Study of nitrogen implantation in Ti surface using plasma immersion ion implantation & deposition technique as biocompatible substrate for artificial membranes.

The present investigation reports the modification of Ti substrates by a plasma technique to enhance their physio-chemical properties as biocompatible substrates for the deposition of artificial membranes. For that purpose, nitrogen ions are implanted into Ti substrate using the plasma immersion ion implantation & deposition (PIII&D) technique in a capacitively coupled radio frequency plasma. The plasma was characterized using optical emission spectroscopy, together with radio frequency compensated Langmuir probe, while the ion current towards the substrate was measured during the implantation process using an opto-electronic device. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used for chemical analysis of the surface, confirming the presence of δ-TiN. The penetration depth of the nitrogen ions into the Ti substrate was measured using secondary ions mass spectroscopy (SIMS) while the morphological changes were observed using atomic force microscopy (AFM). A calorimetric assay was used to prove that the TiN samples maintain the biocompatibility of the untreated Ti surface with its native oxide layer. The ion implantation increases the load bearing ability of Ti surface by the formation of α-Ti(N) and δ-TiN phases on the sub-surface of Ti, and maintains the bio compatibility of Ti surface. After the plasma treatment a thin layer of chitosan (CH) was deposited in order to provide a moisturizing matrix for the artificial membrane of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-3- phosphor glycerocholine (DPPC). The CH and subsequently the DPPC were deposited on the plasma deposited TiN substrate by using physical vapor deposition. The formation of artificial membranes was confirmed by AFM, measuring the topography at different temperatures and performing force curves.

Intubation in the Intensive Care Unit: C-MAC video laryngoscope versus Macintosh laryngoscope / Intubación en la unidad de cuidados intensivos: videolaringoscopio C-MAC frente a laringoscopio Macintosh

PURPOSE: Various modifications of the Macintosh blade and direct laryngoscopy have been incorporated into practice to improve the intubation success rate and avoid complications while ensuring patient safety. This study evaluates the usefulness of two different direct laryngoscopy methods used by operators with various level of experience in the Intensive Care Unit. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a single centre prospective study, C-MAC and Macintosh laryngoscopes were compared in terms of laryngoscopy and intubation outcomes such as glottic visualization, number of intubation attempts, intubation success and satisfaction score. RESULTS: During the one-year study period, 263 patients were evaluated and data of 218 patients were analyzed. The rate of successful first attempt intubation was higher in the video laryngoscope group (VL) (84% vs 57%; P < 0.001). A significantly greater number of patients in the Macintosh laryngoscopy group had difficult visualization of the glottis in terms of the modified Cormack and Lehane classification and Percentage of Glottic Opening scale. CONCLUSIÓN: The use of video laryngoscope for intubation in ICU settings results in better visualization of the glottis and a higher incidence of successful intubation attempts

OBJETIVO: En la práctica clínica se han incorporado diversas modificaciones a la hoja de Macintosh y del laringoscopio directo para mejorar la tasa de éxito de la intubación y evitar complicaciones, a la vez que se garantiza la seguridad del paciente. En este estudio evaluamos la utilidad de los 2 métodos de laringoscopia directa empleados por profesionales sanitarios con distintos grados de experiencia en la unidad de cuidados intensivos. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: En un estudio prospectivo y unicéntrico se compararon los laringoscopios de Macintosh y C-MAC en términos de deselances de la largingoscopia y la intubación, como la visualización de la glotis, el número de intentos de intubación, el éxito de la intubación y la puntuación de la satisfacción. RESULTADOS: Durante el periodo del estudio de un año se evaluaron 263 pacientes y se analizaron los datos de 218 pacientes. La tasa de intubación con éxito al primer intento fue más elevada en el grupo de videolaringoscopio (84% frente al 57%, p < 0,001). Un número significativamente más alto de pacientes del grupo del laringoscopio de Macintosh presentó dificultades de visualización de la glotis de acuerdo con la clasificación modificada de Cormack y Lehane, y según la escala de porcentaje de apertura de la glotis. CONCLUSIÓN: El uso del videolaringoscopio para la intubación en el entorno de la unidad de cuidados intensivos se asocia con una mejor visualización de la glotis y una tasa más alta de intentos de intubación exitosos

Intubation in the Intensive Care Unit: C-MAC video laryngoscope versus Macintosh laryngoscope.

