Heat Transfer Model for Cryosurgery

Cryosurgery is a surgical technique which employs extreme freezing to treat diseased or abnormal tissue. Here, a new numerical approach is devised to simulate the heat transfer process in cryosurgery in order to assess the propagation of ice front’s positions and thermal history inside the ice ball. The developed numerical code is validated against the published experimental results. The emphasis is placed on minimizing the computational time so that the devised approach can be used in planning of cryosurgery treatment. The phase change phenomenon is solved using finite volume method on a fixed multiblock structured grid. An enthalpy method in addition to two-dimensional axisymmetric model is used to approximate the process of cryoablation. The model has used constant thermal properties for both the unfrozen region and the frozen region. In this study, we predicted thermal profile of tissue simulating gel during freezing and holding after certain time duration, while considering various dependent parameters. In addition, effect of cryoprobe size on the propagation of ice front positions and thermal history inside the ice ball is studied. And, it is found that ice volume varies almost linearly with time as well as with cryoprobe size

Effects of vessel presence on northern resident killer whale rubbing behaviour

The presence of vessels in the ocean has a significant impact on marine mammals, including highly cultural species such as northern resident killer whales (NRKWs). NRKW engage in beach rubbing, a unique social behaviour where individuals approach shallow pebble beaches to rub against the stones. During rubbing bouts, the whales are exposed and vulnerable to disturbance. To investigate the effects of vessel disturbance on this important cultural behaviour, the initiation of rubbing and rubbing bout length were examined in relation to vessel presence and proximity. In July and August, for years 2020 and 2021, data were collected from an elevated observatory platform on the north side of Johnstone Strait, which has a visual line of sight to three rubbing beaches. NRKW behaviour and vessel characteristics were recorded, and a theodolite was used to collect spatially precise locational data on NRKWs and vessels in the study area. Two of the rubbing beaches are within the Robson Bight Michael Bigg Ecological Reserve (RBMBER), a marine reserve in Johnstone Strait that excludes recreational vessel traffic and one rubbing beach is adjacent to this marine reserve. Beach preference in the absence of vessels was evaluated to develop a baseline and allow for a comparison of rubbing behaviour in the presence of vessels. Data were then compared from beaches inside the reserve (reduced vessel presence) to the behaviour on the rubbing beach located outside the reserve (increased vessel presence). This study provided an opportunity to evaluate the benefits of a reserve in protecting Killer Whales from vessel disturbance and can help inform future policies and guidelines in Marine Protected Areas. These important findings are part of an overall evaluation of measures to protect the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whale population in the Salish Sea

Awareness regarding the strategies to bring down the pandemic among general population: a questionnaire based study

Background: The behavior of the general public will likely have an important effect on how the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic spreads, especially when the first wave is diminishing. The aim of the study is to determine the awareness regarding the strategies to bring down the pandemic among the general population of Tamil Nadu in South India.Methods: A cross-sectional online survey conducted in October 2020. A sample of consenting 500 adult, healthy caregivers of patients attending a tertiary medical institute who were representative of the general population formed the study group. They filled a pre-formed questionnaire. All data entry and analysis were performed using SPSS (version 24). Descriptive statistics and chi-square test were performed between the various sociodemographic factors of age, gender, occupation, and education, and COVID-19 exposure in the family. P≤0.05 was taken to be significant.Results: It was observed that age had a significant influence on the wearing of masks and the use of hand sanitizer. Gender, age and education are the important determinants for use of hand sanitizer, wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, avoid traveling to the infected areas as well as washing hands often and always using a facemask to prevent COVID-19 were statistically significant.Conclusions: The dynamics of the impact of the awareness campaign and public participation are understood by the results. There is a need for a training program with respect to locale-specific scenario targeted to a specific cluster of population emplaning upon their respective lifestyle, to improve the knowledge and compliance about risk and preventions.

