Biochemical changes during exchange transfusion in hyperbilirubinemia in term newborn babies

Double volume (170 ml/kg body weight) exchange transfusion was done in 52 term infants in the first week of life for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. The M:F ratio was 1.08:1 and 37 (71.1%) babies were of low birth weight. Causes of jaundice were hemolytic in 46.2% and non-hemolytic in 41.3% cases; in 13.5% babies no cause of jaundice could be found. After exchange transfusion a fall of 14.6% and 47.4% was observed in the hemoglobin and serum bilirubin levels respectively. There was significant (p=0.0414) rise in the mean mid exchange and post-exchange serum sodium levels as compared to pre-exchange values and it was found to be due to higher donor's serum sodium levels (p=0.007). There was no effect on the serum potassium levels during or after ET. In general serum calcium levels significantly increased at mid-exchange period (p=0.0029) but post-exchange levels were same as pre-exchange. Donor's serum calcium level had no effect on the infant's serum calcium level (p=0.993). There was no change in the serum phosphate and blood urea levels during and after exchange-transfusion. The plasma glucose was significantly raised during and after ET and plasma glucose of the donors had significant effect on the infant's plasma glucose levels (p=0.043). Similarly plasma osmolality also showed significant increase during and after ET which was due to the effect of donor's plasma osmolality (p=0.007).     

Liquid dielectrophoresis and surface microfluidics

Liquid dielectrophoresis (L-DEP), when deployed at microscopic scales on top of hydrophobic surfaces, offers novel ways of rapid and automated manipulation of very small amounts of polar aqueous samples for microfluidic applications and development of laboratory-on-a-chip devices. In this article we highlight some of the more recent developments and applications of L-DEP in handling and processing of various types of aqueous samples and reagents of biological relevance including emulsions using such microchip based surface microfluidic (SMF) devices. We highlighted the utility of these devices for on-chip bioassays including nucleic acid analysis. Furthermore, the parallel sample processing capabilities of these SMF devices together with suitable on- or off-chip detection capabilities suggest numerous applications and utility in conducting automated multiplexed assays, a capability much sought after in the high throughput diagnostic and screening assays.     

Antidiabetic Effect of GII Compound Purified from Fenugreek (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Trigonella foenum graecum</Emphasis> Linn) Seeds in Diabetic Rabbits

Aim is to study the antidiabetic effect of a compound GII purified earlier from the water extract of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) seeds by Murthy and his colleagues (patented in India and USA) in diabetic rabbits. Diabetes was induced in rabbits by injecting 80 mg/kg bw of alloxan intravenously into rabiits. Rabbits were subdivided into subdiabetic [fasting blood sugar (FBG) up to 120 mg/dl with abnormal glucose tolerance in glucose tolerance test (GTT)], moderately diabetic (FBG below 250 mg/dl) and severely diabetic (FBG above 250 mg/dl). Blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) were estimated by procedures in the kits of Stangen Immunodiagnostics, Mumbai using, respectively, glucose oxidase method and absorbance at 415 nm. Serum insulin was estimated by the ELISA method as described in the kit of Boehringer Mannheim Immunodiagnostics, Mumbai, India. GII was found to improve blood glucose utilization in GTT and reduced FBG and HbA1C. In the present communication detailed studies were carried out with GII in the subdiabetic, moderately diabetic and severely diabetic rabbits. GII at a dose of 50 mg/kg bw per day brought down the elevated FBG levels in the untreated subdiabetic (FBG 96.6 ± 7 mg/dl), moderately diabetic (150.1 ± 14 mg/dl) and severely diabetic rabbits (427 ± 46 mg/dl) to normal in 12, 15 and 28 days of treatment. It improved serum HbA1C and insulin levels also in these rabbits. Intermittent therapy once a week for 6 weeks with GII at the same dose brought down the FBG values to normal in the subdiabetic (FBG 96.0 ± 2 mg/dl) and in the moderately diabetic rabbits to 133.0 ± 12 mg/dl. After stopping therapy of the subdiabetic and moderately diabetic rabbits whose FBG values came to normal after treatment with GII 50 mg/kg bw, the values remained normal for 1 week and showed a tendency to increase only after 15 days. If these animal studies are applicable to humans these results indicate that a diabetic person need not take GII daily when once the FBG value comes to normal or near to normal. Patients might be able to take GII only when the FBG value shows tendency to increase. So, intermittent therapy is possible with the potent product GII of the fenugreek seeds which is of a great advantage.     

Scaled telerobotic control of a manipulator in real time with laser assistance for ADL tasks

In this paper we present a novel concept of shared autonomous and teleoperation control of a remote manipulator with a laser-based assistance in a hard real-time environment for people with disabilities to perform activities of daily living (ADL). The laser pointer enables the user to make high-level decisions, such as target object selection, and it enables the system to generate a trajectories and virtual constraints to be used for autonomous motion or scaled teleoperation. Autonomous, position-teleoperation and velocity-teleoperation control methods have been implemented in the control code. Scaling and virtual fixtures have been used in the teleoperation based control depending on the user preference.A real-time QNX operating system has been used to control a PUMA 560 robotic arm using a Phantom Omni master through a TCP/IP port. A SICK laser range finder was used to for the telerobotic control. The system was implemented with different control modes, and three healthy human subjects were trained to use the system for a pick-and-place task. Data were collected and presented for different control modes, and a comparison between these modes based on the time to complete the task was presented.     

