Search

Introduction: Pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) is an important cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality affecting 5-10% of pregnancies. PIH is more frequently associated with elevated TSH (Thyroid-stimulating hormone). Thyroid dysfunction plays an important role in the development of gestational hypertension. However, this relationship remains unclear. The study was performed to evaluate the thyroid status in pregnant women with PIH and normal pregnant women. Methodology: This was a hospital based observational case control study done in Dr M K Shah Medical College, Ahmedabad. Total 100 pregnant women were included, out of them 50 PIH women were included in the case study group and 50 normotensive healthy pregnant women were included in the control group. After taking written consent, thyroid profile (TSH, free T3 and free T4) were measured in all 100 subjects. Results: Women with PIH had higher TSH levels and lower free T3 and free T4 as compared to normotensive pregnant women. There was a significant association between hypothyroidism and PIH cases. There was a significant positive correlation between TSH and systolic BP (r=0.42) and diastolic BP (r=0.52). Conclusion: PIH women are at greater risk of decreased thyroid function. Therefore, PIH women should be monitored for thyroid levels regularly.

Background: The available literature and work done so far on diagnosis and therapeutic management of lower urinary tract affections in canine practice is very meagre specially on urethro-cystoscopic examinations, medicinal dissolution of calculi and immunotherapy for neoplasia of UB in dogs. Methods: The present study was carried in 55 dogs with lower urinary tract affections classify according to pathological conditions and therapeutic management. The diagnostic modalities like radiography, ultrasonography in all dogs, urethro-cystoscopy in seven dogs and their findings were studied. The response of therapeutics were also studied. Conclusions: The dogs having small size calculi treated according to urine pH with oral medicinal dissolution using Ammonium Chloride (Group 1A, n=9) and Di Sodium Hydrogen Citrate (Group 1B, n=10) for sixty days, Group 1C (n=25) dogs with cystitis (n=17) subjected for bacterial culture treated according to sensitive antibiotics, TCC of bladder (n=7) with immunotherapy using BCG vaccine and a dog with leiomyosarcoma with cystotomy. The dogs (Group 2, n=11) with large size calculi (n=10), a lodge catheter in UB and dogs (Group 3, n=6) did not responded medicinal dissolution from group 1A (n=2) and 1B (n=4) treated surgically. One to multiple, variable size recovered calculi (n=24) revealed highest brown colour grossly, calcium oxalate type, higher in Pomeranian breed and dogs fed with combination of vegetarian and commercial feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was carried out on 50 vaginal secretions/aspirates/discharge samples collected aseptically using syringe and pipette method from infertile (anestrus; endometritic, n = 6 each) buffaloes of villages nearby Anand and healthy cyclic (n = 5; proestus, estrus, metestrus, diestrus) as well as 3, 6 and 9 month pregnant (n = 6 each) buffaloes of University farm to identify the vaginal microorganisms based on routine cultural examination. In all 117 bacterial isolates were recovered from all 50 vaginal samples (100 %) of 35 buffaloes during different physio-pathological status. The bacteria isolated from vaginal mucus/aspirates of buffaloes during the follicular phase comprised Corynebacterium spp. as the most predominant isolate (28.57%) followed by E. coli, Bacillus Spp., Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., Salmonella spp., Proteus spp., and vaginal yeast, whereas during the luteal phase, the most predominant bacteria were E. coli (23.33%) followed by Corynebacterium spp., Bacillus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., and Klebsiella spp. In acyclic buffaloes, the most predominant bacteria isolated were Corynebacterium spp. (21.43%) Bacillus spp., Micrococcus spp., Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., E. coli and Salmonella spp., whereas the endometritic buffaloes evinced the most predominant bacterial isolates as Corynebacterium spp. and E. coli (20.00% each) followed by Bacillus