Abstract Chronic distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) dislocation has been treated historically with complex osteotomies and reconstructive procedures, often resulting in intractable stiffness and loss of function. It is desirable to use a technique of fixation that will not only restore the wrist biomechanics but also be cosmetically appealing to the individual. We present a novel technique of reduction and fixation of a chronically dislocated DRUJ in a 26-year-old male using a minimally invasive approach, with successful restoration of DRUJ function and no postoperative complications.

Resumo Luxação crônica da articulação radioulnar distal (ARUD) foi tratada historicamente com osteotomias complexas e procedimentos reconstrutivos, geralmente resultando em rigidez intratável e perda de função. É desejável usar uma técnica de fixação que não apenas restaure a biomecânica do punho, mas também seja esteticamente atraente para o indivíduo. Apresentamos uma nova técnica de redução e fixação de uma ARUD deslocada cronicamente em um homem de 26 anos, usando uma abordagem minimamente invasiva, com restauração bem-sucedida da função da ARUD e sem complicações pós-operatórias.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Narrow-band UVB (NB-UVB) has been shown to be one of the most effective treatment modalities for psoriasis. Tazarotene, a known effective anti-psoriatic modality, when combined with NB-UVB may enhance the therapeutic success. OBJECTIVE: To study clinical efficacy and safety of combination of NB-UVB with topical tazarotene 0.05% gel in psoriasis. METHOD: Thirty patients with plaque psoriasis having symmetrical lesions were enrolled for 12 weeks. All patients were instructed to apply tazarotene gel on target plaque on left side of body once daily. In addition, the whole body was irradiated with NB-UVB twice weekly. Efficacy was assessed by target plaque scoring and number of treatment sessions for clearance. RESULT: Our study resulted in 3 key findings: Firstly, therapeutic efficacy of NB-UVB was enhanced by addition of tazarotene. This enhanced efficacy was more apparent in decreasing scaling and thickness as compared to decrease in erythema. Secondly, combination therapy showed faster clearance of target plaques, with reduction in mean number of treatment sessions. Thirdly, mean cumulative NB-UVB dose needed to achieve clearance of target plaques was significantly reduced with combination therapy. STUDY LIMITATIONS: The study was not randomized or controlled, but an open-label trial. The study period was relatively short, i.e., 12 weeks, without any follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Tazarotene gel significantly enhances the therapeutic efficacy of NB-UVB irradiation with faster clearance and without serious side effects.

Abstract The distributed static synchronous compensator (DSTATCOM) has emerged as an indispensable compensator element in the management of reactive power demand in distributed power management systems as well as grid connected systems. The DSTATCOM maintains the voltage at the point of common coupling (PCC) and at the DC link voltage across the DC link capacitor. For these two purposes, there are two independent controllers and these controllers are predominantly of PI types. Tuning the PI controller is a challenging exercise. In this paper, a novel method for tuning the PI controllers using particle swarm optimization is presented. By MATLAB SIMULINK simulation it is shown that the particle swarm optimization-tuned PI controller performs better than the traditional Ziegler-Nichols technique-tuned PI controller. In order to validate the proposed idea, an experimental setup has also been constructed with a PIC16F877A micro controller as the central control element and as a scale down physical model of the DSTATCOM.

JUSTIFICATIVA: Comparar as alterações de pressão intraocular após laringoscopia e intubação com lâmina Macintosh convencional e laringoscópio óptico Airtraq. MÉTODOS: Noventa pacientes adultos foram randomicamente designados para os grupos estudo ou controle. No grupo estudo (n = 45) o laringoscópio Airtraq foi usado para laringoscopia e no grupo controle (n = 45) o laringoscópio Macintosh convencional foi usado para laringoscopia. A pressão intraocular foi mensurada no pré-operatório com tonômetro Schiotz. A laringoscopia foi feita de acordo com o protocolo de cada grupo. Pressão intraocular e parâmetros hemodinâmicos foram registrados logo antes da inserção do dispositivo e três vezes após a inserção do dispositivo, com intervalo de um minuto. RESULTADOS: As características dos pacientes, os parâmetros hemodinâmicos basais e a PIO basal foram comparáveis nos dois grupos. Após a inserção do tubo endotraqueal com o laringoscópio Macintosh, houve um aumento estatisticamente significativo da frequência cardíaca e da pressão intraocular em comparação com o grupo Airtraq. Não houve alteração significativa da PAM. Oito pacientes do grupo Macintosh sofreram trauma de língua-lábio-dental durante a intubação, enquanto apenas dois pacientes sofreram trauma das vias aéreas superiores no grupo Airtraq. CONCLUSÃO: Concluímos que o laringoscópio Airtraq, em comparação com o laringoscópio Macintosh, resultou em elevações significativamente menores da PIO e em aumentos clinicamente menos acentuados da resposta hemodinâmica à laringoscopia e intubação.

BACKGROUND: We compared intraocular pressure changes following laryngoscopy and intubation with conventional Macintosh blade and Airtraq optical laryngoscope. METHODS: Ninety adult patients were randomly assigned to study group or control group. Study group (n = 45) - Airtraq laryngoscope was used for laryngoscopy. Control group (n = 45) - conventional Macintosh laryngoscope was used for laryngoscopy. Preoperative baseline intraocular pressure was measured with Schiotz tonometer. Laryngoscopy was done as per group protocol. Intraocular pressure and haemodynamic parameters were recorded just before insertion of the device and subsequently three times at an interval of one minute after insertion of the device. RESULTS: Patient characteristics, baseline haemodynamic parameters and baseline intraocular pressure were comparable in the two groups. Following insertion of the endotracheal tube with Macintosh laryngoscope, there was statistically significant rise in heart rate and intraocular pressure compared to Airtraq group. There was no significant change in MAP. Eight patients in Macintosh group had tongue-lip-dental trauma during intubation, while only 2 patients received upper airway trauma in Airtraq group. CONCLUSION: We conclude that Airtraq laryngoscope in comparison to Macintosh laryngoscope results in significantly fewer rises in intraocular pressure and clinically less marked increase in haemodynamic response to laryngoscopy and intubation.

Herbal drugs have been used since ancient times as medicines for the treatment of various diseases. Especially in countries like India many of herbal drugs and formulations are used in different practices of treatment like Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani. It is estimated that about 25% of all modern medicines are directly or indirectly derived from plants sources. The contribution of developing countries in global herbal business is very poor due to lack of quality control and standardization measures. There is lack of common standards and appropriate methods for evaluating Traditional Medicine to ensure the safety, efficacy and quality control. This indicates the importance and necessity to develop a standard operational procedure for the standardization of herbal drugs and formulations. Benchmarking the evaluation protocols including both quality control and quality assurance of herbal drugs would play a major role in providing highly reliable and effective herbals drugs and to attract international trade, thus generating revenue. The article highlights various problems being faced by developing countries and suggests a unique approach for the preparation of SOP/guidelines for the standardization of all herbal based formulations, also there is a need for systematic clinical trials of traditional plant based medicines to enhance global acceptance

Some 4-[{1-(substituted)methylidine}-amino]-3-(4-pyridyl)-5-mercapto-4H-1,2,4-triazol (3a- 3f) and N-[5-(4-substituted)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl] isonicotinamide derivatives (5a- 5e) were synthesized by a sequence of reactions starting from isonicotinic acid hydrazide and is illustrated in scheme 1 and 2. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of newly synthesized compounds were tested by the disc diffusion method using nutrient agar medium against various microorganisms such as gram positive Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis, gram negative Escherichia coli and the fungi Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans. Ciprofloxacin and Fluconazole at 50 µg/mL were used as standard drugs for antibacterial and antifungal activities, respectively. All the synthesized compounds showed significant activity against various microorganisms.

Since the introduction of varicella vaccination in India, surveillance of circulating VZV strains has gained significance. Differentiating wild-type VZV strains from the Oka vaccine strain can be achieved only by molecular genotyping methods. The development of PCR methods for VZV strain differentiation has been hampered by the fact that the VZV genome is highly conserved. We used VZV ORF 62 PCR-RFLP analysis to identify and differentiate wild-type VZV strains in India from the Oka vaccine strain. Digestion of VZV ORF 62 amplicons with SmaI, enabled accurate strain differentiation; the Oka strain was positive for three SmaI sites, compared to two SmaI sites in the wild-type VZV strains that we tested.

Spot blotch resistant (IBON 18) and susceptible (RD 2508) lines were crossed to investigate inheritance of resistance and to identify simple sequence repeats (SSRs) associated with resistance. F1 resistance was intermediate and suggested additive nature of inheritance. Three additive genes was noted in the distribution of F3, F4 and F5 generations. In F6 and F6-7, the quantitative and qualitative approaches also suggested the control of three resistance genes. The parents and the RILs (F6/F6-7) were grown in four environments and spot blotch severity recorded. Forty five SSR primers, specific for chromosomes 1 (7H) and 5 (1H), were applied. Of these, 12 were polymorphic between the parents, and between the resistant and susceptible bulks. Three markers BMS 32, BMS 90 and HVCMA showed association with resistance, which was further confirmed through selective genotyping. The co-segregation data on the molecular markers (BMS 32, BMS 90 and HVCMA) and spot blotch severity on 173 RILs was analyzed by single marker linear regression approach. Significant regression suggested linkage among BMS 32, BMS 90 and HVCMA and the three resistant genes (designated as Rcs-qtl-5H-1, Rcs-qtl-5H-2 and Rcs-qtl-1H-1.) respectively. These markers explained 28%, 19% and 12% of variation respectively, for spot blotch resistance among the RILs.