To assess ovulation in infertile women using urinary luteinizing hormone surge kits versus transvaginal ultrasonography

Background: The study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of urinary LH surge kits and TVS to detect ovulation in induced cycles and to compare the ovulation rates by both methods.Methods: Prospective experimental randomized control trial on 72 women with an ovulatory infertility aged 18-35 years, fulfilling the inclusion criteria were given letrozole for ovulation induction. All were randomly divided in two groups. Group 1 woman were asked to check ovulation by urinary LH surge kits and group 2 women were called for follicle monitoring by TVS.Results: Letrozole has no negative effect on endometrium; induced cycle has larger diameter of follicle (median: 22 mm). In induced cycle ovulation occurs later compared to normal cycle (D-16) and half of the women had a BMI more than the recommended WHO criteria (average was 25.28 kg/m2). Number of letrozole cycles (p=0.2642), dose requirement (p=0.0812) and pregnancy rates (10.26% versus 18.19%) were comparable in both groups.Conclusions: TVS is objective, accurate and thus standard modality for ovulation detection. LH surge kit is subjective, having more chances of error but can be used as a good alternative in certain settings like woman of remote area, woman having fear of invasive modality and COVID era woman who are afraid to visit hospital repeatedly.

Menstrual pattern amongst adolescent girls: a cross sectional study from Raichur, Karnataka

Background: Menstrual disorders in adolescent age are quite different than in adult women, both for diagnostic and therapeutic management. We need to take into account the problems in normal initiation of menarche, hematological problems, general endocrine problems, and fragile emotional status at this tender age. The objective of the study was to study the patterns of menstrual disorders in adolescent girls.Methods: Cross sectional observational study was carried out in 200 adolescent girls, aged 12 to 19 years, among the students of S.R.P.S PU college and the district government Girls’ school in Raichur during the period of January 2017 to December 2017. A pre-structured questionnaire was used and data was analysed using Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) 23.0 version.Results: Majority of the girls in our study were from 17-18 years age group (55%). The mean age of menarche was 13.2±0.9 years. Cycle length of <21 days was found in 4 (2%) of cases, 143 (71.5%) had 21-35 days cycle and 10 (5%) had >35 days cycle length. Majority had normal cycle length. Dysmenorrhea was found in 84 (42%) students. Premenstrual symptoms like tiredness were noted in 14 (7%) of cases, pain in the legs in 10 (5%), irritability in 8 (4%), lack of interest in work and play in 7 (3.5%), low back pain in 6 (3%), low/depressed mood in 6 (3%), anger in 4 (2%), anxiety in 4 (2%), difficulty in concentrating in 2 (1%), nausea\vomiting were noted in 2 (1%).Conclusions: Prevalence of dysmenorrhea was 42%. Premenstrual symptoms like tiredness were noted in majority of the girls 7%, pain in the legs in 5%, irritability in 4%.

Hypogonadism in the Prader-Willi syndrome from birth to adulthood: a 28-year experience in a single centre

Background: Hypogonadism is a key feature of Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) but clear strategies for hormone replacement are lacking. Objective: To evaluate gonadal status and outcome in patients attending a Scottish PWS clinic from 1991-2019. Methods: In 93 (35F:56M) patients, median follow-up 11.2 years, gonadal and pubertal status were assessed clinically. Pelvic ultrasound findings and basal/stimulated gonadotrophins were compared with age-matched controls. Results: Females: Of 22 patients aged >11, 9 had reached B4-5, while 5 were still at B2-3, and 6 remained prepubertal. Eight patients experienced menarche aged 9.8-21.4 years, none with a normal cycle. Uterine length and ovarian volumes were normal but uterine configuration remained immature, with low follicular counts. Gonadotrophins were unremarkable, serum estradiol 129 (70 – 520) pmol/L. Only 5 patients received oestrogen replacement. Males: Fifty-four (96%) patients were cryptorchid (9 unilateral). Weekly hCG injections resulted in unilateral/bilateral descent in 2/1 of 25 patients. Of 37 boys aged >11, 14 (9 with failed/untreated bilateral cryptorchidism) failed to progress beyond G1, 15 arrested at G2-3 (testes 3-10 ml), and 8 reached G4-5. Gonadotrophins were unremarkable except in boys at G2-5 in whom FSH was elevated: 12.3/27.3 vs 3.25/6.26 U/L in controls (p<0.001). In males aged >13, testosterone was 3.1 (0.5-8.4) nmol/L. Androgen therapy, given from 13.5-29.2 years, was stopped in 4/24 patients owing to behavioural problems. Conclusion: Despite invariable hypogonadism, few females and only half the males with PWS in this study received hormone replacement. Double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trials of sex steroids are required to address unproven behavioural concerns.

