Re-laparotomy in OBG: a clinical study

Background: If laparotomy done within 60 days of primary surgery for the original disease it is called re-laparotomy. Aim of this study was to determine the risk factors causing re-laparotomy, the indications, management and outcomes of re-laparotomy.Methods: The study was conducted in the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital, Bellary, Karnataka. It is a 2 year prospective observational study of all the patients with re-laparotomy following operation done for obstetric or gynaecological indications.Results: Total 4105 patients underwent major surgery in two years between October 2013 to September 2015. Re-laparotomy was done in 10 cases. The incidence of re-laparotomy was 0.25% which is mainly for subacute intestinal obstruction, intraperitoneal haemorrhage, burst abdomen, PPH, rectus sheath hematoma.Conclusions: Hemorrhage, burst abdomen, infections are the main reasons for re-laparotomy after obstetric and gynaecological surgeries. Though the incidence of re-laparotomy is low and the outcome is favourable, several measures must be undertaken to prevent re-laparotomy such as careful surgical technique, meticulous hemostasis and strict asepsis should be maintained

A clinical study to determine metformin as a cause of serum vitamin B12 decrease and effect of combination of metformin and mecobalamin on serum vitamin B12 levels in type 2 diabetics

Background: Several evidences show metformin decreases vitamin B12. Diabetics are also at the risk of developing neuropathy which is treated with vitamin B12. metformin being initial therapy for diabetic patients, it becomes all the more important to know the extent of this decrease. The study was designed with the objective to compare the levels of vitamin B12 in patients on metformin vis-à-vis on antidiabetic drugs other than metformin and to evaluate the increase in vitamin B12 levels after prescribing a combination of metformin and mecobalamin, in T2DM patients.Methods: Of 500 enrolled, 321 patients completed the study for duration of 6 months, divided in two periods of 3 months each. At the end first period of 3 months the vitamin B12 levels were compared form Metformin vs. that of other antidiabetics. In second period of 3 months a combination of metformin and mecobalamin was given instead of plain metformin and vitamin B12 levels were repeated at the end of this period.Results: There was reduction in vitamin B12 levels with metformin with levels of 272.5pg/ml compared to 714.6pg/ml with other antidiabetics at the end of first period. The levels increased from 272.5pg/ml to 615.9 pg/ml at the end of second period after receiving the combination of metformin and mecobalamin.Conclusions: T2DM patients being treated with metformin had a greater risk of reduction in vitamin B12 levels and addition of vitamin B12 in the form of mecobalamin would decrease the reduction in vitamin B12 levels associated with Metformin therapy

A prospective, randomized, cross sectional study of manual versus vacuum extraction of mobile head in caesarean section

Background: Considering the high rate of caesarean section, and the difficulty during delivery of the floating foetal head even by the most experienced obstetrician, the use of vacuum has been described. The present study was undertaken with the hypothesis that, vacuum assisted foetal head delivery during caesarean section is safe and effective without increasing maternal and neonatal complications. The outcomes enumerated by the limited literature available need to be evaluated before it is used routinely.Methods: A prospective, randomized, comparative, cross sectional Hospital based study was conducted at St. Philomena’s Hospital, Bangalore. Every woman randomized for the study received either conventional method or ventouse extraction of fetal head at cesarean section. 200 women were enrolled into the study with 100 in each arm. The primary outcome measures were percentage of successful extractions and I-D interval. The secondary outcome measures were, uterine incision extension, estimated blood loss, Apgar scores, neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and neonatal scalp or head injury.Results: Successful extraction was done in 89 % and 98 % cases in manual and vacuum extraction cases. (p =0.0184). U-D interval in the manual extraction group was 66.59±4.64 seconds and in the Vacuum extraction group it was 56.06±3.46 seconds (P<0.001). The mean pre-delivery hemoglobin levels in group I was 11.6±0.73 compared to 11.36±0.49 gm% in group II. The mean post-delivery hemoglobin levels in group I was 10.29±0.79 compared to 10.21±0.53 gm% in group II (p <0.001). The uterine incision extensions were significantly higher in manual extraction group, 18 of the 100 women (18 %), whereas only 2 of the 100 women in vacuum group had uterine extensions (p=0.0002).Conclusions: Authors conclude that the routine use of ventouse is safe and effective for mobile fetal head extraction at cesarean section

KNOWLEDGE ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE TOWARD COVID-19 DISEASE AMONG VARIOUS PROFESSIONALS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ONLINE SURVEY

Objectives: This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice associated with COVID-19 disease by undertaking a web-based online survey. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted all over India during the initial phase of COVID-19 hit between March 19, 2020, and March 29, 2020. Anyone aged 18 years and above using social media were included in the study. The questionnaire had a section on sociodemography which had questions regarding age, gender, marital status, and occupation. This was followed by questions on knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. The knowledge scores were summarized as median with interquartile range as the data followed a non-normal distribution. Attitude and practice questions were summarized individually as proportions and its association with socio-demographic variables was established using Chi-square test. The statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: Occupational groups, marital status, and age group had significant difference between the groups with at least one of the practices with p<0.05. Conclusion: Since the study provides enhancing effect of knowledge toward protective behaviors, the awareness raising activities and health education through mass media and campaigns, this should urgently be conducted focusing on effectiveness of hand washing, cough etiquette, social distancing, and responsibility to inform suspected cases to local health authority to prevent COVID-19

