Prevalence of raised IgE levels and absolute eosinophil count in bronchiolitis in children aged 2 months-2 years in tertiary care hospital

Background: Bronchiolitis is defined by IAP as 'A constellation of clinical symptoms and signs including viral upper respiratory prodrome followed by increased respiratory effort and wheeze in less than 2 year old children'. Aim of the study was to study the prevalence of raised IgE levels and raised Absolute eosinophil count & RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) antigen by PCR in bronchiolitis between age group of 2 months - 2 years with the occurrence of wheeze after first episode in 1 year follow up.Methods: 96 Children between 2 months - 2 years with first episode of bronchiolitis are included with the exclusion criteria of previous heart disease, lung disease, immune deficiency, second episode of bronchiolitis. In all the children CRP (C reactive protein), IgE (Immunoglobulin E), AEC (Absolute eosinophil count), RSV, PCR was done.Results: Out of 96 children, 60 children (62%) are males with maximum incidence on subjects of 53 (55.2%) in age group 2-6months. Fever, cough and rhinorrhoea are the major presenting complaints apart from breathlessness. Among 96 children 37 children (38.5%) had high serum IgE out of which 17 developed wheeze in 1 year of follow up. 27 (28.2%) had raisedAEC, out of which 10 had wheeze in follow up. Out of 10 children who had raised IgE andAEC, 3 had wheeze on follow up. 34 (35.4%) children had positive RSVPCR, 14 children had wheeze in follow up.Conclusions: The prevalence of raised IgE, AEC and RSV PCR are 38.5%, 28.1% and 41.1% and the occurrence of wheeze on follow up was 45.9%, 37% and 41.1% respectively

Evaluation of cord bilirubin and hemoglobin analysis in predicting pathological jaundice in term babies at risk of ABO incompatibility

Background: Cord bilirubin and hemoglobin analysis helps not only in predicting the pathological jaundice in ABO incompatibility but also useful for early referral and intervention for better outcome. Aim of this study is to evaluate the cord blood bilirubin and hemoglobin analysis in predicting pathological hyperbilirubinemia in newborn at risk of ABO incompatibility.Methods: In this descriptive study conducted in Government Stanley medical college between January 2016-June 2016, A positive or B positive babies born to O positive mothers with birth weight >2.5 kgs and gestational age >37 weeks were included. A total of 191 babies were studied. Cord bilirubin, reticulocyte count, hemoglobin and fourth day bilirubin were evaluated and data was analysed using Pearson’s Chi square and ANOVA.Results: Out of 191 babies, 25 (13%) did not develop any jaundice, 122 (64%) developed physiological jaundice and 44 (23%) had pathological jaundice. The mean cord bilirubin and cord hemoglobin values of newborn who did not develop jaundice were 1.35mg/dl and 15.3g/dl while the values among pathological jaundice were 3.15mg/dl and 14.97g/dl. Conclusions: Babies with cord bilirubin >1.8mg/dl and hemoglobin <15.1gm/dl are more prone for pathological hyperbilirubinemia

Trial of vitamin D supplementation to prevent asthma exacerbation in children

Background: To assess the level of vitamin D in children with bronchial asthma and to study the effects of vitamin D supplementation in asthmatic children who had vitamin D deficiency in terms of asthma control test score and Number of exacerbations.Methods: This interventional study was conducted in Department of Paediatrics, KAPV Government medical college, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India from September 2016 to February 2017. 96 asthmatic children of age group 5-12 years who attended outpatient department and admitted in ward for asthma exacerbation were selected. After assessing their Vitamin D level, Vitamin D supplementation given along with standard treatment for asthma. Outcomes measured were ACTS (Asthma control test score), number of emergency room visits, number of hospital admissions and reliever medication use.Results: Out of 96 children, 83 (86.4%) children had vitamin D deficiency. There was significant correlation between vitamin D level and absolute eosinophil count (p-value-0.037), asthma severity (p-value<0.001) and asthma control (p-value<0.001). Significant reduction in emergency room visits, (p-value<0.001) reliever medication use (p-value<0.001) and improvement in asthma control test score (p-value-0.008) occurs after vitamin D supplementation.Conclusions: There is a significant correlation between vitamin D level, asthma severity and its control. Asthma exacerbation in terms of emergency room visits and reliever medication use were further reduced by vitamin D supplementation

