ABSTRACT
Objectives: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common medical problem in both antenatal and postnatal women. Data from India on the demography of these women, microbiology and antimicrobial susceptibility of the causative bacteria, need elucidation. Material and Methods: We performed an observation study that collected data on UTI in antenatal and postnatal women between 2013 and 2017 at our tertiary care center in South India. Antenatally, urine dipstick-positive patients, high-risk, and symptomatic patients submitted urine cultures. Postnatally, all symptomatic patients had urine cultures. This was 20% of all antenatal and postnatal women resulting in 20,203 cultures. Results: Of 20,203 cultures, significant bacteriuria was seen in 9.48% of antenatal and 13.28% of postnatal women. A higher mean age was seen among those with UTI, antenatal 27 (SD 3.5) and postnatal 26.4 (SD 4.7) years versus 23.9 (SD 3.6) with no growth in culture. The mean BMI among antenatal was 28.2 (SD 3.5) and postnatal was 28 (SD 7.4). Most (60%) were primigravida. At delivery, 37% required cesarean sections while 21.2% required instrumental delivery. Recurrent UTI was seen in 25% antenatally and 10% in the postnatal period. Escherichia coli accounted for 66 and 60% of infections among antenatal and postnatal women, respectively. Enterococcus species accounted for 13% in both while Klebsiella species was 4.9 and 7.3%, respectively. Among E. coli, 68.3 and 59.2% of isolates in antenatal and postnatal period were cefpodoxime susceptible. Nearly 75% of ante- and postnatal isolates were susceptible to amoxicillin-clavulanate while 90.2% and 92.5% were susceptible to nitrofurantoin. Enterococci spp. up to 84.4 and 97.1% in ante- and postnatal isolates were susceptible to ampicillin, 64.4 and 77.4% susceptible to high-level gentamicin, and 84 and 95.5% susceptible to nitrofurantoin. Asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnancy was documented in 2.1% of antenatal outpatients and E. coli was isolated in 74% of these cultures. Conclusion: Importance of microbiological evidence prior to administration of antimicrobials is evidenced by 79% negative cultures in this 5-year cohort. Escherichia coli accounted for 60-66% of significant bacteriuria followed by Enterococcus and Klebsiella species with 30-40% E.coli probable ESBL producers. Nitrofurantoin followed by amoxicillin-clavulanate were found to be the best oral antimicrobial options.
ABSTRACT
The present study aims to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of Eucalyptus globulus extract against pesticide liver damage in comparison to silymarin, a classical antioxidant liver medicine. Liver damage was induced by oral administration of toxicant i.e. Glufosinate ammonium. The extent of damage was studied by assessing biochemical parameters and histopathological evaluations. The aqueous extracts of Eucalyptus globulus were administered respectively to the animals pretreated with pesticide and its effects on biochemical parameters were compared with standard drug silymarin (100mg/kg b.wt). Eucalyptus globules showed significant reduction of serum enzymes AST, ALT, ALP & Bilirubin (Aspartate Transminase, Alanine Transminase, Alkaline Phosphatase & Total bilirubin) when compared to control counterparts. The hepatoprotective effect of Eucalyptus globules was comparable with the standard drug silymarin and it was confirmed by histopathological findings. Moreover, these effects presented in a dose-dependent manner.The present study showed that aqueous extract of Eucalyptus globulus at the dosage level of 500 mg/kgb.wt may play a protective role against pesticideinduced hepatotoxicity
ABSTRACT
Background: POAG occurs in elderly, rarely seen earlier than 40 years of age and tends to run in families. Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the slow, progressive degeneration of retinal ganglion cells. Aim: To study the changes, in retinal nerve fibre layer thickness in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). Materials and methods: The present cross sectional study was carried out at a tertiary care hospital in North India. 100 patients of primary open angle glaucoma were matched with 100 controls and evaluated with the aim to assess their RNFL thickness and compare with each other. Results: The data distribution analysis of retinal nerve fibre layer thickness in different optic nerve head quadrants in POAG group in relation to overall severity of glaucoma shows that in superior quadrant maximum number of patients in preperimetric group 6 (50%) cases, in mild 9 (45%) cases and in moderate group 25 (44.6%) were in the range 100±10μm. But in severe glaucoma cases majority 7 (58.3%) cases had the RNFL thickness in the range of 60±10 μm. The temporal quadrant RNFL thickness was least in all grades of severity of glaucoma i.e. preperimetric 6 (50%), in mild cases 9 (45%), in moderate 25 (44.6%) cases and in severe 8 (66.7%) cases. Conclusion: Overall RNFL thickness variation, regardless of severity of glaucoma, follow the normal pattern of thickness being thicker in superior and inferior quadrant compared to nasal and temporal quadrant. It was interesting to note that the RNFL thickness in all the quadrants of optic nerve head area continues to become thinner as the severity of glaucoma increases.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The dose requirements for oral anticoagulants in thromboembolic events are influenced by promoter polymorphism in the VKORC1 gene. However, limited data are available on the influence of the polymorphism in various Indian populations. The present study aimed at determining the relationship between the VKORC1-1639 G>A genotypes and maintenance doses of oral anticoagulants for therapeutically stable INR values in patients taking Acitrom after valve replacement surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients from the northern Indian region were genotyped for VKORC1-1639 G>A by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. Means of the weight-normalized daily Acitrom dose were calculated for every patient. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The VKORC1 1639G>A minor allele frequency in the study population (n = 50) was found to be 22%. The patients with a wild type genotype required the maximum drug dose as suggested for full functionality of the enzyme. Heterozygous patients were found to have an intermediate drug dose and the patients with a variant homozygous genotype had the minimum maintenance drug dose requirement. These findings are in concurrence with the effect of the promoter polymorphism on vitamin K epoxide reductase activity.1639G>A minor allele frequency in the study population (n = 50) was found to be 22%. The patients with a wild type genotype required the maximum drug dose as suggested for full functionality of the enzyme. Heterozygous patients were found to have an intermediate drug dose and the patients with a variant homozygous genotype had the minimum maintenance drug dose requirement. These findings are in concurrence with the effect of the promoter polymorphism on vitamin K epoxide reductase activity. CONCLUSION: The VKORC1-1639 G>A status can be indicative of establishing the therapeutic dose of oral anticoagulants in Indian patients.