Moral Views of Thiruvarutpa From Vallalar’s Point of View

Ramalinga Adigalar is credited with giving clarity and simplicity to Tamil poetry, which has been rich for more than 20 centuries and brought about a positive turn in the last century. It guides mankind to be completely liberated from suffering without getting buried in religion and philosophy. Vallalar's divine policy was in a manner that alleviated the sufferings of the poor and needy. It was aimed at freeing people from superstition. His religious policy was neither blind nor crude. His doctrine of God arising out of the practice of Saivam led him to the path of pure righteousness and guided him. The purpose of this article is to examine from Vallalar's point of view how Thiruvarutpa directs mankind to live with dignity without enmity and to rise to become great men

Fat Graft Myringoplasty: repair of small dry central perforation of tympanic membrane: A prospective clinical study

The aim and objective of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of the Fat Graft Myringoplasty with respect to find out the success rate of closure of small dry central TM perforation, to compare the success rate with respect to different donor site (Ear Lobule Fat/Abdominal Fat) and site of perforation and also to evaluate as Day Care Procedure. This prospective clinical study was conducted in ENT department, Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai. A forty cases with CSOM with central perforation not exceeding 25% area of Parstensa of TM with age group of 18-50 years and PTA showing Conductive hearing loss with Air Bone gap ≤ 30 dB were selected and Fat Graft Myringoplasty was done as Day care procedure under Local anaesthesia using Ear Lobule Fat or Abdominal fat. Then the patients were followed up regularly and graft uptake and postoperative hearing were assesses at 8th week. in this study we have achieved a success rate (95%) for repair of small dry central perforation of tympanic membrane with fat graft. Data analysis showed that there was no difference in graft uptake in relation to site of perforation and donor site. Abdominal fat graft is as effective as Ear Lobule Fat, has cosmetic advantage, sufficient in quantity and should be taken into consideration when planning fat as the graft source. Fat Graft Myringoplasty is a safe effective technique for closure of small dry central perforation of TM as an outpatient procedure. The advantages of this technique are simple, no need for GA, need minimal sedation, no need of hair shaving, less operating time, reduced otological trauma from manipulating tympanic cavity, faster recovery with no need of post operative dressing, cost effective, bilateral perforation can be repaired using fat graft in the same setting, minimum post operative morbidity

Effectiveness of helfer skin tap technique on perception of pain during IM Injection among Post Operative Adult Orthopedic patients

This study is intended to assess the effectiveness of Helfer skin tap technique on the perception of pain during intramuscular injection among post operative adult orthopedic patient in selected hospital of Madurai District. An experimental approach with cross over design was adopted. For this study samples were adult post operative patients who received intramuscular injection of Tramadol 50mg. The total sample size was 60, out of which 30 patients were assigned to group I (Helfer skin tap technique vs standard technique) and 30 samples to group II (standard technique vs Helfer skin tap technique). Numerical pain rating scale was used to assess the level of pain. Majority of the samples (86.66%) in the experimental group I and (90%) in the experimental group II perceived moderate pain with standard technique. In contrast, most of the samples (90%) in experimental group I and 83.3% in experimental group II perceived only mild pain with standard technique. Helfer skin tap technique was effective in reducing IM injection for experimental group I (Helfer skin tap technique vs standard technique) obtained ‘t’ value (6.66) was statistically significant at 0.001 level. Experimental group II (standard technique vs Helfer skin tap technique) obtained ‘t’ value (5.15), was significant at 0.001 level. During 1st administration of injection Helfer skin tap technique vs standard technique calculated ‘t’ value (7.3), ‘P’ value (0.001); and 2nd administration of injection standard technique vs Helfer skin tap technique the calculated ‘t’ value (9.8) was significant at 0.001 level. The study findings revealed that, Helfer skin tap technique helped to reduce intramuscular pain in adult patient

