Health related quality of life in post-acute coronary patient

The study aimed to assess the effects of lifestyle-modification counselling on behavioural outcomes among patients after myocardial infarction. This was a quasi-experimental study, conducted at the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC), Rawalpindi, from December 2018 to February 2019, on 50 post-myocardial infarction (post-MI) patients. Knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding lifestyle was assessed using a self-designed, pre-tested, validated questionnaire. The participants were given health messages regarding lifestyle modifications for 15-20 minutes based on WHO guidelines on the nature of the disease, diet, exercise, smoking cessation, weight and blood pressure monitoring, and salt intake. The mean age of the patients was 58.68 ±10.8 years. The MI knowledge sufficiently improved (28,100%), positive attitude was observed (27, 96.4%), and healthy practices were anticipated (24, 85.71%) significantly (p<0.001) after counselling. The lifestyle modification counselling improved the knowledge, attitude, and practice among post- MI patients but significant improvement was seen only in knowledge and practice. Keywords: Attitude, counselling, health messages, knowledge, lifestyle modification, myocardial infarction, practice

40 Weeks of Gestation is as High-Risk Gestation as 41 Weeks in Low-Risk Pregnancies

Introduction: Postdate pregnancy is associated with a higher frequency of obstetrical complications and perinatal morbidity. The incidence of meconium-stained amniotic fluid is 30% at 40 weeks which is very high. This study aimed to find out the need for fetal surveillance and delivery in our population, keeping in view that 40 weeks of gestation is as high risk as 41 weeks gestation in low-risk pregnancies. Material and Methods: The study was conducted at Obstetrics &amp; Gynecology Department, Unit-II, Holy Family Hospital, and Rawalpindi from 16 February to 15 August 2019 after ethical clearance. Postdate pregnant women from 40 to 41 weeks who meet study criteria were enrolled in the study. We divided participants into two groups. Group A (40 to 40+6 weeks of gestation) while group B had Group B (41 to 41+6 weeks of gestation). Results: A total of 236 postdate mothers presented of which 148(62%) were in group A while 88 (38%) were in group B. Mean gestational age in our study was 40.88 ± 0.71 weeks. overall vaginal delivery, cesarean delivery, and meconium stained liquor were found in 75.84%, 24.16%, and 35.17% patients respectively. 82 (34.7%) participants presented with meconium-stained liquor meconium-stained liquor with women in group B has a higher frequency of meconium-stained liquor, 45 (30.41%) in group A and 37 (42.04%) in group B, P-value 0.069. rate of vaginal delivery was 71.62% in group A and 82.95% in group B which was statistically significant. P-value 0.049 Conclusion: High percentage of meconium-stained liquor was observed in the study population. Frequency of vaginal delivery increases if postdate women waited till 41 weeks. 30% of women at gestation age 40 to 40+6 have meconium-stained liquor which shows almost 1/3 of pregnant ladies are exposed to the compromised fetal status which is a considerable risk. This increases further as the gestation age advances. Appropriate interventions should be taken at 40 weeks in low-risk pregnancies to avoid perinatal risk

Impact of HHO gas enrichment and high purity biodiesel on the performance of a 315 cc diesel engine

Biodiesel and oxyhydrogen (HHO) gas have shown promising results in improving engine performance and emissions. In this work, the effects of HHO gas and 5% biodiesel blends (B5) and their combined use in a 315 cc diesel engine have been analyzed. Biodiesel is produced by base catalyzed transesterification and cleaned by emulsification. Its calculated cetane index (CCI) was 61.4. HHO gas is produced from electrolysis of concentrated potassium hydroxide solution. The use of 5% biodiesel blend resulted in a significant rise of 9.4% in the brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and a maximum reduction of 8.19% in the brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC). HHO enrichment of diesel and biodiesel at 2.81 L/min through the intake manifold improved the torque and power by an average of over 3%. HHO addition also improved the BTE of diesel by a maximum of 3.67%. The combination of high CCI biodiesel fuel and HHO creates a mixture that has shortened the ignition delay (ID) to the point that adverse effects were observed due to the premature combustion as shown by the average decrease in the BTE of 2.97% compared to B5. Thus, B5, on its own, is found to be the optimum fuel under these conditions. (c) 2021 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved