Evaluation of peripheral arterial occlusive disease by computed tomography angiography

Background: Characterization of peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) can be performed with non-invasive angiography using computed tomography (CT). The present study was conducted to evaluate the CT angiographic spectrum of aortoiliac and the lower limb arterial disease in symptomatic patients of peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) and to classify the lesions according to the Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus II (TASC II).Methods: The study was carried out in the department of radio-diagnosis in collaboration with departments of cardiothoracic surgery, cardiology and surgery, Safdarjung Hospital and Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, New Delhi. 50 patients aged above 40 years presenting with symptoms and (or) signs of lower limb peripheral arterial disease were recruited into the study after evaluating the renal function. Patient’s clinical history, ABI index and categories of PAOD according to the classification of Fontaine was noted. CT angiography of aortoiliac and lower limb arteries was performed with Philips Brilliance 40 CT unit. The findings in each CT angiography were analysed in respect to site, number, nature and distribution of the lesions and classified individually according to the TASC II.Results: The patients included in the study were all more than 40 years of age. The age range in the study group was 42 years to 75 years. The majority (86%) were male patients. Smoking and dyslipidemia were found to be the main risk factors in our patients. 24% of patients had documentary evidence of ischemic heart disease. On grading with ABI majority of patients (58%) presented in the end stage of the disease (stage IV). On CT angiography, number of lesions detected was 157. 97.4% of lesions were either stenotic or occlusive and 2.54% are with aneurysm. Maximum number of patients had femoropopliteal lesions followed by aortailiac lesions. 14 Winslow pathways were found in 10 patients. Maximum numbers of femoropopliteal lesions (47.29%) belong to type D, type B lesions account for 50% of total aortoiliac lesions based on TASC II classification. Out of 50, 40 were made follow up. Among them 8 were managed with conservative treatment and remaining 32 managed with treatment based TASC II classification.Conclusions: CT angiography is a reliable noninvasive imaging method for the comprehensive and multi parameter evaluation of patients with PAOD. CT angiographic findings are a highly accurate basis for treatment decisions and planning

Fluorane sensitive supercapacitive microcrystalline MoO3: dual application in energy storage and HF detection

Exploring materials and device paradigms for multifunctional electrochemical applications such as supercapacitors and sensing makes materials more suitable for real-life applications. In this study, microcrystalline MoO3 powder has been synthesized using a simple sol-gel method, and its suitability for energy storage devices and HF sensing performance has been studied. The MoO3 microcrystallites, well-characterized using electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy, have been tested for HF sensitivity on a glassy carbon electrode as well as on a carbon cloth electrode. Similarly, a solid-state prototype asymmetric supercapacitor has been demonstrated that displays its charge storage capabilities. The specific capacitance of MoO3 increases linearly with the increase of HF concentration. Additionally, the sensing performance of MoO3 can be seen by monitoring changes in current passing through the electrode in the presence of HF. High stability with good repeatability was displayed. In situ Raman spectroscopy, recorded during the charging and discharging process, has been used to understand the charge storage mechanism. A high sensitivity of 6656 mF mM−1 g−1 with a low limit of detection of 1.2 μM was observed, which makes this material suitable for sensing as well as charge storage

Gestational Age Specific Postnatal Growth Curves for Singleton Babies in Tertiary Hospital of Western Nepal

