Adsorption of arsenic on flyash

Studies on removal of AS(III) by adsorption on flyash and activated carbon powder have been carried out at room temperature (30 +/- 1 degrees C). The adsorption isotherm of AS(III) on flyash and activated carbon powder was obtained in a batch reactor. Various parameters such as pH, initial concentraction of adsorbate and absorbent dose were studied. The experimental adsorption data fitted reasonably well to the Langmuir and Freunlich isotherms for both the adsorbents. Activated carbon has been observed to have greater adsorptive capacity than flyash.     

Cholesterol measures to identify and treat individuals at risk for coronary heart disease

BACKGROUND: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-based guidelines are currently used to initiate and monitor cholesterol-lowering therapy. METHODS: Using stratified analyses, data from the Framingham Heart Study and the Coronary Primary Prevention Trial were evaluated to determine whether (1) cholesterol levels (total cholesterol [TC] or LDL [low-density lipoprotein]) better discriminated risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) than cholesterol ratios (LDL/HDL [high-density lipoprotein] or TC/HDL); and (2) whether changes in ratios better predicted risk reduction than changes in levels. RESULTS: Individuals with similar LDL/HDL ratios had similar risks for CHD regardless of whether they had high LDL levels or low LDL levels (23% vs 23% for the CPPT, 13.8% vs 14% for FHS men, and 8.6% vs 10.9% for FHS women). Among men with similar initial LDL/HDL ratios and similar changes in LDL/HDL ratios, risks for CHD did not differ (20.3% compared with 21.0%; p =0.96) between those with the largest and smallest reductions in LDL levels (21.3% compared with 6.5%). Among men with similar initial LDL levels and similar LDL reductions, a 20% reduction in risk for CHD was seen (19.5% compared with 24.5%; p =0.005) between those with the largest and smallest reductions in LDL/HDL ratios (23% compared with 4.6%). TC/HDL had predictive ability similar to LDL/HDL. CONCLUSIONS: Cholesterol levels do not provide incremental predictive value over cholesterol ratios in identifying people at risk for CHD. Changes in ratios are better predictors of successful CHD risk reduction than changes in levels. Future guidelines should consider incorporating ratios in initiating and monitoring successful lipid-lowering therapy.     

Reliability,validity and psychometric properties of the Greek translation of the Major Depression Inventory

Background  

The Major Depression Inventory (MDI) is a brief self-rating scale for the assessment of depression. It is reported to be valid because it is based on the universe of symptoms of DSM-IV and ICD-10 depression. The aim of the current preliminary study was to assess the reliability, validity and psychometric properties of the Greek translation of the MDI.     

Tumor acidity, ion trapping and chemotherapeutics. II. pH-dependent partition coefficients predict importance of ion trapping on pharmacokinetics of weakly basic chemotherapeutic agents

Ion-trapping theory predicts that alkalinization of tumor extracellular pH will enhance the anti-tumor activity of weak-base chemotherapeutics. We have previously demonstrated that chronic and acute treatment of tumor-bearing mice with sodium bicarbonate results in tumor-specific alkalinization of extracellular pH. Furthermore, bicarbonate pretreatment enhances the anti-tumor activity of doxorubicin and mitoxantrone in two different mouse tumor models. Previous work has indicated subtle, yet significant differences between the pH sensitivities of the biodistribution and anti-tumor efficacies of doxorubicin and mitoxantrone in vitro. The present study demonstrates that systemic alkalinization selectively enhances tumor uptake of radiolabeled mitoxantrone, but not doxorubicin. Results using these two drugs are quantitatively and qualitatively very different, and can be explained on the basis of differences in the octanol-water partition coefficients of their charged forms. These results suggest that inducing metabolic alkalosis in patients would have a positive effect on response to mitoxantrone therapy. However, the therapeutic index would not increase if sodium bicarbonate also caused increased retention of mitoxantrone in susceptible normal tissues in the host. The major dose-limiting organ systems for mitoxantrone are heart, liver, bone marrow, spleen and blood cells. Bicarbonate was found to have no significant effect on the distribution of mitoxantrone to any of these tissues except for spleen. However, neither spleen weights nor lymphocyte counts were adversely affected by NaHCO(3) pretreatment, indicating that this co-therapy does not enhance myelosuppression due to mitoxantrone therapy. These findings suggest that metabolic alkalosis would produce a net gain in mitoxantrone therapeutic index.     

