A Review on Prediction of Academic Performance of Students at-Risk Using Data Mining Techniques

Educational data mining is the procedure of converting raw data collected from educational databases into some useful information. It can be helpful in designing and answering research questions like performance prediction of students in academics, factors that affect the students’ performance, help the teachers in understanding the problems faced by the students to understand the course content and complexity of the subject taken so that the teachers can take timely action to control the dropout rate. This also includes improving the teaching learning process so that the interventions can be taken at the right time to improve the performance of the student. This paper is the review of the research work done in the field of educational data mining for the prediction of students’ performance. The factors that influence the performance of the students i.e. the type of classrooms they attend such as traditional or on-line, socio-economic, educational background of the family, attitude toward studies and challenges faced by the students during course progress. These factors leads to the categorization of the students into three groups “Low-Risk”: who have High probability of succeeding, “Medium-Risk”: who may succeed in their examination, “High-Risk”: who have High probability of failing or drop-out. It elaborates the different ways to improve the teaching learning process by providing the students personal assistance, notes, class-assignments and special class tests. The most efficient techniques that are used in educational data mining are also reviewed such as; classification, regression, clustering and and prediction

Randomized control trial to compare the effectiveness of mifepristone followed by misoprostol at 12 hours interval versus misoprostol alone in second trimester medical termination of pregnancy

Background: Mifepristone priming in second trimester abortions not only decreases the induction-abortion interval (IAI) but also lessens the total misoprostol dose required and hence reduces adverse effects. The present study aims to compare the role of mifepristone priming 12 hours before misoprostol administration so as to increase patient compliance and shorten the duration of hospital stay.Methods: This prospective study was conducted over a period of one year, on 50 patients requiring second trimester abortion, at Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Government Medical College, Amritsar. The patients were divided into two groups with 1:1 randomization. In Group A, 25 women were given tablet mifepristone 200 mg orally followed 12 hours later by tablet misoprostol 400 µg per vaginum followed by the same dose 3 hourly for a maximum of five doses per 24 hours. In group B, 25 women received only tablet misoprostol 400 µg vaginally in the posterior fornix followed by the same dose 3 hourly for a maximum of five doses per 24 hours. Primary outcome was to compare the completeness of expulsion of products of conception by pelvic ultrasound after 48 hours of the last dose administered. Secondary outcome was to compare the Induction abortion interval (IAI), mean dose of misoprostol required, side effects, effect of parity, gestational age and cervical dilatation on IAI with both the regimens used.Results: The success rate was 76% in group A and 64% in group B. The mean induction abortion interval in group A was 8.9±4.70 hours whereas in group B, it was 13.14±6.03 hours and this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.008). A statistically significant difference was also observed in mean dose of misoprostol required in group A and B being 1232.00±398.60 µg and 1584.00±423.94 µg respectively (p=0.004). The side effects were less in group A. Parity and cervical dilatation hold an inverse relation with the mean IAI whereas it has a direct relation with the gestational age.Conclusions: Regimen involving mifepristone priming 12 hours before misoprostol is better than misoprostol alone regimen with significant reduction in IAI, mean dose of misoprostol and less side effects.

Evaluation of micro-ESR method with Westergren method for determination of erythrocyte sedimentation rate

Background: Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) test provides valuable information in screening, diagnosis, as well as monitoring disease activity and therapeutic response in numerous health conditions. The most commonly used method for determination of ESR is Westergren method, which is time-consuming and requires a large amount of blood sample. There are several other methods, like Micro-ESR method which overcome the limitations of conventional Westergren method, hence the present study was performed to compare results of Westergren method with Micro-ESR method for determination of ESR.Methods: In the present study, blood samples from 100 patients were processed for ESR determination by Westergren method and Micro-ESR method. The results obtained were compared using Pearson’s correlation test.Results: The Westergren method was the reference method and the Micro-ESR method was testing method. The comparison was done between Micro- ESR method results (X-axis) and results of Westergren method (Y-axis). The slope of the regression line using linear regression was 1.010 with a y-intercept of -0.788. Statistical analysis demonstrated significant correlation of results of Micro-ESR method with Westergren method (r = 0.9977).Conclusions: Micro-ESR is a reliable and precise method for ESR measurement. The Micro- ESR method is simple to perform and requires very small volume of blood (0.2ml) as compared to conventional Westergren method. It can be potential useful tool in performing ESR determination especially for the patients with limitation of blood availability as pediatric patients and very old patients.

