HIV and Malnutrition: Effects on Immune System

HIV or human immunodeficiency virus infection has assumed worldwide proportions and importance in just a span of 25 years. Continuous research is being done in many parts of the world regarding its treatment and vaccine development, and a lot of money has flown into this. However, fully understanding the mechanisms of immune depletion has still not been possible. The focus has also been on improving the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS through education, counselling, and nutritional support. Malnutrition further reduces the capacity of the body to fight this infection by compromising various immune parameters. Knowledge of essential components of nutrition and incorporating them in the management goes a long way in improving quality of life and better survival in HIV-infected patients

Flexural behavior of reinforced concrete beams by using rice husk ash as partial replacement of fine aggregates in cement concrete

Rice Husk has been utilized as a mineral admixture, cement replacement option, and filler in cement concrete as it provides several advantages such as improved strength values and environmental benefits related to the disposal of waste materials and to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions resulting from production of cement worldwide. In this study, flexural behavior of reinforced concrete beams using rice husk ash as a partial replacement of fine aggregates is investigated. For this purpose, four types of concrete mixtures were produced using rice husk ash as a partial replacement of fine aggregates at replacement levels of 0%, 10%, 15% and 20%. The produced reinforced rice husk ash concrete prism specimens were cured in water and tested to determine the ultimate load and ultimate deflection at 28 days of curing. The test results depicted that, the maximum ultimate load carried by reinforced rice husk ash concrete beam is 39.4 KN with 10% rice husk ash at 28 days and minimum ultimate load is 19.02 KN with 20% rice husk ash used as a partial substitute of fine aggregates at 28 days. The minimum ultimate deflection of 0.97mm occurred with 10% rice husk ash as a partial replacement of fine aggregate at 28 days of curing. Hence, this study concludes that 10% RHA can be utilized as a partial replacement of fine aggregates to provide strength in concrete and to reduce the environmental burden of rice husk waste. The results of this study will also provide a way forward to address the recent issues in construction sector, such as depletion of raw materials and increasing cost of construction

Effect of Coarse Aggregate Gradation on the Strength Properties of Bagasse Ash Concrete

This study investigated the coarse aggregate grades and the use of sugarcane bagasse ash as a replacement for cement to examine their effect on concrete strength. Ten concrete mixes were prepared in two groups using a 1:2:4 mix ratio and a 0.48 water-to-binder ratio. Sugarcane bagasse ash was used in 0 and 10% dosages by weight of cement. Five grades of aggregates were used: 4.75-7, 7-10, 10-13, 13-20, and 4.75-20mm. Six 6"/12" concrete cylinders were prepared for each group and cured for 28 days to test their compressive and split tensile strengths. The results showed that bagasse ash caused a reduction in strength properties in both well- and specific-graded concrete. It was also observed that 10-13mm aggregate concrete with and without bagasse ash had more strength than the respective well-graded. Although a minimum decrease in strength was observed, a 10% dosage of sugarcane bagasse ash was optimal to save cement content in both specific and well-graded aggregate concrete. This study provides a new framework for using graded coarse aggregates and replacing cement with bagasse ash

Idiopathic Gastric Fundal Perforation in a Young Male

Gastric perforation is a life-threatening condition encountered in surgical emergency. Common conditions that cause gastric perforation requiring emergency exploration include peptic ulcers, trauma, iatrogenic injuries and corrosive burns. Gastroduodenal region is the most common site of perforation but perforation in fundus of stomach is unusual. Acute Gastric Dilation (AGD) is a rarely encountered condition that leads to vascular compromise of stomach wall causing ischaemia and necrosis. Hereby reporting the case of a 26-year-old male, who presented with complaint of abdominal pain following heavy meal. Erect skiagram of chest was diagnostic of hollow viscous perforation peritonitis and the patient underwent emergency exploratory laparotomy. A perforation was noted over the posterior aspect of fundus of dilated stomach. Gastric fundectomy and feeding jejunostomy was done. The surgeon should be aware of such cases of AGD, with fundal perforation for active and appropriate management