CURCUMIN PROTECTION AGAINST CADMIUM CHLORIDE-INDUCED BIOCHEMICAL ALTERATIONS IN LUNGS OF SWISS ALBINO MICE

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of curcumin against cadmium chloride (CdCl2)-induced toxicity in lungs of albino mice. Methods: Albino mice were divided into eight groups and five mice were kept in each group. The experiment was carried out for 15 and 45 days. Group 1 mice were kept as control. Group 2 mice were given an oral dose of 1 mg/kg body weight of cadmium chloride on alternate days. Group 3 mice were administered an oral dose of 1 mg/kg body weight of cadmium chloride on alternate days and 100 mg/kg body weight of curcumin daily. Group 4 mice were received an oral dose of 100 mg/kg body weight of curcumin daily. Autopsies were done on 15 and 45 days post-treatment. Results: The results of the present study showed a significant decrease in organ weight at both the intervals. Biochemical analysis showed decline in total glycogen, cholesterol, and protein concentration in lung of cadmium chloride-treated mice. Furthermore, the cadmium chloride concentration in cadmium chloride-treated group was increased in comparison to the control group. However, the treatment with curcumin ameliorated cadmium chloride-induced changes in lung tissue as it instigated the antioxidant enzymes remarkably. However, cotreatment of cadmium chloride with curcumin boosted the changes due to cadmium chloride. Conclusion: Hence, we concluded that curcumin has protective efficacy in the lungs against the cadmium chloride generated toxicity in albino mice

Sirenomelia with Potter syndrome: a case report and review of literature

Sirenomelia or mermaid syndrome is a rare congenital anomaly characterized by variable degree of fusion of lower extremities. Awareness to this rare condition is important for prenatal diagnosis and prognosticating the fetus. The exact etiopathogenesis is still an area of research. Two pathogenic hypotheses are the vascular steal hypothesis and the defective blastogenesis hypothesis with exceptions reported in literature

PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF CURCUMA LONGA ADMINISTRATION ON LUNG OF MICE EXPOSED TO CADMIUM

Objective: Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal which is introduced into the environment by various anthropogenic and natural activities. It can cause various health problems even at low concentration by inducing oxidative damage in tissues of organisms. Nowadays, the focus has been raised toward the use of herbal treatment against the heavy metal toxicity. Hence, the present study was aimed to investigate the protective effect of curcumin (Cur) against Cd-induced toxicity in the lung of albino mice.Materials and Methods: Albino mice were divided into 4 groups and 5 mice were kept in each group. The experiment was carried out for 15 and 45 days. Group 1 mice were kept as control. Group 2 mice were given an oral dose of 1mg/kg body weight of Cd on alternate days. Group 3 mice were administered an oral dose of 1mg/kg body weight of Cd on alternate days and 100 mg/kg body weight of Cur daily. Group 4 mice were received an oral dose of 100 mg/kg body weight of Cur daily. Autopsies were done on 15 and 45 days post-treatment.Result: Biochemical observations showed an increased level of lipid peroxidation and decreased the activity of antioxidant enzymes, i.e., superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. However, Cur administration improved the level of malondialdehyde and oxidative stress in lung tissue by its antioxidant activity. Furthermore, cotreatment of Cd and Cur ameliorated the antioxidant level.Conclusion: The results of the present experiment showed the protective action of Cur on the Cd-induced oxidative damage in the lung of mice

Evaluation of risk of malignancy index as a diagnostic tool in cases with adnexal mass

Background: Ovarian tumour usually presents as adnexal mass but often it is difficult to differentiate between benign and malignant tumour. Several diagnostic modalities such as sonography and tumours markers have been evaluated in the past, but none have been established as an ultimate diagnostic tool individually. The development of a mathematical formula using a logistic model, incorporating menopausal status, the serum level of a glycoprotein called CA-125 and USG score has been described in the form of different malignancy indices. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the various risks of malignancy indices (RMI 1, 2, 3, and 4) in the pre-operative evaluation of adnexal masses especially to differentiate between benign and malignant masses. Another objective of the present study was to compare the four RMI with each other in terms of various statistical parameters like specificity and sensitivity.Methods: Women with adnexal masses who underwent surgical treatment were included in this study as histopathological examination was taken as gold standard to calculate the accuracy of RMI. The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value and negative predictive value of all the four RMI were calculated and data analyzed.Results: A total of 65 patients were included in the study. RMI 1,2,3,4 was calculated according to their formula. Sensitivity of RMI- 1, 2, 3 and 4 was calculated to be 63.63%, 77.27%, 63.63% and 77.27% respectively. Specificity of RMI- 1, 2, 3 and 4 was calculated to be 69.04%, 64.28%, 64.28% and 62.79% respectively.Conclusions: Risk of malignancy index is a good diagnostic tool to differentiate between benign and malignant pelvic masses. RMI- 2 and RMI-4 had maximum sensitivity while RMI-1 had maximum specificity. Overall RMI-2 appears to be the most accurate of all the four RMI

