Sex determination from adult human humerus by discriminant function analysis

Background: Sex determination of unidentified skeletal remains from crime scenes or excavation sites is an important component in the development of the biological profile in forensics, anthropology and bioarchaeology. The purpose of this research is to determine whether sexing of unknown adult human humerus bones can be done by applying values of morphometric parameters and formulae generated by present study on adult human humerus bones of known sex and to find out the best parameters for sex determination.Methods: Various metric measurements were recorded using osteo metric board, measuring tape, non-elastic thread, sliding calipers and Vernier calipers on adult human humerus bones.Results: Sex was correctly estimated by using stepwise discriminant function analysis, for the clavicle 100% of males and 95% of females, with a total accuracy of 98.1%. Direct discriminant function analysis, correct estimated sex for the clavicle was 100% in males and 95% in females with a total accuracy of 98.1%.Conclusions: Present study exhibited better classification accuracy for multiple variables than those of single variables, the most discriminating variables in stepwise analysis are the weight, total length, transverse diameter of head, circumference of midshaft, trochlear width, capitulum width. In direct analysis, the single most useful variable was the transverse diameter of head

Determination of sex of adult human clavicle by discriminant function analysis in Marathwada region of Maharashtra

Background: Determination of biological sex is one of the most important determinations to be made from human remains and is an essential first step in the development of the biological profile in forensics, anthropology and bioarchaeology. The aim of this study was to determine whether sexing of unknown adult human clavicles can be done by applying values of morphometric parameters and formulae generated by present study on adult human clavicles of known sex and to find out the best parameters for sex determination.Methods: Various metric measurements were recorded using osteo metric board, measuring tape, non-elastic thread, sliding calipers and vernier calipers on adult human clavicles.Results: Sex was correctly estimated by using stepwise discriminant function analysis, for the clavicle 93.3 % of males and 94.4% of females, with a total accuracy of 93.7 %. Direct discriminant function analysis, correct estimated sex for the clavicle was 93.9 % in males and 93.3% in females with a total accuracy of 93.7 %.Conclusions: Present study exhibited better classification accuracy for multiple variables than those of single variables. In the clavicle, the most discriminating variables in stepwise analysis are the mid clavicular circumference, posterior curved length, medial 2/3 and lateral 1/3 junction circumference and Weight. In direct analysis, the single most useful variable was the mid clavicular circumference

The Health Effects of Medicare for the Near-Elderly Uninsured

We study how the trajectory of health for the near-elderly uninsured changes upon enrolling into Medicare at the age of 65. We find that Medicare increases the probability of the previously uninsured having excellent or very good health, decreases their probability of being in good health, and has no discernable effects at lower health levels. Surprisingly, we found Medicare had a similar effect on health for the previously insured. This suggests that Medicare helps the relatively healthy 65 year olds, but does little for those who are already in declining health once they reach the age of 65. The improvement in health between the uninsured and insured were not statistically different from each other. The stability of insurance coverage afforded by Medicare may be the source of the health benefit suggesting that universal coverage at other ages may have similar health effects.

Clinical profile of HIV positive patients attending ART centre of a tertiary care hospital

Background: HIV infection/AIDS is a global pandemic greatly exceeds earlier prediction. With widespread availability and uses of Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART), HIV becomes a chronic manageable illness but immediate and long term side effects become a major problem. The objective of the study was to study clinical profile of HIV positive patients attending A.R.T. centre of a tertiary care hospital.Methods: Observational and prospective study was carried out over 100 HIV positive Patients attending ART centre of G.G.G Hospital, Jamnagar, Saurastra, Gujarat over a period of 12 months.Results: Out of 100 HIV positive studied patients, maximum cases (95%) were in the age group of 15-49 years, 75% were males. (58%) cases were from rural area and (56%) were illiterate. Maximum cases were having sexual (79%) route of transmission. Most common symptom among HIV positive patients was weight loss (62%) followed by fever (58%). Mycobacterium tuberculosis (65%) was the most common opportunistic infection. (84%) patients had CD4 count between 50-200/cub.mm, (66%) were in stage III. ART was well tolerated, ADRs were found in 43% of patients.Conclusions: HIV is more common in reproductive age group with males being more affected and major route of transmission of HIV infection remains heterosexual mode