spp., Salmonella, Proteus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., and Klebsiella spp. The major bacteria isolated during the entire period of pregnancy were E. coli, Micrococcus, Corynbacterium Spp., Bacillus spp., Staphylococcus spp. and Proteus. This study concludes rich bacterial diversity in the vagina of buffaloes during different physio-pathological status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among 1046 infertile breedable bovines screened in different sexual health camps in and around Anand district during one year, the prevalence of repeat breeding and genital infection was found to be 17.97 and 17.11%, respectively. The representative 23 HF crossbred infertile cows from within Anand taluka were selected for cultural examination, antibiotics sensitivity of isolates and accordingly, the treatment and pregnancy follow up. The cultural isolation of CVM/genital discharges from 23 crossbred cows revealed bacterial growth in 65.22 (15) % samples; the Gram +ve Bacilli Spp. was prevalent to the highest extent (38.10%; 8) followed by Corynebacterium Spp. (23.81%, 5). All the isolates (100%) were sensitive to enrofloxacin followed by cefotaxime and tetracycline (73.33% each), while they were resistant to tyrosin. Among the culturally positive cases, use of effective drugs resulted in overall three cycles pregnancy rate of 86.66 (13/15) %, while in culturally sterile cases it was 50 (4/8)%, showing the utility of antibiotics sensitivity testing in managing infertile animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circulating concentrations of hormones, metabolites, and minerals reflect the physio-pathological status of reproduction in animals. This study was carried out on infertile (anestrus, endometritic), normal healthy cyclic and pregnant buffaloes to evaluate the comparative plasma progesterone (P4) and estrogen (E2) hormones, plasma total protein, total cholesterol, calcium, and phosphorus profile. The study showed higher mean plasma E2 and lower P4 levels in the follicular phase of estrous cycle in buffaloes. Significantly (p < 0.05) higher mean plasma P4 level and lower E2 levels were recorded during the luteal phase and in endometritic and pregnant buffaloes. Total plasma protein concentration was non-significantly higher in normal cyclic than acyclic and endometritic buffaloes. It was also comparatively lower in buffalo with 9 months of pregnancy than 3 and 6 months of pregnancy. The mean plasma total cholesterol level was significantly (p<0.05) higher in pregnant than acyclic and endometritic buffaloes. Cyclic buffaloes had significantly (p <0.05) higher mean plasma calcium levels than acyclic buffaloes. Plasma phosphorus concentration, however, did not show any significant difference between different stages of the reproductive cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted on repeat breeder (RB, n=40) crossbred cows under field conditions to evaluate their endometrial cytology and cervico-vaginal mucus (CVM) characteristics in relation to post-treatment fertility. The endometrial cytology was obtained using cytobrush technique and CVM by aspiration technique from vaginal fornix using sterile pipette and syringe. The cows yielding bacterial growth in CVM were treated with sensitive antibiotics (i/m) for 3-5 days (Gr I, RBT: 28) and cows not yielding bacterial growth (control, Gr II, RBC: 12) were given 10 ml of normal saline (i/m). The cows were inseminated at subsequent estrus and followed for repeating to estrus and/or pregnancy. The subclinical endometritis was diagnosed using endometrial cytology (PMN%: ≥ 4%) in cows yielding bacterial isolates (n=28) with mean PMN% of 21.80±8.39, 32.18±3.26 and 29.25±6.63 for those having clear stringy consistency, turbid viscous, and watery white flaky CVM, respectively. The mean PMN% in RB cows with no bacterial isolates (n=12) and having clear stringy CVM was 1.50±0.23. The mean values of spinnbarkeit (cm), pH and Whiteside test scores of CVM were 14.60±0.51, 5.82±0.85 and 3.00±0.17; 7.41±0.15, 7.44±0.21 and 7.08±0.19; and 1.40±0.60, 1.91±0.28, and 1.75±0.25, respectively, for culturally positive cows having CVM of clear stringy, turbid viscous and watery with white flakes, respectively (Group I). The mean spinnbarkeit (cm), pH and Whiteside test scores in control cows not yielding any bacterial isolates and having clear stringy CVM (Group