Human Rights of Women and Challenges in Globalisation

In larger context human rights refer to those inalienable rights that a person is entitled to enjoy irrespective of his/her nationality, caste, creed, sex, colour, religion, income or any other socioeconomic divisive category. Human rights are those entitlements which an individual owns just because of his/her existence as a human being. The theoretical roots of human rights can be traced back to the history of ancient and medieval times in India as well as in the Western liberal and humanitarian philosophy. Both these roots have a considerable appeal of promoting human dignity. Human life is given a distinctive weight over other animals in most societies precisely because we are capable of cultivating the quality of our lives. Clearly both-human dignity and quality of life have negatively affected women’s human rights especially with the coming of globalization to a large number of countries. In the name of Structural Adjustment policies, publicly-funded health services education and child care have contributed to maternal mortality, made education unavailable for poorer children, particularly girls. The paper aims to examine the challenges of women in globalization in regards to their human rights in larger interest of women community as a whole with focus on developing countries or India like to give them a life with equality and human dignity

Synthesis, Structural and Electrical Properties of Lanthanum-modified Lead-zirconate-titanate System

Lead-zirconate-titanate (PZT) ceramics with zirconate-titanate (65:35) have been synthesised with the substitution of lanthanum (6, 7 and 8 mol %). Samples were prepared by solid-state reaction route.The x-ray diffraction study shows the formation of a single phase with rhombohedral structure. There is a transformation in crystal structure from tetragonal to coexistence of tetragonal, and rhombohedral to a single rhombohedral phase with the increase in the lanthanum concentration in the basic PZT composition. Results of a detailed dielectric study indicate the diffuse-phase transition at higher values of lanthanum concentration, which may be attributed to the microscopic heterogeneity in the composition. Dielectric properties of the poled and unpoled samples have also been  compared and found that the values decreased after poling. Ferroelectric hysteresis behaviour was also studied as a function of temperature for all the three compositions, which showed typical variation of ferroelectric nature. Piezoelectric charge coefficient (d,,) decreases with increase in the lanthanum and with the increase of frequency as well, up to the measured limit

A comparative clinical evaluation of efficacy of Kati Basti with Prabhanjanam Taila and Moorchita Tila Taila in Gridhrasi w.s.r to Sciatica

Kati Basti included under various external procedures of Ayurveda, having variety of actions like the Bahya Snehana (external oleation), Swedana Chikitsa (fomentation therapy). Kati Basti is indicated in various disorders of spine and back like backache, lumbar spondylosis, sciatica, degenerative disc changes etc. Low back pain is most common complaint with a prevalence of 65 to 90%. Improper sitting postures, traveling, use of two wheeler and sports activities are few important causes of backache. Sciatica often used to describe low back pain that spreads (radiates) through the hip, to the back of the thigh, and down the inside of the leg which closely resembles with Gridhrasi. In Sharanghadhara Samhita use of Prabhanjana Taila in Ghridhrasi Vyadhi has been indicated, hence an attempt was made to compare clinically the efficacy of Kati Basti with Prabhanjanam Taila and Moorchita Tila Taila in Gridhrasi with special reference to sciatica

Modified Lead-zirconate-titanate for Pyroelectric Sensors

Pyroelectric sensors based on ceramic materials have found applications in IR detectionin defence and civil systems. To develop suitable ceramic material for IR detector applications,a modified PZT system with compositional formula Pb1-xSmx(Zr0.58Fe0.18Mn0.02Nb0.2Ti0.02)O3  where0  x  0.025 was synthesised by conventional solid state reaction method. The materials werecharacterised for their properties like dielectric and pyroelectric coefficient. Hysteresis loop wasrecorded at room temperature. The sample with 2 mole per cent samarium (Sm) substitutions wasfound to be more promising for sensor application based on its high material's figure of merit(FOM). Sensors fabricated with this material were integrated with FET amplifier. The devicesconfigured with compensating element were evaluated for different chopping frequencies.  Thevalue of material's FOM, FD, and detectivity, D*, were determined from measured parameters andwere,  3.6 x 10-5 Pa-1/2 and 2 x 108 cmHz1/2/W, respectively

Comparative analysis of efficacy and adverse effects of tacrolimus vs cyclosporine in chronic dry eye disease: a tertiary care hospital based study

Background: Dry eye disease (DED) is the very common and underdiagnosed ocular condition affecting vision, quality of life, and the outcomes of cataract or refractive surgery. Dry eye disease (DED), either alone or in combination with other conditions, is a frequent cause of ocular irritation that leads the patients to seek ophthalmic care. Due to a wide variety of presenting symptoms, it is often unrecognized and this causes great frustration of the patient and treating physician. While these symptoms often improve with appropriate treatment, usually in majority of the cases the disease may not be curable. Aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of tacrolimus and cyclosporine in dry eye disease.Methods: This was a single centred, 3 months prospective study. Patients with unilateral or bilateral dry eye disease and an ocular surface disease index score >12, atleast one eye with schirmer score <5mm and TBUT <10 s were enrolled in the study. The enrolled patients were randomly divided into two groups, twenty-five patients in Group 1 and twenty three patients in Group 2 completed the follow up. Group 1(n =25) who received 0.03% tacrolimus eye ointment twice daily for consecutive 3 months and Group 2 (n= 23) received 0.05% cyclosporine eye drops twice daily for consecutive 3 months the primary efficacy outcome was Schirmer score after 3 months. The secondary outcomes were TBUT and adverse effects.Results: After 3 months, both the treatment groups showed significant improvement in mean Schirmer score (p<0.001) and mean TBUT (p <0.0001). However, on comparing both the groups, mean Schirmer score and mean TBUT, results were comparable. No patient discontinued treatment because of minor ocular adverse effects.Conclusions: Dry eye patients demonstrated improvement in Schirmer score and TBUT after 3 months of treatment with tacrolimus 0.03% ointment and cyclosporine 0.05% eye drops

