pankaj kumar

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is often described as a “hidden epidemic.” Various biochemical markers reflecting cerebral damage can be used to correlate the patient's prognosis and the development of secondary lesions. We studied human Superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the serum to evaluate its role in the outcome of TBI.

Methods and Materials/Patients: 

This observational study was conducted in patients with severe TBI who presented to a tertiary care hospital in India. A total of 40 patients with severe TBI were enrolled, with 40 healthy people taken as controls. Serum samples were assayed for serum SOD using the ELISA technique.

 The most common age group was 28-37 years. Of 40 patients, 28 were male (70%), and 12 were female (30 %). The most common mode of injury was road traffic accident (70%), followed by fall from height (12.5%), physical assault (12.5%) and sports injury (5%). The most common CT finding was intra-cerebral haematoma (55%), followed by sub-arachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) (10 %), skull fracture (10 %), subdural haemorrhage (SDH) (7.5%) and extradural haemorrhage (EDH) (5%). The mean serum SOD value in the severe TBI group was 23.23 U/ml, and in the control group, it was 135.93 U/ml, which was statistically significant. Out of 40 patients, 24 (60%) had a good Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) at the time of discharge, and 16(40%) had poor outcomes. There was a significant improvement in outcome after six months compared to GOS at discharge.

The results obtained in the study are preliminary, and more extensive prospective studies are needed to reach a definitive conclusion. A handful of studies on protein degradation products are available and need to be more comprehensive. In conclusion, with more extensive studies and continued exploration SOD can become a reliable tool in TBI and can be integrated into standard care protocols.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dosimetric difference in calculated and measured doses for volumetric modulated arc therapy enabled total body irradiation (VMAT-TBI) technique. The study also aims to find the uniformity of doses delivered at the junction region of two adjacent isocentric arcs using three different detectors. This phantom study was performed on arc phantom and contains three different detectors: Gafchromic films, silicon diodes, and 0.6cc ionisation chamber. Measured doses using Gafchromic films and silicon diodes were the representative of skin surface doses and the 0.6cc chamber measured the mid plane doses at each isocenter. Ten (10) selected patients from the data base were the representative for this retrospective dosimetric analysis, verification and in-vivo dosimetry, however, the pre-treatment verification of all VMAT-TBI plans were already completed using EPIQA and Octavious phantom. Epson 1100 flatbed scanner was used for film scanning. The Gamma analysis and average dose difference between TPS calculated and measured with different dosimeters were found. The found dose difference in surface doses measured using Gafchromic film is in the range from 0.044 to 0.204 cGy and for diodes the range is from 0 to 0.112 cGy with respect to planned values. The point doses at each arc isocenter were within 3% of TPS calculated. The diodes, gafchromic films and used ionisation chamber are in good agreement with the TPS doses. Hence, it can be concluded and suggested that any available detector is good for dose determination in TBI.

Bovine tropical theileriosis is one of the potentially fatal disease of dairy cattle, which is caused by hemoparasite Theleria annulata. About seven years old cross-bred cow was presented with complaint of pyrexia, inappetance, lacrimation and ocular swelling since last 5 days. The clinical examination showed elevated rectal temperature (39.4 0C), mild enlarged pre-scapular lymph nodes, bilateral bulging of temporal fossa, protruded pale and icteric conjunctivae of the eyes with lacrimation and presence of ticks on body. The case was suspected for haemoprotozoan disease. Blood and serum sample were collected for hematological, blood smear examination and molecular examination (PCR), and biochemical analysis respectively. Microscopic examination of blood smear revealed intra-erythrocytic signet ring shaped periplasm of Theileria annulata. Hemato-biochemical examination revealed anemia, hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia and jaundice. Further, PCR assay was done using T. annulata-specific primer pair, Cyto b1 gene targeting the amplicon of 312 bp showed specific band on Gel-electrophoresis. Therapeutic regimen was started with Buparvaquone @ 2.5 mg/kg body weight IM single dose followed by Oxytetracycline @ 10 mg/kg body weight IV in 500 ml of NS for 5 days and Prednisolone @ 0.25 mg/kg body weight IM for 3 days along with supportive therapy. The cattle well responded to the therapy and complete regression of ocular signs was observed within one week of treatment.

 Resilience is an ability of an individual to effectively adjust and thrive in adverse stressful conditions. Resilience has protective and compensatory effects against depression. Evaluating resilience clinically and modifying it among patients with depression hugely impacts their prognosis. We aimed to explore different clinical scales for measuring resilience as well as interventions used with an intent to improve resilience among patients with depression.

 A systematic literature review was conducted by searching PubMed central, Biomed central, and google scholar, using relevant MeSH keywords. The population of interest were the patients who were clinically diagnosed with Bipolar or Unipolar Depression and the population were not restricted to any country. Clinical scales for evaluation and interventions for resilience among patients with depression were set as an outcome of the study. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), Quasi-experimental studies, observational studies, and narrative reviews were considered relevant research designs for extraction.

 A total of 8689 articles were identified and 13 articles were included in the final review, which yielded five scales that have been identified and have been used to evaluate resilience among the patients who are clinically diagnosed with depression and six different interventions for building resilience among patients with depression.

