Aerobic Activity in the Healthy Elderly Is Associated with Larger Plasticity in Memory Related Brain Structures and Lower Systemic Inflammation

Cognitive abilities decline over the time course of our life, a process, which may be mediated by brain atrophy and enhanced inflammatory processes. Lifestyle factors, such as regular physical activities have been shown to counteract those noxious processes and are assumed to delay or possibly even prevent pathological states, such as dementing disorders. Whereas the impact of lifestyle and immunological factors and their interactions on cognitive aging have been frequently studied, their effects on neural parameters as brain activation and functional connectivity are less well studied. Therefore, we investigated 32 healthy elderly individuals (60.4 ± 5.0 SD; range 52–71 years) with low or high level of self-reported aerobic physical activity at the time of testing. A higher compared to a lower level in aerobic physical activity was associated with an increased encoding related functional connectivity in an episodic memory network comprising mPFC, thalamus, hippocampus precuneus, and insula. Moreover, encoding related functional connectivity of this network was associated with decreased systemic inflammation, as measured by systemic levels of interleukin 6

Proposed Pilot Plant for Production of Sintered Beryllium Oxide from Berylore

Beryllium metal and beryllium oxide have attracted considerable attention as possible nuclear reactor materials on account of their low neutron absorption cross section and low atomic weight and the consequent moderating properties, i.e., ability to reduce the velocity of fast neutron to thermal level. The inert nature and high melting point of beryllium oxide make it suitable for high temperature gas cooled nuclear reactors. There is some doubt about its stability under extended Irradiation by fast neutrons. However, beryll- ium oxide holds promise as a future power reactor mate-rial. The cost of nuclear grade beryllium oxide sintered shapes tends to be high on account of the great degree of purity required and the initial high cost.of the ore

DESIGN OF COOLING SYSTEM FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC PANEL FOR INCREASING ITS ELECTRICAL EFFICIENCY

Photovoltaic solar cell generates electricity by receiving solar irradiance. The temperature of photovoltaic modules increases when it absorbs solar radiation, causing a decrease in efficiency. This undesirable effect can be partially avoided by applying a heat recovery unit with fluid circulation with the photovoltaic module. Such unit is called photovoltaic/thermal collector (PV/T) or hybrid (PV/T). The objective of the present work is to design a system for cooling the solar cell in order to increase its electrical efficiency and also to extract the heat energy. A hybrid solar system which generates both electricity and heat energy simultaneously is studied. This hybrid system consists of PV cells attached to an absorber plate with fins attached at the other side of the absorber surface. Simulation model for single pass, single duct solar collector with fins is prepared and performance curves are obtained. Performance with seven different gases analysed for maximum heat transfer, minimum mass flow rate & minimum number of fins. Hydrogen is found to be the most suitable option with the present. For hydrogen, the system requires a mass flow rate of 0.00275 kg/s, which is the least amongst all. Theoretical number of fins required in this case is found out to be 3.46

Application of Stainless Steels in Nuclear Technology

SINCE the advent of nuclear technology, stainless steel has found new applications not only because of its properties of superior corrosion resistance and strength, but also because of its superior behaviour with respect to ionizing radiation . As a result stainless steel is the most important material of construction that finds use both in the production of nuclear pure materials and in the construction of nuclear reactors

Assessment of haemodynamic stability with intubating dose of intravenous rocuronium bromide versus vecuronium bromide in predominantly stenotic valvular cardiac surgery patients

Background: In the purely or predominantly mitral stenotic heart surgeries, the principal haemodynamic goals are to maintain a sinus rhythm and avoiding tachycardia. Thus rapid airway control and hemodynamic stability are vital for successful anaesthetic management of patients undergoing the cardiac surgeries. In such patients, muscle relaxants play a pivotal role for achieving good hemodynamic stability. Hence, this study was conducted to evaluate the hemodynamic stability of rocuronium bromide i.v. vecuronium bromide.Methods: The study conducted was randomized prospective double blind study in 60 adult patients (30 in each group) undergoing elective cardiac valvular surgery. Each group received either intubating dose of Rocuronium (0.6 mg/kg body weight) or intubating dose vecuronium (0.1 mg/kg body weight) intravenously after receiving sedation and analgesia. Hemodynamic parameters like heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure and central venous pressure were recorded at baseline 10 minutes after sedation /analgesia at induction, laryngoscopy and at  intubation. Any side effects during intubation were noted.Results: Intubating doses of either Rocuronium or vecuronium are not associated with any haemodynamic adverse effects. Also there were no statistically significant (p<0.05) differences between both these groups, in any of the variables at any time.Conclusions: The present study showed that Rocuronium had maintained excellent cardiovascular stability for the dose given to the patient. There was no statistically significant increase in heart rate, systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure after administration of Rocuronium as compared to vecuronium in the study.

