The effectiveness of national influenza vaccination policies for at-risk populations over 5 seasons in a Scottish general practice.

AIM: To determine the effectiveness of serial influenza vaccination. SCOPE: Studied in a Scottish GP population, the overall seroresponse rate increased with annual influenza vaccinations and after 5 years it increased from 45.1% to 93.3% for influenza virus A (H1) and from 48.4% to 98.3% for influenza virus A (H3). However, there was little boosting effect with further doses after becoming a seroresponder. The pre-vaccination titres were significantly higher in previous year's seroresponders compared to non-responders. CONCLUSIONS: The policy of annual vaccination is supported by our data in order to increase the disappointing response rate after one dose. However, the lack of a boosting response with subsequent doses and the significant residual immunity after becoming a seroresponder suggests a prior serological immunity check in order to better direct the vaccine supply (in the years of no antigenic drift), to those who need it most

Multifunctional star-shaped polylactic acid implants for use in angioplasty

Star-shaped polylactic acids with different tacticity were synthesized and both polymers are capable of bestowing properties of anticoagulation and angiogenesis to their living host.</p

Studies on the mangrove ecosystem

Mangrove ecosystem is one of the most specialised and productive coastal habitats in the world. Due to human interference in many ways, most of the mangrove forests are on the verge of destruction and disappearance. The main causes for the degradation of Indian mangroves are land reclamation, pollution and overexploitation of the resources. A proper understanding of this specialised ecosystem and careful implementation of the conservation measures would alone save the ecosystem from further destruction and extinction. The present account deals with the ecological aspects of the mangrove habitats covering their extent, distribution, zonation, biological assemblage, hydrography and productivity, and giving importance to their role, man-made impacts and conservation aspects with emphasis on the approaches for the sustainable use of this ecosystem to the mankind with special reference to the mangroves of India

Occurrence of giant male and female groupers with a note on sex change in groupers

Serranid fishes are popularly known as 'Groupers' or 'Rock cods' and locally 'Kalava'.In view of their importance in the capture and culture fisheries, the present account on the record of giant female groupers [Epinephelus tauuina (Forskal), Epinephelus malabaricus (Bloch and Schneider) and Promicrops lanceolatus (Bloch)] of more than two metres in total length and their sex ratio] in the natural population from the Indian coast (Table 1) deserves special attention

Mariculture in India, its potentialities and practical applications

India is passing through a very critical period of food crisis and consequentiy calling for the necessity of adopting various techniques and methods to augment the food production. Among them , mariculture is an important means of getting additional source of human food

Therapeutic evaluation of homeopathic treatment for canine oral papillomatosis

Aim: A study was conducted to evaluate the ameliorative potential of homeopathic drugs in combination (Sulfur 30C, Thuja 30C, Graphites 30C, and Psorinum 30C) in 16 dogs affected with oral papillomatosis which was not undergone any previous treatment. Materials and Methods: Dogs affected with oral papillomatosis, which have not undergone any initial treatment and fed with a regular diet. Dogs (total=16) were randomly divided into two groups, namely, homeopathic treatment group (n=8) and placebo control group (n=8). Random number table was used for allocation. Homeopathic combination of drugs and placebo drug (distilled water) was administered orally twice daily for 15 days. Clinical evaluation in both groups of dogs was performed by the same investigator throughout the period of study (12 months). Dogs were clinically scored for oral lesions on days 0, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, and 150 after initiation of treatment. Results: The homeopathic treatment group showed early recovery with a significant reduction in oral lesions reflected by clinical score (p<0.001) in comparison to placebo-treated group. Oral papillomatous lesions regressed in the homeopathic group between 7 and 15 days, whereas regression of papilloma in the placebo group occurred between 90 and 150 days. The homeopathic treated group was observed for 12 months post-treatment period and no recurrence of oral papilloma was observed. Conclusion: The current study proves that the combination of homeopathy drugs aids in fastening the regression of canine oral papilloma and proved to be safe and cost-effective

Notes on the juveniles of the rock cod Epinephelus tauvina (Forsskal)

The occurrence of the very young juveniles of the rock cod Epinephelus tauvina (Forskal) in Cochin backwater during February-June is reported here with brief notes on the morphometric variations between juveniles and adults and food and feeding habits of juveniles

Antibiotics to improve recovery following tonsillectomy: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if antibiotics improve recovery following tonsillectomy. STUDY DESIGN: DATA SOURCES: Electronic databases Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Controlled Trials Register were searched using relevant search terms. Additional trials, if any, were retrieved by searching the references from all identified trials, reviews, correspondences, editorials, and conference proceedings. No language restriction was applied. STUDY SELECTION: Systematic review of trials in which antibiotic was administered as a study medication intraoperatively and/or postoperatively, in children or adults undergoing tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy. Only randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trials attaining preset quality scores were included. Outcomes analyzed: 1) pain, need for analgesia, fever, halitosis, and return to normal diet and activities; 2) secondary hemorrhage using 2 parameters-significant hemorrhage (ie, warranting readmission, blood transfusion, or return to theatre for hemostasis) and total hemorrhage; and 3) adverse events. RESULTS: Five trials met the eligibility criteria. Antibiotics significantly reduced the number of subjects manifesting fever (relative risk [RR]: 0.62, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.45, 0.85) and duration of halitosis (-1.94 [-3.57, -0.30] days), and marginally reduced the time taken to resume normal activity (-0.63 [-1.12, -0.14] days), but had no significant effect in reducing pain scores (-0.01 [-0.60, 0.57]) or need for analgesia. Similarly, there was no significant difference in the time taken to resume normal diet or incidence of significant and total hemorrhage, although data was underpowered to detect differences for these outcomes. In the antibiotic group 4 patients developed an adverse reaction (3 cases of rash and 1 case of oropharyngeal candidiasis), while in the control group 1 patient had an adverse reaction (rash). The RR of antibiotic-related adverse events was 2.45 (0.45, 13.31). CONCLUSION: Antibiotics appear to be effective in reducing some, but not all, morbid outcomes following tonsillectomy, and may increase the risk of adverse events. Further trials are needed to better define the role of antibiotics in facilitating post-tonsillectomy recovery. EBM RATING: A-1a

Some observations on primary production and plankton biomass along the continental shelf and slope off the northeast coast of India during January 1989

The present study deals with the quantitative aspects of chlorophyll pigments, primary productivity and plankton biomass from the continental shelf and slope off the northeast coast of India between 16° and 20°N latitudes towards the end of northeast monsoon season. In surface waters, the mean values of chl-a, -b, and -c were 0.249,0.275 and 0.837 mg/m^ along the shelf and 0.246,0.260 and 0.805 mg/m^ in the slope respectively while the net primary productivity values were 0.074 and 0.081 g C/m /d for the shelf and slope waters respectively. Column productivity in the upper 0-50 m water in the shelf and slope regions were 2.9 and 3.25 g C/m /d with an average production of 3.08 g C/m /d. Higher rate of production was observed around 18° and 20°N latitudes. Zooplankton biomass exhibited progressive increase in volume from 16° to 20°N. The estimated mean zooplankton biomass volume of the study area was 28.83 ml/m . The mean transfer coefficient from primary to secondary production was found to be 14% when 50% of the zooplankton biomass was considered as the daily rate of production. From the mean primary and secondary productivity values, potential tertiary production of pelagic fishery resources in the upper 0-50 m water column of the study area for the month was assessed

Communication in fishes

An individual learns the phenotypee of relatives or itself. The lndividual Iater recalls the phenotype and is able to determine relationship with other individuals by comparing the learned phenotype with that of the unfamiliar conspecific