Incidence of bacterial vaginosis in patients with idiopathic preterm labour

Background: The objectives of this study were to find the incidence of bacterial vaginosis in patients with idiopathic preterm labour and to assess maternal and fetal outcome.Methods: The study was carried out in the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Patna Medical College, Patna from September 2011 to September 2013.Study was done in 100 pregnant women. 50 patients were cases and 50 were control. Cases were patients admitted with idiopathic preterm labour and controls were patients admitted with term pregnancy. A thorough general, systemic and obstetrical examination was done. Speculum examination was done to exclude leaking and to note the type of discharge which was collected for the pH estimation, amine testing and for making a smear for gram staining. Diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis was confirmed on the basis of Nugent criteria. Maternal and fetal outcome was assessed.Results: The incidence of bacterial vaginosis in patients with idiopathic preterm labour was 30 percent. Bacterial vaginosis was significantly (P <0.05) associated with idiopathic preterm labour. Out of 15 patients who had bacterial vaginosis, 13 had preterm delivery (<37 weeks). In 35 patients without bacterial vaginosis 21 had preterm delivery. Bacterial vaginosis was significantly associated with low birth weight babies (P <0.05). Bacterial vaginosis was significantly associated with neonatal jaundice and neonatal sepsis.Conclusions: Bacterial vaginosis is strongly associated with preterm labour and delivery as well as adversely affects neonatal outcome. Thus screening for bacterial vaginosis in all pregnant women complaining of vaginal discharge and also in all patients with preterm labour is justifiable.

Clampless non descent vaginal hysterectomy: “A novel art”

Background: Objective of this study was to assess feasibility and safety of clampless non descent vaginal hysterectomy of uterus up to 16 weeks size and identifying factors that determine success of surgery.Methods: Study was conducted in 50 women with non-prolapsed uteri, with clear cut indication of hysterectomy for a benign cause, without suspected adnexal pathology. Operating time, estimated blood loss, surgical techniques, difficulties encountered during operation, operative and post-operative complications and conversion to laparotomy when needed were recorded.Results: Vaginal hysterectomy was successful in 47 cases. Bisection was required in 60% cases, myomectomy in 24% cases and morcellation in 16% cases. Amount of blood loss and operating time was proportional to size of uterus.Conclusions: Clampless non descent vaginal hysterectomy is a safe and effective procedure and for success not only size of the uterus but its all dimensions and location of fibroid should be taken into consideration.

Enhancing efficacy of microbial bioremediation by intervention of nanotechnology and metabolic engineering: A review

Ever since the start of the Industrial Revolution, environmental pollution has significantly increased. The prominent cause of most diseases in humans, animals, and plants is the presence of toxic materials, pollutants, contaminants, and hazardous compounds released by industries. One of the major factors is the presence of heavy metals in the air, water bodies and soil. Heavy metals have biomagnification and bioaccumulation characteristics, making them hazardous for flora and fauna on a large scale. Recently, biological sources such as bacteria, fungi, algae, etc., have been used to bioabsorb these heavy metals. The microbial properties of these cell walls are utilized for effective and low-cost absorption of metals. Bioaugmentation, biosorption and biostimulation are effective strategies for reducing the toxicity of hazardous contaminants in the soil and facilitating bioremediation. The mechanism of biosorption is mainly based on ions and functional groups present in the microbes. Fungal species are advantageous over bacteria as they are easier to handle, cost-effective and, most importantly, non-pathogenic, making them ideal candidates for biosorption. This review provides a comprehensive overview of various microbial strains utilized in bioremediation. Further, the review highlights the application of nanotechnology and metabolic engineering approaches to improve the efficacy of Biosorption, Biostimulation and Bioaugmentation. It provides insights on the role of microbial nanoparticles in bioremediation and prospects in the forte of microbe-assisted bioremediation.

Exploring the trends of breathlessness and mortality in conjunction with AQI in India’s coal capital, Dhanbad

Background: Air Quality Index (AQI) has been evidenced to be linked with various health problems including NCDs. Globally, the combined effect of ambient air and household air pollution causes 6.7 million premature deaths. Objective: A study was undertaken to understand various associations of AQI and morbidity data, indigenous to the coal capital region of India. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study where district AQI data was obtained from the state of Jharkhand while mortality and morbidity data were collected from our medical college. MS Excel and SPSS were used to analyse the data. Results: During the study period, the AQI of Dhanbad has been moderate to poor. The lowest AQI was noted in May 2020 at 105 while the highest in June 2019 at 217. The highest admission, due to respiratory illness, was noted in May 2020 with AQI of 105. Using univariate analysis age categorisation was statistically significant, as the respiratory illness was highest in &gt;85 years age group. In logistic regression, it has the highest odds of 2.9 (1.5-5.5). Conclusion: This region-specific indigenous information is expected to provide a valuable tool for Air quality managers for more focused action. It also highlights the health impacts of the worsening air quality

Xanthine scaffold: scope and potential in drug development

Medicinal plants have been the basis for discovery of various important marketed drugs. Xanthine is one such lead molecule. Xanthines in various forms (caffeine, theophylline, theobromine, etc) are abode in tea, coffee, cocoa, chocolate etc. giving them popular recognition. These compounds are best known for their diverse pharmaceutical applications as cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase inhibition, antagonization of adenosine receptor, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-oxidant and anti-tumor activities. These properties incentivize to use xanthine as scaffold to develop new derivatives. Chemical synthesis contributes greater diversity in xanthine based derivatisation. With highlighting the existing challenges in chemical synthesis, the present review focuses the probable solution to fill existing lacuna. The review summarizes the available knowledge of xanthine based drugs development along with exploring new xanthine led chemical synthesis path for bringing diversification in xanthine based research. The main objective of this review is to explore the immense potential of xanthine as scaffold in drug development

Comparing Performance and Impediments of Construction and Professional Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in Transportation

Disadvantaged/Minority/Women business enterprises (DBE/MBE/WBEs) in construction and professional fields face several impediments that hinder their business growth and overall performance. In this study, a survey was conducted to compare the importance of the factors that most affect business performance of these business enterprises, the impediments they face, and the advantages and disadvantages of being a DBE/MBE/WBE; the survey was conducted with construction and professional firms in the transportation industry. When comparing responses from 259 business enterprises, the results indicated that construction firms placed significantly higher importance to financial issues and safe work practices than professional firms. In addition, construction firms ranked lack of technology, an unskilled work force, and an expensive work force as significant impediments to their business success as compared to professional firms. No significant differences were detected ranking the advantages of being DBEs. However, regarding the disadvantages of being a DBE, construction firms ranked excessive bid shopping significantly higher than professional firms. The respondents provided a set of recommendations to improve the status of DBEs for use by government policy-makers/owners and prime contractors

Strong mosquitocidal Bacillus thuringiensis from Mt. Everest

Abstract Bacillus thuringiensis strains were isolated from soil samples collected from Khumbu Base Camp of the Everest region and characterized by standard microbiological techniques viz. colonial and morphological characteristics, and biochemical tests. Insect bioassay of each isolate was performed by standard method using mosquito larva. Among ten randomly selected isolates, one isolate showed the highest insecticidal activity against Dipteron insects