Cardiac involvement in systemic sclerosis- a hospital-based study in tertiary health care centre in Puducherry, India

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a complex immune-mediated condition. Systemic sclerosis related cardiac pathologies can be detected in an early stage using various imaging techniques. Aim was to study cardiac involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis. Methods: The present study was carried out as a descriptive hospital-based study of 31 patients with systemic sclerosis above 13 years of age, of either sex or who fulfilled American Rheumatism Association (ARA) diagnostic criteria. A detailed profile of lab investigations and imaging including inflammatory markers, immunological parameters, ECG and ECHO were done. Data analysis was done using SPSS (statistical package for social sciences) version 21.0. A p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Median age of the study patients was 36 years and 90% females. Nearly 19% of the patients were classified as limited, 39% as early diffuse and 42% as late diffuse systemic sclerosis. Rheumatoid factor was positive in 19% of the patients, while antinuclear antibodies (ANA) was positive in all the patients. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) was noted in 61%. Right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) was relatively higher in limited SSc patients. Patients with late diffuse SSc had higher RVSP than early diffuse SSc. RV systolic function assessed by tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) showed abnormally low value (<18) in five patients. Conclusions: Considerable proportion of patients with systemic sclerosis present with cardiac involvement. Tissue Doppler imaging can help in diagnosing subclinical RV dysfunction by measuring TEI index of right ventricle, which can predict PAH

Magnetic heat conductivity in CaCu2O3\rm\bf CaCu_2O_3: linear temperature dependence

We present experimental results for the thermal conductivity $\kappa$ of the pseudo 2-leg ladder material $\rm CaCu_2O_3$. The strong buckling of the ladder rungs renders this material a good approximation to a $S=1/2$ Heisenberg-chain. Despite a strong suppression of the thermal conductivity of this material in all crystal directions due to inherent disorder, we find a dominant magnetic contribution $\kappa_\mathrm{mag}$ along the chain direction. $\kappa_\mathrm{mag}$ is \textit{linear} in temperature, resembling the low-temperature limit of the thermal Drude weight $D_\mathrm{th}$ of the $S=1/2$ Heisenberg chain. The comparison of $\kappa_\mathrm{mag}$ and $D_\mathrm{th}$ yields a magnetic mean free path of $l_\mathrm{mag}\approx 22 \pm 5$ \AA, in good agreement with magnetic measurements.Comment: appears in PR

Obstetric outcome of antenatal mother with history of spontaneous abortion attending a tertiary care hospital in Puducherry

Background: The pregnancy time is critical for both the mother’s and the baby’s health. The most common unfavourable pregnancy outcome is spontaneous abortion. Spontaneous pregnancy loss is a surprisingly common event, with roughly 15% of all clinically diagnosed pregnancies ending in pregnancy failure. Couples who suffer from frequent miscarriages may find it difficult to cope physically and emotionally. This study was planned to evaluate the association of preterm delivery, low birth weight, IUGR, recurrence of abortion, still birth, IUD, PROM, or any other adverse outcome in patients with history of previous spontaneous abortions. Objectives were to look for association between previous spontaneous abortion and preterm delivery, low birth weight, IUGR, recurrence of abortion, stillbirth, IUD, PROM and other complications in subsequent pregnancies. Methods: This was a prospective observational study done with 150 samples. The information such as demographic data of the antenatal women, clinical history, past obstetrics history, clinical examination, laboratory investigations and outcome of present pregnancy were collected and evaluated. Results: Maternal complications such as UTI (4.6%), Infection and fever (5.3%), PROM (2.7%), PPH (4%), hyperemesis 4%, PPROM 2.7% were observed. In study population, 60% of the foetus were in cephalic position, 19% in breech presentation and 21% in shoulder presentation.  29% of the women had preterm delivery, 34% were delivered by LSCS and 6% had spontaneous abortions. Low birth weight babies delivered in 25% cases. Foetal distress was observed in 15%, FGR in 9%, still birth in 3% and IUD in 1%. Conclusions: Women with previous spontaneous abortion are associated with a higher incidence of preterm delivery, cesarean section rate, neonatal low birth weight, fetal distress and high possibility of infection. Therefore, patients with previous spontaneous miscarriage represent a high-risk population for obstetric complication and close surveillance during the antenatal period is required

ASSESSMENT OF ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES, PHENOL AND FLAVONOID CONTENTS OF DIFFERENT EXTRACTS OF LEAVES, BARK AND ROOT FROM THE Abutilon indicum (L.) SWEET

Objective: This study evaluated the antioxidant properties of petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of Abutilon indicum (L).Methods: The different extracts of A. indicum leaves, bark and roots  were antioxidant potential by using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), 2, 2-Azino-bis-3-ethyl benzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS•+) , Hydrogen peroxide scavenging, Superoxide anions scavenging,  Hydroxyl radical scavenging, Ferric reducing antioxidant power, Total antioxidant activity (Phosphomolybdic acid) and total phenol and flavonoid contents.                      Results: The highest total phenol and flavonoid contents in leaves extracts of A. indicum. The total phenol (3.08 ± 0.06) mg/ml and flavonoid (7.16 ± 0.15) mg/ml were found to be higher in ethyl acetate extract of A. indicum and free radical scavenging activities IC50 values were calculated and compare to standard for L- ascorbic acid, (BHT) butylated hydroxytoluene and gallic acid    Conclusion:  The results of the study revealed that the ethyl acetate extract of A. indicum leaves can be used for the biological characterization and importance of the compounds identified and creates a platform to screen many bioactive compounds to treat many diseases.Keywords: Abutilon indicum, Free radical scavenging activity, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl, 2-azino-bis-3-ethyl benzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid,Ferric reducing antioxidant power

