Knowledge and practices among rural mothers in Haryana about childhood diarrhea

Knowledge and practices of 108 rural mothers about childhood diarrhea, were determined by using pretested semi-structured interview schedules. The common causes of diarrhea reported were eruption of teeth (67.59%), eating of mud (51.85%), worm infestation (47.22%), change of climate (35.18%), poor personal hygiene (34.25%) and changes in diet (25.92%). Majority (83.33%) of mothers practiced food restriction during diarrhea. Seventy seven percent consulted their mother-in-laws in the first instance for treatment of diarrhea. The home remedies tried by mothers were, isabgol husk with curd (30.55%), ghee with tea (28.70%) water boiled with mint leaves (25.92%), local ghutti (22.22%) and unripe mango juice (16.66%). Majority of mothers (83.33%) believed that oral rehydration therapy alone, cannot treat diarrhea.     

Knowledge and attitude towards breast feeding among adolescent girls

Majority of the urban adolescent girl students (n = 76) from middle socioeconomic group correctly reported that breast milk is the best food for infants (95%), and it has protective antibodies (98%). However, most of them (92%) had incorrect knowledge about the role of diet in breast milk secretion and continuation of breastfeeding while mother is suffering from tuberculosis (92%), malaria (84%).     

Tuberculosis in renal transplant recipients: Rifampicin sparing treatment protocol

The reactivation of mycobacterium infection inrenal transplant recipients in developingcountries is a common therapeutic dilemma,especially in those patients receivingcyclosporin immunosuppression. The inclusion ofrifampicin in the antituberculosis protocolincreases the risk of precipitating acuteallograft rejection due to its interaction withcyclosporin and also increases the financialburden. We successfully treated 16 patients whodeveloped mycobacterial infection post renaltransplant with a rifampicin sparingantituberculosis drug regimen. Pyrexia ofunknown origin was the most common manifestationobserved and a therapeutic trial withantituberculosis drugs is justified. De novodiabetes mellitus appears to be an added riskfactor and increases the susceptibility tomycobacterial infection.     

Bioterrorism-related anthrax surveillance,Connecticut, September-December, 2001

On November 19, 2001, a case of inhalational anthrax was identified in a 94-year-old Connecticut woman, who later died. We conducted intensive surveillance for additional anthrax cases, which included collecting data from hospitals, emergency departments, private practitioners, death certificates, postal facilities, veterinarians, and the state medical examiner. No additional cases of anthrax were identified. The absence of additional anthrax cases argued against an intentional environmental release of Bacillus anthracis in Connecticut and suggested that, if the source of anthrax had been cross-contaminated mail, the risk for anthrax in this setting was very low. This surveillance system provides a model that can be adapted for use in similar emergency settings.     

Decremental response of the nasalis and hypothenar muscles in myasthenia gravis

Repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS) is a standard diagnostic procedure in myasthenia gravis (MG). Although RNS sensitivity is highest in weak muscles, RNS is easier to perform in distal muscles that are often not affected. Twenty-five patients with MG were assessed to compare the sensitivity of RNS of the nasalis muscle to that of the hypothenar muscles. Abnormal decrement was found in hypothenar muscles in 9 patients (36%) and in the nasalis muscle in 13 patients (52%). RNS of the nasalis muscle appeared more useful to detect abnormal neuromuscular transmission in patients with oculobulbar MG (5 of 5) than hypothenar RNS (1 of 5). In patients with generalized MG, hypothenar muscles had a similar yield of abnormal RNS tests.     

A theoretical perspective using resource dependency to predict the potential migration of Medicare-eligible military beneficiaries into the Department of Defense's Managed Care System

TRICARE for Life (TFL) became effective on October 1, 2001. On that date, approximately 1.5 million Medicare-eligible military beneficiaries (MEMB) regained health care reimbursement privileges resulting in significantly reduced individual out-of-pocket costs. TFL acts as a secondary payer to an eligible beneficiary's Medicare or other health insurance. Currently, TFL beneficiaries are allowed to remain in their current health care system. However, early discussions of Public Law 106-398 recommended that MEMB seek care at military treatment facilities. The return of MEMB to military treatment facilities may have presented a number of management challenges to leaders of the Military Health System. This article applies resource dependence theory to the issue of MEMB returning to military treatment facilities under the TFL program. Resource dependency theory and a conceptual model assist in identifying a number of challenges that may adversely affect MEMB in future years should this option ever become a reality.     

Immunocytochemical localization of a Manduca sexta gamma-aminobutyric acid transporter

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in insect central and peripheral nervous systems. Although much work has focused on the downstream targets of GABA, signal termination at insect GABAergic synapses has received very little attention. One of the major mechanisms of terminating synaptic transmission involves transport of the neurotransmitter molecules into presynaptic neurons or surrounding glia. Here we report the immunolocalization of a GABA transporter in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta (MasGAT), using an affinity-purified antibody developed to the C-terminus. This is the first demonstration of an insect neurotransmitter transporter immunolocalization study. Results showed strong staining in the neuropil regions of embryonic, larval, and pharate adult central nervous system. Expression pattern in the pharate adult brain mostly mimicked that observed for GABA, with staining in parts of the optic and antennal lobes, mushroom body, lateral protocerebrum, and central complex. Certain longitudinal and lateral connectives of ganglia were observed to have immunostained fibers representing axons. These data support the view that GABA is involved in visual and olfactory processing in the insect brain.     

Impact of the home indoor environment on adult asthma and rhinitis

OBJECTIVE: We sought to study the combined effects of multiple home indoor environmental exposures in adult asthma and rhinitis. METHODS: We studied 226 adults with asthma and rhinitis by structured interviews and home assessments. Environmental factors included dust allergen, endotoxin and glucan concentrations, and indoor air quality (IAQ) variables. Outcomes included forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) percent predicted, Severity of Asthma Score (SAS), Short-Form (SF)-12 Physical Component Scale (PCS), and asthma Quality of Life (QOL) score. RESULTS: House dust-associated exposures together with limited IAQ variables were related to FEV1 % predicted (R = 0.24; P = 0.0001) and SAS (R = 0.18; P = 0.007). IAQ and limited dust variables were associated with SF-12 PCS (R = 0.15; P = 0.02), but not QOL (R = 0.13; P = 0.16). CONCLUSIONS: The home environment is strongly linked to lung function, health status, and disease severity in adult asthma and rhinitis.