 Resilience-building interventions will not only act as a preventive measure against depression but also help in promoting recovery and sustaining remission after a depressive episode. Clinical evaluation of resilience and management will significantly support boosting emotional experience.

Background and Importance: 

Capillary hemangiomas are benign tumors found on the skin and soft tissues. They rarely present as an intradural spinal tumor. Common differential diagnosis methods are schwannoma, hemangioblastoma, metastasis, and paragangliomas.

We report a case of a 38-year-old female with complaints of lower backache with radiation to lower limbs, in which the magnetic resonance imaging revealed an intradural tumor compressing the cauda equina nerve roots, arising from the L3 level. The patient underwent L2-L3 laminectomy with tumor excision with the preservation of nerve roots.

Histopathology suggested capillary hemangioma and the patient improved symptomatically and no recurrence has been reported to date.

A composite of multi-walled Carbon nanotube (MWCN) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) along with a synthesized neutral carrier 4,7-diaza-2,3,8,9-dibenzo-15-crown-5 (I) has been tried for its selective binding behavior for Ca(II) ions. Compound (I) works as an ionophore, exhibiting high selectivity for calcium ions, when taken with poly(vinyl chloride), sodium tetraphenylborate (NaTPB), MWCNT and  tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (TEP) in the ratio 10:100:3:3:50 (w/w). This composition was used to fabricate a solid contact calcium(II)- selective potentiometric sensor. The developed all solid-state sensor worked well in the concentration range of 1.6×10-7-1.0×10-1 M, with a near Nernstian slope of 28.8+1.0 mV/decade of activity. The response time of this sensor was approximately 10 s. It exhibited a detection limit of 9.1×10-8 M. It worked satisfactorily in the pH range 3.5-7.0. The lifetime of the developed sensor was observed as six weeks and it exhibited good selectivity towards calcium ions over other cations.  It was successfully used as an indicator electrode in the potentiometric titration of Ca(II) with EDTA. It produced comparable results for the determination of the activity of calcium ions in real samples.

Degradation of urban environment and health hazard is directly associated with the unscientific handling of Municipal solid waste of India. Urbanization also contribute intensify Municipal solid waste generation. Source segregation of solid waste not only the fact to converge but also possible in maximum resource recovery from the waste. Waste management is a problem due to the ineffective management of waste and lack of knowledge of waste management. The main aim of the evaluation is to understand why and how communities can be approached survey and communicated and convicted towards a more suitable more sustainable and inclusive waste management system in Gurugram of India. All the Housing society of the Gurugram do not sort at all. The government agency responsible for the final management of solid waste does not have any practice to segregation the waste to achieving material recovery. The total waste generation in Gurugram area is 7418 kg per day from 5752 number of house hold. The waste segregation is the main challenges for the Municipal waste management system. The results revealed that average 81 percent of solid waste is just dumping in the land filled site without material recovery.

River Ganga is one of the prime sacred National Rivers of India, closely associated with economic, social, and cultural heritage of Indian people. Recently, it has been subjected to immense degradation and pollution as a result of receiving huge amounts of domestic and industrial wastewater as well as religious ritual activities and surface runoff. The present study attempts to study spatial and temporal changes in water quality of River Ganga while calculating its Water Quality Index (WQI) by analyzing 9 physico-chemical, 7 trace metal, and 4 microbiological parameters at eleven sampling stations, on the basis of River Ganga index of Ved Prakash. Thus it can assess water’s suitability for drinking and irrigation purposes along with other human uses. The study is directed towards the use of WQI to describe pollution level in the river for a period of 1 year (from January to December 2014). It has been shown that index values as per CPCB class range between medium to good, while the ones as per NSF Index range from bad to good water quality. The study also identifies critical pollutants, affecting the river water quality within its course through the city. Finally, pH, DO, BOD, DO, EC, and FC have been found to be critical parameters for the stretch in each season of this research.

Background & Aims of the Study: Vegetables and Cereals are considered vital for properly-balanced diet given that they deliver vitamins, minerals, nutritional fiber, and phytochemicals. This study aimed to assess the concentration of As, Cu, Cd, Pb, Cr and Hg in common vegetables and cereals in urban open markets in Varanasi district, India
Total 260 edible portions of vegetable samples of 13 species were collected in March to October, 2016 from predefined market sites. These samples classified into roots, stems, leafy vegetables, fruits, and legumes. These samples (unwashed, acetic acid washed and boiled) were assessed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The statistical evaluations were carried out using the IBM SPSS 21.
The results obtained reveal that unwashed vegetables and cereals as compared to washed and boiled samples contain higher trace metal concentration. The order of heavy metal concentration was observed in Cu>Pb>Cd>As in vegetable and cereals samples. Hg and Cr were not detected in any samples. The mean value of Cu, Cd and Pb in unwashed and washed vegetables and cereals were lower than PFA standard except As, whereas in boiled vegetables and cereals are lower than PFA standard but the mean value of Cd and Pb were many folds higher than the EU standard at all the market site samples. Leafy vegetables were found to contain the highest metals values especially Spinacia oleracea followed by roots vegetable like Brassica rapa, at all the studied sites. The market sites MS3 located in the vicinity of industrial zone and in proximity to national highway showed elevated levels of trace metals concentration in the vegetables and cereals as compared to other market sites.
The results showed that, the As, Cu, Cd and Pb concentration were reduced to about 12.5%, 5.87%, 11.36% and 10.42% of the initial concentrations by 2% acetic acid washing and to 25%, 21.87%, 20.45% and 16.67% of the initial concentrations by washing followed by boiling. The boiled vegetables and cereals may reduce the risk of trace metal intake from the vegetables and cereals significantly.

