Participation of Household Women in Undertaking Plant Health Management Practices in Home Gardens

Women in the agricultural sector in India, particularly in Bihar face many socio-economic, educational and legal obstacles in realizing benefits of their efforts. This study assessed the role of women in untertaking plant health management practices in home gardens. One hundred households were interviewed and data were analyzed. The study indicated that decisions related to vegetable production and marketing within home gardens were mainly taken by women while the decisions on cereal and pulse crop production, management and utilization were made mainly by men. Men were the main decision makers in the management and utilization of cash crops that grow in the home garden. From the surveyed households, women were main decision makers for the management, consumption and marketing of fruit plants. In livestock production and management men were responsible for making decisions in large animals like cows while women had very little contribution on deciding about large ruminants. It was found that labor-intensive activities like land preparation, planting activities and marketing of products were mainly done by men while seed preservation, manuring, weeding and storage of produce were mainly done by women. The average time women spend in the home garden was six to eight hour/week while men spend four to five hours a week. Policies and strategies need to be developed to enhance the benefits of home gardens to both men and women

Molecular determinants of human renal clear cell carcinoma cancer risk

Hypoxia-related pathways play key roles in the mechanism that lead to development of acute kidney injury (AKI) and clear cell renal carcinoma (ccRCC). This dissertation used a pig model of AKI and a mouse model of ccRCC to compare the molecular mechanisms of these two disease processes to determine whether AKI may contribute to ccRCC risk. In the present study we first used next generation sequencing to identify single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and splicing effects in the mouse TRACK ccRCC model relative to wild-type control mice. This analysis identified multiple variants in TRACK mice, including an intronic variant in the NDUFA4L2 locus predicted to alter splicing and a coding variant in the CES3 gene. We analyzed the prevalence of mutations and differential expression in these genes in human ccRCC genomic data. Our study has identified a novel CES3 mutation in mice over-expressing HIF-1α and several other genes like Hilpda, Zbtb38, Cdc58, Plekhm2 and Aldoa illustrated splice junctions variations. The association of these genes with ccRCC have to be investigated. Our results showed over expression of MYC and ANXA2 gene in both AKI and ccRCC model and in human ccRCC as well. Secondly, we used RNA sequencing to compare the transcriptome of kidney samples from the pig and mouse models of AKI and ccRCC respectively. This analysis identified a network of genes deregulated in both AKI and ccRCC. The expressions of these genes were further analyzed in the cancer genome atlas patient ccRCC (KIRC) RNA sequencing dataset. Collectively these analyses have identified increased expression of MYC as an important driver of the pathogenic processes in both AKI and croc. Further retrospective clinical studies are now warranted to investigate whether AKI predisposes to ccRCC in people

Comparative Docking Assessment of Glucokinase Interactions with its Allosteric Activators

Glucokinase (GK) is expressed in multiple organs and plays a key role in hepatic glucose metabolism and pancreatic insulin secretion. GK could indeed serve as pacemaker of glycolysis and could be an attractive target for type 2 diabetes (T2D). The recent preclinical data of first GK activator RO-28-1675 has opened up a new field of GK activation as a powerful tool in T2D therapies. The GK allosteric site is located ~20Å away from glucose binding site. Chemical structure of Glucokinase activators (GKA) includes three chemical arms; all consisting of cyclic moiety and joined in a shape resembling the letter Y. In this study, comparative docking assessment using Autodock4 revealed that the three arms bind to three aromatic/hydrophobic subpockets at the allosteric site. Our dockings have overall consistency with experimental data in both docking modes and simulated binding free energies, and offer insights on understanding GK/GKA interactions and further GKA design. Specifically, for the first pocket, involvement of Arg63 as key residue in two specific hydrogen-bond formations with all allosteric activators defines the binding feature; for the second pocket, it has the most diverse binding interactions, mostly aromatic, hydrophobic and multiple hydrogen bonds. The site has the best potential for further GKA optimization by utilizing aromatic heterocycles and hydrogen bond forming linkers to build the GKA 2nd arm

Study of thrombocytopenia in pregnancy: clinical presentation and outcome at tertiary care rural institute

