Background: Obesity is a well-known risk factor for number of non-communicable diseases. There is paucity of data however with regard to awareness of its consequences on reproductive health hazards. ...Methods: Data was collected from 208 women aged >18 years from households chosen by systematic random sampling in an urban area. Results: The mean age of participants was 41.4+ or -14.2 years. Majority of them completed their graduation 109(52.4%) and were housewives 80(38.5%). Most of them were married 167(80.3%). Out of 208 study participants, 166(79.8%) knew that obesity adversely affects reproductive health causing problems like PIH 156(75.0%), GDM 150(72.1%), menstrual irregularities 130(62.5%), infertility 117(56.2%), decreased efficacy of hormonal contraception 84(40.4%), premature delivery 67(32.2%), miscarriages 66(31.7%) and fetal malformations 55(26.4%) during pregnancy. Difficulties during delivery 137(65.9%), higher chances of caesarean section 130(62.4%), infections 36(17.3%) and PPH 33(15.9%) in the intra and post natal period were also known to participants. Majority of women 158(76%) had average awareness level regarding consequences of obesity on their reproductive health. Only 21(10.1%) had good awareness. Source of information among majority of participants was media 116(55.8%). Good awareness level was significantly more among those aged < 25 years (p=0.03), with higher level of education (p=0.038), nulligravida (p=0.037) and professionals (p=0.02). Conclusions: Awareness generation on consequences of obesity on reproductive health is required to bring about behavioral change regarding obesity prevention among women in the setting. Keywords: Awareness, Reproductive health problems, Obesity, Women, Urban area
We report an alternative explanation of the variation of charged particle to photon ratio in Cu+Cu collisions and Au+Au collisions from 1.4 \(\pm\) 0.1 to 1.2 \(\pm\) 0.1 at \(\sqrt{\it{s}_{\rm ...NN}}\) = 62.4 GeV and 200 GeV respectively in STAR experiment at RHIC. Based on the theoretical predictions and experimental results we argue that the additional contribution of direct photons at \(\sqrt{\it{s}_{\rm NN}}\) = 200 GeV in both Cu+Cu and Au+Au collisions are improving the ratio \(\frac{N_{ch}}{N_{\gamma}}\) to 1.2 \(\pm\) 0.1 from 1.4 \(\pm\) 0.1.
Carbon nano spheres derived from Allium cepa were synthesized at differenttemperatures in a one-step pyrolysis process for supercapacitor electrodes. Obtainedcarbon nano spheres were analyzed using ...SEM, FTIR, BET and XRD. The nanomaterials were fabricated into conducting electrodes for cyclic voltammetry, constantcurrent charge-discharge and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies. All thestudies were done in 3.0 M KOH electrolyte. Specific capacitance from chargedischarge experiments were found to be 132.03 F/g and 149.49 F/g for nano materialssynthesized at 500ºC and 600ºC respectively. Obtained values suggest a way forward inproducing a green electrode for commercial applications.Keywords: Carbon nano spheres, supercapacitor electrodes, bio material
We studied expression of protooncogene c-kit receptor in Brown Norway rat Rattus norvegicus testis during different stages of postnatal development. Several regions from within the c-kit gene ...encompassing different domains were amplified employing reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, and the resultant amplicons were cloned and characterized. Maximum expression of c-kit was observed in the testes during the days 10 to 30, suggesting its involvement in transition of primary spermatocytes towards formation of mature spermatozoa. Multiple novel transcripts originating from the extracellular domain were also identified, though their functions remained unknown. The evolutionary divergence of c-kit cDNA of 10 other vertebrates was studied using their sequences from the GenBank. Analyses of c-kit cDNA and its protein sequences in rat and related genomes showed organizational uniqueness across the species. Construction of phylogenetic tree, based on c-kit cDNA and protein sequences delineated all the species successfully and was found to be in accordance with the established positioning of these animals. The organizational uniqueness of c-kit cDNA sequences from the extracellular domain may be exploited as a useful tool in delineating phylogenetic relationship of different species.
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), a family of zinc-dependent proteases, have been linked with the pathogenesis of intracranial aneurysm (IA) formation and rupture. Patients with IA have elevated ...serum levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 gene expression has been shown to be increased in aneurysm tissue. In this study, we have evaluated the association between MMP gene variants and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). The rs243865 in MMP-2 and rs17576 in MMP-9 genes were genotyped using Taqman allelic discrimination assay. Upon gender stratification, the presence of G allele of MMP-9 gene exon variant was found to increase the risk of aSAH by 1.4 fold (p = 0.032), in men. The GG genotype also showed a trend towards association with the risk of aSAH (OR: 1.785, CI: 0.971–3.283, p = 0.062) in men, after adjusting for the vascular risk factors. In women, no association was observed. The MMP-2 gene variants were not associated with aSAH in both genders. Further functional studies are required to describe the exact basis of the association between MMP-9 polymorphism and intracranial aneurysm in men.
•MMP-2 and MMP-9 gene variants genotyped in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) patients.•In men, G allele of MMP-9 gene (rs17576) increases susceptibility to aSAH by 1.4-fold.•There is no association between rs243865 of MMP-2 gene and aSAH in both genders.
Introduction: The purpose of this study was to examine whether Body Mass Index (BMI) and the subjective perception of body weight, and body shape satisfaction predict level of self-esteem and ...depression among female college students. Method: The sample comprised of 124 female college students ranging in age from 16-21 years. Self perception of having a weight problem was evaluated by open-ended questions and Body Shape Questionnaire. In addition, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and General Health Questionnaire-28 was administered. Results: Based on BMI 29.0% were under weight, 67.8% normal and 3.2% over weight. Rating of self-perception of body shape showed that 38.7% felt that they were slim, 27.4% normal and 26.6% as thin. Eighty six percent of the subjects desired to be slim. The perception of weight problem but not BMI contributed significantly to higher scores on GHQ. There was a significant positive correlation between BSQ scores and BMI, age, and weight. Conclusions: Health care providers need to educate female adolescents about normal weight range, proper diet and exercise. In addition, health care providers need to help them attain a realistic, positive perception of their weight in order to prevent depression and lowered self-esteem. (Contains 2 tables.)
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