Study of Correlation of Serum Vitamin D Levels with Arterial Stiffness and Cardiovascular Morbidity in Elderly Individuals of Western Rajasthan.

Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent condition in western countries as well as in India. Lower level of vitamin D is associated with increased arterial stiffness by activating renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system leading to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality including increased risk of coronary artery disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome. Our aim was to study the correlation between serum vitamin D level, various measures of arterial stiffness and cardiovascular morbidity in elderly individuals.

Physical function and activity among older adults in Jodhpur, India.

Background: Physical activity impacts the ageing process; yet, few studies have examined relationships among physical activity, functional abilities and health among older adults in non-Western settings.

Aim: This study tests for associations among measures of physical activity, function and self-report health conditions among 200 older adults (49--50 years old) in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.

Methods: Seven consecutive days of accelerometry data were used in measures of physical activity (Total Daily Energy Expenditure [TDEE], Physical Activity Level [PAL], Daily Average Activity Count [AC] and Activity Energy Expenditure [AEE]).

Clinical profile and mortality among novel influenza A (H1N1) infected patients: 2009-2010 Jodhpur, Rajasthan pandemic.

Objectives: Influenza causes annual seasonal epidemics around the world. Periodically, a genetically novel strain of influenza circulates worldwide, causing an influenza pandemic. The present study aims to assess the clinical profile, factors determining the response, prognosis of the disease and outcome in H1N1 positive patients during 2009-2010 H1N1 pandemic, so that epidemiology of the disease could be known and high risk groups can be identified.

Shapiro syndrome.

We report here a case of Shapiro syndrome who presented with episodic generalized sweating, hypotension, and hypothermia. Brain magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated corpus callosum agenesis with colpocephaly. Patient was treated with Clonidine and Propranolol.

Case report of a small outbreak of epidemic dropsy.

Epidemic dropsy results from use of edible oils adulterated with Argemone mexicans oil. We report of the disease in a family caused due to sesame oil adulteration. Peculiarity to report this disease is that it occurred due to consumption of contaminated sesame seeds oil instead of mustard oiland secondly epidemic dropsy is also not very common in western Rajasthan.

Effect of tobacco use on arterial stiffness in community dwelling females.

Aims: The goal of this study was to investigate the changes in arterial stiffness by evaluation of arterial stiffness index and pulse wave velocity in community dwelling tobacco user females and to correlate those changes with duration of tobacco use, amount consumed and severity of addiction.

Methods: This observational cohort study was conducted in Department of Medicine at Dr. S N Medical College, Jodhpur, comprised of 100 females, out of which 55 were community dwelling females using tobacco (cases) and 45 are age-sex matched healthy control group.

Inter-instrument agreement and influence of central corneal thickness on measurements with Goldmann, pneumotonometer and noncontact tonometer in glaucomatous eyes.

Purpose: This study was conducted to compare the intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements by the Goldman applanation tonometer (GAT), non contact tonometer (NCT) and the ocular blood flow (OBF) pneumotonometer in different IOP ranges in glaucomatous eyes. The effect of central corneal thickness (CCT) on IOP measurement in chronic glaucomatous eyes using the three different tonometers was also evaluated.

Materials And Methods: IOP measurements of 130 eyes of primary glaucoma patients were performed using GAT by an ophthalmologist while NCT and OBF-pneumotonometer measurements were performed by an experienced optometrist.

Calibration of dynamic molecular rulers based on plasmon coupling between gold nanoparticles.

Pairs of noble metal nanoparticles can be used to measure distances via the distance dependence of their plasmon coupling. These "plasmon rulers" offer exceptional photostability and brightness; however, the advantages and limitations of this approach remain to be explored. Here we report detailed plasmon peak versus separation calibration curves for 42- and 87-nm-diameter particle pairs, determine their measurement errors, and describe experimental procedures to improve their performance in biology, nanotechnology, and materials sciences.

Biocompatible force sensor with optical readout and dimensions of 6 nm3.

We have developed a nanoscopic force sensor with optical readout. The sensor consists of a single-stranded DNA oligomer flanked by two dyes. The DNA acts as a nonlinear spring: when the spring is stretched, the distance between the two dyes increases, resulting in reduced Förster resonance energy transfer.

Effect of intraoperative intracameral 2% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose viscoelastic during trabeculectomy.

Background And Objective: To evaluate the effect of intraoperative intracameral injection of 2% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) on anterior chamber depth and intraocular pressure (IOP) following trabeculectomy in eyes with uncontrolled primary open-angle glaucoma in a prospective randomized manner.

Patients And Methods: Thirty consecutive eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma scheduled for trabeculectomy were randomized to conventional trabeculectomy without HPMC injection (group I; n = 15) or to intracameral injection of 2% HPMC during trabeculectomy (group II; n = 15). All patients were observed serially on days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 and months 1, 3, and 6 postoperatively.

A prospective longterm study of primary chronic angle closure glaucoma.

Purpose: To prospectively evaluate the longterm outcome of therapy for chronic primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) and to assess the efficacy of medical and surgical treatment in terms of intraocular pressure (IOP) and visual field stabilization.

