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Gestational Diabetes mellitus is the condition of glucose intolerance that begins during pregnancy which is associated with both fetal and maternal complications. The measurement of serum fructosamine and glycated hemoglobin in normal and diabetic pregnancy used to investigate the influence of maternal and gestational age on concentrations of glycated proteins in serum and used to evaluate the patient's treatment. This study was done to measure the level of serum fructosamine and Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in Gestational Diabetes mellitus (GDM) patients and to compare with pregnant women without diabetes and healthy non-pregnant adults, to determine the pattern of change in serum fructosamine, influence of serum fructosamine and HbA1c values and to evaluate the efficacy of patient's treatment. In this study the level of fructosamine was positively correlated to HbA1c during 2nd trimesters of gestational period, implying that the level of fructosamine can be used to screen Gestational diabetes mellitus. Correlation of glycated hemoglobin values with serum fructosamine measurements in the accurate determination of glycaemic control provides confirmation of the utility of fructosamine measurement.

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River sand samples have been collected from Ponnai river, Tamil Nadu, India for characterization of minerals and heavy metals by different spectroscopic techniques. Initially, the samples were subjected by Fourier Transform-Infra Red (FT-IR) spectroscopic technique and infra-red absorption bands values are observed in the range of 515–520, 695–700, 775–780 cm−1 which shows the presence of quartz in all the samples. Similarly, infra-red peaks were absorbed for feldspar, kaolinite, calcite, gibbsite and organic carbon and confirmed by X-Ray diffraction (XRD) technique. Additionally, zircon, aragonite, magnetite and kyanite minerals were identified in the samples using only the XRD method. The concentration of heavy metals such as Pb, Cr, Zn, Ni, Hg, As, Mn, Cu has been determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). An average metal concentration measured in mg kg−1 were: Pb 0.12, As 0.15, Hg 0.13, Cu 2.80, Zn 10.15 Cr 12.70, Ni 2.86 and Mn 104.94 and hence found in the order of Mn > Cr > Zn > Ni > Cu > As > Hg > Pb. These average values do not exceed the world average value and hence potentially do not affect the quality of sand in the river. In addition to that, presences of heavy metals are confirmed by scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM/EDS) analysis. In order to understand the possible natural and anthropogenic sources of heavy metals, multivariate statistical techniques such as Pearson correlation, principal component and cluster analysis were performed. Results obtained from the statistical techniques were good agreement with each other.

Background of the study: Migraine is a renowned medical condition in 15% of general population. The patients with migraine exhibited active Trigger Points in their neck extensor muscles. Dry needling is a treatment using a thin filament sterile needle to puncture skin and create tiny lesions in a muscle, tendon, to help restore normal physiology function, and reduce pain. Needling has applications for myofascial pain, chronic pain, headache, migraine. Cervical Manipulation Technique has been used to reduce pain and improve range of motion and used in the treatment of patients with head and neck disorders, including neck pain and stiffness, muscle-tension headache, and migraine. The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of dry needling technique versus cervical manipulation technique on patients with migraine. Methodology: 30 patients were randomly divided into two groups; fifteen patients in the experimental group-A received cervical manipulation technique (3 times/week) and fifteen patients in the experimental group-B received Dry needling technique. The VAS and NDI were used as outcome measures. Result: Comparing between Group A and Group B showed significant difference in effectiveness on pain and Neck disability with P value >0.0001 among patients with migraine. Group B with Dry needling technique found more effective than Group A with cervical manipulation technique with mean difference of (2.867) and (11.40) over (2.267) and (10.47) respectively. Conclusion: Dry needling technique group is more effective over cervical manipulation technique on enhancing on pain and neck disability. Therefore, this study concludes that Dry needling technique is an effective intervention for migraine patients. Key words: Visual analog scale, Neck disability index, cervical manipulation technique, Dry needling technique, Trigger points.