Effect of Lower Trapezius and Serratus Anterior Muscle Strengthening on Pain and Function in Patients with Chronic Mechanical Neck Pain

Background Neck pain is considered to be a very frequent and disabling complaint among the general population. Purpose To study the effect of strength training of Lower Trapezius and Serratus Anterior muscles on pain and function in patients with chronic mechanical neck pain. Method 24 chronic mechanical neck pain samples (12 experimental and 12 control groups) participated. The pre and post-assessment was done with Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Algometer, Push-Pull Dynamometer and Neck Disability Index Scale (NDI) for Pain, Pain Pressure Threshold (PPT), Muscle Strength and Function respectively. The experimental group was given strength training along with conventional physiotherapy whereas the control group underwent only conventional physiotherapy. Results The results showed a statistically significant difference in PPT (p value 0.04), Lower Trapezius strength (p value 0.02), Serratus Anterior strength (p value 0.003) and NDI (p value 0.04). Conclusion Strength training for Lower Trapezius and Serratus Anterior muscles along with conventional physiotherapy should be incorporated in treatment of Chronic Mechanical Neck pain patients

Barriers to availing refractive error services among an urban slum population in Mumbai, India

Barriers to availing refracti ve error services among an urban slum population in Mumbai, India. Background: A refractive error project for management of refractive errors in adults was undertaken in the urban slums of Mumbai, India. The project looked at the burden of refractive errors in the predominantly lower socio economic status groups as well as what common barriers prevent access to refractive services amongst this population. This presentation highlights the barriers that were elicited for availing and accessing refractive error services among the urban slum population in Mumbai, India. AIM: The study aimed to identify the common barriers to availing & accessing refractive error services among an urban slum population in Mumbai, India. Methods : A situation analysis of the community, with respect to availability of services was done as a part of the service delivery planning. The analysis revealed that services were available but the community was not accessing the same. Based on the situation analysis report a questionnaire with all perceived barriers was developed and the same was validated. Service delivery was done by establishing vision centers within the community. Trained health workers performed a door to door vision screening, identified and referred the needy population to the vision centre. Here the questionnaire was run by trained social workers on the people visiting the centers for eye examinations, who were referred by the social workers. Results : Data analysis was carried out to know the reasons for not availing the services within the community. Of the 4070 subjects who visited the vision centre, 4039 case records were complete and analyzed. The demographic associations of the use of spectacles and reasons for not availing services were assessed with age, gender, education, socioeconomic status. On further analyses it was revealed, that, 3373 (83.5%) were aware of their poor vision, of these 2000 people did not visit an eye doctor. When the questions were analyzed as economic reasons and lack of awareness, lack of awareness superseded economic reasons, as lack of awareness was 54.5% Vs economic was 53.70%. Conclusion: When refractive error service delivery was planned for this population, besides providing free spectacles, emphasis on generating awareness for need for refractive errors was also considered

Maternal Health Situation in India: A Case Study

Maternal Health Services are one of the basic health services to be provided by nay government health system as pregnant women are one of the most vulnerable victims of dysfunctional health system, India, in spite of rapid economic progress is still farm away from the goal of lowering maternal mortality to less than 100 per 100,000 live births. It still accounts for 25.7% maternal deaths. The maternal mortality in India varies across the states. Geographical vastness and socio-cultural diversity make implementation of health sector reforms a difficult task. The chapter analyses the trends in maternal mortality and various maternal health programs implemented over the years including the maternal health care delivery system at various levels including the recent innovative strategies. It also identifies the reasons for limited success in maternal health and suggests measures to improve the current maternal health situation. It recommends improvement in maternal death reporting, evidence based, focused, long term strategy along with effective monitoring of implementation for improving Maternal Health situation. It also stress the need for regulation of private sector and proper Public Private Partnership (PPP) policy together with a strong political will for improving Maternal Health.

