Clinical use of misoprostol for cervical ripening before transcervical procedures in non pregnant women: a randomized comparison of vaginal and sublingual administrations

Background: Endometrial sampling techniques like endometrial biopsy, Fractional curettage, Dilatation & curettage and hysteroscopy are the common gynaecological outpatient transcervical diagnostic procedures for various clinical conditions. Complications encountered during these procedures are often due to difficulties in cervical dilatation. The incidence of these complications can be reduced if cervix is ripened before the procedures. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of 400mcg of misoprostol administered vaginally or sublingually for cervical ripening before transcervical gynaecological diagnostic procedures in both pre and post-menopausal women. Methods: Non pregnant pre and post-menopausal women scheduled for transcervical diagnostic procedures were assigned by computerized randomization to receive 400 mcg of misoprostol, administered either sublingually or vaginally 3-4 hours prior to the procedure. The primary outcome in this study was the pre procedural cervical width as measured by the largest number of Hegar dilators. The side effects related to misoprostol and complications associated with the procedure if any also noted.Results: Patients were randomized to receive sublingual (50) or vaginal (50) misoprostol. The two groups were comparable in terms of age, BMI (body mass index), parity, menopausal status and indications for diagnostic procedures. The mean cervical dilatation in sublingual group was 7.28 ± 2.21 mm and it was 6.57 ± 2.24 mm in vaginal group which was statistically similar among the groups. There were no complications associated with the procedure. Side effects were also comparable among the groups.Conclusion: Even though we found sublingual route is an effective alternate to vaginal administration of misoprostol for cervical ripening before transcervical diagnostic procedures like endometrial biopsy, fractional curettage and dilatational curettage in non pregnant pre and post-menopausal women especially when women feel uncomfortable with vaginal route. However, the optimal dose and time interval remains to be identified. It needs larger randomized control trials are required to prove clinical significance if any.

A study to assess the knowledge of high school teachers regarding selected behavioural problems among adolescents in a selected high school at Salem district, Tamilnadu

A study to assess the knowledge of high school teachers regarding selected behavioural problems among adolescents in a selected high school at Salem district, Tamilnadu. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY: 1. To assess the knowledge of high school teachers regarding selected behavioural problems of adolescents. 2. To determine the relationship between the knowledge of high school teachers on selected behavioural problems with selected demographic variables such as age, sex, educational qualification, teaching experience. 3. To prepare health education pamphlet regarding selected behavioural problems among adolescents. The research approach adopted for the study was descriptive in nature 40 high school teachers from Velasamy Chettiar Higher Secondary school were selected for the study.40 teachers were selected for this study by convenience sampling method. A semi-structured questionnaire was developed to collect data from the sample, it had 2 parts, Part A deals with Socio -demographic variables of the teachers. Part B contain 3 sections consists of 216 questions to assess the knowledge of high school teachers regarding causes, signs and symptoms, management and prevention of behavioural problems of adolescents. Collected data was analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics in terms of frequencies percentage, mean, standard deviation and Chi-square analysis. SUMMARY OF THE MAJOR FINDINGS: Findings related to sample characteristics Among 40 samples,26(65%) were below 40 years of age,14(35%) were above 40 years,18(45%) were males and 22(55%) were females,19(47.5%) teachers have master degree withB.Ed,17(42.5%) of them have master degree with M.Ed,4(10%) of them teachers have master degree with M.Phil,30(75%) had below 15 years of experience,10(25%) had above 15 years of experience, 28(70%) were deals with XI, XII standard,40(100%) teachers had child psychology in their curriculum, 22(55%) of them have participated in the inservice education on child psychology. Findings related to knowledge score of teachers The overall knowledge score of teachers regarding conduct disorder, emotional disorder, substance abuse were 34.09%. The mean score percentage of knowledge of teachers regarding conduct disorder was about 37.14%. The mean score percentage of knowledge of teachers regarding emotional disorder about 32.73%. The mean score percentage of teachers regarding substance abuse was about 33.76%. Findings regarding the relationship between the selected demographic variables and knowledge level of teachers Chi –square analysis was applied to compare the knowledge with selected social demographic variables. Result shows that age, education, teaching experience, participation in inservice education programme on child psychology are significant at 5% (P<0.05) level. Other demographic variables like sex, deals with which standard of children are not significant at 5% level. Based on th ese findings the following recommendations were made 1. A quasi-experimental study can be done to observe the effect of programmed instruction on knowledge and skill of teachers in school health programme. 2. A formal continuing education programme must be conducted in all schools regarding selected behavioural problems among adolescents, it’s identification and management. 3. A concentrated effort should be made by community health nurse to increase awareness among high school teachers and their role in the total school health services. 4. A comparative study may be conducted between rural and urban teachers regarding the knowledge on behavioural problems of adolescents. 5. A similar study may be done on nurses to find out their knowledge and role perception about behavioural problems of adolescents. 6. A study can be conducted in the community to identify the prevalence of behavioural problems among adolescents. 7. A similar study can be conducted to assess the knowledge of parents regarding behavioural problems of adolescents. 8. The study can be replicated using a large sample there by findings can be generalized to a large population. 9. A study can be carried out to assess the knowledge , attitude of teachers regarding emotional needs of adolescents. An information booklet was developed for teachers regarding the selected behavioural problems among adolescent

