bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring the Differential Diagnosis of Hemorrhagic Vesicopustules in a Newborn
Authors: Mohr Melinda R. , Sholtzow Melissa , Bevan Herbert E. , Fisher Randall G. , Williams Judith V.
Published: December 2010

Hemorrhagic vesicles in a newborn present a challenging differential diagnosis including both infectious and neoplastic disorders. Patients should be evaluated in an efficient manner to arrive at the correct diagnosis as quickly as possible. We present here an interesting case that outlines the methodical workup that ultimately revealed the diagnosis of congenital Langerhans cell histiocytosis. After a diagnosis of Langerhans cell histiocytosis is made, it is important to evaluate the patient thoroughly for systemic involvement. Historically, the diagnosis of congenital self-healing Langerhans cell histiocytosis was used to delineate a benign self-limited disorder limited to the skin with spontaneous resolution during the first several months of life; this disorder may also be referred to as “self-regressive Langerhans cell histiocytosis.” However, some newborns with initial skin-only Langerhans cell histiocytosis progress to have multisystem disease after spontaneous resolution has occurred. For this reason, the nomenclature is changing. We suggest using the term “skin-only Langerhans cell histiocytosis.” Periodic long-term follow-up is recommended to monitor for relapse or progression to systemic disease.
Dose Response of Inhaled Corticosteroids in Children With Persistent Asthma: A Systematic Review
Authors: Zhang Linjie , Axelsson Inge , Chung Mei , Lau Joseph
Published: December 2010

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the dose-response relationship (benefits and harms) of inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) in children with persistent asthma.

METHODS:

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared ≥2 doses of ICSs in children aged 3 to 18 years with persistent asthma. Medline was searched for articles published between 1950 and August 2009. Main outcomes of our analyses included morning and evening peak expiratory flow, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, asthma symptom score, β2-agonist use, withdrawal because of lack of efficacy, and adverse events. Meta-analyses were performed to compare moderate (300–400 μg/day) with low (≤200 μg/day beclomethasone-equivalent) doses of ICSs.

RESULTS:

Fourteen RCTs (5768 asthmatic children) that evaluated 5 ICSs were included. The pooled standardized mean difference from 6 trials revealed a small but statistically significant increase of moderate over low doses in improving forced expiratory volume in 1 second (standardized mean difference: 0.11 [95% confidence interval: 0.01–0.21]) among children with mild-to-moderate asthma. There was no significant difference between 2 doses in terms of other efficacy outcomes. Local adverse events were uncommon, and there was no evidence of dose-response relationship at low-to-moderate doses.

CONCLUSIONS:

Compared with low doses, moderate doses of ICSs may not provide clinically relevant therapeutic advantage in children with mild-to-moderate persistent asthma. Additional RCTs are needed to clarify the dose-response relationship of ICSs in persistent childhood asthma.
Fever-Induced Life-Threatening Arrhythmias in Children Harboring an SCN5A Mutation
Authors: Chockalingam Priya , Rammeloo Lukas A. , Postema Pieter G. , Hruda Jarda , Clur Sally-Ann B. , Blom Nico A. , Wilde Arthur A.
Published: December 2010

Cardiac channelopathies caused by SCN5A mutation are well tolerated by most patients. However, the dramatic presentation of a previously healthy 4-month-old girl with life-threatening arrhythmias and the subsequent findings in the child and her family provide evidence that loss-of-function sodium channel mutations can present very early in life. An SCN5A mutation was detected in the infant, her brother, and their father. Both the siblings manifested recurrent serious arrhythmias during febrile episodes, which followed immunization, as well as fever of nonspecific origin. Management consisted of prompt antipyretic measures, hospitalization with vigorous monitoring during immunization and febrile episodes, and prevention of tachycardia-induced conduction disturbance with β-blockers.
Translation of a Pediatric Asthma-Management Program Into a Community in Connecticut
Authors: Cloutier Michelle M. , Wakefield Dorothy B.
Published: December 2010

OBJECTIVES:

We assessed whether a successful asthma-management program could be translated into pediatrician's offices, improve care, and reduce medical services use.

METHODS:

Pediatrician's offices from 6 communities in Connecticut were trained, and all children aged 6 months or older were eligible for enrollment. Quality measures included enrollment numbers, appropriate use of anti-inflammatory therapy, and distribution of a written treatment plan. Medical services utilization data for Medicaid-insured children were expressed as relative rates (RRs) (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) before and after enrollment, and we used historical and contemporaneous comparisons and generalized estimating equations.

RESULTS:

A total of 51 practices and 297 clinicians enrolled 32 680 children from 2002 to 2007; 10 467 had asthma, of whom 4354 were insured with Medicaid. Children with persistent asthma experienced decreases in the number of hospitalizations (RR: 0.51 [95% CI: 0.39–0.65]) and emergency-department visits (RR: 0.70 [95% CI: 0.68–0.84]), and there was no change in number of outpatient visits (RR: 0.99 [95% CI: 0.9–1.10]). Inhaled corticosteroid use doubled, appropriate use of anti-inflammatory therapy increased to 96%, and 94% of the children were given a written treatment plan.

CONCLUSIONS:

General pediatricians can successfully implement an asthma-management program that is effective in improving care for large numbers of children.
The Biological Framework: Translational Research from Bench to Clinic
Authors: Yarden Yosef
Published: December 2010

The understanding of cellular signaling pathways in malignant tumors is an important aspect of cancer research and modern targeted therapy strategies. Growth factors and their receptors in particular are critical to modern cancer therapy research, because these factors control all phases of tumor development and metastasis. Most importantly, growth factors are responsible for cell survival under cytotoxic drugs and radiotherapy. These growth factor signaling pathways are composed of complex networks that have adapted to efficiently respond to certain disturbances, such as a single agent that targets one aspect of the pathway. Meanwhile, multiple insults to the pathway, such as combination therapy regimens, are known to be effective in shutting down these pathways and, consequently, killing the tumor cell. Research is currently under way to find new ways to exploit fragile aspects of oncogenic networks, such as uncommon, multiple perturbations that target essential hubs through immunotherapy, combinations of antibodies, heat shock protein inhibitors, or novel drug combinations. Complex growth factor signaling networks and novel methods to shut down these networks are described within a framework of engineering and mathematical concepts.
Chemotherapy: Updates and New Perspectives
Authors: Swain Sandra M.
Published: December 2010

Treatment options for patients with breast cancer have progressively improved over the past 40 years, from an era of no chemotherapy to the introduction of taxanes, hormonal therapy, and biologic therapy. These advances have resulted in substantial, 15%–20% improvements in clinical outcomes. However, progress has yet to be made to improve the prognosis in many breast cancer patients, and research is currently under way to test new tools, or new applications of older tools, to advance breast cancer management. Chemotherapy clearly remains a cornerstone of adjuvant breast cancer treatment, because breast cancer can be very sensitive to the currently available agents. Meanwhile, the era of a one-size-fits-all approach to breast cancer management is over, and the maximum potential of chemotherapy should now be reached by targeting specific populations. Effective biomarkers are therefore needed to optimize chemotherapy, define more selective populations, and clearly tailor treatment. This paper discusses recent data, including new trials that are more fully incorporating current knowledge with respect to molecular markers and the underlying biology of breast cancer.
Molecular Stratification of Triple-Negative Breast Cancers
Authors: Perou Charles M.
Published: December 2010

Research focused on the analysis and classification of breast tumors, primarily using DNA microarrays and patterns of gene expression, has resulted in distinct tumor subtypes. Although no knowledge of patient survival or outcomes was used to derive these gene descriptions, these different classes based upon patterns of gene expression have important prognostic implications. Predictive markers in estrogen receptor–negative and triple-negative disease will be particularly important because in the absence of therapy, these tumor subtypes tend to have a poor prognosis. In addition, the claudin-low subgroup has been found to be common within the triple-negative cancers and may have further prognostic and therapeutic implications. Patients with triple-negative breast cancer do benefit from chemotherapy, but better treatment options are needed that are less toxic, reduce the risk of disease progression, and are more targeted to this patient population. Potential treatments include poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors, and therapies that target cancer stem cells could also have an important impact in these patients. This article will focus on the molecular stratification of triple-negative breast cancers and the therapeutic implications of these classifications.
ICE members will be required to make formal CPD submission in 2011
Authors: Rogers Mike
Published: December 2010

Continuing professional development is vital to maintaining society's confidence in any profession. ICE professional development manager Mike Rogers explains how the institution is preparing to introduce sampled monitoring of CPD from 2011.
Positive feedback between microclimate and shrub encroachment in the northern Chihuahuan desert
Authors: D'Odorico Paolo , Fuentes Jose D. , Pockman William T. , Collins Scott L. , He Yufei , Medeiros Juliana S. , DeWekker Stephan , Litvak Marcy E.
Published: December 2010

Woody plant encroachment is affecting vegetation composition in arid grasslands worldwide and has been associated with a number of environmental drivers and feedbacks. It has been argued that the relatively abrupt character (both in space and in time) of grassland‐to‐shrubland transitions observed in many drylands around the world might result from positive feedbacks in the underlying ecosystem dynamics. In the case of the Chihuahuan Desert, we show that one such feedback could emerge from interactions between vegetation and microclimate conditions. Shrub establishment modifies surface energy fluxes, causing an increase in nighttime air temperature, particularly during wintertime. The resulting change in winter air temperature regime is important because the northern limit of the dominant shrub in the northern Chihuahuan Desert, Larrea tridentata, presently occurs where minimum temperatures are sufficiently low to be a potential source of mortality. Using freezing responses from published studies in combination with observed temperature records, we predict that a small warming can yield meaningful changes in plant function and survival. Moreover, we also suggest that the effect of the change in air temperature on vegetation depends on whether plants experience drought during winter. Thus, in the Chihuahuan region a positive feedback exists between shrub encroachment and changes in microclimate conditions, with implications for the response of this ecosystem to regional changes in temperature and precipitation.
Salivary and Plasma Levels of Toll‐Like Receptor 2 and Toll‐Like Receptor 4 in Chronic Periodontitis
Authors: Buduneli Nurcan , Özçaka Özgün , Nalbantsoy Ayşe
Published: December 2010

Background: This cross‐sectional study was planned to investigate whether patients with chronic periodontitis exhibit different salivary or plasma concentrations of Toll‐like receptor (TLR) 2 and TLR4 compared to subjects who are clinically healthy.

Methods: Whole saliva and plasma samples were obtained and full‐mouth clinical periodontal measurements were recorded from 22 otherwise healthy patients with chronic periodontitis and 21 systemically and periodontally healthy control subjects. Salivary and plasma TLR2 and TLR4 levels were determined by enzyme‐linked immunoassays. Data were tested statistically using Mann‐Whitney U test.

Results: The healthy group exhibited significantly lower values in all clinical measurements (P <0.001). The salivary TLR2 levels were similar in the two study groups (P >0.05). The patients with chronic periodontitis exhibited significantly higher salivary TLR4 (P <0.01) and plasma TLR2 and TLR4 levels (P <0.05).

Conclusion: The present findings support a hypothesis that inflammation increases expression of TLRs which leads to an increased detection of TLRs in saliva and plasma, which could be useful as a diagnostic test for periodontal diseases.
Evaluation of Novel Adhesive Film Containing Ketorolac for Post‐Surgery Pain Control: A Safety and Efficacy Study
Authors: Al‐Hezaimi Khalid , Al‐Askar Mansour , Selamhe Zuied , Fu Jia‐Hui , Alsarra Ibrahim A. , Wang Hom‐Lay
Published: December 2010

Background: Prescribing analgesics after periodontal surgery is a common practice. However, it can become a challenge for patients with systemic diseases or who are on long‐term medications. Ketorolac tromethamine (KT), a non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug, is incorporated into an adhesive film to overcome the limitations associated with oral, intravenous, intramuscular, or sublingual routes of drug administration. This study evaluates the analgesic effect of a KT adhesive film for pain management after periodontal surgery.

Methods: Aqueous solvents of two bioadhesive polymers (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and polyacrylic acid), together with 30 mg of KT, were used to formulate the adhesive film. Sixty‐eight patients, who each received a free gingival graft, were randomly divided into treatment and control groups. In the treatment group, the prepared adhesive film was applied over the surgical site, whereas in the control group adhesive film without KT was placed initially. Two hours after surgery, the KT adhesive film was applied on the surgical site in the control group. A visual analog scale was used to assess the degree of pain encountered at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 24, and 48 hours post‐surgery.

Results: The treatment group reported a significant reduction of pain intensity during the first 2 hours after surgery (P <0.05). After the KT adhesive film was applied in the control group, pain intensity was reduced to a non‐significant level by the third hour after surgery. No adverse reaction or undesirable gastrointestinal side effect was observed.

Conclusion: Adhesive film containing 30 mg of KT was effective in controlling post‐surgical pain with no observable gastrointestinal effects.
The Role of Psychologic Stress‐Induced Hypoxia‐Inducible Factor‐1α in Rat Experimental Periodontitis
Authors: Huang Shiguang , Lu Fangli , Zhang Zengfang , Yang Xiaoyan , Chen Ying
Published: December 2010

Background: Studies have shown that psychologic stress plays a significant role in the outcome of many diseases. The present study is designed to investigate the effect of stress on experimental ligature‐induced periodontal disease in rats by means of a variable moderate chronic stress model.

Methods: Sixty‐six age‐matched male Wistar rats of specific pathogen‐free grade were randomly divided into four groups: 1) normal control group, naive rats; 2) experimental periodontitis group, received only silk ligatures at the gingival margins of the second maxillary molar; 3) stress‐stimulation group, treated only with experimental stress conditions; and 4) experimental periodontitis plus stress‐stimulation group (e.g., experimental groups also exposed to stress). Stress was imposed by means of restraint stress, cold‐water immersion stress, and cat shock stress, which were all applied randomly. The rats were sacrificed at weeks 1, 4, 6, and 8 of the experiment. Attachment losses (AL) were measured by a specially made periodontal probe. The histopathologic changes of periodontia stained with hematoxylin and eosin were observed under a microscope. The expression of hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α used to evaluate tissue hypoxic degree in periodontal tissues was tested by immunohistochemistry.

Results: Our results show that there was no significant difference of AL among the normal control and the stress‐stimulation groups (P >0.05); AL of the periodontitis plus stress‐stimulation group was significantly higher than that of the experimental periodontitis group at weeks 4, 6, and 8 (P <0.01), and the hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α expression scores of the periodontitis plus stress‐stimulation group were significantly higher than those of the experimental periodontitis group at weeks 4, 6, and 8 (P = 0.0477).

