Maternal and perinatal outcome in preterm premature rupture of membranes

Background: Preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) occurs in 3% of pregnancies and is responsible for approximately one third of all preterm births. Objective of present study was to analyse the maternal and perinatal outcome of PPROM patients between 28 to 36 weeks +6daysMethods: A descriptive study was conducted on 141 antenatal patients between 28 to 36weeks+6days with PPROM admitted to Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Government TD Medical College, Alappuzha, Kerala, India from September 2014 to September 2015. After establishing the diagnosis of PPROM patients were monitored and Maternal and perinatal outcomes were studied.Results: 77% patients had late PPROM. 60% of early PPROM latency period >24 hrs and were managed conservatively till 34 weeks. 18% had chorioamnionitis and immediate termination of pregnancy. 73% of newborns in this group needed admission due to complications of prematurity like RDS (54.54%). Perinatal mortality (2.12%) was due to sepsis. 80% of late PPROM had latency period 24hrs and sepsis was 36% in >24hrs and 10% in <24hrs.Conclusions: The most common cause of perinatal mortality in early PPROM is prematurity and its complications. Hence conservative management to prolong pregnancy is recommended under strict monitoring for evidence of chorioamnionitis. At the earliest evidence of chorioamnionitis termination irrespective of gestational age is warranted. In late PPROM, perinatal outcome is good. So, termination is advised as conservative management shall add to the fetal and maternal morbidity due to sepsis.

Critical analysis on tuberculosis mortality during 2005-2011 in Batticaloa district, Sri Lanka

Tuberculosis (TB) is a significant public health problem throughout the world and in Sri Lanka too. It is poses a continuing threat to the health and development of the people. Around 8500 – 9500 cases are detected annually in Sri Lanka. In the recent past, the TB mortality rate has significantly increased in Batticaloa district in comparison to the national value (Mortality rate in 2009, National figure 2.4/100,000 Population and 3.35/100,000 Population for Batticaloa district but in 2010 rate was 4.51/100,000 Population for Batticaloa district however National figure is 2.5/100,000 Population).This investigation aimed to, identify the age group vulnerable for death due to TB, recognize the areas in Batticaloa district that are more prone to contracting TB, determine the influence of predisposing factors and co- morbidities contribute to the death and designed to analyze the diagnostic criteria of tuberculosis at Chest Clinic and Teaching Hospital,Batticaloa. Data obtained from chest clinic records and by interviewer administered questionnaire of close relatives of the diseased cases. Statistical analysis was performed by statistical software (SPSS 16.0) and the p-value < 0.05 was considered significant for all analyses. The most vulnerable age group of death identified as 55– 64 years (30.4%). The significant higher death rate (27.3%) occurred in Kaluwanchikudy Medical Officer of Health (MOH) division. Smoking habit and alcohol consumption were recognized as significant predisposing factors of death. The significant co-morbid to the death was bronchial asthma (45.5%). Death due to tuberculosis has been found to be higher than the national figures in the years under study. A typical laboratory dedicated for detection of TB should be established in Batticaloa as it is essential to perform all diagnostic tests for TB to avoid the unnecessary delay in diagnosing the disease and initiating treatment to avoid unwanted death

Modelling of Flow in an Unsaturated Zone of A Tank Clustered Catchment

Source: ICHE Conference Archive - https://mdi-de.baw.de/icheArchiv

Biodesalination: an emerging technology for targeted removal of Na+and Cl−from seawater by cyanobacteria

Although desalination by membrane processes is a possible solution to the problem of freshwater supply, related cost and energy demands prohibit its use on a global scale. Hence, there is an emerging necessity for alternative, energy and cost-efficient methods for water desalination. Cyanobacteria are oxygen-producing, photosynthetic bacteria that actively grow in vast blooms both in fresh and seawater bodies. Moreover, cyanobacteria can grow with minimal nutrient requirements and under natural sunlight. Taking these observations together, a consortium of five British Universities was formed to test the principle of using cyanobacteria as ion exchangers, for the specific removal of Na+ and Cl− from seawater. This project consisted of the isolation and characterisation of candidate strains, with central focus on their potential to be osmotically and ionically adaptable. The selection panel resulted in the identification of two Euryhaline strains, one of freshwater (Synechocystis sp. Strain PCC 6803) and one of marine origin (Synechococcus sp. Strain PCC 7002) (Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen). Other work packages were as follows. Genetic manipulations potentially allowed for the expression of a light-driven, Cl−-selective pump in both strains, therefore, enhancing the bioaccumulation of specific ions within the cell (University of Glasgow). Characterisation of surface properties under different salinities (University of Sheffield), ensured that cell–liquid separation efficiency would be maximised post-treatment, as well as monitoring the secretion of mucopolysaccharides in the medium during cell growth. Work at Newcastle University is focused on the social acceptance of this scenario, together with an assessment of the potential risks through the generation and application of a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points plan. Finally, researchers in Imperial College (London) designed the process, from biomass production to water treatment and generation of a model photobioreactor. This multimodal approach has produced promising first results, and further optimisation is expected to result in mass scaling of this process

Antimicrobial Activity of Aegle marmelos Against Pathogenic Organism Compared with Control Drug

The aqueous and ethanolic extracts from the leaves of Aegle marmelos traditionally used in Indian system of Medicines were screened against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis by using disc diffusion test technique. Bacillus subtilis exhibit about 22mm inhibition zone were considered resistant. The zone of inhibition of the extract was compared with the standard antibiotics such as Penicillin. The study suggests that the plant is promising development of phytomedicine for antimicrobial properties

A double-blind study of oral salbutamol supplement and repeat sputum smear microscopy in enhancing diagnosis of smear-negative tuberculosis in south India

Background: As routine culture facilities are not available in TB control programme in low income countries like India, there is an urgent need to improve the sensitivity of sputum microscopy, especially in diagnosis of smear negative pulmonary TB. Methodology: In a double blind placebo controlled study, the role of repeat sputum microscopy after antibiotics and oral salbutamol supplement in improving the diagnosis of smear negative TB suspects was investigated in an urban TB clinic. We undertook culture examinations for all study patients to find out proportions of TB cases in this series. Results: Of 206 enrolled, (101 salbutamol (S), 105 placebo (P) groups) 26 were positive by repeat sputum smear examination; similar in two groups (S 16, P 10, p = 0.25). In all, 40 (S 23, P 17) including 26 smear- positives, were culture -positive for M. tuberculosis. Conclusions: Two thirds of initially smear negative but culture positive TB patients were smear positive on repeat sputum examination. Thus, repeat sputum smear microscopy for TB suspects improved the diagnosis, nevertheless oral salbutamol therapy was not beneficial. In resource poor settings, repeat sputum smear microscopy after a trial of antibiotics, could significantly improve the diagnosis of smear-negative PTB patients

Regeneration of cellulose acetate nanofibrous mat from discarded cigarette butts

Cellulose acetate present in the cigarette butts has beenregenerated into nanofibrous mat. The developed mat is thencharacterized using various analytical tools. Uniform bead-freecellulose acetate fibre is obtained at 12 % w/v concentration ofcellulose acetate. The mat thus obtained exhibits goodantimicrobial property