Life-Space Mobility, Transportation, and the Companionship Network of Members of a Hispanic Senior Center

OBJECTIVES

Companions (i.e., friends who spend time together) are important for the well-being of older adults. Senior centers in the United States are places for older adults to participate in group activities and form and maintain companionships. However, differences in mobility and transportation may affect the ability of older adults to leverage senior center activities into actual companionships.

METHODS

This social network analysis was conducted to characterize the companionship network among members of a senior center in relation to their life-space mobility and transportation resources. An exponential random graph model was estimated to identify mobility- and transportation-related correlates of the likelihood of a companionship tie among senior center members (N = 42).

RESULTS

Members had an average of 2 companionships with one another (M = 2.2, SD = 2.7). Companionships were more likely for members with greater life-space mobility (p = .009), who attended the senior center more frequently (p = .004), with automobile ownership in their households (p = .034), and who were not transportation cost-burdened (i.e., spent less than 15% of their income on transportation, p = .005). Demographic characteristics, limitations on instrumental activities of daily living, and being at risk for depression were not significantly associated with the likelihood of companionships.

DISCUSSION

These findings extend previous knowledge of the role of life-space mobility and transportation in supporting general social participation for older adults to include the importance of transportation and mobility for having companions within a senior center.

Social isolation, loneliness, and mental health among older adults during COVID-19: a scoping review

COVID-19 continues to have detrimental effects worldwide, especially on vulnerable populations. The burden of mental health concerns and psychological well-being resulting from social isolation and loneliness induced by COVID-19 are increasingly recognized in old age. The aim is to determine the extent of social isolation and loneliness among older adults, the methodologies used, the effect on mental health during COVID-19, and review intervention strategies and lifestyle changes to improve the current situation through the recommendations of the studies included. The articles published on PubMed, ProQuest, and Scopus databases from December 2019 to December 2021 with the following keywords ("Older Adults" "Social Isolation," "Loneliness," "Mental Health," "COVID-19") in English were included. Older adults have faced a serious burden of social isolation and adverse mental health effects during COVID-19. Anxiety, depression, stress, and insomnia are the major mental health concerns among older adults worldwide. It is suggested that spousal support and social networks, adaptive organizational change, and a responsive public sector are critical in reducing the obstacles to older adults. COVID-19 resilience among the aging population can be remarkable if adequately cared for with senior-friendly pandemic-related intervention strategies, policies and legislation.

Human-black bear conflict: crop raiding by Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan

Abstract Asiatic black bear has long been in conflict with human beings crop raiding is a major cause of this conflict frequently noted in South Asia. Crops raided by black bears affected by temporal, spatial and anthropogenic attributes. Insight in this conflict and its mitigation is vital for the conservation of this threatened species. Present study aimed to evaluate crop raiding by black bears in the mountainous region of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Field surveys were carried out to observe spatial and temporal crop raiding features between 2015-2020 and data gathered using designed questionnaires randomly tailored in villages nearby the forests. Results revealed that maize was the sole crop raided by black bears. A total of 28-acre area was raided by black bear in the fall season (Aug-November) resulting in a damage of 51 metric tons, whole raiding was carried out at night. Each respondent received crop damage on 0.09 acre with a loss of 0.17 metric ton yield. Crop quantity and area were significantly correlated to each other. District Neelum shared 49% of the total crop loss, while 47% of the maize was raided at the altitudinal range of 2100-2500 m. crop raiding was highly significantly ( χ 2 = 1174.64 ; d f = 308 ; p < 0.01) dependent upon distance to the forest. Linear regression revealed that maize quantity was determined by area, time and the total field area. Farmers faced 3.8 million PKRs loss due to crop damage by black bears. Despite the huge loss, the majority (23%) of the respondents did not respond to the query on mitigation measures indicating a poor adaptation of preventive measures. Preferred strategy to avoid crop damage was making noise (27.8%) when bears attacked their crops. A start of compensation scheme to the farmers is recommended that will have turned their negative attitude into a positive one toward the wildlife and black bear particularly. Study provides a new insight in human-bear conflict, particularly in spatial and temporal context of crop raiding in AJ&K.

