Exploring the Determinants of Tobacco Usage Among Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study in Western Maharashtra.

Introduction The widespread use of tobacco is a major global health threat, causing significant morbidity and mortality. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that annually, millions of people die prematurely due to tobacco use, with this number projected to increase significantly in the future. Developing countries, including India, bear a substantial burden of tobacco-related deaths, often beginning during adolescence. This study estimated the prevalence of tobacco use among adolescents in the 13-19 years age group, identified the types of tobacco products used, explored the reasons for initiation, and examined the influence of family, peers, and socio-demographic factors on tobacco use. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2022 to June 2024 in a medical college's urban and rural field practice areas in Pune district, Maharashtra. A total of 310 adolescents were surveyed using convenience sampling. Data were collected using a pre-designed, pre-tested questionnaire, and statistical analysis was performed using Jamovi software version 2.3.28. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were applied to assess associations between variables. Results Out of 310 participants, 94 (30.32%, 95% CI: 25.25%-35.77%) reported using tobacco. Among these 94 participants, 82 (87.23%) used smokeless tobacco, 19 (20.21%) used the smoked form of tobacco, and seven (7.45%) used both forms. The mean age of initiation was 15.94 years for smoking and 15.59 years for smokeless tobacco. The data indicate a higher percentage of tobacco use among females (50%) compared to males (24.8%). However, in terms of absolute numbers, more males (60) than females (34) reported using tobacco due to the larger number of males in the study sample. The most common reasons for initiation included curiosity (43.74%) and peer pressure (53.99%). Specifically, 49 individuals (42.6%) aged 13-15 were using tobacco, compared to 23 individuals (30.3%) aged 16-17, and only 22 individuals (18.5%) aged 18-19. Participants from urban areas reported higher tobacco use (48%) compared to those from rural areas (46.7%). Among those from joint families, about 24 (31.6%) reported tobacco use, while in nuclear families, it was slightly lower at about 70 (29.9%). Conclusion Factors such as peer pressure and curiosity played significant roles in the initiation of tobacco use, with more than half of the participants citing peer influence as the primary reason for starting. This study revealed differences in tobacco usage patterns across age groups, with younger participants showing higher usage rates. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions, such as health education and anti-tobacco media campaigns, to reduce tobacco use among adolescents.

Stress in Caregivers of Stroke Patients During Rehabilitation: An Observational Study.

INTRODUCTION: Stroke causes a high burden of death and disability all over the world. The majority of stroke survivors continue to have difficulties, and their families must shoulder a considerable portion of the expenditures of ongoing rehabilitation and long-term care. In India, stroke rehabilitation is still underachieved due to various reasons leading to delay or incomplete recovery of the patients thus adding up more burden on the caregivers. Thus, studying the caregiver burden of stroke rehabilitation will help policymakers tackle this issue faced by our lower economically challenged citizens. OBJECTIVES: The objective is to measure the perceived burden on caregivers during stroke rehabilitation. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The observational study was conducted by interviewing the stroke survivors' caregivers and visiting the physiotherapy OPD using the caregiver burden scale/questionnaire. RESULTS: The study had 76 caregivers, 51.32% were women and 48.68% were men. The average age for caregivers was 42 years and 55 years for patients. The average duration of giving care was six months. The perceived caregiver burden score was low (mean-19.61) suggesting that not all assistance is associated with stress. The correlation of each burden measure with Modified Rankin Scale for disability is significantly correlated (r=0.7, P<0.0001). Further investigation revealed that caregivers had considerably higher levels of stress when the patient needed to exercise, walk or use the restroom. A low yearly income, a higher secondary education, and a small number of family members were shown to be connected with individuals who scored the highest on stress. CONCLUSION: Based on this study, we conclude that people with low income residing in nuclear families require more support for caregiving during rehabilitation. We recommend that health and welfare policy measures be developed to lessen caregiver burden in order to improve caregivers' post-stroke experiences.

MRI Evaluation of Soft Tissue Tumors and Tumor-Like Lesions of Extremities.

