COVID-19 pandemic has forced to lockdown entire India starting from 24th March 2020 to 14th April 2020(first phase), extended up to 3rd May 2020(second phase), and further extended up to 17th May 2020(third phase) wit...COVID-19 pandemic has forced to lockdown entire India starting from 24th March 2020 to 14th April 2020(first phase), extended up to 3rd May 2020(second phase), and further extended up to 17th May 2020(third phase) with limited relaxation in non-hotspot areas. This strict lockdown has severely curtailed human activity across India. Here, aerosol concentrations of particular matters(PM) i.e., PM,PM, carbon monoxide(CO), nitrogen dioxide(NO), sulphur dioxide(SO), ammonia(NH) and ozone(O), and associated temperature fluctuation in four megacities(Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai)from different regions of India were investigated. In this pandemic period, air temperature of Delhi,Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai has decreased about 3 ℃, 2.5 ℃, 2 ℃ and 2 ℃ respectively. Compared to previous years and pre-lockdown period, air pollutants level and aerosol concentration(-41.91%,-37.13%,-54.94% and-46.79% respectively for Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai) in these four megacities has improved drastically during this lockdown period. Emission of PMhas experienced the highest decrease in these megacities, which directly shows the positive impact of restricted vehicular movement. Restricted emissions produce encouraging results in terms of urban air quality and temperature, which may encourage policymakers to consider it in terms of environmental sustainability.展开更多
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic multisystem disease of unknown cause. The characteristic feature of RA is persistent inflammatory synovitis. The natural history of disease is such that the early months of the diseas...Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic multisystem disease of unknown cause. The characteristic feature of RA is persistent inflammatory synovitis. The natural history of disease is such that the early months of the disease are critical period during which reversible joint damage occurs. So early diagnosis of RA and appropriate drug application is the only way to save a patient from this crippling disease. In India, the cost of investigations is a significant factor for most of the patients. Ultrasonography or Power Doppler Ultra Sound (PDUS) has the advantage of being economic in spite of its sensitivity in assessing both inflammatory and destructive changes. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of PDUS in early rheumatoid arthritis. The study was performed with the patients attending Rheumatology Clinic. A total number of 106 patients of clinically suspected rheumatoid arthritis were studied as per selection criteria. Radiological examinations of hands were done by digital radiography and PDUS in a group of 53 patients, assessment of foot changes by PDUS and Digital Radiography were done in another similar group of 53 patients. Final diagnosis by ACR EULAR-2010 criteria is done for all the patients. The comparative study reveals that synovial vascularity as demonstrated by PDUS is much more effective in diagnosing early rheumatoid arthritis, both in hand and in feet than digital radiograph. PDUS of feet may yield earlier and better findings than hands, which is conventionally used in patients suffering from early rheumatoid arthritis.展开更多
文摘COVID-19 pandemic has forced to lockdown entire India starting from 24th March 2020 to 14th April 2020(first phase), extended up to 3rd May 2020(second phase), and further extended up to 17th May 2020(third phase) with limited relaxation in non-hotspot areas. This strict lockdown has severely curtailed human activity across India. Here, aerosol concentrations of particular matters(PM) i.e., PM,PM, carbon monoxide(CO), nitrogen dioxide(NO), sulphur dioxide(SO), ammonia(NH) and ozone(O), and associated temperature fluctuation in four megacities(Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai)from different regions of India were investigated. In this pandemic period, air temperature of Delhi,Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai has decreased about 3 ℃, 2.5 ℃, 2 ℃ and 2 ℃ respectively. Compared to previous years and pre-lockdown period, air pollutants level and aerosol concentration(-41.91%,-37.13%,-54.94% and-46.79% respectively for Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai) in these four megacities has improved drastically during this lockdown period. Emission of PMhas experienced the highest decrease in these megacities, which directly shows the positive impact of restricted vehicular movement. Restricted emissions produce encouraging results in terms of urban air quality and temperature, which may encourage policymakers to consider it in terms of environmental sustainability.
文摘Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic multisystem disease of unknown cause. The characteristic feature of RA is persistent inflammatory synovitis. The natural history of disease is such that the early months of the disease are critical period during which reversible joint damage occurs. So early diagnosis of RA and appropriate drug application is the only way to save a patient from this crippling disease. In India, the cost of investigations is a significant factor for most of the patients. Ultrasonography or Power Doppler Ultra Sound (PDUS) has the advantage of being economic in spite of its sensitivity in assessing both inflammatory and destructive changes. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of PDUS in early rheumatoid arthritis. The study was performed with the patients attending Rheumatology Clinic. A total number of 106 patients of clinically suspected rheumatoid arthritis were studied as per selection criteria. Radiological examinations of hands were done by digital radiography and PDUS in a group of 53 patients, assessment of foot changes by PDUS and Digital Radiography were done in another similar group of 53 patients. Final diagnosis by ACR EULAR-2010 criteria is done for all the patients. The comparative study reveals that synovial vascularity as demonstrated by PDUS is much more effective in diagnosing early rheumatoid arthritis, both in hand and in feet than digital radiograph. PDUS of feet may yield earlier and better findings than hands, which is conventionally used in patients suffering from early rheumatoid arthritis.
