Yoga and Pranayama during High-Risk Pregnancy

Yoga is a philosophy and a way of life where art and science meet. It is the art of knowing oneself and knowing the eternal truth. It is the study of functioning of body, mind and intellect in the process of attaining freedom. Ayurveda is the ancient medicine healing system for body, mind and spirit. Yoga and Ayurveda have long been linked together as two complementary systems of human development. A women’s body is biologically created for certain specific functions. She has to undergo the four stages of life- childhood, adolescence, middle age and old age. A woman who has looked after her health will reap the reward by having a healthy pregnancy and delivery. It is absolutely essential for a pregnant woman to maintain her physical and mental well being both for herself and for the sake of the child within.A high-risk pregnancy is the one with a significant probability for a poor maternal or fetal outcome. The small family system in present generation and increasing trend of elderly pregnancies are causing more and more complications in antenatal period and during delivery. The incidence of high risk pregnancies is increasing in higher rate. The practice of Yoga and pranayama in such a crucial condition makes the journey of pregnancy a very easier one. It helps to combat the dangers of pregnancy, and prevents unavoidable tragic consequences. In fact regular practice of yoga is very much advised to lead a healthy life, and have a healthy pregnancy. During high-risk pregnancy yogic postures and breathing techniques do miracle. They prevent the possible complications and protect the pregnancy. Yoga and pranayama are healthy ways of life. The same healthy way of life is needed when the pregnancy condition becomes a risky one

Clinical Study on Menopausal Women in case of Phalini Yoni Vyapad w.s.r. to Cystocele

Quality of life of women is very much important, especially when she is in her Menopausal age. Prolapse is a common complaint of elderly women in gynecological practice. The pelvic organ prolapse refers to protrusions of the pelvic organs into or out of the vaginal canal. The uterus normally has a limited range of movement. So its position in the pelvis is affected by its neighboring structures. Most women who develop prolapse are of menopausal age. When pelvic floor muscles and the ligaments that support the female genital tract become slack and atonic, they herniate outside. When women attain Menopause, there occurs atrophy of the body tissues, Genitourinary organs, especially in the organs which have estrogen receptors. In case of weakness of the pelvic floor, atrophy of the muscles and ligaments, there will be drooping down of the corresponding structure; may be prolapse of urinary bladder, even complete uterine prolapse. Procedentia becomes an irreversible condition; surgery or removing the part which is fallen out is the only option left. Complication due to surgical intervention is another major hazard. So early detection and treatment is one of the preventive methods to avoid future complication. Here there is a clinical trial on Menopausal women with Cystocele with a beneficial result

Outcome analysis of percutaneous tenotomy in chronic lateral epicondylitis elbow of greater than 6 months duration

Background: Lateral epicondylitis elbow is a self-limiting condition with an unclear pathology. Conservative therapy is treatment of choice in lateral epicondylitis elbow but chronic lateral epicondylitis elbow (>6 month) is a condition difficult to treat. Percutaneous extensor tendon release can be a viable treatment option in such conditions.Methods: This prospective study was conducted in 2016 to 2017 at the Department of Orthopaedics Surgery in a tertiary care institute. 30 patients were treated by percutaneous tenotomy.  The outcome was assessed at follow ups using numerical rating scale (NRS), disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand questionnaire (DASH) and Oxford scores.Results: 30 elbows were included in this study. They were managed by percutaneous method (PT; n=30). The mean age of patients was 41.74 years (range 26-67 years). Females were affected more than males in both groups (3:1).    Dominant limb was involved in 86% of patients.73% of females were house wives exposed to household chores and manual activities while 40% of males were manual workers.  Mean hospital stay was 35 minutes (range 20-43 minutes). Patients were followed up at 3 month and 6 month post intervention. NRS, DASH, Oxford score assessment showed that all the scores were significantly decreased (p<0.05) at 3 month and 6 month in patients undergoing percutaneous tenotomy. Conclusions: Lateral epicondylitis >6 month duration is difficult to treat. Percutaneous tenotomy is effective modality of treatment in such conditions

