Domestic Violence Legislation In India- An Appraisal

India became independent in 1947 and adopted a Constitution in 1950, which remains in force today.1 Part III of the Constitution protects fundamental rights, including the right to life, which has been interpreted to mean the right to live a life with dignity and free from violence.2 The Constitution also empowers the State to take affirmative measures to protect women under Article 15.3 The Indian Parliament has often invoked Article 15 to pass special legislative or executive measures to protect women, which have generally been upheld by the CourtsIt took India fourteen years after independence to pass its first law directly relating to violence against women. In 1961, the Dowry Prohibition Act (DPA) came into effect which penalized not only taking but giving of dowry. However, the Act did not effectively curb the practice of dowry.5 The Indian Parliament later passed Dowry Prohibition (Amendment) Acts in 1984 and 1986, but their impact was as negligible as that of the 1961 Act.

Cost variation analysis of oral anti-dyslipidaemic drugs available in Indian pharmaceutical market

Background: Dyslipidaemia is one of major risk factor contributing to cardiovascular disease, which further causes mortality and morbidity, so requires a long course of treatment. Physicians should be aware of the cost of drugs.Methods: Cost of the oral anti-dyslipidaemic drug, either as single drug or in combination manufactured by different pharmaceutical companies in the same strength and dosage form was obtained from current index of medical specialities (CIMS) April-July 2019. The difference in the maximum and minimum price of the same drug manufactured by different pharmaceutical companies and percentage cost variation per 10 tablets was calculated.Results: In this study, existing findings showed a wide cost variation among different brands of the same oral anti-dyslipidaemic drug. Percentage cost variation for individual oral anti-dyslipidaemic drug was found to be highest with atorvastatin (80 mg film coated (FC) tablet): 358.84% followed by atorvastatin (5 mg FC tablet): 247%, fenofibrate  (200 mg FC tablet): 134.22%, lovastatin (10 mg FC tablet): 108.56%, rosuvastatin (10 mg FC tablet): 78.60%,   while lowest cost variation is seen with rosuvastatin 40 mg FC Tb: 1.598%. Among fixed dose combination therapy percentage cost variation was found to be highest with atorvastatin and fenofibrate (10 mg and 160 mg, FC tablet): 256%, followed by atorvastatin and ezetimibe (10 mg and 10 mg, tablet): 132.39%, while minimum cost variation was for rosuvastatin and fenofibrate (10 mg and 67 mg, tablet): 22.6%.Conclusions: These study findings showed that there is a wide variation in the cost of the same oral anti-dyslipidaemic drug. So, it is very necessary for regulatory authorities to regulate the wide variation in the cost, as well as physicians, should be sensitized to be aware of their cost variations to reduce the economic burden of drug-therapy to the patients.

Revisiting India’s Amended Citizenship Act 2019 in Light of Constitutional Ethos

The Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 and the National Register of Citizens in India are perceived as reflective of a religious classification in grant and continuance of Indian citizenship. The study aimed to discuss the future effects of the amended Citizenship Act 2019 and suggest alternatives to accommodate India's constitutional ethos. A considerable fraction of the Indian citizenry was discorded with this Act because Article 14 of the Indian Constitution prohibits discrimination based on religion, among other grounds. On the other hand, the state's stance asserted that the law aims to protect the persecuted religious minorities from other states. This study dealt with the nuances and intricacies of the problem to explicate viable solutions by an in-depth analysis of the issue in an unprejudiced manner where it used a combined doctrinal and empirical research to assess the perspectives on the policy in the Global South from the Indian experience. The findings reflected that while a majority of the provisions in the Act can be justified based on constitutional parameters, its few provisions are unconstitutional. In summary, even after juxtaposing all the justifications of the Act against the allegations, a considerable portion of the Act remains unconstitutional, and it needs to be revisited based on constitutional parameters

Identification of novel lysophospholipid acyltransferases in yeast (LPT1) and humans (LPCAT3) and regulation of triglyceride synthesis in yeast

Cells require membranes for survival and need energy to meet the costs of living. Phospholipids and triglyceride together fulfill both the requirements. Phospholipids are predominant membrane lipids and triglycerides allow for storage of surplus energy therby enhancing survival in energy poor conditions. Therefore, an understanding of how cell regulates triglyceride synthesis and maintains membrane composition by acyl chain remodeling of phospholipids is important.Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used as a model system to study the intracellular regulation of triglyceride synthesis at the step of diglyceride esterification. Using metabolic labeling with [3H] oleate, we found that the inability to hydrolyze fatty acids, significantly (p<0.05) increased triglyceride synthesis by 75%. Disabling glycogen synthesis (alternative energy reserve) did not alter triglyceride synthesis. Additionally, inability to store energy as triglyceride did not result in a compensatory increase in glycogen synthesis. To address the possibility of regulation at the level of enzyme activity, microsomal diacylglycerol acyltransferase assays were performed in the presence of a variety of metabolites (AMP, ADP, ATP, NAD+, NADH, acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA). DGAT activity was not regulated at physiological concentrations of these metabolites.Acyl chains in the sn-2 position of phospholipids are introduced by de novo synthetic pathway involving 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (AGPAT) or by acyl chain remodeling that requires lysophospholipid acyltransferases (LPLAT). LPT1 (YOR175c) an acyltransferase with unknown function was identified by its synthetic lethal interaction with Slc1, the known AGPAT in yeast. LPT1 was shown to encode for a novel AGPAT/ LPLAT in yeast with high apparent affinity for saturated acyl-CoAs but higher apparent Vmax for monounsaturated acyl-CoAs. Lpt1 does not share sequence similarity with known LPLAT/AGPAT family members and belongs to membranebound-O-acyltransferase (MBOAT) super family. Homology search with Lpt1 identified the human MBOAT5, a protein with unknown function. Cell lysates from insect cells expressing human MBOAT5 (renamed as LPCAT3) showed a 10 fold increase in LPCAT activity over control. In summary, the identification of a novel LPLAT in yeast has proved to be the founding member of LPLAT family in humans. Future characterization of this family is likely to shed light on how membrane composition is adjusted and controlled in humans.Ph.D., Biological Sciences -- Drexel University, 200

High Density Free Fluid in Acute Abdomen on Computed Tomography: A Predictor of Intervention

INTRODUCTION: Patients with acute abdomen often develop intraabdominal free fluid (IFF). While IFF is a finding on abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) associated with the need for surgical intervention, many patients with IFF can be still managed non-operatively. A previous study suggested that a higher red blood cell count of IFF is highly predictive of intervention. We hypothesized that radiodensity in IFF (Hounsfield unit (HU)) on CT would predict the need for surgical intervention. AIM & OBJECTIVE: 1. To compare the computed tomography attenuation values of free fluid abdomen in patients those on conservative management vs intervention done. 2. To evaluate the computed tomography (CT) attenuation values of ascites to predict post op infection risk, need for prolonged hospitalization and outcome. METHODOLOGY: Patients Who Fit The Inclusion Criterion Will Be Studied And The Various Factors Analysed. SUBJECT SELECTION: Patients Admitted With Acute Abdominal Pain And CT Abdomen done. SAMPLE SIZE: 100. INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1.Patient admitted for pain abdomen for whom computed tomography was done. 2.Patients of age groups 13 years and above 3.Patients with free fluid in CT abdomen and pelvis above 30 ml. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Cases with medical cause of ascites 2. Age less than 13 years. 3. Cases operated on the abdomen less than 6 weeks back. RESULTS: In cases of perforation the HU of the free fluid was higher for perforations of large bowel compared to small bowel perforation. In the post operative period patients who had wound site infection and prolonged hospital stay had a relatively higher HU value on CT. A cut off value of 16.1 was obtained for the HU in this study ie cases with above 16.1 HU had likely possibility of requiring an operative intervention. The sensitivity of this study was 80.77. The specificity of the study was 79.73. The positive predictive value was 58.33. The negative predictive value was 92.19. The accuracy was 80.25. The p value of this study was 0.0005 which was highly significant. CONCLUSION: Acute abdominal pain can represent a spectrum of conditions from benign and self-limited disease that can be managed conservatively to surgical emergencies. Patients may present clinically in an obvious or subtle manner. Diagnosing a patient with a full-blown acute abdomen is relatively easy but it is difficult to diagnose an incipient abdominal catastrophe in a patient presenting with early, non-specific symptoms. Based on the results of ROC analysis, a cutoff value of 16.1 HU for intra abdominal free fluid was determined to be optimal for predicting the need for surgical intervention. The patients with IFF HU >16.1 were more likely to require surgical intervention than those with a lower density IFF. With the cutoff value of >16,1 HU, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy to predict the need for surgical intervention were 80.77, 79.73, 58.33, 92.19 and 80.25% respectively in this study. HU helps in predicting the site of perforation . Higher HU values were seen in distal perforations . It also helps us to keep in mind the possibility of increased post operative complications . In patients presenting with acute abdomen history of presenting illness, clinical findings and radiological findings along with the additional data regarding the radiodensity of IFF analyzed on CT ,would be practical and useful in identifying the need for early surgical intervention

