Maternal risk factors and perinatal outcome in meconium stained amniotic fluid: a cross sectional study

Background: Meconium staining of amniotic fluid has long been regarded as a sign of fetal distress and fetal asphyxia. Although exact cause is unknown, meconium is thought to be passed from fetal gastro-intestinal tract as a response to hypoxia, mesenteric vasoconstriction induced gut hyper peristalsis, vagal stimulation and normal physiologic function of a mature fetus. Overall frequency has ranged from 5 to 24.6%. Present study is undertaken to detect incidence, mode of delivery, fetal heart rate variability and neonatal outcome in neonates born through MSAF. The objective of the study was to maternal risk factors, mode of delivery and perinatal outcome in labors complicated with meconium stained amniotic fluid.Methods: This is a cross sectional study done at Government Medical College, Thrissur on term, singleton pregnancies complicated with meconium stained amniotic fluid satisfying the inclusion criteria. Patients detailed history, gestational age, per abdominal examination, per speculum and per vaginal examination, admission tests including intrapartum cardiotocography (CTG) was recorded in a predesigned proforma.Results: The age of the patients varied between above 19 and 30 years. Majority of the study population were 69.3% Primi gravidas. Out of 130 cases, 56.2% were grade 2 meconium stained liquor, 30.7% were grade 3 meconium stained and 13.1% were grade 1 meconium stained. Association between neonatal complications in relation to grades of meconium was found to be statistically significant (p = 0.001). NICU admission was 24.7% in grade 2 meconium group. Hypoxic Ischemic encephalopathy was high in grade 3 meconium group, 45%. Majority of babies born through grade 1 meconium were asymptomatic and 10% of babies in grade 3 meconium groups were asymptomatic. Meconium aspiration syndrome, Respiratory distress were more in babies born through deliveries complicated with grade 3 meconium.Conclusions: The study indicated meconium stained amniotic fluid during labour increases the prevalence of abnormal intrapartum CTG, Caesarean section, lower Apgar score, increased duration of NICU and hospital stay, poor perinatal outcome and non-significant difference in incidence of lower birth weight in babies

Bitter Taste Receptors for Asthma Therapeutics.

Clinical management of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has primarily relied on the use of beta 2 adrenergic receptor agonists (bronchodilators) and corticosteroids, and more recently, monoclonal antibody therapies (biologics) targeting specific cytokines and their functions. Although these approaches provide relief from exacerbations, questions remain on their long-term efficacy and safety. Furthermore, current therapeutics do not address progressive airway remodeling (AR), a key pathological feature of severe obstructive lung disease. Strikingly, agonists of the bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs) deliver robust bronchodilation, curtail allergen-induced inflammatory responses in the airways and regulate airway smooth muscle (ASM) cell proliferation and mitigate features of A

Scaling of the giant dipole resonance widths in hot rotating nuclei from the ground state values

The systematics of the giant dipole resonance (GDR) widths in hot and rotating nuclei are studied in terms of temperature T, angular momentum J and mass A. The different experimental data in the temperature range of 1 - 2 MeV have been compared with the thermal shape fluctuation model (TSFM) in the liquid drop formalism using a modified approach to estimate the average values of T, J and A in the decay of the compound nucleus. The values of the ground state GDR widths have been extracted from the TSFM parametrization in the liquid drop limit for the corrected T, J and A for a given system and compared with the corresponding available systematics of the experimentally measured ground state GDR widths for a range of nuclei from A = 45 to 194. Amazingly, the nature of the theoretically extracted ground state GDR widths matches remarkably well, though 1.5 times smaller, with the experimentally measured ground state GDR widths consistently over a wide range of nuclei.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures, Accepted for publication in Physical Review

An interacting model for the cosmological dark sector

We discuss a new interacting model for the cosmological dark sector in which the attenuated dilution of cold dark matter scales as $a^{-3}f(a)$, where f(a) is an arbitrary function of the cosmic scale factor $a$. From thermodynamic arguments, we show that f(a) is proportional to entropy source of the particle creation process. In order to investigate the cosmological consequences of this kind of interacting models, we expand f(a) in a power series and viable cosmological solutions are obtained. Finally, we use current observational data to place constraints on the interacting function f(a).Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, Phys. Rev. D (in press

