2015 researcher's mini-symposium

Postgraduate researchers from the Faculties of Science, Engineering, Medicine & Surgery and Health Sciences gathered for a forum to present their research interests. The symposium was held in the afternoon of 30 January 2015 in the Engineering Lecture Theatre. The symposium promoted multi-disciplinary networking between various university faculties. Participants were invited based on research topic diversity and gender balance.peer-reviewe

A study on laparoscopic sterilisation using 5mm laparoscope and direct trocar entry method

Background: Laparoscopic sterilization is a widely accepted method of permanent contraception. The techniques of abdominal entry are open direct trocar and veress method. The objectives of this study were to performance and practice of 5mm direct trocar entry techniques in Laparoscopic sterilization. To prepare a list of benefits and complications.Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients who underwent direct 5mm trocar entry for laparoscopic sterilization.  Period: 1st April 2017 to 30th November 2017. Patient came on the day of surgery with empty stomach. Intravenous pethedine 50mg and phenergan 12.5mg and antibiotics were given. Injection lignocaine intraumbilically and incision of 5mm was made. 5mm trocar and canula inserted directly. 5mm scope inserted.  After ensuring peritoneal cavity, pneumoperitonium created. Secondary 7mm port made under vision and ring applicator inserted and fallop ring applied on both tubes. Port closure done by N Butyl 2 cyano accrylate. Patient was observed for 6 hours and discharged with analgesics and antibiotics.Results: We operated 220 interval sterilizations and 31 posts MTP.  In 250 cases, the method was successful.  Only in one woman 5mm trocar was insufficient to make peritoneal entry since the patient was morbidly obese. Hence 10mm trocar was used.Conclusions: Laparoscopic tubal sterilization can be done with 5mm laparoscope and direct trocar entry method is safe and saves time

Smoking as an early risk factor for problematic parenting practices

Parenting among those who use non-illicit and more common drugs such as cigarettes remains an understudied area for investigation. Secondary data analyses were performed in 2015 on a prospective study with parent and twin data available on n=3,009 individual members of female twin pairs born between July 1975 and June 1985 identified from Missouri-state birth records. Maternal smoking when the twins were 3+ years of age remained a significant predictor of offspring report of childhood sexual abuse (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.02-1.92) after controlling for key covariates. Given limited public health resources, mothers who smoke during child's preschool years may be targeted for tailored parenting intervention

Editorial: multidrug resistance in cancer: pharmacological strategies from basic research to clinical issues.

More than 40 years ago, the observation that doxorubicin-resistant tumor cells were cross-resistant to several structurally different anticancer agents was the first step in the discovery of P-glycoprotein (P-gp). P-gp belongs to the superfamily of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters;its overexpression has become a therapeutic target for overcoming multidrug resistance in tumors. However, P-gp is also expressed in cells of normal tissues where it plays a physiological role, by protecting them from the toxic effects of xenobiotics. Also, ABCB1 gene polymorphisms may influence the response to anticancer drugs substrate of P-gp. Several strategies to overcome P-gp tumor drug resistance have been suggested. P-gp 'circumvention’ is the most explored and is based on the coadministration of anticancer agents and pump inhibitors (P-gp modulators). Despite the positive findings obtained in preclinical studies, results of clinical trials are not yet successful and clinical research is still ongoing. Other investigational approaches have been studied (e.g. P-gp targeting antibodies, use of antisense strategies or transcriptional regulators targeting ABCB1 gene expression) but their use is still circumscribed to the preclinical setting. A further approach is represented by the encapsulation of P-gp substrate anticancer drugs into liposomes or nanoparticles. This strategy has shown higher efficacy in tumor previously treated with the free drug. The reasons explaining the increased efficacy of liposomal/nanoparticle-based drugs in Pgp-overexpressing tumors include the coating with specific surfactants, the composition changes in the plasma membrane microdomains where P-gp is embedded, the direct impairment of P-gp catalytic mechanisms exerted by specific component of the liposomal shell, but are not yet fully understood. A second strategy to overcome P-gp tumor drug resistance is represented by exploiting the P-gp presence. Actually, P-gp-overexpressing cells show increased sensitivity (collateral sensitivity) to some drugs (e.g. verapamil, narcotic analgesics) and to some investigational compounds (e.g. NSC73306). P-gp-overexpressing cell are hypersensitive to reactive oxygen species, to agents perturbing the energetic metabolic pathways, changing the membrane compositions, reducing the efflux of endogenous toxic catabolites. However, the mechanisms explaining collateral sensitivity have not been fully elucidated. Another approach to exploit P-gp is represented by ABCB1 gene transfer to transform bone marrow progenitor cells into a drug resistant state which may allow conventional or higher doses of anticancer drug substrates of P-gp to be administered safely after transplantation. More recently the development and introduction in the clinics of anticancer drugs which are not substrates of P-gp (e.g. new microtubule modulators, topoisomerase inhibitors) has provided a new and promising strategy to overcome P-gp tumor drug resistance (P-gp 'evasion'). This ‘research topic’ issue aims at exploding the above mentioned matters, in particular by: -retracing the history of the first researches on P-gp - describing the physiological role of P-gp - describing the molecular basis, structural features and mechanism of action of P-gp - describing diagnostic laboratory methods useful to determine the expression of P-gp and its transporter function - describing strategies to overcome tumor drug resistance due to P-gp and other ABC transporters - indicating novel approaches to overcome P-gp multidrug resistance, ranging from basic research studies to pre-clinical/clinical studies

