Influenza surveillance in Pune, India, 2003

Influenza surveillance was conducted in Pune, India in 2003. A total of 573 throat swabs/ nasal swabs (TS/NS) and 190 nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) were collected from 763 in- and out-patients who were mostly children aged 0-16 years. TS/NS (507/573) and NPA (42/190) specimens were processed in MDCK cell cultures and identified with the hemagglutination inhibition test (HI). A total of 37 influenza viruses was isolated: twenty-three type A (H3N2) and 14 type B of the Yamagata lineage were isolated from 29 children and 8 adults. Three type A (H3N2) isolates were characterized as being similar to A/Panama/2007/99 like, A/Korea/770/2000 like, and B/Sichuan/379/99 like strains.     

Hierarchical CdMoO4 nanowire–graphene composite for photocatalytic hydrogen generation under natural sunlight

Herein, a facile in situ solvothermal technique for the synthesis of a CdMoO₄/graphene composite photocatalyst is reported. Graphene oxide (GO) was synthesised by an improved Hummers'' method and was further used for the in situ synthesis of graphene via GO reduction and the formation of a CdMoO₄ nanowire/graphene composite. The structural phase formation of tetragonal CdMoO₄ was confirmed from X-ray diffraction measurements. The small nanoparticle assembled nanowires, prismatic microsphere morphology and crystalline nature of the synthesized material were investigated using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Due to its unique morphology and stability, the CdMoO₄/graphene composite was used as a photocatalyst for H₂O splitting. In comparison to pristine CdMoO₄, the CdMoO₄/graphene composite showed the best hydrogen evolution rate, i.e. 3624 μmole h⁻¹ g⁻¹, with an apparent quantum yield of 30.5%. The CdMoO₄/graphene composite has a higher photocatalytic activity due to the inhibition of charge carrier recombination. H₂ production measurements showed that the ternary semiconductor/graphene composite has enhanced photocatalytic activity for H₂ generation.

Herein, a facile in situ solvothermal technique for the synthesis of a CdMoO₄/graphene composite photocatalyst for hydrogen generation under natural solar light.     

Managing Patients With Heart Failure: A Qualitative Study of Multidisciplinary Teams With Specialist Heart Failure Nurses

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of health care clinicians working in multidisciplinary teams that include specialist heart failure nurses when caring for the management of heart failure patients.

METHODS

We used a qualitative in-depth interview study nested in a broader ethnographic study of unplanned admissions in heart failure patients (HoldFAST). We interviewed 24 clinicians across primary, secondary, and community care in 3 locations in the Midlands, South Central, and South West of England.

RESULTS

Within a framework of the role and contribution of the heart failure specialist nurse, our study identified 2 thematic areas that the clinicians agreed still represent particular challenges when working with heart failure patients. The first was communication with patients, in particular explaining the diagnosis and helping patients to understand the condition. The participants recognized that such communication was most effective when they had a long-term relationship with patients and families and that the specialist nurse played an important part in achieving this relationship. The second was communication within the team. Multidisciplinary input was especially needed because of the complexity of many patients and issues around medications, and the participants believed the specialist nurse may facilitate team communication.

CONCLUSIONS

The study highlights the role of specialist heart failure nurses in delivering education tailored to patients and facilitating better liaison among all clinicians, particularly when dealing with the management of comorbidities and drug regimens. The way in which specialist nurses were able to be caseworkers for their patients was perceived as a method of ensuring coordination and continuity of care.     

Active Extrusion of Heinz Bodies in Drug-Induced Haemolytic Anaemia

S ummary . A patient with repeated episodes of sulphonamide-induced haemolytic anaemia is reported. The haemolytic episodes were associated with a high percentage of Heinz bodies which had the unique feature of being actively extruded from the erythrocytes. Detailed morphological and biochemical studies are outlined, but the basis for the tendency to form Heinz bodies remains unclear. It is suggested that the phenomenon of active extrusion may provide an alternative route, independent of the reticuloendothelial system, for the removal of Heinz bodies. The close resemblance between the active expulsion of the Heinz bodies and the physiological denucleation of the maturing erythroblast is noted and a similar mechanism postulated.     

Structural,mechanical, dielectric properties and magnetic interactions in Dy3+-substituted Co–Cu–Zn nanoferrites

Sol–gel-synthesized Co–Cu–Zn ferrite nanoparticles diluted with Dy³⁺ ions were investigated in terms of their structural, morphological, elastic, magnetic and dielectric properties. X-ray diffraction patterns showed the formation of a single-phase cubic spinel structure. As the concentration of Dy³⁺ ions was increased, the lattice length gradually increased from 8.340 to 8.545 Å, obeying Vegard''s law. The Williamson–Hall (W–H) method was employed to observe the change in the lattice strain. Crystallite size obtained from W–H plots followed a pattern similar to that observed using the Scherrer equation. The cation distribution suggested a strong preference of Dy³⁺ ions for the octahedral B site while Cu²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions were distributed over both A and B sites. The microstructures of the samples were visualized using transmission electron microscopy. Mechanical properties such as stiffness constant, longitudinal and transverse wave velocities, Young''s modulus, bulk modulus, rigidity modulus, Poisson''s ratio and Debye temperature were investigated by acquiring infrared spectra recorded in the range of 300 to 800 cm⁻¹. Replacement of Fe³⁺ ions with the strongly magnetic Dy³⁺ ions increased the saturation magnetization and coercivity. Dielectric constant increased with Dy³⁺ substitution but decreased with applied frequency.

Improvement in various properties of Co–Cu–Zn ferrite upon Dy substitution.     

Beneficial effects of insulin-like growth factor I on epithelial structure and function in parenterally fed rat jejunum

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The functional significance of intestinal hyperplasia stimulated by insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I is unclear and has not been studied in a model of mucosal atrophy induced by total parenteral nutrition (TPN). The aim of this study was to determine how IGF-I affects intestinal structure and epithelial function in the absence of luminal nutrition caused by TPN. METHODS: Rats were maintained with TPN with or without IGF-I (800 micrograms/day), and jejunal histology and epithelial ion transport were measured after 5 days. In a third TPN group without IGF-I, a short-term dose of IGF-I was added during in vitro flux chamber experiments. RESULTS: Rats given TPN with IGF-I had greater jejunal mucosal weight, greater protein and DNA content, and increased villus height and crypt depth compared with rats given TPN only. TPN increased ionic permeability and ion transport responses to secretory and absorptive agents. IGF-I in vivo reversed most of these changes; IGF-I in vitro enhanced sodium-dependent glucose absorption but had no other effects. CONCLUSIONS: Coinfusion of recombinant human IGF-I with TPN solution stimulates intestinal hyperplasia and attenuates transport changes induced by TPN. The latter effect seems to be primarily associated with the growth state of the epithelium. (Gastroenterology 1996 Dec;111(6):1501-8)