Incidence and pattern of infections in pregnant women with bad obstetric history

Background: Adverse outcomes have been seen in pregnant women who had prior bad obstetric history along with infection with TORCH [toxoplasma, other infections (syphilis, varicella zoster, hepatitis B), rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex]complex and bacterial vaginosis. These infections are known to affect the health of the fetus. Objective was to study incidence and pattern of infections in pregnant women with bad obstetric history.Methods: A total of 190 patients with bad obstetric history fulfilling the methodology criteria were evaluated. Serological and molecular evaluations were carried out for TORCH complex and bacterial vaginosis was detected by both gram stain and gold standard clinical Amsel criteria and outcomes were followed.Results: Out of 190 pregnant women with bad obstetric history, a total of 36 (18.8%) were detected to have infections causing bad obstetric history. Toxoplasma was positive in 7 (20%) of the cases, 3 (51.92%) of them had abortions. Rubella in 12 (32%) of the cases, 7 (60%) cases had sensorineural deafness. Cytomegalovirus in 1 (2%) of the cases, 1 (100%) of the case had microcephaly. Herpes in 8 (22%) cases, 6 (71.1%) cases had abortions. Bacterial vaginosis in 8 (22%) of the cases, 4 (48.6%) cases had preterm delivery. The presence of infections with TORCH complex and bacterial vaginosis was related to adverse pregnancy outcomes.Conclusions: Women with bad obstetric history are prone to infections during pregnancy and have been found out to be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Hence pregnant women should be screened so that early diagnosis and treatment of infections can be done to have better pregnancy outcomes

INTERACTION OF ICHNOCARPUS FRUTESCENS WITH BIOGENIC AMINES FOR ITS ANTI-DEPRESSANT ACTIVITY

The research interest has focused on various herbs that possess antidepressant properties and may be useful adjuncts in helping the management of depression in humans. The present study was therefore designed to investigate the antidepressant-like effects of methanol leaf extract of Ichnocarpus frutescens in animal models of depression. The mice were divided in to different groups and treated with two different doses of methanol extracts (200 & 400 mg/kg), same doses of extracts with different antagonist of 5HT, NA & DA (Ondansetran, Terazosin & Chlorpromazine) and standard groups treated with imipramine 10mg/kg. All groups of animals were separately submitted to forced swim test (FST), and Tail suspension test (TST) tests for the bio-screening of leaf extract with antidepressant profile. Results revealed that the immobility time in the FST & TST was significantly reduced with extracts alone and extracts with Chlorpromazine treated group compared to negative control. There is no significant reduction in immobility time was observed particularly in rats orally administered extracts with Ondansetran & Terazosin when compared with their respective controls. Thus, it is suggested that methanol leaf extract of Ichnocarpus frutescens exhibited significant antidepressant-like effects in animal models of depression and may be served as a potential resource for natural psychotherapeutic agent, against depression and its may act mostly through modifying serotonergic and noradrenergic neurons

Compatibility Assessment of Commercial Cements with superplasticizers

In the present study, compatibility assessment of commercially available cements (OPC and PPC) and SNF & PCE based super plasticizers are made by evaluating the workabilities, setting times and compressive strengths of M40 grade concrete mixes made with two different brands of cement and with two different chemical admixtures. The dosage of SNF and PCE based chemical admixtures to be used in M40 grade concrete is determined using marsh cone test. It was found that M40 concrete made with SNF based superplasticizer has achieved desired compressive strength than the concrete made with PCE based superplasticizer. This shows that SNF based superplasticizer is more compatible for M40 grade concrete than PCE based superplasticizer. So it is suggested that for the development of PPC based M40 grade concrete SNF superplasticizers can be used

Abstracts of National Conference on Biological, Biochemical, Biomedical, Bioenergy, and Environmental Biotechnology

This book contains the abstracts of the papers presented at the National Conference on Biological, Biochemical, Biomedical, Bioenergy, and Environmental Biotechnology (NCB4EBT-2021) Organized by the Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology Warangal, India held on 29–30 January 2021. This conference is the first of its kind organized by NIT-W which covered an array of interesting topics in biotechnology. This makes it a bit special as it brings together researchers from different disciplines of biotechnology, which in turn will also open new research and cooperation fields for them. Conference Title: National Conference on Biological, Biochemical, Biomedical, Bioenergy, and Environmental BiotechnologyConference Acronym: NCB4EBT-2021Conference Date: 29–30 January 2021Conference Location: Online (Virtual Mode)Conference Organizer: Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology Warangal, Indi