Impregnated nets cannot fully substitute for DDT : field effectiveness of Malaria prevention in Solomon Islands

The incidence of malaria in Solomon Islands has been declining since 1992, but there is a large geographical variation between areas in the incidence level and the rate of decline. The authors used a mix of control interventions, including DDT residual house spraying and insecticide-treated mosquito nets. Data on monthly incidence and control activities performed from January 1993 to August 1999 were gathered for 41 out of the 110 malaria zones in the country. Monthly reports on the number of fevers seen at outpatient health clinics in the same zones over the same period were also extracted from the clinical health information system. The authors used multivariate random effects regression, including calendar month as an instrumental variable, to investigate the relationship between the number of malaria or fever cases and the control measures applied by month and zone, while adjusting for rainfall and proximity to water. The results showed that DDT house spraying, insecticide treatment of nets, and education about malaria were all independently associated with reduction in incident cases of malaria or fever, while larviciding with temephos was not. This was true for confirmed malaria cases even when a variable representing the passage of time was included in the models. The results show how much each method used was contributing to malaria control in Solomon Islands and how it can be used to design the most cost-effective package of interventions. The evidence suggests that impregnated bednets cannot easily replace DDT spraying without substantial increase in incidence, but impregnated nets do permit a substantial reduction in the amount of DDT spraying.Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Public Health Promotion,Climate Change,Disease Control&Prevention,Early Child and Children's Health,Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Climate Change,Malaria,Early Child and Children's Health,Health Indicators

The edible oyster culture

In 1970s the CMFR Institute initiated oyster culture through rack and tray method. Large scale spat collection, preparation of spat collectors, season and seed availability were studied. In 1980, a hatchery was set up with annual production capacity of one million edible oyster seed and the techniques involved in hatchery system were standardized. The seed were supplied to other centres of this Institute and Gujarat Fisheries Department. The production rates for rack and tray, string and stake method were estimated as 120 t and 22 t respectively. As part of extension, one lab to land programme, 8 training programmes, one workshop and a summer insitute were conducted. Results of experimental oyster culture work carried out at Mandapam, Madras, Bheemunipatnam, Kakinada, Mulki, Dharmadam, Ashtamudi and Cochin backwaters are given. Rearing 600 strings in 0.04 ha at Ashtamudi and harvesting 2.5t oysters pointed out 44.8% return with estimated production of 80- 105t/ha. Further research priorities on oyster culture aspects are indicated

Ranching of clams in the Ashtamudi lake

Ranching of clams in the Ashtamudi lak

Studies on the salinity tolerance of the venerid clam, Paphia malabarica (Chemnitz)

Salinity tolerance, lethal lower salinity and mortality rates in different salinity treatments of the small (15-20 mm APM) and large (30-35 mm APM) venerid clam, Paphia malabarica were studied. The studies revealed that on sudden exposure from a pre-acclimation salinity of 22 ppt, both the size groups could tolerate a salinity range of 12 ppt to 40 ppt. The lethal lower salinity was determined based on 5Wo mortality. It was seen that larger clams are more tolerant to lower salinities. Between 20 ppt and 30 ppt both the size groups recorded no mortality. Observations on the conditioning time showed the fastest conditioning between 20 ppt and 30 ppt Large clams conditioned faster in lower salinities and vice versa in higher salinities

Single-agent arsenic trioxide in the treatment of newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia: durable remissions with minimal toxicity

Arsenic trioxide, as a single agent, has proven efficacy in inducing molecular remission in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). There is limited long-term outcome data with single-agent As2O3 in the management of newly diagnosed cases of APL. Between January 1998 to December 2004, 72 newly diagnosed cases of APL were treated with a regimen of single-agent As2O3 at our center. Complete hematologic remission was achieved in 86.1%. At a median follow-up of 25 months (range: 8-92 months), the 3-year Kaplan-Meier estimate of EFS, DFS, and OS was 74.87% ± 5.6%, 87.21% ± 4.93%, and 86.11% ± 4.08%, respectively. Patients presenting with a white blood cell (WBC) count lower than 5 × 109/L and a platelet count higher than 20 × 109/L at diagnosis (n = 22 [30.6%]) have an excellent prognosis with this regimen (EFS, OS, and DFS of 100%). The toxicity profile, in the majority, was mild and reversible. After remission induction, this regimen was administered on an outpatient basis. Single-agent As2O3, as used in this series, in the management of newly diagnosed cases of APL, is associated with responses comparable with conventional chemotherapy regimens. Additionally, this regimen has minimal toxicity and can be administered on an outpatient basis after remission induction

Characterization of Dietary Energy in Swine Feed and Feed Ingredients: A Review of Recent Research Results

Feed is single most expensive input in commercial pork production representing more than 50% of the total cost of production. The greatest proportion of this cost is associated with the energy component, thus making energy the most important dietary in terms of cost. For efficient pork production, it is imperative that diets are formulated to accurately match dietary energy supply to requirements for maintenance and productive functions. To achieve this goal, it is critical that the energy value of feeds is precisely determined and that the energy system that best meets the energy needs of a pig is used. Therefore, the present review focuses on dietary supply and needs for pigs and the available energy systems for formulating swine diets with particular emphasis on the net energy system. In addition to providing a more accurate estimate of the energy available to the animal in an ingredient and the subsequent diet, diets formulated using the this system are typically lower in crude protein, which leads to additional benefits in terms of reduced nitrogen excretion and consequent environmental pollution. Furthermore, using the net energy system may reduce diet cost as it allows for increased use of feedstuffs containing fibre in place of feedstuffs containing starch. A brief review of the use of distiller dried grains with solubles in swine diets as an energy source is included

Clam resource in the Astamudi Lake, a tropical estuary in sourthern India: Managment and conservation concerns

Clam resources form the livelihood of more than five hundred families in and around Ashtamudi Lake, situated between latitude 8°45' - 9°28' N and 76°28 - 77" 17' E. The alarming increase in the exploitation of Paphia malabarica in the recent years forced the Government of Kerala to impose ban on the fishing activities during its breeding season based on the recommendations of CMFRI in 1993