Assessment of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) of weaving factory workers in West Bengal, India - a pilot study

Introduction: Excessive noise exposure is one of the majorly considered occupational stress for industrial workers. The operation of steel weaving machinery producing a high level of noise such as weaving machines, crimping machines, and hydraulic press machines for a prolonged period increases the risk of developing noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).  The main aim of the study was to assess the auditory health of the workers exposed to a high level of noise in a steel weaving factory and the prevalence of NIHL among workers. Methods: 26 subjects in the age group of 25-55 years from a steel weaving industry of Chinsurah town, Hooghly district of West Bengal were randomly selected with 5 years of exposure for the study. The control group was selected from the same age group, socioeconomic status and geographical location and having no history of such exposure. The physiological parameters of the workers, noise levels in the workplace and auditory functions and the risk of NIHL were assessed by standardized protocol and statistically analyzed. Results: The study indicated that steel weaving factory workers had significantly reduced hearing functionality at 4000Hz and 6000Hz in the left ear respectively. It also revealed that the workers were exposed to high noise exposure of 131dB near weaving machine, 113dB at crimping machine, and 84dB at hydraulic press machine respectively. Conclusion: A high level of noise exposure leads to deterioration in the hearing capabilities of the steel weaving industrial workers. Implementation of ergonomic interventions in the workplace and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) may decrease the prevalence of NIHL and can help to prevent hearing loss in workers

Identification and Parsing of SQL Query Command by Implementation of JSON

In today’s world mobile devices have become a necessity for many people. These devices have ability to keep in touch with family members and business partners. It is also used to share information in real time.But some time people don’t like to input text on a small mobile device which may lead to error, compared to text input via full-sized keyboard on desktop computer system. In this paper we are going to present how SQL database query can be input using voice and technically parsed using JSON data storage. Here we use Pocketsphinx for Android and Google voice API to convert speech to text and create database query by processing text which return SQL query by processing JSON

DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF A HIGH-PERFORMANCE THIN-LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY FOR THE DETERMINATION OF TERBUTALINE SULFATE, BROMHEXINE HYDROCHLORIDE, AND ETOPHYLLINE IN PHARMACEUTICAL DOSAGE FORM

Objective: The study aimed to development and validation of simple, precise, and reliable high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) for the determination of terbutaline sulfate (TBS), bromhexine hydrochloride (BRH), and etophylline (ETP) in pharmaceutical dosage form. Methods: A simple, precise, rapid, and accurate HPTLC method was developed for the estimation of TBS, BRH, and ETP in pharmaceutical dosage form. Pre-coated silica gel G60 F254 aluminum sheet (10 cm2×10 cm2 and thickness 0.2 mm) was used as stationary phase while mobile phase consisting of benzene: methanol:glacial acetic acid 8:0.5:1.5 v/v/v detection at 275 nm. The present method had validated according to ICH guidelines. Results: Migration distance found 80 mm at 275 nm. The retention factor found to be 0.24, 0.57, and 0.68, respectively. The detector response was linear in the concentration range of 60–210 ng/band, 2400–8400 ng/band, and 96–336 ng/band, respectively. The linear regression equation being Y=32.20x−562.9, Y=11.79x−1711, and Y=1.756x−5636, respectively. The limit of detection for TBS 0.677 μg, for BRH 8.123 μg, and for ETP 57.915 μg and limit of quantification to be 2.053, 24.617, and 175.5 μg, respectively, were found. The developed method validated by ICH guideline, i.e., accuracy, precision, robustness, specificity, and system suitability. Conclusion: In this study, we had developed a simple, fast, and reliable HPTLC method for the determination of TBS, BRH, and ETP in pharmaceutical dosage form

A study of risk factors and fetomaternal outcome in patients with antepartum haemorrhage in a tertiary care centre