Unravelling hub genes as potential therapeutic targets in lung cancer using integrated transcriptomic meta-analysis and in silico approach

Lung cancer (LC) is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Smoking has been identified as the main contributing cause of the disease's development. The study aimed to identify the key genes in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the two major types of LC. Meta-analysis was performed with two datasets GSE74706 and GSE149507 obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Both the datasets comprised samples from cancerous and adjacent non-cancerous tissues. Initially, 633 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. To understand the underlying molecular mechanism of the identified genes, pathway enrichment, gene ontology (GO) and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analyses were done. A total of 9 hub genes were identified which were subjected to mutation study analysis in LC patients using cBioPortal. These   9 genes (i.e. AURKA, AURKB, KIF23, RACGAP1, KIF2C, KIF20A, CENPE, TPX2 and PRC1) have shown overexpression in LC patients and can be explored as potential candidates for prognostic biomarkers. TPX2 reported a maximum mutation of 4 % . This was followed with high throughput screening and docking analysis to identify the potential drug candidates following competitive inhibition of the AURKA-TPX2 complex. Four compounds, CHEMBL431482, CHEMBL2263042, CHEMBL2385714, and CHEMBL1206617 were identified. The results signify that the selected 9 genes can be explored as biomarkers in disease prognosis and targeted therapy. Also, the identified 4 compounds can be further analyzed as promising therapeutic candidates.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Magnetorotational instability in dense electron-positron-ion plasmas

We in this manuscript analyzed the magnetorotational instability (MRI) by using a multi-component quantum fluid model with the effect of spin magnetization in a differentially rotating degenerate electron-positron-ion (e-p-i) quantum plasma. The electrons and positron having the same mass but opposite charge are taken to be degenerate whereas ions are considered as classical owing to their large inertia. The general dispersion relation is derived and a local dispersion relation for MRI is obtained by applying MHD approximations. To obtained MRI and to analyze the results numerically, reduced dispersion relation is derived using the local approximations. The obtained results are applied to the astrophysical situations exist there in the interiors of White Dwarfs and neutron stars. Contribution from spin magnetization and the number densities of electrons and positrons plays a vital role in the dynamics and can alter the instability. The increase in the electron number density, hence spin magnetization enhances the growth rate of the mode and leads the system to instability which results in the core collapse of certain massive stars.

The flow of an Eyring Powell Nanofluid in a porous peristaltic channel through a porous medium

In a porous medium, we have examined sinusoidal two-dimensional transport enclosed porous peristaltic boundaries having an Eyring Powell fluid with a water containing [Formula: see text]. The determining momentum and temperature equations are solved semi-analytically by using regular perturbation method and Mathematica. In present research only free pumping case and small amplitude ratio is studied. Mathematical and pictorial consequences are investigated for distinct physical parameters of interest like porosity, viscosity, volume fraction and permeability to check the effects of flow velocity and temperature.

Severe isolated mitral stenosis: are we facing different phenotypes?

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Introduction

Rheumatic mitral valve stenosis (MS) causes progressive left atrial (LA) fibrosis and functional impairment, pulmonary artery systolic hypertension and right ventricular (RV) dysfunction.

Purpose

The aim of the study was the evaluate the different characteristics between high gradients (HG) and low gradient (LG) MS and, within the LG group those with high (LG-HF) or low flow (LG-LF). Moreover, we wanted to evaluate if there was any difference in overall complications and atrial fibrillation (AF) incidence.

Methods

A total of 147 patients with isolated severe MS were retrospectively enrolled from the institutional echo database.  Echocardiograms were read offline and clinical information were obtained from patients` records. Patients were divided into a group with HG (31 patients, mean MS gradient &gt; 10 mmHg) and LG (116 patients, mean MS gradient ≤ 10 mmHg). The group of LG was then divided in low flow (Stroke volume index (SVi) ≤ 35 ml/m2, LF-LG: 68 patients) and in high flow (SVi &gt; 35 ml/m2, HF-LG: 48 patients).

