Functional outcome after open reduction and internal fixation for traumatic diastasis of the pubic symphysis a one year follow-up study

Background: Pubic diastasis often results in anteroposterior compression (APC) injuries based on Young and Burgess classification. It is caused due to high-energy trauma and of much clinical importance is given when coexists with urogenital and neurological complications with hemodynamic instability. Open reduction and internal fixation with plating facilitates early mobilisation with better results and is the preferable mode of stabilisation. We evaluated the clinical and functional outcome of such patients in a one-year follow-up period.Methods: In our study, we included 20 patients with APC II injuries who underwent an open reduction by single or dual plating technique by the Pfannenstiel approach, were followed for one year.Results: Among 20 patients, 14 patients (70%) were operated with single superior plating, six patients (30%) were performed with dual plating, i.e., both superior and anterior plating. Among 20 patients, two patients (10%) were operated for primary arthrodesis with double plating. Only one among 20 (5%) had implant failure due to early weight bearing and were re-operated with primary arthrodesis with plating. Results were analysed based on a scoring system which includes five criteria such as anterior pelvic pain, dyspareunia and sexual dysfunction, ability to sit, gait abnormalities and walking distance. Among 20 patients ten patients (50%) had excellent results, six patients (30%) had good results, two patients (10%) had fair results, two patients (10%) had poor results.Conclusions: Open reduction and internal fixation of traumatic pubic diastasis in type II APC injuries with single or dual plating had given better results and early functional recovery

Harnessing ornamental fisheries resources for sustainable growth and development: A trade perspective from Kerala, India

Ornamental fish trade has gained paramount importance with more than 125 countries involved in the freshwater and marine fishes. The global trade is estimated to be around US $ 450 million registering a growth rate of ten percent since 2001. Asia caters up to 60 per cent of the global trade while India stands with a dismal 0.9 per cent with a portfolio of 30-35 fresh water species. The ornamental fish resources of Kerala has huge potential with untapped and unexploited resources. However the performance of the sector is not worthy and production is much below the demand. The SWOL analysis - Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Limitations analysis - is done to analyse the status of ornamental fish industry in Kerala. The results indicated that good export market, high demand, availability of under-utilized marine resources, potential for rural development, low cost effort, efficiency of ornamental fish marketers, institutional support for development and promotions were the major strengths. Dependence on wild caught species, inadequate data on resources, wastage of resources, unwillingness towards marine fishes, lack of trained/ skilled manpower and organized trade, lack of adept technologies, poor marketing facilities, backwardness in international market, weak market image and lack of fishing regulations were the major inherent weaknesses. The major opportunities were enhancement of species portfolio, increasing market value, less capital intensive, high popularity and demand, breeding and culture of indigenous fishes, faster market growth, entry to new market destinations, increased awareness of international buyers and support of government. Technological backwardness, technology transfer, insufficient awareness programmes, adverse government policies, competitions from neighboring countries, sustainability of resources and drastic drop in fish prices were the major limitations. The study suggests concerted efforts by the different stakeholders to enhance the production of the sector

The effect of H₂S on internal dry reforming in biogas fuelled solid oxide fuel cells

Internal dry reforming of methane is envisaged as a possibility to reduce on capital and operation costs of biogas fuelled solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) system by using the CO2 present in the biogas. Due to envisaged internal dry reforming, the requirement for biogas upgrading becomes obsolete, thereby simplifying the system complexity and increasing its technology readiness level. However, impurities prevailing in biogas such as H2S have been reported in literature as one of the parameters which affect the internal reforming process in SOFCs. This research has been carried out to investigate the effects of H2S on internal dry reforming of methane on nickel-scandia-stabilised zirconia (Ni-ScSZ) electrolyte supported SOFCs. Results showed that at 800°C and a CH4:CO2 ratio of 2:3, H2S at concentrations as low as 0.125 ppm affects both the catalytic and electric performance of a SOFC. At 0.125 ppm H2S concentration, the CH4 reforming process is affected and it is reduced from over 95% to below 10% in 10 h. Therefore, future biogas SOFC cost reduction seems to become a trade-off between biogas upgrading for CO2 removal and biogas cleaning of impurities to facilitate efficient internal dry reforming

Noninvasive options for 'wearing-off' in Parkinson's disease: a clinical consensus from a panel of UK Parkinson's disease specialists

In the past 4 years, two adjunctive treatment options to levodopa have been licensed for use in the UK in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and motor fluctuations: opicapone, a third-generation catechol-O-methyl transferase inhibitor, and safinamide, a monoamine oxidase B inhibitor. This clinical consensus outlines the practical considerations relating to motor fluctuations and managing wearing-off in patients with PD, and provides a clinical insight to adjunctive treatment options, including opicapone and safinamide. Practice-based opinion was provided from a multidisciplinary steering Group of eight UK-based movement disorder and PD specialists, including neurologists, geriatricians and a nurse specialist, from England, Scotland and Wales

Piper hapnium : A rare Piper species from Peruvannamuzhi, Kerala - A new report

Piper hapnium is considered to be an endangered species of Piper. Occurrence of this species is reported mainly from the low-lying hills of Western Ghats. Though, scientists of Indian Institute of Spices Research conducted extensive surveys for collection of Piper species from the Western Ghats, P. hapnium (female plants) could be collected only once from the low land hills of Courtallum, Tamil Nadu. Earlier surveys conducted in the Silent Valley forests of Western Ghats (Ravindran et al. 1990) revealed the non-occurrence of P. hapnium in this area, though this sanctuary is identified as one of the rich centers for Piper diversity. &nbsp

Combining ability studies for lodging resistance and yield traits in rice

General and specific combining ability effects of parents and hybrids were studied for lodging resistance and for yield in rice. Twelve F1 hybrids were developed by crossing four lines (lodging genotypes) with three testers (lodging resistant) in the L x T pattern. The analysis of variance was highly significant, indicating the genetic diversity of parents and the importance of both additive and non-additive gene actions in the inheritance of traits investigated. Significant sca effects for different traits indicated a preponderance of non-additive gene action. Among parents, lines viz., Ponmani, Uma and Gouri were found to be good combiner for grain yield per plant and lodging resistance. Among the hybrids viz., Ponmani x Uma, Prathyasha x Pournami and Prathyasha x Gouri were the best cross combinations. Thus, specific parents and crosses can be used effectively in crop improvement programs

Piper hapnium : A rare Piper species from Peruvannamuzhi, Kerala - A new report

Piper hapnium is considered to be an endangered species of Piper. Occurrence of this species is reported mainly from the low-lying hills of Western Ghats. Though, scientists of Indian Institute of Spices Research conducted extensive surveys for collection of Piper species from the Western Ghats, P. hapnium (female plants) could be collected only once from the low land hills of Courtallum, Tamil Nadu. Earlier surveys conducted in the Silent Valley forests of Western Ghats (Ravindran et al. 1990) revealed the non-occurrence of P. hapnium in this area, though this sanctuary is identified as one of the rich centers for Piper diversity. &nbsp