Universal screening versus universal precautions in the context of preoperative screening for HIV, HBV, HCV in India

In the Indian context, there is a convention of doing pre-operative screening for HIV, hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C viruses for all patients as a routine pre-intervention investigation. This approach is justified in some instances in the best interest of the patient. However, as routine screening is not the standard care internationally and as there is a significant divergence of views about the merits and demerits of this practice, this issue needs to be debated in a rational manner with an evidence-based approach. The present article is authored by a surgeon and a microbiologist from a new cancer care centre in eastern India, who has attempted to address this contentious issue. The various available options have been explored, and advantages and disadvantages of the different approach have been discussed. An algorithm for infection prevention and control has been presented so that surgeons and medical microbiologists could manage infection control challenges satisfactorily.

Influence of push–pull configuration on the electro-optical and charge transport properties of novel naphtho-difuran derivatives: a DFT study

By a push–pull strategy, highly efficient and photostable naphtho-difuran derivatives were designed to get improved intrinsic electron mobility (1.13 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹).

Comparison of transvaginal and transabdominal ultrasonography in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy

This cross sectional study was carried out in the department of Radiology and Imaging, Dhaka Medical College Hospital from July 2008 to June 2010 to compare the accuracy of transvaginal ultrasonography and transabdominal ultrasonography in the diagnosis of clinically suspected cases of ectopic pregnancy. Initially 60 patients with clinical suspicion of ectopic pregnancy were included in this study after analyzing selection criteria 30 patients underwent both transvaginal and transabdominal ultrasonography. 'Histopathological diagnosis' was considered gold standard against which accuracies of two diagnostic modalities were compared. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of transabdominal ultrasonography as a diagnostic modality in evaluation of suspected ectopic pregnancy were 73.1%, 75%, 95%, 30% and 73.3% respectively where as transvaginal ultrasonography was found to have 92.3% sensitivity, 75% specificity, 96% positive predictive value, 60% negative predictive value and 90% accuracy. Transvaginal ultrasonography was superior to transabdominal ultrasonography in the evaluation of suspected ectopic pregnancies so, transvaginal ultrasonography is important for early and accurate diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy.

Effects of Planting Time on the Growth and Yield of Tomato Varieties in Late Season

An experiment was conducted at Jessore to observe the effect of planting date and variety on the yield of late planting tomato. The potentiality of fruiting in the late season were evaluated for BARI tomato 4, 5, 6 and 12 by planting December 01, December 16, January 01, January 16 and February 01. A combination of December 01 planting with BARI Tomato 5 variety performed better in respect of yield (57.07 t/ha). The variety BARI Tomato 5 also showed potential fruiting capability during late winter season and February 01 planting produced 11 ton/ha of potential yield. All the four varieties showed potential fruiting capability during late winter season and February 01 planting produced 4 6 tons of potential yield during late season.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/pa.v20i1-2.16854 Progress. Agric. 20(1 & 2): 73 – 78, 2009

Assessing the accuracy and certainty in interpreting chest X-rays in the medical division

The chest X-ray (CXR) is an important diagnostic tool in diagnosing and monitoring a spectrum of diseases. Despite our universal reliance on the CXR, our ability to confidently diagnose and accurately document our findings can be unreliable. We sought to assess the diagnostic accuracy and certainty of making a diagnosis based on 10 short clinical histories with one CXR each. We conclude from our study that specialist registrars (StRs) and consultants scored the highest marks with the highest average certainty levels. Junior trainees felt least certain about making their diagnosis and were less likely to be correct. We recommend that StRs and consultants review all the CXRs requested to ensure accuracy of diagnosis. There also needs to be discussion with the Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board (JRCPTB) about the need of including a separate CXR competency as part of a trainee's generic curriculum on the e-portfolio, something which is currently lacking.

