A Study of Low Birth Weight and Associated Maternal Factors in A Rural Field Practice Area of a Medical College at Ahmedabad City of Gujarat

Introduction: In developed countries, about 50% of all Low-Birth-Weight new born are preterm. Low birth weight is also a leading cause of neonatal death and major risk factor for infant and under-five morbidity and mortality. Objectives: To find out prevalence of low birth weight& to determine the association of socio-demographic variables, maternal medical and obstetric risk factors with low birth weight. Methodology: Across sectional community-based study was conducted in a rural field practice area of a medical college. A total of 600 participants (mothers who delivered within 3 months) were included in the study. Results: The prevalence of LBW was found to be 17% in the current study. Statistically significant asso-ciation was obtained between age, education, occupation, socio-economic class of participants and birth weight of the child. The prevalence of LBW was found to be significantly high (51.7%) amongst children of those participants who consumed/used tobacco in any form. Conclusion: The prevalence of the LBW was found to be 17%. Extremes of reproductive age group, illit-eracy, occupation of labourer, SEC class IV, grand-multiparity, inadequate IFA consumption, short stat-ure, weight of mother and use of tobacco were found to be significantly affecting the birth weight and as-sociated with low birth weight.

Convergence excess consecutive esotropia associated with 0.01% atropine eye drops usage in patients operated for intermittent exotropia

To report convergence excess esotropia (CEET) following 0.01% atropine eye drops (Low dose atropine [LDA]). Children who developed CEET that resolved promptly after discontinuation of LDA are described. Three myopes aged 5.3 � 1.2 years and mean sphere -4.5D were included. All were operated for intermittent exotropia earlier. Mean esotropia was +28.3PD for near and 10.6PD for distance. LDA induced high AC/A ratio and fusion normalized in 3 weeks after discontinuation of LDA. LDA should be used with caution in patients with esophoria or previously operated for intermittent exotropia. Any evidence of the emergence of a CEET should warrant discontinuation of LDA.

Estimation Dynamic Distance Direct Ophthalmoscopy (eDDDO): A novel, objective method for the quantitative assessment of accommodation in young children

Purpose: To describe estimation dynamic distance direct ophthalmoscopy (eDDDO) and compare it with the monocular estimation method of dynamic retinoscopy (eDR) for the assessment of accommodation in children. Methods: In this prospective observational cohort study, an ophthalmologist performed eDDDO followed by eDR in children with normal eyes, and then under the partial effects of cyclopentolate and tropicamide to assess performance of eDDDO with eDR under the condition of pharmacologically induced accommodation failure. Only one eye of each child was recruited in the study. To study the inter-observer variation, two masked pediatric ophthalmology fellows performed eDDDO in the similar manner. Results: For the comparison of eDDDO with eDR, 60 eyes of 60 patients were recruited. The mean age of the patients was 10.4 years. The mean accommodation on eDDDO was 3.0D, 5.1D, 9.8D, and 11.3D at 40 cm, 25 cm, 10 cm, and 8 cm, respectively and 3.0D, 5.0D, 9.5D, and 11.0D on eDR. The eDDDO overestimated accommodation by a mean 0.17D (95% CL 0-0.48D, P = 0.5). The correlation of eDDDO with eDR was excellent (Pearson r 0.98, T value 76.0). The inter-observer difference with eDDDO was not significant (mean 1D, 95% CL 0-2.6D, P = 0.9) and the correlation between two observers was excellent (Pearson r 0.9, T value 12.7). The eDDDO and eDR were also performed on 12 eyes of 6 children with a mean age of 8.5 years (range 8-12 years) under the partial effect of cyclopentolate and tropicamide, where eDDDO overestimated the accommodation by a mean 0.3D (95% CL 0- 1.2D, P = 0.7) and the correlation was excellent (Pearson r 1.0, T value 45). Conclusion: eDDDO is a simple, reliable, quantitative, and objective technique of accommodation assessment for children. Further studies with larger sample are required to assess its performance in disorders of accommodation affecting younger children and in children with ocular comorbidities.

