THE UNEXPLORED ROLES OF PROBIOTIC BACTERIA: IN VITRO ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANTHELMINTIC ACTIVITY OF ENTEROCOCCUS FAECIUM BM10 KY788342 AND LACTOBACILLUS CASEI GM10 KY794586

  Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the in vitro anti-inflammation activity and anthelmintic potential of two novel isolated probiotic strains through Enterococcus faecium BM10 KY788342 and Lactobacillus casei GM10 KY794586.Methods: In vitro anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using protein denaturation inhibition method. Pheretima posthuma was used as a suitable in vitro model, and time of paralysis and death were used as parameters to evaluate anthelmintic potential of probiotic strains.Results: Lyophilized solutions of L. casei GM10 showed significant protein denaturation inhibition (56.20±0.86%) followed by E. faecium BM10 (52.28±0.31%) comparable to diclofenac (93.62±1.39%) at the maximum concentration of 250 μg/ml. Intracellular cell-free extract of E. faecium BM10 showed a strong anthelmintic (vermicidal) activity (6±0.23 minutes), followed by L. casei GM10 (9±0.05 minutes) comparable to piperazine citrate (20±0.422 minutes) and albendazole (24±0.43 minutes) at the maximum concentration of 100 mg/ml.Conclusion: Results of the present study concluded that both tested lactic acid bacteria strains exhibited significant in vitro anti-inflammatory activity and can be used as potent and safe anthelmintic agent

Deciphering and Predicting Microscale Controls on Radon Production in Soils, Sediments and Rock

Soils, sediments and rock are natural sources of radon (Rn), which poses an ongoing threat to human health. Numerous studies have measured Rn release from bulk earth materials, yet few have examined microscale controls on Rn flux from solids (emanation), which is required to develop a process-based framework for predicting the rate and extent of production. Here, we use a novel closed loop flow-through system to measure Rn emanation from two crushed rock types with disparate physical and geochemical characteristics, shale and granitic pegmatite. We relate the extent of Rn emanation from each sample to microscale characteristics examined using conventional and synchrotron-based techniques, such as Rn parent radionuclide distribution within mineral grains, porosity, and surface area. Our results illustrate that the extent of Rn release from solids is primarily dependent on the position of parent radionuclides within host mineral grains relative to the “recoil range”—the maximum distance a daughter product (such as Rn) may traverse within a solid and into an adjacent pore owing to alpha-recoil—and is less dependent on the bulk parent radionuclide (e.g., radium) activity. We also present a simple model for predicting the emanation coefficient for pure solids based on mineralogical and physical parameters, which is an initial step toward developing a framework for predicting Rn efflux (exhalation) from soils. Keywords: radon; emanation; alpha-recoil; modeling; microscale characteristic

Novel Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Urinary Tract Infection—A Systematic Review

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are associated with significant morbidity. We rely on clinical presentation, urinalysis, and urine culture to diagnose UTI. To differentiate between lower UTI and pyelonephritis, we depend on the clinical presentation. In the extremes of age and in immunocompromised individuals, clinical presentation is often atypical posing a challenge to diagnosis. In the elderly, the high prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria is another confounder. We conducted a search of publications to find novel biomarkers to diagnose UTI and to ascertain its severity. We searched PUBMED, MEDLINE and SCOPUS databases for studies pertaining to novel biomarkers and UTI. Two reviewers independently evaluated the methodology of the studies using the STARD (Standards for Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy) criteria. We have identified procalcitonin as a biomarker to differentiate lower UTI from pyelonephritis in the pediatric age group. Elevated serum procalcitonin levels can result in early and aggressive treatment at the time of presentation. Interleukin 6 has also shown some promise in differentiating between lower UTI and pyelonephritis but needs further validation. Lastly, given the paucity of data in certain subgroups like diabetics, kidney transplant recipients, and individuals with spinal cord injury, further studies should be conducted in these populations to improve diagnostic criteria that will inform clinical management decisions

A Review- Proposed Bidirectional Relaying for Improved Channel Estimation Error and Co-Channel Interference

Wireless Communication has gained a lot of interest as future generation requires higher data rates and more suitable transmission with adequate quality of service. Wireless communication suffers from various problems like Co-Channel Interference (CCI) and Channel Estimation Error (CEE). Cooperative communication is an efficient technique to deal with these types of problems by offering significant multiplexing and diversity gains without increasing power and bandwidth. Our proposed two way relaying helps to improve the overall system performance in wireless networks. Cooperative communications also deals with the various problems like fading and shadowing. It is further investigated that proposed two way relaying is spectrally efficient technique which provides a way to surmount half duplexing loss in one way relay channel

IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON MATERNAL MORTALITY RATIO IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF RAJASTHAN: A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS

Objectives: Pregnancy and delivery are an important risk factor for COVID-19. The present study was carried out to see the impact of COVID 19 on maternal mortality ratio (MMR). Methods: This retrospective study was performed in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mahila Chikitsalya, and SMS Medical College Jaipur from January 2018 to December 2021. Data were collected from the hospital records and MMR was calculated for every year. The causes of death were also recorded and changing trends were noted. Results: In the present study, the MMR for the years 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 were 159.03, 112.72, 354.58, and 603, respectively, which reflects enormous increase in MMR during COVID pandemic years (2020 and 2021). Before the pandemic (2018 and 2019), maximum deaths were from direct obstetric causes (77.35%) while 22.64% maternal deaths were from indirect causes. During COVID pandemic a large percentage (53.12%) of maternal deaths were due to indirect obstetric causes, COVID pneumonitis (ARDS) being the most common cause of death. Conclusions: There was 3.59 times increase in MMR during COVID-19 pandemic in our institute. COVID pneumonitis was responsible for significant number of maternal deaths

