Frequency of urinary tract infections among pregnant women receiving antenatal care in a tertiary care centre: hospital based cross-sectional study

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTI) are one of the most frequent human bacterial infections, causing substantial morbidity and mortality, with nearly 150 million cases globally per year. The prevalence of UTI (including both asymptomatic bacteriuria and symptomatic infection) in pregnant women in India is reported to range from 3% to 24%. This infection must be adequately diagnosed and efficient treatment must be initiated to prevent maternal and perinatal morbidity.Methods: This was a hospital based cross sectional study. 625 ante natal women recruited during first visit attending antenatal care outpatient department (ANC OPD). We tested their clean catch mid-stream urine sample for routine, microscopic and culture sensitivity test.Results: Out of 625 antenatal women frequency of urinary tract infection was 16.2%. 17% women were symptomatic having one or more symptoms indicative of urinary tract infection and 83% women were asymptomatic. Among symptomatic women, 92.5% women showed culture positivity for one or more bacteria whereas in asymptomatic women, culture was positive in 10.8%. E. coli followed by Klebsiella were the most common isolate identified in both symptomatic and asymptomatic women. On antibiotic sensitivity testing, we found good overall sensitivity of bacteria to commonly used antibiotics such as nitrofurantoin, and norfloxacin but resistant to ampicillin was observed in all women. UTI adversely affects the mother like pyelonephritis, preterm labour and preterm baby and its complications.Conclusions: It is important to identify presence of UTI during pregnancy by doing urine routine and culture sensitivity test in all antenatal women and administration of appropriate antibiotic to affected women so as to reduce the morbidity both in mother and baby

A Hybrid Method for Load flow Calculation based on LVDC Power Distribution Networks

Low voltage direct current (LVDC) distribution system stability, supply security and power quality are evaluated by computational modelling and measurements on an LVDC research platform. Computational models for the LVDC organize investigation are created. The LVDC arrange control misfortune model is produced in a MATLAB domain and is prepared to do quick estimation of the system and segment influence misfortunes. The model integrates analytical equations that describe the power loss mechanism of the network components with power flow calculations. For an LVDC network research platform, a monitoring and control software solution is developed. The solution is used to deliver measurement data for verification of the developed models and analysis of the modelling results. In the work, the power loss mechanism of the LVDC network components and its main dependencies based on hybrid method is described. Energy loss distribution of the LVDC network components is presented

Study of caesarean section at tertiary care centre: a retrospective study

Background: Caesarean section (C-section) is one of the most widely performed surgical procedure in obstetrics worldwide. The WHO guidelines revised in 1994 states that the proportion of C-section birth should range between 5-15% but both in developed and developing countries C-section rate is on the rise. This study was conducted to analyse the frequency and indications for C-section and associated maternal morbidity and mortality.Methods: This retrospective study was conducted over a period from January 2018 to May 2019 at the department of obstetrics and gynecology, NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre and Lata Mangeshkar Hospital, Hingna, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India. Data of patients who delivered by C-section in our hospital during the defined study period were studied and statistically analysed according to various parameters namely, the frequency of caesarean section, its indications, age, parity and gestational age of the patient.Results: The total number of women delivered over the study period were 2811. Out of which C-sections were done in 1461 women (51.97%). Previous C-section was the leading indication in 35.72% women followed by fetal distress 14.09%, failure of induction 12.93%, arrest of labour 7.93%, PIH 7.18%, oligo/IUGR 6.50%, breech 4.44%, refusal of vaginal birth 4.24%, CPD 1.71%, bad obstetrics history (BOH) 1.43%, malpresentation 1.30%, prematurity 1.23%,  and multifetal gestation in 1.09% women. Two women had classical C-section 0.07. 14.09% women had various complications. There was no maternal mortality.Conclusions: A high rate of caesarean deliveries was observed. Individualization of the indication and careful evaluation, following standardized guidelines can help us to limit C-section. Audit and feedback are the best way to judge clinical practice and to reduce the frequency of caesarean section in any tertiary setup

