Facet Tropism/Inclination and Its Association with Intervertebral Disc Herniation in the Lumbar Spine - A Radiological Evaluation / Tropismo/inclinação facetária e sua associação com hérnia de disco intervertebral na região lombar da coluna - Uma avaliação radiológica

Abstract Objective To assess the role of facet tropism (FT) in intervertebral disc prolapse. Methods A total 98 patients with lower back pain were included in the study. Magnetic resonance imaging scans were performed and analyzed. The angles of the right and left facets were measured on the axial section. Patients without disc prolapse at the L3-L4, L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels act as controls for those with disc prolapse at the same levels. A statistical analysis was also performed. Results The incidence of FT at the L3-L4 level was of 85.2% in patients with disc herniation (n= 27), and of 56.3% in the control group, which was statistically significant (p= 0.008). Similarly, at the L4-L5 level, incidence of FT among cases and controls was of 71.4% (n= 35) and 52.4% respectively (p= 0.066). At the L5-S1 the incidence was of 66% and 51% among cases and controls respectively (p= 0.13). Conclusion We found a positive association between FT and disc herniation at the L3-L4 level, but no association at the L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels.

Resumo Objetivo Avaliar o papel do tropismo facetário (TF) no prolapso discal intervertebral. Métodos Um total de 98 pacientes com dor lombar foram incluídos no estudo. Exames de ressonância magnética foram realizados e analisados, e os ângulos das facetas direita e esquerda foram medidos na seção axial. Os pacientes sem prolapso discal nos níveis L3-L4, L4-L5 e L5-S1 atuam como controles para aqueles com prolapso nos mesmos níveis. Fez-se também uma análise estatística. Resultados A incidência de TF no nível L3-L4 foi de 85,2% em pacientes com hérnia discal (n= 27), e de 56,3% no grupo controle, o que foi estatisticamente significativo (p= 0,008). Da mesma forma, a incidência de TF no nível L4-L5 entre casos e controles foi de 71,4% (n= 35) e 52,4%, respectivamente (p= 0,066). No nível L5-S1, a incidência foi de 66% e 51% nos caso e nos controles, respectivamente (p= 0,13). Conclusão Encontramos associação positiva entre TF e hérnia de disco no nível L3-L4, mas nenhuma associação nos níveis L4-L5 e L5-S1.

Personal financial literacy among Indian postgraduate residents

BACKGROUND Postgraduate residents’ ability to understand and effectively manage their finances is variable. We conducted this study to assess the awareness of personal financial literacy among Indian residents. METHODS We circulated a web-based cross-sectional Google Forms multiple-choice questionnaire having questions in three categories including financial awareness, current financial status and plans among 400 Indian residents. RESULTS A total of 215 Indian residents (53.75%) responded to the survey (men 80.9%, unmarried 74.4% and pursuing broad specialties 83.3%). The majority were unaware of stocks, special student/doctor loans, tax planning, life insurance, professional indemnity and tax/financial planning. The majority opined that personal finance and investing should be taught at medical school/residency. A financial pyramid based on the hierarchy of needs is proposed. CONCLUSION Lack of financial literacy and planning was seen among the majority of Indian residents. Our study highlights this gap in the medical curriculum and the need for formal structured financial education during training.

Effect of Incorporation of Corn Bran, Dried Carrot Pomace and Dried Tomato Pomace on Quality Attributes of Chicken Nuggets

A study was conducted to improve dietary fibre content of chicken nuggets by incorporating corn bran (CB), dried carrot pomace (DCP) and dried tomato pomace (DTP) as dietary fibre sources. Lean meat was replaced with each dietary fibre source at 3%, 6% and 9% level. One product from each fibre source was selected on the basis of sensory evaluation. Sensory acceptability of 3% fibre treated nuggets was comparable with control and further increase in fibre level resulted in a decline in sensory acceptability. All CB and DCP treated nuggets were harder and firmer than control while 3% DTP treated nuggets were harder than control. Fibre addition resulted in less springier and less cohesive nuggets. Yellowness increased in DCP added nuggets while both redness and yellowness increased in DTP added nuggets. Fibre treated nuggets had less moisture and cholesterol content and higher protein, ash, crude fibre, emulsion stability and cooking yield. pH of DCP and DTP treated nuggets was lower than control. Drastic increase in total dietary fibre and insoluble dietary fibre content was observed in treated nuggets. Sensory scores of nuggets declined significantly while thiobarbituric acid reacting substance value (TBARS) and microbial counts increased significantly during refrigerated storage. It is concluded that incorporation of dietary fibre at 6% level resulted in healthier and fibre enriched nuggets with higher cooking yield and acceptability upto 15th day of refrigerated storage

