Outcome of Hepatitis-E Virus Infection among Pregnant Women Admitted in a Tertiary Care Hospital

PURPOSE:  To study the effect of post-operative Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory (NSAID) eye drops on macular thickness in patients without diabetic retinopathy measured by Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) STUDY DESIGN: Quasi experimental study PLACE & DURATION OF STUDY:  removed for blind review METHODOLOGY: Diabetic patients without retinopathy who required cataract surgery for visual rehabilitation were included in study. They were than divided into two groups. Group A included patients who received routine steroid+antibiotic post-operative drops while Group B comprised of patients who received nepafenac (0.1%) eye drops eight hourly in addition to routine post-operative eye drops. All patients underwent standard phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation followed by use of NSAID eye drops for a month. OCT measurements were done pre-operatively, 7 and 28 days post operatively. RESULTS: Comparison of central macular thickness between groups was significant at (Pre & 7 day post op) and insignificant at (7th day & 28th day post op) and (Pre & 28th day post op) i.e. 0.043, 0.834 and 0.084 respectively. However, difference of mean central macular thickness was significant at all follow-up periods i.e.0.003, 0.006, and 0.000 CONCLUSION: Post-operative NSAID in diabetic patients without retinopathy leads to a significant decrease in macular thickness as compared to controls after cataract surgery. KEY WORDS: Phacoemulsification, Optical Coherence Tomography, Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agent

Outcome of Hepatitis-E Virus Infection among Pregnant Women Admitted in a Tertiary Care Hospital

PURPOSE:  To study the effect of post-operative Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory (NSAID) eye drops on macular thickness in patients without diabetic retinopathy measured by Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) STUDY DESIGN: Quasi experimental study PLACE & DURATION OF STUDY:  removed for blind review METHODOLOGY: Diabetic patients without retinopathy who required cataract surgery for visual rehabilitation were included in study. They were than divided into two groups. Group A included patients who received routine steroid+antibiotic post-operative drops while Group B comprised of patients who received nepafenac (0.1%) eye drops eight hourly in addition to routine post-operative eye drops. All patients underwent standard phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation followed by use of NSAID eye drops for a month. OCT measurements were done pre-operatively, 7 and 28 days post operatively. RESULTS: Comparison of central macular thickness between groups was significant at (Pre & 7 day post op) and insignificant at (7th day & 28th day post op) and (Pre & 28th day post op) i.e. 0.043, 0.834 and 0.084 respectively. However, difference of mean central macular thickness was significant at all follow-up periods i.e.0.003, 0.006, and 0.000 CONCLUSION: Post-operative NSAID in diabetic patients without retinopathy leads to a significant decrease in macular thickness as compared to controls after cataract surgery. KEY WORDS: Phacoemulsification, Optical Coherence Tomography, Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agent

Optimization and analysis of cutting parameters using cryogenic media in machining of high strength alloy steel

In this research, liquid Argon is used as a cryogenic media to optimize the cutting parameters for evaluation of tool flank wear width of Tungsten Carbide Insert (CNMG 120404-WF 4215) while turning high strength alloy steel. Robust design concept of Taguchi L9 (34) method is applied to determine the optimum conditions. This analysis revealed is revealed that cryogenic impact is more significant in reduction of the tool flank wear

Ecological study of an important medicinal plant of Kashmir valley, Capsella bursa pastoris

