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Purpose The occupational risk associated with handling of cytotoxic anticancer drugs is well documented and, in many countries, pharmaceutical isolators are used to contain cytotoxic residues during preparation of cytotoxic infusions. Isolators are difficult to clean leading to concerns that cytotoxic contamination from the work area could be transferred to surfaces of products leaving the isolator. This study investigated the surface contamination arising from the preparation of five anticancer drug infusions (Epirubicin, Fluorouracil, Cisplatin, Oxaliplatin and Carboplatin) in a pharmaceutical isolator and compared use of a conventional syringe and needle technique with a closed-system drug transfer device (CSDTD). Methods Wipe samples were taken over 1 week from pre-defined areas in the isolator, gloves, preparation mats, and also from the surfaces of prepared cytotoxic infusion bags and pre-filled syringes to obtain baseline surface contamination data. Following operator familiarisation, the CSDTD was then introduced and sampling repeated for a further week (intervention period). The samples obtained were analysed using validated HPLC-UV, HPLC-FL and ICP-MS techniques, as appropriate. Results All surfaces sampled during baseline, including external surfaces of infusions and syringes, were contaminated with each marker drug. During the intervention phase, isolator surfaces were free from detectable contamination and the contamination measured on gloves, preparation mats and surface of infusions was markedly reduced. The frequency of contamination on syringe and infusion surfaces was also lower. Conclusion Surface contamination from cytotoxic infusion preparation in a pharmaceutical isolator was significant and could transmit cytotoxic residues to patient and public areas via infusion surfaces. The frequency and amount of contamination were reduced by the CSDTD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Peptic ulcer disease is an imbalance between offensive and defensive gastric factors. A bacterium called Helicobacter pylori has been considered a major causative agent for gastric and duodenal ulcers. This is a major cause of mortality in developing countries. Aims and Objectives:The aim of this study was to assess the biochemical parameters in gastric juice of acid peptic disease patients (Study Group) and normal healthy individuals (Control Group) in humans. Material and Methods:A total of 70 patients suffering peptic ulcer disease with H. pylori infection and 15 non-infected individuals were chosen as control group. Results: We observed an increased significant level (p<0.05) in pH, β-glucuronidase activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) as well as catalase(CAT) levels in gastric juice and decrease significant level (p<0.05) in pepsin activity, urea, mucin and nitric oxide level. Conclusion: The present study showed variations in levels of MDA, β-glucuronidase, SOD, CAT activities, pepsin, mucin urea and nitric oxide. Therefore these parameters can be used as additional parameters for diagnosis and prognosis of acid peptic diseases. These can be used by clinicians to adopt treatment strategies in betterment of acid peptic disease patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The linkages between the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the sea ice extent (SIE) in the Weddell Sea (South Atlantic) and the Bellingshausen-Amundsen Sea (South-Eastern Pacific) sectors of the Southern Ocean have been studied for the period 1979-2005 using crosswavelet analysis. The analysis showed that the relationship between the tropical expression of ENSO and the SIE in these two areas are different before and after 1992. Further, we investigated the structure and strength of the regional Ferrel cell (RFC) during El Niño and La Niña episodes using composite latitude-pressure cross-sections of wind anomalies for these two periods. Contrasting features were observed in the structure and strength of the RFC before and after 1992 in both, the South Atlantic and the South-Eastern Pacific. These modulations in the RFC control the heat transport from the tropics to high latitudes and hence the extent of sea ice in both the regions. We propose that the modulation of the RFC is responsible for the phase shift in the tropical-polar teleconnection. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A homologous series of 8-(4′-n-alkoxybenzoyloxy) quinolines were synthesized by established methods [5,6]. On evaluation by optical microscopy, none of the homologues were found to exhibit mesogenic behavior even in the monotropic condition. Then, each homologue (B) was mixed with a liquid crystal component (A) and binary systems were studied by optical microscopy. Solid–mesomorphic or isotropic–nematic transition temperatures of binary mixtures were determined and plotted to obtain the phase diagram for transition temperatures versus percentage composition of component (A). The nematic–isotropic transition curve was extrapolated to zero mole percentage of component (A) (100%B) to determine the latent transition temperature (LTT) of each nonmesomorphic homologue. The number of carbon atoms in the n-alkyl chain of each homologue versus LTT is plotted and a phase diagram is obtained. The isotropic–nematic transition curve behaves in a normal manner like a curve behaving for a typical nematogenic homologous series, including odd–even effects in its phase diagram. This method is useful to determine the probable temperature at which a nonmesogenic substance can show mesogenic behavior, provided a suitable condition is applied. Also, it is useful to correct the LTT of a homologue from the mesomorphic–isotropic transition curve. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This Paper deals with the domestic animals based traditional medicinal knowledge of Rebari community of Rajasthan. Field study was conducted with Rebari people with the help of semistructured questionnaire and open interview. 25 Rebari people including both sexes provided valuable information regarding uses of domestic animals and their products in local medicinal system and information was obtained, about their conservation too. The results show that there are 15 domestic animals and 2 plant species used in 30 ailments like headache, tuberculosis, paralysis and anal infection. The Rebari community has devised rules to ensure the social and ecological sustainability of their livestock but presently, these domestic animals are on verge of extinction due to the shortage of grazing land and loss of their territories. So there is an urgent need to uphold livestock diversity for appropriate medicinal use and to maintain an ecological balance in nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is concerned with the stochastic linear free vibration study of laminated composite plate embedded with piezoelectric layers with random material properties. The system equations are derived using higher order shear deformation theory. The lamina material properties of the laminate are modeled as basic random variables for accurate prediction of the system behavior. A C0 finite element is used for spatial descretization of the laminate. First order Taylor series based mean centered perturbation technique in conjunction with finite element method is outlined for the problem. The outlined probabilistic approach is used to obtain typical numerical results, i.e., the mean and standard deviation of natural frequency. Different combinations of simply supported, clamped and free boundary conditions are considered. The effect of side to thickness ratio, aspect ratio, lamination scheme on scattering of natural frequency is studied. The results are compared with those available in literature and an independent Monte Carlo simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]