Supracondylar fracture of femur: our experience of treatment with locking compression plate from rural Maharashtra

Background: Surgical treatment of supracondylar or intercondylar distal femoral fractures (AO/OTA types 33-A to 33-C) remains a significant surgical challenge with significant complication rates. Supracondylar and intercondylar fractures of femur are very often difficult to treat and they are notorious for many complications. We have studied use of LCP (locking compression plate) in the treatment of metaphyseal fractures. These implants improve fracture healing, especially in osteoporotic bone due to better holding capacity. Objective wass to assess the efficacy of LCP in maintenance of post-operative distal femoral alignment and in preventing post-operative varus collapse in supracondylar fracture of femur.Methods: Prospective Longitudinal observational study Conducted at Post Graduate Institute of Swasthiyog Pratishthan, Miraj, Maharashtra involving 50 patients with supracondylar fracture. The fractures were classified as supracondylar femur fracture (AO/OTA type 33) (A- C). Fractures that were supracondylar with significant proximal fracture extension were classified as an AO/OTA type 33 fracture unless there was a separate diaphyseal fracture. Data was analysed by using SPSS 16.0 version and expressed as percentages.Results: Majority of patients were from 30-39 years age group i.e. 32%. Majority of patients were males i.e. 46 (92%). 7 (14%) patients had healing time <4 months. 24 (48%) patients had healing time between 4-6 months. 19 (38%) patients had healing time more than 6 months. To assess the overall results, we used Knee society score. In 38% of patients, we found excellent results. Good and fair results were seen in 32% and 26% of patients.Conclusion: Locking compression plate is an ideal implant for fixation of supracondylar fracture of femur 33 (A-C) especially in C3 type where articular comminution is present

Genetic Incorporation of Human Metallothionein into the Adenovirus Protein IX for Non-Invasive SPECT Imaging

As the limits of existing treatments for cancer are recognized, clearly novel therapies must be considered for successful treatment; cancer therapy using adenovirus vectors is a promising strategy. However tracking the biodistribution of adenovirus vectors in vivo is limited to invasive procedures such as biopsies, which are error prone, non-quantitative, and do not give a full representation of the pharmacokinetics involved. Current non-invasive imaging strategies using reporter gene expression have been applied to analyze adenoviral vectors. The major drawback to approaches that tag viruses with reporter genes is that these systems require initial viral infection and subsequent cellular expression of a reporter gene to allow non-invasive imaging. As an alternative to conventional vector detection techniques, we developed a specific genetic labeling system whereby an adenoviral vector incorporates a fusion between capsid protein IX and human metallothionein. Our study herein clearly demonstrates our ability to rescue viable adenoviral particles that display functional metallothionein (MT) as a component of their capsid surface. We demonstrate the feasibility of 99mTc binding in vitro to the pIX-MT fusion on the capsid of adenovirus virions using a simple transchelation reaction. SPECT imaging of a mouse after administration of a 99mTc-radiolabeled virus showed clear localization of radioactivity to the liver. This result strongly supports imaging using pIX-MT, visualizing the normal biodistribution of Ad primarily to the liver upon injection into mice. The ability we have developed to view real-time biodistribution in their physiological milieu represents a significant tool to study adenovirus biology in vivo

May Measurement Month 2018: a pragmatic global screening campaign to raise awareness of blood pressure by the International Society of Hypertension

Aims Raised blood pressure (BP) is the biggest contributor to mortality and disease burden worldwide and fewer than half of those with hypertension are aware of it. May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global campaign set up in 2017, to raise awareness of high BP and as a pragmatic solution to a lack of formal screening worldwide. The 2018 campaign was expanded, aiming to include more participants and countries. Methods and results Eighty-nine countries participated in MMM 2018. Volunteers (≥18 years) were recruited through opportunistic sampling at a variety of screening sites. Each participant had three BP measurements and completed a questionnaire on demographic, lifestyle, and environmental factors. Hypertension was defined as a systolic BP ≥140 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg, or taking antihypertensive medication. In total, 74.9% of screenees provided three BP readings. Multiple imputation using chained equations was used to impute missing readings. 1 504 963 individuals (mean age 45.3 years; 52.4% female) were screened. After multiple imputation, 502 079 (33.4%) individuals had hypertension, of whom 59.5% were aware of their diagnosis and 55.3% were taking antihypertensive medication. Of those on medication, 60.0% were controlled and of all hypertensives, 33.2% were controlled. We detected 224 285 individuals with untreated hypertension and 111 214 individuals with inadequately treated (systolic BP ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg) hypertension. Conclusion May Measurement Month expanded significantly compared with 2017, including more participants in more countries. The campaign identified over 335 000 adults with untreated or inadequately treated hypertension. In the absence of systematic screening programmes, MMM was effective at raising awareness at least among these individuals at risk

Solar Energy Storage via Thermochemical Metal Oxide/Metal Sulfate Water Splitting Cycle

This paper reports the effect of Ar molar flow-rate on thermodynamic efficiency analysis of zinc oxide-zinc sulfate (ZnS-ZnO) water splitting cycle useful for solar H2 production. The thermodynamic efficiency analysis is conducted using the HSC Chemistry 7.1 software and its thermodynamic database. Influence of Ar molar flow-rate on total solar energy input essential for the continuous operation of the cycle is explored. Furthermore, the solar-to-fuel energy conversion efficiency for the ZnS-ZnO water splitting cycle is determined. 2018 Materials Research Society.This publication was made possible by the NPRP grant (NPRP8-370-2-154) from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation). The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of author(s)

