Maternal and perinatal outcome in antepartum haemorrhage patients attending tertiary care hospital in central India: a prospective observational study

Background: Antepartum haemorrhage (APH) is an emergency obstetrical condition that accounts for 2-5% of pregnancies and contributes to high level of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. The present study was undertaken to assess the incidence of APH and to determine the maternal and fetal outcome in women with APH.Methods: This study was conducted in 130 women diagnosed with APH (gestational age ≥28 weeks) admitted in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology, at tertiary care hospital in central India over a period of 18 months from January 2020 to June 2021.Results: The overall incidence of APH was 1.09% and majority of them had abruptio placentae (AP-53.08%) followed by placenta praevia (PP-38.46%) and unknown (UK-8.46%). Anaemia (90%) was the commonest maternal morbidity. A significant association found between APH type and HELLP infection (p<0.0001), PPH (p=0.028) and DIC (p<0.0001). Rate of maternal morality was 9.23% and commonest causes of mortality were renal failure and PPH (91.67% each). Most common neonatal morbidities were birth weight of <2.5 kgs (84.32%) and NICU admission (27.61%). APH type was significantly associated with birth weight (p<0.0001). Majority of neonates were born live (56.72%), 36.57% were IUDs, 6.72% were still born, and 14.18% were neonatal deaths. APH type was significantly associated with live births and IUDs, (p<0.0001).Conclusions: APH is still a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. Most of the patients were booked at other centres and were presented late with complications at the time of admission. Both these factors have contributed significantly to the incidence of APH as well as maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality

Cyto-histopathological correlation of thyroid lesions

Background: Thyroid is a frequent site of disease in human body. Fine needle aspiration cytology is a rapid, efficient, inexpensive and safe diagnostic method in these cases. FNAC has some limitations, particularly limited to representatives of samples and exact typing of benign and malignant neoplastic lesions. Thus, FNAC alone may not give a confirmative diagnosis regarding few thyroid lesions. Hence, histopathological study has been the standard technique for the diagnosis of thyroid lesions. Objectives were to study cytomorphological features of thyroid enlargement and palpable lesions of thyroid by FNAC, to correlate cytomorphological features of thyroid lesions with Histopathological features wherever possible and to evaluate sensitivity and specificity of FNAC of thyroid lesions.Methods: In the present study, 385 cases of thyroid FNA’s, have been analyzed and cyto-histopathological correlation has been interpreted wherever available.Results: In present study sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive, negative predictive value and accuracy of FNAC was found out be 92.31%, 97.01%, 85.71%, 98.48% and 96.25%.Conclusions:Fine needle aspiration cytology is a simple reliable and cost effective technique without complications. This can be used as safe outpatient procedure with minimal discomfort to the patient.

Gold Finger: Metal Jewellery as a Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Therapy!

Polyarticular psoriatic arthritis is a chronic, progressive and disabling auto-immune disease often affecting the small joints of the hands in a symmetrical fashion. The disease can progress rapidly causing joint swelling and damaging cartilage and bone around the joints resulting in severe deformities. We report a very unusual case of a 49-year-old woman who presented with polyarticular psoriatic arthritis affecting all proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints of both hands except the left ring finger PIP joint. On clinical examination there was no evidence of arthritis in the left ring finger PIP joint. We confirmed the paucity of joint damage in the PIP joint of the left ring finger using more modern imaging modalities such as musculoskeletal ultrasound and MRI scan of the small joints of the hands. All other PIP joints in both hands demonstrated advanced degrees of joint damage secondary to chronic psoriatic inflammatory arthritis. We postulated that wearing a gold wedding ring has helped protecting the PIP joint of the left ring finger from the damaging effect of inflammatory arthritis. The possible mechanisms by which metal jewellery (gold ring) confer protection to adjacent joints was discussed

Berry Weight, Quality and Cane Biochemistry Changes in Relation to Cane Thickness of Own-Rooted and Grafted 'Tas-A-Ganesh' Grape

A field trial was conducted to determine the effect of cane thickness on berry quality and other biochemical parameters in 'Tas-A-Ganesh' grape at National Research Centre for Grapes, Pune, during the year 2008- 2009. Average bunch weight increased with increase in cane diameter. Own-rooted vines of cane thickness &lt;6mm sprouted earlier than thicker canes. TSS of berries decreased with increase in berry size. Berries on grafted vines recorded lower TSS than on own-rooted vines. Biochemical parameters such as content of reducing sugars, carbohydrat and phenols were higher in grafted vines of cane thickness &gt;10mm. Results indicate that thicker canes either on their own roots or on grafted vines are superior for yield and yield components, as also for physical properties of bunches and berries and total carbohydrate content of the canes

Oxidative Stress and Modulatory effects of the root extract of Phlogacanthus tubiflorus on the activity of Glutathione-S-Transferase in Hydrogen Peroxide treated Lymphocyte

Glutathione-S-transferase is one of the important enzyme systems that plays vital role in decomposition of lipid hydro-peroxides formed due to oxidative stress. In the present study GST activity increased in the lymphocytes treated with increasing concentration of H2O2, and decrease in the levels of GSH was observed. For similar treatment conditions LDH activity and MDA levels increased significantly leading to decrease in the cell viability. Treatment of lymphocytes with the root extract of Phlogacanthus tubiflorus (PTE) resulted in dose dependent decline in the GST activity and rise in GSH levels. LDH activity and MDA levels also declined that led to the increase of cell viability. Lymphocytes pre-treated with the PTE followed by H2O2 (0.1 and 1%) treatment, decline in the activity of GST and increase in GSH levels was observed. Also we have observed decline in the activity of LDH and MDA levels in the lymphocytes for both 0.1 and 1% of H2O2 though the magnitude of change was higher in the lymphocytes pre-treated with the PTE followed with 1% of H2O2 treatment. Significant increase in the cell viability for similar conditions was also observed. These findings suggest protective function of the root extracts might be through modulation of GST activity and levels of GSH and might find application in Chemomodulation in future

Studies on Preparation of Quarg Type Cheese From Cow Milk and Goat Milk

The current upward trend in nutritional and health awareness is the consumer’s demands for high nutritive valuable product in the market with acceptable sensory characteristics. The present study was carried out to explore the possibilities of using goat milk alone and in combination with cow milk for preparation of quarg type cheese. The levels of cow milk and goat milk treatments were T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 as 100:00, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 and 00:100 per cent  respectively. The product was served to the semi-trained panel of judges to know its acceptability. The treatment T3 having 50% cow milk and 50% goat milk was rated superior amongst experimental treatments. In respect of chemical composition protein, moisture and acidity were increased with increased in level of goat milk while fat, carbohydrate, total solid ash and pH were decreased with increased in level of goat milk

Studies on crossability in cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) genotypes

Successful hybridization primarily depends on the crossability of the parents involved as well as development of the F1 hybrids and their derivatives. In the present study, 12 crosses were attempted to study the crossability relationship among cashew genotypes. Among the crosses, the highest crossability was recorded in the cross H-303 x VTH 711/4 (17.16%), whereas, high rate of abscission of young fruits was observed in crosses involving NRCC Selection -2 as female parent. The genotype VTH 711/4 has shown substantially high per cent of crossability and better nut set with different genotypes of cashew

Effect of Canopy Management Practices during forward Pruning on Berry Development and Photosynthesis in Tas-A-Ganesh Grapes

Effect of canopy manipulation during forward pruning on berry development and photosynthetic parameters was studied in Tas-A-Ganesh grape grafted onto Dogridge rootstock. Canopy manipulation including shoot thinning, leaf removal, shoot thinning with leaf removal, and shoot pinching, was done after forward pruning. Significant differences were observed in yield and quality. Shoot thinning to about 40 shoots per vine, with removal of three basal leaves, resulted in significantly higher yield, followed by that in shoot thinning alone. Lowest yield was recorded in the Control. Leaf removal drastically reduced bunch development affecting berry weight, diameter and length compared to other treatments. Among different canopy manipulation treatments, higher average bunch weight was recorded in shoot thinning plus leaf removal, whereas, lowest bunch weight was recorded with leaf removal alone. At harvest, the amount of total soluble solids in berries was low in leaf removal at pre-bloom stage, but increased in the treatment of shoot thinning with leaf removal, at the same stage. Different canopy manipulation treatments had significant impact on photosynthesis and transpiration rates. Overall results indicated that canopy manipulation practices such as shoot thinning, to retain 40 shoots per vine with or without leaf removal, followed by pinching, can be recommended to grape growers