Heart Rate Methods Can Be Valid for Estimating Intensity Spectrums of Oxygen Uptake in Field Exercise

PurposeQuantifying intensities of physical activities through measuring oxygen uptake (V̇O2) is of importance for understanding the relation between human movement, health and performance. This can in principle be estimated by the heart rate (HR) method, based on the linear relationship between HR and V̇O2 established in the laboratory. It needs, however, to be explored whether HR methods, based on HR-V̇O2 relationships determined in the laboratory, are valid for estimating spectrums of V̇O2 in field exercise. We hereby initiate such studies, and use cycle commuting as the form of exercise.MethodsTen male and ten female commuter cyclists underwent measurements of HR and V̇O2 while performing ergometer cycling in a laboratory and a normal cycle commute in the metropolitan area of Stockholm County, Sweden. Two models of individual HR-V̇O2 relationships were established in the laboratory through linear regression equations. Model 1 included three submaximal work rates, whereas model 2 also involved a maximal work rate. The HR-V̇O2 regression equations of the two models were then used to estimate V̇O2 at six positions of field HR: five means of quintiles and the mean of the whole commute. The estimations obtained were for both models compared with the measured V̇O2.ResultsThe measured quintile range during commuting cycling was about 45–80% of V̇O2max. Overall, there was a high resemblance between the estimated and measured V̇O2, without any significant absolute differences in either males or females (range of all differences: −0.03–0.20 L⋅min–1). Simultaneously, rather large individual differences were noted.ConclusionThe present HR methods are valid at group level for estimating V̇O2 of cycle commuting characterized by relatively wide spectrums of exercise intensities. To further the understanding of the external validity of the HR method, there is a need for studying other forms of field exercises.

Pelatihan Pemasaran Online Usaha Home Industry Kerajinan Semen Pekon Keputran Kabupaten Pringsewu

Kemudahan berbisnis melalui pemanfaatan media sosial mendorong penulis dan tim untuk mengadakan kegiatan pengabdian berupa pendampingan dan pelatihan bagi pengusaha home industry kerajinan semen di Desa Keputran, Kecamatan Sukoharjo, Kabupaten Pringsewu, Lampung. Salah satu potensi perkembangan teknologi yang dapat dimanfaatkan sebagai media pemasaran adalah media sosial yang dapat menembus batas jarak, ruang, dan waktu. Kegiatan pelatihan ini bertujuan untuk memberikan manfaat bagi para pengusaha dalam memasarkan produk yang akhirnya memberikan dampak bertambahnya mitra, pesanan, dan juga pendapatan. Dengan bertambahnya pendapatan maka kegiatan usaha terus berputar dengan siklus yang normal bahkan mengalami trend yang semakin meningkat. Hasil akhir yang ingin dicapai adalah bertambahnya taraf hidup pengusaha dan juga warga di sekitar Desa Keputran, Kecamatan Sukoharjo, Kabupaten Pringsewu, Lampung. Online Marketing Training for Home Industry Cement Crafts in Pekon Keputran, Pringsewu Regency Abstract The ease of doing business through social media encourages writers and the team to hold service activities in the form of mentoring and training for the cement craft home industry in Keputran Village, Sukoharjo District, Pringsewu Regency, Lampung. One of the potential developments in technology that can be used as a marketing medium is social media that can penetrate the boundaries of distance, space, and time. This training aims to provide benefits for entrepreneurs in marketing products. With the increase in income, business activities continue to rotate with a normal cycle and even experience an increasing trend. The final result to be achieved is increasing the standard of living of entrepreneurs and also residents around Keputran Village, Sukoharjo District, Pringsewu Regency, Lampung.

