Role of Ultrasound Simulator in Training of Resident Doctors to Diagnose Obstetrics Pathologies.

Background: Ultrasound has emerged as an important diagnostic tool in the management of multiple obstetric pathologies. However, the poor skills of trainee doctors in the application of ultrasound can significantly impact clinical outcomes. To overcome these challenges, simulation-based training can bridge the gap in skills and enhance the quality of patient care.

Formation of Polyaniline-MOF Nanocomposites Using Nano-Sized Fe(III)-MOF for Humidity Sensing Application.

Polyaniline (PA)-MOF nanocomposites have been successfully synthesized through an chemical oxidative polymerization of aniline in the presence of nano-sized iron trimestate (named as MIL-100(Fe)) particles, which was prepared by a microwave-irradiation method. Water sorption and humidity sensing results clearly showed that water sorption rate and humidity sensitivity are dramatically enhanced by the composites using nano-sized MIL-100(Fe) as compared with that using micrometer-sized MIL-100(Fe) particles.

Eplerenone pretreatment protects the myocardium against ischaemia/reperfusion injury through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt-dependent pathway in diabetic rats.

We investigated the eplerenone-induced, PI3K/Akt- and GSK-3β-mediated cardioprotection against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in diabetic rats. The study groups comprising diabetic rats were treated for 14 days with 150 mg/kg/day eplerenone orally and 1 mg/kg wortmannin (PI3K/Akt antagonist) intraperitoneally with eplerenone. On the 15th day, the rats were exposed to I/R injury by 20-min occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery followed by 30 min of reperfusion.

Past and current perspective on new therapeutic targets for Type-II diabetes.

Loss of pancreatic β-cell function is a hallmark of Type-II diabetes mellitus (DM). It is a chronic metabolic disorder that results from defects in both insulin secretion and insulin action. Recently, United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study reported that Type-II DM is a progressive disorder.

Protective effect of oleanolic acid on oxidative injury and cellular abnormalities in doxorubicin induced cardiac toxicity in rats.

The prevention of doxorubicin (Dox) induced cardiotoxicity may be co-operative to recover future Dox treatment. The aim of this study was to explore the cardioprotective effects of oleanolic acid (OA), an antioxidant agent, on Dox induced cardiotoxicity. OA is a triterpenoid compound, which exist widely in plant kingdom in free acid form or as a glycosidic triterpenoids saponins.

High performance H2 sensor based on ZnSnO3 cubic crystallites synthesized by a hydrothermal method.

Zinc stannate (ZnSnO3) cubic crystallites have been successfully synthesized by hydrothermal reaction at 140°C. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) have been employed to characterize the crystal structure and morphology of the as-synthesized ZnSnO3. The ZnSnO3 cubic crystallites exhibited selective sensing performance towards H2 in terms of higher gas response, rapid response-recovery, repeatability and relatively lower operating temperature.

Validation of virtual reality simulation for percutaneous renal access training.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the face, content, construct, convergent, and predictive validities of virtual reality-based simulator in acquisition of skills for percutaneous renal access.

Materials And Methods: A cohort of 24 participants comprising novices (n = 15) and experts (n = 9) performed a specific task of percutaneous renal puncture using the same case scenario on PERC Mentor. All objective parameters were stored and analyzed to establish construct validity.

Highly sensitive and fast responding CO sensor based on Co3O4 nanorods.

Co(3)O(4) nanorods (diameters approximately 6-8 nm and lengths approximately 20-30 nm) were synthesized for the first time through a simple co-precipitation/digestion method by calcination of cobalt hydroxyl carbonate in air and their CO gas sensing properties were investigated. The Co(3)O(4) nanorods exhibited outstanding gas sensing characteristics such as, higher gas response (approximately 6.55-50 ppm CO gas at 250 degrees C), extremely rapid response (approximately 3-4s), fast recovery (approximately 5-6s), excellent repeatability, good selectivity and lower operating temperature (approximately 250 degrees C).

Synthesis and humidity sensing characteristics of polyaniline/BaTiO3 composites.

An attempt has been made towards the synthesis of polyaniline/BaTiO3 (PANI-BTO) composite with an objective to examine the possibility of using this composite for humidity sensing. In this work, PANI-BTO composites were synthesized by an in situ chemical oxidative polymerization of aniline in presence of BaTiO3 particles. These composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

A novel training model for laparoscopic pyeloplasty using chicken crop.

Purpose: To create a model for laparoscopic pyeloplasty training using the crop and esophagus of a chicken. The model can be used to simulate the steps taken during laparoscopic pyeloplasty and to help trainees practice laparoscopic suturing skills.

Materials And Methods: The chicken crop and esophagus were used to simulate the renal pelvis and ureter, respectively.