Effect of Alcohol on Clinical Outcomes and Its Relationship with Semen Parameters

Background: The incidence of infertility is 10-15% globally and this has risen in recent years. Alcohol has been consumed in India for centuries, both in rural and urban areas, with prevalence rates ranging from 20% to 38% in males, according to various reports. Studies in northern India found the 1 year prevalence of alcohol use to be between 25% and 40%. In southern India, the prevalence of current alcohol use varies between 33% and 50%, with a higher prevalence among the lesser educated and the poor. Aim: To determine the effect of alcohol on seminal parameters. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: Morpheus Lucknow Fertility Center, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Time duration: From January 2017 to December 2020. Sample size: Total 130 patients consisting of 57 patients as nonalcoholic control and 73 patients as alcoholic. Main outcome measure(s): The outcome of interest was seminal parameters, including count, motility, volume and morphology. Method: The study included two subject groups, controls and alcoholics. Subjects in the control group were volunteers who were free from any disease and who had never consumed alcoholic drinks and who had never smoked. Subjects in the alcoholic group were nonsmokers who had consumed a minimum of 180 mL of alcohol (brandy and whisky, both 40-50% alcohol content) per day for a minimum of 5 days per week in the past year. Semen samples were collected after at least 48 hours but no more than 7 days of sexual abstinence. Semen parameters - volume, count, motility and morphology - were analyzed. Results: In the alcoholic group, volume (p < 0.005), count (p < 0.005), percentage of rapid progressively motile sperm (p < 0.005), were statistically significantly decreased, while percentage of nonprogressive sperm and percentage of immotile sperm (p < 0.005) were statistically significantly increased, compared with the control group. The percentages of slow progressively motile sperm and morphology were not statistically significant. Conclusions: The present study found statistically significant results that chronic alcoholism suppresses semen quality, at the seminiferous tubular level. Alcohol decreases semen volume, total sperm concentration, motility of sperm and viability of sperm. This study has proved beyond doubt that chronic alcohol consumption has a detrimental effect on the quality of semen, which in turn, may have effect on their reproductive outcomes

Technology Commercialization: Indian University Perspective

Technology transfer is the complete, enabling disclosure of advancement in Science and technology, sufficient for its unfettered use and improvement. Universities and institutions of high end research and learning are the focus of such knowledge economy. University- industry partnerships in the field of Science and technology are complex and develop through a large number of mechanisms. The protection and the licensing mechanism of Intellectual property rights at such institutions are the focus of attention of the policy makers at all levels, including the Parliament, wherein a bill has been passed recently, PFIP Bill,2010, which emulates the technology commercialization at US University through Bayh Dole Act. A detailed commercialization process has been evaluated and the success of such technology transfer analysis and commercialization has been reviewed with reference to controlling parameters and revenue being generate

Procjena zagađenja vode cinkovim kloridom na osnovi patohistoloških nalaza dišnih organa ribe dvodihalice Channna striata (Bloch, 1797)

Sub-lethal toxicity of zinc chloride (11.5 ppm) on the respiratory organs of the Channa striata has been analysed. The mucous cells show periodic fluctuations in their number, size and staining properties elaborating larger quantities of sulphated mucopolysaccharides. The respiratory epithelium (RE) of the respiratory (secondary) lamellae (SL) of the gills shows periodic lifting with deformity of the lamellar elements, haemorrhages due to necrosis and sloughing off of the RE, followed by hyperplasia and fusion of neighbouring SL. Other prominent alterations include increased thickness of the RE and subsequent dismantling of the vascular elements. Fusion of SL reduces the surface area for gaseous exchange, causing impaired branchial respiration. The alterations in the suprabranchial chamber include protrusion of RBC-engorged minute vascular papillae on the floor of its lumen. This brings the blood nearer to the air in the lumen. Congestion of the sub-epithelial blood vessels of the respiratory organs, especially the suprabranchial chamber, takes place following exposure.Analizirana je subletalna toksičnost cinkova klorida (11,5 ppm) na dišne organe riba Channa striata. Sluznične stanice pokazivale su povremene promjene u broju, veličini i osobitostima bojanja s izraženom većom količinom sulfatnih mukopolisaharida. Epitel dišnih (sekundarnih) nabora škrga povremeno se otkidao što je dovelo do njihova oštećenja te krvarenja zbog nekroze i ljuštenja dišnog epitela s posljedičnom hiperplazijom i spajanjem susjednih dišnih listića. Druge promjene očitovale su se u vidu zadebljanja dišnog epitela i oštećenja krvožilja. Spajanje dišnih listića smanjilo je površinu za izmjenu plinova dovodeći do oslabljenog branhijalnog disanja. Promjene na suprabranhijalnoj komori dovele su do zadebljanja sićušnih papila na bazi lumena žila. Time se krv našla bliže zraku u lumenu. Nakon izloženosti došlo je do zadebljanja subepitelnih krvnih žila dišnih organa posebice suprabranhijalne komore

