A study on knowledge and practices of antenatal care among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at a tertiary care hospital, Gujarat, India

Background: Improving maternal health is one of the eight-millennium development goals (MDGs). Since 1990, maternal deaths worldwide have dropped by 47%. This study aimed to determine the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice on ANC among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at a tertiary care hospital in Gujarat and their association with various sociodemographic factors.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 384 pregnant women in their 3rd trimester attending the antenatal clinic in a tertiary care hospital of Gujarat during April 2018 to September 2018. Pretested questionnaire was used for collecting data by interview after obtaining informed consent. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20 and Epi Info software.Results: Study reveals that about 58% women had adequate knowledge regarding ANC. It was found that almost all the variables such as age, education, occupation, parity, type of family, and socioeconomic status (SES) had a significant association with awareness about ANC. 100% women were having a positive attitude toward ANC. Around 70%, women were practicing adequately, and variables such as education and SES had a significant association with practices about ANC.Conclusions: These findings can be used to plan a health intervention program aiming to improve the maternal health practices and eventually improve the health status of the women

An exploration of the effects of low-pressure plasma discharge on the physicochemical properties of chia (Salvia hispanica L.) flour

This work explores the preliminary feasibility of employing the low-pressure coldplasma technology for the modification of the properties of chia flour. Chia flour wasexposed to low pressure plasma in air for 5 min, 10 min, and 15 min, at two differentpower levels (40 W and 60 W). The oils extracted from untreated and treated chiaflour were exhaustively characterized for fatty acid composition, nutritional value,and rancidity indices using thermal calorimetric methods (DSC/TGA). The resultsindicated a significant change in the colour of flour with an increase in lightness.Infrared and ultraviolet spectroscopy indicated changes in the tocopherol groups ofthe oil extracted from plasma treated chia flour. However, the oil extracted fromplasma treated chia flour revealed a loss of conjugated dienes and formation oftrans-fatty acids as seen in conventional hydrogenation of edible oils. DSC and TGAresults revealed better oxidative stability of low-pressure plasma treated oils thancontrol, which was linked to a relative increase of MUFA in the former

A REVIEW ON AYURVEDIC PROSPECTIVE AND CURATIVE HERBS FOR TYPE II DIABETES

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder which is affecting million people all over the world. Maharishi Charak described Prameharoga (20 types) ; and its one type is “Madhumeha ” having almost identical clinical feature of diabetes type II. Author taken detail review of available data for more than 2000 herbs and has collected various references/research work done by various scientist for pharmacological screening of anti-diabetic herbs through latest available In-vivo studies. And concluded 53 herbs have significant anti diabetic activity in different pharmacological in vivo model. Further for validation of modern research outcome authors had done extensive survey of most applicable herbal text book of Auyrveda“ Bhavprakash Nighantu” and Ayurvedic pharmacopeia of India part I volume I to VIII that has widely used by various stake holders of Ayurvedic industry, academia and students. Authors sorted about 25 Ayurvedic single drugs from reference mentioned above for their “Pramehaghna activity”. There is ample scope to trace out other single and compound drugs for cure of diabetes mellitus type II. Author’s also mentioned here some selected famous Ayurvedic compound and single drug that has been successfully used by Ayurvedic physicians in last 5 decades. Research community need to explore possibility to invent new drugs for management DM Type II like currently AYUSH 82(Developed by CCRAS & it has marketed in various trade name like right sugar, Diavit 82, DB6, IME 9) and BGR 34 (Developed by CSIR/NBRI) proven as very effective drug in the treatment of DM type II; hence research community of AYUSH system of medicines may explore the new era for NPD (new drug Development)

Heat current magnification in Classical and Quantum spin networks

We investigate heat current magnification due to asymmetry in the number of spins in two-branched classical and quantum spin systems. We begin by studying the classical Ising like spin models using Q2R and CCA dynamics and show that just the difference in the number of spins is not enough and some other source of asymmetry is required to observe heat current magnification. Unequal spin--spin interaction strength in the upper and lower branch is employed as a source of this asymmetry and it proves adequate for generating current magnification in both the models. Suitable physical motivation is then provided for current magnification in these systems, along with ways to control and manipulate magnification through various system parameters. We also study a five spin Quantum system with modified Heisenberg XXZ interaction and preserved magnetisation using the Redfield master equation. We show that it is possible to generate current magnification in this model by the asymmetry in the number of spins only. Our results indicate that the onset of current magnification is accompanied by a dip in the total current flowing through the system. On analysis it is revealed that this dip might occur because of the intersection of two non-degenerate energy levels for certain values of the asymmetry parameter in the modified XXZ model. We deduce that the additional degeneracy and the ergodic constraint due to fixed magnetisation in the system are the main reasons for current magnification and other atypical behaviors observed. We then use the concept of `ergotropy' to support these findings. Finally, for both the classical and quantum models, we see that current magnification is only observed when temperature gradient and intra-system interaction strength have similar order of energy.Comment: 15 pages, 12 figures, extended versio

Lactic dehydrogenase as a biochemical marker of adverse pregnancy outcome in severe pre-eclampsia, Gujarat

