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Background Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a prevalent endocrine disorder identified by glucose intolerance during pregnancy, associated with numerous complications for both the mother and the child. Methods This study investigates the correlation between anthropometric parameters, specifically mid-arm circumference (MAC), bicipital skinfold thickness (BSFT), and tricipital skinfold thickness (TSFT), and the development of GDM. Conducted at the Sir Sunderlal Hospital, Banaras Hindu University, the study involved 250 pregnant women between 24-28 weeks of gestation, screened using a 75 g Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). Anthropometric measurements were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient and multivariate logistic regression. Results The findings reveal that while weight and height did not significantly predict GDM, both tricipital skin fold thickness and Bicipital skin fold thickness exhibited a significant positive correlation with Gestational diabetes mellitus incidence (Odds ratio for TSFT = 1.35, BSFT = 1.29). This suggests that TSFT and BSFT are reliable indicators for early GDM prediction. Conclusion The study concludes that incorporating regional anthropometric measurements, particularly TSFT and BSFT, into prenatal care protocols could enhance early GDM detection and intervention, potentially improving maternal and fetal outcomes. Future research should focus on refining these predictive models and integrating them into broader maternal health strategies to mitigate GDM-related risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Major cause of death/Adult fungal meningitis in HIV/AIDS patients is Cryptococcus neoformans. Fungal meningitis precedes serum/plasma cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) by several weeks. Cryptococcal Antigen (CrAg) screening and presumptive treatment can prevent fungal meningitis in HIV/AIDS patients significantly. Method: The descriptive cross-sectional study included 100 ART Naive patients (65 males &35 females) from both ART clinic and Medicine Indoor. Serum/CSF cryptococcal positivity detected by Latex agglutination test (Pastorex TM Cryptoplus, BIO-RAD, France) and Lateral flow assay by IMMY Kit(US FDA approved). CD4 Counts were measured using flow cytometer (Becton-Dickinson FACS count flow cytometer) Result: Prevalence of CrAg positivity in our study is 7 %(7/100), out of which 4%(4/100) had features of meningitis. Comparison of Antigenemia with Demographic features like Age, Inpatients; Symptomatic groups were having statistically significant association (p value0.0=5). Low CD4 count (<50) is associated with more seropositivity 33.3 %(5/100). Clinical features like Headache, Vomiting, Fever were having statistically significant association with cryptococcal Antigenemia. Conclusion: Prevalence of cryptococcal Antigenemia is higher in ART Naive HIV patients with lower CD4 count which needs urgent attention for screening and substitution of Antifungal treatment to reduce morbidity / mortality from cryptococcal meningitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byline: Rahul. Ray, Aseem. Sharma, Biju. Vasudevan, Jandhyala. Sridhar, Rajeev. Deo, C. Mohanty A 30-year-old male presented to the dermatology department with complaints of multiple ulcers over both legs of [...]

The effects of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) on the growth, metamorphosis, innate immune parameters and enzyme profiles of tadpole, Polypedates maculatus were studied. Chronic exposure to Ag-NPs for 60 days at 1 mg l-1 and 5 mg l-1 concentrations caused 10% and 50% mortalities respectively alongwith slow growth and delayed metamorphosis as compared to 0.1 mg l-1 treatment and control (0 mg l-1). The non-specific immune parameters and certain enzyme activities like alkaline phosphatase (ALP), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) varied significantly in a dose dependent manner. The accumulation of silver in the tadpole tissues of treated groups ranged from 0.0966±0.0025 μg g-1 to 0.4718±0.0126 μg g-1 as compared to tissues in control group (0.0758±0.0019 μg g-1). Hence Ag-NPs had significant detrimental effects on growth and other associated physiological parameters of tadpole, Polypedates maculatus when administered at higher concentrations (>1 mg l-1) for longer durations. Thus the toxicity studies of Ag-NPs have to be conducted on wider ranges of target and non-target species to assess their environmental impacts. Furthermore, these results suggest that silver nanoparticles induce a dose-dependent toxicity in physiological parameters of tadpoles, which hinders normal development.This study was aimed to enhance our insight on the health and environmental impact of silver nanoparticles. This study pointed out the adverse effects of Ag-NPs in tadpole species and all applications involving silver nanoparticles should be given special attention and promoted only after detailed studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noise pollution is one of the major public health problems in urban areas throughout the world. Noise is unwanted sound which produces undesirable problems in day to day life of human being (e.g., physiological and psychological problems). Rapid increase of the industrialization, urbanization, infrastructure, volume of motor vehicles, and increase in the road networks brought noise pollution to the highest level of disaster in a current situation. In urban areas, road traffic noise plays commanding role among all noise sources and affects the exposed inhabitants. The present work is done to evaluate and assess the traffic noise and its effects in Burla town. Burla, Vidyanagari of Odisha, is an emerging town in India, as it hosts national level of teaching and research institutions like IIM Sambalpur, a medical college- cum-hospital (VIMSAR), a technical university (VSSUT) and Sambalpur University. In last two decade, the road traffic volume has been increased and is facing severe noise pollution to its inhabitants. Noise pollution assessment was made at different locations of the town. This study unveiled the dismal state of noise pollution in the town. Noise contour maps were drawn to visualize the noise level at the traffic and its surroundings. The numbers of hearing impaired patients in different hospitals of the locality are increasing. That shows grim picture of the situation. Regression equations were established taking noise levels with percentage of highly annoyed people during study indicates strong correlation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rotary kiln waste (dolochar) generated in sponge iron plants has been converted into a low-cost adsorbent by heat activation for the removal of chromium and lead from aqueous solution. The effects of particle size, contact time, sorbent dosage, adsorbate concentration, pH and temperature on the sorption of both the metal ions were studied in batch experiments. Kinetic studies were also conducted to have an idea on the sorption mechanism of the process. The uptake of lead was found to be more than that of chromium. Adsorption on dolochar followed Freundlich isotherm. The kinetics of the Cr(VI) and Pb(II) adsorption on the kiln waste was found to follow a pseudo-second-order rate equation. It was observed that the sorption process was spontaneous and the adsorbent is suitable for sorption of both ions. In addition, fixed bed studies were performed to simulate real-life conditions. The experiments were also performed to regenerate the column by 0.2 N HNO3 for lead–dolochar system and 0.5 M NaOH for chromium–dolochar system for reuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]