On the concept of virtual states

The technique of the decomposed Feynman propagator is used to establish the equivalence between the Feynman and field theoretic formalisms. It is shown that for an nth order process, each of the 2n−1 decomposed Feynman diagrams is equivalent to a certain group in the n! field theoretic diagrams. This is demonstrated for the fourth order Compton scattering of an electron by identifying the energy denominators in the two formalisms

STUDY ON PRESCRIBING PATTERN OF ANTI-DIABETIC DRUGS AMONG TYPE 2 DIABETES PATIENTS WITH COMPLICATION IN SOUTH INDIAN TEACHING HOSPITAL

ABSTRACTObjective: To evaluate the drug utilization pattern of anti-diabetic agents with respect to glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level in a Type 2diabetes patient with complication.Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted as per the protocol approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee. The patientsdiagnosed with Type 2 diabetes mellitus with complication were identified, and those who had measured HbA1c level during previous follow upswere included in the study. All demographic, drug prescriptions, and clinical data of patients were collected and documented in a suitably designedcase report form. Descriptive analyses were performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences Version 20.Results: Based on the study criteria, 644 patients were selected and enrolled for the study. The majority of study subjects 494 (76.7%) were male and415 (64.4%) were belonged to the age group 45-64 years. 252 (39.1%) of the patient, had normal weight followed by 234 (36.3%) were overweight,and 142 (22.1%) patients were obese. The prescription pattern showed the majority of patients 509 (79%) patients had 1-2 anti-diabetic medicationfollowed 133 (20.7%) patient prescribed with 3-4 anti-diabetic drug. An insulin was prescribed in 507 (63.4%) patients and among oral anti-diabeticdrugs, metformin 283 (43.9%), glimepiride 140 (21.7%), and voglibose 88 (13.7%) was most commonly prescribed.Conclusion: Among all the anti-diabetic drugs, the insulin was highly preferred over oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs) to control the glycemic level,and metformin accounted for the most commonly prescribed OHAs. In the second generation of sulfonylureas class, glimepiride and glipizide weremost prescribed.Keywords: Anti-diabetic agents, Diabetes mellitus, Prescription pattern

Finding Value in Grape Pomace

The production of grapes is increasing all around the world. A 7% annual increase in wine grape production, and the waste products associated with wine processing, occurred in 2013 in the US. Pomace is a predominant waste product of wine processing which can be processed into value-added products. The objective of this study was to evaluate potentially valuable components of grape pomace. Vacuum steam distillation was used to obtain essential oil from grape pomaces originating from red (`Merlot') and from white (`Muscat', Riesling', `Sauvignon Blanc' and `Traminette') wine grape cultivars. Free and glycosidically-bound aromatic compounds of fresh grape pomace (prior to and after distillation) and of the distillate was evaluated using Gas Chromatography (GC). Pomace remaining was forced air dried at 400C and utilized for further determinations. Oil from separated seeds of the above varieties was determined analytically and used to compare oil yield from bulk, mechanically separated seed of `Riesling' and `Red Zinfandel' using a mechanical oil press. Separated dry pomace components, seed oils and seed meals were analyzed for phytosterols and policosanols as trimethyl-silyl derivatives by GC. Free aromatics were higher in concentration than bound aromatics in all the pomaces. Phenethyl alcohol predominated in all the grape pomaces in the free aromatic fraction. The glycosidically-bound aromatic fraction was similar in distilled and non-distilled pomaces and the distillates obtained had a similar aromatic profile to the free aromatics of the grape pomace. Phytosterols and policosanols were notably enriched in grapeseed oils with oils containing 8 to 16 times more of these compounds than grape seeds. Mechanically pressed oils only contained about 4 or 5 times more phytosterols and policosinols than the original seeds; some thermal degradation of these compounds appeared to occur, probably due to frictional heat exposure during oil pressing. Phytosterols and policosanols were higher in seeds than skins/pulp and they were notably deplenished in seed residue after oil extraction. The most predominant phytosterol was β-sitosterol; campesterol and stigmasterol were also identified in varying concentrations. Eicosanol, tetracosanol and octacosanol were the major policosanols identified in most of the samples. The overall seed content in dried grape pomace was about 50% on a dry weight basis. The oil content for the grape seeds was in the range of 10-13% and mechanical oil pressing yielded about 70 % of the total oil within the seeds (about 10% of seed weight). Merlot seeds had the highest concentration of oil (about 13%) and Traminette had lowest (10%).Food Scienc

CORRELATION OF GLYCOSYLATED HEMOGLOBIN LEVELS WITH FASTING AND POSTPRANDIAL GLUCOSE IN SOUTH INDIAN TYPE 2 DIABETIC PATIENTS

Objective: To assess the correlation of glycosylated hemoglobin levels with fasting and postprandial glucose in South Indian type 2 diabetic patients.Methods: This retrospective observational study was carried out as per the protocol approved by the institutional ethics committee (IEC) and case records of patients (≥ 40 y old) diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and complications, that fasting blood sugar (FBS), postprandial blood sugar (PPBS) and HbA1c measured during previous follow-ups were included in the study. Statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS Ver.20 and p ≤ 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Based on the study criteria, 633 case profiles were selected and enrolled in the study. Most of the patients were males 488 (77.1%) and the mean age of patients was 59.7 y (SD=9.6). The mean fasting glucose and postprandial glucose were 9.42 mmol/l (SD=4.2), 13.39 mmol/l (SD=5.2) respectively. Patients were suffering from different type of diabetes complications, and most of them had poor glycemic control as the mean HbA1c was found to be 8.7 % (SD=2.2). The FBS and PPBS were plotted against HbA1c values showed moderate correlation and the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of postprandial glucose level was better than the fasting blood glucose level.Conclusion: This present study showed that there is the significant correlation between PPBS and HbA1c values. Since PPBS is performed routinely, its interpretation in terms of long term glycemic control will help clinicians to tailor their therapeutic strategies

