Evaluation of the nutritional quality of selected dietary ingredients for mud crab Scylla serrata of Suarashtra region in Gujarat, India

Mud crabs, or mangrove crabs, are one of the most valuable groups of crab species in the world. Several studies have been conducted to describe the nutrient requirements of mud crabs. Only preliminary studies have been conducted to define the nutritional ingredients requirements for growing out diets. Results of the analysis revealed the major components of seaweeds (Ulva reticulate and Sargassum cinctum) poultry waste, earth worms and fish meal with carbohydrate 57.18 % (Ulva reticulate) and 55.86 % (Sargassum cinctum), 31.07 %, 21.83 % and 2.89 %, followed by ash content of 21.3 % (U. reticulate) and 14.1 % (S. cinctum), 8.4 %, 12.0 % and 8.40 %, respectively. The crude protein component of fishmeal, soyabean meal, earthworms and seaweeds were obtained in little amount with 61.20 %, 48.3%, 36.2 % and 13.41 % (U. reticulate) and 10.67% (S. cinctum) and followed by crude lipid component of poultry waste 25.0%, seaweeds 13.41 % (U. reticulate) and 10.67 % (S. cinctum), earthworms 9.52% and fishmeal 9.20%  respectively. These results of nutritional composition indicated that poultry waste, earthworms and seaweeds have potential as a source of feed supplement and human nutrition

Effect of higher salinities on growth and survival of pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931)

The growth and survival of Litopenaeus vannamei post larvae was measured in controlled different salinities condition 35ppt (T1), 40ppt (T2), 45ppt (T3) and 50ppt (T4) were maintained. Group of Shrimp post larvae (weight 0.032 g ± 0.002) were stocked at a density of 35 nos. /aquarium in above salinity ranges. Animals were fed with commercial feed (35% Crude Protein) @ 5% of body weight four times a day. The results indicate that higher SGR was observed in T2 (1.99±0.08) followed by T1 (1.75±0.07), T3 (1.54±0.06) and T4 (1.49±0.17). Highest survival (100 %) was recorded in T1 followed by T2 (96.42%), T3 (94.99%) and T4 (74.21%). From the results of the present study it could be seen that higher salinity significantly reduced the growth and survival of L. vannamei but will also open study area of physiological adaption of animal at higher saline water in performance of organisms

Effect of partial replacement of fishmeal with Eichhornia crassipes on growth and survival of Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822) juveniles

The objective of the study was to find out the effect of partial replacement of fish meal in the diet of Labeo rohita juveniles. In this experiment, the data pertaining to growth, survival rate, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio of L. rohita at partial replacement of fishmeal with E. crassipes were evaluated. For that purpose fry of approximately equal weight (57.97mg ± 1.25) were distributed in groups of 15 to each four aquaria at 0% (T1), 10% (T2), 20% (T3), 30% (T4) and 40% (T5) inclusion levels of aquatic macrophyte, Eichhornia crassipes. Maximum mean weight gain (235.25 ± 11.04 mg) was observed in T1 and minimum (165.06 ± 10.93 mg) was observed in T5 at the end of the experiment. Among the treatments tested, the highest survival (89.99% ± 1.93) was recorded in treatment T1 and minimum was found in T4 (79.99% ± 2.72). Lowest FCR was recorded in treatment T3 (2.02 ± 0.39) and highest was found in T5 (3.08 ± 0.59). Higher SGR was observed in treatment T1 (297.15 ± 18.78%) and minimum was observed in T5 (182.74 ± 18.45%). The study revealed a decrease in the growth performance indices as the percentage of water hyacinth increases. In present study also there was not much difference in growth rate upto 20% incorporation of E. crassipes in the diet. Also, significant difference was observed among treatments with respect to feed utilization (P<0.05)

The subchondral bone in articular cartilage repair: current problems in the surgical management

As the understanding of interactions between articular cartilage and subchondral bone continues to evolve, increased attention is being directed at treatment options for the entire osteochondral unit, rather than focusing on the articular surface only. It is becoming apparent that without support from an intact subchondral bed, any treatment of the surface chondral lesion is likely to fail. This article reviews issues affecting the entire osteochondral unit, such as subchondral changes after marrow-stimulation techniques and meniscectomy or large osteochondral defects created by prosthetic resurfacing techniques. Also discussed are surgical techniques designed to address these issues, including the use of osteochondral allografts, autologous bone grafting, next generation cell-based implants, as well as strategies after failed subchondral repair and problems specific to the ankle joint. Lastly, since this area remains in constant evolution, the requirements for prospective studies needed to evaluate these emerging technologies will be reviewed

Do computerised clinical decision support systems for prescribing change practice? A systematic review of the literature (1990-2007)