Haemorrhagic septicaemia (HS), caused by Pasteurella multocida, is the most important bacterial disease of cattle and buffaloes in India. Oil adjuvant vaccine (OAV) is the most potent vaccine available for the control of HS. The study aims to evaluate the effect of alum co-adjuvantation of OAV on emulsion stability and immune response. Two different oil adjuvant vaccines viz., standard oil adjuvant vaccine (OAV) and alum precipitated oil adjuvant vaccine (A–OAV) were prepared with Pasteurella multocida antigen. Emulsion stability was tested by centrifugation, storage at 37 oC for 3 months and microscopy. Immune responses were evaluated by ELISA antibody titer, CD4, CD8 T cell populations and survival post challenge by P. multocida in mice. The separation of aqueous and oil phase of emulsion by centrifugation and storage test were 0 and 6.76% in A-OAV as compared to 11.00 and 26.39% in OAV, respectively. The mean droplet size was significantly smaller (p<0.01) in A–OAV as compared to OAV. The A–OAV recorded higher ELISA antibody titer (p<0.05) up to 21st days post vaccination, and higher CD4 (p>0.05) and CD8 T cell (p<0.05) populations compared to OAV. The A–OAV group conferred 100% protection after challenge with both 100 LD50 and 1000 LD50 as compared to 100 and 60% respective protection by OAV group. The results indicates that A–OAV had better emulsion stability, produces higher level of CD4, CD8 T cells and antibody titer with better protection compared to oil adjuvant vaccine.

The present investigation deals with the development of controlled release tablets of salbutamol sulphate using graft copolymers (St-g-PMMA and Ast-g-PMMA) of starch and acetylated starch. Drug excipient compatibility was spectroscopically analyzed via FT-IR, which confirmed no interaction between drug and other excipients. Formulations were evaluated for physical characteristics like hardness, friability, weight variations, drug release and drug content analysis which satisfies all the pharmacopoeial requirement of tablet dosage form. Release rate of a model drug from formulated matrix tablets were studied at two different pH namely 1.2 and 6.8, spectrophotometrically. Drug release from the tablets of graft copolymer matrices is profoundly pH-dependent and showed a reduced release rate under acidic conditions as compared to the alkaline conditions. Study of release mechanism by Korsmeyer’s model with n values between 0.61-0.67, proved that release was governed by both diffusion and erosion. In comparison to starch and acetylated starch matrix formulations, pharmacokinetic parameters of graft copolymers matrix formulations showed a significant decrease in Cmax with an increase in tmax, indicating the effect of dosage form would last for longer duration. The gastro intestinal transit behavior of the formulation was determined by gamma scintigraphy, using 99mTc as a marker in healthy rabbits. The amount of radioactive tracer released from the labelled tablets was minimal when the tablets were in the stomach whereas it increased as tablets reached to intestine. Thus, in-vitro and in-vivo drug release studies of starch-acrylate graft copolymers proved their controlled release behavior with preferential delivery into alkaline pH environment.

For any lacunary sequence $theta = (k_{r})$, we define the concepts of $S_{theta}-$limit point and $S_{theta}-$cluster point of a sequence of fuzzy numbers $X = (X_{k})$. We introduce the new sets $Lambda^{F}_{S_{theta}}(X)$, $Gamma^{F}_{S_{theta}}(X)$ and prove some inclusion relaions between these and the sets $Lambda^{F}_{S}(X)$, $Gamma^{F}_{S}(X)$ introduced in ~cite{Ayt:Slpsfn} by Aytar [S. Aytar, Statistical limit points of sequences of fuzzy numbers, Inform. Sci. 165 (2004) 129-138]. Later, we find restriction on the lacunary sequence $theta = (k_{r})$ for which the sets $Lambda^{F}_{S_{theta}}(X)$ and $Gamma^{F}_{S_{theta}}(X)$ respectively coincides with the sets $Lambda^{F}_{S}(X)$ and $Gamma^{F}_{S}(X)$.

In the present study solid dispersions of the antifungal drug Ketoconazole were prepared with Pluronic F-127 and PVP K-30 with an intention to improve its dissolution properties. Investigations of the properties of the dispersions were performed using release studies, Differential scanning calorimetery (DSC), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). The results obtained showed that the rate of dissolution of Ketoconazole was considerably improved when formulated in solid dispersions with PVP K-30 and Pluronic F-127 as compared with pure drug and physical mixtures. The results from DSC and XRD studies showed the transition of crystalline nature of drug to amorphous form, while FTIR studies demonstrated the absence of drug-carriers interaction.