Redefining Workplace Wellness: Wearable Technology and Corporate Wellness

The recent advancements in wearable technology have changed the way we look at health and wellness. This new age development has made its way into the world of corporate and given the benefits, it is meant to stay there for some time. These technologies have been increasingly incorporated in the corporate wellness initiatives with a focus on improving the overall health and wellness of the employees. There are many advantages to a healthy workforce including increased productivity and lower health insurance premiums. A growing trend in corporate wellness programs is to offer wearable fitness trackers to employees to help them monitor their activities so that they can make better choices about their health and lifestyle. This article explores the current trend in the corporate wellness initiatives and also discusses the benefits, barriers and threats of this new age development

Prevalence of urinary incontinence in reproductive women and its impact on quality of life

Background: Urogenital problems are more common in the female population. Among them urinary incontinence is a common problem. It has significant impact on the physical, psychological and socio-economic aspects of life. The aim of our study is to estimate the proportion of women with urinary incontinence in reproductive age groups and to assess the impact of urinary incontinence on quality of life.Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted among 404 women aged between 20 - 45 years. Following data such as socio-demographic characteristics, urinary symptoms and obstetric history, height and weight measurements were recorded. Among those with incontinence, King’s Health Questionnaire was used to evaluate severity of affection.Results: The prevalence of urinary incontinence was 34.1% in our study. Out of them 73.2% had mild incontinence, 19.6% had moderate incontinence and 7.2% had severe incontinence.  Those with urinary incontinence had significantly more amount of health affection than those without incontinence (X2 value – 152, P value – 0.000). In those with moderate incontinence, > 95% had physical activity limitation and social limitation. In those with severe incontinence, 90% had physical activity restriction, social limitation, emotional affection and sleep deprivation.Conclusions: The prevalence of urinary incontinence was 34.1%. Urinary incontinence had higher impact on emotional and social well-being. Awareness has to be created about available treatment options among women

Knowledge And Awareness on Periorbital Hyperpigmentation Among Dental Students

Aim: To analyse the knowledge and awareness of Periorbital hyperpigmentation among dental students. Introduction: In the day to day life, higher education students deal with a lot of stress in their academics. The signs of stress and strain reflect in our body. One of the most encountered signs is periorbital hyperpigmentation(POH), the so-called dark circle. It is evident among the population and it tends to affect the quality of life of patients and their social interactions. The aim of the study is to assess the knowledge and awareness of periorbital hyperpigmentation among higher education students. Materials And Methods: The observational pilot study was carried out in 25 dental students (15 female, 10 male). A well-framed 20 self-structured questionnaire was formed and circulated among the dental students through offline means. Collected responses were tabulated in google sheets and the data was transferred to SPSS software. Statistical analysis was done using the chi square test. P value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: Females were more aware about POH than the males participants. 96% of the students reported sleep deprivation as a triggering factor of Periorbital hyperpigmentation. 76% of the students were well aware that rubbing their eyes often predisposes to POH. The results showed that the dental students possess high knowledge and awareness regarding periorbital hyperpigmentation. Conclusion: Students had a fair idea about periorbital hyperpigmentation and its causes. Further studies can be carried out for better understanding in a different set of larger populations.Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Science

Asymptomatic postmenopausal endometrial tuberculosis:a rare case report

Tuberculosis remains a global health problem, primarily in developing countries. Genital tuberculosis is common in young women mostly detected during infertility work up. Mycobacterial infection in postmenopausal women is an extremely rare disease. After menopause, tuberculosis of the endometrium is a rare possibility probably because of thedecreased vascularity of the tissues. We present here a case of asymptomatic postmenopausal woman who was suspected as endometrial carcinoma initially by abnormal endometrial pattern in ultrasound done as a part of regular health check-up. In endometrial biopsy we found pus draining. Diagnosed as endometrial tuberculosis by pathologic examination and polymerase chain reaction. She was put on anti-tuberculosis treatment. After completion of treatment, she was doing well. Thus, we conclude saying endometrial tuberculosis should also be suspected in postmenopausal women with abnormal endometrial pattern

Formulation and In Vitro Evaluation Of Hydrophilic Monolithic Matrices-Hydrogels Drug Delivery System of Prazosin Hydrochloride

Suitable analytical method based on UV-Visible spectrophotometer was developed for prazosin hydrochloride. max of 340.4 nm and 330.4 nm was identified in phosphate buffer pH 7.2 , and 0.1 N HCl solution, respectively. All the excipients used did not interfere with the estimation of prazosin hydrochloride. Procedure to manufacture matrix tablets by direct compression was established. Matrix tablets of prazosin hydrochloride (F-IX) were successfully prepared using HPMC K100 by direct compression method. Tablets of F-IX passed all official and unofficial quality control tests. The tablets were evaluated for pharmacopoeial and non-pharmacopoeial tests. Based on the results, F-IX was identified as better formulation amongst all formulations for matrix tablets. The content uniformity of prazosin hydrochloride in the tablets was ranged from 96.16 to 100.55 %. An in vitro release profile of optimized formulations of prazosin hydrochloride matrix tablets (F-IX) was found to be similar to that of commercial marketed product. The average f1 and f2 values were found to be 4.82 and 71.40 for matrix tablets respectively. Prazosin hydrochloride release from the matrix tablets was independent of pH of the dissolution medium, assuring the release to be fairly independent of pH of the GIT. So, 0.1 N HCl is selected as dissolution medium. Prazosin hydrochloride release from the matrix tablet was inversely proportional to the agitational intensity of the dissolution medium. Drug release from the developed formulation follows Zero- order kinetics. Hixon-Crowell cube root law was applied to test the release mechanism. R2 values are higher for Higuchi’s model compared to Hixon – Crowell model for F-IX. Hence prazosin hydrochloride release from the tablets followed non-Fickian diffusion rate controlled. The manufacturing procedure was standardized and found to be reproducible. After one month of accelerated stability studies, developed formulations were found to be stable. The formulation shows the good Swelling behavior and water uptake properties.The size and cost of the prazosin hydrochloride sustained release tablets was decreased when compared to marketed products.The conclusions arrived from this thesis indicated that the sustained release formulations of prazosin hydrochloride developed in this investigation was found to be equivalent to commercial marketed product, based on in vitro release studies. Thus the objectives envisaged in this thesis are achieved

