Outcomes in necrotizing soft tissue infections are worse in rural versus urban Montana: a 10-year single center retrospective review.

Time to definitive surgical debridement has been recognized as a predictor for morbidity and mortality in necrotizing soft-tissue infections (NSTI). Rural patients are at particular risk due to limited local resources, decreased access to care, and prolonged transport times. The aim of the current study was to examine the outcomes of NSTI requiring surgical treatment in a previously non-described setting.

Post-burn temporal dynamics of blood plasma histamine during the initial 6 days from injury.

Background: Burn injuries can induce distinct, systemic inflammatory and immunological responses which occur acutely up to 72 hrs or chronically after 24 hrs. Previously published literature showed a dramatic increase in whole blood histamine values within 24 hrs of a thermal injury. However, the data is limited due to infrequent monitoring, resulting in statistically insignificant findings.

Prevalence of illicit and prescribed neuropsychiatric drugs in three communities in Kentucky using wastewater-based epidemiology and Monte Carlo simulation for the estimation of associated uncertainties.

A cost-effective alternative approach capable of determining the prevalence of substance use in communities can complement the existing efforts of combating drug abuse and addiction. In this study, the prevalence of 10 illicit and 19 prescribed psychoactive drugs of potential abuse was determined utilizing wastewater-based epidemiology, and compared in two adjoined urban communities and a rural community. This is the first application of the Monte Carlo simulation method to account multiple uncertainties and propagation of errors associated with the individual parameter of wastewater based epidemiological estimations in the U.

Saliva and urine metabolic profiling reveals altered amino acid and energy metabolism in male farmers exposed to pesticides in Madhya Pradesh State, India.

Globally, the human population is exposed to low doses of pesticides due to its extensive use in agriculture. The chronic exposure to pesticides can lead to cancer, depression, anxiety, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases etc. Here, we have made an attempt to use mass spectrometry based metabolomics to investigate the metabolic perturbations induced by the pesticides in the urine and saliva samples of farmers from the Madhya Pradesh State of India.

Administration of tranexamic acid in trauma patients under stricter inclusion criteria increases the treatment window for stabilization from 24 to 48 hours-a retrospective review.

Background: Since 2010, the use of Tranexamic Acid (TXA) in trauma has been brought to the forefront of severe hemorrhage treatment. However, the mixed literature illustrates the need for additional proof of efficacy and determining which patients may benefit from TXA. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate a more stringent TXA inclusion criterion (heart rate ≥ 120 beats per minute (BPM) with a systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≤ 90 mmHg) as compared to the standard CRASH-2 inclusion criteria.

Reducing Variability of Perimetric Global Indices from Eyes with Progressive Glaucoma by Censoring Unreliable Sensitivity Data.

Purpose: Recent evidence suggests that increasing perimetric contrast all the way to 0 dB may not be clinically useful. This study examines whether raising the floor for point-wise sensitivities affects the ability of global indices to detect change.

Methods: Longitudinal data from eyes with progressive glaucoma were used.

Nonlinear Trend Analysis of Longitudinal Pointwise Visual Field Sensitivity in Suspected and Early Glaucoma.

Purpose: We have shown previously that a nonlinear exponential model fits longitudinal series of mean deviation (MD) better than a linear model. This study extends that work to investigate the mode (linear versus nonlinear) of change for pointwise sensitivities.

Methods: Data from 475 eyes of 244 clinically managed participants were analyzed.

Fast agitated directly suspended droplet microextraction technique for the rapid analysis of eighteen organophosphorus pesticides in human blood.

A new sample preparation technique named as fast agitated directly suspended droplet microextraction (FA-DSDME) was proposed as an improved version of directly suspended droplet microextraction (DSDME) for the extraction and pre-concentration of wide-range organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) from human blood prior to liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) analysis. In this method, instead of protecting the unwanted rupturing of extraction droplet (organic solvent), it was deliberately splintered into fine droplets by providing automated high-speed agitation to the biphasic extraction system (extraction solvent and sample solution). Fine organic droplets were then recollected into one, not by using a centrifuge machine but just by giving a very slow stirring to the bottom of the extraction system.

Mathematically derived body volume and risk of musculoskeletal pain among housewives in North India.

Background: Global Burden of Disease Study 2010 demonstrates the impact of musculoskeletal diseases as the second greatest cause of disability globally in all regions of the world. The study was conducted to determine the role of mathematically derived body volume (BV), body volume index (BVI), body mass index (BMI), body surface area (BSA) and body fat % (BF %) on musculoskeletal pain (MSP) among housewives in National Capital Region (NCR).

Methods: A cross sectional study was undertaken among 495 housewives from Gurgaon and New Okhla Industrial Development Area (NOIDA) in National Capital Region (NCR), New Delhi, India.

Adverse respiratory health and hematological alterations among agricultural workers occupationally exposed to organophosphate pesticides: a cross-sectional study in North India.

Background: Non-protective work practices followed by farm workers during spraying of pesticides lead to occupational exposure among them.

Objective: This study is designed to explore the respiratory health and hematological profile of agricultural workers occupationally exposed to OP pesticides.

Materials And Methods: A cross sectional study was undertaken among 166 pesticide sprayers working in mango orchards of Lucknow district in North India compared with 77 controls to assess the respiratory illness, lung functions, cholinesterase levels and hematological profile.

Nonlinear, multilevel mixed-effects approach for modeling longitudinal standard automated perimetry data in glaucoma.

Purpose: Ordinary least squares linear regression (OLSLR) analyses are inappropriate for performing trend analysis on repeatedly measured longitudinal data. This study examines multilevel linear mixed-effects (LME) and nonlinear mixed-effects (NLME) methods to model longitudinally collected perimetry data and determines whether NLME methods provide significant improvements over LME methods and OLSLR.

Methods: Models of LME and NLME (exponential, whereby the rate of change in sensitivity worsens over time) were examined with two levels of nesting (subject and eye within subject) to predict the mean deviation.

Seasonal variations in cholinesterase activity, nerve conduction velocity and lung function among sprayers exposed to mixture of pesticides.

Pesticide spraying operation is associated with the increased risk of adverse health effects among sprayers who do not follow safe farm work practices. A study was conducted among pesticide sprayers in North India to evaluate the clinical and subclinical variations in their vital health parameters before and after the pesticide spraying season. Blood cholinesterase levels, pulmonary function test, nerve conduction velocity and self-reported symptoms were studied among 18 eligible and consenting male sprayers.

Studies on oxidative stress induced nerve conduction deficits in cigarette smokers.

An important role of oxidative stress for the development of vascular and neurological complications has encouraged us to undertake a study to assess the oxidative stress induced nerve conduction deficits among cigarette smokers. Eighteen regular male cigarette smokers and twenty nine male non-smokers were diagnosed for clinical neuro-physiological tests viz., motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity (MNCV and SNCV) and redox status.

Adverse health effects of pesticides in agrarian populations of developing countries.

Developing countries use only 20% of the world's agrochemicals, yet they suffer 99% of deaths from pesticide poisoning. Pesticide poisoning is a significant problem in developing countries primarily because of unsafe pesticide application and handling practices. Safety is further exacerbated by the illiteracy and poverty that prevails in most farming communities of developing countries.