Thermodynamics of micelle formation of some cationic surfactants as a function of temperature and solvent

875-88

Substituent effects in the micellar hydrolysis of N-phenylbenzohydroxamic acid under acidic conditions

324-32

Feasibility of laparoscopy in management of ectopic pregnancy: experience from a tertiary care hospital

Background: Ectopic pregnancy is an important cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. For surgical management, laparoscopy is preferred option. In developing world for ruptured ectopic pregnancy laparotomy is done at most of places. In this study we have assessed feasibility of laparoscopic management in both ruptured and unruptured ectopic pregnancy.Methods: A prospective study, conducted over period of 1 year from July 2014 to July 2015 in Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. In 110 patients of ectopic pregnancy parameters studied were age and parity, symptoms, risk factors, diagnostic methods, site of ectopic, management and its outcome. Primary objective was to evaluate management outcome of ectopic pregnancy and to assess feasibility of laparoscopy in ectopic pregnancy. Ruptured ectopic pregnancy with massive hemoperitoneum were analyzed separately. Secondary objective was to study demographic characters and risk factors of ectopic pregnancy.Results: Surgical management was required in 93.6% patients, out of which 86.4% were managed laparoscopically. Unruptured ectopic pregnancy was managed successfully by laparoscopy in 96.6% (29/30) patients. Ectopic was ruptured in 73 (66.3%) cases, laparoscopy was attempted in 91.7% (67/73). In 10.4% (7/67) patients laparoscopy had to be converted to laparotomy and it was successful in 89.5%. Out of 16 patients with massive hemoperitoneum, 12(75%) were managed laparoscopically. There was no mortality.Conclusions: In most of cases laparoscopy is safe and successful. Laparoscopy is feasible in ruptured ectopic cases including selected cases with massive hemoperitoneum thus avoiding unnecessary laparotomy and associated morbidity. Timely diagnosis and management prevents mortality

Reaching the one billion mark: accomplishing the success story of COVID vaccination through public interrogation

Background: The COVID vaccination drive in India has recently crossed the one billion mark which is certainly a tremendous feat. Although women were initially hesitant, public propaganda and behaviour change communications encouraged them to come forward. The aim of the study was to assess the vaccination status of female population of the country through interrogation in obstetrics and gynaecology out patient departments (OBG OPD).Methods: Through this cross-sectional study, all women visiting OBG OPD were asked about type and number of vaccine doses received, dates of administration of first and second doses and whether they had any significant side effects following immunization.Results: A total of 1456 women were recruited in the study. Mean age of participants was 33.24±4.65 years. 36.26% participants were pregnant. 89.97% women had received at least one dose of vaccine and 48.76% participants were fully vaccinated. Majority received Covishield vaccine. Majority of the participants received first shot during the months of July, August and September. No women suffered from any adverse effect following immunization. Most women got motivated for vaccination from television (76.91%) and alert messages in mobile phones (61.59%). The results of our study reflects the success story of vaccination campaign as almost 90% of the participants had received at least one dose of vaccine.Conclusions: The proactive participation and untiring efforts of the frontline workers has been instrumental in achieving this remarkable landmark. India's successful vaccination campaign is a lesson to the world at large

Can endometrial volume assessment predict the endometrial receptivity on the day of hCG trigger in patients of fresh IVF cycles: a prospective observational study

Background: Objective of present study was to evaluate the role of three dimensional (3D) endometrial volume measurement on the day of hCG trigger in predicting the endometrial receptivity. The present study is a prospective observational study conducted at assisted reproductive centre of a tertiary care hospital.Methods: Endometrial volume was evaluated by three-dimensional ultrasound in 90 patients undergoing first cycle of IVF on hCG trigger day and was correlated with endometrial receptivity.Results: Out of 90 patients studied 12 patients achieved pregnancy. A significant difference was found in mean endometrial volume on hCG trigger day among pregnant (5.33±2.14 cm3) women compared to non-pregnant women (4.17±1.72cm3). Using Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis the cutoff value for endometrial volume on hCG trigger day was 3.50 cm3 corresponding to sensitivity 75% and specificity 37.2%. Conclusions: The endometrial volume on hCG trigger day was significantly higher in pregnant women as compared to non-pregnant