Clinical and laboratory profile of tuberculosis in HIV positive individuals

Background: Tuberculosis (TB), major public health problem in most of the developing countries. There is significant difference in the laboratory profile of tuberculosis in human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) infected compared to immunocompetent host. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis in HIV infected will improve the morbidity and mortality associated with dual infection. Objectives of the research were: to study about the clinical profile of tuberculosis in HIV positive individuals; and also, to study about the laboratory profile of tuberculosis in HIV positive individuals.Methods: Patients with HIV positive status who fulfill the inclusion and exclusion criteria and admitted in Adichunchanagiri hospital and research center, BG Nagara Mandya district, Karnataka India, during the period of January 2020 to June 2021.Results: Fever was the most common symptom (92.8%). Most common manifestation was extrapulmonary TB (54%). TB meningitis was the most common extra pulmonary involvement seen in 28.67%. Amongst patients with pulmonary TB, 6.3% of cases were smear positive for AFB bacilli, 58% of cases had pulmonary infiltrates on chest X-ray. In all cases of extra pulmonary TB (EPTB) CD4T cell counts were <200 cells/μl.Conclusions: Chest X-rays were atypical with more of lowerzone infiltrative lesions. Sputum acid-fast bacillus (AFB) is negative in most of the patients with pulmonary TB, however had sputum cartridge based nucleic acid amplification test (CBNAAT) positive status, hence sputum CBNAAT remains the gold standard investigation. Fluid analysis with ADA correlation holds good for the diagnosis of TB meningitis and tubercular pleural effusion

Evaluation of intersystem agreement between standard pelvic organ prolapse quantification system and simplified pelvic organ prolapse scoring system

Background: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is one of the most common gynaecological problem encountered worldwide. The POPQ has become the most commonly used prolapse staging system since its introduction (1996). In spite of having merits to it, POP-Q has not acquired a widespread acceptance. International Urogynaecological Association (IUGA) Standardization of Terminology Committee has devised a simplified version S-POP classification system based on the ordinal stages of the POPQ. The objectives of present study are to determine the intersystem agreement between the standard POPQ and S-POP classification system of pelvic organ prolapse and to propose a user-friendly classification system.Methods: This prospective observational blinded study was conducted in the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, NSCB Medical College and Hospital, Jabalpur (M.P.) from March 2015-August 2016. 125 women underwent two separate pelvic examinations POPQ and S-POP, by two groups of gynaecologists at each site. Results were compared and analysed using appropriate statistics.Results: Out of 125 women 54 (43.2%) were in age group 41-50 years. 79 (63.2%) were post-menopausal. 102 (81.4%) were more than third parity. 107 (85.6%) had home delivery. 119 (95.2%) had symptom of something coming out of vagina. The weighted Kappa statistics for the intersystem agreement of S-POP system with POPQ system for overall stage was 0.82, 0.61 for both anterior and posterior vaginal wall, 0.9 for cervix and 0.87 for posterior fornix/cuff.Conclusions: There is significant agreement between the POPQ and S-POP classification systems of POP

Structural, spectroscopic, electronic, and nonlinear optical behavior investigations of conjugated organic nonlinear optical chalcone derivative 3-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-1-(pyridine-2-yl)prop-2-en-1-one using DFT

In this paper we have reported the computational studies of structural, spectroscopic and electronic behavior of a chalcone derivative: 3-(2,3- dichlorophenyl )-1-(pyridine-2- yl)prop-2-en-1-one (DCPP) nonlinear optical crystal. The geometry of DCPP molecule have been optimized using density functional theory (DFT) at B3LYP level having extended basis sets 6-311++G(d,p), 6-311+G(d,p), and 6-311G(d,p) with the help of Gaussian 09W program package. The structure parameters calculated with 6-311++G(d,p) basis set have shown best matching with experimental data having  R2 value  equal to 0.99. Taking this optimized geometry FTIR spectra were simulated and analyzed quantitatively with the help of calculated potential energy distribution (PED). For finding the reactivity sites and to understand electronic and optical behavior, natural bond orbital (NBO), the electrostatic potential surface map with isodensity surface, and HOMO-LUMO analysis were also presented. Finally, the nonlinear optical behavior of this calcone derivative was studied by calculating dipole moment (m), polarizability(a) and hyperpolarizability (b) values. The calculated hyperpolarizability btot of DCPP is 17.4593×10-30 esu which is about 90 times greater than urea (β= 0.1947× 10-30 esu). This higher value of hyperpolarizability btot confirms that the present molecule DCPP is a potential candidate for Nonlinear Optical applications

Structural, spectroscopic, electronic, and nonlinear optical behavior investigations of π conjugated organic nonlinear optical chalcone derivative 3-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-1-(pyridine-2-yl)prop-2-en-1-one using DFT