Utility of urinary gram stain as a diagnostic method for urinary tract infection

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common infections in humans. Timely diagnosis and treatment are necessary to reduce the complications from UTI. Urine culture is still the gold standard diagnostic test for UTI, however it is costly and time consuming. The present study was conducted to compare the utility of urinary gram stain, microscopy of centrifuged urine sample and urine culture for the diagnosis of UTI.Methods: 100 urine samples were processed for gram stain, culture and microscopy. Urinary gram stain findings were correlated with microscopy and culture results. Using urine culture as gold standard, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of urinary gram stain were assessed for the diagnosis of UTI.Results: The accuracy of urinary gram stain for detection of UTI was 97%.Conclusions: Urinary gram stain is a reliable diagnostic test for early detection of UTI

Comparative effectiveness of simultaneous administration of mifepristone and misoprostol versus interval regimen of mifepristone followed by misoprostol 12 hours apart in second trimester medical abortion

Background: In second trimester abortion, medical methods are preferred. Prostaglandins are the most widely used. Amongst them, misoprostol is the most commonly used. Thus, the study was conducted to delineate the effectiveness of simultaneous administration of mifepristone and misoprostol versus interval regimen mifepristone followed by misoprostol 12 hours apart in second trimester medical abortion.Methods: It was a prospective, single centered, comparative study conducted on 50 patients in Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, GMC, Amritsar coming for second trimester abortion, either elective or emergency, with gestational age between 12-20 weeks. Initially, 53 patients were enrolled in the study, 3 patients dropped out at different stages of study. Finally, 50 patients were enrolled and divided into two groups of 25 patients each by 1:1 randomization. In Group-A, mifepristone 200 mg orally along with misoprostol 600µg vaginally were given simultaneously, followed by 400 µg vaginal misoprostol every 4 hours for a maximum of five doses in 24 hours. Group-B initially received mifepristone 200 mg per oral followed by 12 hours later misoprostol 400µg vaginally and then 400µg vaginal misoprostol every 4 hours for a maximum of five doses in 24 hours. Primary outcome measure was effectiveness of regimen in complete abortion, which was confirmed on pelvic ultrasound 1-week after the last dose. Secondary outcome measure was to compare the induction abortion interval (IAI), dose of misoprostol required and adverse drug reaction (ADR) among both the regimens. P-value <0.05 was taken as statistically significant.Results: Mean age in Group-A was 25.68±3.79 years while in Group-B was 23.40±2.73 years. Both the regimens had success rate of 76% for complete abortion. However, IAI in Group-A was 5.9±4.47 hours whereas in Group-B was 9.6±5.07 hours, which was statistically significant (p= 0.009). A statistically significant difference was also observed in the mean dose of misoprostol between two groups that is, 1000±200µg and 1425±437.41µg respectively (p=0.01). Gestational age was related to IAI from 13 to 17.6 weeks in both groups (p=0.01) while no significant relation was seen between them in more than 17.6 weeks of gestation (p=0.63).Conclusions: Simultaneous administration of mifepristone and misoprostol showed better results than interval regimen in term of significant lesser induction abortion interval, lower dosages of misoprostol required with comparable success rates

Uncomplicated post-dated pregnancy in one horn of bicornis bicollis uterus

Mullerian anomalies result from abnormal fusion of mullerian ducts (paramesonephric ducts). The prevalence of       1-10% is seen in general population. Patients with uterine anomalies have chances of infertility, miscarriage, preterm labor, cervical incompetence and are an independent risk factor for uterine rupture. Just a few pregnancies are carried forward till term without any maternal and fetal complications. Here we report a rare case of bicornuate uterus bicollis that successfully conceived, carried her pregnancy beyond her expected date of delivery (4 days overdue) and delivered a full-term baby without any significant complications

Current status of cesarean section myomectomy-prospective ongoing study

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the feasibility, safety and efficacy of performing myomectomy during cesarean section.Methods: It was prospective study conducted in Sri Guru Ram Das University of Health and sciences which is a tertiary care referral centre. Myomectomy was conducted in 34 pregnant women during elective or emergency cesarean section. Analysis was done with reference to age, parity, character of myomas, intraoperative and post-operative morbidity, duration of surgery and duration of stay in hospital.Results: In this study 34-58 fibroid of various size (2-14 cm) were removed in 34 patients during cesarean section. Majority of fibroids were located in body of uterus (65.5%) and in anterior wall (55.2%) and all them were sub serosal. No significant difference was found in mean preoperative hemoglobin (11.8±0.7) and postoperative hemoglobin (10.9±0.8). No patient had postpartum hemorrhage requiring cesarean hysterectomy. Only two patient needed blood transfusion postoperatively. Mean time taken for surgery was 58.4±8.94 minute and average duration of hospital stay was 6.7±1.6.Conclusions: With the advent of better anesthesia, easy availability of blood and blood component, cesarean myomectomy is safe surgical procedure when performed by experienced obstetrician in carefully selected patients