Methods: Seventy consecutive patients with chronic PACG, whose IOP remained > 21 mmHg despite a patent iridotomy, had their IOP controlled by medications or trabeculectomy performed without antimetabolites. They were followed over a 6-year period.

Evaluation of contact versus non-contact diode laser cyclophotocoagulation for refractory glaucomas using similar energy settings.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy of contact and non-contact techniques of diode transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (TSCPC) in patients with refractory glaucoma in a prospective randomized manner.

Methods: Sixty eyes with refractory glaucoma were randomly treated with either the contact or non-contact technique of diode TSCPC and followed up for a minimum of 12 months. A standard protocol of 1500 mW for 2 s per spot, with 40 spots over the entire 360 degrees circumference was followed for all eyes in both groups.

Long-term evaluation of trabeculectomy in primary open angle glaucoma and chronic primary angle closure glaucoma in an Asian population.

Purpose: A retrospective cohort study was undertaken to evaluate and compare the long-term results of trabeculectomy in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and chronic primary angle closure glaucoma (CPACG) in an Asian population.

Methods: Yearly diurnal measurements of intraocular pressure (IOP), best-corrected visual acuity, optic disc and visual field records of patients having primary adult glaucomas who had undergone trabeculectomy, without anti-mitotic agents, with a minimum of 5 years follow up were evaluated. Only one eye of each patient was studied.

Corneal endothelial status in the subtypes of primary angle closure glaucoma.

Purpose: To study the corneal endothelium and pachymetry in eyes with different subtypes of primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG), as compared to controls.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 30 consecutive patients in each subtype of PACG, subacute, acute and chronic, and 30 age and refraction matched controls. The parameters recorded included gonioscopy, optic disc evaluation, applanation tonometry, specular microscopy and central ultrasonic pachymetry.

Intravitreal sodium hyaluronate and secondary glaucoma after complicated phacoemulsification.

We report 4 cases that presented with intractable glaucoma after complicated phacoemulsification during which sodium hyaluronate 1.0% (Healon) was used to tamponade a central posterior capsule rupture. The postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) was uncontrolled on maximal medical therapy.

Pulsatile ocular blood flow among normal subjects and patients with high tension glaucoma.

Purpose: To estimate pulsatile ocular blood flow (POBF) among normal subjects and to compare various parameters in eyes of primary open angle glaucoma with high intraocular pressure (IOP).

Methods: POBF was estimated in 95 eyes of 95 normal subjects above the age of 40 years and in 35 eyes of 35 primary open angle glaucoma patients using the OBF system (OBF Labs Ltd., UK).

Effect of changing from concomitant timolol pilocarpine to bimatoprost monotherapy on ocular blood flow and IOP in primary chronic angle closure glaucoma.

The aim of the present prospective masked study was to assess the effect of bimatoprost monotherapy on ocular blood flow and intraocular pressure (IOP) in eyes of primary chronic angle closure glaucoma patients already on concomitant timolol and pilocarpine. Thirty two patients of bilateral primary chronic angle closure glaucoma (PCACG) on topical timolol 0.5% twice a day and pilocarpine 2% three times daily were switched over to bimatoprost 0.

Correlation analysis of visual field thresholds and scanning laser ophthalmoscopic optic nerve head measurements in glaucoma.

In a cross-sectional study of 50 consecutive primary open-angle glaucoma cases, full threshold 30-2 visual fields on Humphrey Visual Field Analyser were correlated to stereometric parameters obtained using a scanning laser ophthalmoscope (HRT II). The strength of linear correlation between the stereometric parameters and visual thresholds was used to generate a correspondence map between the optic disc and the visual field. Rim/disc area ratio and cup/disc area ratio correlated with the visual thresholds at the highest number of points in the visual fields.

The normal optic nerve head on Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II.

Purpose: To study the characteristics of the optic nerve head using a scanning laser ophthalmoscope, the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II (HRT II), in a normal population and to determine the specificity of HRT II diagnostic indices in the study population.

Methods: The optic nerve heads from 275 consecutive, randomly selected normal subjects were imaged on HRT II. Stereometric parameters were studied with respect to baseline variables such as age, gender, refractive error and disc size.

A prospective, long-term, randomized study of the efficacy and safety of the drug combination pilocarpine 1% with clonidine 0.06% or clonidine 0.125% versus timolol 0.25%.

The purpose of this prospective, randomized study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the drug combinations--pilocarpine 1% with clonidine 0.06% and pilocarpine 1% with clonidine 0.125%, in comparison with timolol 0.

Variables affecting test-retest variability of Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II stereometric parameters.

Purpose: To study the test-retest variability of stereometric parameters on the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II, a new clinical instrument for glaucoma management.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study of 24 consecutive cases of glaucoma and 26 healthy subjects, Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II stereometric parameters from five consecutive images were obtained for one randomly selected eye of each subject. Test-retest variability was studied using three different statistical methods (coefficient of variance, intraclass correlation coefficient, and Cronbach alpha).