332 research outputs found
Sort by
Role of Admission Test NST and Its Outcome in Pregnancy
Get PDFCardiotocography has become popular as the method to monitor the condition of the fetus during labor. An admission cardiotocography was introduced to identify fetuses at risk that needed closer monitoring during labor, allowing those with no signs of distress to be monitored by intermittent auscultation. In this study of 200 patients, we have evaluated the role of NST as an admission test and its outcome in pregnancy concerning the prediction of fetal distress, Mode of delivery, APGAR score of the newborn, and Need for the baby\u27s NICU admission. We have also compared the outcomes with cases without the admission test. A total of 200 patients who came into labor or were admitted for safe confinement were allocated to two groups of 100 patients each. Each of these groups consisted of 50 high-risk and 50 low-risk cases. 1st group did not undergo NST on admission but was monitored by intermittent auscultatory method and the 2nd group underwent NST on admission. The findings were recorded and the outcomes in the two groups were analyzed. A total of 200 cases were included in the study. 100 patients underwent NST and 100 did not undergo NST. The distribution of high-risk cases in both groups was comparable. The rate of Caesarean section in the NST group was higher (38%) than in the non-NST group (24%). In our study, the incidence of NICU admission of babies was high in non-NST group patients (38%) compared to patients in whom NST was done (14%). None of the low-risk patients in the NST group needed NICU admission as compared to 28% in the Non NST group. As compared to the non-NST group, babies in the NST group had better APGAR at birth, after 5 Min. and after 10 Mins. In our study of 200 patients, it was observed that in NST-done patients the rate of cesarean delivery was higher than in non-NST-done group patients, but there was a significant reduction in the number of babies who were taken to NICU, in the NST-done group. This study also proved the value of fetal heart rate monitoring for a favorable outcome of a healthy baby with good APGAR at birth
Role of imprint cytology in gastrointestinal tract: A study
Get PDFTouch imprint cytology is the science of interpretation of cells that are either exfoliated from epithelial surfaces or removed from various tissues. Over the years cytology has evolved into a major branch in diagnostic pathology. It includes both exfoliative cytology and fine needle aspiration biopsy. Exfoliative cytology has advanced to become the most reliable screening test for uterine cervical malignancies. It also finds its application in various other organ systems, either as a part of analysis of body fluid, lavage fluid, abrasive technique such as brushings and scrapings or the simple touch or imprint smears. Dudgeon and Patrick in 1927 and Bamforth and Osborn in 1958 have reported about imprint technique. Touch imprint cytology has been found valuable in the diagnosis of lesions of gastrointestinal tract, central nervous system, lung, thyroid, parathyroid, breast, ovary, lymph node, spleen, bone marrow, bone and soft tissue, oral cavity, pancreaticobiliary system. The application of video endoscopy has greatly facilitated the diagnosis of gastrointestinal tract lesions. Though taking biopsies has been common practice in endoscopic diagnosis, touch imprint cytology has not been widely practiced in this setting. This is in spite of several studies which have proved the usefulness of cytology beyond doubt. Many workers find the technique practical in giving an autopsy diagnosis especially because of its cost effectiveness. It can be used as a teaching tool for students of autopsy pathology due to its simplicity. With this background, we designed a study to investigate the role of imprint cytology in the endoscopic and intraoperative diagnosis of lesions of gastrointestinal tract and pancreaticobiliary system in our institute
A real world STudy of ADherence to Insulin in diabetic hUMans-STADIUM study
Get PDFBackground:
With an ever-increasing prevalence of diabetes, lack of adherence to insulin treatment in even a small percentage of patients is a major issue and can lead to significant burden on the healthcare system. This survey analysis seeks to investigate the insulin adherence patterns to identify the factors associated with medication adherence.
Methodology:
The current cross-sectional survey was conducted among diabetes patients on insulin treatment. A list of questions about insulin adherence was provided to the participants in the study and the responses were recorded. The data was analysed using Graph Pad Prism.
Results:
Around 23.2 and 18.6 % of patients denoted missing their insulin treatment occasionally and kept no tab on their adherence respectively. Further, upon questioning on their adherence, 19.4% and 20.4% denoted missing their insulin injections weekly and monthly respectively. Among the reasons for missing injections, 20.3% mentioned forgetfulness, around 40% mentioned negligence as a reason, and 17.2% avoided insulin injections while feeling sick and better respectively. Among the study participants, around 46% ran out of refills, with 88% of them missing their refills due to forgetfulness. Increasing age (P = 0.0024), female gender (P = 0.0009), elevated HbA1c levels (P = 0.0058), Higher BMI levels (P
Conclusion:
Around 42% of the participants missed their insulin injections frequently or kept no tab. Age, gender, insurance status, and glycaemic control have been observed to impact adherence behaviour. Support program focusing on improved education, understanding, and addressing their concerns could facilitate improved adherence among a sub-set of population
Epitope identification of rabies virus nucleoprotein using immunoinformatics approach
Get PDFAbstract
Background
Rabies is a deadly and preventable disease. The nucleoprotein of rabies virus has been found to have group-specific antigenic determinants. The rabies virus nucleoprotein can shield dogs and mice from the lethal infection. Early diagnosis of rabies is crucial for the prevention of rabies.
