Impacts of fish sanctuaries on the production and diversity of plankton on beels of haor region in Bangladesh

The experiment was carried out to study the impacts of fish sanctuaries on the production and diversity of plankton in beels of haor region at Mithamain Upazila of Kishoreganj district in Bangladesh during July 2004 to June 2005. A total of 75 (60 phyto and 15 zooplankton) and 74 (59 phyto and 15 zooplankton) genera of plankton were recorded in T-1 and T-2 (with sanctuary) respectively while only 50 (39 phyto and 11 zooplankton) genera were obtained in T-3 (control). Chlorophyceae and Copepoda were the most dominant group of phytoplankton and zooplankton respectively in all the treatments. The total phytoplankton numbers were found to range from 5472 to 35,833 cells/l and 5250 to 40,472 cells/l and total zooplankton from 667 to 1722 cells/l and 611 to 1667 cells/l in T-1 and T-2 respectively in sanctuary sites whereas the ranges of phytoplankton and zooplankton in the control site were 1778 to 29,333 cells/l and 56 to 1056 cells/l respectively. The maximum phytoplankton and zooplankton were recorded during winter season in all the treatments. The ranges of total plankton were 6194 to 37,500 cells/l, 6028 to 41,806 cells/l and 1889 to 29,444 cells/l in T-1, T-2 and T-3 respectively. The phytoplankton, zooplankton and total plankton recorded in treatments with sanctuary were significantly higher (p<0.5) than the treatment without sanctuary (control) indicating positive impacts of sanctuaries on the production of plankton. Between two treatments of fish sanctuaries the total plankton populations were comparatively higher in T-2 than T-1

Synthesis, Electrical Conductivity, and Dielectric Behavior of Polyaniline/V 2

Conducting polymer composites of polyaniline/vanadium pentaoxide PANI/V2O5 (with different initial weight percentage of V2O5) has been synthesized by in situ polymerization method. DC conductivity of compressed pellets has been analyzed in the temperature range 300–550 K and was found to increase with V2O5 doping. This increase in conductivity is mainly due to band conduction. It has also been observed that the dielectric constant and dielectric loss increase with the level of doping of V2O5 but remain independent of the frequency (50 KHz–1 MHz). X-ray diffraction pattern shows some order of crystallinity of composites due to interaction of polyaniline with V2O5. UV-visible spectroscopy shows an increase in the optical band gap with doping

The value of computerized tomography of the chest in patients with neutropenic fever

Background: Absolute neutropenia in hematological malignancies remains the single most important risk factor for infection, which can be fatal and requires urgent management including radiological procedures and treatment. Objectives: To compare computerized tomography (CT) of the chest with chest radiology (CXR) in the assessment of febrile neutropenic patients with hematologic malignancy. Patients and methods: A prospective study, carried out in the hematological ward, Baghdad teaching hospital, for the period from 1stApril 2011to 30thApril 2012.It included 46 neutropenic febrile patients .All had chest X-ray (CXR) and computerized tomography (CT) of the chest. Results: Male were 21, and female were 25. Mean age was 47.89 ± 15.32 years. Mean absolute neutrophil count (ANC) was 0.25X109/L. 29 (63%) patients had normal CXR in which CT was abnormal in 3 of them. 17 (37%) had the same abnormalities on CXR and CT. Conclusion: Computerized tomography is superior to CXR in patients with neutropenic fever, and it should be included in the investigations, especially in patients with respiratory symptoms

Pralidoxime in Acute Organophosphorus Insecticide Poisoning-A Randomised Controlled Trial

Background: Poisoning with organophosphorus (OP) insecticides is a major global public health problem, causing an estimated 200,000 deaths each year. Although the World Health Organization recommends use of pralidoxime, this antidote's effectiveness remains unclear. We aimed to determine whether the addition of pralidoxime chloride to atropine and supportive care offers benefit. Methods and Findings: We performed a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial of pralidoxime chloride (2 g loading dose over 20 min, followed by a constant infusion of 0.5 g/h for up to 7 d) versus saline in patients with organophosphorus insecticide self-poisoning. Mortality was the primary outcome; secondary outcomes included intubation, duration of intubation, and time to death. We measured baseline markers of exposure and pharmacodynamic markers of response to aid interpretation of clinical outcomes. Two hundred thirty-five patients were randomised to receive pralidoxime (121) or saline placebo (114). Pralidoxime produced substantial and moderate red cell acetylcholinesterase reactivation in patients poisoned by diethyl and dimethyl compounds, respectively. Mortality was nonsignificantly higher in patients receiving pralidoxime: 30/121 (24.8%) receiving pralidoxime died, compared with 18/114 (15.8%) receiving placebo (adjusted hazard ratio HR] 1.69, 95% confidence interval CI] 0.88-3.26, p = 0.12). Incorporating the baseline amount of acetylcholinesterase already aged and plasma OP concentration into the analysis increased the HR for patients receiving pralidoxime compared to placebo, further decreasing the likelihood that pralidoxime is beneficial. The need for intubation was similar in both groups (pralidoxime 26/121 21.5%], placebo 24/114 21.1%], adjusted HR 1.27 95% CI 0.71-2.29]). To reduce confounding due to ingestion of different insecticides, we further analysed patients with confirmed chlorpyrifos or dimethoate poisoning alone, finding no evidence of benefit. Conclusions: Despite clear reactivation of red cell acetylcholinesterase in diethyl organophosphorus pesticide poisoned patients, we found no evidence that this regimen improves survival or reduces need for intubation in patients with organophosphorus insecticide poisoning. The reason for this failure to benefit patients was not apparent. Further studies of different dose regimens or different oximes are required

