Food Security and Efficacy of the Intervention Mechanism in India

Rice and wheat are the two major foodgrains in India and their level of production determines the country self-sufficient. Forecasts on cereals supply range from 250 to over 300 million tones in the country by the year 2020. Mere availability of foodgrains is not a sufficient condition to ensure food security but also necessary that the poor have sufficient means to purchase food. Poor economic access leads to food security and it has been checked by the government mechanism through the operation of Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and foodgrains are distributed at subsidized prices to the people living Below Poverty Line (BPL). It is a safety net to more than 330 million poor and those nutritionally at risk and an important delivery channel with a network of half million Fair Price Shops (FPS) catering to the needs of 199 million of ration cardholders. Food subsidy amounting to Rs. 25,800 (approximately US$ 5,730 million) was allotted during the period 2004-05, which rose ten times in the past 15 years. Higher level of procurement, revising the Minimum Support Price (MSP), inventory cost for stocking foodgrains and a lower level of issue price together absorb huge subsidy. Monte Carlo Technique was used to examine the implications of several policy options by simulating the 2002-03 base scenario. Optimum or the normative level of procurement, improving offtake from Food Corporation of India (FCI) godowns, private participation, issuing food stamps and food credit cards are the possible options to improve the efficacy of the system and reduce the budgetary burden due to subsidy.Food Security, Targeted Public Distribution System, Fair Price Shops, Minimum Support Price, Monte Carlo Technique, Food Security and Poverty, J21, H4, H5, O2, Q18,

Experimental cultivation of Gracilaria edulis (Gmelin) Silva in Gulf of Mannar at Tuticorin

Experiments have heen conducted to cultivate Graci/aria edulis in the Gulf of Mannar at Hare Island ofTuticorin during 1996-97. This agarophyte has been successfully cultured by vegetative propagation method using the tibreglass tank, cement tank, coir net frame and long line coir rope. In these experiments 3.5, 3.7, 16.1 and 13 .2 fold increase in biomass after 80, 60, 74 and 86 days respectively have been obtained. The culture techniques of this species, favourable period for culture and influence of environmental parameters are discussed

Bacteriologic and clinical efficacy of ofloxacin 0.3% versus ciprofloxacin 0.3% ophthalmic solutions in the treatment of patients with culture-positive bacterial keratitis.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy and safety of ofloxacin 0.3% ophthalmic solution with ciprofloxacin 0.3% ophthalmic solution in patients with culture-positive bacterial keratitis. METHODS: Patients with a microbiologic diagnosis of bacterial keratitis were included in this double-masked, parallel-group study and were randomized to treatment with either ofloxacin 0.3% or ciprofloxacin 0.3% ophthalmic solution. One drop of the study medication was instilled during the daytime according to the following schedule: every half-hour on study day 1, every hour on days 2 through 4, and every 2 hours on days 5 through 21. Healing, the primary outcome measure, was defined as complete reepithelialization, accompanied by nonprogression of stromal infiltrate for 2 days. Secondary outcome measures included signs and symptoms of infection. Patients were monitored throughout the study period for any adverse events. RESULTS: A total of 217 patients completed the study: 112 were treated with ofloxacin and 105 were treated with ciprofloxacin. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most commonly encountered pathogen in all patients. Complete corneal reepithelialization occurred in 85% of those treated with ofloxacin and in 77% of those treated with ciprofloxacin (p = 0.32). The average time to corneal ulcer healing was 13.7 days in those treated with ofloxacin and 14.4 days in those treated with ciprofloxacin. Both treatments were well tolerated with no patient discontinuing the study because of side effects. CONCLUSION: Ofloxacin 0.3% and ciprofloxacin 0.3% ophthalmic solutions are effective and safe in the treatment of patients with culture-positive bacterial keratitis

Multilevel Analysis of Trachomatous Trichiasis and Corneal Opacity in Nigeria : The Role of Environmental and Climatic Risk Factors on the Distribution of Disease.

