Enhancing Farmer Income through Value Addition to Rice in Khammam District, India

Rice is the staple food to half of world’s population providing more than one fifth of the calories consumed worldwide. Cereal grains are rich sources of phenolic compounds present in cell walls that help in combating many life style diseases occurring due to oxidative stress. Rice has been domesticated more than 10000 years ago but even today the farmers prefer selling freshly harvested paddy at a lower price. Few entrepreneurial farmers have come up with the idea of primary processing the paddy as semi polished and brown rice that can fetch them more profits along with providing health benefits. Each Kg of paddy, white, semi polished and brown rice cost Rs. 17 – 18.50, 46 – 48, 58 – 60 and 65 respectively. Similarly, one Kg of brokens get Rs. 15, bran Rs. 12 during season and Rs. 20 during off season. The rice without any processing fetched the farmer profit of about Rs. 24400 to 36000 on an average per acre. But if the farmer subjected the rice to primary processing and sold as white, semi polished or brown rice, the profits generated per acre were Rs. 57156 – 66480 Rs. Rs. 82996 – 102400and Rs. 105910 – 120400 can be generated. As can be seen the decrease in processing produced lower quantity of brokens and bran and income from them was comparatively lower than on processed rice indicating that there can be rise in income with minimal processing with added health benefits. There can an increase in profits by 4 to 5 times due to primary processing benefiting the paddy growers. The white, semi polished and brown rice can increase the income of farmer by 76.92, 127.79 and 161.58% per one bag of paddy weighing 75 Kg. There was a significant decrease in brokens and bran produced in semi polished and brown rice that actually fetch less prize than the actual produce. The growing awareness of consumers towards health foods, improved eating habits and health consciousness is expanding brown rice market at higher compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) compared to overall rice market.

Pediatric appendicitis- five year experience at tertiary care pediatric surgery department: a cohort study

Background: Acute appendicitis is one of the most common abdominal surgical condition in pediatric population. It accounts for 1-8% of children presenting in pediatric surgical emergency. The aim of this study was to evaluate pediatric appendectomy in our department.Methods: It was a hospital based prospective cohort study spanning over a period of 5 years, where all diagnosed cases of pediatric appendicitis were enrolled. Demographic profile, clinical features and operative findings were analyzed. Patients were kept on regular follow-up and complications were noted.Results: During the study period 146 patients were enrolled for the study. Male: female ratio was 1:1. Maximum patients belonged to age group of 11-15 years (42%). Pain in abdomen and fever were the most common presenting symptoms. Tenderness in right iliac fossa was the most common clinical sign (89.72%) and inflamed appendix was the most common operative finding in the study (83.91%).Conclusions: The diagnosis of acute appendicitis is based on clinical examination. Atypical symptoms may lead to delay in the diagnosis and management. Imaging and lab investigations are supportive. Early recognition of symptoms, access to healthcare facility with a surgeon can significantly reduce the morbidity and complication rates in pediatric age group.

Neovagina creation using sigmoid colon in vaginal agenesis: a case report and review of literature

Mullerian duct anomalies are rare and can present with abnormalities in upper vagina, cervix, uterus, and fallopian tubes. The exact incidence of cervicovaginal agenesis is unknown and there are very few cases recorded in the literature. Authors report a 12-year-old girl referred from gynaecologist with chronic cyclical abdominal pain with underdeveloped, geniatilia and developed secondary sexual characters. Radiological investigations showed hypoplastic cervix with hematometra and left hemato salpinx. A definitive repair with creation of a neovagina using a sigmoid colon segment was performed in a single stage. Many techniques are described for reconstruction of cervicovaginal canal. Use of colon in creation of a neovagina is described by authors. Here we report a case of complete vaginal agenesis presenting with Hematometra-Hematosalpinx where a neovagina was created using a segment of sigmoid colon. Single staged surgery for neovagina creation using segment of sigmoid colon offers a promising and safe alternative for cervicovaginal agenesis.

Study of Ocular Manifestations among Beta Thalassemia Major Patients

Person with thalassemia major may have severe symptoms and may need regular blood transfusions. Iron overload is due to repeated blood transfusions and enhanced iron absorption by gastrointestinal tract and also creates negative impact on the organs function. We aimed to study the ocular changes in beta thalassemia major at a tertiary care hospital. Methods: In this prospective observational study, 234 patients diagnosed with beta thalassemia major, receiving multiple blood transfusions as a part of treatment were included. Patient brief history was taken, along with family history. Complete eye examination done. Ocular examination done by measuring visual acuity, refractive error assessment with autorefractometer, slit lamp examination, fundoscopy, perimetry, tonometry, color vision testing and tear break up time (TBUT) test. Results: A total of 234 beta thalassemia major patients of both sexes were evaluated, among them 132 (56.4%) were males and 102 (43.5%)were females. The mean age of thalassemic study population was 25.6±6.3. Most commonly observed were pinguecula (44%), visual field defects (40.5%), vascular tortuosity (39.3%), dry eye (33.3%), Refractive error (20.5%), Anterior segment involvement (18.8%), Cataract (13.2%), color vision defect (5.1%), normalization of optical vessels (4%). Conclusion: Regular Opthalmological examination helps to detect early changes due to disease and chelating agents. Issue of iron overload among thalassemic patients can be reduced by decreasing the need or the frequency of blood transfusions.

