[en] Objective: to assess the efficacy and safety of oral misoprostol for induction of labor. Study design: prospective interventional case series Place and duration: The study was conducted at Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department Ziauddin Hospital Kemari campus which is affiliated with Ziauddin University, from 1st January 2014 to 31st December 2015. Material and Method: Women with live singleton pregnancy of > 30 weeks gestation with cephalic presentation and bishop score <7 with an indication for induction of labor were recruited. Oral misoprostol 50 /meu/g was given orally at 6 hourly interval for 4 doses followed by 24 hour rest and repetition of 50/meu/g again at 6 hourly interval upto a maximum of 8 doses or till labor was induced. Feto-maternal outcome, mode of delivery and induction to delivery interval in hours was noted. Results: Th e mean induction to delivery interval was 23.36 hours. 133 patients (67 percent) delivered within 24 hours. 67 patients (33.5 percent) delivered at >24 hours. Overall vaginal delivery was achieved in 165(83.5 percent) patients. 163 (81.5 percent) had spontaneous vaginal delivery, 2(1 percent) had forceps and 2(1 percent) had vaccum vaginal delivery while 33(16.5 percent) patients had to undergo cesarean section. There was no case of uterine hyper stimulation or rupture. There was no intrauterine death attributable to induction. The only neonatal death was in a 32 week severely preeclamptic patient. Conclusion: Oral Misoprostol is safe and effective method of labor induction in third trimestor. (author)

[en] Objective: To determine the relationship between pre-existent hyperglycemia among patients with COVID-19 pneumonia requiring oxygen supplementation. Study Design: Cross-sectional study Place and Duration of Study: COVID-19 isolation wards, High Dependency Units, and Intensive Care Units of Mayo Hospital Lahore Pakistan, from Apr to May 2021. Methodology: Eighty-one patients with hyperglycemia but without a prior diagnosis of diabetes mellitus were selected for this study. The data was collected from COVID PCR positive patients admitted to the isolation ward and intensive care unit at Mayo Hospital, Lahore. All the patients admitted during a 2-month duration from April to May 2021. Results: A Total of 81 patients were included, of which 54(66.7%) were males. On the basis of HbA1c, 68(84%), 12(14.8%) and 1 (1.2%) patient(s) were diagnosed diabetic, pre-diabetic and non-diabetic respectively. Of the four patients requiring mechanical ventilation, 3(75%) were diabetic, and 1(25%) was pre-diabetic. Of patients who required non-invasive ventilation, 68(84.4%), 12(14.2%) and 1(1.3%) were diabetic, pre-diabetic and non-diabetic, respectively. Conclusion: There is a significant burden of undiagnosed diabetes mellitus and pre-diabetes among patients with severe COVID-19 who require oxygen supplementation or admission to high-dependency units. Therefore, all patients should undergo thorough testing to exclude underlying diabetes mellitus. (author)

[en] Using the unfolding technique, developed in reactor physics, a method for calculating the frequency distribution function for materials starting from the measured data on the temperature variation of specific heat at constant volume has been developed. As examples the cases of the following materials have been considered: graphite, selenium, tellurium, polyethylene and SiO₂ glass. In the case of graphite the frequency distribution function has been used to calculate the low-energy neutron scattering cross section with encouraging results. (author)

[en] Radial matrix integrals for the dipole approximation are calculated by employing a transformation of variables due to Schroedinger and an expansion theorem for the associated Laguerre polynomials. The resulting formulas involve a single sum in which the expansion parameter is already inverted. The formulas are suitable for machine calculations for transitions between neighboring states characterized by large values of the principal quantum numbers. It is pointed out that systems such as an electron-proton system interacting via the temperature-modified Coulomb potential can benefit from this technique. 17 refs