Computerised clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) are used widely to improve quality of care and patient outcomes. This systematic review evaluated the impact of CDSSs in targeting specific aspects of prescribing, namely initiating, monitoring and stopping therapy. We also examined the influence of clinical setting (institutional vs ambulatory care), system- or user-initiation of CDSS, multi-faceted vs stand alone CDSS interventions and clinical target on practice changes in line with the intent of the CDSS. We searched Medline, Embase and PsychINFO for publications from 1990-2007 detailing CDSS prescribing interventions. Pairs of independent reviewers extracted the key features and prescribing outcomes of methodologically adequate studies (experiments and strong quasi-experiments). 56 studies met our inclusion criteria, 38 addressing initiating, 23 monitoring and three stopping therapy. At the time of initiating therapy, CDSSs appear to be somewhat more effective after, rather than before, drug selection has occurred (7/12 versus 12/26 studies reporting statistically significant improvements in favour of CDSSs on = 50% of prescribing outcomes reported). CDSSs also appeared to be effective for monitoring therapy, particularly using laboratory test reminders (4/7 studies reporting significant improvements in favour of CDSSs on the majority of prescribing outcomes). None of the studies addressing stopping therapy demonstrated impacts in favour of CDSSs over comparators. The most consistently effective approaches used system-initiated advice to fine-tune existing therapy by making recommendations to improve patient safety, adjust the dose, duration or form of prescribed drugs or increase the laboratory testing rates for patients on long-term therapy. CDSSs appeared to perform better in institutional compared to ambulatory settings and when decision support was initiated automatically by the system as opposed to user initiation. CDSSs implemented with other strategies such as education were no more successful in improving prescribing than stand alone interventions. Cardiovascular disease was the most studied clinical target but few studies demonstrated significant improvements on the majority of prescribing outcomes. Our understanding of CDSS impacts on specific aspects of the prescribing process remains relatively limited. Future implementation should build on effective approaches including the use of system-initiated advice to address safety issues and improve the monitoring of therapy

Effect of a web-based chronic disease management system on asthma control and health-related quality of life: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Asthma is a prevalent and costly disease resulting in reduced quality of life for a large proportion of individuals. Effective patient self-management is critical for improving health outcomes. However, key aspects of self-management such as self-monitoring of behaviours and symptoms, coupled with regular feedback from the health care team, are rarely addressed or integrated into ongoing care. Health information technology (HIT) provides unique opportunities to facilitate this by providing a means for two way communication and exchange of information between the patient and care team, and access to their health information, presented in personalized ways that can alert them when there is a need for action. The objective of this study is to evaluate the acceptability and efficacy of using a web-based self-management system, My Asthma Portal (MAP), linked to a case-management system on asthma control, and asthma health-related quality of life.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The trial is a parallel multi-centered 2-arm pilot randomized controlled trial. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two conditions: a) MAP and usual care; or b) usual care alone. Individuals will be included if they are between 18 and 70, have a confirmed asthma diagnosis, and their asthma is classified as not well controlled by their physician. Asthma control will be evaluated by calculating the amount of fast acting beta agonists recorded as dispensed in the provincial drug database, and asthma quality of life using the Mini Asthma Related Quality of Life Questionnaire. Power calculations indicated a needed total sample size of 80 subjects. Data are collected at baseline, 3, 6, and 9 months post randomization. Recruitment started in March 2010 and the inclusion of patients in the trial in June 2010.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Self-management support from the care team is critical for improving chronic disease outcomes. Given the high volume of patients and time constraints during clinical visits, primary care physicians have limited time to teach and reinforce use of proven self-management strategies. HIT has the potential to provide clinicians and a large number of patients with tools to support health behaviour change.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>Current Controlled Trials <a href="http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN34326236">ISRCTN34326236</a>.</p

Effect of particle size reduction and crystalline form on dissolution behaviour of nimesulide

The objective of this study was to develop and examine innovative and very simple and easily scalable techniques able to improve solubility and/or dissolution rate and thus oral bioavailability of nimesulide. Three different nimesulide batches were obtained by three different laboratory-scale methods: Method A (Batch A) used crystallization by solvent evaporation in a nanospray dryer, Method B (Batches G and GLN) involved cryo-milling, and Method C (Batch Neu) dispersed nimesulide in Neusilin(A (R)) UFL2. All the nimesulide batches were fully characterized for chemical stability, thermal behaviour, physicochemical and micromeritics properties, and intrinsic dissolution and particle dissolution rates. Batch A not only showed a good reduction in particle size but also exhibited a reduced degree of crystallinity by both differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray powder diffractometry, which could explain the increase in intrinsic dissolution rate (IDR) and particle dissolution. Batch GLN showed an acceptable increase in IDR, probably caused by a slight decrease in the degree of crystallinity, and good improvement in dissolution rate due to a certain decrease in particle size. Batches G and native crystals exhibited very close IDRs, while G showed somewhat higher particle dissolution, probably attributed to the particle size reduction. The dispersion of nimesulide in Neusilin UFL2 in a 1:6 drug-polymer ratio made it possible to recover anamorphous powder, as proven by thermal analysis and X-ray powder diffractometry, characterized by pronounced particle size reduction to nanometric dimensions. Both amorphous character and nanometric dimensions could account for the fastest particle dissolution during the first 10 min of the experiment. The stability study conducted according to the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) confirmed the good chemical and physicochemical stability of all the batches