Knowledge and attitude of postnatal mothers towards neonatal care in a rural area of Maharashtra, India

Background: The neonatal period encompassing the first 28 days of extra uterine life is the most crucial time in baby’s life. It is an important link in the chain of events from conception to childhood. The mother’s or caregivers` past experiences and knowledge play an important role in safeguarding the new-born’s health and enhancing adaptation to the new environment.Methods: A community based cross sectional study was carried out in the rural area of Pune district for 2 months period. Thirty postnatal mothers within 28 days of delivery were given semi-structured questionnaire to assess neonatal rearing practices amongst them.Results: Seventeen percent mothers initiated breast feeding within one hour of delivery, 15% after two days while 33% did not give colostrum to the baby. Thirty seven percent women gave no prelacteal feeds. Eighty seven percent gave zero polio doses to their baby. Sixty three percent bathed the baby by day two while 11% bathed as late as after 30 days. Ninety seven percent gave sesame seed oil massage to the baby.Conclusions: Most mothers had good practices even though the beliefs were different. Awareness of the need to initiate breast feeding within one hour and to continue it during baby’s illness and need for exclusive breast feeding for first six months is essential

Trends of caesarean section: an analytical overview of indications

Background: Caesarean section is one of the commonly performed surgical procedures in obstetrics. An increasing trend has been observed in both primary and repeat caesarean sections. The reasons for its increase are multifaceted. So, this study was carried out to compare the rates of caesarean delivery and to analyse various indications contributing to it.Methods: This retrospective study was conducted over a period of three year from 1st January 2016 to 31st December 2018 at the department of obstetrics and gynaecology, tertiary care hospital Pune, Maharashtra, India. All caesarean delivery (primary and repeat) taken place during the study period. The rate and indications of caesarean section was calculated over the study period to find out the trends in caesarean delivery. The data so collected was presented with graphical representation. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS software and t-test was used for continuous data and pearson chi square test for discrete data.Results: There were a total of 12373 deliveries during the study period out of which, 3701 had delivered via Caesarean Section. So, the rate of caesarean section in the study was found to be 29.91%.Conclusions: Being a tertiary care hospital, a high rate of caesarean deliveries was observed, Individualization of the indication and careful evaluation, following standardized guidelines, practice of evidenced-based obstetrics and audits in the institution, can help us limit caesarean section rates

Framework for the Automation of SDLC Phases using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Techniques

Software Engineering acts as a foundation stone for any software that is being built. It provides a common road-map for construction of software from any domain. Not following a well-defined Software Development Model have led to the failure of many software projects in the past. Agile is the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) Model that is widely used in practice in the IT industries to develop software on various technologies such as Big Data, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Deep learning. The focus on Software Engineering side in the recent years has been on trying to automate the various phases of SDLC namely- Requirements Analysis, Design, Coding, Testing and Operations and Maintenance. Incorporating latest trending technologies such as Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence into various phases of SDLC, could facilitate for better execution of each of these phases. This in turn helps to cut-down costs, save time, improve the efficiency and reduce the manual effort required for each of these phases. The aim of this paper is to present a framework for the application of various Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning techniques in the different phases of SDLC

Vaginal progesterone after tocolytic therapy in threatened preterm labour

Background: Currently preterm labour is one of the most challenging problem faced by both obstetricians and perinatologists, this episode in the course of woman’s pregnancy takes a heavy tool for perinatal mortality which accounts for approximately 50-75%. The incidence of preterm labour is estimated to be 5-10% of all pregnancies.Methods: It was a prospective randomize control trail over a period of 3 year at department of obstetrics and gynecology, tertiary care hospital Pune, Maharashtra, India. Total 100 subjects were randomized into two groups with group one receiving vaginal micronized progesterone and group two control group receiving only tocolytics and steroids. Subsequently authors compared the safety and efficacy of vaginal micronized progesterone versus placebo as a maintenance therapy in preventing preterm labour.Results: This analysis showed that women who randomized to progesterone prophylaxis had a significantly increase in duration of pregnancy. The mean of birthweight in Group A and Group B was 2963±36 gm and 2567±49 gm and respectively which confirmed the positive effects of progesterone on increasing infants’ weights at birth.Conclusions: Authors concluded that progesterone therapy had acceptable efficacy in the prevention of preterm labor in terms of prolongation of delivery and by increasing gestational age at delivery

A clinical study of postdated pregnancy

Background: Objective of the study was to find out the incidence of maternal complications, perinatal mortality and morbidity in postdated pregnancies. Design of the study was prospective observational study.Methods: Patients who have completed 40 weeks of gestational age, patients who were sure of the date of last menstrual period (LMP) along with 1st trimester obstetrics scan were included. Patients not sure of LMP were excluded.Results: There is high fetal and maternal risk associated with postdated pregnancy. Total 100 cases were selected from antenatal clinic and Labour Room and were divided into two groups. Study group and control group, 50 cases in each. Induction rate is more in postdated pregnancies. Incidence of operative deliveries is 54% in study group. Postpartum haemorrhage and septicaemia are the most common maternal complication in the study group. Perinatal mortality is higher and more NICU admissions were required.Conclusions: Considering this, policy of early intervention should be undertaken in postdated pregnancy to avoid maternal and perinatal complications

