Antenatal umbilical cord parameters and perinatal outcome

Background: The objective of the study was to study the association between antenatally determined umbilical cord thickness and coiling index at/after 34 weeks of gestation and the measures of perinatal outcome.Methods: Umbilical cord thickness and coiling index were determined sonographically at or after 34 weeks of gestation in 100 singleton pregnancies. The influence of the antenatal cord findings was analyzed for their associations with measures of perinatal outcome in high and low risk pregnancies. Intrapartum fetal heart rate abnormalities, meconium staining of liquor, birth weight, Apgar score and the need for neonatal intensive care (NICU) admission were considered as measures of perinatal outcome.Results: Mean cord thickness was 1.62 ± 0.26 cm and the coiling index was 0.42 ± 0.08 in the present observation of 100 cord sonographies. There were 39 pregnancies with high risk attributes. High risk pregnancies were found to have higher proportion of cases with lean (<1.3 cm; p = 0.04) and hypercoiled cord (>0.5; p = 0.00). Among individual associations thicker cord (>1.9 cm) and macrosomia (p = 0.01), hypercoiled cord and polyhydramnios (p = 0.02) were significant. More number of primigravidas were seen to have hypercoiled cord (p = 0.04). Association between cord parameters and meconium stained amniotic fluid, low Apgar score or NICU requirement could not be established.Conclusions: No association between antenatal umbilical cord characteristics and perinatal outcome was found in pregnancies at high risk for poor perinatal outcome

Antenatal umbilical cord parameters and perinatal outcome

Background: The objective of the study was to study the association between antenatally determined umbilical cord thickness and coiling index at/after 34 weeks of gestation and the measures of perinatal outcome. Methods: Umbilical cord thickness and coiling index were determined sonographically at or after 34 weeks of gestation in 100 singleton pregnancies. The influence of the antenatal cord findings was analyzed for their associations with measures of perinatal outcome in high and low risk pregnancies. Intrapartum fetal heart rate abnormalities, meconium staining of liquor, birth weight, Apgar score and the need for neonatal intensive care (NICU) admission were considered as measures of perinatal outcome. Results: Mean cord thickness was 1.62 +/- 0.26 cm and the coiling index was 0.42 +/- 0.08 in the present observation of 100 cord sonographies. There were 39 pregnancies with high risk attributes. High risk pregnancies were found to have higher proportion of cases with lean (<1.3 cm; p = 0.04) and hypercoiled cord (>0.5; p = 0.00). Among individual associations thicker cord (>1.9 cm) and macrosomia (p = 0.01), hypercoiled cord and polyhydramnios (p = 0.02) were significant. More number of primigravidas were seen to have hypercoiled cord (p = 0.04). Association between cord parameters and meconium stained amniotic fluid, low Apgar score or NICU requirement could not be established. Conclusions: No association between antenatal umbilical cord characteristics and perinatal outcome was found in pregnancies at high risk for poor perinatal outcome. [Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol 2016; 5(4.000): 1211-1215