Results

The HG group was younger, although the difference did not reach statistical significance, higher percent of males (45% M vs 22% F, p = 0.02), higher heart rate (HR), left atrial volume, higher tricuspid regurgitation velocity (TVR) and derived pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), RV fractional area changes (RV FAC) but similar RV longitudinal contraction. Moreover, the HG group had more severe MS calculated according to PHT.  The group of LG was divided according to SVi:  LF-LG group compare to HG-MS had higher percent of females (45% F vs 13% M, p &lt; 0.001), similar AF (43% vs 32%, p = ns) and pre surgical complications (19% vs 16%, p = ns). LF-LG group had smaller LA systolic volume (117 ± 51 51 ml vs 148.6 ± 38 ml, p &lt; 0.0001), lower LV-S` (5.3 ± 1.4 vs 6 ± 1.6 cm/s, p = 0.004), lower TRV (2.47 ± 0.5 vs 3.24 ± 0.7 m/s, p &lt; 0.0001), higher TAPSE/PASP (0.64 ± 0.3  vs 0.45 ± 0.29, p &lt; 0.001), lower RV S` (9.79 ± 2.01m/s vs 11.25 ± 3.1 m/s, p = 0.01), higher RVFAC (38.5 ± 9.6% vs 30.9 ± 9.2%, p = 0.0005). The group of LG-LF had also less severe MS (1.3 ± 0.6 cm2 vs 1.15 ± 0.3 cm2, p &lt; 0.01).

Conclusion

Patients with HG MS were those with worst left ventricular involvement, higher PASP and lower RV function. The LF-LG MS were older, and more females were included and even though they had smaller LA, lower values of PASP they had significantly higher percent of AF and similar pre surgical complications.  It could be speculated that LF-LG severe MS patients could be a different phenotype of the disease.

Stuck mechanical valve complication in non-COVID-19 patients during COVID-19 pandemic: single center experience

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

Stuck valve is a very rare and severe complication that occurs in mechanical valve replacement patients with ineffective anticoagulation. However, with COVID-19 restriction measures, it became challenging to regularly assess INR to make sure it falls within the target therapeutic range to prevent this complication.

Purpose

We wanted to explore how did the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions impacted mechanical valve replacement patients on chronic anticoagulation and the long-term consequences of limiting their access to health service.

Methods

We present a series of 10 patients on warfarin anticoagulation therapy who either underwent transthoracic echocardiography for a suspected stuck valve or were seen at the outpatient valve clinic with the residual consequences of a stuck valve during the COVID-19 restriction measures in our institute.

Results

Eight patients were female, two of whom were pregnant at the first trimester and eventually went on to receive an abortion; six patients received urgent valve replacement cardiac surgery; four patients were managed medically e.g. with heparin; none had thrombolytic therapy. Stuck prosthetic valves incident has increased significantly during this period, particularly those in the mitral position for which urgent replacement and prolonged hospitalization including intensive care admission, with high in-hospital mortality rates and high costs were necessary. Mean hospital admission time was 27.5 ± 18.5 days.  The cost of treatment, as average estimated reimbursement, was 11,000 USD for medical admission only, and 43,200 USD when surgery was required, up to 64,000 USD when ECMO was part of patient management.

Conclusion

Despite governments’ efforts to implement telemedicine and virtual clinics, COVID-19 restrictions and health-messaging affected the routine follow-up of non-COVID-19 patients. We report dramatic consequences to this drastic change in healthcare: clinical complications, lost lives and inflated healthcare costs in patients with a prosthetic valve. We believe that non-COVID-19 patients have paid, and will continue to pay in the future, a price that is much greater than those patients who have suffered from COVID-19. Active engagement of patients should be implemented in a time of emergencies, and further studies should address the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of public policies aimed to decrease the burden of avoidable complications and missed diagnoses. Abstract Figure. Fluoroscopy in a 70 years old patient

Comparative effects of addition of superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione on cryopreservation of Sahiwal bull semen

