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The article consists of brief review on Simultaneous equation method (Vierodt’s method). This method is applicable for estimation of those drugs whose spectra overlap properly I.e. If a sample contains two absorbing drug each of which absorbing at λmax of the other, it is possible to determine both drugs by technique of simultaneous equation method. This article consists of the list of various combined dosage form and food sample analyzed by Vierodt’s method with its wavelength, linearity range and choice of solvents. This method permits simple, rapid and direct determination of combined dosage form without prior separation and therefore can be used in routine analysis. Quantitative estimation is necessary before introduction of any drug into the market because if concentration is more in formulation it can lead to toxicity problem or if concentration is found less, then formulation will not be effective in prescribed dose.

Background: Transitional phase of 2-3 weeks (prelay) before onset of egg production is extremely important for efficient layer. This study evaluates different nutrient density prelay diets on the subsequent performance of White Leghorn layers. Methods: Total 180, 16-week-old White Leghorn pullets assigned to six-prelay feeding strategies (kcal ME per kg/%CP/%Ca) during 16-18 weeks. Treatments were T0 (BIS control-2500/16.0/1.0), T1 (2700/16.0/1.0), T2 (2700/16.0/2.0), T3 (2700/16.0/2.5), T4 (2700/18.0/2.0) and T5 (2700/18.0/2.5). Subsequently, pullets were fed with same layer diet (2600/18.0/3.0) during 19-40 weeks. Various growth and production parameters were recorded. Result: The 18% CP (T4 and T5), 2.0-2.5% Ca (T2 to T5) and 2700 kcal ME/kg (T1 to T5) in prelay diet significantly increased pullets daily metabolic energy (p less than 0.05), protein (p less than 0.05) and calcium (p less than 0.01) intake during 16-18 weeks than 2600 kcal ME/kg (T0), 16.0% CP (T0 to T3) and 1.0% Ca (T0). Prelay diet (T5) improved egg number, per cent egg production, feed efficiency, performance efficiency index and egg feed price ratio without affecting weight gain and feed consumption suggesting that prelay diet is a compromise between grower and layer diets.

Background: Currently prelay nutrition has gained attention in layer industry. Consumer concern attracted researchers to study on different egg qualities. The study was aimed to investigate the impact of different nutrient density prelay diets on egg qualities. Methods: Total 180, 16-week-old White Leghorn pullets assigned to six-prelay feeding strategies (kcal ME per kg/%CP/%Ca) during 16-18 weeks. Treatments were T0 (BIS control-2500/16.0/1.0), T1 (2700/16.0/1.0), T2 (2700/16.0/2.0), T3 (2700/16.0/2.5), T4 (2700/18.0/2.0) and T5 (2700/18.0/2.5). Subsequently, pullets were fed with same layer diet (2600/18.0/3.0) during 19-40 weeks. Various egg quality parameters were recorded during 24-40 weeks of age. Result: Inclusion of 18.0% CP, 2700 kcal ME/kg significantly improved 40th week egg weight (p less than 0.05) and albumen index while reduced yolk weight (p less than 0.01). Prelay diet did not influence shape index and yolk index. The 18.0% prelay CP significantly (p less than 0.01) improved albumen weight and haugh unit. Inclusion of 2.0-2.5% prelay Ca significantly (p less than 0.01) improved shell weight and shell thickness than 1.0%. It is recommended to use 18.0% CP, 2700 kcal ME/kg and 2.5% Ca in prelay diet during 16-18 weeks along with BIS (2007) layer diet during 19-40 weeks age in White Leghorn Layers.

Flow diversion has gradually become a standard treatment for intracranial aneurysms of the anterior circulation. Recently, the off-label use of the flow diverters to treat posterior circulation aneurysms has also increased despite initial concerns of rupture and the suboptimal results. This study aimed to explore the change in complication rates and treatment outcomes across time for posterior circulation aneurysms treated using flow diversion and to further evaluate the mechanisms and variables that could potentially explain the change and outcomes.A retrospective review using a standardized data set at multiple international academic institutions was performed to identify patients with ruptured and unruptured posterior circulation aneurysms treated with flow diversion during a decade spanning January 2011 to January 2020. This period was then categorized into 4 intervals.A total of 378 procedures were performed during the study period. Across time, there was an increasing tendency to treat more vertebral artery and fewer large vertebrobasilar aneurysms (This multicenter experience revealed a trend toward treating fewer basilar aneurysms, smaller aneurysms, and increased usage of a single flow diverter, leading to a decrease in the rate of thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications.