AIM: The current study aimed to evaluate the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of extremity soft tissue tumors and tumor-like abnormalities. METHODS: This prospective observational study of 71 patients with soft tissue lesions of extremities was conducted at a tertiary hospital and teaching center in western India after obtaining Institutional Ethical Committee (IEC) clearance. All patients underwent an MRI of the region of interest on Siemens Magnetom Vida 3 Tesla MRI (Erlangen, Germany). MRI findings and diagnosis were correlated clinically and with histopathological examination. RESULTS: A total of 71 patients (49 males and 22 females) in the age group of six to 90 years were included in our study. Out of 44 patients with soft tissue tumors, the most common lesion was neurofibroma (18.1%), followed by lipoma and undifferentiated sarcoma (9.1% each). Liposarcoma, myxoid liposarcoma, giant cell tumor of the tendon, pigmented villonodular synovitis, and schwannoma were seen in 4.5% of patients each. The soft tissue tumor-like lesions were seen in 27 (38%) patients, the most common being slow-flow vascular malformation, which was seen in 9/27 (33%) patients. The second most common pathology was actinomycosis, seen in four (14.8%) patients. Out of 44 patients with soft tissue tumors, 27 (61.4%) were benign and 17 (38.6%) were malignant. Tumor size of more than 5 cm was more commonly seen in malignant tumors (70.5%) than benign tumors (40.7%). The smooth margin was more common in benign tumors (70.3), while most malignant tumors (70.5%) had irregular or lobulated margins. Heterogenous enhancement was more common in malignant tumors (82.3%) than benign tumors (62.9). The odds of a benign histopathological diagnosis for a tumor suspected to be benign by MRI were 93.75 times higher than the odds of a benign histopathological diagnosis for a tumor suspected to be malignant by MRI. CONCLUSION: MRI is extremely useful in the evaluation of different soft tissue masses and helps in evaluating the characteristics of the masses, their extent and relationship to surrounding structures, and bone destruction, multiplicity, composition, and enhancement pattern. The systematic imaging analysis approach helps to differentiate a benign lesion from a malignant lesion and also in differentiating various soft tissue tumor mimics.

Challenges to Cardiac Rehabilitation Post Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: A Qualitative Study in Pune.

Background Adherence to cardiac rehabilitation (CR) regimen is crucial in the post-coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) period. Cardiac rehabilitation involves various lifestyle changes, including diet and exercise, regular follow-up in OPD, and implementing secondary prevention recommendations. This study aims to understand the challenges to CR post-CABG. Methodology Seven in-depth interviews using an interview guide were carried out in the outpatient section of the cardiothoracic vascular surgery (CTVS) department of a tertiary health care facility in Pune, India. A purposive sampling technique was followed. Results The qualitative study revealed that dietary restrictions were difficult to follow, that some patients could not quit smoking even after surgery, and that transportation costs were an issue regarding CR follow-up. The majority of the participants appreciated the importance of regular exercise in their post-surgery life. Conclusion Despite the hurdles, the majority of participants stated that the fact that CABG is a major treatment pushed them to attend routine CR follow-ups and adhere to the CR regimen. A solid CR team was one of the study's strengths, and the team established a routine of telephonic reminders for regular follow-up, which resulted in lower rates of loss to follow-up.

People's Perspective on Out-of-Pocket Expenditure for Healthcare: A Qualitative Study From Pune, India.

Background Out-Of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) directly reflects the burden of health expenses that households bear. Despite the availability of social security schemes providing healthcare benefits, a high proportion of Indian households are still incurring OOPE. In order to recognize the reasons behind OOPE, a comprehensive understanding of people's attitudes and behavior is needed. Methodology By purposive sampling, 16 in-depth interviews were conducted using an interview guide in the catchment area of urban and rural health centers of a tertiary healthcare hospital. Interviews were conducted in Marathi and Hindi and were audio tape-recorded after taking informed consent. The interviews were transcribed and translated into English, followed by a thematic analysis. Results Although most participants knew that government hospitals provide facilities and experienced doctors, inconvenience and unsatisfactory quality deter them from utilizing government facilities. A few had experiences with government schemes; almost all concur that the formality and procedure of claiming insurance are cumbersome and all have had bad experiences. Cost of medications and consultation accounted for the majority of the healthcare expenditures. While some participants had benefitted from insurance, few regretted not enrolling in one. Conclusion The awareness regarding government schemes was derisory. Government-financed health insurance schemes and their utilization are crucial to reducing OOPE. Efforts should be made to increase accessibility to public healthcare services. Nevertheless, there is potential to redress the barriers to improve scheme utilization.

