Municipal solid waste stabilisation by leachate recirculation

The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of leachate recirculation on stabilisation of municipal solid wastes. The study was carried out by using two lab-scale landfill bioreactors containing approximately 10 kg of waste each, in order to follow waste degradation over 16 weeks of time period. The main difference between anaerobic recirculated and without recirculation bioreactors options is determined in leachate quality. Leachate quality is regularly measured by the means of pH, electrical conductivity, calcium, magnesium, total kjeldahl nitrogen, phosphate and chemical oxygen demand (COD). It has been observed that leachate recirculation is more effective on anaerobic degradation of solid waste than non-recirculated degradation. The leachate recirculated bioreactor appears to be the more effective option in the removal of COD by 89.93% and stabilisation of pH at 7.5. After 16 weeks of anaerobic degradation, waste stabilization seemed to have reached for the recirculated bioreactor. Therefore, further studies are required to determine the optimum operational conditions for leachate recirculation rates, also with the operational costs of recirculation for solid waste stabilisation.

Cardiovascular disease in live related renal transplantation

Cardiovascular disease has become the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in renal transplant recipients, although its pathogenesis and treatment are poorly understood. Modifiable cardiovascular risk factors and graft dysfunction both play an important role in development of post transplant cardiovascular events. Prevalence of cardiovascular disease was studied in stable kidney transplant patients on cyclosporine based triple immunosuppression in relation to the various risk factors and post transplant cardiovascular events. Analysis of 562 post transplant patients with stable graft function for 6 months, the patients were evaluated for cardiovascular events in post transplant period. Pre and post transplant risk factors were analyzed using the COX proportional hazard model. 174 patients had undergone pre transplant coronary angiography, 15 of these patients underwent coronary revascularization (angioplasty in 12, CABG in 3). The prevalence of CAD was 7.2% in transplant recipients. Of 42 patients with CAD 31 (73.8%) had cardiovascular event in post transplant period. Age > or = 40 yrs, male sex, graft dysfunction, diabetes as primary renal disease, pre transplant cardiovascular event, chronic rejection showed significant correlation in univariate analysis and there was significant between age > or = 40 years (OR = 2.16 with 95% CI, 0.977-4.78) S creatinine > or = 1.4 mg % (OR = 2.40 with 95% CI, 1.20 - 4.82), diabetes as primary disease (OR with 95% CI 3.67, 3.2-14.82), PTDM (OR 3.67, 95% CI 1.45-9.40), pre-transplant cardiovascular disease (OR 4.14, 95% CI .38-13.15) with post transplant cardiovascular event on multivariate analysis. There was poor patient and graft survival among those who suffered post transplant cardiovascular event. The incidence of cardiovascular disease continues to be high after renal transplantation and modifiable risk factors should be identified to prevent occurrence of events in post transplant period.

A prospective double blind study using oral versus vaginal misoprostol for labour induction

This prospective double blind study was undertaken to compare the safety and efficacy of oral vs vaginal misoprostol in equivalent doses (50 microg) for induction of labour. A total of 128 term pregnancies with indication for induction of labour were allocated to two groups to receive 50 microg misoprostol orally or vaginally, every 4 h until adequate contractions were achieved or a maximum of 200 microg dose. Induction to delivery interval was significantly shorter in the vaginal group compared with the oral group (14.6 h vs 22.5 h; p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the groups with respect to mode of delivery, neonatal outcome and maternal side-effects. However, the incidence of abnormal contractility pattern was more common in the vaginal group (10/68, 14.6%) as compared with the oral group (4/60, 6.6%) (p = 0.146).

Effect of cholecalciferol and calcium supplementation on muscle strength and energy metabolism in vitamin D-deficient Asian Indians: a randomized, controlled trial

CONTEXT

Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent worldwide. Vitamin D supplementation has shown variable effect on skeletal muscle strength in the elderly with hypovitaminosis D. There is a paucity of similar data in young individuals.

OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of cholecalciferol and calcium supplementation on muscle strength and energy metabolism in young individuals.

SUBJECTS

Forty healthy volunteers (24 M/16 F, mean age (SD) 31.5 ± 5.0 year) with hypovitaminosis D were randomized to either oral cholecalciferol (60,000 IU D3/week for 8 weeks followed by 60,000 IU/month for 4 months) with 1 g of elemental calcium daily or dual placebos for 6 months.

MEASUREMENTS

Handgrip and gastro-soleus dynamometry, pinch-grip strength, respiratory pressures, 6-min walk-test and muscle energy metabolism on (31) P magnetic resonance spectroscopy were assessed at baseline and after 6 months.

