Pre and post conception risk factors in PROM

Background: The objective of the study was to evaluate the pre conception and post conception risk factors in cases of premature rupture of membranes (PROM).Methods: Two hundred pregnant women that were hospitalized at Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Hospital from 1st January 2013 to 31st December 2013 with PROM (>28 Weeks) were evaluated for various risk factors of PROM.Results: Low socio-economic status, cervical manipulation, urogenital infections, malpresentation, coitus, hydraminos, multifetal gestation and smoking significantly increase the risk of PROM.Conclusions: Pre and post conception identification of various factors causing PROM can prevent premature deliveries and it’s complications to some extent

Systemic infection of Staphylococcus aureus in postnatal woman: a unique finding

Staphylococcus bacteraemia is the leading cause of hospital acquired and community acquired bacteraemia. Complications associated are difficult to recognise. Mortality is 20 to 40%. This is a unique case discussing the metastatic spread of Staphylococcus infection following a wound infection. An informed consent was taken from the patient before publishing this case report

A five year retrospective study on maternal and perinatal outcome in pregnancy after cardiac surgery

Background: Pregnancy is a hypercoaguable state with physiological haemodynamic changes occurring during pregnancy. There is a progressive increase in intravascular volume in second trimester of pregnancy and increase in cardiac output. Pregnancy makes a significant impact on cardiovascular system. It is important to evaluate and study the effect of pregnancy on women with surgically corrected heart conditions so as to preempt potential complications.Methods: This is a retrospective study of patients with prior history of cardiac surgery and their pregnancy outcomes in a tertiary center of Southern India over a period of five years from January 2011 to December 2016.Results: In this study, descriptive statistical analysis was done in 87 women with pregnancy following cardiac surgery. 58.6% were nulliparous. Around 52% had associated obstetric risk factors. The most common cardiac surgery in this population was Mitral valve replacement (40.2%) and Atrial septal defect closure (37.9%). Women belonged to NYHA class I in 90.8% of cases. 58.6% had vaginal delivery and 36.8% had caesarean section. 6 women had postpartum haemorrhage which was medically managed, and 6 women needed ICU care.74.7% women had term deliveries. 18.4 % of the babies were less than 2.5 kg weight at birth. 13 babies required Neonatal ICU care.Conclusions: Maternal and neonatal outcome mainly depends on the functional cardiac status of women before conception. In this study we emphasize on the importance of multidisciplinary team approach involving cardiologist, obstetrician and neonatologist in the management of women with prior cardiac surgery

A retrospective study on maternal and perinatal outcome in pregnancy requiring DJ stent and PCN during pregnancy

Background: Gestational hydronephrosis (GH) is result of dilatation effect of the progesterone and mechanical compression of the gravid uterus. Management during pregnancy is challenging as routine radiological investigations and surgical treatments cannot be applied due to the potential harm to the fetus. Intervention is indicated in women who fail to respond to conservative management. Acute hydronephrosis and renal colic are common etiologies for loin pain, and can lead to severe form of urinary tract infection affecting perinatal outcome. Ureteric stenting and percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) during pregnancy are safe, requiring no intra-operative imaging, and inserted under local anaesthesia. It provides good symptom relief, low complication rate, efficient and safe modality for women with refractory symptoms.Methods: A retrospective study of pregnant women admitted under obstetric units with acute hydronephrosis requiring DJ stenting and/or PCN. Aim was to evaluate the course and pregnancy outcomes in a tertiary center of Southern India over a period of five years.Results: Descriptive statistical analysis was done in 12 women with acute hydronephrosis in pregnancy. 66.7% were nulliparous and mean gestational age at admission was 31 weeks. Diagnosis was done by USG. One-fourth had pyelonephritis and calculus being the main pathology (n=9;75%).Women requiring DJ stent and PCN were 41.6% and 58.4% respectively. 41.7% had preterm labour. 66.7% delivered vaginally, birth weight was more than 2.5kg in 50%.Conclusions: Maternal and neonatal outcome mainly depends on the early diagnosis. In this study we emphasize on the importance of multidisciplinary team approach in the management of women with acute hydronephrosis. DJ stent and PCN are efficient and safe modalities in women with refractory symptoms

Status of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in knee osteoarthritis among type 2-diabetic postmenopausal women

Background: Knee osteoarthritis is the most common form of joint disorder and a leading cause of pain and functional disability among elderly female population.  Type 2-diabetes is frequently reported comorbidity in elderly female patients with knee osteoarthritis. VCAM-1 is emerging as a strong and independent predictor for severe osteoarthritis. VCAM-1 is an inducible cell surface sialo glycoprotein and mediates heterotypic cellular aggregation. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess the role of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 at the onset of knee osteoarthritis among type 2 diabetic postmenopausal women.Methods: The present study includes 100 type 2-diabetic female subjects of age above 50 years as cases and 100 normal healthy female age matched individuals as controls. Osteoarthritis of knee was ascertained using the American college of rheumatology classification criteria. Serum soluble VCAM-1 concentration was measured by ELISA method in all 200 subjects. Biochemical parameters-Fasting blood sugar and lipid profile were measured using Mind ray BS-400 and HbA1c was measured by turbidimetric immunoassay method. Statistical analysis was made by student independent sample t-test. Correlation was determined by using spearman’s rank correlation coefficient.Results: Serum level of soluble VCAM-1 was found statistically highly significant (p<0.001) in type 2 diabetic postmenopausal women having early stage of knee osteoarthritis as compared to control healthy subjects. The mean levels of fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, total cholesterol, TG, LDL-C and VLDL-C were also found significantly increased while HDL-C was found significantly decreased in cases as compared to controls.Conclusions: The increased level of soluble VCAM-1 in type 2 diabetic subjects shows active inflammation or cartilage damage. Therefore, it can be used as an early biomarker for osteoarthritis among type 2 diabetic postmenopausal women