Introduction: Measurement of birth weight (BW), crown heel length (CHL), head circumference (HC) and chest circumference used to assess the intrauterine growth of a baby vary with altitude, race, gender, socio economic status, maternal size, and maternal diseases. The study aimed to construct centile charts for BW, CHL and HC for new born at different gestational ages in western Nepal. Methods:  This was a descriptive cross sectional study done over a period of 15 months in a tertiary care hospital of western Nepal. BW, length, HC and CC were measured within 12-24 hours of birth. Gestational age was estimated from first day of last menstrual period, maternal ultrasonology and New Ballard’s scoring system. Microsoft 2007 Excel and SPSS-16 was used for data analysis. Cole’s Lambda Mu Sigma method was used for constructing centile curves. Results: Out of 2000 babies analysed, 1910 samples were used to construct smoothed intrauterine growth curve of BW, CHL, and HC from 33-42 weeks of gestation. 57.35% (1147) were male, mean gestational age was 38.13 ±2.44 weeks, where 21.5% were preterm and 1.7% post term. The means of BW, CHL, HC and CC were 2744.78 gm, 47.80 cm, 33.18 cm, and 30.20 cm with standard deviations of 528.29, 3.124, 1.78, and 2.35 respectively. These data vary as compared to the Kathmandu data, in case of birth weight for 10th and 90th centiles, and at 90th centile in case of length. Conclusions: This necessitates the update in the existing growth charts and develop in different geographical regions of a country

Diagnostic Accuracy of Dried Blood Spots Collected on HemaSpot HF Devices Compared to Venous Blood Specimens To Estimate Measles and Rubella Seroprevalence.

Fingerprick blood spotted onto filter paper offers an alternative to venous blood for use in population-based surveillance because it is comparatively inexpensive, acceptable, and easy to manage in the field. Prior studies have shown excellent agreement for immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody detection from dried blood spots (DBS) and venous blood samples. However, much of this evidence is from high-income settings or laboratories where the samples were unlikely to be exposed to extreme temperatures and humidity, factors known to degrade DBS. We report the diagnostic accuracy of DBS collected using HemaSpot HF devices against venous sera in measuring measles- and rubella-specific IgG antibodies in a household serosurvey conducted in two districts in India. Paired serum and DBS samples collected by fingerprick were collected from women aged 15 to 50 years enrolled in a serosurvey in Palghar District of Maharashtra and Kanpur Nagar District of Uttar Pradesh in India. Specimen quality and volume were assessed in the laboratory. Samples were tested for antimeasles and antirubella IgG antibodies by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (Euroimmun). Sensitivity of antibody detection by DBS was greater than 98%, and specificity was 90% and 98%, for measles and rubella IgG, respectively. Antibody concentrations were strongly correlated between paired specimens with adequate volume (measles R2 = 0.94; rubella R2 = 0.89). Although correlation was poor if DBS specimens had lower volumes, impact on qualitative results was minimal. This study showed DBS collected with HemaSpot HF devices can generate highly accurate results of measles- and rubella-specific IgG compared to sera in community-based surveys when protocols are optimized for DBS specimens. IMPORTANCE Dried blood spot (DBS) collection provides an easy, practical, and acceptable alternative to venous blood collection, especially for community-based studies, provided that results from DBS are accurate. We demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity for measles- and rubella-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) with DBS collected via HemaSpot HF devices compared to serum samples. This is one of the largest community-based diagnostic accuracy studies of measles and rubella antibody testing with DBS and the first application we are aware of using HemaSpot HF device for measles and rubella serology. Results support the use of DBS in community-based serosurveillance

Constraints on the χ_(c1) versus χ_(c2) polarizations in proton-proton collisions at √s = 8 TeV

The polarizations of promptly produced χ_(c1) and χ_(c2) mesons are studied using data collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC, in proton-proton collisions at √s=8  TeV. The χ_c states are reconstructed via their radiative decays χ_c → J/ψγ, with the photons being measured through conversions to e⁺e⁻, which allows the two states to be well resolved. The polarizations are measured in the helicity frame, through the analysis of the χ_(c2) to χ_(c1) yield ratio as a function of the polar or azimuthal angle of the positive muon emitted in the J/ψ → μ⁺μ⁻ decay, in three bins of J/ψ transverse momentum. While no differences are seen between the two states in terms of azimuthal decay angle distributions, they are observed to have significantly different polar anisotropies. The measurement favors a scenario where at least one of the two states is strongly polarized along the helicity quantization axis, in agreement with nonrelativistic quantum chromodynamics predictions. This is the first measurement of significantly polarized quarkonia produced at high transverse momentum