The Interactions of the Traditional and Modern Healthcare Systems in Gujarat

This exploratory research seeks to understand the interactions and dynamics of the traditional and modern healthcare systems in the West Indian state of Gujarat, including both private and public components. The people of Gujarat make use of both allopathic and traditional medicines, but it remains unclear as to what factors influence these decisions. This study states that age, gender, area of origination, and education play important roles in determining what sort of healthcare is sought after. In order to obtain this information, 500 surveys were orally administered over the course of three months in three different areas of Gujarat. Each individual was asked general biographical information, opened ended opinion questions, and ailment specific questions. These answers were then coded and statistically analyzed. The results from this study do indicate that the aforementioned factors affect health system choice. It is also revealed that Gujaratis are not satisfied with any of the healthcare systems they have and would like to see changes. In the future, it is hoped that the results from this study can be used to create a more efficient overlap of the healthcare systems in Gujarat

Susceptibility to Lead Toxicity

Lead is a bluish-gray metal found in the earth's crust and does not occur naturally in humans. The metal is dense, malleable, resistant to corrosion, and has a low melting point. The most common forms of lead occur as lead oxides, lead salts, and organic salts. Due to its use in industrial activities, lead has been distributed widely, and is ubiquitous in the environment today. Humans have lead in their bodies as a result of exposure to the man made sources. Lead bioaccumulates and persists in living organisms. It has no known physiological function and has been identified as a toxin in humans. The toxic effects of lead in the human body are known to cause developmental, neurological, reproductive, and cellular damage (Yule, 1992). Lead is classified as a priority pollutant on the Superfund hazardous waste sites (Federal Register 1998). Increased health concerns regarding lead exposure have significantly decreased the use of lead in gasoline, paints, ceramic products, caulking, and pipe solder (Hunter 1977). Despite substantial reductions of lead exposures over the past 25 years, lead poisoning continues to be a serious health risk, especially for children. Chronic exposures to low levels of lead are an environmental reality in the United States today (NIEHS/USEPA 1999). Investigating factors that confer individual susceptibility to lead toxicity is imperative to setting environmental and occupational standards that are protective of public health. Lead abatement programs have been studied for their effectiveness in reducing blood lead levels. Several studies have found that improper lead abatement practices can actually increase lead levels in children. Results indicate that any type of abatement method—soil, dust, paint, and educational intervention—must be thorough and continual in order to be beneficial. Abated areas often become recontaminated or actually expose people to higher levels of lead than pre-abatement conditions. Favorable results are most often seen when a combination of proper abatement techniques are utilized (ISSI, 1999). Measuring the amount of lead in the blood is considered to be the most useful screening and diagnostic test for lead exposure. This measurement, referred to as the blood lead level, reflects lead's dynamic equilibrium between absorption, excretion, and deposition in soft- and hard-tissue compartments. Blood lead levels often underrepresent the total body burden, but they are still a widely accepted measurement of exposure to lead. This is due to the fact that blood lead levels respond relatively rapidly to changes in lead intake and, within a limited range, have a linear relationship to intake levels (ATSDR 1992).Master of Public Healt

BACTERIOCIN: A NOVEL APPROACH FOR PRESERVATION OF FOOD

Bacteriocins are antimicrobial peptides which are ribosomally synthesized and produced by Lactic acid bacteria. They play a major role in prevention of human disease such as cancer, inflammatory disease, respiratory infection, systemic infection, intestinal disorder and bacterial infection and also contribute in maintaining the healthy gut microflora. Now day's bacteriocin is emerging as the very promising natural alternative against the antibiotic and chemical preservatives and gaining commercial importance worldwide. The inhibition of pathogenic bacterial strains occurs due to cell permiabilization, but producing strains are protected from it by specific immunity proteins. They are mainly classified in 4 classes: class I, class II, class III, and class IV bacteriocin based on lantibiotics ring. Nisin, Pediocin, Lactococcin B, Acidocin CH5, Curvacin A, and Sakacin are the bacteriocins, which have strong inhibition against pathogenic bacterial strain and used in food preservation. This review article summarizes and focuses on general introduction, classification, ecology and potential applications of bacteriocin as biopreservatives in food industry

Uterine artery doppler indices may predict intrauterine contraceptive device-related abnormal uterine bleeding

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the role of colour Doppler velocimetry of the uterine arteries as a predictor of intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUCD)-induced abnormal uterine bleeding.Methods: A prospective study was performed on 120 women (60 without AUB and 60 with AUB) who had copper IUCD inserted as a method of contraception. Detailed history, general and local examination and relevant investigations were done. Pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI) of uterine artery measured at 3 months after IUCD insertion.Results: Cut-off levels for PI and RI of uterine arteries were set. PI cut-off level <2.09 with sensitivity of 58.3%, specificity of 61.67% and area under the curve (AUC) of 0.666. RI cut-off level ≤0.83 with sensitivity of 53.33%, specificity of 66.67% and AUC of 0.703. These cut-off levels were associated with abnormal uterine bleeding.Conclusions: Initial measurement of uterine artery Doppler indices (PI and RI) before IUCD insertion could be useful in predicting IUCD-induced abnormal uterine bleeding which is the major cause of method withdrawal during the first year of use and accordingly women could be counseled to consider another method of contraception.

Anterior Chamber Migration of Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant in an Eye with Scleral-fixated Intraocular Lens

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