Prospective evaluation of causes of infertility at a tertiary care hospital

Background: Infertility is defined as the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. Worldwide, its prevalence is approximately 8-12%. There are numerous factors such as anatomical, physiological, genetic, environmental and acquired factors that cause infertility. The aim of the present study was to determine the causes and clinical pattern of infertility in infertile couples in North West India.Methods: It was a hospital based observational study carried out on 211 infertile couples in reproductive age group attending infertility clinic of Sardar Patel Medical College and associated PBM Hospital, Bikaner, Rajasthan between September 2016-February 2017. Collection of data was performed by means of a specifically designed questionnaire, which apart from the demographic data also included questions concerning the causes of infertility. Cases of infertility diagnosed after detailed history, clinical examinations and laboratory tests were included.Results: Out of 211 infertile couples, female factor was predominant in 60.18%, male factor in 15.16%, unexplained in 15.16% while a combination of both factors was seen in 9.47% cases in our study. 33.17% women had ovulatory dysfunction diagnosed by menstrual history and ultrasonography. Tubal block was observed in 9.47% infertile women. 6.63% women had hypothyroidism and 1.89% infertile women were diagnosed to have endometriosis. Husband semen analysis was also done to assess male factor. Nearly 5.21% of their male partners suffered from oligospermia, 4.73% had azoospermia and oligoasthenospermia was observed in 3.79% male partners.Conclusions: Predominant cause of infertility can be reported in male or female partner or both so, either partner should be counselled and investigated properly. Our study reports a predominance of female factors as a cause of female infertility but male factors also accounted for a significant number of cases

Potential role of herbal plants and beta sitosterol as a bioactive constituent in circumventing Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer's Disease (AD), a neurological ailment, mostly affects the older population all around the world. The rational therapies show limited efficacy, adverse effects, and poor patient compliance; therefore, herbal drugs are considered a suitable supplement to the drug therapy for the treatment of AD. According to research, herbal drugs reduce symptoms of AD and also improve brain functioning through the inhibition of beta amyloid, gamma-secretase, and acetylcholine, along with the regulation of antioxidants and the activation of alpha-secretase. Various herbal plants like Salvia officinalis L., Bertholletia excelsa L., Withania somnifera L., and Urtica dioica L. help slow down the progression of AD by scavenging free radicals, inhibiting lipid peroxidation, beta amyloid and tau phosphorylation. Beta sitosterol, a phytosterol found abundantly in plants, has the ability to cross the Blood Brain Barrier and thus acts as a bioactive constituent in circumventing various neurological disorders. Numerous in vitro and in vivo investigations indicate that beta sitosterol shows immunomodulatory, lipid-lowering, as well as antioxidant properties. The plant sterol, beta sitosterol, has the capacity to decrease beta-amyloid platelet synthesis, indicating that it might be helpful in the treatment and prevention of AD. Treatment with beta-sitosterol can lessen plaque burden and also enhance spatial learning and recognition abilities in patients suffering from AD

A cone beam computed tomography study on inter-radicular bone to determine the safe zone for miniscrew implants placement

Background: This cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) examination aimed to determine the inter-radicular bone dimensions inside exceptional increase patterns and decide a safe region for the placement of miniscrew implants. Methods: The inter-radicular bone dimensions have been measured at particular websites within the maxillary and mandibular arches. The measurements were taken on the coastal stage, middle of the root, and apical stage of the selected teeth. Statistical evaluation was completed to compare the bone dimensions among distinctive boom styles. Results: The effects discovered giant variations in inter-radicular bone dimensions and the various increase styles. Class II and class III disorder exhibited narrower inter-radicular spaces as compared to class I disorder, especially in the maxillary arch. The crystal degree and middle of the root confirmed narrower dimensions than the apical level in all increase patterns. These findings provide valuable insights into the ability to secure zones for miniscrew implant placement primarily based on the patient's increased sample. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of considering growth styles whilst planning miniscrew implant placement. Clinicians have to be cautious and select suitable websites for miniscrew insertion, particularly in sufferers with class II or class III disorder, to ensure the most excellent balance and avoid headaches related to inter-radicular bone dimensions. Tailoring implant placement to individual boom patterns can enhance the fulfilment and protection of orthodontic treatments utilizing miniscrew implants

VARIOUS ASPECT OF ETHICAL MEDICAL PRACTICE: A REVIEW BASED ON AYURVEDA SCIENCE

Patients always seek for the quality treatment from his/her doctor. The basic tool of good medical practice involves professional competence, healthy relationships with patients and conductance of good ethical practice. The regulatory agencies composed “Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct†which is updated time to time. The guideline for Ayurvedic practice protect right of doctors as well as patient. The guideline of Ayurveda practice included information regarding how to practice with in confined regimen of standard protocol, it is very essential for a medical practitioner to follow ethical behavior since medical practice directly dealt with the health of human being. There are many ethical issue related to the medical profession adapted universally. Ayurveda the traditional science of Indian medical system also prescribed ethical code for the medical practice but yet to be recognized; thus there is a need to look at the ethical conductance of ayurveda practice to maintain quality of Ayurveda profession.