Ocular Surface Diseases in Patients With Diabetes.

Purpose Diabetes is a major cause of ocular morbidity as multiple mechanisms play a role in inducing inflammatory changes in the eye. Diabetic retinopathy is the most common complication and is well-documented. However, in the era of modern medicine, attention is also being focused on ocular surface changes in diabetes. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the association between diabetes and ocular surface diseases. Materials and Methods This is a cross-sectional study examining 320 eyes of 160 patients with diabetes who were grouped according to their duration of diabetes. The symptoms were evaluated using the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire. Their recent hemoglobin (Hb) A1c value was recorded. Their external or internal hordeolum, blepharitis, meibomian gland dysfunction, and corneal sensitivity were also evaluated. The tear film was examined using tests, such as Schirmer's test, tear film breakup time (TBUT), tear film meniscus height (TFMH), fluorescein stain, and rose bengal stain. The results were correlated with the duration and control of diabetes. Results The mean age of the study population was 56.60 years comprising 56% (n=89) females and 44% (n=71) males. The mean OSDI scores were 7.9 ± 3.55 and 57 ± 19.22 in patients without dry eye and with severe dry eye, respectively. The study observed OSDI scores were consistently high with diabetes severity. About 67% (n=24) of patients with HbA1c of >8% had dry eyes. Dry eye was found in 68% (n=59) of patients with the duration of diabetes being >10 years. About 23.7% (n=38) had blepharitis, whereas only 4% (n=7) had external or internal hordeolum and 44% (n=86) had different grades of meibomian gland dysfunction. Corneal sensitivity was abnormal in only 12% (n=12) of patients. About 55% (n=86) of patients had varying degrees of dry eye. A statistically significant correlation was found between the severity of dry eye and TBUT, TFMH values, and grades of corneal staining (P < 0.0001). Conclusion This study observed that the incidence of dry eyes was found to be higher when patients had uncontrolled diabetes and diabetes for a longer period. The OSDI scoring system is an important diagnostic tool while examining patients with dry eye. In an ophthalmology clinic, patients with diabetes should always be evaluated for any ocular surface changes when being screened for diabetic retinopathy, and proper guidelines should be implemented to detect changes in the ocular surface system as early as possible so that any long-term complications such as infectious or neurotrophic keratitis may be avoided at an early stage.

Surveillance of Myopericarditis following COVID-19 Booster Dose Vaccination in a Large Integrated Health System

PurposeThe risk of myopericarditis following COVID-19 booster vaccination has not been extensively evaluated. We provide a timely case ascertainment of myocarditis following COVID-19 booster vaccine in individuals age 18-39 years from an integrated health system. MethodsWe studied a cohort of 65,785 Kaiser Permanente (KP) Northwest Health Plan members aged 18-39 years who received a COVID-19 vaccine booster at least 5 months following completion of the primary series. We identified cases of myopericarditis by searching the electronic health record for the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) text label for myocarditis or pericarditis diagnosis codes in all inpatient and outpatient encounters through January 18th 2022. The cohort was followed for 21 days after their booster. We excluded anyone with a documented diagnosis of myocarditis or pericarditis before their first COVID-19 vaccination. Two physicians independently reviewed the identified patient records and applied the CDC myocarditis and pericarditis surveillance case definition to classify records as confirmed, probable or excluded based on the prior published definition. ResultsOur method identified 6 patients who met the confirmed or probable CDC case definition for acute myocarditis or pericarditis within 21 days of COVID-19 booster dose among 65,785 eligible members. Four cases occurred in 27,253 men. Overall, we estimated 9.1 cases (exact 95% CI 3.4 to 19.9) of post-booster myopericarditis per 100,000 booster doses given. In men, we estimated 14.7 cases (exact 95% CI 4.0 to 37.6) per 100,000 booster doses given. ConclusionWe identified a rate of 9.1 cases of myopericarditis per 100,000 COVID-19 booster doses which is higher than prior estimates reported by the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Myopericarditis occurs following COVID-19 booster vaccine and may be underreported by current surveillance methods. High sensitivity of these case estimates is essential when modeling risk and benefit for sequential COVID-19 vaccinations for the general population.

