Prospective study to assess functional outcomes in patients undergoing single bundle arthroscopic reconstruction of primary anterior cruciate ligament tear comparing with bone quadriceps tendon versus hamstring tendon autograft

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are one of the most common ligament injuries of knee. Arthroscopic ACL reconstruction has become the standard of care for ACL injuries in the active patient. In present study good bone quadriceps tendon (BQT) autograft and hamstring tendon (HT) autograft will be used for primary arthroscopic ACL reconstruction and its data regarding clinical and functional results will be evaluated and compared.Methods: Sixty patients underwent isolated ACL reconstruction. 30 underwent ACL reconstruction with the BQT and 30 with the HT. The same surgical technique, fixation method and postoperative protocol were used in both groups. Functional outcome in terms of International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, joint stability (anterior drawer, Lachman, pivot shift), anterior knee pain and isokinetic strength was evaluated.Results: IKDC score in bone quadriceps tendon and hamstring tendon group after 9 months follow up showing no statistical significance. The negative Lachman component was higher in the BQT group than in the HT group. There was no difference between groups in terms of isokinetic strength.Conclusions: Our study shows no statistically significant difference between both groups

Blindness and poverty in India: the way forward

A few recent studies have shown that poverty is an exacerbating and often determining factor in the incidence of disabling conditions, including visual impairment. Recent estimates from the World Health Organization indicate that 90 per cent of all those affected by visual impairment live in the poorest countries of the world. India is home to one-fifth of the world's visually impaired people and therefore, any strategies to combat avoidable blindness must take into account the socio-economic conditions within which people live. This paper looks at the relationship between poverty and blindness in India and suggests strategies to address blindness prevention in a comprehensive manner

Application of multivariable measurement and control strategies to a problem in heat conduction

A detailed analysis of the boundary control of a one-dimensional heat conduction system is performed using recent results in multivariable feedback theory. Non-interacting control, optimal control, inverse Nyquist array and characteristic locus techniques were applied to the system. An analysis is made of the potential improvements in performance through the use of extra measurements and through the change in measurement location. Results show the advantages and disadvantages of the techniques and point to the flexibility of the characteristic locus method with and without the squaring down of extra measurements

Importance of integrating eye health into school health initiatives.

A comprehensive school eye health programme includes health promotion and prevention activities; activities to increase awareness about eye health among children; screening, detection and treatment of common eye conditions (URE, infections, squint, etc.) in these children

Minimum requirements for a glaucoma programme.

A successful glaucoma health care programme must provide a timely diagnosis as well as life-long monitoring and treatment of glaucoma

A cross-sectional study of visual impairment in elderly population in residential care in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh:A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and major causes of visual impairment (VI) in elderly residents of ‘home for the aged’ institutions in the Prakasam district in India. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: ‘Home for the aged’ institutions in the Prakasam district in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. PARTICIPANTS: All 524 residents in the 26 ‘homes for aged’ institutions in the district were enumerated. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence and causes of VI; visual acuity (VA) was assessed using a Snellen chart at a distance of 6 m. Pinhole VA was assessed if presenting VA was <6/18. Torchlight examination and direct ophthalmoscopy were performed. VI was defined as presenting VA <6/18 in the better eye. RESULTS: Of the 494 participants examined (response rate 94.3%), 78.1% were women, 72.1% had no formal schooling. The mean age of participants was 70 years (SD ±8.6 years). VI was present in 280/494 individuals (56.9%; 95% CI 52.3 to 61.3). Over 80% of the VI was due to avoidable causes including cataract (57.1%) and uncorrected refractive errors (26.4%). Among 134 individuals who had undergone bilateral cataract surgery, only 78 (58.2%) individuals had presenting VA ≥6/18 and 13/134 (9.7%) participants were blind. CONCLUSIONS: There is high prevalence of VI in the institutionalised elderly population in the Prakasam district in India. A significant proportion of this elderly population with VI can benefit from spectacles and cataract surgery. Strategies are required to provide high-quality services to this population

In Situ Swelling Behavior of Chitosan-Polygalacturonic Acid/Hydroxyapatite Nanocomposites in Cell Culture Media

The molecular and mechanical characteristics of in situ degradation behavior of chitosan-polygalacturonic acid/hydroxyapatite (Chi-PgA-HAP) nanocomposite films is investigated using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and modulus mapping techniques for up to 48 days of soaking in cell culture media. The surface molecular structure of media-soaked samples changes over the course of 48 days of soaking, as indicated by significant changes in phosphate vibrations (1200–900 cm−1) indicating apatite formation. Chitosan-Polygalacturonic acid polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) govern structural integrity of Chi-PgA-HAP nanocomposites and FTIR spectra indicate that PECs remain intact until 48 days of soaking. In situ AFM experiments on media-soaked samples indicate that soaking results in a change in topography and swelling proceeds differently at the initial soaking periods of about 8 days than for longer soaking. In situ modulus mapping experiments are done on soaked samples by probing ∼1–3 nm of surface indicating elastic moduli of ∼4 GPa resulting from proteins adsorbed on Chi-PgA-HAP nanocomposites. The elastic modulus decreases by ∼2 GPa over a long exposure to cell culture media (48 days). Thus, as water enters the Chi-PgA-HAP sample, surface molecular interactions in Chi-PgA-HAP structure occur that result in swelling, causing small changes in nanoscale mechanical properties

Clinical and Epidemiologic Research Population-Based Assessment of Prevalence and Risk Factors for Pterygium in the South Indian State of Andhra Pradesh: The Andhra Pradesh Eye Disease Study

PURPOSE. To describe the prevalence and risk factors for pterygium in a population-based sample of individuals aged 30 years and older in South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. METHODS. A cross-sectional study was conducted in one urban and three rural locations in which 10,293 subjects were examined. All the subjects underwent comprehensive eye examination and a detailed interview by trained professionals. Pterygium was defined as fleshy fibro vascular growth, crossing the limbus, and typically seen on the nasal conjunctiva in either eye. RESULTS. Data were analyzed for 5586 subjects who were aged 30 years and older at the time of participation. The mean age of the participants was 47.5 years (SD 13 years; range 30-102 years). In total, 46.4% were male, 56.7% had no education, 52.2% of them were involved in outdoor occupations, and 25% belonged to urban area. The prevalence of pterygium was 11.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.9-12.6). The multiple logistic regression analysis revealed significantly higher odds of pterygium among older age groups, rural residents (odds ratio [OR]: 1.8; 95% CI: 1.4-2.4; P &gt; 0.01), and those involved in outdoor occupations (OR: 1.8; 95% CI: 1.5-2.2, P &lt; 0.001). Education had a protective effect (OR: 0.6; 95% CI: 0.5-0.7; P &lt; 0.001). CONCLUSIONS. Pterygium is common in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Exposure to sunlight is a significant modifiable risk factor. Protecting the eyes from sunlight may decrease the risk of pterygium. However, the important public health challenge is to encourage the use of this protection as a routine in developing countries such as India