A comparison of responses to alcohol expectancy questionnaire (CEOA) of Indian and Malaysian medical students

Alcohol addiction is a social problem faced by every country worldwide. Young people are more at risk of this menace. In spite of a clear knowledge and message about the effects of alcohol on individual health and social fabric, it is hard to curb the overuse of this beverage. In the present study, we compared the outcome of a survey using Comprehensive effects of Alcohol (CEOA) in two private Medical institutions in two Asian countries, viz. KMC, Mangalore, India (n=180) and AIMST, Kedah, Malaysia (n=170). The study included both males and female students. The result suggested that the negative reinforcement responses were rated higher in both the study groups. But those who have tasted alcohol before had a higher rating that alcohol may cause positive reinforcement. Both groups of respondents showed similar trend suggesting that the alcohol expectancies are similar in Indian students and Malaysian students. From the results we could conclude that the responses of the two sample groups were comparable to each other. While the male respondents were inclined show higher affinity towards acceptance of alcohol females are very much less so. However, the respondents of both groups appeared to be well aware of the negative aspects of alcohol. Importantly previous exposure to alcohol intake dramatically changed the perception and showed increased inclination towards alcoholism. This study thus provides an important clue to the clinician, counselors and parents regarding the importance of guiding the young people about the alcoholism.     

Exponential model for weight using ‘RJ index’

We screened a sample of 204 children between the age of 3 months to 5 years and 3 months were during a general health survey conducted by the Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore from March 1992 to December 1993 at Kumpala village under PHC Ullal about 10 kms from Mangalore City. We developed a new index RJ as RJ=Mid upper Arm Circumforence×(Height)²×10⁻⁴ and tested the correlation of RJ index and weight for age. We found the correlation coefficient (r=0.8) to be very significant (P<0.001). Thus we propose the model as Weight=A×exp (RJ×B). We found that the available data fit in this model. We hope that this study will be a new step in looking at arm circumference as a tool in estimating weight of pre-school children.     

手法小切口白内障术联合小梁切除治疗POAG合并白内障

目的:白内障手术技术在近年已经得到了很大提高。本文提出了一项创新且操作简便的隧道内小梁切除术,并发症少,用于治疗白内障合并原发性开角型青光眼（primary open angle glaucoma,POAG）。方法:对于纳入该前瞻性、非随机性临床研究的103例108眼白内障合并POAG患者行手法小切口白内障手术（manual small incision cataract surgery,MSICS）联合隧道内小梁切除术。随访6mo,依据气泡的解剖学外形及其功能对手术疗效进行评估。结果:术后第1d,隧道内切口组的平均眼压(intraocular pressure,IOP)为11.4±3.1mmHg(P=0.012),术后第2d的平均IOP为10.3±3.5mmHg (P=0.065)。隧道内切口组的浅前房和虹膜角膜接触明显减少。结论:巩膜隧道切口小梁切除术("scleral tunnel incision"-trabeculectomy,STIT)的眼压在术后6mo平稳降低。STIT相对安全,类似过多房水外流的早期并发症比传统小梁切除术(conventional trabeculectomy,CT)少。