A Study to assess the effectiveness of Ragi Kanjii Versus Soya Milk in improving the nutritional status of malnourished pre-school children at Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children, Chennai

A study to assess the effectiveness of ragi kanjii versus soya milk in improving the nutritional status of malnourished pre-school children at Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children, Chennai. Worldwide, the most common cause of malnutrition is inadequate food intake. Severe acute malnutrition should be recognized as a medical emergency with one million children under five dying in India due to malnutrition related causes. Preschool aged children in developing countries are often at risk of malnutrition because of their dependence on others for food, increased protein and energy requirements, immature immune system causing a greater susceptibility to infection, and exposure to non-hygienic conditions. Need for the study: The effects of malnutrition are many, which make the child prone to other diseases. Thus proper supplementation and appropriate education to the mothers will definitely help in reducing the mortality and morbidity in children. Objectives : To evaluate the efficacy of ragi kanjii on the nutritional status of the pre-school malnourished children, to evaluate the efficacy of soya milk on the nutritional status of the pre-school malnourished children, to compare the efficacy of ragi kanjii over soya milk on the nutritional status of pre-school malnourished children and to associate efficacy of ragi kanjii and soya milk on nutritional status with the selected demographic variables. Methodology : Research Approach: Quantitative research approach. Research Design: Quasi experimental design

A prospective comparative study of efficacy of lenalidomide plus dexamethasone combination therapy versus VAD (vincristine, doxorubicin and dexamethasone) regimen in the treatment of multiple myeloma

Background: Lenalidomide plus Dexamethasone (Len-Dex) and VAD (Vincristine, Doxorubicin and Dexamethasone) regimen are the two common drug therapies employed in the treatment of Multiple myeloma.Objectives: To compare the efficacy of Len-Dex versus VAD regimen based on complete remission achieved with treatment in newly diagnosed cases of multiple myeloma in a tertiary care hospital in Kerala.Methods: Eighty patients (forty in each group) of newly diagnosed cases of multiple myeloma, who were willing to give the informed consent, were included in the study. Patients were allocated by the treating physician to two groups; one group was given Len-Dex (lenalidomide + dexamethasone) regimen and the other VAD (Vincristine, Adriamycin, Dexamethasone) regimen. A total of six cycles were given for both groups. Their baseline investigations and follow up investigations were collected at regular intervals, based on these values, the outcome was classified as partial remission and complete remission and the results were compared and analyzed.Results: Among the forty patients in each group, 17 (38%) on VAD regimen and 28 (62%) on Len-Dex regimen achieved complete remission. The statistical analysis was done using chi square test (χ2= 6.13, df= 1, p= 0.01) which showed statistically significant difference.Conclusions: The study showed that the efficacy of Lenalidomide-Dexamethasone (Len-Dex) combination therapy is clearly higher than that of VAD regimen among the study population. The overall efficacy of Len-Dex combination is 70% and that of VAD regimen is only 42.5%

Overview on commercially important pelagic fishery resources of Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay

Pelagic fishes are highly migratory and exhibit shoaling nature. They inhabited in the water column (not near the bottom of the shore) of the coast or open oceans. Based on the deepness of the water in which they exist, can be classified into coastal and oceanic fish. The “coastal resources” are called the groups like sardines, anchovies and shads which inhabit above the continental shelf,and oceanic resources are called Tuna, swordfish, and mackerel which inhabited below the continental shelf they are

Taxonomy and Biology of commercially important Species of Shrimps, Crabs and Lobsters

The crustacean fisheries of India have considerable importance in the economy of the country, earning very valuable foreign exchange. Edible marine crustaceans consisting of prawns, lobsters and crabs form the most important constituents of the commercial fish landings of India. Shrimps and prawns constitute a large group of crustaceans varying in size and are widely distributed in marine, brackish, and freshwater regions from the equator to the Polar Regions. Although the majority of the commercial marine species occupy shallow or moderately deep water areas along the continental shelves at depths of less than 100 m, some are found at depths of nearly 5700 m. Many prawns are pelagic but the majority by far is benthic, living on a large variety of bottoms such as rock, mud, peat, and sand, fragments of shells or mixtures of these materials

Demersal fishes of Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay

India has an extensive coastline length of 8,129 km, continental shelf area of about 0.5 million km2 and the area available for fish production in the country is vast with 2.02 million km2of EEZ. Gulf of Mannar (GoM) is situated in the Indian Ocean, between south east of India and West of Sri Lanka from Rameswaram (79° 14' East Longitude and 9°14' North Latitude) and Tuticorin (78° 9' East Longitude 8°48' North Latitude) on the south-eastern coast of the country (Tamil Nadu).The Gulf is 80–170 miles (130–275 km) wide and 100 miles (160 km) long with a chain of 21 islands stretching from Mandapam to Tuticorin