Risk of Myopericarditis following COVID-19 mRNA vaccination in a Large Integrated Health System: A Comparison of Completeness and Timeliness of Two Methods

PurposeHow completely do hospital discharge diagnoses identify cases of myopericarditis after an mRNA vaccine? MethodsWe assembled a cohort 12 to 39 years old patients, insured by Kaiser Permanente Northwest, who received at least one dose of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) between December 2020 and October 2021. We followed them for up to 30 days after their second dose of an mRNA vaccine to identify encounters for myocarditis, pericarditis or myopericarditis. We compared two identification methods: A method that searched all encounter diagnoses using a brief text description (e.g., ICD-10-CM code I40.9 is defined as acute myocarditis, unspecified). We searched the text description of all inpatient or outpatient encounter diagnoses (in any position) for "myocarditis" or "pericarditis." The other method was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD), which searched for emergency department visits or hospitalizations with a select set of discharge ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes. For both methods, two physicians independently reviewed the identified patient records and classified them as confirmed, probable or not cases using the CDCs case definition. ResultsThe encounter methodology identified 14 distinct patients who met the confirmed or probable CDC case definition for acute myocarditis or pericarditis with an onset within 21 days of receipt of COVID-19 vaccination. Three of these 14 patients had an ICD-10 code of I51.4 "Myocarditis, Unspecified" which was overlooked by the VSD algorithm. The VSD methodology identified 11 patients who met the CDC case definition for acute myocarditis or pericarditis. Seven (64%) of the eleven patients had initial care for myopericarditis outside of a KPNW facility and their diagnosis could not be ascertained by the VSD methodology until claims were submitted (median delay of 33 days; range of 12-195 days). Among those who received a second dose of vaccine (n=146,785), we estimated a risk as 95.4 cases of myopericarditis per million second doses administered (95% CI, 52.1 to 160.0). ConclusionWe identified additional valid cases of myopericarditis following an mRNA vaccination that would be missed by the VSDs search algorithm, which depends on select hospital discharge diagnosis codes. The true incidence of myopericarditis is markedly higher than the incidence reported to US advisory committees. The VSD should validate its search algorithm to improve its sensitivity for myopericarditis. Key PointsO_LIWe identified a higher estimate of myopericarditis following COVID-19 mRNA vaccine by searching encounter text description compared with the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) methodology C_LIO_LIAn incomplete list of ICD-10 codes and delays in hospital claims data were responsible for the difference C_LIO_LIWe estimated a risk of 95.4 cases of myopericarditis per million second doses administered in patients age 12-39 which is higher than the incidence reported to US advisory committees C_LIO_LIWe encourage other VSD sites to validate the case ascertainment of current VSD methodology C_LI

Acute COVID-19 gene-expression profiles show multiple etiologies of long-term sequelae

Summary ParagraphTwo years into the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the post-acute sequelae of infection are compounding the global health crisis. Often debilitating, these sequelae are clinically heterogeneous and of unknown molecular etiology. Here, a transcriptome-wide investigation of this new condition was performed in a large cohort of acutely infected patients followed clinically into the post-acute period. Gene expression signatures of post-acute sequelae were already present in whole blood during the acute phase of infection, with both innate and adaptive immune cells involved. Plasma cells stood out as driving at least two distinct clusters of sequelae, one largely dependent on circulating antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and the other antibody-independent. Altogether, multiple etiologies of post-acute sequelae were found concomitant with SARS-CoV-2 infection, directly linking the emergence of these sequelae with the host response to the virus.

Immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in Dialysis

BackgroundPatients receiving maintenance dialysis represent a high risk, immune-compromised population with 15-25% COVID mortality rate who were unrepresented in clinical trials evaluated for mRNA vaccines emergency use authorization. MethodAll patients receiving maintenance dialysis that received two doses of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines with antibody test results drawn [≥]14 days after the second dose, as documented in the electronic health record through March 18, 2021 were included. We report seroresponse based on levels of immunoglobulin-G against the receptor binding domain of the S1 subunit of SARS-CoV-2 spike antigen (seropositive [≥]2) using FDA-approved semi-quantitative chemiluminescent assay (ADVIA Centaur(R) XP/XPT COV2G). ResultsAmong 186 dialysis patients from 32 clinics in 8 states tested 23{+/-}8 days after receiving 2 vaccine doses, mean age was 68{+/-}12 years, with 47% women, 21% Black, 26% residents in long-term care facilities and 97% undergoing in-center hemodialysis. Overall seropositive rate was 165/186 (88.7%) with 70% at maximum titer and with no significant difference in seropositivity between BNT162b2/Pfizer (N=148) and mRNA-1273/Moderna (N=18) vaccines (88.1% vs. 94.4%, p=0.42). Among patients with COVID-19 history, seropositive rate was 38/38 (100%) with 97% at maximum titer. ConclusionMost patients receiving maintenance dialysis were seropositive after two doses of BNT162b2/Pfizer or mRNA-1273/Moderna vaccine. Early evidence suggests that vaccinated dialysis patients with prior COVID-19 develop robust antibody response. These results support an equitable and aggressive vaccination strategy for eligible dialysis patients, regardless of age, sex, race, ethnicity, or disability, to prevent the extremely high morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19 in this high risk population. SignificanceIn this retrospective observational evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine response defined by detectable levels of immunoglobulin-G against the receptor binding domain of the S1 subunit of SARS-CoV-2 spike antigen of [≥]2 in serum of patients receiving maintenance dialysis, 165/186 (88.7%) were found to be seropositive (with 70% at maximum titer) at least 14 days after completing the second dose. No significant differences were observed by race or other subgroup or by vaccine manufacturer. Therefore, an equitable and aggressive vaccination strategy for all eligible maintenance dialysis patients, regardless of age, sex, race, ethnicity, or disability, is warranted to prevent the extremely high morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19 in this high risk population.

A simple, effective enclosure with disposable coverings for inexpensive containment of aerosolized COVID viruses during tracheal intubation and extubation

Structured AbstractO_ST_ABSBackgroundC_ST_ABSSARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) is a severe respiratory virus that can be transmitted through aerosol particles produced by coughing, talking, and breathing. Medical procedures used to treat severe cases such as tracheal intubation, extubation, and tracheal suctioning produce infectious aerosol particles. This presents significant risk for viral exposure of nearby healthcare workers during and following tracheal operations. This study looks at an enclosure to limit medical personnels exposure to these particles. MethodsA low-cost plastic enclosure was designed to reduce aerosol spread and viral transmission during intubation and extubation procedures. The enclosure consists of clear polycarbonate for maximum visibility. Large side cutouts provide health care providers with ease of access to the patient. Aerosol particle instruments measured the aerosol containment efficacy after applying various types of plastic coverings to seal the side openings. The use of negative pressure was also tested. ResultsThe enclosure with 2 layers of plastic coverings sealing the side openings reduced total escaped particle number concentrations (diameter > 0.01 m) by over 93% at 3 inches away from all openings. Concentration decay experiments indicated that the enclosure without active suction should be left on the patient for 15-20 minutes following a tracheal manipulation to allow sufficient time for >90% of aerosol particles to settle upon interior surfaces. This decreases to 5 minutes when 30 LPM suction is applied. ConclusionsThis enclosure is an inexpensive, easily implemented additional layer of protection that can be used to reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 aerosol transmission between patients and healthcare workers.

Excess Risk of COVID-19 to University Populations Resulting from In-Person Sporting Events

Background: One of the consequences of COVID-19 has been the cancelation of in-person collegiate sporting events. We explore the impact of having in-person sports on COVID-19 transmission on a college campus, specifically the excess cases within the campus community can be anticipated. Methods: Using a stochastic compartmental model representing the interactions between the university community, we model the impact of transient influxes of visitors attending sporting events and ancillary activities (bars, dining out, etc.). We consider a number of scenarios, varying the extent to which visitors interact with the campus, the number of infectious visitors, and the extent to which the campus has controlled COVID-19 absent events. We also conducted a sensitivity analysis, exploring the model's outcomes over a wide range of uncertainty. Results: Events caused an increase in the number of cases among the campus community, ranging from a 25% increase in a scenario where the campus already had an uncontrolled COVID-19 outbreak and visitors had a low prevalence of COVID-19 and mixed lightly with the campus community to an 822% increase where the campus had controlled their COVID-19 outbreak and visitors had both a high prevalence of COVID-19 and mixed heavily with the campus community. The model was insensitive to parameter uncertainty, save for the duration a symptomatic individual was infectious. Conclusion: In-person sporting events represent a threat to the health of the campus community. This is the case even in circumstances where COVID-19 seems controlled both on-campus and among the larger population visitors are drawn from.

Clinical utility of CA-125 in the management of uterine carcinosarcoma / 부인종양

No abstract available.

Comparison of hepatic MDCT, MRI, and DSA to explant pathology for the detection and treatment planning of hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The diagnosis and treatment plan for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can be made from radiologic imaging. However, lesion detection may vary depending on the imaging modality. This study aims to evaluate the sensitivities of hepatic multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in the detection of HCC and the consequent management impact on potential liver transplant patients. METHODS: One hundred and sixteen HCC lesions were analyzed in 41 patients who received an orthotopic liver transplant (OLT). All of the patients underwent pretransplantation hepatic DSA, MDCT, and/or MRI. The imaging results were independently reviewed retrospectively in a blinded fashion by two interventional and two abdominal radiologists. The liver explant pathology was used as the gold standard for assessing each imaging modality. RESULTS: The sensitivity for overall HCC detection was higher for cross-sectional imaging using MRI (51.5%, 95% confidence interval [CI]=36.2-58.4%) and MDCT (49.8%, 95% CI=43.7-55.9%) than for DSA (41.7%, 95% CI=36.2-47.3%) (P=0.05). The difference in false-positive rate was not statistically significant between MRI (22%), MDCT (29%), and DSA (29%) (P=0.67). The sensitivity was significantly higher for detecting right lobe lesions than left lobe lesions for all modalities (MRI: 56.1% vs. 43.1%, MDCT: 55.0% vs. 42.0%, and DSA: 46.9% vs. 33.9%; all P<0.01). The sensitivities of the three imaging modalities were also higher for lesions ≥2 cm vs. <2 cm (MRI: 73.4% vs. 32.7%, MDCT: 66.9% vs. 33.8%, and DSA: 62.2% vs. 24.1%; all P<0.01). The interobserver correlation was rated as very good to excellent. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity for detecting HCC is higher for MRI and MDCT than for DSA, and so cross-sectional imaging modalities should be used to evaluate OLT candidacy.

Characterization of prepared In2O3 thin films: The FT-IR, FT-Raman, UV-Visible investigation and optical analysis.

In this original work, the Indium oxide (In2O3) thin film is deposited cleanly on microscope glass substrate at different temperatures by spray pyrolysis technique. The physical properties of the films are characterized by XRD, SEM, AFM and AFM measurements. The spectroscopic investigation has been carried out on the results of FT-IR, FT-Raman and UV-Visible. XRD analysis exposed that the structural transformation of films from stoichiometric to non-stoichiometric orientation of the plane vice versa and also found that, the film is polycrystalline in nature having cubic crystal structure with a preferred grain orientation along (222) plane. SEM and AFM studies revealed that, the film with 0.1M at 500°C has spherical grains with uniform dimension. The complete vibrational analysis has been carried out and the optimized parameters are calculated using HF and DFT (CAM-B3LYP, B3LYP and B3PW91) methods with 3-21G(d,p) basis set. Furthermore, NMR chemical shifts are calculated by using the gauge independent atomic orbital (GIAO) technique. The molecular electronic properties; absorption wavelengths, excitation energy, dipole moment and frontier molecular orbital energies, molecular electrostatic potential energy (MEP) analysis and Polarizability first order hyperpolarizability calculations are performed by time dependent DFT (TD-DFT) approach. The energy excitation on electronic structure is investigated and the assignment of the absorption bands in the electronic spectra of steady compound is discussed. The calculated HOMO and LUMO energies showed the enhancement of energy gap by the addition of substitutions with the base molecule. The thermodynamic properties (heat capacity, entropy, and enthalpy) at different temperatures are calculated and interpreted in gas phase.

Structural, optical and electrical properties of Zr-doped In2O3 thin films.

