Obesity and women health: from womb to tomb

Obesity is a highly prevalent disease reaching epidemic proportions these days in India. Obesity affects all human beings especially women affecting their health drastically. It affects each phase of their life in serious manner. We present here the spectrum of diseases that obesity can cause to a women during her entire life

EFFECT OF VARYING CONCENTRATION OF HERBAL EXTRACT OF NYCTANTHES ARBOR-TRISTIS LEAF ON SYNTHESIS OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES AND ITS EVALUATION

Objective: Synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using N. arobor-tristis aqueous leaf extract with the aid of micro wave is being demonstrated here.Methods: UV-visible spectrophotometer, dynamic light scattering (DLS), atomic force (AFM) and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analysis was used to characterize AgNPs. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH assay and antibacterial potential was measured using the well diffusion assay.Results: AgNPs formation was completed after 120 sec of microwave exposure. The particles were crystalline and mostly spherical in shape. Antioxidant potential was proved through DPPH assay. AgNPs demonstrated significant antibacterial potential against both Gram negative (E. coli) and Gram positive (S. aureus).Conclusion: The results show that AgNPs have suitable antioxidant & antibacterial activity and thus have potential to be employed as a therapeutic and/or cosmetic agent.Â

Postpartum IUCD: its acceptance and complications

Background: Intra Uterine Contraceptive Device is the most commonly used reversible method of contraception worldwide. Immediate PPIUCD insertion is labelled when intra uterine device is inserted within 10 minutes to 48 hours of expulsion of placenta. The objective of the study was to determine the proportion of women accepting PPIUCD, factors influencing its acceptance, to look for side effects like bleeding disturbances, expulsion, lost strings, pain abdomen and pelvic infection etc. and the drop-out rates for follow up after PPIUCD.Methods: This was an open prospective, and longitudinal study to assess the safety and acceptance of the Multi-load when inserted within 10 minutes to 48 hours of placental expulsion.Results: During the period of January 2015 to November 2015 there were total 1624 deliveries in the said period in the department of Obstetrics and gynaecology of GGS Medical College and Hospital Faridkot. Out of these 714 delivered by LSCS and 910 delivered Vaginally. After excluding 470 patients were counselled, only 97 (20.64%) accepted PPIUCD. Out of these 67 (69%) patients had post placental insertion. 15.4% underwent immediate postpartum insertion. 15.4% got PPIUCD with cesarean section. (25.77%) patients had missing threads/strings, 12 (12.37%) patients had mild pain and 9 women (9.27%) had excessive discharge.Conclusions: PPIUCD is cost effective and a very safe means of contraception. Postpartum period is the period when patient is highly motivated for contraception and can be easily counselled. PPIUCD has a huge potentiality and abundant scope in India and if widely used it will have a strong impact on population control and will prevent unplanned pregnancy and its sequelae

Awareness about reproductive health, contraceptive methods, STDs including HIV/AIDS, and HPV vaccine, among adolescent girls in district Faridkot in Punjab

Background: Adolescents are more vulnerable than adults to unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS. Female adolescents have a higher risk of contracting an STD than their male counterparts. Hence creating awareness in them about reproductive health is the need of the hour.Methods: This was a cross sectional school based Study which was conducted in various schools of Faridkot city of Punjab where 400 Adolescent girls of class 11th and 12th age between 16-19 years, studying in English medium schools in district Faridkot through predesigned multiple choice questionnaires.Results: In our study, most of the girls (67%) were not aware about the meaning of reproductive health. Amongst contraceptive methods, 62.5% knew about condoms. The awareness about STDs was highest about HIV/AIDS (70.75%) and low (less than 20%) for other STDs. They also scored low about symptoms and route of transmission of STD’s. Only 17% of the girls knew about HPV vaccine. Attitude towards sex education was positive.Conclusions: Poor knowledge in girls about Reproductive Health and STDs (other than HIV/AIDS) is of serious concern. Therefore, education about reproductive health should be incorporated in the curriculum which should be given through teaching, interpersonal communication, television, health camps and specialist