An experiment was conducted to assess the effects of thyme and peppermint essential oils (EO) as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoter (AGP) on the performance of broiler chicken. Total 256 day-old Vencobb broiler chicks were randomly distributed into eight experimental groups with four replicates of eight birds each. Experimental groups were fed with control diet without supplementation of AGP and essential oils (T1), BMD (Bacitracin Methylene Disalicylate) antibiotic @ 500 mg/kg diet (T2), thyme essential oil @ 150 mg/kg diet (T3), 200 mg/kg diet (T4), 250 mg/kg diet (T5), peppermint essential oil @ 200 mg/kg diet (T6), 250 mg/kg diet (T7) and 300 mg/kg diet (T8). The supplementation of thyme oil @ 200 mg/kg and peppermint oil @ 300 mg/kg broiler diet significantly (p less than 0.05) improved b.wt. and b.wt gain. The peppermint oil supplementation @ 300 mg/kg was found to be more beneficial when compared among different oil-supplemented groups. The feed conversion ratio was significantly (p less than 0.05) improved with peppermint oil supplementation @ 300 mg/kg diet. A significant (p less than 0.05) reduction in the mean abdominal fat was observed in diet supplemented with higher levels of thyme oil (@ 250 mg/kg diet) and peppermint oil (@ 300 mg/kg diet). Return over feed cost was the highest in broilers assigned diet with AGP; however, it was statistically similar to the basal diet. Considering the net return over fed cost of broilers, use of thyme oil was uneconomical, but supplementation of peppermint essential oil @ 200 and 300 mg/kg diet increased the net return over feed cost and were economical, however less as compared to T1 and T2.

The productive and reproductive performance of Ankleshwar chicken under intensive management for three successive generations (S0, S1, and S2) was studied at Poultry Research Station, AAU, Anand, Gujarat. Total 546, 422, and 465 pullets of S0, S1, and S2 generation, respectively, were housed in individual layer cages at 16 weeks of age. Production parameters, viz., body weight (g) of day-old, 4th, 8th, 16th and 40th weeks of age; total feed consumption (kg) per bird; mortality (%) during 0-8, 9-16 and 17-40 weeks of age; total egg production (no.) up to 40 weeks of age and average egg weight (g) at the end of 28th and 40th week of age were recorded for three generations. The reproductive parameters, viz., age at sexual maturity (days), fertility (%) and hatchability (%) on Total Egg Set basis (TES) as well as hatchability on Fertile Egg Set basis (FES) were calculated. It was concluded that the rearing of Ankleshwar chicken in intensive management over three (S0, S1 and S2) generations significantly (p≤0.05) improved body weight at 4th, 8th and 16th weeks of age, required less feed, improved fertility and showed significantly (p ≤0.05) early age at sexual maturity (154 days) in S2 generation with significant (p≤0.05) decreasing trend in egg production up to 40th week of age from S0 to S2 generation. Hatchability showed a decreasing trend in progressive generations. The birds have shown better livability reared under intensive management in Gujarat.

RP-UPLC method was developed and validated for the determination of chlorpheniramine maleate and dextromethorphan hydrobromide in tablet dosage form. Reverse phase waters acquity UPLC BEH C18 (50 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm) column using isocratic mobile phase of 0.5 mL 0.1% TFA (trifluroacetic acid) in H2O:CH3CN (70:30 %v/v). The flow rate was 0.2 mL/min and 252 nm wavelength use for detection on PDA detector. The retention time of chlorpheniramine maleate was 1.2 min and 2.2 min for dextromethorphan hydrobromide. Chlorpheniramine maleate and dextromethorphan hydrobromide was subjected to stress conditions including acidic, alkaline, oxidation, photolysis and thermal degradation. The method was validated as per ICH guideline with respect to samples to specificity, precision, accuracy, linearity and robustness.

