Study of Effects of Kerosene and LPG on Pulmonary Function Tests in Rural Women of Punjab

The unhealthy effects of indoor air pollution by cooking fuels is great concern for good respiratory health. Present study was conducted to study and compare the effects of two major fuels used in developing countries like India, Kerosene and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in rural women of Amritsar, India. Methods: Study was conducted on 800 rural women out of which 400 using Kerosene as cooking fuel and rest 400 using LPG. Subjects of chronic and recent respiratory illness even if treated were excluded Ventilatory functions of lungs were done on computerized spirometer, MED-SPIRER. Results: There was statistically significant decline in FEV1 in Kerosene using women (0.98±0.47) when compared with LPG using women (1.86±0.37). Other parameters FEV3, PEFR, FEF 25-75%, FEF2-12, FEF 25%, FEF 50% FEF 75% and MVV showed similar significant decline in women using Kerosene as fuel. Conclusion: There is significant decline in ventilator function od lungs in women using Kerosene as cooking fuel, which is still used in developing country like India. Reduced values indicate small airway obstruction.

Carum copticum and Thymus vulgaris oils inhibit virulence in Trichophyton rubrum and Aspergillus spp

Emergence of drug-resistant strains has demanded for alternative means of combating fungal infections. Oils of Carum copticum and Thymus vulgaris have long been used in ethnomedicine for ailments of various fungal infections. Since their activity has not been reported in particular against drug-resistant fungi, this study was aimed to evaluate the effects of oils of C. copticum and T. vulgaris on the growth and virulence of drug-resistant strains of Aspergillus spp. and Trichophyton rubrum. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis revealed thymol constituting 44.71% and 22.82% of T. vulgaris and C. copticum, respectively. Inhibition of mycelial growth by essential oils was recorded in the order of thymol > T. vulgaris > C. copticum against the tested strains. RBC lysis assay showed no tested oils to be toxic even up to concentration two folds higher than their respective MFCs. Thymol exhibited highest synergy in combination with fluconazole against Aspergillus fumigatus MTCC2550 (FICI value 0.187) and T. rubrum IOA9 (0.156) as determined by checkerboard method. Thymol and T. vulgaris essential oil were equally effective against both the macro and arthroconidia growth (MIC 72 µg/mL). A > 80% reduction in elastase activity was recorded for A. fumigatus MTCC2550 by C. copticum, T. vulgaris oils and thymol. The effectiveness of these oils against arthroconidia and synergistic interaction of thymol and T. vulgaris with fluconazole can be exploited to potentiate the antifungal effects of fluconazole against drug-resistant strains of T. rubrum and Aspergillus spp.

Description of surgical technique: the Bhatti modification for small-incision cataract surgery of the Akahoshi prechop technique.

Manual chopping of the nucleus forms the backbone of nucleus reduction in manual small-incision cataract surgery (MSICS). The technique ("prechopping") described by Akahoshi has been modified so that it is safe, predictable, and easy to use in MSICS.

A study of toothbrush contamination at different time intervals and comparative effectiveness of various disinfecting solutions in reducing toothbrush contamination.

Toothbrush contamination during the procedure of brushing was assessed at different time intervals of usage. A peak value of 100% contamination was found at 1 month interval. Hence, a method suggesting disinfection of the toothbrush was employed by comparing the effectiveness of various disinfecting solutions available in the market so that, the brush does not become a source of potential pathogens.