A study of various neonatal outcomes and complications in live-born infants among IVF pregnancies

Background: In-vitro fertilization or Assisted reproductive techniques (ART) is the most advanced technique of infertility treatment. In-vitro fertilization (IVF) has helped couples all over the world. However, the use of IVF has raised significant concern about the outcome of resulting pregnancies and the health of the newborns. There is a range of possible factors associated with the treatment that may contribute to potential adverse outcomes. Thus, the study was conducted to analyze the neonatal outcomes of children born by ART in the Indian context.Methods: The neonatal characteristics and complications of the live-born infants through IVF at Army Hospital R and R were analyzed in this study between March 2019 to February 2020.Results: Total 231 babies were born to the study group cases. 126 (54.54%) were singletons, 102 (44.16%) were of twin pregnancies and 1.3% were triplets. There were 65.36% term and 34.63% preterm. Of the 231 IVF neonates, 58 needed neonatal intensive care. There were 219 (94.8%) survivors, while 12 (5.2%) did not survive a week. The 16 (6.92%) survivors needed readmissions mainly due to hyperbilirubinemia. There were 106 (45.8%) babies whose weight was less than 2 kg.Conclusions: Infertility cases are usually older, and this is one reason for increased pregnancy and newborn infant complications. Neonates born through IVF appeared to be at higher risk of multiple births, prematurity, low birth weight, and other disabilities

A Joint 3D-2D based Method for Free Space Detection on Roads

In this paper, we address the problem of road segmentation and free space detection in the context of autonomous driving. Traditional methods either use 3-dimensional (3D) cues such as point clouds obtained from LIDAR, RADAR or stereo cameras or 2-dimensional (2D) cues such as lane markings, road boundaries and object detection. Typical 3D point clouds do not have enough resolution to detect fine differences in heights such as between road and pavement. Image based 2D cues fail when encountering uneven road textures such as due to shadows, potholes, lane markings or road restoration. We propose a novel free road space detection technique combining both 2D and 3D cues. In particular, we use CNN based road segmentation from 2D images and plane/box fitting on sparse depth data obtained from SLAM as priors to formulate an energy minimization using conditional random field (CRF), for road pixels classification. While the CNN learns the road texture and is unaffected by depth boundaries, the 3D information helps in overcoming texture based classification failures. Finally, we use the obtained road segmentation with the 3D depth data from monocular SLAM to detect the free space for the navigation purposes. Our experiments on KITTI odometry dataset, Camvid dataset, as well as videos captured by us, validate the superiority of the proposed approach over the state of the art.Comment: Accepted for publication at IEEE WACV 201

Towards building a Deep Learning based Automated Indian Classical Music Tutor for the Masses

Music can play an important role in the well-being of the world. Indian classical music is unique in its requirement for rigorous, disciplined, expert-led training that typically goes on for years before the learner can reach a reasonable level of performance. This keeps many, including the first author of this paper, away from mastering the skill. The problem is particularly compounded in rural areas, where the available expertise may be limited and prohibitively expensive, but the interest in learning classical music still prevails, nevertheless. Machine Learning has been complementing, enhancing, and replacing many white-collar jobs and we believe it can help with this problem as well. This paper describes efforts at using Machine Learning techniques, particularly, Long Short-Term Memory for building a system that is a step toward provisioning an Indian Classical Music Tutor for the masses. The system is deployed in the cloud using orchestrated containerization for potential worldwide access, load balancing, and other robust features

Ferricarboxy maltose to treat iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy: is it a feasible option?