48-62In this paper, we have reported the computational studies of structural, spectroscopicand electronic behavior of a chalcone derivative:3-(2,3- dichlorophenyl)-1-(pyridine-2- yl)prop-2-en-1-one (DCPP) nonlinear optical crystal. The geometry of DCPP molecule have been optimized using density functional theory (DFT) at B3LYP level having extended basis set 6-311++G(d,p) with the help of Gaussian 09W program package. Taking this optimized geometry FTIR spectrum was simulated and analyzed quantitatively with the help of calculated potential energy distribution (PED). For finding the reactivity sites and to understand electronic and optical behavior, natural bond orbital (NBO), the electrostatic potential surface map with isodensity surface, and HOMO-LUMO analysis were also presented. Finally, the nonlinear optical behavior of this chalcone derivative was studied by calculating dipole moment (µ), polarizability (α) and hyperpolarizability (β) values. The calculated hyperpolarizability βtot of DCPP is 17.4593×10-30esu which is about 90 times greater than urea (β= 0.1947× 10-30 esu). This higher value of hyperpolarizability βtot confirms that the present molecule DCPP is a potential candidate for Nonlinear Optical applications

Integrated Role of Nanotechnology and Pharmacogenetics in Diagnosis and Treatment of Diseases

“One size fits all” is an erroneous paradigm in drug delivery, due to side effects/adverse effects and variability observed in drug response. The variability is a result of geneotypic variations (variability in genomic constitution) which is studied in the branch of science called Pharmacogenomics. The variability in drug response is studied by multigene analysis or profiling of whole-genome single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and is recorded in terms of the pharmacokinetic (absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination) and pharmacodynamic (drug-receptor interaction, immune response, etc.) response of the drug. Therefore, a foray into this research area can provide valuable information for designing of drug therapies, identifying disease etiology, therapeutic targets and biomarkers for application in treatment and diagnosis of diseases. Lately, with the integration of pharmacogenomics and nanotechnology, a new facade for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases has opened up, and the prescription pattern of drugs has moved to pharmacotyping (individualized dose and dosage-form adjusted therapy) using nanoplatforms like nanobioconjugates, nanotheranostics, etc

Isolation and adaptation of bovine herpes virus Type 1 in embryonated chicken eggs and in Madin–Darby bovine kidney cell line

Aim: Objective of the present study was to isolate bovine herpes virus Type 1 (BHV-1) from semen of infected bull and to adapt it onto embryonated eggs and Madin–Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cell line. Further, the virus was identified by agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test. Materials and Methods: Semen samples were collected from five BHV-1 positive bulls previously confirmed for the presence of antibodies against BHV-1 using avidin-biotin enzyme linked immunosorbent assay test. The virus from semen samples was adapted in chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of 11-day-old embryonated chickens eggs and in MDBK cell line. The presence of BHV-1 in infected CAM and cell culture fluid was confirmed by AGID test. Results: Virus infected CAM showed edema, congestion and thickening at first passage level. Small foci ranged from 1 to 2 mm in diameter, scattered all over the membrane were observed at first passage. More severe changes were observed in CAM after serial passaging. The large pock lesions, round in shape with opaque raised edge and depressed gray central area of necrosis ranged from 3 to 5 mm in diameter were developed at fourth passage. Blind passages in MDBK cell culture were made. The MDBK cell line at second passage level showed characteristic cytopathic effect viz. rounding of cells with shrinkage, followed by aggregation or clumping of cells which progressed rapidly and appeared as “bunch of grapes” at 72 h post inoculation. Few cells become elongated when compared with uninfected controls. A homogenate of CAM with distinct pock lesions and infected cell culture fluid developed precipitation line within 48 h against specific anti-BHV-1 immune serum by AGID test. Conclusion: BHV-1 was easily adapted in CAM of chicken embryos and in MDBK cell line. Virus infected CAM and cell culture fluid showed precipitin band by AGID test

To Study of Artemisia nilagirica Leaves for their Antithyroid, Oxidative and Antihyperglycemic Properties

The tiny, fragrant shrub Artemisia nilagirica (Clarke) is a member of the Asteraceae family. This plant's leaves and flowering top have been used in traditional medicine as an antimalarial, nerve tonic, and anticancer drug, and there is evidence of anti-leishmanial efficacy. Material and Methods: The plant specimen was obtained from the Ooty district in Tamil Nadu, India, during the month of December. It was subsequently authenticated by NMKRV College for Women, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. The plant specimens were stored in the herbarium of the NMKRV College for Women, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. Results: The morphological, microscopic, organoleptic, and other WHO-recommended procedures for standardization were investigated in a powdered sample of Artemisia nilagirica (Clarke) leaf. Phytochemical investigation revealed the existence of numerous elements such as alkaloids, amino acids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, glycosides, terpenoids, steroids, saponins, essential oils, tannins and phenol in diverse extracts. Conclusion: Pharmacognostic and phytochemical analysis of Artemisia nilagirica (Clarke) leaves would be useful for authenticating raw material or crude medication