Efficacy of 50µg oral misoprostol versus 25µg vaginal misoprostol in induction of labor

Background: Misoprostol is the latest drug for induction of labour which is cheap and stable at room temperature. Our study was conducted to test the efficacy of misoprostol for labor induction through oral and vaginal route.Methods: 250 women who required induction of labor at Govt. Medical College, Kottayam was included in this study. Both oral misoprostol 50µg and vaginal misoprostol 25µg 4 hourly upto maximum of four doses were used for induction of labor as per consultant’s preference. Out of these 125 patients were selected for study in both groups. Singleton term pregnancies with cephalic presentation were selected. The mean induction pain interval, induction delivery interval, mode of delivery, maternal complications like uterine contraction abnormalities, neonatal complications were observed.Results: Induction to pain interval was shorter in oral misoprostol group compared to vaginal misoprostol group (2.48+1.3 hours vs. 3.91+2.17 hours P ≤0.001). But the mean induction to delivery interval was comparable in both groups (12.98±3.04hrs vs. 12.59±3.28 hrs.) Vaginal delivery and cesarean section rate in both groups were comparable. The oral group required more number of misoprostol (>2 misoprostol 38.4% in oral 25.6% in vaginal p=0.030). There was insignificant increased incidence of uterine hyperstimulation in vaginal group. The neonatal outcome was comparable.Conclusions: Misoprostol administered either by oral or vaginal route was equally effective in induction of labor and found to be safe

The risks for thromboembolism following caesarean section

Background: Maternal mortality can be due to various reasons. Maternal mortality following thromboembolism is a cause for concern. Venous thromboembolism is a very serious condition following caesarean section. Thromboprophylaxis should be given to the mothers with high risk for thromboembolism, who deliver by caesarean section. The objective of this study was to do to assess the risk status for thromboembolism among women delivered by caesarean section.Methods: A hospital based cross- sectional study was conducted among four hundred mothers who delivered by caesarean section. The study was conducted for a period of eight months from January to August 2017. The risks for thromboembolism was assessed and as per the guideline and hospital policy, thromboprophylaxis was given.Results: Out of four hundred patients, medical comorbidities were present for three patients. Patients who were overweight were 122. Two had systemic infection. The number of patients with high, intermediate and low risk of venous thromboembolism were 4,65 and 331.Conclusions: The study suggests that thromboprophylaxis is to be given for all the patients with any risk for thromboembolism, after caesarean section

Prevalence study of tuberculous infection over fifteen years, in a rural population in Chingleput district (south India)

As in the earlier BCG trial against tuberculosis conducted in Chingleput district in south India (in 1969), the entire study population was tuberculin tested (Survey I), a study was undertaken subsequently to see whether in this population there was any change in the tuberculosis situation in terms of prevalence of infection in children. For this purpose, in two of the panchayat unions, in a random sample of panchayats, tuberculin testing was repeated twice at an interval of 10 yr (Survey II) and 15 yr (Survey III) after the initial testing in children aged 1-9 yr. High coverages were obtained for tuberculin testing and reading. Data from 8,703 and 9,709 children at Surveys I and II respectively was used for comparing the prevalence of infection over a period of 10 yr and from 4.808, 4,965 and 4,889 children at Surveys I, II and III respectively for comparing the prevalence of infection over a period of 15 yr. The results showed that although the prevalence of infection varied in the two panchayat unions, within each panchayat union it did not differ significantly at the three surveys. The overall prevalence of infection at the three surveys was 9.0, 10.2 and 9.1 per cent respectively. The average annual risk of tuberculous infection was estimated to be 1.7, 1.9 and 1.7 per cent at the three surveys respectively. Thus, the results clearly showed that, over a period of 15 yr, there was no change in the tuberculosis situation, in terms of prevalence of infection, in the study population

Prevalence survey of filariasis in two villages in Chingleput district of Tamil Nadu

A baseline survey of filariasis was conducted in two endemic villages in Chingleput district of Tamil Nadu, to obtain the prevalence rate of microfilaraemia and that of clinical filarial disease along with its various clinical patterns. Of the 2921 dejure population registered, in 2735 a comprehensive clinical examination for filariasis was carried out by a physician. In 2658 persons of those clinically examined, night blood samples were collected by finger prick. The results of the survey confirmed that the two village were highly endemic for filariasis, the prevalence rates of clinical disease and microfilaraemia being 20 and 12 per cent respectively. The endemicity rate was 31 per cent. Nocturnally periodic Wuchereria bancrofti was the only species identified. The major manifestations of clinical disease were lymphadenitis in the acute phase, hydrocele and oedema of the lower limbs in the chronic phase and involvement of the lower limbs in the elephantiasis phase. Among males with disease in the chronic phase, genital involvement was more than that of the lower limbs. The distributions of the patients by age in the three phases, although overlapping, suggested that the disease generally progressed with age from acute to chronic to elephantiasis phase. The microfilarial rate among persons with clinical disease was lower as compared to that among persons without disease. An entomological survey of one of the villages showed that Culex quinquefasciatus was the vector with high infection and infectivity rates

Tuberculosis prevalence survey in Kashmir valley

A tuberculosis prevalence survey was conducted in about 18,000 persons in Kashmir valley situated about 1650 m above the mean sea level. All persons were tested with 3 IU of PPD-S and 10 units of PPD-B. Persons aged 5 yr and above were X-rayed (70 mm X-ray), and from such persons whose photofluorograms were interpreted as abnormal two specimens of sputum were collected and bacteriologically examined. In addition, a large X-ray of the chest was taken for children aged 0-4 yr who had reactions of 10 mm or more to PPD-S. They were then clinically examined by a paediatrician, taking into account all available data, for evaluation for any evidence of tuberculosis. The results of the survey showed that the prevalence of non-specific sensitivity (59%) in the Kashmir valley is significant. The prevalence of tuberculous infection was 38 per cent. The prevalence of culture positive tuberculous patients (3 per 1000) and that of abacillary X-ray positive patients (14 per 1000) were found to be similar in the two sexes contrary to the usual experience of a higher prevalence among males. Results from studies of phage typing, susceptibility to thiophen-2-carbonic acid hydrazide (TCH) and virulence in the guineapig of strains obtained from patients diagnosed in the survey showed that most of these strains belonged to phage type A, were resistant to TCH and were not of low virulence. Regional variations in the prevalence rates were seen, the- problem of tuberculosis appeared to he more in the Baramulla district as compared to Srinagar and Anantnag districts. A comparison of results obtained from the present survey with those obtained from the BCG trial in Chingleput (Tamil Nadu) revealed that the tuberculosis situation in the two areas was quite different

A Meta-analysis of Gene Expression Signatures of Blood Pressure and Hypertension

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have uncovered numerous genetic variants (SNPs) that are associated with blood pressure (BP). Genetic variants may lead to BP changes by acting on intermediate molecular phenotypes such as coded protein sequence or gene expression, which in turn affect BP variability. Therefore, characterizing genes whose expression is associated with BP may reveal cellular processes involved in BP regulation and uncover how transcripts mediate genetic and environmental effects on BP variability. A meta-analysis of results from six studies of global gene expression profiles of BP and hypertension in whole blood was performed in 7017 individuals who were not receiving antihypertensive drug treatment. We identified 34 genes that were differentially expressed in relation to BP (Bonferroni-corrected p<0.05). Among these genes, FOS and PTGS2 have been previously reported to be involved in BP-related processes; the others are novel. The top BP signature genes in aggregate explain 5%–9% of inter-individual variance in BP. Of note, rs3184504 in SH2B3, which was also reported in GWAS to be associated with BP, was found to be a trans regulator of the expression of 6 of the transcripts we found to be associated with BP (FOS, MYADM, PP1R15A, TAGAP, S100A10, and FGBP2). Gene set enrichment analysis suggested that the BP-related global gene expression changes include genes involved in inflammatory response and apoptosis pathways. Our study provides new insights into molecular mechanisms underlying BP regulation, and suggests novel transcriptomic markers for the treatment and prevention of hypertension

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Not AvailableA laboratory experiment was conducted to study the response of 45 castor genotypes to drought stress. Five water stress levels were used. The experiment was laid out by complete randomized design with two replications. Ten seeds of each accession were sown in sterilized sand medium and the Poly Ethylene Glycol solution was given to medium. On the tenth day, the observations were recorded. Seedling length, root length and germination percentage were observed. The highest tolerance for germination was shown by RG 2474. The values of shoot length were higher in RG 2474. The maximum root length was seen in RG 2326 and RG 3013.Not Availabl

Spontaneous organization of 'intelligent fuzzy logic networks' in atmospheric flows

Spatially extended dynamical systems in nature exhibit long-range spatiotemporal correlations manifested as the fractal geometry to the spatial pattern concomitant with inverse power law form for the power spectrum of temporal fluctuation. Such non-local connections, recently identified as 'self-organized criticality', signify 'intelligent' dynamic information update and storage in the overall fractal network and is analogous to a fuzzy logica systems

Defense and carnivory: dual role of bracts in Passiflort foetida

Members of the genus Passiflora are reported to have evolved modifications which kill insects; they have however never been tested for carnivorous syndrome. The flowers of Passiflora foetida consists of highly reticulate bracts which cover and grow along with the buds and fruits. Removal of bracts from developing bud and fruit resulted in higher predatory damage compared to those where the bracts were intact. These bracts also possess a large number of minute glands which ooze sticky secretion. A variety of tiny insects were found trapped by the secretion of the bracts. The secretion of these glands show high proteases and acid phosphatase activity, two common digestive enzymes found in traps of true carnivorous plants. A high quantity of aminoacids were released from freshly freeze killed ants when incubated in buffer extract of bracts· [14C] phenylalanine smeared on the glandular surface of bracts was recovered from ovules suggesting potential for absorption of aminoacids. These results suggest a novel role for bracts where primary function is to minimize predatory damage to developing flowers and fruits. The bracts serve as insect traps and also possess the mechanism to digest the trapped insects to obtain free aminoacids