First record of deformity in Chinese Pomfret, Pampus chinensis (Euphrasen, 1788) from Indian waters

The Chinese pomfret Pampus chinensis (Euphrasen, 1788) (Stromateidae) observed with deformity from fish landings at the Jegathapattinam fishing harbour along Palk Bay coast of Tamil Nadu. The abnormality owing to fractional dorsal fin may call as ‘saddleback syndrome’ and this may be due to any kind of physical injury during early stages or to a higher chance of predation and in due course, the wound healed and the individual survive even with extreme deformed condition. Such a deformity for this species of Pomfret has never been documented from Indian waters and this could be the first record in Pampus chinensis

Rapid assessment of the fish trade, arrivals and price realization in Kerala

Fisheries contribute to around 3 % of the economy of Kerala and provides employment to about 2.14 lakh people including its secondary and tertiary sectors such as marketing and processing. The marine fish landings in Kerala (2015) was 4.82 lakh tonnes forming 73.36 % of the total fish production in the state. A considerable 30% reduction in the marine fish landings during 2015 compared to the average (2010-14) landings of 6.82 lakh tonnes was noticed

Key distinguishing characters (KDCs) of official (Boerhaavia diffusa L.) and commonly mistaken (Trianthema portulacastrum L.) sources of Mukkirattai of Siddha

Boerhaavia diffusa L. has been used extensively in Siddha system of medicine and is often confused with Trianthema portulacastrum L. due to morphological similarities. This particular study compares, analyses and identifies the key distinguishing features of the two whole plant drugs based on pharmacognostical and phytochemical aspects. The samples were studied for macroscopy, microscopy, physicochemical analysis, preliminary phytochemical analysis and HPTLC following standard procedures. Macroscopic studies showed few notable differences in macro-microscopy of root, stem, leaves and flowers of both the plants. Microscopically root, stem, leaf and petiole of both the plants showed differences in layers of cork, presence of crystals and medullary rays (in root), the thickness of cuticle, cortex and arrangement of vascular bundles (stem), presence of characteristic type of trichomes (leaf) and shape of the petiole. Powder microscopy showed differences in epidermis, crystal types and shape of pollen. Preliminary phytochemical analysis showed the presence of phenol, saponins and coumarins in B. diffusa and was not detected in T. portulacastrum. There were significant differences in the values of quantitative microscopy, physicochemical parameters and HPTLC of both the whole plant samples. The finding of this study will be helpful for the correct identification of the plant

Seagrass, Seaweed and Mangrove ecosystem of Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay region

The Gulf of Mannar, a shallow bay, with a coastline of 364.9 km, is known for its coral reefs and sea grass beds which harbour several endangered species. The Gulf-of-Mannar Marine National Park (GOMMNP) declared in 1986, under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, covers an area of almost 560 sq. km andincludes 21 islands. The 21 islands are distributed in four groups – Mandapam, Keezhakarai, Vembar and Tuticorin groups and located in 3-6 miles distance from the coast and vary in area from 0.25 ha to 130 ha.The Gulf of Mannar, the first Marine Biosphere Reserve (GOMMBR) in the South and South East Asia, covers from Rameswaram to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, Indi

Course Manual on Marine Fisheries & Mariculture Prepared for the Training programme for B.F.Sc students of Central Agricultural University (CAU), Tripura

The undergraduate Fisheries Science students are required to know about the inland and marine fisheries. The students from landlocked area are getting rare opportunity to understand the marine fisheries and mariculture activities. Hence, based on the request of the Central Agricultural University (CAU), Tripura as a part of their academic activities, the Director, ICAR-CMFRI, has kindly approved a 10 days in-plant training for B.F.Sc. final year students at the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Mandapam Regional Centre. The training was organized in collaboration with Agricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC), ICAR-CMFRI, Kochi. A total of 27 B.F.Sc students and a faculty of Central Agricultural University (CAU), Tripura participated in the training programme during 17th to 26th January, 2020. The training emphasized on the skill development of students through hands on training on mariculture activities and field visits to fish landing centres. A course manual was prepared covering the major topics on marine capture fisheries and mariculture. I congratulate all those who have put in their sincere efforts to bring out this manual