Effect of Zinc on Germination, Seedling Growth and Biochemical Content of Cluster Bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub)

Cluster bean seeds were grown in the presence of  0, 10, 25, 50, 100,150 and 200 mgl-l of zinc sulphate solution in order to asses the effect of metal on germination, growth and biochemical changes. The results indicated that low level of zinc concentration (10 and 25 mgl-l) showed a significant increase in the germination, seedling growth and biochemical content; whereas the higher concentrations (50-200 mgl-l) decreased the same except for proline content

DNA damage and repair following In vitro exposure to two different forms of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on trout erythrocyte

TiO(2) has been widely used to promote organic compounds degradation on waste aqueous solution, however, data on TiO(2) nanotoxicity to aquatic life are still limited. In this in vitro study, we compare the toxicity of two different families of TiO(2) nanoparticles on erythrocytes from Oncorhynchus mykiss trout. The crystal structure of the two TiO(2) nanoparticles was analyzed by XRD and the results indicated that one sample is composed of TiO(2) in the anatase crystal phase, while the other sample contains a mixture of both the anatase and the rutile forms of TiO(2) in a 2:8 ratio. Further characterization of the two families of TiO(2) nanoparticles was determined by SEM high resolution images and BET technique. The toxicity results indicate that both TiO(2) nanoparticles increase the hemolysis rate in a dose dependent way (1.6, 3.2, 4.8 μg mL(-1) ) but they do not influence superoxide anion production due to NADH addition measured by chemiluminescence. Moreover, TiO(2) nanoparticles (4.8 μg mL(-1) ) induce DNA damage and the entity of the damage is independent from the type of TiO(2) nanoparticles used. Modified comet assay (Endo III and Fpg) shows that TiO(2) oxidizes not only purine but also pyrimidine bases. In our experimental conditions, the exposure to TiO(2) nanoparticles does not affect the DNA repair system functionality. The data obtained contribute to better characterize the aqueous environmental risks linked to TiO(2) nanoparticles exposure. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2011

Efficacy of mifepristone in the management of fibroid

Background: Uterine fibroids are the most common benign tumors of the uterus. The incidence has been shown to be as high as 70–80 percent in studies using histologic and sonographic examinations. Majority of fibroids are asymptomatic and when symptomatic, patients present with menstrual disturbances, infertility, lump abdomen or pressure effects. The complications associated are severe anemia, hyaline or red degeneration, urinary retention, hydronephrosis secondary to obstructive uropathy and rarely sarcomatous changes. The treatment depends upon the size, symptoms, location and age of the patient. The aim and objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Mifepristone in symptomatic improvement and reduction of the size of fibroid.Methods: The study was conducted in Sri Venkateswaraa Medical College Hospital and Research Centre (SVMCH and RC), Puducherry. This is a hospital based longitudinal study conducted in between December 2019 to June 2021 for a period of 18 months. 30 consecutive cases were studied based on inclusion criteria. All patients were treated with mifepristone 50 mg once weekly for 6 months. Analysis was performed by using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 23 software.Results: In this study we observed there was a significant improvement in the hemoglobin (Hb) level, significant reduction in uterine volume, fibroid size and endometrial thickness after 6th month follow-up.Conclusions: Mifepristone was able to significantly improve the patient outcome by reducing the amount of blood flow during menstruation and increasing the Hb levels and significantly reduce the size of myoma

Experimental Investigation, ANN Modelling and TOPSIS Optimization of a Gasoline Premixed HCCI-DI Engine with Direct Injection of FeCl3 Nanodditive Blended WCO

Experiments have been carried out to compute performance, combustion and emission characteristics of a homogeneous charge compression ignition – direct injection (HCCI-DI) engine in which 20% of the fuel was premixed in the intake manifold and the remaining 80% of the fuel was injected directly. Gasoline was selected as the premixed fuel and three different fuel combinations, namely, diesel, B50 (50% waste cooking oil (WCO) and 50% diesel by volume) and WCO were selected as direct injection (DI) fuels. 100 ppm of FeCl3 nanoadditive was blended with the DI fuels aimed at enhancing favourable fuel properties. The experimental investigations show a reduction of 54.17% and 50% in hydrocarbon (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions, respectively, in the case of WCO fuelled DI combustion compared with the diesel fuelled combustion. Significant increase in the cylinder pressure (pcyl) and the rate of heat release (ROHR) values was observed when the FeCl3 nanoadditive blended fuel was used. Also, with this type of fuel smoke emissions were reduced by 34.8%. Significant increase in the brake thermal efficiency (ηbth) with reduced nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions was observed in the HCCI-DI combustion. Artificial neural network (ANN) was used for forecasting the performance of and emissions from the engine in different operating conditions. The technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) was used for optimizing engine input parameters, which can result in maximum efficiency and minimum emissions