A Descriptive Study to assess the Knowledge regarding Bio-Medical Waste Management among Class IV Workers in a Selected Hospital of New Delhi

Bio-Medical Waste Management has recently emerged as an issue of major concern not only to hospitals, and nursing homes but also to the environment. The objective of the study is to assess the knowledge regarding Bio-medical waste management among class IV workers in a selected hospital of New Delhi. A total of 50 samples were taken from Hakeem Abdul Hameed Centenary Hospital by random sampling technique. A structured knowledge questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge of class IV workers. A descriptive survey design was adopted. Majority of the class IV workers (84%) had average knowledge about Bio-medical waste management. Mean knowledge of the sample subjects was 19.8. Proper management of Bio-Medical Waste generated in a healthcare facility is one of the most important functions of health care and class IV workers. There is a need for health care and class IV workers involved in its management to understand the integrate link between human health and environmental health

Lavender: A Beneficial Herb for Postnatal Mothers

The postpartum period or postnatal period is the period beginning immediately after the birth of a child and extending for about six weeks. It is a critical phase in the lives of mothers and newborn babies. Most maternal and infant deaths occur during this time. Yet, this is the most neglected period for the provision of quality care. Childbirth and the responsibilities of parenting after birth require a great deal of energy. In this period, the mother faces problems like fatigue, sleep disturbance and problem with maternal infant attachment. So for treating this problem, various non-pharmacological methods are accepted like yoga, meditation, aromatherapy and many other alternative therapies. Lavender inhalation aromatherapy is widely believed to impart a hypnotic effect, act as a mood stabilizer, and enhance the positive feelings of mothers toward their infants. However, research into these and other potential therapeutic effects of lavender tea has been limited

Effectiveness of Acupressure (sp6) on Relief of Dysmenorrhea among Student Nurses Studying in a selected Nursing College of New Delhi

Introduction: Dysmenorrhea is the most common gynecological disorder among adolescents. Various non-pharmacological methods were used to treat dysmenorrhea; one of the most effective method is acupressure at sp6 point. A study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of acupressure (sp6) on relief of dysmenorrhea among student nurses studying in a selected nursing college of New Delhi. The objectives of the study were to identify the prevalence of dysmenorrhea among student nurses in a selected nursing college and to compare the effectiveness of acupressure at sp6 on dysmenorrhea before and after the administration of acupressure using visual analog scale.Methods: The research approach for the study was a quantitative research approach with one group pre-test post-test design. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 60 samples from B.Sc. (Hons.) Nursing students studying in Rufaida College of Nursing, Jamia Hamdard. The tools used for data collection consisted of demographic and menstrual characteristics and standardized Visual Analog Scale to assess the pain during dysmenorrhea among student nurses.Results: The findings of the study showed a point prevalence of 44% student nurses studying in B.Sc. (Hons.) Nursing suffered from dysmenorrhea. The study also revealed that the mean pre-test pain score (8.01) was higher than mean post-test pain score (0.95) with a mean difference of (7.15), There was significant difference in pain score before and after administration of acupressure (sp6) (z=36) at 0.05 level of significance.Conclusion: The findings of the present study suggest that the non-pharmacological method of pain relief measure like acupressure at Sp6 is an effective way to reduce dysmenorrhea.

Obturator neurolysis using 65% alcohol for adductor muscle spasticity

Spasticity is motor alteration characterized by muscle hypertonia and hyperreflexia. It is an important complication of spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, and multiple sclerosis. If uncorrected, fibrosis and eventually bony deformity lock the joint into a fixed contracture. Chemical neurolysis using various agents is one of the therapeutic possibilities to alleviate spasticity. We are, hereby, reporting 3 patients in whom 65% alcohol was used as neurolytic agent for the treatment of hip adductor spasticity, and the effect lasted for a variable period

A randomized controlled trial to compare pregabalin with gabapentin for postoperative pain in abdominal hysterectomy

Background: Pregabalin is a potent ligand for alpha-2-delta subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels in the central nervous system, which exhibits potent anticonvulsant, analgesic and anxiolytic activity. The pharmacological activity of pregabalin is similar to that of gabapentin and shows possible advantages. Although it shows analgesic efficacy against neuropathic pain, very limited evidence supports its postoperative analgesic efficacy. We investigated its analgesic efficacy in patients experiencing acute pain after abdominal hysterectomy and compared it with gabapentin and placebo. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted in 90 women undergoing abdominal hysterectomy who were anaesthetized in a standardized fashion. Patients received 300 mg pregabalin, 900 mg gabapentin or placebo, 1-2 hours prior to surgery. Postoperative analgesia was administered at visual analogue scale (VAS) ≥3. The primary outcome was analgesic consumption over 24 hours and patients were followed for pain scores, time to rescue analgesia and side effects as secondary outcomes. Results: The diclofenac consumption was statistically significant between pregabalin and control groups, and gabapentin and control groups; however, pregabalin and gabapentin groups were comparable. Moreover, the consumption of tramadol was statistically significant among all the groups. Patients in pregabalin and gabapentin groups had lower pain scores in the initial hour of recovery. However, pain scores were subsequently similar in all the groups. Time to first request for analgesia was longer in pregabalin group followed by gabapentin and control groups. Conclusion: A single dose of 300 mg pregabalin given 1-2 hours prior to surgery is superior to 900 mg gabapentin and placebo after abdominal hysterectomy. Both the drugs are better than placebo

