The effect of progressive muscle relaxation on depression in polycystic ovarian syndrome

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age. Authors explored the effects of progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) on depression in females with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).Methods: In a 4-week study duration in which the intervention was for three times a week, 30 females which were selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria received a PMR protocol in which subjects were taught to contract and relax 16 muscle groups. The Becks Depression Inventory (BDI) was taken before and after the intervention as a depression analysis tool.Results: After 4 weeks of intervention, the patients showed significant improvement in depression (P < 0.05).Conclusions: In conclusion, this study suggests that PMR practice is effective in improving depression, in patients with PCOS

Impact of Watermelon bud necrosis virus (WBNV) infected plants on the volatile emission pattern in cowpea plants

Pathogens, including tospoviruses, are known to manipulate the behaviour of vectors after virus acquisition by plants to enhance virus transmission. Furthermore, as recently proven in the maize chlorotic mottle virus pathosystem, the vector's choice for virus-infected plants can change to a preference for noninfected plants after virus uptake by the vector. A similar trend was observed in the cowpea - Watermelon Bud Necrosis Virus (WBNV) - Thrips palmi (Karny) pathosystem. Similarly, in the no-choice bioassay, viruliferous T.palmi (carrying WBNV) settled preferentially more on healthy cowpea plants (56%) compared to virus-infected plants (47.3%), whereas non-viruliferous T.palmi settled preferentially more on WBNV infected (58.67%) cowpea plants compared to healthy plants (44%). The changes in preference of thrips towards host plants before and after virus acquisition may be due to the change of volatile cues. This study looked at the headspace volatile composition of healthy and WBNV-infected cowpea plants that attract thrips. Furthermore, the volatile analysis revealed that 1, 2-Propanediamine (0.62%) and Tuaminoheptane (0.55%) from healthy cowpea plants, as well as Tetradecane (0.35%) from WBNV-infected cowpea plants, both have a higher area percent than other volatiles. The amine (53%) and hydrocarbon (69%) groups of volatile organic compounds make up the majority of host volatiles found in healthy and virus-infected plants. The increased contact rates of viruliferous and non-viruliferous T.palmi towards healthy and WBNV-infected host plants could enhance virus transmission if thrips feed on them and acquire the pathogen prior to dispersal and the recorded host volatiles might be useful in vector management in future

Association of serum iron studies in COVID associated mucormycosis with stage of the disease

Background: Mucormycosis is a rare and lethal invasive fungal infection caused by opportunist and ubiquitous fungi. India has reported surge in cases of post COVID 19 mucormycosis due to the increasing frequency of risk factors like corticosteroid therapy, uncontrolled diabetes, DKA, neutropenia and iron overload and hence warrants a detailed study to identify potential contributing factors. Aim of this study was to study the clinical profile of patients with CAM and to correlate serum iron studies with severity and extent of disease in CAM patients. Methods: This prospective crosssectional study was conducted on 75 patients with CAM admitted to Bowring Hospital, Bangalore. Detailed history with clinical evaluation and appropriate investigations done and data was analysed. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 48.19 with 52 males and 23 females. Among 75 patients 90.7% were unvaccinated against COVID, 62.7% had oxygen and steroid use, with diabetes mellitus as most common comorbidity. Rhino orbital-cerebral mucormycosis was the most common clinical presentation. Patients with stage 4 CAM had elevated levels of inflammatory markers LDH (292), D-dimer (457), CRP (74.64), mean serum iron (50.37) and TIBC (255.37). Case fatality rate was 12%. Conclusions: The results of this study revealed significant correlation between the clinical severity of CAM and higher mortality, with increased serum iron levels and inflammatory markers. Therefore patients with elevated levels of available serum iron are uniquely susceptible to mucormycosis infection, suggesting dysregulated iron metabolism in its pathogenesis

Formulation And Evaluation Of Osmotically Controlled Drug Delivery System Of An Anti-Diabetic Drug

Saxagliptine has a relatively short elimination half-life (2.5 h), thereby requiring twice or thrice daily dosing in patients, which may lead to non-compliance. Extended release formulation of Saxagliptine based on osmotic technology was developed and evaluated. Controlled Porosity osmotic tablets of Saxagliptine were developed using Self Pore forming agent Mannitol. Prepared tablets were evaluated for their Flow property, weight variation, hardness, friability and content uniformity. Tablets were coated with a semi permeable membrane using 6% w/v cellulose acetate Phthalate (CAP) in isopropyl alcohol and Methylene chloride and Polyethylene Glycol-400 as plasticizer. Drug release rate was increased as the increase of Mannitol amount in Core Tablet. Drug release was inversely proportional to weight gain but directly proportional to the Self pore forming agent. The drug release from developed formulations was independent of pH and agitation intensity of release media. The DSC and FTIR studies demonstrated that there was no interaction between polymers and drug. The optimized formulation was stable after one months of accelerated stability studie

Correlation Between Cervical Posture and Cervical Proprioception Among Chronic Smartphone Users

Background: The Smartphone, an invention of humanity, became an inherent part of human life. The gradual escalation of its use from a "habit" to an addiction is growing with a need to gauge them. It has been reported that smartphone users maintain head flexion of 33°–45°; continuation of this attitude may alter muscle length and its orientation, followed by a change in the joint position of the cervical spine. Cervical posture and proprioception are critical in postural stability, reflex activity, and head-and-eye coordination. Therefore, this study is conducted to assess the changes and determine and alleviate the adverse effects among chronic smartphone users. Methods: A non-experimental study design and correlational study type with a convenient sampling method were performed. One hundred ten participants of both genders aged 18-25 years from in and around Chennai were scrutinized for smartphone addiction. Participants' cervical posture and proprioception were assessed using the joint position error test and photogrammetry method for men and women who obtained more than or equal to 31 and 33, respectively. Results: This study shows a weak positive correlation between cervical posture and proprioception (r=0.053, p=0.715) among smartphone users. Conclusion: This study concludes that various medical ailments can be avoided with early intervention and adequate awareness concerning smartphone usage and its detrimental impacts. These findings shed light on the potential health risks associated with smartphone usage, providing valuable insights for medical professionals, researchers, and individuals

InterFace : A software package for face image warping, averaging, and principal components analysis

We describe InterFace, a software package for research in face recognition. The package supports image warping, reshaping, averaging of multiple face images, and morphing between faces. It also supports principal components analysis (PCA) of face images, along with tools for exploring the “face space” produced by PCA. The package uses a simple graphical user interface, allowing users to perform these sophisticated image manipulations without any need for programming knowledge. The program is available for download in the form of an app, which requires that users also have access to the (freely available) MATLAB Runtime environment

CORONAVIRUS-A VIRUS IN LEARNING

Viruses can infect almost all the types of life forms, from animals, plants to microorganisms. They are found in almost every ecosystem on Earth and are the most numerous types of biological entity. The present pandemic on Earth due to SARS COV 2, coronavirus has given a big jolt to the scientific community and created a deep curiosity in us to understand the virus and its interaction biochemically in humans. We did a small project by researching and compiling the information about its outbreak and host-pathogen interactions. To understand this pandemic COVID 19 and the virus, we as students learnt the structural morphology of virus and its role in the host-pathogen interaction. We used several online platforms for our study like PubMed, Scopus, WHO, ICMR and CDC Websites

The Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor‐γ Pioglitazone Improves Vascular Function and Decreases Disease Activity in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/139088/1/jah3374.pd