Land Use/Land Cover Change Detection by Multi-Temporal Remote Sensing Imageries: Bangalore City India (1992-2012)

Land use and land cover (LULC) changes is a dynamic, widespread and accelerating process, mainly driven by natural phenomena and anthropogenic activities, which in turn drives changes that world impact natural ecosystem. Change detection is one of the landscape ecological aims. Main aim of this study is to prepare land use land cover and their change detections by using remote sensing and GIS techniques. This paper presents the land use/land cover changes that have taken place in Bangalore, from 1992 to 2012.The study has been done through Landsat & IRS imagery from 1992, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009 and 2012. The land use and land cover classification maps were prepared through remote sensing and GIS technology. The results indicate that there was a significant increasing trend in built up land and decreasing trend in agricultural lan

Water Quality Index Mapping of Kengeri Industrial Area of Bangalore City Using Geospatial Analysis

Assessment of groundwater quality is essential in the field of environmental quality management. The present study aims at the assessment of groundwater quality of Kengeri industrial area, comprises of 133.95 Sq Km, in Bangalore city with the help of water quality index (WQI).The groundwater samples collected from thirty locations were analyzed as per the standard methods. pH, total hardness, iron, chloride, fluoride, total dissolved solids, calcium, magnesium, sulphate and nitrate were considered for the study. The WQI of thirty samples were ranged between 0.92 and 361.41. Nearly 24 % of the samples exceeded the value of WQI 100. The high value of WQI may be attributed due to higher concentrations of iron, nitrate, total dissolved solids, total hardness and fluorides beyond desirable limits in the groundwater samples. During post monsoon season, groundwater of about 42.78 Sq Km area was unfit for drinking. The analysis reveals that the groundwater of south-west Kengeri industrial area needs some treatment before using it for domestic applications and it also necessitates for protection from the risk of further contaminatio

Drug utilization of antibiotics in post-operative cesarean section inpatients in tertiary care hospital: a prospective observational study

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the pattern and rational use of antibiotics in post-operative caesarean section (CS) inpatients in tertiary care teaching hospital, BIMS Belagavi.Methods: This cross sectional prospective observational study was conducted from December 2019 to February 2020, prior permission from institutional ethics committee was taken. Detailed data of post-operative caesarean section (CS) inpatients including age, diagnosis, line of management, complications and any adverse effects if occurred during the study was collected and entered in a specially designed proforma and MS word excel and analyzed by descriptive statistics like percentage.Results: Total 100 post-operative caesarean section inpatients were involved in the study. Most common indication for C-section was cephalopelvic disproportion. Average no of antibiotics per prescription was 3.32. Most commonly prescribed antibiotic was cefotaxime (27.71%) followed by gentamycin (25.90%) and metronidazole (24.59%). Majority (90%) of patients who admitted for ≤3 days (66%) had received combination antibiotic i.e., cefotaxime, metronidazole and gentamycin. IV fluids (21.21%) and analgesics (13.13%) were most frequently prescribed concomitant drugs. Majority (97.8%) of patients received parenteral preparation. 306 antibiotics (92.17%) used were from national model list of essential medicines (NLEM) and 332 antibiotics (100%). used were by generic name. Polypharmacy was 7.92.Conclusions: Cefotaxime was the most frequently prescribed antibiotic. Most of the antibiotics prescribed was rationally from NLEM and were by generic name

AVAILABILITY OF MINERAL ELEMENTS IN AN EXOTIC WEED ALTERNANTHERA TENELLA COLLA VAR. TENELLA VELDK

Objectives To study mineral status of an exotic weed Alternanthera tenella colla var. tenella veldk.Methods Mineral analysis in the leaves was carried out by acid digestion method as described by Toth et al. (1948). Sodium and potassium wereestimated by flame photometer, Model-Elico, ch-22A. Remaining inorganic elements viz. calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, manganese, zinc,copper, and cobalt were estimated by using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer, Perkin-Elmer, 3030 A.Result Potassium content of the leaves was high (4.11%) while nitrate content was very low (0.065%) with respect to major elements. In case ofminor elements manganese is present at higher concentration (190.75 ppm) while molybdenum in very less quantity (0.10 ppm).Conclusion This study reveals that leaves of A. tenella var. tenella may be used as supplementary diet to human as well as livestock.Keywords: Alternanthera tenella var. tenella, Exotic weed, Invasive alien, Mineral elements

The comparisons of the efficacy of two fixed dose combinations, i.e. Salmeterol and Fluticasone vs. Formoterol and Tiotropium bromide in moderate to severe COPD patients

