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Abstract Background Preeclampsia, a condition very frequently linked to maternal and fetal deaths worldwide, remains a pressing concern due to delays in recognition and response. Effective screening tests for early detection of high-risk cases and appropriate preventive measures are currently lacking. Well planned prenatal care, timely detection, monitoring, and appropriate management are vital to prevent preeclampsia-related fatalities. Methods This prospective study evaluated the use of shear wave elastography (SWE) in identifying placental structural issues caused by preeclampsia in high-risk pregnancies. A total of 143 high-risk pregnant women with singleton pregnancies and an anterior placental position were included in the study. Results Women with preeclampsia exhibited significantly elevated SWE values in both center (27.98 ± 16.12 vs. 4.57 ± 6.57 kPa) and peripheral areas of the placenta (29.14 ± 16.12 vs. 4.80 ± 7.70 kPa) when compared to non-preeclampsia women (p = 0.000). Cutoff values of 8.70 kPa and 8.15 kPa at the Center and edge of the placenta respectively, accurately predicted preeclampsia in second-trimester pregnancies, with 84.62% sensitivity and 94% specificity. However no significant difference was observed between elastography values obtained from the center and edge of the placenta. Conclusions In conclusion, shear wave elastography can help diagnose preeclampsia early by assessing placental stiffness.

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) may be reduced by following SSI prevention measures. We assessed the SSI rate following caesarean section (CS) and gynaecologic surgery after implementing a simple SSI prevention bundle including preoperative bath and hair wash. Methods: The study was carried out in two hospitals in North India (Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research [PGIMER] and Civil Hospital CH) from August 2018 to July 2019. The SSI rate during intervention period (9 months) was compared with baseline rate (3 months). Womens' knowledge about SSI was assessed preoperatively and after counselling, postoperatively. Results: The baseline SSI rate after CS (n = 165) was 11.1% at PGIMER and 8.5% at CH. After gynae surgery (n = 172), it was 13% at PGIMER and 11.5% at CH. During intervention, (CS = 585, gynae surgery = 503), SSI rate was reduced significantly at PGIMER (CS: 11.1% to 3.7%, P = 0.048; gynae surgery: 13% to 7.1%, P = 0.027), but not at CH (CS: 8.5% to 8.2%, P = 0.903; gynae surgery: 11.5% to 11.4%, P = 0.984). Three measures were followed more often at PGIMER than at CH: before CS, bath with hair-wash: 99.3% vs 78.5%, P = 0.00, hair-clipper vs razor: 100% vs 5.1%, P = 0.00 and antibiotic prophylaxis ≤120 min: 100% vs 92.4%, P = 0.00; and before gynae surgery, bath with hair-wash: 93.2% vs 71%, P = 0.00, hair-clipper vs razor: 93.6% vs 1.9%, P = 0.00 and antibiotic prophylaxis ≤120 min: 100% vs 80.8%, P = 0.00. Postoperatively, womens' knowledge about SSI prevention improved significantly at the two sites. Conclusion: The reduction in SSI at PGIMER was attributed to better compliance to SSI prevention measures listed above. Counselling women about simple SSI prevention method like preoperative bath with scalp hair wash increased their knowledge about these significantly.

ABSTRACT Introduction: There is a close association between obesity and type 2 diabetes as well as its complications. Obesity related changes in nerve conduction assume paramount importance in diabetic patients where the nerve functions are already compromised by other metabolic derangements. Aim: To study any existing correlation of the Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV) with the Total Body Fat Mass (TBFM) and Body Mass Index (BMI) and to identify which is a better predictor of NCV impairment in type 2 diabetics. Materials and Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted during April 2018-January 2019 in 90 patients with confirmed diagnosis of Diabetes type 2 of recent onset or not more than 8 years and age between 30 to 60 years. NCV was measured in both upper and lower limbs. Median, ulnar, and posterior tibial nerves were selected for motor nerve conduction study and median, Ulnar and sural nerves were selected for sensory nerve conduction study. Bioelectric Impedance Analysis (BIA) was used to find the TBFM. The correlation of TBFM and BMI with the NCV was assessed by using Pearson’s coefficient of linear correlation. Results: Both BMI and TBFM showed negative correlation with the motor and sensory NCV of both sides of the body. BMI had a significant negative correlation with conduction velocity of two sensory nerve viz., right median (r=-0.388) and left sural (r=-0.356) and two motor nerves viz., right median (r=-0.483) and right posterior tibial (r=-0.305) only. However, the TBFM showed a significant negative correlation with the motor conduction velocity of four motor viz., right median (r=-0.602), right posterior tibial (r=-0.455), left median (r=-0.483) and left posterior tibial (r=-0.288) and four sensory nerves viz., right median (r=-0.411), right sural (r=-0.435), left median (r=-0.461) and left sural (r=-0.408). Conclusion: TBFM as assessed by BIA analysis shows a stronger correlation with the NCV as compared to the BMI and should be used clinically along with electrophysiological studies for the risk factor stratification of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in type 2 diabetes patients.

ABSTRACT Background: Tobacco smoking has been known to affect the human physiology and among the various damaging effects of tobacco, it has been linked with its effect on the sense of hearing. Aim and Objective: This study was designed with the aim of finding the relationship between smoking and hearing loss in various age groups. Materials and Methods: This study included 148 subjects among which 108 were smokers and 40 were age matched non smokers. The smoking history of all the subjects whose ages ranged from 20 to 60 years was taken in detail and their audiometric thresholds were recorded in a sound proof room by a professional audiometrist. The data was analyzed by using appropriate statistical tests. Observation and Results: Smoking was found to be significantly associated with hearing loss. Also, the hearing loss was mainly of the sensorineural type, with the mild type (26-40 dB) of hearing loss being the most common among the smokers.