Recent pattern of Co-infection amongst HIV seropositive individuals in tertiary care hospital, kolkata

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Opportunistic Infections (OIs) and co-infections are the major cause of deaths amongst HIV infected individuals and this mostly depends upon the risk factors, type of exposure and geographic region. The commonest types of infections reported are tuberculosis, chronic diarrhoea, oral candidiasis, herpes simplex virus-2, cytomegalovirus, hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus. Due to the scarcity of OIs data available from this region, we had designed a study to determine the frequency of different OIs amongst HIV seropositive patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Analysis of the different spectrum of OIs/Co-infections were carried out with 204 HIV sero-positive patients (142 males and 62 females) who visited the HIV/AIDS Apex Clinic in a tertiary care hospital from March 2006 to March 2009. The CD4+ count was estimated using FACS Calibur, the routine smear test, serology, nested RT-PCR and DNA sequencing were carried out to determine the different OIs.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this study, HIV seropositive patients were mostly from middle age group (31-40 yrs) with CD4+ counts in majority of symptomatic AIDS patients below 200 cells/mm³. The common co-infections/opportunistic infections were OC (53.43%), CD (47.05%), HSV-2 (36.76%), TB (35.29%), CMV (26.96%), HBV (15.19%) and HCV (7.35%). Dual infections, like HSV-2 & CMV (15.38%), HSV-2 & TB (14.61%), HSV-2 & oral candidiasis (24.61%) and CMV & oral candidiasis (14.61%) were significant in follow-up patients. Triple infections were also common e.g., TB, CD, OC infection occurring frequently in about 14.21% of the study population. Multiple infections like OC, TB, CD amongst the viral co-infected patients with HSV-2, HCV, CMV and HBV are also reported in this study. The genotyping analysis of the HCV co-infected HIV individuals shows that two belonged to HCV genotype 1 and 8 belonged to genotype 3.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A wide spectrum of OIs were observed amongst HIV-infected patients in the HIV/AIDS Apex Clinic. Oral candidiasis, CD, CMV and HSV-2, were the common OIs in those patients. This study aims to provide a clearer picture regarding infections occurring amongst HIV seropositive individuals so that the scientific findings could be translated into sustainable prevention programmes and improved public health policies.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>None</p

Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC) in Orbit Performance : Calibration, background, analysis software

The Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC) instrument on-board AstroSat has three nominally identical detectors for timing and spectral studies in the energy range of 3--80 keV. The performance of these detectors during the five years after the launch of AstroSat is described. Currently, only one of the detector is working nominally. The variation in pressure, energy resolution, gain and background with time are discussed. The capabilities and limitations of the instrument are described. A brief account of available analysis software is also provided.Comment: Accepted for publication in JA

Electrochemical integration of graphene with light absorbing copper-based thin films

We present an electrochemical route for the integration of graphene with light sensitive copper-based alloys used in optoelectronic applications. Graphene grown using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) transferred to glass is found to be a robust substrate on which photoconductive Cu_{x}S films of 1-2 um thickness can be deposited. The effect of growth parameters on the morphology and photoconductivity of Cu_{x}S films is presented. Current-voltage characterization and photoconductivity decay experiments are performed with graphene as one contact and silver epoxy as the other

The effectiveness of a low-intensity problem-solving intervention for common adolescent mental health problems in New Delhi, India: protocol for a school-based, individually randomized controlled trial with an embedded stepped-wedge cluster randomized controlled recruitment trial

