Diethyl 2-[(4-nitro-phen-yl)(4-phenyl-1,2,3-selenadiazol-5-yl)meth-yl]malonate

In the title compound, C(22)H(21)N(3)O(6)Se, the heterocyclic ring makes dihedral angles of 50.03 (11) and 67.75 (11)°, respectively, with the benzene and phenyl rings. The terminal C atoms of the ester groups are disordered over two positions: the site occupancies for the C atoms are 0.62 (3)/0.38 (3) and 0.48 (3)/0.52 (3). In the crystal structure, weak intra- and inter-molecular C-H⋯O inter-actions are observed.

RPMS: Ramachandran plot for multiple structures

An interactive internet computing server,RPMS(Ramachandran plot for multiple structures) has been developed to visualize the Ramachandran angles of several highly homologous protein structures in a single plot. Options are provided for users to locate the amino acid residues in various regions of the plot. To perform the above, users need to enter the Protein Data Bank (PDB) identification codes. In addition, users can upload the atomic coordinates from the local machine. A Java graphics interface has been deployed and the server has been interfaced with a locally maintained PDB anonymous FTP server, which is updated weekly. The serverRPMScan be accessed through the Bioinformatics web server at http://cluster.physics.iisc.ernet.in/rpms/.

4-(4-Chloro-phen-yl)-5-[1-(4-chloro-phenyl)-2-methyl-2-nitro-prop-yl]-1,2,3-selenadiazole

In the title compound, C₁₈H₁₅Cl₂N₃O₂Se, the selenadiazole ring makes dihedral angles of 49.87 (3) and 55.70 (3)° with the two benzene rings. The dihedral angle between the two benzene rings is 11.90 (5)°. In the crystal structure, intra­molecular C—H⋯O and C—H⋯Se inter­actions and inter­molecular C—H⋯O, C—H⋯Cl and C—H⋯N inter­actions are observed.

Growing endoprosthesis in management of bone tumours in Malaysia

This is to report on the use of growing endoprosthesis, also known as lengthening prosthesis in the management of four patients in the paedriatic age group in the Orthopaedic Oncolgy Unit at University Malaya Medical Centre. These are custom made prosthesis, designed and made in India based on measured roentrograms. The ages of these patients vary from 6 to 13 years old. These are cases of Osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma around the knee. This is the first time these custom made prosthesis have ever been used in Malaysia. We feel that this is a feasible option for limb salvage in the treatment of primary bone tumours in growing children.

PSAP: protein structure analysis package

A computing engine, theProtein Structure Analysis Package(PSAP), has been developed to calculate and display various hidden structural and functional features of three-dimensional protein structures. The proposed computing engine has several utilities to enable structural biologists to analyze three-dimensional protein molecules and provides an easy-to-use Web interface to compute and visualize the necessary features dynamically on the client machine. Users need to provide the Protein Data Bank (PDB) identification code or upload three-dimensional atomic coordinates from the client machine. For visualization, the free molecular graphics programsRasMolandJmolare deployed in the computing engine. Furthermore, the computing engine is interfaced with an up-to-date local copy of the PDB. The atomic coordinates are updated every week and hence users can access all the structures available in the PDB. The computing engine is free and is accessible online at http://iris.physics.iisc.ernet.in/psap/.

Selective optical generation of coherent acoustic nanocavity modes

Femtosecond pump-probe experiments on a Ga0.85In0.15As nanocavity enclosed by two Ga(0.85)In(0.15)As/AlAs phonon Bragg mirrors reveal selective generation of terahertz confined acoustic modes and regular folded phonons. Selective generation of the confined modes alone is achievable for laser excitation at certain energies below the mirror absorption edges, corresponding to electronic transitions within the cavity layer only. Calculations based on the photoelastic effect explain the experimental results. Decay times of cavity and regular modes evidence longer decay times and anharmonic effects for the cavity mode.

