Combustion and emission characteristics of diesel fuel blended with raw jatropha, soybean and waste cooking oils.

In the present investigation raw oil (jatropha, soybean, and waste cooking fuel) has analyzed to prove its suitability as an alternative fuel in compression ignition (CI) engines. The blends of high vegetable oils with diesel are created and analyzed experimentally. The raw oil is blended with diesel in varying proportion (from 20 % to 50 %) using raw vegetable oil (100 %). Two sets of experiments are conducted for each fuels blends, one for performance analysis & other for emission test. The analysis has been performed for pure diesel and diverse blends of Jatropha-diesel, Soybean-diesel and waste cooking oil-diesel at compression ratio (CR) of (16.5). The performance and emission characteristic for each raw oil-diesel blends are investigated and the comparison results are presented. The result reveals that B20 blends of all biodiesel have shown very close values of Brake Thermal Efficiency (BTE) at all loading.

Formulation and evaluation of ketoprofen loaded chitosan nanogel for pain management: Ex-vivo and In-vivo study / Formulación y evaluación de ketoprofeno cargado de nanogel de quitosán para el manejo del dolor: estudio ex vivo e in vivo

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate nanoemulsion-based gel (nanogel) for transdermal delivery of ketoprofen. Among the various excipients tested, oleic acid, tween 80 and ethanol were selected as oil, surfactant, and co-surfactant respectively. Methods: The nanoemulsions region was identified by constructing pseudo-ternary phase diagrams using aqueous phase titration. The prepared nanoemulsion was subjected to different thermodynamic stability study and the nanoemulsion that passed thermodynamic stability tests were evaluated for viscosity, refractive index, droplet size, transmission electron microscopy, and ex-vivo permeation study using human cadaver skin. Results: On the basis of evaluation C1 formulation, which consists of 3.09 % wt/wt of the oil phase, 60.54 % wt/wt of Smix and 36.36 % wt/wt of distilled water were selected as an optimized formulation and were converted to nanogel using chitosan as a gelling agent. Nanogel was evaluated for ex-vivo and in vivo study. The nanogel showed a significant increase in the anti-inflammatory activity as compared to conventional gel. Conclusion: In conclusion, nanogel could be a promising system to improve transdermal delivery of the ketoprofen

Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio fue desarrollar y evaluar un gel a base de nanoemulsión (nanogel) para el suministro transdérmico de ketoprofeno. Entre los diversos excipientes probados, se seleccionaron el ácido oleico, la mezcla de 80 y el etanol como aceite, surfactante y co-surfactante. Métodos: La región de las nanoemulsiones se identificó mediante la construcción de diagramas de fase pseudoternarios utilizando la titulación de la fase acuosa. La nanoemulsión preparada se sometió a diferentes estudios de estabilidad termodinámica y la nanoemulsión que pasó las pruebas de estabilidad termodinámica se evaluó para determinar la viscosidad, el índice de refracción, el tamaño de las gotitas, la microscopía electrónica de transmisión y el estudio de permeación ex-vivo utilizando piel de cadáver humano. Resultados: Sobre la base de la evaluación, la formulación de C1, que consiste en 3.09% peso / peso de la fase oleosa, 60.54% peso / peso de Smix y 36.36% peso / peso de agua destilada se seleccionaron como una formulación optimizada y se convirtieron a nanogel utilizando quitosano como Un agente gelificante. Nanogel se evaluó para estudio ex-vivo e in vivo. El nanogel mostró un aumento significativo en la actividad antiinflamatoria en comparación con el gel convencional. Conclusión: En conclusión, el nanogel podría ser un sistema prometedor para mejorar la administración transdérmica del ketoprofeno

Assessment of iron status and red cell parameters in healthy full term small for gestational age neonates at birth.

BACKGROUND: Hematological values of the newborn babies vary according to the gestational age and intrauterine growth. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to compare the iron status and red cell parameters in healthy term small for gestational age (SGA) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) neonates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective hospital based study was conducted in a tertiary care teaching institution of central India. 50 AGA and 50 SGA neonates were included in the study and serum iron, serum ferritin and red cell parameters (hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell (RBC) count and hematocrit (Hct), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), means corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and red cell distribution width (RDW]) were estimated within 24 h of birth. RESULTS: Serum ferritin levels were significantly low in SGA neonates as compared with AGA (mean 103 vs. 158 ng/ml; P=0.001) neonates. In SGA neonates, mean values of Hb (P=0.001), RBC count (P=0.018) and Hct (P=0.005) were significantly higher than in AGA neonates. Higher values of RDW and MCV were seen in SGA group in comparison with AGA neonates. Similarly, lower values of serum iron, MCH and MCHC were seen in the same group; although, these were non-significant. CONCLUSION: Despite higher Hb content, SGA neonates are deficient in iron store at birth as indicated by lower serum ferritin levels in them and early iron supplementation should be considered in them.

Nucleated red blood cell in cord blood as a marker of perinatal asphyxia.

BACKGROUND: Perinatal asphyxia is a major cause of neurological morbidity and mortality in India. The purpose of this study was to investigate variations in nucleated red blood cell (NRBC) in blood associated with perinatal asphyxia and its relationship to both the severity and short term prognosis of asphyxia. METHODS: A prospective (case-control) study was undertaken at Gandhi Medical College and Associated Hospitals. A total of 100 neonates were included in the study. Levels of NRBC/100 white blood cells (WBC) and absolute NRBC counts in cord blood were compared for 50 asphyxiated (case group) and 50 normal neonates (control group). These parameters were also related to the severity of asphyxia and clinical outcome. RESULTS: The number of NRBC/100 WBC in the blood of 50 newborns each in the asphyxiated and in the control group were mean 29.5 ± 26.0, range 7-144 NRBCs/100 WBC and mean ± standard deviation 5.9 ± 2.6, range 3-14 NRBCs/100 WBC respectively (P < 0.01). Using quartile deviation, staging of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) was done on basis of NRBC count and there was 80% agreement between clinical and NRBC staging of HIE. There was a significant (P < 0.01) correlation of the number of NRBC\100 WBC with Apgar scoring, HIE staging and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The NRBCs/100 WBCs can be used as a simple marker for the assessment of severity and early outcome of perinatal asphyxia.