Online Digital Media: The Uptake of YouTube-based Digital Clinical Education (DCE)

There has been considerable growth in the uptake of digital clinical education (DCE) over the last few years. This growth has coincided with similar growth in social media platforms available to both educators and learners. In this article, we describe a novel, innovative video-based medical education project using YouTube for teaching, training, and learning. We created a series of short ‘System based’ clinical scenario videos and uploaded it to YouTube. Using the analytics function provided by Google and YouTube, end-user data including viewer engagement, uptake, and comments were then analyzed. To date, the channel has garnered more than 5.5 million views over five years between July 2012-July 2017.

With the increase in the use of video-based learning and the popularity of social media platforms, the uptake of DCE is set to increase. YouTube offers a novel approach to streaming medical education for training purposes. A quality assessed, structured and sustainable educational online platform is likely to meet the future requirements of a new generation of learners.     

Antidyslipidemic and antioxidant activities of different fractions of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Terminalia arjuna</Emphasis> stem bark

Terminalia arjuna (T. arjuna) stem bark was successively extracted with petroleum ether (A), solvent ether (B), ethanol (C) and water (D). The lipid lowering activity of these four fractions A, B, C, and D was evaluatedin vivo in two models viz., triton WR-1339 induced hyperlipemia in rats as well as fructose rich high fat diet (HFD) fed diabetic- dyslipidemic hamsters. Hyperlipidemia induced by triton caused marked increase in the plasma levels of total cholesterol (Tc), triglyceride (Tg) and phospholipids (PL) in rats. After treament withT. arjuna fractions A, B, C, and D at the doses of 250 mg/kg per oral (p.o.),only the ethanolic fraction (C) exerted significant lipid lowering effect as assessed by reversal of plasma levels of Tc, Tg and PL in hyperlipidemic rats. In another experiment, feeding with HFD produced marked dyslipidemia as observed by increased levels of plasma Tc, Tg, glucose (Glu), glycerol (Gly) and free fatty acids (FFA) in hamsters. After treatment withT. arjuna fractions at the doses of 250 mg/kg p.o. only two fraction (B and C) could exert significant lowering in the plasma levels of lipids and Glu. in dyslipidemic hamsters.In vitro experimentT. arjuna fractions at tested concentrations (50–500 μg/ml) inhibited the oxidative degradation of lipids in human low density lipoprotein and rat liver microsomes induced by metal ions. These fractions when tested against generation of oxygen free radicals at the concentrations (50–500 μg/ml), counteracted the formation of superoxide anions (O⁻²) and hydrodyl radicals (OH) in non enzymic test systems. The efficacy ofT. arjuna fractions as antidyslipidemic and antioxidant agents was found, fraction C> fraction B> fraction A.     

Serum and platelet sialic acid in acute myocardial infarction

Blood samples from 39 patients with acute myocardial infarction and 15 healthy controls were analysed for serum and platelet sialic acid. Serum sialic acid levels in patients with acute myocardial infarction were significantly higher than controls (mean 2.7±0.46 μmol/ml Vs. 1.91±0.17 μmol/ml respectively). Levels of serum orosomucoid, an acute phase reactant, containing sialic acid, were also higher in these patients, suggesting a possible non-specific mechanism of increase in serum sialic acid concentration. In contrast, platelets contained significantly less sialic acid in patients with acute myocardial infarction than control (26.73±1.57 nmol/mg protein and 31.97±2.68 nmol/mg protein respectively).     

Bollywood Cinema at the Crossroads: Tracking the Dimensions of Globalization in Postcolonial Popular Hindi Cinema

Hindi film scholars have been slow to adopt content analysis methodologies. Given the potentially changing social-political-economic context of Hindi cinema, this study utilized content analysis to investigate the prevalence of five globalization dimensions—geographical, cultural, nationalistic, infrastructural, and artistic—in the highest grossing Hindi films of the postcolonial era between 1947 and 2007. The films were coded to address multiple hypotheses theorizing that changing transnational contexts would be related to significant increases in global aspects of content. The findings suggest that the oft-repeated conclusions of scholars regarding the widespread influence of global forces on Hindi film production—particularly in the current era of “Bollywoodization”—are more complex than suggested in prior research.     

A look at the impact of raising standards in developmental mathematics

In this paper, we assess the effect of higher entry and exit standards at a community college in New York City. A complex set of university and college-wide policy modifications led to an increase in placement test cut-scores as well as increased requirements to complete remediation. The implementation of this policy change allows us to utilize quasiexperimental techniques. Utilizing cross-tabulations and logistic regressions from a total of 481 students, our results indicate that an increase in standards was associated with a significant decline in developmental sequence completion and credit-bearing course completion. On the basis of our findings, we conclude that the institution of higher standards alone is not a successful strategy; and in fact, can be expected to adversely affect student progression. Instead, we suggest that an increase in standards should include an increase in student supports to mitigate negative effects on students. We discuss these findings using the opposing forces framework developed by Jaggars and Hodara (2013). The work was funded in part by a PSC CUNY grant to the first author.