Assessment of Biomass and Carbon Stock of Trees within the Campus of IGNOU, New Delhi (India)

This study aims to assess the biomass and carbon stock of the trees within IGNOU campus situated at the Indian national capital, New Delhi for an enhanced understanding about the carbon sequestration potential of the university campuses in urban setting. The aim of the paper is centered on the need to assess terrestrial carbon pools within a campus situated in the semi-arid forests of India which is significant for building suitable action plans for the purpose of managing ecosystems amidst the threat of anthropogenic climate change occurring due to rapid urbanization. The assessment of the biomass and carbon stock of the trees of the selected species within the campus was done by non-destructive method using allometric equations used prominently in previous studies identifying a total of 20 species of the trees comprising 1260 individual trees belonging to 14 different families of the trees. Findings of this study on identified campus trees, which comprised 1,260 individual trees, demonstrated to have moderate maturity in terms of storing carbon in the form of their biomass with the average DBH 25.34 cm. The values of their estimated total biomass and carbon stock were 75.26446 t/tree  and 37.63223 tC/tree respectively. The maximum value of the total biomass 13.01 t/tree was of Ficus recemos, and of the carbon stock 6.50tC/tree was of Ficus recemosa. Azadirachta indica species were found to be the most dominant species and their sampled trees were found to be able to sequester 537.526 tons of carbon in their standing biomass. The Phyllanthus emblica had the lowest carbon sequestration potential with 10.9 tons. This paper offers valuable insight with respect to the carbon sequestration potential of university campus situated in urban settings of a semi-arid forest ecosystem of Delhi by assessing the above- and below ground carbon storage potential of the trees. The findings are of significance for different stakeholders including primarily future researchers, planners and decision-makers engaged in the process of urbanization. &nbsp

Evaluation of thyroid dysfunction in patients with menstrual disorders of reproductive age group: a prospective cross-sectional study

Background: Thyroid disorders specifically the hypothyroidism has been associated with menstrual disturbances in women of reproductive age group. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and its correlation with menstrual disorders in women of reproductive age group.Methods: A hospital based prospective analytical study was carried out in the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Nalanda Medical College and Hospital, Patna from March 2017 to March 2018. 56 women of reproductive age group between 18 to 45 years presenting with menstrual disorders (like menorrhagia, oligo/hypomenorrhea, polymenorrhea, metrorrhagia, and amenorrhea) were recruited in this study. Thyroid function test was done in all patients. Statistical analysis done.Results: Maximum number of patients were seen in the age group of 31-40 years. Most common menstrual complain was menorrhagia (46.42%) followed by hypo/oligomenorrhoea (17.86%). In patients with menstrual disorders, 41.07 % had thyroid disorders in which subclinical hypothyroidism was prevalent in 17.86%, overt hypothyroidism in 12.5%, and overt hyperthyroidism in 5.35% of the women. Menorrhagia was the commonest menstrual disorder (52.94%) seen in hypothyroid patients followed by polymenorrhoea. A high degree positive correlation was observed between thyroid dysfunction and menstrual disorder (Pearson correlation coefficient, r=0.93).Conclusions: Our study concluded that thyroid dysfunction should be considered as an important etiological factor for menstrual irregularity. Thus, thyroid function tests should be performed in all patients with menstrual irregularities to avoid unnecessary interventions like curettage and hysterectomy

Changing trends over 5 years in indications of caesarean section as per Robson’s group classification in a tertiary care centre

