Stress: The Silent Sickness

From cramming for a test to arguing with a friend, individuals experience stress every day. While stress can be beneficial in certain situations, letting stress get out of control can lead to a variety of mental and physical health issues. This article examines the different types of stress, ways to cope with stress, and the overall effect of stress on human health

Comparative study of prophylactic dexamethasone versus placebo for reducing post-operative sore throat after tracheal intubation: a prospective, randomised, double blinded clinical study

Background: Tracheal intubation for elective surgical procedures can result in pathological changes, trauma and nerve damage which may account for postoperative sore throat, hoarseness and cough. Dexamethasone is a very potent long acting glucocorticoid with analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antiemetic effects which helps to reduce post-operative sore throat.Methods: A prospective double blinded randomized study was conducted involving 80 patients, dividing them into 2 groups. Group D received dexamethasone 0.1 mg/kg and group S received an equivalent volume of normal saline (placebo) intravenously before induction. Intubation was performed by an experienced anesthesiologist. Anesthesia induction and maintenance dosage were standardized for all patients. The incidence and severity of sore throat, hoarseness and cough were recorded at 1, 6 and 24 hours postoperatively by using four-point scale.Results: The overall incidence of sore throat and hoarseness was significantly reduced in dexamethasone group compared to placebo (normal saline) group. Incidence and severity of sore throat and hoarseness were assessed at 1 hour, 6 hours and 24 hours interval and found out that they were reduced in dexamethasone group compared to placebo group which was statistically significant at all intervals. But incidence and severity of cough reduced significantly only in the first hour. It was comparable at 6 and 24 hours between the groups.Conclusions: Dexamethasone was effective in reducing the incidence and severity of sore throat and hoarseness at 1, 6 and 24 hours. Incidence of postoperative cough was reduced significantly at 1 hour in the dexamethasone group

EFFICIENT COMPRESSION AND ENCRYPTION SCHEME FOR SECURE TRANSMISSION OF IMAGES AND ITS RECONSTRUCTION

When it is desired to transmit redundant data over an insecure and bandwidth-constrained channel, it is customary to first compress the data and then encrypt it. In this paper, we investigate the efficiency of reversing the order of these steps, i.e., first encrypting and then compressing, without compromise for compression efficiency or the informationtheoretic security. A pseudorandom permutation and a linear encoding scheme is used to encrypt an original image, and the encrypted data are efficiently compressed by discarding the excessively rough and fine information of coefficients generated from orthogonal transform. After receiving the compressed data, based on spatial correlation, a receiver can reconstruct the principal content of the original image by iteratively updating the values of coefficients and the linear decoding procedure

Study of glycemic gap in hyperglycemic emergencies of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with two serious hyperglycemic emergencies namely Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS). The aim of the study was to determine the usefulness of glycemic gap in T2DM patients with DKA and HHS.Methods: T2DM cases above 20 years of age were included in this study. The study population was divided into three broad groups as T2DM without hyperglycemic emergencies, T2DM with DKA, T2DM with HHS, with 50 subjects in each group. Glycemic gap was calculated in the study population and compared between the three groups. The relationship between glycemic gap and the conventional indicators of severity in hyperglycemic emergencies of T2DM were determined.Results: Of the three study groups, T2DM cases with HHS presented with substantial alterations in the baseline biochemical parameters. The glycemic gap was also highly elevated in the HHS cases than the others. Glycemic gap showed significant correlation only with plasma osmolality of the HHS cases.Conclusions: Elevated glycemic gap indicating stress induced hyperglycemia (SIH) occur in hyperglycemic emergencies of T2DM, especially HHS.

A clinical observational study on second-trimester abortion

Background: Second-trimester abortion is an important component of the comprehensive women’s health care. Data’s regarding second-trimester abortion is still under-reporting. Though the percentage of induced second-trimester abortion is low, its morbidity is higher than the first-trimester induced abortion. The abortion related mortality usually increases with the age of gestation.Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, over a period of one year. The data were collected from the medical case records and we have analyzed on the epidemiology, etiologies, complications and the methods of second- trimester abortion using statistical analysis.Results: In this study, there was no standard regimen of mifepristone and misoprostol were used for second-trimester abortion.  The dosages were varied based on the gestational age of pregnancy. As the gestational age progresses, the amount of misoprostol required for the induction of second trimester abortion decreases and the difference is statistically significant. There was no reported case of rupture uterus, but varied complications such as post-abortal hemorrhage, retained placenta, need for blood transfusion, uterine perforation and one maternal death were reported during the study period.Conclusions: In order to reduce the morbidity and mortality of second trimester abortion, more policies and monitored services have to be rendered by the health system. Data regarding the second trimester abortion have to be improved.

