An Economic Analysis of Tank Rehabilitation in Madurai District of Tamil Nadu

There has been a growing realization for rehabilitation and restoration of irrigation tanks with farmers’ participation. The study has presented the costs and benefits of tank rehabilitation and financial feasibility of investment in tank rehabilitation. The total annual income has been found higher in the rehabilitated tanks than the non-rehabilitated tanks and amongst the rehabilitated tanks, panchayat tanks with community well has depicted the highest annual income. The investment analysis has revealed the net present worth to be positive, the B-C ratio to be more than 1.5 and the internal rate of return to be more than the opportunity cost of capital. This shows that all the three investments in tank rehabilitation are economically viable. The study has suggested that rehabilitation work should be undertaken in all the non-rehabilitated tanks also. Besides, efforts should be made to provide supplemental irrigation to crops and to improve the PWD tank management regime.Agricultural and Food Policy,

Traditional methods of purification (detoxification process) for Schedule E poisonous drugs

740-748Medicinal plants have different types of active phytochemicals, which are still in use, either in their crude form or after proper processing. Though most of the plant drugs are safe, few are poisonous and may cause immediate toxic effect or cumulative toxic effect for human health. There are 25 poisonous or toxic plants in Siddha texts listed in the Schedule E of Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940. The concept of Suthimuraigal in Siddha not only covers the process of purification and detoxification of physical and chemical impurities but also minimizes the side effects and improves the potency/therapeutic efficacy of the purified drugs. The aim of this review is to perceive the importance of the Schedule E drugs through their immense uses to treat diseases and to flourish the knowledge of purification processes to detoxify the poisonous elements, thus enhancing and utilizing them in curing challenging diseases. The distinct purification methods mentioned in Ayurvedic journals have also been reviewed for possible information. Methods of Suthi are variable and some of the important Siddha Suthimuraigal are reviewed in this paper. The traditional methods of purification may combat the toxic effects like ulceration, swelling, giddiness, skin rashes, pruritis also, thus enhancing the efficacy of the drugs in healing various ailments. Since these poisonous plants have very high potential to treat diseases, the chemical changes which transpired during the Suthi are to be revealed in further studies such as quantitative and qualitative analysis after their purification before they are applied in medicines

Traditional methods of purification (detoxification process) for Schedule E poisonous drugs

Medicinal plants have different types of active phytochemicals, which are still in use, either in their crude form or after proper processing. Though most of the plant drugs are safe, few are poisonous and may cause immediate toxic effect or cumulative toxic effect for human health. There are 25 poisonous or toxic plants in Siddha texts listed in the Schedule E of Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940. The concept of Suthimuraigal in Siddha not only covers the process of purification and detoxification of physical and chemical impurities but also minimizes the side effects and improves the potency/therapeutic efficacy of the purified drugs. The aim of this review is to perceive the importance of the Schedule E drugs through their immense uses to treat diseases and to flourish the knowledge of purification processes to detoxify the poisonous elements, thus enhancing and utilizing them in curing challenging diseases. The distinct purification methods mentioned in Ayurvedic journals have also been reviewed for possible information. Methods of Suthi are variable and some of the important Siddha Suthimuraigal are reviewed in this paper. The traditional methods of purification may combat the toxic effects like ulceration, swelling, giddiness, skin rashes, pruritis also, thus enhancing the efficacy of the drugs in healing various ailments. Since these poisonous plants have very high potential to treat diseases, the chemical changes which transpired during the Suthi are to be revealed in further studies such as quantitative and qualitative analysis after their purification before they are applied in medicines

A Clinical Study on Genodermatoses and their Effect on Quality Of Life: Prospective Observational study in a Tertiary Care Hospital

