Peristaltic Pumping of Blood Through Small Vessels of Varying Cross-section

The paper is devoted to a study of the peristaltic motion of blood in the micro-circulatory system. The vessel is considered to be of varying cross-section. The progressive peristaltic waves are taken to be of sinusoidal nature. Blood is considered to be a Herschel-Bulkley fluid. Of particular concern here is to investigate the effects of amplitude ratio, mean pressure gradient, yield stress and the power law index on the velocity distribution, streamline pattern and wall shear stress. On the basis of the derived analytical expression, extensive numerical calculations have been made. The study reveals that velocity of blood and wall shear stress are appreciably affected due to the non-uniform geometry of blood vessels. They are also highly sensitive to the magnitude of the amplitude ratio and the value of the fluid index.Comment: Accepted for publication in ASME journal of Applied Mechanics. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1108.1285v

INSPEC on FirstSearch: An Evaluation and tutorial for Effective Searching

This paper focuses on providing critical evaluation and searching tips for users of the INSPEC database on FirstSearch on the Web. It introduces the idea of records and fields, fields searching to focus a search for effective retrieval, and the use of the Related Headings feature. Also explained is the idea of precision searching using the proximity operators and bound-phrase searching capabilities. Other ways to search for specific types of information (for example, foreign names, reviews, theses and dissertations, and chemical searching) are also presented. We provide practical examples to illustrate the search features using the Basic, Advanced, and Command searching modes

Uterine artery Doppler analysis at 11-14 weeks as a predictor of intra-uterine growth restriction

Background: Successful pregnancy results from reciprocity between placental and maternal cardiovascular system. Intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a condition which arises from insufficiency of placenta and can be seen as variations in waveforms in uterine artery (UtA). In our study, we studied, whether predictive accuracy of various UtA Doppler indices for IUGR in first trimester early enough to provide an intervention for prevention of IUGR, as it was a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality.Methods: The study design was a prospective observational study. UtA Doppler was done at 11-14 weeks in 120 pregnancies attending the outpatient and inpatient department of obstetrics and gynaecology, PCMS, Bhopal. The left and right UtA velocity waveforms were studied. Mean pulsatility index (PI), mean resistive index (RI) and diastolic notch were noted. Results obtained were analyzed and tabulated.Results: Amongst these, 25.86% developed IUGR. First trimester UtA mean RI and PI were remarkably elevated in patients who developed IUGR on follow up. No relationship was noted between diastolic notch and IUGR. Mean RI and PI were found to be good predictors of IUGR. Using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve, the best cut-off of mean RI and mean PI to detect IUGR was 0.68 and 1.56 respectively.Conclusions: UtA Doppler at 11-14 weeks of gestation recognizes a huge proportion of women who will develop IUGR.

Role of titrated low dose oral misoprostol solution in induction of labour

Background: Oxytocin is a time tested drug used for induction of labour. However, certain disadvantages associated with oxytocin can be countered if misoprostol is used for the same purpose. But excessive uterine contractility has been a cause of concern with misoprostol use. Based on pharmacological profile of misoprostol, this study was carried out using oral misoprostol solution for induction of labour in low dose, titrated according to uterine contractions and the outcomes were compared with oxytocin.Methods: A total of 157 women fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled in the study and cervical ripening was carried out. After the cervix became favorable (Bishop Score >6), a total of 54 women received titrated oral low dose misoprostol (group 1), and 52 received intravenous oxytocin (group 2). Both the drugs were compared in terms of labour outcomes, efficacy, adverse effects and neonatal outcomes.Results: There was no significant difference in the mean induction to onset of labour interval and mean induction to delivery interval in group 1 and group 2. Also, there was no significant difference in the modes of delivery and adverse effects and neonatal outcomes in both the groups, except group 1 had a significantly lower incidence of neonates with Apgar score <7 at 5 min.Conclusions: For induction of labour in women with term gestation after cervical priming, low dose oral misoprostol solution in titrated doses and intravenous oxytocin were found to be comparable with each other in terms of labour outcomes, efficacy and adverse effects

The preventive effects of two nutraceuticals on experimentally induced acute synovitis

Background: Nutraceuticals are often used in the management of equine osteoarthritis, but scientific evidence of their efficacy is lacking. Objectives: To study the preventive effects of two new nutraceuticals after the experimental induction of synovitis in comparison with positive and negative control treatments. Study design: Blinded, controlled, randomised experiment. Methods: Twenty-four healthy Standardbred horses were randomly allocated to supplement AT (multi-ingredient, 28 days), supplement HP (collagen hydrolysate, 60 days), meloxicam (4 days) or placebo (60 days). Synovitis was induced in the right intercarpal joint by intra-articular injection of 0.5 ng lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Escherichia coli while treatments were continued. Blood and synovial fluid were sampled before treatment, immediately prior to LPS injection, and at 8, 24 and 48 h post-injection. Synovial fluid samples were analysed for total nucleated cell count (TNCC), total protein (TP) and selected biomarkers (prostaglandin E2 [PGE2], interleukin-6 [IL-6], glycosaminoglycans [GAGs], type II collagen synthesis [CPII], matrix metalloproteinase [MMP]). Lameness was scored by visual examination and pressure plate analysis immediately prior to LPS injection, and at 8, 24 and 48 h post-injection. Clinical examinations were performed before treatment, immediately prior to LPS injection, at 2, 4 and 6 h post-injection, and then twice per day during the test period. Results: Before treatment and intra-articular challenge, there were no statistically significant differences among the treatment groups for any of the parameters. After intra-articular challenge, the placebo group showed significantly higher synovial fluid TP, TNCC and PGE2 compared with the meloxicam group, although the model did not induce a relevant amount of lameness. Both nutraceuticals resulted in significantly lower synovial fluid TP, TNCC and PGE2 compared with placebo. No statistical differences in IL-6, GAGs, CPII or MMPs were observed among treatment groups. No adverse effects were observed. Main limitations: Despite evidence of synovitis, lameness was too mild to detect. Conclusions: The preventive administration of these nutraceuticals showed anti-inflammatory effects in this validated synovitis model. Therefore, further studies of their clinical applicability are warranted