Background: Bronchodilators are essential for symptomatic management of all stages of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). For patients whose COPD is not sufficiently controlled by monotherapy, combining a ß2-agonist with either inhaled steroid or anticholinergic drug is a convenient way of delivering treatment. Currently, there is no documentation to say that one drug is superior to other or the contrary, but a combination of two drugs is more effective than giving single drug alone in patients suffering from COPD.Methods: The study was prospective, open labelled, randomized, comparative interventional clinical study conducted by the Departments of Pharmacology and Medicine, Basaveshwara Medical College and Hospital, Chitradurga in 60 moderates to severe COPD patients.Results: Both the treatments i.e. Salmeterol/Fluticasone and Tiotropium/Formoterol were equally effective as far as the improvement of the lung functions and Borg dyspnoea score are concerned. The difference in improvement with the combination of Salmeterol/Fluticasone was not statistically significant (p>0.05) compared to the combination of Tiotropium/Formoterol. However, Salmeterol/Fluticasone was found to be better than Tiotropium/Formoterol in improving the lung function of moderate to severe COPD patients.Conclusions: Salmeterol/Fluticasone is efficacious and better than Tiotropium /Formoterol combination for maintenance therapy in moderate to severe COPD patients

Study on assessment of awareness about concepts in undergraduate pharmacology curriculum among clinicians in a tertiary care teaching hospital

Background: Rational prescribing forms the corner stone of successful implementation of rational drug use. To boost the cause of rational use of Medicine, the P-drug concept was given in late nineties. The idea was to make Physicians familiar with few personal drugs chosen from National Essential drug list based on efficacy, safety, suitability and cost. The present study was conducted to assess the awareness of clinicians about basic pharmacological concepts.Methods: It is a cross sectional study with a study population of 100, conducted in RRMCH for a period of one month. It is a questionnaire based study involving clinicians and post graduates working in this hospital. Descriptive statistical analysis has been carried out in the present study.Results: In our study, 38% of physicians were aware of the term Essential drugs and 26% of doctors prescribed drugs from National Essential drug list. 56% of respondents were aware of term rational drug use but only 1/3 of them were aware of adverse effects, drug interactions of the drugs they prescribed. Majority of physicians (85%) used standard text book as the source of drug information.Conclusions: Lack of knowledge among physicians about new concepts like p-drug, rational drug use and essential drugs points towards need for having more CMEs on basic pharmacological concepts

Pattern of drug utilization in pediatric out patient department of a tertiary care teaching hospital

Background: Drug utilization studies have special significance among paediatric age groups as infant and children represent about 42% of the population in developing countries. This is the vital period of rapid growth and development. Therefore, drugs should be used very cautiously and rationally among these sub groups. The present study is conducted to analyse the prescribing pattern of drugs in paediatric age group for various illnesses. Methods: It was a prospective observational study, conducted in paediatric outpatient department of Raja Rajeswari medical college and research hospital for a period of 6 months after obtaining approval from institutional ethical committee. Descriptive statistical was used to determine the frequency, percentages, mean and standard deviation.Results: In the present study, fever (30.8%) followed by respiratory diseases were most common diseases seen. The commonly used drugs include antipyretics (66%), antimicrobials (53.6%), cough syrups (34.4%), antihistaminic (31.2%) and nasal decongestants (23.2%). Prescribing indicator shows existence of polypharmacy. Prescribing drugs by generic name was seen only in 8.1% and 47.82% of the drugs were prescribed from EDL. The frequency of use of injectables in our study was 5.8%. Conclusions: Irrational use of antibiotics and polypharmacy needs to be curbed. Prescribing drugs in their generic name and prescribing drugs from EDL need to be promoted. The present prescribing pattern can be improved by advocating rational drug prescribing, patient education and improving hospitals

Laparoscopic 5-mm port site hernia: a rare but preventable complication of laparoscopy

The port site hernia (PSH) is a rare but potentially dangerous complication of laparoscopic surgery ranging from early small omental herniation to delayed hernia formation with or without bowel entrapment. Though 5 mm PSH is a rarer entity compared to 10 mm PSH, it is a completely preventable cause of morbidity. The aim of this article is to emphasize the importance of fascial closure of trocar site including peritoneum in order to significantly reduce postoperative morbidity as well as to know the importance of early diagnosis to avoid serious subsequent events, in all 10 mm or larger ports and a few exceptional cases of 5 mm ports also

Study on antihyperglycemic effect of bromocriptine in dexamethasone induced hyperglycemic wistar rats

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder that develops due to insulin deficiency or insulin resistance. Recent animal and human studies have reported bromocriptine to be effective in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The present study was done to evaluate the antihyperglycemic effect of bromocriptine in dexamethasone induced hyperglycemic rats.Methods: Male wistar rats were used and divided into 5 groups. Dexamethosone was used to induce hyperglycemia in group B-E. Group A was the untreated control group, group B was the standard control group, group C was the oral 10 mg/kg of bromocriptine dissolved in 0.9% normal saline, group D was the oral 20 mg/kg metformin dissolved in 0.9% normal saline, group E was the oral 10 mg/kg bromocriptine+20 mg/kg metformin dissolved in 0.9% normal saline. Fasting blood glucose, post prandial blood glucose and body weight was estimated on day 1, 15, 30.Results: It was seen that dexamethasone induced hyperglycemia and increase in body weight in male wistar rats, which were significantly controlled by oral bromocriptine and bromocriptine with metformin combination.Conclusions: Results obtained from this study showed that bromocriptine can be a promising drug with novel mechanism to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus