Road dust and its effect on human health: a literature review / 한국역학회지

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of road dust on human health. A PubMed search was used to extract references that included the words “road dust” and “health” or “fugitive dust” and “health” in the title or abstract. A total of 46 references were extracted and selected for review after the primary screening of 949 articles. The respiratory system was found to be the most affected system in the human body. Lead, platinum-group elements (platinum, rhodium, and bohrium), aluminum, zinc, vanadium, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were the components of road dust that were most frequently referenced in the articles reviewed. Road dust was found to have harmful effects on the human body, especially on the respiratory system. To determine the complex mechanism of action of various components of road dust on the human body and the results thereof, the authors recommend a further meta-analysis and extensive risk-assessment research into the health impacts of dust exposure.

Road dust and its effect on human health: a literature review / 한국역학회지

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of road dust on human health. A PubMed search was used to extract references that included the words “road dust” and “health” or “fugitive dust” and “health” in the title or abstract. A total of 46 references were extracted and selected for review after the primary screening of 949 articles. The respiratory system was found to be the most affected system in the human body. Lead, platinum-group elements (platinum, rhodium, and bohrium), aluminum, zinc, vanadium, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were the components of road dust that were most frequently referenced in the articles reviewed. Road dust was found to have harmful effects on the human body, especially on the respiratory system. To determine the complex mechanism of action of various components of road dust on the human body and the results thereof, the authors recommend a further meta-analysis and extensive risk-assessment research into the health impacts of dust exposure.

Road dust and its effect on human health: a literature review / 한국역학회지

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of road dust on human health. A PubMed search was used to extract references that included the words “road dust” and “health” or “fugitive dust” and “health” in the title or abstract. A total of 46 references were extracted and selected for review after the primary screening of 949 articles. The respiratory system was found to be the most affected system in the human body. Lead, platinum-group elements (platinum, rhodium, and bohrium), aluminum, zinc, vanadium, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were the components of road dust that were most frequently referenced in the articles reviewed. Road dust was found to have harmful effects on the human body, especially on the respiratory system. To determine the complex mechanism of action of various components of road dust on the human body and the results thereof, the authors recommend a further meta-analysis and extensive risk-assessment research into the health impacts of dust exposure.

Prevention of recurrent preterm delivery by 17 alpha hydroxyl progesterone caproate

Preterm delivery occurs before 37 completed weeks of gestation and it is the major determinant of infant mortality in developed countries. Preterm delivery is the factor most responsible for the relatively high infant mortality in our country. Despite many trials of reduced activity, tocolytic therapy, antibiotic therapy and other strategies for prevention, no effective and reproducible method of preventing preterm delivery has been demonstrated. One treatment that showed promise in small trials was prophylactic treatment with pro-gestational compounds. The purpose of this work is to determine the effectiveness of 17 alpha hydroxyl progesterone in prevention of preterm delivery in women who had a previous preterm birth. It was a descriptive case study and was conducted in the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Fatima Memorial Hospital, Lahore for a period of twelve months from January 2011 to December 2011. A total of 135 cases were received by non-probability purposive sampling technique. In this study majority of the patients i.e. 46.67% [n = 63] were between 26 - 30 years, 24.44% [n = 33] were found between 22 - 25 years, whereas 28.89% [n = 39] were found between 31 - 35 years, mean age was found to be 28.24 + 3.83. Most of the patients i.e. 69.62% [n = 94] were found between 21 - 24 weeks and 30.37% [n = 41] were found between 16 - 20 weeks. Data regarding number of previous preterm deliveries showed that majority of the patients i.e. 39.25% [n = 53] were found only 1 previous preterm delivery, 27.49% [n = 29] with 3 and > 3 previous preterm births were found only in 11.86% [n = 16]. Prolongation of pregnancy beyond 36 weeks of gestation is described where 68.15% [n = 92] are shown to be delivered beyond 36 weeks and only 31.85% [n = 43] could not deliver beyond 36 weeks of gestation

Knowledge and beliefs among health care workers regarding hepatitis B infection and needle stick injuries at a tertiary care hospital, Karachi

Hepatitis B virus [HBV] infection is a recognized occupational risk for health care workers [HCWs]. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and beliefs of HCWs regarding HBV transmission and needle stick injuries [NSIs]. A cross-sectional questionnaire based KAP study was conducted at Civil Hospital, Karachi, during the period of January to September 2006. HCWs were inquired about possible modes of HBV transimission and association with NSIs. Data were entered using Epilnfo 6.04d software. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 12.5 software. A total of 343 HCWs participated, and those answered at least 5 correct modes of HBV transmission were considered knowledgeable. Knowledgeable group was more likely to report NSIs [p<0.006], more vaccinated [p<0.001] and were also more likely to attend awareness session [p< 0.009]. Overall knowledge were inadequate and behaviour and attitude towards clinical practices were found compromised. To reduce the occupational risk, effort should be focused to establish effective infection control program and training of staff

