Biofouling studies on nanoparticle-based metal oxide coatings on glass coupons exposed to marine environment.

Titania, niobia and silica coatings, derived from their respective nanoparticle dispersions or sols and fabricated on soda lime glass substrates were subjected to field testing in marine environment for antimacrofouling applications for marine optical instruments. Settlement and enumeration of macrofouling organisms like barnacles, hydroides and oysters on these nanoparticle-based metal oxide coatings subjected to different heat treatments up to 400 degrees C were periodically monitored for a period of 15 days. The differences observed in the antifouling behaviour between the coated and uncoated substrates are discussed based on the solar ultraviolet light induced photocatalytic activities as well as hydrophilicities of the coatings in case of titania and niobia coatings and the inherent hydrophilicity in the case of silica coating. The effect of heat treatment on the photocatalytic activity of the coatings is also discussed.

The Bortnick Miller apparatus: a useful alternative to impedance audiometer for assessment of eustachian tube function in chronic suppurative otitis media.

Eustachian tube function was assessed by impedance audiometer and Bortnick Miller apparatus in 60 ears with central perforation in pars tensa. Result of both the instruments were compared and presented.

Chronic suppurative otitis media in school going children.

The morbidity and mortality associated with otitis media is really a challenge for the health care systems. This study is a small attempt to look into the magnitude of this problem in the society, where in school going children in Yavatmal city were studied. A total of 4104 students were studied. It was found that the overall prevalence of chronic suppurative otitis media in Yavatmal city is 3%. The incidence of acute otitis media was found to be 1.3% Chronic suppurative otitis media was commoner in students belonging to low socioeconomic strata and its association with adenoid hypertrophy was statistically significant. The authors recommend that a few more such studies should be carried out in different parts of the country to collect vital data for the health care system managers. Suppurative otitis media, school children, Yavatmal city.

Safety pin - The UNSAFE foreign body of air passage.

Foreign bodies in the air passage are familiar otolaryngological emergencies. The diagnosis and management in most cases is based on clinico-radiological findings. Here, we are reporting three cases of open safety pin at various locations in the respiratory tract i.e. in the nose, nasopharynx and larynx. Their clinical presentation and management are described in detail.

Allergen specific immunotherapy in nasobronchial allergy.

BACKGROUND: More than one antigen has been used for immunotherapy of allergic disorders. So far less than five antigens have been employed with variable results. AIM: To evaluate effect of multiple antigens up to six in the immunotherapy of nasobronchial allergy. SETTING AND DESIGN: Based on clinical history, symptoms present for at least 3 years with set criteria of immunomodulation for asthma and rhinitis: documented IgE mediated asthma and rhinitis, failure in allergen avoidance and moderate to severe clinical manifestations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Five hundred cases of various allergic disorders attending allergy clinic of Bombay hospital were screened. Allergen specific immunotherapy was initiated in 131 subjects (56 -rhinitis and 75 asthma) with prior consent. Patients suffering from allergic disorders secondary to diseases or drug therapy were excluded. Multiple allergen immunotherapy was given at specific intervals up to a period of one year. Allergen extracts were prepared as per standard technique. For statistical analysis "students't test" was used. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Significant improvement in PEFR, reduction in skin sensitivity to allergens used in immunotherapy formulation and symptomatic relief without any untoward reaction show that multiple allergen immunotherapy is as effective as monoallergen immunotherapy in nasobronchial allergy.

Throat swab culture & sensitivity reports - an overview.

305 throat swab culture & sensitivity reports were reviewed from the records of Microbiology department of Shri V.N. Govt. Medical College, Yavutmal. 130 reports were showißg, growth of pathogenic organisms. Out of this, 771 eports were showing coagulase positive staphylococci; 32 were showing group A b haemolytic streptococci. A bimodal peak of pathogenic organism growth was observed in the month of March and from August to October. Analysis of culture and sensitivity reports, showed that amongst many, erythromycin - a time tested, comparatively cheap and reliable drug - has very good sensitivity spectrum. Cefotaxime, tetracyline, penicillin and gentamicin were also found to be useful. Emerging resistance to some newer antibiotics is a matter of concern and hence authors advocate the formulation of effective antibiotic policy at the national and loco- regional levels.

Effect of Saral meditation on intelligence, performance and cardiopulmonary functions.

Meditation is a mental exercise to improve mental faculty. Present attempt was to evaluate effect of Saral Meditation on development of intelligence, academic performance & cardiopulmonary functions. Results show significant improvement in development of intelligence and academic performance. There was apparent improvement in confidence and they were free from anxiety. There were also considerable changes in psychomotor ability and cardiopulmonary functions however, result was not significant.

Prevalence of hypertension in Mumbai.

There are few reports on prevalence of hypertension in India. We are presenting a study of its incidence in OPD of hospital patients in Mumbai. Prevalence of hypertension was 7.82% in all subjects, however, it was higher in females 10.5% than in males 6.1%.

A rare case of haemangioma of the tympanic membrane and external auditory canal.

An unusual ease of haemangioma of external auditory canal in a 16 yrs. old male is documented for its rarity.

Characteristics and perceived needs of mothers with serious mental illness.

This cross-sectional survey determined the prevalence of motherhood among severely mentally ill women hospitalized in an inner-city facility and examined the demographic characteristics and perceived needs of the 32 mothers who were identified. Slightly less than one-quarter of these mothers had seen their children within the last week, and only about 20 percent maintained full custody of their children. However, none of the respondents reported feeling that it was unimportant whether they continued mothering their children. Approximately half described needing help in dealing with their sadness about their children. The pilot data presented in this paper suggest that motherhood is common among severely mentally ill and hospitalized women and that issues relevant to mothering remain important to them.

Haemangioma of the tympanic membrane and external auditory canal.

