Evaluation of Coagulation Profile and Transfusion Support in Preeclampsia Patients

BACKGROUND: PE (preeclampsia) is defined as new-onset hypertension and new onset proteinuria occurring after 20 weeks of pregnancy or maternal organ dysfunction, such as renal insufficiency, liver involvement, neurological or haematological complications, uteroplacental dysfunction, or foetal growth restriction. The incidence of PE in the south Indian population is determined as 4-5%. PE is a leading cause of maternal mortality, causing an estimated > 60,000 maternal deaths worldwide per year. The pathogenesis of PE remains largely unknown, the leading hypotheses being the occurrence of a disturbed placental function in early pregnancy, with the development of maternal syndrome of PE in late pregnancy. In normal pregnancy physiological changes happen with hemostatic system, which gets exaggerated in PE and turns pathological leading to systematic disorders of metabolism as well as multiple organ dysfunctions and may even threaten maternal and foetal lives. Hence in our study we aimed to evaluate the coagulation profile and transfusion support in PE. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study is to evaluate the coagulation profile and transfusion support in preeclampsia women. OBJECTIVES: 1. To determine the incidence of altered coagulation profile in preeclampsia. 2. To evaluate the blood coagulation parameters as potential predictors for the severity of preeclampsia. 3. To predict the maternal outcome in preeclampsia patients with altered coagulation profile following blood component support. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study comprised of pregnant women at 24-27 weeks gestation (midpregnancy) with normotensive and PE cases of 30 and 50 respectively. In our study we did the comparison of Platelet Indices and Coagulation Parameters between the control population and PE cases. These parameters were observed initially at midpregnancy and again at the time of admission for delivery. The cases were categorized as PE with severe features (n=22) and PE without severe features (n=28) as per ACOG Guidelines on Hypertension in Pregnancy. RESULTS: The coagulation parameter values and platelet indices at midpregnancy of PE cases with and without severity were observed to be within normal range of values obtained from control subjects. Whereas when comparing the late pregnancy parameters between the normal pregnancy and PE with severe features significant changes noted with PLT, MPV,PDW, APTT, TT and S.Fibrinogen. The predictor of severity of PE was analysed with ROC curve by plotting the parameters of PE without severe features and PE with severe features. The deranged coagulation profile happened with 11 of the severe PE cases (50%). 4 out of these 11 cases developed complications and rescued with blood component support. CONCLUSION: In our study on evaluation of coagulation profile and transfusion support in preeclampsia cases, we observed a significant association between altered coagulation profile and the severity of cases in late pregnancy. However, these parameters can act only as an indirect predictor along with the severity of symptoms of PE in deciding prophylactic transfusion support. Analysis of these parameters with ROC curve yielded serum fibrinogen and PDW as a significant predictor of severity

Design and Development of Sports Intimate Apparel - A Review

It is necessary to evaluate and analyze the brassiere design problems to alleviate theproblems in terms of fit, support, elastics and fastening. With an aim to achieve a perfectbrassiere, designers have a strong drive to develop a super quality brassiere with highperformance and proper usage of components and materials. The encapsulation brassiere wasmore effective than compression brassiere in controlling breast displacement. The mainproblems were shoulder straps digging into the shoulder and shoulder straps slipping off theshoulder. There are several design flaws associated with these sports brassiere which lead todiscomfort, pain and swelling of the breasts. Tightness around the chest may also cause beastsoreness. The straps are often very thin and cut into the shoulders of women. The mosteffective brassiere had a unique inverted-u shape bounded seam over the upper and sideboundaries of the cups with a wide cross-back design. Wicking materials are used in this typeof brassieres to give comfort and breast supporting pads having pad components to giveadequate support. The inner layer consists of silicone material which can increase theadherence capacity due to its high coefficient of friction. This review paper contains detailsabout the design and development of sports brassiere

Computed tomography brain scan findings in eclampsia

Background: Eclampsia is characterized by sudden onset of generalized tonic-clonic convulsion or coma in pregnancy or postpartum unrelated to other cerebral conditions. It is a life-threatening complication of pregnancy; the exact cause is still not conclusively elucidated. Recent studies using computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) gives valuable neuroimaging findings to determine the prognosis and early management of neurovascular complications that will reduce maternal mortality and morbidity.Methods: This is a prospective study done over 6 months to study population was chosen by eclampsia patients who were admitted through the emergency ward and also indoor patients who developed eclampsia after admission. A total of 50 patients were analyzed. Computed tomography (CT) scan of brain performed after a confinement of fetus and after stabilizing the mother. Maternal and fetal outcomes were observed in these cases.Results: A total of 50 eclampsia patients and their CT scan findings were studied. In these positive CT scan findings were noticed in 23 patients. 1 patient expired with massive cerebral hemorrhage and cerebral oedema (40%) was the most common CT scan finding and the most common area is the parietal lobe (32%) followed by the occipital (8%) and frontal 4% and all lobes (1%).Conclusions: CT scan findings provide valuable information about the neurovascular complication in eclampsia patients, early diagnosis and prompt management of these complications will reduce maternal and perinatal mortality to some extent

An eco-friendly approach towards leather dyeing using fungal pigments

20-25There is a growing demand for eco-friendly and non-toxic dyes that can be used to impart colour to a wide variety of materials. Many synthetic dyes are known to cause health hazards due to possible carcinogenic effects associated with high heavy metal concentration and the possible use of other restricted substances. The present study aims at the extraction of pigments from fungi, which can be used as an alternative to synthetic dyes used for leather dyeing. The use of agricultural wastes for enhanced fungal growth and pigment production was also envisaged. The pigment thus obtained was subjected to characterization using analytical techniques like CHNS, FTIR, DSC and TGA. These pigments were further used for leather dyeing and effect of process parameters like colour fastness, rub fastness and heat resistant properties were analyzed and conditions optimized

Characterization of morpho-phenological traits in the traditional landraces of rice

The landraces of rice provide a wide range of genetic variations and environmental adaptation and act as excellent genetic resources for crop improvement. Natural germplasm that has been maintained through conservation is in desperate need of rigorous investigation in order to uncover new genes or alleles to introduce into rice breeding programmes. Given this context, an investigation was done to determine the degree of genetic divergence and variability across 31 rice landraces for various productivity, physiological, and grain quality traits. On evaluation of the mean performance of landraces and the influence of characters in genetic divergence resulted in the identification of better landraces viz., Vellaikuruvikar, Karupu Kavuni, Kichidi Samba and Athur Kichadi which are better for both grain yield and quality traits that can be used to create better recombinants, by hybridization. These gene pools could be used in selective breeding to significantly enhance the agronomic characters. Out of 20 traits that were investigated,15 traits viz., height of the plant, productive tillers per plant, length of panicle, spikelets per panicle, filled grains per panicle, grain yield per plant, seedling root to shoot ratio, harvest index, head rice recovery, length of the kernel, length to breadth ratio of kernel, breadth of kernel after cooking, length to breadth ratio of kernel after cooking, gelatinization temperature and aroma were noted for high heritability and genetic advancement suggesting that additive gene action predominates, there by opening up a wide range of opportunities for these traits to be improved through simple phenotypic selection

Computational studies on new Leishmanial drug targets against Quercetin

Leishmaniasis, a parasitic disease caused by Leishmania parasite which resides in the infected sand flies. Control of Leishmaniasis remains a source of grave concern worldwide. Studies on Leishmaniasis triggered because of its outbreak in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, East Africa and South America. There is an urgent need for new therapeutic interventions such as vaccine and new drug targets as it develops resistance towards the available drugs. Quercetin, a derivative of polyphenolic flavonoid exhibits various biological activities by interacting with proteins and nucleic acids. In this study, computational analysis was performed to identify the potential drug target of Quercetin in Leishmania species by molecular docking. The newly predicted targets were subjected for subcellular localization prediction and determined the protein-protein interaction networks that would aid in the development of anti-Leishmanial drugs. This study helps in the identification of targets and development of anti-Leishmanial drugs

