Correlation of vitamin D levels and gestational diabetes mellitus

INTRODUCTION: Vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency is currently a global pandemic affecting some one billion of all ages and ethnic groups. Gestational vitamin D deficiency is common. Reports from developing (such as Bangladesh, India, Iran, Pakistan, Somalia) as well as developed countries (such as Australia, Finland, Japan, the Netherlands, United Kingdom and USA) show a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency. Maternal vitamin D deficiency in early pregnancy has been associated with elevated risk of gestational diabetes mellitus. Other associations with maternal vitamin D deficiency include increased risk of pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, low birth weight and cesarean section and anemia. A positive correlation has been seen between maternal and child vitamin D levels. Vitamin D has direct effects on the innate as well as adaptive immune systems. Vitamin D has an increasingly recognised repertoire of classical action (calcium metabolism) and nonclassical actions (insulin action and secretion, immune modulation and lung development). It therefore has the potential to influence many factors in the developing fetus.The present study demonstrated a significantly greater risk of anemia in pregnant women with severe vitamin D deficiencythan that in normal groups. There is a significant correlation between vitamin D deficiency andanemia.There is little information on vitamin D intake in pregnancy and lactation and few studies on clinical outcomes. The prevalence of Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is increasing globally and India is no exception. According to random National Survey in India (2004), prevalence of GDM is 16.55% and in a hospital survey in 2008, it was found to be 21.6% with GDM and impaired glucose tolerance combined. The known risk factors for GDM include maternal overweight and obesity, race/ethnicity, prior history of GDM, family history of T2DM, history of previous fetal death, macrosomic infant, and increasing maternal age. Recently, it has been found that vitamin D receptors are expressed in large number of other tissues including those involved in the regulation of glucose metabolism, such as muscle and pancreatic beta cells. Therefore it was hypothesised that GDM might result from pregnancy induced insulin resistance and impaired secretion to compensate for it. It is pertinent to establish a fool proof association between maternal Vitamin D deficiency and GDM, its exact mechanism, and to knowthe impact of vitamin D supplementation and its dosage during pregnancy among different sets of population through large case control studies. There is also a gap in knowledge on optimal dosing for pre-existing vitamin D deficiency and the optimal gestational age at which to start the supplementation. Further studies are required during pregnancy not only for maternal skeletal preservation and fetal skeletal formation but also for fetal imprinting that may affect neurological development, immune function, and chronic disease susceptibility soon after birth as well as later in life. METHODOLOGY: Study design: Prospective longitudinal observational study. Study Population: All low risk antenatal mothers as control group and Gestational diabetes mother as study group admitted in PSG hospital – labour ward. Study Locale (geographic area): Department of obstetrics and Gynaecology- Ward PSG Institute of Medical science and research centre, peelamedu, Coimbatore. Sample Size: With reference -Vitamin D status and gestational diabetes mellitus. FORMULA: N =2x(2alpha +2 beta)2 x SD2 = 445.21. Result= 27 in each group. So approximate taking 30 in each group. Sampling Method: All pregnant mothers visiting labour ward will be selected randomly as control group and Gestational diabetes mother as study group. Patients will be randomly allocated to either one of the 2 groups. Hospital based prospective study. RESULTS: Vitamin D levels were compared between GDM patients and normal patients.The comparison of vitamin D levels between GDM and low risk antenatal patients showed statistically insignificant results because i had included only GDM patients who were on diet, need further studies.In both groups vitamin D level is deficient due to changing lifestyle.Women with GDM associated with Vitamin D deficiency tend to present at an earlier gestational age for delivery with complaints of abdominal pain/PROM than normal patients.Women with low vitamin D levels had prolonged duration of labour when compared to low risk women which is statistically significant.There is insignificant association observed between Body Mass Index and Vitamin D status. The association of antenatal maternal vitamin D status with birth weight of neonate yields insignificant relationship. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency is alarmingly high in pregnant women in India and has become a re-emerging public health issue. There are some limitations that should be noted. The sample size taken was small and hence a large randomized controlled trial is necessary to determine the vitamin D levels in pregnancy and to draw guidelines regarding screening and supplementation.. The comparison of vitamin D levels between GDM and low risk antenatal patients showed statistically insignificant results because i had included only GDM patients who were on diet, need further studies

