This is a new in vitro regeneration and genetic transformation protocol for Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Petit Havana SR1).Transformation and regeneration of tobacco leaf explants was done using only Benzyl amino purine (BAP) without auxin supplement as with other available protocols for tobacco. Furthermore this work evaluates the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation efficiency of Tobacco under the selection pressure of herbicide hygromycin. Leaves of 6 week old seedlings were used as explants. Transformation was carried out, using the Agrobacterium tumifaciens LBA4404 harbouring pCAMBIA1302 with hygromycin phosphor transferase gene as the selectable marker gene and the green fluorescence protein (GFP) gene as the reporter. The result showed that the optimum concentration of hygromycin for selection of transformants was 25mg L-1. Multiple shoots were regenerated from each explant when Murashige and Skoog basal medium supplemented with only 3mg L-1  BAP had been used. Transformation efficiency of explants was 100% under the optimized conditions. The presence of the transgene was confirmed by PCR with primers corresponding to a 454bp sequence of the gfp gene. Integration and expression of the transgene cassette within the transformants were further confirmed by visualizing transformed tissue under fluorescence microscope with UV of specific wavelength for GFP, to visualize the expression of the gfp gene. Here we have standardized a suitable transformation system for tobacco with minimum hormone supplement resulting in the highest possible transformation efficiency.

Introduction: Hypertension is one of the common medical complications of pregnancy. It contributes significantly to maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The present study was done to compare the maternal and perinatal outcome in pregnancy induced hypertension and preeclmpsia.

Method(s): The present study is retrospective study of 100 cases of PIH and PE from March 2016 to june 2016 in department of obstetrics and gynecology in SMS Medical College, Jaipur, Rajasthan. The outcome of PIH and PE was analyzed by standard statistical methods. Appropriate test of significance was applied (t-test) , Chi Square test with p < 0.05 as level of significance.

Result(s): Mean blood pressure, maternal & foetal complications were noted more in pre eclampsia group. In our study no difference in parity or rate of caesarian delivery noted in either group. Mean gestational age was lower in pre eclampsia group.

Conclusion(s): Preeclampsia patients were associated with poor paternal and foetal outcome in comparison with pregnancy induced hypertension.

In the present study the toxicity of methylamine on fresh water teleosts i.e. Clarias batrachus and Heteropneustes fossilis has been noticed. Lethal and sublethal levels of the pesticide methylamine have been studied for histomorphology and histopathology in various organs viz. gill. Striking injury is seen in gill epithelium due to extreme levels of pesticide in Clarias batrachus and Heteropneustes fossilis. Fusion of gill lamellae, the separation of basement membrane, hyperplasia and severe erosion of secondary gill lamellae, thereby reducing the respiratory surface of gill were observed when treated with methylamine. Increased mucus secretion affected respiratory behavior, serious hypoxic conditions, reduced oxidative metabolism and ion regulation, the histopathological changes and the extent of damage were clearly dependent on the dose and duration.

In present study, leaves of Gerbera jamesonii were used as explants for callus induction. Sterilization of explants was done by washing with bavistin (0.2 %) for 7-8 minutes followed by HgCl2 (0.1 %) treatment for 3-4 minutes. This was the best treatment for sterilization as it produced maximum percentage of uncontaminated cultures. Callus induction was observed from leaf explants on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/l 2,4-D, 1.0 mg/l NAA, 2.0 mg/l IBA. Maximum callusing was found with this medium. Time required for callus initiation from leaf explants ranged from 17-18 days. Color of callus from leaf explants varied from light yellow to light green.

Clusterbean (C. tetragonaloba L. Taub) locally called Guar cultivar HG-365 was supplied with three level of phosphorus (i.e. 15, 30 and 60 mg/kg) of the soil in two split doses at weekly intervals in the form of KH2PO4 one week after sowing of the crop. Water stress was created by withholding irrigation at different growth stages of the crop. Plants were sampled at permanent wilting point (PWP) with soil moisture content 3.5 (±0.5). Results show that dry weight of all the plant parts (leaf, stem, root and nodules) decreased under water deficit in clusterbean. Phosphorus treatment proved effective in improving leaf dry weight (25-100%) in control and stressed plants. Nitrogen content of the plant parts (leaf, stem, root, and seeds) was decreased significantly (17-22%) by the water deficit stress and improved approximately 12-18% with increasing level of phosphorus application. P content of the plant parts increased up to flowering stage and decreased at later growth stages. Significant decrease in the P content of the leaf (16-21%), stem (17-20%), and root (18-22%) was observed under water deficit stress conditions. phosphorus as a fertilizer improved P content of leaf by 17-18%, stem (13-15%), and root (14-20%) at all three growth stages. Potassium content decreased up to 37-56% due to water deficit stress in clusterbean and improved approximately 8-25% with the increasing level of phosphorus treatment compared to untreated control plants.