Profile Study of Negative Autopsy among the Post Mortem Cases Referred from Medical Officers to Forensic Medicine Department, Ahmedabad, India

Background: The principal aim of an autopsy is to determine the cause of death, and the state of health of the person before he or she died. But in several instances even after detailed autopsy and various laboratory investigations, autopsy surgeon/ Forensic medicine expert cannot determine the cause of death and they end up with negative autopsy. The present study was carried out to find out the types of cases where we were unable to determine cause of death after autopsy at forensic medicine department, B J medical college, civil hospital, Ahmedabad, India.Methods: A total of 251 dead bodies were referred by Medical officers to forensic medicine department, B J medical college, Ahmedabad for expert post mortem examination from 1st January 2011 to 31st December 2015.Results: After thorough and complete post mortem examination, it was found that in 43(17.13%) cases no opinion as to the cause or nature of death could be given. Most common types of cases include decomposition (53.50%), and skeletal remains (23.25%).Conclusion: According to above mentioned facts it is clear that chances of getting cause of death is very poor if time lapse more and more after death like in decomposition and skeletal remains

Integration of microfluidic channels and optical waveguides using low-cost polymer microfabrication techniques

Recent progress on the realization of a silicon integrated biophotonic chip using plasma etching and laser ablation is presented. The chip utilizes films of SU-8 and UV-15 polymer material. An intersecting optical waveguide and microfluidic channel exhibiting good optical transmission across the channel is demonstrated

Generation and characterisation of monoclonal antibodies specific to Plasmodium falciparum enolase

Background & objectives: Glycolysis is the sole source of energy for the intraerythrocytic stages ofPlasmodium falciparum, making glycolytic enzymes putative therapeutic targets. Enolase, a singlecopy gene in P. falciparum is one such enzyme whose activity is elevated ~10–15 fold in infectedRBC’s. It holds the possibility of having multiple biological functions in the parasite and hence canbe a suitable candidate for diagnostic and chemotherapeutic purposes.Methods: We have aimed at generating parasite-specific reagents in the form of monoclonalantibodies. We have raised monoclonal antibodies against the recombinant P. falciparum enolase.Results: Two IgG monoclonals were obtained with 1:1000 titre and specific for P. falciparum enolase.Apicomplexan parasites including P. falciparum enolase has a plant like pentapeptide sequence(104EWGWS108) which is uniquely different from the host counterpart. A peptide spanning thispentapeptide region (ELDGSKNEWGWSKSK) coupled to BSA was used to raise parasite-specificantibody. Four monoclonals were obtained with 1:1000 titre and of IgM isotype.Interpretation & conclusion: All the monoclonals are specific for P. falciparum enolase and one ofthem display reactivity against native P. falciparum enolase signifying this pentapeptide to be surfaceexposed and immunogeni

Late Quaternary sea level and environmental changes from relic carbonate deposits of the Western margin of India

Relic carbonate deposits along the western margin of India occur as dolomite crusts, aragonite sands (pelletal/oolitic) and aragonite-cemented limestones, oyster shells, corals, encrusted coralline algal and foraminiferal-dominated nodules. The petrology and mineralogy of the deposits indicate that except for aragonite sands and foraminiferal nodules, the others were formed in shallow marine conditions and serve as sea level indicators. Radiocarbon dates were measured for 62 relic deposits covering the entire margin. The age of these deposits on the continental shelf off Cape Comorin and Mangalore, between 110 and 18 m depth, ranges between 12, 610 14C yr BP and 6,390 14C yr BP. On the northwestern margin of India, especially on the carbonate platform (between 64 and 100 m), the age ranges from 17,250 to 6,73014C yr BP. The relic deposits of the Gulf of Kachchh at depths between 35 and 25 m are dated at 12,550-9,63014C yr BP. The age vs. depth plot of the relic deposits further indicates that the Gulf of Kachchh was inundated much early, atleast by 15 ka, after the Last Glacial Maximum, and was subjected to uplift and subsidence during the Holocene. The carbonate platform subsided during the early Holocene. Some of the relic deposits between Cape Comorin and Mangalore plot on or, closely follow the glacio-eustatic sea level curve. Despite abundant siliciclastic flux discharged by the Narmada and Tapti during the early Holocene, the platform off these rivers is largely devoid of this flux and carbonate sedimentation continued until 6,700 14C yr BP. We suggest that the river-derived sediment flux diverted southwards under the influence of the SW monsoon current and, thereby, increased the turbidity on the shelf and slope southeast of the carbonate platform and facilitated the formation of deeper water foraminiferal nodules off Vengurla-Goa