BACKGROUND: Genodermatoses or genetic diseases of the skin are a group of inherited disorders with mostly monogenetic abnormality and few are polygenetic and conglomeration of cutaneous and systemic signs and symptoms. The rarity of the conditions and lack of awareness are major obstacles in the management and the planning of research in this subspeciality. So this study is aimed at studying genetic dermatological conditions and quality of life assessment. AIM OF THE STUDY: To estimate the prevalence,clinical profile, system involvement, complications,functional impairments and quality of life of the patients of various genodermatoses METHODS: Our study was a prospective observational study conducted in Dermatology OPD/IPD in Tirunelveli Medical College from January 2018 to December 2018 for a period of one year where we recruited about 49 patients.They were examined to identify the patterns of genodermatoses and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) Questionarrie was given to them to assess the quality of life. RESULTS: The total number of cases were 49 with a prevalence of 32 per 1000 with a M : F ratio of 1.45 : 1. Most common diseases groups were inherited of cornification (43%) followed by hamartoneoplastic syndromes (22%), genetic pigmentary disorders (10%) and rare diseases like harlequin ichthyosis, aplasia cutis congenita and cornelia de lange syndrome were also observed Among the inherited disorders of cornification most common disorders were ichthyosis vulgaris, lamellar ichthyosis and naxos syndrome. The most common domain affected was “symptoms and feelings” in 83%, followed by “daily activities” (72.%), leisure (58%), personal relationships (47%), treatment (42%), work and school (14%). About 33.3% had moderate effect of their diseases on quality of life followed by small effect in 30.6% and very large effect in 19.4% of patients.Quality of life was most affected in diseases like ichthyoses, neurofibromatosis and junctional epidermolysis bullosa. CONCLUSION: Ichthyosis vulgaris is the most common disease followed by tuberous sclerosis and neurofibromatosis. Genodermatoses patients and their parents should be counseled about the chronic nature of the disease, familial involvement, associated system involvement and available treatment options because they also have an impact on their quality of life. Early diagnosis and early intervention can reduce the deformities, improve the quality of life and their performance in school. Genetic analysis was not done in our patients to confirm the diagnosis which can be a platform for further research purposes and steps have been for that

An Economic Analysis of Tank Rehabilitation in Madurai District of Tamil Nadu

There has been a growing realization for rehabilitation and restoration of irrigation tanks with farmers’ participation. The study has presented the costs and benefits of tank rehabilitation and financial feasibility of investment in tank rehabilitation. The total annual income has been found higher in the rehabilitated tanks than the non-rehabilitated tanks and amongst the rehabilitated tanks, panchayat tanks with community well has depicted the highest annual income. The investment analysis has revealed the net present worth to be positive, the B-C ratio to be more than 1.5 and the internal rate of return to be more than the opportunity cost of capital. This shows that all the three investments in tank rehabilitation are economically viable. The study has suggested that rehabilitation work should be undertaken in all the non-rehabilitated tanks also. Besides, efforts should be made to provide supplemental irrigation to crops and to improve the PWD tank management regime

Reliability and validity of the CONFbal scale in patients with hemiparesis following stroke

Background: The 10-item CONFbal scale is a measure used to assess balance confidence in geriatric population. However, its measurement properties have not been studied in the poststroke population. Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of the CONFbal scale in poststroke patients. Methods: We did a cross-sectional study of 80 poststroke patients with hemiparesis attending the Neurology Outpatient Department, PSG Hospitals, Coimbatore. Participants completed the CONFbal scale and the activities-specific balance confidence (ABC) scale in a random order to assess balance confidence. Results: The Cronbach's alpha for CONFbal scale was 0.894, which showed that the items of the scale were internally consistent. The Pearson correlation coefficient (r) for CONFbal and ABC scales was −0.702, which showed that there was a moderate association between the two scales. Conclusion: The CONFbal scale is a reliable and valid scale to assess balance confidence in poststroke patients

Complex macroscale structures formed by the shock processing of amino acids and nucleobases -- implications to the origins of life

The building blocks of life, amino acids and nucleobases, are believed to have been synthesized in the extreme conditions that prevail in space starting from simple molecules containing hydrogen, carbon, oxygen and nitrogen. However, the fate and role of amino acids and nucleobases when they are subjected to similar processes largely remains unexplored. Here we report, for the first time, that shock processed amino acids and nucleobases tend to form complex macroscale structures. Such structures are formed on timescales of about 2 ms. This discovery suggests that the building blocks of life could have polymerized not just on Earth but on other planetary bodies. Our study also provides further experimental evidence for the 'threads' observed in meteorites being due to assemblages of (bio)molecules arising from impact induced shocks.by Vijay Thiruvenkatam et al