Analysis of the individual risk of altitude decompression sickness under repeated exposures

In a case-control study, researchers examined the risk of decompression sickness (DCS) in individual subjects with higher number of exposures. Of the 126 subjects, 42 showed one or more episodes of DCS. Examination of the exposure-DCS relationship by odds ratio showed a linear relationship. Stratification analysis showed that sex, tissue ratio, and the presence of Doppler microbubbles were cofounders of this risk. A higher number of exposures increased the risk of DCS in this analysis

The maternal and perinatal outcomes in heart disease in pregnancy in a tertiary care hospital

Background: The incidence of cardiac diseases in pregnancy ranges from 1 to 3%. Pregnancy in women with heart disease is associated with considerable mortality and morbidity. Thorough prenatal care and team approach involving obstetricians, cardiologists, anaesthesiologists and neonatologists can improve the maternal and fetal outcome in these women. Rheumatic heart disease is still the leading cause of maternal heart disease during pregnancy in developing countries. Methods: Between February 2022 and August 2022, a retrospective research at the RL Jalappa Hospital in Kolar was carried out. Out of 764 deliveries made at the facility throughout the study period, 30 singleton pregnancies complicated with heart disease admitted department of obstetrics and gynaecology at different periods of gestation. The maternal and perinatal outcome was thus noted. Results: Out of 764 deliveries, 30 women were found to have been complicated with heart disease. Overall incidence was 3.9%.  Rheumatic heart disease was the most common heart disease seen among them. The most common congenital heart disease present was atrial septal defect (ASD). The most common cause for LSCS was fetal distress. 93.3% of the babies delivered were shifted to NICU, with the most common cause being, preterm and low birth weight. No maternal mortality seen, though 1 neonatal mortality present due to extreme low birth weight. Conclusions: A multidisciplinary team approach including obstetrician, cardiologist, pediatrician and anesthesiologist is needed in the cases of pregnancy with heart disease to determine the mode of delivery, timing of delivery, change in anticoagulant drugs in pregnancy, type of anesthesia, care of neonate, and follow-up of mother for better maternal and fetal outcomes

Ab initio and DFT studies on structure, vibrational spectra of 4-tert-butyl-1,3-thiazol-2-amine (BTA)

Theoretical studies have been carried out on 4-tert-butyl-1, 3-thiazol-2-amine (BTA) using both the B3LYP/6-311+G and HF/6-311+G methods. The geometrical parameters and vibrational spectra of BTA have been calculated and analyzed. The calculated IR wavenumbers have been compared with the observed FTIR wavenumbers. The complete assignments have been performed based on the potential energy distribution (PED) of the vibrational modes. The wavenumbers obtained from B3LYP method are in good agreement with the observed wavenumbers when compared to HF method. It has been found that there is an excellent correlation with 0.999 regression coefficient between the experiment and calculated vibrations. Thermal properties like rotational constants, zero point vibrational energies and nonlinear optical properties like dipole moment, hyperpolarizabilities, NBO analysis and the effect of temperature on various thermodynamic properties have been calculated and orted

Pre-operative ondansetron vs. metoclopramide for prevention of post-operative nausea and vomiting in elective lower-segment caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia

Background: The problem of nausea and vomiting is a very old but a less thought of problem. Nausea and vomiting are the most common distressing symptom in the postoperative period. Antiemetic drugs play an important role in therapy of post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Though many drugs have been tried as prophylaxis and treatment of PONV, no drug has been proved significantly effective and hence, the present study was undertaken to compare the efficacy and safety of IV metoclopramide and IV Ondansetron as prophylaxis for postoperative nausea and vomiting in lower-segment caesarean section (LSCS) under spinal anaesthesia. Methods: After institutional approval and informed consent 100 ASA I & II patients undergoing non emergent LSCS taken for study. The patients were divided randomly into 2 groups of 50 each. Group I received IV metoclopramide 10mg and Group II received IV. Ondansetron 4mg. Anaesthetic management was standardized. The incidence of vomiting and retching as number of episodes was studied. Nausea was graded depending on the severity and data derived. Results: The mean age, weight and duration of surgery was not significantly different when compared group-1 parturiants with group-2. The mean episodes of emesis, nausea and retching at different postoperative duration were significantly decreased (p<0.05) in Ondansetron group when compared to metoclopramide group as postoperative time progresses. Conclusions: Injection ondansetron 4mg provided decrease in the incidence of PONV than metoclopramide as the side effects with these drugs were minimal.

