Cesarean section, which was introduced into clinical practice as a lifesaving procedure for both the mother and the baby, is one of the most common surgeries performed in modern obstetrics. Formerly it was performed in interest of the mother; currently it is frequently done for fetal indication. As other procedures of some complexity, its use follows the health care inequity pattern of the world; underuse in low income setting, and adequate or even unnecessary use in middle and high income setting (1).
The first modern cesarean section was performed by German gynecologist Ferdinand Adolf Kehrer in 1881. Cesarean section is often performed when a vaginal delivery would put the baby's or mother's life or health at risk. Many are also performed upon request (2).
Pregnancy and delivery are considered a normal physiological state in women; however, of all deliveries approximately 10% are considered high risk, some of which may require Cesarean section (3).
The cesarean delivery rate has increased throughout the world. Cesarean rates have increased over the past 40 years from approximately 5% to more than 30% in many industrialized countries (4). The cesarean rate is approximately 21.1% for the most developed regions of the globe, 14.3% for the less developed regions, and 2% for the least developed regions (5).
Recent studies reaffirm earlier recommendations of the world health organization (WHO), about optimal C-section rates, addressing that the best outcomes of mothers and babies appear to occur with C-section rates of 5% to 10%, while rates above 15% seem to do more harm than good (6).
In US the cesarean rate increased dramatically during the 1970s and early 1980s this may be accredited to the improved technology in detecting pre-birth distress, and began to decline in the late 1980s (based on data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey). Between 1989 and 1996 the total cesarean rate decreased as a result of a decrease in the primary rate and an increase in the rate of vaginal birth after Cesarean (VBAC). Since 1996, these trends have reversed, and increases have been rapid and sustained for primary and repeat Cesareans over the past decade (7).
According to the Iraq Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2006 (Iraq MICS 2006) (8), about 20% of births were delivered by C-section (Table 1). Moreover, a brief and rapid survey of C-sections in Baghdad Teaching Hospital, a tertiary referral hospital, indicated that the emergency C-sections account only for 62.2% of the total number of C-sections performed outside the working hours during April 2010 (9).
A piezoelectric cantilever beam with a tip mass at its free end is a common energy harvester configuration. This article introduces a new principle of designing such a harvester that increases the generated power without changing the resonance frequency of the harvester: the attraction force between two permanent magnets is used to add stiffness to the system. This magnetic stiffening counters the effect of the tip mass on the efficient operation frequency. Five set-ups incorporating piezoelectric bimorph cantilevers of the same type in different mechanical configurations are compared theoretically and experimentally to investigate the feasibility of this principle: theoretical and experimental results show that magnetically stiffened harve
... Show MoreThe present study aimed to synthesize selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) using aqueous extract of black currant as a reducing agent. The green synthesized black currant selenium nanoparticles (BCSeNPs) were identified by color change. The characterization of SeNPs was achieved by Ultraviolet-visible (UV–VIS) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X–ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). These tests were used to detect: stability, morphology, size, crystalline nature, and functional groups present on the surface of BCSeNPs. The results revealed appearance of the brick-red color indicating the specific color of selenium nanoparticles, and UV-Vis spectroscopy showed band absorbanc
... Show MoreTest results of six half-scale reinforced concrete flat plates connections with an opening in the vicinity of the column are reported. The test specimens represent a portion of a slab bounded by the lines of contraflexure around the column. The tests were designed to study the effect of openings on the punching shear behavior of the slab-column connections. The test parameters were the location and the size of the openings. One specimen had no opening and the remaining five had various arrangements of openings around the column. All specimens were cast with normal density concrete of approximately 30 MPa compressive strength. The openings in the specimens were square, with the sides parallel to the sides of the column. Three sizes of ope
... Show MoreNanofluids, liquid suspensions of nanoparticles (Np), are an effective agent to alter the wettability of oil-wet reservoirs to water-wet thus promoting hydrocarbon recovery. It can also have an application to more efficient carbon storage. We present a series of contact angle (θ) investigations on initially oil-wet calcite surfaces to quantify the performance of hydrophilic silica nanoparticles for wettability alteration. These tests are conducted at typical in-situ high pressure (CO2), temperature and salinity conditions. A high pressure–temperature (P/T) optical cell with a regulated tilted surface was used to measure the advancing and receding contact angles at the desired conditions. The results showed that silica nanofluids can alte
... Show MoreSince the appearance of COVID-19 disease as an epidemic and pandemic disease, many studies are performed to uncover the genetic nature of the newly discovered coronavirus with unique clinical features. The last three human coronavirus outbreaks, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 are caused by Beta-Coronaviruses. Horizontal genetic materials transfer was proven from one coronavirus to the other coronavirus of non-human origin like infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) of avian. Horizontal genetic materials transfer was also from non-corona viruses like astroviruses and equine rhinovirus (ERV-2) or from coronavirus-unrelated viruses, like influenza virus type C. However, SARS-CoV-2 is identical to SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. Interestingly, Wuhan ci
... Show MoreCommunication and media technologies have seen several changes in the last two decades. These changes put the basis for the emergence of communicative and media practices on several levels including political, economic, technological and artistic. And these, in turn, led to the emergence of new media trends and phenomena in various areas of media worthily to be studied and researched for example online advertisings. Online advert
... Show MoreOndansetron HCl (OND) is a potent antiemetic drug used for control of nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy. It exhibits only 60 – 70 % of oral bioavailability due to first pass metabolism and has a relative short half-life of 3-5 hours. Poor bioavailability not only leads to the frequent dosing but also shows very poor patient adherence. Hence, in the present study an approach has been made to develop OND nanoparticles using eudragit® RS100 and eudragit® RL100 polymer to control release of OND for transdermal delivery and to improve patient compliance.
Six formulas of OND nanoparticles were prepared using nanoprecipitation technique. The particles sizes and zeta potential were measured
... Show MoreThis study was focused on biotreatment of soil which polluted by petroleum compounds (Diesel) which caused serious environmental problems. One of the most effective and promising ways to treat diesel-contaminated soil is bioremediation. It is a choice that offers the potential to destroy harmful pollutants using biological activity. Four bacterial strains were isolated from diesel contaminated soil samples. The isolates were identified by the Vitek 2 system, as Sphingomonas paucimobilis, Pentoae species, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterobacter cloacae. The potential of biological surfactant production was tested using the Sigma 703D stand-alone tensiometer showed that these isolates are biological surfactant producers. The bet
... Show MoreEpithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process comprising cellular and molecular events which result in cells shifting from an epithelial to a mesenchymal phenotype. Periodontitis is a destructive chronic disease of the periodontium initiated in response to a dysbiotic microbiome, and dominated by Gram-negative bacteria in the subgingival niches accompanied by an aberrant immune response in susceptible subjects. Both EMT and periodontitis share common risk factors and drivers, including Gram-negative bacteria, excess inflammatory cytokine production, smoking, oxidative stress and diabetes mellitus. In addition, periodontitis is characterized by down-regulation of key epithelial markers such as E-cadherin together with up-regulation of
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