Familial clustering of a rare syndrome.

Ectrodactyly, ectodermal dysplasia and cleft palate syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant multiple congenital anomaly syndrome with variable expressivity and reduced penetration. The cardinal features are cleft palate/lip, lobster hand deformity, sparse hypopigmented hair, dry scaly skin, and lacrimal and urogenital anomalies. A neonate presented to us with typical features, his mother and other two siblings were also affected.

Normal oxygen saturation trend in healthy term newborns within 30 minutes of birth.

OBJECTIVE: To determine normal arterial oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) trend during first 30 min of life and to evaluate for difference in SpO(2) trends in healthy term newborns of normal vaginal delivery (NVD) and elective cesarean section (CS). METHODS: This Prospective Cross-sectional Observational study was conducted in Department of Pediatrics and Obstetrics, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal. Newborns born of NVD and elective CS in first 30 min of life, complying with the study criteria were included in the study. Soon after birth, newborns with Apgar score ≥ 7 were given routine care and pulse-oximeter probe was applied on wiped right hand continuously for 30 min. Readings were obtained at an interval of 5 min. RESULTS: Among NVD, the mean SpO(2) at 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 min were 64.26%, 76.23%, 86.05%, 90.78%, 91.41%, 91.73% and 93.48%, respectively. The mean SpO(2) for CS was 67.43%, 78.50%, 88.44%, 90.81%, 91.46%, 91.83% and 92.88%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the SpO(2) between NVD and CS [95% CI = 74.8612-94.8359 in NVD and 77.1231-94.6912 in CS] and the correlation between NVD and CS being significant [r = 0.997 at 0.01 level]. There exists a strong positive correlation between Apgar and SpO(2) [r = 0.995, significant at 0.01 level (1-tailed) in NVD and r = 0.980, significant at 0.01 level (2-tailed) in CS]. CONCLUSIONS: The study defines the normal SpO(2) in healthy term newborns of NVD and CS delivered newborns and also concludes that there is no significant difference in SpO(2) among NVD and CS.

Quality of life in children with epilepsy.

BACKGROUND: Epilepsy is a chronic medical condition with many co-morbid features. It has been observed that children with epilepsy (CWE) have a compromised quality of life (QOL). OBJECTIVE: To assess the QOL in CWE and to study the various factors affecting QOL among CWE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 102 CWE aged 5-15 years of either sex. QOL was measured by Quality of Life in Childhood Epilepsy (QOLCE) questionnaire, a 76-item, parent-reported questionnaire. Cronbach alpha was used to determine the internal consistency of the subscales and Pearson correlation to determine construct validity. The t-test and analysis of variance were used to compare mean QOLCE scores. RESULTS: Factors affecting QOL included age, place of residence, socioeconomic condition, maternal education, seizure type and frequency and number of antiepileptic drugs. CONCLUSION: CWE have a relatively compromised QOL and comprehensive care needs to go beyond the attempt of controlling seizures.

Ferrous sulfate versus iron polymaltose complex for treatment of iron deficiency anemia in children.

We assessed the clinical response and side effects of Ferrous sulfate (FS) and Iron polymaltose complex (IPC) in 118 children with Iron deficiency anemia (IDA). Subjects were randomized to receive therapy with either oral IPC (Group A, n=59) or oral FS (Group B, n=59); all were given elemental iron in three divided doses of 6 mg/kg/day. One hundred and six children could be followed up; 53 in each group. Children who received ferrous sulfate were having higher hemoglobin level, and less residual complaints as compared to those who had received iron polymaltose complex. Our study suggests ferrous sulfate has a better clinical response and less significant adverse effects during treatment of IDA in children.

Thyroid hormone status in malnourished children.

This study sought to find out the correlation between serum concentration of thyroid hormones and grade of malnutrition among 60 children between 1-5 year having PEM. With increasing severity of malnutrition, the serum concentration of T3 and T4 progressively decreased and that of serum TSH increased.

Effectiveness of 3-day amoxycillin vs. 5-day co-trimoxazole in the treatment of non-severe pneumonia in children aged 2-59 months of age: a multi-centric open labeled trial.

This cluster randomized, open labeled trial was conducted to compare the effectiveness of 3 days of oral amoxycillin and 5 days of co-trimoxazole treatment in terms of clinical failure in children with World Health Organization (WHO) defined non-severe pneumonia in primary health centers in rural India. Participants were children aged 2-59 months with WHO defined non-severe pneumonia, with or without wheeze, who were accessible to follow up. From seven primary health centers in each arm, 2009 cases were randomized, 993 and 1016 in treatment with amoxycillin and co-trimoxazole, respectively. Fever was present in 1247 (62.1%) and wheeze in 443 (22.1%). There was good adherence and low loss to follow-up. Clinical failure on amoxycillin and co-trimoxazole on intention to treat analysis was 137 and 97, respectively (absolute difference = 0.04, 95% confidence interval: - 0.035-0.12). We conclude that there was no difference in effectiveness of oral co-trimoxazole or amoxycillin in treating non-severe pneumonia.