Caesarean section – desired rate versus actual need

According to the World Health Organization, governments have expressed interest in the rise in the numbers of caesarean section births and the potential negative consequences for maternal and infant health. If conducted when medically justified, a caesarean section can effectively prevent maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. However, there is no evidence showing the benefits of caesarean delivery for women or infants who do not require the procedure. As with any surgical intervention, caesarean sections are associated with short and long-term risk, which can extend many years beyond the current delivery and affect the health of the woman, her child, and future pregnancies. These risks are higher in women with limited access to comprehensive obstetric care. Unequivocally, the potential risks are higher in women with limited access to comprehensive obstetric care, hence the global health concern.Keywords: Caesarean section; Infant morbidity and mortality; Maternal morbidity and mortality; Global trend

Securing India’s Security Interests in a China-Taiwan Conflict

The security situation across the Taiwan Strait is precariously poised, with China having adopted an overtly proactive stance over the past couple of years. The current hardline stance of China which considers this time as “a new starting point for reunification”, creates further portends for conflict. In this context, this article provides a brief overview of the evolving India-Taiwan relations; assesses the contours of the China-Taiwan conflict; investigates the effect of such a contingency on India’s interests in terms of quantum and intensity, and finally analyses the options available to New Delhi to mitigate, if not wholly address the consequential challenges

Securing India's Security Interests in a China-Taiwan Conflict

The security situation across the Taiwan Strait is precariously poised, with China having adopted an overtly proactive stance over the past couple of years. The current hardline stance of China which considers this time as "a new starting point for reunification", creates further portends for conflict. In this context, this article provides a brief overview of the evolving India-Taiwan relations; assesses the contours of the China-Taiwan conflict; investigates the effect of such a contingency on India's interests in terms of quantum and intensity, and finally analyses the options available to New Delhi to mitigate, if not wholly address the consequential challenges

Securing India’s Security Interests in a China-Taiwan Conflict

The security situation across the Taiwan Strait is precariously poised, with China having adopted an overtly proactive stance over the past couple of years. The current hardline stance of China which considers this time as “a new starting point for reunification”, creates further portends for conflict. In this context, this article provides a brief overview of the evolving India-Taiwan relations; assesses the contours of the China-Taiwan conflict; investigates the effect of such a contingency on India’s interests in terms of quantum and intensity, and finally analyses the options available to New Delhi to mitigate, if not wholly address the consequential challenges

Kinetics of Spinodal Phase Separation in Unstable Thin Liquid Films

We study universality in the kinetics of spinodal phase separation in unstable thin liquid films, via simulations of the thin film equation. It is shown that in addition to morphology and free energy,the number density of local maxima in the film profile can also be used to identify the early, intermediate and late stages of spinodal phase separation. A universal curve between the number density of local maxima and rescaled time describes the kinetics of early stage in d = 2, 3. The Lifshitz-Slyozov exponent of -1/3 describes the kinetics of the late stage in d = 2 even in the absence of coexisting equilibrium phases.Comment: 5 figure

Editorial

A Context of Translational Science Researc

Selective Th2 Upregulation by Crocus sativus: A Neutraceutical Spice

The immunomodulatory activity of an Indian neutraceutical spice, saffron (Crocus sativus) was studied on Th1 and Th2 limbs of the immune system. Oral administration of alcoholic extract of Crocus sativus (ACS) at graded dose levels from 1.56–50 mg/kg p.o. potentiated the Th2 response of humoral immunity causing the significant increases in agglutinating antibody titre in mice at a dose of 6.25 mg/kg and an elevation of CD19+ B cells and IL-4 cytokine, a signature cytokine of Th2 pathway. Appreciable elevation in levels of IgG-1 and IgM antibodies of the primary and secondary immune response was observed. However, ACS showed no appreciable expression of the Th1 cytokines IL-2 (growth factor for CD4+ T cells) and IFN-γ (signature cytokine of Th1 response). A significant modulation of immune reactivity was observed in all the animal models used. This paper represents the selective upregulation of the Th2 response of the test material and suggests its use for subsequent selective Th2 immunomodulation

Chemical Composition and In Vitro Cytotoxic Activity of Essential Oil of Leaves of Malus domestica Growing in Western Himalaya (India)

Light pale-colored volatile oil was obtained from fresh leaves of Malus domestica tree, growing in Dhauladhar range of Himalaya (Himachal Pradesh, India), with characteristic eucalyptol dominant fragrance. The oil was found to be a complex mixture of mono-, sesqui-, di-terpenes, phenolics, and aliphatic hydrocarbons. Seventeen compounds accounting for nearly 95.3% of the oil were characterized with the help of capillary GC, GC-MS, and NMR. Major compounds of the oil were characterized as eucalyptol (43.7%), phytol (11.5%), α-farnesene (9.6%), and pentacosane (7.6%). Cytotoxicity of essential oil of leaves of M. domestica was evaluated by sulforhodamine B (SRB) assays. The essential oil of leaves of M. domestica, tested against three cancer cell lines, namely, C-6 (glioma cells), A549 (human lung carcinoma), CHOK1 (Chinese hamster ovary cells), and THP-1 (human acute monocytic leukemia cell). The highest activity showed by essential oil on C-6 cell lines (98.2%) at concentration of 2000 μg/ml compared to control. It is the first paper in literature to exploit the chemical composition and cytotoxic activity of leaves essential oil of M. domestica