Introduction: Fetal acoustic stimulation test (FAST) is a well known test for antepartum fetal monitoring which can also be used in early intrapartum period. Fetuses react to FAST by fetal heart rate acceleration if they are non-acidotic. 

Aim and objectives: To evaluate FAST as a screening test for early intrapartum fetal monitoring. 

Materials and methods: A total of 150 women with > 37 weeks gestation with singleton pregnancy in early labour selected for study purpose. An initial 20minute non stress test (NST) was done which was followed by FAST. Fetomaternal outcome was noted in terms of mode of delivery, meconium stained liquor, Apgar score at 5minute, NICU admission. 

Results: FAST decreased false positive rate by 20%. FAST was equally sensitive and more specific than NST. 

Conclusion: Reactive FAST mitigates the chances of poor neonatal outcome and it is an efficacious tool for intrapartum fetal monitoring.

Background: Bronchial asthma is a major public health problem worldwide. The prevalence of allergic respiratory disorders in particular asthma is increasing. Elevated total serum immunoglobulin E is considered as an objective marker of allergy and has been associated with a number of respiratory disorders including asthma. Immunoglobulin E and associated cellular responses are responsible for allergic airway diseases. A hypersensitivity reaction initiated by immunologic mechanisms, mediated by IgE antibodies occurs in allergic asthma To estimate and compare serum IgE levels in mild, moderate, and severe asthmatics and in normal subjects and to find the association between serum IgE levels and severity of asthma 

Material and methods: This study enrolled 233 asthmatic subjects and 58 Healthy controls. The serum IgE levels were investigated in asthma patients and controls subjects. Serum IgE levels were also compared with the severity of asthma. The severities of asthma were determined by pulmonary function tests 

Results: This study shows that there is a significant difference between control and mild asthma patients (p<0.01), between control and moderate group of asthmatic subjects also significant difference found (p<0.001) and between severe asthmatic and control also significant difference found (p<0.001). 

Discussion: The IgE level is increasing with the severity of disease. The present study suggests that the serum IgE level may reflect the severity of bronchial asthma assessed by pulmonary function tests and clinical history.

Background: Forward head posture (FHP) is the anterior positioning of the cervical spine. It is the most common deviation from the normal curvature of the cervical spine.  It involves an excessive anterior position of the head in relation to the theoretical plumb line perpendicular to the body’s centre of gravity. In forward head posture there is extension of upper cervical spine, flattening and flexion of lower cervical spine with an increase in lordosis and rounding of the upper back and elevation and protraction of the shoulders. Every inch of your neck goes forward there is an extra 10 lbs (4.5kg) of weight on your neck which cause forward neck posture. Since the strain- counter strain technique is always being used by many therapists, to evaluate the effect of the technique on forward head it has to be studied. Hence this study evaluates the effect of strain-counter strain technique on the craniovertebral angle in forward head posture. 

Materials and methods: 30 individuals having forward head posture were assessed for craniovertebral angle using the photograph method and the cervical range of motion using the universal goniometer.

Results: The pre-post values showed statistically significant changes in the improvement of range of motion in flexion, extension, side flexion. There were no significant changes in bilateral cervical rotation range of motion and the craniovertebral angle.

Conclusion: Our study shows that the strain-counter strain technique is not effective in improving forward head posture, but appears to increase range of motion in these subjects.

Objective: The aim of the study to assess the level of study skills efficacy among nursing students. 

Methods: A descriptive design was selected in this study. The study was conducted with a sample size of 150, from 17-25years of basic B.Sc Nursing students by using purposive sampling method. The study was conducted in Meenakshi Nursing College Mangadu, Chennai. Based on selection criteria volunteers and samples were selected. For data collection, standardized VAK Learning styles questionnaire was used to assess the learning style efficacy of nursing students. The questionnaire includes three major learning styles such as visual, auditory and kinaesthetic. 

Findings: The findings revealed that, Most of the students followed auditory 66(44%), visual 58(38.6%) and kinaesthetic 26(17.3%) learning styles. The chi-square value shows that there was a significant association between the learning style and such as age and sex at p<0.05.

Conclusion: The study finding concluded that most of the students follow auditory learning styles. This study concluded that learning style helps to understand the type of learning that best suits and it enables to choose the types of learning that work best.