The vegetation of a geographical landscape relies heavily on the local environment. Altitude is a major factor in shaping the phytodiversity and biomass. The biomass study is essential for estimating the productivity of natural ecosystems. The demand for medicinal plants has been increased and it has become a trend to utilize forests and its products according to their productivities. The present study was aimed to investigate the attitudinal and other ecological variations in biomass of an important medicinal plant of Kashmir, Capsella bursa pastoris. The method, we used to estimate the biomass of selected medicinal plant at different ecological sites, was the harvest method. We compared the biomass (fresh and dry matter) of two protected siteshaving altitudinal and other ecological variations. The maximum biomass was recorded at the site I with lower altitude and the minimum value was recorded at site II with higher altitude. The minimum above ground biomass was recorded at site II. However, at Bijbehara, biomass variation was observed at two different sites. Maximum biomass was found at the site II (Dara Shikoh garden Bijbehara). The below-ground biomass showed a considerable increase on decreasing altitude. Roots react instantly to better soil moisture conditions. The maximum biomass in underground parts at the site I may be because of translocation of the main materials from the above-ground parts to the below-ground parts as the above-ground biomass was greater at same altitude. The minimum biomass at higher altitude and the ecologically disturbed site may be because of unfavourable microclimatic conditions and degradation of medicinal plants by grazing activity respectively.Â

Outcome of the Traumatic Extradural Hematoma on the Basis of Size of Extradural Hematoma

Objective:  This study aimed to determine the outcome of traumatic extradural hematoma and to compare the outcome of small and large size extradural hematoma. Materials & Methods:  A descriptive case series was carried out in the Department of Neurosurgery, Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar for six months and included 188 patients. The detailed history and clinical examinations were noted through a pre-designed proforma. Patients were followed post-operatively till the time of discharge and for either favorable outcome or unfavorable outcome according to the GOS. Results:  73% of patients had extradural hematoma volume between 25 – 50 mL, while 27% patients had extradural hematoma >50 mL. 12% of patients had Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS) scores 1 – 3, while 88% of patients had GOS scores: 4 – 5. The mean GOS was 3. Patients with favorable outcomes were 88% while 12% had an unfavorable outcome. Conclusion:  The size of the extradural hematoma has a strong correlation with outcome. The greater the size of the hematoma, the poorer the outcome

A Novel Energy Efficient and Process Immune Schmitt Trigger Circuit Design Using FinFET Technology

387-394Continuous scaling of MOS (Metal oxide semiconductor) devices gives rise to drastic increase in leakage power dissipation, which overall increases the total power dissipation. This happens due to increase in short channel effects. FinFET device has the capability to reduce short channel effects, hence reduces power dissipation as well. In this paper short-gate FinFET (fin type field effect transistor) based Schmitt trigger using LCNT (Leakage Control NMOS transistor) technique is proposed using ASAP7 PDK (A 7nm FinFET Predictive process design kit) at 7nm technology node and comparative analysis is provided with the one without LCNT technique. The simulated results shows that FinFET based Schmitt trigger using LCNT technique reduces average power dissipation and power delay product (PDP) by 36.97% and 35.6%, respectively compared to one without FinFET LCNT technique. The reliability analysis using Monte Carlo approach at ±10% process, voltage and temperature (PVT) variation under 3σ Gaussian distribution shows that LCNT FinFET Schmitt trigger provides better performance compared to FinFET Schmitt trigger at 7nm technology node

The cross-sectional study of anxiety levels and ratio of severity of thirteen symptoms of anxiety among medical students

Background: Anxiety is defined as physical, behavioral, social and psychological response to treat self-concept characterized by subjective, consciously perceived feelings of tension. Nowadays anxiety is most commonly found among medical students. This study was conducted to find out the anxiety levels and ratio of severity of thirteen symptoms of anxiety.Methods: A questionnaire based study was conducted among 178 medical students which tests the level of anxiety and severity of symptoms of anxiety. The questionnaire used was hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAM-A).Results: Out of 178 students, 80 (44.94%) students scored mild anxiety levels, 63 (35.39%) students scored moderate anxiety levels and 35 (19.66%) students scored severe anxiety levels.Conclusions: Mild form of anxiety is much more common among medical students and majority of these medical students are females. Moreover, the symptoms of anxiety including tension, anxious mood, depressed mood, insomnia, fear and CVS symptoms appear with moderate severity in majority of medical students while on the other hand some symptoms including general somatic muscular and sensory symptoms, difficulties in concentration and memory, genitor-urinary symptoms, respiratory symptoms, GIT symptoms and other autonomic symptoms appear with least severity among majority of medical students

