Pharmacophore modelling, atom-based 3D-QSAR generation and virtual screening of molecules projected for mPGES-1 inhibitory activity.

COX-2 inhibitors exhibit anticancer effects in various cancer models but due to the adverse side effects associated with these inhibitors, targeting molecules downstream of COX-2 (such as mPGES-1) has been suggested. Even after calls for mPGES-1 inhibitor design, to date there are only a few published inhibitors targeting the enzyme and displaying anticancer activity. In the present study, we have deployed both ligand and structure-based drug design approaches to hunt novel drug-like candidates as mPGES-1 inhibitors. Fifty-four compounds with tested mPGES-1 inhibitory value were used to develop a model with four pharmacophoric features. 3D-QSAR studies were undertaken to check the robustness of the model. Statistical parameters such as r2 = 0.9924, q2 = 0.5761 and F test = 1139.7 indicated significant predictive ability of the proposed model. Our QSAR model exhibits sites where a hydrogen bond donor, hydrophobic group and the aromatic ring can be substituted so as to enhance the efficacy of the inhibitor. Furthermore, we used our validated pharmacophore model as a three-dimensional query to screen the FDA-approved Lopac database. Finally, five compounds were selected as potent mPGES-1 inhibitors on the basis of their docking energy and pharmacokinetic properties such as ADME and Lipinski rule of five.

Extension of shelf life of pear fruits using different packaging materials.

An experiment was conducted on pear fruit (cv. 'Lagoon') to extend the shelf life by using different packaging materials. Fruits were packed in low density polyethylene (LDPE, 0.025 mm), polypropylene (PP, 0.025 mm), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE, 0.0125 mm) and high density polyethylene (HDPE, 0.025 mm) with or without perforation and stored at ambient condition (25 ± 2 °C and 65.0 ± 5% RH). Periodical observations were recorded on CO2 & O2 concentration (%), physiological loss in weight (PLW, %), decay loss (%), firmness (kgf), colour value (colour difference and colour index), total soluble solid (TSS, °Brix), acidity (mg of malic acid/g), and ascorbic acid loss (%) at 3 days interval. Reduced rate of PLW and decay losses was recorded in pear fruits packed in PP non-perforated (8.04%) and PP perforated (12.5%), respectively as compared to other treatments. The maximum firmness (5.18 kgf) and minimum ascorbic acid loss (49.97%) were also recorded in PP non-perforated up to 12 and 15 days of storage, respectively. It could be inferred that the, PP non-perforated (0.025 mm) was the most suitable packaging materials for extending the shelf life of pear fruits up to 15 days at ambient condition.

Violence against women by their husband and postpartum depression.

BACKGROUND: Violence against women in developing countries is very high with very little to choose between the cities and provinces. In Nepal too, violence against women is very rampant. This occurs despite physical violence against women being ascribed as criminal act by Domestic Violence Act. The main objective of the study was to see the association between postpartum depression and violence against women. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted among pregnant women of reproductive age group in two centers. Standard questionnaires were used to collect data regarding violence and for detecting postpartum depression. Three interviews one in antenatal and two in postnatal period were taken. RESULTS: The incidence of postpartum depression was found to be 19.4 % (95% CI = 14.73 - 24.06) and 22.22% (95% CI = 17.30 - 27.09) during first (6 week postpartum ) and second (10th week) postpartum interview respectively. The incidence of physical, psychological and sexual violence was found to be 20.8% (95%CI= 16.01 - 25.58), 19.4% (95%CI= 14.73 - 24.06) and 13.9% (95% CI= 9.82 - 17.97) respectively. No statistically significant relationship could be found between different forms of violence and postpartum depression .The study showed that all the women with bad communication or conversation with the husband had postpartum depression while only 17.1% of women with good conversation had postpartum depression. CONCLUSIONS: No form of violence against women had statistically significant association with development of postpartum depression among Nepalese population.

Transverse testicular ectopia with persistent Muellerian duct syndrome.

A one-year-old boy was admitted with complaints of swelling in the left inguinoscrotal region and an empty right scrotum since birth. The inguinoscrotum contained two ovoid solid swellings one above the other. The swellings were testes like in feel, size and shape. The diagnosis was transverse testicular ectopia. The case was managed by surgery. Tissue from gonads, the tubular structures and the fallopian tubes were sent for histopathological examination for confirmation. This was a case of an otherwise normal male with transverse testicular ectopia with persistent Muellerian duct syndrome in the left inguinoscrotal hernial sac.

