Status of Dietary Intake of Calcium in Women of Reproductive Age in Delhi, India

Background: Calcium (Ca) plays an important role in bone formation. Attaining optimal bone mass and peak bone densities is essential to prevent osteoporotic fractures in future life. In conditions of Ca deficiency, Ca from the bones maintains the blood levels of Ca leading to its depletion in bones. Calcium depletion leads to poor bone density and a higher risk of osteoporosis particularly in women who have repeated episodes of pregnancy and lactation. Aim & Objective: To assess the dietary intake of calcium. Material Methods: the study was conducted among 200 healthy women of reproductive age group of 20-49 years. Result: The dietary intake of calcium was less than the Recommended Dietary Allowances of 600mg/day. Women from upper socioeconomic class had a higher intake of dietary calcium 435±268 mg/day as compared to women from low socioeconomic class with a dietary intake of 295±163 mg/day. Conclusion: The dietary intake of calcium improved with an increase in socioeconomic class

Predictive modelling and parametric optimization of minimum quantity lubrication assisted hobbing process

Abstract: This paper focuses on parametric analysis, modelling, and parametric optimization of minimum quantity lubrication assisted hobbing (MQLAH) using environment friendly lubricant for manufacturing superior quality spur gears. Influences of hob cutter speed, axial feed, lubricant flow rate, air pressure and nozzle angle on the deviations in total profile, total lead, total pitch and radial runout and flank surface roughness parameters were studied by conducting 46 experiments using Box-Behnken method of response surface methodology. Results revealed that effect of air pressure is negligible but other parameters have significant impact on the considered responses. Back propagation neural network (BPNN) model was developed to predict microgeometry deviations and flank surface roughness values of the MQLAH manufactured spur gears. The BPNN predicted results found to be very closely agreeing with the corresponding experimental results with mean square error as 0.0063. Real-coded genetic algorithm (RCGA) was used for parametric optimization of MQLAH process to simultaneous minimization of microgeometry deviations and flank surface roughness. Standardized values of the optimized parameters were used to conduct confirmation experiment whose results had very good closeness with RCGA computed and BPNN predicted values and produced spur gear of superior quality. This study proves MQLAH to be a potential sustainable replacement of conventional flood lubrication assisted hobbing for manufacturing cylindrical gears of better quality

Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS) as a strong predictor of diabetes mellitus: A cross sectional study among urban population of Jhalawar, Rajasthan

Introduction: The patients with Type 2 diabetes Mellitus may often remain asymptomatic for a longer period of time. The Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS), a simple screening tool for prediction of undiagnosed diabetes. Objective: Validation of IDRS with standard test for type 2 diabetes among urban population of Jhalawar, Rajasthan. Material and Methods: A Community based Cross-sectional study was carried out in urban field practice area of Department of Community Medicine, Jhalawar Medical College, Jhalawar, Rajasthan. The study was conducted using a two-stage sampling design. A predesigned, pretested proforma and Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS) sheet was used to collect data from the study participants. The IDRS is based on four parameters: age, family history of diabetes, waist circumference and physical inactivity. Data was collected using the World Health Organization stepwise approach to surveillance (STEPS). Results: Among 450 participants, 12.7% participants were in low risk, 59.1% were in moderate risk and 28.2% were in high risk of developing diabetes according to IDRS score. IDRS score of ?60 turned out to be the best cut point for identifying undiagnosed diabetes with sensitivity 92.3% and specificity 82.6%. Positive Predictive value and Negative Predictive value were 47.3% and 98.5% respectively. Conclusion: Association of IDRS was found significant with diabetes. IDRS score of ?60 turned out to be the best cut point for identifying undiagnosed diabetes. IDRS is found valid screening tool for early detection of Diabetes

