A Study of Autonomic Modulations with Short Term Heart Rate Variability in Bronchial Asthma Patients And It’s Correlation with Pulmonary Function Tests

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by airway hyper-responsiveness, chronic wheezing, cough and chest tightness. Bronchial asthma is associated with positive family history hence the genetic history is predisposing factor in development of asthma. The previous studies showed that there was an imbalance favoring the parasympathetic system in the asthmatic airways. This study was done to compare the autonomic modulation between asthmatic patients and normal subjects based on short term heart rate variability. METHODS: This cross sectional study involved 30 asthmatic patients and 30 normal subjects in an age group of 20 to 45 years. Spiropalm digital airflow spirometry was used to assess the pulmonary functions. Neviqure digital electrocardiography recorder was used to study 5 minutes HRV and Finland software was used for analysis of HRV. Data was analyzed by SPSS software using independent student t test, Chi square test and Pearson correlation analysis. RESULTS: The time domains measures SDNN, RMSSD, NN50, and pNN50% are significantly decreased in asthmatics compared to the normal subjects. The frequency domain measures VLF and LF are decreased while HF is increased significantly in asthmatic patients. The Chi square test between bronchial asthma and positive family history shows that the person with positive family history of bronchial asthma has 45 times more chance of getting the disease. The Pearson correlation analysis shows HF has significant negative correlation with FEV1%. CONCLUSION: There is a significant increase in central vagal outflow and concomitant low sympathetic outflow in asthmatic patients. There is in an increased parasympathetic activity with increase in the severity of bronchial asthma. Low beat to beat variability is observed in asthmatics which is a predictor of cardiac mortality and morbidity. 90% of bronchial patients have positive family history

Prospective study on Association of Helicobacter pylori infection in Colorectal Cancer in Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai

INTRODUCTION: Colorectal cancers hold a major burden of cancer and cancer-related deaths in the world. Colorectal cancers were studied extensively for their association with environmental and dietary factors, and gut microflora. As these include modifiable risk factors there is a potential for their role in primary prevention of colorectal cancers. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) being highly prevalent in general population, any evidence of its role in colorectal carcinomas will warrant early screening and eradication of this risk factor. H. pylori is known to be associated with a large spectrum of gastric and extra-gastric conditions. H. pylori has been recognized as a class I human carcinogen by the International agency for cancer research. There are recent reports on the role of H. pylori in the promotion of tumour growth in extra-gastric organs, of which its role in colorectal neoplasm is gaining interest. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association of H. pylori infection and colorectal cancers and determine the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with colorectal cancers. To examine the possible correlation of overall H. pylori infection and the CagA strains with the site, histopathological differentiation, stage and metastasis of colorectal cancer. METHODS: This study was carried out in the Department of General Surgery, GRH Madurai between August 2018 and August 2019. The patient considered to have H. pylori infection if either CagA ELISA test or H. pylori stool antigen test were positive. RESULTS: The present study showed that there was no association between H. pylori infection and colorectal cancers. Except for identified risk with CagA strains of H. pylori in relation to well-differentiated adenocarcinoma, there was no association of CagA strains with the site, histopathological differentiation, stage and metastasis of disease. CONCLUSION: Though our study did not show any correlation of H. pylori infection with colorectal cancers, it would add a small amount of evidence to the large pool of further research required to objectify the correlation between the two

Influence of CNSL Biodiesel with Ethanol Additive on Diesel Engine Performance and Exhaust Emission”,

ABSTRACT Vegetable oils are a potential alternative to the partial or total substitution of diesel fuels. In this study, we used ethanol as an additive to investigate the possible use of higher percentages of biodiesel in an unmodified diesel engine. Biodiesel was made by pyrolysis process. Cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) was selected for biodiesel production. Number 2 diesel fuel containing 20% biodiesel and 80% diesel fuel, is called here as B20. The effects of ethanol, blended with B20 in 5, 10, 15 % by volume were used in a single cylinder, four strokes direct injection diesel engine. The effect of test fuels on engine torque, power, brake specific fuel consumption, brake thermal efficiency, exhaust gas temperature, were ascertained by performance tests. The influence of blends on CO, CO 2 , HC, NO and smoke opacity were investigated by emission tests. The experimental results showed that the exhaust emissions for 10% ethanol with B20 were fairly reduced, especially the NO is reduced remarkably by 57% while comparing B20