Background: Caesarean section is the most common obstetric operation that saves lives of countless mother and babies.  However, its inappropriate usage may also be a reason for circumstantial increase in maternal and perinatal morbidities and mortalities. Aim of this study was to examine Changing trends in indications of Cesarean delivery rates based on Robson’s groups classification in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MLN Medical College, Prayagraj over 5-year period. Methods: Our study was a retrospective observational study over 5 years (January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2020) period in Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, SRN Hospital, MLN Medical College, Prayagraj. All women who came to SRNH labor room for delivery during the duration of study. All vaginal deliveries including operative vaginal deliveries and all C section done after 28weeks of pregnancy. Analysis of C section indication according to Robson Classification. Results: There were 10,332 vaginal deliveries and 5306 cesarean deliveries during this 5 year of study period. The 5-year overall CSR of our tertiary care hospital was 33.9 %, which varied from 38 % in 2016 and has steadily fallen to 26.8 % in 2019-2020. Robson’s group one had the maximum number of subjects (n = 3800), out of which 37% (n =1441) had cesarean section followed by group 3, of which, 15 % (n = 546) underwent cesarean section. Conclusions: The ten-group classification relies on well-defined parameters, and it may well be easily applied to the present dataset of 15638 deliveries. It helped to spot the main groups of subjects who contribute most to the overall CS rate. It also aided to identify subgroups which required closer monitoring for in-depth investigation of the indications for cesarean section. It is important to target the first four groups of TGCS which constitute about 75 % of all deliveries

Knowledge, attitude and practices regarding cervical and breast cancer: a comparative study in a tertiary care centre

Background: Cervical and breast cancer are commonest cancer among Indian females. Timely screening through simple methods can prevent advanced stage of disease, thereby preventing mortality. Updated knowledge about available standard preventive methods have a huge impact in improving the acceptance and thus increasing the percentage of screened, vaccinated and treated population. Objective were to evaluate and compare knowledge, attitude and practices about cervical and breast cancer among paramedics and hospital visitors at tertiary care teaching institute.Methods: 100 participants; 50 each of paramedics and hospital visitors of Swaroop Rani hospital Prayagraj were assessed for knowledge, attitude and practices regarding cervical and breast cancer using predesigned questionnaire.Results: The 100% of paramedics had heard about cervical and breast cancer while among hospital visitors only 66% had heard about cervical cancer and 78% about breast cancer. Regarding in depth knowledge of symptomatology paramedics had higher percentage for both cervical and breast cancer. The knowledge of cervical and breast cancer screening methods was significantly higher among paramedics as compared to hospital visitors. Positive attitude regarding cervical and breast cancer was 60% and 74% among paramedics while 26% and 16% among hospital visitors. Both groups showed poor practice (34%,42% among paramedics while 12% and 6% in hospital visitors).Conclusions: Despite various focused programs on cancer awareness and preventive strategies being run already significant differences were observed in knowledge, attitude and practice of paramedics and hospital visitors. Although the knowledge was good among paramedic’s gap was seen in attitude and practice that warrants the need of focusing on awareness generation through different platforms

Comparative study of intravenous hydralazine and labetalol in severe hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are among the most common medical complications of pregnancy and major cause of maternal, fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of intravenous hydralazine and labetalol for management of severe hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.Methods: This prospective study was conducted among 100 women admitted with SBP ≥ 160 or DBP ≥ 110 mmHg or both. Patients were divided into 2 groups randomly: labetalol and hydralazine group.Results: Majority of patients (38%) were in the age group of 21-25 years and primigravida (52%). There was more significant decrease in the systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure at the end of 15 and 30 minutes in labetalol group. Labetalol required fewer doses as compared to hydralazine to achieve the target blood pressure (average 1.95 versus 3.1). Total numbers of term deliveries were 19 (38%) in hydralazine group and 16 (32%) in labetalol group. Pre-term deliveries in hydralazine and labetalol group were 14 (28%) and 15 (30%) respectively. Headache was significantly more common in hydralazine treated patients than labetalol group.Conclusions: Both hydralazine and labetalol were effective and well-tolerated in the treatment of severe hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Labetalol may be preferred because it was more effective in lowering the systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure to achieve target levels with less number of doses

Phytosociological Assessment of Vegetation at Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) Campus at New Delhi

The paper aims to investigate the phytosociological attributes the vegetation of the managed campus area of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) situated at New Delhi in India. The purpose of the study was to understand the diversity pattern of vegetation for its characterization. The vegetation sampling and data analysis were undertaken by adopting universally standard procedures. The findings of the study demonstrated that the study area had a total of 116 species of plants which belonged to 28 different families. Out of which 55 species of trees, 29 species of shrubs and 32 species of herbs were taken on record. The most common plant species based on importance value in tree, shrub and herb layers were found to be Azadiracta indica (IVI-66.87), Matricaria chamomilla (RVI-51.89) and Cynodon dactylon (RVI- 106.11), respectively. Amongst families, Fabaceae was found to be the most dominant. Results reflect dominance of higher trees over ground floras. This study provides baseline information for future studies on the managed and natural forest patches exiting in the campus, and suggests that suitable conservation and management of biodiversity can improve the natural floral and faunal value of institutional campus