II) were 13.08±0.99, 7.37±0.10 and 0.33±0.19. The RB cows with clear stringy, turbid viscous and white flaky CVM and yielding bacterial isolates had mean inter-estrus intervals of 18.80 ±0.51, 15.91±0.48 and 13.83±0.41 days, respectively, the differences being significant (P<0.05), with respective post-treatment pregnancy rates of 80.00, 63.63 and 41.66 %, with an overall pregnancy rate of 57.15%. This interval was 19.42±0.45 days in RB control cows, wherein the pregnancy rate was 66.66% without any treatment. The cytobrush technique (PMN%) for endometrial cytology and Whiteside test of CVM were good tools for ruling out the subclinical genital infections in repeat breeding cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted on early postpartum (25±2 days PP, n=30) and repeat breeder (RB, n=40) crossbred cows to evaluate genital infections, their antibiogram and fertility following use of suitable antibiotics. The puerperal discharges of 19 (63.3%) cows and CVM of 28 (70.0%) RB cows yielded bacterial isolates of mixed infection, Gram-positive bacilli/rods, Streptococcus spp., Gram-negative bacilli/rods, E. coli, Corynebacterium, Micrococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., Micrococcus spp. and Anthracoid, whereas the rest of the samples were sterile. The sensitivity of isolates to 13 antibacterial drugs tested ranged between 5.3-63.2% among puerperal cows and between 25.0-50.0% in RB cows, with the highest sensitive to Gentamicin (63.2 and 50.0%) and maximum resistance to Peniclillin (94.7%) in both groups. The cows yielding bacterial isolates in both groups were treated with sensitive antibiotics (i.m.) for 3-5 d and those not yielding bacterial growth served as controls. The animals were inseminated at subsequent estruses and followed for repeating to estrus for three cycles and/or pregnancy. Overall pregnancy rates in PP treated and control cows was 47.4% and 63.6%, respectively. Overall pregnancy rates in RB treated and control cows was 57.1% and 66.7%, respectively. In brief, variable prevalence of genital infections observed in early postpartum and repeat breeder cows indicated bacterial invasion with gentamicin being the highest effective antibiotic. The cows failing to get pregnant in the absence of bacterial growth indicated involvement of other reasons for repeating to estrus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 2281 and 8872 inseminations, and 1907 and 13568 sexual health control cases attended in cattle and buffaloes, respectively, over last 14 years at College Gynaecology Clinic in Anand were evaluated to know the monthly pattern of breeding and reproductive health disorders faced by these dairy animals in the agro-climatic conditions of middle Gujarat together with yearly trend of these dual services being offered to the dairy farmers of the region at the College. The monthly trends of both insemination and reproductive health control (RHC) cases in cattle were almost consistent throughout the year, except a slight decline in March-April, whereas buffaloes showed clear seasonality in both inseminations and RHC cases, with maximum 70.65 % and 62.20 % being attended between September and February months of the year (peak being December-January, 30.32 and 24.18 %), and the least 6.80 and 10.16 % during May-June. Further, the yearly trends of annual AI and RHC cases worked out for the past 14 years clearly revealed a gradual and consistent decline in number/per cent of the total cases (AI 13.25% to 1.95%; RHC 14.40% to 1.73%) being attended at College from 1999 to 2012, the decline being drastic overall last 5 years. The overall distribution of pooled RHC cases showed the incidence of functional ovaries (suboestrum) as 24.90 %, inactive ovaries (true anoestrum) 25.76 %, pregnancy diagnosis 13.89 %, uterine infections (endometritis, metritis, pyometra) 18.45 %, repeat breeding 5.35 %, infantile genitalia 4.65 %, ovarian disorders 1.20 %, cervical disorders 2.33 %, abortion, mummification, maceration etc 1.29 %, and genital prolapse, torsion, dystocia, retained placenta, etc together 2.18 %. The occurrence of suboestrum and anoestrum was more common during summer due to malnutrition, heat stress and seasonality of breeding. Similarly, uterine infections were more common during peak seasons of breeding and calving due to unhygienic conditions. Further, the