Comparative Study of Liquid Biodiesel From Sterculia foetida (Bottle Tree) Using CuO-CeO2 and Fe2O3 Nano Catalysts

This study examined the potential of nanocatalyst CuO-CeO2 and Fe2O3 for efficient conversion of Sterculia foetida seed Oil into biodiesel. S. foetida contains 40% oil content and low free fatty acid value (0.18 mg KOH/g). The synthesized nanocatalyst was characterized using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) techniques. The maximum conversion was achieved (92% yield) using CuO-CeO2 at 0.25% catalyst loading. The optimized reaction was carried out by experimental variables included molar ratio (1:9), temperature (70°C), reaction time (3 h) and stirring rate (600 rpm) using reflux transesterification method. The XRD results showed the size of crystals with order 54.4 nm for CuO-CeO2 and 31.3 nm for Fe2O3. The SEM images of CuO-CeO2 showed spherical structure having an average particle size of 32.3 nm. SEM images of Fe2O3 showed the size ranges from 46.27 to 28.76 nm having regular morphology, including spherical shape. The FT-IR analysis of this nanocatalyst also reinforced the results of this study. Gas Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) confirmed the efficient conversion of S. foetida seed oil into biodiesel using prepared nanocatalysts. The prepared nanocatalysts are cheaper, readily available and can be used for industrial scale biofuel production assembly, making it economically feasible and more cost effective

Allelopathy in Solanaceae plants

Solanaceae plants have strong allelopathic potential, and therefore the action is confirmed through: a) bioassays with liquid or various solvent extracts and residues, b) fractionation, identification, and quantification of causative allelochemicals. Most assessments of allelopathy involve bioassays of plant or soil extracts, leachates, fractions, and residues which support seed germination and seedling growth in laboratory and greenhouse experiments. Plant growth is also stimulated below the allelopathic threshold, however severe growth reductions may be observed above the threshold concentration depending on the sensitivity of the receiving species. Generally, seedling growth is more sensitive than germination, particularly root growth. Some approaches showed that field soil collected beneath donor plants significantly reduced or somewhat promoted the growth of the recipients plants. Petri dish bioassays with aqueous extracts of different parts of donor plants showed considerable phytotoxic activities in a concentration-dependent manner with leaf aqueous extracts being most dominant. Delayed seed germination and slow root growth attributable to the extracts may be baffled with diffusion effects on the rate of imbibition, delayed initiation of germination, and particularly cell elongation; the main factor that is responsible for affecting root growth before and after the tip penetrates the testa. Light and electron microscopy extract analysis at the ultrastructural level are correctly investigated. Several Solanaceae plants have allelopathic potential, and therefore the activities, kinds and quantity of allelopathic compounds differ depending on the plant species. The incorporation of allelopathic substances into agricultural management might scale back the development of pesticides and reduce environmental deterioration

Short-term results of Limberg flap in the management of Pilonidal sinus disease

Background: Although several treatment options have been used for management of pilonidal sinus disease, no optimal treatment method has been defined as yet due to high complication and recurrence rates. Aim: To study the short term results of Rhomboid excision with Limberg flap closure in the management of Pilonidal sinus disease. Material and Methods: The study entitled, “Short-term results of Limberg flap in the management of pilonidal sinus disease” was conducted prospectively in the department of surgery Skims Medical College Srinagar for a period of three years from January 2017 to February 2020 and total of 41 patients with primary or recurrent pilonidal sinus disease were studied.Results: The study included 34 males and 7 females with a male to female ratio of 5;1. The average operative time was 60 minutes. Postoperative stay of patients in the hospital was 4-5 days and the patients returned to their normal activity between 21 and 24 days. The complications were seen in total of three patients which included prolonged drainage in one , Seroma in one and wound dehiscence in one patient. Recurrence was not seen in any of the patients in our study.Conclusions: Rhomboid excision with Limberg flap transposition is an ideal and efficient surgical technique for management of pilonidal sinus