112 research outputs found
Mycobacterial infections in Camelids.
No full textThis book chapter describes the epidemiological, clinical and pathological features of TB in South American camelids (llamas and alpacas) in Great Britain, as well as the available diagnostic tests and disease control strategies. The extent of mycobacterial diseases in South American camelids caused by M. bovis and other mycobacteria in other countries and reports from Africa and the Middle East on the problem of TB in old world camels are highlighte
Chondroitin sulfate/Dermatan sulfate from Rat Kidney
No full textThis Dissertation / Report is the outcome of investigation carried out by the creator(s) / author(s) at the department/division of Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore mentioned below in this page
Narrative Journalism in Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood
Get PDFThis paper deals with how Narrative Journalism influences the novels in literature with special reference to the non-fiction In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. The author is forced to yield a serious new art form in Literature through Narrative Journalism. To demonstrate the literary techniques of the novel, Capote applied Literary Journalism. In a simple definition, Narrative Journalism is a technique and stylistic strategy traditionally associated with non-fiction, and also it is at times used interchangeably with creative nonfiction. Capote learned of the quadruple murder in The New York Times, before the killers were captured. Then he decided to travel to Kansas and write about the crime with his fellow author Harper lee who has also written a few non-fictions. Here Capote brings out the true crime story for which he interviewed local residents and investigators assigned to the case and took thousand pages of notes. He also took extensive detail and simultaneous triple narrative. And the story is told from two alternating perspectives; the thought of the murderers and the people affected by the crime. Capote’s purpose of writing this novel was to let the readers know about the prior planning, thoughts and purpose of the crime by the murderers that would not be shown in a typical news report. Unlike other authors his objective was in showing the mindset of the murderers while committing the crime. The highlight of the study is how Narrative Journalism is applied in Capote’s In Cold Blood
An Observational study to Determine the Association between Posterior Vitreous Detachment and Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
Get PDFINTRODUCTION:
As diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of blindness it should be regularly followed up for the progression.
Patients having the borderline severe non proliferative disease should be carefully monitored and early pick up of proliferative diabetic retinopathy disease will prevent permanent visual loss.
While assessing the progression some of the factors acts as a protective factor against the proliferative disease in which PVD is one of the important factor.
As vitreous attachment is the scaffold for the new blood vessel to grow and cause traction leads to complications such as vitreous haemorrhage, tractional retinal detachment, neovascular glaucoma.
Complete PVD is the protective factor for complications of PDR but there is high risk of PDR in incomplete PVD as there is availability of scaffold for new vessels to proliferate.
So in this study PVD and its association with complications of PDR had been elicited which gave results for assessing further progression. In our study, we had taken one fifty patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy classified based on EDTRS classification.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:
The aim of this study is to observe the association between posterior vitreous detachment and proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Study Design: Non randomized, cross sectional (prevalence) study
Intended Sample Size: 50 patients.
This study includes type 2 diabetic patients with DR who were visiting outpatient department of GRH, Madurai for diabetic retinopathy screening between February 2019 and September 2019.
Study Period: 8 months (February 2019 to September 2019).
Selection of Subjects:
A total of 50 type 2 diabetic patients with DR of age 40 -70 years visiting OPD of ophthalmology GRH, Madurai who were within the following inclusion and exclusion criteria.
INCLUSION CRITERIA:
1. Type 2 diabetic patients with DR.
2. Age between 40-70 years.
EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
1. Comorbid conditions such as hypertension, blood dyscrasia, collagen vascular disorder, sarcoidosis.
2. Extremes of refractive error and high axial length.
3. Ocular comorbidities such as glaucoma, uveitis.
4. Previous retinal photocoagulation and intravitreal injections.
5. Previous h/o trauma, intraocular surgeries, electroconvulsive therapy.
6. Carotid occlusive disease excluded by physical examination.
7. Patients in whom fundus examination and FFA could not be done.
RESULTS:
In our study we had studied the age group from 40 to 70 years in that we had arrived the correlation of age and PVD and found out that the mean age for PVD was 60 years. there was a positive correlation between posterior vitreous detachment grading with the severity of diabetic retinopathy and their complications.
