Stress induced alterations in pre-pubertal ovarian follicular development in rat

The objective of the study was to find out whether stress experienced during neo-natal period alters the timing of formation of pre-antral and antral follicles and if so, whether pre-treatment with CRH receptor antagonist prevents these effects in rats. New born rat pups (n= 15) were exposed to maternal separation (6 hours/ day) from post-natal day (PND) 1 to 7 and were killed on PND 8, 11 and 15. The time of exposure was randomly changed every day during light phase (7Am to 7Pm) of the day to avoid habituation. There was a significant increase in serum corticosterone levels on PND 8 and 11 in stress group rats compared to controls indicating stress response in these pups. The ovary of both control and stressed rats contained oocytes and primary follicles on PND 8 and 11 and in showed progress of follicular development upto to pre-antral and early antral follicle formation on PND 11 and 15. However, mean number of healthy oocytes and all categories of follicles at all ages studied were significantly lower in stressed rats compared to controls. Concomitant with these changes, number of atreatic follicles showed an increase over control values in stressed rats. The increase in atresia of follicles was due to apoptosis as shown by increase in the percentage of granulosa cells showing TUNEL positive staining and caspase 3 activity. On the other hand, pre-treatment with CRH- receptor antagonist (CRH 9-41) 2ng/ 0.1 ml/ rat prior to undergoing stress regime on PND 1 to 7, prevented alterations in pre- pubertal follicular development thereby indicating that the ovarian changes were due to effects of stress induced activation of HPA axis. The results indicate that, stress during neonatal phase, though does not affect timing of formation of pre-antral and antral follicles, it does enhance atresia of follicles of all categories, including follicular reserve, which may affect the reproductive potential of adults. The results, for the first time reveal that CRF receptor antagonist prevents pre-pubertal ovarian stress response

Effects of Neonatal Stress on Ovarian Follicular Reserve and Initial Follicular Waves in Rats

The study tested the hypothesis that stress experienced during neonatal life alters follicular reserve and onset of initial follicular waves. Rat pups immediately after their birth (postnatal day 1) were randomly segregated into three groups and the first group pups were autopsied on postnatal day 1, second group served as controls and those in third group were exposed to a stressor (maternal separation 6 hours/ day) from postnatal day 1 to 3. Five pups in control and stress group were autopsied on postnatal day 4, 6 and 8. There was a significant increase in blood corticosterone level in stressed rats on postnatal day 4. Neonatal stress did not delay the timing of folliculogenesis and onset of initial follicular waves. However, mean number of oocytes, primordial and primary follicles on postnatal day 4, 6 and 8 was significantly lower in stressed rats compared to controls. Reduction in follicular number was due to increased rate of atresia which was assessed by TUNEL and caspase-3 assay. The results, for the first time, reveal that neonatal stress has dire consequence as it reduces the number of oocytes and primordial follicles (follicular reserve) which might curtail the reproductive lifespan of neonatally stressed rats

Voice analysis following turbinectomy in patients with hypertrophied inferior turbinate secondary to allergic and vasomotor rhinitis refractory to conservative treatment

Introduction: Alterations in the configuration of the nasal cavity made surgicallyvia procedures such as turbinectomy have been assumed to cause changes in the perceived nasal resonance of the patients post surgery which tends to manifest changes in the overall voice perception. These changes though perceivable are reported to be transient in nature and eventually fall in place as the post surgical duration increases. The purpose of this study was to probe the changes in nasal resonance that affect perceived voice quality following turbinectomy in patients with hypertrophied inferior turbinates secondary to allergic and vasomotor rhinitis, by checking serially obtained nasalance scores. Aim of the study: The aim of the study is to assess the pre and postoperative nasal resonance and thereby voice quality in patients with hypertrophied inferior turbinates following turbinectomy. Materials & Methods: The patients who underwent Turbinectomy, at FMMCH, Mangalore from March 2015 to October 2016 were included in the study. The diagnosis was made based on patient history, clinical examination and nasal endoscopy. The Nasalance was assessed using the Nasometer module of VAGHMI, voice and speech system, Bangalore.The nasalance scores were recorded before surgery and at intervals of 1st , 3rd and 5th month post surgery. Results: A total of 90 patients were enrolled, out of these 60 patients successfully completed follow up visits on a regular basis. The mean nasalance scores for nasal sounds [m] [ma] and [mi] showed significance before surgery and at the 1st and 3rd month post-surgery. Consequently, nasalance values returned within normal range at the 3rd month post operatively. While the mean nasalance scores for non nasal sounds [a] [i] and [u] returned to normal range at the 5th month post operatively. Conclusion: The presence of a hypertrophied inferior turbinate and the excision of the same can alter the overall perceived nasal resonance of an individual. Though transient, these changes cause significant change in the nasalence scores. A significant amount of hyponasality is perceived and recorded in the pre operative nasalence scores while hypernasality is perceived and recorded for a period of 3 months post surgery which eventually diminishes and normalizes by the 5th month post surgery. Therefore, surgeons can conveniently reassure patients of the transient nature of the pre and post voice and nasal alterations associated in these conditions. This information will be highly beneficial to patients who are professional voice user

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Biosurfactants: An Alternative to the Synthetic Surfactants and their Production by Bacteria Isolated from Solid Waste

Biosurfactants are a structurally diverse group of amphiphilic,surface-active substances produced by microorganisms which can be used as an eco-friendly approach for environmental remediation. Surface activity makes surfactants excellent emulsifiers, foaming and dispersing agents. An attempt was made to produce biosurfactant from solid waste bacteria. Organisms were isolated from solid waste. The isolated organisms were identified to be Micrococcus luteus, Serratia liquefaciens, Bacillus macquariensis, Bacillus popilliae and Corynebacterium kutscheri by using various biochemical tests. All these organisms were screened for biosurfactant production using penetration assay, microplate assay and blood haemolysis technique. The yield of biosurfactants was compared in different media with and without oil stimulant and the role of an oil stimulant in biosurfactant production was determined

3rd National Conference on Image Processing, Computing, Communication, Networking and Data Analytics

This volume contains contributed articles presented in the conference NCICCNDA 2018, organized by the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, GSSS Institute of Engineering and Technology for Women, Mysore, Karnataka (India) on 28th April 2018