Dentinogenesis imperfecta type 1-Shield’s classification (1973): a rare case report and literature review

Dentinogenesis imperfecta (DI) is an autosomal dominant disorder that affects the dentin development. It is characterized by the presence of opalescent dentin, with dusky blue to brownish discoloration of the teeth. This condition is genetically and clinically heterogeneous; DI may affect only the teeth or it may be associated with the osteogenesis imperfect (OI). When both are associated there are various degrees of clinical presentation from mild form with less significant signs to severe form such as death in infancy. The most familiar classification system of this hereditary disorder is Shields classification which is of 3 types namely, type I, DI associated with OI, type II is not associated with OI. Type III which is also known as ‘Brandywine type’ DI.  This case report describes a rare case of 32-year-old female patient who showed the characteristic features of Shield’s classification type I with penetrance of defect through 4 generations.

Perforated transverse vaginal septum: a rare case report

20 year old nulliparous woman married since 1 ½ years attended the gynaecology OPD with history of inability to conceive. She had regular menstrual cycles with normal menstrual flow. Local examination revealed blind vagina with a small opening in the centre. On per rectal examination, uterus was felt and normal in size. Based on history and clinical examination finding, a provisional diagnosis of perforated transverse vaginal septum was made. MRI revealed transverse vaginal septum in the lower 1/3rd of vagina with a small fenestration without haematocolpos or haematometra. Transverse vaginal septum resection was done. Vagina healed well without stricture formation. Transverse vaginal septum in the lower 1/3rd of vagina (perforating type) is a rare entity and hence it is presented

Evaluation of vitamin D status in suspected cases of metabolic syndrome

Background: Metabolic syndrome is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Vitamin D has been linked to glucose metabolism and insulin regulation. Hence, this study aims to evaluate the association between the serum level of vitamin D and metabolic syndrome. This may help generate additive strategies in the prevention and management of this syndrome. The objective of the study was to compare the levels of serum vitamin D in subjects with metabolic syndrome and subjects without metabolic syndrome.Methods: A prospective study with 80 subjects was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Southern India. The sample comprised 40 subjects in the age group of (18-60 years) with metabolic syndrome as cases and 40 subjects without metabolic syndrome in the age groups of (18-60 years) as controls. The presence of any 3 of the following- fasting blood glucose (FBS ≥100mg/dl), triglycerides (TGL≥150mg/dl) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C ≤40mg/dl-men, ≤50mg/dl-women) levels, blood pressure (≥130/85mmHg or drug treatment) and abdominal waist circumference (>94 cm (37 in) in men and >80 cm (31 in) in women) were used as criteria to screen for the presence (cases) or absence (controls) of metabolic syndrome. Serum vitamin D (25-hydroxy vitamin D) levels were compared between the two groups.Results: Mann Whitney U test was used to compare the vitamin D levels between the two groups. Significantly (p=0.05) lower vitamin D levels were seen in the cases compared to the controls.Conclusions: Metabolic syndrome is associated with significantly lower serum vitamin D levels. We suggest that further studies with a larger sample size be undertaken to confirm the same

IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTICANCER ACTIVITY OF ULVA LACTUCA L.USING MOLT-3 CELL LINE

Objective: The aim of the present investigation was to determine the in vitro antioxidant and anticancer activity of the ethanol extract of Ulva lactuca L. Methods: The present study was to investigate the antioxidant and anticancer activity of U. lactuca L. The extract of U. lactuca L. was extracted by ethanol and subject to analysis. An in vitro antioxidant activity of the ethanol extract of U. lactuca L. was performed by 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging assay. Simultaneously anticancer activity was also performed using blood cancer (MOLT-3) cell line, and the species showed a strong selective cell proliferation inhibition of the cancer cell line. Results: The scavenging activity was measured and determined to be 78.5%. This might be due to high polyphenolic compounds and flavonoid contents of the extract, which showed maximum growth inhibition of 74.4%. Conclusion: Thus, the study concludes that the constituents of seaweeds can act as potent in treating various diseases and can be used as an alternative for therapeutic treatment

Substantial Impact of Precipitants and Dispersant on the Structural and Optical Properties of CeO2 Nanoparticles

Cerium oxide nanoparticles are prepared by simple precipitation method with various precipitants. The prepared samples are analyzed by XRD, FT-IR and PL. XRD confirms the occurrence of single-phase polycrystalline cubic fluorite structure with dominant orientation along (111) direction. The sharp band at 1415 cm-1 originated from –CH3 deformation and –CH2 scissoring vibrations of PVP, also A strong band at 848 and 400 cm-1 due to the envelope of the phonon band of the metal oxide (Ce-O) network obtained from FT-IR spectra. PL spectra exhibit the presence of strong blue and weak blue-green emission in the visible region. Additions of PVP strongly distress the peaks intensity of the samples