Stabilization of an erodible soil using a chemical admixtures

This paper presents internal erosion behaviour of an erodible soil stabilized by chemical admixtures using a novel Process Simulation Apparatus for Internal Crack Erosion (PSAICE), designed and built at University of Wollongong. Laboratory tests were carried out on typical erodible soils (collected from Wombeyan caves, Australia) stabilised using chemical admixtures such as lignosulfonate and cement. Test results reveal that the erosion parameters such as critical shear stress and coefficient of soil erosion were improved with the increase in the amount of chemicals. It has been seen that lignosulfonate exhibits better performance in stabilizing the erodible soil compared to cement. Based on the observed erosion test results, an analytical model has been developed considering the tensile behavior based on the law of conservation of energy. Moreover, the stabilization mechanism of lignosulfonate treated soil has been developed using chemical analysis such as X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy studies

Adipose-derived stem cells promote survival, growth, and maturation of early-stage murine follicles

Abstract Background Premature ovarian insufficiency is a common complication of anticancer treatments in young women and girls. The ovary is a complex, highly regulated reproductive organ, whose proper function is contingent upon the bidirectional endocrine, paracrine, and autocrine signaling. These factors facilitate the development of the follicles, the functional units of the ovary, to progress from the gonadotropin-independent, paracrine-controlled early stage to the gonadotropin-dependent, endocrine-controlled later stage. We hypothesized that the low survival rate of individually cultured early-stage follicles could be improved with co-culture of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) that secrete survival- and growth-promoting factors. Materials and methods Ovarian follicles ranging from 85 to 115 μm in diameter, from 10- to 12-day-old B6CBAF1 mice were mechanically isolated and co-encapsulated with ADSCs within alginate-based 3D culture system. The follicles were cultured for 14 days, imaged using light microscopy every 2 days, and matured at the end. Follicle media were changed every 2 days and collected for hormone measurements. Follicle diameter, morphology, number of transzonal projections, and survival and maturation rates were recorded. Statistical analyses using one- and two-way ANOVA were performed to compare hormone levels, survival of the follicles and ADSCs, oocyte maturation rates, and follicle growth. Results The co-encapsulation of the follicles with ADSCs increased follicle survival, ranging from 42.4% for the 86–95 μm to 86.2% for the 106–115-μm follicle size group. Co-culture also improved the follicle growth, the rate of antrum formation and oocyte maturation compared to the follicles cultured alone. The levels of androstenedione, estradiol, and progesterone of co-encapsulated follicles increased progressively with time in culture. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first report of an in vitro system utilizing mouse adipose-derived stem cells to support the development of the mouse follicles. Our findings suggest that co-encapsulation of ADSCs with early-stage follicles supports follicular development, through secretion of cytokines that promote follicular survival, antrum formation, and meiotic competence. The unique 3D culture system that supports the survival of both cell types has translational implications, as ADSCs could be used as an autologous source for in vitro maturation of early-stage human follicles.https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/148317/1/13287_2019_Article_1199.pd

The witch's brew, the fears within and the regional security: implications for India

This paper is about the fears within India (K.P.S. Gill, Daily News and Analysis, Mumbai, August 23,2007) because of (a) the criminalization of politics, the irrationality and irresponsibility of political responses over extended periods of time, the continuous degeneration of the policing and internal security apparatus, the failure to maintain and create policing capacities in proportion to the country's needs, and the collapse of the entire justice system, and (b) the growing insurgencies within India, particularly because of communal problems, and the left wing extremism (of the Maoists) and their links with countries in the neighborhood (Bangladesh, Thailand, for example). India itself is deeply susceptible to destabilization because of disorder and no governance plaguing large parts of the country. But of course India has had a long and continuous experience in die management of internal security crises, starting in the massive and bloody upheavals of Partition from the early 1950s and a succession of insurgencies and terrorist movements, starting with the Naga rebellion in 1952. It is also the case that the country has, in many instances, been able to successfully tackle, contain or neutralize such movements whenever a determined political leadership and consensus has backed coordinated action by the security forces. There is yet a range of other internal] security challenges, including communal polarization and rioting, organized and trans-national crime, criminal politics and political crime, afflicting different parts of the country from time to time, and they have been countered with mixed success within a broad context of almost continuous decline in the country's administrative, security and justice systems (Nihar Nayak, Faultiness 17, February 15, 2006: 126-151; ). This paper is a quick summary of all these problems, towards an understanding of the regional security and the implications for India. The paper is closely looking at the country's counter insurgency experiences taking select case studies and analyses the deeper reasons and proposes strategies to overcome and / or eliminate the insurgency and security problems in the country and the South Asian Regio

