IN-VITRO CYTOTOXICITY ACTIVITY OF MALAXIS RHEEDEI SW METHANOL EXTRACT AGAINST HELA CELL LINE AND MCF- 7 CELL LINE.

Cancer is a group of diseases caused by loss of cell cycle control. Cancer is associated with abnormal uncontrolled cell growth. The study was aimed to evaluation of the anticancer activity of the Malaxis rheedei Sw. on the HeLa cell line and MCF- 7cell line. The whole plant part of the Malaxis rheedei methanolic extract were tested for its inhibitory effect on HeLa Cell Line and MCF- 7cell line. The cytotoxicity of Malaxis rheedei on HeLa cell and MCF- 7cell line were evaluated by the MTT assay. Malaxis rheedei methanolic extract has significant cytotoxicity effect on MCF- 7cell line in concentration range between 18.75 to 300 µg/ml by using MTT assay and study also showed that inhibitory action on HeLa cell line inconcentration range between 18.75 to 300 µg/ml by using MTT assay. Methanol extract of  the whole plant part of Malaxis rheedei was found to be 7.3%, 16.6%,  25.4%, 36.3% and 47.1%toxic in HeLa cell line and 7.9%, 13.9%, 26%, 48.4% and 66.3% toxic in MCF- 7cell line. IC50 value of Malaxis rheedei on MCF- 7cell was  167.76  µg/ml and IC50 value of Malaxis rheedei on HeLa Cell was not found by MTT assay. From the performed assay, methanol extract of these drug shows greater activity on MCF- 7cell line and little activity on HeLa cell line and that mean Malaxis rheedei can be used as anticancer activity.Keywords: Cytotoxicity Activity, MTT Assay, Malaxis rheedei Sw. , HeLa CellLine, MCF- 7Cell Line

C Reactive Protein in Acute Ischaemic Stroke: Prognostic Implications

BACKGROUND AND OBJEVTIVES: Among all the neurological diseases of adult life, the cerebrovascular ones clearly rank first in frequency and importance. At least 50% of the neurological disorders in a government hospital are of this type. Stroke after heart disease and cancer is one of the most common causes of death. C reactive protein is an acute phase reactant that is produced from the liver and it is increased in conditions of infection and inflammation. There are innumerable studies showing a correlation between Creactive protein and various vascular events. Atherosclerosis is a condition that causes chronic inflammation and hence a rise in C reactive protein. Ischaemic stroke is associated with atherosclerosis and tissue damage both of which causes a rise in C reactive protein. This test is readily available in most of the hospitals. Since studies show a positive correlation between C reactive protein and acute ischaemic stroke, finding the relationship between serum C reactive protein at presentation and clinical outcome, may be useful in planning appropriate intervention to reduce the risk and improve the outcome. METHODS: 100 patients admitted in the wards of department of Internal Medicine, Madras Medical College and Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital with acute ischaemic stroke were taken for the study based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. RESULTS: Majority of the patients admitted with acute ischaemic stroke were hypertensive, diabetic, smokers and had dyslipidemia. Majority of the patients who had severe stroke according to NIHSS score were hypertensive, diabetic, smokers and had dyslipidemia. More percent of males were found to have severe stroke compared to females probably because most of the males were smokers. Correlation of age and stroke showed that severe stroke occurred in older age group compared to younger patients. Patients with higher values of C reactive protein had severe stroke and had poorer outcome. All the patients who had poor prognosis had elevated C reactive protein. CONCLUSION: Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking and dyslipidemia are the most important risk factors associated with stroke. Elevated C reactive protein is associated with severe stroke and poor outcome

Proposing a maturity model for the management of human resource information

Abstract: The study explores how the use of human resource information in organisations can be optimised. An extensive literature review was conducted to explore how human resource information is used and managed in organisations. The study is qualitative in nature and employed semi-structured interviews. Interviews with 12 human resource practitioners and human capital consultants were analysed to understand the challenges they experience in managing human resource information. Findings of the study reveal that while organisations expect their human resource information systems to deliver high-level information regarding their people, the approach of organisations to human resource information and the systems used to manage such information may be unstructured. It was also observed that organisations cannot use human resource information at certain complex levels without mastering fundamental level(s). Based on the findings, a four-stage maturity model for the management of human resource information is proposed. The maturity model, when implemented, has the potential to provide organisations with a structured approach to managing and using human resource information, in a manner which will contribute to the optimal use of human resource information systems

A study of the socio demographic and obstetric factors in pregnant women with COVID-19 infection at a tertiary care hospital, Kollam, Kerala, India

