A STUDY ON ANTIBIOTIC PRESCRIBING PATTERN IN OBSTRUCTIVE LUNG DISEASE INPATIENTS

ABSTRACTObjectives: The main objectives of this study were to estimate the demographic details of patients with obstructive lung disease and to study thevarious organisms causing exacerbations and its resistance pattern and also to analyze the culture and sensitivity pattern in obstructive lung diseasepatients.Methods: It was a retrospective, observational study carried out for 1 year at the Department of Pulmonary Medicine of a tertiary care teachinghospital in Kerala, India. Total 200 patients who were admitted under the pulmonary ward during the time period from 1 June 2014and who satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the study. A standardized data collection form was prepared, and necessarydata were collected from patient's medical records.Results: The maximum number of patients was in the age group of 60‑69. 61% patients were residing in the urban area. 32.5% of patients were foundto have a history of smoking. 61% patients were diagnosed with the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). 74.5% sample collected weresputum. Culture test alone was carried out for 48.5%. 88% were prescribed with cephalosporin. Among the cephalosporin class cefpodoxime was themost commonly prescribed (63%). 42 patients had two drug therapy.Conclusion: A periodic study on the usage of antibiotics and sensitivity pattern in the hospital will enable the health care professionals to select theappropriate one to promote the rational use of antibiotics.Key words: Asthma, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Exacerbation, Antibiotics.st June 2013 to 1s

Association of Vitamin D Deficiency with Hypertension in Uninsured Women

Vitamin D deficiency is an epidemic in the United States. Uninsured women are at high risk due to a lower intake of vitamin D and limited sun exposure. We examined the association between vitamin D deficiency and hypertension in 96 uninsured women at a County Free Medical Clinic in urban Michigan. Questionnaires were used to obtain information about demographics, medical history including hypertension, and dietary habits. Measurements including blood pressure and serum 25(OH)D level were also collected. Prevalence of hypertension was higher in subjects with 25(OH)D less than 50nmol/l compared with others (85% vs. 27.3%, p = 0.014). For every 1 nmol/L decrease in serum 25(OH)D, there was an increase in the systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 0.20 (p =0.006) and 0.13 (p =0.003) mm of Hg respectively. These results demonstrate a high prevalence of hypertension in the vitamin D deficient, uninsured female population

A deep survey of the low-surface-brightness radio sky

We have made a radio survey--the Australia Telescope Low Brightness Survey (ATLBS)--of 8.4 square degrees sky area, using the Australia Telescope Compact Array in the 20-cm band, in an observing mode designed to provide wide-field images with exceptional sensitivity in surface brightness, and thereby explore a new parameter space in radio source populations. The goals of this survey are to quantify the distribution in angular sizes, particularly at weak surface brightness levels: this has implications for the confusion in deep surveys with the SKA. The survey is expected to lead to a census of the radio emission associated with low-power radio galaxies at redshifts 1-3, without any missing extended emission, and hence a study of the cosmic evolution of low-power radio galaxies to higher redshift and a comprehensive study of the AGN feedback during the intense black hole growth phase during this redshift range.Comment: 5 pages, includes 2 figures and 1 table. To appear in the proceedings of "From Planets to Dark energy: the modern radio universe" in the online journal Proceedings of Science - Po

Streamer evolution arrest governed amplified AC breakdown strength of graphene and CNT colloids

The present article experimentally explores the concept of large improving the AC dielectric breakdown strength of insulating mineral oils by the addition of trace amounts of graphene or CNTs to form stable dispersions. The nano-oils infused with these nanostructures of high electronic conductance indicate superior AC dielectric behaviour in terms of augmented breakdown strength compared to the base oils. Experimental observations of two grades of synthesized graphene and CNT nano-oils show that the nanomaterials not only improve the average breakdown voltage but also significantly improve the reliability and survival probabilities of the oils under AC high voltage stressing. Improvement of the tune of ~ 70-80 % in the AC breakdown voltage of the oils has been obtained via the present concept. The present study examines the reliability of such nano-colloids with the help of two parameter Weibull distribution and the oils show greatly augmented electric field bearing capacity at both standard survival probability values of 5 % and 63.3 %. The fundamental mechanism responsible for such observed outcomes is reasoned to be delayed streamer development and reduced streamer growth rates due to effective electron scavenging by the nanostructures from the ionized liquid insulator. A mathematical model based on the principles of electron scavenging is proposed to quantify the amount of electrons scavenged by the nanostructures. The same is then employed to predict the enhanced AC breakdown voltage and the experimental values are found to match well with the model predictions. The present study can have strong implications in efficient, reliable and safer operation of real life AC power systems