Pyrrole Based Schiff Base as a Highly Sensitive Fluorescent Sensor for Fe3+ and Sn2+ Ions

Condensation product of o-aminophenol and pyrrole-2-carboxylaldehyde behaves as a fluorescent sensor for Fe3+ and Sn2+ ions in aqueous medium over the other metal ions like Na+, K+, Mg2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Hg2+, Mn2+ and Cr3+. In aqueous solution, Fe3+ and Sn2+ ions coordinate to the receptor through a NON binding site which induces a strong fluorescence enhancement. Receptor can be applied as fluorescence enhanced probes for transition metal ions due to the inhibition of photo induced electron transfer (PET) mechanism

Naphthalene thiourea derivative based colorimetric and fluorescent dual chemosensor for F⁻ and Cu²⁺/Hg²⁺ ions

<div><p>A structurally simple (<i>Z</i>)-2-(naphthalen-2-ylmethylene)-<i>N</i>-phenylhydrazinecarbothioamide (R<b>1</b>) was used as a colorimetric and fluorescent sensor for both F⁻ and Cu²⁺/Hg²⁺ ions. R<b>1</b> selectively recognised F⁻ ions as indicated by colour change from colourless to green. Fluorescence spectral data reveal that R<b>1</b> is an excellent fluorescence chemosensor for Cu²⁺ ions. Finally, R<b>1</b> was successfully applied to the bioimaging of Cu²⁺ ions in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells.</p></div

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Not AvailableBack yard poultry, a common livelihood for poor farmers in Andaman & Nicobar Islands is facing recession due to prohibitive feed cost. This paper has examined the prospects of supplementing commercial feed with raw Azolla (Azolla pinnata), a nutrient-rich water fern, originally imported from mainland India, but adapted well to the local ecosystem, on the production performance of Nicobari fowl. There has been no such study earlier. Forty-week old, 72 chicks were divided into two groups of 36 birds for the study. The control group was given commercial feed (basal diet) at the rate of 120 g per chick per day, while the experimental group was given raw Azolla, at the rate of 200 g per chick per day in separate feeder, in addition to 120 g of basal diet, from 45-60 weeks. The growth, feed conversion efficiency, hen housed egg production, immunocompetence, and economic impact of supplementation were assessed. The final body weight of the birds (1560.0±26.8 g), and gain in body weight/ day (2.77±1.78 g) were higher, and the feed conversion ratio (36.10 ± 1.19 g) was better in Azolla supplemented group than the birds in control group, during the experimental period (P0.05). The mean hen housed egg production/ week between 45-60 weeks in Azolla fed group (64.76±1.57) was not different (P0.05) from the control (65.25±1.51), so also weekly egg production in different weeks, e.g. 45-48, 49- 52, 53-56, and 57-60 weeks. There was no difference (P0.05) between the two groups with respect to immunocompetence, measured in terms of HI titre, MER titre, Foot Index, and total serum protein concentration. There was 30.73% reduction (P0.01) in feed consumption in Azolla supplemented group that culminated in 0.76 savings on feed cost per egg per day over the control. The study tends to conclude that Azolla is a good feed additive for sustainable egg production in Nicobari fowl with no reconciliation in immunocompetence, but profitable due to savings on feed cost. The role of Azolla as a feed additive for economising poultry production was not reported earlier.Not Availabl