Correlation between estimated glomerular filtration rate and serum electrolytes in chronic kidney disease patients

Background: The occurrence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) a highly prevalent condition has been escalating in recent years. Electrolytes are the key to homeostasis and furthermore, their regulation is dependent upon renal function. CKD is associated with aberrations in the metabolism of electrolytes such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study is to study the correlation between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and serum electrolytes in CKD patients. Materials and Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional study. One hundred patients with CKD aged 18 years or above were enrolled with inclusion and exclusion criteria. Complete blood investigations, urine analysis and ultrasonographic findings for detection of CKD were done and a semi-structured pro forma was used to record clinical profile in a cross-sectional study and patients were grouped into their respective CKD stages based on their eGFR. Results: The mean value of eGFR was 40.92±21.35 mL/min/1.73 m2. The mean value of serum sodium, calcium, magnesium, and potassium was 137.1±2.16 meq/L, 9.15±0.61 mg/dL, 3.16±0.93 mg/dL, and 4.65±0.96 meq/L, respectively. In the present study, we found that the mean serum magnesium levels in Stages 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of CKD were 2.10±0.20, 2.10±0.28, 2.74±0.50, 3.95±0.54, and 4.66±0.43 mg/dL, respectively. Mean serum magnesium levels were the mean serum potassium levels in Stages 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of CKD were 4.13±0.57, 4.15±0.68, 3.86±0.41, 5.55±0.39, and 6.25±0.08 meq/L, respectively. The mean serum calcium levels in Stages 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of CKD were 9.83±0.05, 9.79±0.20, 9.43±0.27, 8.72±0.38, and 7.8±0.10 mg/dL, respectively. The mean serum sodium levels in Stages 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of CKD were 137.33±0.57, 136.43±2.87, 136.92±2.15, 137.51±1.90, and 137.5±2.07 meq/L, respectively. Conclusion: There was significant rise in serum potassium and magnesium levels with decrease in eGFR in CKD patients. There was significant fall in serum calcium levels with decrease in eGFR in CKD patients. There was no significant correlation between serum sodium levels and eGFR in CKD patients

Singular Scaling Functions in Clustering Phenomena

We study clustering in a stochastic system of particles sliding down a fluctuating surface in one and two dimensions. In steady state, the density-density correlation function is a scaling function of separation and system size.This scaling function is singular for small argument -- it exhibits a cusp singularity for particles with mutual exclusion, and a divergence for noninteracting particles. The steady state is characterized by giant fluctuations which do not damp down in the thermodynamic limit. The autocorrelation function is a singular scaling function of time and system size. The scaling properties are surprisingly similar to those for particles moving in a quenched disordered environment that results if the surface is frozen.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, Invited talk delivered at Statphys 23, Genova, July 200

Superconductivity in single crystals of a quasi-one dimensional infinite chain cuprate Srx_xCa1−x_{1-x}CuO2_2 at 90 K

Although there is no complete theory of high temperature superconductivity, the importance of CuO$_2$ planes in cuprate superconductors is confirmed from both theory and experiments. Strong Coulomb repulsion between electrons on the CuO$_2$ plane makes the resultant electron system highly correlated and a difficult problem to solve since exact solutions of many-body Hamiltonian in two dimensions do not exist. If however, superconductivity can arise in structures having chains rather than planes and having a high critical temperature, then the high temperature superconductivity problem could become more tractable since exact solutions in one dimension do exist. In this paper, we report the observation of bulk superconductivity in single crystals of a cuprate Sr$_x$Ca$_{1-x}$CuO$_2$ at very high critical temperature, T$_c$, of $\sim$ 90 K whose structure reveals the presence of infinite double chains of Cu-O-Cu-O instead of CuO$_2$ planes, thus, ensuring quasi-one dimensional superconductivity. Bulk superconducting behaviour was observed in \textit{dc} magnetisation, \textit{ac} susceptibility as well as resistance measurements. The observation of bulk superconductivity in Sr$_x$Ca$_{1-x}$CuO$_2$ having chains of Cu-O-Cu-O rather than planes of CuO$_2$ at a high T$_c$ of 90 K is expected to profoundly impact our understanding of high temperature superconductivity.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figure

Plasma treatment in textile industry

Plasma technology applied to textiles is a dry, environmentally- and worker-friendly method to achieve surface alteration without modifying the bulk properties of different materials. In particular, atmospheric non-thermal plasmas are suited because most textile materials are heat sensitive polymers and applicable in a continuous processes. In the last years plasma technology has become a very active, high growth research field, assuming a great importance among all available material surface modifications in textile industry. The main objective of this review is to provide a critical update on the current state of art relating plasma technologies applied to textile industryFernando Oliveira (SFRH/BD/65254/2009) acknowledges Fundacao para a Cioncia e Tecnologia, Portugal, for its doctoral grant financial support. Andrea Zille (C2011-UMINHO-2C2T-01) acknowledges funding from Programa Compromisso para a Cioncia 2008, Portugal