DEVELOPMENT OF TLC FINGERPRINTING PROFILE OF SHADANGA PANIYA – AN AYURVEDIC FORMULATION TO TREAT SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19

BACKGROUND: Shadanga Paniya is a compound Ayurvedic formulation that contains six ingredients. Ayurvedic Physicians have been using Shadanga Paniya to treat fever for ages. Symptoms of COVID-19 are also being treated by Shadanga Paniya. However, the Shadanga Paniya has not reported standardisation. AIMS: To prepare Shadanga Paniya as per the standard classical protocol. To carry out qualitative tests, standardisation and TLC profile development for Shadanga Paniya. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All the ingredients of Shadanga Paniya wiz. Nagarmotha, Pittapapada, Khasa, Lal Chandana, Sugandhbala and Sunthi were taken in equal amounts. All these ingredients are heated over mild heat with water. The filtration of liquid Shadanga Paniya is carried out after completing proper deduction. Shadanga Paniya was subjected to organoleptic tests. Qualitative tests, physicochemical parameters and thin layer chromatography studies were also carried out. The comparative TLC studies of Shadanga Paniya was carried out with its ingredients. RESULTS: Organoleptic tests of Shadanga Paniya showed that the colour of the liquid was reddish-brown, and the liquid was clear. It has a characteristic odour with an astringent taste. Qualitative analysis showed the presence of flavonoids, carbohydrates, saponin, phenols and glycosides. Test sample parameters revealed a total solids content (0.812 % w/v) and specific gravity (1.0083). The test sample has a Refractive index (1.334) and pH (4.2). The Thin Layer Chromatography study exhibited 3 bands at 254 nm and 366 nm. After spray, it showed 7 bands under 254 nm and 366 nm. The comparative TLC studies showed the similarities between Shadanga Paniya and its ingredients. CONCLUSION: The typical type of solvent system [Toluene: Ethyl acetate: Formic acid: Methanol (6:3:0.1:1)] is shows the proper separation in Shadanga Paniya. Therefore, the findings of the present study may be found helpful to standardise Shadanga Paniya

Drug utilization pattern of antiseizure drugs and their adverse effects in the pediatric population, in a tertiary care hospital attached to a medical college

Background: Epilepsy is “a condition characterized by recurrent (two or more) seizure, unprovoked by any immediate identified cause.” The desired outcome of antiseizure drug (ASD) therapy is to be seizure-free throughout the rest of life. The objective was to study the utilization pattern and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) associated with the use of ASDs in pediatric outpatients in epilepsy clinic.Methods: This cross-sectional, observational and single center study was carried out over a period of 1 year in 430 pediatric patients. Analyzed data included demographic details and drugs prescribed in respective seizure types along with ADRs due to ASDs. Results: In a total 430 patients analyzed, seizure were most commonly observed in boys (69.8%) in 6-10 year of age (45.3%), with a positive family history in (16%), with no specific cause of seizure in (71.6%), with most common type was focal seizure in (62.3%), which was mainly treated with carbamazepine (73.8%). Most common ADR was irritability (32.2%) with Valproate being main drug. 87.3% ADRs were in “ possible” as per World Health Organization causality assessment scale, 94.9% ADRs were “mild” as per Hartwig and Siegel severity assessment scale and 98.3% ADRs were “preventable” as per Schumock and Thornton preventability scale.Conclusion: Focal seizure was most common type of seizure observed mainly in boys of 6-10 year with carbamazepine as mainly prescribed drug. Use of appropriate ASDs in the majority of patients as per guidelines, has decreased number of ADRs in our study. Prescribing drugs were mainly from essential drug list and by generic names

