Effect of low dose aspirin on fetal outcome in women at risk for developing pregnancy induced hypertension

Background: Though pregnancy induced hypertension is a worldwide problem, it is more prevalent in developing countries particularly south east Asian and African countries. It contributes to 20% of perinatal death and 40-50% of low birth weight babies in India. Fetal salvage is also an important consideration in providing quality care. Low dose aspirin given between 12 weeks to 28 weeks of gestational age in high-risk women at Developing Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH) is anticipated to prevent the development of PIH and complications that arises especially those regarding maternal and fetal mortality due to PIH.Methods: This prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted in the dept of O and G, SCB MC and Hospital, Cuttack during November 2018 to October 2019. Pregnant women between the gestational age of 13 to 28 week were screened for risk factors and included in this study. Low dose aspirin of 60 mg daily till delivery was given to pregnant women who consented to be a part of study randomly with the other group taking placebo.Results: Incidence of IUGR babies in low dose aspirin treated mothers was as low as 1%. Incidence of LBW babies is lower in low dose aspirin treated mothers than with those who were not treated. Mean birth weight in cases was 2780 gm'352 gm vs control 2592 gm'483 gm. There is increased incidence of still birth in high risk group not treated with aspirin. No significant difference in reducing incidence premature deliveries between case and control.Conclusions: Low dose aspirin has a definite role in the prevention of PIH in high risk pregnancy and its complication like IUGR and low birth weight. Low dose aspirin reduces the incidence of PIH. Low dose aspirin can be considered a safe drug without any deleterious side effect for mother and the fetus. Benefits of prevention of PIH, justifies its administration in women at high risk.

A study on screening of high risk children for tuberculosis infection

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be one of the most devastating and widespread infections in the world. Of the 9 million annual tuberculosis cases, about 1 million (11%) occur in children (under 15 years of age). Childhood tuberculosis is a neglected aspect of the tuberculosis epidemic. The objective of the study was to screen the children who are household contacts of TB, HIV and TB -HIV patients and identify the children with the type of tuberculosis (Latent and symptomatic) and treat accordingly there by reducing the transmission of disease, as these children may become open cases in the future.Methods: All the registered cases of active TB, TB-HIV and HIV were traced out from district unit of RNTCP, PHC, CHC in and around Nellimarla town (10 kms radius). These patients were interviewed for medical history, treatment history, duration of treatment and degree and duration of house hold contacts (primarily children between 1 to 14 years.Results: Out of 160 registered patients 91 patients were diagnosed as having symptomatic TB infection and 69 were diagnosed having latent TB infection, with most of the affected children being in the age group of 1 to 5 years). Majority of the symptomatic patients (46.15%) were household contacts of TB- HIV patients and majority of children (40.57%) with latent TB Infection are direct household contacts of open cases of TB alone. Of the symptomatic TB infection 74.72% had pulmonary TB and 25.28% had extra pulmonary TB.Conclusions: Tubercular lymphadenopathy is the most common manifestation of extra pulmonary TB followed by tubercular meningitis and among the tubercular lymphadenopathy the cervical lymphnodes are most commonly involved.

Molecular Dynamics, Simulation of Protein-Protein Complex and their Role in Cytoprotective Process in Ethanol-induced Toxicity of HepG2 Cell Line

Aim: To examine the protein-protein interaction of Wolbachia Surface Protein (WSP of Uzifly) with six proteins involved in Ethanol-induced toxicity and the proteins involved in its cytoprotective process in HepG2 cell line (CYP2E1, Superoxide dismutase, Catalase, Death-associated protein kinase1, Alcohol dehydrogenases (Alpha/beta/gamma) and Cytochrome-C) and to study real time molecular dynamics. Methodology: Modelled structure of WSP of Uzifly was retrieved from our laboratory archive. The proteins involved in the Ethanol-induced toxicity and the proteins involved in its cytoprotective process in HepG2 cell line were chosen based on the literature study. The six proteins like CYP2E1, Superoxide dismutase, Catalase, Death-associated protein kinase1, Alcohol dehydrogenases (Alpha/beta/gamma) and Cytochrome-C which are involved in the Ethanol-induced toxicity and the proteins involved in its cytoprotective process in HepG2 cell line were retrieved from PDB database with ID: PDB (3T3Z), PDB (2C9V), PDB (1DGG), PDB (2YAK), PDB (1U3W) and PDB (3NWV) respectively. Docking study was processed using ZDOCK and the best poses of protein were sorted using rDock. Finally, the atomic level interaction was studied for the best-scored protein-protein complex. The best complex was further subjected to molecular dynamics simulation to study its stability using standard dynamics cascade tool. Results: From the results, it was observed that three proteins such as Cytochrome-C, CYP2E1 and Superoxide dismutase have more favourable shape complementarity for WSP binding to exhibit the cytoprotective process. However, the interaction analysis was done only for the top complex, Cytochrome-C-WSP. Time dependent parameter analysis of best complex Cytochrome-C-WSP showed that root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) values initially deviated but it was stabilized at the end of 1ns dynamics. The radius of gyration (Rg) during dynamics was within the limit. Conclusion: This insilico study revealed that WSP has cytoprotective potential and therapeutical application.