PURPOSE: Various modifications of the Macintosh blade and direct laryngoscopy have been incorporated into practice to improve the intubation success rate and avoid complications while ensuring patient safety. This study evaluates the usefulness of two different direct laryngoscopy methods used by operators with various level of experience in the Intensive Care Unit. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a single centre prospective study, C-MAC and Macintosh laryngoscopes were compared in terms of laryngoscopy and intubation outcomes such as glottic visualization, number of intubation attempts, intubation success and satisfaction score. RESULTS: During the one-year study period, 263 patients were evaluated and data of 218 patients were analyzed. The rate of successful first attempt intubation was higher in the video laryngoscope group (VL) (84% vs 57%; P<0.001). A significantly greater number of patients in the Macintosh laryngoscopy group had difficult visualization of the glottis in terms of the modified Cormack and Lehane classification and Percentage of Glottic Opening scale. CONCLUSION: The use of video laryngoscope for intubation in ICU settings results in better visualization of the glottis and a higher incidence of successful intubation attempts.

Wrinkled titanium nitride nanocomposite for robust bendable electrodes.

Electrical contacts and interconnections are critical components for all electronic devices. Bendable electrodes with enhanced electro-mechanical properties are highly desirable to develop innovative wearable electronic devices. Herein we report on a fabrication method for robust bendable coatings based on titanium nitride (TiN) thin films and silver nanowires (Ag NWs). TiN and TiN-AgNWs nanocomposites were deposited on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates using a plasma enhanced pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique. The resulting TiN coatings exhibit excellent adhesion to PET and their sheet resistance can be tuned using a dual frequency PLD process and further decreased by incorporating Ag NWs into the TiN layers. Sample sheet resistance was decreased down to values as low as [Formula: see text] corresponding to the formation of TiN-AgNWs nanocomposites. The electro-mechanical robustness of TiN based coatings were evaluated by four-probe resistance measurements in situ under cyclic bending tests. We show that the TiNAgNWs nanocomposites surpass both ITO and Ag NWs coatings in terms of mechanical robustness and electrical conductivity respectively. These nanocomposites withstand high strain fatigue loading up to ϵ = 2.6%, keeping R S below 5 Ω/□. The data demonstrates that the incorporation of Ag NWs in TiN coatings improve the mechanical robustness, limiting the crack growth and propagation, with low optical transmittance decrease (≈11%). These results indicate that Ag NWs based nanocomposites are attractive materials for flexible electronic devices.

Disappearance of Anopheles minimus and Anopheles dirus from Certain Malaria Endemic Areas of Assam, India.

BACKGROUND: Orang Primary Health Centre (OPHC) and Balipara Primary Health Centre (BPHC) of Assam (India) report mosquito borne diseases annually. Current study was performed to ascertain the prevalence of known malaria and Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vectors and their possible role in disease transmission. METHODS: Malaria epidemiological data for 2006-2010 and JE data for 2008-2013 of Assam, India were obtained from the health authority. Mosquitoes were collected using CDC light traps and identified morpho-taxonomically. RESULTS: Plasmodium falciparum cases (81.5%, 95% CI= 72.0-91.1) were statistically higher in OPHC (P< 0.0001, t= 8.0) during the recent years. There was 4.4 folds rise in the confirmed acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) and 3.2 folds increase in the confirmed JE cases during 2013 as compared to 2008. Altogether 9,218 mosquito specimens (PTND= 153.6), comprising of 44.1% anophelines (PTND= 67.7), 42.3% culicines (PTND= 65.0) and 9.5% mansonia (PTND= 14.6) were recorded. In BPHC, Anopheles vagus was recorded in high density (P< 0.0001), whereas Culex quinquefasciatus was the predominant JE vector (P= 0.04). In OPHC, among the known malaria vectors, the density of Anopheles annularis was significantly high (P< 0.0001). However Culex bitaeniorhynchus was the predominant known JE vector (P< 0.0001) followed by Cx. quinquefasciatus. CONCLUSION: Even in the absence of known efficient vectors, many Anopheles species are still involved in malaria transmission. There was disappearance of Anopheles minimus and Anopheles dirus and establishment of An. annularis, An. vagus and An. philippinensis/nivipes mosquitoes in study area.

Complex population history of two Anopheles dirus mosquito species in Southeast Asia suggests the influence of Pleistocene climate change rather than human-mediated effects.

Anopheles dirus and Anopheles baimaii are closely related species which feed on primates, particularly humans, and transmit malaria in the tropical forests of mainland Southeast Asia. Here, we report an in-depth phylogeographic picture based on 269 individuals from 21 populations from mainland Southeast Asia. Analysis of 1537 bp of mtDNA sequence revealed that the population history of A. baimaii is far more complex than previously thought. An old expansion (pre-300 kyr BP) was inferred in northern India/Bangladesh with a wave of south-eastwards expansion arriving at the Thai border (ca 135-173 kyr BP) followed by leptokurtic dispersal very recently (ca 16 kyr BP) into peninsular Thailand. The long and complex population history of these anthropophilic species suggests their expansions are not in response to the relatively recent (ca 40 kyr BP) human expansions in mainland Southeast Asia but, rather, fit well with our understanding of Pleistocene climatic change there.

