Serum uric acid in first trimester as a predictor for the diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus-a prospective study

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is common worldwide. It is a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism. Indian women have increased risk of developing GDM, and leads to adverse Maternal and neonatal outcomes. Women with raised uric acid in pregnancy are interlinked with more incidence of unfavorable outcomes in pregnancy such as GDM. Hence this study is done to prove the utility of uric acid in early diagnosis of GDM by starting early treatment so as to reduce the complications in pregnant women.Methods: The antenatal women are screened for GDM by serum uric acid levels with gestational age <12 weeks. These antenatal women are followed up around 24-28 weeks and oral glucose tolerance test is done and evaluated for GDM using ADA criteria.Results: In our study, serum uric acid cut–off of 4.2 mg/dl had a positive association with the GTT values with p value less than 0.05 (p=0.018). In this study, in the raised serum uric acid category, 8 (19%) were positive for GTT and among the normal serum uric acid category, 3 (4.7%) were positive for GTT. Thus, we observe from our study that elevated levels of uric acid during the first trimester is interlinked with prediction of gestational diabetes.Conclusions: The diagnosis of serum uric acid level in first trimester as a predictor of GDM is easy and economical and it can be used as a screening test for prediction of GDM

Lived Experiences of Indian International Students: Migration, Acculturation, and Resilience

The student demographics in American universities have been changing in recent years and the result is a rapidly increasing enrollment of international students. In particular, the Indian international student population has grown to be the second largest, with over 100,000 students enrolling at post-secondary educational institutions across the nation each year (Institute of International Education, 2010). However, research on the effects of migration on international students is relatively devoid of critical explorations on the resilient responses by Indian international students to the effects of acculturation. This hermeneutic phenomenological study explores the lived experiences of eight Indian international graduate students at a mid-western American university. The participants\u27 descriptions of their psychological, physical and behavioral adjustments in the United States provided rich information. The data was analyzed using the theoretical underpinnings of the research that included Van Manen\u27s (1997) lived existentials, ecological factors of human development (Bronfenbrenner, 1986), and protective and risk factors associated with resilience (Harvey, 2007; Luther, 2006). Several primary and sub-themes emerged from a thick analysis of the data, which proved to shed light on the lived experiences of the participants. Participants in the study typically faced challenges in adjusting to cultural differences, building relationships with domestic students, and adapting to academic expectations. However, protective factors including their positive attitudes and supportive relationships with their families, professors, and other Indian students helped them in responding resiliently to challenges related to cross-cultural transitions. In addition, hypotheses were generated and implications for education, research, and practice of counseling were discussed

Efficacy of ormeloxifene in comparison to norethisterone in the management of abnormal uterine bleeding

Background: Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is the most common complaint worldwide. In India, most of the women present with menorrhagia and majority of them are anemic and require medical management to avoid its consequences. Hence this study is done to compare the efficacy of ormeloxifene with norethisterone in women presenting with AUB.Methods: In this study 61 women suffering from AUB were included. This prospective randomized double blinded study was done on women between the age group of 19-45 years and were allocated randomly into two groups, one group was given ormeloxifene and the other was given norethisterone for a period of 3 months. Haemoglobin levels, endometrial morphology on ultrasound were assessed before and after the treatment in both the groups.Results: It is observed in our study, that both ormeloxifene and norethisterone reduced menorrhagia. The rise in hemoglobin concentration was significantly more with ormeloxifene than norethisterone (8.3 g/dl to 10.3 g/dl versus 9.0 g/dl to 10.4 g/dl). In our study, the significant reduction in the endometrial morphology was more with ormeloxifene than norethisterone (9.3 mm to 7.8 mm versus 8.3 mm to 7.2 mm).Conclusions: Ormeloxifene is a new modality drug and is found to be a better option in reducing menorrhagia compared with norethisterone in respect to a greater success rate, better compliance and cost effectiveness. Hence our study concludes ormeloxifene as a better choice over norethisterone in the treatment of AUB

Validation of Purgation Therapy (Bhedhi) in Pacifying Vatha Kuttram

Patient’s with the symptoms of Vatha were enrolled in the study. • The author had collected, the review literature for Vatham,Virechanam from classical siddha literatures and Modern aspect of purgation therapy from various texts, Published articles. • Case sheet and proforma was maintained for all 40 cases. • Derangement of Uyirthathukkal and Udalthathukkal in the disease had been discussed. • Ennvagithervugal had studied in detail and their interpretation had done. • Naadi, Neikuri, Manikkadai Nool before and after treatment were discussed. • There is no obvious change in Naadi before and after treatment was noticed among patients. • ManikkadaiNool also shows changes in patients before and after treatment but the results were insignificant. • Based on patient’s satisfactory rate, about 23% of patients showed better and good relief and about 10% of patients reported to have slight relief. • Neikuri shows better results after treatment of Vatham was decreased in many patients who showed vatham predominant Neikuri pattern before treatment. • Better results were shown in patients who had taken oil bath 3 days continuously before taking purgation medicine • One patient with RA Positive had showed the result of RA Negative after 1 week of taking purgation. • A patient with Trigeminal Neuralgia showed a better relief after getting purgation for 3 days

Correlation of endometrial morphology by transvaginal sonography with histopathological examination in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding

 Background: Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is the most common complaint worldwide. Among Indian women, AUB not only affects the quality of life but also leads to serious consequences such as anemia. prolonged and frequent periods lead to morbidity, diminished quality of life and social embarrassment. Hence this study is undertaken to correlate the endometrial morphology by transvaginal ultrasound with histopathological findings of endometrium in women with AUB.Methods: In this study 173 women suffering from AUB were included. This cross-sectional study was conducted by Transvaginal ultrasound using a 7.5 Mhz Philips Transvaginal sonography (TVS) probe to study endometrial morphology (ET). It is measured at the thickest part in the longitudinal plane and included both endometrial layers. Endometrial sampling and histopathological examination were done.Results: It is observed in our study, AUB is more common among the perimenopausal women (50.9%) and also in multiparous women (86.7%). The commonest problem in our study population is heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) (45.7%). In our study, the endometrial morphology assessed by TVS correlated statistically with the histopathology of endometrium (p<0.001). Hence, TVS, which is affordable and non–invasive can be used as the first line investigation of AUB, but histopathology of the endometrium always gives the confirmatory result.Conclusions: TVS can be used as the initial investigation for AUB, as it is affordable, non–invasive and has good acceptability by the patients. The endometrial morphology assessed by TVS correlated statistically with histopathological examination

A Study on the Influence of Human Resources Practices on Turnover Intention Among a Telecommunication Company Employees

While performing their duties in an organization, an employee tied up to a human resource practices which consists of internal career opportunity, training, result oriented appraisals, Employment security, participation and job description to retain in an organization. This research title is aimed to determine the influences of internal career opportunity, training, result oriented appraisals, employment security, participation and job description on turnover intention. The objective of this study is; to understand the influence of the selected human resource practices on turnover intention. A total of 169 questionnaires were distributed to one of the selected Telecommunication company. Data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistical analysis to interpret data. Research fmdings revealed there was turnover intentions exist among the respondents. Significant values for each element in independent variable which the item of reward such as result oriented appraisal, training, and participation. The higher significant value of independent variables are result oriented appraisal and item benefits, 0.538 > 0.05

Components of Soft Computing for Epileptic Seizure Prediction and Detection

Components of soft computing include machine learning, fuzzy logic, evolutionary computation, and probabilistic theory. These components have the cognitive ability to learn effectively. They deal with imprecision and good tolerance of uncertainty. Components of soft computing are needed for developing automated expert systems. These systems reduce human interventions so as to complete a task essentially. Automated expert systems are developed in order to perform difficult jobs. The systems have been trained and tested using soft computing techniques. These systems are required in all kinds of fields and are especially very useful in medical diagnosis. This chapter describes the components of soft computing and review of some analyses regarding EEG signal classification. From those analyses, this chapter concludes that a number of features extracted are very important and relevant features for classifier can give better accuracy of classification. The classifier with a suitable learning method can perform well for automated epileptic seizure detection systems. Further, the decomposition of EEG signal at level 4 is sufficient for seizure detection

The effects of music on pulse rate and blood pressure in healthy young adults

Background: Music is a combination of frequency, beat, density, tone, rhythm, repetition, loudness and lyrics. Cardiovascular autonomic function syncs with the different musical rhythms and modulates the cardiovascular system. When we are exposed to slow beat music the parasympathetic nervous system is stimulated decreasing the heart rate and while listening to fast beat music the sympathetic nervous system is stimulated and increases the heart rate. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of slow and fast beat music on pulse rate and blood pressure.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in 100 healthy adults of age group 18-25yrs. The subject was made to lie down in a couch and pulse rate and blood pressure is measured by LED BP apparatus. After that slow beat music (“The weightless” most relaxing song of 2011) was played through the headphone. Then the pulse rate and blood pressure were recorded immediately after the music. After a period of 5 minutes rest, again pulse rate and blood pressure were measured. Then, fast beat music (“World Wide chopper”) was played and the pulse rate and blood pressure were measured immediately after the fast music.Results: There was significant reduction in pulse rate and blood pressure after listening to slow music whereas there was significant increase in pulse rate and blood pressure after listening to fast music.Conclusions: We concluded that listening to slow beat music lowers the pulse rate and blood pressure, thereby improving the cardiac autonomic regulation

Screening for gestational diabetes mellitus by two step method and the pregnancy outcome: a study in Indian women

Background: In recent times, gestational diabetes is becoming more common Worldwide and complications are seen in fetal development, growth, labour and delivery due to maternal hyperglycemia. Gestational Diabetes Mellitus(GDM) is associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Among South Asian Population, Indian Women are at high risk of developing carbohydrate intolerance during pregnancy. Hence this study is undertaken to screen for gestational diabetes mellitus by two step method in Indian Women.Methods: This study was done in 153 nondiabetic pregnant women of gestational age 24-28 weeks, excluding diabetes mellitus diagnosed prior to pregnancy. Two step method was followed in the present study and GDM was diagnosed and the pregnancy outcomes were noted.Results: In our study the prevalence of GDM is 8.1% by two step method. Most of the women diagnosed with GDM were of age 26-30 yrs (41.66%). Among the women who were diagnosed as GDM, (58.33%) cases required Insulin along with diet control. In our study 33.33% had vaginal delivery, 8.33% had Emergency LSCS and 58.33% had Elective LSCS.Conclusion: Indian Women have high prevalence of GDM, hence universal screening is essential to diagnose GDM, which will improve the pregnancy outcome