MICRO RAMAN SPECTROSCOPIC ANALYSIS ON BLOOD SERUM SAMPLES OF DUCTAL CARCINOMA PATIENTS

Objective: Identification of biochemical changes in ductal cancer patient's serum samples using micro Raman spectroscopy.Methods: Micro Raman spectroscopy was used for the identification of Raman shift bands. Data analysis was done using K-means clustering.Results: Micro Raman spectroscopic analysis of human breast cancer patient's serum samples was done. Biochemicals present in the samples were identified from the peak evaluations. K-means clustering analysis was used to differentiate the biochemicals present in the samples.Conclusion: From the study, we conclude that Raman spectroscopy has the potential to differentiate the biochemical changes occurring in the human body, and the differentiation can be done using K-means clustering

Observational evidence of summer shamal swells along the west coast of India

Wave data collected off Ratnagiri, which is on the west coast of India, in 2010 and 2011 are used to examinethe presence of the summer shamal swells. This study also aims to understand variations in wave characteristics and associated modifications in wind sea propagation at Ratnagiri. Wind data collected using an autonomous weather station (AWS), along with Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) and NCEP data, areused to identify the presence of summer shamal winds along the west coast f the Indian subcontinent and on the Arabian Peninsula. NCEP and ASCAT data indicate the presence of summer shamal winds over the Arabian Peninsula and northwesterly winds at Ratnagiri. This study identifies the presence of swells from the northwest that originate from the summer shamal winds in the Persian Gulf and that reach Ratnagiri during 30 of the summer shamal period. AWS data show the presence of northwest winds during May and southwest winds during the strong southwest monsoon period (June-August). Another important factor identified at Ratnagiri that is associated with the summer shamal events is the direction of wind sea waves.During the onset of the southwest monsoon (May), the sea direction is in the direction of swell propagation (northwest); however, during the southwest monsoon (June-August), a major part of the wind sea direction is from the southwest. The average occurrence of summer shamal swells is approximately 22 during the southwest monsoon period. An increase in wave height is observed during June and July at Ratnagiri due to the strong summer shamal event

MICRO RAMAN SPECTROSCOPIC ANALYSIS OF LOBULAR CARCINOMA TISSUES

Objective: For the past 20 decades, vibrational spectroscopy based studies are undergoing around the world to detect cancer at the earliest stage. Since vibrational spectroscopic techniques have the ability to measure the biochemical changes occur during the time of mutation, which may be the reason for cell proliferation. Biochemical changes may appear in the tissues and blood before the tumor formation. The objective of this work is to study the potential of Raman spectroscopy to detect biochemical changes in the normal and malignant tissues.Methods: In this research work, 10 Raman spectra were acquired from ex vivo samples of human breast tissue (normal and lobular carcinoma) of 10 patients after the removal during prophylactic mastectomy surgery and biopsy. Data analysis was performed using k-means clustering using SPSS and intensity ratio analysis.Result: Intensity variation in the Raman spectra of normal and malignant tissues clearly indicate that Raman spectra are capable to distinguish between normal and malignant tissues. A number of peaks are more in the case of malignant tissues and the presence of amide I and amide III indicate the predominance of protein in malignant tissues. Intensity ratio analysis and K-means clustering analysis also show the significance of protein in lobular carcinoma tissues.Conclusion: This research work proves the potential of Raman spectroscopy to differentiate between the normal breast tissues and lobular carcinoma tissues

EVALUATION OF FUNCTIONING AND STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF HEMOVIGILANCE PROGRAM OF INDIA IN THE BLOOD BANKS OF SOUTHERN KERALA

 Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the functioning and status of implementation of hemovigilance program of India (HvPI) in the blood banks of southern Kerala.Methods: It was a survey approach to analyze the facilities, working nature, and status of implementation of hemovigilance program by the blood banks located in the three districts of southern Kerala. Both goevrnment and private sector blood banks were subjected to the survey. Standard pro forma was used to collect the data. Collected data were analyzed by percentages and ratios.Results: A total of 40 blood banks were covered in the study. All the blood banks were licensed for handling whole blood. 23 blood banks were licensed for handling blood components. 6 blood banks process 100% blood into components. Majority of blood banks have excellent demand for components. Packed red cells, platelet concentrate, and fresh frozen plasma were the significant components among the prepared components. Majority of the blood banks under the survey had hospital transfusion committee (HTC). 25 blood banks replied as the HvPI is an excellent/good system. However, only 11 blood banks were enrolled in the HvPI. Training programs for the resident doctors and nurses regarding with adverse transfusion reaction and their reporting were not conducted by 17 blood banks.Conclusion: Except very few blood banks, all are need more awareness and training programs. Attention should be given in the area such as underreporting, poor implementation of hemovigilance, only serious reactions reporting, and avoiding minor reactions. Core factor is proper functioning of HTC and awareness programs about hemovigilance system

New-physics contributions to the forward-backward asymmetry in B -> K* mu+ mu-

We study the forward-backward asymmetry (AFB) and the differential branching ratio (DBR) in B -> K* mu+ mu- in the presence of new physics (NP) with different Lorentz structures. We consider NP contributions from vector-axial vector (VA), scalar-pseudoscalar (SP), and tensor (T) operators, as well as their combinations. We calculate the effects of these new Lorentz structures in the low-q^2 and high-q^2 regions, and explain their features through analytic approximations. We find two mechanisms that can give a significant deviation from the standard-model predictions, in the direction indicated by the recent measurement of AFB by the Belle experiment. They involve the addition of the following NP operators: (i) VA, or (ii) a combination of SP and T (slightly better than T alone). These two mechanisms can be distinguished through measurements of DBR in B -> K* mu+ mu- and AFB in B -> K mu+ mu-.Comment: 33 pages, revtex, 9 figures. Paper originally submitted with the wrong figures. This is corrected in the replacement. An incorrect factor of 2 found in a formula. This is corrected and figures modified. Conclusions unchanged. Typos correcte

A study of medication adherence in general population in and around Bengaluru

Background: Medication adherence is "The degree to which the person's behaviour of taking medication, following a diet, and/or executing lifestyle changes -corresponds with the agreed recommendations from a health care provider”. Lack of Medication adherence is one of the major drug problem and leads to unnecessary disease progression, disease complication, reduced functional abilities, a lower quality of life and even death. Adherence to medication is low in specific populations who need chronic medication. Adherence to medication is also of interest in a more general fashion, independent of specific populations or side effects of particular drugs. If clinicians and researchers expect patients to show close to full adherence, it is relevant to know how likely the achievement of this goal is. Population based rates can provide an estimate of efforts needed to achieve near complete adherence in patient population. Objective: To evaluate the medication adherence in general population. Methods and Findings: This is an observational prospective study conducted for a period of 6 months at different area of Bengaluru, Karnataka. We assessed 518 participants. Adherence was measured by modified Morisky Adherence Index. We also assessed current medication intake and side effects. We found that, male adherence was 56 (18.2%) and female adherence was 32 (15.2%). By observing the education background 89 medical background participants 13 (14.6%) participants show adherence, 63 (70.7%) participants show medium adherence and 13 (14.6%) participants show non-adherence. Out of 429 non-medical background participants 84 (19.6%) participants show adherence, 262 (50.6%) participants show medium adherence and 83 (19.3%) participants show non-adherence. Conclusion: Our study concluded that males show more adherence than females. Participants belonged to medical background were more adhere to the medication than the participants from non-medical background. The most dictating reason for not taking medication is forgetfulness. Hence, medication adherence is very essential for the quick recovery of the patients and to improve the quality of life. Keywords: Medication adherence, Morisky Scale, reasons for non-adherence, education