We report a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among pregnant women and adolescent girls from a rural Indian community. Boys are relatively protected. Seasonal variation in serum 25OHD is significant at latitude 26 degrees N.

Both lean and obese women carry a risk for adverse pregnancy outcome, therefore pregnant women should maintain a normal BMI to achieve a healthy pregnancy outcome.

Objective Near miss audit improves understanding of determinants of maternal morbidity and mortality and identifies areas of substandard care. It helps health professionals to revise obstetric policies and practices. Methods A retrospective review of obstetric case records was performed to assess frequency ad nature of maternal near miss (MNM) cases as per WHO criteria. For each case, primary obstetric complication leading to maternal morbidity was evaluated. Obstetric complications were analyzed to calculate prevalence ratio, case fatality ratio, and mortality index.Results There were 6,357 deliveries, 5,273 live births, 247 maternal deaths, and 633 MNM cases. As per WHO criteria for Near miss, shock, bilirubin [6 mg%, and use of vasoactive drugs were the commonest clinical, laboratory, and management parameters. Hemorrhage and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy were leading cause of MNM (45.7 and 24.2 %) and maternal deaths (28.7 and 21.5 %). Highest prevalence rate, case fatality ratio, and mortality index were found in hemorrhage (0.53), respiratory diseases (0.46), and liver disorders (51.9 %), respectively. Conclusion Developing countries carry a high burden of maternal mortality and morbidity which may be attributed to improper management of obstetric emergencies at referring hospitals, poor referral practices, and poor access/ utilization of health care services.

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Juvenile hormone (JH) is a key regulator of insect development and reproduction.Given that JH commonly affects adult insect fertility, it has been hypothesized to also regulate behaviors such as dominance and aggression that are associated with 4 reproduction. We tested this hypothesis in the bumble bee Bombus terrestris for 4 which JH has been shown to be the major gonadotropin. We used the allatoxin 4 Precocene-I (P-I) to reduce hemolymph JH titers and replacement therapy with the 4 natural JH to revert this effect. In small orphan groups of workers with similar body 4 size but mixed treatment, P-I treated bees showed lower aggressiveness, oogenesis, 5 ;

This study was designed to examine the expression and cellular distribution of homeobox ( HOX) genes ( HOXA10 and HOXA11) and cell adhesion molecules (E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and β-catenin) during the window of implantation in infertile women with noncavity-distorting intramural (IM) fibroids (n = 18) and in fertile controls (n = 12). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels and protein expression, respectively. When compared to fertile controls, reduced HOXA10 and HOXA11 transcript and protein levels were observed in infertile women. However, changes only in the expression of HOXA10 mRNA (-1.72-fold; P = .03) and stromal protein ( P = .001) were statistically significant. Significantly lower E-cadherin mRNA (-10.97-fold; P = .02) and protein levels were seen in infertile patients. E-cadherin immunostaining was significantly reduced both in the luminal ( P = .048) and in the glandular ( P = .014) epithelium of endometrium from infertile patients when compared to controls. No significant change was observed either in the mRNA levels or in the immunoexpression of N-cadherin and β-catenin. However, a trend toward lower N-cadherin expression in the luminal epithelium ( P = .054) and decreased β-catenin expression in the glandular epithelium ( P = .070) was observed in infertile patients. The present findings suggest that altered endometrial HOXA10 and E-cadherin mRNA and protein expression observed in infertile women with IM fibroids during the mid-secretory phase might impair endometrial receptivity leading to infertility in these patients.

NA. Laryngoscope, 127:E100-E106, 2017.