Integrated modelling of sewer system and wastewater treatment plant for investigating the impacts of chemical dosing in sewers.

Chemicals are often dosed to control the production and accumulation of hydrogen sulfide in sewers. The biological and/or chemical actions of these chemicals have profound impacts on the composition of wastewater entering a WWTP, thereby affecting its performance. In this paper, an integrated modelling methodology for simultaneously investigating the effects of dosing of chemicals in sewer network and N and P removal at the downstream WWTP is reported. The sewer system is modelled using a sewer model (SeweX), and the WWTP is modelled using ASM2d model with some modifications. The importance of integrated modelling in sewer management is also demonstrated.

A prospective randomised double blind study to evaluate the effect of peribulbar block or topical application of local anaesthesia combined with general anaesthesia on intra-operative and postoperative complications during paediatric strabismus surgery.

We studied 45 ASA I/II children aged between 2 and 13 years scheduled for elective strabismus surgery, randomly allocated to receive either a peribulbar block or topical lidocaine 2% combined with general anaesthesia, or general anaesthesia alone. The incidence and severity of the occulocardiac reflex, the requirement for atropine, the occurrence of arrhythmias and incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting following surgery at 1, 2 and 4 h were studied. We found the incidence and severity of occulocardiac reflex intra-operatively was significantly reduced in children who received a peribulbar block. The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting was significantly reduced in patients receiving either peribulbar block or topical local anaesthesia combined with general anaesthesia, compared to general anaesthesia alone (p = 0.008).

Effects of exercise on muscle activation and metabolism in multiple sclerosis.

We investigated the role of metabolism in muscle fatigue during voluntary exercise in persons with mild multiple sclerosis (MS). Six MS and 8 healthy control subjects performed intermittent, progressive, isometric contractions of the ankle dorsiflexors, during which we measured maximum voluntary force (MVC), inorganic phosphate (Pi), phosphocreatine (PCr), and pH. During exercise, MVC fell sooner in MS, but by the end of exercise the relative decrease in MVC was similar in both groups. In contrast, at the end of exercise Pi/PCr increased to 1.86 +/- 0.22 in controls but to only 0.66 +/- 0.04 in MS (P < 0.01); likewise, pH was 6.75 +/- 0.04 in controls and unchanged (7.06 +/- 0.04) in MS (P < 0.01). The smaller metabolic change at the same relative exercise intensity suggests a failure of muscle activation that is present even in mild MS. Neurophysiologic measures of activation indicated some central activation failure and no neuromuscular junction impairment in MS, and suggested that activation failure beyond the muscle membrane (excitation-contraction coupling) may be important in MS. We conclude that metabolic factors do not play a significant role in the development of muscle fatigue during voluntary exercise in mild MS.

Role of the indigenous drug saptamrita lauha in hemorrhagic retinopathies.

A clinical study was done on 48 eyes to assess the role of an indigenous drug, Saptamrita Lauha, in the absorption of hemorrhages and prevention of their recurrence in retinopathic eyes. Rapid absorption of retinal hemorrhages was observed in both treated groups: diabetic and hypertensive (mean durations, 16 days and 17.83 days, respectively). In three eyes, the hemorrhage cleared completely; partial clearance was observed in the rest of the eyes. Recurrence of a hemorrhagic episode was less in treated eyes (25% in each group) compared with control eyes (60% in diabetic and 50% in hypertensive patients). This study suggests that Saptamrita Lauha may hasten the process of retinal hemorrhage absorption and prevent its recurrence. The beneficial effect could be attributed to the flavanoid-like properties of one of the ingredients of this natural product.