Heavy Metal Contamination

In the era of industrialization, pollution has totally deteriorated the quality and diversity of life. Heavy metal contaminations are the major causes of environment deteriorations. The basic reasons are natural as well as anthropogenic. Chief sources of heavy metal contamination are air pollution, river sediments, sewage sludge, town waste composts, agricultural chemicals like fertilizers and pesticides, and industrial waste like factories releasing chemicals, anthropogenic activities, etc. Agricultural soils in many parts of the world are generally contaminated by heavy metal toxicity such as Cd, Cu, Zn, Ni, Co, Pb, Hg, As, etc. These are due to the long-term use of phosphate fertilizers, sewage sludge, dust from smelters, industrial waste, etc. Heavy metals in soils are detected with some specific instruments like atomic absorption spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy, and X-ray fluorescence and spectroscopy. Among all these instruments, atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) is the best because it gives the precise quantitative determination. AAS is a method applied for measuring the quantity of the trace elements present in the soil or any other samples

Simulation study of stiffeners on composite plate

The present communication highlights a computational model to analyze the behavior of stiffened plates of such composite materials that is subjected to low velocity impact. The commercial explicit finite element software LS-Dyna has been used. The contact force is calculated in conjunction with the loading and unloading processes. The time history of the impact process such as target plate deflection, due to an impact force acting at the center of the plate, is obtained. Analysis shows the effect of number of stiffener on response of composite plate. In particular the displacement and contact force curve with respect to time were investigated, as the stiffness of the composite plate and contact force variation with time were analyzed without failure of composite structure with single and double stiffener

BIODEGRADABLE PLASTIC (PHB) FROM BACTERIA COLLECTED FROM GOPALPUR BEACH, BHUBANESWAR

Objective: Environmental concerns have prompted research into the development of biodegradable polymer as an alternative to petroleum-based plastics. Polyhydroxybutyrates (PHBs) are good alternatives to produce biodegradable plastics. Some bacteria are found to be producing PHB. The aim of this work was to isolate potential PHB producing bacteria and screen them for their ability to produce PHB. Methods: Contaminated water sample from Gopalpur beach, Bhubaneswar was the source of bacteria. Three colonies were isolated from the water sample. The samples were named as C1, C2 and C3. The colonies were first identified by colony morphology. The sudan black screening test was done to screen for the production of (PHB) polyhydroxy butyrate by bacterial isolates. Results: The bacterial isolates C1 and C2 showed a positive result for the production of polyhydroxy butyrate (PHB). Presence of PHB granules in Cocobacillus and Rod shaped bacillus was confirmed. Conclusion: Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), a kind of microbial polyester that accumulates as a carbon/energy reserve material in various microorganisms, was thus concluded to be a decent alternative for plastics. Because of their special characteristics and broad biological applications, biodegradable plastics are compounds with a promising future

Evaluation of Gamma glutamyl-transferase (GGT) levels in COVID-19: A retrospective analysis in tertiary care centre

Many recent studies have reported that patients infected with novel coronavirus 2019 or SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) might have a liver injury. However, few studies have focussed on the levels of Gamma glutamyl-transferase (GGT) alone and the variations associated with it. We retrospectively analysed the GGT levels of 476 admitted patients with confirmed COVID-19 in a tertiary care centre, PGIMER (Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research), Chandigarh. Out of the total 476 COVID-19 patients studied, 35% had elevated GGT levels. ICU care was required for 51.19% (P <0.0001) of these patients and their hospital stay was of longer duration as compared to the patients with normal GGT levels. The incidence of GGT elevation was found to be more pronounced in males and elderly patients. The male population displayed higher GGT levels with 52% having raised levels compared to females where only 21.6% had elevated GGT levels. Although the number of COVID-19 cases was majorly from young age groups, the elevation in GGT levels has been reported more in elderly patients. GGT levels can therefore serve as a predictor for the extent of liver injury and severity in COVID-19 patients

Evaluation of Gamma glutamyl-transferase (GGT) levels in COVID-19: A retrospective analysis in tertiary care centre

681-686Many recent studies have reported that patients infected with novel coronavirus 2019 or SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) might have a liver injury. However, few studies have focussed on the levels of Gamma glutamyl-transferase (GGT) alone and the variations associated with it. We retrospectively analysed the GGT levels of 476 admitted patients with confirmed COVID-19 in a tertiary care centre, PGIMER (Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research), Chandigarh. Out of the total 476 COVID-19 patients studied, 35% had elevated GGT levels. ICU care was required for 51.19% (P <0.0001) of these patients and their hospital stay was of longer duration as compared to the patients with normal GGT levels. The incidence of GGT elevation was found to be more pronounced in males and elderly patients. The male population displayed higher GGT levels with 52% having raised levels compared to females where only 21.6% had elevated GGT levels. Although the number of COVID-19 cases was majorly from young age groups, the elevation in GGT levels has been reported more in elderly patients. GGT levels can therefore serve as a predictor for the extent of liver injury and severity in COVID-19 patients