Background: Antepartum haemorrhage (APH) is one of the most feared complications in obstetrics, contributing to a significant amount of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality in our country. An antepartum haemorrhage is defined as bleeding into or from the genital tract from 24 weeks’ gestation and onwards, before the delivery of the baby. APH complicates about 2-5% of all the pregnancies with incidence of placenta previa (PP) about 0.33% to 0.55% and incidence of abruptio placenta (AP) about 0.5-1%. The maternal complications seen in patients with APH are malpresentations, premature labour, postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), sepsis, shock and retained placenta and the various foetal complications are preterm baby, low birth weight, intrauterine death, congenital malformation and birth asphyxia. Methods: A 45 patients were included in this descriptive study and detailed history taking and clinical examination was done and the resultant maternal and neonatal outcome was noted. Results: Incidence of APH in current study was calculated to be 0.53%. Out of the 45 patients, 28 (62.3%) were diagnosed with placenta previa and 17 (37.8%) were diagnosed with abruptio placenta.  All 45 patients underwent caesarean section. 3 patients (6.6%) underwent obstetric hysterectomy due to diagnosis of placenta accreta spectrum. 35 alive and 8 dead born foetuses were delivered. 40% of new borns were admitted in NICU. Conclusions: Antepartum haemorrhage is a major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality which can be prevented by early antenatal registration, regular and frequent antenatal visits, early detection and labelling of high-risk cases, and early referral to higher centre when indicated

Study of fetomaternal outcome in HIV positive pregnant female at a tertiary health center in South Gujarat

Background: Prenatal identification of HIV infected women is crucial for delivery and optimal care to both mother and fetus. Prevention of parent-to-child transmission has been the major tool to identify HIV-infected pregnant women by voluntary counselling and testing for HIV and provide antiretroviral drug prophylaxis to them during delivery and then to their newborn infants. Aim and objective was to study the fetomaternal outcome of HIV Positive antenatal patients. Methods: This was simple descriptive study which was conducted between January 2017 to June 2019 with 18 months follow-up suggestive of 40 patients were having HIV positive among 9015 deliveries. Thorough examination, investigations and treatment given according to NACO guidelines and fetomaternal outcome were noted in all cases. Results: In present study, prevalence of HIV Positive pregnant women was 0.44%. Out of 40 patients, 5 patients were diagnosed with TB. 55% cases were diagnosed with HIV during ANC examination. 22 (55%) patients were having CD4 count >500 and 1 (2.5%) patient having low CD4 count <200. 32 (80%) patients delivered vaginally and 8 (20%) underwent LSCS. 8 (20%) of babies were admitted to NICU, 3 expired and 37 babies tested negative, 3 losses to follow-up and 34 tested negatives at 18months. Conclusions: Mother-to-child transmission is the predominant way children become infected with human immunodeficiency virus worldwide. Good antenatal care and multidisciplinary approach to HIV-infected women can have good pregnancy outcome and early prophylaxis to the baby leads to decreased incidence of disease in the community.

BMC Medicine celebrates its 5th anniversary

In November 2008, BMC Medicine passed the landmark of its first 5 years of publishing. When we launched the journal with the aim of publishing high quality research of general interest and special importance, we had no idea what the future would bring. To mark the occasion of our 5th anniversary, we consider the achievements of the last 5 years and discuss our plans for the future

Role of uterine artery doppler in prediction of pre-eclampsia

Background: Approximately 5-10 % of pregnancies are complicated by pre- eclampsia and it is a prime cause for maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity worldwide, particularly in developing countries. In pre-eclampsia insufficient invasion of maternal spiral arteries by the trophoblast early in gestation due to abnormal implantation or maternal vascular disease results in impaired placental perfusion. Aspirin is a potent anti-inflammatory drug, has been shown to inhibit the biosynthesis and release of prostaglandins, even in low dosage. Ingestion of low dose aspirin may result in a decrease in the incidence of pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction and the precise mechanism by which it prevents preeclampsia in some women is also uncertain. Methods: The present prospective observational study was carried out in females between 18-20 weeks of gestation with raised uterine artery PI attending antenatal clinic in obstetrics and gynaecology department in SVP Hospital Ahmedabad from May 2023 to December 2023 using Microsoft excel and SPSS version 23. Results: In this study all the females were with raised uterine artery PI in 18-20 weeks ultrasound among them 51.85% were normotensive in later pregnancy. 48.14% developed pre-eclampsia in later pregnancy. In our study the middle cerebral artery indices in doppler ultrasound showed increased diastolic flow (including brain sparing effect) among 37% of the patients. The umbilical artery doppler showed that 62.9% of subjects were having normal umbilical artery indices, 18.5% of the patients were having decreased diastolic flow, 11.1% of the patients were having reversal of diastolic flow and 7.4% of the patients were having absent end diastolic flow Conclusions: Doppler study for fetal surveillance in pre-eclampsia is a very useful and non-invasive method and abnormal uterine artery velocimetry lead to the worse pregnancy outcomes in the present study. The knowledge of uterine and umbilical artery doppler is very helpful to improve pregnancy management and to identify and assess hypertensive disorder of the pregnancy at early gestational age compared to other antepartum test modalities