Transition metal doped ceria for solar thermochemical fuel production

In this paper, the effect of doping of transition metal cations on thermal reduction and CO2 splitting ability of Ce0.9M0.1O2?? materials (where, M = Ni, Zn, Mn, Fe, Cu, Cr, Co, Zr) is investigated by performing multiple thermochemical cycles using a thermogravimetric analyzer. The Ce0.9M0.1O2?? materials are successfully derived via co-precipitation method and analyzed via powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and BET surface area analyzer (BET). The Ce0.9M0.1O2?? materials derived are further tested towards their O2 releasing and CO production capacity by performing ten thermochemical CO2 splitting cycles. The obtained TGA results indicate that CeZn and CeFe are capable of releasing higher amounts of O2 as compared to other Ce0.9M0.1O2?? materials at 1400 �C. Likewise, these two oxides are again observed to be better than other Ce0.9M0.1O2?? materials in terms of their CO production capacity at 1000 �C. For instance, CeZn and CeFe releases an average of 50.5 and 50.0 ?mol of O2/g�cycle during ten thermochemical cycles in which the thermal reduction step is performed at at 1400 �C. Also, the CO production capacity of CeZn and CeFe material is observed to be equal to 103.3 and 96.3 ?mol of CO/g�cycle for ten thermochemical cycles in which the CO2 splitting is carried out at 1000 �C. The compositional and thermal stability of all Ce0.9M0.1O2?? materials is also analyzed after performing ten thermochemical cycles. The phase composition of all the Ce0.9M0.1O2?? materials remain unchanged after performing ten thermochemical cycles. However, the crystallite size of all the Ce0.9M0.1O2?? materials increases after performing the ten thermochemical cycles due to the high temperature processing. � 2018 Elsevier LtdThis publication was made possible by the NPRP grant ( NPRP8-370-2-154 ) from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation)

La-Based Perovskites as Oxygen-Exchange Redox Materials for Solar Syngas Production

This contribution reports the synthesis and characterization of La-based perovskites which can be used for the production of syngas via solar thermochemical splitting of H2O/CO2. The La-based perovskites were synthesized using a solution combustion synthesis approach. The derived perovskites were analyzed using powder X-ray diffractometer (PXRD), BET surface area analyzer (BET), and scanning/transmission electron microscope (SEM/TEM). The results associated with the synthesis and characterization of La-based perovskites is reported in detail.Qatar Foundation;Qatar National Research FundScopu

May measurement month 2018: an analysis of blood pressure screening campaign results in India.

Hypertension (HTN) is the greatest attributable risk factor for cardiovascular disease in India. Recent studies have reported the crude prevalence of HTN in India to be 25.3%. In the May Measurement Month (MMM) screening campaign of 2017 conducted in India, 31.8% had HTN. In order to ratify earlier results, and further understand the awareness and control levels of HTN in India, organizations that participated in MMM 2017 decided to participate in the MMM global screening initiative of the International Society of Hypertension for a 2nd consecutive year. A total of 345 234 individuals were screened in MMM 2018. There were more than 1000 screening locations that included hospitals, clinics, workplaces, and special health camps organized across the country. After applying multiple imputation, a total of 111 462 (32.3%) individuals had HTN of whom 63 415 (55.6%) were aware of HTN and 61 646 (55.3%) were on antihypertensive medicines, out of which 15 583 (25.3%) were uncontrolled. Overall 57 864 (41.3%) hypertensives were uncontrolled. About half (44.7%) of hypertensive population in India were not on treatment. Around two-thirds (65.7%, n = 226 924) had not measured their blood pressure (BP) in last 12 months and 64% measured their BP for the first time in their life during the campaign, which strongly indicates the need for large scale awareness drives. This study suggests that opportunistic periodic public health screening at a national level is needed to increase HTN detection, treatment, control, and countrywide awareness in highly populated nations like India

Thermochemical splitting of CO2 using solution combustion synthesized LaMO3 (where, M = Co, Fe, Mn, Ni, Al, Cr, Sr)

The effort of this paper was to recognize the inclusion of appropriate dopants that will upgrade the redox reactivity of La-based perovskites. By maintaining the fuel (glycine) to metal nitrate ratio () = 1, the LaMO3 (where, M = Co, Fe, Mn, Ni, Al, Cr, Sr) perovskites were synthesized by using the solution combustion synthesis (SCS). Physical properties such as the phase purity, elemental composition, crystallite size, and material morphology of the SCS derived LaMO3 determined by using various analytical techniques. The influence of incorporation of Co, Fe, Mn, Ni, Al, Cr, and Sr as dopants on the O2 release and CO production ability of LaMO3 perovskites was studied by performing multiple cycles in the temperature range of 1000–1400 °C. Based on the acquired data, the SCS synthesized LaMO3 perovskites can be arranged as follows: Based on the O2 releasing aptitude: LaMnO3 > LaSrO3 > LaNiO3 > LaCoO3 > LaAlO3 > LaCrO3 > LaFeO3. Based on the CO production capacity: LaSrO3 > LaAlO3 > LaCoO3 > LaFeO3 > LaMnO3 > LaCrO3 > LaNiO3Qatar Foundation;Qatar National Research FundScopu