A cross sectional study on willingness and acceptabily: PPIUCD by primipara mothers at a tertiary care hospital, Tamil Nadu

Background: Postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device is a postpartum family planning method which provides spacing to the next pregnancy and also it helps to avoid unwanted / unintended pregnancy during postpartum period. Our aim was to study the willingness and acceptability of Postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device among primi paraous women and compare them as a factor of route of insertion (vaginal versus caesarean).Methods: A cross sectional analytical study was done in a tertiary care teaching institution to know the willingness and acceptance among primi paraous delivery (either vaginal and caesarean deliveries) for the period of three months using the hospital records that a total number of 587 primi paraous deliveries and among them 433 mothers had Postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device over the three months period, were taken as a secondary data and studied for their willingness and acceptance for Postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device.Results: 82.8 % of primi paraous women were showing willingness for Postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device and 73.8 % of them had Postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device insertion. Postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device insertions were more in caesarean deliveries than in vaginal deliveries of mothers with one child.Conclusions: Postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device is a strong weapon in the family planning and should be encouraged in both vaginal and caesarean deliveries. The acceptability of Postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device in women with one child was effective and statistically significant at p value is < 0.05

A cross sectional study on willingness and acceptance of postpartum sterilization by mothers at a tertiary hospital

Background: India was the first country in the world to launch the Family Planning Programme in 1951. Despite this fact, India still lags behind in practicing contraception and limiting family size. Even though various measures for encouraging the usage of contraception have been taken up, the achievement in this field is not up to the expectation due to various social and cultural factors. The aim of our study is to estimate the prevalence of awareness, willingness and acceptance of postpartum sterilization among mothers who delivered with two and more children before discharge at a tertiary hospital.Methods: It is a cross sectional study using the survey data on uncovered mothers who are discharged without accepting sterilization and mothers who underwent sterilization in a tertiary hospital.Results: Total number of mothers with 2 and more living children was 231. All the mothers were aware of female sterilization method. Only 38.5% mothers underwent sterilization. 66.9% of mothers stated willingness for sterilization but not done among the uncovered mothers with 2 and more children. This disparity was due to various medical reasons (pediatric opinion 57.7%, anesthetist opinion 0.7%, not treated within 7 days of delivery 8.5%).Conclusions: In our study, the awareness of female sterilization in women was 100%. 79.6% of them were willing for sterilization. Women willing for sterilization were more in caesarean section (45.4%) than in women who delivered vaginally (34.2%)

Delivery by repeat caesarean section today: an overview

Background: To find out the maternal and neonatal outcome and background characteristics of women delivering by repeat caesarean section in a tertiary care centre in Chennai, South India.Methods: Parturition records for the year 2017, were accessed and case records, for the calculated sample size were selected. Demographic features, obstetric history, gestational age and antenatal complications were recorded. Maternal outcome and baby details including sex of the baby, birth weight, APGAR and admission to New born Intensive Care Unit (NICU) data and acceptance of postpartum contraception was noted.Results: In the study group, 156 women delivered by repeat caesarean section.  The age group of women ranged from 20 years to 38 years.  Majority of 83.4% of women were Para one.  Threatening rupture was recorded in 2.6% of women. The risk of previous two CS scars was noted in 3.2% of women. More than 41% of women had other complications. Most often observed complications were Gestational hypertension, Gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and eclampsia. Pregnancy complications of oligohydramnios, twins, breech and abnormal presentation, were significant. 1% of women had associated medical complications of anaemia and hypothyroidism.  Maternal and Fetal causes were the most important indication for caesarean section in 74% of women. There were no maternal deaths in present study group. Postpartum contraception was accepted by 55 % of women.Conclusions: Majority of repeat caesarean section was observed most commonly in para one women in the age group of 26-30 years More than 41% of women had associated medical and obstetric complications. There were no maternal deaths in this study. Neonatal deaths were 2.5%

“Humanized” Stem Cell Culture Techniques: The Animal Serum Controversy

Cellular therapy is reaching a pinnacle with an understanding of the potential of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) to regenerate damaged tissue in the body. The limited numbers of these hMSCs in currently identified sources, like bone marrow, adipose tissue, and so forth, bring forth the need for their in vitro culture/expansion. However, the extensive usage of supplements containing xenogeneic components in the expansion-media might pose a risk to the post-transplantation safety of patients. This warrants the necessity to identify and develop chemically defined or “humanized” supplements which would make in vitro cultured/processed cells relatively safer for transplantation in regenerative medicine. In this paper, we outline the various caveats associated with conventionally used supplements of xenogenic origin and also portray the possible alternatives/additives which could one day herald the dawn of a new era in the translation of in vitro cultured cells to therapeutic interventions

Prevention of cervical cancer: early detection of precancerous lesions of cervix in women from a marginalized environment

Background: The objective of the present study was to find out the efficacy of low-cost methods, available for screening for cervical cancer and early detection of precancerous lesions, of cervix.Methods: The study with power above 80%, was conducted over a period of almost three years. Women aged below fifty years were included in the study. A total of 100 women were diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and 244 women with chronic cervicitis by histopathological examination reports. Ten women were HIV positive.   Results: Low cost screening tests of visual inspection of cervix after application of 5% acetic acid (VIA) and visual inspection of cervix after application of Lugol’s iodine (VILI) were positive in 75% of women with CIN and in combination with colposcopy, positive in 93%. The diagnostic accuracy of colposcopy was highest at 86%. (Odds ratio-.48.79).Conclusions: Initial screening for younger women with fewer years of exposure, the low cost tests, VIA / VILI  could be used under low magnification. Colposcopy should be done for all women with positive tests. The costlier human papilloma virus (HPV) tests should be done at cost effective purpose for high risk groups and when indicated, for early detection of precancerous lesions of cervix and prevention of cervical cancer