With the summary of age group of mean age of 60 years 62% of the population affected are male having higher grades of diabetic retinopathy of 54% and 70% in right and left eye,55% had posterior vitreous detachment out of that complete posterior vitreous detachment is 44%.
Comparing visual acuity with the posterior vitreous detachment in right eye 60% had PVD in that 48% had complete PVD out of that 75% had better vision with the significant P value of 0.002 in left eye 50% had PVD in that 40 % had complete PVD out of that 70% had better vision with significant P value of 0.043.
CONCLUSION:
From our study we had arrived at a positive correlation that patients having complete posterior vitreous detachment had less complications of proliferative diabetic retinopathy had better vision than patients without having posterior vitreous detachment and partial vitreous detachment
Functional Problems: Prevalence In Secondary Care And Perceptions Of Doctors
Get PDF1 Abstract
1.1 Title
Functional problems: prevalence in secondary care and perceptions of doctors
1.2 Aims
(a) To evaluate the prevalence of functional problems in general medicine, gastroenterology, gynaecology and psychiatry outpatient specialist clinics in a hospital setting in Sri Lanka and
(b) To assess the perceptions of doctors in these specialties around functional problems in the UK and in Sri Lanka.
1.3 Methodology
(a) Prevalence study: Functional problems were defined as those for which a cause could not be ascertained after clinical evaluation and investigations. The prevalence of functional problems was assessed over a three month period in each specialty clinic. The patients‘ records were reviewed at three and six months to confirm the diagnosis of a functional problem.
(b) Perceptions of clinicians: Qualitative methodology was used to ascertain the perceptions of doctors in the two settings covering the three specialties. A grounded theory approach was used and sixty interviews were carried out. Emphasis was placed on identifying socio-cultural implications around perceived causations and the management of these functional problems.
1.4 Results
(a) Prevalence study: The prevalence study ascertained that functional problems were the commonest diagnoses in the general medicine/gastroenterology and gynaecology clinics accounting for almost a fifth of patients. In psychiatry, functional problems were the fourth common diagnosis and accounted for nearly ten percent. Patients of all consultations with functional symptoms tended to be younger; there were long delays in
iv
making the diagnosis and a substantial proportion of patients were subjected to iatrogenic harm from invasive investigations and inappropriate therapeutic measures.
(b) Perceptions study: The perceptions study revealed divergent views by doctors about what functional problems were, how they could be categorized and how best to manage them. Socio cultural factors were thought to be intricately linked to causation and outcomes. Nonetheless, most doctors tended to isolate the clinical presentation and management from the cultural context in the way they dealt with their patients.
1.5 Conclusions
Functional problems were commonly seen and diagnosed in hospital outpatient clinics. The Sri Lankan prevalence was similar to that reported from the UK. In both cultural settings the doctors who were sensitive to socio-cultural factors used tools beyond pharmacotherapy and those who held improved quality of life as the goal of treatment as opposed to cure, reported greater success in managing people with these problems.
