Prevalence of primary drug resistance to rifampicin and isoniazid in newly diagnosed sputum smear positive pulmonary Tuberculosis

Background: To determine the prevalence of primary drug resistance to either rifampicin or isoniazid alone or both in newly diagnosed sputum smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients.Method: A prospective study 100 newly diagnosed sputum smear positive pulmonary TB patients was conducted. The patients with an age of ≥15 years and who had either not taken anti TB treatment or who had taken ATT for less than 1 month were enrolled in this study. Two sputum samples (5ml each), including one early morning sample as per the RNTCP guidelines were collected and subjected to line probe assay (LPA).Results: Out of 100 cases 6 were having resistance to both rifampicin and isoniazid, 9 has resistance to INH alone and 1 had resistance to rifampicin alone.Conclusion: The prevalence of primary drug resistance is high. For early and rapid detection of DR-TB newer modality should be used  for the detection of primary drug resistance in sputum smear positive TB patients

Post-adoption behaviour of farmers towards soil and water conservation technologies of watershed management in India

AbstractThe Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation (IISWC) and its Research Centres have developed many successful model watershed projects in India in the past and implemented many Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) technologies for sustainable watershed management. While many evaluation studies were conducted on these projects in the past, there has been no assessment of the post-adoption status of the SWC technologies over a longer period. It was imperative to appraise the behaviour of the farmers with regard to the continuance or discontinuance of the technologies adopted, diffusion or infusion that took place and technological gaps that occurred in due course of time in the post watershed programme. Therefore, it was realized that the post-adoption behaviour of beneficiary farmers who have adopted different soil and water conservation technologies for watershed management projects should be studied in detail. The research study was initiated in 2012 as a core project at Vasad as the lead Centre along with IISWC headquarter Dehradun, and Centres Agra, Bellary, Chandigarh, Datia, Kota & Ooty, with the specific objectives of the study to measure the extent of post-adoption behaviour (continued-adoption, discontinuance, technological gap, diffusion and infusion) of farmers towards the adopted SWC technologies of watershed management. In the present study various indices regarding continued adoption, dis-adoption (discontinuance), technological gap, diffusion, infusion regarding soil and water conservation technologies for watershed management were developed for measurement of post-adoption behaviour of farmers. It was revealed that a little less than three-fourth (73%) of SWC technologies continued to be adopted and more than one-fourth (27%) were discontinued by farmers. Out of the total continue adopted SWC technologies by farmers, a little less than one-fifth (19%) of technologies continued to be adopted with a technological gap. More than one-fourth (28%) of SWC technologies were also diffused to other farmers’ fields in nearby villages and on an average 1.2 technologies were also infused into the farmers׳ fields from outside by their own efforts in the watersheds developed by the IISWC and its Centres

Role of nonoperative treatment in managing degenerative tears of the medial meniscus posterior root

BACKGROUND: Tears of the medial meniscus posterior root can lead to progressive arthritis, and its management has no consensus. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of supervised exercise therapy on patients with medial meniscus posterior root tears. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2005 and May 2007, 37 patients with this tear verified by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and osteoarthritis grade 1–2 by radiographic examination were treated by a short course of analgesics daily for up to 6 weeks and then as required during follow-up, as well as a 12-week supervised exercise program followed by a home exercise program. Final analysis was performed for 33 patients, average age 55.8 (range 50–62) years and average follow-up of 35 (range 26–49) months. Patients were followed up at 3, 6, and 12 months and yearly thereafter using the Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale, Tegner Activity Scale (TAS), and visual analog scale (VAS). The analysis was performed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson’s correlation coefficient to determine the relationship between Lysholm score and body mass index (BMI). RESULTS: Patients showed an improvement in Lysholm score, TAS, and VAS, which reached maximum in 6 months and later was accompanied by a decline. However, scores at the final follow-up were significantly better than the pretherapy scores. There was also a progression in arthritis as per Kellgren and Lawrence radiographic classification from median 1 preintervention to median 2 at the final follow-up. A correlation between BMI and Lysholm scores was seen (r = 0.47). CONCLUSION: Supervised physical therapy with a short course of analgesics followed by a home-based program results in symptomatic and functional improvement over a short-term follow-up; however, osteoarthritis progression continues and is related to BMI