Therapeutic Potential of Carica Papaya L. Leaf Extract in Treatment of Dengue Patients.

Carica papaya leaf extracts are known to have many beneficial medicinal properties. Recent studies have claimed possible beneficial effects of Carica papaya leaf extracts in treating patients with dengue infection. The present study aims to evaluate the therapeutic potential of Carica papaya leaf extracts in treating dengue patients. Carica papaya leaf extracts were given to dengue infected patients and their blood samples were daily monitored. Polyserositis condition of the patients was analysed by ultrasonography before and after the completion of Carica papaya leaf extract treatment. Repeated Measures ANOVA and descriptive measures such as mean, standard error values were calculated. Before the administration of Carica papaya leaf extracts the patients had a low WBC and platelet counts. After the administration of Carica papaya leaf extracts there was a good amount of increase in the counts of WBC and platelets (p<0.05) in all the patients and the patients started recovering from dengue infection. Ultrasonographic findings revealed clearance in pleural ascites, pericardiac effusion and peritoneal ascites. Blood analysis reports, ultrasonographic findings, statistical results and patients recovery from dengue infection clearly shows the therapeutic role of Carica papaya leaf extracts in treating dengue infected patients. Further studies are necessary for identification of the compounds present in Carica papaya leaf extract and exploring their therapeutic role in curing dengue infection.

Effectiveness of low profile pre contoured clavicular plate in mid shaft clavicular fractures in young patients.

Introduction: Risk of Nonunion, residual shoulder disability and symptomatic malunion are higher in conservative treatment of displaced midshaft clavicle fractures which are reportedly decreased by operative method but plating these fractures, however, have hardware-related problems. Low-profile anatomically precontoured plates may reduce the rates of plate prominence and hardware removal. Objective: To assess the rate of plate prominence, rate of hardware removal, rate of complications, radiological and functional outcome of a pre- counterd congruent clavicle plate in the treatment of acute, displaced, mid-shaft clavicle fractures. Materials and methods: This study presented the results of 50 patients treated with an anatomical congruent clavicle plate for acute displaced, mid-shaft fracture fractures of the clavicle from October 2011 to December 2013 admitted in Narayana General Hospital. Results: The fracture united in all cases with minimal complications and high patient satisfaction on the Disability of the Arm and Shoulder (DASH) score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score (ASES) and Pain Visual analogue score (VAS). The results compare favorably with other published studies. Conclusion: A congruent clavicle plate prove to be a better option for mid shaft clavicle fracture in terms of patient compliance, hardware complication, radiological and functional outcome.

Weed hosts of cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae).

The exotic cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) invaded India during 2006, and caused widespread infestation across all nine cotton growing states. P. solenopsis also infested weeds that aided its faster spread and increased severity across cotton fields. Two year survey carried out to document host plants of P. solenopsis between 2008 and 2010 revealed 27, 83, 59 and 108 weeds belonging to 8, 18, 10 and 32 families serving as alternate hosts at North, Central, South and All India cotton growing zones, respectively. Plant species of four families viz., Asteraceae, Amaranthaceae, Malvaceae and Lamiaceae constituted almost 50% of the weed hosts. While 39 weed species supported P. solenopsis multiplication during the cotton season, 37 were hosts during off season. Higher number of weeds as off season hosts (17) outnumbering cotton season (13) at Central over other zones indicated the strong carryover of the pest aided by weeds between two cotton seasons. Six, two and seven weed hosts had the extreme severity of Grade 4 during cotton, off and cotton + off seasons, respectively. Higher number of weed hosts of P. solenopsis were located at roadside: South (12) > Central (8) > North (3) zones. Commonality of weed hosts was higher between C+S zones, while no weed host was common between N+S zones. Paper furnishes the wide range of weed hosts of P. solenopsis, discusses their significance, and formulated general and specific cultural management strategies for nationwide implementation to prevent its outbreaks.

Simultaneous quantification of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride and fexofenadine hydrochloride in tablets by liquid chromatography

An accurate and precise liquid chromatographic method was developed for the simultaneous estimation of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride and fexofenadine hydrochloride in tablets. The chromatographic analysis was performed on XTerra symmetry C8 column [250 > 4.6 mm, 5 u particle size] with mobile phase consisting of methanol and sodium di-hydrogen ortho phosphate buffer [pH 2.8] in the ratio of 60:40 v/v, at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and eluents monitored at 219 nm. The calibration curves of peak area versus concentration, which was linear from 20-100 [microg/mL for pseudoephedrine hydrochloride and 10-50 microg/mL for fexofenadine hydrochloride, had regression coefficient [r[2]] greater than 0.999. The method had the requisite accuracy, precision, and robustness for simultaneous determination of paracetamol and meloxicam in tablets. The proposed method is simple, economical, accurate, and precise and could be successfully employed in routine quality control for the simultaneous analysis of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride and fexofenadine hydrochloride in tablets