Association of ambient air‐pollution levels with acute asthma exacerbation among children in Singapore

BACKGROUND: Air-pollution levels have been shown to be associated with increased morbidity of respiratory diseases. METHODS: Data for ambient air-pollutant levels, meteorologic factors, and hospitalization or emergency room (ER) visits for acute asthma in Singapore children over a 5-year period (1990-4) were obtained and analyzed for associations by time-series methods. RESULTS: Throughout this period, the annual mean and 24-h mean levels for sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and total suspended particles (TSP) and maximum 1-h daily average for ozone were generally within the air-quality guidelines established by the World Health Organization (WHO). However, positive correlation between levels of each of these pollutants and daily ER visits for asthma was observed in children aged 3-12 years, but not among adolescents and young adults (13-21 years old). The association with SO2 and TSP persisted after standardization for meteorologic and temporal variables. An adjusted increase in 2.9 ER visits for every 20 microg/m3 increase in atmospheric SO2 levels, lagged by 1 day, was observed on days when levels were above 68 microg/m3. With TSP, an adjusted increase of 5.80 ER visits for every 20 microg/m3 increase in its daily atmospheric levels, lagged by 1 day, was observed on days with levels above 73 microg/m3. Similar results were also obtained after controlling for autocorrelation by time-series analysis. CONCLUSIONS: These associations were observed even though the overall levels of all pollutants were generally within the air-quality guidelines established by the WHO. These findings suggest that asthmatic children are susceptible to increased levels of air pollutants, particularly SO2 and TSP, although the ambient levels are generally within "acceptable" ranges.     

Effects of Co‐composting of Municipal Solid Waste and Pigeon Pea Biochar on Heavy Metal Mobility in Soil and Translocation to Leafy Vegetable Spinach

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology - An experiment was conducted to study the effects of co-composted products of municipal solid waste (MSW) and pigeon pea biochar (PPB) on...     

Preliminary evaluation of in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo antitumor activity of Premna herbacea Roxb. in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma model and Dalton's lymphoma ascites model

In the present study, the root nodules of Premna herbacea Roxb. (PH) was investigated for its in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo antitumor activity. Two extracts, aqueous and alcoholic; two fractions of alcoholic extract, ethyl acetate and butanol fractions were screened for their in vitro cytotoxicity by brine shrimp lethality (BSL) assay, trypan blue exclusion assay and MTT assay. Alcoholic extract and its ethyl acetate fraction were found to be the most effective in BSL assay, trypan blue exclusion assay. In vivo antitumor activity was screened in the Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) model and the Dalton lymphoma ascites (DLA) model. The extracts and the fractions were tested at two dosages (250 and 500 mg/kg) by intraperitoneally (i.p.) route on every alternate day upto 13th day. Cisplatin was used as positive control in both studies in single dose (day 1) 3.5 mg/kg by i.p. route. In EAC model, ascites tumor was induced by inoculating 2.5 million of EAC cells i.p. alcoholic extract at 500 mg/kg was the most effective in elevating MST, reduction in body weight in EAC induced tumor. Only the effective extract i.e., alcoholic extract were studied for hematological and antioxidant parameter. It showed a restoring effect on altered hematological parameters and a significant improvement in biochemical parameters at 250 mg/kg dose of alcoholic extract. These results explain the toxicity of 500 mg/kg might be high. In the Dalton lymphoma ascites (DLA) model, solid tumor was developed by i.m. injection of 1 million DLA cells. Both the extracts and the fractions possessed potent antitumor activity against solid tumor models by significantly reducing the solid tumor weight and volume.     

Varietal Spectrum of Seed Production of Pulses in India: An Updated Approach

Pulses play a pivotal role in Indian agriculture as they are considered as the basic source of protein in Indian diet. Therefore, the biggest concern is to feed country’s 1.2 billion population with balanced diet and to maintain the production in line with the growth of population. To step-up production of pulses, quality seed is one of the crucial factors on which the performance and efficiency of other inputs or factors depends. Due to painstaking efforts of different organizations the overall breeder seed production of major pulses increased more than 130 % in the last decade. Breeder seed production in urdbean has continuously increased during the last five years. Similarly, an increasing trend has been seen in pigeonpea (except for the year 2010) with recording the highest seed production of 131.72 t in 2012. Among rabi pulses, breeder seed production of chickpea was highest in 2011 with 1,171.79 t production whereas in lentil and fieldpea it was highest as 53.14 and 94.63 t production in 2011–2012 respectively. The leading varieties are generally those which are high yielding along with resistance to biotic stresses e.g. JG-11 and Vijay in chickpea, BSMR 736 and TJT-501 in pigeonpea, Pant U 31 and IPU 02-43 in urdbean, SML-668 and Samrat in mungbean, Pant L-8, HUL 57 and JL-3 in lentil and Prakas, Vikas and Aman in fieldpea. They are the most preferred varieties with maximum seed indent. Therefore, a more concerted effort would be needed for evolving high yielding varieties having resistance/tolerance to abiotic stresses along with resistance to major biotic stresses in the coming years.     

NMR based CSF metabolomics in tuberculous meningitis: correlation with clinical and MRI findings

Metabolic Brain Disease - We report the potential role of 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) based metabolomics in tuberculous meningitis (TBM). We also correlate the significant metabolites with...     

Anatomical basis of antropyloric transposition for fecal incontinence in humans: the infrapyloric approach

Purpose

Antropylorus transposition in the perineum for end-stage anal incontinence has shown to be feasible in humans. Vascular anatomy of the antro-pyloro-duodenal area is critical in preventing complications and increasing pyloric graft survival. This study was undertaken to examine the vascular anatomy of antro-pyloro-duodenal area in an attempt to safeguard the graft blood supply and improve its survival.

Methods

After obtaining preoperative CT angiography to delineate the infrapyloric artery (IP a.), bench dissection of resected pancreaticoduodenectomy specimens was performed in 12 patients. Ex vivo angiography of these specimens were also performed. Subsequent to the information obtained from these dissections, the method of antropylorus mobilization during transposition was modified in terms of the site of division of the right gastroepiploic a. (Rt GEA). Perioperative outcomes (graft related complications, fecal incontinence scores, Doppler flow studies, and manometry studies of the graft) were compared between the two groups.

Results

IP a. originated only from the Rt GEA in 8 cases (66 %) and from both the gastroduodenal a. and the Rt GEA in the rest. However, its origin solely from the gastroduodenal a. was not observed. The pyloric graft survival, pyloric valve pressures and Doppler flow velocities were significantly (p < 0.05) better when the infrapyloric a. was preserved following this refinement. However, no immediate significant difference in incontinence scores was observed.

Conclusions

Careful preservation of the pyloric valve vascularity by preserving the IP a. by dividing the Rt GEA at its origin increases vascularity, survival and contractility of the pyloric graft in perineum.     

Role of Splenic Artery Embolization in Management of Traumatic Splenic Injuries: A Prospective Study

The objective of our study was to evaluate the role of splenic artery embolization (SAE) in the management of traumatic splenic injuries. From September 2008 to September 2010, a total of 67 patients underwent nonoperative management (NOM) for blunt splenic injuries. Twenty-two patients were excluded from the study because of associated significant other organ injuries. Twenty-five patients underwent SAE followed by NOM (group A) and 20 patients underwent standard NOM (group B). Improvement in clinical and laboratory parameters during hospital stay were compared between two groups using Chi-square test and Mann–Whitney test. SAE was always technically feasible. The mean length of the total hospital stay was lower in the group A patients (5.4 vs. 6.6 day, [P = 0.050]). There was significant increase in hemoglobin and hematocrit levels and systolic blood pressure (SBP) in group A patients after SAE, whereas in group B patients there was decrease in hemoglobin and hematocrit levels and only slight increase in SBP (pre- and early posttreatment relative change in hemoglobin [P = 0.002], hematocrit [P = 0.001], and SBP [P = 0.017]). Secondary splenectomy rate was lower in group A (4 % [1/25] vs. 15 % [3/20] [P = 0.309]). No procedure-related complications were encountered during the hospital stay and follow-up. Minor complications of pleural effusion, fever, pain, and insignificant splenic infarct noted in 9 (36 %) patients. SAE is a technically feasible, safe, and effective method in the management of splenic injuries. Use of SAE as an adjunct to NOM of splenic injuries results improvement in hemoglobin, hematocrit levels, and SBP. SAE also reduces secondary splenectomy rate and hospital stay.Keyword: Trauma, Splenic artery embolisation