Identification and assessment of stress and associated stressors among veterinary students in India using a cross-sectional questionnaire survey.

Background: Veterinary education, is a rigorous professional training program, which exposes students to significant academic and non-academic pressures. The identification of stressors and stress levels among veterinary students mighty help the designing and implementation of coping strategies to protect the students' mental health. Methods: A 44-item based cross-sectional questionnaire survey was prepared and disseminated among veterinary students in India to identify the stressors responsible, measure the amount of stress, and relate stress to characteristics like gender, degree year, and family income. A total of n = 611 veterinary students across 14 states including 27 colleges/universities participated in the study. The collected data was evaluated for sampling adequacy, construct validity, and reliability using a set of statistical tests. Results: The analysis revealed high sampling adequacy with a KMO value of 0.957 and a highly significant anti-image correlation (p < 0.001). The principal component analysis generated six factors or subscales which effectively explained 51.98% of the variance in the data, depicting high construct validity. The Cronbach's alpha value of 0.957 revealed high internal consistency for the questionnaire. Analysis revealed more than 94% of pupils under stress, with levels ranging from moderate to severe. Academic-related stressor (95.58%) was the leading cause of overall stress in the present study followed by inter- and intrapersonal and career related-stressors (93.12%) and exams and evaluation-related stressor (90.99%). In comparison to male students, female students reported significantly higher levels of overall stress, academic stress, and intrapersonal and interpersonal stress (p < 0.001) using Chi-square. The students from lower-income families experienced significantly higher overall stress as well as stress due to family responsibilities (p < 0.001). The first-year undergraduate students reported significantly higher (p < 0.001) stress due to family responsibilities-related stressors whereas second-year students due to social activities-related stressors. The hierarchal regression model predicted that gender, family income, academic-related stressors, inter- and intrapersonal and career-related stressors, and social activities-related stressors can be employed to evaluate overall stress among students, as they ensured the maximum variance in the data (p < 0.001). Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first Indian study to identify stressors, quantify associated stress and predict major attributes to be targeted in future studies for veterinary students.

Influence of microbial fuel cell with porous anode on voltage generation, chemical oxygen demand, chloride content and total dissolved solids.

Microbial fuel cells were developed using two different water sources: (1) unpolluted water (Kala Talao Lake) and (2) polluted water (Waldhuni River). The maximum output voltage provided by each source was compared, as was the cell voltage variation with anode porosity. The variation in power density of each cell with variation in anode porosity was also studied. The analysis of the MFCs' internal resistance (Rin) was also conducted and the variation with increased anode porosity was identified. The pH variation in both the MFCs is also reported. The cells' higher voltage output resulting in a lower pH was confirmed and variation of the pH gradient with increased porosity of anode was recorded. An analysis of the chemical oxygen demand (COD) values and water conductivity of the MFCs was also carried out. A significant drop in the COD values with increasing anode porosity occurred in both cells. The finding of increased porosity was also studied with decreased conductivity. In addition, variations in chloride content and total dissolved salts with porosity were performed.

Aflatoxin M1 in milk in Hisar city, Haryana, India and risk assessment.

Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) contamination in 150 samples of milk, sold in market of Hisar city of Haryana, India, was investigated by using High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Out of these, 40 samples contained AFM1 at a concentration below the limit of detection (LOD) of 0.052 µg/kg. Among the AFM1 contaminated samples, 46 raw milk samples contained a concentration above the LOD but less than the limit of quantitation (LOQ), whereas 64 samples were above the LOQ. Of these samples, 31 exceeded the maximum limit of 0.5 µg/kg prescribed by FSSAI, India. Based on this study, the dietary intake of AFM1 for adults through consumption of milk was estimated. The results indicated that AFM1 contamination can be a food safety issue for raw and pasteurised milk consumed in India. Therefore, there is a need for a national monitoring programme to control the level of mycotoxins in milk.

Age estimation from physiological changes of teeth by Gustafson's method.

Age determination is crucial in medicolegal cases. Various factors are considered for determination of age, out of which teeth are the most durable structures in human body which are better preserved even in the acidic soil. In many archaeological sites and forensic cases, teeth are the only available human remains for the identification and age determination purpose. We conducted this study to know the changes in teeth with advancement of age. In our study, 80 cases in the age group of 26-70 years were studied, out of which 58 were men and 22 women. The six physiological changes in teeth, viz. attrition, periodontosis, secondary dentin deposition, root translucency, cementum apposition and root resorption, were studied with each parameter having score ranging from 0 to 3. Total score was calculated by adding the scores of all the six physiological factors. The regression analysis was done by plotting the total score allotted against the actual age of the person. This regression line was used to derive the regression formula which came out as y = 3.71x + 16.03 and from this, age of the person was calculated. The average age difference between known and estimated age in this study was found to be ±4.43 years.