Comparison of Enamel Preparations - Bevel, Chamfer and Stair Step Chamfer on Fracture Resistance of Nano Filled Resin Composites Using Bulk Pack Technique - An In Vitro Study

AIM: To evaluate and compare the effect of enamel preparation designs bevel, chamfer and stair-step chamfer on the fracture resistance of nanocomposite. METHODS: The sample group of this study consisted of 72 non-carious permanent maxillary central incisors. The sample is divided into four groups of 18 each. Group, I control Group II bevel preparation, Group III chamfer preparation, group IV stair step chamfer preparation. After the specific preparation, each tooth is filled with nanocomposite using bulk pack technique. The teeth were subjected to fracture resistance test under Universal testing machine and then were examined under a stereomicroscope to evaluate the type of bond failure. The results were subjected to statistical analysis. RESULTS: Results of the One-Way ANOVA revealed a significant difference in the mean peak failure load values of the four different groups. (P &lt; 0.001) Tukey’s Post-Hoc comparison test revealed that there was a significant difference in the mean peak failure load values of the bevel and chamfer preparation. But there was no significant difference between chamfer and stair-step chamfer preparation designs. CONCLUSION: Stair-step chamfer preparation demonstrated comparable values to Chamfer preparation but also involved the removal of less amount of tooth structure adjacent to the fractured edge and good esthetic technique

Knowledge, stress and adopted coping strategies of parents of children having congenital adrenal hyperplasia: An exploratory survey

Background: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is an inherited disorder of adrenal glands, the most common type being due to a deficiency of the enzyme 21-α-hydroxylase. Girls affected with it are virilized to a variable extent. The taboo associated with ambiguous genitalia in female babies poses an immense societal pressure on parents for keeping the disease a secret. Objective: The aim of the study was to generate the evidence on the knowledge, stress, and coping strategies used by the parents of CAH children. Methodology: In a cross-sectional descriptive survey using mixed methods approach, 30 parents of children with CAH attending the outdoor department of pediatric medicine and surgery in a tertiary care hospital were enrolled. The CAH knowledge questionnaire, parental stress scale (PSS), and COPE inventory were the standardized tools used along with demographic profile sheet to assess the knowledge of parents related to CAH, stress, and coping strategies used by them. Results: Majority of the parents (67%) had poor knowledge (&lt;7) and moderate stress (42-65) scores. Knowledge and stress were negatively correlated (r=−0.39, p=0.035). Coping strategies used by the parents in dealing with stress in moderate amount were mainly problem-focused (active coping [60%] and planning [60%], instrumental social support [53%], suppression of competing activities [50%]), and emotion-focused (positive reinterpretation [60%], emotional social support [67%], acceptance [53%], and religious coping [50%]). Less useful coping strategies such as focus on and venting of emotions, behavioral disengagement, mental disengagement, humor, and substance abuse were not used by the majority parents. Conclusion: Parents of children with CAH had poor knowledge and moderate stress related to the disease condition of their children and were using problem focused and emotion focused coping strategies to reduce their stress

Comparison of serum calcium and magnesium levels between preeclamptic and normotensive healthy pregnant women

Background: Preeclampsia is idiopathic multisystem disorder specific to human pregnancy. Its incidence is 8-10% of total pregnancies in India. It is one of the leading causes of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Alterations in serum calcium and magnesium levels have been suggested as effective factors in causing preeclampsia. The aim of this study was to compare serum calcium and magnesium levels in preeclamptic and normal pregnant women in third trimester of pregnancy.Methods: The study was conducted in the department of biochemistry in collaboration with department of obstetrics and gynaecology, Sri Aurobindo medical college &amp; P. G. institute, Indore during the period January 2012 to January 2013. Subjects were divided into two groups: group-I included 100 preeclamptic women group-II included 100 age matched, healthy pregnant women. Serum calcium and magnesium was estimated by Arsenazo III method and by Calmagite method in ERBA CHEM-5 respectively (Enzymatic kit method).Results: Serum levels of calcium (8.27 ± 0.37 mg/dL vs. 9.06 ± 0.27 mg/dL) and magnesium (1.99 ± 0.13 mEq/L vs. 2.03 ± 0.13 mEq/L) were significantly lower in preeclamptic women than the control group (i.e. healthy pregnant women).Conclusions: Hypocalcaemia and hypomagnesaemia are seen in the preeclamptic women may be responsible for the vascular pathology associated with onset of preeclampsia. Hence it can be concluded that adjuvant supplementation of calcium and magnesium may prevent further progression of preeclampsia.