Conclusions: Stress‐stimulation may aggravate periodontitis by decreased tissue oxygenation in rats. We conclude that there is a correlation of periodontitis severity with psychologic stress and periodontal tissue hypoxia.
Agricultural Trade Liberalization and Downstream Market Power: The Ad Valorem Case
Authors: Hoque Mohammad Mainul , Schroeter John R
Published: December 2010

Exports of agricultural commodities to developed countries play a significant role in the economies of many developing countries. The elimination of import tariffs has the potential to benefit producers in the developing countries, but estimates of the extent of the gains from trade liberalization typically assume perfect competition. Significant concentration in the food processing and retailing sectors of the U.S. and the EU undermine the plausibility of this assumption in the case of agricultural trade, however. Sexton, Sheldon, McCorriston, and Wang (2007) develop a model of the effects of trade liberalization that accounts for the vertically-linked and concentrated characteristics of the developed countries food markets. Their analysis is limited to the case of a constant per unit tariff, however. In this paper, we extend the analysis of the effects of trade liberalization in the presence of downstream market power to the case of an ad valorem tariff, and we find important qualitative differences from the results for the unit tariff case.
World Peace, Global Citizenship and the Metaphysics of Polity
Authors: McManus Alan
Published: December 2010

Barack Obama, in his State of the Union address to Congress in January 2010, stated that there are partisan divisions which are entrenched because they are based on philosophical difference. This difference was investigated by F.S.C. Northrop in 1946 in The Meeting of East and West (subtitled ‘An Inquiry Concerning World Understanding’). Like the US President, Northrop recognises that political division is based on philosophical difference and sees this division as being irreconcilable unless both sides can agree on a common concept of reality: a shared metaphysics. Northrop's inquiry centres on the variations of a particular metaphysical concept, a three-term or two-term relation, and gives examples of the political use of these variations. He argues that differing political philosophies, which have always caused parties, countries, continents and hemispheres to part ways, are not as entrenched as they first appear - as analysis of their underlying metaphysics shows. This article clarifies, illustrates and discusses this argument by focusing especially on the public or private properties of the terms of this metaphysical relation - and their links to global citizenship. Northrop's argument - despite the orientalism typical of its time and the lack of informed discussion of Islam - is found not only to have inspired further eirenic investigation but also to be worthy of serious consideration today.
Psychometric properties of Attentional Control Scale: The preliminary study on a Polish sample
Authors: Fajkowska Małgorzata , Derryberry Douglas
Published: December 2010

Psychometric properties of Attentional Control Scale: The preliminary study on a Polish sample

The presented study was focused primarily on a psychometric analysis of the Attentional Control Scale (ACS), but they also enhanced the understanding of the role of effortful attentional skills in determining the individual well-being, general adaptation or emotional disorders. The analyses included basic item and scale descriptions as well as convergent and discriminant validity. 218 Polish undergraduate students completed the battery of the self-report techniques and two paper —pencil attentional tests. Data revealed a unidimensional of a 20-item ACS. It can be used validly to assess long-term individual differences in attentional skills related to the voluntary executive functions. The analysis of content, internal and construct validity as well as reliability provided evidence of the scale's significant convergent and discriminant validity when correlated with attentional tests and other personality techniques. We found strong, systematic relations between the attentional control and selected measures of temperament, arousal, emotionality, and motivation. The results allow assuming that good attentional control, may protect individuals from the emotional disorders by regulating perceptual, conceptual, and response processing.
Excited-state hydrogen bonding dynamics of methyl isocyanide in methanol solvent: A DFT/TDDFT study
Authors: Wang Hongfei , Wang Meishan , Xin Mingliang , Liu Enfu , Yang Chuanlu
Published: December 2010

The time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) method was performed to investigate the hydrogenbonding dynamics of methyl cyanide (MeNC) as hydrogen bond acceptor in hydrogen donating methanol (MeOH) solvent. The ground-state geometry optimizations and electronic transition energies and corresponding oscillation strengths of the low-lying electronically excited states for the isolated MeNC and MeOH monomers, the hydrogen-bonded MeNC-MeOH dimer and MeNC-2MeOH trimer are calculated by the DFT and TDDFT methods, respectively. An intermolecular hydrogen bond N≡C…H-O is formed between MeNC and methanol molecule. According to Zhao’s rule on the excited-state hydrogen bonding dynamics, we find the intermolecular hydrogen bonds N≡C…H-O are strengthened in electronically excited states of the hydrogen-bonded MeNC-MeOH dimer and MeNC-2MeOH trimer, with the excitation energy of a related excited state being lowered and electronic spectral redshifts being induced. Furthermore, the hydrogen bond strengthening in the electronically excited state plays an important role on the photophysics and photochemistry of MeNC in solutions
Flowing liquid crystal simulating the Schwarzschild metric
Authors: Pereira Erms , Moraes Fernando
Published: December 2010

We show how to simulate the equatorial section of the Schwarzschild metric through a flowing liquid crystal in its nematic phase. Inside a liquid crystal in the nematic phase, a traveling light ray feels an effective metric, whose properties are linked to perpendicular and parallel refractive indexes, n
o and n
e respectively, of the rod-like molecule of the liquid crystal. As these indexes depend on the scalar order parameter of the liquid crystal, the Beris-Edwards hydrodynamic theory is used to connect the order parameter with the velocity of a liquid crystal flow at each point. This way we calculate a radial velocity profile that simulates the equatorial section of the Schwarzschild metric, in the region outside of Schwarzschild’s radius, in the nematic phase of the liquid crystal. In our model, the higher flow velocity can be on the order of some meters per second.
Use of N, N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine sulphate for the spectrophotometric determination of some phenolic and amine drugs
Authors: Nagaraja Padmarajaiah , Shrestha Ashwinee , Shivakumar Anantharaman , Gowda Avinash
Published: December 2010