Recent developments in sustainable manufacturing of gears: a review

Abstract: Environment awareness is of the utmost importance to all socially responsible manufacturers. To be competitive on a global scale manufacturing needs to be aligned with various strict environmental regulations. The manufacturing industry at large is striving to improve productivity and product quality while maintaining a clean and sustainable environment. This can only be achieved by adopting sustainable techniques of manufacturing which include minimizing the number of manufacturing steps by employing advanced and alternative methods, environment-friendly lubricants and lubrication techniques while machining, reducing wastage, active waste management and minimizing energy consumption etc. Gear manufacturing industries, the major service providers to all other industrial and manufacturing segments are also focusing on to implement the techniques targeting overall sustainability. Some of the recent developments to achieve sustainability in gear manufacturing can be summarized as reducing the use of mineral-based cutting fluids by employing alternative lubrication techniques i.e. minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) and dry machining, material saving, waste reduction, minimizing energy consumption and maintaining economic efficiency by reducing the number of gear manufacturing stages (eliminating the necessity of finishing processes) by utilizing advanced methods such as gear rolling and wire electric-discharge machining (WEDM), and finally increasing productivity by minimizing tool wear at high gear cutting speeds through the use of alternative tool materials and coatings. This paper reviews and amasses the current state of technology for sustainable manufacturing of gears and also recommends ways to improve the productivity and quality while simultaneously ensuring environmental sustainability

Self-assessed Oral Health Awareness and Attitude of the First and Final Year Undergraduate Medical and Dental Students in India

Aims and Objective: To compare the attitude and awareness of dental and medical students in the first and the final academic years and to trace the change in their attitude and awareness towards oral health; to also bring out differences/similarities in response to the questionnaire based on gender. Materials and methods: A modified version of HU-DBI questionnaire was used to conduct the survey in medical and dental colleges of India. A total of 279 students were recruited in the study. The data collected concerned the oral hygiene awareness and attitude, dental complaints and previous visits to dentists. Results: Significant differences were found for 9 of 17 items, reflecting an increased awareness and improved attitude toward oral health in the final year dental students as compared to the first year dental students. The dental students exhibited better awareness than the medical students irrespective of gender. Conclusion: Significant improvement was found in the awareness and attitude of the final year dental students as compared to the first year dental students. This change was marginal in the medical students

A cross-sectional survey of orthopaedicians to understand the prescribing pattern of disease modifying osteoarthritis drugs in osteoarthritis

Background: Numerous dietary supplements with disease-modifying action are available in Indian market. However, doctor’s preferences for these disease modifying osteoarthritis drugs (DMOADs) to prevent progression of OA are not known. The objective of this study was to quantify doctor preferences for potential DMOADs.Methods: The survey instrument (online survey questionnaire at survey monkey) was developed by researchers upon review of existing literature and detailed discussion with practicing clinicians. Face and content validity and reliability (test-retest method) was assessed through a focused panel of clinicians to determine if content was adequate to obtain the necessary data. This was a cross-sectional digital survey of 207 orthopaedicians during Indian Orthopaedic Association Conference-2018 organized at Coimbatore.Results: NSAIDs + DMOAD combinations were the most preferred treatment option for newly diagnosed OA patients. 44% orthopaedicians prefer to start the treatment with combination of NSAID and DMOAD as compared to 10% with paracetamol monotherapy. Glucosamine/chondroitin combinations are the most commonly preferred DMOAD by the orthopaedicians; followed by undenatured type II collagen. 66% of the doctors surveyed opined that the efficacy of undenatured type-II collagen is better as compared to other DMOADs.Conclusions:The findings from the survey suggest that majority of orthopaedicians prefer to prescribe NSAID with DMOAD combinations for newly diagnosed osteoarthritis patients.

Role of nutritional supplements in the management of tendinopathies: focus on combination of type 1 collagen, vitamin C and mucopolysaccharides

Tendinopathy is a common disease that is difficult to manage due to its recurrent nature. It is associated with increased healthcare costs and significantly impacts quality of life of patients. Also, according to recent studies patients with high cholesterol and diabetes are at a higher risk of developing tendinopathy. There has been rise in the incidence of tendinopathies due to increase in sport activities, life expectancy and some other factors (environment, diet and some drug therapies). Approximately 30% of visits for musculoskeletal pain in general practice are related to tendon injury. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids remain the mainstay of treatment. Despite the use of current therapies, there is need of a supportive therapy that can help in the healing process towards development of physiologically normal tendons. Nutraceuticals have been used as supportive therapy for management of tendinopathies. This review focuses on the management of tendinopathy with special attention on role of nutraceuticals such as type I collagen, mucopolysaccharides and vitamin C in the management of tendinopathy. Clinical data suggests that this combination (type I collagen, mucopolysaccharides and vitamin C) promotes the endogenous synthesis of collagen type I, avoiding the accumulation of collagen type III and aggrecan, thus interfering with the degeneration of tendon tissue. Based on the available clinical data, combination of type I collagen, mucopolysaccharides and vitamin C not only reduce the clinical symptoms but also improve structural evolution of different types of tendinopathies as well as plantar fascitis