Effect of Phototherapy on the Reliability of Transcutaneous Bilirubin Devices in Term and Near-Term Infants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) devices are commonly used for screening of hyperbilirubinemia in term and near-term infants not exposed to phototherapy. However, the accuracy of TcB devices in infants exposed to phototherapy is unclear. OBJECTIVES: To conduct a systematic review of studies comparing TcB devices with total serum bilirubin (TSB) in infants receiving phototherapy or in the postphototherapy phase. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL and Scopus databases (from inception to May 8, 2014) were searched. Additional citations were identified from the bibliography of selected articles and from the abstracts of conference proceedings. The studies were included if they compared TcB results with TSB in term and near-term infants during phototherapy or after discontinuation of phototherapy. Two reviewers independently assessed studies for inclusion, and discrepancies were resolved with consensus. Risk of bias was assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool. RESULTS: Fourteen studies were identified. The pooled estimates of correlation coefficients (r) during phototherapy were: covered sites 0.71 (95% CI 0.64-0.77, 11 studies), uncovered sites 0.65 (95% CI 0.55-0.74), 8 studies), forehead 0.70 (95% CI 0.64-0.75, 12 studies) and sternum 0.64 (95% CI 0.43-0.77, 5 studies). Two studies also provided results as Bland-Altman difference plots (mean TcB-TSB differences -29.2 and 30 µmol/l, respectively). The correlation coefficient improved marginally in the postphototherapy phase (r = 0.72, 95% CI 0.64-0.78, 4 studies). CONCLUSION: We found a moderate correlation between TcB and TSB during phototherapy with a marginal improvement in the postphototherapy phase. Further research is needed before the use of TcB devices can be recommended for these settings

Reliability of transcutaneous bilirubin devices in preterm infants: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) devices are widely used for the estimation of serum bilirubin levels in term and near-term infants. Our objective was to review the diagnostic accuracy of TcB devices in preterm infants. METHODS: Medline, Embase, Cochrane library, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Scopus were searched (from database inception date until December 2012). Additional citations were identified by using the bibliographies of selected articles and from conference proceedings. The studies were included if they compared TcB with total serum bilirubin in preterm infants before phototherapy and presented data as correlation coefficients or as Bland-Altman difference plots. Data were extracted by 1 reviewer and checked for accuracy by the second reviewer. An assessment tool (quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies) was used for risk of bias assessments. RESULTS: Twenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria; 21 studies reported results as correlation coefficients, with pooled estimates of r = 0.83 for each site of measurement. Pooled estimates in infants \u3c32 \u3eweeks\u27 gestation were similar to the overall preterm population (r = 0.89 [95% confidence interval: 0.82-0.93]). For the 2 commonly used TcB devices (ie, JM103 and BiliCheck), the results were comparable at the forehead site, although the JM103 device exhibited better correlation at the sternum. Analysis of the Bland-Altman plots (13 studies) revealed negligible bias in measurement at the forehead or sternum site by using either the JM-103 or BiliCheck device; however, the JM-103 device exhibited better precision than the BiliCheck (SD for TcB - total serum bilirubin differences: 24.3 and 31.98 µmol/L, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The TcB devices reliably estimated bilirubin levels in preterm infants and could be used in clinical practice to reduce blood sampling

Altitudinal variation in morphometric traits of pod, seed, and seedling growth of Bauhinia variegata L. in Garhwal Himalaya

Bauhinia variegata L. is a fast growing tree that has the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen. The aims of the present study was to estimate the variability in pod, seed and seedling growth and biomass production in 10 populations of B. variegata in Garhwal Himalaya. Significant variations were observed in pod, seed traits, seed germination, seedling growth and biomass production among populations. Among morphological traits, the seed weight was one of the most variable characters. Among seedling attributes, the seedlings vigour index, roots length, leaves dry weight and roots dry weight were found more variable characters. Geographical variables (altitude, latitude, longitude, temperature and rainfall) significantly (p<0.05) influenced the pod size, seed morphological traits, seed germination, seedling growth characters and allocation of biomass. Broad-sense heritability (h2) resulted moderate to high for pod characters, seed morphological traits and all the seedling growth parameters (except the leaves dry weight and survival percentage). These variations might be geographically structured and genetically controlled