A clinical study of feto-maternal outcome in pregnancies with oligohydramnios

Background: The amniotic fluid that surrounds the fetus serves several roles during pregnancy. Oligohydramnios is diagnosed when ultrasonographically the AFI is less than 5cm/5th percentile. It affects 3-5% of all pregnancies. Assessment of amniotic fluid volume is a helpful tool in determining who is at risk for potentially adverse obstetric and perinatal outcome.Methods: Pregnant women with oligohydramnios reporting to Cheluvamba Hospital, attached to Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, Mysore from December 2012- June 2014 were included in the clinical study of maternal and fetal outcome. All singleton, non-anomalous, low risk pregnancies with AFI≤5cm with intact membranes and gestational age between 28-42 weeks were included in the study. Various outcomes such as mode of delivery, meconium staining, Apgar at 1 and 5 minutes, birth weight and NICU admissions were assessed.Results: A total of 130 cases of isolated oligohydramnios were assessed. 55.4% had vaginal delivery. 13.8% underwent elective LSCS and 30.8% had emergency LSCS. 18.5% had meconium stained liquor, 4.6% babies had APGAR of <7 at 5 minutes. 17.7% had birth weight of <2.5 kg and 6.9% of babies required NICU admission.Conclusions: The present study was conducted to know the feto-maternal outcome in pregnancies with oligohydramnios. The study showed that isolated oligohydramnios had no adverse maternal or perinatal outcome

Mineral composition of some selected brown seaweeds from Mandapam region of Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu

63-66Mineral content was determined in different brown seaweeds (Sargassum wightii, Padina tetrastromatica, Chnoospora minima, Hormophysa triquetra, Sargassum myriocystum, Sargassum plagiophyllum and Sargassum ilicifolium), collected from Mandapam region (Gulf of Mannar), Southeast coast of India. The ash content of different seaweeds ranged from 15 % to 20.5 %. The ash values were significantly different among the seaweeds (P˂ 0.05). The selected brown seaweeds contained both macro elements (0.77-564.5 mg/100g; Na, K, Ca, Mg) and trace elements (0.1-4.83 mg/100g; Zn, Mn, Fe, Cu). The present study was carried out in some of the underutilized brown seaweeds and it was concluded that the selected species can be used as feed additives in future.</span

Induction of Lipoxygenase in downy mildew resistant seedlings of pearl millet in response to inoculation with Sclerospora graminicola

Lipoxygenase (LOX) activity was studied in seedlings of pearl millet genotypes resistant and susceptible to downy mildew pathogen Sclerospora graminicola. An increase in LOX activity was observed during the incompatible host-pathogen interaction whereas the activity decreased in compatible ones. Resistant pearl millet seedlings exhibited a 2.4-fold increase in LOX activity after inoculation with the pathogen. The enzyme activity was maximum at 18 h after inoculation. The enzyme activity was maximum in shoot portion of resistant genotype after inoculation. The enzyme activity correlated well with the degree of host-resistance to the pathogen. Substrate-based gel assay revealed five isozymes (LOX-1, LOX-2, LOX-3, LOX-4 &amp; LOX-5) in both susceptible and resistant genotype. An additional isozyme (LOX-6) was unique to only resistant genotype after inoculation

The study of antiphospholipid antibodies in recurrent pregnancy loss

Background: Around 15% of clinically recognised pregnancies in women less than 35 years old result in spontaneous miscarriage. However recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is encountered in 5% of couples with two or more losses and in around 1–2% of couples with three or more losses. In view of the increasing burden of recurrent pregnancy loss in the society and in view of Anti-phospholipid syndrome being one of the undisputed treatable cause for recurrent pregnancy loss, this study aims to evaluate the significance of the antibody profiles of APS in relation to RPL in OBG dept of VIMS and RC.Methods: Patients coming to the Obstetric and Gynaecology department of Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bangalore, from December 1st 2014 to June 30th 2016. A detailed history of patients was taken based on set questionnaires. Detailed general and gynaecological examination findings were taken. Routine blood investigations were sent along with investigations for aPLAs which included: - Lupus Anticoagulant (LA) - Anti Cardiolipin Antibody (ACA) - Anti β2 glycoprotein 1 (Anti-β2GP1Ab). Final results are statistically evaluated.Results: A total of 56 patients of recurrent miscarriage with two or more prior pregnancy losses were considered. Out of the 56 patients, 23 patients were excluded as per the exclusion criteria and 33 patients were included in the present study. The mean age of the study group was 24.63 years (Range: 20-32 years). Overall, seven patients (21.21%) were seen to have positive antiphospholipid antibody titers amongst the 33 patients, with repeat testing done after 12 weeks to confirm the positivity. Five patients (15.15%) were positive for ACA antibody. Four (12.12%) patients were positive for LA and B2GP1 each. Two patients (6.06%) were positive for both LA and ACA antibodies. Two patients (6.06%) were positive for LA and B2GP1 antibodies and two other (6.06%) patients were positive for ACA and Anti-β2GP1Ab. There was a statistically significant association noticed between ACA positivity and POG at 1st pregnancy loss. However, the overall association of APLA positivity and POG at pregnancy loss was not statistically significant.Conclusions: There was a significant difference of POG at first pregnancy loss in ACA positive patients as compared to the ACA negative patients. However, when all the APLA positive patients were considered the difference was not statistically significant

ANTIMOTILITY AND ANTISECRETORY RELATED ANTIDIARRHOEAL ACTIVITY OF THE ABELMOSCHUS MOSCHATUS MEDIK IN EXPERIMENTAL ANIMAL MODELS

