Biochemical parameter and feto-maternal outcome in preeclampsia: a hospital based observational study

Background: Preeclampsia is one of the maternal diseases that cause detrimental effects on to the maternal, fetal, and neonatal health. The objective of the present study was to analyse maternal, perinatal outcome and investigation parameter in preeclampsia.Methods: This is an observational study and total of 90 consecutive patients were enrolled who has blood pressure ≥ 140/90 mmHg after 20 weeks of gestation with proteinuria (1+ by dipstick).Results: Among enrolled patients, 52 (58%) were in age group of 25-35 year and 51 (57%) were primigravida. Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure of patients was 148±3.8 mm of Hg and 95±1.4 mm of Hg respectively. Most common presenting symptom was labor pain in 65 (72%) patients followed by edema in 61 (68%) patients. Most common complication was CNS symptom including seizure (Eclampsia) in 13 (15%) patients followed by vaginal bleeding (including abruption) in 12 (13%) patients. Mean hemoglobin level was 9.12±0.9 gm/dl. Mean urea and creatinine values were 34±4.6 mg/dl and 1.5±1.1 mg/dl respectively. Out of total 90 patients, 18 (20%) had elevated liver enzymes. Most common neonatal outcome was low birth weight 63 (70%) and 40 (44%) were preterm. APGAR score was less than 7 in 11 (12%) patients and more than 7 in 79 (88%) patients. Five (5.5%) newborn were still born.Conclusions: Preeclampsia is associated with multiple maternal and neonatal complications. Hence, there is a need for regular antenatal checkup to detect early and strengthening of neonatal intensive care units

Treatment outcome in patients with severe acute malnutrition managed with protocolised care at malnutrition treatment corner in Rajasthan, India: a prospective observational study (quasi-experimental)

Background: Malnutrition is rampant in paediatric age group. It is responsible for high morbidity, mortality and serious long term sequelae. In addition to critical care, a nutritional therapy followed by nutritional rehabilitation is a very important aspect for these children. Optimal management of these acutely ill children and a good outcome depends on an evidence based regimen of care.Methods: Total 75 cases were enrolled in the study and nursed in malnutrition treatment corner and were fed in appropriate composition and quantity as per Indian academy of pediatrics guidelines (initial and rehabilitation phase; F75, F100 and staple food). All children were assessed daily for weight gain, improvement in clinical status, feeding problem, compliance with the treatment and improvement in the appetite.Results: Out of 75 patients 63 (84%) patients were discharged. Dropout rate and mortality rate was 16% and 1.3% respectively. Majority patients were admitted for two weeks with mean duration of stay being 14.13 ± 9.1 days. Weight gain was good in 45, moderate in 22 and poor in 4 patients while 4 patients had weight loss during malnutrition treatment corner stay. Rate of weight gain was good in initial two weeks but as stay increased, rate of weight gain decreased in 3rd and 4th week with mean weight gain of 12.12±7.67 gm/kg/day. Twenty nine patients came for follow up after discharge and among them, 15(51.7%) patients had poor rate of weight gain, 9(31%) had moderate and 2 (6.89%) patients had good rate of weight gain whereas 3 patients had weight loss on follow up.Conclusions: Severely malnourished children have a better weight gain and improvement in nutritional status while receiving protocolised care in malnutrition treatment corner, which results in faster recovery because it is well accepted and better tolerated. Hospital based management of these children in specialised feeding centre is very important for regaining lost weight.

Impact of social factors on health practices of the elderly: an analytical study in rural Surendranagar

Introduction: Increased attention to health promotion and disease prevention are important for the appropriate care of the elderly. With the increasing life expectancy, a focus on preventive measures to decrease morbidity and improve quality of life in old age has also developed. To that end, health behavior and lifestyle have become important areas of concern over the last 20 years. Social factors lay a significant impact on the health practices. This study was therefore taken up to study the above factor and draw conclusions.Aims and objectives: 1. To study the various health practices of the elderly. 2. To find out association between the socio demographic features and the prevailing health practices.Methods: A Cross sectional analytical study was carried out. All the subjects were interviewed personally to know the details and were treated with due respect after a consent. Out of all the talukas in rural Surendranagar, Sayla was selected randomly after which Sayla village was selected in a similar manner from all the villages in the talukas.Results: The mean age of the subjects was 68±7.5. Majority of the subjects were unemployed and illiterate (58%). Social factors like Social class, staying with children and staying in joint family were significantly associated with good health practices.Conclusions: The Health practices of the elderly can be improved upon by large scale health education programmes which can be targeted on the age group. Patient compliance improvement can be achieved by explaining them about the disease and treatment protocol in detail at the time of their health visit.