Recasting Food: An Ethnographic Study on How Caste and Resource Inequality Perpetuate Social Disadvantage in India

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) is the principal programme operating in India to address issues around child development, malnutrition and pre-school education. A package of services – including the Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP), pre-school education, immunization, health check-ups, referral services, and nutrition and health education – are provided through an Anganwadi Centre (AWC) with an Anganwadi Worker (AWW) and an Anganwadi Helper (AWH) for roughly every one thousand people. From the mid-1990s, there have been successive efforts on the part of the Government of India to universalize ICDS, and there has been a multi-fold increase in funds allocated to this programme between the 8th Five-Year Plan (1992–93 to 1996–97) and the 12th Five-Year Plan (2012–17) (1-2). However, the utilization of all services under ICDS continues to be grossly low. Close to 75 percent of children aged 0–71 months in the areas covered by AWCs did not receive any supplementary food from the centres, and less than 12 percent of children received supplementary food ‘almost daily’. For children aged 36–71 months this figure is 15.5 percent. More than 80 percent of children were not weighed at all. It has been reported that children belonging to economically backward and socially marginalised families, including Dalit, tribal, and religious minorities, are excluded from utilising these services through unfavourable institutional rules and structural factors. Equally, members of well-off families do not use services provided by AWCs – especially the SNP – for under-6 children. A multi-sited ethnographic study was conducted in four villages in Gujarat in order to identify the reasons behind poor utilisation of AWCs, especially the SNP services. The study aimed to understand everyday experience of households around the SNP in rural settings and an opportunity to study AWCs as institutions embedded in the context of village cultural life. The authors hypothesise that a study focusing on AWCs could serve as an illustrative case to highlight challenges in implementing other entitlement-based programmes

High Cost Sharing and Specialty Drug Initiation Under Medicare Part D: A Case Study in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Medicare Part D beneficiaries with higher out-of-pocket costs are more likely to delay starting or not start a recommended specialty drug when newly diagnosed with leukemia. Policy changes are needed to ensure optimal access to specialty medications under Medicare Part D

EVALUATION OF GENOTOXICITY PROFILE OF JASADA BHASMA (A ZINC-BASED MINERAL FORMULATION) IN SWISS ALBINO MICE

  Objective: Genotoxicity is regarded as one of the potential risk factors for causing pathological diseases. It was confirmed that many chemicals have the mutagenic activity which leads to cancer. A compound which interacts with genetic material DNA and shows adverse effects by altering its structure or function is referred to as genotoxic.Methods: The present study involved 40 Swiss albino mice weighing between 25 and 30 g body weights categorized into four different groups. Group-I (normal control) received 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose as vehicle. Group-II (toxicant control) received 40 mg/kg/body weight cyclophosphamide on the 28th day. Group-III and IV received test drug JB 15.6 mg/kg and 78 mg/kg, respectively, for 28 consecutive days. Blood samples were collected and processed for evaluating by comet assay. The animals were sacrificed and collected the bone marrow from both the femur for chromosomal aberration and micronuclei assay.Results: JB administered at two different dose levels did not show any significant changes in the comet assay parameters, no micronucleus was found and did not produce any chromosomal aberrations both numerically and structurally when compared to positive test control group.Conclusion: The genotoxicity evaluation of JB did not show any chromosomal aberrations and presence of micronucleus. Thus, the safety data will refine therapeutic utility of JB encouraging their rationale use and translate into greater and broader utilization of JB

Potential adverse effects of long term use of Proton Pump Inhibitors

Proton-Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) have changed the therapy of numerous upper gastrointestinal tract disorders; but their use is not without risk of adverse effects. Recent studies suggest more serious adverse events with chronic use of PPIs. Because of these risks, clinicians should reassess individual patient’s needs for chronic PPI therapy