Coinfection of Japanese encephalitis with neurocysticercosis: an imaging study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Coinfection of neurocysticercosis (NCC) and Japanese encephalitis (JE) has been advocated as more than a chance occurrence resulting in poor outcome. We undertook this study to determine whether the association of the 2 infections is more than a chance occurrence, to define the imaging characteristics of coinfections, and to explore the synergistic effect of NCC in JE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-two patients with JE were studied by MR imaging and CT. CT was done in 53 and MR imaging in 53 patients. The diagnosis of JE was established by CSF JE virus immunoglobulin M capture (MAC) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). NCC was diagnosed from imaging. A control group of 385 patients was evaluated by imaging for prevalence of NCC in the general population. RESULTS: A significantly high association of NCC with JE (19.3%) was observed in comparison with prevalence of NCC in control subjects (1.04%; P = .0003). JE lesions in coinfection were significantly asymmetric with lateralization to the side of the brain having the maximum NCC or a cyst with edema. The JE lesions in coinfections were more florid, with a significantly higher proportion of abnormal CT scans and more abnormal MR imaging. Coinfections were significantly more common in children. Significantly lower CSF MAC-ELISA units in patients with coinfection reflected low CSF IgM levels, suggesting altered immune status. CONCLUSION: In our series, there was a strong association between JE and NCC, and, thus, this coinfection was more than a chance occurrence.

Efficacy of Heatsynch protocol for induction of estrus, synchronization of ovulation and timed artificial insemination in yaks (Poephagus grunniens L.).

The objective of this study was to test the efficacy of induction of estrus, synchronization of ovulation and timed artificial insemination in anestrous yaks using the Heatsynch protocol. In Experiment 1, 10 anestrous yaks were administered an analogue of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) followed by prostaglandin (PG)F2alpha 7 days later and then estradiol cyponate (ECP) 24 h after that. Ovulation was detected by rectal palpation at 2h intervals beginning at the initial signs of estrus. Blood samples were collected at 2h intervals beginning at the time of ECP injection up to 2h after the occurrence of ovulation for the determination of LH and progesterone. All the animals responded to the Heatsynch protocol with expression of estrus and synchronization of ovulation. The mean time interval from the ECP injection to ovulation was 59.4+/-2.62 h (range 50-72 h). The interval from the LH peak to ovulation was 30.2+/-2.3 h. The high degree of synchrony in ovulation could be attributed to the synchrony in the timing of LH peaks. In Experiment 2, 10 anestrous yaks were treated with the Heatsynch protocol (as in Experiment 1) and TAI was performed at 48 and 60 h after the ECP treatment. Concurrently, 16 cycling yaks were inseminated approximately 12 h after detection of spontaneous estrus. Pregnancy rates were similar in both groups, 40% for TAI and 43.75% for yaks inseminated following spontaneous estrus (p>0.05). From this study, two conclusions can be drawn. First, the Heatsynch protocol can be successfully used to induce and synchronize estrus in anestrous yaks and, second, ovulation following the Heatsynch protocol is synchronized adequately to permit the use of fixed time AI in this species.

Temporal lobe involvement in Japanese encephalitis: problems in differential diagnosis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: On MR imaging and CT, Japanese encephalitis (JE) shows lesions in the thalami, substantia nigra, basal ganglia, cerebral cortex, cerebellum, brain stem, and white matter, whereas temporal lobe involvement is characteristically seen in Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE). Temporal lobe involvement in JE may cause problems in differentiating it from HSE. We undertook this study to show the temporal lobe involvement pattern in JE and highlight differentiating features from temporal lobe involvement in HSE. METHODS: Sixty-two patients with JE underwent CT or MR imaging or both. MR imaging was done in 53 and CT in 53. The diagnosis of JE was confirmed by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) IgM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Eleven (17.7%) patients showed temporal lobe involvement with abnormal MR imaging in all. All the patients showed hippocampal involvement. Two patients showed extension of lesions into the amygdala and uncus with insular involvement in 1. The rest of the temporal lobe was spared. All patients had thalamic and substantia nigra involvement with basal ganglia involvement in 7. Six of 9 CT scans were abnormal and the temporal lesions were seen in 2. CONCLUSIONS: The temporal lobe involvement pattern is fairly characteristic and mostly involves the hippocampus, usually sparing the rest of the temporal lobe. This and the concurrent involvement of the thalami, substantia nigra (SN), and basal ganglia allow differentiation from HSE. However, if the temporal lobe involvement is more severe, laboratory tests may be the only way to differentiate it from HSE, and it may be prudent to start antiviral therapy in the interim period.

Macular function and morphology after peeling of idiopathic epiretinal membrane with and without the assistance of indocyanine green.

