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The impact of selected socio-demographic factors on reported obstetric morbidity during antepartum and postpartum periods was studied through a cross-sectional retrospective survey carried out in rural areas of three districts of West Bengal, India. During their most recent live births, 56.6% of mothers reported at least one morbid condition. Mothers with higher levels of education reported fewer overall problems. Factors such as age and pregnancy order affect obstetric morbidity differently in different religious groups. More mothers reported postpartum than antepartum problems, and very few sought treatment. The present study provides an insight into various factors affecting obstetric morbidity in a developing country.

A total of 421 young married mothers in Karnataka State, India, were followed up at monthly intervals for 1 year. Results are presented on self-reported morbidity, treatment-seeking behaviour and health expenditures. A total of 911 completed illness episodes were reported, of which 58% resulted in consultations with practitioners, mostly working in the private sector. Amongst those who did consult physicians, an average of 1.76 visits was made per episode. The average cost per visit was 46 Rupees and 38 Rupees, for private and public-sector consultations respectively. The overall mean annual expenditure on treatment and associated costs for the entire sample was 172 Rupees, of which 104 Rupees was spent on private-sector treatment. Poorer women reported significantly more days of morbidity than richer women but spent significantly less per 100 days of illness.

The effect of sodium metabisulfite (MBS) on hydrogen peroxide (HP) production in model and commercial amino acid solutions exposed to phototherapy light was studied. Model and commercial pediatric amino acid solutions were prepared such that the amino acid concentration was 1%. MBS concentration, riboflavin concentration, and duration of exposure to phototherapy light were varied to determine the effect on HP production. Control solutions were kept in the dark. HP production was assayed in the model amino acid solutions by using potassium iodide in the presence of ammonium molybdate. In all experiments, HP production was measured at 360 nm in the presence and absence of catalase. In light-exposed solutions, HP production increased linearly for several hours and reached a plateau by eight hours. A mean maximum of 940 microM was produced (data pooled for all solutions). No detectable HP was generated in the solutions kept in the dark. After two hours of light exposure, it was necessary to add at least 10 times more MBS than is typically found in commercial total parenteral nutrient solutions to scavenge all the HP produced. An average of up to 940 microM of HP was produced in model and commercial pediatric parenteral 1% amino acid solutions in the presence of phototherapy light and clinically relevant concentrations of riboflavin and MBS. Light exposure decreased the antioxidant effect of MBS.

Using mixed momentum and energy integral equations, a simple quadrature method is developed to compute incompressible laminar boundary layer on a yawed infinite cylinder. As an illustration, the results — including various boundary layer thicknesses, form parameters and potential and surface streamlines — are obtained for a circular cylinder and compared with a known solution.

Based on momentum and energy integral equations of the boundary layer an approximate method is developed for computing two-dimensional and axisymmetric steady laminar flows. Simple quadrature formulas have been obtained to determine energy thickness and a shape parameter. Various characteristics of the boundary layer, e.g., different thicknesses, shearing stress at the wall, position of separation, etc., for Howarth and Tani flows, flow past a circular cylinder, a sphere, and a spheroid for various thickness ratios are computed. A comparison with other known solutions indicates that the present quadrature formulas yield closer approximation than do most other approximate methods. A few results for the compressible case (adiabatic wall) have also been presented.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a widely used therapy for neonates with respiratory failure. Because of sepsis, many of these infants require antibiotics like vancomycin during ECMO treatment. ECMO transiently alters renal function and increases the circulating blood volume by 75%. Initial vancomycin pharmacokinetics were determined in 12 infants undergoing ECMO to determine an adequate drug administration regimen. Vancomycin dosage was based on current recommendations for weight and gestational age. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined by fitting the data to a two compartment model. This study yielded a mean steady-state volume of distribution of 1.1 +/- 0.5 (range, 0.6 to 2.1) liters/kg and a mean vancomycin clearance of 0.78 +/- 0.19 (range, 0.49 to 1.07) ml/min/kg. The mean vancomycin half-life was 16.9 +/- 9.5 (range, 8.8 to 42.9) h. Nomogram-calculated creatinine clearance was a significant predictor of vancomycin terminal rate constant and clearance. These data suggest alterations in the pharmacokinetics of vancomycin in infants on ECMO. With the goal of achieving vancomycin concentrations in serum above the MIC for the offending pathogen while using the least amount of the drug necessary, new administration guidelines for term infants without renal impairment undergoing ECMO should be 20 mg of vancomycin per kg at an interval of 24 h. With significant renal impairment, the interval should be extended on the basis of concentrations in serum. In comparison with previously published data, the neonates undergoing ECMO in our study demonstrated a much larger volume of distribution, a lower clearance, and consequently a longer vancomycin half-life.

Summary An approximate method is developed for calculating two-dimensional steady laminar boundary layers. Simple quadrature formulae have been obtained to determine energy thickness and a shape factor which subsequently determines the position of the point of separation; the only requirement being knowledge of the free-stream velocity. The relations between the shape factor and the other important characteristics of the boundary layer are also given.

Essential hypertension is a multifactorial polygenic disease, considered to be ranks fourth in the world as compared to prevalence of any other diseases. Evidences are that revealed the expression and polymorphism of candidate genes of RAAS contributing to the pathogenesis of essential hypertension. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and Aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) play major role in hypertension through regulation of cardiorenal homeostasis and water-electrolytes balance, respectively. Present study reports the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and expression of ANP (-C664G and C708T) and CYP11B2 (K173R) at mRNA and proteins levels in patients with essential hypertension in North Indian subjects.