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Tert-butyl hydroquinone (TBH) has been evaluated as a plutonium reductant for reprocessing and analytical applications. The effect of nitric acid concentration on plutonium reduction efficiency of TBH and its recycling are investigated under conditions prevailing in the uranium purification cycle of the PUREX process. A solvent extraction method has been developed for the separation of trace concentrations of uranium (3-30 μg/mL) from plutonium solution (10-12 mg/mL) obtained on dissolution of plutonium oxide in HNO 3 containing traces of HF. The method involves the selective extraction of U(VI) with a mixed solvent comprising 1% trialkyl phosphine oxide (TRPO) + 1.1 M tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) + 0.4 M TBH solution in n-dodecane from 3 M HNO 3 -0.4 M N 2 H 4 , while reducing Pu(VI)/Pu(IV) to inextractable Pu(III) using salt-free reductants TBH (organic phase) and hydrazine (aqueous phase). A decontamination factor of ∼150 with respect to Pu has been achieved. This method has been adopted for routine analysis of uranium in PuO 2 samples by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES).

This paper deals with the optimization of experimental conditions for the estimation of Np in spent fuel dissolver solution using 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone (HTTA) as extractant. The quantitative extraction of Np from the dissolver solution employing 0.5 M HTTA/xylene was followed by its estimation by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) after stripping it from the organic phase with 8 M HNO3. The reliability of the method was checked by standard addition technique. The method is precise and accurate yielding Np analytical recovery of 99 ± 1%.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2126/joim.v35i1.8899 Journal of Institute of Medicine, April, 2013; 35:50-52

Urolithiasis is an ancient disease with global distribution. It refers to stones originating anywhere in the urinary system. Urinary calculi or stones are the most common cause of acute urinary system obstruction. The study was aimed with finding out the common site of urinary calculus in kidney ureter bladder (KUB) region. This was a prospective cross-sectional study conducted from June 2012 to September 2012 at Tribhuvan University, Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj. A total 240 urolitiasis patients were enrolled for plain KUB examination. Site of urinary calculus was identified by observing KUB film of the subjects under the supervision of radiologist. The data were analyzed prospectively with outcome measures of genderstone location. Out of 240 patients, 138 were male and 102 were female with male to female ratio of 1.35:1. The age ranged from 9 to 83 years. Out of total 240 patients, 71.9% (187) patients belonged to productive age group (20-60 years). Total number of urinary calculi was 345 in which 208 were found in male patients and 137 were found in female patients. Of total 345 calculi, 237 were renal stones, 47 were ureteric stones, 22 of the stones were found in pelviureteric junction (PUJ), 33 of stones were found in vesicoureteric junction (VUJ), and 6 were in bladder. In conclusion, urinary stone disease is a major public health problem in a developing country like Nepal with male and productive age group predominance. Kidney stones are most common. Distal ureter is the most common site of ureteric stone.

Patients care involves all the activities that are carried out before, during and after radiological diagnostic procedures. The successful application of medical knowledge depends on what patients think and feel about the medical personnel and the hospital. From the clinical experience, patients usually reacts to some factors that creates problems in the radiology units such as delay, neglect, use of harsh words, unnecessary repeats and preferential treatment. The study was aimed at evaluating patients care in radio diagnosis department of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), Kathmandu, Nepal. A cross sectional study was conducted from May to June, 2012 in TUTH, Kathmandu, Nepal. Semi structured both open and closed ended questionnaires were administered among 287 conscious patients who were agreed to participate in the study. A total 287 patients were enrolled in the study. Out of them, 165 (57.49%) patients perceived that instruction was adequate before and after the examination; 219 (76.30%) patients were satisfied with the services rendered in the hospital; 174 (60.62%) patients perceived that privacy was adequate but 229 (79.9%) and 145 (50.5%) perceived that waiting areas and social aspects of patients care were suboptimal and in adequate. This can be improved by hospital management system.

Not uploaded.Key words: Multidrug resistant; Prevalence; Staphylococcus aureus.DOI: 10.3126/jnhrc.v6i1.2442Journal of Nepal Health Research Council Vol. 6, No. 1, Issue 12, April, 2008 Page: 38-41