Use ofN, N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine sulphate for the spectrophotometric determination of some phenolic and amine drugs

Spectrophotometric methods are proposed for the determination of drugs containing a phenol group [salbutamol sulphate (SLB), ritodrine hydrochloride (RTD), isoxsuprine hydrochloride (IXP)] and drugs containing an aromatic amine group [dapsone hydrochloride (DAP), sulfamethoxazole (SFM), and sulfadiazine (SFD)] in pharmaceutical dosage forms. The methods are based on coupling ofN, N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine sulphate with the drugs in the presence of KIO4to give a green colored product (λmaxat 670 nm) and a red colored product (λmaxat 550 nm), respectively. Linear relationships with good correlation coefficients (0.9986-0.9996) were found between absorbance and the corresponding concentration of drugs in the range 1-7, 2-22, 1-17, 1.5-12, 2-25, and 2-21 μg mL-1for SLB, RTD, IXP, DAP, SFM and SFD, respectively. Variable parameters such as temperature, reaction time and concentration of the reactants have been analyzed and optimized. The RSD of intra-day and inter-day studies was in the range of 0.2-1.0 and 0.4-1.0%, respectively. No interference was observed from common pharmaceutical adjuvants. The reliability and performance of the proposed methods was validated statistically; the percentage recovery ranged from 99.5 ± 0.1 to 99.9 ± 0.3%. Limits of detection were 0.14, 0.21, 0.51, 0.44, 0.33 and 0.37 μg mL-1for SLB, RTD, IXP, DAP, SFM, and SFD, respectively.
Development of directly compressible metformin hydrochloride by the spray-drying technique
Authors: Barot Bhavesh , Parejiya Punit , Patel Tushar , Parikh Rajesh , Gohel Mukesh
Published: December 2010

Development of directly compressible metformin hydrochloride by the spray-drying technique

Metformin hydrochloride exhibits poor compressibility during compaction, often resulting in weak and unacceptable tablets with a high tendency to cap. The purpose of this study was to develop directly compressible metformin hydrochloride by the spray-drying technique in the presence of polymer. Metformin hydrochloride was dissolved in solutions containing a polymer, namely polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP K30), in various concentrations ranging from 0-3% (m/V). These solutions were employed for spray-drying. Spray-dried drug was evaluated for yield, flow property and compressibility profile. Metformin hydrochloride spray-dried in the presence of 2% PVP K30 showed an excellent flow property and compressibility profile. From the calculated Heckel's parameter (Py = 2.086), it was demonstrated that the treated drug showed better particle arrangement in the initial compression stage. Kawakita analysis revealed better packability of the treated drug compared to the untreated drug. Differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy experiments showed that the spray-dried drug did not undergo any chemical modifications. Tablets made from the spray-dried drug (90%, m/m) were evaluated for crushing strength, friability and disintegration time and the results were found satisfactory.
Statistical analysis of low molecular mass heparin Nanoencapsulation
Authors: Ganti Vaishnavi , Mengesha Abebe , Marszalek Jacob , Youan Bi-Botti
Published: December 2010

Statistical analysis of low molecular mass heparin Nanoencapsulation

The objective of this study was to use Box-Behnken design (BBD) to investigate the influence of formulation variables on the properties of heparin-loaded poly(lactic-coglycolic acid) (PLGA)-polymethacrylate-RLPO (E-RLPO) nanoparticles (NP) in terms of mean diameter (as size) and drug encapsulation efficiency. The NPs were prepared by the double emulsion solvent evaporation method. The independent variables were: X1 - polymer mass ratio (PLGA:E-RLPO) in the oil phase, X2 - concentration of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as emulsion stabilizer, and X3 - volume of the external aqueous phase (W2). Particle size (analyzed by dynamic light scattering) and encapsulation efficiency (EE, estimated by spectrophotometry) were the investigated responses. The polynomial equation obtained from regression analysis of the reduced model (p = 0.0002, F = 25.7952 and R2 = 0.96) provided an excellent fit. The optimal size for the NP was found to be 134.2 ± 16.5 nm with formulation variables of 48.2:61.8, 0.321 (%,m/V) and 263 mL for X1, X2 and X3, respectively. Probably, due to electrostatic interaction between the negatively charged drug and the positively charged E-RLPO, the percent EE of heparin was between 74.4 ± 6.5 % (lowest value) and 92.1 ± 5.3 % (highest value). The data suggest that BBD is a useful tool in rational design of heparin-loaded NPs.
Evaluation of binding properties of Plantago psyllium seed mucilage
Authors: Saeedi Majid , Morteza-Semnani Katayoun , Ansoroudi Farshad , Fallah Saeed , Amin Gholamreza
Published: December 2010

Evaluation of binding properties ofPlantago psylliumseed mucilage

Mucilage extracted fromPlantago psylliumseeds was evaluated for inertness and safety parameters. The suitability of psyllium mucilage for a pharmaceutical binder was assessed in paracetamol tablets. Properties of the granules prepared using different concentrations of psyllium mucilage was compared with PVP and tragacanth. Psyllium mucilage at 5 % (m/m) was found to be comparable with 3 % (m/m) of PVP. Investigated paracetamol tablets indicated that psyllium mucilage can retard the drug release.
Dose-related effects of clozapine and risperidone on the pattern of brain regional serotonin and dopamine metabolism and on tests related to extrapyramidal functions in rats
Authors: Batool Farhat , Hasnat Ambreen , Haleem Muhammad , Haleem Darakhshan
Published: December 2010