v
1.6 Acknowledgements The School of Medicine and Health, Durham University, for granting a scholarship through Project Sri Lanka for the PhD, for fulfilling research training needs and providing accommodation during my stay in the UK The Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna, for granting me study leave for three years Professor Pali Hungin, my supervisor in the School of Medicine and Health, Durham University, for helping convert the research idea to a PhD thesis Professor Martyn Evans, my second supervisor in the School of Medicine and Health, Durham University, for guidance and support Professor David Petley, Deputy Head (Research), Faculty of Social Sciences and Health, Durham University, for research support To Professor Susirith Mendis, Vice Chancellor and Professor Ranjith Senaratne, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ruhuna, Professor Thilak Weerasooriya, Dean and Professor P.L. Ariyananda, former Dean, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna, for support in obtaining study leave and a travel grant Dr Chandanie Hewage, Head, Department of Psychiatry at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna, for constant support and encouragement over the study leave period My colleagues in the Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, for covering the additional work during my study leave period Mrs Alex Motley, for help with correspondence and formatting Dr Simon Stockley, General Practitioner, for assistance with the pilot study Dr Amanda Gash, Consultant Psychiatrist and Dr Suresh Babu, Consultant Psychiatrist at the Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust, Dr Deepak Dwarakanath, Consultant Gastroenterologist and Dr Anne Ryall, Consultant Gynaecologist at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust, who were the co investigators for the UK arm of the qualitative study My co-investigators from Sri Lanka for the prevalence study, Dr Gamini Jayawardene, Dr Gayani Punchihewa and Dr Ajith Jayasekera, Consultant Psychiatrists, from Teaching Hospital Karapitiya Galle, Professor Thilak Weerarathna and Dr Arosha Dissanayake, Consultant Physicians from Teaching Hospital Karapitiya Galle, Professor Malik Goonawardene and Dr Dammika Jayasooriya, Consultant Obstetricians from Teaching Hospital Mahamodera, Galle
vi
Dr Rachel Casiday, Dr Helen Hancock, Dr Helen Close, Dr Sharyn Maxwell, Dr Eileen Scott, Durham University, for helping with the methodological aspects of the research Professor James Mason, Director of Research, School of Medicine and Health, Durham University, for advice on statistical matters Dr J. Howse, Doctoral Researcher, Durham University, for second coding of transcripts Mrs Judith Walsh, Mrs Susan Williams, Durham University, for assistance with administrative matters Members of the NHS National Research Ethics Committee, Durham and Tees Valley Research Ethics Committee 2, and Research Ethics Committee, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna, for helping conduct an ethically sound research study Staff at the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust, Research and Development Office for guidance on methodological and ethical aspects of the research Directors of Teaching Hospital Karapitiya, Galle and Teaching Hospital, Mahamodera, Galle, for permitting the analysis of patient records for the prevalence study All the participants in the research Mrs Barbara Hungin for encouragement and support Sri Lankan expatriate community for assistance with logistical aspects Staff at the Keenan House, where I was accommodated during my stay in the UK My family members for their constant encouragement and support during three long years of researchin
Understanding the chemotherapy-induced bystander effect; an evaluation of the role of cytokine storm in an in-vitro model of the human bone marrow
Get PDFThe phenomenon of donor cell leukaemia (DCL) occurs following haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), but its aetiology is currently unknown. Previous work within the research group identified a chemotherapy-induced bystander effect (CIBE) in an in vitro bone marrow (BM) model, which has been suggested to play a role in DCL. As DCL predominantly occurs as myeloid lineages, this research study investigated the role of cytokines in CIBE. Utilising the same in vitro model, the induction of cytokine ‘storm’ was measured in the human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell line HS-5. Five candidate cytokines (TNFα, IL-6, TGF-β1, G-CSF and GM-CSF) were selected and tested, either alone or in combination, for their ability to directly induce genotoxicity in the form of micronuclei in TK6 cells. IL-6 was focussed on for mechanisms of action; IL-6 production was knocked down in HS-5 cells, and IL-6 signalling pathways were inhibited in TK6 cells to ascertain the role of IL-6 in genotoxicity.The chemotherapeutic agents chlorambucil and mitoxantrone, induced an overall increase in cytokine secretion, with all 80 cytokines detected in either treated or untreated cells. This heightened cytokine response, resembled a cytokine storm, and for the