The impact of therapy on the quality of life in asymptomatic patients with freshly detected hypertension

Background: Hypertension is an commonly encountered disease which adversely affect  all aspects of quality of life (QoL). The existing studies are confounded by the presence of multiple comorbidities and inclusion of elderly, which by themselves impairs the QoL. There is thus a need to study the impact of hypertension on QoL, in isolation.Method: This is a single center, prospective, intention to treat, observation study. The aim of the study is to evaluate the change in the QoL over six months, in newly diagnosed asymptomatic patients of hypertension. The tools used to assess the QoL included World Health Organisation’s Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL- BREF) and Short Form-36 (SF-36).Result: A total of 232 patients (172 males and 60 females) were enrolled in the study. The mean age was 44.66 years. A total of 102 patients (43.97%) had stage-1 and 130 patients (56.03%) had stage-2 hypertension. The female gender is associated with a higher likelihood of presentation with stage-2 hypertension. The male cohort had a better baseline QoL. The desired blood pressures was achieved in 40.52%. With therapy, the QoL improved significantly; sub-hoc analysis showed, the improvement was higher in males and those with stage-1 hypertension. There is an inverse relationship between the QoL and requirement for higher number of antihypertensive mediations.Conclusions: In patients with asymptomatic primary hypertension, treatment improves all aspects of QoL. The factors adversely affecting the QoL include female gender, higher stage of hypertension, poor blood pressure control and requirement of higher numbers of antihypertensive medicine

Study of Thyroid Function Tests in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

Background: The metabolic syndrome is a constellation of clinical and metabolic abnormalities including abdominal obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia and impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance. Metabolic syndrome and thyroid dysfunction are independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Aims and objectives: To study the prevalence, symptomatology of thyroid dysfunction and fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) findings of thyroidin the patients having metabolic syndrome. Material and methods: The study was carried out in 60 cases of metabolic syndrome (according to NCEP ATP III criteria) selected from the medicine outdoor clinic (including diabetic clinics, thyroid clinics) and medicine indoor wards in Post Graduate Department of Medicine, SN Medical College and Hospital, Agra. Diagnosis of thyroid dysfunction was made by history, examination and serum FT4 and TSH. Resultand observations: Out of 60 patients of metabolic syndrome, 30 patients (50%) were euthyroid, 13 patients (21.66%) had subclinical hypothyroid and 12 patients (20%) had overt hypothyroid. Five patients (8.33%) of metabolic syndrome had hyperthyroidism. Truncal obesity was most prevalent (80.0%) component of metabolic syndrome, followed by hypertriglyceridemia (70%). Diabetes mellitus was equally prevalent in both males as well as females and was presentin about 40.0% patients and 53% of patients with metabolic syndrome were hypertensive. Conclusion: This study shows that 50% metabolic syndrome patients had thyroid dysfunction. About 21.66% had subclinical hypothyroidism, 20% had overt hypothyroidism and 8.33% were having hyperthyroidism. The most common symptom in metabolic syndrome patients with hypothyroidism was lethargy/sleepiness followed by dry and coarse skin. The most commonsymptom in hyperthyroid patients was nervousness (100%) followed by sweating, heat intolerance and palpitation in 80% of the patients

Study of Thyroid Function Tests in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

Background: The metabolic syndrome is a constellation of clinical and metabolic abnormalities including abdominal obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia and impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance. Metabolic syndrome and thyroid dysfunction are independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Aims and objectives: To study the prevalence, symptomatology of thyroid dysfunction and fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) findings of thyroid in thepatients having metabolic syndrome. Material and methods: The study was carried out in 60 cases of metabolic syndrome (according to NCEP ATP III criteria) selected from the medicine outdoor clinic (including diabetic clinics, thyroid clinics) and medicine indoor wards in Post Graduate Department of Medicine, SN Medical College and Hospital, Agra. Diagnosis of thyroid dysfunction was made by history, examination and serum FT4 and TSH. Result and observations: Out of 60 patients of metabolic syndrome, 30 patients (50%) were euthyroid, 13 patients (21.66%) had subclinical hypothyroid and 12 patients (20%) had overt hypothyroid. Five patients (8.33%) of metabolic syndrome had hyperthyroidism. Truncal obesity was most prevalent (80.0%) component of metabolic syndrome, followed by hypertriglyceridemia (70%). Diabetes mellitus was equally prevalent in both males as well as females and was present in about 40.0% patients and 53% of patients with metabolic syndrome were hypertensive. Conclusion: This study shows that 50% metabolic syndrome patients had thyroid dysfunction. About 21.66% had subclinical hypothyroidism, 20% had overt hypothyroidism and 8.33% were having hyperthyroidism. The most common symptom in metabolic syndrome patients with hypothyroidism was lethargy/ sleepiness followed by dry and coarse skin. The most common symptom in hyperthyroid patients was nervousness (100%) followed by sweating, heat intolerance and palpitation in 80% of th