A cross sectional study of behavioral problems of secondary school children and related socio-demographic factors

Background: School-going children form an important vulnerable segment of the nation’s population. Children in the school-going age group of 5 to 16 years constitute a total of 30% of the total population. School age is a dynamic period of physical growth and development, when the child undergoes rapid mental, emotional, and social changes. Therefore, school-going children are susceptible groups for psychiatric disorders especially behavioural problems. The present research was carried out with an objective to study the behavioural problems of secondary school children and its relation to the various socio-demographic and socio-economic factors.Methods: This cross sectional observational study was conducted on 304 secondary school children studying in 8th and 9th standard in the regarding socio-demographic profile and Strength and difficulties questionnaire. The analysis was done using Microsoft Excel and SPSS software.Results: In this study, the prevalence of abnormal behavioral according to self-rated SDQ was found to be 1.6% while prevalence of borderline abnormal behavior was 11.2% and majority 87.2% of study subjects were normal having no behavioral problem. The combined borderline and abnormal behavioral problems were more prevalent in the age group of 12-13year (64.1%) and 13-14 years (30.8%), also more prevalent among girls (69.2%) compared to boys (30.8%). The prevalence of behavioral problems was higher among students studying in 9th standard (74.4%, 29/39) and studying in Hindi medium (61.5%). The incidence was found to be more in students who belongs to nuclear families (79.5%) and also was more among those who were first born compared to middle born and last born children. Majority of fathers were working as semiskilled (41.4%) and skilled (32.9%) workers, among the father’s alcohol users (45.06%) were high compared to the tobacco users (31.9%).Conclusions: Socio-demographic factors and occupation of father and alcohol consumption among them was found to be significantly associated with the behavioural problems of the study subjects

Conceptual study on Nidana of Pakshaghata

Health and ailing, pleasure and pain, ease and disease are inborn properties of human life, centuries and centuries succeeded in struggle between man and disease. The infliction of pain, either on mind or body or both is what Vyadhi means. Pakshaghata is one such Vyadhi where mind and body both are inflicted. Pakshaghat can be correlated with hemiplegia (due to hypertension). Hemiplegia is paralysis of one half of the body i.e. upper & lower limbs of the same side. It may be associated with weakness of facial muscle on the same side (ipsilateral hemiplegia) or opposite side (contralateral hemiplegia). Here in the present study an effort is made to better understand nidana of Pakshaghata (hemiplegia)

Eurasian-Origin Gene Segments Contribute to the Transmissibility, Aerosol Release, and Morphology of the 2009 Pandemic H1N1 Influenza Virus

The epidemiological success of pandemic and epidemic influenza A viruses relies on the ability to transmit efficiently from person-to-person via respiratory droplets. Respiratory droplet (RD) transmission of influenza viruses requires efficient replication and release of infectious influenza particles into the air. The 2009 pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) virus originated by reassortment of a North American triple reassortant swine (TRS) virus with a Eurasian swine virus that contributed the neuraminidase (NA) and M gene segments. Both the TRS and Eurasian swine viruses caused sporadic infections in humans, but failed to spread from person-to-person, unlike the pH1N1 virus. We evaluated the pH1N1 and its precursor viruses in a ferret model to determine the contribution of different viral gene segments on the release of influenza virus particles into the air and on the transmissibility of the pH1N1 virus. We found that the Eurasian-origin gene segments contributed to efficient RD transmission of the pH1N1 virus likely by modulating the release of influenza viral RNA-containing particles into the air. All viruses replicated well in the upper respiratory tract of infected ferrets, suggesting that factors other than viral replication are important for the release of influenza virus particles and transmission. Our studies demonstrate that the release of influenza viral RNA-containing particles into the air correlates with increased NA activity. Additionally, the pleomorphic phenotype of the pH1N1 virus is dependent upon the Eurasian-origin gene segments, suggesting a link between transmission and virus morphology. We have demonstrated that the viruses are released into exhaled air to varying degrees and a constellation of genes influences the transmissibility of the pH1N1 virus

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Considering the aesthetic value of Gerbera(Gerbera jamesonii), it is a beautiful dwarf perennial plant used as a cut flower (ranks 4th among cut flowers demands according to Sujatha, et al., 2002), garden flower and it makes a good showing in exhibitions and floral arrangements because of its numerous colours and interesting shapes. At present, this group comprises 45 species, native to tropical Asia and Africa. Maharashtra is one of the pioneer states for protected flower cultivation, under which 600 ha of land is cultivated for different flower crops under polyhouse condition, out of which more than 100 hectares area is under gerbera cultivation with 1476 lakh flowers per year with productivity of 250 flowers m-2 (Anonymous 2010). Considering the “law of minimum” of Baron Justus Von Liebig, which states that “plants will use essential elements only in proportion to each other, and the element that is in shortest supply in proportion to the rest will determine how well the plant uses the other nutrient elements”, the effect of specific nutrients must be tested for their importance in completing their life cycles..Calcium concentration in plants ranges from 0.2 to 1 %. Calcium is important in maintaining the structure and permeability of cell membranes, essential for cell elongation and cell division and helps in uptake of N, Fe, B, Zn, Cu and Mn. Manganese concentration in plants typically ranges from 20 to 50 ppm. The involvement of Mn in photosynthesis, oxidation reduction processes and in decarboxylation and hydrolysis reactions calls the need of Mn in plants. Therefore, the investigation was carried out to study the effect of Ca and Mn in some physiological properties of Gerbera.A pot culture experiment was conducted on gerbera (cv. Goliath) at Hi-Tech Floriculture and Vegetable Project, College of Agriculture, Pune- 5. The experiment was conducted during August, 2013 to February, 2014 to study diagnosis of calcium and manganese deficiency on gerbera grown on cocopeat under polyhouse conditions. The experiment was conducted lying on the basic treatment of excluding the nutrients of interest (calcium and manganese) and the comparison with the complete nutrition in respect of growth and development of gerbera. It revealed that the deficiency of Ca and Mn certainly cause a setback in chlorophyll content, periodical dry matter and vase life of gerbera.Not Availabl

Radiographic assessment of agenesis, impaction, and pararadicular radiolucencies in relation with third molar in Nashik City of Maharashtra

Introduction: The third molar develops entirely after birth and also it is the last tooth to erupt in all ethnic groups despite racial variations in the eruption sequence. Tooth development with effects on tooth size, shape, position, and total absence is affected due to environmental factors, systemic diseases, genetic polymorphisms, and teratogens. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of agenesis, impaction, and pararadicular radiolucencies in relation with third molars. Materials and Methods: One hundred digital orthopantomograph (OPG) scans of patients of age ranging from 18 to 25 years were selected randomly from the digital OPG database of the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, and then assessment and analysis were carried out. Results: Overall agenesis rate was about 14.5%. Bilateral agenesis of maxillary and mandibular third molars was about 14% and 13%, respectively. Overall impaction rate was about 21.92%. Mesioangular impaction rate was about 57.33% whereas distoangular impaction rate was about 26.66%. Prevalence of pararadicular radiolucencies was only about 0.8% with mandibular predilection. Conclusion: As the agenesis of the third molars is increasing, they can be considered as vestigial. Prevalence of impaction of the third molars is increasing. Pararadicular radiolucencies are mostly seen with mandibular third molar

Awareness of patients about existing oral precancerous lesions/conditions in Nashik city of Maharashtra

Introduction: Many oral squamous cell carcinomas develop from premalignant lesions/conditions of oral cavity. Hence, the awareness of such lesions/conditions is important. Aim: To assess the awareness about existing oral precancerous lesions/conditions among patients arriving for dental treatment at a dental hospital, in Nashik city of Maharashtra. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire was used to collect information from 80 patients with existing oral precancerous lesions/conditions attending the dental hospital, in Nashik city of Maharashtra. The questionnaire included questions to ascertain information on sociodemographic parameters, awareness, and sources of information about of oral precancerous lesions/conditions, habit of tobacco, areca nut chewing, smoking, alcohol, and combined habits. Results: We found that 40% (n = 32) respondents knew about the existence of lesion in their mouth of which only 50% (out of 40%) had thought that it was precancerous lesion/condition. Among all subjects, only 47.5% (n = 38) were aware of oral precancerous lesions/conditions. Television was the major source of information about oral precancerous lesions/conditions almost all the subjects (97.5%) wanted more information about oral precancerous lesions/conditions but through television (42.5%) and lectures (27.5%). Conclusion: Awareness of patients (coming to hospital) about oral precancerous lesions/conditions was found to be low. The people must be made aware of symptoms, signs, and preventive strategies of oral precancerous lesions/conditions through their preferred media – television and lectures