Stefan blowing effect on bioconvective flow of nanofluid over a solid rotating stretchable disk

A mathematical model for the unsteady forced convection over rotating stretchable disk in nanofluid containing micro-organisms and taking into account Stefan blowing effect is presented theoretically and numerically. Appropriate transformations are used to transform the governing boundary layer equations into non-linear ordinary differential equations, before being solved numerically using the Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg method. The effect of the governing parameters on the dimensionless velocities, temperature, nanoparticle volume fraction (concentration), density of motile microorganisms as well as on the local skin friction, local Nusselt, Sherwood number and motile microorganisms numbers are thoroughly examined via graphs. It is observed that the Stefan blowing increases the local skin friction and reduces the heat transfer, mass transfer and microorganism transfer rates. The numerical results are in good agreement with those obtained from previous literature. Physical quantities results from this investigation show that the effects of higher disk stretching strength and suction case provides a good medium to enhance the heat, mass and microorganisms transfer compared to blowing case

Differentiating sepsis from non-infective systemic inflammatory response syndrome: Comparison between C-reactive protein and Leptin

Background: Differentiation of sepsis from non-infectious SIRS is important in improving sepsis outcome. We intended in this study to evaluate the role of serum Leptin and to compare it with CRP in differentiating sepsis from non-infectious SIRS. Methods: We included 30 patients with SIRS. According to the presence or absence of infection, our patients were classified into SIRS group and sepsis group. Leptin and CRP were evaluated in all patients on admission, day 2 and day 4. Results: Our patients had a mean age of 52.3 ± 18.6 year old, 10 males (33.3%). There were no significant differences regarding baseline demographic and clinical data apart from blood pressures which were lower in the sepsis group. Serum Leptin on Day 2 only was higher in the sepsis group (44.2 ± 17.7 μg/L vs. 31.1 ± 2.1 μg/L, P = 0.008) with no difference in days 0 and 4 of admission. We detected a serum Leptin level of 38.05 μg/L on day 2 to be 93% sensitive and 100% specific to diagnose sepsis. The three serum CRP levels were higher in sepsis compared to SIRS group (61.2 ± 9 mg/L vs. 48.9 ± 7.1 mg/L, P < 0.001 in day 0, 71.5 ± 9.6 mg/L and 196.8 ± 39.8 mg/L in sepsis group vs. 56.9 ± 8 mg/L and 73.7 ± 32.5 mg/L in SIRS group for days 2 and 4 respectively, P < 0.001 for both). We found a CRP of 67.5 mg/L on day 2 having 87% sensitivity and 93% specificity for the diagnosis of sepsis. Conclusion: We concluded that despite serum Leptin may not be beneficial in early differentiation between sepsis and non infectious SIRS on admission; it may be highly specific on second day

A man with concomitant polycythaemia vera and chronic myeloid leukemia: the dynamics of the two disorders

The co-occurrence of JAK2 V617F mutation with BCR-ABL reciprocal translocation is uncommon. We report a 60-year-old man who initially presented with phenotype of polycythemia vera (PV), which evolved into chronic myeloid leukemia and back to PV once treatment with imatinib was commenced. JAK2 V617F mutation and BCR-ABL fusion transcripts were detected in the initial sample. However, JAK2 V617F alleles diminished when BCR-ABL mRNA burden increased and reappeared once the patient was commenced on imatinib. The dynamic interaction between JAK2 V617F and BCR-ABL implies that two independent clones exist with the JAK2 V617F clone only achieving clonal dominance when BCR-ABL positive clones are suppressed by imatinib

Atlanto-occipital fusion: An osteological study with clinical implications

Background: Atlanto-occipital fusion may be symptomatic or asymptomatic in nature. The anomaly may be incidentally detected at autopsies or during routine cadaveric dissections. The fusion of the atlas with occipital bone may result in the compression of vertebral artery and first cervical nerve. Methods: A total of 55 dried occipital bones in the Department of Anatomy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Department of Anatomy, Universiti Malaya (UM) were included in the study. The presence of atlanto-occipital fusion was closely observed and morphometric measurements were taken. Results: Out of 55 dried occipital bones studied, we observed atlanto-occiptalization in two bones (3.63 %). A total of 53 occipital bones (96.37 %) did not exhibit any anomalous fusions. Out of the two anomalous atlanto-occiptal fusions, one was complete while the other had unilateral right-sided fusion of the atlas with the occipital bone. Conclusion: Atlanto-occipitalization may result in the compression of vertebral artery thereby influencing the blood flow to the brain. Atlanto-occipitalization may also result in compression of the first cervical nerve. The action of the postural muscles on the extensor surface may be affected as a result of this anomaly. The present article discusses the clinical implications of atlanto-occipitalization, which may be beneficial for neurosurgeons, neurologists and radiologists in day-to-day clinical practice (Fig. 3, Ref. 17). Full Text in free PDF www.bmj.sk