ASSOCIATION BETWEEN AMBIENT AIR POLLUTION AND ACUTE CHILD-HOOD WHEEZY EPISODES IN COLOMBO

ThIS study analyses the air pollution data from the continuous. fully aurom.ucd. .uubrcnt ,\II'quality monitoring station operated at Colombo Fort and the records of dally uuc ndancc. atthe Colombo Lady Ridgeway Children Hospital (LRH), lor episodes ()I severe wheelingwhich required nebulizer therapy as an immediate treatment over a period oj (Jill' vcai from1" July yg to 30'h June yyDaily lIlaXII1ILlln one-hour averages of Sulphur Dioxide (S02) and Oxides of Nitrogen (NO,)have been used as the indicator parameters for air pollution. It was observed that thechanging pattern of both pollutants is consistent (r > 0,6) throughout the period of the study,It wa- also observed that the incidence of the daily nebulization rate and daily maximumone-hour ambient sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen were normally disnihutcd over thestudy period.In this study. the date of occurrence of the maximum and the minimum air polluuon levelsderived from daily maxima of Sulphur Dioxide (S02) and Oxides of Nitrogen (NO,) in eachweek (from Sunday to Saturday) were compared with those of daily attendance with acutewheeling at the LRH.Out of fifty one (51) weeks, the occurrence of the highest nebulization at the highestpolluted day (with respect to sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen) and the lowestnebulization at the lowest polluted day in each week throughout the year was highlysigni Iicaru (binonual test. p=O,(5).This study clearly indicates that there is a strong association between ambient air pollution(with respect to Sulphur Dioxide and Oxides of Nitrogen) and acute child hood wheezingepisodes. 111 Colombo.

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Narrow-range optical pH sensors based on luminescent europium and terbium complexes immobilized in a sol gel glass

The metal-based emission of a series of luminescent europium and terbium complexes incorporating an aromatic chromophore is rendered pH-dependent either through perturbation of the aryl singlet or triplet energy or by modulating the degree of quenching of the lanthanide excited state. Systems exhibiting each of these pathways have been incorporated in thin-film sot gel matrixes and evaluated as pH sensors in static and flow analyses at constant ionic strength. pH-dependent intensity or ratiometric methods, for emission or excitation spectra, have been defined for lanthanide complexes incorporating substituted phenanthridine (pK(a)* from ca. 6.8 to 7.2) or 6- cyanophenanthridine-2-sulfonyl chromophores (pK(a) similar to 7.14 in human serum solution) (lambda (exc) 365 nm, phiH(2)O = 7.2%)

Mutations in ANTXR1 Cause GAPO Syndrome

Contains fulltext : 116575.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)The genetic cause of GAPO syndrome, a condition characterized by growth retardation, alopecia, pseudoanodontia, and progressive visual impairment, has not previously been identified. We studied four ethnically unrelated affected individuals and identified homozygous nonsense mutations (c.262C>T [p.Arg88(*)] and c.505C>T [p.Arg169(*)]) or splicing mutations (c.1435-12A>G [p.Gly479Phefs(*)119]) in ANTXR1, which encodes anthrax toxin receptor 1. The nonsense mutations predictably trigger nonsense-mediated mRNA decay, resulting in the loss of ANTXR1. The transcript with the splicing mutation theoretically encodes a truncated ANTXR1 containing a neopeptide composed of 118 unique amino acids in its C terminus. GAPO syndrome's major phenotypic features, which include dental abnormalities and the accumulation of extracellular matrix, recapitulate those found in Antxr1-mutant mice and point toward an underlying defect in extracellular-matrix regulation. Thus, we propose that mutations affecting ANTXR1 function are responsible for this disease's characteristic generalized defect in extracellular-matrix homeostasis.8 p

Families of Dothideomycetes

Dothideomycetes comprise a highly diverse range of fungi characterized mainly by asci with two wall layers (bitunicate asci) and often with fissitunicate dehiscence. Many species are saprobes, with many asexual states comprising important plant pathogens. They are also endophytes, epiphytes, fungicolous, lichenized, or lichenicolous fungi. They occur in terrestrial, freshwater and marine habitats in almost every part of the world. We accept 105 families in Dothideomycetes with the new families Anteagloniaceae, Bambusicolaceae, Biatriosporaceae, Lichenoconiaceae, Muyocopronaceae, Paranectriellaceae, Roussoellaceae, Salsugineaceae, Seynesiopeltidaceae and Thyridariaceae introduced in this paper. Each family is provided with a description and notes, including asexual and asexual states, and if more than one genus is included, the type genus is also characterized. Each family is provided with at least one figure-plate, usually illustrating the type genus, a list of accepted genera, including asexual genera, and a key to these genera. A phylogenetic tree based on four gene combined analysis add support for 64 of the families and 22 orders, including the novel orders, Dyfrolomycetales, Lichenoconiales, Lichenotheliales, Monoblastiales, Natipusillales, Phaeotrichales and Strigulales. The paper is expected to provide a working document on Dothideomycetes which can be modified as new data comes to light. It is hoped that by illustrating types we provide stimulation and interest so that more work is carried out in this remarkable group of fungi