Pattern visual evoked potential in newly diagnosed hypertensive individuals

Background: Neuronal dysfunction in hypertension with multifactorial aetiology involves white matter involvement and strongly associated with presence of retinal micro vascular lesions. Cortical lesions associated with optic nerve damage and retinopathy leads to visual disturbances. VEPs are the potential changes recorded from the scalp in response to visual stimuli. Since optic nerve is considered to be the part of brain, its subclinical involvement is likely hypertension. It is in this connection the present study involving visual evoked potential was done to see if there was any change in functional integrity of visual pathways in hypertension. The aim of the study was to evaluate the visual evoked potential in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients who have not taken any antihypertensive drugs before.Methods: 50 cases were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and compared with 50 age, sex matched controls. Study was conducted after getting informed consent, by using the Medicaid polyrite instrument and VEP readings had been taken by standard procedure.Results: Study shows significant P100 latency when analysed through Levene’s test for equality of variances having p100 latencies for right eye 4.19±0.4 with p value of 0.003 and left eye 5.30±0.02 with p value of 0.000 substantiating prechiasmal lesion.Conclusions: Statistically significant delay in p100 suggests that the development of hypertensive retinopathy sub clinically, occurs in very early stages of Hypertension, which is not detectable on routine clinical examination. VEP can be suggested for screening in high-risk individuals to evaluate the functional integrity of visual pathway in hypertension and as a key to unravel the mystery of hidden Hypertensive Morbidity and Mortality. 

A comparison of different methods for determination of coupling factor and velocity response of coupled plates

Coupling loss factors (CLF) and velocity responses has been computed for two plates joined in a ‘L’ junction configuration using Statistical Energy Analysis. The analyses have been carried out to study the effects of internal loss/damping factor on the coupling factors. The effects of plate widths on the coupling factors and velocity responses at high frequencies has also been studied. The statistical energy parameters have been computed using analytical wave approach, finite element method and Free-SEA software. The studies have revealed that the coupling factor computed by the wave approach is independent of the internal loss factor as compared to the values computed using finite element method, wherein CLF increases linearly as the internal loss factor varies from a zero value, followed by a transition region and converges to the values obtained by the analytical wave approach and remains insensitive to changes at higher values of damping. The results obtained from the studies signify the effects of internal loss/damping factor and plate widths on proper selection and usage of the above mentioned methods for the estimation of coupling factors and velocity responses using statistical energy approach

Immediate and long-term results of bronchial artery embolisation for life-threatening hemoptysis in bronchiectasis

Background: Bronchial artery embolization (BAE) has been established as an effective technique in the emergency treatment of life-threatening hemoptysis, but few data concerning long-term results of the procedure are available The aim of this study was to analyze the immediate and long-term results of bronchial artery embolization (BAE) for hemoptysis due to bronchiectasis.Methods: Twenty five patients (aged 28–76 years) who underwent bronchial artery embolization with polyvinyl alcohol particles, gelatin sponge and coil for massive or continuing moderate hemoptysis caused by bronchiectasis were included in the study. These patients were followed up for 3 years. Initially patients were followed up monthly for 6months by clinical examination. Then yearly follow up by clinical and radiological examination. Results analyzed using SPSS 16 version.Results: In our study16 patients (64%) were males. 11 patients (44%) had bilateral bronchiectasis.14 patients (56%) had no rebleeding in the three year follow-up period. Only 8% developed rebleeding within 24hrs.Only one patient (4%) developed massive hemoptysis within one month and died. Other rebleed were very minimal. In our study there was no significant relation with side of bronchiectasis and rebleed.Conclusions: Bronchial artery embolisation can yield immediate and long-term benefit in patients with hemoptysis due to bronchiectasis.

Multi-Scale Computational Modeling of Two-Phased Metal Using GMC Method

A multi-scale computational model for determining plastic behavior in two-phased CMSX-4 Ni-based superalloys is developed on a finite element analysis (FEA) framework employing crystal plasticity constitutive model that can capture the microstructural scale stress field. The generalized method of cells (GMC) micromechanics model is used for homogenizing the local field quantities. At first, GMC as stand-alone is validated by analyzing a repeating unit cell (RUC) as a two-phased sample with 72.9% volume fraction of gamma'-precipitate in the gamma-matrix phase and comparing the results with those predicted by finite element analysis (FEA) models incorporating the same crystal plasticity constitutive model. The global stress-strain behavior and the local field quantity distributions predicted by GMC demonstrated good agreement with FEA. High computational saving, at the expense of some accuracy in the components of local tensor field quantities, was obtained with GMC. Finally, the capability of the developed multi-scale model linking FEA and GMC to solve real life sized structures is demonstrated by analyzing an engine disc component and determining the microstructural scale details of the field quantities