SEASONAL ASSESSMENT OF HYDROGRAPHIC VARIABLES AND PHYTOPLANKTON COMMUNITY IN THE ARABIAN SEA WATERS OF KERALA, SOUTHWEST COAST OF INDIA

The seasonal variation of the hydrographic variables and phytoplankton species in the Arabian Sea waters of the Kerala coast, Southern India was investigated during different seasons. The variables such as pH, temperature, salinity, turbidity and chlorophyll-a contents of water were found to be high during pre-monsoon season and the dissolved oxygen content was minimal. The concentration of nutrients viz., nitrate, phosphate, silicate varied independently. In the study a total of 53 species of phytoplankton were recorded. Their density was higher during the post-monsoon season than during other seasons and the diatoms were found to be the dominant species. The major phytoplankton in terms of frequency and abundance were the species namely, Biddulphia mobiliensis, Chaetoceros curvisetus, Licmophora abbreviata, Skeletonema costatum, Prorocentrum micans and Oscillatoria sp. They showed significant positive correlation with pH, temperature, salinity, nitrate, phosphate and chlorophyll-a contents, whereas turbidity, dissolved oxygen and silicate exhibited significant negative correlation. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) developed two principal components with 84.74% of total variability in the water quality which separated pre- and post-monsoon periods from the monsoon season on axis I, and pre-monsoon and monsoon periods from post-monsoon on axis II

International Consensus Statement on Rhinology and Allergy: Rhinosinusitis

Background: The 5 years since the publication of the first International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Rhinosinusitis (ICAR‐RS) has witnessed foundational progress in our understanding and treatment of rhinologic disease. These advances are reflected within the more than 40 new topics covered within the ICAR‐RS‐2021 as well as updates to the original 140 topics. This executive summary consolidates the evidence‐based findings of the document. Methods: ICAR‐RS presents over 180 topics in the forms of evidence‐based reviews with recommendations (EBRRs), evidence‐based reviews, and literature reviews. The highest grade structured recommendations of the EBRR sections are summarized in this executive summary. Results: ICAR‐RS‐2021 covers 22 topics regarding the medical management of RS, which are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Additionally, 4 topics regarding the surgical management of RS are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Finally, a comprehensive evidence‐based management algorithm is provided. Conclusion: This ICAR‐RS‐2021 executive summary provides a compilation of the evidence‐based recommendations for medical and surgical treatment of the most common forms of RS

Experimental Energy And Exergy Analysis Of A Flat Plate Solar Air Heater With A New Design Of Integrated Sensible Heat Storage

This paper presents an experimental energy and exergy analysis of a novel flat plate solar air heater (SAH). It has a specially designed absorber plate made up of copper strips (copper tubes with extended copper fins on both sides), welded longitudinal to one another. This structure acts as an integrated absorber-cum-storage unit, where a high quality synthetic oil (Therminol-55) is filled within those copper tubes as a sensible heat storage (SHS) medium. To study the impact of this novel design and the sensible heat storage over the performance of the SAH, the results were compared with the output of a conventional SAH of similar dimensions. For the precise comparison of their performances, the experiments were conducted on both the SAHs at same location, simultaneously. It ensures identical testing conditions such as the amount of solar radiation received and surrounding environment of the experimental setup. Exergy analysis is a powerful thermodynamic tool and it helps in computing the actual output of a system, theoretically. It helps the researchers to optimize the system design to compensate the present and also the future needs. Experiments were conducted for two different mass flow rates (0.018 kg/s, and 0.026 kg/s). The results showed that the maximum energy and exergy efficiency obtained was in the range of 49.4-59.2% and 18.25-37.53% respectively, for the SAH with sensible storage at m = 0.026 kg/s. Besides, the SAH with sensible heat storage was observed to perform better than the conventional flat plate SAH without storage