An unusual case of haemangioma of external auditory canal in a 16 yrs. old male is documented for its rarity.

Association of HLA B27 antigen in Indian patients of ankylosing spondylitis and other autoimmune diseases.

One thousand three hundred and forty clinically suspected patients of Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) and other autoimmune diseases and 5000 controls were studied to detect the association of HLA B27 antigen amongst them. Other alleles studied include HLA B7, B40 (B60), B22(B55), B13, etc. Our findings show a considerable and consistent association of HLA B27 with AS irrespective of the community to which the patient, belonged his hygiene or socio-economic conditions. We also found that people in the age group of 21-39 were the most vulnerable, when number of affected individuals or severity of the disease were taken into consideration. Male members showed a preponderance over females in HLA B27 positivity. Detection of HLA B27 could help in the diagnosis of AS. Patients suffering from other autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, Reiter's syndrome and uveitis and patients with inflammatory bowel disease, colitis, eczema, bacillary or fungal infection were also found to be HLA B27 positive. A study of other alleles shows that even they sometimes associate AS and other autoimmune diseases.

Benefit-cost analysis in public health.

This chapter gives an overview of benefit-cost analysis (BCA) and similar evaluation tools, such as cost-effectiveness analysis and technology-based standards, in the context of public health. We describe these evaluation tools, how they are used, their shortcomings, and how they should be interpreted. As with other powerful tools, they are subject to misuse and misinterpretation, even by professionals doing the analysis.

Treatment of gamma radiation-induced transplanted leukemia in ICRC mice by liposomally encapsulated 5-fluoro uracil.

The present investigation reports on the efficacy of 5-FU encapsulated in liposomes for the treatment of leukemia using a murine model of gamma radiation-induced transplantable leukemia in ICRC strain of mice. Multi-lamellar vesicles (MLVs) or large unilamellar vesicles (REVs) prepared using phosphatidyl choline and cholesterol in a molar ratio of 8:2 for neutral and 7:2:1 for charged vesicles were administered as a single i.p. dose in mice. 5-FU encapsulated in MLVs at a concentration of 0.6-2.5 mg/kg had no effect, whereas REVs at a single i.p. dose of 9 mg/kg increased survival of leukemic mice with T/C = 138%, decreased peripheral blood count and considerably reduced infiltration of leukemic cells in different tissues (supported by histopathology) as compared to 60 mg/kg of free drug (LD10 = 70 mg/kg).

Early indicators of deteriorating renal efficiency in elderly subjects.

Renal functions decline with age. Only after considerable renal reserves are lost, the traditional clinical tests of urine, blood or clearance levels reveal the defect. The urine quantity & contents passed in 24 hrs both by young and elderly, show little differences between the two groups. Their creatinine clearances are also comparable. Earlier Studies on water dilution test had shown significant differences between the performance of the young and elderly subjects, indicating decrease in renal efficiency on ageing. In the present study 4 hourly collections of urine showed that the night collections in elderly subjects were comparatively larger in volume, electrolytes and other components as compared with younger subjects. The kidneys of the elderly seem to compensate by labouring at night, while the young have their restful phase. Thus in addition to water dilution test, comparison of day/night outputs of urine can be taken as an early indicator of renal deterioration in elderly.

Pulmonary functions of the elderly Indian subjects: trends of decline with age.

Respiratory Functions mainly vital capacity, FEV1, MBC and breath holding time, of 400 healthy elderly persons, 328 men and 72 women, aged 60+, sedentary and belonging to upper middle class from Bombay were studied. The findings are examined in each sex in 5 yearly age groups and are obviously low. An attempt is made to link the age-wise averages of VC in younger subjects in India reported by other workers with our data on elderly. The values from Northern groups are comparatively much higher than those from the rest of India. The connecting link in graphs shows a sudden fall when the data of northern Indians and that of our elderly are joined, but it is smooth when those of rest of India are connected.

Blood cardioplegia--a comparative clinical and laboratory study.

A prospective comparative study was undertaken to determine quality of myocardial preservation during open heart surgery by crystalloid and blood cardioplegic solutions. Total 55 consecutive patients were studied. Alternate patients received blood and crystalloid cardioplegia at random. Group I had 30 patients who received crystalloid cardioplegia, and group II, with 25 patients, received blood cardioplegia. The efficacy of two solutions was assessed by serum enzyme estimation of creatinine phosphokinase, M.B. fraction of creatinine phosphokinase and serum glutamate oxalate transferase (CPK, CPK-MB, SGOT), electron microscopic study of Left Ventricular biopsy and clinical assessment of post anoxic cardiac performance. Group II patients had lower serum enzyme levels, lesser microscopic myocardial damage, and better cardiac performance during immediate post-operative period, thus proving superiority of myocardial protection by blood cardioplegia.

Ascending aortic aneurysm with aortic valve incompetence--surgical management.

Aneurysm of ascending aorta with aortic valve incompetence is a formidable pathological entity having a relentless course. Etiological factors include syphilitic aortitis, dissection of aorta, Marfan's syndrome and similar conditions. With the advance in operative technique and extra corporeal circulation, now it is possible to treat these conditions by surgery. Surgical intervention includes replacement of entire ascending aorta along with aortic valve by an artificial valve conduit. Basically, two procedures are described, namely, the conventional method and Bentall's operation, both involving a great technique challenge. Our experience with both these techniques is being described in four consecutive cases in the last one year.

A study on the dielectric constant of microcapsules during ageing.

Gelatin and methylcellulose microcapsules with and without sulphadiazine were compressed into compacts. The dielectric constant of these compacts was measured at regular intervals during ageing at 45 degrees C. An initial sharp fall in dielectric constant is followed by a progressive increase. Dielectric constant could be a parameter to study the changes occurring in microcapsules during ageing.