Formulation and evaluation of fast dissolving tablets of amlodipine besylate by using Fenugreek seed mucilage and Ocimum basilicum gum.

Fast dissolving/disintegrating tablets have received ever-increasing demand during the last decade, and the field has became a rapidly growing area in the pharmaceutical area. Particularly the fast dissolving drug delivery systems formulated with natural polymers have more demand because natural materials like gums and mucilages have been extensively used in the field of drug delivery for their easy availability, ease administration, non toxicity, non irritant nature etc. The main aim of the present study was to formulate the fast dissolving tablets of amlodipine besylate tablets using Fenugreek seed mucilage and Ocimum basilicum gum as a natural superdisintegrating agents to achieve quick onset of action, is to increase the water uptake with in shortest wetting time and there by decrease the disintegration time of the tablets by simple and cost effective direct compression technique. Pre-compression parameters like angle of repose and post-compression parameters like wetting time, water absorption ratio, in-vitro disintegration and in-vitro dispersion time were studied. The hardness, friability and drug content of all the formula-tions were found to be within the limits. The best formulations FFGK5 & FOB5 have shown good disintegration time, hardness and friability. The best formulations were also found to be stable. Optimized formulation was subjected to stability studies as per ICH guidelines and it insignificant change in hardness, disintegration time and in vitro drug release.

Formulation and evaluation of fast dissolving tablets of amlodipine besylate by using Fenugreek seed mucilage and Ocimum basilicum gum.

Fast dissolving/disintegrating tablets have received ever-increasing demand during the last decade, and the field has became a rapidly growing area in the pharmaceutical area. Particularly the fast dissolving drug delivery systems formulated with natural polymers have more demand because natural materials like gums and mucilages have been extensively used in the field of drug delivery for their easy availability, ease administration, non toxicity, non irritant nature etc. The main aim of the present study was to formulate the fast dissolving tablets of amlodipine besylate tablets using Fenugreek seed mucilage and Ocimum basilicum gum as a natural superdisintegrating agents to achieve quick onset of action, is to increase the water uptake with in shortest wetting time and there by decrease the disintegration time of the tablets by simple and cost effective direct compression technique. Pre-compression parameters like angle of repose and post-compression parameters like wetting time, water absorption ratio, in-vitro disintegration and in-vitro dispersion time were studied. The hardness, friability and drug content of all the formula-tions were found to be within the limits. The best formulations FFGK5 & FOB5 have shown good disintegration time, hardness and friability. The best formulations were also found to be stable. Optimized formulation was subjected to stability studies as per ICH guidelines and it insignificant change in hardness, disintegration time and in vitro drug release.

Hereditary elliptocytosis in Bahrain

Hereditary elliptocytosis an abnormality of red blood cell may provide a selective advantage to protect against malaria. We screened 2000 Bahraini blood donors and found 42 cases of hereditary elliptocytosis. Clinical and haematological aspects were analysed is 100 consecutively diagnosed cases of hereditary ellipocytosis among Bahraini patients. Their ages ranged from 46 hours to 75 years. Female preponderance was observed in the adult age group. Majority of patients presented with anaemia. Low haemoglobin and low red cell indices were noticed in all age groups. However the condition was found to exist in three forms as clinically silent, disease with transient haemolysis, and as a chronic haemolytic process. Thus a peripheral smear examination to screen for elliptocytosis is warranted in all anaemic Bahraini patients

Incidence of genetic disorders of haemoglobins in the hospital population of Bahrain

In a retrospective study, blood samples of 56198 Bahraini nationals received at the Pathology Department in Salmaniya Medical Centre over the six-year period 1982-1987 were analysed. Of the total, 5503 were neonatal samples and the rest non-neonatal. Amongst the latter, 68.82% showed abnormal haemoglobin, 56.56% showed sickle cell trait, 10.44% showed sickle cell disease and 1.82% showed other forms of abnormal haemoglobins including rarer ones. Amongst the neonatal samples, abnormal haemoglobin were detected in 44.35%: 24.2% were alph-thalassaemia cases, 18.10% were sickle cell traits, and 2.1% were sickle cell disease. The highly variable concentration of the abnormal haemoglobin in both groups was also studied and analysed. Such high incidence of abnormal haemoglobin gene necessitates a prospective detailed study of the problem in general population followed by genetic counseling