Monthly Pattern and Distribution of Births in a Teaching Institution of Northern India

Background: Seasonality in frequency of birth is a world-wide phenomenon that reflect behavioral and biological determinant of reproduction. Aim: To assess pattern of birth occurring in a medical college hospital according to calendar months. Materials and Methods: Log books of delivery room were retrieved and all singleton live births occurring in each month for the calendar years 2002-2009 (8-year) was extracted. Data collection was carried out by the investigators during the period February-April 2010 and data management using software statistical package. Analysis was carried out by calculating average birth per month for the period under study and standard index as well as quarter-wise details was also tabulated. Result: It was observed that there was a progressive rise in total number of births occurring in the hospital from 5840 (avg. 486.66/month) from the year 2002 to 8205 (avg. 683.75/month) in 2009. Maximum birth occurred during the months of August (avg. 774/month) followed by September (avg. 735/month) and October (avg. 705/month) respectively and least in the month of April (avg. 445/month) with a P<0.05. Quarter (q) wise distribution showed maximum birth during q3 (July-September=30%) followed by q4 (October- December=27%), q2 (April-June=22%) and q1 (January-March=21%) respectively. Conclusion: It can be concluded that peak birth in the months of August-September-October as observed in present study implying that there is increased conception during the winter months of December-January-February. Within study limitations, findings may facilitate advocacy, counseling, planning and delivery of family welfare service in a more efficient and effective manner particularly related to mobilization of human resource, inventory control, logistics, streamlining family planning services at institutional and community level keeping in mind the monthly pattern of hospital deliveries. Keywords: Behavior, communication, conception, delivery, demography, family planning, fertility, human resource, months, pattern, reproduction, seasonality, tim

Effect of infestation stage, form and treatment on fragment count in flour

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1979 S23Master of Scienc

Assessment of maternal and child health (MCH) practices with a focus on Janani Suraksh Yojana (JSY)

Background Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is a safe motherhood intervention encompassing conditional cash transfer scheme initiated under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).Objective A rapid appraisal was conducted to assess selected maternal and child health (MCH) practices among rural mothers in a block of Haryana with a focus on JSY. Methodology Using stratified random sampling, 6 health subcentre area in a rural block of Haryana were selected and all available JSY (n=72) mothers with their child in age-group of 6-11 months were covered. Similar numbers of non-JSY (n=76) mother were also contacted by the investigators using pre-designed, pre-tested semi-structure interview schedule. Results Out of 148 mothers, majority (77.02%) were in the age-group of 20-24 years; overall 52.02% [45.83% (JSY) vs. 57.89% (non-JSY)] had completed atleast 9 years of schooling; all (100%) JSY beneficiaries belonged to affirmative group (OBC/SC) but only 38.89% of them possessed BPL-card; a total of 68 (45.94%), 62 (41.89%) and 18 (12.16%) mothers had one, two & three living children respectively and 93% women were home-maker. Higher proportion of non-JSY (72.36%) viz. JSY (54.16%) mothers had institutional delivery (p<0.05). Pre-lacteal feed was administered to 60% of newborn while 95% received colostrum; however only 32.43% were initiated on breast-milk within first hour of birth inspite of all being normal vaginal deliveries. Nearly 91.66% of JSY and 22.36% of non-JSY mothers were aware of the financial scheme (p<0.05); only 20.83% JSY mothers received money within one-month of delivery; 47.22% of mothers spent money either on themselves or child care while amongst rest it got utilized within general family pool

What Does Iran’s Changing Foreign Policy Mean for India?

As India expands its strategic and economic ties with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and with Israel, New Delhi is also seeking to strengthen its ties with Tehran. The Iranian Nuclear Deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JPCOA), signed by Iran and six global powers in 2015, created new opportunities for New Delhi in Iran, especially since Iran is India’s potential gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia

Factors Associated with Tuberculosis and Rifampicin-Resistant Tuberculosis amongst Symptomatic Patients in India: A Retrospective Analysis

Background Tuberculosis remains a major public health challenge for India. Various studies have documented different levels of TB and multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB among diverse groups of the population. In view of renewed targets set under the End TB strategy by 2035, there is an urgent need for TB diagnosis to be strengthened. Drawing on data from a recent, multisite study, we address key questions for TB diagnosis amongst symptomatics presenting for care: are there subgroups of patients that are more likely than others, to be positive for TB? In turn, amongst these positive cases, are there factors—apart from treatment history—that may be predictive for multi-drug resistance? Methods We used data from a multi-centric prospective demonstration study, conducted from March 2012 to December 2013 in 18 sub-district level TB programme units (TUs) in India and covering a population of 8.8 million. In place of standard diagnostic tests, upfront Xpert MTB/RIF testing was offered to all presumptive TB symptomatics. Here, using data from this study, we used logistic regression to identify association between risk factors and TB and Rifampicin-Resistant TB among symptomatics enrolled in the study. Results We find that male gender; history of TB treatment; and adult age compared with either children or the elderly are risk factors associated with high TB detection amongst symptomatics, across the TUs. While treatment history is found be a significant risk factor for rifampicin-resistant TB, elderly (65+ yrs) people have significantly lower risk than other age groups. However, pediatric TB cases have no less risk of rifampicin resistance as compared with adults (OR 1.23 (95% C.I. 0.85–1.76)). Similarly, risk of rifampicin resistance among both the genders was the same. These patterns applied across the study sites involved. Notably in Mumbai, amongst those patients with microbiological confirmation of TB, female patients showed a higher risk of having MDR-TB than male patients. Conclusion Our results cast fresh light on the characteristics of symptomatics presenting for care who are most likely to be microbiologically positive for TB, and for rifampicin resistance. The challenges posed by TB control are complex and multifactorial: evidence from diverse sources, including retrospective studies such as that addressed here, can be invaluable in informing future strategies to accelerate declines in TB burden

Key diffusion mechanisms involved in regulating bidirectional water permeation across E. coli outer membrane lectin

Capsular polysaccharides (CPSs) are major bacterial virulent determinants that facilitate host immune evasion. E. coli group1 K30CPS is noncovalently attached to bacterial surface by Wzi, a lectin. Intriguingly, structure based phylogenetic analysis indicates that Wzi falls into porin superfamily. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations further shed light on dual role of Wzi as it also functions as a bidirectional passive water specific porin. Such a functional role of Wzi was not realized earlier, due to the occluded pore. While five water specific entry points distributed across extracellular &periplasmic faces regulate the water diffusion involving different mechanisms, a luminal hydrophobic plug governs water permeation across the channel. Coincidently, MD observed open state structure of "YQF" triad is seen in sugar-binding site of sodium-galactose cotransporters, implicating its involvement in K30CPS surface anchorage. Importance of Loop 5 (L5) in membrane insertion is yet another highlight. Change in water diffusion pattern of periplasmic substitution mutants suggests Wzi's role in osmoregulation by aiding in K30CPS hydration, corroborating earlier functional studies. Water molecules located inside β-barrel of Wzi crystal structure further strengthens the role of Wzi in osmoregulation. Thus, interrupting water diffusion or L5 insertion may reduce bacterial virulence

The role of immunohistochemistry in medullomyoblastoma – a case series highlighting divergent differentiation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Aims</p> <p>To analyse the histo-morphology of cases of medullomyoblastoma and identifying its divergent differentiation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A retrospective review of all cases reported as medulloblastoma between the period of Jan 2000 to Dec 2006 was carried out on Hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) stained slides. The cases were screened on light microscopy for primitive neuroectodermal component of a medulloblastoma accompanied by areas of "myoid" differentiation, identified on the basis of presence of strap cells (indicating a clear skeletal muscle differentiation) and/or large anaplastic cells with vescicular nuclei and moderate to abundant amount of eosinophilic cytoplasm. All these cases were subjected to a panel of immunohistochemical stains, including Desmin, GFAP, NFP, HMB45, SMA, S100, CK and EMA. Ultrastructral analysis was done on tissue obtained from paraffin blocks in 2 cases.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Male predominance (M:F = 5:1) was noted with an incidence of five percent of all cases of medulloblastoma (6 out of 120 cases) over a period of 6 years. Primitive neuroectodermal areas were accompanied with areas of "myoid" differentiation, 5 cases showing strap cells. Two cases with epithelial and cartilaginous differentiation were seen. Three cases showed focal melanocytic differentiation, identified only on HMB45 immunostaining. Four cases showed glial differentiation. Neuronal differentiation again was very focally seen in two cases, of which one was identified only by NFP immunostain. Seventh case is included in the study, however it is not considered to calculate incidence as it occurred beyond the period of 6 years of records search.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Medullomyoblastoma is a rare childhood tumor of cerebellum. Majority of cases reveal divergent differentiation, which are identified with the help of panel of immunostains indicating multi-potential nature of primitive neuroectodermal cells.</p