A study of the effectiveness of school health education programs on selected mosquito borne diseases: school based cross-sectional study

Background: School health education programs provide a convenient platform for engaging the students in health promotion activities. Public health problems like mosquito borne diseases cannot be controlled without active participation of the community and students are a resourceful component of the community who can be encouraged to take up activities to control mosquito borne diseases in the community.Methods: School-based cross-sectional study was conducted in December 2010 to March 2011 among 508 school students selected at random from students studying in the eighth to tenth standard. P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.Results: Totally 508 students were included in this study. The number of students unaware of the stages in the mosquito life cycle and the mosquito’s resting habits reduced from 420 (82.68%) to 19 (3.74%) and 103 (20.28%) to 13 (2.56%) respectively. The number of students with correct knowledge of the biting habits of the female mosquito and personal protection (PP) measures increased from 31.69% to 97.05% with statistically highly significant (p <0.0001) and 52.95% to 74.21% respectively.Conclusions: The present study suggested that the school health education program is effective in creating awareness and increasing the knowledge regarding mosquito borne diseases among school children and possibilities of successfully engaging the community at large in the fight against mosquito borne diseases. The need would be to sustain this activity and implement it in schools as part of the vector borne disease control programme

Effect of Slag on Strength and Hydraulic Properties of Lime Stabilized Pond Ash

Massive urbanization in the recent times has led a high increase in the power demands and eventually an increase in the production of pond ash generated as a waste material from thermal power plants. To decrease the environmental pollution and hazardous effects, it is imperative to utilize pond ash. But pond ash as such does not have enough strength to be used in civil engineering. So, it is advisable to improve the engineering properties of the pond ash by stabilizing it by adding other materials. In the present study effect of lime and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) on strength and hydraulic conductivity properties of pond ash are determined. Lime as stabilizing agent in different proportions (0, 3, 6, 9, 15 %) and slag as admixture are added in different proportions (0, 5, 10 and 15%) and the compaction characteristics of the resulted mixture were determined by standard proctor test, strength by Unconfined Compressive Strength test (UCS) and hydraulic conductivity by permeability test. The UCS samples were cured for 0, 3, 7, 14 and 28 days and the strength was determined. The permeability samples are cured for 0, 7, 14 and 28 days. The results showed an increment of maximum dry density and decrease in optimum moisture content with an increasing lime content, slag and curing period. The effect of lime and slag content on the strength and hydraulic properties of the pond ash samples at various curing periods are studied. The results are examined and the optimum percentages of slag required for attaining maximum strength at 3% and 15% lime at different curing periods are reported as the desired proportion for stabilization

Oil Pulling - A Blessing in Disguise

Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic remedy for oral health and detoxification. It involves the use of pure oils as agents to cleanse out harmful bacteria, as well as reduce fungal overgrowth. Oil pulling may also increase saponification in the mouth, creating a soapy environment that cleanses the mouth as vegetable fat is an emulsifier by nature. Most interesting is perhaps the ability of oil to help in cellular restructuring, and are related to the proper functioning of the lymph nodes and other internal organs. Apart from the various available scientific advancements in the medical field, there are age old traditional practices in Ayurvedic medicine which have to be encouraged. Oil pulling, which only requires one to swish oil in the mouth is known to cure many oral and systemic ailments. Though oil pulling is effective, none of the studies considered it as a replacement for the tooth brushing, but can definitely be a supplemental oral hygiene aid. This paper aims at throwing light on the various health benefits of this bygone practice

Risk factors associated with development of senile cataract

Background: Cataract is the most common cause of reversible blindness worldwide, which has been associated with various causative risk factors. Hence, we aim to study the factors that might play a role in cataractogenesis. Material and methods: A total of 240 eyes of 240 subjects were included for the study, which consisted of 120 cases with age-related cataract and 120 age-matched controls, and in them various factors like blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), smoking, sun exposure, and serum cholesterol were studied. Results: A statistically significant difference between the two groups was found with respect to smoking profile (p = 0.007), sun exposure (p = 0.001), and serum cholesterol (p &lt; 0.001). Subjects who were smokers, had a longer exposure to sun, and had higher serum cholesterol level were found to be positively associated with development of cataract. No significant association between BMI (p = 0.384) and blood pressure (p &gt; 0.05) was observed. Conclusion: Higher cholesterol levels, increased sun exposure, and smoking habit play a role in the development of senile cataract, and these are modifiable risk factors. Hence, control of these might help in delaying formation and progression of cataract

Sudden bradycardia and impending cardiac arrest by intra-myometrial vasopressin in laparoscopic myomectomy: a case report and review of literature