Geopolymer binder for pervious concrete

Nogostup od propusnog betona (PC) ekskluzivna je i efikasna mjera za rješavanje ekoloških problema i pridonosi održivosti. Omogućava kišnici da se procijedi u tlo smanjujući time mogućnost razlijevanja i pomažući u dopunjavanju razina podzemnih voda. Koristi se za izgradnju pločnika, parkirališnih površina kao i za ostale mnoge primjene. Prilikom provedbe istraživanja variralo se s veličinom zrna krupnog agregata u geopolimernom vezivu kako bi se procijenila svojstva propusnog betona. Utvrđeno je da geopolimerno vezivo za propusni beton s letećim pepelom zadovoljava zahtjeve postavljene pravilnicima i može se koristiti za izgradnju održivih pločnika.Construction of pervious concrete (PC) pavements is an exclusive and efficient measure for solving environmental problems while also contributing to sustainability. Pervious concrete enables rainwater to percolate into soil thus reducing the storm water runoff and assisting in ground water recharge. It is used for the construction of pedestrian pathways, parking lots, and in various other applications. During the research, the content of coarse aggregate grains in geopolymer binder was varied in order to investigate pervious concrete properties. It was established that pervious concrete with geopolymer binder containing fly ash meets requirements set in regulations, and that it can be used for sustainable pavement construction

Early and extended erythropoietin monotherapy after hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy:a multicentre double-blind pilot randomised controlled trial

Objective: To examine the feasibility of early and extended erythropoietin monotherapy after hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE). Design: Double-blind pilot randomised controlled trial.Setting: Eight neonatal units in South Asia. Patients: Neonates (≥36 weeks) with moderate or severe HIE admitted between 31 December 2022 and 3 May 2023. Interventions: Erythropoietin (500 U/kg daily) or to the placebo (sham injections using a screen) within 6 hours of birth and continued for 9 days. MRI at 2 weeks of age. Main outcomes and measures: Feasibility of randomisation, drug administration and assessment of brain injury using MRI. Results: Of the 154 neonates screened, 56 were eligible; 6 declined consent and 50 were recruited; 43 (86%) were inborn. Mean (SD) age at first dose was 4.4 (1.2) hours in erythropoietin and 4.1 (1.0) hours in placebo. Overall mortality at hospital discharge occurred in 5 (19%) vs 11 (46%) (p=0.06), and 3 (13%) vs 9 (40.9%) (p=0.04) among those with moderate encephalopathy in the erythropoietin and placebo groups. Moderate or severe injury to basal ganglia, white matter and cortex occurred in 5 (25%) vs 5 (38.5%); 14 (70%) vs 11 (85%); and 6 (30%) vs 2 (15.4%) in the erythropoietin and placebo group, respectively. Sinus venous thrombosis was seen in two (10%) neonates in the erythropoietin group and none in the control group. Conclusions: Brain injury and mortality after moderate or severe HIE are high in South Asia. Evaluation of erythropoietin monotherapy using MRI to examine treatment effects is feasible in these settings. Trial registration number: NCT05395195

Prevalence of raised IgE levels and absolute eosinophil count in bronchiolitis in children aged 2 months-2 years in tertiary care hospital

Background: Bronchiolitis is defined by IAP as 'A constellation of clinical symptoms and signs including viral upper respiratory prodrome followed by increased respiratory effort and wheeze in less than 2 year old children'. Aim of the study was to study the prevalence of raised IgE levels and raised Absolute eosinophil count &amp; RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) antigen by PCR in bronchiolitis between age group of 2 months - 2 years with the occurrence of wheeze after first episode in 1 year follow up.Methods: 96 Children between 2 months - 2 years with first episode of bronchiolitis are included with the exclusion criteria of previous heart disease, lung disease, immune deficiency, second episode of bronchiolitis. In all the children CRP (C reactive protein), IgE (Immunoglobulin E), AEC (Absolute eosinophil count), RSV, PCR was done.Results: Out of 96 children, 60 children (62%) are males with maximum incidence on subjects of 53 (55.2%) in age group 2-6months. Fever, cough and rhinorrhoea are the major presenting complaints apart from breathlessness. Among 96 children 37 children (38.5%) had high serum IgE out of which 17 developed wheeze in 1 year of follow up. 27 (28.2%) had raisedAEC, out of which 10 had wheeze in follow up. Out of 10 children who had raised IgE andAEC, 3 had wheeze on follow up. 34 (35.4%) children had positive RSVPCR, 14 children had wheeze in follow up.Conclusions: The prevalence of raised IgE, AEC and RSV PCR are 38.5%, 28.1% and 41.1% and the occurrence of wheeze on follow up was 45.9%, 37% and 41.1% respectively