CANDU reactors with reactor grade plutonium/thorium carbide fuel

Reactor grade (RG) plutonium, accumulated as nuclear waste of commercial reactors can be re-utilized in CANDU reactors. TRISO type fuel can withstand very high fuel burn ups. On the other hand, carbide fuel would have higher neutronic and thermal performance than oxide fuel. In the present work, RG-PuC/ThC TRISO fuels particles are imbedded body-centered cubic (BCC) in a graphite matrix with a volume fraction of 60%. The fuel compacts conform to the dimensions of sintered CANDU fuel compacts are inserted in 37 zircolay rods to build the fuel zone of a bundle. Investigations have been conducted on a conventional CANDU reactor based on GENTILLYII design with 380 fuel bundles in the core. Three mixed fuel composition have been selected for numerical calculation; (1) 10% RG-PuC + 90% ThC; (2) 30% RG-PuC + 70% ThC; (3) 50% RG-PuC + 50% ThC. Initial reactor criticality values for the modes (1), (2) and (3) are calculated as k∞,0 = 1.4848, 1.5756 and 1.627, respectively. Corresponding operation lifetimes are ∼2.7, 8.4, and 15 years and with burn ups of ∼72000, 222000 and 366000 MW.d/tonne, respectively. Higher initial plutonium charge leads to higher burn ups and longer operation periods. In the course of reactor operation, most of the plutonium will be incinerated. At the end of life, remnants of plutonium isotopes would survive; and few amounts of uranium, americium and curium isotopes would be produced.

Tamoxifen alleviates hepatitis C virus-induced inhibition of both toll-like receptor 7 and JAK-STAT signalling pathways in PBMCs of infected Egyptian females

Summary.  Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major health concern in Egypt being highly prevalent among Egyptians. The two genders experience different responses to HCV infection and show variations in response to interferon (IFN)-based therapy that may be attributed to sex hormones. We previously demonstrated the suppressive effect of 17β-estradiol (E2) on the expression of the IFN-stimulated gene MxA in HCV-infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The selective oestrogen receptor (ER) modulator Tamoxifen has been shown to have an antiviral effect against HCV, but its effect on the host immune response is unknown. We investigated the effect of Tamoxifen on the IFN signalling pathways in PBMCs of HCV-infected Egyptian females. We pooled PBMCs and treated then with exogenous interferon alpha (IFNα) or the TLR7 ligand, Imiquimod, and quantified the relative expressions of MxA using RTqPCR. Studies were performed with and without Tamoxifen pretreatment. Pretreatment with Tamoxifen reversed the suppressive effect of E2 on the JAK-STAT pathway in IFNα-treated PBMCs as indicated by a significant increase in MxA expression (P = 0.05*). Tamoxifen pretreatment also significantly upregulated MxA expression in Imiquimod-treated PBMCs (P = 0.0011**), an effect not ascribed to ER blocking nor to an upregulation in TLR7 expression because Tamoxifen showed no potentiating effect on the expression of the receptor. In conclusion, our findings reveal that Tamoxifen has immunomodulatory effects whereby it enhances the host IFN signalling pathways during HCV infection.

Perceptions of gender-based violence among South African youth: implications for health promotion interventions

Gender-based violence is a widespread problem in South Africa. Past structural inequities have created a climate conducive to violence against women. As an initial step toward developing a health promotion program, we conducted exploratory formative research to examine the barriers that affect the health and well-being of youth. Fourteen focus groups (nine with girls and five with boys) were conducted with 112 adolescents in a racially mixed community on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa. We utilized grounded theory and thematic analysis to examine the data. The impact of poverty, ubiquitous gendered violence, transactional sex and unsafe recreational spaces emerged as the major themes. The experiences of youth were consumed by issues of safety rather than the pursuit of other developmentally appropriate markers. Our findings suggest that health promotion programs should create safe spaces for youth and opportunities to critically question the assumptions and manifestations of a patriarchal society. Furthermore, the findings indicate that there is a strong need for multi-sectorial interventions directed at many levels to prevent gender-based violence.

Research methods of the Youth Smoking Survey (YSS)

This paper describes the survey development, design and data collection protocol for the 2008/2009 Youth Smoking Survey (YSS) and the changes to the YSS survey and protocols across the 5 survey cycles (1994, 2002, 2004/2005, 2006/2007, 2008/2009). Canada's Youth Smoking Survey is a nationally representative school-based survey of students (grades 6 to 12 in 2008/2009) from randomly sampled public and private schools in the ten provinces. The main objective of the YSS is to provide benchmark data on national smoking prevalence rates for youth. Key features of the 2008/2009 YSS include consistent measures across survey cycles, a survey team of researchers and non-governmental organizations, a link to school and student level measures, provision of tailored feedback reports to schools and publicly available datasets.