Spiders (Araneae) from Agricultural fields near foothill of Satpura Mountain ranges of Amravati District, Maharashtra, India.

This paper deals with the study of spider distribution in agricultural fields adjoining the Satpura Mountain Ranges of the Amravati district. The total collection of spiders comprises 12 families, 37 genera and 76 species. The Araneidae and Thomisidae families were dominant, followed by Saltisidae from the selected agricultural area. Lycosidae and Tetragnathidae were also found in a decreasing number of species due to their specific habitation. The analysis of guild structure revealed six feeding guilds. Orb web weavers and Ambushers constituted the dominant feeding guild representing 33% and 22% of the total collection respectively. Stalkers and ground runners represent 20% and 17% and foliage hunters and sheet web weavers represent 5% and 3% respectively. A new species of genus Sassacus (Beetle like spider), family Saltisidae was found for the first time in the Vidarbha region. The richness of spider diversity is a sign of the overall biodiversity which is a useful indicator of the species richness of the agro-ecosystem.
&#xa

Knowledge, attitude and practice of pharmacovigilance among medical professionals at a tertiary care hospital in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Background: Many adverse drug reactions (ADRs), interactions and specific toxicities are known once drug is exposed to a larger population. Spontaneous reporting adverse events (AEs) are fundamental to a robust pharmacovigilance (PhV). Increasing physician awareness about the pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting can significantly contribute the safety of medicines. Objective of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices related to PhV among medical professionals at a tertiary care teaching hospital.Methods: Postgraduate students (PGs) and medical teachers at a Medical College and tertiary care hospital were evaluated for their knowledge, attitude and practice of pharmacovigilance with the help of a structured questionnaire. Suggestions for improving the effectiveness of the pharmacovigilance practices were also sought.Results: One-hundred and fifty doctors [91 (60.7%) PGs and 59 (39.3%) medical teachers] participated. Overall, 48.7% were males. 96% believed that PhV is important in medical practice but only 79.3% knew the definition of pharmacovigilance. Only 24.7% were aware of the existing nationwide pharmacovigilance program whereas the international collaborating center was known to 26% of the participants. 96% believed that it is the duty of a treating physician to report an ADR while 36.7% felt that ADR reporting should be the responsibility of a separate team. Surprisingly, 54% felt that financial aid should be provided for ADR reporting. 42.7% have not reported any ADR whilst only 16% have reported more than 10 ADRs in their career. To create an ADR database (79.3%) was the common expectation from the PhV center. 98.7% suggested continued medical education (CME) and trainings to improve the effectiveness of PhV in Indian setting.Conclusions: Regardless of a fair attitude towards PhV, the practice of ADR reporting is poor probably because of lack of sufficient knowledge about PhV. Motivating the physicians through CMEs and trainings so as to improve and strengthen the pharmacovigilance practices is the current need in India

Diagnostic yield of video capsule endoscopy in obscure occult gastrointestinal bleed

Background: Gastrointestinal blood loss is the leading cause of iron deficiency anemia in developing world. Many patients had normal findings on initial upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy. When such patients present with stool occult blood positivity, it’s an indication to evaluate small bowel by video capsule endoscopy for detecting possible source of bleeding. Aim was to know the diagnostic yield of video capsule endoscopy in anaemic patients with occult gastrointestinal bleed.Methods: In this retrospective study, we evaluated all the data of video capsule endoscopy which were done in patients with obscure occult gastrointestinal bleed.Results: Total sample size was 21 patients. M:F ratio was 1.6:1 Average age of patients was 51.52±6.3 years. Youngest patient was of 16 years and Oldest patient was of 78 years. Video capsule endoscopy was normal in 8/21(38.09%), and had positive findings in 13/21(61.90%). Most common finding was aphthous ulcer in jejunum and ileum in 19.04%. Followed by Telangiectasia in 14.28%, NSAID enteropathy in 4.76%, Jejunal diverticulosis in 9.52%, celiac disease, xanthelasma, enteroliths in ileum, ileal nodularity in 4.76% each. Complication occurred in one patient (4.76%) in the form of retention of the capsule, which was retrieved by double balloon Enteroscopy.Conclusions: Video capsule endoscopy has a good diagnostic yield of around 61.90% in patients with obscure occult gastrointestinal bleed. It is best performed during ongoing bleed or immediately thereafter. Careful patient selection and repeating the upper and lower GI Scopy before video capsule endoscopy can be a reliable option before video capsule endoscopy to prevent complication

A rare case of long-term graft complication in a patient of middle aortic syndrome

Middle aortic syndrome (MAS) is rare entity described as a progressive narrowing of the aorta between the aortic arch and terminal bifurcation of the aorta. Surgical treatment is with the use of grafts for bypassing the narrow aortic segment. Rarely, graft complications may occur over long periods of time due to the axial growth of the patient and loss of tensile strength of the graft material. This is a case of MAS, presenting 34 years after initial surgery due to aneurysmal dilation of the graft, treated with redo surgery and complete recovery of the patient

Neuraminidase inhibitors: who, when, where?

