Prevalence and Correlates of Functional Limitation Among Elderly in Kerala

Performance of IADL could be closely related to biological variables such as age and sex. Since women outnumbered men among the sample population, it is hopeful to conclude that elderly women can be relished with functional independence, but in the advancement of their age, they have to suffer a lot. The results of the study showed that the extended life year is accompanied by increased demands on health care delivery systems as more part of life may be spent with some functional limitation. The prevalence of physical disability in elderly persons with functional limitation is, therefore, important for policy development in the care of the elderly. The most effective way to reduce the proportion of the population with disabilities is to delay the onset of disabilities. Living independently in familiar surroundings surely promotes a better aging and the development of living environments together with functional ability exert a profound influence on active aging. In Kerala situation, geriatric care should be focused on the necessities of elderly women since they have to live more years with functional limitation and disability than males. The number of people surviving into old age is increasing. The growth of the elderly population is expected to escalate in the coming years with respect to the general population. Longevity of people may result in poor health status, disability and loss of functional health. Information on disability is very important in responding to the care of the elderly

Swim exercise training and adaptations in the antioxidant defense system of myocardium of old rats: Relationship to swim intensity and duration

We examined a suitable swim program of different intensities and durations that could evoke changes in the myocardial antioxidant capacity in 22-month-old rats. Male rats (Rattus norvegicus) were assigned to either a sedentary control (SE-C) group or one of six trainee groups. Animals were swim-exercised for 4 weeks with either 20 min or 40 min/day, and three intensities, low, moderate and high. Low-intensity at 20 min/day elicited maximum swim velocity (S v) and endurance capacity (P<0.05). While serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) levels were significantly reduced, high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) showed an increase (P<0.05) in low-intensity trained rats (20 min/day) over SE-C. Notable reduction in blood lactate was also evident. Exercise training significantly increased superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), decreased lipid peroxidation products, malondialdehyde and lipofuscin in the left and right ventricles. Increased Mn-SOD with concomitant decrease in lipofuscin in left ventricle was significantly greater than in right ventricle. Moderate- to high-intensity exercise was not effective in either reducing lipid peroxidation products or elevating Mn-SOD activity. These data suggest that swim training at low-intensity of 20 min/day is beneficial as a major protective adaptation against oxidative stress in old myocardium. © 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Perceived Occupational Stressors and the Health Software Professionals in Bengaluru, India

There is limited research on occupational stress and its relation to health from developing countries such as India. This study was done to evaluate work conditions of professionals in two highly productive sectors: the information technology (IT) sector, also known as software development, and Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES), also known as call centers. The study employed thirty-two in-depth interviews. The results indicate the presence of nine stress domains: job control, autonomy, time pressure, length of experience in industry, night shifts, income, appreciation of work, physical environment, work-environment and affective or emotional factors. Global drivers of demand, and local supply of a skilled workforce and the work force regulatory environment in India determine the work culture in Indian IT companies. Apart from affecting health of the professionals, these determinants influence workforce policies, priorities, goals and management practices

Manipulation of visual biofeedback during gait with a time delayed adaptive Virtual Mirror Box.

A mirror placed in the mid-sagittal plane of the body has been used to reduce phantom limb pain and improve movement function in medical conditions characterised by asymmetrical movement control. The mirrored illusion of unimpaired limb movement during gait might enhance the effect, but a physical mirror is only capable of showing parallel movement of limbs in real time typically while sitting. We aimed to overcome the limitations of physical mirrors by developing and evaluating a Virtual Mirror Box which delays the mirrored image of limbs during gait to ensure temporal congruency with the impaired physical limb

Variation in morphometric and meristic traits of Aspidoparia morar from Brahmaputra and Barak Rivers of Assam, India

The minor carp, Aspidoparia morar is a benthopelagic fish belonging to the sub-family Danioninae under the family Cyprinidae. It has emerged as the single most dominant species in the river Brahmaputra in Assam. In the present study, 240 specimens were collected from Guwahati and Tezpur in the Brahmaputra River and Silchar in the Barak River to investigate the morphometric and meristic variation among the populations. For this a total of 20 morphometric traits and 11 meristic traits were studied. The mean lengths for most of the morphometric traits were higher for the Barak River except eye diameter, inter orbital length and anal fin length which were significantly higher on the Brahmaputra River, while the post orbital length and pelvic fin length were found to be almost equal. The regressions of standard length with all the morphometric traits except pelvic fin length, pelvic fin base, pectoral fin length, dorsal fin length, anal fin length, pre orbital length, post orbital length, inter orbital length and eye diameter showed significant variation between the rivers. Two meristic traits viz. branched rays in anal fin and gill rakers on the first gill arch also showed significant variation in the samples of the rivers

HIV and cancer registry linkage identifies a substantial burden of cancers in persons with HIV in India.