Study of addiction problems and morbidity among geriatric population in rural area of Aurangabad district.

RESEARCH QUESTION: What is the addiction problems and morbidity profile pattern of geriatric population in rural area? OBJECTIVES: i) To study the morbidity profile of elderly. ii) To study the addiction problems among elderly. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was carried out at the field practice area of Rural Health and Training Center (RHTC), Paithan of Government Medical College, Aurangabad during the period of September 1, 2006 to August 31, 2007. Total elderly population according to the definition at the field practice area of RHTC, Paithan was 3128. Enlisting of the study subjects was done by systematic random sampling by using Loksabha electoral list of 2005. A sample of 20% of total elderly population was taken by including every fifth elderly from the electoral list. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTINGS: Field practice area of RHTC, Paithan of Government Medical College, Aurangabad. PARTICIPANTS: Elderly above 60 years of age. SAMPLE SIZE: 625 which was 20% of total elderly at RHTC, Paithan. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Chi-square test. RESULTS: a) The study found that the prevalence of addiction among males was 68.34%, the prevalence of various addictions were smoking 29.96%, alcohol 18.18%, tobacco chewing 29.29% and among females, 45.42% elderly females use to chew tobacco. b) Prevalence of cataract was 40.16%, joint pain - 23.04%, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) - 7.52%, senescent forgetfulness - 10.88%, hemorrhoids - 8.64%, benign enlargement of prostate (BEP) - 7.20% in elderly males, hearing impairment - 24.8%, hypertension - 21.6%, diabetes mellitus - 13.92%, and anemia - 8.32%.

Communicating tubular duplication of upper esophagus-a rare occurrence.

Duplications of esophagus are commonly classified into two types, tubular and cystic. Tubular duplication of esophagus is a rare occurrence and is much less common than cystic duplication of foregut. Most esophageal duplications are located in the lower third of the esophagus. A cervical esophageal duplication is extremely rare. Esophageal duplications have been reported twice as commonly on the right as on the left. We report a case of incidental finding identified on computed tomography of communicating tubular esophageal duplication involving the left side of the upper esophagus in a tuberculosis patient that was subsequently confirmed on barium swallow test.

Melaena with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is a rare familial disorder characterised by mucocutaneous pigmentation, gastrointestinal and extragastrointestinal hamartomatous polyps and an increased risk of malignancy. Peutz-Jeghers polyps in the bowel may result in intussusception. This complication usually manifests with abdominal pain and signs of intestinal obstruction. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 24-year-old Caucasian male who presented with melaena. Pigmentation of the buccal mucosa was noted but he was pain-free and examination of the abdomen was unremarkable. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed multiple polyps. An urgent abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan revealed multiple small bowel intussusceptions. Laparotomy was undertaken on our patient, reducing the intussusceptions and removing the polyps by enterotomies. Bowel resection was not needed. CONCLUSION: Melaena in PJS needs to be urgently investigated through a CT scan even in the absence of abdominal pain and when clinical examination of the abdomen shows normal findings. Although rare, the underlying cause could be intussusception, which if missed could result in grave consequences.

Column reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method for simultaneous determination of rabeprazole sodium and domperidone in combined tablet dosage form.

A new, simple column reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for simultaneous determination of rabeprazole sodium (RAB) and domperidone (DOM) in a combined tablet dosage form has been developed and validated. Determination was performed using a Jasco HPLC system with a HiQ SiL octadecylsilane (C18) column (250 x 4.6 mm id), acetonitrile-0.1 M ammonium acetate (50 + 50, v/v) mobile phase, and paracetamol as an internal standard. The detection was performed using a UV detector set at 280 nm. The method was validated with respect to linearity, accuracy, precision, and robustness. Beer's law was obeyed in the concentration range of 1.0-10.0 and 0.5-5.0 microg/mL for RAB and DOM, respectively. The method has been successfully applied for the analysis of drugs in a pharmaceutical formulation.

Spectrophotometric and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic methods for simultaneous determination of escitalopram oxalate and clonazepam in combined tablet dosage form.