The objective of the current study was to develop a specific, precise, accurate and robust gradient stability indicating reversed-phase ultra performance liquid chromatography (RP-UPLC-PDA) assay method and validated for determination of edoxaban tosylate in API. Gradient separation was achieved on an acquity UPLC BEH C18 column (50 mm, 2.1 mm and 1.7 μm) column using mobile phase of acetoitrile:20 mM potassium dihydrogen phosphate, pH 3.0 ± 0.05 adjust with OPA at flow rate of 0.6 mL/min, the injection volume was 1 μL and the detection was carried out of 289 nm by using photodiode array detector. The drug was subjected to oxidation, hydrolysis, photolysis, and heat to apply stress condition. The method was linear in the drug concentration range of 100-300 μg/mL with correlation coefficient of 0.999. Degradation products produced as a result of stress studies did not interfere with detection of edoxaban tosylate and the assay, thus developed stability indicating method can be used for routine analysis in pharmaceutical industry.

The present study examines simultaneous multiple response optimization using desirability function for the development of an HPTLC method to detect esomeprazole magnesium trihydrate and levosulpiride in pharmaceutical dosage form. HPTLC separation was performed on aluminium plates pre-coated with silica gel 60 F254 as the stationary phase using ethyl acetate:methanol:toluene:ammonia (7:1.5:1.5:0.1% v/v/v) as the mobile phase. Full factorial design applied for the optimization of degradation condition. Esomeprazole magnesium trihydrate and levosulpiride were subjected to acid, alkali hydrolysis, oxidation and photodegradation. Experimental full factorial design has been used during forced degradation to determine significant factors responsible for degradation and to optimize degradation conditions reaching maximum degradation. 32 and 23 full factorial design has been used for optimization of chromatographic condition in acid and base degradation study, respectively. Quantification was achieved based on a densitometric analysis of esomeprazole magnesium trihydrate and levosulpiride over the concentration range of 800-4000 ng/band and 1500-7500 ng/band, respectively at 254 nm. The method yielded compact and well-resolved bands at Rf of 0.70 ± 0.02 and 0.32 ± 0.02 for esomeprazole magnesium trihydrate and levosulpiride, respectively. The linear regression analysis for the calibration plots produced r2 = 0.9967 and r2 = 0.9981 for esomeprazole magnesium trihydrate and levosulpiride, respectively. Method is validated as per ICH (Q2)R1 guideline.

Purpose/objective(s) The purpose of this study was to compare clinical outcomes between black and white females treated with curative intent for vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) and identify factors that correlate with locoregional control (LRC) and survival. Materials/methods Patients with VSCC treated with either adjuvant or definitive radiotherapy with curative intent from 2009-2020 within our multi-center academic medical system were retrospectively analyzed. Patient and treatment-specific factors were evaluated. Kaplan-Meier and Univariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate and assess factors correlated with LRC, progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Comparisons between groups were performed using the log-rank test. Results We identified 39 patients with VSCC treated with curative intent; 43% (n = 17) received adjuvant RT and 56% (n = 22) received definitive RT to a median dose of 59.4 Gy and 64.4 Gy, respectively. Thirty-four patients received external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) alone, 5 pts received EBRT plus brachytherapy and 22 patients received concurrent chemotherapy. The cohort was comprised of 22 black patients (BP) and 17 white patients (WP) with a median age of 62 (range: 32-93) and 68 (38-98), respectively. Median follow up for the entire cohort was 12.5 months (Q1-Q3: 2.8-31.3mos) for all patients and 14.9 months (3.8-33.2) for alive patients. BP were significantly more likely to present with clinical FIGO stage I/II (73% vs 24%, P = 0.002), undergo surgical resection (68% vs 18%, P = 0.002) and to have HPV-positive tumors (55% versus 29%, P = 0.012). 6 BP were HIV-positive versus 0 WP. There was no difference between the groups in relation to smoking status (P = 0.72). The complete response rate was 86% (n = 19) among BP (FIGO stage I; n = 9, II; n = 4, III; n = 4, IVA; n = 2) versus 59% (n = 10) among WP (I; n = 1, II; n = 1, III; n = 6, IVA; n = 2), (P = 0.51). One-year estimated LRC, PFS and OS were 100% versus 66% (P = 0.001), 100% versus 50% (P Conclusion This data demonstrates high response rates and local control for early stage VSCC, which primarily included BP in this cohort. Further exploration is needed to understand the etiology behind these differences. These data suggest a potential role for therapeutic stratification to optimize outcomes and decrease late toxicity. Author disclosure J.S. Remick: None. N.S. McCall: Honoraria; PrecisCA.N. Khanna: None. J.W. Shelton: None. S. Hanasoge: None. P.R. Patel: None. A.B. Patel: Honoraria; American College of Radiology. T. Cole: None. A. McCook: None. A.N. Gordon: None. C. Han: None. K. Starbuck: None. J. Switchenko: None. T.Y. Eng: Stock; Amgen.