Background: Iron deficiency is a common cause of anaemia in pregnancy which influences the health of mother and developing fetus. Intravenous (IV) iron preparations are considered, when oral iron therapy is ineffective or intolerant. Ferric carboxymaltose is an IV preparation that can be given with ease of administration and better tolerated. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of IV ferric carboxymaltose in pregnant mother with all grades of anemia in the second and third trimester.Methods: This is a prospective observational study where 44 pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia [IDA] received ferric carboxymaltose up to 15mg/kg in second and third trimester. The parameters that were taken into account, to assess the effectiveness of the treatment was repeat haemoglobin [Hb] measurements and the subjective sense of wellbeing in the patient. The safety of the drug was analysed by continuous fetal heart rate [FHR] monitoring during the infusion and observation of any adverse reactions.Results: Ferric carboxymaltose intravenous infusion significantly increased Hb levels above baseline values in all women. The Increase in Hb levels were observed at 3- and 6-weeks post infusion therapy. FHR monitoring did not show any drug related unfavourable effect on the fetus. Of the 44 women interviewed, 33 (75%) women reported sense of well-being, 7 (15.9%) women could not feel any difference after the infusion and 4 (9.1%) patients could not comment. No serious adverse effects were noticed but minor side effects occurred in 3 (6.8%) patients.Conclusions: This prospective study showed safety and efficacy of ferric carboxymaltose in pregnancy with IDA which is consistent with available observational data

A clinical study on maternal and fetal outcome in pregnancy with oligohydromnios

Background: Oligohydramnios is associated with various maternal and fetal complication. It’s correlated fetal complications like FGR, increased risk of meconium aspiration syndrome, Birth asphyxia, low APGAR scores and increased congenital abnormalities in fetus. It’s also associated with maternal morbidities in view of operative interventions for delivery. To study effect of oligohydramnios in mother in form of, operative delivery and progress of labour. To study effect of oligohydramnios in fetus in form of fetal compromise i.e.  FGR, fetal distress, altered APGAR score, need for NICU admission. congenital anomaly and perinatal death.Methods: 50 patients with ≥ 28 weeks POG with oligohydramnios, confirmed by ultrasonographic measurement of AFI using four quadrant technique; were selected randomly after fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria.Results: Incidence of oligohydramnios were more found in primigravida (56%) in present study. Most common cause of oligohydramnios was idiopathic (62%) followed by PIH (20%). Most common cause of caesarean was fetal distress (23%) either due to cord compression or FGR. oligohydramnios was related to higher rate of Fetal Growth restriction and NICU admission (24%).Conclusions: Oligohydramnios is very common encounter during pregnancy, Because of its frequent occurrence; it demands intensive fetal monitoring and systemic approach to antepartum and intrapartum fetal surveillance. There is increased risk of intrapartum complication, perinatal morbidity, perinatal mortality; thus, the rate of caesarean increasing day by day.one should always know the fine line between vaginal delivery and caesarean section; move ahead with best option without hampering fetal wellbeing and avoid unnecessary operative morbidity

Low energy electron interactions with Iodine molecule (I2)

A theoretical analysis is performed for electron interactions with the Iodine molecule (I2) for incident energies ranging from 0.1 eV to 20 eV. The calculations were carried out using Quantemol-N package, which uses the UK Molecular R-matrix Codes. Electron interactions with the I2 molecule have been studied with several target models in its equilibrium geometry, and the results are reported for the optimized target model. Scattering calculations are performed to provide resonance parameters along with Dissociative Electron Attachment (DEA) Cross-Sections. In addition, the study also focussed on the estimation of various cross-sections such as elastic, electronic excitation, differential, momentum transfer, ionization and total cross-sections. Many of these cross-sections reported here are for the first time for electron interaction with the iodine molecule to the best of our knowledge

Saraca indica

Medicinal plants are used as a complementary and alternative medicine in treatment of various diseases including cancer worldwide, because of their ease of accessibility and cost effectiveness. Multicomposed mixture of compounds present in a plant extract has synergistic activity, increases the therapeutic potential many folds, compensates toxicity, and increases bioavailability. Saraca indica (family Caesalpiniaceae) is one of the most ancient sacred plants with medicinal properties, exhibiting a number of pharmacological effects. Antioxidant, antibreast cancer activity and toxicological evaluation of Saraca indica bark extract (SIE) were carried out in the present study. The results of the study indicated that this herbal preparation has antioxidant and antibreast cancer activity. Toxicological studies suggest that SIE is safer to use and may have a potential to be used as complementary and alternative medicine for breast cancer therapy

