Bioremediation of industrial waste through mushroom cultivation.

Handmade paper and cardboard industries are involved in processing of cellulosic and ligno-cellulosic substances for making paper by hand or simple machinery. In the present study solid sludge and effluent of both cardboard and handmade paper industries was collected for developing a mushroom cultivation technique to achieve zero waste discharges. Findings of present research work reveals that when 50% paper industries waste is used by mixing with 50% (w/w) wheat straw, significant increase (96.38%) in biological efficiency over control of wheat straw was observed. Further, cultivated basidiocarps showed normal morphology of stipe and pileus. Cross section of lamellae did not show any abnormality in the attachment of basidiospores, hymenal trama and basidium. No toxicity was found when fruiting bodies were tested chemically.

Balloon dilatation of inferior vena cava stenosis in Budd-Chiari syndrome.

Percutaneous balloon angioplasty was used to dilate inferior vena cava (IVC) stenosis in 12 patients with Budd Chiari syndrome. There were seven men and five women, aged 32.8 +/- 8.5 years. Angioplasty was performed using balloon 18-20 mm in diameter. In eleven (91.6%) patients, IVC could be successfully dilated. In these eleven patients, the caval diameter at the site of stenosis increased from 2.3 +/- 1.5 to 13.1 +/- 2.8 mm (p < 0.001), the mean IVC pressure decreased from 28.2 +/- 4.1 to 10.5 +/- 3.4 mmHg (p < 0.001) and the gradient across the stenosis decreased from 23.1 +/- 2.2 to 4.2 +/- 1.9 mmHg (p < 0.001). There was appreciable clinical improvement after angioplasty. On a mean followup of 10.8 (3-18) months four (36.4%) patients had restenosis which could be successfully dilated again. These results suggest that balloon dilatation of inferior vena cava stenosis is safe and effective, however, recurrence is common and needs redilatation.

Renal angiomyolipoma (report of 2 cases).

Renal angiomyolipoma, a rare benign renal neoplasm constitutes less than 3 percent of all renal neoplasm. Two rare cases of renal angiomyolipoma were reported from the Department of Pathology, Dr. S.N. Medical College, Jodhpur in last fifteen years. Both were not associated with tuberous sclerosis. The relevant literature on the subject is reviewed.

Ventilatory function in Nigerian coal miners.

Ventilatory capacity has been measured in 675 Nigerian colliery employees classified in three groups according to occupation: coalface workers, other underground workers with low exposure to dust, and surface workers in administrative and clerical jobs. Men with current respiratory symptoms were excluded, as were ex-miners. The faceworkers were a slightly older group who smoked less, and they were presumed to be more active. Faceworkers had a highest forced vital capacities (adjusted for age and stature) but the lowest values for indices reflecting maximal expiratory airflows, (FEV1/FVC, PFR FEF, and FMF). Apparently coalface work is associated with an 8% impairment of maximum expiratory airflow, probably due to dust exposure, but also with a modest enhancement in FVC, possibly due to training of the respiratory muscles. Regression coefficients on age for the airflow indices are significantly more negative in faceworkers than in the other groups. Smoking and duration of service did not significantly affect the pattern of results. FEV1 does not vary among the occupational groups in the colliery, and the mean value is close to that predicted on the basis of reference equations previously obtained for non-miners in Nigeria.