Behavioral Defects in Chaperone-Deficient Alzheimer's Disease Model Mice

Molecular chaperones protect cells from the deleterious effects of protein misfolding and aggregation. Neurotoxicity of amyloid-beta (Aβ) aggregates and their deposition in senile plaques are hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We observed that the overall content of αB-crystallin, a small heat shock protein molecular chaperone, decreased in AD model mice in an age-dependent manner. We hypothesized that αB-crystallin protects cells against Aβ toxicity. To test this, we crossed αB-crystallin/HspB2 deficient (CRYAB-/-HSPB2-/-) mice with AD model transgenic mice expressing mutant human amyloid precursor protein. Transgenic and non-transgenic mice in chaperone-sufficient or deficient backgrounds were examined for representative behavioral paradigms for locomotion and memory network functions: (i) spatial orientation and locomotion was monitored by open field test; (ii) sequential organization and associative learning was monitored by fear conditioning; and (iii) evoked behavioral response was tested by hot plate method. Interestingly, αB-crystallin/HspB2 deficient transgenic mice were severely impaired in locomotion compared to each genetic model separately. Our results highlight a synergistic effect of combining chaperone deficiency in a transgenic mouse model for AD underscoring an important role for chaperones in protein misfolding diseases

Inhibitory effect of 4-O-methylhonokiol on lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammation, amyloidogenesis and memory impairment via inhibition of nuclear factor-kappaB in vitro and in vivo models

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Neuroinflammation is important in the pathogenesis and progression of Alzheimer disease (AD). Previously, we demonstrated that lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation caused memory impairments. In the present study, we investigated the possible preventive effects of 4-<it>O</it>-methylhonokiol, a constituent of <it>Magnolia officinalis</it>, on memory deficiency caused by LPS, along with the underlying mechanisms.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We investigated whether 4-<it>O</it>-methylhonokiol (0.5 and 1 mg/kg in 0.05% ethanol) prevents memory dysfunction and amyloidogenesis on AD model mice by intraperitoneal LPS (250 μg/kg daily 7 times) injection. In addition, LPS-treated cultured astrocytes and microglial BV-2 cells were investigated for anti-neuroinflammatory and anti-amyloidogenic effect of 4-<it>O</it>-methylhonkiol (0.5, 1 and 2 μM).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Oral administration of 4-<it>O</it>-methylhonokiol ameliorated LPS-induced memory impairment in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, 4-<it>O</it>-methylhonokiol prevented the LPS-induced expression of inflammatory proteins; inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) as well as activation of astrocytes (expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein; GFAP) in the brain. In <it>in vitro </it>study, we also found that 4-<it>O</it>-methylhonokiol suppressed the expression of iNOS and COX-2 as well as the production of reactive oxygen species, nitric oxide, prostaglandin E₂, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-1β in the LPS-stimulated cultured astrocytes. 4-<it>O</it>-methylhonokiol also inhibited transcriptional and DNA binding activity of NF-κB via inhibition of IκB degradation as well as p50 and p65 translocation into nucleus of the brain and cultured astrocytes. Consistent with the inhibitory effect on neuroinflammation, 4-<it>O</it>-methylhonokiol inhibited LPS-induced Aβ_1-42generation, β- and γ-secretase activities, and expression of amyloid precursor protein (APP), BACE1 and C99 as well as activation of astrocytes and neuronal cell death in the brain, in cultured astrocytes and in microglial BV-2 cells.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results suggest that 4-<it>O</it>-methylhonokiol inhibits LPS-induced amyloidogenesis via anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Thus, 4-<it>O</it>-methylhonokiol can be a useful agent against neuroinflammation-associated development or the progression of AD.</p

Rapid Optical Clearing for Semi-High-Throughput Analysis of Tumor Spheroids

Tumor spheroids are fast becoming commonplace in basic cancer research and drug development. Obtaining data regarding protein expression within the spheroid at the cellular level is important for analysis, yet existing techniques are often expensive, laborious, use non-standard equipment, cause significant size distortion, or are limited to relatively small spheroids. This protocol presents a new method of mounting and clearing spheroids that address these issues while allowing for confocal analysis of the inner structure of spheroids. In contrast to existing approaches, this protocol provides for rapid mounting and clearing of a large number of spheroids using standard equipment and laboratory supplies. Mounting spheroids in a pH-neutral agarose-PBS gel solution before introducing a refractive-index-matched clearing solution minimizes size distortion common to other similar techniques. This allows for detailed quantitative and statistical analysis where the accuracy of size measurements is paramount. Furthermore, compared to liquid clearing solutions, the agarose gel technique keeps spheroids fixed in place, allowing for the collection of three-dimensional (3D) confocal images. The present article elaborates how the method yields high-quality two-and 3D images that provide information about inter-cell variability and inner spheroid structure.</p