Vasopressin has long been used in myomectomy to decrease blood loss. Its efficacy is beyond doubt. But at the same time it is known to cause some of the serious cardiovascular side effects. We here report a case of severe bradycardia and impending cardiac arrest caused by intra-myometrial infiltration of 12 U of vasopressin and present a review of literature

Depression and its Association with Housing conditions and Family among Pregnant Women of Rural Varanasi

Background: Depressive disorders were the second leading cause of years lost due to disability in 2010 after low back pain and leading cause of disability adjusted life years (WHO 2010). Gestational depression may lead to low birth weight, premature births etc. Housing and family are important aspects of one daily life which if are unsatisfactory can increase stress level of its members. Aims &amp; Objectives: The aim of this study is to see the relationship of housing and family with depression among pregnant women. Material &amp; Methods: This is a community based cross sectional study of 220 pregnant women in 10 randomly selected villages of Chiraigaon, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh during one year period; using predesigned, pretested and semi structured interview schedule for assessing housing and family conditions. Results: Depression was found to be more in women living in kutcha house, nuclear family and illiterate husband, husband as head of family and belonging to lower socio-economic status. Increasing number of female child also increases depression. Conclusion: Housing structure, education of husband, socio-economic status and number of daughters should be assessed in every pregnant woman as these affect depressive state of pregnant women which can adversely affect the outcome of pregnancy

ANAESTHETIC MANAGEMENT OF A PATIENT WITH PREVIOUS LOBECTOMY POSTED FOR EMERGENCY MODIFIED RADICAL MASTOIDECTOMY

Pulmonary disease can be considered as a risk factor for several respiratory complications occurring during the perioperative period. Here we present a case of a middle-aged man who underwent modified radical mastoidectomy 23 y after left-sided lobectomy in order to illustrate the salient anesthetic considerations of this scenario.Keywords: Lobectomy, Mastoidectomy, Anaesthesia

Analysis of prescription pattern of antihypertensive medication and adherence to Beers criteria in geriatric department of a tertiary care hospital in Mysuru

Background: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the prescription pattern of anti-hypertensive drugs and adherence to Beers’ criteria in geriatric department of JSS Hospital, Mysuru.Methods: An observational, prospective, cross-sectional study was carried out in geriatric department. The basic demographic information and prescriptions of geriatric patients were studied. Descriptive analysis was used to present the results, prescriptions were analysed and checked for adherence to Beers’ criteria.Results: Out of 485 patients, 82.68% received monotherapy, 15.87% received 2-drug combination therapy and 1.4% received 3-drug combination therapy. Among patients receiving monotherapy, angiotensin receptor blockers (49.06%) was the commonest antihypertensive class of drug prescribed. Telmisartan (38.96%) was the commonest drug prescribed. Among 2-drug combination therapy angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and Calcium channel blockers were combined commonly. In 3-drug combination therapy angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, beta blockers and diuretics were combined commonly. 99.3% of prescriptions were adhered to 2015 American Geriatrics Society Beers criteria.Conclusions: Almost 82% of the patients were treated with monotherapy. The trends in prescribing of anti-hypertensives were in favor of conventional ones such as Angiotensin receptor blockers, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, diuretics, beta blockers and centrally acting alpha agonists. 99.3% of prescriptions were in accordance with the American Geriatrics Society 2015 Updated Beers criteria

Anxious medico with nicotine patch: a case report

We often suffer more in our imaginations than in reality. Anxiety is a terrible experience, you could even have an attack and no one would even know most of the times because it is an inward thing. People do get anxious and experience this feeling most of the times in life. Up to an extent its normal as much as it can be controlled if not this unpleasant feeling overrules. We learn to combat this feeling as the age passes but it also depends on different environmental, social occupational factors and the level of stress to overcome can be difficult. Many non-pharmacological and pharmacological methods are available to combat anxiety disorder. Self-medications can be occupational hazard and is strongly entrenched within the culture of both physicians and medical students as an accepted way to buffer their work performance. We are reporting a case of an anxious medico self-medicated to combat anxiety.

Massive collision tumor of ovary in pregnancy: rare successful perinatal outcome

A collision tumor is the co-existence of two adjoining but histologically distinct tumors without histological admixture in the same tissue or organ. The most common histological combination of collision tumor in the ovary is the coexistence of mature teratoma with mucinous cystadenomas. The incidence of adnexal mass in pregnancy is 0.05-2.4% of which 94-99% are benign. The 1-6% maybe malignant requiring more extensive surgical procedures that increases likelihood of pregnancy loss. Ovarian tumors first diagnosed during pregnancy often present a challenge for diagnosis and management. Hence accurate knowledge of tumor characteristics, especially the ultrasound appearance and gestational age at diagnosis, are the key prerequisites for establishing the most effective plan of management for the pregnant women. To the best of our knowledge this report of huge collision tumor with successful pregnancy outcome is first of its kind