Experience of Gender Role Expectations and Negotiation in Second Generation Desi Couples

Due to the lack of research on the Desi community, this qualitative study was the first of its kind to investigate the process of gender role expectation and negotiation style among second generation Desi couples. Previous research provided awareness of unequal treatment amongst the male and female genders within the patriarchal structure of the Desi community. However, this study provided a unique understanding on Desi couples’ perspective on gender dynamics. Six couples, ages 25- 35, who were married for at least 3 years and identified as second generation Desi were interviewed in order to gain a deeper understanding of gender role experiences. With in-depth interviews, phenomenological qualitative research on the experience of gender role expectation and negotiation explored these factors: influence of gender role and gender role development, division of labor, dismantling patriarchy, unconscious bias, financial decisions, becoming parents, conversations on gender roles, and conflict resolution. These six couples self- reported how their relationship is impacted by gender role dynamics as they create an egalitarian relationship. Some suggestions for therapeutic interventions are included in the clinical considerations. The limitations of the study and suggestions for future research are also discussed

Excreta disposal in emergencies: the use of bag systems in challenging urban contexts

While anecdotes of approaches to sanitation in complex urban humanitarian response exist, there is a need for research and development to mainstream emerging technologies to meet the challenges. In response to the wide-spread devastation and mass internal displacement caused by the January 12, 2010 earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Oxfam GB trialled standard bag and Peepoo excreta disposal systems in two IDP settlements. Trial results demonstrated that both bag types are viable excreta disposal options. Based on these positive results, bag excreta disposal methodologies were further studied in additional IDP settlements in Port-au-Prince to create key programmatic recommendations including a six-step methodology for contingency planning for disaster-prone areas. Further research is still needed into the cost effectiveness and phase-out points for bag excreta disposal systems

Maximal Oxygen Consumption Rates in One-Leg and Two-Leg Exercise: A Theoretical Model

The goal of this project was to create a theoretical model to predict maximal oxygen consumption rates in one-leg and two-leg exercise. A MATLAB code was developed to simulate both capillary-level oxygen transport (in the legs) and systemic oxygen transport. Predicted values for oxygen consumption closely matched experimental data. The model was used to explain the trend of a lower maximal oxygen consumption rate in two-leg exercise compared to one-leg exercise. As activity increases from rest to one-leg exercise to two-leg exercise, the oxygen demand of the active components, the cardiac output, and the blood flow rate also increase. However, the fraction of cardiac output to the active leg(s) decreases when the second leg is activated. At the capillary level, the oxygen extraction is increased at the arteriolar end of each capillary, resulting in regions of hypoxic tissue towards the venous end. Venous oxygen saturation is decreased, leading to lower venous P02 returning to the lungs. The increased cardiac output decreases the time that the deoxygenated blood has in contact with the alveoli. As a result, arterial P 02 for blood exiting the lungs is lower. This decreases the pressure gradient between the tissue and the capillary and limits diffusive transport. In summary, the reduction of oxygen consumption rate per unit muscle mass in two-leg exercise relative to one-leg exercise is accounted for quantitatively by the model and shown to result from the combined effects of reduced flow and reduced oxygen saturation of blood to each leg in two-leg exercise.Digitized from a paper copy provided by the Physiological Sciences Graduate Interdisciplinary Program

A morphometric study of adult human atlas vertebrae in South Gujarat population, India

Background: The atlas (C1) has undergone many structural modification and located at critical point close to the vital centres of the medulla oblongata which can get compressed by a dislocation of the atlanto axial complex or instability of the atlanto axial joint. Knowing of various dimensions of atlas vertebrae are very important for the development of instrumentation related to atlas vertebrae.Methods: In this study, total 100 dried, unbroken atlas vertebrae of unknown age and sex were evaluated in department of anatomy of medical colleges of South Gujarat. All dimensions were measured in bilateral manner using Digital Vernier Callipers with 0.01mm resolution.Results: The mean width of atlas was 71.19 mm. The mean distance between lateral margins of both transverse foramina was 55.48 mm and the inner distance was 44.77 mm. The mean for anteroposterior diameter of vertebral canal of atlas was 28.16mm and transverse diameter was 26.63 mm. The height of anterior arch was 10.21 mm and posterior arch was 8.68mm. The mean for height of facet for dens was 8.96mm and width was 9.18 mm. The mean of anteroposterior diameter of right and left superior articular facet was 20.73 mm and 20.86 mm and transverse diameter was 11.34mm and 11.39mm. The mean of anteroposterior diameter of right and left inferior articular facet was 17.89mm and 17.77mm and transverse diameter was 14.97mm and 15 mm. The mean thickness of vertebral artery groove (VAG) for right and left side was 4.15mm and 3.99mm and width was 8.26 and 8.1 mm. The length of VAG-inner edge (D1) for right and left side was 10.34mm and 10.3mm and length for outer edge (D2) was 14.93mm and 15.1mm.Conclusions: The observations of present study helps in improving understanding of various bony dimensions which  could facilitate diagnosis and preoperative planning while operating close to important structures like nerve roots and the vertebral artery and will allow for more accurate modelling of South Gujarat, India

Method Development and Validation for Simultaneous Estimation of Benidipine Hydrochloride and Metoprolol Succinate in Tablet

Present work focusing in developing and validating a new high performance liquid chromatography method for estimation of Metoprolol Succinate and Benidipine Hydrochloride in their combine tablet dosage form. The method was performed on Shimadzu LC-20AT instrument using C18 (250 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 µm) Hypersil BDS Column and Potassium Dihydrogen Phosphate Buffer (pH 4.0): Methanol (65: 35% v/v) as mobile phase at ambient temperature. Detection was carried out at 269 nm. Concentration range 4-12 µg/ml for Benidipine Hydrochloride and 25-75 µg/ml for Metoprolol Succinate . The Percentage recovery of Benidipine Hydrochloride and Metoprrolol succinate was found to be 99.59% and 99.39 respectively. Correlation coefficient for Metoprolol succinate and Benidipine Hydrochloride was found 0.9995 and 0.9997 respectively. The Rt values for Metoprolol succinate and Benidipine Hydrochloride were found to be 3.4 and 5.9 min respectively. The method was validated according to the guidelines of International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) and was successfully employed in the estimation of commercial formulations. Keywords:  Metoprolol Succinate, Benidipine Hydrochoride, HPLC, Mobile Phase

Ovarian stem cells: absence of evidence is not evidence of absence

BACKGROUND: Lei and Spradling in a recent study published in PNAS failed to detect ‘germline cysts’ by elegant studies using lineage tracing approach and thus concluded that adult mouse ovaries lack stem cells. They proposed that primordial follicle pool generated during fetal life is sufficient to sustain oogenesis and that there is no renewal of oocytes during adult life. Contrary to their results, we have reported presence of very small pluripotent, embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs), their immediate descendants (OGSCs) and germ cell ‘cysts’ or ‘nests’ (formed by rapid cell division and incomplete cytokinesis) in surface epithelial cell smears of adult sheep, monkey and human ovaries. METHODS: In the present study, ovaries were collected from adult mouse (treated with 5 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotropin, PMSG) and sheep (from slaughter house) and testis from mouse treated with busulphan (25 mg/Kg). Ovarian surface epithelial (OSE) cells and testicular smears were studied for the presence of cysts. Sheep OSE smears were also used to show cytoplasmic continuity amongst the cyst cells studied by immunolocalization and confocal microscopy of stem cells specific markers OCT-4 and SSEA-4. RESULTS: Cysts were observed and confocal microscopy imaging confirmed cytoplasmic continuity amongst the cells comprising the cysts. CONCLUSIONS: Cysts represent self-renewal and clonal expansion of stem cells with incomplete cytokinesis and are a hallmark feature of stem cells. We suggest the use of PMSG stimulated mouse ovaries and use of more primitive markers like OCT-4 or STELLA rather than MVH for lineage tracing studies to conclusively show presence of stem cells by lineage-tracing studies

A study to determine the prevalence of urinary incontinence in antenatal women at a tertiary care centre in central India