Methods
In this study, B-cell epitopes of the nucleoprotein gene of the rabies virus were identified, and the characteristics of the epitopes were analyzed using various bioinformatics tools, such as the immune epitope database\u27s Bepipred Major Histocompatibility Complex II (IEDB MHC II) prediction tool, NetCTL 1.2, Vaxijen v20, AllerTOP v2.0 server.
Results
Fourteen epitopes were predicted in the nucleoprotein sequence of the rabies virus. We observed that B-cell epitopes have a high affinity for binding to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II. Notably, the selected strain\u27s conserved region yielded a total of thirty weak binders and eight strong binders, all exhibiting a binding affinity with allele H-2-IAb. The study also ventured into antigenicity, allergenicity, and toxicity predictions. Three of the ten peptides were identified as potential allergens, while the remaining seven were classified as non-allergens. Interestingly, none of the peptides were found to be toxic.
Conclusion
B cells are a critical component of adaptive immunity, producing neutralizing antibodies, and are crucial in blocking viral entry and attachment. Henceforth, epitopes identified in this study can be utilized to produce monoclonal antibodies or vaccines for therapeutic purposes. The discovered epitope is a functional potential repertoire for developing serodiagnostic tests and epitope-based peptide vaccines
Beyond Breathless: Unravelling The Enigma Of Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformations
Get PDFPulmonary Arteriovenous Malformations (AVMs) are abnormal connections between the pulmonary arteries and veins, leading to a direct shunting of blood without passing through the normal capillary bed. These AVMs can be associated with a rare genetic disorder called Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT), also known as Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome. HHT is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by the development of fragile telangiectasias in various organs, including the skin and mucous membranes. These telangiectasias are prone to bleeding, leading to recurrent nosebleeds and mucocutaneous bleeding. In patients with HHT, the most common site of AVMs is in the lungs. Pulmonary AVMs can cause significant health risks due to the right-to-left shunting of blood, leading to hypoxemia and possible complications like stroke, cerebral abscesses, and heart failure
Phytochemical and Bioactive Properties of Phlogacanthus and Andrographis Genus Plants: Potential for Post-Pandemic Home Remedies
Get PDFThis study aimed to differentiate the morphological characteristics, chemical constituents, and bioactive potential of Acanthaceae family plants, specifically three Phlogacanthus species and Andrographis paniculata. Under identical conditions, cutting stock plant of three Phlogacanthus species (Dee pla kung, Hom chang, and Cha hom) and Andrographis paniculata (Fah talai jone) were pruned and cultivated at the Chiang Mai Royal Agricultural Research Center. The morphology, biomass yield, and growth rates of the plants were observed after 90 days. Methanolic extracts of the dried aerial parts of these plants were analyzed for bioactive compounds, such as total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), total lactone content (TLC), and antioxidant activities (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays). The results revealed that Hom chang had the maximum relative growth rate (RGR) of 2.64 x 10-3 cm/cm/day among the plants, as determined by the morphology analysis. Cha hom and Dee pla kung, on the other hand, had substantially greater biomass yields than the other species. Regarding chemical properties, Dee pla kung exhibited high TPC (13.66 ± 0.10 mg GAE/g), TFC (17.25 ± 0.31 mg CE/g), and TLC (9.57 ± 0.59%). In addition, Dee pla kung, a species of Phlogacanthus, exhibited significant antioxidant activity and was comparable to Fah talai jone (genus Andrographis) in terms of biomass yield and chemical properties. These findings lay the groundwork for creating future herbal remedies from local plants and their potential use in the medicinal industry
Knowledge, attitude, and perception of the general public towards the impact of hemoglobinopathies on pregnancy outcomes: a questionnaire-based study
Get PDFBackground: Knowledge about hemoglobinopathies in the general public is unsatisfactory. Many couples are unaware of their carrier status and a child can be born with unexpected, serious hemoglobinopathies. Willingness to participate in screening programs can substantially help in bringing down the birth of children affected with hemoglobinopathies. To understand the knowledge, attitude, and perception of the general public on various hemoglobinopathies and their pregnancy outcomes we performed a questionnaire-based descriptive survey. Methods: After obtaining approval from the institutional ethics committee and validation by an expert panel we circulated a Google form consisting of 21 questions via WhatsApp which was made available for 3 months. Efforts were made to collect as many responses as possible. The responses were extracted onto a Microsoft Excel sheet and analyzed. Results: It was observed that though the majority of the population from various sectors of India agreed on the importance of early detection, only about 75.5% would consider signing up for screening themselves. Around 33.6% percent of the participants had not even heard about hemoglobinopathies and about 92.7% of the participants felt the need for the availability of more easily accessible information on the topic. Conclusion: The study concludes that there is a need for more awareness programs among the general public as well as better access to information on hemoglobinopathies so that the implications of being affected are clearly understood, and strategies for prevention by timely screening can be strengthened
