Effectiveness of anti-mullerian hormone-tailored protocol compared to conventional protocol in women undergoing in vitro fertilization: A randomized controlled trial

Background: Assessment of ovarian reserve before an in vitro fertilization cycle (IVF) is one among the many factors that predicts a successful cycle. Individualized protocol based on ovarian reserve is designed to optimize the pregnancy outcome without compromising the patient safety. Although authors have shown that anti-Mullerian hormone-tailored (AMH) protocols have reduced the treatment burden and improved pregnancy rates, a few others have questioned its efficacy. Aims: The aim of this study was to decide whether the AMH-tailored protocol or the conventional protocol better decides IVF outcomes. Setting and Design: Prospective randomized controlled trial conducted at a tertiary level university hospital. Materials and Methods: Patients undergoing their first IVF cycle who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were recruited and randomized to each group. Serum follicle-stimulating hormone was done for the patients on day 2 or 3 of a prior menstrual cycle, and serum AMH was done in the preceding cycle. Statistical Analysis: Analysis was performed using SPSS software version 16. Results and Conclusion: There were 100 patients in each group. A total of 83 patients underwent embryo transfer in the conventional group and 78 patients in the AMH group. The clinical pregnancy rates per initiated cycle (36.4% vs. 33.3%) and per embryo transfer (45.1% vs. 41.3%) were similar in both the groups. There was no statistical difference in the number of cycles cancelled due to poor response or the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in both the groups. Hence, this study showed the similar effectiveness of AMH-tailored protocol and conventional protocol in women undergoing IVF

Detailed of X-ray diffraction and photoluminescence studies of Ce doped ZnO nanocrystals

Pristine and Ce doped ZnO nanopowders were synthesized by simple refluxing technique. A detailed X-ray diffraction analysis was carried out to evaluate the contribution of dopant ion concentration on strain and lattice parameters. A particle size of 20 nm was obtained via TEM studies. Spherical morphology was obtained for Ce doped ZnO nanocrystals. Multiple emission bands were observed for pristine and doped ZnO samples where, 401 nm emission band corresponds to a contribution due to free excitons recombination through an exciton–exciton collisions. With the Ce addition, the surface defects increases and the emission intensity decreases

Neurological associations in auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder: Results from a tertiary hospital in South India

Aims: To find out the prevalence and types of neurological abnormalities associated in auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder in a large tertiary referral center. Settings and Design: A prospective clinical study was conducted on all patients diagnosed with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder in the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) and neurology departments during a 17-month period. Patients with neurological abnormalities on history and examination were further assessed by a neurologist to determine the type of disorder present. Results: The frequency of auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder was 1.12%. Sixty percent were found to have neurological involvement. This included cerebral palsy in children, peripheral neuropathy (PN), spinocerebellar ataxia, hereditary motor-sensory neuropathy, spastic paresis, and ponto-bulbar palsy. Neurological lesions did not present simultaneously with hearing loss in most patients. Sixty-six percent of patients with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder were born of consanguineous marriages. Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of neurological lesions in auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder which has to be kept in mind while evaluating such patients. Follow-up and counselling regarding the appearance of neuropathies is therefore important in such patients. A hereditary etiology is indicated in a majority of cases of auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder

Stability of liquid metal Schottky contacts

184-187All evolutionary aspects of Schottky barriers e.g. the factors contributing to the band alignment at metal-semiconductor interfaces, are still not well understood. Liquid metal-semiconductor interfaces provide an opportunity to probe them since their formation process eliminates or minimizes many influencing factors e.g. formation of oxide layer, changes in surface morphology due to impact of deposited metal atoms etc. when compared to the formation of solid metal semiconductor interfaces. However, the liquid state of metal possessing higher equilibrium thermodynamic energy, may induce instability at interfaces by inducing interfacial reactions ultimately showing up in ageing effect. The liquid metals namely Hg and Ga on p-type silicon show no such effect and hence can be fruitfully exploited for probing evolutionary aspects of metal-semiconductor interfaces through liquid metal route

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in women with polycystic ovary syndrome attending an infertility clinic in a tertiary care hospital in south India

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Setting: Infertility clinic in a tertiary care hospital. Study Design: A prospective cross-sectional study. Materials and Methods: All the women attending the infertility clinic categorized as polycystic ovary syndrome according to Rotterdam criteria (2003) during the study period were included in the study. The women with PCOS underwent screening for metabolic syndrome as defined by the modified American Heart Association/National Heart Lung Blood Institute (AHA/NHLBI) modified ATP 111 (2005) definition. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied and significant predictors identified for the prediction of metabolic syndrome. Results: The overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome according to the modified AHA/NHLBI ATP III (2005) criteria was 37.5%. A total of 5.8 % cases were detected to have diabetes mellitus, 8.3% had impaired fasting glucose, and 11.7 % had an impaired glucose test. Dyslipidemia was present in 93.3% cases of PCOS. Among all the risk factors, age and waist hip ratio ≥0.85 were strongly associated with the presence of metabolic syndrome. Conclusion: Infertile women with PCOS, particularly those with age ≥25 years or with central obesity (a waist hip ratio of ≥0.85), are at a higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome and should be offered screening tests

Studies on Two-Photon Absorption of Aniline Using Thermal Lens Effect

Two-photon absorption spectrum of aniline is recorded using thermal lens effect with optical parametric oscillator as the pump source. Studies show that the two-photon absorption spectrum observed corresponds to I Al -. I B2 transition of aniline.Cochin University of Science & Techrtolog

Evaluating shrub architectural performance in sun and shade environments with the 3-D model Y-plant: Are there optimal strategies?

The wavelength dependence of thermal lens signal from organic dyes are studied using dual beam thermal lens technique. It is found that the profile of thermal lens spectrum widely differ from the conventional absorption spectrum in the case of rhodamine B unlike in the case of crystal violet. This is explained on the basis of varying contribution of nonradiative relaxations from the excited vibronic levels.Cochin University of Science & Technolog