ABSTRACT
Due to global recognition of Ayurveda formulations, the herbo mineral formulations of Ayurveda are questioned because of heavy metal contents found in many studies. Kaseesa (green vitriol) chemically known as ferrous sulphate which is a well known mineral used in various formulations as haematinic and emmenagogue was studied for standardization before making one of its formulation. Raw Kaseesa was analyzed for heavy metals using sophisticated method of Inductively Coupled plasma and was found that it contained metals lead and copper outside permissible limit of pharmacopeia norms. For this study various samples were collected and evaluated by the Rasashastra experts and later by Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeial methods. After the confirm identity, the samples were selected for the Heavy Metal Analysis. Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) method used for this study and results found in raw Kaseesa are Copper 7.2153 ppm, Lead 1288.0 ppm and Mercury, Arsenic, Cadmium were not detected. The authors recommend further study of Kaseesa after its Shodhana and other processes to study whether such heavy metal (Cadmium, Lead, Arsenic, Mercury and copper) contents are found in the finished product.
ABSTRACT
Background: Designing health care policies and programmes requires knowledge about health care seeking behaviour, so that appropriate interventions can be implemented. Health care seeking behaviour is influenced by the individual self, diseases, and the availability and accessibility of health services. Dependent on these determinants health care seeking behaviour is a complex outcome of many factors operating at various levels. Aims & Objective: Present study aimed at exploring possible differences in health care seeking behavior in rural and urban Ahmedabad. Material and Methods: A Cross-sectional study was carried out over a period of one year (April 2011-March 2012) in urban and rural area of Ahmedabad district. Total 500 houses from each were surveyed using pre-designed and pre-tested proforma by house to house visits. Head of the family from each household was interviewed. Information regarding morbidity and health seeking behaviour was collected during household survey. Results: Maximum number of respondents belonged to age group 25-39 years in urban (49.8%) and rural (53.8%). Rural people preferred government and trust hospitals (51.1%) more as compared to urban (44.1%). Significant difference was observed in place for treatment of acute illness from faith healers. More rural people (29.2%) took treatment from faith healers than urban (22.8%). Majority of rural people (59.6%) took treatment for chronic illness from private practitioner than urban (51.4%). More urban people (57.4%) were using cash savings for treatment than rural people while borrowing and selling assets for treatment was more in rural people (57.4%) The result was statistically significant. Insurance coverage for illness was significantly low both in urban and rural area. Conclusion: Difference in health seeking behaviour was noticed among urban and rural communities. As far as treatment of chronic illnesses is concerned more infrastructure investments should be made to improve accessibility to government health care facilities, especially in rural areas. There is a need to make the rural people more aware regarding availability of various health insurance schemes.
ABSTRACT
Background: The purpose of this study was to isolate the Candida spp. & examine their susceptibility to antifungal drugs from various clinical specimens. One hundred fifty isolates of Candida spp. were included in this study. Clinical history revealed that all patients were on systemic broad spectrum antibacterial drugs. Materials and Methods: Candida spp. was differentiated by germ tube test, culture characteristics on special media for fungus, sugar fermentation, sugar assimilation and growth on corn meal agar. Antifungal drug susceptibility testing against Fluconazole, Ketoconazole, Itraconazole, Voriconazole, Nystatin and Amphotericin B were done on basis of CLSI guidelines on Methylene blue containing Mueller Hinton Agar by disk diffusion method. Result: We found 52% and 48%, C.albicans & Non albicans candida spp., respectively. There were no resistance to Nystatin and Amphotericin B. C.albicans was more susceptible than Non albicans candida. Nystatin & Amphotericin B were susceptible to all isolated Candida spp. In present scenario, Fluconazole is most commonly used empirical antifungal drug, which is more effective to C.albicans than Non albicans Candida. Conclusion: Due to emergence of resistance in Azole group of antifungal among Non albicans candida, it should be mandatory to use antifungal drugs as per the susceptibility testing.
ABSTRACT
Background & Objectives: Fungal infections are extremely common in the tropical regions and some of them are serious .Fungi produce diverse human infections ranging from superficial skin infections to systemic disease .The study of superficial mycosis is important due to the frequent occurrence in dermatology clinics. The present study was undertaken with a view to find out the clinical pattern of dermatophytic and non – dermatophytic fungi (superficial mycosis) and most common fungal pathogens in tertiary care hospital affiliated with medical college in Western India from August 2007 to July 2008. Methods: A clinical and mycological study of superficial mycosis was conducted on 215 cases (138 males and 77 females). Direct microscopy by KOH (potassium hydroxide) mount and culture was undertaken to isolate the fungal pathogen in each case. Results: Commonest age group involved was adults of 19-59 years age. Tinea corporis was the most common clinical presentation and Trichopyton rubrum was the most common fungal pathogen isolated. Dermatophytosis was the commonest superficial fungal infection and found in 147/215 cases (68.4%). Non dermatophytic fungus like pityriasis versicolor and yeast like candida species were isolated in 48/215(22.3%) cases and 20/215 (9.3%) cases respectively. The KOH positivity rate was 72.4% and total culture positivity rate was 62.8%.Interpretation & conclusion: Along with dermatophytes, nondermatophytic fungi are also emerging as important causes of superficial mycosis. Direct microscopy and culture both are important tools for diagnosis of the fungal infections.
ABSTRACT
Children below 15 yrs. of age without BCG scar were chosen for the tuberculin testing. Total 210 children were tested in 30 selected clusters (7 children in each cluster). Median age of the surveyed children was 6.33. Prevalence of infection in children was found to be 30.4% as 64 children out of 210 showed positive result (had induration > or = 10mm in size). Average ARI in the 0-14 yrs of age group was 5.4%. Tuberculosis is still one of the commonest problems in the urban slums. It is important to evaluate the epidemiology of tuberculosis in the changing face of century.