Evaluation of the variations and potential clinical use of second trimester serum markers for the detection of pre-eclampsia

Background: In many areas of world, hypertensive disease in pregnancy is the single most common cause of maternal death. Pregnancy associated hypertension remains unsolved despite decades of intensive research and remains the most significant problem in obstetrics. The aim of present study is to evaluate the variations and potential clinical use of second trimester serum markers for the detection of pre-eclampsia.Methods: In an observational study, estimations of serum of human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) were done in 347 randomly selected women at 13-20 weeks of gestation in august 2015 to may 2016. Multiple of median (MOM) was calculated from charts of norms available for that weeks of pregnancy. The subjects were followed up till delivery for the development of hypertension in pregnancy and results analysed statistically with Chi-square test.Results: Out of 347, 47 women developed hypertyension and 2MOM of β hCG was significantly (P<0.001) elevated in those who developed hypertension compared to normotensive women. In our study group a significant associations between elevations in second trimester β-hCG and development of hypertension was observed. Thus with second trimester serum marker study, prediction of pre- eclampsia is possible at incipient stage and adverse pregnancy outcome can be minimized.Conclusions: Maternal serum β-hCG level was found to be significantly higher in hypertensive group than normal group

3D-QSAR, design, docking and in silico ADME studies of indole-glyoxylamides and indolyl oxoacetamides as potential pancreatic lipase inhibitors

The versatility of indole heterocyclic led to the understanding of their structural requirements to develop new potential derivatives. The indole derivatives estimated to be active against pancreatic lipase have been chosen to develop 3D-QSAR field and atom-based models, validated using the Schrodinger suite. Designing of new agents through QSAR based predictions and performing docking on these compounds helped in defining the binding pattern and pharmacophoric features like π–π stacking interactions, hydrogen bonding, and π-cation interactions with the amino acid residues. The protein-ligand complex displayed good binding energies. In silico ADMET properties have been generated using the Quick-prop module of the Schrodinger suite. The 3D-QSAR model is found to be statistically significant and evaluated using various parameters like R2, R2CV, stability, F-value, P-value, RMSE, Q2, and Pearson-r by PLS factor of 4. The field fractions and contour maps along with their visualizations have helped in inferring the essential nature and type of substituent that should be incorporated for a compound to display potent pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity. These deductions and evaluations of the synthesized compounds through the generation of models could be further utilized for designing new molecules rationally

Novel Bacterial Diversity and Fragmented eDNA Identified in Hyperbiofilm-Forming Pseudomonas aeruginosa Rugose Small Colony Variant

Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms represent a major threat to health care. Rugose small colony variants (RSCV) of P. aeruginosa, isolated from chronic infections, display hyperbiofilm phenotype. RSCV biofilms are highly resistant to antibiotics and host defenses. This work shows that RSCV biofilm aggregates consist of two distinct bacterial subpopulations that are uniquely organized displaying contrasting physiological characteristics. Compared with that of PAO1, the extracellular polymeric substance of RSCV PAO1ΔwspF biofilms presented unique ultrastructural characteristics. Unlike PAO1, PAO1ΔwspF released fragmented extracellular DNA (eDNA) from live cells. Fragmented eDNA, thus released, was responsible for resistance of PAO1ΔwspF biofilm to disruption by DNaseI. When added to PAO1, such fragmented eDNA enhanced biofilm formation. Disruption of PAO1ΔwspF biofilm was achieved by aurine tricarboxylic acid, an inhibitor of DNA-protein interaction. This work provides critical novel insights into the contrasting structural and functional characteristics of a hyperbiofilm-forming clinical bacterial variant relative to its own wild-type strain

Estimation and comparison of thrombocyte count by peripheral blood smear method and automated method in women with pregnancy

Background: Thrombocyte is important and very essential component of blood and have significant role in maintenance of hemostasis. Thrombocyte count is an important investigation done in various acquired and congenital coagulable states which include conditions like pregnancy. Thrombocyte count is routinely done by automated hematology analyzer method. The automated hematology analyzer counters are not usually available at all centres especially in peripheral and rural side though thrombocytes can also be assessed from the peripheral blood smears, which can be easily and precisely done at any set up. Aim and objective of this study was to compare the thrombocyte estimation by peripheral blood smear method and automated hematology analyzer in pregnant women.Methods: Thrombocyte estimation was done from samples taken from 120 normal pregnant women between December 2018 to March 2019, where samples were Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetic acid (EDTA) anticoagulated. Thrombocyte was counted manually using PBS (Leishman stain) and hematology analyzer (Sysmex XN1000 series). Thrombocyte counts were expressed in Mean and standard Deviation. Statistical analysis was done by student’s t test using MS excel and SPSS version 17.Results: Thrombocyte count by PBS have mean value of 2.04 lacs/mm3 with standard deviation of 0.56 lacs/mm3 and by automated method have mean value of 1.89 lacs/mm3 and standard deviation of 0.71 lacs/mm3 with p value 0.010. Thus, there was no statistically significant difference found between two methods.Conclusions: Estimation of thrombocyte count on the basis of manual thrombocyte count is a reliable technique and can be used to validate automated thrombocyte counts. It can also be used in under resourced laboratories, where there are no automated counters of good precision available. In fact, all the tests showing abnormal thrombocyte counts must be reported only after cross examining on PBS

