Knowledge and attitude towards emergency contraception among undergraduate medical students

Background: Studying the knowledge and attitude of medical students towards emergency contraception, as they are the future medical professionals and they will serve as the main channel for providing proper knowledge and making positive impression of it in general population. The objective of the study was to assess the knowledge and attitude of undergraduate medical students towards emergency contraception.Methods: Medical students were given pre-validated questionnaire and divided in two groups. Group A students did not learn about emergency contraception, whereas group B students learnt about it. Interview of both groups were conducted separately. For group A, 1 hour seminar was conducted and after 7 days, same questionnaire was provided again for data collection.Results: 154 students were included in group A whereas 162 students in group B. Average knowledge and attitude was significantly increased after seminar in group A [knowledge 41±16.88% vs. 59.32±14.46%; P<0.05; attitude 36.24±10.93 vs. 41.5±10.87; P<0.05]. Average knowledge of group B students was 64.73±12.15% whereas average attitude score was 42.9±9.79. Amongst all, 86.4%, 87% and 89.3% students were not able to describe about emergency contraception, different methods and advantages of intra-uterine device as emergency contraception, respectively. There are 82.1% students showed positive interest in learning more about emergency contraception and 70.1% agreed to recommend its use in future. Students having good knowledge showed more positive attitude towards emergency contraception [r= 0.41, P<0.05].Conclusions: Students have poor knowledge of special issues arises with emergency contraception. Proper attention should be given to these aspects during their teaching. Students have shown their positive interest to learn more about emergency contraception. Objective based seminar will be more helpful in improving knowledge and attitude

Determination of Sex Using Hand Dimensions

Background: Whenever unknown or mutilated dead bodiesor dismembered body parts are found, crime investigative agencies focuses on establishment of identity of deceased in their primary investigation. Determination of sex from dismembered body parts can play vital role for identification of deceased. Present study can be helpful in such cases to determine sex from Hand dimensions, if isolated hand is found. Present study was done with the aim to derive cut off points for Hand length, breadth and Hand index to differentiate male and female.Methods: Value more than cut off point denotes male and less than that denotes female. Total 100 male and 100 female cases were randomly selected from cadavers brought for post-mortem examination at mortuary of P.D.U. Govt. Medical College and Hospital, Rajkot. Hand length and breadth was measured by sliding caliperup to nearest 0.1 cm after breaking Rigor mortis, if developed. Collected data were statistically analysed using software like Epi info 7 and Microsoft excel 2007.Results: No significant bilateral difference was found in Hand length (P&gt;0.05) but Hand breadth was showing significant bilateral difference (P&lt;0.05). However, bilateral difference in Hand breadth was relatively small (0.17 cm for males and 0.15 cm for females, on an average). So, combined right and left hand measurements were used to derive cut off points. Cut off point to differentiate male and female for Hand length, breadth and index were 17.2, 7.7 and 44.6 respectively.Conclusion: Hand length, breadth and Hand index are showing sexual dimorphism and therefore they can be used for determination of sex when isolated hand is found. Hand breadth was showing highest accuracy in determination of sex, followed by Hand length and Hand index

A monoclinic polymorph of 4-(2H-1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-1-(4-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-amine

The title compound, C17H15N3O2, is a monoclinic polymorph (P21/c with Z′ = 1) of the previously reported triclinic (P-1 with Z′ = 2) form [Gajera et al. (2013). Acta Cryst. E69, o736–o737]. The molecule in the monoclinic polymorph features a central pyrazolyl ring with an N-bound p-tolyl group and a C-bound 1,3-benzodioxolyl fused-ring system on either side of the C atom bearing the amino group. The dihedral angles between the central ring and the N- and C-bound rings are 50.06 (5) and 27.27 (5)°, respectively. The angle between the pendent rings is 77.31 (4)°, indicating the molecule has a twisted conformation. The five-membered dioxolyl ring has an envelope conformation with the methylene C atom being the flap. The relative disposition of the amino and dioxolyl substituents is syn. One of the independent molecules in the triclinic form has a similar syn disposition but the other has an anti arrangement of these substituents. In the crystal structure of the monoclinic form, molecules assemble into supramolecular helical chains via amino–pyrazolyl N—H...N hydrogen bonds. These are linked into layers via C—H...π interactions, and layers stack along the a axis with no specific interactions between them

Effect of atenolol on hemoglobin level in mild to moderate hypertension

Background: Hypertension is the most common cardiovascular disease and a major cardiovascular risk factor that causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Most common type is primary (essential) hypertension and is genetically determined. It affects many systems of the body and can also alter various hematological parameters. The study was undertaken to check the effect of atenolol on hemoglobin (Hb) level in mild to moderate hypertension.Methods: The study was prospective and non-randomized. Thirty newly diagnosed hypertensives selected for atenolol therapy by medicine personnel were enrolled in the study based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients were divided into pre-treatment (before starting atenolol therapy) and post-treatment group. Red blood cell (RBC) count, Hb, packed cell volume (PCV) and red cell indices were measured at the time of enrolment and then monthly after starting atenolol for next 3 months.Result: Results were analyzed by repeated measure analysis of variance. Atenolol treatment was found to increase Hb and PCV significantly, whereas no significant change in RBC count and red cell indices.Conclusions: Treatment with atenolol for mild to moderate hypertension has shown a significant increase in Hb and PCV level. This positive effect may be because of the decrease in sodium and water reabsorption by decrease in sympathetic overactivity and excretion of sodium and water by improvement in kidney functions. Atenolol has no any direct effect on Hb synthesis and erythropoiesis

