WEB PLOT DIGITIZER SOFTWARE: CAN IT BE USED TO MEASURE NECK POSTURE IN CLINICAL PRACTICE?

Objective : The aim of this study was to examine the use of WPD software to evaluate FHP using digital photogrammetry method.Method: A total of 15 adults with no history of neck pain for the past 6 months were recruited for the study. Using digital photogrammetry and sagittal head tilt, craniocervical and shoulder angles (SAs) were measured using a WPD, which is an open resource of web or Windows-based software.Result: Fifteen participants aged 17–40 years (mean 24.7±6.3 years) were examined. Sagittal head tilt and craniocervical angles were 16.35°±8.33° and 47.43°±7.97°, respectively. SA was 52.28°±12.46°.Conclusion: WPD may be used to evaluate FHP in the clinical settings. However, future research is required to determine the validity and reliability of WPD among patients with neck-related musculoskeletal disorders with a larger sample

Behavioral problems in children with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome: An ignored aspect!

Background: Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is a common chronic renal disorder in children. Oral glucocorticoids are required in high doses for prolonged periods adding to various comorbidities including psychosocial issues and behavioral problems. Objectives: This study was done to analyze the behavioral profile of children with steroid-sensitive NS (SSNS), also its association with other factors such as mothers’ education, socioeconomic status, and age distribution. Materials and Methods: This was a questionnaire (child behavior checklist)-based cross-sectional study conducted at a tertiary care center. Children from 6 to 15 years with diagnosis of SSNS for the duration of 1 year or more were included in the study. Cases were divided into two groups: Infrequent and frequent relapsing NS (IFRNS)/steroid-dependent NS (SDNS). Equal number of children in 6–15 years age group attending outpatient clinic was taken as controls. Results: Children with SSNS (n=161) had behavioral problems in significant percentage (39.13%) compared to the control group (8.75%). It was observed more in boys (73.02%) who had more hyperactive, aggressive behavior, and externalizing problems. Internalizing problems (anxious/depressed, withdrawn/depressed, and somatic complaints) were significantly more in the study group (17.39%) as compared to none in the control group. Children with FRNS/SDNS course had more significant problems compared to relapse IFRNS group. Age distribution, socioeconomic status, and mother’s education had no significant effect on its occurrence. Conclusion: Significant behavioral problems are observed in children with SSNS and are related to the type of SSNS

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies negative eosinophilic granulomatous polyangiitis glomerulonephritis in children - A diagnostic dilemma

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) associated vasculitis (AAV) refers to small-to-medium vessel vasculitis with multisystemic involvement and is characterized by the presence of ANCA to specifically either proteinase-3 (PR3) or myeloperoxidase (MPO). Eosinophilic granulomatous polyangiitis earlier called as Churg-Strauss vasculitis is a clinicopathological variant of AAV or AAV with granulomatous necrotizing small vessel vasculitis primarily affecting individuals with severe asthma or allergies and rarely reported in the pediatric population. We report a 9-year-old child with pauci-immune crescentic eosinophilic granulomatousglomerulonephritis with heavy eosinophilic infiltration of skin and subcutaneous tissue and negative ANCA. Although he had a recurrent history of cough, there was no history of use of oral or inhalational bronchodilator therapy indicating asthma and no history suggestive history of allergy. He showed significant and rapid clinical as well as biochemical improvement on aggressive immunosuppressive therapy along with plasma exchanges and is under regular follow-up. Diagnosing Eosinophilic granulomatous Polyangiitis glomerulonephritis in children is difficult due to a varied clinical presentation at onset which may evolve over a period of time and due to lack of specific diagnostic tests. High index of suspicion is the key to early diagnosis and successful management

Fodder Seed Bank–An Initiative for Green Fodder Production during Lean Period by KVK, Jehanabad under NICRA Project

Fodder production is an often-overlooked aspect of livestock rearing. The scarcity of fodder during lean period poses great problem before the livestock owners. The case with availability of green fodder is even more serious. Green fodder is essential for feeding of the dairy animals as poor nutrition is the biggest constraint in animal production, especially in dairy cattle production. This problem arises mainly due to the fact that ruminants are basically fed with fibrous forages and low quality roughages such as straws, especially during the lean seasons. The fodder seed availability is a major constraint apart from the interest of the farmer and cropping system followed. Though a number of fodder varieties have been developed but seeds are not available because it is trapped in vicious cycle of lack of demand due to lack of extension, which inhibits production of seed. Thus this cycle need to be broken through proper extension. Therefore, a model of community fodder production has been intervened by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Jehanabad in its adopted village under National Innovation on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project. Accordingly, the village namely Sakrorha at Modanganj block of Jehanabad district was selected. The farming situation in the adopted village does not leave any scope for providing green fodder to cattle during scarcity periods. So, this intervention was taken up as an approach to produce fodder on community basis