Primary hyperparathyroidism in developing world: a systematic review on the changing clinical profile of the disease

ABSTRACT While the developed world is focusing on laying guidelines for selecting out cases of Asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) for surgical intervention and promoting minimal access surgery, the developing world is observing a change in disease spectrum from advanced symptomatic to lesser degree of symptomatic disease and not many with associated Vitamin D deficiency. Few studies from the developing countries of the world have focused on the changing clinical spectrum of PHPT. Objective of this study is to review the changing profile of PHPT in developing world. A systematic literature search was done in December 2017 focussing on publications from the developing world. All studies pertaining to the epidemiology of PHPT published after 1st January 2000 and published in English language were included for analysis. Most of the studies published from developing countries report a predominance of symptomatic disease (79.6% of all included patients) with musculoskeletal disease present in the majority of patients (52.9%). The combined mean serum total calcium (11.9 ± 1.4 mg/dL), serum PTH (668.6 ± 539 pg/mL), serum alkaline phoshpatase (619 ± 826.9 IU/L) and weight of excised parathyroid glands (4.4 ± 3.8 grams) are much higher than those reported from the western studies. Despite this, we found that there is a distinct trend towards a milder form of disease presentation and biochemical profile noticeable in more recent times. Although there is a striking difference in all aspects of PHPT disease epidemiology, clinical presentation and biochemical profile of developing and developed countries, there is a distinct trend towards a milder form of disease presentation and biochemical profile in more recent times.

Development of Fibre Enriched Chicken Nuggets Using Combination of Wheat Bran with Dried Apple Pomace or Dried Carrot Pomace

This investigation was conducted to evaluate the effect of incorporation of wheat bran (WB) with dried apple pomace (DAP) or dried carrot pomace (DCP) on quality attributes of chicken nuggets. Raw emulsion was stuffed in rectangular moulds, cooked in electric oven at 165°C for 40 minutes and nuggets were prepared by slicing cooked emulsion to 2-3 cm3 size. Colour scores increased with increase in DAP level in WB + DAP treated nuggets. A steady decrease in scores for all other sensory attributes was noticed in both WB + DAP and WB + DCP treated nuggets with increase in fibre level. Hardness and shear press value increased whereas springiness and cohesiveness decreased with increase in fibre level. Gumminess and chewiness of WB + DAP treated nuggets increased with increase in fibre level while gumminess and chewiness of WB + DAP treated nuggets showed a variable trend. Cooking yield and emulsion stability of fibre enriched nuggets were significantly higher whereas moisture, protein, cholesterol content and pH were significantly lower than control. Insoluble, soluble and total dietary fibre content increased drastically in treated nuggets. Thiobarbituric acid reacting substance (TBARS) value and microbial counts increased significantly during refrigerated storage in all the products. It is concluded that healthier and dietary fibre enriched chicken nuggets with refrigerated storage stability up to 15 days can be prepared using combination of wheat bran (2%) with dried apple pomace (6%) or dried carrot pomace (4%) each

Effect of Phytogenic Mixture Supplementation on Carcass Characteristics and Cost of Production in Broiler Chickens during Winter Season