The assessment of immediate post-operative scoliosis correction using pedicle screw system by utilising the fulcrum bending technique

Assessment of the curve flexibility is a crucial step in a surgeon's pre-operative planning for scoliosis surgery. Many techniques have been described. These include traction films, supine side bending films, push prone techniques, traction under general anaesthesia as well as fulcrum bending film. In this study, we studied the pre- and immediate post-operative radiographs of twenty eight adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients who were corrected using pedicle screw systems between January 2004 and August 2006. There were twenty two females and six male patients. The mean age of the patients were 17.5 years with a range of 12 to 38 years. Skeletal maturity of the patients was assessed by Risser's score. The majority was Risser 4 (15 cases, 53.6%). Based on King and Moe's classification, the most common curve was type 3 curve (15 cases, 53.6%). Among the twenty eight patients, twenty three patients underwent only posterior correction, while 5 patients underwent additional anterior release surgery. The mean pre-operative Cobb's angle for the posterior surgery group was 65.5 +/- 13.9 degrees and the mean post-operative Cobb's angle was 32.9 +/- 12.6 degrees. There was no difference between the mean correction estimated by fulcrum bending films (Fulcrum Flexibility) and the post- operative Correction Rate figures (44.2% vs. 49.9%). The mean Fulcrum Bending Correction Index (FBCI) in this group of patients is 112.8%. In the group of patients who underwent additional anterior release, their curves were noted to be larger and less flexible with the mean pre-operative Cobb's angle and Fulcrum Flexibility of 90.4 degrees +/- 9.3 degrees and 23.4% respectively. The Fulcrum Bending Correction Index (FBCI) for this group of patients was significantly higher than the posterior surgery group: i.e. 164.0% vs 112.8%. Thus, anterior release does help to improve the correction significantly. The fulcrum bending films give good pre-operative estimation of the amount of correction to be expected post-operatively. The fulcrum bending films can help to identify the curve types which might require anterior release in order to improve the scoliosis correction. Using the Fulcrum Bending Correction Index (FBCI) will also enable surgeons to quantify more accurately the amount of correction achieved by taking into account the inherent flexibility of the spine.

Prevalence pattern of dental caries in the primary dentition among school children

The purpose of the study was to assess the pattern of prevalence of dental caries in the primary dentition among 5 year old children. The area of study was urban Pondicherry and the study population consisted of 1009 school children of both sexes (527 boys and 482 girls). A simple random sampling method was used to select the schools. Dental caries was assessed by the Dentition status and Treatment Need (WHO 1997). Statistical analysis was done using the Proportion test. The prevalence of caries was 44.4% among the study population, being higher in the boys (P < 0.05); In Mandibular arch in both the sexes (boys P < 0.05, girls P < 0.01); in posterior teeth (both sex wise & arch wise). Comparison of caries among anterior teeth (Boys vs Girls) [corrected] and posterior teeth (upper vs. lower) revealed higher caries prevalence in Maxillary anterior teeth (P < 0.001) and Mandibular posterior teeth (P < 0.001). In both the sexes and arches, primary second molars showed higher caries prevalence.

Equivalent dose of ephedrine and phenylephrine in the prevention of post-spinal hypotension in Caesarean section

BACKGROUND

Comparative studies of ephedrine and phenylephrine in prevention of hypotension after spinal anaesthesia for Caesarean section have lacked a consensus on dose equivalence. The aim of this study was to determine the minimum vasopressor dose for each of these drugs to calculate the dose ratio for clinical equivalence in the prevention of hypotension.

METHODS

Patients with a normal singleton pregnancy beyond 36 weeks gestation undergoing elective Caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia were randomized into two groups. The first patient in Group A received 50 mg of ephedrine in saline 0.9% w/v, 500 ml, at 999 ml h(-1), the maximum rate possible on the pump and the first patient in Group B received 500 microg of phenylephrine in saline 0.9% w/v, 500 ml, at the same rate. The initial dose for dilution was an arbitrary choice. The dose of vasopressor in the saline bag for every subsequent patient was established by the efficacy of the dose in preventing hypotension in the previous patient according to the technique of up-down sequential allocation. Minimum vasopressor dose for each drug was determined according to the Dixon-Massey formula.

RESULTS

The minimum vasopressor dose in saline 500 ml was 532.9 microg (95% CI 506.0-559.8) for phenylephrine and 43.3 mg (95% CI 39.2-47.3) for ephedrine. The concentration needed for equivalence at an infusion rate of 999 ml h(-1) was 1.07 microg ml(-1) for phenylephrine and 86.66 microg ml(-1) for ephedrine. Mean (sd) dose used for phenylephrine was 496.45 (78.3) microg and for ephedrine 39.64 (6.33) mg.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates a potency ratio of 81.2 (95% CI 73.0-89.7) for equivalence between phenylephrine and ephedrine in prevention of hypotension after spinal anaesthesia for Caesarean section.