PEG tube insertion: enhanced need for greater selectivity in patient referral

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy [PEG] refers to insertion of a tube into the stomach percutaneously, aided by endoscope and was first described in 1980 by Gauderer. This was devised for feeding the patients who have swallowing problems due to any reason especially neurodisability. There is an enhanced need for greater selectivity in patient referral. Retrospective, single-institution case series. The study was performed in Waterford Regional Hospital, Waterford, Ireland. Jan 2003 to Dec 2007. A total of 203 consecutive patients referred for nutritional support underwent PEG tube insertion during this period. Written informed consent was taken from all the participants or their attendants and the procedure was performed with prophylactic antibiotic and under intravenous sedation. Standard PEG set was used for the procedure. Feeding was started 12 hours after tube placement and care instructions were given. The parameters of study included indications, annual frequency, and overall outcome. A total of 203 patients having a male to female ratio 1:0.7 underwent PEG tube insertion. The age ranged from 26 to 96 years [mean 79+5.17. The mean duration of PEG feeding was 93 [3-785] days. The annual frequency of insertion increased from 19 [9.3%] patients in 2003 to 64 patients [31.5%] in 2007. The length of stay ranged from 1 to 350 days [median 93]. In this cohort, 32 [15.7%] patients died during the same admission. A total of 79 [38.9%] were discharged for home, 92 [45.3%] were discharged back to nursing home care. This study underscores the need for enhanced awareness and protocol-driven selectivity in patient referral for PEG tube insertion

unusual presentation of Hydatid disease

Hydatid disease or echinococcosis is a parasitic condition of worldwide distribution. The parasite usually completes its life cycle between the domestic dog and the sheep. Human being seems to be an accidental or incidental intermediate host and from parasitic point of view a dead end. Hydatid cyst can occur in any organ of the body but most commonly involves the liver. Here we are reporting a case where patient presented with obstructive jaundice of 15 days duration and the investigations carried out showed the suspicion of malignancy. Patient was operated and it turned out to be a case of hydatid cyst of liver which had ruptured into the biliary tree

Unplanned urbanization: assessment through calculation of environmental degradation index

Urbanization is an inevitable phenomena for the country like Bangladesh. The push and pull factors help to migrate people from rural area to urban area. As a result haphazard and unplanned urbanization create environmental degradation. Survey data reveals that inadequate solid waste disposal services, lack of adequate public water supply, traffic congestion, water logging, air pollution, noise pollution, hill cutting are the main problems in the city area. Concentration of dust as well as SOx, NOx exceeded the allowable limit at the selected points. Groundwater level of Sylhet city has a considerable lowering over the last few decades. It has lowered from 3380 mm below ground in 1982 to 7880 mm below ground. Sylhet is located in highly seismic risk zone but most of the buildings and other structures in this area are constructed without considering earthquake risk. Environmental degradation index was calculated based on economical condition of the country

Study on traffic noise level of Sylhet by multiple regression analysis associated with health hazards

The study reports the level of traffic-induced noise pollution in Sylhet City. For this purpose noise levels have been measured at thirty-seven major locations of the city from 7 am to 11 pm during the working days. It was observed that at all the locations the level of noise remains far above the acceptable limit for all the time. The noise level on the main road near residential area, hospital area and educational area were above the recommended level [65dBA]. It was found that the predictive equations are in 60-70% correlated with the measured noise level. The study suggests that vulnerable institutions like school and hospital should be located about 60m away from the roadside unless any special arrangement to alleviate sound is used

Differential scanning calorimetry and surface morphology studies on cated pellets using aqueous dispersions

The present study was conducted to examine the physicochemical changes during passage of drug through polymeric membranes and observe the surface morphology features of the coated pellets using scanning electron microscopy [SEM]. Drug solution was first sprayed around inert pellets to form drug-layered pellets that were coated with two commercial aqueous dispersions namely, Eudragit NE30 and Kollicoat SR30 using bottom-spray fluidized bed technique. Differential scanning calorimetry [DSC] confirmed that no interactions existed between drug and polymers. Small peak of drug was observed in the DSC thermograms of Eudragit NE30 coated pellets indicating that small amount of drug was still present in the polymeric membrane after dissolution. Views of SEM revealed as the coating levels of two types of aqueous dispersions were increased the surface of the pellets become more uniform and compact. Therefore, the diffusion length for dissolution medium to enter the drug layer and dissolved drug to diffuse out would be increased at higher coating levels. The polymer surface of coated pellets after 12 hours dissolution testing seemed to be shrunk and size of the pellets were also reduced indicating the depletion of reservoir layer