Dose-related effects of clozapine and risperidone on the pattern of brain regional serotonin and dopamine metabolism and on tests related to extrapyramidal functions in rats

The present study was designed to evaluate the behavioral and neurochemical profiles of clozapine and risperidone in rats in a dose-dependent manner. Animals injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with clozapine (2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mg kg-1) or risperidone (1.0, 2.5 and 5.0 mg kg-1) were sacrificed 1 h later to collect brain samples. Hypolocomotive effects (home cage activity and catalepsy) were successively monitored in each animal after the drug or saline administration. Both drugs significantly (p < 0.01) decreased locomotor activity at high doses and in a dose-dependent manner. Maximum (100%) cataleptic potential was achieved at a high dose (5.0 mg kg-1) of risperidone. Neurochemical estimations were carried out by HPLC with electrochemical detection. Both drugs, at all doses, significantly (p < 0.01) increased the concentration of homovanillic acid (HVA), a metabolite of dopamine (DA), in the striatum. Dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) levels increased in the striatum and decreased in the rest of the brain, particularly in clozapine-injected rats. 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), the predominant metabolite of serotonin, significantly (p < 0.01) decreased in the striatum. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) was significantly (p < 0.01) increased by risperidone and decreased by clozapine in the rest of the brain. Striatal tryptophan (TRP) was significantly (p < 0.01) decreased by risperidone and increased in the rest of the brain. The striatal HVA/DA ratio increased and the 5-HT turnover rate remained unchanged in the rest of the brain. Results suggest that the affinity of the two drugs towards D2/5-HT1A receptors interaction is involved in lower incidence of extrapyramidal side effects. Role of 5-HT1A receptors in the treatment of schizophrenia is discussed.
Numerical modeling of heat and mass transfer in cylindrical ducts
Authors: Duda Piotr , Mazurkiewicz Grzegorz
Published: December 2010

Numerical modeling of heat and mass transfer in cylindrical ducts

In this work, numerical modeling of steady state heat and mass transfer is presented. Both laminar and hydrodynamically fully developed turbulent flow in a pipe are shown. Numerical results are compared with values obtained from analytical solution of such problems. The problems under consideration are often denoted as extended Graetz problems. They occur in heat exchangers using liquid metals as working fluid, in cooling systems for electric components or in chemical process lines. Calculations were carried out gradually decreasing the mesh size in order to examine the convergence of numerical method to analytical solution.
Membrane separation of carbon dioxide in the integrated gasification combined cycle systems
Authors: Kotowicz Janusz , Skorek-osikowska Anna , Janusz-szymańska Katarzyna
Published: December 2010

Membrane separation of carbon dioxide in the integrated gasification combined cycle systems

Integrated gasification combined cycle systems (IGCC) are becoming more popular because of the characteristics, by which they are characterized, including low pollutants emissions, relatively high efficiency of electricity production and the ability to integrate the installation of carbon capture and storage (CCS). Currently, the most frequently used CO2capture technology in IGCC systems is based on the absorption process. This method causes a significant increase of the internal load and decreases the efficiency of the entire system. It is therefore necessary to look for new methods of carbon dioxide capture. The authors of the present paper propose the use of membrane separation. The paper reviews available membranes for use in IGCC systems, indicates, inter alia, possible places of their implementation in the system and the required operation parameters. Attention is drawn to the most important parameters of membranes (among other selectivity and permeability) influencing the cost and performance of the whole installation. Numerical model of a membrane was used, among others, to analyze the influence of the basic parameters of the selected membranes on the purity and recovery ratio of the obtained permeate, as well as to determine the energetic cost of the use of membranes for the CO2separation in IGCC systems. The calculations were made within the environment of the commercial package Aspen Plus. For the calculations both, membranes selective for carbon dioxide and membranes selective for hydrogen were used. Properly selected pressure before and after membrane module allowed for minimization of energy input on CCS installation assuring high purity and recovery ratio of separated gas.
The influence of vapor superheating on the level of heat regeneration in a subcritical ORC coupled with gas power plant
Authors: Wiśniewski Sławomir , Borsukiewicz-Gozdur Aleksandra
Published: December 2010

The influence of vapor superheating on the level of heat regeneration in a subcritical ORC coupled with gas power plant

The authors presented problems related to utilization of exhaust gases of the gas turbine unit for production of electricity in an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) power plant. The study shows that the thermal coupling of ORC cycle with a gas turbine unit improves the efficiency of the system. The undertaken analysis concerned four the so called "dry" organic fluids: benzene, cyclohexane, decane and toluene. The paper also presents the way how to improve thermal efficiency of Clausius-Rankine cycle in ORC power plant. This method depends on applying heat regeneration in ORC cycle, which involves pre-heating the organic fluid via vapour leaving the ORC turbine. As calculations showed this solution allows to considerably raise the thermal efficiency of Clausius-Rankine cycle.
Visualization of heat transport in heat pipes using thermocamera
Authors: Nemec Patrik , Čaja Alexander , Lenhard Richard
Published: December 2010