The present study aimed to investigate effects of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH) on the quality of frozen-thawed semen of Sahiwal bulls. Semen was collected twice a week for 8 weeks by artificial vagina from six Sahiwal bulls, kept at the Semen Production Unit Qadirabad, Sahiwal-Pakistan. After gross and microscopic evaluation, qualifying semen ejaculates were divided into 10 equal aliquots and diluted in extenders enriched with no antioxidants (control); or supplemented with either SOD (50, 100 and 200 IU/mL), or GSH (0.5, 1 and 2 mM) or their combinations (50 IU/mL SOD and 0.5 mM GSH, 100 IU/mL SOD and 1 mM GSH and 200 IU/mL SOD and 2 mM GSH). Samples were then frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen at -196°C for 24 h. The following parameters were evaluated for semen quality: post-thawed sperm motility, viability, acrosome and membrane integrity. According to the results, sperm motility, viability, acrosome and membrane integrity were significantly (P<0.05) higher in samples treated either with 100 IU/mL of SOD; 1 mM and 2 mM of GSH or 50 IU/mL of SOD plus 0.5 mM of GSH. In conclusion, semen quality might be improved by supplementing semen extenders with 100 IU/mL of SOD; 0.5 and 1 mM of GSH and combination of 50 IU/mL and 0.5 mM of SOD and GSH, respectively.

Interpersonal sensitivity in the at-risk mental state for psychosis in Karachi, Pakistan

Introduction

Interpersonal sensitivity can be explained as a personality trait in which there is an excessive and expanded awareness of the behavior and emotions of others. Individuals having high interpersonal sensitivity are sensitive to interpersonal relationships and self-deficiencies in comparison to others. Studies report that high interpersonal sensitivity can cause low self-esteem and feelings of insecurity.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to examine the level of interpersonal sensitivity in individuals with an at-risk mental state (ARMS) for psychosis compared to the individuals not at risk for psychosis.

Methods

A total sample of 50 individuals was recruited from Bahria University, Karwan-e-Hayat and Karachi Psychiatric Hospital: 25 with ARMS for psychosis and 25 participants who were not ARMS, according to scores on Schizophrenia Proneness Inventory-Adult (SPI-A). All of the participants then responded to self-report questionnaire on Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure.

Results

Results showed that the group with ARMS had a significantly higher interpersonal sensitivity on average (112.5) as compared to healthy individuals (91.8). Results show significant difference in both of the groups (t = –5.049; P < .0001) indicating that interpersonal sensitivity in people with ARMS was relatively high compared to those who were not at risk.

Conclusion

This study suggests that being ‘hypersensitive’ to interpersonal interactions is a psychological feature of the potentially prodromal phase of psychosis. Addressing difficulties in interpersonal relationships and offering early psychotherapeutic interventions can be beneficial, not only in averting serious illness, but preventing loss to individual and national productivity.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Numerical Study of MHD Viscoelastic Fluid Flow with Binary Chemical Reaction and Arrhenius Activation Energy

Here we address the influence of heat/mass transfer on MHD axisymmetric viscoelastic fluid flow developed by an elastic sheet stretching linearly in the radial direction. Constitutive relations of Maxwell fluid model are utilized in mathematical formulation of the problem. Non-linear radiation heat flux is factored in the model which accounts for both small and large temperature differences. Chemical reaction effects with modified Arrhenius energy function are analyzed which are not yet explored for viscoelastic fluid flows. Highly accurate numerical computations are performed. Our computations show S-shaped profiles of temperature function in case of sufficiently large temperature differences. Species concentration increases when activation energy for chemical reaction is increased. However, both chemical reaction rate and temperature gradient tend to reduce the solute concentration.

