Numerical Analysis of Crosss Flow Hydokinetic Turbine by Using Computational Fluid Dynamics

The invention of cross flow turbine industry from straight blades of the Darrieus turbine was modified by Alexander Gorlov into helical shape. There have been several research projects dealing with the design and analysis for tidal applications. This paper deals with the Numerical analysis of a cross flow hydrokinetic turbine (CFHT) with helical blades. Static analysis with optimum blade velocity and constant pressure conditions was performed for the blade with fixed pitch by using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in Fluent 15. Solidworks was used to carry out 3D modeling of the turbine. The hydrofoil shape of NACA 0018 was created by the airfoil coordinate database. Two different turbulence models Spalart-Allmaras (One-Equation model) and sst-k (Two ndash;Equation model) were employed to compute and compare the results. Pressure profiles, drag and lift coefficients are calculated under a steady flow of 1.5 m/s

Platelet volume indices: markers of carotid atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes mellitus?

Background. Platelet volume indices (PVI) such as mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), and platelet large cell ratio (P‑LCR) are the indicators of platelet activity and may have a role in subclinical atherosclerosis and microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We evaluated PVI in diabetics for their association with carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and micro-vascular complications. Methods. Participants — 105 T2DM patients and age, gender matched 105 controls were evaluated by history and complete blood counts (CBC) including PVI, blood sugars, HbA1c, lipid profile and microvascular complications. PVI were compared between cases and controls. Carotid Doppler was done and CIMT was correlated with PVI. Results. PVI were found significantly higher in diabetic patients compared to controls. Mean MPV in cases vs. controls was (11.09 ± 1.02 fL vs. 10.28 ± 0.96 fL, p ≤ 0.001), mean PDW (13.46 ± 1.96 fL vs. 12.85 ± 3.54 fL, p = 0.12), mean P-LCR (31.92 ± 6.23% vs. 27.94 ± 5.94%, p ≤ 0.001). CIMT showed a positive significant association with MPV, PDW and PLCR, dyslipidemia and negative with glycemic control. PVI, especially MPV was significantly elevated in those with neuropathy, nephropathy and retinopathy. Conclusion. PVI i.e. MPV, PDW, P-LCR are increased in diabetic patients. They correlate positively with CIMT, implying cardiovascular risk. PVI have a positive association with microvascular complications also. PVI as determined by simple automated CBC can be used as markers of subclinical atherosclerosis and predictor of future cardiovascular events in T2DM.

The observational, cross-sectional study of drug utilization 90% and use of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor in the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background: Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease which affects the quality of life. It leads to multiple complications due to metabolic involvement. Out of multiple drugs used to treat diabetes, dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors are comparatively new drugs used for type-2-diabetes mellitus (DM) treatment. This study aimed to find out the drug utilization (DU) 90% and use of DPP-4 inhibitors in patients with type-2-DM.Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional, observational study was conducted at a private healthcare clinic of an endocrinologist in Nashik. Type-2-DM patients of both sexes were selected and a total of 199 patients were enrolled in the study. The consented patients were interviewed and prescription copies were collected. After studying them; statistical analysis was done and results and conclusions were drawn.Results: Out of total prescribed drugs, 58.77% of drugs were anti-diabetics. It was observed that the biguanides were most frequently (25.32%) prescribed while the least prescribed drugs were meglitinide analogues (0.08%). Most commonly utilized anti-diabetic found to be metformin. Vildagliptin 50 mg is the most commonly prescribed drug from DPP-4 inhibitors. Most of the drugs from the DPP-4 inhibitor group came under DU90%.Conclusions:DPP-4 inhibitors are showing wide acceptability by endocrinologists for type-2-DM management, according to this study. Performing repetitive drug utilization pattern study and circulation of standard treatment guidelines to practising physicians can be required. To emphasize the point on generic prescription, more awareness should be created. So that these can responses to further cost-effective and rational prescribing practices.

IDENTIFICATION OF PUTATIVE DRUG TARGETS IN MASTITIS CAUSING STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS BY IN SILICO APPROACH

Objective: In the present study an attempt has been made by the use of a computational approach to investigate putative drug targets in Staphylococcus aureus.Methods: In silico comparative analysis of the metabolic pathways between the pathogen and the Bos taurus was carried out. Further detection of bacterial genes that are non homologous to host, but are essential for the survival of the pathogen represents a promising means of identifying novel drug targets. Metabolic pathways were obtained from the metabolic pathway database Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and were compared to identify unique pathways present only in the pathogen and absent in the host.Results: We have identified total 1930 proteins, which are non homologous to Bos taurus protein sequences and among them 374 enzymes are found to be essential for survival of the S. aureus according to the database of essential genes (DEG) database. Further, 10 proteins were predicted as cytoplasmic and cell wall associated proteins, which could serve as potential drug target candidates.Conclusion: The identified potential drug targets form a platform for further investigation in discovery of novel therapeutic agents against S. aureus.Â

Non valvular atrial fibrillation stroke risk stratification by CHA2DS2-VASc score and short term outcomes

