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Objective: To describe the clinical and radio-pathological features of suture granuloma, an inflammatory response to retained suture material that primarily affects non-absorbable sutures. Case report: We report a case of a 26-year-old female presenting with painful swelling at a caesarean section scar, previously excised for similar complaints. Physical examination revealed a solid soft tissue mass on the scar. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) identified a 2x2 cm lesion in the right abdominal wall, suggestive of suture granuloma. Surgical excision revealed prolene suture material within the granulomatous tissue. Histopathology confirmed foreign body reaction. Conclusion: Recurrence post-prior excision underscores the importance of complete granuloma removal. Differential diagnoses included scar endometriosis and inflammatory lesions. Suture granulomas, though rare, require consideration in scar-related swelling. Collaboration between specialties ensures accurate diagnosis and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has become the most severe intercontinental health challenge and pregnant women are deemed to be a special population group. The COVID-19-related restrictions on visiting the hospital for antenatal check-up and procedures may be distressing for them. The present study aims at assessing the level of anxiety and risk perception of pregnant women during the pandemic. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study included all pregnant women who were above 18 years of age, irrespective of their gestational age. They were administered the pre-designed, pre-tested questionnaire via face-to-face interview. The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and its influence on women's experience including her worries were collected. Data analysis was done using SPSS software version 22. Results: A total of 130 pregnant women with a mean maternal age of 26.1 ± 6.5 years were enrolled in the study. The mean gestational age of the women was 19 ± 4.7 weeks and most of them were in the second trimester (48.5%). Most of the pregnant women encountered the adverse socioeconomic influence of COVID-19 on their daily life (55.6% somewhat, 9.1% moderately so, 1.1% very much). Majority of them reported that they had limited their social activities (78.5%) and amorous relationship with their partner (30.8%). Also, around 59.2% of antenatal women experienced a moderate level and 40.7% had a mild level of anxiety. Conclusion: It is essential for obstetric providers to do prompt identification of mental health concerns in perinatal women and to liaise with mental health professionals to provide relevant interference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Reduction in maternal mortality has been a top priority in low- and lower middle-income countries of Asia-Pacific region. India, being one of them, has a major responsibility of reducing maternal mortality especially in light of the commitment on the part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Despite massive efforts and availability of technology needed to avert maternal deaths, the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in India continues to be high especially in remote areas. This study aims at collecting the MMR data and analyzing in the context of island infrastructure. Material and Methods: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study. The records of maternal deaths from January 2010 to December 2019 were collected from the medical record section and analyzed. Results: The MMR was estimated to be 95.63 per 100,000 live births. Majority of the patients were multigravida (82%) in the age group of 21 to 30 years (75%). Around 64% of them were referred cases. Majority (86%) of the deaths occurred in the postpartum period. Hemorrhage was the leading direct cause of maternal deaths (35.7%) followed by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) (21.4%). Conclusion: Most maternal deaths are preventable. Early detection of high-risk pregnancies and early referral of such patients to a well-equipped center is the key to curb the catastrophe of mortality. Adopting methods like qSOFA (quick sequential organ failure assessment) for identifying patients requiring intensive care and miniPIERS (Preeclampsia Integrated Estimate of RiSk) model for predicting adverse outcome in HDP is the need of hour. More efforts should be made to retain the specialists in the islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Maternal birthing positions refer to the various physical postures a pregnant mother may assume at the time of delivery. The World Health Organisation recommends that woman should be given an opportunity to make a choice on the type of position to use during labour. Alternative birth positions are associated with lower incidence rates of performing episiotomy, less perineal tears and less use of instrumental deliveries. Nurses’ perspective on women’s positions has rarely been explored in India. Present study aims at assessing the knowledge regarding alternative birth positions among nursing officers. Materials and Methods: This cross‑sectional observational study was conducted on 52 nursing officers who were posted in the labour room. A pretested questionnaire was administered to them. Data analysis was done using SPSS software version 22. Results: Majority (82.7%) of nursing officers felt that there is a need of giving a choice to the woman regarding alternate birth position. 76.9% of them were aware of position other than lithotomy. Around 48.1% would recommend squatting position to a woman in labour. Ease and convenience in conducting the delivery was the foremost reason chosen in advocating a birth position. Whereas overcrowding in the labour room, ignorance about alternate positions and difficulty in converting to instrumental delivery were cited as reasons of not recommending these positions. Conclusion: Educating nursing officers about emerging evidence regarding birthing positions will enable them to give accurate information to women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IoT Green Corridor is a distributed sensor network system, a working prototype of which has been designed in-house and using low-cost hardware for economically-viable implementation. This paper outlines the development of the prototype and describes its details. This proposed system combines the existing conventional traffic signal lights with networked-sensors across length and breadth of connected and usually-congested city roads. Being connected to the internet, the sensors are better-enabled and capable of synchronizing with each other for sharing localized traffic information including the presence of emergency vehicles like ambulances. Having been equipped with the situational awareness data, the sensor network in an IoT framework is capable of collective decision to manage a given set of the traffic signal lights in tandem to achieve the singular aim of providing smooth passage to the arriving ambulances or in general to any Emergency Vehicle (EMV). Every traffic-signal junction is to be retrofitted with the Green Corridor system prototype, which is required to sense the presence of an Emergency Vehicle (EMV) within a specified distance in the field of view of the sensors. Based on a positive identification of such vehicles in distress, the traffic flow is designed to quickly enable the EMV to cross the junction smoothly in least time as possible. In the absence of a system of this kind, a manual intervention would have to be made by the concerned agency or valuable golden hour time to save lives would be spent in the traffic junctions. Besides, the prototype communicates with the inter-connected adjacent sensor-network elements through the cloud network to initiate similar action at each of the traffic signals enroute the desired destination of the emergency vehicle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malignant transformation (MCT) of ovary is rare complications affecting elderly, squamous cell carcinoma being the most common. The prognosis worsens with extraovarian spread. We present two cases of MCT-derived SCC. Patients exhibited abdominal lump, pain, bowel symptoms, sometimes with weight loss; imaging revealed MCT. Age (51-60), postmenopausal status, large size (>20 cm), bilaterality, and complex ovarian lesions raised suspicion of malignancy. Elevated tumor markers (e.g., cancer antigen-125 and lactate dehydrogenase) were noted in one case. Intraoperative frozen section confirmed malignancy, guiding staging laparotomy. One case was advanced stage on histopathology. Intraoperative frozen section aids optimal staging., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 Journal of Mid-life Health.)