Simple, accurate, precise, and sensitive ultraviolet spectrophotometric and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) methods for simultaneous estimation of escitalopram oxalate (ESC) and clonazepam (CLO) in combined tablet dosage form have been developed and validated. The spectroscopic method employs an absorbance correction method using 238.6 and 308 nm as 2 wavelengths for estimation with methanol and water as solvents. Beer's law is obeyed in the concentration range of 10.0-50.0 and 0.5-3.0 micro/mL for ESC and CLO, respectively. The RP-HPLC method uses a Jasco HPLC system with HiQ SiL C18 column (250 x 4.6 mm id) acetonitrile-0.005 M tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulfate (55 + 45, v/v) as the mobile phase, and satranidazole as an internal standard. The detection was carried out using an ultraviolet detector set at 287 nm. For the HPLC method, Beer's law is obeyed in the concentration range of 10.0-60.0 and 0.5-3.0 microg/mL for ESC and CLO, respectively. Both methods have been successfully applied for the analysis of the drugs in a pharmaceutical formulation. Results of analysis were validated statistically and by recovery studies.

Intrahepatic perforation of the gall bladder presenting as liver abscess: case report, review of literature and Niemeier's classification.

Liver abscess formation is a rare complication of gall bladder perforation with cholecystohepatic communication. We describe a patient who presented with right upper quadrant pain and progressive confusion, and was found to have an intrahepatic perforation of the gall bladder. We discuss the diagnostic work-up and the management of this rare entity. In particular, we look at the increasing role of interventional radiology and the limits of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the management of such cases. The discrepancies and the modifications in the classification of gall bladder perforation (Niemeier's classification) are also discussed.

Spectrophotometric simultaneous determination of rabeprazole sodium and itopride hydrochloride in capsule dosage form.

A new simple, economical, rapid, precise and accurate method for simultaneous determination of rabeprazole sodium and itopride hydrochloride in capsule dosage form has been developed. The method is based on ratio spectra derivative spectrophotometry. The amplitudes in the first derivative of the corresponding ratio spectra at 231nm (minima) and 260nm were selected to determine rabeprazole sodium and itopride hydrochloride, respectively. The method was validated with respect to linearity, precision and accuracy.

Sonographic diagnosis of uncomplicated first-trimester pregnancy in the rudimentary horn of a unicornuate uterus.

Although pregnancy in a rudimentary uterine horn is rare, the correct diagnosis of this condition on routine sonographic examination is critical, because its natural history usually involves the rupture of the pregnant horn during the second or third trimester, resulting in life-threatening bleeding. We report a case in which the diagnosis of right unicornuate uterus with a left noncommunicating rudimentary horn was made in the first trimester on routine sonographic examination.

Sonographic detection of Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans), an unusual foreign body, in the urinary bladder.

A variety of foreign bodies have been described in the urinary bladder. These bodies are usually found in patients who have a psychiatric disorder with a sexual perversion or inquisitiveness (as in children) as the underlying cause. We report a case of Indian grass inserted into the urinary bladder by an adult male that was detected on sonography and subsequently removed successfully via surgery.

Canine mycotic stomatitis due to Candida albicans.

Candida albicans, a medically important opportunistic yeast is described as the etiologic agent of stomatitis in dogs. The oral swabs collected from 34 dogs showing symptoms of stomatitis or gingivitis such as anorexia, halitosis, bleeding within the oral cavity, dysphagia, ptyalism (salivation) and submandibular lymphadenopathy were cultured for isolation of the causative agent. C. albicans was isolated from four (11.8%) dogs. The isolates were sensitive to clotrimazole, fluconazole and amphotericin-B but were resistant to nystatin. The routine application of Pal's sunflower seed medium and Narayan stain in microbiological laboratories is highly emphasized. It is recommended that the role of C. albicans, as the etiologic agent of canine stomatitis, should be carefully investigated in various clinical related disorders of dogs as well as in other animals.

Etiological significance of Candida albicans in otitis externa.

A study covering 79 patients (42 males, 37 females) of different age groups clinically diagnosed as otomycosis were investigated mycologically to elucidate the role of Candia albicans, an opportunistic polymorphic yeast, in otitis externa. C. albicans was diagnosed as the sole pathogen in two patients (1 male and 1 female) aged 18 and 20 years, respectively. The organism was repeatedly demonstrated in the aural specimens both by direct microscopy as well as culture isolation. Both the patients had unilateral otomycosis and used antibiotic solution and removed wax with wooden stick. The topical application of one per cent clotrimazole lotion showed good response both clinically as well as mycologically. The growing significance of opportunistic fungi emphasizes on comprehensive studies to establish the etiologic role in various clinical disorders in human and animal medicine.