CDR and Tropical Forestry: Fighting Climate Change One Cubic Meter a Time

In the coming decades, there will be a global increase in demand for biomass and in advocating GHG emission removal technology and practices. In the agriculture and forestry context, intensification of land use is the most promising solution—together with processing efficiency—in balancing consumption, rated as human appropriation of net primary production (HANPP), with Net Primary Production (NPP) from atmospheric CO2 fertilization. Forest plantations, croplands, cultivated pastures, lianas, palms and other secondary vegetation have shown yield gains from CO2 fertilization, while native forest (trees) experience short-lived increases in growth rates and are out-competed by fast-growing components—secondary vegetation. There is evident path of degradation in non-managed, native tropical forests fueled by atmospheric CO2 fertilization. Following such BAU scenario, tropical forests would experience important dwindling in tree cover on a temporal scale. An alternative IFM scenario is proposed combining contemporary silviculture techniques, adapted land use intensification and HWP increase. This would contribute additional atmospheric CO2 removals, certifiable as CDR goods able to generate carbon credits and financial incentive for cultivation of improved native tree species. These CDR credits can be included in tropical countries’ NDC and presented at UNFCCC as an ITMO for fighting global climate change

IJGO at the FIGO 2012 Congress and beyond

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135399/1/ijgo1.pd

Cell Phones to Collect Pregnancy Data From Remote Areas in Liberia

Purpose: To report findings on knowledge and skill acquisition following a 3‐day training session in the use of short message service (SMS) texting with non‐ and low‐literacy traditional midwives. Design: A pre‐ and post‐test study design was used to assess knowledge and skill acquisition with 99 traditional midwives on the use of SMS texting for real‐time, remote data collection in rural Liberia, West Africa. Methods: Paired sample t‐tests were conducted to establish if overall mean scores varied significantly from pre‐test to immediate post‐test. Analysis of variance was used to compare means across groups. The nonparametric McNemar's test was used to determine significant differences between the pre‐test and post‐test values of each individual step involved in SMS texting. Pearson's chi‐square test of independence was used to examine the association between ownership of cell phones within a family and achievement of the seven tasks. Findings: The mean increase in cell phone knowledge scores was 3.67, with a 95% confidence interval ranging from 3.39 to 3.95. Participants with a cell phone in the family did significantly better on three of the seven tasks in the pre‐test: “turns cell on without help” (χ 2 (1) = 9.15, p = .003); “identifies cell phone coverage” (χ 2 (1) = 5.37, p = .024); and “identifies cell phone is charged” (χ 2 (1) = 4.40, p = .042). Conclusions: A 3‐day cell phone training session with low‐ and nonliterate traditional midwives in rural Liberia improved their ability to use mobile technology for SMS texting. Clinical Relevance: Mobile technology can improve data collection accessibility and be used for numerous health care and public health issues. Cell phone accessibility holds great promise for collecting health data in low‐resource areas of the world. Journal of Nursing Scholarship , 2012; 00:0, 1–8.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/93561/1/j.1547-5069.2012.01451.x.pd

Inability to predict postpartum hemorrhage: insights from Egyptian intervention data

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Knowledge on how well we can predict primary postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) can help policy makers and health providers design current delivery protocols and PPH case management. The purpose of this paper is to identify risk factors and determine predictive probabilities of those risk factors for primary PPH among women expecting singleton vaginal deliveries in Egypt.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>From a prospective cohort study, 2510 pregnant women were recruited over a six-month period in Egypt in 2004. PPH was defined as blood loss ≥ 500 ml. Measures of blood loss were made every 20 minutes for the first 4 hours after delivery using a calibrated under the buttocks drape. Using all variables available in the patients' charts, we divided them in ante-partum and intra-partum factors. We employed logistic regression to analyze socio-demographic, medical and past obstetric history, and labor and delivery outcomes as potential PPH risk factors. Post-model predicted probabilities were estimated using the identified risk factors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found a total of 93 cases of primary PPH. In multivariate models, ante-partum hemoglobin, history of previous PPH, labor augmentation and prolonged labor were significantly associated with PPH. Post model probability estimates showed that even among women with three or more risk factors, PPH could only be predicted in 10% of the cases.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The predictive probability of ante-partum and intra-partum risk factors for PPH is very low. Prevention of PPH to all women is highly recommended.</p

