Pattern of Tubercular Uveitis in Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

Ocular tuberculosis is an extra-pulmonary form of systemic Tuberculosis (TB). It is rarely found concomitant with active pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). The aim of this prospective observational study was to evaluate the pattern of tubercular uveitis (TBU) in the patients with active PTB who attended in our Uvea clinic at NIO&H from July 2018 to December 2020. Active PTB patients who had uveitis consistent with TBU and TBU patients who were confirmed as active lung lesion were included in the study. Chest X-ray, TST, IGRA (QuantiFERON-TB Gold Test), RT PCR of aqueous fluid for tubercular bacillus, Gene Xpert TB test of sputum were done to confirm the diagnosis of ocular and primary TB. If the induration is 15 mm of TST was considered patient in this study. Among 33 patients of active PTB, 4 had TBU (12.12%). Among 48 patients of TBU, 5 had active PTB (10.41%). 13 eyes of 9 patients were affected. Mean age at presentation was 41.8 years. There were anterior uveitis in 23.00% eyes, posterior uveitis in 69% eyes and panuveitis in 7.00% eyes. Choroidal granuloma was the most common presentation of posterior uveitis (46.00%). There were more than 4 times chance to develop choroidal granuloma in patients with active PTB than extrapulmonary TB (Χ²=4.53, <0.05), TBU patients with choroidal granuloma should be evaluated meticulously for active PTB and active PTB patients should be evaluated routinely by ophthalmologist for the search of TBU.

The organization of digit contact timing during grasping.

While the process of hand preshaping during grasping has been studied for over a decade, there is relatively little information regarding the organization of digit contact timing (DCT). This dearth of information may be due to the assumption that DCT while grasping exhibits few regularities or to the difficulty in obtaining information through traditional movement recording techniques. In this study, we employed a novel technique to determine the time of digit contacts with the target object at a high precision rate in normal healthy participants. Our results indicate that, under our task conditions, subjects tend to employ a radial to ulnar pattern of DCT which may be modulated by the shape of the target object. Moreover, a number of parameters, such as the total contact time, the frequency of first contacts by the thumb and index fingers and the number of simultaneous contacts, are affected by the relative complexity of the target object. Our data support the notion that a great deal of information about the object's physical features is obtained during the early moments of the grasp.

Evaluation of processes controlling the geochemical constituents in deep groundwater in Bangladesh: spatial variability on arsenic and boron enrichment.

Forty-six deep groundwater samples from highly arsenic affected areas in Bangladesh were analyzed in order to evaluate the processes controlling geochemical constituents in the deep aquifer system. Spatial trends of solutes, geochemical modeling and principal component analysis indicate that carbonate dissolution, silicate weathering and ion exchange control the major-ion chemistry. The groundwater is dominantly of Na-Cl type brackish water. Approximately 17% of the examined groundwaters exhibit As concentrations higher than the maximum acceptable limit of 10 microg/L for drinking water. Strong correlation (R(2)=0.67) of Fe with dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and positive saturation index of siderite suggests that the reductive dissolution of Fe-oxyhydroxide in presence of organic matter is considered to be the dominant process to release high content of Fe (median 0.31 mg/L) in the deep aquifer. In contrast, As is not correlated with Fe and DOC. Boron concentration in the 26% samples exceeds the standard limit of 500 microg/L, for water intended for human consumption. Negative relationships of B/Cl ratio with Cl and boron with Na/Ca ratio demonstrate the boron in deep groundwater is accompanied by brackish water and cation exchange within the clayey sediments.

Hydrogeochemistry and arsenic contamination of groundwater in the Ganges Delta Plain, Bangladesh.

Geochemical composition and the level of Arsenic (As) contamination of groundwater in the Ganges Delta Plain, southwestern Bangladesh were elucidated. Hydrogeochemical data of tube well samples suggested that the groundwater is mostly Ca-Mg-HCO(3) type with bicarbonate (HCO(3)(-)) as the dominant anion, though other type waters are also observed. In contrast, the elevated EC, Cl(-) and high content of Na(+) relative to Ca(2+), Mg(2+) and K(+) in six groundwater samples suggest their saline origin. Low concentrations of NO(3)(-) and SO(4)(2-), and high concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), HCO(3)(-) and PO(4)(3-) indicate the reducing conditions of subsurface aquifer where sediments are deposited with abundant organic matter. The total As concentration in the analyzed samples is very high (0.0431-1.352 mg/L) along with high Fe (2.791-17.058 mg/L) and relatively low Mn (0.134-1.972 mg/L) at different depths. Distinct relationship of As with Fe and Mn, and strong correlation with DOC suggests that the biodegradation of organic matter and reductive dissolution of Fe-oxyhydroxide is considered to be the dominant processes to release As in aquifers. Moreover, negative correlation between As and SO(4)(2-) demonstrates the As may not be directly mobilized from sulfide minerals like arsenopyrite.

Training of traditional birth attendants: success and failure in Bangladesh.

In Bangladesh, training of traditional birth attendants (TBAs) began in 1978. Since then, the government has prepared over 44000 TBAs. A few thousands more have received instruction through the efforts of various non-governmental organizations in the country. The objective of TBA training is primarily to change their practices of conducting deliveries. They are taught cleanliness so that maternal and infant mortality, which is significantly high among South and South East Asian nations, may be checked. The writer has herself learned from graduates of the course that they have received sufficient guidance and direction towards performing safe deliveries, a concept totally lacking until that experience. TBAs are thereby in a position to contend with the prevailing socioeconomic and cultural beliefs of the country's rural masses, and to cope with their problems.

Birth kits for safe motherhood in Bangladesh.

Tetanus infection remains the leading cause of high neonatal mortality in Bangladesh. Birth kits which instruct and assist in a clean, safe birth are seen as a key measure in reducing the high incidence of neonatal deaths. A multisectoral programme has developed a simple kit and tested its potential for distribution to pregnant women. Initial results are positive and development is continuing.

PIP: In the late 1980s, the Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh developed and field tested a simple, affordable birth kit to sell to pregnant women in rural areas. It hoped the kits would reduce neonatal tetanus mortality. Interviews with traditional birth attendants and focus group discussions with women of childbearing age and with men's groups made up the 1st phase. These activities allowed the Commission to decide upon the design, contents, and logo of the birth kits. The bright red and blue box with a logo of a breast-feeding mother contained a plastic bag to protect the contents which included soap, 2 pieces of gauze, a polythene sheet, and the autoclaved items of 3 cord ties and a new razor blade. Pictures on a pretested, folded panel were used to convey directions on how to use the kits. The Commission conducted field trials in 5 rural areas by giving the kits to women in their last month of pregnancy and interviewing them within 1 month of delivery. They tended not to understand that the polythene sheet was to be used as a clean surface. The researchers redesigned the kit accordingly. They conducted more field trials to validate the original results. They also test marketed 3000 prototype kits with a goal of covering 50% of expected births. Each kit retailed for 10 taka. The cost had been as issue, however. 58% of the kits were sold. Most people bought their kits from women's groups. The commission next planned to scale up kit production to meet existing demand. They redesigned the box to reduce costs. They intended to have local women assemble the box which would be 33% cheaper. They proposed to initially limit promotion efforts to posters, pamphlets, and maybe rickshaw broadcasts.