Relationship of umbilical coiling index and cord twist direction with adverse perinatal outcomes

Background: The main objectives of this study were to examine - (1) relationship of pregnancy-related factors (maternal age, gestational diabetes mellitus, pregnancy-induced hypertension, oligohydramnios, small for gestational age (GA), and fetal gender) and postnatally measured umbilical coiling index (UCI); (2) association of UCI and cord twist directions with the following adverse perinatal outcomes, meconium staining of amniotic fluid, non-reassuring FHR on CTG, low Apgar score (<7) at one and five minutes, low birth weight, and NICU admission.Methods: The inclusion criteria were singleton live-birth pregnancy with GA > 34 weeks. The cases were categorized in hypocoiled (UCI <10th percentile), hypercoiled (UCI >90th percentile) and normocoiled groups. To study relationship of pregnancy-related factors and UCI multivariate logistic regression was used; whereas bivariate analysis was used to study impact of UCI on various adverse perinatal outcomes. UCI was measured by a single observer.Results: In total, 100 subjects were enrolled. The mean UCI was 0.268 (SD = 0.13; 10th percentile = 0.139; 90th percentile =0.410) coils/cm. Pregnancy-related factors had non-significant relationship with UCI. For adverse perinatal outcomes, only the non-reassuring/abnormal FHR patterns were significantly associated with hypercoiled groups (OR = 4.5; CI= 1.15-17.58). Both the cord directions had almost equal distribution without any significant difference in outcomes; however, anticlockwise twisted cords were found to have significantly high UCI.Conclusions: No significant relationship was observed with pregnancy-related factors and UCI. However, it was observed that hypercoiled cords had significant association with non-reassuring/abnormal FHR patterns on CTG.

Evaluation of the effect of lycopene on lipid profile, serum antioxidant enzymes and blood sugar level in New Zealand white rabbits

Background: Dyslipidaemias are the major cause of increased atherogenesis. Lycopene is a pigment that imparts red colour to fruits and vegetables like tomatoes. Risk of cardiovascular diseases has been shown to decrease with dietary intake of tomatoes. Although the antioxidant and hypolipidaemic properties of tomatoes have been studied extensively, beneficial effect of pure lycopene supplement as hypolipidaemic is still debatable So, we aimed to evaluate the effect of pure lycopene powder on lipid profile, serum antioxidant enzymes and blood sugar level in hyperlipidaemic rabbits.Methods: Adult male New Zealand White rabbits (1.5-2.5kg) were divided into three groups of six each. Group I-High Fat Diet (HFD) (5ml/kg). Group II-HFD (5ml/kg) + lycopene (10mg/kg) orally. Group III-HFD (5ml/kg) + lycopene (20mg/kg) orally. Blood samples were taken from all rabbits for baseline estimations of serum lipids, serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and blood sugar. Same tests were performed after six weeks.Results: There was significant decrease in the levels of serum TC, LDL-C, TG and VLDL and an increase in serum HDL-C and antioxidant SOD with lycopene administration. However, significant increase in HDL was not seen with lycopene 10mg. TG and VLDL levels were significantly less with 20mg lycopene compared to 10mg lycopene. There was however no change in blood sugar level with lycopene.Conclusions: Pure lycopene supplement showed significant hypolipidaemic and antioxidant activity. However, it did not show significant effect on blood glucose levels.

Effect of Mirtazapine Pre-treatment on Haloperidol, Ergometrine and Fluoxetine Induced Behaviours in Albino Rats.

Background: Central 5-HT and 5-HT serotonergic 2A 2Creceptors are mainly involved in the control ofnigrostriatal and mesolimbic dopaminergic neuronalactivity has been well proved and established. 5-HThas facilitatory effect on stimulated dopamine releaseby stimulating central 5-HT receptors and inhibitory 2Aeffect by stimulating 5-HT receptors. Aim and 2CObjectives: To evaluate 5-HT and 5-HT receptor 2A 2Cblocking activity of Mirtazapine (MIR) and the effectof mirtazapine pre-treatment on Ergometrine (ERG)induced behaviours, Fluoxetine (FLU) induced penileerections and Haloperidol (HAL) induced catalepsy inrats. Material and Methods: Each group wassubdivided into different subgroups consisting 6animals in each. Control group received DimethylSulfoxide (DMSO) and other groups received differentdoses of mirtazapine one hour before ERG/FLU/HAL.Values obtained from control group were comparedwith all remaining groups pre-treatment with differentdoses of MIR. Results: MIR (MIR) at 2.5, 5, 10 and 20mg/kg intraperitoneally (i.p) did not produce any per seeffects. Pre-treatment with 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg i.p. MIRsignificantly antagonised ERG induced behaviours. 5mg/kg i.p. MIR significantly antagonised whereas 10and 20 mg/kg i.p. MIR abolished FLU (10 mg/kg)induced penile erections in rats. MIR 5 and 20 mg/kgi.p. significantly antagonised HAL (1mg/kg) inducedcatalepsy at 1 hr testing time interval while 10 and 20mg/kg MIR significantly antagonised HAL (1 mg/kg)induced catalepsy at 2 hr testing time interval.Conclusion: Our results indicate that MIR at 5, 10 and20 mg/kg possesses 5-HT and 5-HT receptors 2A 2Cblocking activity. At 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg MIR, byblocking central 5-HT receptors predominantly, 2Ccauses release of dopamine from nigrostriataldopaminergic neurons and therefore antagonizes HALinduced catalepsy

Improvement in prevalence of tobacco use among teachers in Bihar after COTPA.

CONTEXT: A high prevalence of tobacco use, even among educated professionals like teachers, has been reported from Bihar. After passing of the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) in 2003, there have been major improvements in tobacco control nationwide. AIMS: To compare tobacco use prevalence among school teachers in Bihar reported in 2000 with a survey in 2008 and investigate correlates of current and past tobacco‑use. METHODS: Data from the baseline survey of a cluster random sample of 72 government schools conducted during the beginning of two consecutive school years was analyzed. RESULTS: The prevalence of current tobacco use was 35.5% and past use, 11.3%. Likelihood of current use compared with no use increased with age (odds ratio [OR] =3.27 for > 50 years compared to < 30, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [1.50, 7.13]); whereas that of past use compared to current use decreased (OR = 0.25, 95% CI: [0.09–0.68] for age > 50 years compared to < 30 years). DISCUSSION: Compared to the tobacco use prevalence among Bihar school teachers reported from a survey in the year 2000 (77.4%), the prevalence in this survey in 2008 was much lower and past use, much higher. In the earlier survey, lal dantmajan was counted as a tobacco product. If we do the same in the current survey, and consider ever use, the prevalence even then was 53.9%, lower than the earlier figure. Although the tobacco use among teachers in Bihar is still high, it has decreased after the implementation of COTPA and the cessation has increased.

Effects of Cardioselective Beta Blocker Nebivolol on Different Biochemical Parameters in Essential Hypertensive Patients.

Background : Nebivolol is a third-generation highly selective b1-blocker with additional endothelial nitric oxide (NO) mediated vasodilating activity. This property may potentiate the blood pressure-lowering effect of Nebivolol. Nebivolol is also claimed to have neutral or favourable effect on carbohydrate metabolism and lipid profile. Therefore this study was conducted to evaluate effects of Nebivolol on different biochemical parameters in essential hypertensive patients. Materials and Methods : 21 newly diagnosed patients of either sex with essential hypertension were included in the study. Patients having co-morbidities e.g. Diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, gout, pregnant females were excluded from the study. Baseline readings of lipid profile, serum electrolytes, fasting blood sugar and uric acid were recorded before starting Nebivolol drug therapy. Same biochemical tests were repeated after six months drug treatment. Results and Observation : After comparing the means there is increase in total cholesterol, LDL, Serum electrolytes, blood sugar levels but this increase is within normal limits and is not statistically significant. While there is decrease in TG level but statistically not significant. No significant change in HDL, uric acid levels. Conclusion : Nebivolol is a unique, highly selective b1-blocker due to its neutral metabolic properties and is potentially safe over conventional b-blockers.

Emergence of an unrelated highly aberrant clone in an AML patient at relapse four months after peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

We report a case of AML-M1 with 5q aberration at diagnosis. The patient was treated with high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT). After remission induction, he received allogenic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) from an HLA-match donor brother. The successive follow-up conventional cytogenetics investigations in remission after HDCT and PBSCT revealed cytogenetic remission. The most interesting observation in this case is that relapsed marrow revealed the emergence of an entirely new, highly aberrant, unrelated clone with unusual translocations t(6;17)(p23;p11.2),+8,der(8)dup inv(8)(q23qter), t(10;19)(q26;q13.3) 4½ months after PBSCT. Our findings suggest the possibility of a mutagenic effect of HDCT and myeloablative intense chemotherapy before PBSCT that could have induced a genetic lesion in the recipient's genetically unstable stem cells in an environment of immunosuppression. The highly complex nature of the clone and the rapid clonal evolution indicates the possibility of selective pressure with proliferative advantage.

High-dose anti-snake venom versus low-dose anti-snake venom in the treatment of poisonous snake bites--a critical study.

OBJECTIVES: To asses the optimum dose of anti-snake venom to treat snake bites cases effectively. This is particulary relevant in the present scenario when the cost of anti-snake venom ( Serum Institute of India) has gone up to nearly Rs. 400 per vial and the cross-section of people usually affected belong to the poor socioeconomic class. METHODOLOGY: One hundred snake bite cases with envenomation, irrespective of whether they were bitten by viper, cobra or krait, brought within 24 hours of the bite to Jubilee Mission Hospital, Trichur, Kerala State during the 15 months from August 2001 to October 2002 were randomized into two groups of 50 cases each, irrespective of the severity of the cases. One group received a fixed dose regime of six vials of anti-snake venom and the other 12 vials of the same. RESULTS: In the low-dose group there were five deaths giving a mortality rate of 10%, nine (18%) required dialysis and three (6%) required ventilatory support. In the high-dose group there were seven deaths giving a mortality rate of 14%, 13 (26%) required dialysis and three (6%) required ventilatory support. The average hospital stay for the low-dose group was 8.42 days while that of the high-dose group was 9.02 days. CONCLUSION: While there was no additional advantage in following a high-dose regime for snake bite cases, there was considerable financial gain by following the low-dose regime, Most of the parameters showed a beneficial trend for the low-dose group though the differences were not statistically significant.