A comparative study of safety and efficacy of vaginal isosorbide mononitrate (40mg) with dinoprostone gel (0.5mg)

Background: It is essential to intervene pregnancy for safety of mother, fetus or both. Successful labor induction is clearly related to the state of the cervix. Women with an unfavorable cervix who have not experienced cervical ripening phase before labor present the greatest challenge with regard to labor induction. Therefore, it is necessary to use optimal technique for cervical ripening and safe confinement. One of the common methods includes use of PGE2 gel for cervical ripening. The rationale of this study is to compare the safety and efficacy of Iso-sorbide mononitrate as pre-induction cervical ripening with PGE2 gel induction.Methods: After attaining ethics approval [PSG IHEC], a prospective randomised, case-controlled study was conducted on 182 women undergoing elective induction of labour. They were allocated to either Study or Control group by computer generated random number table method. ISMN was used vaginally prior to labour induction in the study group whereas PGE2 gel induction was used in the control group. Change in bishop score and Induction to delivery interval was assessed in both the groups.Results: There was a significant reduction in induction to delivery interval in the study group (ISMN) 15.2 hours when compared to 23.2 hours in the control group (PGE2 gel) with p=0.000. Need for augmentation of labour was reduced in the study group significantly with p=0.003. Cost of induction was less when compared to the control group. ISMN had less side effects hence can be used as OP basis.Conclusions: Vaginal Isosorbide mononitrate when used as a cervical ripening agent significantly reduces induction to delivery interval. Use of Isosorbide mononitrate was associated with very less side effects and it is a cost-effective drug. Thus, ISMN can be used safely and effectively in term patients for pre-induction cervical ripening when compared to PGE2 gel

CONCORDANCE BETWEEN FREE T4 AND T4 IN THYROID FUNCTION TESTS

Background: Thyroid hormones regulate the metabolism of virtually all cells in the body. The frequency of thyroid dysfunction in our population compels every physician to be skilled in the diagnosis of thyroid disease. Direct measurement of serum concentration of TSH, T4 and T3 is used to establish the diagnosis of primary hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. The free unbound fraction of T4 (FT4) and T3 (FT3) which is less than 0.03% is the active form of the hormone. Free T4 (the biologically active T4) is less sensitive to changes in serum binding proteins and hence FT4 levels could best represent the thyroid functional status Aim: To evaluate the concordance between total T4, T3 levels and free T4 levels in patients with abnormal thyroid function test reports where the full panel of TFT has been ordered. Materials & Methods: Consecutive TFT reports of patients in whom the full panel of TFT have been ordered over a two month period were included in the analysis. The results obtained were statistically analyzed by the help of Microsoft Excel and SPSS software. Results: In the hypothyroid group, the median TSH was 6.89 microIU/ml (Mean=21.25) with a mean T4 of 6.75 microgm/dl and mean FT4 of 1.03 ng/ml .In this group, the mean T3 was 0.91 ng/ml a range 0.195-1.95. In the hyperthyroid group, the mean TSH was 0.049 microIU/ml with a mean T4 and FT4 of 11.01 microgm/dl and 2.07 ng/ml and the mean T3 was 1.3 ng/ml with a range of 0.62 to 4.33. Statistical analysis using Karl Pearson\u27s method showed a significant correlation (r = 0.8) between T4 and FT4 values. It was also found that T3 also had a significant positive correlation with FT4 and T4. No significant influence of age and gender on TFT was found. 14% of the T4 values in the hypothyroid group and 40 % of T4 values in the hyperthyroid group were in the normal range while Free T4 alone showed changes consistent with the corresponding thyroid dysfunction. Conclusion: FT4 correlates highly with T4 in both primary hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, and in conjugation with TSH its measurement serves as a better tool than total T4 in the diagnosis of thyroid disorders. KEYWORDS: Thyroid function test correlation; Free T4 concordance