A Study on Serum C-Reactive Protein Level in Obesity

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is nothing but, a chronic common disease characterized by excess body fat. It develops gradually and often persists throughout life. As a preventable cause of death in the US, obesity is second only to smoking. Like other chronic condition, such as diabetes or hypertension, obesity worsens when strategies applied for weight reduction are withdrawn. If it is not treated, obesity emerges as a potent comorbid risk factor. Nowadays obesity is emerging as an important health trouble in India. About 22 million Indians are obese especially abdominally obese. The nutrition foundation of India (NFI) study showed that 32.3 percent of middle class males and 50 percent of middle class females in New Delhi were obese. Overweight and obesity are escalating in Asian Indians especially those living in urban areas. Particularly vulnerable subgroups include children, women, and people living in suburban and rural areas. Body composition characteristic of Asian Indians (high body fat, abdominal adip17osity, truncal subcutaneous fat, and fatty liver) predispose them to develop insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome early in life. Obesity carries chronic health issues. The most seriousness of obesity may be completely understood by – Epidemiologic transmission theory. It traces the human history based on mortality. AIM OF THE STUDY: Study of C reactive protein level in obese person with BMI of more than 25 kg/m2. OBJECTIVES: 1. To test whether overweight and obesity are associated with lowgrade systemic inflammation as measured by serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level. 2. To study the c reactive protein level in obesity using measures of body mass index. 3. To study CRP level in obese women and men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Design : Prospective study. Sample Size : 100 Patients. Duration of the study : August 2013 to July 2014. Inclusion Criteria: Adult of 17 to 45 years with BMI of More than 25 kg/m2 are selected. The persons are selected from OP and IP department. The people attending master health check-up are taken for our study group. Exclusion criteria: Patient with following history were excluded from our study 1. Chronic Smoker, 2. On chronic drugs, Self medication, 3. Connective tissue disease like rheumatic arthritis, SLE. 4. Systemic Hypertension, 5. Chronic illness like renal disorders and liver diseases, 6. Cardiovascular diseases, 7. Diabetes mellitus, 8. Pregnancy, Menstrual abnormalities, patients with IUCD, 9. Mentally Retarded person, 10. Hypothyroidism. SUMMARY: In our study the SERUM CRP is highest for BMI cutoff greater than 30 as compared to BMI cutoff for 25Kg/m2 to 29Kg/m2 Mean levels of BMI is highest for urban female as compared to rural female. Mean levels of BMI is highest for urban male as compared to rural male. Mean levels of BMI is highest for urban female as compared to rural male. No significant difference between SERUM CRP of rural male and rural female, urban male and urban female. The SERUM CRP is highest for urban area as compared to rural area. SERUM CRP is highest for Male Sedentary occupation as compared to Female Sedentary Occupation. The average levels of WC are highest for POSITIVE (HR) CRP, second highest for POSITIVE (MR) CRP and Least for NEGATIVE CRP. In our study increase waist circumference in more than 90cm was associated with increase CRP level. The average level of WC is highest for sedentary occupation as compared to Manual Labor. The mean level of WC/Height is highest for POSITIVE (HR) CRP, Second highest for POSITIVE (MR) CRP and least for NEGATIVE CRP. The SERUM CRP is highest for positive family history as compared to absent family history. The conclusion is that SERUM CRP is not very different between the gender categories. CONCLUSION: Obesity is a slowly progressive inflammation Serum CPR level is most powerful marker for Cardio metabolic risk. Abdominal obesity was associated with high level of Serum CRP. Early life style modification like regular physical exercise and avoiding high calorie diet will help to improve the quality of life, Family members also to be included in the life style modification. Statin has both lipid lowering effect and Anti inflammatory effect. The use of Statin in obese person with normal lipid profile with elevated CRP level can be evaluated by further studies

SCOPE FOR ECO-FRIENDLY HOUSEHOLD WASTE MANAGEMENT IN HIGH DENSITY HOUSING: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF KOCHI CORPORATION AREA IN ERNAKULAM DISTRICT OF KERALA