An audit of urodynamic standardization in the West Midlands, UK.

OBJECTIVE: To report a follow-up postal survey to one conducted in 1998 assessing the feasibility of standardizing urodynamic practice in the West Midlands region. METHODS: From the initial survey there was interest in standardizing the practice of urodynamics and a few simple guidelines were proposed. The postal survey was repeated to identify any changes. The guidelines included zeroing the transducer to atmospheric pressure, a filling rate of 50 mL/min and using the International Continence Society (ICS) definition of detrusor instability, including numerical values and recording any contraction in the presence of urgency. A questionnaire, similar to the initial one, was circulated to all the clinicians who had participated in the initial study, distributed approximately 8 months after agreed guidelines were issued. Specific questions included details of the filling and voiding cystometrogram, and the basis of diagnosing detrusor instability. They were also asked to comment on whether they would still like the practice to be standardized. RESULTS: Only 17 of the 23 clinicians who participated in the initial study responded. For zeroing the transducer to atmospheric pressure, eight still zeroed to the patient. Only one unit had changed its practice by zeroing to atmospheric pressure. Varied rates of filling were still used and only eight participants used the ICS criteria to diagnose detrusor instability. Three of the 17 participants did not feel that standardization was achievable. CONCLUSIONS: Obviously there is some apathy amongst clinicians to move towards standardization. No significant changes had been made since standardization guidelines were issued. Although most preferred initially to standardize urodynamic practice, individuals do not seem to have been convinced that they need to change their method to achieve uniformity.

Routine estimation of prostate specific antigen prior to clinic attendance in patients with symptoms of bladder outlet obstruction.

We report the use of serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) estimations prior to clinic attendance in 234 patients referred with symptoms of bladder outlet obstruction to a general urology clinic. Ninety-three patients with PSA levels > 10 ng/ml were seen earlier than planned and offered transurethral resection or transrectal biopsy of the prostate gland. Forty-six patients (49%) proved to have carcinoma of the prostate, compared with 10 of 141 (7%) patients who had PSA values < 10 ng/ml. With a decision value of 10 ng/ml, the sensitivity for detecting carcinoma was 82% and specificity 73.5%. Using a decision value of 7 ng/ml improved the sensitivity to 95% without significantly affecting the specificity (70%). Twenty-four patients with prostatic cancer had bone metastases; the sensitivity of PSA for predicting a positive bone scan using a decision value of 25 ng/ml was 92%, but the specificity was only 31%.

Religio-cultural variation in childbearing practices.

PIP: A sample of 300 mothers aged 20-35 years from Bihar city in Bhagalpur, India, was drawn to reflect similar ages, education, family income, number of children, and residence for each religious group: Hindu, Muslim, and Christian. The hypothesis was that childbearing mothers would differ significantly in their child rearing methods and attitudes toward their children. The Child Care Schedule asked questions about methods of feeding, weaning, toilet training, and bed habit training. The Parent Attitude Schedule measures mother's attitudes: restrictive-permissive, loving-rejecting, and protecting-neglecting. The results indicated that 78% of Christian mothers breast fed compared to 75% of Muslim mothers and 58% of Hindu mothers. There were significant differences between groups in feeding practices (x2= 11.18, df=2, p.01). 77.3% of Christian mothers practiced a 3-hour feeding schedule, compared to 52% of Muslim mothers and 50% of Hindu mothers; 49.5% of Hindu mothers preferred a 4-hour feeding schedule. These differences were also significant. 54% of HIndu mothers wean before 12 months, and only 33% of Muslim and 35% of Christian mothers did. A greater proportion of Muslim mothers (58%) wean between 13 and 24 months. Differences again were significant. 66% or more of the mothers in each group practiced gradual weaning rather than forced or casual weaning. There were significant differences in toilet training habits and training in washing and bathing among the 3 groups of women. All 3 groups believed in moderate training in bathing. There were insignificant differences in bed habit training and the age at which training began. About 75% of all mothers followed moderate approaches to bed habit training. There were significant differences in child rearing attitudes between Hindus and Muslims. Hindu mothers were the least restrictive, and Christian mothers were the most restrictive. The same pattern applied to loving-rejecting and protecting-neglecting. Christian mothers were the most loving, and Muslim mothers were the least loving. Christian mothers were the most protective and Muslim mothers the least protective. In Hindu families with early weaning and toilet training, the joint family system helps to dissipate frustration caused by early practices. Further research on cultural differences in personality and cultural variations in child rearing is needed.^ieng