BIOCONVERSION OF WATER HYACINTH HYDROLYSATE INTO ETHANOL

The fast growing aquatic weed water hyacinth, which is available almost year-round in the tropics and subtropics, was utilized as the chief source of cellulose for production of fuel ethanol via enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation. Fungal cellulases produced on-site by utilizing acid-alkali pretreated water hyacinth as the substrate were used as the crude enzyme source for hydrolysis of identically pretreated biomass. Four different modes of enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation were trialed in the present study for optimization of the yield of ethanol. Two common yeasts viz., Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pachysolen tannophilus, were used for fermentation of hexose and pentose sugars in the hydrolysate. Significant enhancement of concentration (8.3 g/L) and yield (0.21 g/g) of ethanol was obtained through a prefermentation hydrolysis-simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (PH-SSF) process, over the other three processes viz., separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF), simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF), and single batch bioconversion (SBB) by utilizing fungal culture broth with and without filtration as crude enzyme source

Nursing Students’ Perception of Online Learning Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction: The declaration of COVID-19 pandemic on 11th March 2020 by World Health Organization forced many countries including Nepal to choose online mode of nursing education. Hence, it is essential for the educators to find out students’ perception that ensures their readiness to learn in this new environment. This study sought to examine the perception of online learning among nursing students. Methods: After obtaining ethical clearance, a cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 211 nursing students using enumerative sampling method. Self-administered structured online questionnaire was used. Calculated Cronbach's alpha value was 0.828. Descriptive (frequency, percentage, mean etc.) and inferential statistics (Chi-square test) were used to analyze data. Results: The mean age of the participants was 19.80±1.87 years. All (100%) had mobile phone. Most (93.8%) had internet facility at home. More than half (59.7%) strongly agreed that face-to-face learning was more effective. Less than half (44.6%) strongly agreed that interrupted internet connection was an obstacle. More than half (56.9%) participants had positive perception of online learning. Age, enrolled nursing program and device used were statistically significant with perception of online learning. Conclusion: The perception of nursing students towards online learning is positive. Students are satisfied with their learning opportunities amidst COVID-19 through online education. However, interrupted internet connection, unfeasible practical natured courses, load-shedding etc. were perceived as obstacles to online learning. Age, enrolled nursing program, academic year, and devices used had an impact on positive perception

Role of Prostaglandins in Pathogenesis of Dysmenorrhea and Place of Mefenamic Acid and Dicyclomine in its Management

Despite being one of the most common gynecological issues faced by women of reproductive age, dysmenorrhea largely remains an ignored, underdiagnosed and untreated condition. It continues to be a public health issue and has a significant impact on the quality of life of the affected women in terms of inability to lead routine activities, absenteeism from academic activities or work and reduced social activities. Currently, existing evidence correlates and implicates the excessive synthesis of prostaglandins with the menstrual pain. Hence, treatment approaches that can inhibit prostaglandins\u27 production or already formed prostaglandins can provide relief in dysmenorrhea. In this review, the impact of dysmenorrhea on the quality of life of women, the role of prostaglandins in the pathogenesis of dysmenorrhea, and how nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like mefenamic acid can be safe and effective in managing dysmenorrhea are discussed

NLRP3 Inflammasome in the Pathogenesis of Dysmenorrhea and Role of Mefenamic Acid as its Inhibitor

While the role of prostaglandin as a trigger in dysmenorrhea is well known, not many are aware that inflammation and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome are also implicated in primary dysmenorrhea (PD). Inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome and inflammation pathways is an important approach to treating dysmenorrhea and also the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. Mefenamic acid is an effective and selective inhibitor of the NLRP3 inflammasome, which can be considered the most important option for PD treatment owing to its action via various pathways. In this article, the authors have reviewed the role of inflammation and NLRP3 inflammasome in causing PD, how inhibitors of NLRP3 inflammasome can treat dysmenorrhea and the mechanism of action of mefenamic acid as NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor and its role in PD

Perception of Educational Environment among Nursing Students of Different Colleges: A Cross- Sectional Study

Introduction: Learners are key figures for whom the provision and perception of positive, progressive and encouraging interactive educational environment at any educational institution is very crucial. The study aimed to find the perception of nursing students of two different medical colleges regarding their educational environment. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 190 students through the use of internationally validated, non-culturally specific questionnaire. The responses were made on five points Likert scale scored from 0 to 4. The overall score was interpreted as very poor, plenty of problems, more positive than negative and excellent based on obtained score of 0-50, 51-100, 101-150 and 151-200 respectively. Descriptive statistics and one way analysis of variance test was used to analyze the collected data. Results: There were 98 (51.6%) participants from College of Medical Sciences and 92 (48.4%) from Lumbini Medical College and Teaching Hospital. The overall score of perception of educational environment were 142.13±14.90 (74.64%) and 144.34±15.59 (76.14%) in the two centers respectively which means more positive than negative perceptions. Only nature of accommodation was found statistically significant with students’ perception of teachers (p = 0.014). Conclusion: Majority opined a more positive than negative perception towards educational environment. Good communication skills of teachers, knowledgeable teachers, teaching to develop their competence level were some positive perceptions. Whereas, teachers being authoritarian, focus on short term and factual learning, lack of support system were the areas which could be improved

Placental mesenchymal dysplasia

Placental Mesenchymal Dysplasia (PMD) is a rarely encountered placental lesion often associated with high fetal mortality and morbidity. We report here a case of PMD with a favourable outcome. The salient features of diagnosis, management and literature review are discussed