Visualization of heat transport in heat pipes using thermocamera

Heat pipes, as passive elements show a high level of reliability when taking heat away and they can take away heat flows having a significantly higher density than systems with forced convection. A heat pipe is a hermetically closed duct, filled with working fluid. Transport of heat in heat pipes is procured by the change of state of the working fluid from liquid state to steam and vice versa and depends on the hydrodynamic and heat processes in the pipe. This study have been focused on observing the impact these processes have on the heat process, the transport of heat within the heat pipe with the help of thermovision. The experiment is oriented at scanning the changes in the surface temperatures of the basic structural types of capillary heat pipes in vertical position.
Non-Certainty-Equivalent Adaptive Control of a Nonlinear Aeroelastic System
Authors: Lee Keum , Singh Sahjendra
Published: December 2010

Non-Certainty-Equivalent Adaptive Control of a Nonlinear Aeroelastic System

The development of a non-certainty-equivalent adaptive control system for the control of a nonlinear aeroelastic system is the subject of this paper. The prototypical aeroelastic wing section considered here includes structural nonlinearity and a single control surface for the purpose of control. Its dynamical model has two-degree-of-freedom and describes the plunge and pitch motion. It is assumed that the model parameters (except the sign of one of the control input coefficients) are not known. The uncontrolled aeroelastic model exhibits limit cycle oscillation beyond a critical free-stream velocity. Based on the attractive manifold, and the immersion and invariance methodologies, a non-certainty-equivalent adaptive state variable feedback control law for the trajectory tracking of the pitch angle is derived. Using the Lyapunov analysis, asymptotic convergence of the state variables to the origin is established. It is shown that the trajectory of the system converges to a manifold. The special feature of the designed control system is that the closed-loop system asymptotically recovers the performance of a deterministic controller. This cannot happen if certainty-equivalent adaptive controllers are used. Simulation results are presented which show that the control system suppresses the oscillatory responses of the system in the presence of large parameter uncertainties.
Diversity of Herpetofauna in and around the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
Authors: Chhetry Damodar Thapa
Published: December 2010

The paper deals with the herpetofauna of Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve and its surroundings. A total of 23 species of herpetofauna belonging to 19 genera and 13 families were recorded. Of these 8 species belonging to 6 genera and 3 families were amphibians, and 15 species belonging to 13 genera and 10 families were reptiles. Keywords: herpetofauna; Gavialis gangeticus; Koshi TappuDOI: 10.3126/bibechana.v6i0.3933BIBECHANA Vol. 6, March 2010 pp.15-17
Household solid waste production and its management in Biratnagar sub-metropolitan city
Authors: Adhihari Ram Chandra
Published: December 2010

The study was conducted from March to May month of 2010 A D in Biratnagar regarding the waste production and management. Total amount of waste produced was recorded about 46.877 tonnes per day. The highest amount was from urban rural area (44.637 tonnes) and the lowest was from main bazaar (0.689 tonnes). About 69.19 percent households collect waste separately. 45.90 percent households dump degradable waste. 80 percentages of all households sell non degradable waste and only 33.67 percentage people of this town have scientific knowledge of waste management. Keywords: Solid waste; Biodegradable waste; Improper settlements DOI: 10.3126/bibechana.v7i0.4039BIBECHANA 7 (2011) 21-25
Thermal properties [compressibility and Moelwyn-Hughes Parameter] of NaCl crystals under high pressure
Authors: Khan AK
Published: December 2010

Many inter ionic potential functions have been proposed since the Born and Lande's inverse function. An exponential function for the repulsive component of the potential has been proposed by Born and Lande', none of the potential function proposed is successful. A new interionic function proposed by Jha and Thakur to study the properties of ionic crystal under high pressure. Its repulsive component includes both an inverse power function due to Born and Lande' and an exponential function due to Born and Mayer. Jha has used it to study the thermal properties of NaCl and CsCl crystal under high pressure up to 100 Kilo bar. Keywords: NaCl crystals; Moelwyn-Hughes parameter; Isothermal compressibilityDOI: 10.3126/bibechana.v7i0.4045BIBECHANA 7 (2011) 49-53
Pre Surgical Clinical and Echo Assessment of Tetralogy of Fallot
Authors: Khatri S , Shrivastava S
Published: December 2010

DOI: 10.3329/cardio.v2i2.6628Cardiovasc. j. 2010; 2(2) : 128-135
Down's Syndrome with Congenital Heart Disease: Analysis of Cases Over Two Years in a Non-Invasive Laboratory of a Tertiary Hospital
Authors: Fatema NN
Published: December 2010