Management of patients with esophageal artesia with or without tracheoesophageal fistula, a 7 years experience

To see the short term outcome in patients treated for esophageal artesia with or without tracheo-esophageal fistula in our setup. Descriptive and retrospective. Department of Paediatric Surgery and Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar from January 1998 to December 2004 with duration of 7 years. After diagnosis, patients were put on broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics, intravenous fluids, vitamin K injection and throat suction in a normothermic environment. Diagnosis was established mainly on clinical grounds and supported by passing a big size nasogastric suction tube [size 10 Fr] through the mouth into the esophagus and taking a plain X-ray chest of the patient. After adequate preparation, through a right thoracotomy in 5th intercostals space, fistula repair and esophageal anastomosis was performed extrapleurally in patients with tracheoesophageal fistula while gastrostomy and ce rvical esophagostomy was performed in patients with pure esophageal atresia. Transanastomotic tube was passed as a nasogastric tube size 10 to act as a stent and later on used for tube feeding. A total of 60 patients with esophageal artesia with or without tracheoesophageal fist ula were admitted. There were 40 males and 20 females. Age ranged from 1-7 days. Weight of the newborn patients was in the range of 2 - 3Kg. Four patients had cyanotic congenital heart disease, two were with imperforate anus and two with spina bifida. All patients had some form of bronchopneumonia due to aspiration of upper pouch contents out of whom 30 patients had severe pneumonia. Six patients left the hospital against medical advice and 6 patients died before operation. Forty-eight patients were operated. Esophagostomy and astrostomy was performed for pure esophageal atresia [10 Patients], while in 38 patients, a right thoracotomy in the 5" inter costal space with fistula ligation and esophageal anastomosis was performed. Three out of ten patients with pure esophageal atresia died, while eighteen patients with tracheoesophageal fistula died after surgery. Twenty-seven out of total 48 patients survived and were discharged to home after an average hospital stay of 7 days after surgery. Eleven patients were s een in follow up and treated accordingly. This study shows that majority of these patients presented late because of improper referral system. Delay in diagnosis and management led to various complications such as aspiration pneumonia, dehydration and septicemia with great mortality which is further increased due to nonavailability of the neonatal intensive care facility in our setup. Survival of these patients can be improved by early and proper referral system, specialized medical and surgical team, specialized anesthesia with personnel trained in neonatal anesthesia

Optimization of cultural conditions of penicillium griseofuhvum for the production of penicillin griseofulvin

The present study is mainly concerned with the production of Penicillin griseofulvum by Penicillium griseofulvum NRRL 2300 in Shake Flask Technique. The production of antibiatic was carried out in cotton wool plugged 250 ml flasks. 24 hours old, vegetative inoculum was developed in conical. flasks, containing 100 ml of basal medium. Fermentation, for antibiotic synthesis was carried out for 312 hours at 2S degree C. Effects of different nitrogen and carbon sources for the formation of antibiotic were evaluated. Maximum production of antibiotic was observed in the presence of corn steep liquor, which was used as a source of nitrogen. Maximum production of penicillin griseofulvin was also observed in the presence of sucrose as a source of carbon; whereas it was decreased in the presence of other carbon sources like lactose and glucose. Other conditions such as temperature and pH were also optimized for the production of griseofulvin

Ultrasound screening for fetal abnormalities

The aim of the study was to review the recent trends in the incidence, risk factors, pattern, diagnosis and management of various congenital anomalies in our population. This cross-sectional, observational study included sixty pregnant women aged 20-35 years. Mode of delivery was decided after considering all these aspects. Total eight [13.3%] fetuses had congenital malformations. The follow-up of these ladies revealed that 26 [43.3%] were lost on follow-up, so the incidence of congenital malformations at birth was found to be 5.8%

comparative study between prograde and retrograde cholecystectomy

A comparative study between the prograde and retrograde cholecystectomy was done to evaluate the efficiency of both methods. 25 patients had cholecystectomy from each group. Operative times, blood loss, complications on table were recorded post-operative complications. Both procedures were found to be comparable in their outcome