first time, provided a comprehensive profiling of cytokine secretion in the HS-5 cell line. ELISA results confirmed storm levels of expression of the five selected cytokines, by HS-5 cells in-vitro. Additionally, the study revealed the direct genotoxic effects of these five cytokines on the TK6 cell line, with combination treatments exacerbating genotoxicity.IL-6 emerged as a central candidate, with the significant baseline expression and sustained elevated secretion post-chemotherapy, as well as a notable contribution to genotoxicity induction in bystander cells. The central role of IL-6 in CIBE was shown for the first-time using IL-6 gene knockdown in HS-5 cells, resulting in reduction of micronuclei in bystander TK6 cells to levels similar to untreated cells; this proved significant for chlorambucil (p<0.05). This novel finding underscores IL-6 as a central contributor to the induction of genotoxic effects in studies of bystander models.Efforts to mitigate IL-6-induced genotoxicity using JAK/STAT and RAS/MAPK pathway inhibitors to TK6 yielded unexpected results, in that significant micronuclei increased in the presence of the pathway inhibitors FLLL-32 and BAY-293 with IL-6 treatment. These data suggest that alternative pathways, perhaps more relevant to genotoxicity, may be promoted when using these inhibitors in the presence of IL-6, highlighting the complexity of IL-6 signalling pathways.In conclusion, this study illuminates the intricate dynamics of cytokines in the context of CIBE and their possible contribution to DCL, offering valuable insights for further investigations and potential therapeutic interventions. The complexities unveiled underscore the need for continued exploration into the multifaceted mechanisms governing HSCT outcomes and associated complications
Atomically Dispersed Cu–Ni Dual-Metal Sites on g-C 3 N 4 for Synergistic Enhancement of Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
No full textInternational audienceSingle-atom catalysts (SACs) offer a promising strategy to enhance light utilization and charge carrier dynamics in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. However, the uniform dispersion and stabilization of single-atom active sites remain significant challenges. Herein, we report the fabrication of atomically dispersed Cu and Ni dual-metal sites anchored on graphitic carbon nitride (CuNi–g-C3N4), achieving an outstanding hydrogen evolution rate of 1275 μmol g–1 h–1 under visible light irradiation. The synergistic interaction between Cu and Ni bimetallic dual-atom catalysts (DACs) modulates the electronic structure of g-C3N4, creating active sites and suppressing charge recombination, as confirmed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) analysis verifies the atomic dispersion of the Cu and Ni sites, revealing their interactions with the carbon nitride framework. Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) further demonstrate enhanced charge separation and reduced recombination in CuNi–g-C3N4. The catalyst exhibits excellent stability and maintains its photocatalytic activity over multiple reaction cycles, underscoring the potential of DACs for sustainable hydrogen production. This study provides insights into the rational design of dual single-atom catalysts for the efficient conversion of solar energy to hydrogen
Author affiliation and funding source of eligible studies.
No full textAuthor affiliation and funding source of eligible studies.</p
Global optimization of extraframework ensembles in zeolites: structural analysis of extraframework aluminum species in MOR and MFI zeolites
No full textMetal-modified zeolites are versatile catalytic materials with a wide range of industrial applications. Their catalytic behaviour is determined by the nature of externally introduced cationic species, i.e., its geometry, chemical composition, and location within the zeolite pores. Superior catalyst designs can be unlocked by understanding the confinement effect and spatial limitations of the zeolite framework and its influence on the geometry and location of such cationic active sites. In this study, we employ the genetic algorithm (GA) global optimization method to investigate extraframework aluminum species and their structural variations in different zeolite matrices. We focus on extraframework aluminum (EFAl) as a model system because it greatly influences the product selectivity and catalytic stability in several zeolite catalyzed processes. Specifically, the GA was used to investigate the configurational possibilities of EFAl within the mordenite (MOR) and ZSM-5 frameworks. The xTB semi-empirical method within the GA was employed for an automated sampling of the EFAl-zeolite space. Furthermore, geometry refinement at the density functional theory (DFT) level of theory allowed us to improve the most stable configurations obtained from the GA and elaborate on the limitations of the xTB method. A subsequent ab initio thermodynamics analysis (aiTA) was chosen to predict the most favourable EFAl structure(s) under the catalytically relevant operando conditions.ChemE/Inorganic Systems EngineeringChemE/Algemee
- …