Dance, sports or academics: which monopolize students emotional quotient

Background: Emotional Intelligence (EI), often measured as an Emotional Intelligence Quotient (EQ), refers to skills that provide the ability to balance emotions and reason, which provides long-term happiness. Focus on Intelligence Quotient (IQ) in the current era has to be changed for the betterment of society. Objectives was to assess and compare Emotional Quotient (EQ) among students who excel in dance, sports, and academics.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among three groups of minimum 30 students who are excellent in dance, academics or sports. EQ was assessed using a 22 item EQ test which measures the psychological dimensions such as emotional sensitivity, emotional maturity and emotional competency and also total EQ.Results: Out of 91 students, maximum students were having extremely high EQ in the domains of emotional sensitivity 36 (39.6%), emotional competency 88 (96.7%) and total EQ 85 (93.4%). Dancers showed significantly high EQ in the domains of emotional maturity, emotional competency, and overall EQ compared to sportspersons and academicians. Increased age, agriculture and business occupation of mother and presence of another sibling were significantly associated with emotional intelligence of students.Conclusions: This study showed that inclusion of extracurricular activities like dance and sports along with academics may improve the self-confidence and increased awareness about one’s own emotions, leading to raised EQ

Boons amidst the banes- during COVID-19 pandemic

India recorded its first Covid-19 positive case in Kerala on January 30, 2020. This was followed by nationwide lockdown in 4 different phases from 25th March to 31st May 2020 and an unlock period thereafter. This pandemic brought many unseen challenges to the world. On one side human lives were put at risk, on the other side nature was recreating itself. Many diseases other than covid dropped down in massive percentage. The public understood the importance of handwashing, vaccination, covering mouth and nose while coughing and sneezing during this pandemic. Children facing this Covid pandemic had understood the importance of the role played by hygiene and social distancing in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Every coin has two faces, likewise, this pandemic has both positive and negative effects and we focus on positive effects in this article

Hemophilic patient for emergency spinal decompression

Hemophilia is mostly an inherited genetic disorder, caused by mutations in the clotting factor gene. With the available treatment options, life expectancy of a hemophilic patient is usually of that of the general population. Hence, it is not uncommon that they present for surgical procedures. However, hemophilic patients for the major surgical procedure are always a real challenge for the perioperative physician. We have recently encountered one such patient who was hospitalized with acute paraplegia due to a mass lesion of spine and successfully managed with the recovery of motor power. His pre-operative Factor VIII level was 0. Desmopressin nasal spray has a limited role in severe hemophilic. Our main concern was effective replacement therapy and maintenance of desired Factor VIII levels not only during surgery but also in the immediate post-operative period

Design of 1-(furan-2-yl)-N-(5-substituted phenyl-1, 3, 4-thiadiazol-2-yl) methanimine derivatives as Enoyl-ACP reductase inhibitors: Synthesis, molecular docking studies and antitubercular activity

A series of 5-phenylsubstiuted 1, 3, 4 thiadiazoles clubbed with furan moiety (Fa-Fe) by means of azomethine linkage have been synthesized. All the newly synthesized compounds were characterized by IR,1HNMR and Mass analyses. All the synthesized molecules have been predicted as antitubercular in nature by PASS in silico approach. In vitro antitubercular screening was performed by alamar blue assay method on Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv strain. Among the synthesized derivatives Fb and Fe were active at 3.125 µg/mL against M. tuberculosis H37Rv strain. The mechanism of action of the active compounds was carried out by docking of receptor enoyl-ACP reductase. It has been concluded that both Fb and Fe posses a significant interaction of hydrogen bonding and electrostatic attraction with Tyr 158 and Met103 in the active site of enzyme