Funding: Jennifer L Smith was supported by the International Trachoma Initiative through a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Anthony Solomon is a Wellcome Trust Intermediate Clinical Fellow (098521). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Notes on the juveniles of the rock cod Epinephelus tauvina (Forsskal)

The occurrence of the very young juveniles of the rock cod Epinephelus tauvina (Forskal) in Cochin backwater during February-June is reported here with brief notes on the morphometric variations between juveniles and adults and food and feeding habits of juveniles

Therapeutic evaluation of homeopathic treatment for canine oral papillomatosis

Aim: A study was conducted to evaluate the ameliorative potential of homeopathic drugs in combination (Sulfur 30C, Thuja 30C, Graphites 30C, and Psorinum 30C) in 16 dogs affected with oral papillomatosis which was not undergone any previous treatment. Materials and Methods: Dogs affected with oral papillomatosis, which have not undergone any initial treatment and fed with a regular diet. Dogs (total=16) were randomly divided into two groups, namely, homeopathic treatment group (n=8) and placebo control group (n=8). Random number table was used for allocation. Homeopathic combination of drugs and placebo drug (distilled water) was administered orally twice daily for 15 days. Clinical evaluation in both groups of dogs was performed by the same investigator throughout the period of study (12 months). Dogs were clinically scored for oral lesions on days 0, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, and 150 after initiation of treatment. Results: The homeopathic treatment group showed early recovery with a significant reduction in oral lesions reflected by clinical score (p<0.001) in comparison to placebo-treated group. Oral papillomatous lesions regressed in the homeopathic group between 7 and 15 days, whereas regression of papilloma in the placebo group occurred between 90 and 150 days. The homeopathic treated group was observed for 12 months post-treatment period and no recurrence of oral papilloma was observed. Conclusion: The current study proves that the combination of homeopathy drugs aids in fastening the regression of canine oral papilloma and proved to be safe and cost-effective

Comparative study of surgical results between total abdominal hysterectomy and total laparoscopic hysterectomy in a tertiary hospital: a 2 year retrospective study

Background: Since the introduction of Laparoscopic hysterectomy by Reich in 1989, it has become a widely accepted technique worldwide. The aim of the study was to compare the surgical results between Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy (TLH) and Total Abdominal Hysterectomy (TAH).Methods: We conducted a retrospective study at Women’s center and hospitals between June 2014 to May 2016, 32 patients who underwent TAH and 55 patients who underwent TLH, were included.Results: We observed that there was no significant difference between the two groups in respect to patient's demographic characteristics, indication of surgery, uterine size, or with history of previous pelvic surgery. Duration of surgery was found to be longer in TLH than TAH (124±39.7 min vs. 104.7±39.8 min). The length of hospital stay was less in TLH than TLH (P-0.0001) and the amount of blood loss were also less in TLH than TAH (103±149 ml versus 243±210 ml). There was no significant difference in view of intra and post operative complications. Hemoglobin change was statistically significant and is more with TAH than TLH (1.57±0.7g% versus 1.12±0.7g%).Conclusions: This study showed that TLH can be safely performed by the experienced surgeon in order to reduce the blood loss, duration of hospital stay and the quality of life

Rhythms in the biting behaviour of a mosquito Armigeres subalbatus

The biting cycle of Armigeres subalbatus is distinctly crepuscular, exhibiting two peaks of activity, a smaller one at dawn and a larger one at dusk. The biting cycle is entrained to natural light-dark cycles and the time interval from dawn to dawn or dusk to dusk peaks is exactly 24 h and from dawn to dusk or dusk to dawn is about 12 h measured at 50% level. This rhythm manifests itself day after day without any marked qualitative change. The rate of change of light intensity may determine the onset of crepuscular biting. The sudden increase (up to ca. 17 lx) or decrease (down to ca. 4 lx) in the intensity of ambient light at the time of sunrise or sunset coincides with the peak of the biting activity. The density of the population of the host-seeking females fluctuates in relation to the phases of the moon, increasing with the full moon phase and decreasing with the new moon phase. Even though the density of the population is greater outdoors than indoors both at ground levels and in the first floor, the peak of activity occurs at the same time in all the places. A vertical stratification of biting activity was also noticed