Ketonuria and HELLP syndrome

We recently managed a patient with the HELLP syndrome (Haemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes and Low Platelet count) where there was a delay in diagnosis due to gastroenteritis. This case also reiterates the varied or lack of symptomatology in patients developing HELLP and obscuring the initial diagnosis. Patients with HELLP syndrome have significant maternal morbidity and mortality, hence clinical vigilance and high suspicion play a key role in the diagnosis and subsequent management

Evaluation of an Ayurvedic polyherbal formulation (Sindhuvaradi agada) in Doxorubicin induced Cardiotoxicity- in wistar rats

Background: Presently cancer is second major cause of death in India. Doxorubicin, an anthracycline is frequently used to treat various human malignancies but at same time its use is warranted with irreversible cardiomyopathy. Ayurveda, ancient science of Medicine has advocated various herbal drugs for toxicological cases which include protection of Hrudaya (cardio-protective) and Sindhuvaradhi agada is one of them indicated for cobra envenomation. Objective: Study was aimed to evaluate Sindhuvaradi agada in Doxorubicin induced cardio-toxicity in Wistar rats. Methodology: Group I served as control. Cardio-toxicity was induced by Doxorubicin administration (15 mg/kg body weight for 2 weeks) in Group II. Group III was pretreated with aqueous solution of Sindhuvaradi agada (216 mg/kg body weight) for 2 weeks followed by Doxorubicin for next 2 weeks. In Group IV cardio-toxicity was produced by Doxorubicin administration for 2 weeks followed by administration of Sindhuvaradi agada in next 2 weeks. General mortality, histopathology of heart and biomarker enzymes (CPK-MB, SGOT, SGPT and Lipid Profile)was evaluated. Results: Pretreatment with Sindhuvaradi agada significantly (p<0.05) controlled myocardial damage as reflected in biomarker enzymes [CPK-MB (241.3 ± 5.25), SGOT (225.8 ± 6.63)] and also minimized the cardio myocyte damage when compared to Doxorubicin treated group [CPK-MB (258.8 ±18.33),SGOT(534± 102.8)]

Evaluation of an Ayurvedic polyherbal formulation (Sindhuvaradi agada) in Doxorubicin induced Cardiotoxicity- in wistar rats

Background: Presently cancer is second major cause of death in India. Doxorubicin, an anthracycline is frequently used to treat various human malignancies but at same time its use is warranted with irreversible cardiomyopathy. Ayurveda, ancient science of Medicine has advocated various herbal drugs for toxicological cases which include protection of Hrudaya (cardio-protective) and Sindhuvaradhi agada is one of them indicated for cobra envenomation. Objective: Study was aimed to evaluate Sindhuvaradi agada in Doxorubicin induced cardio-toxicity in Wistar rats. Methodology: Group I served as control. Cardio-toxicity was induced by Doxorubicin administration (15 mg/kg body weight for 2 weeks) in Group II. Group III was pretreated with aqueous solution of Sindhuvaradi agada (216 mg/kg body weight) for 2 weeks followed by Doxorubicin for next 2 weeks. In Group IV cardio-toxicity was produced by Doxorubicin administration for 2 weeks followed by administration of Sindhuvaradi agada in next 2 weeks. General mortality, histopathology of heart and biomarker enzymes (CPK-MB, SGOT, SGPT and Lipid Profile)was evaluated. Results: Pretreatment with Sindhuvaradi agada significantly (p<0.05) controlled myocardial damage as reflected in biomarker enzymes [CPK-MB (241.3 ± 5.25), SGOT (225.8 ± 6.63)] and also minimized the cardio myocyte damage when compared to Doxorubicin treated group [CPK-MB (258.8 ±18.33),SGOT(534 ± 102.8)]