Asymptomatic bacteriuria among pregnant women

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common bacterial infections during pregnancy. Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) is a major risk factor for the development of urinary tract infections during pregnancy and with further risk of preterm birth & pyelonephritis if untreated.Aims & Objectives: This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) in pregnant women & to isolate, identify and establish antimicrobial susceptibility of pathogens.Methods: A total of 500 pregnant women were studied over a period of one year. Clean catch midstream urine sample was collected into a sterile container & then subjected to culture method.Results: Significant bacteriuria was noted in 45 patients (9%). 3% patients had insignificant bacteriuria. Growth of contaminants was noted in 8%. 80% samples were sterile with no growth. E. coli was the most common etiological agent, followed by Staphylococcus aureus.Conclusions: Asymptomatic bacteriuria is not uncommon in antenatal patients. All pregnant women should be screened by urine culture to detect asymptomatic bacteriuria at their first visit to prevent overt UTI & other complications in both mother & fetus

8H-Chromeno[2′,3′:4,5]imidazo[2,1-a]isoquinoline

The title compound, C18H12N2O, comprises two aromatic fragments, viz., imidazo[2,1-a]isoquinoline and benzene, linked by oxygen and methyl­ene bridges. Despite the absence of a common conjugative system within the mol­ecule, it adopts an essentially planar conformation with an r.m.s. deviation of 0. 036 Å. In the crystal, due to this structure, mol­ecules form stacks along the b axis by π⋯π stacking inter­actions, with shortest C⋯C distances in the range 3.340 (4)–3.510 (4) Å. The mol­ecules are bound by inter­molecular C—H⋯O inter­actions within the stacks and C—H⋯π inter­actions between the stacks

Homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts for multicomponent reactions

[EN] Organic synthesis performed through multicomponent reactions is an attractive area of research in organic chemistry. Multicomponent reactions involve more than two starting reagents that couple in an exclusive ordered mode under the same reaction conditions to form a single product which contains the essential parts of the starting materials. Multicomponent reactions are powerful tools in modern drug discovery processes, because they are an important source of molecular diversity, allowing rapid, automated and high throughput generation of organic compounds. This review aims to illustrate progress in a large variety of catalyzed multicomponent reactions performed with acid, base and metal heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysts. Within each type of multicomponent approach, relevant products that can be obtained and their interest for industrial applications are presented.The authors wish to gratefully acknowledge the Generalitat Valenciana for the financial support in the project CONSOLIDER-INGENIO 2010 (CSD2009-00050)Climent Olmedo, MJ.; Corma Canós, A.; Iborra Chornet, S. (2012). Homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts for multicomponent reactions. RSC Advances. 2(1):16-58. https://doi.org/10.1039/c1ra00807bS16582

Investigating the Potential of Interactive Digital Learning Tools

The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of two learning methods: the traditional slideshow method of disseminating information (control group) versus the usage of guided digitalsimulations (experimental group). Two hypotheses are proposed: interactivity hypothesis and distraction hypothesis. The distraction hypothesis predicts that the control group will learn better whilethe interactivity hypothesis predicts that the experimental group will learn better. The results showed no significant difference between the groups on transfer-scores, and the control group rated the learning activity as more enjoyable and easier than did theexperimental group. The results partially support the distraction hypothesis

Role of “Sural Sparing” Pattern (Absent/Abnormal Median and Ulnar with Present Sural SNAP) Compared to Absent/Abnormal Median or Ulnar with Normal Sural SNAP in Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy

BackgroundSural sparing defined as absent/abnormal median sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitude or absent/abnormal ulnar SNAP amplitude with a normal sural SNAP amplitude is thought to be a marker for inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathies.ObjectiveIf sural sparing pattern specifically defined as absent/abnormal median and ulnar SNAP amplitude with normal sural SNAP amplitude (AMUNS) is sensitive and specific when compared with either absent/abnormal median and normal sural (AMNS) or absent/abnormal ulnar and normal sural (AUNS) for acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), select non-diabetic axonopathies (AXPs), and diabetic neuropathies (DNs).MethodRetrospective analysis from 2001 to 2010 on all newly diagnosed AIDP, CIDP, select non-diabetic AXP, and DN.ResultsThere were 20 AIDP and 23 CIDP. Twenty AXP and 50 DN patients between 2009 and 2010 were included as controls. AMUNS was seen in 65% of AIDP, 39% CIDP compared with 10% of AXP and 6% for DN with sensitivity of 51%, specificity of 92%, whereas the specificity of AMNS/AUNS was 73% and its sensitivity was 58%. If a patient has AMUNS they are >12 times more likely to have AIDP (p < 0.001).ConclusionSural sparing is highly specific but not sensitive when compared with either AMNS or AUNS in AIDP but does not add to sensitivity or specificity in CIDP

Case report of advanced chloroquine retinopathy: Do we still miss the bull's eye

Chloroquine retinopathy is rarer nowadays due to the availability of its safer alternative hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of autoimmune conditions and due to the revised screening guidelines. We present two cases, one case of an elderly lady and another of a young lady who was on treatment with chloroquine 250 mg/day for rheumatoid arthritis and presented with features of advanced maculopathy. Their fundus examination showed temporal disc pallor with RPE pigment mottling at the parafovea which was later confirmed as bull's eye maculopathy on fundus autofluorescence (FAF). Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) showed the absence of the ellipsoid zone (EZ) and external limiting membrane (ELM) along with severe thinning of the ganglion cell layer (GCL) and inner plexiform layer (IPL) at the parafovea in both eyes. An urgent referral letter to the treating physicians regarding the need to switch to a safer alternative medication was made