NMR investigation of hydrogen bonding and 1,3-tautomerism in 2-(2-hydroxy-5-substituted-aryl) benzimidazoles

The 1,3-tautomerism associated with 2-(2-hydroxy-5-substituted-aryl)benzimidazoles was studied in different solvents. The effect of hydrogen bonding involving the hydroxyl group of the 2-aryl ring on the tautomerism was investigated using NMR spectroscopy. The influence of the solvent concentration on 2-(2-hydroxy-5-chloroaryl)benzimidazole was studied in acetone-d6 and DMSO-d6.

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Bauhinia racemosa L. stem bark

The present study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of a methanol extract of Bauhinia racemosa (MEBR) (Caesalpiniaceae) stem bark in various systems. 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical, superoxide anion radical, nitric oxide radical, and hydroxyl radical scavenging assays were carried out to evaluate the antioxidant potential of the extract. The antioxidant activity of the methanol extract increased in a concentration-dependent manner. About 50, 100, 250, and 500 microg MEBR inhibited the peroxidation of a linoleic acid emulsion by 62.43, 67.21, 71.04, and 76.83%, respectively. Similarly, the effect of MEBR on reducing power increased in a concentration-dependent manner. In DPPH radical scavenging assays the IC50 value of the extract was 152.29 microg/ml. MEBR inhibited the nitric oxide radicals generated from sodium nitroprusside with an IC50 of 78.34 microg/ml, as opposed to 20.4 microg/ml for curcumin. Moreover, MEBR scavenged the superoxide generated by the PMS/NADH-NBT system. MEBR also inhibited the hydroxyl radical generated by Fenton's reaction, with an IC50 value of more than 1000 microg/ml, as compared to 5 microg/ml for catechin. The amounts of total phenolic compounds were also determined and 64.7 microg pyrocatechol phenol equivalents were detected in MEBR (1 mg). The antimicrobial activities of MEBR were determined by disc diffusion with five Gram-positive, four Gram-negative and four fungal species. MEBR showed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against all tested microorganisms. The results obtained in the present study indicate that MEBR can be a potential source of natural antioxidant and antimicrobial agents.

BSDD: Biomolecules Segment Display Device--a web-based interactive display tool

An interactive web-based display tool, Biomolecules Segment Display Device (BSDD), has been developed to search for and visualize a user-defined motif or fragment among the protein structures available in the Protein Data Bank (PDB). In addition, the tool works for the structures available in a selected sub-set of non-homologous protein structures (25% and 90% sequence identity). The graphics package RASMOL has been incorporated as an interface to visualize the three-dimensional structure of the user-defined motif. In addition, the software can be used to extract the atomic coordinates of the required fragment and save them to the client system. The atomic coordinates are updated every week from the RCSB-PDB server, and hence the results produced by BSDD are up to date at any given time. The software BSDD is available over the World Wide Web at http://iris.physics.iisc.ernet.in/bsdd or http://144.16.71.2/bsdd.

Minimum dose of intrathecal diamorphine required to prevent intraoperative supplementation of spinal anaesthesia for Caesarean section

BACKGROUND

Intraoperative discomfort during spinal anaesthesia for Caesarean section is the commonest cited anaesthetic cause of litigation in obstetric practice. Intrathecal opioids are used to improve intraoperative comfort and postoperative analgesia for these operations. The minimum intrathecal diamorphine dose that prevents intraoperative supplementation requires determination.

METHOD

After ethics committee approval, 200 ASA I, II women with > or = 37 weeks gestation and planned for elective Caesarean section under combined spinal-epidural anaesthesia were recruited. They were randomized into four groups to receive hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5% 12.5 mg with diamorphine 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 or 0.5 mg by intrathecal injection. The need for intraoperative i.v. supplementation with alfentanil, time to first requests for postoperative analgesia, incidence of nausea and vomiting and requirement for antiemetic and antipruritic were noted.

RESULTS

Intraoperative supplementation was inversely proportional to the dose of diamorphine used (P=0.004). The ED(95) value for intrathecal diamorphine to prevent intraoperative supplementation was 0.39 mg. Mean time interval for request for postoperative analgesia was 446 min in the 0.2 mg group, 489 min in the 0.3 mg group, 601 min in the 0.4 mg group and 687 min in the 0.5 mg group (P=0.003 for trend). Incidence of nausea, vomiting and pruritus increased with dose of diamorphine used (P values for trend: nausea, 0.04; vomiting, 0.008; pruritus, 0.004). Requests for antiemetic increased with dose but achieved significance only for requirement for second antiemetic (P=0.03). Request for antipruritic did not achieve significance.