Background: The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic took the world to task. Pregnant women needed care without actually knowing if the treatment schedules outside of pregnancy could be extrapolated to the pregnant state. Obstetric protocols were adhered to as far as was feasible, yet world over there was an increase in cesarean section rates. The so-called alpha variant that we saw at the time appeared to infect pregnant women too with equal frequency but they fared well. The issues regarding infectivity and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) assumed mammoth dimensions. The objectives of this paper were to explore the demographic data and the epidemiological risk factors and study the symptomatology, severity and course of COVID-19 in pregnancy.Methods: This was an observational study conducted on all the COVID-19 positive pregnant women admitted to the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the designated COVID hospital for the district - Government Medical College Kollam - for a period of 6 months from October 2020 to March 2021. These women were studied with respect to their socio demographic details and their Obstetric risk factors and performance. Data was collected and analyzed using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) software.Results: 377 antenatal COVID-19 positive women were admitted and analyzed during the study period. Nulliparous women (48.5%%) in the age group 20 to 30 years (74.28%) formed the major group. Third trimester and near date admissions were the majority (48.80%). Most women (79.31%) were asymptomatic. Most common symptoms were fever in 35% and flu like upper respiratory symptoms (20%). Breathlessness and lung involvement was seen in 2.91%. Contact tracing revealed a travel history or contact with infected persons at 15.64%. However, 84.8% had no contact history. All antenatal women were tested at admission and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) was done in 73.21%. Rapid antigen and nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) detected the rest. 46% had some co morbidity gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), gestational hypertension, thyroid disease and anemia were the common co morbidities detected. The presence of GDM in 24.14% of the study population is noteworthy.Conclusions: Pregnancy being an immune compromised state, unpredictable outcomes are possible with COVID-19 infection. Asymptomatic patients too can experience complications. Frequent hospital and lab visits could be a source of infection. The growing incidence of GDM in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic is a point for concern

Review of emergency obstetric hysterectomies at a tertiary care hospital

Background: Emergency obstetric hysterectomy refers to surgical removal of pregnant or recently pregnant uterus with the pregnancy in utero or due to complications of delivery. This surgery is usually done as a last resort in life threatening obstetric hemorrhage. Objective of present study was to determine the incidence, sociodemographic and obstetric factors and indications associated with emergency obstetric hysterectomies. Methods: A retrospective, analytical study was conducted over a period of five years in the department of obstetrics and Gynecology of Government Medical college Thiruvananthapuram. Kerala. All cases of obstetric hysterectomy done during the study period in this hospital were analysed after getting approval from the institutional ethical committee. Results: During the study period there were total number of 78613 deliveries in SATH. Emergency obstetric hysterectomy was done for 86 cases. Obstetric hysterectomy rate in SATH during the study period was 0.109% or 1.09/1000 deliveries. Atonic postpartum hemorrhage (55%) was the most common indication followed by placenta praevia (27%). Majority were referred cases. Conclusions: Emergency obstetric hysterectomy can be a lifesaving procedure when other medical and surgical methods fail to control obstetric hemorrhage. This study highlights the unpredictable need of this procedure, need for identifying the at-risk cases and early referral to higher center

Maternity and paternity leave and career progression of black African women in dual-career couples

Abstract: The study focused on examining the perceptions of dual-career couples at a stateowned company about the influence of taking maternity and paternity leave on the career progression of black African women in middle management and leadership occupations. Research purpose: The primary purpose of the study was to identify core barriers in relation to maternity and paternity leave that contribute negatively in the career progression of black African women in dual-career couples. Motivation for the study: To obtain insight into the underrepresentation and progression of black African women within dual-career couples, in middle management and leadership occupations. Research design, approach and method: This study was qualitative, comprising a sample of 10 black African women and 10 black African men, with data collected through in-depth semistructured interviews. Thematic analysis was utilised to analyse the interview dialogues

Predicting Drape of Fused Collar using Design of Experiment

The fused collar components used in shirt manufacturing requires a specific fall and drape that depends on the type of used interlining. The interlining selection is primarily based on the subjective evaluation of fused composites. There is a need to predict the behaviour of fused shirt collars objectively. The drape of fused composites can be indicative of the shape and fall of the shirt collar. The aim of this paper was to propose a set of polynomial equations using DOE that can predict the drape behaviour of fused shirt collars before and after the washing. The Plackett-Burman design was used to screen the influential factors and the full factorial design was used to derive the polynomial equation explaining the effect of factors on the drape behaviour of fused shirting samples. The prediction was attempted with easily measurable parameters of component materials and the fusing process. The study found that the fabric weave, cover factor, raw material, interlining weight and pressure applied during the fusing process have a significant effect on the drape of fused collars. This information can be used in the 3D sampling of fused shirt components

Bayes estimation of Lorenz curve and Gini-index for power function distribution

In this article, we estimate the shape parameter, Lorenz curve and Gini-index for 3power function distributions using a Bayesian method. Bayes estimators have been developed under squared error loss function as well as under weighted squared error loss function. We demonstrate the use of the proposed estimation procedure with the U. S. average income data for the period 1913-2010. Our proposed Bayesian estimators are compared using a Monte Carlo simulation study with the ML estimators proposed by Belzunce, Candel and Ruiz (1998)

A Study on the Involvement of Farmers in Agripreneurship in Kerala

Agriculture and allied activities are considered as the back bone of the Indian economy. In Kerala, farmers are withdrawing from their occupation since they consider farming as non-profitable to earn a living. Thus, there is a need for revolutionary changes in agricultural sector, especially in the field of agribusiness. Hence, the study is to assess the involvement of farmers in agripreneurship. Both primary and secondary data were collected for the study. A well-structured interview schedule was prepared and administered to the selected respondents to collect primary data. Observation and discussion with the selected respondents facilitated the data collection. Fifty farmers, both men and women, from Venganoor, Kottukal and Kalliyoor Panchayats of Thiruvananthapuram were taken as the sample for the study. The study focused on the socio- economic profile, information on the crop varieties, land holdings, factors influencing the involvement of farmers in agripreneurship and future expectations of the respondents