Jainism and Jaina Bronzes

Includes bibliographical reference

Q-Learning Induced Artificial Bee Colony for Noisy Optimization

The paper proposes a novel approach to adaptive selection of sample size for a trial solution of an evolutionary algorithm when noise of unknown distribution contaminates the objective surface. The sample size of a solution here is adapted based on the noisy fitness profile in the local surrounding of the given solution. The fitness estimate and the fitness variance of a sub-population surrounding the given solution are jointly used to signify the degree of noise contamination in its local neighborhood (LN). The adaptation of sample size based on the characteristics of the fitness landscape in the LN of a solution is realized here with the temporal difference Q-learning (TDQL). The merit of the present work lies in utilizing the reward-penalty based reinforcement learning mechanism of TDQL for sample size adaptation. This sidesteps the prerequisite setting of any specific functional form of relationship between the sample size requirement of a solution and the noisy fitness profile in its LN. Experiments undertaken reveal that the proposed algorithms, realized with artificial bee colony, significantly outperform the existing counterparts and the state-of-the-art algorithms

Seasonal Influence on Seed Yield and Quality of Anjan Grass (\u3cem\u3eCenchrus ciliaris\u3c/em\u3e L.) Genotypes

Cenchrus species are important perennial pasture component of Dichanthium-Cenchrus-Lasiurus grass cover of India associated with arid and semi-arid regions of tropical and sub tropical climate. It is adapted in wide range of environments due to its drought tolerance, deep roots, rapid response to summer rains, high biomass, resistance to overgrazing, palatable with crude protein 8-10% and 60-70% digestibility (Sawal et al., 2009). After well establishment these grasses give 8-10 t/ha dry fodder out of 3-4 cuts in a year and 100-250 kg/ha seed yield. There is a wide gap between demand and supply of Cenchrus grass seeds resulted about 85% area of grazing lands and wastelands of the country remains underutilized. High grazing pressure, shortage of fodder, low productivity of seed, high proportion of empty spikelets, indeterminate seed bearing, seed shattering problem, lack of mechanization for seed picking, high volume of seed for storage/transport and lack of seed chain/market are the major factors which limits grass seed production as commercial activity. Higher seed production of this species can lead to higher and sustained forage production; hence, there is a need to develop methods and technologies to obtain more yields of good quality seed from same piece of land in a year. Cenchrus grass seed production is commonly done in monsoon season traditionally in India while, information is limited on seed production in other seasons under irrigated conditions. The present investigation was undertaken for assessing seasonal effect on seed and fodder productivity and seed quality produced during different seasons round the year

Effect of Pretreatments on Seed Dormancy and Seedling Growth in Anjan Grass (\u3cem\u3eCenchrus ciliaris\u3c/em\u3e)

Anjan grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) is native to tropical, sub-tropical Asia and Africa. It can grow on wide range of soils varying from sandy to harder heavy textured soils with annual rainfall of 350- 800 mm and up to an altitude of 1000 m. Among different rangeland grasses, it is considered palatable and nutritious grass for all kinds of grazing animals. It contains high percentage of protein (8-10%). One of the reasons for low production of pasture is poor plant density which might be due to low seed germination. The seed dormancy in range grasses hampers in establishment of pastures. Dormancy is the state in which a viable seed does not germinate, although placed in conditions of moisture, temperature, light and oxygen concentration appropriate to do so. Germination of freshly harvested seed of Cenchrus grass is very low without any treatment but it starts to increase after 6 month of harvesting up to 18 months. Germination (minimum) standard for foundation and certified seed in anjan grass is 30%. Application of some physical, chemical and mechanical treatments to the seed are helpful in overcoming the dormancy. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to determine the effect of pre soaking treatments on germination and seedling parameters of fresh seed of C. ciliaris. It will help for evaluating the seed lot for germination before six month of harvest