Background: Platelet count below 1.5 lakh/cumm is called as thrombocytopenia. After anaemia it is the second most common haematological disorder in pregnancy. It affects nearly 6 to 15%; on an average 10% of all pregnancies. Gestational thrombocytopenia is a clinically benign thrombocytopenic disorder usually occurring in late pregnancy. It resolves spontaneously after delivery.Methods: It is a hospital based prospective observational study over a period of 1 year. All pregnant women who attended OPD at the department of obstetrics and gynecology, UPUMS, Saifai for antenatal checkup were included for the study and blood sample was withdrawn.Results: Out of 263 cases enrolled for study, 90 women were found to have thrombocytopenia, and 173 had normal platelet count. Thus, incidence of thrombocytopenia was 34%. Gestational thrombocytopenia accounted for majority of cases of thrombocytopenia in pregnancy (50%) followed by hypertensive disorders (22.4%). It was further followed by ITP (11.11%) and dengue (5.5%).Conclusions: Gestational thrombocytopenia is the most common cause of thrombocytopenia during pregnancy (50%), but other underlying causes must be considered as well. A thorough history and physical examination will rule out most causes

ROLE OF PATHYA-APATHYA AND YOGIC PROCEDURES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic lung disease that is often preventable and treatable. In Ayurvedic texts Shwasa Roga has been described having symptomatology close to COPD. COPD damages the airways in lungs and leads to shortness of breath, impacting patient`s work, exercise, sleep and other everyday activities. More than 11 million people in the U. S. suffer from COPD and its prevalence has been increasing steadily over the past 20 years. It causes serious long-term disability and early death. COPD includes both chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Risk factor includes exposure to air pollution, second-hand smoke and occupational dusts and chemicals, smoking, cold weather etc. which are also mentioned in Ayurvedic classics. Identification, reduction and control of risk factors to prevent the onset of COPD are important steps towards developing strategies for prevention of COPD. The aims and objectives of Ayurveda are to maintain the health of a healthy person and to cure the diseases of the patients. It is signifies that “prevention is better than cure.” To maintain the health, Ayurveda laid many basic principles like Ritucharya (seasonal regime), Dincharya (diumal regime) etc. The Yogic procedures and the concept of Pathya (wholesome) and Apathya (unwholesome) is the peculiarity of Ayurveda for the management of COPD and the treatment module includes- Panchakarma (Vamana, Virechana, Dhumapana and Nasya), external therapies (Lepas, Dhara, Sthanika Abhayanga and Swedana) and internal medications are very effective in COPD

Role of endometrial thickness in natural and stimulated cycles in infertility

Background: The endometrium plays an important role in infertility. The growth of endometrium depends on serum oestradiol level and blood flow to the uterus. A thin endometrium is defined as a lining of less than 7 mm which is associated with infertility. The endometrium is best seen on Transvaginal scan (TVS). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of endometrial thickness and its outcome in natural and stimulated cycles in infertile women.Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted from June 2018 to May 2019 in LLRM Medical College Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India. Total 150 infertile women of age less than 35 years presented with either primary or secondary infertility were enrolled. Each patient was undergoing transvaginal scan (TVS) to measure endometrial thickness follicular monitoring.Results: The endometrial thickness and pregnancy rate was higher in letrozole induced group as compared to clomiphene with estradiol valerate and clomiphene with sildenafil citrate induced group.Conclusions: Letrozole had better effect on endometrial thickness and pregnancy rate as compared to clomiphene citrate with estradiol valerate and clomiphene citrate with sildenafil citrate

Application of Support Vector Machine Modeling for the Rapid Seismic Hazard Safety Evaluation of Existing Buildings

The economic losses from earthquakes tend to hit the national economy considerably; therefore, models that are capable of estimating the vulnerability and losses of future earthquakes are highly consequential for emergency planners with the purpose of risk mitigation. This demands a mass prioritization filtering of structures to identify vulnerable buildings for retrofitting purposes. The application of advanced structural analysis on each building to study the earthquake response is impractical due to complex calculations, long computational time, and exorbitant cost. This exhibits the need for a fast, reliable, and rapid method, commonly known as Rapid Visual Screening (RVS). The method serves as a preliminary screening platform, using an optimum number of seismic parameters of the structure and predefined output damage states. In this study, the efficacy of the Machine Learning (ML) application in damage prediction through a Support Vector Machine (SVM) model as the damage classification technique has been investigated. The developed model was trained and examined based on damage data from the 1999 Düzce Earthquake in Turkey, where the building’s data consists of 22 performance modifiers that have been implemented with supervised machine learning