Abstract Historically, healt

Comparative analysis of cyanobacterial superoxide dismutases to discriminate canonical forms

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Superoxide dismutases (SOD) are ubiquitous metalloenzymes that catalyze the disproportion of superoxide to peroxide and molecular oxygen through alternate oxidation and reduction of their metal ions. In general, SODs are classified into four forms by their catalytic metals namely; FeSOD, MnSOD, Cu/ZnSOD and NiSOD. In addition, a cambialistic form that uses Fe/Mn in its active site also exists. Cyanobacteria, the oxygen evolving photosynthetic prokaryotes, produce reactive oxygen species that can damage cellular components leading to cell death. Thus, the co-evolution of an antioxidant system was necessary for the survival of photosynthetic organisms with SOD as the initial enzyme evolved to alleviate the toxic effect. Cyanobacteria represent the first oxygenic photoautotrophs and their SOD sequences available in the databases lack clear annotation. Hence, the present study focuses on structure and sequence pattern of subsets of cyanobacterial superoxide dismutases.</p> <p>Result</p> <p>The sequence conservation and structural analysis of Fe (<it>Thermosynechococcus elongatus </it>BP1) and MnSOD (<it>Anabaena </it>sp. PCC7120) reveal the sharing of N and C terminal domains. At the C terminal domain, the metal binding motif in cyanoprokaryotes is DVWEHAYY while it is D-X-[WF]-E-H-[STA]-[FY]-[FY] in other pro- and eukaryotes. The cyanobacterial FeSOD differs from MnSOD at least in three ways <it>viz</it>. (i) FeSOD has a metal specific signature F184X₃A188Q189_.......T280_......F/Y303 while, in Mn it is R184X₃G188G189_......G280......W303, (ii) aspartate ligand forms a hydrogen bond from the active site with the outer sphere residue of W243 in Fe where as it is Q262 in MnSOD; and (iii) two unique lysine residues at positions 201 and 255 with a photosynthetic role, found only in FeSOD. Further, most of the cyanobacterial Mn metalloforms have a specific transmembrane hydrophobic pocket that distinguishes FeSOD from Mn isoform. Cyanobacterial Cu/ZnSOD has a copper domain and two different signatures G-F-H-[ILV]-H-x-[NGT]-[GPDA]-[SQK]-C and G-[GA]-G-G-[AEG]-R-[FIL]-[AG]-C-G, while Ni isoform has an nickel containing SOD domain containing a Ni-hook HCDGPCVYDPA.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present analysis unravels the ambiguity among cyanobacterial SOD isoforms. NiSOD is the only SOD found in lower forms; whereas, Fe and Mn occupy the higher orders of cyanobacteria. In conclusion, cyanobacteria harbor either Ni alone or a combination of Fe and Ni or Fe and Mn as their catalytic active metal while Cu/Zn is rare.</p

Engaging with sustainability issues in metropolitan Chennai : city report

Chennai is the largest metropolitan city in South India (8.7 million in 2011) and the provincial capital of the large state of Tamil Nadu (population 72 million in 2011). Before that, under British rule, the city was the capital of the Madras Presidency, and was known as Madras until 1996, when the name was officially changed to Chennai. Located on the east coast of India, on the Bay of Bengal, sea trade has been an important aspect of the regional economy since at least the colonial period. Still today, the city combines political functions with economic command functions for both manufacturing and services, reflecting the region's diversified economy. The Chennai metropolitan area has witnessed strong growth over the last 20 years in automobile manufacturing, software services, hardware manufacturing, healthcare and financial services (CDP 2009). However, it should be noted that only 30% of total employment in the city takes place in the formal sector i.e., is covered by contracts and labour laws, the remaining 70% falls in the informal sector. This underscores the importance of small and micro enterprises and self-employment for providing goods, services and livelihoods in the local economy

γ-Tocotrienol suppresses prostate cancer cell proliferation and invasion through multiple-signalling pathways

Tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) has demonstrated antiproliferative effect on prostate cancer (PCa) cells. To elucidate this anticancer property in PCa cells, this study aimed, first, to identify the most potent isomer for eliminating PCa cells; and second, to decipher the molecular pathway responsible for its activity. Results showed that the inhibitory effect of γ-tocotrienol was most potent, which resulted in induction of apoptosis as evidenced by activation of pro-caspases and the presence of sub-G1 cell population. Examination of the pro-survival genes revealed that the γ-tocotrienol-induced cell death was associated with suppression of NF-κB, EGF-R and Id family proteins (Id1 and Id3). Meanwhile, γ-tocotrienol treatment also resulted in the induction of JNK-signalling pathway and inhibition of JNK activity by a specific inhibitor (SP600125) was able to partially block the effect of γ-tocotrienol. Interestingly, γ-tocotrienol treatment led to suppression of mesenchymal markers and the restoration of E-cadherin and γ-catenin expression, which was associated with suppression of cell invasion capability. Furthermore, a synergistic effect was observed when cells were co-treated with γ-tocotrienol and Docetaxel. Our results suggested that the antiproliferative effect of γ-tocotrienol act through multiple-signalling pathways, and demonstrated for the first time the anti-invasion and chemosensitisation effect of γ-tocotrienol against PCa cells

Are textbook lungs really normal? A cadaveric study on the anatomical and clinical importance of variations in the major lung fissures, and the incomplete right horizontal fissure.

INTRODUCTION: The lungs have three main fissures: the right oblique fissure (ROF), right horizontal fissure (RHF), and left oblique fissure (LOF). These can be complete, incomplete or absent; quantifying the degree of completeness of these fissures is novel. Standard textbooks often refer to the fissures as complete, but awareness of variation is essential in thoracic surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fissures in 81 pairs of cadaveric lungs were classified. Oblique fissures were measured from lung hila posteriorly to the lung hila anteriorly; and the RHF measured from the ROF to the anteromedial lung edge. The degree of completeness of fissures was expressed as a percentage of the total projected length were they to be complete. The frequency and location of accessory fissures was noted. RESULTS: LOF were complete in 66/81 (81.5%), incomplete in 13/81 (16.0%) and absent in 2/81 (2.47%); ROF were complete in 52/81 (64.2%), incomplete in 29/81 (35.8%) and never absent; RHF were more variable, complete in 18/81 (22.2%), incomplete in 54/81 (66.7%) and absent in 9/81 (11.1%). LOF and ROF were on average 97.1% and 91.6% complete, respectively, being deficient posteriorly at the lung hila. The RHF on average 69.4% complete, being deficient anteromedially. There were accessory fissures in 10 left and 19 right lungs. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a projection of the anatomy thoracic surgeons may encounter at operation, in particular the variable RHF. This knowledge is essential for optimal outcomes in both benign and oncological procedures influenced by the fissures

Genetic diversity for grain nutrients contents in a core collection of finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.) germplasm

Finger millet is a promising source of micronutrients and protein contents besides energy and can contribute to alleviation of iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and protein malnutrition, affecting women and preschool children in African and south-east Asian countries. The most cost effective approach for mitigating micronutrients and protein malnutrition is to introduce staple crop cultivars selected and/or bred for Fe, Zn and protein dense grain. Attempts to breed finger millet for enhanced grain nutrients are still in its infancy. Analysis, detection and exploitation of existing variability among the germplasm accessions are the initial steps in breeding micronutrient and protein-dense finger millet cultivars. Evaluation of finger millet core germplasm for grain nutrients and agronomic traits revealed a substantial genetic variability for grain Fe, Zn, calcium (Ca) and protein contents. The accessions rich in nutrient contents were identified and their agronomic diversity assessed. The accessions rich in Zn content have significantly higher grain yield potential than those rich in Fe and protein content. Grain nutrient-specific accessions and those contrasting for nutrient contents were identified for use in strategic research and cultivar development in finger millet