Markers for differentiation of tubercular pleural effusion from non-tubercular effusion.

BACKGROUND: The limitations of the conventional methods for diagnosing tuberculosis (TB) have spurred multi-faceted research activities throughout the world. This study aims to explore the levels of adenosine deaminase (ADA) and interleukins in pleural effusion of tuberculous, malignant, and miscellaneous origin for differential diagnosis of tubercular and non-tubercular effusion. METHOD: Adenosine deaminase was estimated by kinetic method employing xanthine oxidase while interleukins were measured using commercially available ELISA kits in pleural fluids of tubercular and non-tubercular origin. RESULTS: Pleural fluids INF-γ, sIL-2R, TNF-α and ADA were significantly higher in TB group (n = 48) as compared to the non-TB group (n = 33) (mean ± SD: INF-γ; 1,958.7 ± 896.5 pg/mL vs 356.9 ± 733.6 pg/mL, sIL-2R; 6,101 ± 1,753.8 pg/mL vs 3,166 ± 2,611.1 ± pg/mL, TNF-α; 195.5 ± 292.1 pg/mL vs 59.7 ± 128.9 pg/mL, ADA; 123.6 ± 81.8 IU/L vs 48 ± 48.5 IU/L, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: INF-(is more sensitive and specific than ADA for the diagnosis of TB and should be added to the armamentarium of the diagnostic workup of pleural fluids for timely and accurate diagnosis of TB and differentiation of tubercular pleural effusion from non-tubercular effusion.

Toric unstable CO(2) laser resonator: an experimental study.

The output characteristics of a toric unstable resonator fitted to a multichannel stripline excitation system are presented. The resonator is shown to possess the usual advantages of a conventional unstable resonator plus the ability to modify the profile of the output beam by a simple change in the coupling aperture. Laser output parameters have been studied as a function of coupling fraction, magnification, and internal loss factors. Variations in the focal spot size as a function of the coupling aperture as well as resonator alignment sensitivity and polarization properties have been investigated.

Performance characteristics of a high power CO(2) laser with computer vision mode and power control.

An electronic laser controller, based on a computer vision system, has been developed for automatic mode and power control of a high powered CO(2) laser. The cross-sectional image of a sample of the output beam is continually analyzed and used to servo regulate both the laser cavity and the excitation level of the discharge. The technique stabilizes average laser output power to within 4%, while maintaining the best output power distribution achievable by the particular laser. Control system design also provides important on-line beam intensity profile data to assist in maximization of operating efficiency.

Burst-mode gain switched technique for high peak and average optical energy extraction.

The optical performance of a cw PIE CO(2) laser has been substantially improved through the adoption of a burst-mode gain switching technique. The approach has provided a doubling of the average beam power extractable from the device. With appropriate optimization, the process could possibly permit the attainment of pulsed energy extraction in the kilohertz range, and with average optical powers within the several tens of kilowatt category.

Annular-coupled concave-convex stable resonator for large-volume high-quality energy extraction.

A theoretical investigation of a stable concave-convex resonator configuration, which appears suitable for single-mode high-power energy extraction from large volume gain media, is presented. The design features annular output coupling with a surprisingly uniform near-field intensity distribution. The computer-based analysis, supported by preliminary experimental results, suggests that acceptable alignment tolerances are provided along with an unusually small beam divergence. With proper design, a far-field divergence of 0.5 mrad, encompassing near 80% of the total laser energy, appears feasible. Operational data, recently obtained with this optical extraction approach, have revealed a further important practical advantage over an unstable resonator, being far less prone to mode degradation and hot spot formation on optical component misalignment.

Hepatic and serum arginase and ornithine transcarbamylase activities of rats maintained on diets of different protein quality.

Groups of rats were fed diets containing 15% protein from arhar dal (Cajanus cajan), bengal gram dal (Cicer arietinum), urad dal (Phaseolus mungo) and also isolated proteins from casein, egg, soya bean, gluten and gelatin for a period of 10 days. Rats maintained on the casein diet had the highest liver arginase activity and those having egg the lowest. All the leguminous proteins gave similar levels of arginase activity, the values falling between the casein and egg groups. Serum arginase level was found to be low only in rats on egg and gluten diets. Liver ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) activity was significantly higher when legumes provided the protein as compared with the diet containing egg. Serum OTC level was lowest in the egg and arhar dal groups. Though the levels of urea cycle enzymes were altered by the quality of dietary proteins, no simple relationship could be established between them.

Effect of dietary protein quality on the serum enzymes of rats exposed to simulated hypobaric hypoxic stress.

Changes in dietary protein quality and high altitude stress alter the serum urea cycle enzyme activities. To find a dietary protein which will facilitate quicker acclimatization to altitude stress, groups of rats were fed two diets, isocaloric and isonitrogenous, but differing in amino acid make up. The rats were exposed to simulated altitude stress of 0.5 atmospheric pressure for various periods up to 65 h. When serum arginase and ornithine transcarbamylase activities were assayed, it was seen that the group on the unbalanced protein (Cajanus cajan) diet showed less increase on exposure and a tendency to return to normal level earlier than the group on the balanced protein (egg) diet.

Multiple pass unstable resonator for an annular gain CO2 laser.

The design, construction, and operational characteristics of an optical resonator for an annular gain media are described. The system, developed for laser power extraction investigations in a new type of coaxial discharge geometry, features a folded multipass unstable resonator concept, fabricated from lightweight uncoated diamond-turned aluminum substrates. The resulting cw CO2 device incorporates excitation aspects of the nonself-sustained PIE excitation process in addition to a new magnetic discharge stabilization technique. Laser performance and output beam characteristics are presented.