A cross-sectional study to evaluate sonographic foetal humerus length for estimation of gestational age in normal singleton pregnancies at a tertiary care centre

Background: Accurate knowledge of gestational age of the foetus is essential for planning a timely and uneventful outcome. Biparietal diameter, head circumference, abdominal circumference and femur length reliably predict gestational age. The humerus length is not widely used as biometric parameter for determining the GA so the present study was done to estimate foetal gestational age by measuring humerus length between 18 to 36 weeks of normal singleton pregnancies and to compare humerus length with routine parameters.Methods: This was a hospital based descriptive cross-sectional study, 200 women with viable singleton pregnancy, with known LMP, between 18 weeks to 36 weeks of gestation were included. Various foetal measurements such as biparietal diameter, head circumference, abdominal circumference, femur length and humerus length were measured using electronic calipers on ultrasound. Data were statistically analyzed.Results: The mean humerus length at 18 weeks was 25.27±1.16 mm and at 36 weeks of gestation was 57.11±1.58 mm. Simple linear regression analysis shows a strongly significant linear relationship between humerus length and gestational age. Where, gestational age (weeks) Y= 0.5213 x humerus length (X) + 4.905; with high degree of correlation coefficient (R2 =0.9785 and P≤0.0001). When Compared with BPD, HC, AC and FL, humerus length also shows a linear correlation.Conclusions: The measurement of the humerus length can be an important additional parameter for estimating gestational age along with other parameters and can be used to predict the gestational age of fetuses in special circumstances.

Effect Of Positional Release Technique Versus Ischemic Compression On Pressure Pain Threshold, Range Of Motion, And Headache Disability In Cervicogenic Headache Patients Among College Going, Students. A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: The International Headache Society (IHS), 2013 defined Cervicogenic Headache (CGH) as a secondary headache, which implies that headache is caused by a disorder of the cervical spine and its components bony, disc and soft tissue elements. CGH can be a perplexing pain disorder that is refractory to treatment if it is perceived. Patients with CGH exhibited decreases in the quality of life comparable to migraine-patients and patients with tension-type headache, with even lower scores for physical functioning. The objective of the study is to see the effectiveness of PRT versus ischemic compression on pressure pain threshold, range of motion, and headache disability in CGH patients. Methods: Total of 60 patients of CGH was taken based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, who were divided into three groups, i.e., PRT GROUP A, Ischemic Compression GROUP B, and CONTROL group GROUP C. Group A received PRT, Group B received Ischemic Compression and Group C received conventional treatment 3 sessions per week for 4 weeks. Results: Significant reduction in Headache disability followed by improved physical functioning measured by Headache disability index, improvement in Pressure pain threshold and measured by Pressure algometer and Range of motion measured by Universal goniometer in the group who received Positional release technique along with conventional treatment. (p < 0.05) Therefore, it is suggested that the Positional release technique reduces Headache disability, Improves Pressure pain threshold and range of motion in college-going students with Cervicogenic headache. Conclusion: PRT is an effective approach to improve the Pressure pain threshold, Headache disability, and Range of motion, thus improving the patient's physical functioning.

Oral contraceptives and oral health: an insight.

Oral contraceptive pills are a safe and effective means of avoiding pregnancy followed by women worldwide. These drugs were first introduced in 1960s and 70s and contained higher dose of estrogen and progesterone and were reported to cause unwanted side effects like gingival inflammation, localized osteitis, alterations in salivary flow rate, changes in salivary components and gingival melanosis in oral tissues. With the advent of new generation formulations of low dose oral contraceptive pills, the effects on oral health is minimized and presently users are not considered as risk group for developing gingival and periodontal disease. This review briefs the effects of oral contraceptive pills on general health and oral health in particular and controversies surrounding their use.

Attitude and Perception of the Students towards Higher Secondary Education in Churachandpur District of Manipur.