Assessment of age at menarche and menstrual pattern among secondary school girls in Awka, Southeast Nigeria

Background: Menarche is an important physiological milestone in girls and this usually occurs during their secondary school years. The menstrual pattern may vary in these adolescents. This knowledge may assist in counselling the young girls on reproductive health issues.Methods: A cross-sectional study of female secondary school students from Kenneth Dike secondary school, Awka; Amaenyi girls’ secondary school and community secondary school, Okpuno, all in Awka, Anambra state of Nigeria. All together 545 students were selected following informed consent. The study instrument was a pre-tested, semi-structured and self-administered questionnaire. Data analysis was done with IBM SPSS 20 software. Tests of association between variables were done with Fisher’s exact test and the level of significance set at p≤0.05. Results: The mean age of the 545 respondents was 16.79±1.736 years and majority of them are of the Igbo ethnic group (90.5%). The average age at menarche was 12.77±1.159 years. There is a significant difference between the age at menarche and the father’s occupation. The modal duration of flow was 4 days (48.7%) while 95.2% had a normal cycle length of 21-35 days.Conclusions: The average age of menarche of secondary school girls in Awka was 12.77±1.159 years. Most of the students had normal menstrual flow duration of 2-7 days with a cycle length of 21-35 days.

In-Cylinder Pressure Based Engine Knock Classification Model for High-Compression Ratio, Automotive Spark-Ignition Engines Using Various Signal Decomposition Methods

Engine knock determination has been conducted in various ways for spark timing calibration. In the present study, a knock classification model was developed using a machine learning algorithm. Wavelet packet decomposition (WPD) and ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) were employed for the characterization of the in-cylinder pressure signals from the experimental engine. The WPD was used to calculate 255 features from seven decomposition levels. EEMD provided total 70 features from their intrinsic mode functions (IMF). The experimental engine was operated at advanced spark timings to induce knocking under various engine speeds and load conditions. Three knock intensity metrics were employed to determine that the dataset included 4158 knock cycles out of a total of 66,000 cycles. The classification model trained with 66,000 cycles achieved an accuracy of 99.26% accuracy in the knock cycle detection. The neighborhood component analysis revealed that seven features contributed significantly to the classification. The classification model retrained with the seven significant features achieved an accuracy of 99.02%. Although the misclassification rate increased in the normal cycle detection, the feature selection decreased the model size from 253 to 8.25 MB. Finally, the compact classification model achieved an accuracy of 99.95% with the second dataset obtained at the knock borderline (KBL) timings, which validates that the model is sufficient for the KBL timing determination.

Hepatic LC3 II/I ratio is not modulated in exercised mice

Autophagy plays an essential role in body homeostasis achievement. One of the main proteins involved in this process is the LC3I, which, after lipidation, leads to the formation of LC3II that participates in the formation and maturation of autophagosome. This descriptive study verified the responses of LC3II to LC3I proteins, as well as the time-course of this ratio in mice livers after different types of acute physical exercise protocols. Eight-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were maintained three per cage with controlled temperature (22±2 °C) on a 12:12-h light-dark normal cycle with food (Purina chow) and water ad libitum. Mice were randomly divided into four groups: control (CT, sedentary mice), resistance (RE, submitted to a single bout of resistance exercise), endurance (EE, submitted to a single bout of endurance exercise), and concurrent (CE, submitted to a single bout of endurance combined with resistance exercise). The mice livers were extracted and used for the immunoblotting technique. The hepatic LC3B II/I ratio for the RE and EE groups were not altered during the different time-points. For the CE group, there was a decrease in this ratio 12h after exercise compared to time 0 and 18h. Also, the hepatic LC3B II/I ratios were not different among the acute physical exercise protocols along the time-course. The hepatic LC3B II/I ratio was not influenced by the endurance and resistance protocols but decreased in response to the concurrent protocol at 12h after the stimulus.

Hormonal Profile Study of Bangladeshi Crossbred Dairy Cows in Relation to Repeat Breeding

The repeat breeding condition affects both the fertility of cows and the economy of farmers and the nation. Normal levels of various biochemical constituents are indispensable for the normal functioning of various body systems of animals, including the reproductive system. The hormonal profile is an indicator of the reproductive status and aids in the prognosis and restoration of animal fertility. The present study explores the implication of four hormones (luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin and prolactin) on the normal cycle breeding process of Bangladeshi normal cyclic cows and repeat breeder dairy cows. Among four hormones, the levels of luteinizing hormone and prolactin were significantly different between the normal cyclic cows and repeat breeder cows. The assessment of hormonal profile aids in ameliorating the repeat breeding conditions of the dairy cows. The findings of the present study could be applied in overcoming repeat breeding problems in dairy cows and thus, economic loss could be lessened.