AIM: To investigate macular function and morphology after surgical removal of idiopathic epiretinal membrane (IEM) with and without assistance of indocyanine green (ICG). METHODS: A retrospective study as a consecutive case series, of 39 patients with IEM. 39 patients, 23 female, 16 male, mean age 67 years, underwent standard three port pars plana vitrectomy with removal of epiretinal membrane. Two groups of patients were consecutively operated: in 20 patients ICG 0.1% in glucose 5% was used to stain the epiretinal membrane. 19 patients underwent the identical procedure but without use of ICG. Postoperative follow up was 1-92 months (mean 15.5 months). Functional outcome was assessed with subjective improvement, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), Amsler grid test, 10 degrees and 30 degrees automated perimetry (Heidelberg visual field analyser) (HFA), and Goldmann kinetic perimetry. Macular morphology was assessed with stereoscopic biomicroscopy and optical coherence tomography (OCT). The main outcome measures were macular function as determined by BCVA, presence of visual field defects, and metamorphopsia as determined by Amsler grid test, macular morphology as determined by slit lamp biomicroscopy, and OCT. RESULTS: BCVA improved in 28 patients, remained unchanged in eight patients, and decreased in three patients. Improvement of BCVA was statistically significant in both groups (p = 0.003). Mean BCVA in patients operated with ICG improved from 0.33 preoperatively to 0.53 postoperatively. Mean BCVA in patients operated without ICG improved from 0.32 preoperatively to 0.54 postoperatively. Reduction of macular oedema as measured by OCT was statistically significant in both groups (p<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative BCVA, macular oedema as measured by OCT, postoperative Amsler grid test, and subjective improvement between the two groups. The incidence of residual or recurrent epiretinal membrane was greater in the group operated without ICG (p = 0.014). Visual field defects were detected in one patient operated with ICG and in three patients operated without ICG. CONCLUSIONS: Removal of epiretinal tissue with or without assistance of ICG improved visual function and reduced macular oedema in most patients. Adverse effects clearly attributable to the use of ICG were not observed but further investigation is warranted.

A giant pedunculated tumor (Fibrolipoma) of oesophagus - a rare case.

A giant pedunculate tumour of oesophagus is reported in this study for its rareness.A mate patient aged 48 years was admitted at Jorhat Christian Medical Centre with the complaint of swelling of the neck and dysphagia for a period of 4 months. Clinically the neck swelling looks like swelling of left lobe of thyroid with intrathoracic extension, ENT examination was normal The barium Swallow X-ray of oesophagus showed surprisingly huge dilatation of upper half of the oesophagus. The oesophagoscopy snowed a large mobile infra oesophageal tumour extending from the upper end of the oesophagus upto the mid thoracic region. The neck is explored by collar incission and the cervical oesophagus is opened by longitudinal incission. The tumour is pulled out from the oesophagus and is removed completely by cutting the peduncle which was attached to the tight wall of the oesophagus just below the cricopharynx. The peduncle was about I em in diameter., The length of the tumour was about 3-4 cm at the thoracic part. Post Operative recovery was uneventful. The histopathology report skewed it to be a ease of FIBROLIPOMA.

Lipid and fatty acid composition of muga silkworm, Antheraea assama, host plants in relation to silkworm growth.

The lipid and fatty acid composition of the leaves (tender, medium and mature) of muga host plants, Machilus bombycina, Litsaea monopetala (primary food plants) and L. cubeba and L. salicifolia (family: Lauraceae) (secondary food plants) was investigated by standard procedures, gas chromatography after saponification and esterification. The total lipid content of M. bombycina and L. monopetala leaves was recorded to be higher (16 and 18 g%), respectively, than that of L. cubeba (10 g%) and L. salicifolia (12 g%). GC analysis identified the presence of eight fatty acids (C14 to C22) and the concentration varied from 0.0297 to 8.1572 g% dry leaf powder. Among the fatty acids, (C14 to C22), polyunsaturated fatty acids were recorded to be highest in concentration in mature leaves of the primary host plants. The concentrations of saturated and polyunsatuated fatty acids were found to be at a minimum level in all the types of leaves of secondary muga host plants.

Characterisation and antimicrobial susceptibility of Enterococcus species from the intestines of ducks in Assam.

The Enterococcus flora of duck intestines consisted of E faecalis and E faecium in ducklings less than eight weeks old and E faecalis, E faecium and E gallinarum in ducks more than eight weeks old. The enterococci were resistant to several antibiotics; chloramphenicol and gentamycin sulphate were the only antibiotics of those tested which were moderately effective. All the Enterococcus species isolates were resistant to the macrolide and lincosamide antibiotics.

Clinical evaluation of halofantrine in acute malaria.

Fifty patients suffering from acute malaria were treated with 'Halofantrine Hydrochloride'. They were observed for 4 weeks. Clinical, haematological and biochemical parameters were assessed for evaluation of halofantrine in acute malaria, with special reference to its effectiveness, tolerability and side effects.