THE DESIGN OF POWER DC BUS SYSTEM TO INCREASE THE SOLAR EFFICIENCY BY USING DC-DC CONVERTER

ABSTRACT Non conventional energy based on photovoltaic system with storage energy battery is necessary to load requirement for supply to electric grid. Due to use of dc-ac convertor, the efficiency does not improve. The power conditioning is done by a dc-dc converter and a dc-ac inverter stages to produce the desired ac source. This is also done even when the load is of dc type, such as typical portable electronic devices that require ac adaptors to be powered from the ac mains. The aim of this project is to propose a hybrid PV-battery-powered dc bus system, that eliminates the dc-ac conversion stage, resulting in lower cost and improved overall energy conversion efficiency. A high-gain hybrid boost fly back converter is introduced with higher voltage conversion ratio than conventional boost convertor topology

Cultural and morphological studies on Ponnampet leaf and neck blast isolates of Magnaporthe grisea (Herbert) barr on rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The study was carried out to standardize the optimal growth, sporulation and production of perfect stage of pathogen on different media. Among different media used such as Potato dextrose Agar (PDA), Oat meal Agar, Ragi flour agar, yeast extract + 2% soluble starch, Host extract + 2% soluble sucrose agar, Potato dextrose agar + Biotin + Thiamine and Rice flour agar, Oat meal agar and potato dextrose agar was found to be best media for radial growth and sporulation of M. grisea. Maximum conidia length (9.46?m) and breadth (7.36?m) was recorded in Oat meal agar followed by Potato dextrose agar and least conidia length (6.15 ?m) and breadth (5.11 ?m) was recorded in ragi flour media after 20 days of inoculation. Conidial size varied in leaf and neck blast isolates, the maximum mean colony diameter of 88.00mm and 89.16mm in neck and leaf blast was recorded in Oat meal agar respectively. The maximum sporulation mean index was observed in Oat Meal agar of 3.15 ?m in leaf and 3.20 ?m in neck blast was recorded. The best growth of the pathogen was recorded at optimum pH range from 6.0 - 7.0 and temperature of 27oC. Therefore oat meal agar media was found to be best among all the media used for growth, sporulation, conidial size and colony characters of M. grisea

Endocytosis of Extracellular Vesicles and Release of Their Cargo from Endosomes

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), such as exosomes, can mediate long-distance communication between cells by delivering biomolecular cargo. It is speculated that EVs undergo back-fusion at multivesicular bodies (MVBs) in recipient cells to release their functional cargo. However, direct evidence is lacking. Tracing the cellular uptake of EVs with high resolution as well as acquiring direct evidence for the release of EV cargo is challenging mainly because of technical limitations. Here, we developed an analytical methodology, combining state-of-theart molecular tools and correlative light and electron microscopy, to identify the intracellular site for EV cargo release. GFP was loaded inside EVs through the expression of GFP-CD63, a fusion of GFP to the cytosolic tail of CD63, in EV producer cells. In addition, we genetically engineered a cell line which expresses anti-GFP fluobody that specifically recognizes the EV cargo (GFP). Incubation of anti-GFP fluobody- expressing cells with GFP-CD63 EVs resulted in the formation of fluobody punctae, designating cytosolic exposure of GFP. Endosomal damage was not observed in EV acceptor cells. Ultrastructural analysis of the underlying structures at GFP/ fluobody double-positive punctae demonstrated that EV cargo release occurs from endosomes/lysosomes. Finally, we show that neutralization of endosomal pH and cholesterol accumulation in endosomes leads to blockage of EV cargo exposure. In conclusion, we report that a fraction of internalized EVs fuse with the limiting membrane of endosomes/lysosomes in an acidification-dependent manner, which results in EV cargo exposure to the cell cytosol

Conservation Status of the Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus (Aves: Galliformes: Phasianidae) in Bangalore University Campus, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

The Indian Peafowl, Pavo cristatus was abundant in Bangalore University Campus (BUC) during 1970-80. However, the peafowl population declined alarmingly in the BUC region after 1990. The present paper deals with the abundance, sex ratio of peafowls and their conservation methods in the Biodiversity Park (Bio-Park) of BUC, which had been established in 2006. A total of 117 peafowls was recorded in the BUC region in which the females outnumbered the males. The increased abundance of the peafowl population in the campus could be mainly due to the availability of suitable roosting, foraging and nesting sites. The peafowls have used 18 species of plants and trees for perching and roosting in BUC. The peafowl population increased in the BUC region due to habitat rejuvenation and protection, availability of food sources and breeding/nesting sites. The results of the present investigation constitute the baseline data for the further understanding of the ecological community of national bird in the protected habitats as hotspots for biodiversity of urban ecosystem. Conservation of microhabitats through the proper restoration of ponds, streams and water check-dams including vegetation in the BUC is responsible for the existence of peafowl population

Conservation Status of the Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus (Aves: Galliformes: Phasianidae) in Bangalore University Campus, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

The Indian Peafowl, Pavo cristatus was abundant in Bangalore University Campus (BUC) during 1970-80. However, the peafowl population declined alarmingly in the BUC region after 1990. The present paper deals with the abundance, sex ratio of peafowls and their conservation methods in the Biodiversity Park (Bio-Park) of BUC, which had been established in 2006. A total of 117 peafowls was recorded in the BUC region in which the females outnumbered the males. The increased abundance of the peafowl population in the campus could be mainly due to the availability of suitable roosting, foraging and nesting sites. The peafowls have used 18 species of plants and trees for perching and roosting in BUC. The peafowl population increased in the BUC region due to habitat rejuvenation and protection, availability of food sources and breeding/nesting sites. The results of the present investigation constitute the baseline data for the further understanding of the ecological community of national bird in the protected habitats as hotspots for biodiversity of urban ecosystem. Conservation of microhabitats through the proper restoration of ponds, streams and water check-dams including vegetation in the BUC is responsible for the existence of peafowl population