Rotating Flow of Magnetite-Water Nanofluid over a Stretching Surface Inspired by Non-Linear Thermal Radiation

Present study explores the MHD three-dimensional rotating flow and heat transfer of ferrofluid induced by a radiative surface. The base fluid is considered as water with magnetite-Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. Novel concept of non-linear radiative heat flux is considered which produces a non-linear energy equation in temperature field. Conventional transformations are employed to obtain the self-similar form of the governing differential system. The arising system involves an interesting temperature ratio parameter which is an indicator of small/large temperature differences in the flow. Numerical simulations with high precision are determined by well-known shooting approach. Both uniform stretching and rotation have significant impact on the solutions. The variation in velocity components with the nanoparticle volume fraction is non-monotonic. Local Nusselt number in Fe₃O₄–water ferrofluid is larger in comparison to the pure fluid even at low particle concentration.

Gamma Irradiation Treatment of Cherry – Impact on Storage Quality, Decay Percentage and Post- Refrigeration Shelf-Life Extension

Present study was conducted to investigate the effect of gamma irradiation on storage quality and post refrigeration shelf-life extension of cherry. Two commercial varieties of cherry fruit (Misri and Double) after harvest at commercial maturity were gamma irradiated in the dose range of 0.3 -1.5 kGy followed by storage under ambient (temperature 25 ± 2 0C, RH 70%) and refrigerated (temperature 3 ± 1 0C, RH 80%) conditions. Among treatments, dose of 1.2 and 1.5 kGy effectively maintained the storage quality and significantly (p≤0.05) delayed the decay of the cherry varieties. In samples treated with dose of 1.2 and 1.5 kGy no decay was recorded up to 9 days of ambient storage. Under refrigerated conditions, cherry samples of control and those irradiated in the range of 0.3 – 0.9 kGy started decaying after 14 days of storage. No decay was observed in 1.2 and 1.5 kGy samples of both the varieties up to 28 days of refrigerated storage. The treatments of 1.2 and 1.5 kGy gave an extension of 6 days in shelf life of cherry varieties during post-refrigerated storage at 25 ± 2 0C, RH 70% following 28 days of refrigeration. Firmness comparison of treatments revealed that dose of 1.2 kGy was found to be better compared to 1.5 kGy due to decrease in firmness observed in cherry samples irradiated at 1.5 kGy. Thus, radiation processing of Kashmiri Cheries at 1.2 kGy can prove beneficial in facilitating the marketing of the fruit to distant places other than the local markets, thereby benefiting the growers.

Indian health care professionals' attitude towards spiritual healing and its role in alleviating stigma of psychiatric services

Persons with mental illnesses in India and rest of developing world continue to consult religious/spiritual (R/S) healers or traditional, complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM) professionals prior to seeking psychiatric services that are devoid of spiritual components of care. We aim to understand TCAM and allopathic professionals' perspectives on patients' R/S needs within mental health services, cross-sectional study was conducted at five TCAM and two allopathic tertiary care hospitals in three different Indian states; 393 participants completed RSMPP, a self-administered, semi-structured survey questionnaire. Perspectives of TCAM and allopathic health professionals on role of spirituality in mental health care were compared. Substantial percentage, 43.7 % TCAM and 41.3 % allopathic, of participants believe that their patients approach R/S or TCAM practitioners for severe mental illness; 91.2 % of TCAM and 69.7 % of allopaths were satisfied with R/S healers (p = 0.0019). Furthermore, 91.1 % TCAM and 73.1 % allopaths (p = 0.000) believe that mental health stigma can be minimized by integrating with spiritual care services. Overall, 87 % of TCAM and 73 % of allopaths agreed to primary criterion variable: 'spiritual healing is beneficial and complementary to psychiatric care.' A quarter of allopaths (24.4 %) and 38 % of TCAM physicians reportedly cross-refer their grieving patients to religious/TCAM healer and psychiatrist/psychologist, respectively; on logistic regression, significant (p < 0.05) predictors were clinical interactions/references to r/s healers. Providing spiritual care within the setup of psychiatric institution will not only complement psychiatric care but also alleviate stigma against mental health services. Implications on developing spiritual care services like clinical chaplaincy are discussed.