Professional and ethical values in Nursing practice: An Indian Perspective

Objective. This study was carried out to examine professional and ethical values related to the profession from nurses' perspectives. Methods. This was a cross-sectional survey carried out among 124 randomly selected nurses working at a tertiary care hospital in South India. The data was collected using Nursing Professional Values scale (NPVS-3). This tool consisted of 28 items to assess nurses’ professional values in three domains namely; Caring (10 items), activism(10items), and professionalism (8items). The maximum range of scores is 28–140. The higher the score, the stronger the nurse’s professional value orientation. Results. The mean total score of the Professional Value scale was high (121.07±15.32). The mean score of the participants was higher in the caring domain (44.02±5.75) than activism (42.19±6.33) and professionalism domains (34.86±4.27). Pearson correlational analysis revealed that nurses with less experience had greater mean professional values score than nurses with higher experience (p<0.01). Conclusion. The present study showed that nurses have high professional and ethical values, although they perceive that the most important values are those related to direct patient care. Continuing education programs should be designed so that nurses understand that nonclinical professional values are also equally important in promoting the nursing profession.Objetivo. Este estudo foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar os valores profissionais e éticos relacionados à profissão na perspectiva dos enfermeiros. Métodos. Este é um estudo transversal de 124 enfermeiras selecionadas aleatoriamente que trabalham em um hospital terciário no sul da Índia. Os dados foram coletados por meio da Nursing Professional Values Scale (NPVS-3). Esse instrumento é composto por 28 itens com resposta do tipo Likert de 1 a 5 que avaliam os valores profissionais do enfermeiro em três domínios: cuidado (10 itens), ativismo (10 itens) e profissionalismo (8 itens). A faixa máxima de pontuação é de 28 a 140, quanto maior a pontuação, maior a orientação para os valores do profissional de enfermagem. Resultados. A pontuação média total da escala de valores profissionais foi elevada (121.07±15.32). A pontuação média dos participantes foi maior no domínio cuidar (44.02±5.75) do que no ativismo (42.19±6.33) e no domínio profissionalismo (34.86±4.27). A análise correlacional de Pearson revelou que enfermeiras menos experientes tiveram uma pontuação média mais alta em valores profissionais do que enfermeiras mais experientes (p<0.01). Conclusão. O presente estudo mostrou que os enfermeiros possuem elevados valores profissionais e éticos, embora percebam que os valores mais importantes são aqueles relacionados ao cuidado direto ao paciente. Os programas de educação continuada devem ser planejados de forma que os enfermeiros entendam que os valores profissionais não clínicos também são igualmente importantes na promoção da profissão de enfermagem.Objetivo. Este estudio se llevó a cabo para evaluar los valores profesionales y éticos relacionados con la profesión desde la perspectiva de los enfermeros. Métodos. Se trata de un estudio transversal realizado entre 124 enfermeras seleccionadas aleatoriamente quienes trabajan en un hospital de atención terciaria del sur de la India. Los datos se recogieron utilizando la escala de valores profesionales de enfermería (NPVS-3). Este instrumento consta de 28 ítems con respuesta tipo Likert de 1-5 que evalúa los valores profesionales de los enfermeros en tres dominios: cuidado (10 ítems), activismo (10 ítems) y profesionalismo (8 ítems). El rango máximo de las puntuaciones es de 28 a 140, cuanto mayor sea la puntuación, mayor será la orientación hacia los valores profesionales de enfermería. Resultados. La puntuación media total de la escala de valores profesionales fue alta (121.07±15.32). La puntuación media de los participantes fue más alta en el dominio de cuidado (44.02±5.75) que en el del activismo (42.19±6.33) y en el de profesionalismo (34.86±4.27). El análisis correlacional de Pearson reveló que las enfermeras con menos experiencia tenían una mayor puntuación media en valores profesionales que las enfermeras con mayor experiencia (p<0.01). Conclusión. El presente estudio mostró que las enfermeras tienen altos valores profesionales y éticos, aunque perciben que los valores más importantes son los relacionados con el cuidado directo al paciente. Deben diseñarse programas de formación continua para que las enfermeras comprendan que los valores profesionales no clínicos también son igualmente importantes para promover la profesión de enfermería

Cell-Tissue Interaction: The Biomimetic Approach to Design Tissue Engineered Biomaterials

The advancement achieved in Tissue Engineering is based on a careful and in-depth study of cell-tissue interactions. The choice of a specific biomaterial in Tissue Engineering is fundamental, as it represents an interface for adherent cells in the creation of a microenvironment suitable for cell growth and differentiation. The knowledge of the biochemical and biophysical properties of the extracellular matrix is a useful tool for the optimization of polymeric scaffolds. This review aims to analyse the chemical, physical, and biological parameters on which are possible to act in Tissue Engineering for the optimization of polymeric scaffolds and the most recent progress presented in this field, including the novelty in the modification of the scaffolds' bulk and surface from a chemical and physical point of view to improve cell-biomaterial interaction. Moreover, we underline how understanding the impact of scaffolds on cell fate is of paramount importance for the successful advancement of Tissue Engineering. Finally, we conclude by reporting the future perspectives in this field in continuous development

Cardamonin Attenuates Experimental Colitis and Associated Colorectal Cancer

Cardamonin is a naturally occurring chalcone, majorly from the Zingiberaceae family, which includes a wide range of spices from India. Herein, we investigated the anti-inflammatory property of cardamonin using different in vitro and in vivo systems. In RAW 264.7 cells, treatment with cardamonin showed a reduced nitrous oxide production without affecting the cell viability and decreased the expression of iNOS, TNF-α, and IL-6, and inhibited NF-kB signaling which emphasizes the role of cardamonin as an anti-inflammatory molecule. In a mouse model of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis, cardamonin treatment protected the mice from colitis. Subsequently, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of this chalcone in a colitis-associated colon cancer model. We performed microRNA profiling in the different groups and observed that cardamonin modulates miRNA expression, thereby inhibiting tumor formation. Together, our findings indicate that cardamonin has the potential to be considered for future therapy against colorectal cancer

Proceedings of International Web Conference in Civil Engineering for a Sustainable Planet

This proceeding contains articles of the various research ideas of the academic community and practitioners accepted at the "International Web Conference in Civil Engineering for a Sustainable Planet (ICCESP 2021)". ICCESP 2021 is being Organized by the Habilete Learning Solutions, Kollam in Collaboration with American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), TKM College of Engineering, Kollam, and Baselios Mathews II College of Engineering, Kollam, Kerala, India. Conference Title: International Web Conference in Civil Engineering for a Sustainable PlanetConference Acronym: ICCESP 2021Conference Date: 05–06 March 2021Conference Location: Online (Virtual Mode)Conference Organizer: Habilete Learning Solutions, Kollam, Kerala, IndiaCollaborators: American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), TKM College of Engineering, Kollam, and Baselios Mathews II College of Engineering, Kollam, Kerala, India