Implications of combined endocrinopathy of diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism on pregnancy

Background: Hypothyroidism and diabetes are the endocrine disorders commonly observed in pregnancy and each has been associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Our objective was to study the implications of combined endocrinopathy of hypothyroidism and DM on pregnancy and its outcome.Methods: This prospective cohort study included 150 pregnant women with singleton gestation and who were screened for and diagnosed with DM and /or hypothyroidism. They were then divided into 3 groups: 1) Diabetes (n=69) 2) Hypothyroidism (n = 53) 3) DM and hypothyroidism (n=28). Perinatal and neonatal characteristics were compared among the 3 groups and statistically analysed.Results: Women with both DM and hypothyroidism had higher rates of first trimester abortions, preeclampsia, polyhydramnios, placental abruption, preterm deliveries, caesarean sections, postpartum haemorrhage and intrauterine fetal deaths when compared to other groups. On the contrary, rates of labour induction, fetal macrosomia and LBW new-borns were not statistically significant among the groups.Conclusions: Women with both DM and hypothyroidism are at high risk of developing perinatal complications and need intense surveillance for the same during their pregnancy for better outcome. Pregnant women diagnosed with one of these endocrinopathies should be screened for the other

In vitro multiplication protocol for Curcuma mangga : Studies on carbon, cytokinin source and explant size

Mango ginger (Curcuma mangga Valeton & Zijp.) is an underutilized rhizomatous species that has been valued in tropical Asian countries as a source of vegetable, spice, salad, medicine, and essential oil. This species is hardy and requires less care for obtaining good yields. Rhizomes are the commonly used propagules for the species, which are also the economic part of the crop. Huge quantity of seed rhizomes is required to promote this crop in larger areas. An efficient in vitro multiplication protocol is one of the options to meet the planting material requirement. Effects of carbon source (glucose, fructose and sucrose) and concentration (1 and 3%, w/v), cytokinins (BAP and meta topolin) and concentration (1 mg/L and 2 mg/L), size of explants (one/ two/ three bud) and IBA treatment (0, 250, 500 and 1,000 mg/L) for concurrent ex vitro rooting cum hardening were studied. Results revealed that for facilitating efficient multiplication, the medium should be supplemented with glucose (3%) as a carbon source and meta topolin (1 mg/L) as cytokinin. Two-bud explant should be used for subculture as it promoted superior shoot proliferation. Concurrent ex vitro rooting cum hardening was possible even without auxin treatment. The present protocol could be useful for large-scale production of quality planting material of this underexploited tropical species

Computational Micromodel for Epigenetic Mechanisms

Characterization of the epigenetic profile of humans since the initial breakthrough on the human genome project has strongly established the key role of histone modifications and DNA methylation. These dynamic elements interact to determine the normal level of expression or methylation status of the constituent genes in the genome. Recently, considerable evidence has been put forward to demonstrate that environmental stress implicitly alters epigenetic patterns causing imbalance that can lead to cancer initiation. This chain of consequences has motivated attempts to computationally model the influence of histone modification and DNA methylation in gene expression and investigate their intrinsic interdependency. In this paper, we explore the relation between DNA methylation and transcription and characterize in detail the histone modifications for specific DNA methylation levels using a stochastic approach

Characterization Studies of Medicinal Plants & I’ts Biological Evaluation Towards Anti-Bacterial Study

The traditional system of medicine proves to be one of the best sources for treating illness and infections. Murraya koenigii (curry leaves) and Asparagus racemosus (shatavari) are the two medicinal plant species that have numerous medicinal properties like antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, etc. In this study, the Ultrasound extraction and the Soxhlet mode of extraction were carried out using two different solvents such as Hexane and Ethyl acetate. Analysis and Retention factor were was carried out thin layer chromatography. The purification was performed using column chromatographic method and the various phytoconstituents such as tannins, terpenoids, carbohydrates, proteins, steroids, flavonoids, phlobatannins were analysed for the extracted samples. Retention factors have been calculated for both the extracted samples and the samples were further processed for sterility test in order to check for any contamination. The extracted samples were characterized using GC-MS analysis. The anti-bacterial evaluation was performed. The highest zone of inhibition found in 1000µg/ml concentration for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 500µg/ml concentration for Staphylococcus aureus. The minimum inhibitory concentration for Pseudomonas aeruginosa is predicted as 250µg/ml concentration and for Staphylococcus aureus as 500µg/ml concentration. The rate of kill was higher in 500µg/ml concentration for both bacterial samples. The crystal violet assay was performed and observed the cell viability. Further the In-silico analysis was performed towards the GC analysis compounds and their structure activity relationship were studied towards the protein

Identification of Sub-Surface Formations in Different Geological Environs Using ERI (Multi Electrodes) at Kadalangudi and Kottuchurry, Cavery Plain Area

AbstractAmong all geophysical methods, resistivity methods are most widely used in ground water, mineral and oil exploration. The resistivity methods involve passage of current through two iron stakes into the ground and measuring potential by means of two other electrodes. What we measure in these methods is the resistivity of the ground, which we call as ‘apparent resistivity’. Practically a known amount of current (I) is sent into the ground using two metal stakes, called current electrodes, and the potential is measured using other two probes, called potential electrodes. The concept of apparent resistivity arises from the fact that the measured current between the two current (+I, -I) electrodes and voltage between the other two potential (P1 and P2) electrodes which are arranged in different configurations were introduced by various workers over the years in resistivity prospecting. the multi electrodes play a very significant role in the resistivity/IP prospecting, for detecting sub-surface formations and for studying sub-surface geological stratal architecture. In this type of surveys, a number of electrodes are planted on the ground surface maintaining an equal inter-electrode separation. The number of electrodes may be 12,24,48,72 or 96….depending upon type of the measuring system. For the present survey, IRIS make system called SYSCAL Pro-96 has been used for the field and lab studies. Most of the conventional electrode arrays viz., two-electrode, three-electrode, Wenner; Dipole-Dipole etc have been applied in different geological environs

Decontamination-induced modification of bioactivity in essential oil-based plasma polymer coatings

Plasma polymer coatings fabricated from Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil and its derivatives have been previously shown to reduce the extent of microbial adhesion on titanium, polymers, and other implantable materials used in dentistry. Previous studies have shown these coatings to maintain their performance under standard operating conditions; however, when used in e.g., a dental implant, these coatings may inadvertently become subject to in situ cleaning treatments, such as those using an atmospheric pressure plasma jet, a promising tool for the effective in situ removal of biofilms from tissues and implant surfaces. Here, we investigated the effect of such an exposure on the antimicrobial performance of the Melaleuca alternifolia polymer coating. It was found that direct exposure of the polymer coating surface to the jet for periods less than 60 s was sufficient to induce changes in its surface chemistry and topography, affecting its ability to retard subsequent microbial attachment. The exact effect of the jet exposure depended on the chemistry of the polymer coating, the length of plasma treatment, cell type, and incubation conditions. The change in the antimicrobial activity for polymer coatings fabricated at powers of 20–30 W was not statistically significant due to their limited baseline bioactivity. Interestingly, the bioactivity of polymer coatings fabricated at 10 and 15 W against Staphylococcus aureus cells was temporarily improved after the treatment, which could be attributed to the generation of loosely attached bioactive fragments on the treated surface, resulting in an increase in the dose of the bioactive agents being eluted by the surface. Attachment and proliferation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells and mixed cultures were less affected by changes in the bioactivity profile of the surface. The sensitivity of the cells to the change imparted by the jet treatment was also found to be dependent on their origin culture, with mature biofilm-derived P. aeruginosa bacterial cells showing a greater ability to colonize the surface when compared to its planktonic broth-grown counterpart. The presence of plasma-generated reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in the culture media was also found to enhance the bioactivity of polymer coatings fabricated at power levels of 10 and 15 W, due to a synergistic effect arising from simultaneous exposure of cells to reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) and eluted bioactive fragments. These results suggest that it is important to consider the possible implications of inadvertent changes in the properties and performance of plasma polymer coatings as a result of exposure to in situ decontamination, to both prevent suboptimal performance and to exploit possible synergies that may arise for some polymer coating-surface treatment combinations

A comparative analysis of transpiration response to atmospheric increasing vapor pressure deficit conditions in cereal crops

Plant adaptation to drought depends on both inherited and adaptive characteristic of water conservative traits. Expression of limited transpiration rate (TR) under high vapor pressure deficit (VPD) conditions could be one of the potential sources of soil water conservation for drought tolerance. Large genetic variation for limited TR has been identified in the comparison of three major C4cereals viz.,maize, pearl millet and sorghum under elevating VPD. The total amount of water transpired under elevating VPD by these three cereals not found dependent on leaf area, in fact, it was reflected more by the variation in transpiration rate. Pearl millet showed better adaptation of limitation of TR than maize and sorghum under high VPD regimes

ENHANCEMENT OF SOLUBILITY AND DISSOLUTION RATE OF ACETYLSALICYLIC ACID VIA CO-CRYSTALLIZATION TECHNIQUE: A NOVEL ASA-VALINE COCRYSTAL

Objective: This study aims to synthesize acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) cocrystals using valine as a coformer via a co-crystallization technique to increase the solubility and dissolution rate of ASA. Methods: The ASA-valine cocrystal (1:1 molar ratio) was prepared using the solvent evaporation technique with ethanol: water (50:50). The cocrystal was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), melting point to confirm the formation of cocrystal. The evaluation of cocrystal was done by drug content determination, solubility and dissolution studies. Results: The prepared cocrystal was successfully confirmed for the formation of a hydrogen bond. The melting point of prepared cocrystal was decreased compared to pure ASA and valine, which indicated the formation of a new crystalline form. The FT-IR studies showed the formation of a new hydrogen bond by shifting the-O-H,-C=O and-N-H functional groups. SEM studies ensured that the prepared cocrystals were in needle-like appearance. Finally, DSC and PXRD studies were also indicated the successful formation of ASA-valine cocrystal. The drug release of cocrystal was found to be 100% at 60th min. Where in the case of pure ASA and marketed product of ASA exhibited the dissolution rate of 59% and 69% at 60th min respectively. Conclusion: The co-crystallization technique can be adopted as the best strategy to increase the solubility and dissolution rate of BCS class 2 drugs. Therefore the prepared ASA-valine cocrystal can be a greater alternative to increase the solubility and dissolution rate compared with pure and marketed ASA