The role of cardiotocography in predicting perinatal outcomes in women presenting with reduced perception of fetal movements at term: an observational study

Background: Reduced perception of fetal movement by mother is a common reason for self referral for assessment by healthcare providers affecting 5-15% of pregnancy. It allows early identification of fetuses at risk of adverse outcome. Non stress test (NST) or Cardiotocography (CTG) is the most commonly used test for antepartum and intrapartum fetal surveillance. Hence, this study was conducted to evaluate the role of NST/CTG in predicting perinatal outcomes in women presenting with reduced perception of fetal movements. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted on 110 term pregnant women presenting with reduced perception of fetal movements. NST/CTG was done as a preliminary test in them and the results were analyzed statistically. Results: Total 60% women had reactive CTG, 17.3% had suspicious CTG and 22.7% had pathological CTG at the time of presentation. Out of 66 women who had reactive NST, 34 women were discharged after observation for 24 hours to follow up. About 58.15% women had one or more risk factors associated with pregnancy in our study. Pathological/ suspicious CTG was more commonly associated with adverse perinatal outcomes like presence of MSAF, low APGAR score at 1 minute and 5 minutes, neonatal distress, need for neonatal resuscitation and NICU admission with statistical significance. However, all babies had good outcome in our study. Conclusions: Early approach, timely intervention could reduce associated complications and improve perinatal outcome in all these cases.

SEIZURES WITH ANTI-SEIZURE DRUG

This case study is to report and explore the etiology of a case of refractory seizures due to overdosage of phenytoin tablets. A case report from the Department of Neurology generated through voluntary adverse drug reaction (ADR)reporting stated phenytoin overdosage leading to refractory status epilepticus which did not respond to any of the antiepileptic drugs. A 33-year-old female patient with the history of consumption 15 tablets of phenytoin and a metal ring as part of a suicidal bid a month ago, presented with unconsciousness, persistent seizures, and gangrene of fingers. Magnetic resonance imaging showed generalized atrophic changes of the cerebrum and cerebellum. Electroencephalogram suggested multifocal onset status epilepticus. The patient did not respond to standard emergency treatment of status epilepticus with known antiepileptic drugs and was treated with thiopentone infusion under mechanical ventilation, which controlled her seizures as long as she was maintained under the infusion. Causality analysis using the World Health Organization scale categorizes this ADR as possibleâ€, as the patient is a known case of seizure disorder with additional cerebral changes. Hence, the disease could have had an influence over the toxic reaction. To conclude, seizures are a rare complication of phenytoin. Seizures can be prevented by evaluating therapeutic plasma concentration of phenytoin. In this case, the patient was on chronic treatment, and due to intentional toxicity, she progressed to a refractory state of seizures. This could have occurred because of the unique kinetic profile of phenytoin, small therapeutic index, genetic variation in drug metabolizing enzymes, and saturated sodium channels

Attitude of obstetricians regarding labour analgesia and limitations in practising it

Background: Parturient experience labour pain of varying degrees which intensifies as labour progresses. Providing adequate pain relief during labour is important for positive experience of child birth.Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted among obstetricians working in five teaching hospitals in Tamil Nadu in 2015. Obstetricians working in these medical colleges were given structured questionnaire to be filled by them. It had questions regarding the obstetricians knowledge, experience and attitude towards labour analgesia and limitations in its practise.Results: Majority of them considered epidural labour analgesia as most effective (91%).Only 55% of them have had practical experience of conducting deliveries under epidural. Parenteral injection of opioid (tramadol hydrochloride) or NSAIDs remain the most commonly practised method. 82% of the participants don’t discuss about labour analgesia services while providing antenatal care.Conclusions: Obstetricians should sensitize the antenatal women regarding labour pain and its management. Supportive role should be provided by midwives. Where resources are limited non-pharmacological means of pain relief should also be encouraged

Psychology in Tamil Folk Songs

All Tamil literature is a gift given to us by our forefathers. All literature expresses the life values of the people. In this way, folk literature, which is unwritten literature, reflects human feelings. A man expresses his subconscious thoughts and beliefs through folk literature. In folk literature that includes folk songs, folk tales, fables, proverbs, etc., man expresses his life experiences from birth to death. Folk In literature, man expresses his life records from birth to death. In lullabies, events such as a mother's love for her child and making children realise the importance of relatives are important to human life. The way agriculture is expressed in special kummi songs, the subconscious impressions of man through faith in God, the subconscious impressions of man through themangu songs, the expression of male and female relationships through themangu songs, the characteristics of grooms who collect dowry from women through marriage, and indicate social disorders This review article is intended to reveal women lamenting the loss of their mothers in the metaphorical songs that express their characteristics at the end of human life, and women who have lost their husbands are marginalised in society due to their helpless condition

Influence of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium levels on growth, seed yield and essential oil content in anise (Pimpinella anisum L.)