Drilling Parameters Analysis on In-Situ Al/B₄C/Mica Hybrid Composite and an Integrated Optimization Approach Using Fuzzy Model and Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm

In-situ hybrid metal matrix composites were prepared by reinforcing AA6061 aluminium alloy with 10 wt.% of boron carbide (B4C) and 0 wt.% to 6 wt.% of mica. Machinability of the hybrid aluminium metal matrix composite was assessed by conducting drilling with varying input parameters. Surface texture of the hybrid composites and morphology of drill holes were examined through scanning electron microscope images. The influence of rotational speed, feed rate and % of mica reinforcement on thrust force and torque were studied and analysed. Statistical analysis and regression analysis were conducted to understand the significance of each input parameter. Reinforcement of mica is the key performance indicator in reducing the thrust force and torque in drilling of the selected material, irrespective of other parameter settings. Thrust force is minimum at mid-speed (2000 rpm) with the lowest feed rate (25 mm/min), but torque is minimum at highest speed (3000 rpm) with lowest feed rate (25 mm/min). Multi-objective optimization through a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm has indicated that 1840 rpm of rotational speed, 25.3 mm/min of feed rate and 5.83% of mica reinforcement are the best parameters for obtaining the lowest thrust force of 339.68 N and torque of 68.98 N.m. Validation through experimental results confirms the predicted results with a negligible error (less than 0.1%). From the analysis and investigations, it is concluded that use of Al/10 wt.% B4C/5.83 wt.% mica composite is a good choice of material that comply with European Environmental Protection Directives: 2000/53/CE-ELV for the automotive sector. The energy and production cost of the components can be very much reduced if the found optimum drill parameters are adopted in the production

Drilling Parameters Analysis on In-Situ Al/B4C/Mica Hybrid Composite and an Integrated Optimization Approach Using Fuzzy Model and Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm

In-situ hybrid metal matrix composites were prepared by reinforcing AA6061 aluminium alloy with 10 wt.% of boron carbide (B4C) and 0 wt.% to 6 wt.% of mica. Machinability of the hybrid aluminium metal matrix composite was assessed by conducting drilling with varying input parameters. Surface texture of the hybrid composites and morphology of drill holes were examined through scanning electron microscope images. The influence of rotational speed, feed rate and % of mica reinforcement on thrust force and torque were studied and analysed. Statistical analysis and regression analysis were conducted to understand the significance of each input parameter. Reinforcement of mica is the key performance indicator in reducing the thrust force and torque in drilling of the selected material, irrespective of other parameter settings. Thrust force is minimum at mid-speed (2000 rpm) with the lowest feed rate (25 mm/min), but torque is minimum at highest speed (3000 rpm) with lowest feed rate (25 mm/min). Multi-objective optimization through a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm has indicated that 1840 rpm of rotational speed, 25.3 mm/min of feed rate and 5.83% of mica reinforcement are the best parameters for obtaining the lowest thrust force of 339.68 N and torque of 68.98 N.m. Validation through experimental results confirms the predicted results with a negligible error (less than 0.1%). From the analysis and investigations, it is concluded that use of Al/10 wt.% B4C/5.83 wt.% mica composite is a good choice of material that comply with European Environmental Protection Directives: 2000/53/CE-ELV for the automotive sector. The energy and production cost of the components can be very much reduced if the found optimum drill parameters are adopted in the production

Chemical character of detrital garnet in Cauvery river sediment and its provenance, South India

The study attempts to determine the chemical characters of detrital garnets provenance in the Cauvery River Basin. The geochemical results reveal that the detrital garnets are derived from biotite schist, charnockite, and gneisses of intermediate felsic, moderate to strong weathered provenance. The end member composition of the garnets indicates almandine species that are metamorphosed in amphibolite to granulite facies P-T conditions. The angular outline of detrital garnet in the upstream and sub-rounded to rounded grains in the downstream attribute it's transport from the upstream of the Cauvery River