Studies on hill stream fish photosensitivity with psoralene and retene photosensitizers

Aim: A study was designed to measure the solar UV- B in Uttarakhand, Garhwal region and to observe the effect of retene and psoralene photosensitizers on hill stream fishes, Tor tor and Garra gotyla in the presence of natural solar ultraviolet and equal intensity of artificial UV-B radiation.Methodology: Solar UV-B was measured with the help of Kipps and Zonen radiometer having UV-B sensors. Experimental sites selected were Dehradun and Tehri located in Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. The artificial radiation was provided with Philips UV-B Lamps. Mortality, biochemical and enzymological parameters, which included glutathione, glucose-6-phosphatase, catalase and lipid peroxidation were analyzed. Results: The data of monitoring of UV-B showed that the maximum UV-B intensity was observed during the month of May to August and the minimum was in the month of December to February. Mortality rate of fish exposed to solar radiation, artificial UV-B, psoralene and retene indicated highest with 26% in Tor tor, exposed with psoralene+ artificial UV-B. Reduced glutathione, glucose- 6- phosphatase and catalase level decreased in all the groups compared to control. The maximum reduction in GSH level was observed after treatment of artificial UV-B + psoralene in Tor tor, while maximum reduction in catalase and glucose-6- phosphatase was observed after retene and artificial UV-B. Interpretation: Tor tor and Garra gotyla are important hill stream fishes. Retene and psoralene are natural photosensitizers present in the aquatic ecosystem and become phototoxic by generating oxidative radicals. Artificial UV-B was more toxic than natural solar radiation and Tor tor was found more sensitive than Garra gotyla. Enhanced UV-B with retene and psoralene photosensitizers affect hill stream fishes and aquatic biodiversity.

The effect of spousal violence on women's health: findings from the Stree Arogya Shodh in Goa, India.

BACKGROUND: Spousal violence has wide-ranging effects on the physical, reproductive, sexual and psychological health of women. There are few longitudinal studies that describe this association in developing countries. AIM: To test the hypothesis that spousal violence is an independent risk factor for a broad range of adverse health outcomes in women. SETTING AND DESIGN: A population-based cohort study of women living in the catchment area of a primary health center in north Goa. Two thousand four hundred and ninety-four of 3000 randomly selected women were recruited of whom 1750 married women were included for this paper. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Each participant was assessed at baseline with a structured interview for the assessment of exposure to spousal violence (verbal, physical, sexual) over two time periods (lifetime; recent in the past three months). The interview collected data on gynecological complaints and the Revised Clinical Interview Schedule was used for the diagnosis of depressive disorder. Laboratory tests for anemia and sexually transmitted infections (STI) were carried out. Longitudinal data was collected after six and 12 months on these outcomes. In addition, baseline measures for nutritional status and menstrual health were also obtained. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Univariate analyses were carried out on the cross-sectional and longitudinal data to assess the association between each type of spousal violence and each health outcome. Multivariate analyses adjusted for age, literacy, household per capita income. Logistic regression was used for all analyses in Stata (Version 10). RESULTS: Lifetime spousal violence was reported by 290 (16.6%, 95%CI=14.9-18.4) women; recent violence was reported by 230 (13.0%, 95%CI=11.6-14.8). The cross-sectional data showed an association between violence and a range of self-reported gynecological complaints, low Body Mass Index, depressive disorder and attempted suicide. The longitudinal analyses confirmed these associations only for STI and attempted suicide. CONCLUSION: Spousal violence is specifically associated as an independent risk factor for two adverse women's health outcomes, viz., STI and attempted suicide. Public health and clinical programs targeting these outcomes must specifically address spousal violence.

Does nasal breathing cause frictional trauma in allergic rhinitis?

OBJECTIVES: Frictional stress on the walls of a tube increases with increased air flow and as the diameter of the tube is reduced. High values of frictional stress may occur in the nose during nasal obstruction which could damage the nasal mucosa particularly when the mucosa is inflamed and fragile as in allergic rhinitis. The effect of nasal airflow induced frictional stress on the nasal mucosa was studied in patients with allergic rhinitis. METHODS: We studied nasal peak flow rate in eight patients with allergic rhinitis and nasal obstruction comparing the change in peak expiratory flow after they breathed for 30 minutes through an obstructed and a patent nostril. Patients were studied in the right and left lateral decubitus positions to increase and decrease the resistance in the lower and upper nostril respectively and thus minimize any effects of cyclical changes in nasal resistance. Subjects breathed for 30 minutes through the upper patent nostril (schedule 1) and for a further 30 minutes through the lower obstructed nostril (schedule 2). Nasal peak expiratory flow rate was measured in both nostrils separately in both positions after each schedule. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in mean (SD) nasal peak flow rate (-12.8 (4.06) L/min) after subjects had breathed for 30 minutes through the obstructed nostril. There was no significant change in nasal peak flow rate after subjects had breathed through the patent nostril, or in the nostril that had no flow for 30 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: These findings are compatible with the hypothesis that frictional stress due to airflow through an obstructed nostril induces trauma and swelling of the nasal mucosa of patients with allergic rhinitis.

The role of cough and hyperventilation in perpetuating airway inflammation in asthma.

Air flowing through a pipe exerts frictional stress on the walls of the pipe. Frictional stress of more than 40 N/m2 (velocity equivalent of air 113 m/s) is known to cause acute endothelial damage in blood vessels. The frictional stress in airways during coughing may be much greater, however, since the velocity of air may be as high as speed of sound in air. We suggest that high levels of frictional stress perpetuate airway inflammation in airways which are already inflamed and vulnerable to frictional stress-induced trauma in patients with asthma. Activities associated with rapid ventilation and higher frictional stress (e.g. exercise, hyperventilation, coughing, sneezing and laughing) cause asthma to worsen whilst activities that reduce frictional stress (Yoga 'Pranayama', breathing a helium-oxygen mixture and nasal continuous positive airway pressure) are beneficial. Therefore control of cough may have anti-inflammatory benefits in patients with asthma.

Telephone mouthpiece as a possible source of hospital infection.

A bacterial culture from telephone mouthpiece showed that 47 percent of the instruments carried pathogenic bacteria. Wiping with a disinfectant swab reduced the number of contaminated telephones. But for complete elimination of bacterial contamination changes in design of mouthpiece holes or type of instrument or using a polythene plastic cover over mouthpiece is recommended.