Design expert assisted mathematical optimization of solubility and study of fast disintegrating tablets of Lercanidipine Hydrochloride

90% of drugs being researched today, posses poor solubility setback which inturn renders  the drug with slower rate of absorption from the buccal route; hence dissolution is the rate limiting step for such lipophilic drugs. So, there is a need to keep a check on the dissolution profile of these drugs to ensure maximum therapeutic utilization. The dissolution rate therefore becomes a primary factor which governs the rate and extent of its absorption. Enormous work is being performed in the field of enhancement of solubility and dissolution behaviour of such drugs. Advancements and innovations have developed solid dispersion (SD) technique as the novel method for the solubility enhancement. Precision of dosing and patient's compliance is a crucial prerequisite for the management of chronic Antihypertensive treatment, So there arised a need to formulate a system which should resolve the difficulties associated with conventional tablets. This issue can be better tackled with the formulation of orally fast disintegrating tablets. The aim of the present study was to improve the solubility and dissolution rate of Lercanidipine hydrochloride (LRH) by formulating a solid dispersion with Polyvinyl pyrollidine (PVP-K30) and Guargum. Full Factorial designs are exploited to learn and research the effects of different variables on the quality determinant parameters. An appropriate statistical model was selected for the scrutiny of the enhanced dissolution pattern. Finally, these solid dispersions were incorporated into fast disintegrating tablets. Keywords: Lercanidipine Hydrochloride, Solid dispersion, Statistical design approach, Melt fusion method, Fast disintegrating tablet, In vivo studie

PRE-ANALYTICAL VARIABLES IN CLINICAL CHEMISTRY: TRAINING MEDICAL UNDERGRADUATES THROUGH CASE BASED DISCUSSION

Background: Pre-analytical variables in clinical chemistry are factors prior to the biochemical analysis of samples affecting laboratory test results accounting for 32-75% of errors leading to misdiagnosis, decreased quality of medical care services and wastage of monetary resources. Aim: To educate first year medical undergraduates about pre-analytical variables through case based discussion and lecture method of teaching and assess the gain in knowledge by these methods. Methods and material: Two batches of medical students namely A (N=50) and B (N=52) were assessed for their background knowledge on the topic using an MCQ based questionnaire (pre-test). Batch A and B were taught through didactic lecture and case based discussion respectively. Post-test questionnaire was conducted to test the gain in knowledge of both batches. Delayed post-test was conducted after 2 weeks to assess retention of knowledge amongst students. Results: Pre-test scores of Batch A and B were not significantly different indicating that both batches had similar background knowledge of topic. Post-test scores vs. pre-test scores were significantly higher in both batches implying that both batches benefitted from their respective teaching sessions. But post-test score of Batch B was significantly higher than that of Batch A indicating higher gain of knowledge through case based discussion. Delayed post-test score was also significantly higher in Batch B vs. A implying better retention of knowledge through case based discussions. Conclusion: Topic ˜Pre-analytical variables in clinical chemistry must be included in undergraduate medical curriculum. Case based discussion could be an effective module for teaching the same. Key words: Case based discussion; Didactic lecture; Medical students; Medical education; Pre-analytical variables

PRE-ANALYTICAL VARIABLES IN CLINICAL CHEMISTRY: TRAINING MEDICAL UNDERGRADUATES THROUGH CASE BASED DISCUSSION

Background: Pre-analytical variables in clinical chemistry are factors prior to the biochemical analysis of samples affecting laboratory test results accounting for 32-75% of errors leading to misdiagnosis, decreased quality of medical care services and wastage of monetary resources. Aim: To educate first year medical undergraduates about pre-analytical variables through case based discussion and lecture method of teaching and assess the gain in knowledge by these methods. Methods and material: Two batches of medical students namely A (N=50) and B (N=52) were assessed for their background knowledge on the topic using an MCQ based questionnaire (pre-test). Batch A and B were taught through didactic lecture and case based discussion respectively. Post-test questionnaire was conducted to test the gain in knowledge of both batches. Delayed post-test was conducted after 2 weeks to assess retention of knowledge amongst students. Results: Pre-test scores of Batch A and B were not significantly different indicating that both batches had similar background knowledge of topic. Post-test scores vs. pre-test scores were significantly higher in both batches implying that both batches benefitted from their respective teaching sessions. But post-test score of Batch B was significantly higher than that of Batch A indicating higher gain of knowledge through case based discussion. Delayed post-test score was also significantly higher in Batch B vs. A implying better retention of knowledge through case based discussions. Conclusion: Topic ˜Pre-analytical variables in clinical chemistry must be included in undergraduate medical curriculum. Case based discussion could be an effective module for teaching the same. Key words: Case based discussion; Didactic lecture; Medical students; Medical education; Pre-analytical variables

Association of Serum Adenosine Deaminase Levels in Cytologically Suggested Cases of Tubercular Lymphadenitis: The Experience of a Tertiary Care Centre

Background: Tuberculosis (TB), a communicable disease, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis requires a simple, rapid test, which can be easily carried out in a laboratory. Unfortunately, despite a battery of investigations, no definite test is available till date. Adenosine deaminase (ADA), a biochemical marker has been proposed as a useful surrogate marker for TB as its levels can be measured in body fluids. Methods: A one-and-a-half-year prospective study of 154 cases presenting with lymphadenitis from January 2019 to June 2020 was undertaken. Using cytology, lymphadenitis subjects were divided into two groups: Tubercular (104 patients) as a case group and Reactive (50 patients) as a control group. All cases were followed by serum ADA assay by colorimetric method. Nonparametric tests were performed to compare the two groups. Results: The mean age of the participants was 28.99 ± 13.26 years with a F:M ratio of 1.81:1. Involvement of cervical lymph nodes was most frequent (89.42% cases). The mean S.ADA level for tubercular and reactive lymphadenitis was 41.71 ± 11.53 U/L and 21.16 ± 4.16 U/L, respectively (P-value < 0.05). The cut-off value calculated was 32.6 U/L. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy were calculated as 79.81%, 100%, 100%, 70.42%, and 86.36%, respectively. Conclusion: A statistically significant increase was found in serum ADA levels in tubercular lymphadenitis cases compared to reactive lymphadenitis. Hence, it can be used as an adjunct to FNAC and is a fairly sensitive and specific test. Since it is difficult to always demonstrate AFB in FNAC smears, ADA can be helpful in establishing a definite diagnosis despite smear negativity. Keywords: adenosine deaminase, lymphadenitis, tuberculosi

Introduction of clinical audit in obstetrics for undergraduate medical students

Background: Clinical audit is becoming increasingly important in the healthcare system to ensure a high quality of patient care. Involving the undergraduate medical students in the audit process will help them to understand the subject better and will stimulate them to critically appraise a medical issue. Clinical audit is a hands-on practice of data collection, comparison of current clinical practice with standard and find root cause analysis-based intervention to implement change ideas. Aim and objectives of current study were to introduce audit as a teaching tool in clinical posting of obstetrics and evaluate its impact and acceptability. Methods: Final year MBBS students were enrolled for the study. The caesarean section was selected as the topic for audit. A pre-test was given before the introduction of Clinical audit. Participants were trained to do a systematic clinical audit including analyzing the collected data. They worked in small groups along with a faculty supervisor. A post-test was taken after one month. Likert scale was used to evaluate the acceptability of this tool by students. Results: A total of 50 MBBS students of the final semester completed the pre-test, training to use clinical audit and the post-test. The results of pre-test and post-test were compared and a statistically significant improvement was found in the performance of students. This method was found to be an acceptable tool for clinical teaching by 98% of the students. Conclusions: Final year MBBS Students performed better when clinical audit was used as a teaching tool, which was also well accepted by them