A study of prevalence of thyroid disorders in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding

Background: Thyroid gland is the most vital endocrine organ which plays a major role in growth, development, metabolism and function of almost every organ of our body. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can result in menstrual irregularities. Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (AUB) is one of the most common, yet complicated clinical presentation. It occurs in 10-20% of women between 15-50 years of age. Timely detection of thyroid dysfunction in patients presenting with AUB and their proper management can prevent unnecessary surgical interventions. This study was done to analyze the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in patients with AUB and also to look for different menstrual patterns associated with thyroid dysfunction.Methods: This is a prospective study conducted at Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Government Medical College, Manjeri, Kerala, India. Total 200 patients were recruited into present study after satisfying all inclusion and exclusion criteria. Complete history was taken followed by a thorough examination. Baseline investigations and T3, T4, TSH was performed in all patients. Results were analyzed.Results: As per present study, majority of the patients with AUB were from the age group of 35-49 years (43%). In patients with AUB with thyroid dysfunction, prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism was most common followed by hypothyroidism. According to our study thyroid dysfunction was most commonly seen in the age group of 35-49 years, and the most common presentation being menorrhagia.Conclusions: Timely diagnosis and proper management of thyroid dysfunction in women with AUB can avoid variety of non-specific and ineffective diagnostic and therapeutic procedures

Optimum Design of Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger Using Artificial Immune System Approach

This paper presents the economic optimization of shell and tube heat exchangers design approach through an artificial immune system algorithm for minimizing the cost. Since complex geometric parameters, with thermodynamic and fluid dynamic factors, consume more time and offer a minimum possibility for an optimum result in the case of conventional design, the design process becomes difficult. The proposed algorithm provides the designer with an optimum solution in less amount of time by analyzing three different case studies.  Three design variables such as shell internal diameter, tube outer diameter and baffle spacing from the different design parameters are taken into account for this optimization. The results are weighed against those obtained by various researchers

Self-reported psychosocial health in obese patients before and after weight loss

Psychosocial profiles were examined in 255 morbidly obese patients attending a hospital service offering access to standard weight loss therapies. 129 patients were reassessed after at least 6-month follow-up. At baseline, 51.8% and 32.7% of patients, respectively, had evidence of anxiety and depressive disorders, 24% had severe impairments in self esteem, and 29.7% had an increased risk of eating disorders. At follow-up, weight loss from baseline was significant in all 3 therapies: diet only is 0.74±1.8 kg; pharmacotherapy is 6.7±4.2 kg; and surgery is 20.1±13.6 kg. Anxiety scores improved in all three groups (P<.05). Patients having pharmacotherapy or surgery had significant improvements in physical and work function and public distress compared to those having dietary treatment only (P<.05). Our observational data suggest that weight management services can lead to psychosocial benefit in morbidly obese patients. Well-designed studies are necessary to examine the link between weight loss and emotional health

Neural network based maximum power point tracking control with quadratic boost converter for PMSG—wind energy conversion system

This paper proposes an artificial neural network (ANN) based maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control strategy for wind energy conversion system (WECS) implemented with a DC/DC converter. The proposed topology utilizes a radial basis function network (RBFN) based neural network control strategy to extract the maximum available power from the wind velocity. The results are compared with a classical Perturb and Observe (P&O) method and Back propagation network (BPN) method. In order to achieve a high voltage rating, the system is implemented with a quadratic boost converter and the performance of the converter is validated with a boost and single ended primary inductance converter (SEPIC). The performance of the MPPT technique along with a DC/DC converter is demonstrated using MATLAB/Simulink

Euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis: another masquerader!

Euglycemic ketoacidosis is defined by the triad of euglycemia, metabolic acidosis and ketonemia or ketonuria. In the current era of diabetic management, it is a serious concern with the usage of sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors potentiated by a number of precipitating agents. Empagliflozin though a novel oral hypoglycemic agent in this category may also lead to this potential complication. Here we report a 59 year old male, type 2 diabetic who was on empagliflozin and presented with euglycemic ketoacidosis after a binge of alcohol.

An update on prodrugs from natural products

AbstractA natural prodrug is a chemical compound or substance obtained from plants, microorganism, animal and marine sources. Natural products are small molecule source for Food and Drug Administration approved drugs and major sources for drug discovery. Most of the drugs for different ailment diseases undergo first pass metabolism, resulting in drug inactivation and the generation of toxic metabolites in body. Enormous numbers of prodrugs naturally present in plants, microorganism, animal and marine sources and those prodrugs undergoes chemical reaction to form non-toxic compounds. This review summarizes the list of prodrugs naturally present in the natural product

Isolation of alkaline protease from Bacillus subtilis AKRS3

This research study was mainly focused on phenotypic, biochemical characterization, 16s rRNA sequence based species level identification of isolate and determination of the higher production of alkaline protease through optimization study (carbon, nitrogen, incubation period, temperature, pH and sodium chloride concentration), production by submerged fermentation and analytical studies (protease assay, protein and biomass estimation). The produced crude enzyme was been used for dehairing activity on goat and sheep hides. Primary screening was achieved by skim milk casein hydrolysis method. Microbiological, biochemical characterization and 16S rRNA phylogenetic analysis revealed that isolated bacterium was Bacillus subtilis AKRS3 with an optimum alkaline protease producing temperature, 37°C and pH 9.0. The maximum alkaline protease production was achieved at 24 h of incubation period. Among various nitrogen (organic and inorganic) sources, beef extract was found to be the best inducer for alkaline protease in the concentration of 1.5% as was reported for the maximum alkaline protease production. Effect of carbon sources for example xylose, on protease production proved high protease production than the other tested carbon sources and subsequently 2% concentration registered an optimum to enhance the protease production. The halotolerancy of B. subtilis AKRS3 for alkaline protease production indicated that 3% of sodium chloride was optimum to yield maximum protease activity. During production, agitation rate was 250 rpm at air flow rate of 1 VVM. Maximum protease activity of 42.7556 U/ml was observed at the end of 24 h cell free supernatant of fermentation broth. Crude alkaline protease was most active at 55°C, pH 9 with casein as substrate. According to our knowledge, this study demonstrated the first report on alkaline protease producing B. subtilis AKRS3 isolated from fish waste. The produced enzyme could be effectively used to remove hair from goat and sheep hide indicating its potential application in leather processing industry.Key words: Bacillus subtilis AKRS3, 16S rRNA sequence, alkaline protease, submerged fermentation (SmF), dehairing activity

Magnetization reversal in a site-dependent anisotropic Heisenberg ferromagnet under electromagnetic wave propagation

Abstract Information density and switching of magnetization offers an interesting physical phenomenon which invoke magneto-optical techniques employed on the magnetic medium. In this paper, we explore the soliton assisted magnetization reversal in the nanosecond regime in the theoretical framework of the Landau–Lifshitz–Maxwell (LLM) model. Starting from the Landau–Lifshitz equation, we employ the reductive perturbation method to derive an inhomogeneous nonlinear Schrodinger equation, governing the nonlinear spin excitations of a site-dependent anisotropic ferromagnetic medium under the influence of electromagnetic (EM) field in the classical continuum limit. From the results, it is found that the soliton undergoes a flipping thereby indicating the occurrence of magnetization reversal behavior in the nanoscale regime due to the presence of inhomogeneity in the form of a linear function. Besides, the spin components of magnetization are also evolved as soliton spin excitations

Impact of obesity with impaired glucose tolerance on retinal degeneration in a rat model of metabolic syndrome.

PurposeMetabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with several degenerative diseases, including retinal degeneration. Previously, we reported on progressive retinal degeneration in a spontaneous obese rat (WNIN/Ob) model. In this study, we investigated the additional effect of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), an essential component of MetS, on retinal degeneration using the WNIN/GR-Ob rat model.MethodsThe retinal morphology and ultrastructure of WNIN/GR-Ob and age-matched littermate lean rats were studied by microscopy and immunohistochemistry. The retinal transcriptome of WNIN/GR-Ob was compared with the respective lean controls and with the WNIN/Ob model using microarray analysis. Expression of selected retinal marker genes was studied via real-time PCR.ResultsProgressive loss of photoreceptor cells was observed in WNIN/GR-Ob rats with an onset as early as 3 months. Similarly, thinning of the inner nuclear layer was observed from 6 months in these rats. Immunohistochemical analysis showed decreased levels of rhodopsin and postsynaptic density protein-95 (PSD-95) proteins and increased levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and calretinin in WNIN/GR-Ob rats compared with the age-matched lean controls, further supporting cellular stress/damage and retinal degeneration. The retinal transcriptome analysis indicated altered expression profiles in both the WNIN/GR-Ob and WNIN/Ob rat models compared to their respective lean controls; these pathways are associated with activation of pathways like cellular oxidative stress response, inflammation, apoptosis, and phototransduction, although the changes were more prominent in WNIN/GR-Ob than in WNIN/Ob animals.ConclusionsWNIN/GR-Ob rats with added glucose intolerance developed retinal degeneration similar to the parent line WNIN/Ob. The severity of retinal degeneration was greater in WNIN/GR-Ob rats compared to WNIN/Ob, suggesting a possible role for IGT in this model. Hence, the WNIN/GR-Ob model could be a valuable tool for investigating the impact of MetS on retinal degeneration pathology