The role of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-a level in the first trimester of pregnancy and clinical outcome in an urban referral centre

Background: Estimation of serum PAPP-A levels studied predictability for adverse perinatal outcome. This case control study tries to establish the association between low PAPP-A levels among the pregnant woman and adverse maternal foetal outcome.Methods: This is an case-control study during 2017-2018 in the women delivered at Department of OBG at Mehta Hospitals. Women delivered in the labour room  had a first trimester screening of PAPP-A level were explained, taken informed consent, questionnaire which include detailed antenatal history, mode of delivery and baby data.  Depending upon outcome, the subjects are classified as case group or control group, out of the study sample of 264 subjects, 88 patients who had complications were taken as cases and 176 patients with no complications taken as control were undertaken.Results: Low PAPP-A level (<0.5 MoM) showed high incidence of PIH and preeclampsia, followed by IUGR and Preterm. PAPP-A level >0.5 MoM, normal outcome is more than the adverse outcome. The difference in the PAPP-A levels is statistically significant. In women with low PAPP A level, low birth weight found statistically significant when compared with <0.5 PAPP A level. The sensitivity of PAPP A levels in identifying the complicated outcomes was 17.04%.The specificity was 98.85%. The positive predictive value of predicting the complications was 88.23% and negative predictive value of 70.44%.Conclusions: The low PAPP-A levels confirmed during first trimester of pregnancy is associated with adverse maternal and foetal outcome such as PIH, preeclampsia, preterm, IUGR and LBW

Influence of a paint coating on the corrosion of hull plates made of mild steel in natural seawater

The corrosion resistance of mild steel (used to make hull plates in ship technology) in seawater before paint coating (Nippon paint, weatherbond advance) and after paint coating has been measured by electrochemical studies such as Polarisation study and AC impedance spectra. It is observed that after paint coating, the corrosion resistance of mild steel hull plates increases. Polarization study reveals that after paint coating, the linear polarization resistance increases and corrosion current decreases. AC impedance spectra reveal that in the presence of paint coating charge transfer resistance value increases, impedance value increases, phase angle increases and double layer capacitance value decreases. © 2022 Authors

A study on tuberculosis disease disclosure patterns and its associated factors: Findings from a prospective observational study in Chennai

BACKGROUND: Disclosure of tuberculosis (TB) status by patients is a critical step in their treatment cascade of care. There is a lack of systematic assessment of TB disclosure patterns and its positive outcomes which happens dynamically over the disease period of individual patients with their family and wider social network relations. METHODS: This prospective observational study was conducted in Chennai Corporation treatment units during 2019–2021. TB patients were recruited and followed-up from treatment initiation to completion. Information on disease disclosures made to different social members at different time points, and outcomes were collected and compared. Bivariate and multi variate analysis were used to identify the patients and contact characteristics predictive of TB disclosure status. RESULTS: A total of 466 TB patients were followed-up, who listed a total of 4039 family, extra familial and social network contacts of them. Maximum disclosures were made with family members (93%) and half of the relatives, occupational contacts and friendship contacts (44–58%) were disclosed within 15 days of treatment initiation. Incremental disclosures made during the 150–180 days of treatment were highest among neighbourhood contacts (12%), and was significantly different between treatment initiation and completion period. Middle aged TB patients (31 years and 46–55 years) were found less likely to disclose (AOR 0.56 and 0.46 respectively; p71%). CONCLUSION: Findings explain that family level disclosures were predominant and disclosures made to extra familial network contacts significantly increased during the latter part of treatment. Emotional support was predominantly received by TB patients from all their contacts post disclosure. Findings could inform in developing interventions to facilitate disclosure of disease status in a beneficial way for TB patients

An influence of dew point temperature on the occurrence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis disease in Chennai, India.

Climate factors such as dew point temperature, relative humidity and atmospheric temperature may be crucial for the spread of tuberculosis. This study was conducted for the first time to investigate the relationship of climatic factors with TB occurrence in an Indian setting. Daily tuberculosis notification data during 2008-2015 were generated from the National Treatment Elimination Program, and analogous daily climatic data were obtained from the Regional Meteorological Centre at Chennai city, Tamil Nadu, India. The decomposition method was adopted to split the series into deterministic and non-deterministic components, such as seasonal, non-seasonal, trend and cyclical, and non-deterministic climate factors. A generalized linear model was used to assess the relation independently. TB disease progression from latent stage infection to active was supported by higher dew point temperature and moderate temperature. It had a significant association with TB progression in the summer and monsoon seasons. The relative humidity may be favored in the winter and post-monsoon. The water tiny dew droplets may support the TB bacterium to recuperate in the environment

Synthesis and biological evaluation of new benzofuran carboxamide derivatives

A series of new 3-(glycinamido)-benzofuran-2-carboxamide and 3-(β-alanamido)-benzofuran-2-carboxamide derivatives (5a–o) were synthesized for the purpose of developing the new bioactive chemical entities and evaluated for their in vitro antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and DPPH radical scavenging activities. The synthesized compounds were characterized by NMR, IR, Mass and X-ray crystallographic techniques

Polymerase chain reaction: A molecular diagnostic tool in periodontology

This review discusses the principles of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and its application as a diagnostic tool in periodontology. The relevant MEDLINE and PubMed indexed journals were searched manually and electronically by typing PCR, applications of PCR, PCR in periodontics, polymorphism studies in periodontitis, and molecular techniques in periodontology. The searches were limited to articles in English language and the articles describing PCR process and its relation to periodontology were collected and used to prepare a concise review. PCR has now become a standard diagnostic and research tool in periodontology. Various studies reveal that its sensitivity and specificity allow it as a rapid, efficient method of detecting, identifying, and quantifying organism. Different immune and inflammatory markers can be identified at the mRNA expression level, and also the determination of genetic polymorphisms, thus providing the deeper insight into the mechanisms underlying the periodontal disease

Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of glycinate and carbonate derivatives of cholesterol: Synthesis and characterization

A series of glycinate and carbonate derivatives of cholesterol (4a–t) were synthesized, characterized and assessed for their in vitro antimicrobial activity. Our results revealed that the compounds exerted inhibitory activities against gram-negative bacteria and fungi

Selective synthesis of ureas and tetrazoles from amides controlled by experimental conditions using conventional and microwave irradiation

An efficient synthetic procedure has been achieved for selective synthesis of 1,5-disubstituted tetrazoles and diaryl ureas from secondary amides in situ in the presence of NaN3 and POCl3 as solvent, both by conventional and microwave methods. The reaction conditions were optimized to yield selectively either tetrazoles or urea derivatives from reasonable to excellent yields. These conversions have been tested and verified with various secondary amide precursors. The synthesized compounds were characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and ESI-MS spectroscopic techniques