A prospective randomised double-blinded study of intranasal midazolam atomizer spray for procedural sedation in paediatric patients

Background: Premedication prior to anaesthesia in children provides anxiolysis, facilitates parenteral separation and lessens adverse psychological effects on young minds. The present study was designed to study the safety, acceptability and degree of sedation by intranasal midazolam spray in children undergoing short procedures like endoscopy and CT scan. Methods: Sixty children scheduled for CT scan or endoscopy were randomly divided in to two groups. Thirty patients received intranasal midazolam spray 0.2 mg/kg, 20 minutes prior to procedure (group M) while other thirty patients received intra-nasal 0.9% normal saline spray (group C). Vital parameters such as heart rate (HR), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respiratory rate (RR), SpO2, ramsay sedation score (RSS) and anxiety score level was observed and recorded prior to the premedication and then every 5 minutes till the end of the procedure. Parenteral separation and behaviour of the patient while entering the procedure room was also evaluated in both groups.Results: The mean heart rate, systolic blood pressure, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation were comparable between groups M and C. The mean diastolic blood pressure was significantly lower in group M as compared to group C. RSS and anxiety level score achieved were significantly higher in group M thereby facilitating easy parenteral separation.Conclusions: We can thereby say that administration of preservative free intranasal midazolam atomizer spray in dose of 0.2mg/kg as premedication in paediatric patients produces satisfactory level of sedation and anxiolysis with minimal adverse effects

A comparative study of volume control ventilation versus pressure control ventilation in patients of trauma

Background: Trauma patients may require mechanical ventilation secondary to the respiratory centre depression or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). It has become increasingly accepted that mechanical ventilation, although often life-saving, can contribute to lung injury. This concept has led to implementation of lung protective ventilation strategies.Methods: This is a prospective, double blind, comparative study in which sixty patients of intubated trauma patients on mechanical ventilation expected at least for five days are included. They were divided in group V where patients were put on volume control ventilation for four days and group-P where patients were put on volume control for two days and pressure control for next two days, after initial stabilization. Each patient was evaluated for ventilation parameters (partial pressure of oxygen, partial pressure of carbon dioxide, peak inspiratory pressure), chest X ray findings and outcome of the patient, keeping the hemodynamic stability and medications same in all patients of both groups.Results: The demographic data like age, weight, and sex were comparable in both volume and pressure control groups.. Baseline ventilation parameters were compared between the groups at every eight hours. During the study we found that there was significant and better oxygenation in pressure control ventilation than volume, less increase in peak inspiratory pressure in pressure controlled ventilation than volume controlled. Other parameters like partial pressure of carbon dioxide also showed less increase in pressure control ventilation. Chest X ray finding showed that the data is comparable and statistically not significant in both the groups. The outcomes of the patients were good in pressure control mode of ventilation than volume control mode and the data was statistically significant.Conclusions: We conclude a better compliance of patients and good respiratory outcome on pressure control than volume. It has better lung compliance with respect to partial pressures of O2 and CO2 and peak inspiratory pressures than the volume control

Low metabolic activity of biofilm formed by Enterococcus faecalis isolated from healthy humans and wild mallards (Anas platyrhynchos)

It is widely known that Enterococcus faecalis virulence is related to its biofilm formation. Although Enterococci are common commensal organisms of the gastrointestinal tract, the difference between commensal and pathogen strains remain unclear. In this study, we compare the biochemical profile of the biofilms formed by two groups of medical and two groups of commensal strains. The medical strains were isolated as pathogens from infections of urinary tract and other infections (wounds, pus and bedsores), and the commensal strains were taken from faeces of healthy volunteers and faeces of wild mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) living in an urban environment. The properties of biofilms formed by medical and commensal strains differed significantly. Commensal strains showed lower metabolic activity and glucose uptake and higher biofilm biomass than the medical ones. Consistent with glucose uptake experiments, we found that the glucose dehydrogenase gene was more expressed in medical strains. These results indicate that higher metabolic activity and lower protein concentration of E. faecalis cells within biofilms are formed during infections.This work was supported by the Medical University of Gdansk research grant (GUMed W-65) and was financed partly by University of Gdansk research grant (BW 1440-5-0099-7). We are grateful to Katarzyna Zolkos for her help in catching mallards and Magdalena Remisiewicz for correcting the English. Catarina Seabra helped in preparing assays

A comparative study of nebulized versus intravenous lignocaine to suppress the haemodynamic response to endotracheal suction in patients on mechanical ventilation

Background: Cardiovascular response to tracheal suction is decreased by intravenous lignocaine. Tracheal suction is a powerful stimulus that causes intense haemodynamic changes in patients on mechanical ventilation. In the present study, we compared the effect of nebulized and intravenous lignocaine on haemodynamic response to tracheal suctioning in patients on mechanical ventilation through an endotracheal tube.Methods: A prospective randomized cross over study was conducted in Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College and Government Hospital, Sion, Mumbai, India during the period of January 2012 to September 2013. Sixty patients requiring tracheal suction through an endotracheal tube received 1.5 mg/kg of lignocaine in the nebulized form or as an intravenous injection on two different occasions. Heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) and peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SPO2) were recorded at baseline, after the administration of lignocaine, after two successive suctions and once in two minutes for the next 16 minutesResults: In the present study, SPO2 decreased in response to ETT suctioning in both the study groups as compared to the pre-suctioning value. However the changes in the SPO2 were not significant when compared between the groups. Changes in HR, SBP, DBP and MAP were not significantly different between the two routes of lignocaine administration.Conclusions: From the present study, we can conclude that the abolition of haemodynamic response to tracheal suction is similar with both intravenous and nebulized lignocaine. But the return of MAP towards baseline value was observed to be earlier with nebulized lignocaine than with intravenous lignocaine which favours use of nebulized lignocaine over intravenous lignocaine. With built-in nebulizer facility in the current intensive care ventilators, this technique should be easy, more effective and assure better haemodynamic stability than intravenous lignocaine during tracheal suction.