In present experiment 288 day-old commercial broiler chicks were subjected to eight dietary treatments consisting of three replicates of twelve chicks in each replicate were reared for a period of 6 weeks in winter season. The dietary treatments includes: T0- Negative control, T1-control, T2-0.5 % Amla + 0.5 % Ashwagandha + 0.25 % Turmeric powder, T3-0.25 % Amla + 0.5% Ashwagandha + 0.25% Turmeric powder, T4-0.125% Amla + 0.5 % Ashwagandha + 0.25 % Turmeric powder, T5- 0.5 % Amla + 0.25 % Ashwagandha + 0.25 % Turmeric powder, T6-0.5 % Amla + 0.125 % Ashwagandha + 0.25 % Turmeric powder and T7-0.5 % Amla + 0.5 % Ashwagandha + 0.125 % Turmeric powder. Standard managemental practices were followed during the experimental period. Supplementation of phytogenic mixture consisting of 0.5 % amla and 0.5 % Ashwagandha with 0.25% or 0.125 % turmeric powder (T2 and T7) gave best results and improved the giblet percentage, eviscerated weight percentage and drawn percentage in winter season. The cost of production of drawn weight (`/kg) of broilers at six weeks of age was reduced as much as ` 10.23 (T2) and ` 9.48 (T7) in winter season. The study concluded that addition of 0.5 % amla and 0.5 % Ashwagandha with 0.25% or 0.125 % turmeric powder can be effectively supplemented as an alternative to antibiotics growth promoter in poultry ration in winter for improving the carcass characteristics and such ration was found more economical in comparison to that having antibiotic growth promoter

Design and development of transdermal drug delivery system.

In the course of development of microspheres preparation techniques, the encapsulation of hydrophilic drugs with high entrapment efficiency has been a problem, as the commonly used technique like single emulsification technique and w/o/w double emulsification technique show low entrapment of the hydrophilic drugs. The problem is overcome by using by using w/o/o double emulsification technique, several modifications have been done in this technique one of most widely and effective technique in w/o/o double emulsification is the solvent diffusion technique. In this brief review comparison of w/o/o double emulsification technique with other methods and details about the w/o/o double emulsification technique and the drugs encapsulated using this technique will be discussed.

Nutraceutical: A Bright Scope and Oppourtunity of Indian Healthcare Market.

Nutraceutical is regarded as the bio active substance and the constituents are either of known therapeutic activity or are chemically defined substance generally accepted to contribute substantially to the therapeutic activity of the drug. Phytochemical screening involves botanical identification, extraction with suitable solvents, purification and characterization of the bioactive constituents of pharmaceutical importance. Quality control for the officially and safely of herbal product is essential .The quality control of photochemical may be defined as the status of a drug which is determined either by identity, purity, constant and other chemical physical biological properties or by manufacturing process .compound with synthetic drug The critical and approach for herbal drug are much more complex Nutraceutical, a portmanteau of the words “nutrition” and “pharmaceutical”, is a food or food product that reportedly provides health and medical benefits, including the prevention and treatment of disease. A product isolated or purified from foods that is generally sold in medicinal forms not usually associated with food. A nutraceutical is demonstrated to have a physiological benefit or provide protection against chronic disease.

Analgesic activity of ethanolic extract of roots of Prosopis cineraria (l.) Druce.

Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce is a deep rooted, nitrogen fixing, multipurpose tree endemic to the hot deserts of India. Its synonym is Prosopis spicigera. It belongs to the family Leguminosae and subfamily Mimosoideae. In view of its medicinal importance, the present research was focused on the analgesic properties of roots of P. cineraria by in vitro approach in rats. The analgesic activity of root of Prosopis cineraria was studied using hot-plate method and tail-immersion method in rats. Doses of the ethanolic extract of 200mg/kg & 300mg/kg, orally were selected for analgesic activity. The extract at all the doses used and the Diclofenac sodium significantly inhibited both the analgesic activity for hot plate and tail immersion method. The present study demonstrates the potential analgesic effect of ethanolic extracts of Prosopis cineraria roots. The dose of 200mg/kg b.w is very effective than 300mg/kg b.w in both above pharmacological models.

Anti-ulcer potential of Lawsonia inermis l. Leaves against gastric ulcers in rats.

To evaluate antiulcer effects of aqueous, chloroform and ethanol extracts prepared from the henna leaves in rats employing the pylorus ligation and aspirin induced models. Gastric ulcers induced in Swiss albino rats (200g, N=6) by oral administration of aspirin suspension and pylorus ligation. The antiulcer activity was assessed by determining and comparing the ulcer index in the test drug groups with that of the vehicle control and standard ranitidine. In case of aspirin induced ulcers, the chloroform extract showed significant reduction of ulcers in a dose dependent manner. The parameters taken to assess antiulcer activity were volume of gastric juice, free acidity, total acidity and ulcer index. The results indicated that aqueous, ethanol and chloroform extract significantly (p<0.001) decreased the volume of gastric acid secretions, free acidity and total acidity and ulcer index.