Mastectomy Without Drains Reduces Cost with No Detriment to Patient Outcome

Introduction Use of drains after mastectomy remains highly variable. This study aimed to establish whether simple mastectomy managed without a drain would cost less than the same procedure managed with a drain and whether there would be any difference in complications. Methods Prospective data were collected on all patients undergoing simple mastectomy ± sentinel lymph node biopsy over sixteen months. Surgeons decided intra-operatively whether to place a drain. Data included operative details, mastectomy weight, length of stay and postoperative complications. Costing data were identified by combining hospital finance costs for admission and follow-up appointments along with the cost of consumables. Results One hundred and thirty mastectomies were performed on 119 patients. There was a significant difference in mastectomy weight between drain group patients (n=80, median: 730g) and no drain group patients (n=50, median: 424g) (p=<0.001). The mean cost for drain group patients was £639.77 whilst for the no drain group was £365.46, indicating a potential unit saving of £21944.93 over sixteen months. Length of stay was shorter in the no drain group (range: 1-2 days) than the drain group (range: 1-4 days). The presence or absence of drains did not influence complication rates, with no change in seroma interventions (p=0.803). Conclusions Managing simple mastectomy patients without a drain resulted in no increase in complications or subsequent interventions for seroma. Significant cost savings to both the hospital and to the patient can be achieved by omitting drain use. Routine use of drains in patients undergoing simple mastectomy ± SNB may be unnecessary and costly

Periodic instanton method and macroscopic quantum tunneling between two weakly-linked Bose-Einstein condensates

A new method is used to investigate the tunneling between two weakly-linked Bose-Einstein condensates confined in double-well potential traps. The nonlinear interaction between the atoms in each well contributes to a finite chemical potential, which, with consideration of periodic instantons, leads to a remarkably high tunneling frequency. This result can be used to interpret the newly found Macroscopic Quantum Self Trapping (MQST) effect. Also a new kind of first-order crossover between different regions is predicted.Comment: 4 pages, 2 eps figures, final version to appear in Phys. Rev.

Enhanced production of lupeol through elicitation in in vitro shoot cultures of snake grass (Clinacanthus nutans)

Clinacanthus nutans (Acanthaceae), generally known as ‘snake grass’, has diverse uses in customary system of herbal medicine. The species is endowed with various bioactive compounds exhibiting extensive pharmacological properties. The present investigation focused on elicitor-intervened in vitro shoot biomass cultivation and scale-up production of the anti-cancerous compound ‘lupeol’, one of the foremost constituents in this species. For the augmented production of lupeol, the shoot cultures were elicited with various concentrations of yeast extract (YE), chitosan and methyl jasmonate (MeJA). Maximum shoot biomass yield and production of lupeol was detected in MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mgl-1 BA and 400 mgl-1 YE. The petroleum ether extracts of selected samples upon TLC analysis proved Rf values corresponding to lupeol. HPTLC analysis revealed that the sample treated with YE displayed relatively higher amount (975.50 ng) of lupeol than the in vivo plant (713.69 ng). Hence the in vitro shoot culture system with elicitor (YE) treatment propose an appropriate method for the elevated synthesis of lupeol which can be scaled up via bio-reactor technology in doing so profiting the pharmaceutical appliances

The construction of mental health as a technological problem in India

This paper points to an underexplored relationship of reinforcement between processes of quantification and digitization in the construction of mental health as amenable to technological intervention, in India. Increasingly, technology is used to collect mental health data, to diagnose mental health problems, and as a route of mental health intervention and clinical management. At the same time, mental health has become recognized as a new public health priority in India, and within national and global public health agendas. We explore two sites of the technological problematisation of mental health in India: a large-scale survey calculating prevalence, and a smartphone app to manage stress. We show how digital technology is deployed both to frame a ‘need’ for, and to implement, mental health interventions. We then trace the epistemologies and colonial histories of ‘psy’ technologies, which question assumptions of digital empowerment and of top-down ‘western’ imposition. Our findings show that in India such technologies work both to discipline and liberate users. The paper aims to encourage global debate inclusive of those positioned inside and outside of the ‘black box’ of mental health technology and data production, and to contribute to shaping a future research agenda that analyzes quantification and digitization as key drivers in global advocacy to make mental health count

Homozygosity for a missense mutation in the 67 kDa isoform of glutamate decarboxylase in a family with autosomal recessive spastic cerebral palsy: parallels with Stiff-Person Syndrome and other movement disorders

Background Cerebral palsy (CP) is an heterogeneous group of neurological disorders of movement and/or posture, with an estimated incidence of 1 in 1000 live births. Non-progressive forms of symmetrical, spastic CP have been identified, which show a Mendelian autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance. We recently described the mapping of a recessive spastic CP locus to a 5 cM chromosomal region located at 2q24-31.1, in rare consanguineous families. Methods Here we present data that refine this locus to a 0.5 cM region, flanked by the microsatellite markers D2S2345 and D2S326. The minimal region contains the candidate gene GAD1, which encodes a glutamate decarboxylase isoform (GAD67), involved in conversion of the amino acid and excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate to the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Results A novel amino acid mis-sense mutation in GAD67 was detected, which segregated with CP in affected individuals. Conclusions This result is interesting because auto-antibodies to GAD67 and the more widely studied GAD65 homologue encoded by the GAD2 gene, are described in patients with Stiff-Person Syndrome (SPS), epilepsy, cerebellar ataxia and Batten disease. Further investigation seems merited of the possibility that variation in the GAD1 sequence, potentially affecting glutamate/GABA ratios, may underlie this form of spastic CP, given the presence of anti-GAD antibodies in SPS and the recognised excitotoxicity of glutamate in various contexts