Studies on standardization and purification processes of VEERAM

In Siddha system of medicine Veeram is one of the toxins among the sixty four known toxins. Geologically it is called Calomel. It is a very toxic material therapeutically, these arsenic based medicines are used in Siddha system. Natural substances of milk, tender coconut water, bitter guard and lemon juice are used to purify the veeram. This research work analyzed the raw veeram and products obtained after purification. Geochemical, physico-chemical analysis, instrumentation techniques of XRF, TG-DTA, FE-SEM, EDAX and particle size analyzer. Among physicochemical parameters total ash value was low. Loss on drying increased in the products in the various intermediate stages which due to the impact of plant agents used in the process. XRF results revealed mercury is present in major concentration. Raw veeram showed 77.14% of mercury. In the raw veeram particles observed were distributed within the range of 0.0920 µm–0.948 µm. FE-SEM analysis suggested that the bitter gourd treated veeram consisted of individual particles with a size ranging from 94 nm to 144 nm. Milk treated samples when subjected to analysis revealed increased particle size which may be attributed to aggregation. Lemon juice treated samples showed particle size in the range of 82 nm to 96 nm and in tender coconut range was 78 nm to 91 nm. In the EDAX raw and other samples showed peak for mercury and chloride. TG-DTA analysis showed that the raw veeram sample had a sublimation temperature of 220°C where as in other treated samples sublimation temperature was reduced compared to raw veeram. The from the stydy depict that these purification processes forms new organic substances and transformation of the starting toxic metal. These processes have an important role in the formation of complexes and in altering toxic state to non-toxic state.

Pulmonary vein isolation in a patient with superior vena cava atresia: Challenges and solutions

Congenital cardiac anomalies pose a significant challenge during cardiac ablation procedures. Pre-procedural multimodality imaging can help to identify these incidental findings, which may assist with procedural planning to achieve successful outcomes. Here, we describe the technical challenges associated with cryoballoon ablation of the pulmonary veins in a patient with persistent left superior vena cava who was found to have right superior vena cava atresia during the case

Extraction of zinc(II) using liquid membrane and performance optimization using response surface methodology

74-79Zinc(II) was transported selectively from the feed compartment to the stripping compartment through the flat sheet supported liquid membrane loaded with 2-ethylhexyl phosphonic acid mono 2-ethylhexyl ester (Ionquest801-IQT801) in kerosene. The effects of feed phase pH (1.5-3.0), carrier concentration (5-20 per cent) and stripping agent concentration (0.3-1.3M) were studied using flat sheet supported liquid membrane (FSSLM) and the enrichment factor values were calculated. Second order polynomial regression was used for analysis of the experiment. The experimental values were in good correlation with predicted values and the high correlation coefficient obtained proved the fitness of the selected model

Rare and complex case mimics acute myocardial infarction: The importance of multimodality imaging

We report a rare and complex case of cardiac sarcoidosis in a patient presenting with ventricular tachycardia. Multimodality imaging, along with clinical and histological examination, was essential in establishing the diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis. (Level of Difficulty: Beginner.)

Coexistence of apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and endomyocardial fibrosis with calcification: diagnosis using multimodality imaging

A 48-year-old man from West Africa was evaluated for dyspnea. Echocardiography showed an echolucent mass at the left ventricular apex surrounded by a dense ridge of tissue, suggesting endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF). Doppler echocardiography showed restrictive hemodynamics and intramyocardial coronary blood flow at the hypertrophied apex, suggesting apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (ApHCM) with calcified thrombus. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging showed a thickened myocardium with apical cavity obliteration and endomyocardial calcification, and gadolinium contrast demonstrated marked bright subendocardial and diffuse patchy intramyocardial hyperenhancement in the hypertrophied apical wall segment, confirming coexistence of EMF and ApHCM. Workup for known disorders of calcification was negative

Five-chambered heart with double-chambered left ventricle diagnosed by multimodality imaging

[Figure: see text