Evaluation of Pain Experience During and After Scaling and Root Planing (SRP) Using Local / Topical Anesthetic Agents: A Comparative Study

ABSTRACT To evaluate the pain experience of the patient during and after scaling and root planing (SRP) using local or topical anesthetic agents. A total of 30 Chronic Periodontitis patients participated in this study. Three quadrants in each patient were randomly allotted to receive non-surgical periodontal therapy i.e. scaling &amp; root planing (SRP) with 2% lidocaine injection (Group 1) or topical application of 8% Lidocaine + 0.8% Dibucaine (Group 2) or 2% lidocaine gel (Group 3). Pain was assessed midway through the treatment and immediately after treatment (post-operatively) using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The patients were asked about pain /discomfort following treatment after one day and their preference for the anesthetic if any. ANOVA followed by Bonferroni&apos;s post hoc Analysis was used to compare the mean pain score in all the three study groups. Paired t-tests were used to analyse pain scores during and after treatment in each groups. The inter-group comparisons of mean pain score in all the 3 study groups during procedure and post-operatively among the groups were statistically significant(&lt; 0.05) but pain scores during the procedure between group 2 and group 3 were not statistically significant (0.061). The experience of pain or discomfort one day post operatively was significantly higher in Group1 (2% Lidocaine Injection) 70% compared to Group 2 (8% Lidocaine + 0.8% Dibucaine) 36.70% and group 3 (2% Lidocaine Topical) 46.70%. Though 56.70% of the patients in the study preferred (8% Lidocaine + 0.8% Dibucaine) anesthetic gel for procedure over 2% Lidocaine anesthetic Injection and 2% Lidocaine Topical. Lidocaine Injection 2% was more effective in controlling pain during scaling and root planing than 8% Lidocaine + 0.8% Dibucaine and 2% Lidocaine Topical, but 8% Lidocaine + 0.8% Dibucaine anesthetic gel had less pain/discomfort one day post-operatively and most preferred anesthetic when compared with other two as it avoided postoperative numbness, fear from needle prick and favourable taste of the anesthetic gel

An ab initio topographical investigation on the molecular electrostatic potential of some chemical mutagens

A detailed topographical investigation on the molecular electrostatic potentials (MESPs) of different conformers of acetaldehyde, nitrous acid and hydroxylamine has been carried out at the ab initio SCF level using TZ2p, 6-31G* and STO-3G basis sets. In general, large regions of negative potential have been observed. An attempt has been made to correlate these potentials with biological activities of the molecules. Mutagenic and toxicological properties appear to be related to the presence of these large negative zones

Implementing research recognition award knowledge-based system (R2AKS)

In an effort to recognize the contributions of outstanding researchers within a university, a private university in Malaysia had introduced a Research Award.The process of identifying the candidates to be evaluated by a Selection Committee is currently carried out manually by personnel from the university's Research Enterprise Office (REO).Although the selection criteria are well-established, the manual process is tedious and time-consuming and more importantly it is subject to the discretion of the panel on the Selection Committee.The prototype implemented in this study is called Research Recognition Award Knowledge-based System (R2AKS) which aims to assist the REO personnel to select the winner for the Research Award.At the same time, R2AKS is able to capture the valuable knowledge residing in the researchers and REO personnel as well as from the university’s policies, procedures and templates.The prototype does not only serve as a DSS tool for helping REO personnel in the selection of the winner for each category but also for the capture of valuable insights, intuition, historical experience, judgments and know -how of the REO personnel when they are performing the selection process.Finally, the R2AKS is modest effort by the university to leverage their existing knowledge while at the same time ensuring the knowledge capture is well-documented, reused, and accessible to the public and distributed throughout the organization

Evaluation of APREQCFR Coordination Procedures for Charlotte Douglas International Airport

NASA has been collaborating with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and aviation industry partners to develop and demonstrate new concepts and technologies for the Integrated Arrival, Departure, and Surface (IADS) traffic management capabilities under the Airspace Technology Demonstration 2 (ATD-2) project. One of the goal of The IADS capabilities in the ATD-2 project is to increase predictability and increase throughput via improving TMI compliance. The IADS capabilities that will impact TMI compliance are built upon previous NASA research, the Precision Departure Release Capability (PDRC). The proposed paper will evaluate the APREQCFR process between ATC Tower and Center and information sharing between ATC Tower and the airline Ramp tower. Subjective measures collected from the HITL surveys (e.g., workload, situational awareness, acceptability, usability) and performance metrics such as TMI, TMAT, and pushback advisory compliance from APREQCFR flights and will be reported