Perspectives of Indian traditional and allopathic professionals on religion/spirituality and its role in medicine: basis for developing an integrative medicine program

Allopathic medical professionals in developed nations have started to collaborate with traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine (TCAM) to enquire on the role of religion/spirituality (r/s) in patient care. There is scant evidence of such movement in the Indian medical community. We aim to understand the perspectives of Indian TCAM and allopathic professionals on the influence of r/s in health. Using RSMPP (Religion, Spirituality and Medicine, Physician Perspectives) questionnaire, a cross-sectional survey was conducted at seven (five TCAM and two allopathic) pre-selected tertiary care medical institutes in India. Findings of TCAM and allopathic groups were compared. Majority in both groups (75% of TCAM and 84.6% of allopathic practitioners) believed that patients' spiritual focus increases with illness. Up to 58% of TCAM and allopathic respondents report patients receiving support from their religious communities; 87% of TCAM and 73% of allopaths believed spiritual healing to be beneficial and complementary to allopathic medical care. Only 11% of allopaths, as against 40% of TCAM, had reportedly received 'formal' training in r/s. Both TCAM (81.8%) and allopathic (63.7%) professionals agree that spirituality as an academic subject merits inclusion in health education programs (p = 0.0003). Inclusion of spirituality in the health care system is a need for Indian medical professionals as well as their patients, and it could form the basis for integrating TCAM and allopathic medical systems in India.

Development of radiochemistry in Pakistan – 1960 to 2010

With the inception of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) in 1956, peaceful uses of atomic energy commenced for the benefit of scientific community as well as masses of Pakistan. Radiochemistry played a vital role right from the beginning. The research and development in this field accelerated soon after the criticality of the first research reactor named as Pakistan Research Reactor (PARR- 1) at the Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH), Islamabad. The first radioisotope produced at PARR-1 for application in nuclear medicine was 131I. Later on, many other radioisotopes were prepared and radiopharmaceuticals were synthesised for their use in industry and hospitals. Besides providing pure radioactive tracers for nuclear medicine, radiochemistry also enhanced the detection limit of impurities at all stages of nuclear fuel cycle for power generation. In 1983, research in the field of nuclear data measurement began. The main aim was to identify suitable conditions for the production of radionuclides for cancer diagnostics, treatment and therapy. With the establishment of a second research reactor (PARR-2) at PINSTECH, research in neutron activation analysis, radioisotope production and separation studies gained more momentum and many research articles were published. Solvent extraction, adsorption and ion-exchange were the main routes of separation in those studies. Separation of heavy metals and treatment of waste generated in a nuclear power plant are other important aspects related to environmental restoration and nuclear waste management, where radiochemistry is required. In future, work in radiochemistry will be continued on similar lines to develop novel radiopharmaceuticals, identify indigenous schemes for nuclear waste management and work out intelligent procedures for material characterization for benefit to mankind, especially the people of Pakistan.

Evaluation of Pakgen 99mTc generators loaded with indigenous fission 99Mo

Fission produced 99Mo/99mTc generators, called Pakgen, have been manufactured at the PINSTECH generator production facility since 2000 for nuclear medicine applications in Pakistan. These generators were loaded with fission 99Mo imported from NTP South Africa. Recently production of fission 99Mo has begun in the Molybdenum-99 Production Facility at PINSTECH. Prior to use in the clinic, eight sets of generators were produced, 23 GBq and 74 GBq at time of calibration, and they were subjected to various quality control procedures recommended in the pharmacopoeia to assess their performance. The elution profile, volume, activity, pH, radionuclidic, chemical, radiochemical and biological purity, and expiry time of the eluates were examined. Labeling efficiency tests were also carried out with a number of the more widely used in vivo radiopharmaceutical kits like DTPA, MDP and MIBI. Performance of 99mTc generators loaded with locally produced and imported fission 99Mo was comparable, and the users of Pakgen generators were fully satisfied. The effect of a wet vs. a dry column on 99mTc yields of generators loaded with low and high activity was also studied for the first time.