[en] An extensive radon anomaly is developed along the western boundary fault of the Dead Sea Transform in the NW sector of the Dead Sea, extending 15-20 km north-south. The highest radon values occur in proximity to the fault scarp. Radon is measured, in gravel (depth 1.5-3 m) at sites located at a) on-fault positions, 1-30 meters east of the fault scarp, and b) off-fault positions located 600-800 the east. Prominent signals occur in the annual and daily periodicity bands, as well as non-periodic multi-day variations (2-20 days). Modulations occur among the annual variation and the multi-day and the daily signals, and between the multi-day and the daily signal. Dissimilar variation patterns occur at on-fault versus off-fault sites in the time domain, and in the relative amplitude of the daily periodicities. Variation patterns and their modulations are similar to those encountered in experimental simulations. It is concluded that: 1) above surface atmospheric influences can be excluded; 2) a remote above surface influence probably drives the periodic components in the annual and diurnal bands; 3) diurnal as well as the multi-day signals are modified and inter-modulated by near field geological (static) and geophysical (dynamic) influences. Systematically different influences are operating at on-fault versus off- fault positions, so far the natures of these near field influences are unidentified. (authors)

[en] We show that the confining term in the widely used Cornell form of QCD potential is derivable from the gluon superpropagator for an exponential form of gluon self-interaction, if one assumes that the gluon-gluon coupling constant has the character of a running coupling constant. We also consider a rational form of self-interaction. (author)

[en] A new neutron scattering kernel for graphite has been developed with the frequency distribution function generated by the authors using the unfolding technique. This has been used to study the decay of neutron pulses in different graphite assemblies. This kernel (with theta _D = 2000 K) can give a slightly better explanation of the experimental results than those based on the Krumhansl and Brooks model or the Young and Koppel model of lattice vibrations

[en] Neutron diffusion in graphite containing 1/v and non-1/v absorbers has been studied in the diffusion theory approximation using a multigroup (30-group) approach and the neutron scattering kernel proposed earlier by the authors. It is observed that, in this case as in the case of water investigated earlier, the behavior of neutrons in graphite poisoned with gadolinium is different from that in graphite poisoned with samarium or cadmium. To explain the reason for this difference, a hypothetical model for the energy variation of the absorption cross section has been constructed that closely resembles samarium in one limit and goes over to gadolinium in the other. The effect of varying the concentration of non-1/v absorbers on the flux of sub-Bragg and epicold neutrons has been studied for this model, and some interesting results are obtained

[en] Objectives: To assess frequency of preterm premature rupture of membranes and evaluate maternal and perinatal outcome in pregnancies complicated by preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) in our hospital. Setting: Department of Obstetrics and gynecology Ziauddin hospital which is affiliated with Ziauddin University Period: Three year from 24-January-2013 to 18-December-2016 Study design: This was a prospective cross sectional study. Material and Methods: A total of 62 consecutive singleton pregnancies presenting in labor ward having gestational age between 28 to 36 weeks with complains of leaking per vaginum were included in the study after taking informed verbal consent. Frequency of preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) in our hospital, Feto maternal out-come and leaking to delivery interval were noted. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0 statistical package. Results: The frequency of PPROM was 3.27 percent. The latency period was < 48 hours in 43.5 percent of patients who presented between 34-36 weeks gestation, while none of those who presented at or < 30 weeks delivered in the fi rst 48 hrs. 35.5 percent babies were low birth weight (less than 2.5 kg). In 30.6 percent 5 minute Apgar score of <7 was observed; 34 percent developed RDS and Perinatal mortality was seen in 26 percent of babies. Chorio-amnionitis complicated 6.45 percent of pregnancies Conclusion: Preterm premature rupture of membrane is associated with significant increase in perinatal mortality. Duration of Preterm premature rupture of membrane (PPROM), latency period and Apgar score at 5 minute is related with unfavorable fetal outcome. Increase in latency period is also associated with increased risk of chorio-amnionitis. Using the findings of this study obstetricians and neonatologists would be in a better position to provide advice to PPROM experiencing couples. Further studies related to long term neonatal morbidity need to have sample sizes that are much larger and should cover a larger number of institutions. (author)

No abstract available