CONCORDANCE BETWEEN FREE T4 AND T4 IN THYROID FUNCTION TESTS

Background: Thyroid hormones regulate the metabolism of virtually all cells in the body. The frequency of thyroid dysfunction in our population compels every physician to be skilled in the diagnosis of thyroid disease. Direct measurement of serum concentration of TSH, T4 and T3 is used to establish the diagnosis of primary hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. The free unbound fraction of T4 (FT4) and T3 (FT3) which is less than 0.03% is the active form of the hormone. Free T4 (the biologically active T4) is less sensitive to changes in serum binding proteins and hence FT4 levels could best represent the thyroid functional status Aim: To evaluate the concordance between total T4, T3 levels and free T4 levels in patients with abnormal thyroid function test reports where the full panel of TFT has been ordered. Materials & Methods: Consecutive TFT reports of patients in whom the full panel of TFT have been ordered over a two month period were included in the analysis. The results obtained were statistically analyzed by the help of Microsoft Excel and SPSS software. Results: In the hypothyroid group, the median TSH was 6.89 microIU/ml (Mean=21.25) with a mean T4 of 6.75 microgm/dl and mean FT4 of 1.03 ng/ml .In this group, the mean T3 was 0.91 ng/ml a range 0.195-1.95. In the hyperthyroid group, the mean TSH was 0.049 microIU/ml with a mean T4 and FT4 of 11.01 microgm/dl and 2.07 ng/ml and the mean T3 was 1.3 ng/ml with a range of 0.62 to 4.33. Statistical analysis using Karl Pearson's method showed a significant correlation (r = 0.8) between T4 and FT4 values. It was also found that T3 also had a significant positive correlation with FT4 and T4. No significant influence of age and gender on TFT was found. 14% of the T4 values in the hypothyroid group and 40 % of T4 values in the hyperthyroid group were in the normal range while Free T4 alone showed changes consistent with the corresponding thyroid dysfunction. Conclusion: FT4 correlates highly with T4 in both primary hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, and in conjugation with TSH its measurement serves as a better tool than total T4 in the diagnosis of thyroid disorders. KEYWORDS: Thyroid function test correlation; Free T4 concordance

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF HAEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN FISHES FROM THE NATURAL HABITAT, MADURAI REGION

The heamatological profile of two freshwater fishes Labeo rohita (Rohu) and Channa striatus (Murrel) with a relationship to the sex and the water quality under natural habitat was analyzed. The freshwater fishes were collected from the pond located in Thodaneri, Vadipatti taluk, Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, India. In heamatology studies, no significant variation was observed in Heamoglobin content and found almost the same in both the fish irrespective of the sex and also falls in the range of control value. In differential Leucocyte count (DLC) the following blood components Lymphocyte, Eosinophil, and Monocyte count were significantly higher than the control values and the values are found maximum in Rohu when compared to Murrel.RBC (Erythrocyte) count was almost the same in both the fish and the value falls between the range of control value Packed Cell Volume (PCV) count was almost the same in both the fish and the value falls between the range of control value. The values of Hb and PCV were found higher in male fish as compared to female fish. The leucocyte count is also higher in the males when compared to the females of both Rohu and Murrel. These may be also influenced by physiological activity, feeding habits, infectious agents, water quality parameters, and the environmental stress on the organism

Phylogenetic Diversity of Bacterial Community Associated with the Marine Sponge Halichondira nigrocutis Collected off Southwest Indian Coast

This study aimed to evaluate the bacterial communities associated with the marine sponge Halichondria nigrocutis present in Indian waters by both cultivation and cultivation-independent techniques. Results using cultivation method showed that bacteria belonging to Bacillus, Acinetobacter and Vibrio spp. to be the predominant groups. Metagenomic study of sponge-associated bacteria by cultivation independent approach, involving cloning and sequencing of the 16S rDNA gene generated sequences that were subjected to phylogenetic analysis. Results demonstrated the community structure to be represented by the phyla Proteobacteria (alpha-, gamma- and delta-classes), Cyanobacteria, Actinobacteria and Firmicutes, with isolates belonging to alpha-proteobacterial group to be predominating. To our knowledge this study appears to be the first to record cultivable and uncultivable bacterial groups associated with H.nigrocutis from Indian waters

