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Purpose: To compare the anxiety levels related to visual field testing and optical coherence tomography (OCT) in patients with glaucoma. Methods: This prospective, comparative study was conducted on patients with glaucoma. The participants’ anxiety traits were assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory [STAI]. Before visual field testing on Humphrey visual field analyzer (HVF) and retinal nerve fiber analysis on OCT, the participants completed Form Y1 to measure the current pretest level or ‘State’ anxiety [pretest anxiety]. Immediately after testing, participants were administered the Form Y1 questionnaire to assess the induced anxiety level during the testing [Intratest anxiety]. Results: A total of 228 patients were enrolled with 152 participants in the HVF group and 76 in the OCT group. The mean age of the participants in the HVF group was 57.2 ± 20.8 years and in the OCT group was 56.8 ± 20 years. There was no significant difference in trait and pretest anxiety between the HVF group and the OCT group (P = 0.971 and P = 0.716). Intratest test anxiety score was slightly higher in the HVF group (HVF: 42.13 ± 10.63, OCT: 40.71 ± 9.76; P = 0.33). The anxiety scores were higher when the experience of previous HVF tests was <2 and least when the number of tests exceeded five. Conclusion: Automated perimetry induces slightly more anxiety than OCT, which may affect test performance. The measured anxiety reduces as patients gain familiarity with the test with experience. This adds credence to the recommendation of more frequent visual field testing in newly diagnosed glaucoma patients
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Background: The data related to the association of sociodemographic factors with cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia in younger population are lacking. The aim of the study was to assess the association of sociodemographic factors with cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia. Methods: 200 schizophrenia cases were recruited for the study. Socio-economic status was assessed using modified Kuppuswamy socio-economic status scale. Cognitive examination was assessed using Addenbrooke cognitive examination-III (ACE-III). Results: Educational years (t = 0.223, p = 0.021) and Kuppasamy total socioeconomic score (t = 0.258, p = 0.002) predicted ACE score in schizophrenia cases. Among sociodemographic factors, gender (OR= 2.542, CI=1.426-4.531, p=0.001), education years (OR = 3.849, CI = 2.113-7.012, p = <0.001) employment status (OR=3.803,CI=1.719-8.413, p=0.001) and socioeconomic status ( OR = 0.178, CI = 0.066-0.480, p = < 0.001) were associated with cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia cases. Conclusion: Educational years and lower socio economic status are associated with cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia
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BACKGROUND Experiencing poor mental health during adolescence predisposes an individual to psychiatric morbid conditions in adulthood. We estimated the prevalence of psychological morbidity and its associated factors, among school-going adolescents in higher secondary schools of urban Puducherry. METHODS We did this cross-sectional study among adolescents studying in classes 11 and 12 from selected schools of urban Puducherry, including one government and three private schools. Study tools used were the General Health Questionnaire-12 and Perceived Stress Scale-10 to assess psychological morbidity and perceived psychological stress in adolescents, respectively. Risk factors in academic, environmental, personal and health-related domains were captured using a structured questionnaire. Study questionnaires were self-administered by the participants in classrooms. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were done to identify risk factors for psychological morbidity. RESULTS Of the 820 adolescents surveyed, the prevalence of psychological morbidity was 25.4% (95% CI 22.4– 28.5). Academic factors such as reporting peer pressure for academic performance and lack of extracurricular activities at school were associated with psychological morbidity. Among health-related factors, adolescents who reported having difficulty in coping with pubertal changes, being worried about their physical appearance, reporting substance abuse and experiencing sleep disturbances had greater chances of having screened with psychological morbidity. Of note, adolescents with psychological stress had 2.5 times higher chances of having psychological morbidity. CONCLUSIONS We estimated that 1 in 4 school-going adolescents in urban Puducherry suffered psychological morbidity. Reducing the academic burden and advocating health promotion through a life skills approach may improve mental wellness in Indian adolescents.
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Background: Little information is available on the prospective career choices of students entering medical school. So, this study was designed to assess career preferences of fresh medical undergraduates in the Indian setting and evaluate factors influencing their career choices.Methods: A cross-sectional assessment was carried out on 144 freshman year medical students within 2 weeks of joining the course. All participants completed a self-administered study questionnaire. Five specialties – Internal Medicine, Surgery, Psychiatry, Pediatrics, and Gynecology were chosen for comparison. Responses were rated on a 5 point Likert scale. Data was analysed using SPSS version 18.0.Results: Over one third of the undergraduates reported that they have not made any opinion on their specialty yet. The most popular specialties were Internal medicine, General Surgery and Paediatrics. The least popular specialty was Obstetrics & Gynecology. “Ability to help people” and “challenging nature of work” was chosen by most of the respondents as a very important factor while making a choice of specialization while financial reward was not perceived to be that important.Conclusions: Freshman medical students have several criteria in choosing their specialty and they are modifiable. Medical educators and administrators should think about curricular or teaching reforms to further enhance career counseling and medical education curricula which could potentially motivate more students to take up career in fields lesser chosen.
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The present study deals with the antimicrobial activity and phytochemical screening of the two medicinal plants, Tinospora cordifolia and Euphorbia hirta those are commonly available in India. Results of antimicrobial activity revealed that these medicinal plant extracts were very effective against Serratia marcescens, E. coli, Streptococcus thermophilus, Fusarium oxysporium, Aspergillus niger while these extracts showed very less inhibition against Trichoderma reesei. Phytochemical analysis of these plants confirms the presence of various phytochemical like alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenols, steroidal terpenes in Euphorbia hirta and alkaloids, flavonoids, Saponin, tannins, steroidal terpenes, reducing sugar in Tinospora cordifolia. While other phytochemical like, glycosides, phylobatamins, xanthoproteins, phenolic compounds were found to be absent in these extracts. These plants can be a source of useful drugs but further studies are required to isolate the active component from the crude plant extract for proper drug development.