Impact of Empowering Leadership on Organizational Performance

Empowering Leadership nowadays is considered one of the most important features of the human resources in an organization in order to boost the productivity of the employees and maximize the performance of the organizations. However, this research will study the importance of empowering leadership and their effect on the performance of the organization as a whole. The research will use quantitative method for collecting data, and then analyzing them using regression analysis and Z-Test in the SPSS statistical tool in order to maintain the results and validate the hypothesis of the research. The findings of the study stated that motivation, job satisfaction, compensation benefits and performance appraisals have a direct effect on leadership in the workplace. The higher the leadership is in the workplace, the higher the performance of the employees will be

Ionic liquids at electrified interfaces

Until recently, “room-temperature” (<100–150 °C) liquid-state electrochemistry was mostly electrochemistry of diluted electrolytes(1)–(4) where dissolved salt ions were surrounded by a considerable amount of solvent molecules. Highly concentrated liquid electrolytes were mostly considered in the narrow (albeit important) niche of high-temperature electrochemistry of molten inorganic salts(5-9) and in the even narrower niche of “first-generation” room temperature ionic liquids, RTILs (such as chloro-aluminates and alkylammonium nitrates).(10-14) The situation has changed dramatically in the 2000s after the discovery of new moisture- and temperature-stable RTILs.(15, 16) These days, the “later generation” RTILs attracted wide attention within the electrochemical community.(17-31) Indeed, RTILs, as a class of compounds, possess a unique combination of properties (high charge density, electrochemical stability, low/negligible volatility, tunable polarity, etc.) that make them very attractive substances from fundamental and application points of view.(32-38) Most importantly, they can mix with each other in “cocktails” of one’s choice to acquire the desired properties (e.g., wider temperature range of the liquid phase(39, 40)) and can serve as almost “universal” solvents.(37, 41, 42) It is worth noting here one of the advantages of RTILs as compared to their high-temperature molten salt (HTMS)(43) “sister-systems”.(44) In RTILs the dissolved molecules are not imbedded in a harsh high temperature environment which could be destructive for many classes of fragile (organic) molecules

Ultrafast All-Polymer Paper-Based Batteries

Conducting polymers for battery applications have been subject to numerous investigations during the last two decades. However, the functional charging rates and the cycling stabilities have so far been found to be insufficient for practical applications. These shortcomings can, at least partially, be explained by the fact that thick layers of the conducting polymers have been used to obtain sufficient capacities of the batteries. In the present letter, we introduce a novel nanostructured high-surface area electrode material for energy storage applications composed of cellulose fibers of algal origin individually coated with a 50 nm thin layer of polypyrrole. Our results show the hitherto highest reported charge capacities and charging rates for an all polymer paper-based battery. The composite conductive paper material is shown to have a specific surface area of 80 m2 g-1 and batteries based on this material can be charged with currents as high as 600 mA cm-2 with only 6 % loss in capacity over 100 subsequent charge and discharge cycles. The aqueous-based batteries, which are entirely based on cellulose and polypyrrole and exhibit charge capacities between 25 and 33 mAh g-1 or 38-50 mAh g-1 per weight of the active material, open up new possibilities for the production of environmentally friendly, cost efficient, up-scalable and lightweight energy storage systems. There is currently a great interest in the development of thin, flexible, lightweight, and environmentally friendly batteries and supercapacitors.1 In this process, the preparation of novel redox polymer and electronically conducting polymer-base

Gene Transcription Changes in Asthmatic Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps and Comparison to Those in Atopic Dermatitis

Asthmatic chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (aCRSwNP) is a common disruptive eosinophilic disease without effective medical treatment. Therefore, we sought to identify gene expression changes, particularly those occurring early, in aCRSwNP. To highlight expression changes associated with eosinophilic epithelial inflammation, we further compared the changes in aCRSwNP with those in a second eosinophilic epithelial disease, atopic dermatitis (AD), which is also closely related to asthma.Genome-wide mRNA levels measured by exon array in both nasosinus inflamed mucosa and adjacent polyp from 11 aCRSwNP patients were compared to those in nasosinus tissue from 17 normal or rhinitis subjects without polyps. Differential expression of selected genes was confirmed by qRT-PCR or immunoassay, and transcription changes common to AD were identified. Comparison of aCRSwNP inflamed mucosa and polyp to normal/rhinitis tissue identified 447 differentially transcribed genes at > or = 2 fold-change and adjusted p-value < 0.05. These included increased transcription of chemokines localized to chromosome 17q11.2 (CCL13, CCL2, CCL8, and CCL11) that favor eosinophil and monocyte chemotaxis and chemokines (CCL18, CCL22, and CXCL13) that alternatively-activated monocyte-derived cells have been shown to produce. Additional transcription changes likely associated with Th2-like eosinophilic inflammation were prominent and included increased IL1RL1 (IL33 receptor) and EMR1&3 and decreased CRISP2&3. A down-regulated PDGFB-centric network involving several smooth muscle-associated genes was also implicated. Genes at 17q11.2, genes associated with alternative activation or smooth muscle, and the IL1RL1 gene were also differentially transcribed in AD.Our data implicate several genes or gene sets in aCRSwNP and eosinophilic epithelial inflammation, some that likely act in the earlier stages of inflammation. The identified gene expression changes provide additional diagnostic and therapeutic targets for aCRSwNP and other eosinophilic epithelial diseases