Sex differences and effects of prenatal exposure to excess testosterone on ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons in adult sheep

Prenatal testosterone (T) excess in sheep results in a wide array of reproductive neuroendocrine deficits and alterations in motivated behavior. The ventral tegmental area (VTA) plays a critical role in reward and motivated behaviors and is hypothesised to be targeted by prenatal T. Here we report a sex difference in the number VTA dopamine cells in the adult sheep, with higher numbers of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)‐immunoreactive (‐ir) cells in males than females. Moreover, prenatal exposure to excess T during either gestational days 30–90 or 60–90 resulted in increased numbers of VTA TH‐ir cells in adult ewes compared to control females. Stereological analysis confirmed significantly greater numbers of neurons in the VTA of males and prenatal T‐treated ewes, which was primarily accounted for by greater numbers of TH‐ir cells. In addition, immunoreactivity for TH in the cells was denser in males and prenatal T‐treated females, suggesting that sex differences and prenatal exposure to excess T affects both numbers of cells expressing TH and the protein levels within dopamine cells. Sex differences were also noted in numbers of TH‐ir cells in the substantia nigra, with more cells in males than females. However, prenatal exposure to excess T did not affect numbers of TH‐ir cells in the substantia nigra, suggesting that this sex difference is organised independently of prenatal actions of T. Together, these results demonstrate sex differences in the sheep VTA dopamine system which are mimicked by prenatal treatment with excess T.We report a sex difference in ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine cells in the adult sheep with higher numbers of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)‐immunoreactive cells in males than females. Moreover, prenatal exposure to excess T during gestational days 30–90 or 60–90 caused increased numbers of VTA TH‐immunoreactive cells in adult ewes compared to control females. Sex differences were also demonstrated in the substantia nigra, but prenatal T had no effect on TH in this area. Results indicate that sex differences and prenatal exposure to excess T affects both numbers of cells expressing TH and the protein levels in the VTA.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/111123/1/ejn12871.pd

Interventions to Address Environmental Metabolism-Disrupting Chemicals: Changing the Narrative to Empower Action to Restore Metabolic Health

Metabolic disease rates have increased dramatically over the last four decades. Classic understanding of metabolic physiology has attributed these global trends to decreased physical activity and caloric excess; however, these traditional risk factors insufficiently explain the magnitude and rapidity of metabolic health deterioration. Recently, the novel contribution of environmental metabolism-disrupting chemicals (MDCs) to various metabolic diseases (including obesity, diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) is becoming recognized. As this burgeoning body of evidence has matured, various organic and inorganic pollutants of human and natural origin have emerged as metabolic disease risk factors based on population-level and experimental data. Recognition of these heretofore underappreciated metabolic stressors now mandates that efforts to mitigate the devastating consequences of metabolic disease include dedicated efforts to address environmental drivers of disease risk; however, there have not been adequate recommendations to reduce exposures or to mitigate the effects of exposures on disease outcomes. To address this knowledge gap and advance the clinical translation of MDC science, herein discussed are behaviors that increase exposures to MDCs, interventional studies to reduce those exposures, and small-scale clinical trials to reduce the body burden of MDCs. Also, we discuss evidence from cell-based and animal studies that provide insights into MDC mechanisms of action, the influence of modifiable dietary factors on MDC toxicity, and factors that modulate MDC transplacental carriage as well as their impact on metabolic homeostasis. A particular emphasis of this discussion is on critical developmental windows during which short-term MDC exposure can elicit long-term disruptions in metabolic health with potential inter- and transgenerational effects. While data gaps remain and further studies are needed, the current state of evidence regarding interventions to address MDC exposures illuminates approaches to address environmental drivers of metabolic disease risk. It is now incumbent on clinicians and public health agencies to incorporate this knowledge into comprehensive strategies to address the metabolic disease pandemic