ABSTRACT
Background: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the axial spine that can manifest with various clinical signs and symptoms. Chronic back pain and progressive spinal stiffness are the most common features of this disease. It is an autoimmune disease which also leads to the involvement of skeletal, cardiac, nervous tissues, and other systemic organs. Aim and Objectives: This study was conducted to assess the correlation between the Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) score/visual analog scale (VAS) and various age groups in the patients suffering with AS using standard questionnaire. Materials and Methods: Forty-eight AS patients having BASDAI scores of ?4 were included in this study. The height and weight were taken and responses to the standard questionnaire were recorded. BASDAI Score, body mass index (BMI), and VAS were computed. The patients with history of chronic diseases such as hyper/hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension or the use of any medication such as ?/? blockers, calcium channel blockers, and antiepileptics were excluded from the study. Results: The patients were divided into six different age groups, i.e., 15–20 years, 21–25 years, 26–30 years, 31–35 years, 36–40 years, and 41–45 years. The mean ± SEM values of the BASDAI score in various age groups were 6.8 ± 0.34, 6.3 ± 0.33, 6.2 ± 0.26, 7.1 ± 0.41, 6.5 ± 0.30, and 5.8 ± 0.48, respectively. The mean ± SEM values of VAS are shown in relation to the various age groups, i.e., 15–20 years, 21–25 years, 26–30 years, 31–35 years, 36–40 years, and 41–45 years and the values were 6.88 ± 0.312, 6.58 ± 0.22, 6.55 ± 0.66, 6.00 ± 0.23, 6.72 ± 0.25, and 6.0 ± 0.50, respectively. Conclusion: This study indicates that in the young age group, patients BASDAI score is higher and BMI is lower, and in the older age group, patients BASDAI score is lower and BMI is higher than each other indicating higher disease activity in the younger patients than older patients. An inverse correlation between VAS and age further substantiates our previous finding.
ABSTRACT
Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that affects red blood cells. It is characterized by polymerization of haemoglobin, erythrocyte stiffening, and subsequent vaso-occlusions. These can lead to microcirculation obstructions, tissue ischemia, infarction and acute stroke. Transient ischemic attack, Ischaemic stroke, haemorrhagic stroke, silent cerebral infarction, headache, Moyamoya disease, neuropathic pain, and neurocognitive impairment are neurological complications of sickle cell disease. Here we report a case of ischemic stroke in a patient of sickle cell disease. For early diagnosis and proper management of sickle cell disease neurological complications require specialised haematological and neurological expertise. The newly used medications under ongoing research will be the hope to overcome this devastating disease and its complications.
ABSTRACT
Present study was conducted using purposive sampling technique to identify prevailing marketing practices and consumer preference for pork in Bareilly city. The study revealed that majority of retailers come under middle age group and belong to lower socio-economic strata. Facilities of chiller, deep freezer, disinfectant and packaging and labeling were not available at any retail shops. Majority of respondent sold 30-35kg pork/day with higher frequency of selling at morning within 4-5 hrs of slaughter. Problems faced by retailers were poor financial conditions and lack of marketing chain. Pork retailers required training and aids related to pork business from government. Majority of consumers at Bareilly city belongs to the lower socio-economic strata. Majority of individuals purchased pork at least 1-2 times per week, most of them purchased at morning time. Most of consumer preferred ham cut, purchased meat from road side stalls immediately after slaughter for preparing dishes from pork and preferred stewing. Finally, it can be concluded that pork was sold through unorganized sector, both consumers and retailers were not aware about quality and safety of pork and meager value chain exist for pork business at Bareilly city
ABSTRACT
In vitro isolation of rabies virus using mouse neuroblastoma cells (MNA) was evaluated. The sensitivity and reliability of in vitro procedure was performed in comparison with mouse inoculation test (MIT), the in vivo method of virus isolation, direct fluorescent antibody test (FAT) and Sellers staining. Of the 33 animal brain samples tested, 24 (72.72%) were positive by MIT. Sensitivity of Sellers stain, FAT and rapid tissue culture infection test (RTCIT) was found to be 54.16, 100 and 91.6% respectively. Concordance of Sellers stain, FAT, RTCIT with MIT was found to be 66.6, 100 and 93.93% respectively. Two samples which were positive by FAT and MIT showed gross contamination in cell lines, which is one of the drawbacks of RTCIT. However, rabies virus could be isolated in MNA cells from two of the eight human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from clinico-epidemiologically suspected cases of rabies. Both MIT and FAT showed negative results in the two CSF samples. RTCIT appears to be a fast and reliable alternative to MIT and holds promise in antemortem diagnosis of rabies, which is otherwise, a challenging task for a reference laboratory.