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Vitamin B12 and folate deficiency leads to accumulation of homocysteine that increases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes like preterm birth and low birth weight (LBW) of the neonate. We explored the association of genetic variants of key vitamin B12 and folate metabolising enzymes (MTHFR C677T and A1298C, MTR A2756G, TCN-2 C776G) with preterm birth and LBW in South Indian women. MTHFR A1298C heterozygotes (AC) were at higher risk for preterm delivery, whereas TCN-2 C776G heterozygotes (CG) were at higher risk for both preterm delivery and LBW. MTHFR C677T, A1298C and MTR A2756G haplotype CAG was protective for preterm delivery (p=.036, OR = 0.475; 95% CI: 0.233–0.97), whereas, haplotype CCG increasing the risk of preterm birth by 1.8 folds (p=.018, OR = 1.81; 95% CI: 1.09–2.98). These results underscore the significance of vitamin B12 and folate in the pathophysiology of preterm birth and LBW. What is already known on this subject? Polymorphisms of vitamin B12 and folate metabolising genes have been reported to influence preterm birth and LBW, but the reports are not consistent. What do the results of this study add? We observed a relationship of MTHFR A1298C and TCN-2 C776G with preterm birth, and significant association of TCN-2 C776G with LBW in infants. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Identification of women carrying these polymorphic risk alleles may benefit from early nutritional modifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Indian Himalayan belt is renowned for its diverse topographic and climatic conditions, acts as home to many rare, endemic, and endangered ethnomedicinal plants. The present study aimed to document the medicinal plants and their indigenous uses in the Buakhal area of Pauri Garhwal (Uttarakhand, India) through personal interactions with local villagers. This study resulted in the documentation of 100 plant species of medicinal importance belonging to 87 genera and 45 families. Among these, seven species were trees, 17 shrubs, 71 herbs, and five climbers. Using the whole plant body (30% spp.) for the herbal preparations in the studied area, followed by the use of the leaves (28% spp.) and roots (21% spp.). Among the recorded plant species, Begonia picta, Berberis aristata, Bergenia ciliata, Centella asiatica, Dicliptera bupleuroides, and Malaxis acuminata were the medicinal plant species frequently extracted (from wild) by the villagers. The local floral diversity is used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, skin diseases, respiratory disorders, liver disorders, etc. However, important traditional knowledge and cultural practices are decreasing in the younger generation across the ethnic groups of the country due to modernization. The traditional knowledge and wisdom must be maintained and passed on to future generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents an application of upgraded arithmetic operations on trapezoidal fuzzy number to extend the reliability from point estimation to interval estimation. A realistic example of an accidental case has been taken to show the desired results. As we know that uncertainty is a disregardable phenomenon and in this situation crisp reliability may not be exact. To get a better hold on this situation, we introduce a method of trapezoidal fuzzy number and upgraded arithmetic operations. In this paper, the reliability of each factor is represented by the trapezoidal fuzzy number and the final reliability is obtained in the form of trapezoidal fuzzy number. Hence, the dejection of fuzzy number is preserved and the crisp region is increased to illustrate the highest membership grade as an interval. So it can help the decision maker to analyse the behaviour of the system and take effective decision accordingly to reduce the chance of mishappening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, we report the successful synthesis of Iron oxide nanoparticles by efficient, economic and fast solution combustion method. Solution combustion method has been modified for preparation of Fe2O3 nanoparticles and the influence of fuel to oxidizer ratio, and synthesis temperature has been analyzed for the phase purity. Optical properties of prepared samples have been determined using UV-Visible spectroscopy and optical band gap is obtained using Tauc's Plot. Vibrating sample magnetometer and Mössbauer spectroscopy of the prepared samples were recorded and analyzed for magnetic properties. Magnetic results support and explain the modified properties based on choice of synthesis route. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Gestational impaired glucose tolerance (GIGT) is a milder form of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), which is often poorly managed. Although, GDM is known to be associated with increased incidence of thyroid dysfunction, no study has been done to study the effect of GIGT on thyroid status and its effect on fetal outcome. Here, we carried out a study to assess thyroid function and glycemic status in both maternal and cord blood of the subjects with GIGT, and to find their association with the fetal outcome. Materials and methods: Women who came to the hospital for safe confinement during 37-40th weeks of gestation were recruited in the study. Based on the 2 hours post prandial blood glucose levels with 75 grams OGTT, done at 24-28 weeks of gestation, all the subjects were stratified into two groups: (1) Cases or GIGT group - women with blood glucose levels between 120 and 140 mg/dl and (2) Controls - women with blood glucose levels of less than 120 mg/dl. Three milliliters of venous blood was collected from mothers and 3 ml of cord blood was collected during delivery. New-borns were assessed for birth weight, head circumference, abdominal circumference, thigh circumference, and crown-heel length. Glycated hemoglobin was carried out using immunoturbidimetry (DiaSys Diagnostic Systems GmbH, Holzheim, Germany) and fructosamine was estimated using dye binding method (Biosystems, Spain). Estimation of total T3 (TT3), free T3 (FT3), total T4 (TT4), free T4 (FT4), and TSH was done by chemiluminescence in Siemens Advia Centaur CP using competitive immunoassay. Results: Although within the normal reference range, GIGT mothers had higher concentration of free and total T4 than controls. Cord fructosamine levels were significantly higher in babies of GIGT mothers than controls, indicating the reflection of maternal hyperglycemia. There was a positive correlation between the maternal glycated hemoglobin and cord blood fructosamine in the GIGT group. Statistically significant lower levels of total T3 and T4 with high TSH levels were found in babies with GIGT mothers, indicating the suppressive effect of maternal hyperglycemia on fetal thyroid function. Birth weight, head circumference, and thigh circumference were significantly higher in babies born to mothers with GIGT, which may be a combined effect of maternal hyperglycemia and fetal thyroid suppression. Conclusions: Maternal hyperglycemia, even in milder form of GIGT may cause suppression of fetal thyroid function. Both these factors may predispose to change in fetal anthropometry, leading to a large baby. Therefore, it is recommended to evaluate maternal and cord thyroid function for timely management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic role of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) ferritin and albumin index (AI = CSF albumin/serum albumin × 1000) in differentiating acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) from acute viral meningitis (AVM) in children. Methods: The study included 42 cases each of ABM and AVM in pediatric age group. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was carried out for CSF ferritin and AI. Binary logistic regression was also done. Results: CSF ferritin and AI were found significantly higher in ABM compared to AVM. Model obtained using AI and CSF ferritin along with conventional criteria is better than existing models. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Co0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4 nanomagnetic system is prepared by solution combustion method. The powder sample is characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope analysis (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Mössbauer spectroscopy, and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID; at low and room temperatures). The average crystallite sizes of the prepared samples obtained from XRD is 22 nm, which is well confirmed by the size obtained from TEM. The magnetic study shows that sample is ferromagnetic at room temperature. This result is also supported by Mössbauer spectrum obtained at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As there are no specific non-invasive markers for the diagnosis of tubal ectopic pregnancy, our objective in the present study was to explore the role of inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 in the diagnosis of ruptured tubal ectopic pregnancy. Twenty-eight women with tubal ectopic pregnancy, 31 patients with intrauterine abortion and 29 gestational age matched women having normal intrauterine pregnancy were included in the study. Five millilitre of blood was collected at the time of admission, serum was separated and stored at −70 °C for subsequent analysis of β hCG, IL-6 and IL-8 levels. The level of IL-6 was a significant increase in the women with tubal ectopic pregnancy compared to intrauterine abortion and normal pregnancy. IL-8 levels decrease significantly in the tubal ectopic pregnancy and in intrauterine abortion patients when compared with the normal pregnancy group. At the cutoff of 26.48 pg/ml IL-6 level predicted the tubal ectopic pregnancy with moderate accuracy. Therefore, it can be concluded that measurement of IL-6 may have relevance in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy as a novel inflammatory serum biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]