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis in a child: A rare entity

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGP) is chronic pyelonephritis uncommonly described in adults and is rare in children. It ischaracterized by the replacement of renal parenchymal tissue by lipomatous cells making it nonfunctional and may be mistaken forpyonephrosis, cystic or solid tumor, and the most commonly, Wilms tumor. It often presents as abdominal mass in children and morecommonly involves left kidney. Imaging by computed tomography (CT) scan is characteristic, and histology is diagnostic. We arereporting a case of a child who presented with prolonged febrile illness and documented urinary tract infection with nephrolithiasiswithout any abdominal lump and received antibiotics for multiple times without any improvement. Ultrasonography was suggestiveof pyonephrosis and multiple abscesses. However, on CT scan, was diagnosed as XGP of the right kidney which was confirmed onhistology. After documenting, no function in affected kidney with other being normal, unilateral nephrectomy was done resultingin rapid symptomatic improvement

Managing patient factors in the assessment of swallowing via telerehabilitation

Undoubtedly, the identification of patient suitability for a telerehabilitation assessment should be carried out on a case-by-case basis. However, at present there is minimal discussion of how telerehabilitation systems can accommodate and adapt to various patient factors, which may pose challenges to successful service delivery. The current study examines a subgroup of 10 patients who underwent an online assessment of their swallowing difficulties. Although all assessments were completed successfully; there were certain patient factors, which complicated the delivery of the online assessment session. The paper presents a discussion of the main patient factors observed in this cohort including the presence of speech and/or voice disorders, hearing impairment, dyskinesia, and behavioural and/or emotional issues and examines how the assessment session, the telerehabilitation system, and the staff involved were manipulated to accommodate these patient factors. In order for telerehabilitation systems to be more widely incorporated into routine clinical care, systems need to have the flexibility and design capabilities to adjust and accommodate for patients with varying levels of function and physical and psychological comorbidities

Tonsillectomy and its effect on ASO titre

Background: Acute tonsillitis is one of the most common manifestations of the upper respiratory tract infections. It is common in children and accounts for an incidence of about 32 per 1000 patients per year. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of tonsillectomy on ASO titre and to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of throat swab culture.Methods: Present study performed a prospective study, a total number of 50 children were screened, out which 25 patients under the age of 15 years (16 male and 9 female), were included in the study, who were having chronic tonsillitis with raised anti-streptolysin O titre (>200IU/ml). All the patient underwent tonsillectomy and serological estimation of ASO titre was done at the end of first, second and third month post-surgery. Throat swab culture was performed prior to tonsillectomy and at the third month of follow up.Results: Twelve children (48%), twenty children (80%) and twenty-two children (88%) became serologically negative for ASO antibody at the end of first, second and third month respectively, with a statistically significant p value of 0.0001. The sensitivity and specificity of throat swab culture was 16% and 100% respectively.Conclusions: Tonsillectomy has a significant role in reducing the serological levels of anti-streptolysin O antibody and its reactivation, thereby decreasing the rate of complications associated with Group A-beta haemolytic streptococci

Defluoridation of Ground Water Using Activated Carbon of Ber (Indian Jujube) Leaves

The present study deals with defluoridation of ground water using activated carbon of ber (Indian jujube) leaves. In this study, Activated Ber leaves carbon (ABLC) prepared by heating the leaves in electric furnace was found to be useful for the removal of fluoride. Batch experiments were applied on water sample to study the influence of pH, adsorbent dose and contact time on adsorption efficiency. Fluoride removal reached a maximum of 72.5% by particle size 0.3mm of ABLC at pH 6.0. The adsorption of fluoride from aqueous solution with ABLC followed Freundlich equation. The values of adsorption capacity (K) and intensity of adsorption (1/n) indicate greater affinity for fluoride. Thermally activated Ber leaves carbon (ABLC) was good adsorbent

Clinical Profile of Dengue Infection in Patients with Hematological Diseases

Managing hematological disorders in a tropical country presents several unique diagnostic and management problems. Apart from the disease process, we need to be aware of infections that can exacerbate or mimic serious hematological problems. We present here a series of five patients with pre-existing hematological diseases who were infected by dengue virus. These cases highlight the need to keep a strong suspicion of common endemic diseases in tropical countries before considering extensive workup for the basic hematological disease. There was no mortality and all patients recovered without any significant impact on their pre-existing hematological condition inspite of their low baseline blood counts. There was no excessive bleeding, prolonged stay in the hospital or relapse of underlying hematological disease in these patients and the only major concern was the increased anxiety among both the patient and treating physician regarding the relapse/progression of pre-existing hematological disease