Personal Current Awareness Service: A Handbook of Techniques for Manual SDI (Book Review)

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Inset-FED microstrip patch antenna for glucose detection using label-free microwave sensing mechanism

In this work, a real-time label-free microwave sensing mechanism for glucose concentration monitoring using a planar biosensor configured with an inset fed microstrip patch antenna has been demonstrated. A microstrip patch antenna with the resonating frequency of 1.45 GHz has been designed and is fabricated on the Flame Retardant (FR-4) substrate. Due to the intense electromagnetic field at the edges of the patch antenna, edge length has been used as the detecting area where the sample under test (SUT) interacts with the electromagnetic field. The Poly-Dimethyl-Siloxane (PDMS) with the trench in the centre has been employed as the sample holder. Here, the SUT is the glucose dissolved in DI (de-ionized) water with the concentration range of 0.2 to 0.6 g/mL. The dielectric constant dependency on the glucose concentration has been used as the distinguishing factor which results in a shift in the S-parameter. The experimentally measured RF parameters were observed closely which showed the shift in S11 magnitude from –40 to –15 dB and resonant frequency from 1.27 to 1.3 GHz w.r.t the SUT solution of 0.2 to 0.6 g/mL with linear regression coefficient of 0.881, and 0.983 respectively

Clinical study of cases of intrauterine foetal death in a tertiary centre

Background: Foetal death at any stage of pregnancy is a tragic event and one of the unhappy events in the field of obstetrics. The present study was done to determine the probable etiology for antepartum and intrapartum foetal deaths and to study the role of antenatal care in prevention of intrauterine foetal deaths.Methods: The cases of intrauterine foetal deaths in OBGY department at MGM hospital, Kalamboli and Kamothe with either ultrasound reports proving Intrauterine foetal death  (IUFD) or diagnosed on clinical examination by absence of foetal heart rate with gestational age more than 28 weeks by dating from Naegle’s rule or by ultrasonography were studied. Inclusion criteria includes as following; 1) All cases of IUFD >28 weeks of gestation; 2) Baby weight of 1000 grams or more and exclusion criteria includes molar pregnancy.Results: The foetal death rate was 27.76/1000 births. Major causes of IUFD were PE and eclampsia (34.78%), unexplained (14.49%) and abruptio placentae (7.25%). Majority of the stillbirth were seen in preterm pregnancy between 34 - 36 (18.85%) weeks followed by 28 - 30 weeks (17.39%). Majority of foetuses were preterm and of birth weight between 1 - 1.5 kg (28.26%) followed by 1.5 - 2 kg (26.09%).Conclusions: Present studies showed that majority of IUFDs were preventable. Pre-eclampsia and abruption which are the major causes of IUFD can be reduced by improving education of the patient to avail obstetric care, more frequent visits for high risk pregnancies, timely reference to specialist. Early registration is an important pre-requisite for early detection of risk factors.

HOMOLOGY MODELLING AND MOLECULAR DOCKING STUDY OF ORGANOPHOSPHATES AND PYRETHROIDS IN TERMS OF POTENTIAL TOXICITY

Objective: Though the adverse effects of pesticides used in agriculture may not immediately be visible in the human population however its long term exposure may cause detrimental effects by biomagnifications and bioaccumulation. Nowadays bioinformatics serves as an in silico tool not only for homology alignment but also for prediction of quaternary structures of biochemicals. The present study was aimed to compare the potential toxicities of triazophos and chlorpyrifos (organophosphates; OPs) and cypermethrin and deltamethrin (pyrethroids) and their interactions with cytochrome P450 functioning. Methods: The authors performed the BLAST for homology alignment for cytochrome P450 of human and Zebra fish and further proceeded for docking analysis of all the pesticides with cytochrome P450. Results: It was noted that 99% of query cover with 32% of homology in the sequences of cytochrome P450 between human and Zebra fish. Upon docking, the pesticide deltamethrin showed the highest interaction with cytochrome P450 with highest binding energy and least dissociation constant for Deltamethrin which was found to be 8.233 [kcal/mol] and 922849.687 [pM].Conclusion: Our preliminary results thus encompass/indicate that the deltamethrin is not only having detrimental effect on enzyme kinetics in general but also such similar effects be apprehended for human also

A rare case of term viable secondary abdominal pregnancy following rupture of a rudimentary horn: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Abdominal pregnancy is a rare event, but one that represents a grave risk to the health of the pregnant woman. An abdominal pregnancy is defined as an ectopic pregnancy that implants in the peritoneal cavity. Early abdominal pregnancy is self-limited by hemorrhage from trophoblastic invasion with complete abortion of the gestational sac that leaves a discrete crater. Advanced abdominal pregnancy is a rare event, with high fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>This is a case report of a 22-year-old primigravida with an abdominal pregnancy from a ruptured rudimentary horn. She was diagnosed as a case of term pregnancy with placenta previa with a transverse fetal lie and cervical fibroid and was prepared for an elective cesarean section. Intra-operatively, a live term female baby was extracted from the peritoneal cavity and it turned out to be an abdominal pregnancy from a ruptured rudimentary horn of a unicornuate uterus, which is a very rare condition. Mother and baby were in good condition after such a catastrophic event.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This case illustrates a rare obstetric condition which can be a severe catastrophic condition leading to maternal mortality and morbidity. It is imperative for every obstetrician to have in mind the possibility of abdominal pregnancy, although rare, especially in pregnant patients with persistent abdominal pain and painful fetal movements.</p

The Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis and Diabetic Cognitive Impairment: A Memorable Journey

Objective: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with complications affecting the quality of life. Interestingly, the gut microbiota is closely related to glucose metabolism. This narrative review introduces the characteristics of the gut microbiota in DM, describes the modulation of host glycemic control by the gut microbiota, characteristics of intestinal permeability, mechanisms of diabetic cognitive impairment (DCI), and the role of brain–gut–microbiota axis in DM. Materials and methods: The literature search was performed in Medline, Scopus, WOS, and PubMed databases using the keywords gut microbiota, DM, intestinal permeability, and DCI. Results: Dysbiosis of gut microbiota causes intestinal barrier disruption resulting in the entry of intestinal bacteria and their metabolites into the circulatory system, which may disturb insulin sensitivity, glucose metabolism, and immune homeostasis. Gut microbiota plays a critical role in regulating systemic insulin sensitivity and energy metabolism. Intestinal barrier dysfunction induced by hyperglycemia is considered to be the underlying mechanism of systemic infection and inflammatory response in patients with diabetes. Both dysbacteriosis and cytokines will lead to the intestinal barrier and blood–brain barrier dysfunction, facilitating harmful substances (advanced glycated end products) to access neurons, and thus contribute to the development of DCI. The modulation of intestinal permeability through nutritional interventions may represent a potential prevention target for DM. Conclusions: The clinical evidence for the association between hyperglycemia and intestinal barrier dysfunction in humans is scarce. Further clinical studies are needed to provide more insight by studying the intestinal barrier integrity markers and glycemic status and their association with cognitive status. (Cli

Pongamol from the seeds of Tephrosia purpurea exert anti-cancer activity against cervical cancer cell line

Tephrosia purpurea belongs to the family Fabaceae, is used for the treatment of inflammation, diabetes, cancer, elephantitis, haemmaroids, anaemia, dysmenorrhea, chronic fever, boils, gingivitis etc. In the present study, three compounds (TP-1, TP-3 and TP-5) were isolated from EETP. Quantity of TP-3 (6.05 %) in EETP was determined by HPLC. In-vitro anti-cancer activity of EETP and isolated compound TP-3 on SiHa cells (cervical cancer cell lines) as well as PBMCs (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) were evaluated by MTT (3-(4,5- di methyl thiazol -2-yl)-2,5-di phenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay. Spectroscopic analysis and physical properties, structure of isolated compounds TP-1, TP-3 and TP-5 were characterized as teclenone, pongamol and β-sitosterol respectively. Isolated compound TP-3 showed cytotoxicity against SiHa cells with the IC50 33.06 µgmL-1. TP-3 showed cytotoxicity at all the concentrations but significant activity was observed at the concentration range from 20-50 µgmL-1 as compared to control. Maximum cytotoxicity (72.75%) was observed at the concentration of 50 µgmL-1. TP-3 showed non-significant cytotoxicity against PBMCs cells at all the concentrations except at 50 µgmL-1 (cytotoxicity 24.19%). EETP showed significant cytotoxic activity (IC50 value 113.63 µgmL-1) against SiHa cells at the concentration range from 75-150 µgmL-1 as compared to control. Maximum cytotoxicity (75.34%) was observed at the concentration of 150 µgmL-1

The labels and models used to describe problematic substance use impact discrete elements of stigma: A Registered Report

Objectives: Problematic substance use is one of the most stigmatised health conditions leading research to examine how the labels and models used to describe it influence public stigma. Two recent studies examine whether beliefs in a disease model of addiction influence public stigma but result in equivocal findings – in line with the mixed-blessings model, Kelly et al. (2021) found that whilst the label ‘chronically relapsing brain disease’ reduced blame attribution, it decreased prognostic optimism and increased perceived danger and need for continued care; however, Rundle et al. (2021) conclude absence of evidence. This study isolates the different factors used in these two studies to assess whether health condition (drug use vs. health concern), aetiological label (brain disease vs. problem), and attributional judgement (low vs. high treatment stability) influence public stigma towards problematic substance use. Methods: 1613 participants were assigned randomly to one of eight vignette conditions that manipulated these factors. They completed self-report measures of discrete and general public stigma and an indirect measure of discrimination. Results: Greater social distance, danger, and public stigma but lower blame were ascribed to drug use relative to a health concern. Greater (genetic) blame was reported when drug use was labelled as a ‘chronically relapsing brain disease’ relative to a ‘problem’. Findings for attributional judgement were either inconclusive or statistically equivalent. Discussion: The labels used to describe problematic substance use appear to impact discrete elements of stigma. We suggest that addiction is a functional attribution, which may explain the mixed literature on the impact of aetiological labels on stigma to date