The study focused on assessing quality parameters of the surimi incorporated with soluble dietary fibers apple pectin and konjac glucomannan at different levels. The results showed that apple pectin at 0.025% and konjac glucomannan at a 2% level exhibited improved gel-forming ability significantly (p 0.05). SDS- PAGE revealed high molecular weight protein crosslinks in apple pectin treated surimi gels and disappearance of myosin bands in konjac glucomannan treated surimi gels. The water holding capacity of surimi was the highest when 0.075 g/100 g of apple pectin was added. Konjac glucomannan treated gels exhibited superior whiteness values. The analysis of soluble protein revealed that hydrophobic bonds increased in both the treatments. The hardness values of pectin gels enhanced as the level increased. Other TPA parameters are shown an inconsistent trend. It can be demonstrated that the incorporation of apple pectin and konjac glucomannan at a level of 0.025 and 2.0% may be a novel strategy to improve the gel strength of the surimi.

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) (299 residues) is a highly helical protein that plays a critical role in cholesterol homeostasis. It comprises a four-helix bundle N-terminal (NT) and a C-terminal (CT) domain that can exist in lipid-free and lipid-associated states. In humans, there are two major apoE isoforms, apoE3 and apoE4, which differ in a single residue in the NT domain, with apoE4 strongly increasing risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). It has been proposed that the CT domain initiates rapid lipid binding, followed by a slower NT domain helix bundle opening and lipid binding to yield discoidal reconstituted high density lipoprotein (rHDL). However, the contribution of the NT domain on the CT domain organization in HDL remains poorly understood. To understand this, we employed Cys-specific cross-linking and spatially-sensitive fluorophores in the NT and CT domains of apoE3 and apoE4, and in isolated CT domain. We noted that the helices in isolated CT domain are oriented parallel to those in the neighboring molecule in rHDL, whereas full length apoE3 and apoE4 adopt either an anti-parallel or hairpin-like organization. It appears that the bulky NT domain determines the spatial organization of its CT domain in rHDL, a finding that has significance for apoE4, which is more susceptible to proteolytic cleavage in AD brains, showing increased accumulation of neurotoxic NT and CT fragments. We envisage that the structural organization of HDL apoE would have profound functional consequences in its ability to regulate cholesterol homeostasis in AD and CVD.

