Bedsore is a curse in disguise: capturing the zeitgeist

Background: Development of a bedsore is always avoidable still its worldwide prevalence fluctuates between 0%-56%. Bedsores are maximally observed in patients who are on long term care, in intensive care, immuno-compromised or on home care.Methods: In a tertiary care center-JK hospital, Bhopal, a longitudinal observational study was done for a duration of 3 years, on all registered in-patients, to understand the trend of bedsore rates on monthly basis.Results: In our study, even though, on yearly basis, average of rates is showing a declining trend in favorable manner yet higher statistical analysis (ANOVA test p value = 0.054) has decrypted the non-significant results.Conclusions: Timely and appropriate prophylactic interventions are needed to overcome the increased bedsore rates. Checklist based surveillance and monitoring should be a pressing priority. Cochrane reviews are also suggestive of incorporation of organizational changes, risk assessment tools, wound care teams and education to reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers.

Feckless practices of bio medical waste management: a conundrum for developing countries

Background: Biomedical waste poses hazard due to two principal reasons: infectivity and toxicity. 75-90% of waste produced by health care facilities is generally non risky but remaining 10-25% is regarded as hazardous with the potential for creating a variety of health problems. Biomedical waste management is an integral part of infection control practices. Virtuoso biomedical waste handling leads to a better environment for medical as well as surgical care patients.Methods: It is a descriptive forward moving study conducted to empower first year MBBS students about biomedical waste management and handling skills to enhance their expertise for future as a competent physician or surgeon and to assess their knowledge gain.Results: Out of 150 students, 131 were present. 68 were males and 63 were females. Mean age was 21.33 with standard deviation of 3.745. Mean marks obtained were 3.09±1.15 (out of 5). ANOVA statistics revealed insignificant p value denoting unambiguous pattern of knowledge gain by all the participants.Conclusions: Empowering medical undergraduates with basic medical skills at an early stage will make them more efficient for future endeavors.

Effect of temperature on behavioural isolation : A study with Drosophila ananassae populations.

Experiments were conducted to study sexual isolation among two natural populations of Drosophila ananassae maintained at 18 °C and 24 °C for 12 generations in the laboratory to see the effect of this environmental variable on behavioural isolation. Multiple choice technique was used and matings were observed directly in Elens Wattiaux mating chamber. Results showed sexual isolation among strains that were maintained at different temperatures, indicating that temperature may have affected the mating behaviour of the flies which resulted in the induction of ethological isolation among the strains.