Ophthalmic Problems at High Altitude

Cardio-pulmonary and physical endurance aspects of high altitude problems have been studied well but not much attention has been paid to the ocular aspects of the problems. 250 cases inducted to a high altitude area in the northern region were examined for ocular parameters within a week of induction and at varying intervals thereafter. Blurred vision was complained of by a number of cases who also suffered from other symptoms of transient mountain sickness. A group of cases who developed acute pulmonary oedema showed fundus changes by way of venous engorgement, papilloedema and superficial retinal haemorrhages. These changes reversed over a period of time as the acute condition subsided. Another group remained asymptomatic but their fundii showed neovascularisation and exudation in addition to retinal haemorrhages.The aetiopathogenesis of these two kinds of changes and other changes is discussed

A study to determine the knowledge and level of awareness of medical undergraduates about herbal medicines and herb-drug interactions

Background: The increasing usage of herbal medicines worldwide has increased the probability of co-administration of herbal and allopathic medicines. This may lead to serious safety concerns, including herb-drug interactions (HDIs). Many HDIs may be overlooked due to poor doctor-patient communication about herbal drug usage probably because of lack of knowledge of herbal medicines and HDIs among physicians. The study was thus planned to identify the knowledge and awareness of medical students regarding the use of herbal medicines and about HDIs, to help improve the teaching skills and curriculum development for medical students.Methods: 286 medical students of 2nd, 3rd and 4th year MBBS course completed the study. All the participants were asked to fill a self-administered questionnaire consisting of 15 questions which included both open-ended and close-ended questions related to age, sex, knowledge, awareness and usage of herbal medicines and about herb-drug interactions. Data was analyzed and expressed as counts and percentages.Results: Majority (95.45%) of the students were aware of the fact that herbs can be used as medicines. They were most familiar with the herbs tulsi, neem, turmeric, aloe, ashwagandha and ginger. 46.85% consider herbal medicines to be risk free, and majority (55.6%) were not aware of the fact that herbs can cause herb-drug interactions. Media and elderly family members were their most common sources of information regarding herbal medicines. Majority (75.17%) would prefer allopathic medicines over herbal medicines. Only 23.07% always informed the physician about their usage of herbal medicines, although most (84.96%) felt that history regarding use of herbal medicines should be taken. Majority were not aware of the regulatory status of herbal medicines.Conclusions: Lack of knowledge and awareness of medical students about herbal medicines and herb-drug interactions was seen in the study. There is a need to inform the students of allopathic system of medicine about the adverse outcomes of herbal medicines and the knowledge about herb-drug interactions should be a part of the medical curriculum

Holding time study of volatile organic compounds in SUMMA canisters

According to this work, the headspace concentration of VOC`s is not changing measurably with time. That is, no appreciable uncertainty is added to the analysis of VOC`s in the headspace of storage drums by storage of the samples in SUMMA canisters for greater than 28 days

Progression of duodenal adenomatosis in familial adenomatous polyposis: due to ageing of subjects and advances in technology

Familial adenomatous polyposis patients are at risk of duodenal cancer. Surveillance is indicated and the extent of duodenal polyposis is quantified by the Spigelman staging system. We noticed an impressive increase in high Spigelman stages over the years and therefore decided to investigate whether this increase might be due to the time-lapse since the inception of surveillance or related to improvements in endoscopic imaging and/or changes in dysplasia-reporting. Patients who were investigated by the same endoscopist since 1980 in at least 2 different episodes of technical improvements were eligible. The period 1980–2009 was divided into 4 episodes using the following landmarks: replacement of fibre-endoscopes by video-endoscopes in 1987, change in processors in 1995, change in image resolution in 2000, and change in dysplasia-reporting in 2006. An increase in Spigelman stages from low stages (0–II 100%) to high stages (III 28.1%, IV 43.8%) was seen (median follow-up: 19.5 years). In patients who progressed, a median of 4 years elapsed before progression by one stage occurred and 7 years to progress by two stages. In a mixed-model analysis, both time-lapse and technical improvements were determinant factors for duodenal disease progression. When both factors were introduced in the model, the time-lapse as well as the change in image resolution and dysplasia-ranking contributed consistently in increasing Spigelman scores and stages. The impressive increase in severity of duodenal polyposis is determined by time-lapse, technological advances and change in dysplasia-reporting. These results might call for a revised Spigelman classification

