Early predictors of PIH: serum β-HCG and lipid profile

Background: The objective of the study was to evaluate β-HCG and lipid profile in early second trimester and analyse whether these parameters can be used as predictors of PIH.Methods: 180 antenatal women in second trimester (14-20 weeks) attending antenatal clinic were taken as study population. Serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL, HDL, β-hCG was measured. All patients were followed till delivery and observed for development of PIH. Results was evaluated and analysed statistically.Results: Out of 180 cases, 173 cases were evaluated. Among 173 cases, 87.86% were normotensive. 8.09% developed mild PIH and 4.05% developed severe PIH. There was significant increase in values of β-hCG (p<0.001) and total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoproteins and very low density lipoprotein (p<0.001) and significant decrease in values of high density lipoprotein (p<0.001) in those women who developed PIH.Conclusions: Measurement of all these parameters in early second trimester can help in predicting PIH. By proper follow up of these patients, early detection and better management of PIH and its complications is possible which would improve the maternal and fetal outcome

Bacterial porin disrupts mitochondrial membrane potential and sensitizes host cells to apoptosis

The bacterial PorB porin, an ATP-binding beta-barrel protein of pathogenic Neisseria gonorrhoeae, triggers host cell apoptosis by an unknown mechanism. PorB is targeted to and imported by host cell mitochondria, causing the breakdown of the mitochondrial membrane potential (delta psi m). Here, we show that PorB induces the condensation of the mitochondrial matrix and the loss of cristae structures, sensitizing cells to the induction of apoptosis via signaling pathways activated by BH3-only proteins. PorB is imported into mitochondria through the general translocase TOM but, unexpectedly, is not recognized by the SAM sorting machinery, usually required for the assembly of beta-barrel proteins in the mitochondrial outer membrane. PorB integrates into the mitochondrial inner membrane, leading to the breakdown of delta psi m. The PorB channel is regulated by nucleotides and an isogenic PorB mutant defective in ATP-binding failed to induce delta psi m loss and apoptosis, demonstrating that dissipation of delta psi m is a requirement for cell death caused by neisserial infection

An Improving Genetic Programming Approach Based Deduplication Using KFINDMR

Abstract-The record deduplication is the task of identifying, in a data repository, records that refer to the same real world entity or object in spite of misspelling words, types, different writing styles or even different schema representations or data types. In existing system aims at providing Unsupervised Duplication Detection (UDD) method which can be used to identify and remove the duplicate records from different data sources. Starting from the non duplicate set, the two cooperating classifiers, a Weighted Component Similarity Summing Classifier (WCSS) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) are used to iteratively identify the duplicate records from the non duplicate record and present a genetic programming (GP) approach to record deduplication. Their GP-based approach is also able to automatically find effective deduplication functions. The genetic programming approach is time consuming task so we propose new algorithm KFINDMR (KFIND using Most Represented data samples) to find the most represented data samples to improve the accuracy of the classifier. The proposed system calculates the mean value of the most represented data samples in centroid of the record members; it selects the first most represented data sample that closest to the mean value calculates the minimum distance. The system Remove the duplicate dataset samples in the system and find the optimization solution to deduplication of records or data samples

Climatic effects on sugarcane ripening under the influence of cultivars and crop age

The lack of information about the effects of cultivars, crop age and climate on the sugarcane (Saccharum ssp.) crop yield and quality has been the primary factor impacting the sugar-ethanol sector in Brazil. One of the processes about which we do not have a satisfactory understanding is sugarcane ripening and the effects of cultivars, crop age and climate on that. Sugarcane ripening is the process of sucrose accumulation in stalks, which is heavily influenced by several factors, mainly by climatic conditions such as air temperature and water deficits. Because it is a complex process, studies of the variables involved in sugarcane ripening can provide important information, resulting in a better use of commercial cultivars, bringing advantages to growers, processing units, breeding programs and scientific community. In this review, we discuss the available knowledge of the interaction between climate conditions and sugarcane ripening, under the influence of genotypic characteristics and crop age. In several studies, the main conclusion is that sugarcane ripening depends on a complex combination of climate variables, the genetic potential of cultivars and crop management. Soil moisture and air temperature are the primary variables involved in sugarcane ripening, and their combination stimulates the intensity of the process. In addition, the need for studies integrating the effects of climate on plant physiological processes and on the use of chemical agents to stimulate sugarcane ripening is highlighted

Concentration Dependent Ion Selectivity in VDAC: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study

The voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) forms the major pore in the outer mitochondrial membrane. Its high conducting open state features a moderate anion selectivity. There is some evidence indicating that the electrophysiological properties of VDAC vary with the salt concentration. Using a theoretical approach the molecular basis for this concentration dependence was investigated. Molecular dynamics simulations and continuum electrostatic calculations performed on the mouse VDAC1 isoform clearly demonstrate that the distribution of fixed charges in the channel creates an electric field, which determines the anion preference of VDAC at low salt concentration. Increasing the salt concentration in the bulk results in a higher concentration of ions in the VDAC wide pore. This event induces a large electrostatic screening of the charged residues promoting a less anion selective channel. Residues that are responsible for the electrostatic pattern of the channel were identified using the molecular dynamics trajectories. Some of these residues are found to be conserved suggesting that ion permeation between different VDAC species occurs through a common mechanism. This inference is buttressed by electrophysiological experiments performed on bean VDAC32 protein akin to mouse VDAC

A Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Structured Teaching Programme on the Knowledge Regarding Risk Factors and Prevention of Urinary Tract Infection among the patients with Indwelling Urinary Catheter admitted at Government Head Quarters Hospital, Erode, Tamil Nadu

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: “A study to assess the effectiveness of a structured teaching programme on the knowledge regarding the risk factors and prevention of urinary tract infection among the patients with indwelling urinary catheter admitted at Government Head Quarters Hospital, Erode, Tamil Nadu.” OBJECTIVES: 1. To assess the knowledge of the catheterized patients regarding risk factors and prevention of urinary tract infection associated with indwelling urinary catheter before administration of the structured teaching programme. 2. To develop the structured teaching programme on risk factors and prevention of urinary tract infection associated with including urinary catheter before administration of the structured teaching programme. 3. To administer the structured teaching programme to the patients regarding the risk factors and prevention of urinary tract infection. 4. To evaluate the effectiveness of the structured teaching programme in terms of improving the knowledge of the patients. 5. To compare the pretest and post-test knowledge. 6. To determine the association between pretest level of the knowledge and the sociodemographic characteristics of patients like age, sex, religion, educational status, occupation and previous exposure to information. The conceptual frame work adopted for this study was based on Stuffle Beam’s Evaluatory theory. The research approach adopted for this study was quasi experimental approach. The research design selected for the study was one group pretest, posttest, which was used to measure the effectiveness of structured teaching programme. The selection of the patient was done by simple random sampling technique and the samples consist of 40 patients with indwelling urinary catheter admitted at Government Head Quarters hospital, Erode. The instrument developed and used for the present study was semistuctured interview schedule, which had two sections. Section A: Comprised of 9 items relate to sociodemographic variables. Section B: Comprised of 34 items related to knowledge regarding risk factors and prevention of urinary tract infection associated with indwelling urinary catheter. The study was conducted in the month of November 2010, the collected data were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics in terms of frequencies, percentages, mean, standard deviation (SD), Chi square test. SUMMARY OF THE MAJOR FINDINGS: In the present study, majority of the patients were above 40 years of age. Both male and female were included. Majority of the subjects were Hindus and both literates and illiterates were included in the study. Majority of the patients were employee earning below RS.1000 and most of the subjects were married and were not having any previous information regarding urinary tract infection associated with indwelling urinary catheter. The post mean test score percentage (82.73%) of knowledge on risk factors and prevention of urinary tract infection associated with indwelling urinary catheter were comparatively more than their pretest knowledge scores (26.4%). It conforms that there was increase in knowledge after administration of structured teaching programme. The paired ‘t’ test analysis of the pretest and post test knowledge t = 37.48 (P<0.05) was highly significant. This result evidently support the effectiveness of structured teaching programme in promoting the knowledge on the risk factors and prevention of urinary tract infection associated with indwelling urinary catheter. The present study also reveals that, there is an association between pretest knowledge to education and exposure to previous information on the risk factors and prevention of urinary tract infection associated with indwelling urinary catheter. However, there was no association between knowledge and other sociodemographic variables such as age, sex, religion, occupation, income, and marital status. RECOMMENDATIONS: ❖ The study can be replicated on larger samples, there by, findings can be generalized to a larger population. ❖ A quasi-experimental study can be conducted with control group. ❖ A comparative study can be conducted in two different hospitals with similar set up. ❖ This quasi experimental study can be conducted with caregivers of the patients. ❖ A similar study can be done with the use of other teaching methods and teaching aids like video teaching programme. ❖ The same study can be conducted to caregivers of the other chronic bedridden patients