The study was an attempt to explore the Attitude and Perception of the Students towards Higher Secondary Education. Student‟s voices are rarely heard. There is dearth of research in exploring students‟ voices. School requires information as to the causes of failure. This paper was initiated as to acquire the information and to improve our understanding of what the students themselves perceives as the causes and antecedents of school failure. Samples of 140 Higher Secondary Schools Students were selected as respondents. A well structured questionnaire was used for data collection. And the Mean frequency distribution and Grand mean were used in analyzing the data collected. Major findings were made on the basis of 6 (six) categories - motivation in learning, choice of subjects and studies, teachers and instructors, co-curricular activities, curriculum, physical infrastructure and academic satisfaction. Based on these findings, recommendations for its improvement and discussion were made. A culture of high awareness, providing greater access and quality on the part of parents, administrators and teachers will be the key to influencing rate of success.

Isolation of new steroids of Kala Dhaman grass (Cenchrus setigerus) and evaluation of their bioactivity

The present study was carried out to determine the possible bioactive components (steroids) of Cenchrus setigerus using GC-MS analysis and in vivo estimation of metabolites (total soluble sugar, soluble protein, proline and total phenolics), photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b and carotenoids) of seedlings and antimicrobial activity of extracts in various polar solvents from the leaves of C. setigerus. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated against three Gram-negative bacteria, including Proteusmirabilis, Klebsiella pneumonia and Agrobacterium tumefaciens andone fungus Aspergillus niger using 'disc diffusion' method, followed by the determination of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) by broth dilution method. Results revealed the presence of some steroids in the isopropyl alcohol extract of C. setigerus:which are (22E)-stigmasta-4,22-dien-3-one(4.93%), δ4-sitosterol-3-one (stigmast-4-en-3-one) (4.31%), fagarsterol (lupeol) (1.25%) and ethyl iso-allocholate (0.32%). Total soluble sugars and chlorophyll-a were also recorded to be highest. The highest activity was exhibited by the isopropyl alcohol and ethyl acetate extract against P. mirabilis.

Coeliac autoimmunity in type I diabetes mellitus

Coeliac autoimmunity [CA] has a known association with type 1 diabetes mellitus [T1DM] for which screening is routinely recommended but less frequently followed. The impact of CA in T1DM has been variably reported. The aims of this study are as follows: [1] to study the prevalence of CA in patients with T1DM and [2] to study the impact of CA not only on nutritional parameters but also on glycaemic control, endocrine axes and bone health. Patients and Eighty-six consecutive patients with T1DM were screened for CA using immunoglobulin A [IgA] tissue transglutaminase as a marker [TTG; IgG anti-gliadin in IgA-deficient case]. CA positive [CA+] cases were compared with age-matched and sex-matched CA negative [CA-] T1DM cases for anthropometry, glycaemic control [assessed by glycated haemoglobin [HbA1c] and hypoglycaemic/ hyperglycaemic episodes], endocrine [thyroid function, cortisol, growth hormone [GH] axis, gonadal axes], haematological [haemoglobin, iron profile and vitamin B12 status] and calcium metabolism parameters and bone densitometry [by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry [DXA]]. Consenting patients with CA also underwent upper gastrointestinal [GI] endoscopy with duodenal biopsy. Out of 86 patients, 11 [12.75%] screened positive for CA [seven patients underwent duodenal biopsies which were suggestive of Marsh grade III[2], II[3] and I[2] disease]. The CA+ T1DM patients were comparable with CA- T1DM in terms of anthropometry. CA+ patients had higher HbA1c [10.7 +/- 1.8 vs. 8.4 +/- 1.0 [93 +/- 19 vs. 68 +/- 11 mmol/mol]; p < 0.01], more hypoglycaemic episodes [five vs. two; p < 0.05], higher prevalence of iron and vitamin B12 deficiency, lower insulin-like growth factor-1 [IGF- 1] levels and lower bone mineral density [BMD] z-score at total body [-1.91 +/- 1.05 vs. -0.63 +/- 0.73; p < 0.05] and lumbar spine [-1.69 +/- 0.92 vs. 0.36 +/- 0.93; p < 0.05]. The incidence of fractures in the past 3 years was also more in CA+ patients than in CA- patients [four vs. one; p < 0.05]. CA has an important autoimmune association with T1DM. The concomitant presence of CA adversely affects stature, bone health, glycaemic control and iron and B[12] levels in T1DM. IgA sufficiency should be ensured before using an IgA-based screening test for CA

Ripen fruits of Indian ginseng: Phyto-chemical and pharmacological examination against human and plant pathogens.