Background: Trisomy 21 or Down's Syndrome is the most frequent chromosomal aberration affecting live birth infants with an incidence of 1 in 660 live births. This syndrome is often associated with congenital cardiac lesions, Incidence of which is 40-60 percent. This study was conducted to see the frequency of Down’s syndrome cases and pattern of heart diseases they have in one of the busy non-invasive pediatric cardiac laboratory of the country. Methods: It was a retrospective study conducted in the non-invasive pediatric cardiac laboratory and pediatric cardiac outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital over a period of two years (November 2007 to October 2009). The entire patients who had Down's Syndrome and had Doppler echocardiography were included in the study. Results: Out of total six thousand and fifty echocardiography, Down's Syndrome case was 205 (3.38%). Out of 205 cases, 185 cases were followed up in pediatric cardiac out patient clinic. Twenty cases had not reported in the out patient clinic. Seventeen of those patients had normal cardiac anatomy in Doppler echocardiography. Male were 43.90% and female were 56.09% amongst study group. Most of the patients are young infant (47.32%). Only 2.44% are in more than 10 years age group. Murmur was audible in 86.49% cases in study group and developmental delay was present in 100% of the cases. Doppler Echocardiography was found as most sensitive and specific investigation for detecting congenital heart disease. A-V canal defect was the commonest association (15.60%). Congenital heart disease was not detected in 8.29% cases. Surgical treatment was advised in 52.19% cases, Device closure was advised in 16.59% cases, medical management was advised in 21.46% cases. Conclusion: Down's syndrome is a very common chromosomal anomaly in our country. Incidence of this syndrome is increasing as number of working women, late marriage and elderly mother increasing. So, multidisciplinary approach for managing this disease should be adopted immediately. Keywords: Down's syndrome; Congenital heart disease. DOI: 10.3329/cardio.v2i2.6637Cardiovasc. j. 2010; 2(2) : 184-187
Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of WPW Syndrome in National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Dhaka: Initial and Four Years Follow-up Results
Authors: Ali MA , Hossain MM , Aziz M , Rahman M , Hossain MS , Rashid MM , Nabi S , Ahmed R
Published: December 2010

Background: Radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation is an effective method of treatment of patients with WPW syndrome. The purpose of this study was to analyze the initial and follow-up results of RF ablation of such cases in our hospital. Methods: 255 cases with WPW syndrome that had delta wave in sinus rhythm ECG underwent electrophysiological studies in this hospital. All the cases underwent radiofrequency ablation. These cases are selected for analysis. Results: Ablations were performed in these 255 patients between December 2005 and December 2008. One accessory pathway (AP) was found in 250 patients, two accessory pathways-in 05 patients. The mean duration of the procedure was 130 ± 32 min. The initial and overall success rate was 92.15% and 95.68% respectively. Major complications encountered are none. Conclusions: RF ablation of WPW syndrome has good initial (92.15%) and overall (95.68%) success rate and low recurrence rate (5.00%) at long term follow-up. Keywords: Catheter ablation; Radiofrequency ablation; WPW syndrome. DOI: 10.3329/cardio.v2i2.6638Cardiovasc. j. 2010; 2(2) : 188-194
Study on Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) in Patient with Acute Myocardial Infarction: In-Hospital and 30-days Survival Outcome
Authors: Reza AQM , Islam AHMW , Munwar S , Talukder S
Published: December 2010

Objective: Aim of our study was to evaluate the safety and survival outcome of Primary PCI (pPCI) in patients with Acute Myocardial infarction in our hospital setting. Methods: Total 30 (Female 5; Male 25) patients were enrolled in this study who were brought in to our hospital with STEMI. Average age was, Male 56, Female 52. Primary PCI was performed after transferring patient from Emergency Department (ED) to Cardiac Catheterization laboratory. Cardiovascular risk factors among the studied population were Dyslipidemia, Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, Smoking and Family History. Results: Primary PCI either with Bare Metal Stent (BMS) or Drug Eluting Stent (Sirolimus-eluting stent or Paclitaxel stent) were performed in total 13 LAD lesion and 15 RCA lesion and 2 LCX lesion. BMS used were 66.7%, Sirolimus 20% and Paclitaxel-eluting stent 13.3%. Total 2 patients expired but due to hemorrhagic CVA and refractory heart failure. At presentation, ECG evidenced diagnosis were Acute Anterior Wall MI : 12 (40%), Inferior MI: 16 (53%), Infero-Posterior MI: 2 (6.7%). Our study showed that Primary PCI increases the higher survival outcome 28 (93.3%) out of 30 patients with acute MI. Conclusion: Our present study revealed that revascularization by Primary PCI showed safety and better percentage of In-hospital and 30-days survival outcome in patients with Acute myocardial infarction in our hospital setting. Keywords: Primary PCI; STEMI. DOI: 10.3329/cardio.v2i2.6641Cardiovasc. j. 2010; 2(2) : 212-217
Exploring Kinetics of Phenol Biodegradation by Cupriavidus taiwanesis 187
Authors: Wei Yu-Hong , Chen Wei-Chuan , Chang Shan-Ming , Chen Bor-Yann
Published: December 2010

Phenol biodegradation in batch systems using Cupriavidus taiwanesis 187 has been experimentally studied. To determine the various parameters of a kinetic model, combinations of rearranged equations have been evaluated using inverse polynomial techniques for parameter estimation. The correlations between lag phase and phase concentration suggest that considering phenol inhibition in kinetic analysis is helpful for characterizing phenol degradation. This study proposes a novel method to determine multiplicity of steady states in continuous stirred tank reactors (CSTRs) in order to identify the most appropriate kinetics to characterize the dynamics of phenol biodegradation.