Background: Atrial fibrillation confers a high risk of stroke and is associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Many scoring systems for have been proposed stroke risk stratification in atrial fibrillation. Peripheral thromboembolism, heart failure and death. The main objective of the study was to estimate CHA2DS2VASc score in cases of non valvular atrial fibrillation, to asses short term outcome in AF (stroke, thromboembolism, heart failure and death and to find out association of CHA2DS2VASc score with outcomes.Methods: 64 cases (29 M, 35 F) of non valvular AF were included in this prospective observational study.CHA2DS2VASc score was calculated and cases were categorized into low (score 0), intermediate (score 1 ) and high risk (score 2 ) for development of stroke. Cases were clinically evaluated and investigated for type, etiology, complications and comorbidities.Results: CHA2DS2VASc score was determined in 64 cases of non valvular AF. In 3 cases (4.6%) it was zero indicating low risk for stroke, 8 cases (12.5%) had CHA2DS2VASc score as 1had intermediate risk, and 53 cases (82.8%) had score 2 or more indicating high stroke risk (p<0.01). 3 cases of non valvular atrial fibrillation (4.6%) presented with stroke and all of them had CHA2DS2VASc score>2. At the end of 3 months, total no. of cases with stroke was reported to be 5 (7.8 %). Stroke risk was significantly higher in cases of CHA2DS2VASc score>2 (p<0.01). Congestive heart failure was reported in 32 (50%) cases. Peripheral embolism was documented in 1 case (1.5%). Overall Mortality at the end of 3 months was reported to be 7 (10.9%) and cases with CHA2DS2VASc score ≥2 had 13% mortality. CHA2DS2VASc score ≥2 was significantly associated with mortality (p<0.01). All 3 Cases with CHA2DS2VASc score as zero were uncomplicated. 8 cases (12.5%) had score as 1 and, out of these 8 cases, CHF was reported in 2 cases (25%), while 6 (75%) were uncomplicated.CHA2DS2VASc score ≥2 was reported in 53 cases (82.3%). This group had complications in the form of CHF in 30 cases (56.6 %), thromboembolism in 1 (1.8%), and stroke in 5 (9.4%) cases. Cases of AF with CHA2DS2VASc score >2 demonstrated significantly high incidence for stroke as compared to those with score as zero or one (p<0.01).Conclusions: CHA2DS2VASc is a simple score to predict stroke risk in cases of non valvular atrial fibrillation and is easy to estimate. CHA2DS2VASc score ≥2; is associated with high incidence of stroke in cases of non valvular AF. CHA2DS2VASc score≥2 is associated with mortality as a short term adverse outcome in non valvular atrial fibrillation.

Assessment of Different Advanced Technologies for Pharma Wastewater Treatment: A Review

Water is a limited resource that is essential for long-term development. In recent years, industrialization has exponentially increased; the pharmaceutical industry has highly profitable growth while also contributing to environmental damage. Many Pharmaceutical industry discharges wastewater into the surrounding containing complex persistent organic compounds which are highly harmful to aquatic life and people’s health. Ultrasonic Cavitation is one of the methods that are used to treat wastewater and reduce the number of harmful substances that are released into the water bodies. In order to attain maximum Chemical Oxygen Demand reduction, present review demonstrates a combination of ultrasonic cavitation method using different oxidizing agents is a practical choice to decrease the hazards from wastewater discharged through pharmaceutical companies

Polymorphisms of TNF-enhancer and gene for FcγRIIa correlate with the severity of falciparum malaria in the ethnically diverse Indian population

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Susceptibility/resistance to <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>malaria has been correlated with polymorphisms in more than 30 human genes with most association analyses having been carried out on patients from Africa and south-east Asia. The aim of this study was to examine the possible contribution of genetic variants in the <it>TNF </it>and <it>FCGR2A </it>genes in determining severity/resistance to <it>P. falciparum </it>malaria in Indian subjects.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Allelic frequency distribution in populations across India was first determined by typing genetic variants of the <it>TNF </it>enhancer and the <it>FCGR2A </it>G/A SNP in 1871 individuals from 55 populations. Genotyping was carried out by DNA sequencing, single base extension (SNaPshot), and DNA mass array (Sequenom). Plasma TNF was determined by ELISA. Comparison of datasets was carried out by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests. Haplotypes and LD plots were generated by PHASE and Haploview, respectively. Odds ratio (OR) for risk assessment was calculated using EpiInfo™ version 3.4.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A novel single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at position -76 was identified in the <it>TNF </it>enhancer along with other reported variants. Five <it>TNF </it>enhancer SNPs and the <it>FCGR2A </it>R131H (G/A) SNP were analyzed for association with severity of <it>P. falciparum </it>malaria in a malaria-endemic and a non-endemic region of India in a case-control study with ethnically-matched controls enrolled from both regions. <it>TNF </it>-1031C and -863A alleles as well as homozygotes for the TNF enhancer haplotype CACGG (-1031T>C, -863C>A, -857C>T, -308G>A, -238G>A) correlated with enhanced plasma TNF levels in both patients and controls. Significantly higher TNF levels were observed in patients with severe malaria. Minor alleles of -1031 and -863 SNPs were associated with increased susceptibility to severe malaria. The high-affinity IgG2 binding FcγRIIa AA (131H) genotype was significantly associated with protection from disease manifestation, with stronger association observed in the malaria non-endemic region. These results represent the first genetic analysis of the two immune regulatory molecules in the context of <it>P. falciparum </it>severity/resistance in the Indian population.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Association of specific <it>TNF </it>and <it>FCGR2A </it>SNPs with cytokine levels and disease severity/resistance was indicated in patients from areas with differential disease endemicity. The data emphasizes the need for addressing the contribution of human genetic factors in malaria in the context of disease epidemiology and population genetic substructure within India.</p