Background: Serum LDH levels can be used to assess the extent of cellular death and thereby the severity of disease in this group of women. This will help in making decision, about the management guidelines to the better the maternal and fetal outcome. Objective of present study was compare serum LDH levels in the normal pregnant women and in women with preeclampsia and eclampsia in ante-partum period and to study the association of maternal and perinatal outcomes with serum LDH levels.Methods: It is a prospective study done at Obstetrics and Gynecology department, GMERS medical college and civil hospital, Gandhinagar during August-September 2016. Participants were divided into four groups according to severity of disease and into three groups according to serum LDH level.Results: Mean level of LDH (IU/l) in Control, Mild pre-eclampsia, Severe pre-eclampsia & Eclampsia was 302.33, 398.56, 675.26 & 1589.85 respectively. Out of total 34 cases with LDH level >800 IU/L, 47.1% cases had ≥160 mm hg SBP & 52.9% had ≥110 mm hg DBP, mean gestational age and mean baby weight was 36.88 week and 1950 gm, mean apgar score at 10 min was 6.96, 47.1% had uneventful outcome, whereas 58.8% had neonatal complications and 5.9% had neonatal death. Almost 26.5% still births, 47.1% perinatal deaths.Conclusions: Higher serum LDH levels during pregnancy have significant association with severity of disease and maternal and fetal outcomes in patients of preeclampsia and eclampsia and can be considered as a supportive prognostic tool from early third trimester

Genomic Dissection and Expression Profiling Revealed Functional Divergence in Triticum aestivum Leucine Rich Repeat Receptor Like Kinases (TaLRRKs)

The leucine rich repeat receptor like kinases (LRRK) constitute the largest subfamily of receptor like kinases (RLK), which play critical roles in plant development and stress responses. Herein, we identified 531 TaLRRK genes in Triticum aestivum (bread wheat), which were distributed throughout the A, B, and D sub-genomes and chromosomes. These were clustered into 233 homologous groups, which were mostly located on either homeologous chromosomes from various sub-genomes or in proximity on the same chromosome. A total of 255 paralogous genes were predicted which depicted the role of duplication events in expansion of this gene family. Majority of TaLRRKs consisted of trans-membrane region and localized on plasma-membrane. The TaLRRKs were further categorized into eight phylogenetic groups with numerous subgroups on the basis of sequence homology. The gene and protein structure in terms of exon/intron ratio, domains and motifs organization were found to be variably conserved across the different phylogenetic groups/subgroups, which indicated a potential divergence and neofunctionalization during evolution. High-throughput transcriptome data and quantitative real time PCR analyses in various developmental stages, and biotic and abiotic (heat, drought and salt) stresses provided insight into modus operandi of TaLRRKs during these conditions. Distinct expression of majority of stress responsive TaLRRKs homologous genes suggested their specified role in a particular condition. These results provided a comprehensive analysis of various characteristic features including functional divergence, which may provide the way for future functional characterization of this important gene family in bread wheat

Differential susceptibility of catheter biomaterials to biofilm-associated infections and their remedy by drug-encapsulated Eudragit RL100 nanoparticles

Biofilms are the cause of major bacteriological infections in patients. The complex architecture of Escherichia coli (E. coli) biofilm attached to the surface of catheters has been studied and found to depend on the biomaterial’s surface properties. The SEM micrographs and water contact angle analysis have revealed that the nature of the surface a ects the growth and extent of E. coli biofilm formation. In vitro studies have revealed that the Gram-negative E. coli adherence to implanted biomaterials takes place in accordance with hydrophobicity, i.e., latex > silicone > polyurethane > stainless steel. Permanent removal of E. coli biofilm requires 50 to 200 times more gentamicin sulfate (G-S) than the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) to remove 90% of E. coli biofilm (MBIC90). Here, in vitro eradication of biofilm-associated infection on biomaterials has been done by Eudragit RL100 encapsulated gentamicin sulfate (E-G-S) nanoparticle of range 140 nm. It is 10–20 times more e ective against E. coli biofilm-associated infections eradication than normal unentrapped G-S. Thus, Eudragit RL100 mediated drug delivery system provides a promising way to reduce the cost of treatment with a higher drug therapeutic index

The colours of comfort:From thermal sensation to person-centric thermal zones for adaptive building strategies

Thermal comfort research has been traditionally based on cross-sectional studies and spatial aggregation of individual surveys at building level. This research design is susceptible to compositional effects and may lead to error in identifying predictors to thermal comfort indices, in particular in relation to adaptive mechanisms. A relationship between comfort and different predictors can be true at an individual level but not evident at the building level. In addition, cross-sectional studies overlook temporal changes in individual thermal perception due to contextual factors. To address these limitations, this study applied a longitudinal research design over 8 to 21 months in eight buildings located in six countries around the world. The dataset comprises of 5,567 individual thermal comfort surveys from 258 participants. The analysis aggregated survey responses at participant level and clustered participants according to their thermal sensation votes (TSV). Four TSV clusters were introduced, representing four different thermal sensation traits. Further analysis reviewed the probability of cluster membership in relation to demographic characteristics and behavioural adaptation. Finally, the analysis at individual level enabled the introduction of a new metric, the thermal zone (Zt), which in this study ranges from 21.5°C to 26.6°C. The thermal sensation traits and person-centric thermal zone (Zt) are a first step into the development of new metrics incorporating individual perceived comfort into dynamic building controls for adaptive buildings