DEMOGRAPHIC, CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND DRUG PRESCRIPTION PATTERN IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS IN SOUTH INDIAN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Objective: The objective of the study was to describe demographic, clinical features and drug treatment pattern among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in a south Indian tertiary care hospital.Methods: In this retrospective study, a total of 789 patients diagnosed with RA were enrolled from October 2013 to December 2015 in tertiary care hospital irrespective of age and gender. Data of the patients were obtained from Medical Record Department (MRD), and all the data were documented in a suitable designed Case Record Form (CRF). The data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0 and Excel 2013.Results: There were 628 females and 161 males with mean age 47.6±12.6 and 47.1±14.4 y respectively. The ratio of male to female was 1:3.9. Most of the RA patients were housewives (66.4%). The mean disease duration was 4.3±4.5 y. The majority of patients (59.3%) had disease duration of more than 24 mo. Hypertension (21.5%) was the most common comorbid condition in our study population. Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) was observed in 10.6% of RA patients. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) was positive in 89.3%. The majority of patients (87.7%) received DMARDs. As the disease, duration increased the severity of disease also increased. Majority of patients were prescribed with dual DMARDs in combination (52.3%).Conclusion: We observed female was dominant over the male in number and majority of patients had a later stage of the disease probably due to lack of medical facility or financial problems in the lower income groups. We observed that methotrexate plus hydroxychloroquine combination was commonly used in both high and moderate disease activity groups which may be due to a better outcome and minimal adverse effects

Prevalence and predictors of metabolic syndrome in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: a study from Southern India

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MBS) is a common disorder and is thought to be highly prevalent in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). The objectives were to find out the prevalence and predictors of metabolic syndrome in women with PCOS.Methods: Forty five women diagnosed with PCOS, underwent clinical and laboratory assessments for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome, as per modified National Cholesterol Education Program’s Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III criteria).Results: Twenty four (53.3%) subjects had metabolic syndrome. The prevalence of individual components of the metabolic syndrome among PCOS patients were: waist circumference ≥80 cm in 36 (86.6%), High Density Lipoprotein (HDL-C) less than 50 mg/dl in 42 (93.3%), triglycerides ≥150 mg/dl in 17 (37.8%), blood pressure ≥130/85 mmHg in 7 (15.6%), and fasting plasma glucose ≥100 mg/dl in 13 (28.8%). Subjects with MBS had significantly higher BMI compared to those without (P = 0.039). However, fasting insulin and free testosterone levels did not differ significantly between subjects with and without MBS.Conclusions: The metabolic syndrome and its individual components, waist circumference ≥80 cm in particular were found to be common among PCOS patients in this study. This along with high BMI being significantly associated with MBS suggests immediate need of interventions like lifestyle changes for prevention of MBS and other cardiovascular diseases. Also, as dyslipidemia was more common than impaired fasting glucose among PCOS patients, finding of one risk factor should prompt the clinician to search for other risk factors

PRETREATMENT VARIATIONS IN HAEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF BREAST CANCER PATIENTS

Objective: The objective of the presented study was to analyze the haematological parameters in female breast cancer (BC) patients before the start of the treatment.Methods: The study was conducted among female BC patients, visited King Fahd Hospital (KFH), Al Ahsa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) from January 2013 to December 2016. A retrospective analytical study was conducted. We analyzed the relationship of haematological parameters with various stages of breast cancer before the start of any treatment. We used complete blood count (CBC) reports to analyze the haematological parameters. The mean age of the patients was 57 y (31-83 y). Most of the patients were postmenopausal (51-59 y old). We divided the patients into 4 groups according to the disease stage, i.e., stage 1 (S1) to stage 4 (S4).Results: Among altered blood parameters, decreased haemoglobin (Hb 4.5-11 g/dl) and increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR 37–49 mm/first hour) in S1 to S4, increased neutrophil count in S3 and S4 (8.3-9.6 x103/mm3), and increased lymphocyte count (4-7.2 x103/mm3) in S1 and S2 patients were found.Conclusion: We found significant variations in haematological parameters at different stages of breast cancer. CBC is indeed an efficient and cost-effective investigation. By managing these parameters, treatment efficacy and survival rate of BC patients may be augmented

Enhanced Polymer Nanocomposites for Condition Assessment of Wind Turbine Blades

Damages in composite components of wind turbine blades and large-scale structures can lead to increase in maintenance and repair costs, inoperability, and structural failure. The vast majority of condition assessment of composite structures is conducted by visual inspection and non-destructive evaluation (NDE) techniques. NDE techniques are temporally limited, and may be further impeded by the anisotropy of the composite materials, conductivity of the fibers, and the insulating properties of the matrix. In previous work, the authors have proposed a novel soft elastomeric capacitor (SEC) sensor for monitoring of large surfaces, applicable to composite materials. This soft capacitor is fabricated using a highly sensitive elastomer sandwiched between electrodes. It transduces strain into changes in capacitance. Here, we present a fabrication method for fabricating the SEC. Different surface treatment techniques for the nanoparticles are investigated and the effects on the mechanical and the electrical properties of the produced film are studied. Results show that using melt mixing fabrication method was successful at dispersing the nanoparticles without using any surface treatment, including coating the particles with PDMS oil or the use of Si-69 coupling agent. Yet, treating the surface would result in increasing the stiffness of the matrix as well as improving the interaction between the filler particles and the matri