Alfvén solitons in a Fermionic quantum plasma

The propagation of Alfvén envelope solitons through a Fermionic quantum plasma is considered. Starting from the governing equations for Hall magnetohydrodynamics including quantum corrections, coupled Zakharov-type equations are derived for circularly polarized Alfvén waves. The equations are numerically solved for time-independent and time-dependent cases. The time-independent case shows that variations in density take the form of dressed density solitons in which an approximately Gaussian peak is surrounded by smaller sinusoidal variations in the density envelope. The mathematical basis for this behavior is explained. A limited time-dependent case is obtained which uses the numerical time-independent soliton solutions as the initial conditions. This confirms that the soliton solutions retain the same profile as they propagate. The relevance of this work to dense astrophysical plasmas like the interiors of white dwarf stars is discussed.

Classical relativistic model for spin dependence in a magnetized electron gas

The response of a cold electron gas is generalized to include the spin of the electron described by the relativistically correct quasiclassical Bargmann-Michel-Telegdi (BMT) equation. The magnetization of the electron gas is assumed to be along the background magnetic field B and the spin-dependent contribution to the response tensor is proportional to the magnitude of the magnetization. The dispersion equation is shown to be quadratic in the refractive index squared, and dispersion curves for the two wave modes are plotted for cases where the magnetic field associated with magnetization is comparable with B. Two intrinsically spin-dependent wave modes are identified: one bounded by two resonances and the other by two cutoffs. The counterpart of the z mode can escape without encountering a resonance or a cutoff.

Dispersion in a thermal plasma including arbitrary degeneracy and quantum recoil

The longitudinal response function for a thermal electron gas is calculated including two quantum effects exactly, degeneracy, and the quantum recoil. The Fermi-Dirac distribution is expanded in powers of a parameter that is small in the nondegenerate limit and the response function is evaluated in terms of the conventional plasma dispersion function to arbitrary order in this parameter. The infinite sum is performed in terms of polylogarithms in the long-wavelength and quasistatic limits, giving results that apply for arbitrary degeneracy. The results are applied to the dispersion relations for Langmuir waves and to screening, reproducing known results in the nondegenerate and completely degenerate limits, and generalizing them to arbitrary degeneracy.

Synthesis and biodistribution of 99mTc-Vancomycin in a model of bacterial infection

Vancomycin Hydrochloride is an antibiotic produced by the growth of certain strains of Streptomyces orientalis. As Vancomycin Hydrochloride is poorly absorbed after oral administration; it is given intravenously for therapy of systemic infections. Vancomycin was labeled with technetium-99m pertechnetate using SnCl2·2H2O as reducing agent. The labeling efficiency depends on ligand/reductant ratio, pH, and volume of reaction mixture. Radiochemical purity and stability of 99mTc-Vancomycin was determined by thin layer chromatography. Biodistribution studies of 99mTc-Vancomycin were performed in a model of bacterial infection in Sprague–Dawley rats. A significantly higher accumulation of 99mTc-Vancomycin was seen at sites of S. aureus infected animals. Whereas uptake of 99mTc-Vancomycin in turpentine inflamed rats were quite low.

Lead (Pb) column for concentration of 99mTc-pertechnetate

Because of the high content of inactive molybdenum in neutron irradiated MoO3, large columns containing alumina or gel are needed to produce chromatographic 99Mo→99mTc generator. This results in large elution volumes containing relatively high 99Mo breakthrough and low concentrations of 99mTcO4 -. The decrease in specific volume of 99mTc places a limitation on reconstitution of some kits for 99mTc radiopharmaceuticals applied in diagnostic nuclear medicine. Hence concentration technique is mandatory for effective utilization of (n,γ) produced 99Mo/99mTc generators at the start of its life whereas in case of fission 99Mo/99mTc generator the technique may be quite useful at the end of first week of its life. We report post elution concentration of 99mTc using in house prepared Pb column. The high bolus volumes (10–60 ml saline) can conveniently be concentrated in ∼1 ml of saline.

