Monitoring and spatiotemporal variations of pyrethroid insecticides in surface water, sediment, and fish of the river Chenab Pakistan

There is a serious concern regarding freshwater resources of Pakistan which have been mismanaged and now are depleting extensively due to other reasons like intensive application of agricultural pesticides and insecticides. The present study was conducted to determine the concentrations of cypermethrin, deltamethrin, permethrin, and bifenthrin in the samples of water, sediments, and fish collected from various locations of River Chenab, Pakistan, during summer and winter seasons. These locations include namely Marala, Khanki, Qadirabad, and Trimu Headworks. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was deployed for analysis and determination of pyrethroid concentrations in these samples. The analytics show the order of pyrethroid concentrations in river as fish> sediment>water. Whereas maximum concentrations of 0.472 μg g^-1 found in fish and minimum concentrations were determined in water, i.e., 0.087 μg L^-1 at the sampling locations of Trimu and Marala headworks, respectively. Moreover, highest mean concentrations of pyrethroid, i.e., 1.248 μg g^-1 in fish were detected in winter season as compared to summers, i.e., 0.087 μg L^-1. However, all the values of pyrethroid were found to be lower than the maximum permissible levels specified by EU and WHO-FAO. Whereas the levels of deltamethrin and permethrin in water were found much higher than the specific limits set by EU.

A review on phytochemistry and therapeutic uses of Hibiscus sabdariffa L

Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (roselle) belonging to the Malvaceae family is widely grown in many countries. This plant is often used in the traditional medicine being rich in phytochemicals like polyphenols especially anthocyanins, polysaccharides and organic acids thus having enormous prospective in modern therapeutic uses. The study aimed to review and document all the available evidence and information about the calyces of Hibiscus sabdariffa (roselle) with the special focus on their nutritional composition, bioactive constituents and therapeutic uses. The electronic database was searched up to 2017, using keywords Hibiscus sabdariffa, chemical constituents of roselle, therapeutic uses of roselle. Journals, books and conference proceedings were also searched. The review provides valuable information about the nutraceutical component of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. and their utilization for curing various degenerative diseases like hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cancer and other inflammatory diseases of liver and kidney. Their toxicological effects have also been discussed from a safety point of view. Most studies supported and provided the scientific basis for the statement that Hibiscus sabdariffa and their active constituents play an important role in the prevention of chronic and degenerative diseases that are associated with oxidative stress. Our study suggests, that good research is needed, to establish a potential strategy that can balance the pharmacological and toxic effects of roselle and standardized fingerprint of Hibiscus sabdariffa is required internationally for quality control.

Phytoremediation of organochlorine and pyrethroid pesticides by aquatic macrophytes and algae in freshwater systems

Extensive use of Pesticides in agriculture and its surface runoff in river water is a major environmental concern. The present study evaluated the phytoremediation potential of Eichornia crassipes, Pistia strateotes and algae (Chaetomorpha sutoria, Sirogonium sticticum and Zygnema sp.) for organochlorine and pyrethroid pesticides. Water and plant samples were extracted by liquid phase and solid phase extraction respectively and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Eleven treatments (T1-T11) with and without plants were used for phytoremediation of organochlorine and pyrethroid pesticides. During the experiment, P. strateotes, E. crassipes and algae (C. sutoria, S. sticticum and Zygnema sp.) showed the highest removal efficiency with 62 (71% root, 29% shoot), 60 (67% root, 33% shoot), and 58% respectively for organochlorine and 76 (76% root, 24% shoot), 68 (69% root, 31% shoot), and 70% respectively for pyrethroids for the respective aquatic plants. Dissipation rate constant of treatments with plants (T2, T3, T5, T6, T8, and T9) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) as compared to that of treatments without plants (T10 and T11, control) for both organochlorine and pyrethroid. The bioconcentration factor of pyrethroid treatments (T3, T6, and T9) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) as compared to that of organochlorine treatments (T2, T5 and T8). The removal efficiency of E. crassipes, P. strateotes and algae (C. sutoria, S. sticticum and Zygnema sp.) for pyrethroids was significantly higher (p < 0.01) as compared to that of organochlorine.

Thermography as a diagnostic aid in sciatica

Thermography has been proposed as a diagnostic aid in patients with sciatica. Supporters of thermography state that: (a) normal patients have normal thermograms of their lower extremities, and (b) abnormal patients (with disk ruptures causing sciatica) have abnormal thermograms. To test these two hypotheses, 56 patients with clinically documented acute sciatica, with a supporting diagnostic study [computed tomography (CT), CT/myelography, and/or magnetic resonance imaging] showing a ruptured disk, had presurgical thermograms. One year after surgical intervention, they had to have had a documented success to surgical treatment intervention to stay in the study. These 56 patients were then matched with 56 control (normal) patients who had electronic thermograms. The 112 thermograms were then interpreted blindly by two thermographers. The sensitivity and specificity of thermography as a diagnostic aid in sciatica were statistically analyzed. The sensitivity of thermography (its ability to be positive when sciatica was clinically obvious) was 60% and 50% for the two thermographic readers. The specificity of thermography (its ability to be negative in asymptomatic patients) was 45% and 48% for the two thermographers. Our conclusions are no different than those published in 1985: thermography is not useful as a diagnostic aid in sciatica.

Variations in anatomy of the ulnar nerve at the cubital tunnel: pitfalls in the diagnosis of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow

Two processes account for most instances of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow: compression in the retroepicondylar groove, and compression by the humeroulnar aponeurotic arcade joining the two heads of the flexor carpi ulnaris. While conventional electrodiagnostic criteria may localize an ulnar neuropathy to the elbow, separating retroepicondylar compression from humeroulnar arcade compression is more difficult. In 130 cadaver elbows, we examined the relationships between the medial epicondyle, flexor carpi ulnaris, and ulnar nerve. The humeroulnar arcade lay from 3 to 20 mm distal to the medial epicondyle, the intramuscular course of the nerve through the flexor carpi ulnaris ranged from 18 to 70 mm, and the nerve exited the flexor carpi ulnaris 28 to 69 mm distal to the medial epicondyle. In 6 specimens, dense fibrous bands bridged directly between the medial epicondyle and the olecranon proximal to the cubital tunnel proper; accessory epitrochleoanconeus muscles were present in 14 specimens: both may cause ulnar neuropathy at the elbow. Anatomical variations may contribute to the difficulty in separating causes of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow.

Facial myokymia in syringobulbia

A patient with a 2-year history of progressive ataxia and tingling in the right hand had prominent facial myokymia. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed syringomyelia and syringobulbia. After successful syringosubarachnoid shunting, the patient died of massive pulmonary embolism. Postmortem examination revealed a syrinx involving the spinal cord and lower half of the medulla; neither the facial nucleus nor facial nerve fibers were directly involved. We hypothesize that interruption of aberrant corticobulbar fibers in the medulla produced disinhibition of a rhythmic neural generator in the facial nucleus.

Sparing of the flexor carpi ulnaris in ulnar neuropathy at the elbow

A common misconception attributes sparing of the flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) in ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE) to its innervating branch arising "at or above the elbow." We examined the relationship of FCU branches to the medial epicondyle (ME) and humeroulnar aponeurotic arcade (HUA) in 30 cadaver elbows. In only three did the first FCU branch arise at or proximal to the ME. In 36 UNE cases with fibrillations in the first dorsal interosseous, the FCU was normal in 10, mildly abnormal in 11, and severely abnormal in 15. FCU involvement correlated with the severity of the neuropathy and with whether compression was retroepicondylar or at the HUA. We conclude that sparing of the FCU in UNE is unrelated to the level of origin of its innervating branch, but rather is related to the internal neural topography and to the severity and level of compression.

Intraoperative electroneurography: management of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow

At the elbow the ulnar nerve may be compressed either in the retrocondylar groove or at the cubital tunnel. Optimal surgical therapy should be directed at the specific site of involvement. Intraoperative electroneurography performed in conjunction with 19 ulnar nerve explorations helped localize the precise site of compression. Of the primary procedures, abnormality was at the retrocondylar groove in 9, cubital tunnel in 4, both locations in 3, and at an unusual distal point in 1; 12 anterior subcutaneous transpositions, 4 cubital tunnel releases, and 1 distal decompression resulted. Intraoperative studies helped identify residual compression in two patients undergoing reexploration. Although routine electrodiagnosis may localize an ulnar neuropathy to the elbow, reliably separating retrocondylar from cubital tunnel compression is more difficult. Preoperatively, percutaneous serial short increment studies were more accurate than simple "inching" in predicting the site of compression.