Although the neuraminidase inhibitors (NIs), oseltamivir and zanamivir were first licensed in 1999, their clinical effectiveness is still hotly debated. Two rigorous systematic reviews and meta-analyses of the data from clinical trials conducted in community settings against relatively benign influenza, both suggest that reductions in symptom duration are extremely modest, under one day. Whilst one of these reviews could find no evidence of reductions in complications, the most recent review reported clinically meaningful and statistically significant reductions in the likelihood of requiring antibiotics (44%) and hospitalizations (63%) in adult patients with confirmed influenza, treated with oseltamivir. A further meta-analysis of observational data from the 2009 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic suggested that, in hospitalised patients, NIs significantly reduced mortality in adults by 25% overall, and by 62% if started within 48 hours of symptom onset, compared with no treatment. But, the effectiveness of NIs in children is far less clear. Taken together, these data suggest that NIs should be reserved for patients with influenza who are at high-risk of complications, or when clinically assessed found to be markedly unwell, or rapidly deteriorating. In such patients, treatment should be initiated empirically, as soon as possible, preferably with follow-on virological confirmation

Some Directions beyond Traditional Quantum Secret Sharing

We investigate two directions beyond the traditional quantum secret sharing (QSS). First, a restriction on QSS that comes from the no-cloning theorem is that any pair of authorized sets in an access structure should overlap. From the viewpoint of application, this places an unnatural constraint on secret sharing. We present a generalization, called assisted QSS (AQSS), where access structures without pairwise overlap of authorized sets is permissible, provided some shares are withheld by the share dealer. We show that no more than $\lambda-1$ withheld shares are required, where $\lambda$ is the minimum number of {\em partially linked classes} among the authorized sets for the QSS. Our result means that such applications of QSS need not be thwarted by the no-cloning theorem. Secondly, we point out a way of combining the features of QSS and quantum key distribution (QKD) for applications where a classical information is shared by quantum means. We observe that in such case, it is often possible to reduce the security proof of QSS to that of QKD.Comment: To appear in Physica Scripta, 7 pages, 1 figure, subsumes arXiv:quant-ph/040720

Cirrhosis of liver is a risk factor for gallstone disease

Background: Gallstones are common clinical finding in general population. Mean prevalence rate in Indian population is 4-5%. The prevalence of gallstones is found to be high in cirrhotic patients compared to the general population in some western studies. Cause of this increased prevalence however is not known. Aim of the study was to evaluate prevalence of the gall stones in the cirrhotic patients, assess risk factors in cirrhotic patients and clinical presentation.Methods: This is the cross sectional observational study, included cirrhotic patients (compensated or decompensated). Risk factors for gallstone formation (age, gender and diabetes mellitus), characteristics of liver cirrhosis (etiology, Child Turcotte Pugh class, hypersplenism and varices) and clinical presentation were assessed in all cirrhotic patients with gallstones.Results: 336 patients with liver cirrhosis are included in this study; 201 (59.80%) male and 135 (40.2%) female. Mean age of the patients is 44.95±13.1 years. Overall prevalence of gall stones was 12.8% (43/336). Out of 43 patients, 23 (53.5%) are male and 20 (46.5%) are female. As child status progresses from A to B to C, prevalence of gall stone increases, with 60.46% (26/43) of gall stones occurring in the patients with CTP class C. Only 8 (18.6%) patients had gallstone related symptoms while rests were asymptomatic. 5 (11.6%) had concurrent CBD stones. Cholecystectomy was possible in only 2 patients with symptomatic gallstones.Conclusions: The prevalence of gall stones in cirrhotic is higher than general population which increases with the severity of liver cirrhosis. Most cirrhotic patients are asymptomatic for gallstones

A review of objective structured practical examination (OSPE) in pharmacology at a rural medical college

Background: 1. To evaluate the attitudes of undergraduate medical students towards objectively structured practical examination (OSPE) component of Pharmacology practical examination. 2. To investigate any gender differences and any influence of medium of instruction in school on these attitudes.Methods: The scores of 40 undergraduate medical students were analysed at S R T R Government Medical College, Ambajogai, Maharashtra, India. A Likert scale containing 9 items was used to assess the attitudes of students towards OSPE in Pharmacology. Student perspectives regarding the OSPE were obtained by asking them to respond to a questionnaire.Results: The study revealed that the OSPE was an acceptable tool in Pharmacology practical examination. The overall mean attitude score was 3.99. The response of male students towards OSPE (4.2) was more favourable as compared to that of female students (3.9) Students strongly agreed that OPSE covers wide range of skills and it is a good form of examination and learning experience. Majority of students were in favour of continuing OSPE as a method for examination in Pharmacology.Conclusions: OSPE was found to be a valuable tool to check the depth of understanding of undergraduate students. OSPE can be used as an index of the learning attitude of students. The present study is a small step in a direction of changing the traditional patterns of practical examination to a more objective and reliable way of evaluation in Pharmacology. It will help in modifying teaching-learning strategies so that both, the teachers as well as the students can gain maximum advantage

An evidence based clinical aid for cardiovascular disease

Copyright to Australian Family Physician. Reproduced with permission. Permission to reproduce must be sought from the publisher, The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.Cardiovascular disease is the commonest cause of mortality in Australia, accounting for more than 30% of deaths. Hypertension, diabetes and lipid disorders account for 15.6% of the total problems encountered in general practice. Therefore all doctors should be familiar with well known risk factors for cardiovascular disease, as well as the benefits of interventions with them.Brian R McAvoy; Greg R Fulcher; John V Amerena; Greg W Conner; John F Beltrame; Graeme J Hankey; Anthony C Keech; Brian L Lloyd; Michael L Neale; Carol A Pollock; Krishna Sudhir; Robert D Waltham; Malcolm J Wes