The profile and treatment outcomes of the older (aged 60 years and above) tuberculosis patients in Tamilnadu, South India

Background: With changing demographic patterns in the context of a high tuberculosis (TB) burden country, like India, there is very little information on the clinical and demographic factors associated with poor treatment outcome in the sub-group of older TB patients. The study aimed to assess the proportion of older TB patients (60 years of age and more), to compare the type of TB and treatment outcomes between older TB patients and other TB patients (less than 60 years of age) and to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of older TB patients and assess any associations with TB treatment outcomes. Methods: A retrospective cohort study involving a review of records from April to June 2011 in the 12 selected districts of Tamilnadu, India. Demographic, clinical and WHO defined disease classifications and treatment outcomes of all TB patients aged 60 years and above were extracted from TB registers maintained routinely by Revised National TB Control Program (RNTCP). Results: Older TB patients accounted for 14% of all TB patients, of whom 47% were new sputum positive. They had 38% higher risk of unfavourable treatment outcomes as compared to all other TB patients (Relative risk (RR)-1.4, 95% CI 1.2–1.6). Among older TB patients, the risk for unfavourable treatment outcomes was higher for those aged 70 years and more (RR 1.5, 95% CI 1.2–1.9), males (RR 1.5, 95% CI 1.0–2.1), re-treatment patients (RR 2.5, 95% CI 1.9–3.2) and those who received community-based Direct Observed Treatment (RR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1–1.9). Conclusion: Treatment outcomes were poor in older TB patients warranting special attention to this group – including routine assessment and recording of co-morbidities, a dedicated recording, reporting and monitoring of outcomes for this age-group and collaboration with National programme of non-communicable diseases for comprehensive management of co-morbidities

Study on Web-Site Attributes and Predatory Efficiency of Dark Tetragnathid Spider in Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary

Abstract. Spiders represent one of the most abundant components of the predatory arthropods in terrestrial ecosystem. Their effectiveness at restricting pest populations, both alone and as part of natural enemy complex has well demonstrated in many countries. The web, web-site attributes and predatory efficiency of Dark Tetragnathid Spider Tetragnatha mandibulata were assessed in Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary between August 2015 and March 2016. In the present study, the spiders used limited number of plants species. The relationship between web architecture and web-site attributes was estimated using Pearson's correlation. Number of spiders recorded in the web showed the positive correlation with web horizontal and vertical length of the capture areas (p<0.05). Similarly, the web circumference showed the positive interaction with plant height and canopy width (p<0.05), which clearly indicated the importance of vegetations across the webs of Dark Tetragnathid Spider. Further, the microhabitat selection and utilization could also be impacted by non-trophic factors like structural features of plants that provide architectural supports to spiders. A total of 4620 insect pests comprising seven orders were entangled by the webs of dark tetragnathid spiders. Number of spiders in the web were positively correlated with number of insect pests (p<0.05), which clearly explained that the Dark Tetragnathid spiders restricting pest populations and therefore they are considered as useful organism in biological control

The Somerville House Science Program - Real world STEM research for aspiring young scientists

The Somerville House Science Internship is a competitive program, presenting our next generation of Women in STEM the opportunity to be investigators on research projects at the Centre for Children's Health Research (CCHR), Brisbane. As part of the internship, a small group of year 10 and 11 students have been mentored by four CCHR research groups; the Social Robots in Healthcare, the Burns and Trauma Research, the Exercise and Nutrition and the Biomechanics and Spine Research Groups

Demographic and Clinical Profile of Older TB patients registered under RNTCP in 12 districts of Tamilnadu, South India, April to June 2011.

*<p>Among NSP (N = 702).</p><p>All percentages rounded off.</p><p>TB – Tuberculosis.</p><p>RNTCP- Revised National TB Control Program.</p

Proportion of Older TB patients among the cohort of TB patients registered under RNTCP in 12 districts of Tamilnadu, South India, April to June 2011.

a<p>All percentages rounded off.</p><p>TB-Tuberculosis; RNTCP-Revised National TB Control Programme.</p

Risk measurement among older TB patients registered under RNTCP in 12 districts of Tamilnadu, South India based on the Treatment Outcome (N = 1481), April to June 2011.

a<p>Favourable Outcome  =  Cured and Treatment Completed.</p>b<p>Unfavourable Outcome  =  Died, Loss to follow up, Failure, Transferred out.</p>c<p>Relative risk.</p>d<p>Direct Observed Treatment.</p>*<p>3 Unknown HIV status was omitted.</p><p>TB – Tuberculosis.</p><p>RNTCP- Revised National TB Control Program.</p

Comparison of Demographic and Clinical characteristics and the treatment outcomes among older TB patients registered under RNTCP in 12 districts of Tamilnadu, South India, April to June 2011.

<p>All percentages rounded off.</p><p>TB – Tuberculosis.</p><p>RNTCP- Revised National TB Control Program.</p>a<p>HIV status unknown not included.</p>b<p>Treatment outcome missing excluded.</p