Allergic reactions to atropine eye drops for retardation of progressive myopia in children

Purpose: To report clinical manifestations of ocular allergy to atropine eye drops used for retardation of progressive myopia in children. Methods: Myopic children, who developed bothersome itching that subsided promptly after cessation of atropine eye drops, were included. History of systemic or ocular allergy, preexisting ocular conditions, and clinical features of allergy were noted. Results: Six children, age 5–15 years, were included. Four developed allergy to 1% atropine sulfate eye drops and two to 0.01% concentration of atropine sulfate. The onset of allergy was within a month to as late as 4 years after using atropine eye drops. The severity of allergy was higher with 1% concentration. The most common symptoms of atropine allergy were itching and burning. The most common signs were lid swelling and hyperemia. The allergic manifestations promptly reversed with the stoppage of eye drops. Reintroduction was possible in three patients, either by reducing the concentration of atropine or using benzalkonium free formulation. Conclusion: Allergy to atropine eye drops in children may develop within a few weeks or after many years of usage. Prompt cessation followed by a reintroduction and continuation of therapy may be possible in few patients.

The effect of mental imagining training for improving upper extremity function in subacute stroke patient.

Background: Over 50% of patients with upper limb paresis resulting from stroke face long term impaired arm function and ensuing disability in daily life. The incidence of stroke increases dogmatically with age, doubling in the decade after 65 years of age. Early rehabilitation treatment in the first phase of stroke is currently advice in clinical guidelines and little evidence is available on such treatment for improving arm/hand function in the same period. Unfortunately, the number of effective treatments aimed at improving arm function due to stroke is still low. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate a new therapy for improving upper extremity function in sub-acute stroke patients based on mental practice theories and funtional task-oriented training, and to study the predictors for a positive treatment result. Material and methods: 30 sub-acute stroke patients with upper limb paresis were selected by simple random sampling in this study. The experimental group undertook 12 week, individually tailored therapy regime focused on improving upper extremity function using mental practice . primary outcome measures assessed upper extremity functioning with Action Research Arm Test, Fugl Meyer Test, and Modified Asworth Scale. ANOVA was used in this study. Null hypothesis with alpha level was set at 0.05. Conclusion: Mental imagining training resulted in significant improvement in upper extremity function in sub acute stroke patient. However the improvement obtained in upper extremity function found no significant difference after mental imagining training between the groups.

Mineral composition of some wild edible fruits from Kolhapur District.

The mineral compositions of the 8 wild edible fruits were investigated. Nitrogen, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus were analyzed as the major constituents of the fruits and iron, zinc, copper and manganese were identified as a minor constituent. Among all the mineral, Potassium were found in large quantity in all fruits. Ficus racemosa L., fruit contain the highest amount of calcium, sodium and potassium. Grewia tiliifolia Vahl. fruit is rich in potassium and magnesium whereas iron content is more in Meyna laxiflora Robyns, Flacourtia indica (Burm. f.)Merr. fruit is rich in copper and manganese, while Cordia dichotoma fruit rich in zinc.

Ethnobotanical survey of wild edible fruits in Kolhapur District.

The present study deals with the identification, documentation and ethno-botanical exploration with respect to food value of wild edible fruits from Kolhapur district. Total 3o wild edible fruits were surveyed. Fruits are the nature’s gift to mankind; these are not only delicious and refreshing but also the chief source of vitamin, minerals and protein. The wild edible fruits are the normal food of cattle grazers and the forest tribes. Although the popularity of these wild forms of fruits has declined, it is considered that special attention should be paid to them in order to maintain and improve this important source of food supply.

Effect of water extract of the bark of Buchanania lanzan linn. on behaviour and chromatophores of a fresh water fish, Labeo rohita.

Fish exposed to 150 ppm and 250 ppm doses saparately, showed eratic swimming with hyper-excitability, spiralling, convulsion and mortality. However at 350 ppm dose fish became lethargic and steady at the bottom of aquarium. This behaviour appears to be due to sedative effects of fish implicating the phychoactive nature of the plant B. Ianzan. At 150 ppm to 350 ppm doses, fish scale changed from reticulate to punctate chromatophores; and treated fish when transferred to fresh water, were slowly regained to normal behaviour after 96 h exposure. Hence doses regaining from 150 ppm to 350 ppm is considered to be psychoative in nature. In higher doses 450 ppm and 550 ppm fish could survive only 76 h and 4.30 h respectively and then died indicating toxicity of plant for the said doses. It is found that scale present on its body is most suitable test system for the study of psychoactivity and toxicity of plant extracts on fish, Labeo rohita.