Various studies of memory-impaired patients with medial temporal lobe (MTL) damage led to the view that the hippocampus and related MTL structures are in immediate memory and working memory are independent of these structures. This traditional idea has recently been revisited. The study was performed in Department of Physiology, SMS Medical College in collaboration with Department of Neurology and Medicine. EEG data from 16 controls and 16 diagnosed temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients were included characterize how the healthy brain differ from the dynamically balanced state of the brain of epilepsy patients treated with anti-epileptic drugs in the context of resting state during working memory task. Such differences can be observed by using absolute spectral band power from BESS ((Brain Electro Scan Software) of the Axxonet System and network measures by applied unpaired student t –test and a working memory task could be run to access the score of memory in temporal region. Significant value < 0.05 are considered. Temporal alpha (p 0.0225) and beta (p 0.009) bands absolute spectral power was significant found in patients of temporal lobe epileptic patients when compare with healthy controls. We do not found any significant difference between TLE patients and healthy controls during working memory task score. Medial Temporal lobe is related to working memory. Pathophysiology of temporal lobe in temporal lobe epilepsy causes memory impairment. The most parsimonious and consistent interpretation of are the data are supported that working memory are independent of the MTL, though EEG findngs shown increased alpha and beta activity in temporal region.

In this article, we aimed to identify and characterize bacteria isolated from chicken feather dumping site soil of Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India. In the previous report, a single keratinase producing bacterial strain was identified based on the morphological, biochemical and cultural characteristics. In this report, we have identified bacterial strain using 16S rRNA gene sequence and performed bioinformatics analysis such as BLAST and phylogenetic tree. The isolated bacterial strain showed > 95 % similarity with Lysinibacillus sp. MG3-4 strain.

Bevacizumab is a drug of choice for colorectal cancer. Very often, the anticancer drugs are reported to be sold at very high price and are not affordable. The drug is not under Drug price Control order. The present study intends to generate evidence on price movement and affordability of Bevacizumab. The data related to the price of Bevacizumab has been collected from authentic sources and affordability is measured based on the earning of the lowest paid unskilled worker. The current price of single dose is 1,62,843. The study on the price movement of Bevacizumab shows an increase of 37% in price from 2008 to 2017. The study on affordability of Bevacizumab shows that it requires 465 days wages of an unskilled daily wager to afford a single dose. Bevacizumab a first line drug for colorectal cancer and a lifesaving drug, recognising the importance of this drug WHO has added this drug in its EML. But its price is not capped under DPCO. Hence the price is high and beyond the affordability of the common man. Among the various brands of the drug, there has been wide variation despite of the availability of biosimilars.

Introduction: Maternal mortality is a reflection of the standards of obstetric service and quality of healthcare1. Most of these deaths are preventable. The aims and objectives of the study are to analyze the trends in maternal mortality over two years in a tertiary hospital, to calculate the maternal mortality ratio and to suggest ways to reduce the MMR.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in Zenana hospital, SMS Medical College over a period of two years (Jan2014-Dec 2015) and data was analyzed manually using case sheets.

Results and discussion: In the study period, there were 36,240 deliveries and 65 maternal deaths leading to mean MMR of 179.36. MMR in 2014 was 227.78 which declined to 133.84 in 2015. The direct causes accounted for 61.42% of maternal deaths with hemorrhage and hypertension as the leading causes of maternal mortality. Indirect causes accounted for 38.58% with anemia and coagulopathy as main indirect causes. Most of the deaths occurred in the age group of 20-30(75.38%) and in multipara (63.08%). Unbooked cases (73.85%) and postnatal patients (75.38%) had maximum no. of deaths. Most of the patients were in moribund state (52.31%) when reported to hospital and 64.62% of deaths occurred within 12 hours of admission to hospital.

Conclusion: Antenatal care screening and management of high risk pregnancies are most important to prevent complications and maternal deaths by timely detection and intervention.

Water contamination with heavy metals due to industrial activities generates serious environmental problems because of their high toxicity and non-biodegradability.

Various waste materials for biosorptive removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions: olive leaves, almond shell residues, hazelnut shell, coconut husk, coffee ground, tea leaves, groundnut husk were selected because of a low cost and a higher biosorption capacity.

The effective removal of Pb2+ from aqueous solutions using low-cost biosorbents: carrot residue and green tea waste was studied. These waste materials were selected because of a low cost and the availability of functional groups such as carbonyl, hydroxyl, carboxylic etc. due to high cellulose, hemicellulose or lignin content, which favours biosorption of heavy metal ions.

The equilibrium data were described by typical Freundlich, Langmuir and Temkin adsorption models for each heavy metal - adsorbent system. The adorption equilibrium exhibited better fit to Langmuir model within the concentration range studied for carrot residue and the adsorption of Pb2+ by green tea waste  showed a slightly better fit with the Freundlich model compared to Langmuir and Temkin. 

This study revealed that carrot residue and green tea waste can be used as inexpensive, excellent biosorbent for the removal of Pb2+ from aqueous solutions.