Polycystic ovarian syndrome and insulin resistance: a South Indian study

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. Some studies have characterized different aspects of women presenting with PCOS. In this study we characterise the association of insulin resistance (IR) in patients with PCOS in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.Methods: A total of 50 women diagnosed to have PCOS according to Rotterdam criteria were studied. IR was estimated using Homeostatic model assessment - insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and clinical characteristics were recorded.Results: The prevalence of IR among the study population was 36%. All PCOS patients with IR were overweight or obese, and had impaired glycaemic status, 75% of PCOS patients with IR also had features of hirsutism.Conclusions: Considering the prevalence of IR, obesity and impaired fasting glucose in women with PCOS, early institution of treatment by lifestyle changes or medication would lead to improvement in reproductive and metabolic abnormalities.

A randomized cross over trial of oral nifedipine and intravenous labetalol in pregnant women with severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia

Background: The aim of treatment of severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia is to quickly bring about a smooth reduction in blood pressure to levels that are safe for both mother and baby but avoiding any sudden drops. There are not many studies comparing nifedipine and labetalol for this purpose. Authors conducted this study with the aim of comparing their efficacy in reducing maternal blood pressure.Methods: It was a cross over trial with 30 patients in each group conducted at a tertiary care hospital. 60 pregnant women were randomized to receive nifedipine (20mg loading dose followed by 10 mg tablet, orally, up to maximum of five doses) or  intravenous labetalol  (in an escalating dose regimen of 20, 40, 80, 80 and 80 mg)  every 20 minutes until the target blood pressure of 150/100 mmHg was achieved. Crossover treatment was affected if the initial treatment regimen was unsuccessful after 20 min of the last dose of the drug in the respective groups.Results: The mean time to achieve the target blood pressure was 32.0 ±18.64 minutes (mean ± SD) in nifedipine group as compared with 37.04 ± 16.36 minutes in those receiving labetalol (P = .002). In the nifedipine group 63.3% required only one dose compared to 36.6% in the labetalol group.  Only two women in the nifedipine group required maximum number of doses that is five doses. Cross over treatment was required by 10% of patients in the labetalol group and none in the nifedipine group.Conclusions: This study shows that oral nifedipine is more effective than intravenous labetalol in rapid control of hypertension in severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia.

Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and biological applications of Cu(II) and Ni(II) complexes with 2-butyl-4-chloro-5-formylimidazole thiosemicarbazone.

Cu(II) and Ni(II) complexes of 2-butyl-4-chloro-5-formylimidazole thiosemicarbazone (L) are synthesized and characterized by using spectroscopic techniques like elemental analysis, FT-IR, mass spectrometry, electronic and EPR spectra. The complexes are found to have characteristic electronic spectra and the geometry of the complexes are identified as octahedron. Both the complexes are found to exhibit similar anti-microbial activity against the gram –ve and gram +ve bacteria. Anti-cancer activity against the cancer cell lines (MDA-MB 231 cell lines) among the compounds studied for % of viability, the inhibition concentration 50 values were shown by Cu(II)-L complex at 80 mg/ml and by Ni(II)-L complex at 100 mg/ml.

Effect of environment on genetic parameters of hybrid rice.

Field experiments were conducted using 68 hybrids, 17 parents and four checks across two different agroclimatic zones of Andhra Pradesh, South India during Kharif, 2008 and rabi-2008-09 to estimate the genetic variability parameters for yield and yield contributing characters. Pooled analysis over the environments, genotype and environment interactions were significant for traits like panicle weight, flag leaf length, flag leaf width, productive tillers per plant, filled grains per panicle, 1000 grain weight and grain yield per plant, implies differential behavior of genotypes under the four environments for these characters. The estimates of phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) were slightly higher than those of genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the traits studied across the seasons. Slight differences were observed for all the characters with regard to variability coefficients, heritability and genetic advance % of mean in different environments. Panicle weight, flag leaf length, flag leaf width, grains per panicle, yield per plant, 1000 grain weight and productivity per day were recorded moderate to high GCV, PCV, heritability, genetic advance % of mean, characters could be transmitted to the progeny and phenotypic based selection would be effective.

Correlation and path analysis studies in gallmidge resistant cultures of rice (oryza sativa l.).

Correlation and path coefficient analysis was carried out for yield and yield components in 21 gall midge resistant rice genotypes. Number of grains per panicle, days to 50% flowering and panicle length had a significant positive association with yield and also had a positive direct effect on grain yield. These traits contributed maximum to higher grain yield compared to other characters, thus, selection for these characters helps in selection of superior gallmidge resistant genotypes in rice.