Purpose/Objective(s) Definitive or adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) for vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) is associated with significant toxicity that can negatively impact a patient's health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Given the rarity of this disease, data on the incidence of acute and late severe toxicity as well as the real-world late-symptom burden from a modern cohort are lacking. Materials/Methods Patients with VSCC treated with adjuvant or definitive radiotherapy with curative intent from 2009-2020 within our multi-center academic medical system were retrospectively analyzed. Treatment-related acute and late (≥3 months after RT) grade 3 or greater toxicities assessed by CTCAE version 5.0 were recorded. All provider-reported subjective symptoms (PRSS) documented from the date of RT completion to the date of last follow up were recorded. Kaplan-Meier model was used to estimate one-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Results Thirty-nine patients received either definitive (n = 22, 56.4%) or adjuvant (n = 17, 43.6%) RT to a median dose of 64.4 Gy and 59.4 Gy, respectively. Five patients (3 definitive, 2 adjuvant) received a brachytherapy boost with a median total EQD2 of 84.3 Gy. Intensity-modulated or volumetric-modulated arc RT was used in 34 (87.2%) of patients, and 22 patients (56.4%) received concurrent chemotherapy. Median follow up time was 12.5 months (Q1-Q3: 2.8-31.3 months) for all patients and 14.9 months (3.8-33.2) for alive patients. Seventy-four percent of patients (FIGO Stage I; n = 10, II; n = 5, III; n = 10, IVA; n = 4) had a complete response based on clinical (n = 26) or pathologic (n = 3) criteria, including 16 treated with adjuvant RT and 13 treated with definitive RT. The 1-year estimated OS and PFS were 90.4% and 90.5%, respectively. The incidence of acute grade ≥3 toxicity was 35.9% (n = 14). Acute grade ≥3 skin toxicity was most common (n = 10, 25.6%), followed by urinary (n = 1, 2.6%), gastrointestinal (n = 1, 2.6%), hematologic (n = 1, 2.6%), and fatigue (n = 1, 2.6%). Five (12.8%) patients experienced late grade ≥3 toxicity, including 2 patients (5.1%) with grade 3 dermatologic toxicity, 2 patients (5.1%) with grade 4 skin toxicity, and 1 patient (2.6%) with grade 3 gastrointestinal toxicity. Among the 32 patients with PRSS data available, 6 (15.3%) reported dyspareunia or inability to have sexual intercourse, 5 (12.8%) noted skin discoloration or fibrosis, 11 (28.2%) reported long-term vaginal pain or irritation, and 8 (20.5%) required long-term opiate pain medication. Conclusion RT for VSCC is associated with considerable rates of severe acute and late toxicity as well as PRSS that affect both a patient's physical functioning and HRQoL. Taken together with the high rates of disease control and survival, these data argue for improved patient-reported outcome measures and investigation of therapeutic de-escalation strategies. Author Disclosure N.S. McCall: Honoraria; PrecisCA.T.Y. Eng: Stock; Amgen. J.W. Shelton: None. S. Hanasoge: None. P.R. Patel: None. A.B. Patel: Honoraria; American College of Radiology. A. McCook: None. J. Switchenko: None. T. Cole: None. N. Khanna: None. C. Han: None. A.N. Gordon: None. K. Starbuck: None. J.S. Remick: None.

Background and Aim: In today era, broiler industry facing a problem of price hiking of feed of broiler, also in competitive era there should be lower feed cost, lower feed conversion ratio, low feed consumption yet good body weight at marketable age. Materials and Methods: Day-old commercial broiler chicks (n=200) were distributed randomly into 5 dietary treatment groups viz. control (T 1 ), probiotic in the feed @ 100 g/tonne of feed (T 2 ), prebiotic in the feed @ 500 g/tonne of feed (T 3 ), probiotic + prebiotic @ 100 g/tonne and 500 g/tonne of feed, respectively (T 4 ) and probiotic + prebiotic @ 50 g/tonne and 250 g/tonne of feed (T 5 ). The growth of broilers and dressing weight along with the weight of giblet (liver without gall bladder, gizzard without serous layer, and heart without pericardium), Kidney, Abdominal fat, Length of Intestine and dressing percentage were measured. Economics in terms of Return Over Feed Cost (ROFC) and European Performance Efficiency Index (EPEI) was calculated. Results: Among all carcass traits, dressing percentage, abdominal fat weight and abdominal fat percentage (as a percentage of dressed weight) were recorded significant (p