Fetal and maternal outcome following expectant management of severe pre-eclampsia remote from term

Background: Expectant management of severe preeclampsia, remote from term is often a difficult decision. Maternal and foetal complications may occur while trying to achieve a more favourable perinatal outcome. We wanted to find out the foetal and maternal outcomes of expectant management in these women.Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted at Government Medical College, Thrissur, India between May 2013 and April 2015. Women with severe preeclampsia remote from term, who were admitted, managed expectantly and delivered in our hospital during the study period, were recruited. The study subjects were grouped into: Group A (between 28 weeks and 31 weeks 6 days) and Group B (between 32 weeks and 33 weeks 6 days). A structured proforma was used to collect demographic and clinical details. The maternal and foetal outcomes were noted.Results: There were 4786 deliveries during the study period. Among them 76 (1.58% of total deliveries) women with severe preeclampsia between 28 weeks and 33-week 6 days gestation on expectant management were included in the study. The mean duration of expectant management was 7.92 days in group A (27 women) and 6.67 days in group B (49 women). Most women required termination of pregnancy for foetal distress (36.8%). HELLP syndrome and imminent eclampsia were the maternal complications that occurred. Perinatal loss was significantly more in Group A when compared to Group B.Conclusions: Expectant management of women with severe preeclampsia remote from term, especially between 32weeks and 33weeks 6 days, with antenatal corticosteroids and close monitoring, seems a reasonable option in developing countries

Peripartum hysterectomy: a five year review at a tertiary care centre

Background: Peripartum hysterectomy is a life-saving procedure resorted to when conservative measures fail to control obstetric haemorrhage. Several predisposing factors, suboptimal care and lack of infrastructure may lead to this emergency procedure. We wanted to find out factors associated with peripartum hysterectomy and the adverse maternal outcomes at our centre.Methods: A retrospective case series analysis of 40 cases of peripartum hysterectomy performed over a period of 5 years from January 2010 to December 2014 at Government Medical College Hospital, Thrissur, Kerala was done.Results: The incidence of peripartum hysterectomy was 0.29%. The most common indication for peripartum hysterectomy was hysterectomy was uterine atony (50%). Thirty-five women (88%) were between 20 and 35 years. Most of the subjects were unbooked. There were two maternal deaths (case fatality rate of 5%) following peripartum hysterectomy during this period. All the subjects required blood transfusion.Conclusions: Prompt performance hysterectomy before the patient’s clinical condition deteriorates is the key to success. The incidence of adherent placenta is increasing, so every effort should be taken to reduce the caesarean section rates globally.

Maternal and neonatal outcome in second stage cesarean section versus first stage: a comparative study

Background: Cesarean Section is the most commonly performed abdominal operation in women all over the world. Variable rates of cesarean section are reported between and within countries. Cesarean section at full cervical dilatation with an impacted fetal head can be technically difficult and is associated with increased trauma to the lower uterine segment and adjacent structures, as well as increased hemorrhage and infection.Methods: This is a comparative cross-sectional study comparing maternal and neonatal outcome between first stage and second stage cesarean section performed at Govt Medical College Thrissur.Results: In present study out of 90 cesarean sections 30 were performed in second stage and 60 in first stage.74 % were primigravida in second stage cs group. Arrest due to malposition was major indication for second stage (76% of cases). The most important complication among second stage cs group was PPH (76.7%) and majority of them needed blood transfusion. These complications were less in first stage cs group. Other Complications like increased duration of surgery (mean=53.3 min), post op fever (36% post op Wound infection (13.3%) was seen in second stage group. Fetal complications like low APGAR scores were seen in 16.7% of cases compared to first stage group and most of them needed resuscitation.Conclusions: Women undergoing cesarean section in second stage of labour had increased maternal and fetal morbidity. They required special care and hence Operation should ideally perform and supervised by an experienced obstetrician. Timely decision for cesarean section should be made especially when risk factors for failure to progress are present