Extraction of medically interesting 188Re-perrhenate in methyl ethyl ketone for concentration purposes

The high bolus volumes (20–40mL) of the generator-produced Rhenium-188 require post elution concentration of the eluate for the preparation of a dissolved β− source and radiopharmaceuticals labeled with Re-188 for radiotherapy. Solvent extraction of 188Re in methyl ethyl ketone was studied. With the increase of organic phase volume, extraction of 188Re was enhanced while mixing time of aqueous and organic phases did not show any significant effect on the extractability of 188Re in the organic phase. Almost 80% of 188Re was extracted in methyl ethyl ketone at a volume ratio of 1:2 for aqueous and organic phases. By evaporation/distillation of methyl ethyl ketone, 188Re was concentrated and dissolved in the desired volume of physiological saline.

Preparation of188Re-lanreotide peptide and its quality control

A simple method is described for the preparation of188Re-Lanreotide, a radiolabeled synthetic peptide derived from an analogue of somatostatin, using Lanreotide (50 μg) and stannous tartrate to which is added carrier-free188Re. The radiolabeling has been carried out with ~555 MBq (15 mCi) with a >95% labeling efficiency and no need for subsequent purification. ITLC and HPLC techniques were employed for monitoring the stability and labeling yield. Radiolabeling results in one major peak when analyzed by reverse-phase (RP) HPLC.

Concentration of 99mTc-pertechnetate and 188Re-perrhenate

The radioactive concentrations of 99mTc/188Re from their generators are dependent upon the specific activity of 99Mo/188W, which dictates the bed size of the alumina/gel column and the volume of physiological saline needed as eluent. Because of the high content of inactive molybdenum/tungsten in neutron irradiated MoO3/WO3, large columns containing alumina/gel are needed to produce chromatographic 99Mo → 99mTc/188W → 188Re generators. This results in large elution volumes containing relatively high 99Mo/188W contents and low concentrations of 99mTc/188Re. The decrease in radioactive concentration, or specific volume, places a limitation on some of the clinical procedures. We report post elution concentration of 99mTc/188Re using in house prepared silver cation exchange and alumina column. The high bolus volumes (10 − 60 ml saline) can conveniently be concentrated in 1 ml of saline. This approach also works very effectively to yield high specific volume solutions of 99mTc-pertechnetate from a fission 99Mo loaded alumina generator towards the end of its normal working life.

Ictal and interictal phonophobia in migraine-a quantitative controlled study

The aim of the study was to evaluate quantitatively ictal and interictal phonophobia in episodic migraine (EM). We included subjects with EM and age- and gender-matched controls. Sound stimuli were pure tones at frequencies of 1000, 4000 and 8000 Hz. Sound aversion thresholds (SATs) were determined as the minimal sound intensity perceived as unpleasant or painful. Migraineurs were examined both between and during attacks. We compared interictal SATs in migraineurs with those in controls. We also compared ictal and interictal SATs in migraineurs. Sixty migraineurs and 52 controls were included. Interictal mean SAT of migraineurs, averaged for the three frequencies, was significantly lower than that of controls [90.4 (0.8) dB vs. 105.9 (1.1) dB, respectively, P < 0.0001]. In migraineurs, mean ictal SAT, averaged for the three frequencies, was significantly lower than interictal SAT [76.0 (0.9) dB vs. 91.0 (0.8) dB, respectively, P < 0.0001]. Patients with EM exhibit increased sound aversion between attacks that is further augmented during an acute attack.

Sodium sulfate as an eluant for concentrated solution of pertechnetate

Fission molybdenum-99 based technetium-99m chromatography generators are the most widely employed generator systems in the field of diagnostic nuclear medicine. In the first week these generators provide high specific volume activity Na99mTcO4, but in the second week the radioactive concentration of the eluate (99mTc) becomes 17% of that at the beginning of the first week. Low specific volume activity limits the clinical procedures (e.g. 99mTc-DTPA for lung ventilation scanning, 99mTc-sestamibi for myocardial perfusion studies, 99mTc-ECD for brain imaging and 99mTc-red cells for testicles) that can be performed at the beginning of the second week. To overcome such limitations sodium sulfate was used as an eluant, which provides>80% of 99mTc radioactivity in 2 ml solution, while 0.9% NaCl provides only 40-45% 99mTc in first 2 ml solution.