Lung function tests in electroplaters of East Delhi

The presence of high concentration of metals (Cr, Cd, Co, Ni, Pb, etc.) in the work place environments of various types of industries including electroplating units are well known to influence respiratory system. Pulmonary function tests including forced expiratory capacity (FVC), volumes, mechanics and slow vital capacity (SVC) were studied in 80 males, divided into group I and Group II of 40 each were drawn from electroplating and non-electroplating units, respectively from East Delhi factories. The lung function tests were measured using computerized Spiro-232 of P.K. Morgan, Values of majority of lung function parameters such as FEV1/FVC%, FEF50 FEF75, PIFR, FIF50, MVV and SVC were decreased in electroplaters, perhaps due to the exposure to metals and their lower anthropmetric results as compared with non electoplaters. Where as results of TLC, FRC, RV & RV/ TLC% were higher in electroplaters and this may be attributed to higher values of RV in them as compared with non electroplaters.     

A prospective study of stress among women undergoing in vitro fertilization or gamete intrafallopian transfer

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether baseline or procedural stress during in vitro fertilization (IVF) or gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) affects pregnancy or live birth delivery rates. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Seven clinics in Southern California between 1993 and 1998.Patient(s): One hundred and fifty-one women completed two questionnaires. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The number of oocytes aspirated and fertilized, the number of embryos transferred, the achievement of a pregnancy, live birth delivery, and infant outcomes. RESULT(S): Positive-affect negative-affect score at baseline negatively influenced the number of oocytes retrieved and embryos transferred. A higher expectation of pregnancy was associated with greater numbers of oocytes fertilized and embryos transferred. At baseline, the risk of no live birth was 93% lower for women who had the highest positive-affect score compared to those with the lowest score. Furthermore, the score on the Infertility Reaction Scale was related to negative outcomes in live birth delivery, infant birth weight, and multiple births. During the time of the procedure, the PANAS and Bipolar Profile of Moods States results were related to the number of oocytes fertilized and embryos transferred; stress did not affect pregnancy or delivery. CONCLUSION(S): Baseline (acute and chronic) stress affected biologic end points (i.e., number of oocytes retrieved and fertilized), as well as pregnancy, live birth delivery, birth weight, and multiple gestations, whereas (procedural) stress only influenced biologic end points.     

Circulating nucleic acids of Chlamydia pneumoniae and cytomegalovirus in patients undergoing coronary angiography

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 208 consecutive patients undergoing elective coronary angiography or angioplasty were collected before, immediately after, and 4 h after the procedure. Nucleic acids of Chlamydia pneumoniae and of cytomegalovirus (CMV) were detected by PCR and confirmed by hybridization. Circulating C. pneumoniae DNA was identified in 24 patients (11.5%) and was associated with current smoking (odds ratio [OR] = 4.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.6 to 12.2, P = 0.004) but not with arterial narrowing on coronary angiogram or with serological results positive for C. pneumoniae. Circulating CMV DNA was identified in 36 patients (17.3%) and was associated with anti-CMV immunoglobulin G (OR = 2.7, 95% CI = 1.2 to 6.3, P = 0.02) but not with angiographic arterial narrowing or with the need for revascularization. Neither C. pneumoniae nor CMV DNA detection increased after angioplasty, a procedure in which endothelium is disrupted. Larger prospective studies are needed to determine the prognostic significance of DNA detection.     

Neck needle foreign bodies: an added risk for autopsy pathologists

The risk to pathologists of contracting diseases due to cuts or needles punctures while performing autopsies is well known. An additional risk is an accidental needle puncture due to retained needle fragments within the subcutaneous tissues or internal organs of intravenous drug addicts. We report 4 cases of drug addicted patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus who came to autopsy and had retained needle fragments within their cervical-clavicular soft tissues. The presence of retained needle fragments increases the risk to the autopsy pathologist of accidental needle puncture and exposure to disease. Because of this phenomenon, the pathologist should take precautions in addition to those currently prescribed when performing autopsies on possible drug abusers.     

PATIENT SATISFACTION IN PROSTHETIC REHABILITATION PROGRAMME

Patient satisfaction is an important outcome measure independent of other outcomes. Its measurement is important to assess the effectiveness of a programme and to gain insight into the patients'' perception of the programme. In this study conducted in a large rehabilitation centre it was found that majority of patients express satisfaction with care inspite of perceived discomfort. Various demographic factors, severity or duration of the disability or the level of rehabilitation do not influence patient satisfaction. Patients express more concern with aspects such as delay in issue of the prosthesis, or hotel component of the hospital services. Patients did not appear too concerned about the level of information provided. Patient satisfaction is an individual reaction to the overall care process and is influenced by the initial expectation level of the patient. Emotional response of the patient appears to be more important determinant of patient satisfaction than the cognitive evaluation. Periodical assessment of patient satisfaction should be an important component of any programme evaluation exercise.KEY WORDS: Amputation, Patient satisfaction, Programme evaluation, Prosthesis, Quality of care, Rehabilitation