The ripen fruit extracts of Withania somnifera were evaluated against medically important bacteria viz. Proteus merabilis, Klebsiella pnemoniae, Agerobacterium tumefaciens (plant pathogen) and one fungi Aspergillus niger. The dried and powdered ripen fruits were successively extracted with a series of non polar to polar solvents using soxhlet assembly. The antimicrobial assay was done by both disc diffusion and broth dilution methods. Glacial acetic acid extract of W. somnifera show highest activity against A. tumefaciens (plant pathogen) and water extract against K. pnemoniae to varying degrees in the terms of high inhibition zone and activity index. A. tumefaciens was the most susceptible organism in compare to the other organism. Gentamycin and Ketoconazole, the standard antibacterial and antifungal used was effective against the bacteria and fungi. The extract of W. somnifera also significantly (P>0.005) inhibited the bacterial and fungal growth. The inhibitory effect is very identical in magnitude and comparable with that of standard antibiotics used.

Drug utilization pattern and effectiveness analysis in diabetes mellitus at a tertiary care centre in eastern Nepal.

An observational follow up study conducted for one year at a tertiary care centre in 154 newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus patients is presented. The aims of the study were to determine the demographics, prescribing patterns, drug cost and analyze effectiveness of different therapies. Effectiveness of therapies were analyzed in patients achieving glycemic control by Wilcoxon signed- rank test. Majority of patients (n = 114) fell into the middle age strata of 35-64 years and 97% were type 2 diabetics. A total of 282 prescriptions were screened that included antidiabetics and other drug categories. Mean number of drugs per prescription sheet was 1.83±1.31. Oral hypoglycemic agents were advised to 64% of the patients. The prescribing frequency of biguanides (24.5 %) was more than sulphonylureas (19.9 %). Only 67 patients followed up for 3 months±15 days, of which 46 achieved glycemic control. The biguanides only group (p=0.002) and combination therapy of biguanides and sulphonylureas group (p=0.005) were the highly effective therapies, as their p values of fasting blood glucose levels on follow up were the lowest. Nearly 90% of patients on combination therapy achieved glycemic control. In conclusion, this study reflects the therapeutic approach followed in diabetes mellitus as optimal. Future research on a larger patient population is warranted to evaluate existing patterns of therapy for sound practice and quality of care.

Biodegradation of nitro-explosives.

Environmental contamination by nitro compounds is associated principally with the explosives industry. However, global production and use of explosives is unavoidable. The presently widely used nitro-explosives are TNT (Trinitrotoluene), RDX (Royal Demolition Explosive) and HMX (High Melting Explosive). Nevertheless, the problems of these nitro-explosives are almost parallel due to their similarities of production processes, abundance of nitro-explosives and resembling chemical structures. The nitro-explosives per se as well as their environmental transformation products are toxic, showing symptoms as methaemoglobinaemia, kidney trouble, jaundice etc. Hence their removal/degradation from soil/water is essential. Aerobic and anaerobic degradation of TNT and RDX have been reported, while for HMX anaerobic or anoxic degradation have been described in many studies. A multisystem involvement using plants in remediation is gaining importance. Thus the information about degradation of nitro-explosives is available in jigsaw pieces which needs to be arranged and lacunae filled to get concrete degradative schemes so that environmental pollution from nitro-explosives can be dealt with more successfully at a macroscale. An overview of the reports on nitro-explosives degradation, future outlook and studies done by us are presented in this review.