Synergistic approach in diagnosing endometrial disease in women with postmenopausal bleeding

Background: All women with postmenopausal uterine bleeding mandate examination for endometrial diseases especially endometrial carcinoma. In current scenario, hysteroscopy has replaced traditional Dilatation and Curettage as diagnostic procedure of choice. However, office endometrial sampling with pipelle combined with vaginal ultrasonography being easier and less expensive is recommended. Aim and objectives of the study was to evaluate the combined use of vaginal ultrasonography and office endometrial sampling for the diagnosis of endometrial disease in postmenopausal women with uterine bleeding.Methods: One hundred consecutive postmenopausal women presenting with uterine bleeding were enrolled in the study. Vaginal ultrasonography was used to measure the endometrial thickness. Endometrial sampling was done using endometrial biopsy pipelle, as office procedure, in the OPD examination room. The sample was sent for Histopathological Examination (HPE), The accuracy of vaginal ultrasound and pipelle was measured.Results: In 21% patients, endometrial carcinoma was found, endometrial hyperplasia in 26%, atrophic endometrium in 18%, endometrial polyp in 10% and no specific pathology in 20%. Endometrial thickness measured by Transvaginal ultrasound ranged from 1mm to 28mm with mean of 10.16mm and median of 11.5mm. The mean endometrial thickness in subgroup without disease was 5.26±3.8mm, with benign disease 12.8±3.1mm and in carcinoma 16.97±5.6mm. All cases with carcinoma had endometrial thickness exceeding 5mm (range 5.7mm to 28mm).Conclusions: The study illustrates that by combined use of Trans Vaginal Sonography (TVS) and office endometrial sampling, sufficient diagnostic information was obtained for women with postmenopausal bleeding, obviating the need for more invasive diagnostic procedures

Detection of spontaneous hemoperitoneum in a pregnancy complicated with endometriosis during caesarean section - a case report

Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterus. During pregnancy endometriosis and its related pain symptoms improve due to various metabolic, hormonal, immune and angiogenesis changes that occur in pregnancy. Spontaneous hemoperitoneum in pregnancy (SHiP) is a rare but serious pregnancy complication, which is associated with high rates of maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality. Endometriosis may be a potential risk factor for SHiP. Preformation of IVF on women with endometriosis may be a potential risk factor for SHiP. In gravid females with a history of endometriosis, severe abdominal pain, and a reduction of haemoglobin, physicians should always suspect SHiP because it is a life-threatening condition for both the mother and the baby. We are reporting a case of a primigravida with term gestation, taken up for emergency caesarean section in view of non-reassuring foetal heart rate. Intraoperatively there was evidence of hemoperitoneum and multiple endometriotic lesions on the posterior surface of uterus and Pouch of Douglas, Bilateral ovaries were adherent to the endometriotic growth on the posterior surface of uterus. Postoperatively, patient was stable and was discharged on postoperative day 4

A population-based study on correlates of abortion in India (1990-2006)

Background: Every two hours in India, a woman dies from an unsafe abortion. Each year, 19 million to 20 million women risk their   lives to undergo unsafe abortions, conducted in unsanitary conditions by unqualified practitioners or practitioners who resort to traditional but rudimentary means. This study depicts the scenario, traces the changes in abortion and determines the factors associated with abortion in India, during last one and half decade (1990-2006).Methods: Data from three rounds of the National Family Health Survey (1992–93 NFHS-1, 1998–99 NFHS-2, 2005–06 NFHS-3) India were analyzed. To identify the scenario, traces the changes and determine the factors associated with abortion, bivaraite and multivariate (both separate and pooled) analyses were performed.Results: Findings from this study highlighted that the women current age, women age at marriage, sex composition of living children, educational status, mass media exposure and place of residence emerged as significant factors affecting the abortion. Controlling for a set of socioeconomic and demographic factors, experience abortion by women was more (Crude OR=2.11 95% CI=2.04-2.19), (AOR=1.06 95% CI=1.01-1.10) during 1996-99 and (Crude OR=1.07 95% CI=1.03-1.12), (AOR=1.20 95% CI=1.15-1.26) during 2003-06, respectively as compared to period 1992-1993.Conclusions: There is a need for more in-depth qualitative studies at the regional level to better understand the determinants and consequences of this complex and sensitive issue in India. Programs should focus more on the availability and accessibility of contraceptives among women to elude the reproductive health consequences of induced abortion

Ferromagnetism in transparent Mn(II)-doped indium tin oxide films prepared by sol-gel process

We observe remarkably strong room temperature ferromagnetism (~1.5 Bohr Magneton/Mn) in optically transparent Mn(II)-doped indium tin oxide (ITO) films. The nanocrystalline films with average grain size 10-22 nm and thickness 150-350 nm are prepared by sol-gel coating technique on sodalime silica glass substrate. The ferromagnetic property is, of course, weak for films deposited on pure silica glass substrate. The structural parameters of the films appear to be governing the magnetic property strongly which vary appreciably depending on the substrate. The observation of room temperature ferromagnetism in transparent conducting ITO films may find a plethora of applications in the area of magneto-optics.Comment: 17 pages including 3 figures; pdf onl

Micropropagation of Ilex khasiana, a critically endangered and endemic holly of Northeast India

The paper describes in vitro techniques for mass propagation of IIex khasiana, a rare and critically endangered holly endemic to Khasi Hills Hills of Meghalaya, India. The approach will help conserve I. khasiana and other endangered species

The Tomato Sequencing Project, the First Cornerstone of the International Solanaceae Project (SOL)