IL-33 Is Produced by Mast Cells and Regulates IgE-Dependent Inflammation

Background: IL-33 is a recently characterized IL-1 family cytokine and found to be expressed in inflammatory diseases, including severe asthma and inflammatory bowl disease. Recombinant IL-33 has been shown to enhance Th2-associated immune responses and potently increase mast cell proliferation and cytokine production. While IL-33 is constitutively expressed in endothelial and epithelial cells, where it may function as a transcriptional regulator, cellular sources of IL-33 and its role in inflammation remain unclear. Methodology/Principal Findings: Here, we identify mast cells as IL-33 producing cells. IgE/antigen activation of bone marrow-derived mast cells or a murine mast cell line (MC/9) significantly enhanced IL-33. Conversely, recombinant IL-33 directly activated mast cells to produce several cytokines including IL-4, IL-5 and IL-6 but not IL-33. We show that expression of IL-33 in response to IgE-activation required calcium and that ionomycin was sufficient to induce IL-33. In vivo, peritoneal mast cells expressed IL-33 and IL-33 levels were significantly lower within the skin of mast cell deficient mice, compared to littermate controls. Local activation of mast cells promotes edema, followed by the recruitment of inflammatory cells. We demonstrate using passive cutaneous anaphylaxis, a mast cell-dependent model, that deficiency in ST2 or antibody blockage of ST2 or IL-33 ablated the late phase inflammatory response but that the immediate phase response was unaffected. IL-33 levels in the skin were significantly elevated only during the late phase

Anti-diabetic effects of Campomanesia xanthocarpa (Berg) leaf decoction

The objective of this research was to identify the effects of 3-week treatment of normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats using a leaf decoction of Campomanesia xanthocarpa Berg. (20 g/L) on physiological, biochemical and histological parameters. Streptozotocin (STZ, 70 mg/kg in citrate buffer, pH 4.5) was administered IP to induce experimental diabetes one week prior to the treatment. STZ caused typical diabetic symptoms: polydypsia, polyuria, polyphagia, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia and histopathological modifications in the pancreas, liver and kidney. The treatment of diabetic rats using the decoction decreased blood glucose levels, inhibited hepatic glycogen loss, and prevented potential histopathological alterations in the pancreas and kidneys. No differences were found between the control rats treated with the decoction and the control rats maintained on water only. In conclusion, these results suggest that C. xanthocarpa leaf decoction (20g/L) might be useful for diabetes mellitus management, but further pharmacological and toxicological studies are needed.O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar os efeitos do tratamento com o decocto das folhas de Campomanesia xanthocarpa Berg. (20 g/L), durante 3 semanas, sobre parâmetros fisiológicos, bioquímicos e histológicos de ratos normais e diabéticos induzidos por estreptozotocina. O diabete melito foi induzido uma semana antes de iniciar o tratamento experimental, pela administração IP de estreptozotocina (STZ, 70 mg/kg em tampão citrato, pH 4.5). Os ratos tratados com STZ apresentaram sintomas típicos de diabete: polifagia, polidipsia, hiperglicemia, hipertrigliceridemia e alterações histopatológicas no pâncreas, fígado e rim. O tratamento dos ratos diabéticos com o decocto diminuiu os níveis de glicose sanguínea, inibiu a degradação do glicogênio hepático e preveniu possíveis alterações histopatológicas no pâncreas e no rim. Nos ratos controles tratados com o decocto não foram verificadas diferenças significativas em relação aos controles tratados com água. Em conclusão, os resultados sugerem que o tratamento com o decocto das folhas de C. xanthocarpa leaf decoction (20 g/L) possa ser útil para o manejo do diabete melito, porém estudos farmacológicos e toxicológicos ainda são necessários