Caregiver Burden and self-efficacy: A Hospital- based Comparison between General and Special Ward Patients

India has one of the largest health-care systems in the world, and caregivers play an important role in assisting the patients in seeking services, supporting the patient during treatment and also in recovery, as there is a culturally determined emphasis on kinship

Case Profile, Volume Analysis, and Dropout Rate of Antirabies Vaccination Regimens among Animal Bite Victims in Gujarat.

Background: Rabies is a preventable neglected public health problem and associated with multiple cultural, religious, and social practices, myths in our country. There is a lack of organized surveillance system to measure the incidence of animal bite and human rabies as well as to evaluate cost‑saving of different routes, regimen, and types of antirabies vaccines (ARV)/immunoglobulin available in India. Objectives: The objective of this study is to know dropout rate in intradermal (i.d.) ARV regimen among animal bite and to analyze the utilized volume of ARV by a different route of vaccine administration. Methods: A total of 250 animal bite victims were followed up at ARV Clinic (ARVC). Volume utilization of i.d. route over intramuscular (i.m.) route was analyzed among the patients who attended ARVC during the past 2 years. Total dropout and delayed compliance rates of ARV regimen among different group were compared by Chi‑square test. Results: The i.d. route was about five times more volume and cost‑saving than i.m. route. The majority of victims belonged to 15–30 years (27.60%) and children <15 years (26.40%) and had wound at their lower limbs (85%) mainly bitten by dogs (98%). Thirty‑four percent total dropout and 31.5% delayed compliance observed particularly during the last dose of i.d. regimen. There was no significant difference in dropout rates among different demographic groups. Half of the victims practiced wound toilet on the same day of bite. Only 68% received the first dose of ARV within 24 h of the exposure. Conclusion: Children and young adults are at higher risk of having dog bite. I.d. ARV regimen is more volume and cost‑saving than i.m. one and proper counseling and follow‑up should be arranged to complete the vaccination schedule.

Role of lipid and lipoprotein metabolizing enzymes in the development of atherosclerosis.

Cardiovascular disease is the primary cause of mortality in developed and developing nations. With an increase in the aging population, there is a surge in the incidence of atheroscleortic cardiovascular diseases. One of the most common and lethal manifestations of atherosclerosis is coronary heart disease, accounting for 50% of the atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases in men and women younger than 75 years. Peripheral arterial diseases, manifested mainly as intermittent claudication constitute approximately 10% of the atherosclerotic cardiovascular events. According to the American Heart Association 2001 Heart and Stroke Statistical Update, atherosclerosis accounts for 75% of all deaths due to cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, atherosclerosis continues to remain the primary cause of health concern for the population at large. The aim of this review is to discuss the role of enzymes that are involved in the metabolism of lipid and lipoproteins in the development of atherosclerosis.