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Background: Throughout pregnancy, women need support from the family to gain better maternal and fetal outcomes. Emotional distress in women during pregnancy is known to increase the risk of adverse outcomes in women and newborns. Increasing family support can improve birth outcomes and maternal wellbeing and can reduce complications in mother and increased neonatal birth weight. Aim and Objective: This study aims to evaluate the influence of the level and quality of family support during pregnancy on maternal and fetal outcomes and to identify any association between sociodemographic variables and the impact of the level and quality of family support during the third trimester. Materials and Methods: This study used a quantitative approach combined with a survey research design. Data were collected from four primary health centers (Rethare, Vadgaon, Kale, and Supane) at Karad, Maharashtra, India. A consecutive sampling technique was used to select the 344 subjects from the Rethare, Vadgaon, Kale, and Supane areas of Karad Taluka. Data were collected before the completion of the first trimester, then during the second trimester, and post-delivery. Upon evaluation, the tool was validated by experts representing the fields of community health nursing, mental health nursing, obstetric gynecology, and pediatric care. A pilot study was conducted on 30 samples. The data collected were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. Result: Findings regarding level of family support show that 133 women (38.7%) received good total support, 164 (47.7%) received moderate support, and 47 (13.7%) received poor family support during the third trimester. Results regarding maternal outcomes show that there was a significant association found between type of delivery and family support received after delivery with maternal outcomes and total support during the third trimester (P < 0.05). It means that physical, emotional, and psychosocial support (total support) received by women would prevent complications during delivery, i.e., prevent Cesarean sections, results in the mother giving normal birth to baby. Hence, the mother needs total support during the third trimester. Conclusion: Total family support is needed by pregnant women during the third trimester to achieve maternal and fetal outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Members of Enterobacteriaceae family are responsible for both community and hospital acquired infections. Because of development of antimicrobial resistance carbapenem has remained as last resort of drug for treatment of infections caused by these bacteria. Mechanism for development of this resistance in carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) may due to production of carbapenemases, efflux mechanism or loss of outer membrane porins. The most common carbapenemase enzymes are Class A – KPC, Class B – NDM, VIM and IMP and Class D oxacillinase(OXA-48 like enzymes).In India, most prevalent carbapenemase encoding gene is NDM-1but there is rising threat of OXA-48 prevalence. Unlike the phenotypic methods, the genotypic methods are useful to discriminate the type of carbapenemase enzyme, specifically for OXA-48 like enzymes. Total 170 CRE isolates were subjected for multiplex PCR study for their molecular characterization. Of the 170 CRE isolates,68.2 % (n=116) were positive for NDM-1 gene while 44.1 % (n= 75) of the isolates showed presence of OXA-48 gene. VIM (2.3%), KPC (1.7 %) were responsible for carbapenemase production while none of the isolates showed presence of IMP gene. NDM-1 and OXA-48 coexisted in 21.2 % (n=36) of the total isolates. OXA-48 causes weak hydrolysis of carbapenem because of which it is under reported with routine diagnostic methods. Early detection of OXA-48 and other carbapenemase encoding genes, helps for contact precautions and effective therapy which prevents further escalation and horizontal spread of CRE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Anemia has always been a major health burden in underdeveloped countries. Despite several nutritional anemia studies, their tribe-specific information is inadequate. The foremost objective of this study is to generate the tribe-specific information on anemia and its association with sociodemographic characters and contribution of iron metabolism. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1135 healthy adolescents (Girls 549) from six leading Scheduled Tribes (STs) of Maharashtra, India. Complete Blood Count (CBC) and serum iron with total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) was calculated using fasting venous blood collected in EDTA and Non-EDTA tubes respectively. Contribution of Iron deficiency in etiology of anemia was studied by monitoring two months of oral iron tablet supplementation. Results: It was observed that 41.3% of tribal adolescents were underweight. Prevalence of anemia was observed 41.5% in both tribal adolescents with an average Hb 11.1 ± 1.3g/dl. 21.3% girls & 37.7% boys had mild anemia; however moderate anemia was 17.4% in adolescent girls. Microcytic hypochromic anemia was observed in a large number of tribal adolescents. Hb levels improved significantly after the iron supplementation with 35% recovery with a significant reduction in TIBC along and increase in the ferritin, but without microcytosis (MCV<80fl) improvement. Interpretation and Conclusion: All tribal adolescents in this study were grossly underweight and anemia was a substantial health problem with a significant association with sociodemographic variables in tribal adolescents. Iron therapy observations suggested that Iron deficiency superimposed on the background of a-thalassaemia in tribal's. This observation should be useful to a physician practising in tribal areas for the treatment of hemoglobinopathies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: As Breast cancer is most common in developed and developing world. Despite of seriousness & importance of breast cancer the awareness is low. This Study highlights the primary screening of breast cancer with the device Intelligent Breast Examination.Objectives: The objectives of this study are to assess the knowledge regarding awareness on screening of breast cancer with Intelligent Breast Examination (IBE), to develop a self-instructional module (SIM) on awareness on screening regarding breast cancer with IBE, and to assess its effectiveness on awareness about screening breast cancer with IBE.Materials and Methods: Evaluative research approach was used. The study used preexperimental research design. The samples (60 primary schoolteachers) were selected by the use of two sampling techniques, i.e., random sampling (for schools) and purposive sampling (study participants). Data were collected in two phases (pre and post) using structured questionnaire followed by the administration of SIM.Results: The results revealed a significant increase in mean knowledge scores (mean pre 11.16 standard deviation [SD] = 2.631 to mean post 21.2 SD = 1.842) regarding awareness on screening of breast cancer with IBE. The calculated paired t value (23.902) is greater than the table value ( t = 1.67) at 0.05 level of significance.Conclusion: The study concluded that the SIM prepared proved to be effective in increasing the awareness regarding screening with IBE in breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prediction of preterm births in the early stage during pregnancy may reduce prevalence of preterm births by appropriate interventions. Aims/Objective: The aim of the study is to develop an antenatal risk scoring system/scale for prediction of preterm births. Subjects and Methods: From a cohort of 1876 and subset of 380 pregnant women attending Krishna Hospital Karad, Maharashtra, routine antenatal and in-depth information on diet, occupation, and the rest were collected and analyzed using SPSS version 16. A scoring system was developed by multivariate analysis based on the relative risk (RR) and tested on separate set of 251 mothers. Statistical Analysis Used: Bivariate analysis by Chi-square test, backward multivariate regression model, receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) curve analysis, and calculation of RR for identified risk factors. Sensitivity and specificity of newly developed risk scoring scale. Results: Out of six risk factors from whole cohort (n = 1876) and three risk factors from subsample (n = 380) identified by bivariate analysis. Further four and three risk factors were retained after multivariate analysis from whole and part of cohort, respectively, and risk scores of "7" and "9" were assigned based on RR cutoff levels of three and five were identified separately for whole and part data by ROC curve analyses together making it "8" with 75.5% sensitivity and 85.5% specificity when tested on 251 independent patients. Based on the prevalence of preterm births, low-, moderate-, and high-risk grading was done by identifying as second cutoff value. Conclusions: Identification of low-, moderate-, and high-risk of preterm births was possible at <8, 8, and 9 and equal to ≥10 with high sensitivity at lower cutoff and high specificity at upper cutoff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prediction of low birth weight (LBW) early during pregnancy may prevent LBW by appropriate interventions. Aims/Objective: The aim of the study is to develop an antenatal risk scoring scale for prediction of LBW. Subject and Methods: Routine and in-depth information on diet, occupation, and rest was collected from November 1, 2013, to November 13, 2015. A cohort of 1876 and subset of 380 pregnant women attending Krishna Hospital Karad, Maharashtra, India. Statistical Analysis: Multivariate analysis and relative risks (RRs) were found out by SPSS version 16 and tested on a separate set of 251 mothers. Results: The frequency of meals of <4, hard work <6 h of sleep and illiteracy, antenatal morbidity, <10 kg weight gain, <40 kg maternal weight, and anemia during the first trimester were the risk factors identified from subset and cohort, respectively. Based on their RRs, a new scoring system with a total score of 24 and cutoff "12" was identified by using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis with 98.6% sensitivity and 41.1% specificity as tested on 251-independent individuals. The second cutoff of "15" score was identified based on the prevalence of LBW in babies of these 251 mothers. Conclusions: The identification of low-, moderate-, and high-risk of LBW was possible at <12, between 12 and 15, and >15 scores, respectively, with good sensitivity and specificity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cervical cancer is a major concern of health risk in urban and rural parts of India.. Aim and Objectives: This study was aimed to find out frequency of polymorphisms in DNA repair genes including Xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group C (XPC) and Xenoderma pigmentosum complementation group G (XPG) in patients of cervical cancer from Maharashtra and to evaluate their association with risk of cervical cancer. Materials and Methods: We used polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) to examine gene polymorphisms in 350 patients with cancer of cervix and 400 age and sex matched normal controls. Results: The results obtained indicated that there was no significant difference in the genotype distribution between cervical cancer patients and controls for XPC Lys939Gln, -371promoter and XPG His 1104 Asp. The result showed that genotype frequencies of XPC Val 499 Arg of codon 499 in exon 15 (OR=4.26; 95% CI= (3.007-6.03); p= <0.0001) were increased significantly. Conclusion: This study indicates that polymorphisms in Val499Arg haplotype of XPC gene appear to influence genetic susceptibility of individual to cervical cancer in Maharashtrian patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the study on human brucellosis in rural India, that determined its serological, clinical, and epidemiological profile, as well as associated risk factors, using Rose Bengal Plate test (RBPT), Serum Agglutination test (SAT), and 2-Mercaptoethanol test (2-ME). Findings discussed include major risk factors such as animal contact particularly during milking, parturition/abortion, and raw milk ingestion, and RBPT, SAT, and 2-ME positivity rates.

Background: "Mishri" is one among the various smokeless tobacco products used in the central and southern part of India. The use of newer tobacco products is increasing not only among men, but also among children, teenagers, and women of the reproductive age-group., Objectives: To study socio-demographic profile of mishri users among pregnant women admitted for delivery into Krishna Hospital, Karad - Satara, Maharashtra., Materials and Methods: All the consecutive pregnant women admitted for delivery in Krishna Hospital, Karad over a period of 6 months were enrolled and a detailed history of use of tobacco was obtained from them. A representative sample of mishri used by them for each application was collected and weighed on an electronic weighing machine. The socio-demographic information was collected among all mishri users and age-, parity-matched controls of non-mishri users during pregnancy., Results: A total of 258, i.e., (12%) of the women delivering in Krishna Hospital were using mishri. The mean duration of mishri use was 2 years with a standard deviation (SD) of 1.09 years, frequency of daily application being 1.4 times with an SD of 0.55, dwell time in mouth being 10 min with an SD of 2.9 min, and the quantity of each application being 236 mg with an SD of 66.2 mg. 29% of the teenagers and 68% of the primiparas were found to be using mishri, and a majority of them were housewives, having minimum education and belonging to the middle and lower socio-economic class. It was also found that the family members played a role in influencing the habit of mishri use., Interpretation and Conclusion: A small but significant number of women who deliver in the hospital used mishri during pregnancy and were in need of de-addiction counseling.