Role of glipizide therapy on oxidative stress parameters in the patient with Type-II diabetes mellitus

Background: Oxidative stress has an important role in the pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus (DM) Type-II. Oxidative stress has an important role in the progression of DM Type-II and its related complications such as retinopathy, neuropathy and many others. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of glipizide therapy on oxidative stress parameters in Type-II DM.Methods: Thirty newly diagnosed diabetes patients were given glipizide therapy on 1st day and continue for 3 months. 30 non-diabetic healthy volunteers served as a control. Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase levels were measured at the time of enrollment and at the end of 3 months of glipizide treatment.Result: Theresults are analyzed using paired t-test. Plasma MDA was significantly increased, whereas SOD and catalase were significantly reduced in newly diagnosed diabetic patients as compared to control. After 3 months of glipizide therapy, plasma MDA was significantly reduced, whereas SOD and catalase were significantly increased.Conclusion: Glipizide therapy significantly reduced oxidative free radicals and increased antioxidant mechanism, which reduced oxidative stress, progression DM-II and its related complication

Mutations in Zebrafish lrp2 Result in Adult-Onset Ocular Pathogenesis That Models Myopia and Other Risk Factors for Glaucoma

The glaucomas comprise a genetically complex group of retinal neuropathies that typically occur late in life and are characterized by progressive pathology of the optic nerve head and degeneration of retinal ganglion cells. In addition to age and family history, other significant risk factors for glaucoma include elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) and myopia. The complexity of glaucoma has made it difficult to model in animals, but also challenging to identify responsible genes. We have used zebrafish to identify a genetically complex, recessive mutant that shows risk factors for glaucoma including adult onset severe myopia, elevated IOP, and progressive retinal ganglion cell pathology. Positional cloning and analysis of a non-complementing allele indicated that non-sense mutations in low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 2 (lrp2) underlie the mutant phenotype. Lrp2, previously named Megalin, functions as an endocytic receptor for a wide-variety of bioactive molecules including Sonic hedgehog, Bone morphogenic protein 4, retinol-binding protein, vitamin D-binding protein, and apolipoprotein E, among others. Detailed phenotype analyses indicated that as lrp2 mutant fish age, many individuals—but not all—develop high IOP and severe myopia with obviously enlarged eye globes. This results in retinal stretch and prolonged stress to retinal ganglion cells, which ultimately show signs of pathogenesis. Our studies implicate altered Lrp2-mediated homeostasis as important for myopia and other risk factors for glaucoma in humans and establish a new genetic model for further study of phenotypes associated with this disease

The Circular Microstrip Patch Antenna (CMPA) with Circular and Rectangular Slot Etched Ground Plane for Wireless Communication (HiperLAN/1 and HiperLAN/2)

In this paper, we propose a design of Circular Microstrip Patch Antenna (CMPA) with a circular slot with optimised radius 2.5 mm, and rectangular slot of optimised dimensions of length 10 mm and width of 0.5 mm are etched on the ground plane as Defected Ground Structure (DGS) similar to φ (phi) shape. The DGS concept is used to improve the bandwidth, impedance matching and the relocation of resonant frequency to make the compact CMPA. The size reduction of about 24% is achieved compared to the actual area required to resonate at 5.5 GHz. The bandwidth 600 MHz with respect to centre frequency 5.42 GHz which covers wireless bands such as HiperLAN/1 and HiperLAN/2. The percentage bandwidth of 11.07% and the average gain of 4 dBi are achieved

tert-Butyl 4-{[2-amino-4-(2-hydroxyphenyl)pyrimidin-5-yl]methyl}piperazine-1-carboxylate

In the title compound, C20H27N5O3, the central piperazine ring adopts a chair conformation, with the N-bound carboxylate and methylene substituents occupying bisectional and equatorial orientations, respectively. A twist is evident between the aromatic rings [dihedral angle = 25.61&#8197;(9)&#176;] but an intramolecular O&#8212;H...N hydrogen bond persists between these. Supramolecular tapes along [1-10] are formed in the crystal packing through N(amino)&#8212;H...O(hydroxyl) and N(amino)&#8212;H...N(pyrimidinyl) hydrogen bonds, and these are linked into layers in the ab plane by &#960;&#8211;&#960; interactions [inter-centroid distance between pyrimidinyl rings = 3.5919&#8197;(9)&#8197;&#197;]