Antibacterial Activity of Certain Members of Chlorophyceae From Warangal District, Telangana State, India

Abstract Chloroform and Methanol extracts of three genera of algae (Oedogonium crispum (Hassal) Wittrock, Rhizoclonium hieroglyphicum (Ag)Kuetz. and Spirogyra biformis C-C.Jao.) from fresh water of Warangal District were tested in vitro for their antibacterial activities against two strains of gram positive bacteria (Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus) and two strains of gram negative bacteria (Klebesiella pneumonia and Samonella typhi) by the disc diffusion method. Chloroform was the best solution for extracting the effective antibacterial materials from the algae used in this investigation, with the exception of O.crispum, for which methanol was the most effective extraction solution. Chloroform extracts of fresh S.biformis and R.heiroglyphicum showed effective results against all test organisms. For control sample observations the gentamycin was used. A significant difference between in an antibacterial activity evaluated chloroform and methanol extracts of each alga under investigation was not observed. In addition, as a result of dried and fresh extract antibacterial activity comparison, it was found that all test organisms were more sensitive to fresh extracts of the algae

Immunogenicity and safety of live attenuated hepatitis A Vaccine: a multicentric study

Objective: To evaluate immunogenicity and tolerability of single dose live attenuated injectable hepatitis A vaccine in four metropolitan cities of India. Methods: Live attenuated hepatitis A vaccine was administered to 505 children aged 18-60 months in four centers across India. Immunogenicity of the vaccine was assessed by estimation of anti-HAV antibody titer at 6 weeks and 6 months following administration of the vaccine. Safety evaluation of the vaccine was also done during the visits. Results: At 6 weeks, 480 subjects (95%) came for the follow-up and 411 (81.4%) subjects reported at the end of 6 months. The geometric mean titer (GMT) of anti-HAV antibody of the subjects who did not have the seroprotective titer at the baseline were assessed at 6 weeks and 6 months which was 81.04 mIU/ml and 150.66 mIU/ml respectively. At 6 weeks, 95.1% seroconverted and at the end of 6 months, 97.9% had seroconverted. Both solicited and unsolicited vaccine-induced local and systemic adverse events were insignificant at all the centers, except swelling and induration in a few. Conclusion: Live attenuated injectable hepatitis A vaccine was immunogenic and tolerable with minimal reactogenecity, in this study of single dose schedule. Safety profile was also satisfactory in the study population

Dysregulation of IFN System Can Lead to Poor Response to Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin Therapy in Chronic Hepatitis C

Despite being expensive, the standard combination of pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN)- α and ribavirin used to treat chronic hepatitis C (CH) results in a moderate clearance rate and a plethora of side effects. This makes it necessary to predict patient outcome so as to improve the accuracy of treatment. Although the antiviral mechanism of genetically altered IL28B is unknown, IL28B polymorphism is considered a good predictor of IFN combination treatment outcome

Evidence for a Minimal Eukaryotic Phosphoproteome?

BACKGROUND: Reversible phosphorylation catalysed by kinases is probably the most important regulatory mechanism in eukaryotes. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We studied the in vitro phosphorylation of peptide arrays exhibiting the majority of PhosphoBase-deposited protein sequences, by factors in cell lysates from representatives of various branches of the eukaryotic species. We derived a set of substrates from the PhosphoBase whose phosphorylation by cellular extracts is common to the divergent members of different kingdoms and thus may be considered a minimal eukaryotic phosphoproteome. The protein kinases (or kinome) responsible for phosphorylation of these substrates are involved in a variety of processes such as transcription, translation, and cytoskeletal reorganisation. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: These results indicate that the divergence in eukaryotic kinases is not reflected at the level of substrate phosphorylation, revealing the presence of a limited common substrate space for kinases in eukaryotes and suggests the presence of a set of kinase substrates and regulatory mechanisms in an ancestral eukaryote that has since remained constant in eukaryotic life