Background Conduct, anxiety and depressive disorders account for over 75% of the adolescent mental health burden globally. The current protocol will test a low-intensity problem-solving intervention for school-going adolescents with common mental health problems in India. The protocol also tests the effects of a classroom-based sensitization intervention on the demand for counselling services in an embedded recruitment trial. Methods We will conduct a two-arm individually randomized controlled trial in six Government-run secondary schools in New Delhi. The targeted sample is 240 adolescents in grades 9-12 with persistent, elevated mental health symptoms and associated impact. Participants will receive either a brief problem-solving intervention delivered over 3 weeks by lay counsellors (intervention), or enhanced usual care comprised of problem-solving booklets (control). Self-reported adolescent mental health symptoms and idiographic problems will be assessed at 6 weeks (co-primary outcomes) and again at 12 weeks post-randomization. In addition, adolescent-reported impact of mental health difficulties, perceived stress, mental wellbeing and clinical remission, as well as parent-reported adolescent mental health symptoms and impact scores, will be assessed at 6 and 12 weeks post-randomization. We will also complete a parallel process evaluation, including estimations of the costs of delivering the interventions. An embedded recruitment trial will apply a stepped-wedge, cluster (class)-randomized controlled design in 70 classes across the six schools. This will evaluate the added impact of a classroom-based sensitization intervention over school-level recruitment sensitization activities on the primary outcome of referral rate into the host trial (i.e. the proportion of adolescents referred as a function of the total sampling frame in each condition of the embedded recruitment trial). Other outcomes will be the proportion of referrals eligible to participate in the host trial, proportion of self-generated referrals, and severity and pattern of symptoms among referred adolescents in each condition. Power calculations were undertaken separately for each trial. A detailed statistical analysis plan will be developed separately for each trial prior to unblinding. Discussion Both trials were initiated on 20 August 2018. A single research protocol for both trials offers a resource-efficient methodology for testing the effectiveness of linked procedures to enhance uptake and outcomes of a school-based psychological intervention for common adolescent mental health problems

Genomic evidence of Y chromosome microchimerism in the endometrium during endometriosis and in cases of infertility

Abstract Background Previous studies, which were primarily based on the fluorescent in-situ hybridisation (FISH) technique, revealed conflicting evidence regarding male foetal microchimerism in endometriosis. FISH is a relatively less sensitive technique, as it is performed on a small portion of the sample. Additionally, the probes used in the previous studies specifically detected centromeric and telomeric regions of Y chromosome, which are gene-sparse heterochromatised regions. In the present study, a panel of molecular biology tools such as qPCR, expression microarray, RNA-seq and qRT-PCR were employed to examine the Y chromosome microchimerism in the endometrium using secretory phase samples from fertile and infertile patients with severe (stage IV) ovarian endometriosis (OE) and without endometriosis. Methods Microarray expression analysis followed by validation using RNA-seq and qRT-PCR experiments at the RNA levels and further validation at the DNA level by qPCR of target inserts for selected targets in eutopic endometrium samples obtained from control (CON) and stage IV ovarian endometriosis (OE), either from fertile (FCON and FOE; n = 30/each) or infertile (ICON and IOE; n = 30/each) women, were performed. Results Six coding (AMELY, PCDH11, SRY, TGIF2LY, TSPY3, and USP9Y) and 10 non-coding (TTTY2, TTTY4C, TTTY5, TTTYY6, TTTY8, TTTY10, TTTY14, TTTY21, TTTY22, and TTTY23) genes exhibited a bimodal pattern of expression characterised by low expression in samples from fertile patients and high expression in samples from infertile patients. Seven coding MSY-linked genes (BAGE, CD24, EIF1AY, NLGN4Y, PRKY, VCY and ZFY) exhibited differential regulation in microarray analysis, and this change was validated by RNA-seq or qRT-PCR. DNA inserts for 7 genes in various samples were validated by qPCR. The prevalence and concentration of PCR-positive target inserts for BAGE, PRKY, TTTY9A and ZFY displayed higher values in the fertile, control (FCON) patients compared with the fertile, endometriosis patients (FOE). Conclusion Several coding and non-coding MSY-linked genes displayed microchimerism as evidenced by the presence of their respective DNA inserts, along with their differential transcript expression, in the endometrium during endometriosis and in cases of infertility