Earlier surgical intervention in congenital heart disease results in better outcome and resource utilization

Background:Congenital heart disease (CHD) accounts for a major proportion of disease in the pediatric age group. The objective of the study was to estimate the cost of illness associated with CHD pre, intra and postoperatively, among Patients referred to a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. This is the first study conducted to estimate the cost of managing CHD in Pakistan. Methods: A prevalence based cost of illness Study Design was used to estimate the cost of cardiac surgery (corrective & palliative) for congenital heart defects in children Results:The mean age at the time of surgery in group A (1-12 mo age) was 6.08 +/- 2.80 months and in group B (1-5 yrs) was 37.10 +/- 19.94 months. The cost of surgical admission was found to be significantly higher in the older group, p = 0.001. The total number and cost of post-operative outPatient visits was also higher in group B, p = 0.003. Pre and post operative hospital admissions were not found to be significantly different among the two groups, p = 0.166 and 0.627, respectively. The number of complications were found to be different between the two groups (p = 0.019). Majority of these were contributed by hemorrhage and post-operative seizures. Conclusion: This study concluded that significant expenditure is incurred by people with CHD, with the implication that resources could be saved by earlier detection and awareness campaigns

Near-Field Scanning Microwave Microscopy: Measuring Local Microwave Properties and Electric Field Distributions

We describe the near-field microwave microscopy of microwave devices on a length scale much smaller than the wavelength used for imaging. Our microscope can be operated in two possible configurations, allowing a quantitative study of either material properties or local electric fields.Comment: 4 pages, 8 figures, minor corrections to text and 2 figure

Karo Kari : the murder of honour in Sindh Pakistan : an ethnographic study

This paper aims to discuss the wider context, in which honour murders occur, the social structures which contribute to the occurrence and perpetuation of the practice of honour murders. An ethnographic fieldwork was conducted in Jacobabad Sindh, Pakistan. The study found that honour murders were not solely driven by customs and traditions, but also by a feudal culture, male-dominated social structures, the complicit role of state institutions and law enforcement agencies and a web of vested interests. Therefore, honour murders may be prevented by reducing the influence and interference of feudal lords on state institutions, in particular law enforcement agencies, and by promoting education that challenges a patriarchal and feudal mind-set in the community

Microwave Near-Field Imaging of Electric Fields in a Superconducting Microstrip Resonator

We describe the use of a cryogenic near-field scanning microwave microscope to image microwave electric fields from superconducting and normal-metal microstrip resonators. The microscope employs an open-ended coaxial probe and operates from 77 to 300 K in the 0.01-20 GHz frequency range with a spatial resolution of about 200 mm. We describe the operation of the system and present microwave images of Cu and Tl2Ba2CaCu2O8 microstrip resonators, showing standing wave patterns at the fundamental and second harmonic frequencies.Comment: 9 pages, 3 eps figure

Imaging Microwave Electric Fields Using a Near-Field Scanning Microwave Microscope

By scanning a fine open-ended coaxial probe above an operating microwave device, we image local electric fields generated by the device at microwave frequencies. The probe is sensitive to the electric flux normal to the face of its center conductor, allowing different components of the field to be imaged by orienting the probe appropriately. Using a simple model of the microscope, we are able to interpret the system's output and determine the magnitude of the electric field at the probe tip. We show images of electric field components above a copper microstrip transmission line driven at 8 GHz, with a spatial resolution of approximately 200 $\mu$m.Comment: 10 pages, 3 eps-figures, accepted by Appl. Phys. Let

Effects of Inhaled Brevetoxins in Allergic Airways: Toxin–Allergen Interactions and Pharmacologic Intervention

During a Florida red tide, brevetoxins produced by the dinoflagellate Karenia brevis become aerosolized and cause airway symptoms in humans, especially in those with pre-existing airway disease (e.g., asthma). To understand these toxin-induced airway effects, we used sheep with airway hypersensitivity to Ascaris suum antigen as a surrogate for asthmatic patients and studied changes in pulmonary airflow resistance (R(L)) after inhalation challenge with lysed cultures of K. brevis (crude brevetoxins). Studies were done without and with clinically available drugs to determine which might prevent/reverse these effects. Crude brevetoxins (20 breaths at 100 pg/mL; n = 5) increased R (L) 128 ± 6% (mean ± SE) over baseline. This bronchoconstriction was significantly reduced (% inhibition) after pretreatment with the glucocorticosteroid budesonide (49%), the β (2) adrenergic agent albuterol (71%), the anticholinergic agent atropine (58%), and the histamine H(1)-antagonist diphenhydramine (47%). The protection afforded by atropine and diphenhydramine suggests that both cholinergic (vagal) and H(1)-mediated pathways contribute to the bronchoconstriction. The response to cutaneous toxin injection was also histamine mediated. Thus, the airway and skin data support the hypothesis that toxin activates mast cells in vivo. Albuterol given immediately after toxin challenge rapidly reversed the bronchoconstriction. Toxin inhalation increased airway kinins, and the response to inhaled toxin was enhanced after allergen challenge. Both factors could contribute to the increased sensitivity of asthmatic patients to toxin exposure. We conclude that K. brevis aerosols are potent airway constrictors. Clinically available drugs may be used to prevent or provide therapeutic relief for affected individuals

Extraction of minor actinides, lanthanides and other fission products by silica-immobilized BTBP/BTPhen ligands

Novel BTBP [bis-(1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)-2,2’-bipyridine] / BTPhen [bis-(1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)-1,10-phenanthroline] functionalized silica gels have been developed to extract minor actinides, lanthanides and other fission products. BTPhen functionalized silica gel is capable of near-quantitative removal of Am(III) in the presence of Eu(III) from aqueous HNO3, while BTBP functionalized silica gel is able to remove problematic corrosion and fission products that are found in PUREX raffinates

Synthesis of novel BTPhen-functionalized silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles for separating trivalent actinides and lanthanides

BTPhen [bis-(1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)-1,10-phenanthroline] functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), which selectively extracts Am(III) over Eu(III) from 0.1 M HNO3 with fast kinetics and a separation factor of 30 have been synthesized. These MNPs also show a small but significant selectivity for Am(III) over Cm(III) with a separation factor of around 3 in 0.1 M HNO3. We report also the synthesis of these BTPhen and related ligands via an improved synthetic route by-passing the problematic benzylic oxidation with stoichiometric SeO2

Frequency Following Imaging of Electric Fields from Resonant Superconducting Devices using a Scanning Near-Field Microwave Microscope

We have developed a scanning near-field microwave microscope that operates at cryogenic temperatures. Our system uses an open-ended coaxial probe with a 200 mm inner conductor diameter and operates from 77 to 300 K in the 0.01-20 GHz frequency range. In this paper, we present microwave images of the electric field distribution above a Tl2Ba2CaCu2O8 microstrip resonator at 77 K, measured at several heights. In addition, we describe the use of a frequency-following circuit to study the influence of the probe on the resonant frequency of the device.Comment: 4 pages, postscript file with 6 figures conference proceeding for the Applied Superconductivity Conference 199