A Comparative Trial of Single Dose Chemotherapy in Paucibacillary Leprosy Patients with Two to Three Skin Lesions.

A multicentric double-blind, controlled, clinical trial was carried out to compare the efficacy of a combination of rifampicin 600 mg plus ofloxacin 400 mg plus minocycline 100 mg (ROM) administered as single dose with that of standard WHO/MDT/PB six months regimen. The study subjects were 236 previously untreated, smear-negative patients, without nerve trunk involvement and having only two or three skin lesions. Randomization was done on individual patient basis. Results were analyzed for mean clincal score for improvement, marked clinical improvement and complete clinical cure at the time of release from treatment and at 12 months and 18 months of follow-up. Clinical improvement was seen in most patients in both regimens. Marked improvement (i.e., more than 90% reduction in clinical score) at 18 months was seen in 46.2% and 53.4% of the patients treated with ROM and standard regimens, respectively. But, significant difference in favour of standard PB regimen was seen in patients with three skin lesions and in patients in whom more than one body part was affected. Reversal reaction and adverse drug reactions were minimal in both groups

Universal 2-3 symmetry

Possible maximal mixing seen in the oscillations of the atmospheric neutrinos has led to postulate of a $\mu$-$\tau$ symmetry which interchanges $\nu_\mu$ and $\nu_\tau$. We argue that such symmetry need not be special to neutrinos but can be extended to all fermions. The assumption that all fermion mass matrices are approximately invariant under interchange of the second and the third generation fields is shown to be phenomenologically viable and has interesting consequences. In the quark sector, the smallness of $V_{ub}$ and $V_{cb}$ can be a consequences of this approximate 2-3 symmetry. The same approximate symmetry can simultaneously lead to large atmospheric mixing angle and can describe the leptonic mixing quite well provided the neutrino spectrum is quasi degenerate. We present this scenario, elaborate on its consequences and discuss its realization.Comment: 13 pages, 1 figur

Knowledge on prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV among women of reproductive age group

Introduction: Mother to child transmission (MTCT) of HIV continues to be a significant public health concern. MTCT has a deleterious effect on child survival, hence its knowledge is of utmost importance for prevention of transmission of HIV from mother to child. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted during October –December 2013 among women attending antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinic. A semistr u c t u r e d q u e sti o n n a ir e c o n sist e d o f sociodemographic characteristics, clinical characteristics and knowledge about MTCT was administered to 80 women. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 24.89 ± 3.62 years and 30% were illiterate. The majority (62.5%) of them were belonged to an upper lower class. Atotal 47.5% of the respondents were aware of their HIV status since 1-5 years. The majority (82.5%) perceived that HIV can be transmitted from mother to child. Many of the respondents felt that MTCT of HIV may occur during breastfeeding 49 (74.24%), pregnancy 48 (72.72%) and labour 42 (63.63%). The majority 62 (93.93%) of the respondents were aware that MTCT of HIV can be prevented. Avoidance of breastfeeding was the most frequently mentioned strategy by 40 (64.51%) respondents, followed by maternal ARV prophylaxis by 35 (56.45%) and caesarean section by 25 (40.32%) of the respondents. Conclusion: The study demonstrates a relatively good level of knowledge on MTCT of HIV, but some knowledge gaps on certain specific aspects still remained which needs to be addressed for effective prevention of mother to child transmission of HI

SMARANDACHE FUNCTION JOURNAL, 2-3

This journal is yearly published (in the Spring or Fall) in a 300-400 pages volume, and 800-1000 copies. SNJ is a referred journal: reviewed, indexed, cited, concerning any of Smarandache type functions, numbers, sequences, integer algorithms, paradoxes, Non-Euclidean geometries, etc

Bostonia: 1993-1994, no. 2-3

Founded in 1900, Bostonia magazine is Boston University's main alumni publication, which covers alumni and student life, as well as university activities, events, and programs

Color evolution of 2 -> 3 processes

The color structure needed for resummation of all colored 2 -> 3 processes is calculated using multiplet inspired s-channel bases. In this way the resulting matrices, describing the color structure, are guaranteed to obey simplifying symmetries.Comment: 25 page