CONCLUSION

The ED(95) for the amount of intrathecal diamorphine required to prevent intraoperative supplementation during spinal anaesthesia for Caesarean section is 0.4 mg in clinical terms. Times to first requests for analgesia, incidence of nausea, vomiting and pruritus increase with dose.

Prevalence of dental caries and treatment needs among school going children of Pondicherry, India

Dental caries is an important Dental public Health problem. Its high morbidity potential has brought this disease into the focus of dental health professionals. The purpose of the study was to assess the prevalence of dental caries and treatment needs among 5 and 12 years old school children of urban Pondicherry. The study population consisted of 2022 school children of both the sexes, (1009, 5-year-old children) and (1013, 12-year-old children). A simple random sampling method was used to select the schools. Dental caries was assessed by Dentition Status and Treatment Needs described by WHO (1997). The prevalence of dental caries was 44.4% in 5 years age group with 47.4% for males (mean dmft = 1.91 +/- 2.64 S.D.) and 41.1% for females (mean dmft = 1.45 +/- 2.18 S.D.). In 12 years age group the prevalence of dental caries was 22.3% with 20.6% for males (mean DMFT = 0.40 +/- 0.94 S.D.) and 24.1% for females (mean DMFT = 0.55 +/- 1.15 S.D). Evaluation of treatment needs revealed that the greatest need was for one surface restorations followed by two or more surface restorations. It may be concluded that FDI/WHO Oral Health Goals for the year 2000 have been achieved for the ages 5-6 and 12 years in Pondicherry.

A cis-stilbene derivative

The title compound, 4'-methoxy-alpha,2,3',4-tetranitrostilbene, C(15)H(10)N(4)O(9), crystallizes in the centrosymmetric space group P2(1)/c with one molecule in the asymmetric unit. The phenyl rings are inclined to one another and form a dihedral angle of 57.4 (1) degrees. The size of this angle is a result of intermolecular C-H...O interactions involving the phenyl H atoms. The torsion angle between the phenyl rings, -7.5 (3) degrees, indicates a cis geometry between them. The methoxy group is almost coplanar with the phenyl ring, and the nitro groups are twisted with respect to the phenyl rings because of the short H...O contacts. The crystal packing is stabilized by C-H...O hydrogen bonds, and the intermolecular hydrogen bonds form a C(12) graph-set chain running along the [010] direction.

Fuzzy control of multivariable process by modified error decoupling

In this paper, a control concept for the squared (equal number of inputs and outputs) multivariable process systems is given. The proposed control system consists of two parts, single loop fuzzy controllers in each loop and a centralized decoupling unit. The fuzzy control system uses feedback control to minimize the error in the loop and the decoupler uses an adaptive technique to mitigate loop interactions. The decoupler predicts the interacting loop changes and modifies the input (error) of the loop controller. The controller was tested on the simulation model of "single component vaporizer" process. The results indicate that the decoupling controller shows better performance for set point and load changes.

Refresher training and continuing education for para-medical ophthalmic assistants

This paper describes a refresher training and continuing education programme in clinical and community ophthalmology for para-medical ophthalmic assistants (PMOAs) conducted by the Lions Aravind Institute of Community Ophthalmology. The course participants included 60 PMOAs working either in district hospitals, primary health centres or mobile units from the districts in Maharashtra. Each training programme was spread over 43 hours in 4 days and included lectures, practical demonstrations, and hands-on training in the outpatient, inpatient, and operation theatre of the training institution. Participants were given exposure to outreach activities in an eye camp and a satellite eye centre resembling a district hospital. The PMOAs found the training to be useful and it was seen that areas like patient counselling, instrument and equipment maintenance, and assistance in the operation theatre for newer surgical procedures which were lacking in the basic training were fulfilled in this training programme. Regional Institutes of Ophthalmology, upgraded medical colleges, and other eye-care institutions which have facilities and manpower could organise similar refresher and continuing education programmes for PMOAs so that they could be utilised more efficiently in the blindness-control activities in the country.