Studies on evaluation of Poondi Lake and its impact on bioindicator fish oreochromis niloticus

Poondi Lake, the major reservoir that supplies water for the metropolitan city Chennai should be devoid of pollution. Even though, the water is treated in prior to the supply, it is mandatory to check the quality of freshwater ecosystem in a periodic manner. Hence, this study is conducted to assess the water quality of Poondi Lake. The results suggest that even though there is presence of Gram-negative rods and Gram-positive cocci in the water and sediment levels, the colony count were under permissible levels. This ensures that the quality of water is safe and potable for humans. The proximate analysis, relative organ weight index, biomarker analysis, enzyme and protein analysis in the bio-indicator species Oreochromis niloticus confirms that the freshwater ecosystem of Poondi Lake reservoir is of good quality and the impact of pollution is less. But further analysis at the molecular level will depict the actual scenario of pollution in long term effect. To conclude, periodic assessment of fresh water ecosystem should be done to evaluate and prevent the pollution of freshwater. Even though pollution has an impact on the macromolecules, evaluating at genetic levels gives us a clear picture on the effect of pollution on fresh water biota

Studies on developmental variation of isoperoxidase and protein profile of Zea mays L.

The present study was aimed to produce the isoperoxidase and protein marker for the maize cultivars from India and to find the isoperoxidase and protein expression on the various developmental stages. The leaf samples of Zea mays L. were harvested on 3rd, 7th, 11th, 15th, 19th, 23rd and 27th d for electrophoretic analysis of isoperoxidase and protein. The total protein and isoperoxidase were isolated using the standard procedure described by Sadasivam and Manickam. Isozyme and protein separation was carried out using 10% non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The banding pattern suggested several similarities as well as presence of unique isoperoxidase and protein in each stage. These studies will be useful for the identification of the major proteins present at different developmental stages of Z. mays

Synthesis and characterization of L-threonine ammonium bromide: grown on single crystal with experimental studies on NLO

L-threonine ammonium bromide (LTAB) is a significant nonlinear optical (NLO) material. The crystal has been grown by the slow evaporation technique (SET). Ammonium bromide has properties, which are that of chiral molecules and zwitterions environmental benefits due to advance NLO properties of LTAB. L-threonine-doped ammonium bromide crystals are grown using SET at ambient temperature. In this study, the unit cell factors are derived from X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. The powder XRD spectra suggests the formation of orthorhombic crystal system. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis depicts the different functional groups offered in the grown crystals. The study of optical transmittance was done by crystals utilizing ultraviolet, visible, spectral analytical methods. Further, the minimum cutoff wavelength of the grown crystal has been recognized as 220 nm. The overall result of the second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency is depicted higher and nearly around LTAB obtained crystal which is greater than potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP). It proves the potential application of LTAB crystal in optoelectronic industries.We would like to acknowledge the Department of Science and Technology (DST, Delhi), Government of India, for the award of DST-FIRST Level-1(SR/FST/PS-1/2018/35) scheme to the Department of Physics. We appreciate the KLEF for offering infrastructure, facilities, basic found (Perform basic instruments) and support for the current investigation.Scopu

An Evaluation Using Cloud Services for Car-To-Car Communication

Modern hand-held devices such as smartphones and tablets have become high in demand. Wide range of commercial concepts and possibilities have come into the limelight due to the extra features fitted in these devices. In particular, most smartphones and tablets regularly include cameras, high-speed processors, GPS and internet access. With emerging technology, there are many applications that allow the processing of real time information and location based services. Mobile devices from various platforms gain much popularity and become more advanced these days. In short, we are using them to accomplish our daily tasks. Hence, two applications are developed and tested with cloud services integration