A field experiment was conducted to study the influence of three levels, each of nitrogen (0, 40 and 80 kg ha-1), phosphorus and potassium (each at 0, 30 and 60 kg ha-1) on growth, seed yield and essential oil content in anise at Horticultural Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore. The results of the study revealed significant differences among the treahnents with respect to growth, seed yield and essential oil content. The interaction of nitrogen at 80 kg ha-1, phosphorus and potassium each at 60 kg ha-1 was found to be significant, recording highest values for growth characters like plant height (62.47 cm), number of leaves (33.33) and total leaf area (653.27 cm2) per plant and yield parameters such as number of fruits per umbel (595.17), size of the umbel (38.93 cm2) and also seed yield (698 kg ha-1) compared to control (189 kg ha-1). This treatment also gave the highest essential oil yield of 24.41 kg ha-1. &nbsp

COMPARISON OF ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF GARLIC AGAINST AEROBIC AND ANAEROBIC BACTERIA

Objective: To compare the antibacterial activity of garlic against aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Methods: Antimicrobial activity of garlic is performed by Agar cup diffusion technique for 3 bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli and clostridium perfringens. Results: By performing the technique with proper guidance, it is observed that the Staphylococcus aureus specimen shows sensitivity to garlic whereas the other two specimens Escherichia coli and clostridium perfringens doesn’t show any sensitivity to garlic. Conclusion: Due to its vast antibacterial activity of garlic, it can be used along with other antibiotics to increase its efficiency

Microheater: Material, design, fabrication, temperature control, and applications—a role in COVID-19

Heating plays a vital role in science, engineering, mining, and space, where heating can be achieved via electrical, induction, infrared, or microwave radiation. For fast switching and continuous applications, hotplate or Peltier elements can be employed. However, due to bulkiness, they are ineffective for portable applications or operation at remote locations. Miniaturization of heaters reduces power consumption and bulkiness, enhances the thermal response, and integrates with several sensors or microfluidic chips. The microheater has a thickness of ~ 100 nm to ~ 100 μm and offers a temperature range up to 1900℃ with precise control. In recent years, due to the escalating demand for flexible electronics, thin-film microheaters have emerged as an imperative research area. This review provides an overview of recent advancements in microheater as well as analyses different microheater designs, materials, fabrication, and temperature control. In addition, the applications of microheaters in gas sensing, biological, and electrical and mechanical sectors are emphasized. Moreover, the maximum temperature, voltage, power consumption, response time, and heating rate of each microheater are tabulated. Finally, we addressed the specific key considerations for designing and fabricating a microheater as well as the importance of microheater integration in COVID-19 diagnostic kits. This review thereby provides general guidelines to researchers to integrate microheater in micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), which may pave the way for developing rapid and large-scale SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic kits in resource-constrained clinical or home-based environments. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.

Design, optimization, fabrication and analysis of Cu microheater for loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) applications

A paper presents the design, fabrication, and thermal evaluation of a printed circuit board (PCB) based copper (Cu) microheater that can be integrated with microfluidic chips to initiate the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). A series of 3D finite element electro-thermal simulations were carried out to analyze the thermal uniformity and power consumption of the micro heater. The optimal design was fabricated using the etching technique and analyzed with a heat spreader to enhance thermal uniformity. The simulation results of the microheater reveal that the meander configuration outperforms other designs. In addition, the microheater with a heat spreader has a thermal difference of only < 5 ℃ when compared with ∼10 ℃ in a microheater without a heat spreader. The developed microheater has a long shelf life and can be used to handle wet biological samples when encapsulated with polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The paper microfluidic chip on the glass substrate has a temperature difference of only 0.5 ℃. The low-cost microheater integrated microfluidic chips has the great potential to develop inexpensive home-based diagnostic kits and trigger the access of diagnostic kits in underdeveloped countries to reduce the spread of infection and initiate treatment plans