Objective: This study was intended to evaluate the anti-diarrhoeal potential of Abelmoschus moschatus Medik (A. moschatus Medik) seeds and the possible mechanism therein involved by using different experimental models in albino Wistar rats.Methods: The hydroalcoholic seed extract of A. moschatus Medik. (HEAM) was orally administered at the doses of 150, 300 and 500 mg/kg respectively to the different groups in order to assess the effect of extract in castor oil induced diarrhea model in rats. In order to comprehend the mechanism involved in its anti-diarrhoeal potential, the extract was further investigated for its effect on gastrointestinal motility using charcoal meal test and antisecretory action by castor oil induced intestinal enter pooling where, atropine sulphate (5 mg/kg) and loperamide (2 mg/kg) were used as reference standards respectively.Results: The HEAM exhibited significant (p&lt;0.05, p&lt;0.001) and dose-dependent anti-diarrhoeal effect by decreasing the mean number of fecal droppings produced upon castor oil administration as compared to the normal control. The effect of the extract at 500 mg/kg was near to that of loperamide (2 mg/kg). The extract (300 mg/kg) showed antimotility action by significantly (p&lt;0.05, p&lt;0.001) attenuating the charcoal meal transit in the intestine as compared to negative control animals. Further, the extract showed significant (p&lt;0.05, p&lt;0.001) inhibition in the accumulation of intestinal fluid due to castor oil.Conclusion: The HEAM exhibited significant anti-diarrhoeal action that could be presumably related to its observed antimotility and antisecretory activities. This study justifies the usage of A. moschatus Medik. as an anti-diarrhoeal agent in traditional practices of medicine

2,4-Dimethyl­phenyl benzoate

The crystal structure of the title compound (24DMPBA), C15H14O2, resembles those of 4-methyl­phenyl benzoate, 2,3-dimethyl­phenyl benzoate and other aryl benzoates, with similar bond parameters. The central –O—C—O– group in 24DMPBA makes dihedral angles of 85.81 (5) and 5.71 (13)°, respectively, with the benzoyl and phenyl rings, while the two aromatic rings form a dihedral angle of 80.25 (5)°. The mol­ecules are packed with their axes parallel to the a-axis direction

Mineral composition of some selected brown seaweeds from Mandapam region of Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu

Mineral content was determined in different brown seaweeds (Sargassum wightii, Padina tetrastromatica, Chnoospora minima, Hormophysa triquetra, Sargassum myriocystum, Sargassum plagiophyllum and Sargassum ilicifolium), collected from Mandapam region (Gulf of Mannar), Southeast coast of India. The ash content of different seaweeds ranged from 15 % to 20.5 %. The ash values were significantly different among the seaweeds (P˂ 0.05). The selected brown seaweeds contained both macro elements (0.77-564.5 mg/100g; Na, K, Ca, Mg) and trace elements (0.1-4.83 mg/100g; Zn, Mn, Fe, Cu). The present study was carried out in some of the underutilized brown seaweeds and it was concluded that the selected species can be used as feed additives in future

3-Chloro­phenyl 4-methyl­benzoate

The crystal structure of the title compound 3CP4MBA, C14H11ClO2, resembles those of 3-methyl­phenyl 4-methyl­benzoate (3MP4MBA), 4-methyl­phenyl 4-methyl­benzoate (4MP4MBA), 4-methyl­phenyl 4-chloro­benzoate (4CP4MBA) and other aryl benzoates with similar bond parameters. The dihedral angle between the benzene rings in 3CP4MBA is 71.75 (7)°, compared with 56.82 (7)° in 3MP4MBA and 63.57 (5)° in 4MP4MBA. In the crystal structure, the mol­ecules are aligned with their long axis approximately along the [101] direction and stacked along the c axis

2-Methyl­phenyl 4-methyl­benzoate

The conformation of the C=O bond in the title compound 2MP4MBA, C15H14O2, is anti to the ortho-methyl group in the phen­oxy ring. The bond parameters in 2MP4MBA are similar to those in 3-methyl­phenyl 4-methyl­benzoate (3MP4MBA), 4-methyl­phenyl 4-methyl­benzoate (4MP4MBA) and other aryl benzoates. The dihedral angle between the two aromatic rings in 2MP4MBA is 73.04 (8)°

A study of changing trends of maternal mortality at the tertiary care centre, MMC & RI Mysore, India

Background: Maternal mortality is a reflection of the care given to women by the society. It is tragic that deaths occur during the natural process of child birth and most of them are preventable. Aims and objectives: To study the maternal mortality and the causes resulting in maternal death over 5 years in a tertiary care centre, Cheluvamba hospital, MMC & RI, Mysore. To find out avoidable factors and use information thus generated to reduce maternal mortality.Methods: A retrospective study of all maternal deaths from June 2008 to June 2013. All maternal deaths were reviewed and studied in detail including admission death interval and cause of death.  Results: Maternal mortality ratio ranged between 262 to 109/100000 births. The causes of death were hypertensive disorders (30.4%), haemorrhage (24.8%), anaemia (14.8%), sepsis (6.8%) and others (23.2%). Maximum deaths (70.6%) occurred in women between 20-29 years of age, multigravida contributed to 54.96% of maternal mortality. 42 % were unbooked, 97% were referred cases. Conclusions: Overall maternal mortality was 215/100000 live births. Maternal deaths due to direct obstetric causes were 87% and indirect were 13 %. The causes of potentially preventable deaths include haemorrhage, anaemia, sepsis, disseminated intravascular coagulation and its complications. Hypertensive disorders were the leading cause of death, followed by haemorrhage. Anaemia was an important indirect cause of death. Most maternal deaths are preventable by optimum utilization of existing MCH facilities, identifying the bottlenecks in health delivery system, early identification of high risk pregnancies and their timely referral to tertiary care centre