Estimation of the parameters of a poisson rectangular distribution

The application of Poisson-Rectangular distribution in an industrial sampling problem, when the process mean is subjected to fluctuations, is indicated. Moment estimators of the parameters involved are discussed in detail. A problem of misclassification in the inspection of defects on finished articles and manufactured products is also included

Determination of hepatoprotective effect of Mussaenda erythrophylla in paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity

Background: Hepatotoxicity may be defined as liver injury caused by drugs and chemicals. Drug-induced liver injury is a major reason for withdrawing drugs from a market by Food Drug Administration, and it is based on the fact that drug-induced liver injury is responsible for more than 50% of all cases of acute liver failure. Many studies revealed about the hepatotoxic potential of paracetamol. Hence, the present study has undertaken to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of Mussaenda erythrophylla (ME) in paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar albino rats.Methods: The ethanolic extract ME studied for its hepatoprotective effect on paracetamol induced acute liver damage in Wistar albino rats. The degree of protection was measured using biochemical parameters such as serum glutamate oxalate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), total bilirubin (TBL), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) peroxidase (GPx), GSH, and ceruloplasmin levels.Results: Paracetamol treated group had enhanced levels of SGPT, SGOT, TBL (p<0.001) and decreased levels of GSH, SOD, and GPx (p<0.001) when compared with control group. Treatment with silymarin and also 200 mg/kg of MEleaf extract had significantly (p<0.001) brought down the elevated levels of SGPT, SGOT, and TBL and an increase in the levels of GSH, SOD, (p<0.01), GPx and ceruloplasmin (p<0.001).Conclusion: The results showed that ethanolic extract of ME leaf extract possesses significant hepatoprotective activity

A study of prescription pattern in the drug therapy of acne vulgaris at a tertiary care hospital in Mangalore, India

Background: Acne Vulgaris is the most common skin disorder of the pilosebaceous unit with excess sebum production, follicular epidermal hyperproliferation, inflammation and Propionibacterium acnes activity, affecting about 80% of teenagers and has considerable psychological and social consequences and physical disability. Use of established topical and oral drugs assumes paramount importance in the treatment of acne vulgaris. Therefore, periodic auditing of prescription is necessary to increase therapeutic benefit and decrease adverse effects. Aim and objectives of the study was to evaluate the pattern of prescription and its rationale in the drug therapy of acne vulgaris. To monitor the adverse effects, if any.Methods: A prospective, hospital based, observational study. Data was collected for a period of 1 year from January 2015 to December 2015 from the outpatient records in the OPD of Dermatology at Justice K.S. Hegde Charitable Hospital, Deralakatte, Mangalore, in a specifically designed proforma.Results: The prescription data of 346 patients were analyzed of which 45.1% were males with an average age of 21.94±0.3 years. Among the four grades of Acne Vulgaris, Grade II (53.17%) was more prevalent followed by Grade I (26.58%), Grade III (13.87%) and Grade IV (6.35%). The number of drugs prescribed for topical use was 514 of which the most commonly prescribed drugs were Benzoyl Peroxide (19.46%), a combination of Tretinoin and Clindamycin (17.12%), Tretinoin alone (12.45%), Clindamycin alone (10.51%) etc. The number of drugs prescribed for systemic use was 98 consisting of Doxycycline (55.1%), Azithromycin (34.7%), Isotretinoin (6.12%) and Erythromycin (4.08%).Conclusions: There was rationality in most of the prescriptions giving no scope for polypharmacy

Gender preferences among antenatal women: a cross-sectional study from coastal South India

Background: A balanced sex ratio is essential for a stable society.Objective: The main objective of the present research was to study the perceptions of women attending the antenatal care (ANC) facility regarding their gender preferences and family composition.Method: In this cross-sectional study 132 antenatal women were interviewed in their preferred language using a predesigned semi-structured questionnaire. The collected information was analyzed using SPSS version 11.5.Results: The mean age of the study participants was 27.2 ± 4.1 years. The majority of the antenatal women (60.6%, n=80) did not have any gender preferences. Among those who had a gender preference (39.4%, n=52), male and female preference was reported by 55.7% (n=29) and 44.3% (n=23) of the participants respectively. The overall son preference index was observed to be 1.3. No consistent relationship could be established between the socio-demographic factors and the preference for gender. The mean preferred family size in our study was 1.85±0.531 and more than half of the participants had a balanced gender preference. The majority of the participants were aware that the adverse sex ratio can lead to fall in the number of brides and that it would bring about a social imbalance.Conclusion: As a developed society we need to ensure that both the genders get equal respect and are free from any sort of preferences and prejudices. To achieve this, more and more people need to be made aware of the consequences of gender imbalance and adverse sex ratio in a society.Keywords: Gender preferences; family composition; antenatal women; coastal South Indi