphere and give rise to toxic and carcinogenic secondary smog components. Smog reduces the visibility on roads and results in road accidents and cancellation of flights. Uptake of primary and secondary pollutants of smog is responsible for several deleterious diseases of which respiratory disorders, cardiovascular dysfunction, neurological disorders, and cancer are discussed here. Children and pregnant women are more prone to the hazards of smog. The worsening menace of smog on one hand and occurrence of pandemic i.e., COVID-19 on the other may increase the mortality rate. But the implementation of lockdown during pandemics has favored the atmosphere in some ways, which will be highlighted in the article. On the whole, the focus of this article will be on the dubious relationship between smog and coronavirus

Achyranthes aspera Extracts as Adjuvants for the Redressal of Antibiotic Resistance

Achyranthes aspera seeds and leaves are believed to reverse antibiotic resistance and increase the efficacy of current drugs. Achyranthes aspera seeds and leaves contain many secondary metabolites needed for the redressal of antibiotic resistance. In the present study, seven different antibiotics were used against five different strains of bacteria such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. For Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Cefoxitin, Penicillin, and Co-trimoxazole were resistant out of seven antibiotics. The zone of inhibition for all these three antibiotics goes from the resistant to the sensitive range after the combination with plant extracts. For Enterococcus faecalis, Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin, Penicillin, Amoxicillin, Imipenem, and Vancomycin were resistant after treatment with the plant extracts, and the Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin, Imipenem, and Vancomycin zones of inhibition were from the resistant to the sensitive range. An increase in zone sizes was observed for Penicillin, but it remained resistant while no zone of inhibition was observed for Amoxicillin. For Acinetobacter baumannii, Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin, Ceftriaxone, Ceftazidime, and Imipenem were resistant. After a combination of these antibiotics with plant extracts, a change in zone sizes was observed for Levofloxacin and Ceftriaxone, but it was not considerable as it remained in the resistance and intermediate ranges. No zones of inhibition were observed for Ciprofloxacin, Ceftazidime, or Imipenem. For Klebsiella pneumoniae, all the antibiotics were resistant. An increase in zone sizes was observed after a combination with plant extracts for Ceftazidime and Imipenem in Klebsiella pneumoniae, but it remained in the resistance category. No zone of inhibition was observed for Pseudomonas aeruginosa before or after using plant extracts against any antibiotic. This study suggests that the Achyranthes aspera seed and leaf extracts can reverse antibiotic resistance without any side effects on the human body, and that they can reverse antibiotic resistance naturally

Correction: Javed et al. The Potential Impact of Smog Spell on Humans&rsquo; Health Amid COVID-19 Rages. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 11408

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