ABSTRACT
Aims: To know the rainfall and temperature trend for all the districts of Karnataka state to develop suitable coping mechanisms for changing weather conditions during the cropping season. Study Design: The available daily data of rainfall (1971-2011) and minimum and maximum temperature (1971-2007) for each district was collected from NICRA-ICAR website. A non-parametric model such as the Mann-Kendall (MK) test complemented with Sen’s slope estimator was used to determine the magnitude of the trend. Place and Duration of Study: The rainfall data of 41 years (1971-2011) and temperature data of 37 years (1971-2007) was collected for all 27 districts of Karnataka. Methodology: Basic statistics related to rainfall like mean, standard deviation (SD), the coefficient of variation (CV) and the percentage contribution to annual rainfall were computed for monthly and season-wise. Mann-Kendall test was used to detect trend for rainfall as well as temperature. Results: An increasing trend in rainfall during winter, monsoon and annual basis for all most all the districts of Karnataka and decreasing trend of rainfall during pre and post-monsoon season was noticed. An early cessation of rainfall during September month in all most all the districts of Karnataka was observed. Similarly, monthly mean, maximum and the minimum temperature had shown an increasing trend over the past 37 years for all the districts of Karnataka. Conclusion: The more variation in rainfall during the pre-monsoon season was observed, which is more important for land preparation and other operations. The increasing trend of maximum and minimum temperature throughout the year may often cause a reduction in crop yield. It is necessary to change crops with its short duration varieties in order to avoid late season drought.
ABSTRACT
Background: Ebola virus disease is a dreadful condition associated with high mortality rate threatening the entire world. Our study was aimed to assess the knowledge and to create awareness about Ebola among undergraduate medical students. Methods: A self-administered, pretested questionnaire with 30 questions focusing on the general information of virus, mode of transmission, clinical features and complications of the infection, diagnosis, treatment, preventive measures, and epidemiological features was given to the study participants. Scoring system was followed, and statistical analysis was done using Chi-square test and comparison between different sections by one-way analysis of variance. Results: Totally, 263 medical students participated in the study. Based on the percentile of scores obtained they were categorized into three groups, better knowledge (18-30), average knowledge (10-17), poor knowledge (0-9). On the whole 70% students had an average level of knowledge 25% students had better knowledge and 5% students had poor knowledge. Female students had better knowledge when compared to male students (p<0.0001). Similarly, second year students had better knowledge than interns and final year students (p<0.0001). Students had less knowledge regarding clinical features, epidemiological features and relatively poor knowledge regarding diagnosis and treatment. Comparatively, knowledge about mode of transmission, preventive measures and general information of virus were better. Conclusion: This study demonstrates apparent lack of knowledge regarding various aspects of Ebola and emphasis to conduct awareness programs to manage the dreadful consequences of the disease if rises.
ABSTRACT
Background & objectives: Moxifloxacin (MFX) is reported to have promising antimycobacterial activity, and has a potential to shorten tuberculosis (TB) treatment. We undertook this study to examine the influence of rifampicin (RMP) and isoniazid (INH) on the steady state pharmacokinetics of MFX individually in healthy individuals. Methods: A baseline pharmacokinetic study of MFX (400 mg once daily) was conducted in 36 healthy adults and repeated after one week of daily MFX with either RMP (450/600 mg) (n = 18) or INH (300 mg) (n = 18). Plasma MFX concentrations were determined by a validated HPLC method. Results: Plasma peak concentration and exposure of MFX was significantly lower and plasma clearance significantly higher when combined with RMP (P<0.001). The Cmax to MIC and AUC0-12 to MIC ratios of MFX were significantly lower during concomitant RMP (P<0.001). INH had no significant effect on the pharmacokinetics of MFX. Interpretation & conclusions: Concomitant RMP administration caused a significant decrease in Cmax and AUC0-12 of MFX, the mean decreases being 26 and 29 per cent, respectively. It is uncertain whether this decrease would affect the treatment efficacy of MFX. Prospective studies in TB patients are needed to correlate MFX pharmacokinetics with treatment outcomes.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Several reports in the past have described the natural history of atrial septal defects, most dealing with a decrease in size or spontaneous closure of the defect. Some recent articles have also described an increase in size of the defect in a sizable number of cases which may be important in the current era of transcatheter closure. We analyzed the data of 52 consecutive cases diagnosed to have secundum atrial septal defect in the first year of life, seen over the last six years at our center. METHODS AND RESULTS: All infants with a defect size of > or =4 mm on echocardiography were included. The first and the last echocardiographic images with a minimum interval of 6 months were used for analysis. Cases were divided into three groups depending upon the defect diameter (small: 4-5 mm, moderate: 6-8 mm and large: > or =9 mm). The age ranged from one day to 12 months (mean 2.9 +/- 3.2 months). On a follow-up of 0.7 to 7.0 years (mean 2.9 +/- 1.4 years), the septal defect reduced in size in 24 (46%) cases with complete closure in 14 of these. The size remained same in 13 (25%) and enlarged in 15 (29%) cases. The likelihood of closure was highest in small defect group as compared to the large defect group (p < 0.05). Similarly, enlargement was more often seen in large defects. CONCLUSIONS: Small atrial septal defects of 4 mm to 5 mm are very likely to decrease in size or completely close on follow-up. Larger defects, on the other hand may remain large or enlarge further in a significant proportion of cases. A close observation is required for these cases if being considered for transcatheter closure.