Undoped and zirconium doped indium oxide (ZrIO) thin films were deposited on glass substrate at a substrate temperature of 450°C by spray pyrolysis method. The effect of zirconium (Zr) dopant concentration (0-11 at.%) on the structural, morphological, optical and electrical properties of n-type ZrIO films were studied. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results confirmed the polycrystalline nature of the ZrIO thin film with cubic structure. The grain size was decreased from 25 to 15.75 nm with Zr doping. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the surface morphology of the films were changed with Zr doping. The surface roughness of the films was investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and was found to be increased with the increasing of Zr doping percentage. A blue shift of the optical band gap was observed. The optical band was gap decreased from 3.50 to 3.0eV with increase in Zr concentrations. Room temperature photoluminescence (PL) measurement of the deposited films indicated the incorporation of Zr in In2O3 lattice. The film had low resistivity of 6.4 × 10(-4)Ωcm and higher carrier concentration of 2.5 × 10(20) was obtained at a doping ratio of 7 at.%.

Differentiation of SH-SY5Y cells to a neuronal phenotype changes cellular bioenergetics and the response to oxidative stress.

Cell differentiation is associated with changes in metabolism and function. Understanding these changes during differentiation is important in the context of stem cell research, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. An early event in neurodegenerative diseases is the alteration of mitochondrial function and increased oxidative stress. Studies using both undifferentiated and differentiated SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells have shown distinct responses to cellular stressors; however, the mechanisms remain unclear. We hypothesized that because the regulation of glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation is modulated during cellular differentiation, this would change bioenergetic function and the response to oxidative stress. To test this, we used retinoic acid (RA) to induce differentiation of SH-SY5Y cells and assessed changes in cellular bioenergetics using extracellular flux analysis. After exposure to RA, the SH-SY5Y cells had an increased mitochondrial membrane potential, without changing mitochondrial number. Differentiated cells exhibited greater stimulation of mitochondrial respiration with uncoupling and an increased bioenergetic reserve capacity. The increased reserve capacity in the differentiated cells was suppressed by the inhibitor of glycolysis 2-deoxy-d-glucose. Furthermore, we found that differentiated cells were substantially more resistant to cytotoxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction induced by the reactive lipid species 4-hydroxynonenal or the reactive oxygen species generator 2,3-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone. We then analyzed the levels of selected mitochondrial proteins and found an increase in complex IV subunits, which we propose contributes to the increase in reserve capacity in the differentiated cells. Furthermore, we found an increase in MnSOD that could, at least in part, account for the increased resistance to oxidative stress. Our findings suggest that profound changes in mitochondrial metabolism and antioxidant defenses occur upon differentiation of neuroblastoma cells to a neuron-like phenotype.

Air pollution effect of O3 on crop yield in rural India.

Measurement of surface ozone (O(3)) mixing ratio was made from January 2006 to December 2007 in Ahmednagar (19.1°N, 74.8°E, 657 m above sea level), India. The monthly average of daytime maximum of O(3) mixing ratio ranged from 14 to 57 parts per billion by volume (ppbv) with an annual average of about 20 ppbv. The estimated winter wheat and summer crop yield reduction by 10% and 15%, respectively from present O(3) pollution level associated with AOT40 (accumulation exposure of O(3) concentration over a threshold of 40 ppbv) index values 7370-9150 ppbv h in rural areas.

Detection of low level benzene exposure in supermarket wrappers by urinary muconic acid.

Women who use the 'hot wire' and 'cool rod' machines to wrap meat in supermarkets are potentially exposed to low levels of benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons present in fumes emitted during the thermal decomposition of the plastic used to wrap meat. In order to evaluate whether the benzene metabolite trans, trans-muconic acid (MA) can be used to monitor these low levels, we collected urine samples from supermarket workers, and assayed the urine for MA. Geometric mean after-shift MA levels were highest for subjects who used the 'hot wire' machine, i.e. > 300 ng mg-1 creatinine (Cr). The corresponding levels for subjects who used the 'cool rod' machine were similar to those for subjects who did not use either type of machine, and were much lower. These results indicate that urinary muconic acid has some potential for use in monitoring benzene exposures of less than 1 part per million (ppm). The study detected very high background MA levels (exceeding 2000 ng mg-1 Cr) in some subjects, suggesting that individuals in the general population without occupational exposure to benzene may have urinary MA levels equivalent to exposure to up to 2 ppm benzene in ambient air. However, since non-benzene sources of the metabolite cannot be completely ruled out as partially responsible for these high levels, the public health significance of this finding is not known at the moment.