major reasons for the decline in number of cases at College Clinic are; rapid and extensive urbanization, depletion of large animal population from the surrounding pockets for miles due to conversion of agricultural lands into built up societies, development of fast track roads /circles and increased traffic problems in bringing large animals to the college on foot, and even prompt availability of doorstep services for AI and health coverage by private as well as co-operative sectors, together with increased awareness among dairy animal keepers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out using 60 semen ejaculates (10 ejaculates/bull/season) obtained from 2 sexually mature healthy Surti buffalo bulls over one year period. The year was divided in to three seasons (monsoon, winter and summer). The bulls were managed identically and were under weekly twice semen collection schedule in AV. The overall mean ejaculate volume, consistency/density score (0-4), initial pH, mass activity (score 0-5), individual sperm motility, sperm concentration, live sperm, total abnormal sperm and sperm with intact acrosome recorded were 3.16±0.76 ml, 3.05±0.92, 6.89±0.16, 2.96±0.18, 71.66±12.37 %, 885.42±242.90 millions/ml, 85.75± 4.65 %, 6.53±1.28 % and 90.73±3.16 %, respectively. The average values for cold shock resistant sperm, hypo-osmotic swelling reactive sperm, and methylene blue reduction time were 53.45±8.30 %, 59.28±6.10 % and 7.11±1.28 minutes, respectively. The bulls varied significantly only in their ejaculate volume (P=0.008), sperm concentration (P=0.002) and live sperm (P=0.014). Seasonal influence was significant for ejaculate volume (P=0.002), density score (P=0.05), mass activity (P=0.002), sperm concentration (P=0.047), live sperm (P=0.001), abnormal sperm (P=0.003) and intact acrosome (P=0.022), cold shock resistant (P=0.000) and hypo-osmotic swelling reactive sperm (P=0.000). The lowest values were observed during winter for ejaculate volume, sperm concentration and live sperm, whereas density, mass activity and individual motility was the lowest during monsoon, and abnormal sperm, cold shock resistant sperm, HOS reactive sperm and MBRT during summer. The bull x season interaction was significant only for cold shock resistant sperm. Significant correlations were observed for ejaculate volume with cold shock resistant sperm (0.35); sperm concentration with live sperm (0.30) and MBRT (-0.31); mass activity with abnormal sperm (-0.26) and cold shock resistant sperm (-0.39); initial motility with live sperm (-0.27) and HOS reactive sperm (0.25); live sperm with HOS reactive sperm (-0.49) and cold shock resistant sperm (-0.56); abnormal sperm with intact acrosome (0.25) and cold shock resistant sperm (0.32); intact acrosome with HOS reactive sperm (0.37); and HOS reactive sperm with live sperm (-0.49) and cold shock resistant sperm (0.29). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to develop modified-release tablets of diltiazem HCl using a direct compression technique. A 32 factorial design was employed using the amount of alkali-treated guar gum and cetyl alcohol as independent variables. This article proposes the use of a novel approach—f2 and Sd values as dependent variables—to evaluate the effect of selected independent variables along with other dependent variables (i.e., percentage drug released in x min, Yx; time required for z% drug release, tz; and mean dissolution time (MDT)). It is concluded that when a decision is to be made for the selection of a best batch, it is perhaps more realistic to use the f2 or Sd value which takes into account the dissolution profile as a whole, as opposed to Yx and tz values which use just one point from the dissolution plot. The batch showing the f2 value nearest to 100 or the Sd value nearest to zero is ranked as the best batch (diltiazem HCl 90 mg, alkali-treated guar gum 80 mg and cetyl alcohol 15 mg). The gel strength and matrix erosion of the formulated tablets were dependent on the type and amount of the adjuvants. The drug release rate is well correlated with matrix erosion. The kinetics of drug release fitted best to the Korsmeyer and Peppas model. It is concluded that by using a proper combination of the hydrophilic polymer and cetyl alcohol one can achieve a desirable drug release pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]