Role of pregnancy associated plasma protein-A and doppler velocimetry in the assessment of fetomaternal outcome in high risk pregnancy

Background: The study aimed at defining the role of Pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and uterine artery doppler (Ut.A.PI) in the development of adverse pregnancy outcome (APO) in high risk pregnancies.Methods: This was an observational study where 100 singleton pregnancies at high risk of development of APO, between 11 to 13 + 6 weeks POG were enrolled. PAPP-A levels were measured at 11 to 13 + 6 weeks POG and uterine artery doppler PI was measured at 20 weeks. Women were followed till delivery. Pregnancy outcome were seen and a cut off at which APO developed was derived.Results: In this study women with lower mean PAPP-A (0.75±0.19 MOM versus 1.23±0.31MOM) (p&lt;0.001) values and higher Ut.A.PI (1.43±0.35MOM versus 0.99±0.25MOM) (p&lt;0.001) developed APO. Cut off value for PAPP-A and Ut.A.PI was determined and was found to be ≤11.65 µg/ml (≤0.79MoM) and   &gt;1.42 (&gt;1.19MoM) respectively which was higher than what is determined in other studies done on low risks populations thereby suggesting for an intervention or more meticulous observations at a higher cut offs.Conclusions: PAPP-A and uterine artery doppler are already being used for the screening of preeclampsia in most of the countries but not for other adverse pregnancy outcomes. PAPP-A levels along with the uterine artery PI in predicting APO in high risk women has high negative predictive value. Hence can be uses as a screening method in high risk population whether they should be used for low risk population also needs further evaluation

Use of Cooking Fuels and Cataract in a Population-Based Study: The India Eye Disease Study.

BACKGROUND: Biomass cooking fuels are commonly used in Indian households, especially by the poorest socioeconomic groups. Cataract is highly prevalent in India and the major cause of vision loss. The evidence on biomass fuels and cataract is limited. OBJECTIVES: To examine the association of biomass cooking fuels with cataract and type of cataract. METHODS: We conducted a population-based study in north and south India using randomly sampled clusters to identify people ≥ 60 years old. Participants were interviewed and asked about cooking fuel use, socioeconomic and lifestyle factors and attended hospital for digital lens imaging (graded using the Lens Opacity Classification System III), anthropometry, and blood collection. Years of use of biomass fuels were estimated and transformed to a standardized normal distribution. RESULTS: Of the 7,518 people sampled, 94% were interviewed and 83% of these attended the hospital. Sex modified the association between years of biomass fuel use and cataract; the adjusted odds ratio (OR) for a 1-SD increase in years of biomass fuel use and nuclear cataract was 1.04 (95% CI: 0.88, 1.23) for men and 1.28 (95% CI: 1.10, 1.48) for women, p interaction = 0.07. Kerosene use was low (10%). Among women, kerosene use was associated with nuclear (OR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.04, 2.97) and posterior subcapsular cataract (OR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.10, 2.64). There was no association among men. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide robust evidence for the association of biomass fuels with cataract for women but not for men. Our finding for kerosene and cataract among women is novel and requires confirmation in other studies. Citation: Ravilla TD, Gupta S, Ravindran RD, Vashist P, Krishnan T, Maraini G, Chakravarthy U, Fletcher AE. 2016. Use of cooking fuels and cataract in a population-based study: the India Eye Disease Study. Environ Health Perspect 124:1857-1862; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP193

Benefits of clean air : a case study from India

This policy brief is based on SANDEE working paper no. 17-06, "Valuation of urban air pollution : a case study of Kanpur city in India"In cities across South Asia, air pollution is fast becoming a critical problem. As vehicle congestion gets worse, industrialization expands, and energy use soars, air quality in urban centres is reaching potentially hazardous levels. This is producing a wide range of social and environmental problems, particularly with regard to people’s health. This, in turn, is placing a significant economic burden on individuals and society in general, in terms of health costs and loss of economic productivity. Improving air quality calls for a wide-range of responses, many of which can be costly and therefore difficult to politically administer. To ensure that air clean-up policies are cost-effective and have the necessary political backing, it is vital that accurate information is available on the potential economic benefits of pollution

Maternal anaemia and its severity: an independent risk factor for preterm delivery and adverse neonatal outcome

Background: This study was done to evaluate the effect of maternal anaemia and its severity on gestational age and neonatal outcome.Methods: This was a retrospective study, conducted in Vardhman Mahavir medical college and Safdarjang hospital, New Delhi between April 2012 to March 2013. Cases were divided in three groups i.e. non anaemic, mild to moderately anaemic and severely anaemic (according to WHO classification). A total of 1050 woman (350 in each group) were recruited for study. The following outcome measures were used: preterm delivery (<37 weeks), birth weight, APGAR score, admission of baby in neonatal intensive care unit and early neonatal death. Data was analyzed by Chi-square test. A P value of or less than 0.05 was considered as significant.Results: The risk of preterm delivery, low birth weight, poor APGAR score and admission of baby in neonatal intensive care unit was more in anaemic group and it increased with severity of anaemia which was statistically significant. The increase in risk of early neonatal death was not significant in mild/moderate anaemic group (P value 0.326) while it was statistically significant in severely anaemic group (P value 0.004).Conclusions: Anaemia in pregnancy has a recognizable association with prematurity, low birth weight and poor neonatal outcome.