Virus containment box for retinopathy of prematurity screening and laser.

PURPOSE: Health care workers are susceptible to contracting infection with COVID-19 by aerosol transmission. This is a risk while examining and/or treating an un-sedated neonate in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening and treatment. But screening for neonates for ROP and treating with laser, when required, should not be delayed to avoid the blindness. We describe a cost-effective method of containing aerosols generated during such a procedure in an un-sedated baby. METHODS: An acrylic transparent containment box was prepared to accommodate an average-sized infant. The box had four walls and a roof. The floor was open to place the container box over the baby. The walls have two types of openings, large ones to allow passage of hands to examine the baby, small ones to enable passage of oxygen tubing when required. A simulation was created to examine the impact of aerosol spray on examining healthcare personnel. RESULTS: The cost of the acrylic box was negligible. It could be assembled locally with available acrylic sheets and craftsmen. It was not difficult to examine the baby inside the box, and the simulation demonstrated that it protected the health personnel from the aerosol contamination. CONCLUSION: The described method is likely to increase healthcare personnel's confidence not to delay or deny ROP screening and laser treatment and save the babies from blindness.

Effect of sodium fluoride on neuroimmunological parameters, oxidative stress and antioxidative defenses.

AIMS: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of sodium fluoride (NaF) in inducing neuroimmunological, oxidative and antioxidative damage. METHODS: Twenty-four male Wistar rats broadly grouped into four groups containing six rats in each were fed with drinking water containing 20 ppm, 60 ppm, 100 ppm and 0.8 ppm (control) NaF. After 90 days, rats were sacrificed to assess the level of fluoride content and various neurotransmitters in brain. The levels of CD4, natural killer (NK) cells and IgG1 were assessed in blood and spleen. In addition, lipid peroxidation coupled with the levels of various antioxidative enzymes was also recorded. RESULTS: Increase in the NaF concentration resulted in increased fluoride deposition in brain tissue. This increased fluoride content led to increased levels of certain neurotransmitters such as epinephrine, histamine, serotonin and glutamate and decreased levels of norepinephrine, acetylcholine and dopamine in a dose-dependent manner. NaF exposure led to the decrease in the levels of CD4, NK cells and IgG1 coupled with marked increase in lipid peroxidation and impairment of the antioxidative defense system. CONCLUSION: The result of the study emphasizes the toxic role of high NaF doses on the neurological and immunological functions.

Synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of Cu(II) containing chlorocadmiumphosphate Cd(HPO4)Cl·[H3N(CH2)6NH3]0.5 crystals.

Chlorocadmiumphosphate Cd(HPO(4))Cl·[H(3)N(CH(2))(6)NH(3)](0.5) crystals containing Cu(II) ions have been successfully synthesized at room temperature by using organic amine 1,6-diamino hexane as a template. The samples are characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, Thermal and spectroscopic studies. These are crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system with cell dimensions: a=1.7697, b=0.6576, c=1.9026nm and ß=106.5°. FT-IR spectrum showed the absorption bands related to PO(4), NH(3)(+) ions and other organic molecule vibrations originated from the templated molecule. The prepared crystals are stable at room temperature and as well as up to around 300°C which were confirmed by thermal analysis. Optical absorption and EPR studies suggest that Cu(II) ion enters in to the lattice as tetragonally distorted octahedral symmetry, for which crystal field and spin-Hamiltonian parameters are calculated. Bonding parameters are suggesting that there exists partial covalent nature between Cu(II) ions and ligands.

Mixed alkali effect and optical properties of Ni2+ doped 20ZnO+xLi2O+(30-x)Na2O+50B2O3 glasses.

Optical and physical properties of Ni2+ doped 20ZnO+xLi2O+(30-x)Na2O+50B2O3 (5≤x≤25) glasses are carried out at room temperature. Powder XRD pattern of all the glass samples confirms the amorphous nature. Several physical parameters are evaluated for all the glasses with respect to the composition. The optical absorption spectra confirm the site symmetry of the Ni2+ doped glasses are near octahedral. Crystal field and inter-electronic repulsion parameters are also evaluated. It is interesting to observe that the optical band gap and Urbach energies exhibit the mixed alkali effect. The FT-IR spectral investigations of Ni2+ doped glasses exhibit characteristic vibrations of BO3 and BO4 units.

Synthesis, spectral characterization and biological activities of Mn(II) and Co(II) complexes with benzyloxybenzaldehyde-4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazone.

Mn(II) and Co(II) complexes of benzyloxybenzaldehyde-4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazone have been synthesized and characterized by the investigations of electronic and EPR spectra and X-ray diffraction. Based on the spectral studies, an octahedral geometry is assigned for the Mn(II) and Co(II) complexes. X-ray powder diffraction studies reveal that Mn(II) and Co(II) complexes have triclinic crystal lattices. The unit cell parameters of the Mn(II) complex are a=11.0469 Å, b=6.2096 Å, c=7.4145 Å, α=90.646°, ß=95.127°, γ=104.776°, V=489.7 Å(3) and those of Co(II) complex are a=9.3236 Å, b=10.2410 Å, c=7.8326 Å, α=90.694°, ß=99.694°, γ=100.476°, V=724.2 Å(3). When the free ligand and its metal complexes are subjected to antibacterial activity, the metal complexes are proved to be more active than the ligand. However with regard to in vitro antioxidant activity, the ligand exhibits greater antioxidant activity than its metal(II) complexes.

Copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes of benzyloxybenzaldehyde-4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazone: Synthesis, characterization and biological activity.

Benzyloxybenzaldehyde-4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazone ligand (L) has been synthesized from benzyloxybenzaldehyde and 4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazide. Complexes of this ligand with chlorides of Cu(II) and Ni(II) have been prepared. The structure of the ligand (L) is proposed based on elemental analysis, IR and (1)H NMR spectra. Its complexes with Cu(II) and Ni(II) ions are characterized from the studies of electronic as well as EPR spectra. On the basis of electronic and EPR studies, rhombically distorted octahedral structure has been proposed for Cu(II) complex while the Ni(II) complex has been found to acquire an octahedral structure. The ligand and their metal complexes have been tested in vitro for their biological effects. Their antibacterial activities against Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae) and Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) have been investigated. The prepared metal complexes exhibit higher antibacterial activities than the parent ligand. The in vitro antioxidant activity of free ligand and its metal(II) complexes have also been investigated and the results however reveal that the ligand exhibits greater antioxidant activity than its complexes.

Optical and EPR studies of iron bearing phosphate minerals: satterlyite and gormanite from Yukon Territory, Canada.

The iron phosphate minerals satterlyite and gormanite have been investigated by EPR and optical absorption studies. The optical results indicate the presence of ferrous and ferric ions in both minerals. In gormanite the site symmetry of Fe(III) is near octahedral whereas in satterlyite it is tetragonally distorted. On the other hand, the Fe(II) ions are in tetragonally distorted octahedral site in both minerals. In satterlyite the EPR results indicate the presence of the ferric ion in a tetragonally distorted state together with a small percentage of Mn(II). Crystal field (Dq) and interelectronic parameters (B and C) are evaluated.

Spectral investigations on melanterite mineral from France.

EPR, Optical and IR spectral studies on a naturally occurring mineral melanterite are carried out at room temperature. EPR studies indicate the presence of Cu(II) ion in tetragonally distorted octahedral site and hyperfine lines could not be resolved due to higher concentration of the paramagnetic impurity in the mineral. Optical absorption spectrum is a characteristic of Fe(II) and Cu(II) ions. Crystal field parameters are evaluated. IR spectrum confirms the presence of water and sulphate ions.

Single crystal EPR and optical studies of paramagnetic ions doped zinc potassium phosphate hexahydrate--part I: Cu(II)--a case of orthorhombic symmetry.

Single crystal electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies on Cu(II) doped zinc potassium phosphate hexahydrate (ZPPH) were carried out at room temperature. The angular variation spectra in the three orthogonal planes indicate that the paramagnetic impurity has entered the lattice substitutionally in place of Zn(II) and the spin Hamiltonian parameters calculated from these spectra are g(xx) = 2.188, g(yy) = 2.032, g(zz) = 2.373, Axx = 50 G, Ayy = 65.0 G and Azz = 80 G. The g and A tensors were coincident and these values matched fairly well with the values obtained from powder spectrum. The bonding parameters have also been calculated.

Single crystal EPR and optical studies of paramagnetic ions doped zinc potassium phosphate hexahydrate--part II: VO(II)--a case of substitutional site.

Single crystal electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies were carried at room temperature for VO(II) doped zinc potassium phosphate hexahydrate. The results indicate that the paramagnetic impurity has entered the lattice only substitutionally, as confirmed by the single crystal rotations. The spin Hamiltonian parameters calculated from the spectra are g parallel = 1.9356, g perpendicular = 1.9764, A parallel = 200.9 G and A perpendicular = 76.5 G. The optical absorption spectrum exhibits three bands (800, 670 and 340 nm) suggesting the C4v symmetry and the optical parameters evaluated are Dq = 1492, Ds = -3854 and Dt = 186 cm(-1).

Port-site metastasis following laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a review of the literature and a case report.

Port-site metastasis following laparoscopic cholecystectomy with unsuspected gallbladder carcinoma is a serious problem. We reviewed 45 such cases reported in the English literature to date, and add another case which occurred in a 72-year-old female 13 months after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallstones, who also had an unapparent gallbladder carcinoma. Pre-operative diagnosis of gallbladder carcinoma is possible in less than 10% of cases, with a high index of suspicion. If detected during laparoscopy early conversion to open procedure is recommended. If diagnosed later, however, to contemplate further radical operation depending on histopathology would be unwise as a universal approach, because of increased associated morbidity and mortality. The prospect of cure is also very unrealistic in this condition.