A comparative study of efficacy of micro-needling alone versus micro-needling with autologous platelet rich plasma in facial atrophic acne scars

Abstract— Post acne scarring is a consequence of abnormal resolution or wound healing following the damage that occurs in the sebaceous follicle during acne inflammation. The present study was undertaken to compare the improvement in facial atrophic acne scars by micro-needling alone and combination of micro-needling with autologous platelet rich plasma (PRP). A prospective, observer blinded, comparative interventional study was conducted on 50 patients of facial atrophic acne scars fulfilling inclusion criteria. They were randomly divided into two group of 25 each i.e. group 'A' (micro-needling alone) and group 'B' (micro-needling with PRP). Three sessions on monthly interval were conducted and Final follow up was done at 4th month. They were evaluated by Goodman and Baron’s quantitative and qualitative grading scale, for clinical improvement and for patient's satisfaction. Although qualitative and quantitative improvement was observed in both the groups but the improvement in group 'B' was more than 'A' on Goodman and Baron’s quantitative and qualitative grading scale, however it was not statistically significant. On clinical improvement and on patient satisfaction, group 'B' had better results than group 'A' which was statistically significant (p<0.05). It was concluded that Micro-needling with autologous PRP is simple, safe and cost-effective procedure for facial atrophic acne scars. Micro-needling when combined with autologous PRP provides better overall clinical improvement. It is suggested that PRP should be considered as an adjuvant therapeutic option along with micro-needling in the management of atrophic acne scars

Alcoholic Extract of Eclipta alba

As per WHO estimates, 80% of people around the world use medicinal plants for the cure and prevention of various diseases including cancer owing to their easy availability and cost effectiveness. Eclipta alba has long been used in Ayurveda to treat liver diseases, eye ailments, and hair related disorders. The promising medicinal value of E. alba prompted us to study the antioxidant, nontoxic, and anticancer potential of its alcoholic extract. In the current study, we evaluated the in vitro cytotoxic and antioxidant effect of the alcoholic extract of Eclipta alba (AEEA) in multiple cancer cell lines along with control. We have also evaluated its effect on different in vivo toxicity parameters. Here, we found that AEEA was found to be most active in most of the cancer cell lines but it significantly induced apoptosis in human breast cancer cell lines by disrupting mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA damage. Moreover, AEEA treatment inhibited migration in both MCF 7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose dependent manner. Further, AEEA possesses robust in vitro antioxidant activity along with high total phenolic and flavonoid contents. In summary, our results indicate that Eclipta alba has enormous potential in complementary and alternative medicine for the treatment of cancer

Trends of steroid modified tinea at tertiary care hospital in India

Abstract—Dermatophytes are the common fungal agents implicated in superficial skin infections worldwide, commonly known as tinea. They include species of Trichophyton, Microsporum and Epidermophyton. Infections of this organism have dramatically increased in last one decade by misuse of topical corticosteroids cream alone or in combination with topical antibacterial and antifungal agents. So this study was conducted with the aim to study about culprits (prescribers) and various offending agents. This study was conducted on 1239 consecutive patients of tinea between ages 1-70 years. Tinea was diagnosed by detailed history and clinical examination. Detailed inquiry was made for topical steroid use by recall method or relevant prescriptions. It was found that out of 1239, 1000 (80.7%) patients were using topical corticosteroid in any form. Most common age group was 21-30 years (38.3%). Pharmacist appeared as chief culprit (50.4%) and Clobetasol was major offending agent (34.8%). Majority (55.3%) of patients applied these formulations for 4 week or more. Study concluded that use of topical corticosteroids in tinea has become menace because of unethical manufacture, sales, prescription and end misuse by patient