A preliminary study on identifying specific risk factors of post-partum depression

Background: Pregnancy and childbirth are important events in the life of a woman and also highly vulnerable period of various physiological and psychological illnesses. Several literatures propound that 22% young Indian mothers are showing depressive symptoms after delivery. The consequence of maternal depression is adverse both for mother and development of the child. Objective of this study was to examine the social and obstetric factors contributing post-partum depression.Methods: Women, 18-35 years of age, having four days to one-year postpartum period was taken from the tertiary care hospital settings. Terminal illness, still birth delivery and comorbid psychiatric illness was excluded. Screening and diagnosis of postpartum depression done based on international classification of diseases (ICD 10) using Edinburgh post-natal depression scale (EPDS). A comparative approach by the means of descriptive statistics was implied for data analysis where mothers with depressive symptoms are experimental group and non-depressed mothers were acted as the controls.Results: Study findings indicated a statistically significant association between postpartum depression and risk factors such as occupation and average social economic class, first time delivery.Conclusions: It is a preliminary study in a restricted geographical area, not covering the neurobiological risk factors of postpartum depression. Hence, the future study will focus on the large sample size in a multi areal population for assuring the accuracy of the result.

A study on knowledge and practices of antenatal care among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at a tertiary care hospital, Gujarat, India

Background: Improving maternal health is one of the eight-millennium development goals (MDGs). Since 1990, maternal deaths worldwide have dropped by 47%. This study aimed to determine the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice on ANC among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at a tertiary care hospital in Gujarat and their association with various sociodemographic factors.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 384 pregnant women in their 3rd trimester attending the antenatal clinic in a tertiary care hospital of Gujarat during April 2018 to September 2018. Pretested questionnaire was used for collecting data by interview after obtaining informed consent. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20 and Epi Info software.Results: Study reveals that about 58% women had adequate knowledge regarding ANC. It was found that almost all the variables such as age, education, occupation, parity, type of family, and socioeconomic status (SES) had a significant association with awareness about ANC. 100% women were having a positive attitude toward ANC. Around 70%, women were practicing adequately, and variables such as education and SES had a significant association with practices about ANC.Conclusions: These findings can be used to plan a health intervention program aiming to improve the maternal health practices and eventually improve the health status of the women.

Estimation of withanolide A in diverse genotypes of Ashwagandha Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal

Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (Fam. Solanaceae) commonly known as Ashwagandha has been used in traditional Indian medicine system from ancient times. Roots of the plant are being used in the preparation of many Ayurvedic medicines for treatment of many diseases. Many compounds have been reported and isolated from the roots, which mainly consists of withanolides, (steroidal lactones). In present study, the roots of 25 diverse W. somnifera genotypes were collected and evaluated for morphological parameters, such as root length, root diameter and dry root yield. Total alkaloids, crude fibers and starch content were also estimated from the dried roots of these accessions. TLC and HPLC revealed the presence of withanolide A in the methanolic extract of roots from diverse genotypes. Quantification through reverse-phase HPLC revealed varied concentrations of withanolide A in different genotypes grown under field conditions. Accumulation of withanolide A was reported highest in the genotype UWS-59 makes this genotype superior for medicinal use.

A study of tobacco and alcohol consumption among the elderly population residing in field practice areas of a Tertiary Care Institute

Introduction: Tobacco and alcohol use are serious public health problems in many countries including India because of the associated health hazards. It is essential to bring down the health related risk behaviors among elderly population for promotion and prolongation of healthy life. Objective: To assess health related risk behaviors viz. smoking, alcohol and tobacco consumption among the geriatric population and making comparison of rural and urban elderly people. Material and method: A pretested, semi-structured questionnaire pertaining to sociodemographic information and three common risk behaviour practices i.e. smoking, smokeless tobacco use and alcohol consumption was used for data collection. Results: Overall, 9.6% rural and 6.8% urban elderly were current alcohol users. 19.6% rural and 12.8% urban elderly were current smokers while 20.4% rural and 14.0% urban elderly were current smokeless tobacco users. Proportions of males were significantly higher among tobacco user elderly participants in both rural and urban areas. Proportions of rural elderly were significantly higher among tobacco chewers. Conclusion: Overall prevalence of health risk behaviors was high among the study population. No significant difference found between rural and urban elderly people in relation to habit of smoking and alcohol consumption.

An Open label, Prospective, Multi-Center, Observational Study to Evaluate the Lipid Lowering Efficacy and Safety of Rosuvastatin in Indian Dyslipidemics in Routine Clinical Practice.

Altered cholesterol levels in the blood or dyslipidemia is a major modifiable risk factor for CVD and is closely associated with the pathophysiology of CVD. Asians, particularly Indians, have a unique pattern of dyslipidemia; with lower HDL cholesterol, increased triglyceride levels and higher proportion of small dense LDL cholesterol, with characteristic centripetal obesity. ‘Statins’ belong to the group of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl Coenzyme A reductase inhibitors that have been shown to reduce levels of total and LDL cholesterol. Study Objective: To evaluate the lipid lowering efficacy and safety of Rosuvastatin in Indian dyslipidemics in routine clinical practice by measuring the percent change in Total Cholesterol, LDL, TG and HDL over a period of 16 weeks. Methodology : This was a multicentric, open-labeled, post-marketing surveillance study. A committee of key opinion leaders was formed. A total of 1200 doctors were approached of whom 800 provided us with subject data. Each participating doctor was given case report forms and requested to recruit patients according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Lipid profile of each recruited patient was done before initiating therapy and at the end of 4 months. Rosuvastatin was given at a dose of either 5mg/ 10mg OD for 4 months. Results : A total of 11, 656 subjects were recruited into this study out of which 10, 410 complete case report forms were considered (n=10410). The study included 65% males and 35% females. Majority of the subjects were in the age group of 46-55years (35.2%) and 56-65 years (29.4%). In this study, the total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C, Triglycerides (TG) has significantly decreased by 46.13%, 53.74% and 41.93% respectively. Also the HDLC levels increased by 26.84%, thereby, indicating a significant change in the levels of all the dyslipidemic indicators. With the reported number of adverse events (n=4) related to Rosuvastatin, it is evident that the drug is safe and tolerable. There were no significant changes observed in the liver and renal function tests with Rosuvastatin reiterating their safety. Conclusion : Rosuvastatin has shown greater efficacy in lowering LDL cholesterol and non-HDL-cholesterol concentrations. It has been shown to enable more patients to reach their LDL cholesterol goals and to do so with an acceptable safety profile.

Novel microbial route to synthesize silver nanoparticles using spore crystal mixture of Bacillus thuringiensis.

Metallic nanoparticles are traditionally synthesized by wet chemical techniques, where the chemicals used are often toxic and flammable. In the present study, the spore crystal mixture of Bacillus thuringiensis was used for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. Nanoparticles were characterized using UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, XRD and TEM. X-ray diffraction and TEM analysis showed the average particle size of 15 nm and mixed (cubic and hexagonal) structure. This is for the first time that any bacterial spore crystal mixture was used for the synthesis of nanoparticles. Further, these biologically synthesized nanoparticles were found to be highly toxic against different multi drug resistant human pathogenic bacteria.

Granulosa cell tumor arising in an ovary with mature teratoma.

Granulosa cell tumor (GCT) with synchronous mature teratoma is extremely rare and only eight cases are documented in the literature. GCT is low-grade malignancy and need a close follow up for recurrences which may be late. We report a case of GCT and mature teratoma occurring synchronously in the same ovary in a perimenopausal woman.