We utilized computerized record-linkage methods to link HIV and cancer databases with limited unique identifiers in Pune, India, to determine feasibility of linkage and obtain preliminary estimates of cancer risk in persons living with HIV (PLHIV) as compared with the general population.Records of 32,575 PLHIV were linked to 31,754 Pune Cancer Registry records (1996-2008) using a probabilistic-matching algorithm. Cancer risk was estimated by calculating standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) in the early (4-27 months after HIV registration), late (28-60 months), and overall (4-60 months) incidence periods. Cancers diagnosed prior to or within 3 months of HIV registration were considered prevalent.Of 613 linked cancers to PLHIV, 188 were prevalent, 106 early incident, and 319 late incident. Incident cancers comprised 11.5% AIDS-defining cancers (ADCs), including cervical cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), but not Kaposi sarcoma (KS), and 88.5% non-AIDS-defining cancers (NADCs). Risk for any incident cancer diagnosis in early, late, and combined periods was significantly elevated among PLHIV (SIRs: 5.6 [95% CI 4.6-6.8], 17.7 [95% CI 15.8-19.8], and 11.5 [95% CI 10-12.6], respectively). Cervical cancer risk was elevated in both incidence periods (SIRs: 9.6 [95% CI 4.8-17.2] and 22.6 [95% CI 14.3-33.9], respectively), while NHL risk was elevated only in the late incidence period (SIR: 18.0 [95% CI 9.8-30.20]). Risks for NADCs were dramatically elevated (SIR &gt; 100) for eye-orbit, substantially (SIR &gt; 20) for all-mouth, esophagus, breast, unspecified-leukemia, colon-rectum-anus, and other/unspecified cancers; moderately elevated (SIR &gt; 10) for salivary gland, penis, nasopharynx, and brain-nervous system, and mildly elevated (SIR &gt; 5) for stomach. Risks for 6 NADCs (small intestine, testis, lymphocytic leukemia, prostate, ovary, and melanoma) were not elevated and 5 cancers, including multiple myeloma not seen.Our study demonstrates the feasibility of using probabilistic record-linkage to study cancer/other comorbidities among PLHIV in India and provides preliminary population-based estimates of cancer risks in PLHIV in India. Our results, suggesting a potentially substantial burden and slightly different spectrum of cancers among PLHIV in India, support efforts to conduct multicenter linkage studies to obtain precise estimates and to monitor cancer risk in PLHIV in India

Lower Back Pain in Staff Nurses

A Study to assess the prevalence of mechanical lower back pain among staff nurse and to determine the effectiveness of planned teaching programme in terms of knowledge regarding back strengthening exercises among staff nurse’ working in ICU of a selected hospital of Delhi was conducted. Quantitative research approach with pre experimental one group pre-test post-test research design was used in the study. The prevalence of mechanical lower back pain was assessed by a rating scale and a structured questionnaire was used to assess the effectiveness of the planned teaching programme. Data obtained were analyzed and interpreted using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. It was found that 46.66% staff nurses were having moderate low back pain and planned teaching programme was effective in increasing knowledge of staff nurses working in ICU

BRCA Gene Mutation and Young Women - Nurses’ Perception

The breast cancer 1 (BRCA1 [Breast Cancer Susceptibility]) and breast cancer 2 (BRCA2) genes are the genes most commonly affected in hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. Normally, the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes protect from getting certain cancers. But certain mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes prevent them from working properly; inheriting one of these mutations, increases the susceptibility of breast, ovarian, and other cancers. Genetic counseling and testing for heritable susceptibility to breast cancer caused by mutations in BRCA genes are largely unavailable to young women in India. This process enables patients to make informed decisions about genetic testing and management based on the associated potential benefits, limitations, and risks, as well as their own values, preferences, and goals.

The Internal life of Virtue in Natrinai

Natrinai is the first book in the collection of Ettuthogai. Natrinai is an introspective text. Internal ideas are more prominent in the text. The text also covers the characteristics of social virtues and about husband-wife love. The internal life is filled with love, chastity, cohabitation, marriage, domesticity, wealth. There are some immoral behaviors too that is, the boy refuses to see his love after love making, refuses to marry the girl, seeking for a prostitute without maintaining a household, all these are acts against morality.&nbsp; Virtue in internal life is the boy must marry the girl after love making, he should love his wife and maintain the family. Internal virtue is a restrictive system. Virtue is the only reason for internal discipline. The friend of a girl insists the boy to marry the girl and she tells since I have been a supporter of both of you, I am now a friend of both of you, so the virtue of a friend is manifested here as emphasizing family life by marrying her friend. In this society where many people live together, each has its own virtue. External life has its own virtues. Likewise, internal life is subjected to the concept of virtue.&nbsp; In this article, we can know the virtues for life in Natrinai