Identification of new strain of mungbean yellow mosaic virus infecting french bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Santiniketan

113-117Outbreak of yellow mosaic diseases emerged during 2017 in French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) growing region of Santiniketan, Bolpur, West Bengal, India. Yellow mosaic disease was characterized by bright yellow mosaic spots on leaves. Amplification of an expected 598 bp DNA band has been done by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers specific to Santiniketan coat protein (AV1) gene (HQ221570.1) of mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV). Comparison of sequences obtained from PCR products with corresponding nucleotide sequences in GenBank, confirmed association of causative agent with mungbean yellow mosaic India virus. Nucleotide sequence analyses of MYMIV- Santiniketan isolates of French bean showed high sequence similarities (> 95%) with others isolates present world-wide. A close relationship of coat protein gene isolate of Santiniketan with DNA-A of Pant Nagar, Uttarakhand (DQ389152.1) of mungbean yellow mosaic India virus has been established on phylogenetic tree analysis. This report provides an evidence of MYMIV infections in French bean in Santiniketan

Increasing rates of cesarean section, an upcoming public health problem: an audit of cesarean section in a tertiary care center of North India based on Robson classification

Background: Increasing rates of cesarean section during last three decades has become a cause of alarm since and a need for ongoing studies. Objective of present study was to investigate cesarean section rates as per modified Robsons Criteria and to determine area of concern which requires maximum focus to decrease overall caesarean rateMethods: This cross sectional study was conducted over a period of one year (From January 2016 to December 2016) in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at King George’s Medical University, Lucknow.Results: Total number of deliveries for one year was 8526. Out of them, 4275 (50.1%) were vaginal and 4251 (49.9%) were abdominal. Overall maximum caesarean section rate was contributed by group 5 of modified Robsons criteria i.e. previous section, singleton, cephalic, ≥37 weeks (17.7%).Conclusions: Robson 10 group classification provides easy way in collecting information about Cesarean section rate which obtains good insight into certain birth groups. It is important that efforts to reduce the overall CS rate should focus on reducing the primary CS rate (group 1 and 2) and on increasing vaginal birth after CS (group 5). The caesarean rate is commonest in group 5 that is previous section (17.7%)

Drug utilization pattern of antimicrobial drugs in intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital attached with a medical college

Background: A number of antimicrobial drugs are prescribed to the patients in Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Drug utilization research was defined by WHO as the study of marketing, distribution, prescription, and use of drugs in a society, with special emphasis on the resulting medical, social and economic consequences. There is lack of information about the use of antimicrobial agents in the ICU at GGGH till date. So we decided to conduct this type of study.Methods: A prospective observational study was carried out for 12 months. Patients of age >18 of both sexes who was admitted in ICU were included in the study while pregnant and lactating women excluded. The prescribing pattern was analyzed by using World Health Organization basic drug indicators. Results: Among 611 patients, 373 (61.04%) were male and 238 (38.95%) were female. The most common emergency was post-operative 204 (33.38%).The most common prescribed antimicrobial drug group and drug was antiamoebic drugs and metronidazole respectively in 437 (24.04%) out of total drugs prescribed. The numbers of antimicrobial drugs prescribed per patient were 2.97. 68% drugs were prescribed from WHO and national EML list. Total 57.26% drugs were prescribed by generic name. Average antimicrobial drug cost per patient was 1805.34 rs.Conclusions: Despite of limitations of present study it gives important conclusion about how antimicrobial drugs are used in GGGH ICU. This information can be used for improvement of current treatment strategies

Isolation and Screening of Polyhydroxyalkanoates Producing Bacteria from Pulp, Paper, and Cardboard Industry Wastes