Metabolic effects of intra-abdominal fat in GHRKO mice

Mice with targeted deletion of the growth hormone receptor (GHRKO mice) are growth hormone (GH) resistant, small, obese, hypoinsulinemic, highly insulin sensitive and remarkably long-lived. To elucidate the unexpected coexistence of adiposity with improved insulin sensitivity and extended longevity, we examined effects of surgical removal of visceral (epididymal and perinephric) fat on metabolic traits related to insulin signaling and longevity. Comparison of results obtained in GHRKO mice and in normal animals from the same strain revealed disparate effects of visceral fat removal (VFR) on insulin and glucose tolerance, adiponectin levels, accumulation of ectopic fat, phosphorylation of insulin signaling intermediates, body temperature, and respiratory quotient (RQ). Overall, VFR produced the expected improvements in insulin sensitivity and reduced body temperature and RQ in normal mice and had opposite effects in GHRKO mice. Some of the examined parameters were altered by VFR in opposite directions in GHRKO and normal mice, and others were affected in only one genotype or exhibited significant genotype x treatment interactions. Functional differences between visceral fat of GHRKO and normal mice were confirmed by measurements of adipokine secretion, lipolysis, and expression of genes related to fat metabolism. We conclude that in the absence of GH signaling, the secretory activity of visceral fat is profoundly altered and unexpectedly promotes enhanced insulin sensitivity. The apparent beneficial effects of visceral fat in GHRKO mice may also explain why reducing adiposity by calorie restriction fails to improve insulin signaling or further extend longevity in these animals

SERDP ER-1376 Enhancement of In Situ Bioremediation of Energetic Compounds by Coupled Abiotic/Biotic Processes:Final Report for 2004 - 2006

This project was initiated by SERDP to quantify processes and determine the effectiveness of abiotic/biotic mineralization of energetics (RDX, HMX, TNT) in aquifer sediments by combinations of biostimulation (carbon, trace nutrient additions) and chemical reduction of sediment to create a reducing environment. Initially it was hypothesized that a balance of chemical reduction of sediment and biostimulation would increase the RDX, HMX, and TNT mineralization rate significantly (by a combination of abiotic and biotic processes) so that this abiotic/biotic treatment may be a more efficient for remediation than biotic treatment alone in some cases. Because both abiotic and biotic processes are involved in energetic mineralization in sediments, it was further hypothesized that consideration for both abiotic reduction and microbial growth was need to optimize the sediment system for the most rapid mineralization rate. Results show that there are separate optimal abiotic/biostimulation aquifer sediment treatments for RDX/HMX and for TNT. Optimal sediment treatment for RDX and HMX (which have chemical similarities and similar degradation pathways) is mainly chemical reduction of sediment, which increased the RDX/HMX mineralization rate 100 to150 times (relative to untreated sediment), with additional carbon or trace nutrient addition, which increased the RDX/HMX mineralization rate an additional 3 to 4 times. In contrast, the optimal aquifer sediment treatment for TNT involves mainly biostimulation (glucose addition), which stimulates a TNT/glucose cometabolic degradation pathway (6.8 times more rapid than untreated sediment), degrading TNT to amino-intermediates that irreversibly sorb (i.e., end product is not CO2). The TNT mass migration risk is minimized by these transformation reactions, as the triaminotoluene and 2,4- and 2,6-diaminonitrotoluene products that irreversibly sorb are no longer mobile in the subsurface environment. These transformation rates are increased 13 times further by chemical reduction of sediment. Dithionite reduction alone is not an effective treatment for TNT (intermediates that irreversibly sorb are not produced), even though the TNT degradation rate (to 2- or 4-aminodinitrotoluene) increases

Nanoscale Metallic Iron for Environmental Remediation: Prospects and Limitations

The amendment of the subsurface with nanoscale metallic iron particles (nano-Fe0) has been discussed in the literature as an efficient in situ technology for groundwater remediation. However, the introduction of this technology was controversial and its efficiency has never been univocally established. This unsatisfying situation has motivated this communication whose objective was a comprehensive discussion of the intrinsic reactivity of nano-Fe0 based on the contemporary knowledge on the mechanism of contaminant removal by Fe0 and a mathematical model. It is showed that due to limitations of the mass transfer of nano-Fe0 to contaminants, available concepts cannot explain the success of nano-Fe0 injection for in situ groundwater remediation. It is recommended to test the possibility of introducing nano-Fe0 to initiate the formation of roll-fronts which propagation would induce the reductive transformation of both dissolved and adsorbed contaminants. Within a roll-front, FeII from nano-Fe0 is the reducing agent for contaminants. FeII is recycled by biotic or abiotic FeIII reduction. While the roll-front concept could explain the success of already implemented reaction zones, more research is needed for a science-based recommendation of nano- Fe0 for subsurface treatment by roll-front