Role of female birth attendants to enhance breastfeeding rates and essential newborn care

Background: Women who received support during labor are more likely to give birth “spontaneously.” The role of the female birth attendant (FBA) has not been very well established; hence, this study was planned. Objective: The objective of the study was to train, educate, assess, and evaluate the role of FBA before, during and after labor in terms of mother’s satisfaction, early initiation and continuation of breastfeeding and providing essential newborn care. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 400 pregnant women, 200 cases and 200 controls in their third trimester were enrolled. FBAs were given training using flipchart. Thesenewborns were followed up at 1½ month at an immunization clinic. Data were collected and analyzed. Results: 88% (176) of cases initiated breastfeeding in the 1st h of birth compared to 14.5% (29) in controls. 57 (28.5%) of controls had given prelacteal feeds to newborns compared to 7% (14) of cases. 108 (59%) of cases put the baby skin-to-skin contact following delivery compared to none in controls. There was more number of hospital visits in neonates of controls 26.25% (52) compared to cases 12.5% (25). Conclusion: The presence of FBAs improves early initiation of breastfeeding, decreases prelacteal feeds, improves skin-to-skin contact indirectly preventing hypothermia, and decreases the number of hospital visits

HEAT TRANSFER ANALYSIS OF RECUPERATIVE AIR PREHEATER

Abstract: Steam generators are very complex class of pressure vessels. It contains many accessories for the generation of required steam quality. The prime motto of industrial steam generator is to generate steam at medium pressure (MP), low pressure (LP) steam at required pressure temperature and quantity for the process industry like sugar, paper, jute and chemical industries. LP and MP steam after expansion in the turbine from super saturation is utilized by process industry. In the present work Air Preheater, one of the accessories of the steam generator is analysed. Air preheaters make a considerable contribution to the improved overall efficiency of fossil-fuel-fired power plants. In this study, a theoretical design of Recuperative Primary Air preheater with In-line tube arrangement and a combination of fluid dynamics analysis with theoretical value. The model enables heat transfer of the flue-gas flow through the air preheater as well as the tubular heat transfer and the resulting temperature distribution in the matrix of the preheater. The present work is carried in Mysore Paper Mills (MPM) Bhadravathi, CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) analysis of recuperative air preheater is carried out using ANSYS CFX-12.1.The analysis of flue gas flow phenomenon and air flow phenomenon are discussed using Laminar model, k-ε model, k-ω model and SST model. The parameters like temperature distribution, heat flux, pressure drop, velocity, are also discussed. An increase of 2.7% in boiler efficiency was found out with incorporation of this design, their by an increase in the air inlet temperature of about 60℃ is been observed

Progressive hemorrhage and myotoxicity induced by echis carinatus venom in murine model: neutralization by inhibitor cocktail of n,n,n `,n `-tetrakis (2-pyridylmethyl) ethane-1,2-diamine and silymarin

Viperbite is often associated with severe local toxicity, including progressive hemorrhage and myotoxicity, persistent even after the administration of anti-snake venom (ASV). In the recent past, investigations have revealed the orchestrated actions of Zn2+ metalloproteases (Zn(2+)MPs), phospholipase A(2)s (PLA(2)s) and hyaluronidases (HYs) in the onset and progression of local toxicity from the bitten site. As a consequence, venom researchers and medical practitioners are in deliberate quest of potent molecules alongside ASV to tackle the brutal local manifestations induced by aforesaid venom toxins. Based on these facts, we have demonstrated the protective efficacy of inhibitor cocktail containing equal ratios of N,N,N', N'-tetrakis (2-pyridylmethyl) ethane-1,2-diamine (TPEN) and silymarin (SLN) against progressive local toxicity induced by Echis carinatus venom (ECV). In our previous study we have shown the inhibitory potentials of TPEN towards Zn(2+)MPs of ECV (IC50: 6.7 mu M). In this study we have evaluated in vitro inhibitory potentials of SLN towards PLA(2)s (IC50: 12.5 mu M) and HYs (IC50: 8 mu M) of ECV in addition to docking studies. Further, we have demonstrated the protection of ECV induced local toxicity with 10 mM inhibitor cocktail following 15, 30 min (for hemorrhage and myotoxicity); 60 min (for hemorrhage alone) of ECV injection in murine model. The histological examination of skin and thigh muscle sections taken out from the site of ECV injection substantiated the overall protection offered by inhibitor cocktail. In conclusion, the protective efficacy of inhibitor cocktail is of high interest and can be administered locally alongside ASV to treat severe local toxicity

Purification and partial biochemical characterization of an edema inducing phospholipase A2 from Vipera russelli (Russell's viper) snake venom

A phospholipase A2 (VRV PL-VI) from V. russelli venom was purified to homogeneity in a single step on CM-Sephadex C-25 column. VRV PL-VI is a basic protein with a mol. weight �12,000 and showed a basic pH optimum (7.3-8.0) and a high temperature optimum (75°). It hydrolyzed purified phospholipids in the order of phosphatidylethanolamine \textgreater phosphatidylcholine � phosphatidylserine \textgreater phosphatidylinositol = 0. LD50 (i.p.) is 3.5 μg/g in mice. The phospholipase A2 induces persistent edema in the mouse foot pad

Biochemical and pharmacological characterization of Trimersurus malabaricus snake venom

Trimeresurus malabaricus is a venomous pit viper species endemic to southwestern part of India. In earlier reports, we have shown that envenomation by T. malabaricus venom leading to strong local tissue damage but the mechanism of action is not clearly revealed. Local tissue damage affected by T. malabaricus venom is of great importance since the poison has serious systemic effects including death in the case of multiple attacks. The present study details the major manifestations of T. malabaricus venom and the induction of local tissue damage, which suggests that most toxins are present in the form of hydrolytic enzymes. Hydrolytic activity of the enzymes was measured and the data indicated that protease and phospholipase A2 activity was high which is responsible for local tissue damage. Furthermore, the role of hydrolytic enzymes in the induction of pathological events such as hemorrhage, edema, myotoxicity, and blood coagulation examination were assessed through animal models

Group IIA secretory PLA2 inhibition by Ursolic Acid: a potent anti-inflammatory molecule

Ursolic acid (3β-hydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid) isolated from many medicinal plants has diverse pharmacologically important properties, including strong anti-inflammatory activity. However its interaction with proinflammatory PLA2 is not known. Ursolic acid inhibited secretory PLA2 (sPLA2) enzymes purified from Vipera russelli, Naja naja venom and human pleural fluid and synovial fluid. IC50 values determined for these enzymes ranged from 12 to 18 μM. Group II secretory PLA2 from both venoms & human inflammatory source were found to be sensitive to inhibition in comparison with group I cobra venom sPLA2. Variation in Ca2+ concentration from 2.5 -15 mM did not alter the level of inhibition. Similarly sPLA2 inhibition by ursolic acid is independent of substrate concentration. Ursolic acid interacts with purified venom sPLA2 enzymes and enhances relative fluorescence intensity in a dose dependent manner. In the presence of ursolic acid apparent shift in the far UV-CD spectra of sPLA2 was observed, indicating a direct interaction with the enzyme and formation of enzyme-ursolic acid complex. This complex results in irreversible inhibition of sPLA2 as evident by dialysis study. Inhibition of sPLA2 induced mouse paw edema and indirect hemolytic activity confirmed its sPLA2 inhibitory activity in vivo and in situ respectively. These studies revealed that the strong anti-inflammatory activity of ursolic acid is by inhibiting sPLA2 enzymes

Biochemical and pharmacological characterization of three toxic phospholipase A(2)s from Daboia russelii snake venom

Three isoenzymes of phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)), VRV-PL-VII, and VRV-PL-IX were isolated from Daboia russelii snake venom. The venom, upon gel filtration on Sephadex G-75 column, resolved into six peaks (DRG75 I-VI). The VRV-PL-IIIc was purified by subjecting DRG75II to homogeneity by rechromatography in the presence of 8 M urea on Sephadex G-75 column. The other two isoenzymes VRV-PL-VII and VRV-PL-IX were purified by subjecting DRG75III to ion exchange chromatography on CM-Sephadex C-25 column. Mol wt. for the three PLA(2)s, VRV-PL-IIIc, VRV-PL-VII, and VRV-PL-IX are 13.003 kDa, 13.100 kDa and 12.531 kDa respectively. The VRV-PL-IIIc is not lethal to mice up to 14 mg/kg body weight but it affects blood sinusoids and causes necrosis of the hepatocytes in liver. It causes hemorrhage in kidney and shrinkage of renal corpuscles and renal tubules. The LD(50)s for VRV-PL-VII and VRV-PL-IX are 7 and 7.5 mg/kg body weight respectively. They induced neurotoxic symptoms similar to VRV-PL-V. All the three PIA2s are anticoagulant and induced varying degree of edema in the foot pads of mice. VRV-PL-V and VRV-PL-VII are shown to act as pre and post synaptic toxins, while VRV-PL-IX acts as presynaptic toxin. This is evident from experiments conducted on cultured hippocampal neurons by patch clamp electrophysiology. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved