Prevention of Implications of Poor Posture and Physical Inactivity among Dentists

Long sitting hours, sedentary lifestyle has taken a toll on the well-being of the species. Studies have time and again reported that posture related problems in dentists has shown a very high prevalence.  As the art of dentistry requires a lot of precision and patience, it can cause a plethora muscle and back-related problems. Most of these musculoskeletal problems are confined to the head and neck region and are usually due to long hours put in by the dentist while treating his patients.  A Bad posture during the dental procedures put the dentist at risk for various dental procedures, however, it has been noted that there is lack of awareness about the implications of bad posture and physical inactivity amongst the dentists.  This review is on the prevention and implications of poor posture and physical inactivity among dentists

Mid-trimester rupture uterus: case series

Uterine rupture is an obstetric catastrophe with significant maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality which occurs mainly in the third trimester of pregnancy or during labour, especially in previously scarred uterus. The occurrence of rupture in first and second trimester in women with unscarred uteri is quite rare. We report two cases of rupture uteri managed in our centre at 24 and 26 weeks gestation in women with unscarred uteri. First case was G3P1L1A1, 24 weeks with epigastric pain, stable vitals, epigastric tenderness, USG inconclusive, CT scan showed out pouching of amniotic sac through fundus. Laparotomy done, there was 8-9 cm fundal rupture extending between cornua, uterine repair done. Second case was G3P1L1A1 26 weeks with abdominal pain, stable vitals, corresponding fundal height, head engaged, USG revealed outpouching amniotic sac at the fundus. Laparotomy performed, there was 10 cm rent extending trans-fundal, uterine repair done. Unscarred uterine rupture, especially in early pregnancy is a rare event, posing significant difficulty in diagnosis. Uterine rupture should be first ruled out in all pregnant women presenting with acute abdomen irrespective of gestational age. Search for non-gynaecological causes can delay crucial obstetric intervention that can lead to loss of obstetric function, morbidity and mortality

Study of association of socio-demographic characteristics with the knowledge about sex determination and preconception and prenatal diagnostic technique act among pregnant women

Background: Preconception and prenatal diagnostic technique Act was amended in year 2003 which provides for prohibition of sex selection before and after conception and for regulation of prenatal diagnostic technique.Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out in antenatal ward of GSVM Medical College Kanpur during the period of January to December 2019. A total of 2500 pregnant women were included and predesigned and pretested questionnaire was used to get information regarding socio-demographic details of pregnant women. They were asked regarding the knowledge and attitude towards the PC-PNDT Act. Data were collected and analyzed using Microsoft excel and SPSS-12. Results: In the present study, out of 2500 women, 2125 (85%) knew about sex determination while 125 (5%) knew about PNDT Act. There was significant association of occupation, education and annual income with knowledge. Majority of women know about PC-PNDT act from health staff and ultrasonography was the main technique they know to detect sex determination. Conclusions: The falling ratio of girl child is a matter of grave concern. Effective implementation of the PNDT Act in addition to spreading awareness about this act among people is the need of the hour. Educating the community will prevent the decline in sex ratio and female feticide through PC-PNDT Act

Design optimization of Pixel Structure for α-Si based uncooled Infrared detector

In this paper authors present the design and simulation results achieved for pixel structure of amorphous Si (α-Si) based bolometer array. Most uncooled IR detectors in the world are based on VOx material. But this is not a standard material in IC technology and has many inherent disadvantages. The α-Si, an alternative material with high TCR is becoming as popular. However, large TCR values, in this material are achieved only in films of high resistivity. To achieve TCR value more than 2.5%/K, α-Si film resistivity is ~ 80 ohms-cm. This gives rise to very large pixel resistance of the order of 100 Mega ohms depending upon the design of the leg structure. This high pixel resistance causes very large noise and hence lower sensitivity. If leg width or membrane thickness is increased in order to reduce the pixel resistance, then this results in higher thermal conductance which also decreases sensitivity. To overcome this problem, pixel structure is so designed that within a pixel, only part of the electrical conduction is through α-Si and rest is through metal. Simulation using Coventorware software has been done to optimize pixel resistance as well as thermal conductance through legs so that maximum sensitivity could be obtained. Optimization is also carried out in order to reduce sensitivity of pixel resistance to variation in material resistivity.Defence Science Journal, 2013, 63(6), pp.581-588, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.63.575

Association of metabolic syndrome and endometrial pathologies in postmenopausal women

Background: The menopausal state may predispose the women to the development of metabolic syndrome as its prevalence has been reported to increase after the attainment of menopause. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components in post-menopausal women and to assess the association between metabolic syndrome and endometrial pathologies in post-menopausal women. Methods: An observational study conducted at gynecology OPD of GSVM Medical College, Kanpur and Total 80 post-menopausal women who had history of at least 1 year cessation of menses. Results: Endometrial pathology was present in 63.2% of patients with metabolic syndrome and in 38.1% of patients without metabolic syndrome. The association between endometrial pathology and metabolic syndrome was found to be statistically significant (p=0.025). The highest incidence was found for fasting glucose (86.8%) followed by blood pressure (81.5%), high triglycerides (81%), low HDL (60.5%), and waist circumference (23.6%). Waist circumference, triglyceride, HDL, diabetes, waist circumference had postulated to be predictors for endometrial pathology. Conclusions: Endometrial cancer is a type of metabolic syndrome-related tumor. Elucidating the specific roles and the possible mechanisms of metabolic syndrome in pathogenesis of endometrial cancer is expected to provide a new target for the early prevention and treatment of endometrial cancer

Host immune responses to chlamydial inclusion membrane proteins B and C in Chlamydia trachomatis infected women with or without fertility disorders

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>With an increase in the number of putative inclusion membrane proteins (incs) in chlamydial genomes, there is a need for understanding their contribution in host-pathogen interactions. Thus in this study we determined the host mucosal and peripheral immune responses to incs (IncB and IncC) of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Female patients (n = 296) attending the gynaecology out patient department of Safdarjung hospital, New Delhi were enrolled for the study and were clinically characterized into two groups; CT-positive fertile women (n = 38) and CT-positive women with fertility disorders (n = 29). Uninfected healthy fertile women were enrolled as controls (n = 31). Gene specific PCRs were used for detection of incB and incC genes in endocervical samples of CT-positive patients. ELISA and Western blot assay were used for detection of IgA and IgG antibodies to IncB and IncC in cervical washes and sera. Effect of IncB and IncC stimulation of cervical cells and PBMCs on cellular proliferation and cytotoxity was determined using MTT assay and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)-cytotoxicity assay respectively. Modulation of cytokines (Interleukin (IL)-1 Beta, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, Interferon-gamma, IL-12, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha and Granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)) in cervical cells and PBMCs upon stimulation with IncB and IncC was determined by real-time reverse-transcriptase (RT)-PCR and ELISA. Further, CD4 positive T cells were purified from cervical cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and secreted cytokines (Interferon-gamma and IL-4) were evaluated by ELISPOT and real-time RT-PCR.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using MTT assay, significantly high proliferative responses (P < 0.05) were observed in inc-stimulated cervical cells and PBMCs from CT-positive fertile women compared to CT-positive women with fertility disorders and controls. Interferon-gamma, IL-12 and GM-CSF were found to be elevated in inc-stimulated cervical cells and PBMCs of CT-positive fertile women compared to CT-positive women with fertility disorders and controls (P < 0.05). In contrast, IL-1 Beta, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6 and IL-10 levels were found to be higher in CT-positive women with fertility disorders compared to CT-positive fertile women and controls (P < 0.05). Interferon-gamma secreting cells and mRNA expression in inc-stimulated cervical and peripheral CD4 positive T cells were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in CT positive fertile women compared to CT-positive women with fertility disorders.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our data overall suggests that CT incs, IncB and IncC modulate host immune responses and may have a role in protection/pathogenesis of genital chlamydial infection in women.</p

Co-existence of Riche-Cannieu communications and Berretinni communications

Median nerve is formed by union of lateral and medial roots arising from the corresponding cords of the brachial plexus. Ulnar nerve arises from the medial cord of brachial plexus itself. Only few communications between the median and ulnar nerve have been reported and described in the available literature. During routine dissection of the upper limb of a male cadaver for teaching undergraduate medical students, a variation was observed in the course of median nerve and ulnar nerve communications in palm. A very rare communication was found in which there is superficial and deep communication between ulnar and median nerve was observed only in one male cadaver (1.25%). This type of communication was not found in any other cadaver so far. This dual ansa formation between branches of ulnar and median nerve by communicating branches at superficial and deep levels in palm is rare to observe in which there is co-existence of Berretini Communications and Riche-Cannieu Communications is found in one hand only

Modulation of cytokines and transcription factors (T-Bet and GATA3) in CD4 enriched cervical cells of Chlamydia trachomatis infected fertile and infertile women upon stimulation with chlamydial inclusion membrane proteins B and C

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Chlamydial Inclusion membrane proteins (Incs), are involved in biochemical interactions with host cells and infecting Chlamydiae. We have previously reported the role of two Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) Incs, namely IncB and IncC in generating host immunity in CT infected women. Emerging data shows involvement of Inc stimulated CD4 positive T cells in aiding host immunity in infected fertile and infertile women through the secretion of interferon gamma. However the lack of data on the intra-cytokine interplay to these Incs in infected cell milieu prompted us to investigate further.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 14 CT-positive fertile, 18 CT-positive infertile women and 25 uninfected controls were enrolled in this study. CD8 depleted, CD4 enriched cervical cells were isolated and upon stimulation with IncB and IncC, modulation of cytokines (Interleukin (IL)-1 Beta, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, Interferon-gamma, IL-12, IL-23, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha and Granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and T cell lineage regulating transcription factors T-Bet and GATA3 was determined by real-time reverse-transcriptase (RT)-PCR and ELISA.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Significant higher expression (P < 0.05) of Interferon-gamma, IL-12, IL-23 and GM-CSF were found in Inc-stimulated CD4 enriched cervical cells of CT-positive fertile women and contrastingly high IL-1 Beta, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6 and IL-10 levels were found in CT-positive infertile women. Positive correlation (P < 0.05) was found between Interferon-gamma and T-Bet levels in CT-positive fertile women and IL-4 mRNA and GATA3 levels in CT-positive infertile patients upon IncB and IncC stimulation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Overall our data shows that CT IncB and IncC are able to upregulate expression of cytokines, namely interferon-gamma, IL-12, IL-23 and GM-CSF in CT-positive fertile women while expression of IL-1 Beta, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6 and IL-10 were upregulated in CT-positive infertile women. Our study also suggests that Incs are able to modulate expression of T cell lineage determinants indicating their involvement in regulation of immune cells.</p

Impact of Training on Awareness of COVID-19 among The Health Care Workers in A Tertiary Care Hospital of Dehradun

Background: Novel Corona virus infection (Covid-19) was declared global pandemic by WHO infecting more than 118,000 cases in 114 countries and the number of deaths counting to 4291. WHO recommends the only strategy to limit the spread of Corona virus is only by prevention itself. Aim and Objective: To assess the awareness among Health Care Workers on covid-19 infection. To compare the level of knowledge among the study participants and To assess the impact of training about the knowledge on covid-19 control. Material and methods: The study was conducted by the Research team of Community Medicine Department, SGRRIM&amp;HS, Dehradun between 1st October to 31st December 2020. Self-administered, pre-tested questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge and awareness among health care workers. Data collected and analysed using SPSS software for different parameters. Result: A total of 421 health care workers participated in the present study. Majority of the study participants were female with 346 (82.2%) while 75 (17.8%) of them were male. Independent t-test was used to compare pre and post test values with Socio-demographic profile, designation, and work place of the respondents. Conclusion: Improvement in the knowledge and awareness among health care workers was observed post training

Computational prediction and validation of C/D, H/ACA and Eh_U3 snoRNAs of Entamoeba histolytica

Background: Small nucleolar RNAs are a highly conserved group of small RNAs found in eukaryotic cells. Genes encoding these RNAs are diversely located throughout the genome. They are functionally conserved, performing post transcriptional modification (methylation and pseudouridylation) of rRNA and other nuclear RNAs. They belong to two major categories: the C/D box and H/ACA box containing snoRNAs. U3 snoRNA is an exceptional member of C/D box snoRNAs and is involved in early processing of pre-rRNA. An antisense sequence is present in each snoRNA which guides the modification or processing of target RNA. However, some snoRNAs lack this sequence and often they are called orphan snoRNAs. Results: We have searched snoRNAs of Entamoeba histolytica from the genome sequence using computational programmes (snoscan and snoSeeker) and we obtained 99 snoRNAs (C/D and H/ACA box snoRNAs) along with 5 copies of Eh_U3 snoRNAs. These are located diversely in the genome, mostly in intergenic regions, while some are found in ORFs of protein coding genes, intron and UTRs. The computationally predicted snoRNAs were validated by RT-PCR and northern blotting. The expected sizes were in agreement with the observed sizes for all C/D box snoRNAs tested, while for some of the H/ACA box there was indication of processing to generate shorter products. Conclusion: Our results showed the presence of snoRNAs in E. histolytica, an early branching eukaryote, and the structural features of E. histolytica snoRNAs were well conserved when compared with yeast and human snoRNAs. This study will help in understanding the evolution of these conserved RNAs in diverse phylogenetic groups