Role of IgG Chlamydia antibody in tubal factor infertility

Background: Chlamydial infection is considered to be one of the important causes of tubal factor infertility. This study will help to explore the relationship between positive Chlamydial infection and tubal damage in infertile women assessed by diagnostic laparoscopy. The results will help to determine whether a policy of routine screening for Chlamydia antibody is justifiable in infertile women to suspect tubal factor so that they can be taken up for laparoscopy earlier.Methods: A prospective study was performed on 158 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopy as part of infertility evaluation. About 5 mL of venous blood was drawn preoperatively to detect Chlamydia IgG antibody in all the patients by ELISA. The laparoscopic findings were documented and the relationship to Chlamydial antibody evaluated.Results: Of the 158 patients who underwent laparoscopy, 95 patients had evidence of tubal disease as evidenced by unilateral or bilateral tubal block, peritubal adhesions, hydrosalpinx, beading of the tube and unhealthy shaggy appearance. Of the 95 patients with documented tubal disease at laparoscopy, 14 (14.7%) had antibodies to Chlamydia. Of the 63 patients with normal tubes, 12 (19%) had Chlamydial positivity. The difference is not statistically significant. However of the 26 patients who were positive for Chlamydia antibodies 14 patients (53.8%) had abnormal tubes. Out of the 158 patients who underwent laparoscopy 26 patients were positive for Chlamydia. Hence the prevalence in our study is 16.4% (26/158). The sensitivity is 14.7% and the specificity is 81%.Conclusions: This study showed no difference in Chlamydial positivity between infertile women with abnormal tubes and those with normal looking tubes in our population. The absence of Chlamydial antibodies cannot be taken as a marker for normal tubes. Hence screening for chlamydial antibody can neither be used as a screening test for tubal factor infertility nor to decide on the need for laparoscopy in the present population

A review on the citations of Ratnas in Garuda Purana

In Ayurveda, one can get various references regarding Yuktivyapashraya Chikitsa (a treatment modality which is based on logic) and Daivavyapashraya Chikitsa (a modality of treatment based on past deeds and pleasing of God). Ayurveda has always utilised plant and mineral origin for the purpose of Chikitsa. Scholars all over the world are searching for new ideas, concepts, processes, products by looking backward for getting the knowledge from the ancient books and traditions. Indian epics and ancient scriptures like Puranas contain majority of knowledge accumulated during past thousands of years. Gem stones are very amply discussed in Hinduism scriptures. Especially in the Puranas, we find many descriptionson gemstones, embedded in its Sanskrit verses along with fascinating mythological origins. Hence the present article aims to review regarding origin, identification and test of genuineness for gems as described in Garuda Purana

CIFSRF final technical report : Scaling up small millet post-harvest and nutritious food products project (CIFSRF Phase 2)

This work was carried out with the aid of a grant from Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and with financial support from the Government of Canada, provided through Global Affairs Canada (GAC)This report details the scaling up of two innovations: 1) appropriate scale small millet hulling and processing machines 2) development and production of appealing small millet foods. The project employed “on-site business incubation” of small and medium enterprises, and customised capacity building of cottage enterprises and Farmers Producer Organizations (FPOs). 26 cottage enterprises, two micro enterprises and 14 NGOs have begun production and marketing of small-millet-based food products. 173 processing units have been supplied for small millet processing in 54 districts in 10 States; 1015 tonnes of millet rice and grits have been produced, reaching 288,500 consumers

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Not AvailableDetailed studies were taken up on host pathogen interaction between sugarcane and Colletotrichum falcatum causing red rot at the transcription level with a set of sugarcane varieties varying in disease resistance. A set of gene specific primers were designed to detect transcripts of resistance gene analogues (RGA’s), defense-related genes, transcription factors and signaling pathway genes induced during the host-pathogen interaction. mRNA extracted from pathogen inoculated canes at different time intervals were screened with 50 primers. Many of the transcripts were found to be expressed from the time of inoculation till 48h However, differential gene expression was found only for chitinase, metallothionein, R30 (RGA), receptor protein kinase, reversibly glycosylated protein and signal sequence hydrophobic region (SSHR) between resistant and susceptible varieties. Additionally differences in transcript size were noticed for some of the screened primers. We have standardized differential display (DD)-RT-PCR protocol with silver staining method to identify differential transcripts. Work on transcriptional variation in C. falcatum-sugarcane interaction has been performed for the first time and this promises a new approach to identify gene(s) involved in red rot resistance in sugarcane.Not Availabl