Comparative study on supplementation of potato flour biscuits on the nutritional and cognitive profile of the selected children

Nutrition of the early childhood is of paramount importance because the foundation for life time strength and intellectual vitality is laid during this period. The present study aims to evaluate the effect of weaning biscuits supplementation of the nutritional parameters and cognitive performance of the selected children. Three Balwadies situated in Salem District, Tamilnadu, India were selected. A total number of 40 school children in Grade II malnutrition, 15 from Balwadi I, 14 from Balwadi II and 11 from Balwadi III comprised the study sample. All the 40 were selected for the experimental study. Home diet without any supplementation was followed by Group I [n=10, control group], potato flour biscuit was supplemented to Group II [n=10], Maize biscuits were given to Group III [n=10] and Green gram biscuits were given to Group IV [n=10] for the period of 3 months. Parameters like anthropometric measurements, hemoglobin content and clinical picture were analyzed before and after supplementation, cognitive performance of the supplemented children was assessed at the end of the study period. There was significant difference in height, weight, blood hemoglobin and clinical picture after three months on their home diet in group I. In groups II, III and IV significant increase in all the above parameters was noticed. More increase was found in group II children supplemented with potato flour biscuits for a period of 3 months. About cognitive performance better results were obtained in Group II followed by group IV [supplemented with green gram biscuits] and group III [supplemented with maize biscuits]. Least was obtained by control group children who were in their home diet. All these observations evidence that if such weaning biscuits made with potato flour, maize and green gram can form a daily ingredient in their diets, it will bring out better all round development of the children

What Kind of Control Condition should we use in Trials of Acupuncture? / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

Disappointingly little has been achieved by literally hundreds of attempts to evaluate acupuncture for chronic pain. Major methodological flaws are apparent in the vast majority of studies. Controlled studies have shown positive findings for low back pain, and equivocal results for migraine and asthma. Nevertheless larger scale studies are warranted for all these disorders, though other types of musculo-skeletal pain, tension headache and arthritis are also possible candidates.<br>Controlled trials of any treatment have become an immensely difficult and technical undertaking. They are expensive, time-consuming and ideally require the collaboration between practitioners and researchers and consultation with a statistician. It is not really possible for acupuncturists in private practice to mount such trials, and it is very difficult for a professional association or college. However, it is clear that there is no longer any point in conducting small, preliminary studies of acupuncture treatment. There are dozens of such studies, with some encouraging findings. The only way acupuncture can gain full acceptance as a valid form of treatment is through good controlled trials that are large enough to answer the questions they pose.<br>Ter Riet's list of criteria as a good starting point for anyone designing a trial of acupuncture. Specific points I would emphasize after reviewing the existing research on acupuncture are:<br>1. Trials should be single blind; it is not feasible to conduct double-blind trials. Some trials are nevertheless incorrectly described as double blind.<br>2. A range of outcome measures should be used, preferably with some independent assessment. An adequate follow-up is essential.<br>3. Considerable care needs to be taken in the choice of control group, especially with placebo controls. For a placebo I suggest a form of acupuncture treatment that is designed to have minimal effects. It will be the option that is the closest match to the true treatment and avoids the difficulties inherent in randomizing patients to a non-acupuncture treatment.<br>4. It is very useful to check the adequacy of any control treatment with a measure of credibility, or similar assessment, as the choice of control is frequently a matter for criticism.<br>5. Trials have generally been too small to permit firm conclusions. Ter Riet (Ter Riet, Kleijnen et al. 1990) implies that 50 patients per group are needed. This may not be necessary. However preliminary calculations of the necessary size for a reasonable power need to be carried out.

Malignant melanoma of the eyelid in a Pakistan woman

Malignant melanotic tumors occur infrequently in Pakistan, and an eyelid malignant melanoma is even rare. During a prospective study of the eye tumors in Sindh, we saw a 65-yea-old woman who had a malignant melanoma of the right lower eyelid, the first such published documentation from Pakistan. The tumor had metastasized to preauricular lymph nodes, the enlargement of which had been apparent to the patient for nearly six months. The management included full thickness eyelid and preauricular lymph node excision followed by local irradiation. No recurrence occurred during the first six postoperative months, after which the patient unfortunately was lost to follow-up. [Pakistan Journal of Ophthalmology 9:41-42, April, 1993.]