Masculinity and Challenges for Women in Indian Culture

Construction of masculinity in India has been approached and studied from a variety of feminist perspectives. The feminist perspective focused on the discourse and gained much greater momentum during the pre-colonial and colonial periods. During the pre-independence era, the status of women in the areas of productive, reproductive, sexual health, mobility, and economic resources deteriorated to great extent owing to intense patriarchal oppression. Now in the post-colonial period sex-determination tests leading to the massacre of female fetuses, declining sex-ratio are unfavourable to women. Rapidly changing sex-ratios and increasing evidence of violence against women are the strong pointers that have justified the scrutiny of gender framework that defines how masculinities are constructed and manifested. Women behave in self-limiting ways not because they are socialized as females but because they are locked into a lack of decision-making power, invisibility, multiple roles in the gender injustice society. This article stresses the need for sustained efforts to increase the involvement of both men and women to remove socio-cultural barriers, stereotypical attitudes, and violence against women for creating a gender-balanced society

Emerging horizons in anaesthetic practice: a pharmacological update

Anesthesiologists are in search for new drugs possessing properties like rapid onset of action, minimal residual effects, better hemodynamic stability, organ independent metabolism and cost effective. Structural alterations of the currently available compounds or newer formulations of the older ones or newer anaesthetic drug delivery system will be an useful alternative to newer discovery by reducing the cost and time. Tapentadol is a centrally acting µ opioid receptor (MOR) agonist with selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibition, approved by US FDA for treating moderate to severe acute pain in adults more than 18 years of age. Sugammadex, a novel selective relaxant binding agent to reverse steroidal neuromuscular blockers is recently approved by the European Union. Gantacurium, a rapid and ultra short acting non depolarizing neuromuscular blocker, inactivated rapidly by the adduction of non essential amino acid cysteine to the gantacurium molecule is in clinical trials. Remimazolam is a new drug in clinical trials that has a rapid onset of action like midazolam and is metabolized by non specific tissue esterases like remifentanil and expected to have a promising future. Liposomal Bupivacaine is approved by FDA in October 2011 that uses bupivacaine in liposomal vesicles to extend the duration of analgesia upto 72 hours and reduces the opioid use in the post operative period. Methoxy carbonyl carboetomidate is in clinical trials that combines the advantages of MOC etomidate and carboetomidate. Hence anaesthesiology is marching towards a bright pathway with new soft drugs coming up making not only anaesthesiology soft but also pharmacology

Happiness Audit Among Female Students in a Higher Education Institution, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, India

Students can play an important role in improving and strengthening their society. During college, women gain vast amounts of knowledge and experience, and it also provides them with the best opportunity to prepare for their careers. Students are powerful human resources who are destined to decide the future of any country. In this modern era, the lives of students have become more competitive and they have become mere athletes in an academic race. There is an increased emphasis on measuring the talent of a student primarily through academic outcomes. The mental health of students is an important and necessary factor for achieving a better life, social welfare, and logical compatibility with life events. This fact must be given its due importance, but it is unfortunately completely ignored by manu institutions. From the above statements, it is clear that happiness plays a paramount role in the well-being of students. In this context, a happiness audit was conducted among female students pursuing higher education at Alagappa University in Karaikudi, India

Effect of lutein on lipid profile in hypercholesterolemic rats

Background: Hyperlipidemia or Dyslipidemia is the major cause of atherosclerosis1 and associated conditions. Low levels of high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) are the major causes of increased atherogenic risk 1. Aggressive cholesterol reduction in patients with atherosclerotic disease is now the standard of care2. In addition to life style modification, patients with risk factors need lipid lowering drug therapy. The drugs available now do not reduce LDL oxidation, and oxidative stress associated with hyperlipidemia. In recent years, antioxidants have been subjected to epidemiological studies4 that have related their consumption to a reduction in the incidence of oxidative damage related diseases.Methods: Hypercholesterolemia was induced in rats by administration of high cholesterol diet for 30 days in standard rat chow diet. Rats were divided into four groups of six each. Group-I and II with intake of normal diet and High cholesterol diet respectively. Group III and IV are given high cholesterol diet along with Lutein 50mg/kg and Atorvastatin 5mg/kg orally once daily respectively. At the end of 30 days animals were subjected to overnight fasting. Blood samples were drawn by retro-orbital puncture for biochemical analysis. The animals were sacrificed after thiopentone injection and liver and aorta were dissected out and processed for histopathological study and biochemical analysis.Results: Lutein treated group showed even more significant reduction in TBARS levels than the normal control group and Atorvastatin treated group. The efficacy of Lutein in slowing down the atherosclerosis and fatty infiltration of liver is proved in this study.Conclusions: Hence the present study had shown significant hypolipidemic, antiatherogenic and antioxidant effect of Luetin in Hyperlipidemic rats.