Aims The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence of osteomalacia and hypovitaminosis D among diabetic and non-diabetic pregnant women and in their neonates. Methods Serum calcium, phosphorus, heat labile alkaline phosphatase, 25(OH) vitamin D and PTH were measured in 32 non-diabetic, 16 gestational diabetic and 8 Type 1 diabetic pregnant women and in cord blood of their newborn. Results Among 32 non-diabetic subjects, 4 subjects (12.5%) had biochemical osteomalacia. 4 out of 16 gestational diabetic subjects (25%) had biochemical osteomalacia whereas 5 out of 8 Type 1 diabetic subjects (62.5%) had biochemical osteomalacia. Mean concentration of 25(OH) vitamin D in the non-diabetic group was 17.18 ± 9.88 ng/ml. Mean concentration of 25(OH) vitamin D in the Gestational diabetic group was 14.75 ± 6.90 ng/ml, while in Type 1 diabetic group, it was 7.81 ± 3.79 ng/ml. 50% of neonates of normal pregnant women had vitamin D deficiency whereas, 50% had vitamin D insufficiency. 40% of neonates of Gestational diabetic pregnant women had vitamin D deficiency whereas, 40% had vitamin D insufficiency. Conclusion Vitamin D deficiency and biochemical osteomalacia was present in significant percentage of normal pregnant women and their neonates. Gestational diabetes and Type 1 diabetic women were more prone to develop vitamin D deficiency and biochemical osteomalacia.

An experiment was conducted to study the effects of dietary supplementation of acidifier as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoter on feed consumption, feed conversion ratio of commercial broilers. The experiment was conducted for a period of six weeks on 192 straight run day old commercial broiler chicks which were distributed randomly to 6 treatment groups consisting of 4 replicates with 8 chicks per replicate. The treatments were: T1 control (No antibiotic and no organic acid), T2 ration contained bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD) @ 50g/100 kg feed, T3 ration contained coated sodium butyrate @ 200g/100kg feed, T4 ration contained coated sodium butyrate @ 400g/100kg feed, T5 ration contained esterified sodium butyrate @ 200g/100kg feed and T6 ration contained esterified sodium butyrate @ 400g/100kg feed. The total feed consumption during the overall experimental period, i.e., from 0–6 weeks of age (TFC0–6) fed with T1, T2, T3, T5 and T6 rations was significantly (P

An experiment was conducted to study the effects of dietary supplementation of acidifier as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoter on performance and carcass characteristics of commercial broiler chickens. The experiment was conducted for a period of six weeks on 192 straight run day old commercial broiler chicks which were distributed randomly to six treatment consisting of four replicates with 8 chicks per replicate. The treatments were: T1 control (No antibiotic and no organic acid), T2 Bacitracin Methylene Disalicylate (BMD) @ 50g/100 kg feed, T3 coated Sodium Butyrate @ 0.2% (200g/100kg feed), T4 coated Sodium Butyrate @ 0.4% (400g/100kg feed), T5 Esterified Sodium Butyrate @ 0.2% (200g/100kg feed) and T6 Esterified Sodium Butyrate @ 0.4% (400g/100kg feed). At the end of the experimental period, the mean body weight of birds fed with T1, T2, T3, T5 and T6 rations were significantly (P

The thermal conductivity of Kapton HN is measured for temperatures between 0.5 and 5 K. The temperature rise across two different Kapton–Stycast 1266 stacks is measured for a known heat transfer rate. These two measurements, combined with the geometry of the stacks, are then used to infer the bulk thermal conductivity of the Kapton. The measured conductivity was found to fit to a power law of the form k =4.638×10 −5 T 0.5678 W/cm K, where T is in Kelvins.

The ultimate temperature and cooling power of both the superfluid Stirling refrigerator (SSR) and the 3He–4He dilution refrigerator depend largely on the efficiency of their counterflow heat exchangers. This efficiency is limited mainly by the Kapitza boundary resistance at low temperatures. The usual method of overcoming this problem has been to increase the surface area of the heat exchangers. A different approach is to make the heat exchangers out of materials that have low Kapitza boundary resistance such as plastics. This article describes the design, construction, and performance of plastic heat exchangers that have been successfully used in our SSRs. Specifically, the paper includes a detailed description of our heat exchangers, step-by-step instructions on the construction of a plastic heat exchanger, and simple calculations of the performance of the heat exchanger under typical SSR operating conditions.

Rats were exposed to an acute dose of lead (Pb) to study the effect of Pb intoxication on different sialoglycoconjugates in serum, brain and liver. Serum levels of total sialic acid (TSA), perchloric acid (PCA)-soluble sialic acid (PSA), lipid-bound sialic acid (LBSA), free sialic acid (FSA) and α1-acid glycoprotein (α1-AG) were determined. They were also estimated in brain and liver tissues, except for LBSA and FSA. All these constituents were found to be significantly raised in the serum but not in the brain. In the case of the liver, only α1-AG levels were found to be increased significantly, the rest were not altered. The levels of these sialoglycoconjugates in serum might be useful as biomarkers of heavy metal toxicity.

The assessment of postoperative recovery typically involves the use of measures that are open to bias. Whilst there has been some work done on the short-term postoperative recovery comparison for hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy (HALN) and retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy (RPN), to our knowledge, this is the first study to look at long-term health outcomes for these two procedures. This study sought objectively to compare long-term postoperative health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after retroperitoneoscopic and hand-assisted transperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy undertaken for renal pathology. This was achieved by both reviewing perioperative data from medical records and by using the SF-36 questionnaire postoperatively.Patients who had undergone elective retroperitoneoscopic (N = 19) or transperitoneal HALN (N = 32) between 2001 and 2004 at our institution underwent objective HRQoL assessment via a validated telephone questionnaire (SF-36) and by review of postoperative data from the medical records. This survey was administered between 3 and 6 months after surgery. The data then underwent statistical analysis using the paired Student's t-test.Perioperative data showed no significant difference in the postoperative complication rate in the two groups. The HRQoL scores gathered from the SF-36 questionnaire gave mean scores of 67.4 and 68.5 for the HALN and RPN groups, respectively (100 represents maximum quality of life). This difference was not statistically significant.This is the first study to look at long-term (mean follow-up 6 months) health outcomes for patients undergoing RPN and HALN. The results show no greater long-term health benefit for one procedure over the other. This finding supports the data in the literature on the benefits of HALN over RPN in terms of a less protracted learning curve, greater technical ease, fewer intraoperative complications, and consequently reduced operating times with no loss of the long-term health benefit that is traditionally associated with the standard laparoscopic technique.

Male rats were exposed to manganese sulphate i.p. daily for a period of four weeks to see its effects on tissue levels and urinary excretion of total nicotinamide nucleotides (TNN). Increased levels of TNN were observed in blood and brain while the levels were found to be decreased in liver. There was a progressive increase in the excretion of TNN during the experimental period, TNN levels in blood and urine might serve as useful biological indicators of Mn toxicity.

Studies on crack growth in a panel with an inclined crack subjected to biaxial tensile fatigue loading are presented. The strain energy density factor approach is used to characterize the fatigue crack growth. The crack growth trajectory as a function of the initial crack angle and the biaxiality ratio is also predicted. The analysis is applied to 7075-T6 aluminium alloy to predict the dependence of crack growth rate on the crack angle. The effect of crack angle on the cyclic life of the component and on the cyclic life ratio is presented and discussed.

The influence of 2-mercaptothiazoline as a corrosion inhibitor for copper in acetic acid, monochloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid and trichloroacetic acid solutions has been investigated. The inhibitive power of 2-mercaptothiazoline among above stated acids is in the following order: trichloroacetic acid > dichloroacetic acid > monochloroacetic acid > acetic acid. The inhibition afforded by 2-mercaptothiazoline may be attributed to its chelate-forming tendency towards copper ions. The percentage efficiency obtained by weight loss method is correlated with the Tafel slope. The reaction is cathodically controlled.

Five insoluble matrices are described for the solid-support of solubilized cardiac adenyl cyclase. Straight forward chemistries are proposed for the reactions involved and for at least one matrix, an apparent purification of the cyclase activity was observed.