To study the feto-maternal outcome in cases with previous surgical intervention for first trimester abortion on subsequent pregnancy and to compare with cases without history of previous abortion

Background: To study the Feto-maternal outcome in cases with previous surgical intervention for first trimester abortion on subsequent pregnancy and to compare with cases without history of previous abortion.Methods: A cross sectional observational study was conducted over a period of two years. Study included 80 consenting females at 28 weeks POG. Females with history of prior surgical abortion just before the present pregnancy were included as cases (n=40) and rest as controls (n=40). Detailed obstetric history was taken, subjects were then followed till delivery and feto-maternal outcomes such as period of gestation, mode of delivery birth weight, Apgar score, increased NICU stay at the time of delivery were recorded and analyzed.Results: We observed that the women with history of induced surgical abortion were at increased risk of Pre term birth (52.5%, p value0.006), Cesarean section (40%, p value 0.012), Low birth weight (47.5%, p value <0.001), increased NICU stay (32.5%, p value 0.027) compared to primi-gravida controls.Conclusions: We concluded that women with previous history of induced surgical abortions were at increased risk of preterm birth, very preterm birth and low birth weight babies, NICU stay in the subsequent pregnancies. The risk of caesarean was found to be increased in women with previous induced abortions exposing the women to the morbidity associated with the C-section. Hence patient with prior history of surgical first trimester abortion needs more vigilant monitoring during antenatal period in subsequent pregnancy.

Comparative evaluation of artificial rupture of membranes and spontaneous rupture of membranes on course of labour and feto-maternal outcomes

Background: Present study was undertaken to do a comparative evaluation of artificial rupture of membrane (ARM) and spontaneous rupture of membrane (SRM) on the course of labour and feto-maternal outcome.Methods: It was prospective interventional randomized comparative study including 120 primigravidae (60 in ARM and SRM group each) with cervical dilatation ≥3 cm and intact membranes. Amniotomy was performed in ARM group after enrolment while no intervention in SRM group. Outcomes noted were duration of labor, mode of delivery, APGAR score, NICU stay.Results: Significant reduction seen in duration of labour in ARM group (p=0.0001). Mean duration of labor was 5.24 hours in ARM group while 6.94 hours in SRM group. No significant difference noted in mode of delivery (p=0.082). No significant adverse feto-maternal outcomes were seen with amniotomy. APGAR score and NICU admission had no significant difference among the two groups.Conclusions: ARM can be opted as an intervention with shorter duration of labour without adversely affecting the feto-maternal outcomes. It is safe, reliable and cost effective modality when employed in primigravida and may be considered as a low-cost accessible intervention to reduce prolonged labour and its associated complications.

Tricalcium phosphate solubilization and nitrogen fixation by newly isolated Aneurinibacillus aneurinilyticus CKMV1 from rhizosphere of Valeriana jatamansi and its growth promotional effect

Abstract Aneurinibacillus aneurinilyticus strain CKMV1 was isolated from rhizosphere of Valeriana jatamansi and possessed multiple plant growth promoting traits like production of phosphate solubilization (260 mg/L), nitrogen fixation (202.91 nmol ethylene mL-1 h-1), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) (8.1 µg/mL), siderophores (61.60%), HCN (hydrogen cyanide) production and antifungal activity. We investigated the ability of isolate CKMV1 to solubilize insoluble P via mechanism of organic acid production. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) study showed that isolate CKMV1 produced mainly gluconic (1.34%) and oxalic acids. However, genetic evidences for nitrogen fixation and phosphate solubilization by organic acid production have been reported first time for A. aneurinilyticus strain CKMV1. A unique combination of glucose dehydrogenase (gdh) gene and pyrroloquinoline quinone synthase (pqq) gene, a cofactor of gdh involved in phosphate solubilization has been elucidated. Nitrogenase (nif H) gene for nitrogen fixation was reported from A. aneurinilyticus. It was notable that isolate CKMV1 exhibited highest antifungal against Sclerotium rolfsii (93.58%) followed by Fusarium oxysporum (64.3%), Dematophora necatrix (52.71%), Rhizoctonia solani (91.58%), Alternaria sp. (71.08%) and Phytophthora sp. (71.37%). Remarkable increase was observed in seed germination (27.07%), shoot length (42.33%), root length (52.6%), shoot dry weight (62.01%) and root dry weight (45.7%) along with NPK (0.74, 0.36, 1.82%) content of tomato under net house condition. Isolate CKMV1 possessed traits related to plant growth promotion, therefore, could be a potential candidate for the development of biofertiliser or biocontrol agent and this is the first study to include the Aneurinibacillus as PGPR.

Molecular Cloning and Sequencing of AlkalophilicCellulosimicrobium cellulans CKMX1 Xylanase Gene Isolated from Mushroom Compost and Characterization of the Gene Product

ABSTRACT A xylanolytic bacterium was isolated from mushroom compost by using enrichment technique. Results from the metabolic fingerprinting, whole-cell fatty acids methyl ester analysis and 16S rDNA sequencing suggested the bacterium to be Cellulosimicrobium cellulans CKMX1. Due to the xylanolytic activity of this bacterium, isolation and characterization of the xylanase gene were attempted. A distinct fragment of about 1671 bp was successfully amplified using PCR and cloned into Escherichia coli DH5α. A BLAST search confirmed that the DNA sequence from the amplified fragment was endo-1, 4-beta-xylanase, which was a member of glycoside hydrolase family 11. It showed 98% homology withCellulosimicrobium sp. xylanase gene (Accession no. FJ859907.1) reported from the gut of Eisenia fetida in Korea. In silicophysico-chemical characterization of amino acid sequence of xylanase showed an open reading frame encoding a 556 amino acid sequence with a molecular weight of 58 kDa and theoretical isolectric point (pI) of 4.46 was computed using Expasy's ProtParam server. Secondary and homology based 3D structure of xylanase was analysed using SOPMA and Swiss-Prot software.

Potential of immunosuppressive agents in cerebral ischaemia.

Ischaemic stroke is a disorder involving multiple mechanisms of injury progression including activation of glutamate receptors, release of proinflammatory cytokines, nitric oxide (NO), free oxygen radicals and proteases. Presently, recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) is the only drug approved for the management of acute ischaemic stroke. This drug, however, is associated with limitations like narrow therapeutic window and increased risk of intracranial haemorrhage. A large number of therapeutic agents have been tested including N-methly-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, calcium channel blockers and antioxidants for management of stroke, but none has provided significant neuroprotection in clinical trials. Therefore, searching for other potentially effective drugs for ischaemic stroke management becomes important. Immunosuppressive agents with their wide array of mechanisms have potential as neuroprotectants. Corticosteroids, immunophilin ligands, mycophenolate mofetil and minocycline have shown protective effect on neurons by their direct actions or attenuating toxic effects of mediators of inflammation. This review focuses on the current status of corticosteroids, cyclosporine A, FK506, rapamycin, mycophenolate mofetil and minocycline in the experimental models of cerebral ischaemia.