EFFICACY OF CHONDROITIN SULFATE WITH GLUCOSAMINE VERSUS DIACEREIN IN GRADE II AND III OSTEOARTHRITIS KNEE: A RANDOMIZED COMPARATIVE STUDY

ABSTRACTObjective: Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common joint disease has led to great morbidity and disability. Symptomatic slow acting drugs for OA, whichincludes glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, and diacerein provides symptom relief and structure-modifying effects in OA knee. Our aim was toassess the efficacy and safety of chondroitin sulfate with glucosamine versus diacerein in Kellgren-Lawrence Grade II and III OA knee patients.Methods: After approval from Institutional Human Ethics Committee and after getting written informed consent patients were randomized toGroup A: Tablet chondroitin sulfate (400 mg) with glucosamine (500 mg) combination thrice a day or Group B: Capsule diacerein 50 mg, twice aday orally both after food. Out of 88 patients screened, 75 of them entered the study. A total of 15 patients failed to complete the study. Remaining60 patients completed with 30 patients in each group. They were assessed for pain using visual analogue scale (VAS) from baseline and followed-upat 3, 12, 24 weeks.Results: Baseline characteristics in both the groups were matching without any significant difference. At 24 weeks there was reduction in VAS from6.76 to 1.96 (71.01%) in Group A and from 6.8 to 3.53 (48.09%) in Group B. There was significant difference between the groups with Group Asignificant over Group B in VAS. Thus, the effect of drug in Group A on pain reduction was greater than Group B.Conclusion: The use of chondroitin sulfate with glucosamine combination resulted in improvement in VAS better than diacerein in OA knee.Keywords: Osteoarthritis, Chondroitin sulfate with glucosamine combination, Diacerein, Visual analogue scale

Irrational prescribing: myths and facts

According to WHO, irrational prescribing is a disease which is difficult to treat but prevention is possible. There are many factors which contributes for this irrational prescribing like patient factors, practitioners/doctor factors, influence from pharmaceutical industry or combination of all

EVALUATION OF HYPOLIPIDEMIC ACTIVITY OF FRUIT RIND EXTRACTS OF GARCINIA GUMMIGUTTA IN DIET-INDUCED HYPERLIPIDEMIC RATS

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the hypolipidemic activity of fruit rind extracts of Garcinia gummi-gutta in diet-induced hyperlipidemic rats. Methods: Hydroalcoholic extract of fruit rinds of G. gummi-gutta was prepared using Soxhlet apparatus. 30 Wistar albino rats were divided into five groups (n=6). Except for Group 1, all the other groups were treated with hyperlipidemic diet (HLD) for 4 weeks. After induction, the Groups 3 and 4 were treated with the extracts at 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg doses, respectively, whereas Group 5 received the standard drug atorvastatin at 10 mg/kg for the next 4 weeks. Lipid profile was estimated at the end of each week. At the end of the study, rats were sacrificed and the liver and heart were analyzed for histopathological changes. Data expressed as mean±standard error of the mean. Statistical analysis was done using one-way ANOVA followed by post hoc Tukey test. p<0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: The serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and LDL were significantly increased and the levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were significantly decreased when compared to normal control. The groups which received G. gummi-gutta rind extract at 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg showed a significant decrease in the mean cholesterol, TG, LDL, VLDL levels, and an increase in HDL levels when compared to the HLD group. The group which received the extract at higher dose (REGG200) was found better than the lower dose (REGG 100). REGG 200 showed significant improvement in increasing the HDL levels than all the test groups. The standard drug atorvastatin was found better than REGG100 but there was no significant difference between high doses of the extract and atorvastatin. Conclusion: The fruit rinds extract of G. gummi-gutta was able to decrease the elevated serum lipids (TC, TG, LDL, and VLDL) and consequently increase the HDL levels in a dose-dependent manner

Implementing Neural Fuzzy Rough Set and Artificial Neural Network for Predicting PCOS

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (or polycystic ovary syndrome – PCOS) is a multifarious form in which a woman’s ovaries are normally larger than standard. The term ‘Polycystic’ defines that the ovaries comprise of numerous cysts or follicles to facilitate hardly ever nurture towards ripeness or generate eggs accomplished of being fertilized. One third of women could contain polycystic ovaries observed on an ultrasound, however it does not all have PCOS. PCOS is comparatively universal, especially for sterile women. It concerns about 12 to 18 per cent of women of reproductive age (between late adolescence and menopause). In approximate 70 per cent of this kind of cases remain undiagnosed. In our previous researches, we have proposed a new feature selection technique and hybrid approach and in this present investigation, we implement these proposed algorithms to forecast the PCOS disease among women. In addition to above analysis, we evaluate the effect of the proposed algorithms with other existing methods

Comparative foliar anatomical study of six different varieties of Piper betle L.

The present investigation on a few selected cultivars of Piper betle L. was undertaken mainly to understand the anatomy and tissue components of the stem, leaves and petiole. This was accomplished by using basic anatomy techniques such as free hand and microtome sectioning. The varieties selected were: HY1, HY2, JB, KB, LV and SG. Major aspects of the present inquiry were - macro morphology, anatomy and histochemistry. The main focus of the study was on the internal structure of leaves and petioles to understand the role of specialised cells like enlarged hypodermal cells and mucilage cavities in retaining moisture and thereby preserving the shelf life of harvested leaves

Evaluation of opioid sparing effect of dexmedetomidine and pregabalin using acute pain model in male wistar rats

Background: Adjuvant analgesics are added to pain management regimen to reduce opioid consumption and minimise their side effect. Newer ones like dexmedetomidine and pregabalin have not been thoroughly researched. Objectives of the study to study the opioid sparing effect of dexmedetomidine and pregabalin using tail flick and hot plate method in male wistar rats.Methods: Forty two rats were grouped into seven groups with six in each group. Analgesic activity was tested using tail flick, where in the reaction time to flick its tail on a heated surface was noted. In the hot plate method, the reaction time to withdraw or lick the paws when placed on heated surface was noted.Results: The reaction time to flick its tail was prolonged with dexmedetomidine and pregabalin when combined with opioids even in sub therapeutic doses.Conclusion: Adjuncts like dexmedetomidine and pregabalin can be very useful  in mutimodal pain management and also to reduce the opioid consumption