The genome of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is being sequenced by an international consortium of 10 countries (Korea, China, the United Kingdom, India, The Netherlands, France, Japan, Spain, Italy and the United States) as part of a larger initiative called the ‘International Solanaceae Genome Project (SOL): Systems Approach to Diversity and Adaptation’. The goal of this grassroots initiative, launched in November 2003, is to establish a network of information, resources and scientists to ultimately tackle two of the most significant questions in plant biology and agriculture: (1) How can a common set of genes/proteins give rise to a wide range of morphologically and ecologically distinct organisms that occupy our planet? (2) How can a deeper understanding of the genetic basis of plant diversity be harnessed to better meet the needs of society in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner? The Solanaceae and closely related species such as coffee, which are included in the scope of the SOL project, are ideally suited to address both of these questions. The first step of the SOL project is to use an ordered BAC approach to generate a high quality sequence for the euchromatic portions of the tomato as a reference for the Solanaceae. Due to the high level of macro and micro-synteny in the Solanaceae the BAC-by-BAC tomato sequence will form the framework for shotgun sequencing of other species. The starting point for sequencing the genome is BACs anchored to the genetic map by overgo hybridization and AFLP technology. The overgos are derived from approximately 1500 markers from the tomato high density F2-2000 genetic map (http://sgn.cornell.edu/). These seed BACs will be used as anchors from which to radiate the tiling path using BAC end sequence data. Annotation will be performed according to SOL project guidelines. All the information generated under the SOL umbrella will be made available in a comprehensive website. The information will be interlinked with the ultimate goal that the comparative biology of the Solanaceae—and beyond—achieves a context that will facilitate a systems biology approach

<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA" lang="EN-US">Hukoti</span></i><span style="font-size:15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA" lang="EN-US"> -An indigenous dry fish product of tribal communities of Upper Assam</span>

97-101<span style="font-size: 9.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt" lang="EN-US">The present study is a maiden report regarding the existence, preparation procedure and uses of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Hukoti, a traditional indigenous dry fish product, prepared by different tribal communities of Upper Assam. Dressed and washed fish, mainly Puntius spp, are ground with deskinned stems of Colocasia macrorrhiza (L.) G. Don and leaves of Siju (Euphorbia ligulana Roxb.). The resultant paste, stuffed into bamboo cylinders and sealed using dry banana leaves and clay, are dried over kitchen fire for a period of 3-4months. Hukoti is used a pain killer and also used as a local therapeutic to cure malaria. In the present study, the authors have suggested various means to improve its overall quality and also potential avenues to commercialize the product. </span

Evaluation of temperature-dependent microstructural and nanomechanical properties of phase pure V2O5

Phase pure, mesoporous, and crystalline V2O5 is synthesized by acid hydrolysis technique and subsequently heat treatment is carried out at 450, 500, 550, and 600 A degrees C in air. The as-synthesized and heat-treated powders are thoroughly studied by X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and spectroscopic techniques. A unique morphological tuning of V2O5 powders from as small as similar to 80 nm tiny nanorod to as large as a similar to 2.5 mu m hexagonal grain as microstructural unit blocks is observed. A qualitative mechanism is suggested for particle growth. Further, the powders are pelletized and subsequently sintered in air at the same temperatures of 450, 500, 550, and 600 A degrees C at which the powders were heat treated. Finally, nanomechanical properties of bulk pelletized V2O5 such as nanohardness and Young's modulus are also evaluated by nanoindentation technique at nine different loads e.g., 10, 30, 50, 70, 100, 300, 500, 700, and 1000 mN. GRAPHICS] Phase pure, mesoporous, and crystalline V2O5 powder synthesized by acid hydrolysis. V2O5 powders thoroughly studied as a function of various heat treatment temperatures. Morphology tuned from nanorod to hexagonal micron sized grain. Qualitative model suggested for particle growth mechanism. Load-dependent nanoindentation studied on various sintered V2O5 pellets

Fundamental understanding of the size and surface modification effects on r(1), the relaxivity of Prussian blue nanocube@m-SiO2: a novel targeted chemo-photodynamic theranostic agent to treat colon cancer

A targeted multimodal strategy on a single nanoplatform is attractive in the field of nanotheranostics for the complete ablation of cancer. Herein, we have designed mesoporous silica (m-SiO2)-coated Prussian blue nanocubes (PBNCs), functionalized with hyaluronic acid (HA) to construct a multifunctional PBNC@m-SiO2@HA nanoplatform that exhibited good biocompatibility, excellent photodynamic activity, and in vitro T-1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging ability (r(1) similar to 3.91 mM(-1) s(-1)). After loading doxorubicin into the as-prepared PBNC@m-SiO2@HA, the developed PBNC@m-SiO2@HA@DOX displayed excellent pH-responsive drug release characteristics. Upon irradiation with 808 nm (1.0 W cm(-2)) laser light, PBNC@m-SiO2@HA@DOX exhibited synergistic photodynamic and chemotherapeutic efficacy (similar to 78% in 20 minutes) for human colorectal carcinoma (HCT 116) cell line compared to solo photodynamic or chemotherapy. Herein, the chemo-photodynamic therapeutic process was found to follow the apoptotic pathway via ROS-mediated mitochondrion-dependent DNA damage with a very low cellular uptake of PBNC@m-SiO2@HA@DOX for the human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) cell line, illustrating its safety. Hence, it may be stated that the developed nanoplatform can be a potential theranostic agent for future applications. Most interestingly, we have noted variation in r(1) at each step of the functionalization along with size variation that has been the first time modelled on the basis of the Solomon-Bloembergen-Morgan theory considering changes in the defect crystal structure, correlation time, water diffusion rate, etc., due to varied interactions between PBNC and water molecules