A novel Ag/Carrageenan-gelatin hybrid hydrogel nanocomposite and its biological applications : preparation and characterization

A novel biohybrid hydrogel nanocomposite made of natural polymer carrageenan and gelatin protein were developed. The silver nanoparticles were prepared using the carrageenan polymer as reduction and capping agent. Here, the Ag/Carrageenan was combined with gelatin hydrogel using glutaraldehyde having a cross-link role in order to create the biohybrid hydrogel nanocomposite. The manufactured composite performances were anaylised by UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier Transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) methods. The swelling behaviour of the Ag/Carrageenan-gelatin hybrid hydrogel nanocomposite was also analyzed. The antibacterial activity was tested against human pathogens viz. S.agalactiae 1661, S. pyogenes 1210 and E. coli. The bacterial cell wall damage of S.agalactiae 1661 was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. The cytotoxic assay was performed against the A549 lung cancer cells

Improvement of two traditional Basmati rice varieties for bacterial blight resistance and plant stature through morphological and marker-assisted selection

Bacterial blight (BB) is a major production threat to Basmati, the aromatic rice prized for its unique quality. In order to improve the BB resistance of two elite, traditional BB-susceptible Basmati varieties (Taraori Basmati and Basmati 386), we utilized the strategy of limited marker-assisted backcrossing for introgression of two major BB resistance genes, Xa21 and xa13, coupled with phenotype-based selection for improvement of their plant type and yield. Improved Samba Mahsuri, an elite high-yielding, fine-grain-type BB-resistant rice variety served as donor for BB resistance. Backcross-derived improved Basmati lines at BC1F5 possessing a single resistance gene (i.e. either Xa21 or xa13) displayed moderate resistance to BB, while lines possessing both Xa21 and xa13 showed significantly higher levels of resistance. Two-gene pyramid lines (Xa21 + xa13) possessing good grain and cooking quality similar to their respective traditional Basmati parents, short plant stature (<110 cm plant height) and higher grain yield than the recurrent parent(s) were identified and advanced. This work demonstrates the successful application of marker-assisted selection in conjunction with phenotype-based selection for targeted introgression of multiple resistance genes into traditional Basmati varieties along with improvement of their plant stature and yield

Influence of Substrate Temperature on Physical Properties of Nanostructured Ti Doped In2O3 Thin Films by a Simplified Perfume Atomizer Technique

Ti doped indium oxide thin films (I n2 O3 :Ti) were prepared at different temperatures by a simplified spray pyrolysis technique using perfume atomizer technique. The effect of substrate temperature on structural, electrical, photoluminesence and optical properties of these films have been analyzed and reported here. The XRD analysis revealed that the films possess polycrystalline with cubic bixbyite structure and the preferred orientation being in (2 2 2) direction. The grain size of the films varied from 31 nm to 55 nm with the increase of substrate temperature from 300o C to 400o C, thereafter it decreased with further increase of substrate temperature to 450˚ C. Optical parameters such as transmittance, absorption coefficient, refractive index and band gap have been studied and analyzed as a function of substrate temperature. Compared to other deposition temperatures (300o C, 400o C and 450o C) a film prepared at 350o C has exhibited a low electrical resistivity of 1.26 ×10−4 Ω cm, high mobility 66 cm2 /V s and carrier concentration 3.46 ×1020 cm−3 with 75 % of transmittance in the wavelength ranging between 400 nm - 1100 nm. An efficient photoluminescence emission was recorded for all the samples in the wavelength region of 300 nm - 600 nm which confirmed that these films are suitable for potential applicability in nanoscale optoelectronic devices