Alveolar soft part sarcoma masquerading as lipoma: a case report

We report herein, a rare case of a 14-year-old child with alveolar soft part sarcoma. The patient initially noticed a progressively growing mass over medial side of right distal thigh. Although clinically the swelling appeared to be lipoma, the needle biopsy confirmed it to be alveolar soft part sarcoma. Patient was managed by wide excision, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy

Chronic non puerperal uterine inversion secondary to uterine leiomyoma misdiagnosed as advanced cervical cancer: a rare case report

Uterine inversion is an uncommon complication of parturition which often occurs in the immediate postpartum period. The chronic non puerperal uterine inversion is a rare gynaecological clinical condition which usually results from tumour arising from the fundus of the uterus. Here we are present a case of 45 year old lady with non-puerperal chronic uterine inversion secondary to fundal sub mucous fibroid polyp which was initially misdiagnosed as carcinoma cervix. An attempt at vaginal restoration and removal was difficult. Hysterectomy was done by vaginal approach. Pre and Postoperative course in the hospital was uneventful. Early diagnosis and appropriate surgical treatment of the inverted uterus are important to prevent further complications

A study of changing trends of maternal mortality at the tertiary care centre, MMC & RI Mysore, India

Background: Maternal mortality is a reflection of the care given to women by the society. It is tragic that deaths occur during the natural process of child birth and most of them are preventable. Aims and objectives: To study the maternal mortality and the causes resulting in maternal death over 5 years in a tertiary care centre, Cheluvamba hospital, MMC & RI, Mysore. To find out avoidable factors and use information thus generated to reduce maternal mortality.Methods: A retrospective study of all maternal deaths from June 2008 to June 2013. All maternal deaths were reviewed and studied in detail including admission death interval and cause of death.  Results: Maternal mortality ratio ranged between 262 to 109/100000 births. The causes of death were hypertensive disorders (30.4%), haemorrhage (24.8%), anaemia (14.8%), sepsis (6.8%) and others (23.2%). Maximum deaths (70.6%) occurred in women between 20-29 years of age, multigravida contributed to 54.96% of maternal mortality. 42 % were unbooked, 97% were referred cases. Conclusions: Overall maternal mortality was 215/100000 live births. Maternal deaths due to direct obstetric causes were 87% and indirect were 13 %. The causes of potentially preventable deaths include haemorrhage, anaemia, sepsis, disseminated intravascular coagulation and its complications. Hypertensive disorders were the leading cause of death, followed by haemorrhage. Anaemia was an important indirect cause of death. Most maternal deaths are preventable by optimum utilization of existing MCH facilities, identifying the bottlenecks in health delivery system, early identification of high risk pregnancies and their timely referral to tertiary care centre

Interplay of nuclear receptors (ER, PR, and GR) and their steroid hormones in MCF-7 cells

Steroid hormones and their nuclear receptors play a major role in the development and progression of breast cancer. MCF-7 cells are triple-positive breast cancer cells expressing estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and glucocorticoid receptor (GR). However, interaction and their role in expression pattern of activator protein (AP-1) transcription factors (TFs) are not completely understood. Hence, in our study, MCF-7 cells were used as an in vitro model system to study the interplay between the receptors and hormones. MCF-7 cells were treated with estradiol-17β (E2), progesterone (P4), and dexamethasone (Dex), alone or in combination, to study the proliferation of cells and expression of AP-1 genes. MTT assay results show that E2 or P4 induced the cell proliferation by more than 35 %, and Dex decreased the proliferation by 26 %. E2 and P4 are found to increase ERα by more than twofold and c-Jun, c-Fos, and Fra-1 AP-1 TFs by more than 1.7-fold, while Dex shows opposite effect of E2- or P4-induced effect as well as effect on the expression of nuclear receptors and AP-1 factors. E2 antagonist Fulvestrant (ICI 182,780) found to reduce proliferation and E2-induced expression of AP1-TFs, while P4 or Dex antagonist Mifepristone (RU486) is found to block GR-mediated expression of NRs and AP-1 mRNAs. Results suggest that E2 and P4 act synergistically, and Dex acts as an antagonist of E2 and P4

Aqueous areca nut extract induces oxidative stress in human lung epithelial A549 cells: Probable role of p21 in inducing cell death

Areca nut a well-known masticator used across globe. Habitual chewing of areca nut is associated with serious oral health effects. However, the role of areca nut in oxidative stress induction and cell death is less understood. Hence, in the present study we aimed to evaluate the toxic mechanism of areca nut extract on human lung epithelial A549 cells. Cells were treated with or without aqueous areca nut extract and cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Cells treated with areca nut extract show reduced viability in a dose dependent manner with the IC50 of 0.5 concentration. Areca nut extract induced the reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation followed by membrane damage with leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) enzyme. Cells with continuous exposure of areca nut extract depletes the free radical neutralizing anti-oxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and Glutathione-S-transferase (GST). Further, the analysis of mRNA expression of apoptotic genes and cell cycle regulators show decreased expression of anti-apoptotic gene (Bcl-2), Cyclin E1, Cyclin D1, CDK4, Rb and p53 whereas induced expression of p21 and marginal increase of pro-apoptotic gene (Bax) confirms the toxic nature of areca nut. Thus, cell death due to areca nut exposure may be through different mechanism rather than the conventional apoptotic pathway, where p21 induction might be independent of p53 action, which possibly suggests that there may be a role of p21 in oxidative stress induced cell death. Further FACS analysis confirms cell death in areca nut treated cells. © 2016 Elsevier Inc

Cadmium induces oxidative stress and apoptosis in lung epithelial cells

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the well-known highly toxic environmental and industrial pollutants. Cd first accumulates in the nucleus and later interacts with zinc finger proteins of antiapoptotic genes and inhibit the binding of transcriptional factors and transcription. However, the role of Cd in oxidative stress and apoptosis is less understood. Hence, the present study was undertaken to unveil the mechanism of action. A549 cells were treated with or without Cd and cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Treatment of cells with Cd shows reduced viability in a dose-dependent manner with IC50 of 45 μM concentration. Cd significantly induces the reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation followed by membrane damage with the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Cells with continuous exposure of Cd deplete the antioxidant super oxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) enzymes. Further, analysis of the expression of genes involved in apoptosis show that both the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways were involved. Death receptor marker tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), executor caspase-8 and pro-apoptotic gene (Bax) were induced, while antiapoptotic gene (Bcl-2) was decreased in Cd-treated cells. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis further confirms the induction of apoptosis in Cd-treated A549 cells

Differential expression of AP-1 transcription factors in human prostate LNCaP and PC-3 cells: role of Fra-1 in transition to CRPC status

Androgen receptor (AR) signaling axis plays a vital role in the development of prostate and critical in the progression of prostate cancer. Androgen withdrawal initially regresses tumors but eventually develops into aggressive castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Activator Protein-1 (AP-1) transcription factors are most likely to be associated with malignant transformation in prostate cancer. Hence, to determine the implication of AR and AP-1 in promoting the transition of prostate cancer to the androgen-independent state, we used AR-positive LNCaP and AR-negative PC-3 cells as an in vitro model system. The effect of dihydrotestosterone or anti-androgen bicalutamide on the cell proliferation and viability was assessed by MTT assay. Expression studies on AR, marker genes-PSA, TMPRSS2, and different AP-1 factors were analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and expressions of AR and Fra-1 proteins were analyzed by Western blotting. Dihydrotestosterone induced the cell proliferation in LNCaP with no effect on PC-3 cells. Bicalutamide decreased the viability of both LNCaP and PC-3 cells. Dihydrotestosterone induced the expression of AR, PSA, c-Jun, and Fra-1 in LNCaP cells, and it was c-Jun and c-Fos in case of PC-3 cells, while bicalutamide decreased their expression. In addition, constitutive activation and non-regulation of Fra-1 by bicalutamide in PC-3 cells suggested that Fra-1, probably a key component, involved in transition of aggressive androgen-independent PC-3 cells with poor prognosis. © 2017, Springer Science+Business Media New York