DEVELOPMENT AND OPTIMIZATION OF CHRONOPHARMACEUTICAL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR ASTHMA

The present research was designed to increase bioavailability and solubility of Montulokast Sodium by formulating Chrono pharmaceutical delivery system. In the present study firstly immediate release core tablets were prepared by direct compression using Response Surface Methodology with different superdisintegrants, diluents and surfactants to release drug faster. In that formulation containing cross carmellose sodium and Poloxomer-188 with highly soluble lactose gave 95% release in 30 minutes with optimum pre & post compression characteristics. Chronopharmaceutical Drug delivery formulations were then prepared by press coating using polymers as Xanthan gum, Polyox, HPMC & Ethyl Cellulose alone and in combination. The results revealed that combinations of these polymers give better lag time rather than using a single polymer.Thus it can be concluded that combining hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymer can be done to achieve the respected lag time required for pulsatile release

Lustrum study of labour induction

Background: The rate of labor induction is steadily increasing. Approximately one out of four pregnant women has their labor induced. Over the years, various professional societies have recommended the use of induction of labor in circumstances in which the risk of waiting for the onset of spontaneous labor are judged by clinicians to be greater than the risks associated with shortening duration of pregnancy by induction. This study was carried out to categories indications and to know trends of indication over 5 years.Methods: This retrospective analytical study was conducted over a period of five years from 01 June 2016 to 31 May 2021 at the department of obstetrics and gynecology, tertiary care hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India. The rate, indications and trend in indications of labor induction was calculated over the study period. The data so collected was presented with graphical representation.Results: There was a total of 10407 deliveries during the study period out of which, 865 were induced. So, the rate of labor induction in the study was found to be 8.31%. Post-datism accounts for 54.4% followed by pregnancy induced hypertension remains the major obstetric cause accounting for 16.6% of labour induction. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) accounted for 3.6% causes of labour induction.Conclusions: Vaginal birth has lesser morbidity and mortality involving both the mother and the child compared to caesarean and will always be regarded as the superior mode of delivery. Apart from post-datism, the commoner obstetric indications for induction of labour are PIH and IUGR. Increasing trend in the incidence of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and IUGR is observed and therefore probably correlating to foetal distress after induction of labour causing increased trend of need for caesarean section over the five years

Study of effect of intravenous iron sucrose on different haematological parameters in patients of anaemia in pregnancy

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of intravenous Iron sucrose by comparing the various hematological parameters before and after infusion of intravenous iron sucrose and also the safety and compliance in cases of pregnancy with anaemia.Methods: One fifty patients visited in OPD with haemoglobin level <7 gm/dl during 1st and 2nd trimester of pregnancy and all patients of 3rd trimester with mild, moderate or severe anemia after satisfying the inclusion criteria were included. These patients were investigated with different hematological parameters. Patient’s hemoglobin, serum iron, total iron binding capacity, peripheral blood smear repeated after the completion of doses after 21 days.Results: Results were significant with increase in haemoglobin from baseline 6.7 ± 1.2 to 10.2 ± 1.9 after 21 days of treatment. There was significant rise of serum iron levels (93.14 ± 1.9 mcg/dl) post treatment. However repeat TIBC (94.66%) significantly decreased from baseline, mean TIBC was 314.66 ± 1.8 mcg/dl. Significant increase was also noted in MCV, MCH and PCV.Conclusions: This study showed significant improvement of hemoglobin and iron stores in pregnant women given calculated dose of iron sucrose complex infusion. It was safe for mother and fetus and is well tolerated

CO-CRYSTALS: A REVIEW

In development of new product major constraints are poor aqueous solubility and low oral bioavailability. Crystallization is one the approach has been used for enhancement of solubility of poorly aqueous soluble drugs also helps to improve physicochemical properties such as melting point, tabletability, solubility, stability, bioavailability and permeability with preserving the pharmacological properties of the active pharmaceutical ingredient. Different methods have been used for the synthesis of cocrystal such as grinding, slurry, antisolvent, hot melt extrusion, sonocrystallization, supercritical fluid, spray drying etc. The article highlights the co-crystallization, its methods and significance. &nbsp

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF BILAYER FLOATING TABLET OF CARVEDILOL PHOSPHATE

Gastroretentive dosage forms (GRDF) enable prolonged and continuous input of the drug to the upper parts of the gastrointestinal tract and improve the bioavailability of medications those are characterized by a narrow absorption window. The aim of this study was first to develop and physico-chemically characterize an optimal single unit bilayer floating tablet for Carvedilol phosphate (CP) prepared by direct compression technology secondly use Ocimum basilicum mucilage (OBM) as a gelling, swelling and sustaining polymer in combination with HPMC and compared their drug release profile with marketed sustained release formulation for once-a-day administration of Carvedilol. Effect of OBM and its concentration on tablet properties such as hardness, friability, floating characteristics, swelling properties, tablet erosion and release patterns were evaluated. The release rate and floating characteristics could effectively be modified by varying ‘‘matrix forming swelling polymer, gas-generating agent’’ ratio. Drug release in optimized formulation was approximately 93.80% in 24 h in vitro and floating lag time around 5 min. The results showed floating tablets are a feasible approach for the sustained release (SR) preparation of CP