Evaluation of interadductor approach in neurolytic blockade of obturator nerve in spastic patients

Background: Spasticity is a syndrome associated with a persistent increase in involuntary reflex activity of a muscle in response to stretch. Adductor muscle spasticity is a common complication of spinal cord and brain injury. It needs to be treated if it interferes with activities of daily living and self-care. Obturator neurolytic blockade is one of the cost-effective therapeutic possibilities to treat spasticity of adductor group of muscles. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of interadductor approach in alleviating the spasticity. Methods: Obturator neurolysis using 8-10 ml 6% phenol was given with the guidance of a peripheral nerve stimulator in 20 spastic patients. Technical evaluation included number of attempted needle insertions, time to accurate location of the nerve, depth of needle insertion, and success rate. Pain, spasticity, hip abduction range of motion (ROM), number of spasms, gait, and hygiene were evaluated at 1 st hour, 24 th hour, end of the 1 st week, and in the 1 st , 2 nd , and 3 rd months following the intervention. Results: The success rate was 100% with mean time to accurate nerve location 4.9±2.06 min. Average depth of needle insertion was 2.91±0.32 cm. Compared with the scores measured immediately before the block, all studied parameters improved significantly. An increase in the Modified Ashworth Scale values was observed in the 2 nd and 3 rd months, but they did not reach their initial values. Conclusion: The interadductor approach proved to be accurate and fast, with a high success rate. Phenol blockade is an efficient and cost-effective technique in patients with adductor spasticity. It led to a decrease in spasticity and pain with an increase in the ROM of the hip and better hygiene, with an efficacy lasting for about 3 months

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[2] Principle: In isocratic HPLC the analyte is forced through a column of the stationary phase (usually a tube packed with small round particles with a certain surface chemistry) by pumping a liquid (mobile phase) at high pressure through the column. The sample to be analyzed is introduced in a small volume to the stream of mobile phase and is retarded by specific chemical or physical interactions with the stationary phase as it traverses the length of the column. Nature of the analyte, stationary phase and mobile phase composition accounts for the retardation. The time at which a specific analyte elutes (comes out of the end of the column) is called the retention time and is considered a reasonably unique identifying characteristic of a given analyte. Pressure increases the linear velocity (speed) of the component providing it less time to diffuse within the column, which leads to improved resolution in the resulting chromatogram. Any miscible combinations of water or various organic liquids (the most common are methanol and acetonitrile) serves as the solvent system. Water may contain buffers or salts to assist in the separation of the analyte components, or compounds such as Trifluoroacetic acid which acts as an ion pairing agent In spite of being considered somewhat mature, new developments in HPLC still continue. There have been improvements in column construction, packing material design, bonded phase chemistry and formats. In addition to this, new phases have extended the pH range (high and low), providing it more versatility. [3] Instrumentation: The heart of a HPLC system is the column. The column contains the particle that contains the Stationary phase. Pump forces the mobile phase to pass through the column and injector injects the mixture to be separated into the flowing mobile phase. Molecules that are adsorbed maximum by stationary phase are eluted slowest through the column, whereas the molecules which are High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is a highly improved form of column chromatography in which instead of a solvent being allowed to drip through a column under gravity, it is forced through under high pressures of up to 400 atmospheres(500-5000 p.s.i). The sensitivity and range of the technique depends on the choice of column and on the efficiency of the overall system. Column technology has seen great developments over the years. The transition from large porous particles and pellicular materials to small porous particles occurred in the early 1970s, when micro particulate silica gel (10 -mm dp) came into light and appropriate packing methods were developed. Monolithic columns are a promising alternative to packed columns in the future but much of the research is yet to be done. The use of CAPILLARY COLUMNS (4 mm) has increased in recent years, in part because small-diameter columns use much less solvent and provide higher sensitivity. While speaking of the future of packaging development, silica gel with chemically bonded phases will be around for a long time. The field is a promising one with great scope for research and development