Unsteady magnetohydrodynamic blood flow through irregular multi-stenosed arteries

Flow of an electrically conducting fluid characterizing blood through the arteries having irregular shaped multi-stenoses in the environment of a uniform transverse magnetic-field is analysed. The flow is considered to be axisymmetric with an outline of the irregular stenoses obtained from a three-dimensional casting of a mild stenosed artery, so that the physical problem becomes more realistic from the physiological point of view. The marker and cell (MAC) and successive-over-relaxation (SOR) methods are respectively used to solve the governing unsteady magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations and pressure-Poisson equation quantitatively and to observe the flow separation. The results obtained show that the flow separates mostly towards the downstream of the multi-stenoses. However, the flow separation region keeps on shrinking with the increasing intensity of the magnetic-field which completely disappears with sufficiently large value of the Hartmann number. The present observations certainly have some clinical implications relating to magnetotherapy which help reducing the complex flow separation zones causing flow disorder leading to the formation and progression of the arterial diseases.     

Genome organisation and sequence comparison suggest intraspecies incongruence in M RNA of Watermelon bud necrosis virus

Watermelon bud necrosis virus (WBNV), a member of the genus Tospovirus, family Bunyaviridae is an important viral pathogen in watermelon cultivation in India. The complete genome sequence properties of WBNV are not available. In the present study, the complete M RNA sequence and the genome organisation of a WBNV isolate infecting watermelon in Delhi (WBNV-wDel) were determined. The M RNA was 4,794 nucleotides (nt) long and potentially coded for a movement protein (NSm) of 34.22 kDa (307 amino acids) on the viral sense strand and a Gn/Gc glycoprotein precursor of 127.15 kDa (1,121 amino acids) on the complementary strand. The two open reading frames were separated by an intergenic region of 402 nt. The 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions were 55 and 47 nt long, respectively, containing complementary termini typical of tospoviruses. WBNV-wDel was most closely related (79.1% identity) to Groundnut bud necrosis virus, an important tospovirus that occurs in several crops in India, and was different (63.3–75.2% identity) from the other cucurbit-infecting tospoviruses known to occur in Taiwan and Japan. Sequence analysis of NSm and Gn/Gc revealed phylogenetic incongruence between WBNV-wDel and another isolate originating from central India (WBNV-Wm-Som isolate). The Wm-Som isolate showed evolutionary divergence from the wDel isolate in the Gn/Gc protein (74.6% identity) potentially due to recombination with the other tospoviruses that are known to occur in India. This is the first report of a comparison of complete sequences of M RNA of WBNV.     

Species dependent studies of no-carrier-added 93mMo: A green method

The present paper reports a combination of radioanalytical and green methodology for the ultra-trace scale speciation of molybdenum. The differential attitude of iron-doped calcium alginate (Fe–CA) and chitosan biopolymers towards no-carrier-added ^93mMo radionuclide was studied to develop environmentally sustainable speciation methodology in ultra-trace scale. The affinity of ^93mMo towards the Fe–CA beads is greater than that of chitosan. Species information was obtained by comparing the adsorption profile of ^93mMo on Fe–CA and chitosan biopolymer with the software code CHEAQS PRO program. From the experimental results it is concluded that no-carrier-added ^93mMo radionuclide form mononuclear species instead of polynuclear species in aqueous solution. Use of biodegradable, non-toxic biopolymer makes this method a step forward towards green chemistry.     

An assessment of the participatory role of prostaglandins and serotonin in the pathophysiology of endotoxic shock

The well-documented acute cardiodynamic changes in canine endotoxemia were significantly altered by pretreatment with either a newly synthesized serotonin receptor antagonist (ketanserin) or with a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor (indomethacin). Ketanserin, but not indomethacin, significantly attenuated the endotoxin-induced pulmonary hypertension and vasoconstriction but had no effect on the typical systemic hemodynamic changes. In sharp contrast, indomethacin significantly attenuated systemic hypotension and enhanced peripheral vascular resistance. Neither drug influenced the typical acute fall in cardiac output or the capillary permeability edema; neither drug attenuated the metabolic acidosis of endotoxemia. These results imply that, although serotonin and the prostaglandins each participate in a unique manner in the pathophysiology of experimentally induced endotoxic shock, neither autacoid appeared singularly responsible for the hemodynamic and metabolic alterations consistently observed.     

Supercyclone in Orissa: an assessment of psychological status of survivors

The study assessed the impact of the Orissa supercyclone on survivors' locus of control, anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress. The study was conducted in structured interview sessions 3 months after the supercyclone. The affected people (n = 65) who were close to the epicenter of supercyclone and lost their family members, relatives, and property, experienced more anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress than the unaffected (n = 65) who were away from the epicenter of supercyclone and had not experienced any loss. Effects of exposure remained significant with the effects of sex and neuroticism controlled. External support reduced anxiety and depression, and the amount of loss experienced by the survivors significantly increased external locus of control and anxiety.     