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: a clinical study in a rural tertiary care centre of western Uttar Pradesh, India

Background: The aim of study was to find out the frequency and clinical outcome in hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP) in a rural tertiary care centre. Hypertensive disorder of pregnancy is a commonest medical disorder which constitutes about 12-22% of all pregnancies and it is a major cause of maternal morbidity as well as mortality world wide.Methods: It is a retrospective hospital-based study to find out the clinical outcome in different hypertensive disorder of pregnancy in a rural tertiary care centre of western Uttar Pradesh.Results: Present study showed the prevalence of HDP was 4.01% among the study population. Most of the patients were primipara ,unbooked and less than 25 years of age. The most common HDP was mild preeclampsia  and HELLP was its commonest  complication.Conclusions: Hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP) is still a major cause of maternal mortality and morbidity. Authors intend to aware the pregnant women regarding high risk factors of pregnancy and motivate them for regular antenatal care so that  complications of  hypertensive disorders can be  managed timely

Evaluation of endometrium by transvaginal ultrasonography and hysteroscopy and its correlation with histopathology in perimenopausal women with abnormal uterine bleeding at tertiary rural centre

Background: Abnormal uterine bleeding is one of the commonest clinical presentation ac-counts for 33% gynaecological consultations and this proportion rises to 70% in perimenopausal and postmenopausal age group in any gynaecology clinic. The most probable etiology of abnormal uterine bleeding relates to the patients reproductive age. Various diagnostic techniques have been evolved over the periods to determine the etiology of abnormal uterine bleeding in perimenopausal women, but their accuracy has not been compared properly. The aim of study is to evaluate the endometrium by transvaginal ultrasonography and hysteroscopy and its correlation with histopathology in perimenopausal patients with abnormal uterine bleeding.Methods: Total 96 patients in perimenopausal age group, admitted with chief complaints of ab-normal uterine bleeding were included. All patients underwent transvaginal ultrasonography and hysteroscopy, followed by hysteroscopy guided biopsy and histopathological examination. Accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were calculated for both methods and compared, considering histopathological diagnosis as gold standard.Results: Mean age of patients was 44.05±3.29. Hysteroscopy has high accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value than Transvaginal sonography for diagnosis of all endometrial and intrauterine pathologies.Conclusions: Hysteroscopy results are more consistent with the results of histopathology. Hysteroscopy and hysteroscopy guided biopsy has been proven as gold standard for endometrial evaluation of patients with abnormal uterine bleeding. TVS can be used as most cost effective first step investigation in cases of perimenopausal bleeding

Comparison of airway maneuvers (manual in line stabilization, modified jaw thrust, and conventional maneuver) for orotracheal intubation during direct laryngoscopy

Background: During performing orotracheal intubation with direct laryngoscopy adequate laryngeal visualization depends on proper airway maneuvers. There are different types of airway maneuvers. Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to compare airway maneuvers; manual in line stabilization (MILS), jaw thrust, and conventional maneuver to assess better laryngeal visualization and ease of intubation among them and associated complications. Materials and Methods: This observational study was conducted in 90 adult patients. Patients divided into three groups. Laryngoscopy and intubation in Group M were done in MILS and in group J jaw thrust. In Group C, as conventional maneuver performed. Laryngeal visualization assessed using modified Cormack–Lehane grading and ease of intubation assessed using intubation time, number of attempts between these three groups. The data were compared using ANOVA test, Chi-square test. Results: While comparing between these groups better laryngeal visualization seen in jaw thrust group, while the MILS maneuver worsen the view. Conclusion: The present study concluded that jaw thrust maneuver improved the laryngeal visualization and conventional maneuver made intubation faster and easy