ANTECEDENTS OF ATTITUDE TOWARD COUNTERFEIT WRIST WATCHES

This study aims to identify factors shaping attitude towardcounterfeit products and their relative influence on attitude formation. This involves 200 potential and actual consumers of counterfeit products in an explanatory research. Antecedents of attitude toward counterfeit purchases extracted from literature review are Price-Quality Inference, Subjective Norms, Past Experience, Risk Aversion and Personal Gratification. Multiple regression and Independent Sample t-test are used to analyze the data. Results show a significant impact of past experience, risk aversion and personal gratification and insignificant impact of subjective norms and price-quality inference on attitude formation toward counterfeit wrist watches.It is recommended to use experiential marketing to convey delicate difference of experiencing original brands and enhance the perceivedrisk of using copied products

Relationship of insulin resistance with recurrent pregnancy loss

Background: The recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is defined as two and more failed pregnancies as documented by ultrasound and histopathological examination and suggested some assessment after each loss with a thorough evaluation after three or more losses. RPL is one of the most frustrating and difficult areas in reproductive medicine because the aetiology is often unknown and there are few evidence based diagnostic and treatment strategies.Methods: 150 Non pregnant females were taken as both cases and controls in the study. All the pregnancy losses were documented by ultrasound or histological examination after uterine curettage. The control group consisted of women with no RPL with at least one live birth. These two groups were matched on the basis of age and BMI. All the women underwent following examinations, viz. Hysterosalpingography, karyotype of both partners, serum TSH, FT4, prolactin and antibodies for APLA. In addition blood sample were taken for fasting serum glucose and serum insulin level later insulin resistance was calculate using three parameters Fasting insulin > 20IU/ml. Diagnostic of Insulin Resistance. (2) Fasting glucose / Fasting insulin. A ratio of 4.5 being diagnostic of insulin resistance.Results: 150 patients were enrolled in this study among which 75 were selected as cases and 75 as controls after fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria with mean age cases group was28.4+2.37 years and 29.1+2.70 years in control group mean miscarriage rate in study group was 3.17+83 and control group with 0.35+0.48 with statistically significant difference. Mean fasting glucose (96.5+ 7.86) mg/dl, Fasting Insulin (14.1±5.91) IU/ml. Mean Glucose Insulin ratio (8.1±3.39), HOMA-IR (3.4 ±1.51) in the study group and in control group mean fasting glucose was (87.1+11.49) mg/dl, Fasting Insulin (6.9 ± 4.99) IU/ml. Mean Glucose Insulin ratio (17.8 ±11.44), HOMA-IR (1.5 ±1.27) respectively with statistically significant difference.Conclusions: In women with recurrent pregnancy loss fasting insulin and insulin resistance are higher than those in women without spontaneous abortion. The most sensitive parameter for calculating insulin resistance was found to be fasting insulin followed by HOMA – IR and followed by fasting glucose/fasting insulin ratio. It is therefore important to recommend a fasting insulin and fasting glucose level while evaluating a case of recurrent pregnancy loss to assess for insulin resistance

Renal arteriovenous malformation: An unusual cause of recurrent haematuria

A 54-year-old woman presented with gross painless haematuria. Initial workup showed no abnormality except mild hydronephrosis on CT scan. Cystoscopy and retrograde pyelography did not find any gross lesion and her urine cytology was also negative. She had recurrent haematuria so her CT was reviewed with the radiologist with clinical suspicion of arteriovenous malformation (AVM) which was suggested by relatively increased contrast density in the hemiazygous vein and renal vein in the arterial phase. She underwent angioembiolisation of left renal AVM after which her haematuria settled

Wear Resistant and Biocompatible Coatings for Medical Devices and Method of Fabrication

Abstract: A method of forming a biocompatible or biologically inert article for use in an application in which the article will make contact with at least one tissue, organ, or fluid within a human or animal body is provided. The method generally comprises providing an article having an external sur face; selecting chemical precursors; using a means to direct one or more chemical precursors towards or to apply such chemical precursors to the ex ternal surface; activating the chemical precursors by exposing said precursors to atmospheric pressure plasma; and grafting and/or cross-linking the chem ical precursors to form a solid coating adjacent to the external surface of the article

Surgical management of pheochromocytoma in a 13-week pregnant woman

A 34-year-old 13-week pregnant woman presented with hypertension refractory to medical therapy and on workup was found to have a right adrenal mass. Due to her persistent increased blood pressure she was advised urinary vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) and its level was raised. MRI of the abdomen showed a well-circumcised lesion in the right adrenal of 3.0×2.5 cm suggestive of pheochromocytoma. The patient was started on antihypertensives including α-blockers and β-blockers and planned for right open adrenalectomy. Intraoperatively, blood pressure was raised up to 180/110 mm Hg on slight manipulation of adrenal gland which was controlled with glyceryl-trinitrate and volatile agents. Postoperatively urinary VMA decreased to normal range and all antihypertensives were gradually stopped. She had uneventful pregnancy and delivered vaginally. This case report highlights the importance of surgical management of pheochromocytoma in second trimester of pregnancy to avoid catastrophic complications later in pregnancy

Suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 in pregnant females with or without hypertension

Suppression of Cytokine Signalling-3 (SOCS-3) modulates the inflammatory pathways responsible for vascular stability. Therefore, we aimed to estimate SOCS-3 levels in 2nd trimester pregnant females and correlate it with blood pressure. A case control study recruiting (n=111) females was conducted at the Aga Khan University. They were classified as pregnancy induced hypertensives ornormotensive as per American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Guidelines. Weight, Body mass index, lipid profile and blood glucose were recorded while SOCS-3 was measured by ELISA. Higher SOCS-3 levels were seen in hypertensive group (30 pg/ml) versus normotensive (16 pg/ml). Both Systolic & diastolic blood pressure (r=0.520; p \u3c0.001) (r=0.490; p \u3c0.001) showed an independent significant positive correlation with SOCS-3 level. It is safe to suggest that SOCS-3 has an association of causing high blood pressure. However, more research needs to be conducted to establish a mechanism and chronological order to these events in a pregnant female

Resistance to ondansetron: Role of pharmacogenetics in post-operative nausea and vomiting

Post-operative nausea and vomiting is the most annoying and at the same time a dangerous side effect of general anaesthesia. Ondansetron is a routinely used anti emetic drug which is being administered by the trial and error principle. Though it did revolutionized the management of this condition but by and large failed to completely eliminate the problem. Recently an important factor possibly elucidating this failure is said to be the differing expression of genes controlling proteins that are involved in transport and receptors related to this drug. Quite surprisingly these transporter and receptor pathways have been found to be polymorphic and at the same time shown to be related to efficacy of the drug. The differentiation between those responding to treatment and those not responding may pave a way to individualize treatment for emesis to a greater extent. This review highlights the pharmacogenetics related to this commonly used anti-emetic drug in anaesthesia. It is visualized as a promising way to achieve the target of individualized therapy. It seems obvious that pharmacogenetics will become an important field of anaesthesia research in the future.Keywords: 5-Hydroxytryptamine type 3 receptor antagonists; Ondansetron; Post-operative nausea and vomiting; Polymorphism; Pharmacogenetic

Factors Affecting Smoking Initiation and Cessation Among Saudi Women Attending Smoking Cessation Clinics

Objectives: Smoking is one of the most adaptable risk behaviours associated with increased mortality rates, yet over one billion individuals worldwide are smokers. This study aimed to examine self-reported reasons for starting and quitting smoking among women attending smoking cessation clinics in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional study took place between January 2014 and January 2017 in Saudi Arabia using previously collected data. A survey was distributed to 3,000 female smokers attending smoking cessation programmes in 18 clinics from different regions in Saudi Arabia to determine self-reported reasons for smoking initiation and willingness/unwillingness to quit. Results: A total of 2,190 women participated in the study (response rate = 73%). Overall, the most common reason for starting to smoke was friends (31.1%), while the predominant reason for willingness to quit was health concerns (45.5%). The most frequent reason for being unwilling to quit smoking was a fear of mood changes (28%). Conclusion: Most Saudi women are socially-driven to start smoking, while the most common reason for quitting is health concerns. The latter finding is promising in that it shows that smokers are gaining awareness of the adverse effects of smoking.Keywords: Tobacco Smoking; Smoking Cessation; Health Risk Behaviors; Lifestyle Risk Reduction; Primary Health Care; Saudi Arabia

A study of outcome of caesarean myomectomy in a tertiary care hospital

Background: Uterine leiomyoma (i.e. fibroid or myoma) are benign clonal tumours arising from the muscle cell of the uterus .Uterine myomas are the commonest tumour over the age of 30 years and seen in 2% pregnant women. The impact of uterine myomas on pregnancy depends on the size, number and location of myoma. Myomectomy is a surgery to remove one or more fibroids. Recently, it has been suggested that caesarean myomectomy is a safe surgical modality if is performed in carefully selected patients. The aim of the study was to assess the safety and feasibility of performing myomectomy during caesarean section.Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in the Postgraduate Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics for a period of one and a half year in Government Lalla Ded Hospital – an associated hospital of Government Medical College, Srinagar which is the sole tertiary care referral centre in the valley.Results: A total of 54 patients were taken for caesarean myomectomy. Majority of the patients were in the age group of 26-30years and were of para-1 or 2. Mean blood loss was ≤500 ml during surgery. Most common intraoperative complication was haemorrhage and post-operative complication was fever.Conclusions: From the present study, it is concluded that with the advent of better anaesthesia and availability of blood, caesarean myomectomy is no longer a dreaded job in the hands of an experienced surgeon and in a well-equipped tertiary institution