Background: Urinary incontinence is a common condition in pregnancy and postpartum. There are more than a thousand articles on urinary incontinence (UI) in pregnancy but very limited literature from Indian subcontinent is available. Incidence and prevalence figures of UI in association with pregnancy vary substantially. Not many reviews have focused solely on incidence and prevalence of UI in association with pregnancy. Prevalence of UI in pregnancy ranges from 32% to 64%.Methods: A cross sectional observational study was conducted in the department of obstetrics and gynecology, MGM Medical College and M.Y. Hospital, Indore over the period of 6 months on 1000 pregnant women who were following antenatal care (ANC) clinic. Pregnant women, who were severely sick, diagnosed with kidney or urinary infection and vaginal infections women were excluded from the study. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire. After the purpose of the study was explained, written consent was obtained from each voluntary participant. This study was approved by institutional ethical committee. The data was recorded in predesign coded case report form and statistical analysis was performed using the STATA 12.1.Results: In the present study the prevalence of urinary incontinence reported is 16.4% of women during pregnancy.Conclusions: In this study the prevalence of UI during current pregnancy was found to be lower compared to previous studies conducted. The previous history of surgery, constipation, obesity and respiratory problems were found to be significantly associated with UI during pregnancy

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF SUSTAINED-RELEASE PELLETS OF LORNOXICAM

Objective: The aim of the study was to develop sustained release pellets of lornoxicam using Eudragit RLPO and Eudragit RSPO to reduce the dosing frequency. Methods: The sustained release pellets of lornoxicam were prepared by extrusion–spheronization technique using Eudragit RLPO and Eudragit RSPO as release retardant polymers and microcrystalline cellulose as spheronizing agent. A 32 Full factorial design was applied to investigate the combined effect of the two independent variables i.e. concentration of Eudragit RLPO (X1) and concentration of Eudragit RSPO (X2) on the dependent variables, In vitro drug release at 1h (Y1), In vitro drug release at 4 h (Y2) and In vitro drug release at 12 h. (Y3). Results: The optimized formulation (F0) show in vitro drug release 11.24±1.21 %, 43.69±1.28 %, 82.69±1.74 % and 100.24±1.56 % at 1 h, 4 h, 12 h and 24 h respectively. Drug excipients compatibility study by FTIR showed no interaction between drug and excipients. Eudragit RLPO and Eudragit RSPO had a significant effect on in vitro drug release. Conclusion: From all parameters and experimental design evaluation, it was concluded that the drug release rate decreased with an increase the concentration of Eudragit RLPO and Eudragit RSPO. SEM Photomicrograph of pellets revealed that the surface was rough and the pellets were spherical shaped in nature. The in vitro release kinetics revealed higuchi model is followed and drug release is by anamolous diffusion

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF MUCOADHESIVE BUCCAL TABLETS OF CARVEDILOL

Objective: The aim of the study was to formulate and evaluate mucoadhesive buccal tablets of carvedilol to avoid the first-pass metabolism. Methods: Mucoadhesive Buccal tablets of carvedilol were prepared by direct compression techniques using a combination of bioadhesive polymers such as hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) and polyethlyelne oxide WSR-1105 (PEO WSR-1105). In order to improve solubility of carvedilol, solid dispersion was prepared using poloxamer 188. A 32 Full factorial design was applied to investigate the combined effect of the two independent variables i.e. concentration of HPC (X1) and concentration of PEO WSR-1105(X2) on the dependent variables, % in vitro drug release at 1 h (Y1), % in vitro drug release at 4 h (Y2), mucoadhesive strength (Y3) and mucoadhesion time (Y4). Results: Optimized mucoadhesive buccal tablets shows in vitro drug release of 96.23±2.45 in 8 h, mucoadhesive strength of 18.20±1.44 g, mucoadhesion time 420±2.6 min and surface pH 6.75±0.015. Drug excipients compatibility study by FTIR showed no interaction between drug and excipients. Conclusion: From all parameters and experimental design evaluation, it was concluded that the drug release rate decreased with an increase the concentration of HPC and PEO WSR-1105 and mucoadhesion property increased with increase the concentration of PEO WSR-1105. The in vitro release kinetics revealed the Korsmeyer-Peppas model is followed and drug release is by anomalous diffusion