RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Inflammation is an important aspect of the pathophysiology of bronchial asthma and measurement of inflammatory markers of airways can aid in management. Nitric oxide measurement in exhaled breath is a non-invasive method of determining airway inflammation which can be used in assessing severity and response to treatment in children with bronchial asthma. METHODS: Thirty children in the age group 6-14 years with previously or newly diagnosed bronchial asthma reporting for the first time to a tertiary care hospital constituted the study group. Assessment was done by history, clinical examination, spirometry and measurement of fractional excretion of nitric oxide (FeNO) before commencement of treatment as per standard guidelines and on follow up at 2 to 4 weeks intervals for a minimum of three times. RESULTS: There was significant correlation between FeNO values, spirometry parameters and clinical profile in the first visit before the initiation of therapy. Children with higher FeNO in the first visit responded better to Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICS) with good clinical and spirometry responses and fall in FeNO on second visit. However, in subsequent visits no significant correlation was observed between clinical control, FeNO levels and spirometry. CONCLUSION: High FeNO values at first presentation could give us a clue as to whether or not a child would respond to ICS but FeNO monitoring may not be helpful in long term follow up as various other factors can affect its value.
RESUMO
In world Helminthes infections are the most widespread of all the infections in humans. The morbidity due to parasitic diseases has been increasing in our population. The gastrointestinal helminthes become resistant to the currently available anthelmintic drugs. Anthelmintic substances having considerable toxicity to human beings are present in foods derived from livestock, posing a serious threat to human health. Due to this, there is a need to derive new chemical substances from natural sources, for helminthes control. In this study, volatile oil isolated from Eucalyptus globulus Labill was evaluated for its anthelmintic activity on adult Indian earthworms, Pheretima posthuma, which have anatomical and physiological resemblance with the intestinal roundworm parasites of human beings. In concentrations of 0.05, 0.01 and 0.15 ml/ml, respectively, all the oil samples showed potent anthelmintic activity as compared to that of the standard drug albendazole at a concentration of 10 mg/ml.
RESUMO
A survey of sheep and goat producers in the state of Maharashtra, India, was undertaken to ascertain the extent and economic impact of sheep pox and goat pox (SGP). One thousand one hundred and sixteen owners were interviewed. Eighty owners (7.2%) reported that they had experienced an outbreak of the disease in the previous 6 years. The results showed that, while producers ranked SGP below other infectious diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease, rinderpest and enterotoxaemia, when SGP occurred it had a major impact, with average morbidity and mortality rates of 63.5% and 49.5%, respectively. Modelling studies suggested it would take about 6 years for a flock or herd to recover from an outbreak, with average annual losses in income of 30-43%, depending on flock type and the owner's actions. Statewide, it is estimated that around 5000 flocks and herds are affected by SGP annually in Maharashtra, costing up to INR 107.5 million. The highest losses occurred in the Aurangabad region.