Enabling Future Sustainability Transitions: An Urban Metabolism Approach to Los Angeles Pincetl et al. Enabling Future Sustainability Transitions

Summary: This synthesis article presents an overview of an urban metabolism (UM) approach using mixed methods and multiple sources of data for Los Angeles, California. We examine electric energy use in buildings and greenhouse gas emissions from electricity, and calculate embedded infrastructure life cycle effects, water use and solid waste streams in an attempt to better understand the urban flows and sinks in the Los Angeles region (city and county). This quantification is being conducted to help policy-makers better target energy conservation and efficiency programs, pinpoint best locations for distributed solar generation, and support the development of policies for greater environmental sustainability. It provides a framework to which many more UM flows can be added to create greater understanding of the study area's resource dependencies. Going forward, together with policy analysis, UM can help untangle the complex intertwined resource dependencies that cities must address as they attempt to increase their environmental sustainability

Effectiveness of Garlic Intake on Blood Pressure among the Hypertensive patients in selected Community Marappadi at Kulasekharam

World Hypertension Day is celebrated every year on 17th of May to raise the public awareness about the hypertension, its preventive measures and complications. It was first celebrated on 14thof May in the year 2005 organized by the World Hypertension League. The theme for 2015 is ‘’Know your blood pressure’’. Hypertension is called the ‘’silent killer’, because most patients with high blood pressure have no symptoms to alert them to elevated pressure . But over time, high blood pressure increases the risk of serious problems such as stroke, congestive heart failure, heart attack, and kidney failure. Garlic is an herb. It is the best known as a flavouring food. But over the years garlic has been used as a medicine to prevent or treat a wide range of diseases and condition. Garlic [Allium sativum] has played an important dietary as well as medicinal role in human history. Blood pressure reducing properties of garlic have been linked to its hydrogen sulphide production and allicin content -liberated from allin and the enzyme allinase which has angiotensin II inhibiting and vasodilating effects , as shown in animal and human studies.. Traditionally, it has been employed to treat high blood pressure, infections, high cholesterol , fungal skin infections wounds, rheumatism heart disease, diabetes, and many other disorders. Garlic is used for many other conditions related to the heart and blood system. Garlic may be effective in the development of atherosclerosis and moderately to reduce blood pressure.The objectives of the study is to determine the effect of garlic intake in experimental group than in control group 8 The researcher adopted a quasi experimental research design with multiple time series design. The clients were selected in Marappadi village, based on inclusion criteria using purposive sampling techniques. Thirty samples were allotted to experimental group and thirty allotted to the control group. Garlic 30gms are given experimental group to reduce for hypertension. Whereas control group was receiving regular anti hypertensive treatments.post test was conducted in experimental and control group using Vaughn’s blood pressure chart. The study identified that the blood pressure was reduced in experimental group, after garlic administration .The ‘t’ value of difference of mean reduction of blood pressure tabulated was found to be t=34.8.df=59,p<0.05. The study findings indicate that the garlic is effective non pharmacologic measure to reduce blood pressure. Garlic was found to have no side effects when compared with other treatments. There is an association between family history and hypertension

A Case Study on Pulmonary Embolism

Jacqueline Lewis (left) & Mini George (right) pictured.https://openworks.mdanderson.org/aprn-week-22/1015/thumbnail.jp

Phytochemicals characterization of nutraceutical enriched fruits and nuts spread

The present study aimed to formulate a nutraceutical enriched fruits and nuts spreads and analyze the presence of phytochemicals in the formulated spread. The pumpkin seeds and cucumber seeds were roasted at 150° C for 15 mins and made into powder. The seed powder was mixed to the pulp of ?-carotene rich fruits like mango, papaya and muskmelon in order to make fruits and nuts spread. Treatments like Mango with pumpkin seed powder (T1), Papaya with pumpkin seed powder (T2), Muskmelon with pumpkin seed powder (T3), Mango with cucumber seed powder (T4), Papaya with cucumber seed powder (T5) and Muskmelon with cucumber seed powder (T6). The fruits and nuts spreads were analyzed for the presence of phytochemicals ?-carotene, polyphenols, tannins, flavonoids and antioxidant activity. The formulated fruits and nuts spreads were packed in polypropylene boxes, glass bottles and stored under refrigerated condition at 4°C. ?-carotene content was found to be high (634.21?g/g) in Mango with Pumpkin seed powder spread (T1), tannin content was higher (52.61 mg/g) in Papaya with Pumpkin seed powder spread (T2), flavonoid components were higher (3.25 mg/g) in Mango with Pumpkin seed powder spread (T1), and polyphenols content were found to be high (59.33 mg/g) in Papaya with Cucumber seed powder spread (T5). The antioxidant property was high in the Mango with Pumpkin seed powder spread (T1) when compared to all other treatments. Pumpkin seeds comprised of excellent amount of bioactive compounds. The pumpkin seed incorporated spread showed a high level of phytochemicals when compared to other spreads. This was ready to eat spread which had 3 months of shelf life under refrigerated condition is preferred for people of all age groups