A study on foetal outcome after diagnosis of oligohydramnios at term in tertiary care center

Background: Oligohydramnios is associated with a variety of ominous pregnancy outcomes such as foetal distress, low birth weight, perinatal morbidity and increased incidence of Caesarean section. Objective of present study was to determine the outcome of maternal and Foetal wellbeing after diagnosis of oligohydramnios at term pregnancy.Methods: 50 pregnant women aged between 18 – 27 years were screened with history of oligohydramnios by ultrasound scanning after 37 completed weeks, compared with 50 controls with no oligohydramnios.Results: The mean age of the study group was 22.7 years and of the control group was 22.4 years, respectively. Majority of the patients were primigravidae in both the groups. The mean gestational age was 39.5 weeks in study group and 39.4 in control group. The occurrence of non reactive NST was more in study group compared to the control group. The efficacy of AFI as a screening test to predict foetal distress is more significant with Positive Predictive Value of 57% and Negative Predictive Value of 80%. The mean birth weight was 2.5 kg in the study group compared to 2.75 kg in the control group which is statistically significant. 34 % of the newborns were admitted to NICU in study group compared to 14% in the control group.Conclusions: In the presence of oligohydramnios, the occurrence of non-reactive NST, meconium stained liquor, development of foetal distress are very high

A study of outcome of induction of labour with foley’s balloon in previous LSCS cases

Background: Induction of labour in a scarred uterus is a controversial topic in Obstetric practice, but in carefully selected and monitored cases never the less the outcome is gratifying. When the baby is non-salvageable, or in cases of IUFD, it is always desirable to achieve a vaginal delivery. Many of the professional organizations recommend induction of labour in previous LSCS. Thus, this study was done to evaluate the success rate, determinants of failure and complications of induction of labour with foley’s catheter in patients with previous 1 LSCS.Methods: 62 patients were recruited over a period of 1 year and studied at Vani Vilas Hospital, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, all with previous 1 LSCS. 34% of them were with past h/o 1 or more vaginal delivery. 8% were term pregnancies, 64% were between 28-32 weeks. Induction was done for IUFD in 56% and, HDP warranting termination in 44%. Induction done with Foley’s catheter, expulsion of catheter with filled bulb and uterine contraction initiation was taken as successful induction. The patient profile in cases of failure was noted.Results: 83% was the success rate for induction out of which 30% cases required additional PGE2 gel. Oxytocin and ARM alone or together were used for augmentation in 90% cases. Induction to foley’s expulsion average duration was 14 hours. Post expulsion delivery happened at an average time interval of 5 hours. One patient had rupture uterus during the course of augmentation.Conclusions: Induction can be done safely in carefully selected cases of previous LSCS with Foley’s Balloon

Prospective study of contraceptive knowledge among the patients seeking medical termination of pregnancy in 1st and 2nd trimester in a tertiary health care

Background: A rapid population growth is a burden on the resources of many developing countries. Unregulated fertility, which contributes to such situations compromise the economic development and political stability.Methods: It was a prospective, observational study over a period of 12 months at Vani Vilas hospital, attached to Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute. All patients seeking medical termination of pregnancy in I and II trimester in tertiary health care were evaluated for contraceptive knowledge.Results: Majority of the patients were from 25 – 30 years, educated, and had married life of 5 years, multipara, with no relationship with religion. The major reason for seeking termination of pregnancy was V i.e. failure of contraception. Intrauterine devices are the most popular method of contraception. There were various sources for knowledge.Conclusions: This study concludes that there is considerable level of knowledge and awareness about contraception in the above studied women but actual practice of those methods is low

Abnormal uterine bleeding in relation to thyroid dysfunction

Background: Abnormal uterine bleeding is an abnormal bleeding from the uterus in absence of any organic disease of genital tract and demonstrable extra genital causes. Thyroid dysfunction is marked by large number of menstrual abnormalities. This study is aimed at detecting thyroid dysfunction in patients with provisional diagnosis of AUB (abnormal uterine bleeding).and refer positive cases to physician for further management.Methods: All patients from are from puberty to pre-menopausal age groups, presenting as menoraghia, metrorragia, polymenorrhoea, polymenorragia, hypomenorrhoea, and acyclical bleeding. Onset, duration, amount of bleeding, complaints related to thyroid dysfunction was noted in detail. A thorough clinical examination including general physical examination, neck examination, systemic and gynecological examination was carried out, with special reference to thyroid dysfunction. A provisional clinical diagnosis of DUB was made. Patients with clinical signs and symptoms of thyroid disease were excluded. All these patients were subjected to routine investigations like Hb%, blood counts, urine routine, and bleeding and clotting time to rule out coagulation defects. Then all were subjected for serum T3, T4, and TSH estimation. Patients were then grouped into 4 categories: euthyroid, subclinical lhypothyroid, hypothyroid, and hyperthyroid. Patients who had thyroid disease, on hormonal treatment, IUCD users, and bleeding disorders were excluded.Results: Among 100 patients studied with abnormal uterine bleeding, patients were distributed according to age groups from puberty to perimenopause age. Majority of patients belongs to 31-40 years of age about 40% and the least age group were between 41-45 years of age.(7%).Among different parity status AUB was more common among para three patients(26%). Out of 100 patients, 32% of patients had thyroid dysfunction of which 16% of patients had subclinical hypothyroidism. 15% of patients had hypothyroidism and only 2% of patients had hyperthyroidism. The commonest bleeding abnormality in AUB were polymenorrhoea (30%) and menorrhagia (35%). All hyperthyroid cases were oligomenorrhoeic.Conclusions: This study concludes that thyroid dysfunction should be considered as an important etiological factor for menstrual abnormality. The biochemical evaluation of T3, T4, and TSH estimations should be made mandatory in AUB cases to detect apparent and occult thyroid dysfunction

Quark Mass Corrections to the Perturbative Thrust and its Effect on the determination of αs\alpha_s

We consider the effects of quark masses to the perturbative thrust in $e^+e^-$ annihilation. In particular we show that perturbative power corrections resulting from non-zero quark masses considerably alters the size of the non-perturbative power corrections and consequently, significantly changes the fitted value of $\alpha_s$.Comment: Latex, 6 pages, 2 figures, minor change in text, added one referenc

Does COVID-19 contribute to development of neurological disease?

Background: Although coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been associated primarily with pneumonia, recent data show that the causative agent of COVID-19, the coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), can infect a large number of vital organs beyond the lungs, such as the heart, kidneys, and the brain. Thus, there is evidence showing possible retrograde transmission of the virus from the olfactory epithelium to regions of the brain stem. Methods: This is a literature review article. The research design method is an evidence-based rapid review. The present discourse aim is first to scrutinize and assess the available literature on COVID-19 repercussion on the central nervous system (CNS). Standard literature and database searches were implemented, gathered relevant material, and extracted information was then assessed. Results: The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors being the receptor for the virus, the threat to the central nervous system is expected. Neurons and glial cells express ACE2 receptors in the CNS, and recent studies suggest that activated glial cells contribute to neuroinflammation and the devastating effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the CNS. The SARS-CoV-2-induced immune-mediated demyelinating disease, cerebrovascular damage, neurodegeneration, and depression are some of the neurological complications discussed here. Conclusion: This review correlates present clinical manifestations of COVID-19 patients with possible neurological consequences in the future, thus preparing healthcare providers for possible future consequences of COVID-19

HLA-DRB1*15:01-DQA1*01:02-DQB1*06:02 Haplotype Protects Autoantibody-Positive Relatives From Type 1 Diabetes Throughout the Stages of Disease Progression

The HLA-DRB1*15:01-DQA1*01:02-DQB1*06:02 haplotype is linked to protection from the development of type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, it is not known at which stages in the natural history of T1D development this haplotype affords protection. We examined a cohort of 3,358 autoantibody-positive relatives of T1D patients in the Pathway to Prevention (PTP) Study of the Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet. The PTP study examines risk factors for T1D and disease progression in relatives. HLA typing revealed that 155 relatives carried this protective haplotype. A comparison with 60 autoantibody-negative relatives suggested protection from autoantibody development. Moreover, the relatives with DRB1*15:01-DQA1*01:02-DQB1*06:02 less frequently expressed autoantibodies associated with higher T1D risk, were less likely to have multiple autoantibodies at baseline, and rarely converted from single to multiple autoantibody positivity on follow-up. These relatives also had lower frequencies of metabolic abnormalities at baseline and exhibited no overall metabolic worsening on follow-up. Ultimately, they had a very low 5-year cumulative incidence of T1D. In conclusion, the protective influence of DRB1*15:01-DQA1*01:02-DQB1*06:02 spans from autoantibody development through all stages of progression, and relatives with this allele only rarely develop T1D