Performance Evaluation of Wastewater Treatment plant, Vidyaranyapuram, Mysuru
Get PDFBackground: The primary goal of sewage water treatment is to eliminate or bring down the number of pollutants in the sewage water. This study was needed to assess the efficacy of a sewage treatment plant in reducing contaminants levels to comply with government environmental standards. The wastewater re-use for irrigation approaches must be in compliance with the guidelines and indicators must be tracked and impended consistently, it is therefore essential to give top priority to requirements at the stage of evaluating and development to protect land and water supplies as well as public health. Methods: Chemical and biological approaches were used to regulate the removal efficiency of treatment plants. The performance and effectualness of the Vidyaranyapuram sewage treatment plant (STP) in Mysore are evaluated and analyzed in this report. Novelty: Water quality needs to be regularly checked in wastewater treatment facilities. The current study will aid the treatment facility in its efforts to enhance the process of treatment. One would be able to update the effluent efficiency levels depending on the seasonal variations in wastewater treatment as the assessment explains the number of water quality metrics in waste water plants. The obtained analysis results are very helpful in locating, fixing, and maintaining plant operating and maintenance issues, which may be helpful for next plant expansion to be carried out to get good results. Result: The STP\u27s treatment efficiencies were discovered to have a good treatment level in BOD (96%) and a moderate treatment quality in COD (79%) and TSS (75%) removal efficiency during the year 2018. Conclusion: To ensure correct operation and maintenance, trained and experienced workers must analyze treatment performance at predetermined time intervals. The result explains the quality of effluent water and performance of treatment plant. STPs should be used to their full potential to manage the quality of final effluent, and raw sewage sources should be identified
Antioxidant effect of Morus indica L against paraquat-induced oxidative stress in Drosophila melanogaster
Get PDFBACKGROUND: Mulberry extracts and active components have numerous good neurological and biological benefits, making them promising candidates in the research for new medications to treat neurological problems. METHODS: In the present study we evaluated the neuroprotective role of mulberry fruit extract against the paraquat (PQ) induced oxidative stress in Drosophila melanogaster. After the exposure to PQ, Flies were assayed for climbing activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxide (LPO) content, acetylcholine esterase activities (AChe), and also the antioxidant defense system such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase activities (CAT) and glutathione synthetase (GSH) RESULTS: In a negative geotaxis assay, MF pre-treated flies exposed to PQ showed a lower incidence of mortality and enhanced climbing activities of flies when compared to untreated flies exposed to PQ. In addition, when exposed to PQ, untreated flies resulted in a significant (p ≤ 0.05) increase in oxidative stress markers such as ROS, LPO content and AChe and decreased the antioxidant defense system such as SOD, CAT, and GSH. However, flies pre-treated with MF when exposed to PQ ameliorated oxidative stress markers and by restoring the antioxidant defense system, additionally, the pre-treatment of MF flies also reduced AChe activities. CONCLUSION: The pre-treatment of flies with MF extract has the potential to reduce PQ-induced oxidative stress due to its antioxidative nature and ability to modify the activities of antioxidant defense systems. However, further research is needed to understand the exact mechanism of its activity
In silico examination of peptides containing selenium and ebselen Backbone To Assess Their Tumoricidal Potential
Get PDFIntroduction: Cancer has been one of the highest causes of morbidity and mortality in the world for decades. Owing to improved therapeutics along with detection, breast cancer mortality has been slowly reducing. The incidence of breast cancer, on the other hand, has increased gradually. More than 100 types of cancer have been identified with a wide range of treatment protocols comprising of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, etc. In an attempt to curb the serious deleterious effects caused by the chemotherapeutic drugs, numerous peptide molecules are currently popular as alternatives to the standard chemotherapeutic drugs. Methods: In this study, we have carried out in silico investigations to ascertain the anti-proliferative potential of novel peptides based on selenium and ebselen, i.e. Eb-Trp-Asp, 13, Eb-Trp-Glu, 14, and Eb-Trp-Lys, 15. Analysis of protein-ligand interactions, resulting in protein-ligand complex formation, has been carried out using the AutoDockVina in PyRx aided molecular docking technique, which may be an essential indication of druggability of the test peptides. Results: The molecular docking results revealed that the screened ligands had extraordinarily strong binding interactions and affinity for the target. Conclusion: Findings suggested that novel peptide molecule Eb-Trp-Glu, 14 may be a potent anticancer agent