First Trimester Screening by Ultrasonographic Markers For Prediction of Preeclampsia

Aim- To correlate association of ultrasonographic markers in antenatal patients with subsequent development of preeclampsia Material Method - 131 pregnant women, in first trimester of pregnancy were investigated for their uterine artery Doppler and  placental volume. These patients were followed up till term for the development of preeclampsia. Results: Out of 131 antenatal cases 20.61% developed preeclampsia. Uterine artery Pulsatility index >95th percentile(>2.3) with mean 2.08±0.43(p value 0.0001) predicted pre eclampsia with sensitivity of 51.85% with specificity of 95.19%. Similarly Resistance index of Uterine artery >95th  percentile(>0.8) with mean 0.771±0.084(p value 0.018) predicted pre eclampsia with sensitivity of 48.15% and specificity of 87.50% . Placental Quotient <10th percentile (<0.81) with mean 0.89 (p value 0.0001)predicted pre eclampsia with sensitivity of 40.74% and specificity of 96%.On combining all three ultrasonographic parameters the sensitivity for prediction of preeclampsia was increased to 70.37% with specificity of 86.54%  with PPV of 36.74% % and NPV of 96.34% %. Conclusion: Maternal ultrasonographic markers like Uterine artery PI, RI, Placental Quotient levels vary between normal pregnancies and those that subsequently developed preeclampsia. Thus our study concludes that  first trimester screening with ultrasonographic markershave high sensitivity, specificity and negative predictive value in detection of preeclampsia

Clarithromycin: overview and its current clinical utility in the treatment of respiratory tract infections

Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) is a common reason for medical consultation all over the world. Streptococcus A (Strep A) and other infections can cause sore throat as well as pharyngitis or tonsillitis. It may also result in post-infection sequelae, including acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis, acute rheumatic fever, and rheumatic heart disease.  As a result, there is a need for an antibiotic that is effective, easy to administer, has a favorable sensitivity pattern, and preferably has some additional pharmacodynamic properties that complement the basic antibacterial profile. Clarithromycin is a macrolide antibacterial agent with broad-spectrum activity against respiratory pathogens. It is especially active against atypical Chlamydia pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Legionella spp. It is well absorbed and stable at gastric pH. It is metabolized by the cytochrome P450 enzymes and forms 14-hydroxy clarithromycin, which is more active than the parent compound, especially against Hemophilus influenzae. It acts by preventing protein synthesis by binding to the 50S subunit of bacterial ribosomes. In dosages of 500 to 1000 mg/day for 5 to 14 days, clarithromycin is effective in the treatment of community-acquired upper and lower respiratory tract infections in hospital and community settings. It exerts significant anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and post-antibiotic effects. It provides a viable option for the treatment of community-acquired respiratory tract infections, in both children and adults.  

Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity

Local anesthetics are used very often in medicine and dentistry. They have few adverse effects, but the increased use of these drugs has resulted in a higher incidence of local and systemic anesthetic toxicity (LAST). From the initial symptoms to the deleterious effects on cardiac and the central nervous system, LAST is an important consequence of which we should be aware. LAST is known since the introduction and use of local anesthetics; it was originally associated with seizures and respiratory failure. However, in the 1970s, side effects on the heart were also identified, as the fatal cardiac toxicity associated with bupivacaine was discovered in healthy patients. Prevention and safe administration of regional anesthesia remains primary factors in the avoidance of the toxicity of these drugs. When a patient has LAST, treatment should be started immediately to reduce seizures. If there is cardiac arrest, follow ACLS guidelines. Intravenous lipids improve cardiac conduction, contractility and coronary perfusion by removing liposoluble local anesthetic from cardiac tissue

Symmetry of solutions to singular fractional elliptic equations and applications

In this article, we study the symmetry of positive solutions to a class of singular semilinear elliptic equations whose prototype is \begin{align*} (P) \quad \left\lbrace \begin{array}{ll} (-\Delta )^{s}u = \frac{1}{u^\delta } + f(u), \; u>0\quad & \text{ in }\Omega ; \\ u=0 & \text{ in } \mathbb{R}^n\setminus \Omega ,\\ \end{array} \right. \end{align*} where $00$, $f(u)$ is a locally Lipschitz function. We prove that classical solutions are radial and radially decreasing (see Theorem 1). The proof uses the moving plane method adapted to the non local setting. We then give two applications of this main result: Theorem 2 establishes the uniform apriori bound for classical solutions in case of polynomial growth nonlinearities whereas Theorem 3 ensures in case of exponential growth nonlinearities the convergence of large solutions with unbounded energy to a singular solution

Symmetry of solutions to singular fractional elliptic equations and applications

In this article, we study the symmetry of positive solutions to a class of singular semilinear elliptic equations whose prototype is \begin{align*} (P) \quad \left\lbrace \begin{array}{ll} (-\Delta )^{s}u = \frac{1}{u^\delta } + f(u), \; u>0\quad & \text{ in }\Omega ; \\ u=0 & \text{ in } \mathbb{R}^n\setminus \Omega ,\\ \end{array} \right. \end{align*} where $00$, $f(u)$ is a locally Lipschitz function. We prove that classical solutions are radial and radially decreasing (see Theorem 1). The proof uses the moving plane method adapted to the non local setting. We then give two applications of this main result: Theorem 2 establishes the uniform apriori bound for classical solutions in case of polynomial growth nonlinearities whereas Theorem 3 ensures in case of exponential growth nonlinearities the convergence of large solutions with unbounded energy to a singular solution

Online proctoring with face analysis and object recognition using Yolo

To guarantee academic integrity, the spread of online education and tests has prompted the creation of secure and dependable online proctoring solutions. We present a comprehensive real-time online proctoring system in this study that uses gaze movement analysis, facial aspect ratio assessment, and mouth opening status detection to detect probable cheating behaviours during remote tests. Furthermore, the system uses the You Only Look Once (YOLO) algorithm to detect forbidden goods like as phones and books within the examination area.The gaze movement analysis module monitors students' eye movements during the examination using computer vision techniques such as eye tracking algorithms built in Scipy. The technology may detect instances of prolonged off-screen gazing by analysing gaze patterns, highlighting potential attempts to access unauthorised materials.The facial aspect ratio analysis component calculates the aspect ratio of major facial features using facial landmarks. This method aids in detecting anomalous head motions or changes from conventional facial expressions that may suggest dishonesty.Furthermore, the proctoring system employs mouth opening status detection, which is accomplished through the use of deep learning algorithms, to identify instances of verbal communication or whispering throughout the exam. Our method incorporates the YOLO object detection technique, in addition to gaze and facial analysis, to recognise phones and books in the examination setting. Using a pre-trained YOLO model, the system can detect and flag any unauthorised items in the area of the students. Using a broad dataset of simulated examination scenarios and real-world proctoring instances, we assess the performance of the proposed online proctoring system. The findings illustrate the system's accuracy and effectiveness in detecting potential instances of academic cheating, giving teachers vital insights into student behaviour during remote tests. Finally, our study introduces a novel technique to real-time online proctoring that incorporates gaze movement analysis, face aspect ratio assessment, mouth opening status detection, and YOLO-based object detection. This multifaceted approach helps to improve the integrity and security of remote exams in the digital education era

Study of prescribing pattern of drugs used in the treatment of bronchial asthma at tertiary care hospital of northern India

Background: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease requiring long term treatment. For an effective control of asthma symptoms background knowledge of the prescribing pattern of anti-asthmatic drugs is a must.Methods: A prospective, observational study was conducted in the Department of Respiratory Medicine OPD, King George's Medical University, Lucknow. 114 patients of asthma were recruited for the study. A case report form was filled from patient’s prescription containing the demographic details of the patients, presenting complaints, investigations and drugs prescribed along with their dose, duration, frequency, route of administration.Results: 114 patients’ prescriptions were assessed which showed average number of drugs per prescription - 3.22. 42.8% and 50% of the drugs were prescribed in accordance with World Health Organization model list of essential medicines and National list of essential medicines. Short acting β2 agonist (salbutamol), 61.4% was the most commonly and frequently prescribed single anti asthmatic drug. Combination of inhaled corticosteroid and long acting β2 agonist, 86.8% was the most commonly prescribed fixed dose combination anti asthmatic drug. Inhalational route (75%) was the most preferred one over oral route (25%).Conclusions: Asthma being a chronic disease requires prolonged treatment which imposes economic burden on the patients. Judicious prescription of drugs not only improves the patient clinically but also removes the unnecessary burden. Data obtained from these studies can be used as a guide to make future decisions regarding standard prescription

Gender Sensitization of Adolescent Boys and its Linkage to the Creation of Positive Male Role Models

Adolescents in India outnumber (in terms of the population dividend) their counterparts elsewhere in the world. With the future of our fast-growing economy fairly rested on them, it is important that for gender inclusive growth to set in, adolescent boys grow up with gender awareness and sensitivity. This becomes all the more important in societies like ours, which continue to subscribe to patriarchal biases and rigid gender roles are a reality of the times. While un-conditioning and unlearning in adulthood can be a social exercise to build inclusive mind-sets, grass root level interventions that groom young boys to be gender sensitive individuals can aid our transition to an equal and inclusive future. This study was conducted in order to understand the current need in India for systematic gender sensitization interventions for adolescent boys. In the first segment of the study, a qualitative research was undertaken amongst principals and vice principals of 20 prominent schools in the Indian city of Chennai to understand the key challenges they faced with regards to gender sensitivity amongst their male students. The study conducted amongst the principals revealed that there was a huge gap in existence in conditioning young boys on the ethical tenets of gender sensitivity. The second segment of the study traced the adolescence of successful male role models from corporate India, who were surveyed to understand the impact of gender sensitization conversations they had in their adolescence in shaping their mindsets in adult lives. The results established strong interlinkages between a male leader’s ability to inclusively interact and effectively lead diverse teams, with that of constructive gender sensitivity discussions he had in his adolescence

How the loss in academics and research occurs by stopping animal experimentation in medical curriculum

Use of animals in experimentation and research has always been a topic of great debate. Some express their strong support while others are against animal research practices and want their complete abolition.1 At present, there is a pill for every ill. Rapid advancement in the field of science and technology contributed in discovering cure and medications even for the rarest of the rare diseases. Most of the present day discoveries in medical science lay their foundation on animal experimentation. The use of drugs in clinical practice have been possible only after going through successful animal studies for safety, efficacy and toxicity