RESULTS

The mean serum 25(OH)D in the supplemented and placebo groups at baseline, two and 6 months were 25.4 ± 9.9, 94.5 ± 53.8 and 56.0 ± 17.0 nm, and 21.1 ± 9.4, 32.8 ± 14.4 and 29.7 ± 15.0 nm, respectively. The supplemented group gained a handgrip strength of 2.4 kg (95% C.I. = 1.2-3.6); gastro-soleus strength of 3.0 Nm (95% C.I. = 0.1-5.9) and walking distance of 15.9 m (95% C.I. = 6.3-25.5) over the placebo group after adjustment for age, gender and respective baseline parameters. Muscle energy parameters were comparable at 6 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Six months of cholecalciferol and calcium supplementation results in enhanced skeletal muscle strength and physical performance despite no change in muscle energy parameters. Cholecalciferol supplementation of 60,000 IU per month could not maintain 25(OH)D levels in the sufficient range.

DNA content can improve the detection and prognosis of carcinoma of the cervix

In all malignant diseases, several clinical and histopathological tests are established as standard methods for diagnosis. Alternative diagnostic quantitative methods are still lacking or conflicting in cancer of the cervix. Although DNA analysis was one of the earliest applications in flow cytometry and the DNA content of fresh/frozen tissue have shown good prognostic results in many diseases including cervical cancer, prognostic ability cannot be easily clarified quantitatively by biochemical values. Thus, our objective was to determine whether the addition of a DNA content study using flow cytometry improves the detection of cervix cancer. The quantification of DNA content was done by high resolution DNA flow cytometry in fresh/frozen tissues of healthy cervix (control, n = 38) and from cancer of the cervix (n = 62). Results show that the mean fraction of Total S phase, Total Aneuploid and G2-M (Diploid) are significantly higher (p < 0.01); while G0-G1 (Diploid) and G0-G1 (Aneuploid) are significantly lower (p < 0.01) in cancer patients as compared to control. Among cell cycle parameters, G0-G1 (Diploid) shows a classifying ability of 97% and at a criterion/threshold value of ? 79.88, it discriminates cases with the highest sensitivity of 96.77 (88.8-99.5; 95% CI) and specificity 100.0 (90.7-100.0; 95% CI) and with Total S phase or Aneuploid, it discriminates cases with 100% sensitivity. G0-G1 (Diploid) also showed a direct and significant correlation (r = 0.66; p < 0.01) with patient survival indicating prognostic significance. Cell cycle parameters will be very helpful in false positive results or where the clinician is unable to diagnose the stage of cervix cancer clinically or histopathologically.

Spectrum of hypertension in post transplant

AIM

Elucidate the incidence and causes of post transplant hypertension in our transplant population.

METHODS

All patients transplanted between June 1989 Dec 2002 who had a functioning graft of 6 months post transplant were studied. Hypertension was defined as Systolic BP > or = 140 mmHg/Diastolic BP > or = 90 mmHg/usage of antihypertensive medication. Donor and recepient characteristics were recorded and compared. 86.2% (485) were hypertensive in post renal transplant period.

RESULTS

Age > or = 40 years, male sex, graft dysfunction, use of calcineurin inhibitors, high doses of steroids, chronic rejection were statistically significant correlate of post RTHT in univariate analysis. On multivariate analysis, age > or = 40 yrs (RR 2.06, 95% CI, 1.20-3.54), use of cyclosporine (RR 2.70, 95% CI, 1.54-4.75), usage of high doses of steroids (RR 2.56, 95% CI, 1.31-4.98) only were associated with post transplant hypertension. The patient and graft survival was inferior in patients with post transplant hypertension. The systolic BP at 12 months, diastolic BP at 6 months and 12 months post transplant, had significant detrimental effect on renal allografts survival.

CONCLUSION

Diagnosis, identification of risk factors and aggressive treatment of post transplant HT and of the various modifiable risk factors is important for improving renal allograft and patient survival.

Decreased number and impaired functionality of endothelial progenitor cells in subjects with metabolic syndrome: implications for increased cardiovascular risk

OBJECTIVE

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized by low-grade inflammation and confers an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are a measure of vascular health and are decreased in patients with various risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). There is a paucity of data examining the EPC status especially in terms of their functionality in MetS subjects without diabetes or cardiovascular disease. We aimed to enumerate and functionally characterize EPCs in subjects with MetS in comparison to healthy controls.

METHODS

The study was performed at the University of California Davis Medical Center. Healthy controls (n=31) and MetS (n=46) subjects were included in the study. EPCs were enumerated in fasting blood by KDR/CD34 dual positivity. Functionality was assessed by the colony forming units (CFU) assay, migration and tubule formation.