Combined genetic approaches yield a 48% diagnostic rate in a large cohort of French hearing-impaired patients

International audienceHearing loss is the most common sensory disorder and because of its high genetic heterogeneity, implementation of Massively Parallel Sequencing (MPS) in diagnostic laboratories is greatly improving the possibilities of offering optimal care to patients. We present the results of a two-year period of molecular diagnosis that included 207 French families referred for non-syndromic hearing loss. Our multi-step strategy involved (i) DFNB1 locus analysis, (ii) MPS of 74 genes, and (iii) additional approaches including Copy Number Variations, in silico analyses, minigene studies coupled when appropriate with complete gene sequencing, and a specific assay for STRC. This comprehensive screening yielded an overall diagnostic rate of 48%, equally distributed between DFNB1 (24%) and the other genes (24%). Pathogenic genotypes were identified in 19 different genes, with a high prevalence of GJB2, STRC, MYO15A, OTOF, TMC1, MYO7A and USH2A. Involvement of an Usher gene was reported in 16% of the genotyped cohort. Four de novo variants were identified. This study highlights the need to develop several molecular approaches for efficient molecular diagnosis of hearing loss, as this is crucial for genetic counselling, audiological rehabilitation and the detection of syndromic forms

Hypothermia and Fever After Organophosphorus Poisoning in Humans—A Prospective Case Series

There have been many animal studies on the effects of organophosphorus pesticide (OP) poisoning on thermoregulation with inconsistent results. There have been no prospective human studies. Our aim was to document the changes in body temperature with OP poisoning. A prospective study was conducted in a rural hospital in Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka. We collected data on sequential patients with OP poisoning and analyzed 12 patients selected from 53 presentations who had overt signs and symptoms of OP poisoning and who had not received atropine prior to arrival. All patients subsequently received specific management with atropine and/or pralidoxime and general supportive care. Tympanic temperature, ambient temperature, heart rate, and clinical examination and interventions were recorded prospectively throughout their hospitalization. Initial hypothermia as low as 32°C was observed in untreated patients. Tympanic temperature increased over time from an early hypothermia (<35°C in 6/12 patients) to later fever (7/12 patients >38°C at some later point). While some of the late high temperatures occurred in the setting of marked tachycardia, it was also apparent that in some cases fever was not accompanied by tachycardia, making excessive atropine or severe infection an unlikely explanation for all the fevers. In humans, OP poisoning causes an initial hypothermia, and this is followed by a period of normal to high body temperature. Atropine and respiratory complications may contribute to fever but do not account for all cases

Fructose-1, 6-diphosphate (FDP) as a novel antidote for yellow oleander-induced cardiac toxicity: A randomized controlled double blind study

BACKGROUND: Cardiac toxicity due to ingestion of oleander plant seeds in Sri Lanka and some other South Asian countries is very common. At present symptomatic oleander seed poisoning carries a mortality of 10% in Sri Lanka and treatment of yellow oleander poisoning is limited to gastric decontamination and atropine administration. The only proven effective antidote is digoxin antibodies but these are not available for routine use because of the high cost. The main objective of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of a new and inexpensive antidote for patients with life threatening arrhythmias due oleander poisoning. METHOD/DESIGN: We set up a randomised double blind clinical trial to assess the effectiveness of Fructose 1, 6 diphosphate (FDP) in acute yellow oleander poisoning patients admitted to the adult medical wards of a tertiary hospital in Sri Lanka. Patients will be initially resuscitated following the national guidelines and eligible patients will be randomised to receive either FDP or an equal amount of normal saline. The primary outcome measure for this study is the sustained reversion to sinus rhythm with a heart rate greater than 50/min within 2 hours of completion of FDP/placebo bolus. Secondary outcomes include death, reversal of hyperkalaemia on the 6, 12, 18 and 24 hour samples and maintenance of sinus rhythm on the holter monitor. Analysis will be on intention-to-treat. DISCUSSION: This trial will provide information on the effectiveness of FDP in yellow oleander poisoning. If FDP is effective in cardiac glycoside toxicity, it would provide substantial benefit to the patients in rural Asia. The drug is inexpensive and thus could be made available at primary care hospitals if proven to be effective. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled trial ISRCTN71018309

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London