ROLE OF PROTECTION PROVIDED BY EMBLICA OFFICINALIS LINN. AGAINST RADIATION AND LEAD INDUCED HISTOLOGICAL CHANGES IN THE JEJUNUM OF SWISS ALBINO MICE

oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/1Exposure to ionizing radiation increases the production of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) leading the irradiated cells into a state of oxidative stress. Furthermore, Lead exposure along with ionizing radiation can potentially become toxic to the tissues due to the heightened oxidative stress. In the present study adult male Swiss albino mice were procured and divided into seven groups. Group (II to IV) serving as control, received sub lethal dose (3.0 Gy or 6.0Gy) and /or lead acetate (20ppm) in drinking water ad libitum. The experimental groups (V to VII) were given aqueous solution of Emblica (1000 mg/ Kg b.wt./ animal/ day) orally seven days prior to radiation and/or lead acetate treatment. Sham- irradiated animals of Group I served as normal. Animals of all the groups were autopsied at each post treatment interval of 1, 2, 4, 7, 14 and 28 days. After the experiments observed number of lesions in the intestinal epithelium from outer coat to inner mucosa. Loosened sub mucosa with hyperaemia and hemorrhage, shortened crypts and a number of apoptotic cells with severe cytoplasmic variations were noted. Villi had a rough surface, wavy epithelium and hydropic degeneration up to day-2 and thereafter, a recovery from intestinal lesions was initiated and noticed till the last autopsy interval. After the combined exposure of gamma radiation and lead acetate, Group IV exhibited same pattern of damage but severe histopathological alteration than individual exposure of radiation or lead acetate indicating “synergistic “effect. Process of recovery started on day-14 after the combined treatment but the process was slow. The Combined treatment showed synergistic effect. In experimental groups less severe radiolesions and an early onset of recovery was observed. Therefore it may be deduced that Emblica is a good herbal radioprotector and may be useful for the clinical applications in human beings during radiotherapy.

Trypanosoma evansi u deva, magaraca i pasa u Indiji: usporedba rezultata pretrage lančanom reakcijom polimerazom i svjetlosnim mikroskopom

The objective of the present study was to compare two methods: PCR and blood smear examination for sensitive and specific detection of Trypanosoma evansi in camels, donkeys and dogs. Out of 131 blood samples tested, (61 camels, 44 donkeys and 26 dogs), 26 samples (21 camels, 3 donkeys and 2 dogs) were detected positive by PCR. Blood smear examination revealed the T. evansi organisms in only two camels.Svrha ovoga istraživanja bila je usporediti osjetljivost i specifičnost lančane reakcije polimerazom i pretrage krvnih razmazaka svjetlosnim mikroskopom za dokazivanje vrste Trypanosoma evansi u deva, magaraca i pasa. Od 131 pretraženoga krvnoga uzorka (61 od deva, 44 od magaraca i 26 od pasa), 26 uzoraka (21 od deva, tri od magaraca i dva od pasa) bilo je pozivno na osnovi pretrage lančanom reakcijom polimerazom. Pretragom krvnih razmazaka svjetlosnim mikroskopom T. evansi dokazana je samo u dvije deve

Effectiveness of pegylated erythropoietin in renal anaemia patients on dialysis-a multicentre, cross-sectional, observational outcome study

Background: Low dose of pegylated erythropoietin (PegEPO) is better than conventional erythropoietin stimulating agents (ESAs) in improving hyporesponsiveness and maintaining stable haemoglobin (Hb) levels in renal anaemic patients undergoing hemodialysis. This real-world study aimed to assess effectiveness and safety of low-dose PegEPO (30 µg/0.3 mL), administered at different time-points in renal anaemia patients on dialysis. Methods: HEMEPEG (HEMoglobin outcomE with PegEPO) was a multicentre, retrospective, cross-sectional, observational study of renal anaemia patients receiving PegEPO up to 3 months. The study assessed an increase in Hb, patients achieving Hb 10-12 g/dl, and Hb increase by ≥1 and ≥2 g/dl. Results: Data from 223 out of 273 patients from 19 Indian centers were analyzed. PegEPO was administered weekly to 132 patients (59.19%), with 38.64% being diabetic and 77.27% previously treated with ESAs. Ten day dosing was given to 91 patients (40.81%), including 46.15% diabetic patients and 72.53% previously treated with ESAs. A Significant (p<0.0001) increase in mean Hb levels from baseline to day 30, 60 and 90 were observed for both studied groups, with a target Hb of 10-12 g/dl achieved in 51.08% and 52.85% of patients in the respective groups after 3 months. An increase in Hb by ≥1 and ≥2 g/dl were observed in weekly (68.67% and 45.78%) and 10-day group (77.14% and 50.00%) patients, respectively. Conclusions: PegEPO (30 µg/0.3 mL) was effective treatment of renal anaemia and diabetic chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients on dialysis when administered weekly or every 10 days over a 3-month treatment period

Awareness of Health Policies and Risks Regarding Tobacco Smoking Among School Teachers in Pakistan

Background: The phenomenon of smoking among schoolchildren has been observed to stem from lenient attitudes of teachers towards smoking. Smoking, a health hazard, proven over years of research, leads to increase in morbidity and mortality rates. This study determined the role of school policies and teacher attitudes towards the perception and adoption of smoking habits by students of private and public schools. Method: This was a cross-sectional study in which 632 school personnel in various private and public schools of South Karachi filled a questionnaire. Informed consent was obtained from all participants; ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Ethical Review Committee of JPMC before the study was conducted. Data was collected via survey forms after consent from individuals. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS v.17. Results: The prevalence of teacher smoking within school premises was found to be 8.8% and 5.9% in private and public sectors, respectively. A significant difference was found between the school policies enforced in private and government schools against personnel found smoking (p=0.00016). Even though private school personnel smoked more in school premises than government but 32.6% of private school teachers felt responsible for teaching about health compared to only 21.5% public school teachers (p=0.0072). Conclusion: There is a pressing need for awareness and education of teachers regarding their attitude towards smoking on school grounds and its significant link with students adopting smoking. Other exposures and risk factors influencing student tobacco usage needs to be studied in more depth

Estimation of linear quadratic (LQ) model parameter alpha/beta (α/β) and biologically effective dose (BED) for acute normal tissue reactions in head and neck malignancies

Purpose: Linear-Quadratic (LQ) model has been widely used for describing radiobiological effectiveness of various fractionation schedules on tumour as well as normal tissues. This study estimates α/β for acute normal tissue reactions using Fe-plot method.Methods: 50 cases of locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (stage III and IV) treated with external beam radiotherapy were included in this study. Patients were randomly distributed into Hyper-fractionation (HF) arm (1.2 Gy/fraction, twice daily, 6 hours apart) and conventional fractionation (CF) arm (2 Gy/fraction, once daily) with 25 cases in each arm. α/β and BED were calculated for acute normal tissue reactions using Fe-plot method.Results: In our study, the estimated values of α/β for RTOG (Radiation Therapy Oncology Group) grade 1, 2 and 3 skin reactions were 11.2 Gy, 10.1 Gy and 9 Gy respectively. Estimated values of α/β for RTOG grade 1, 2 and 3 mucosal reactions were 9.7 Gy, 8.0 Gy and 9.1 Gy respectively. For Hyper-fractionation arm, calculated BED values for grade 1, 2 and 3 skin reactions were 54.45 Gy11.239, 66.90 Gy10.114 and 73.43Gy9.001 respectively and for grade 1, 2 and 3 mucosal reactions were 33.5 Gy9.797, 57.8 Gy8.011 and 70.8 Gy9.106 respectively. For conventional fractionation arm, calculated BED values for grade 1, 2 and 3 skin reactions were 54.09 Gy11.239, 66.88 Gy10.114 and 73.33 Gy9.001 respectively and for grade 1, 2 and 3 mucosal reactions were 33.52 Gy9.797, 57.68 Gy8.011 and 70.73 Gy9.106 respectively.Conclusion: LQ model and the concept of BED provide an excellent tool to compare different fractionation schedules in radiotherapy. The estimated values of α/β for acute reacting normal tissues are in good agreement with the available literature