Novel mutation in FOXC1 wing region causing Axenfeld-Rieger anomaly

PURPOSE: To determine the possible molecular genetic defect underlying Axenfeld-Rieger anomaly (ARA) and to identify the pathogenic mutation causing this anterior segment dysgenesis in an Indian pedigree. METHODS: The FOXC1 gene was amplified from genomic DNA of members of an ARA-affected family and control subjects using four novel sets of primers. The amplicons were directly sequenced, and the sequences were analyzed to identify the disease-causing mutation. RESULTS: A heterozygous novel missense mutation was identified in the coding region of the FOXC1 gene in all three patients in this family. Consistent with the autosomal dominant inheritance pattern, the mutation segregated with the disease phenotype and was fully penetrant. The mutation was found in the wing region of the highly conserved forkhead domain of the FOXC1 gene and resulted in a very severe phenotype leading to blindness. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to demonstrate that a mutation in the FOXC1 wing region can cause an anterior segment dysgenesis of the eye. This mutation resulted in blindness in the ARA-affected family, and the findings suggest that the FOXC1 wing region has a functional role in the normal development of the eye. Moreover, this is the first study from India to report the genetic etiology of Axenfeld-Rieger anomaly. Genotype-phenotype correlations of FOXC1 may help in establishing the disease prognosis and also in understanding the clinical and genetic heterogeneity associated with various anterior segment dysgenesis caused by this gene.     

Mitomycin-C-augmented trabeculectomy for neovascular glaucoma. A preliminary report

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of trabeculectomy with intraoperative mitomycin C (MMC) in the management of eyes with neovascular glaucoma (NVG). METHODS: Fifteen eyes of 14 patients with NVG were included in the study. NVG was secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (3 eyes), hemiretinal vein occlusion (2 eyes), proliferative diabetic retinopathy (8 eyes), branch retinal vein occlusion (1 eye) and idiopathic (1 eye). Preoperative retinal ablation was performed in eyes with evidence of posterior segment ischaemia. Following this, all eyes underwent trabeculectomy with intraoperative MMC (0.4 mg/ml for 3 minutes). Clinical outcome assessment included visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), bleb appearance, identification of complications and antiglaucoma medications required to control IOP. RESULTS: The mean IOP decreased from 38.6 +/- 12.9 mmHg (range, 15-64 mmHg) to 17.4 +/- 9.33 mmHg (range, 4-34 mmHg) (P = 0.001). Preoperative visual acuity ranged from light perception to 6/9 in the affected eye. Thirteen (86.6%) of 15 eyes improved vision or retained preoperative vision, one (6.7%) eye lost light perception and one (6.7%) eye developed tractional retinal detachment two years after trabeculectomy. Ten (66.7%) of 15 eyes were classified as surgical success with a mean follow-up of 28.6 +/- 26.3 months (range, 2-82 months). None of the patients developed choroidal haemorrhage, hypotony maculopathy, late onset bleb leak or endophthalmitis. CONCLUSION: Trabeculectomy with intraoperative MMC is a good treatment modality in the management of eyes with NVG.     

Evaluation of downstaging in the detection of cervical neoplasia in Kolkata,India

Unaided visual inspection or "downstaging" has been suggested as a potential alternative method for cervical cancer screening in developing countries. Our study was designed to evaluate the accuracy of downstaging to detect cervical neoplasia in a low-resource setting. A total of 6,399 women aged 30-64 years were screened with downstaging by trained nonmedical health workers. Two thresholds were used to define positive downstaging: "low threshold" when any visible abnormality on the cervix was considered positive and "high threshold" when selected abnormalities such as bleeding on touch, bleeding erosion, hypertrophied oedematous cervix, congested stippled cervix and growth or ulcer constituted the positive test. All women underwent a colposcopy examination. Biopsies were directed when colposcopy revealed abnormal lesions. True disease status was defined as histologically proven moderate dysplasia and worse lesions. Since all the participants received a diagnostic (reference) investigation (biopsy and/or colposcopy), sensitivity, specificity and predictive values were estimated directly. Low- and high-threshold downstaging were positive in 1,585 (24.8%) and 460 (7.2%) women, respectively. The sensitivities of low- and high-threshold downstaging to detect high-grade precursors and invasive cancers were 48.9% and 31.9%, respectively. The specificities were 75.8% and 93.3%, respectively. These results indicate that downstaging is not suitable as an independent primary screening modality for cervical neoplasia.