RESULTS

Subjects with MetS had significantly decreased number of EPCs compared to control subjects. Furthermore, EPCs from MetS subjects depicted significantly impaired clonogenic capacity, i.e., decreased colony forming units, and impaired capacity to incorporate into tubular structures suggesting functional impairment of EPCs from MetS subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

We make the novel observation that MetS subjects without diabetes or CVD have decreased EPC number and impaired functionality as compared to control subjects. These findings could contribute to the increased CV risk in this population.

A huffing manoeuvre, immediately before induction of anaesthesia, prevents fentanyl-induced coughing: a prospective, randomized, and controlled study

BACKGROUND

Preinduction i.v. fentanyl bolus is associated with coughing in 28-65% of patients. Fentanyl-induced coughing (FIC) is not always benign and can be remarkably troublesome at the most critical moment of induction of anaesthesia when airway reflex is lost. We postulated that the huffing manoeuvre, a forced expiration against open glottis, just before i.v. fentanyl, may suppress this undesirable spasmodic cough.

METHODS

Three hundred patients of ASA I and II, aged 18-60 yr, undergoing elective surgical procedures were randomly allocated into two groups consisting of 150 patients. Both groups received i.v. fentanyl (2.5 microg kg(-1)). Group 1 patients breathed normally whereas Group 2 patients were asked to perform huffing manoeuvre just before the fentanyl injection. The incidence of cough was recorded for 1 min before the induction of anaesthesia, and graded as mild (1-2 cough), moderate (3-5 cough), and severe (>5 cough). The incidence of FIC was analysed with Fisher's exact test and severity was analysed with the Mann-Whitney U-test. A P-value of <0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

The incidence of cough was 32% in the control group and 4% in the huffing manoeuvre group (P<0.00). In the control group, 12% of FIC cases were moderate to severe in nature whereas no patient suffered severe coughing in the huffing manoeuvre group (P=0.049).

CONCLUSIONS

A huffing manoeuvre performed just before i.v. fentanyl (2.5 microg kg(-1)) significantly reduces the incidence and severity of FIC in the majority of the patients.

Risk-factors and strategies for control of carcinoma cervix in India: hospital based cytological screening experience of 35 years

PURPOSE

Role of risk factors in cervical carcinogenesis and strategies for control of the disease have been assessed from the accumulated cytological data, derived from 35 years of hospital-based screening in Lucknow, North India.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 36,484 women have been cytologically screened during a span of 35 years (April 1971 - June 2005) in the Gynaecology out patient department (OPD) of Queen Mary's Hospital.

RESULTS

The frequency of Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (SIL) and carcinoma was found to be 7.2% and 0.6%, respectively, in the present study. The study revealed high age and parity as a predominant factor in cervical carcinogenesis, while viral sexually transmitted disease (STDs) -human papilloma virus (HPV) and Herpes simplex virus (HSV) were also largely associated with SIL cases. The study emphasized great value of clinically downstaging the cervical cancer by detecting cervical cancer in the early stage. The study also revealed a significant difference in the frequency of SIL in symptomatic and asymptomatic women.

CONCLUSION

Based on the analyzed data, it was felt that single lifetime screening, which appears to be the most feasible and affordable mode for control of carcinoma cervix in developing countries like India, should be carried out in all women of high parity irrespective of age (with three or more children) and in older women above the age of 40 years irrespective of parity.

Characterization of RPO B gene for detection of rifampicin drug resistance by SSCP and sequence analysis

PURPOSE

Because of the emergence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in recent times, the rapid detection of resistance to the first-line anti-tuberculosis drug rifampicin was felt worldwide. Accordingly, this study was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic potential of polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) for checking its utility as a rapid screening test for determination of rifampicin drug resistance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 34 isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) (22 rifampicin resistant, 11 rifampicin sensitive and one control H37Rv) strains were analysed by PCR-SSCP and DNA sequencing within the 157-bp region of the rpo B gene (Ala 500-Val 550).

RESULTS

Rifampicin resistance was detected successfully by PCR-SSCP in 20/22(90.90%) of rifampicin-resistant strains showing a total of nine different mutations in seven codon positions: codon 513 (CAA-->CCA), 516 (GAC-->GTC), 507 (GGC-->GAC), 526 (CAC-->GAC, TAC), 531 (TCG-->TTG, TGG), 522 (TCG-->TGG) and 533 (GTG-->CCG). Two rifampicin-resistant strains showed an identical PCR-SSCP pattern with the wild type H37Rv; 77.27% rifampicin-resistant strains showed a single point mutation and 9.09% had no mutation. Three rifampicin-resistant strains showed characteristic double mutations at codon positions 526 and 531. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated as 90.90% and 100%.

CONCLUSIONS

Rifampicin-resistant genotypes were mainly found in codon positions 516, 526 and 531. PCR-SSCP seems to be an efficacious method of predicting rifampicin resistance and substantially reduces the time required for susceptibility testing from 4 to 6 weeks to a few weeks.