Pregnancy outcomes in non-gynecological and non-hematological cancers: a retrospective cohort

Background: Of all the cancers in women, about 10% manifest in the reproductive age group. These can be broadly classified as gynaecological cancers and non-gynaecological cancers; Among the non-gynaecological cancers besides haematological cancer, breast, thyroid, colon, bone and CNS are seen rarely. Clinical acumen in diagnosis and management of these rare cancers that appear during pregnancy or before pregnancy are difficult due to insufficient guidelines and rarity of the conditions.Methods: A retrospective analysis of rare cancers during a period of 10 years in this hospital was performed. Data concerning the gestational age at delivery, birth weight, mode of delivery and complications and the management of the cancers during the pregnancy were collected.Results: Among the 41 women with these rare non-gynecological, non-hematological cancers, 13 pregnancies were in women with prior history of cancers and 28 pregnancies were with current history of cancer. Majority of these cases with prior history were thyroid cancers who had uneventful pregnancies and delivered normally. Among pregnancies with current history of cancer, breast, CNS, GIT, and head and neck were the cancers with 5-6 cancers in each category. About 50% of these cancers were delivered early between 31-35 weeks to facilitate optimal treatment. Cancers with guarded prognosis diagnosed before 20 weeks had a termination of pregnancy.Conclusions: Cancers during pregnancies are rare and their care must be individualized

Probiotics: A Closer Look

This review examines the various properties of probiotic bacteria. Specific detail is given on types, species, mechanisms, pathogens, clinical trials and the safety

Characterization of Markers for the Identification and Isolation of Cancer Stem Cells

Several models for prostate oncogenesis have been presented throughout the years, including the cancer stem cell (CSC) model. CSCs may be responsible for the self-renewing properties, and therefore progression, of the tumor. In this project, several protein and integrin markers were characterized using immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and immunoblotting to identify cancer stem cells in human biopsy tissue. The data suggest that Alpha2 and Trop2 cannot be used to identify CSCs, and that using several markers simultaneously, including perhaps CD133, will be required to identify, and eventually isolate, cancer stem cells

Synthesis and Antibiotic Activity of Mebendazole Derivatives of Pharmacological Interest

Mebendazole is a well known anti-helimintic and belongs to the benzimidazole group of medicines. In order to achieve better medicinal results, i.e. enhanced activity and low toxicity, structural modifications are made in the existing drugs. Some 5-benzoyl-N-[1-(alkoxyphthalimido) benzimidazol-2-yl] carbamic acid methyl ester (3a-c) and 5-benzoyl-N-[1-(2,3-bis oxyphthalimido∕oxysuccinimido propyl benzimidazol-2-yl) carbamic acid methyl ester (7a-b) have been synthesized from two different routes. Structures of the compounds have been established on the basis of elemental analysis and spectral studies. All the synthesized compounds (3a-c) and (7a-b) were assayed in vitro for antimicrobial activity against mebendazole (itself) and standard [ciprofloxacin (antibacterial) and fluconazole (antifungal)]

A five year retrospective study on maternal and perinatal outcome in pregnancy after cardiac surgery

Background: Pregnancy is a hypercoaguable state with physiological haemodynamic changes occurring during pregnancy. There is a progressive increase in intravascular volume in second trimester of pregnancy and increase in cardiac output. Pregnancy makes a significant impact on cardiovascular system. It is important to evaluate and study the effect of pregnancy on women with surgically corrected heart conditions so as to preempt potential complications.Methods: This is a retrospective study of patients with prior history of cardiac surgery and their pregnancy outcomes in a tertiary center of Southern India over a period of five years from January 2011 to December 2016.Results: In this study, descriptive statistical analysis was done in 87 women with pregnancy following cardiac surgery. 58.6% were nulliparous. Around 52% had associated obstetric risk factors. The most common cardiac surgery in this population was Mitral valve replacement (40.2%) and Atrial septal defect closure (37.9%). Women belonged to NYHA class I in 90.8% of cases. 58.6% had vaginal delivery and 36.8% had caesarean section. 6 women had postpartum haemorrhage which was medically managed, and 6 women needed ICU care.74.7% women had term deliveries. 18.4 % of the babies were less than 2.5 kg weight at birth. 13 babies required Neonatal ICU care.Conclusions: Maternal and neonatal outcome mainly depends on the functional cardiac status of women before conception. In this study we emphasize on the importance of multidisciplinary team approach involving cardiologist, obstetrician and neonatologist in the management of women with prior cardiac surgery