Background. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are storage materials that accumulate by various bacteria as energy and carbon reserve materials. They are biodegradable, environmentally friendly, and also biocompatible bioplastics. Unlike petrochemical-based plastics that take several decades to fully degrade, PHAs can be completely degraded within a year by variety of microorganisms into CO2 and water. In the present study, we aim to utilize pulp, paper, and cardboard industry sludge and waste water for the isolation and screening of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) accumulating bacteria and production of cost-effective PHB using cardboard industry waste water. Results. A total of 42 isolates showed black-blue coloration when stained with Sudan black B, a preliminary screening agent for lipophilic compounds, and a total of 15 isolates showed positive result with Nile blue A staining, a more specific dye for PHA granules. The isolates NAP11 and NAC1 showed maximum PHA production 79.27% and 77.63% with polymer concentration of 5.236 g/L and 4.042 g/L with cardboard industry waste water. Both of the selected isolates, NAP11 and NAC1, were classified up to genus level by studying their morphological and biochemical characteristics and were found to be Enterococcus sp., Brevundimonas sp. and, respectively. Conclusion. The isolates Enterococcus sp. NAP11 and Brevundimonas sp. NAC1 can be considered as good candidates for industrial production of PHB from cardboard industry waste water. We are reporting for the first time the use of cardboard industry waste water as a cultivation medium for the PHB production

Characterization of AhMITE1 transposition and its association with the mutational and evolutionary origin of botanical types in peanut (Arachis spp.)

AhMITE1 is an active miniature inverted repeat transposable element (MITE) in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L). Its transpositional activity from a particular (FST1-linked) site within the peanut genome was checked using AhMITE1-specifc PCR, which used a forward primer annealing to the 50-flanking sequence and a reverse primer binding to AhMITE1. It was found that transposition activation was induced by stresses such as ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS), gamma irradiation, environmental conditions, and tissue culture. Excision and insertion of AhMITE1 at this particular site among the mutants led to gross morphological changes resembling alternate subspecies or botanical types. Analysis of South American landraces revealed the presence of AhMITE1 at the site among most of the spp. fastigiata types, whereas the element was predominantly missing from spp. hypogaea types, indicating its strong association. Four accessions of the primitive allotetraploid, A. monticola were devoid of AhMITE1 at the site, indicating only recent activation of the element, possibly because of the ‘‘genomic shock’’ resulting from hybridization followed by allopolyploidization

SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 Delta variant replication and immune evasion

Abstract: The B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first identified in the state of Maharashtra in late 2020 and spread throughout India, outcompeting pre-existing lineages including B.1.617.1 (Kappa) and B.1.1.7 (Alpha)1. In vitro, B.1.617.2 is sixfold less sensitive to serum neutralizing antibodies from recovered individuals, and eightfold less sensitive to vaccine-elicited antibodies, compared with wild-type Wuhan-1 bearing D614G. Serum neutralizing titres against B.1.617.2 were lower in ChAdOx1 vaccinees than in BNT162b2 vaccinees. B.1.617.2 spike pseudotyped viruses exhibited compromised sensitivity to monoclonal antibodies to the receptor-binding domain and the amino-terminal domain. B.1.617.2 demonstrated higher replication efficiency than B.1.1.7 in both airway organoid and human airway epithelial systems, associated with B.1.617.2 spike being in a predominantly cleaved state compared with B.1.1.7 spike. The B.1.617.2 spike protein was able to mediate highly efficient syncytium formation that was less sensitive to inhibition by neutralizing antibody, compared with that of wild-type spike. We also observed that B.1.617.2 had higher replication and spike-mediated entry than B.1.617.1, potentially explaining the B.1.617.2 dominance. In an analysis of more than 130 SARS-CoV-2-infected health care workers across three centres in India during a period of mixed lineage circulation, we observed reduced ChAdOx1 vaccine effectiveness against B.1.617.2 relative to non-B.1.617.2, with the caveat of possible residual confounding. Compromised vaccine efficacy against the highly fit and immune-evasive B.1.617.2 Delta variant warrants continued infection control measures in the post-vaccination era