Relative frequency of norovirus infection in children with acute gastroenteritis.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of norovirus among children with acute gastroenteritis in 2009 and 2010. We also aimed that, to detecting the possible clinical and laboratory differences among cases in 2009 and 2010. METHODS: Fecal samples were collected from children under 16 years of age who were admitted for acute gastroenteritis. Norovirus was detected using immunochromatography. For the comparison of seasonal distribution, clinical manifestations, and laboratory results between cases, we divided subjects into two groups by year. RESULTS: Norovirus infection was detected in 112 of the 1027 collected samples (10.9%). In three cases with norovirus, other enteric viruses like rotavirus and adenovirus are detected concurrently, and these were excluded. After the exclusion of three cases with co-infections, statistical analysis was made in 109 cases. Most of the positive cases were between 1-24 months of age (N.=75, 67%). The rate of norovirus infection peaked in winter in 2010 (P<0.05). However, the rates were not significantly different between seasons in 2009 (P>0.05). We did not detect any positive cases in late summer and autumn in 2010. Diarrhea (97.2%), vomiting (95.4%), and abdominal pain (65.1%) were most frequently encountered symptoms of patients with norovirus. Leukocytosis and neutrophilia were significantly higher in 2010 than 2009 (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The prevalence and clinical characteristics of norovirus in our study group is similar but seasonal distribution is different between two years. Most of the cases were <24 months of age. Like rotavirus, norovirus vaccine can be developed to prevent infection.

Strategic planning and designing of a hospital disaster manual in a tertiary care, teaching, research and referral institute in India.

BACKGROUND: As per the "Disaster Management Act, 2005" of India, it is mandatory for government hospitals in India to prepare a disaster plan. This study aimed to prepare a disaster manual of a 1 900 bed tertiary care hospital, in consultation and involvement of all concerned stakeholders. METHODS: A committee of members from hospital administration, clinical, diagnostic and supportive departments worked on an initial document prepared according to the Act and gave their inputs to frame a final disaster manual. RESULTS: The prepared departmental standard operating procedures involved 116 people (doctors and paramedical staff), and were then synchronized, in 12 committee meetings, to produce the final hospital disaster manual. CONCLUSIONS: The present disaster manual is one of the few comprehensive plans prepared by the stakeholders of a government hospital in India, who themselves form a part of the disaster response team. It also helped in co-ordinated conduction of mock drills.

Valor nutritivo de gramíneas do gênero Cynodon consorciadas com amendoim forrageiro / Nutritive value of grasses of genus Cynodon mixed with forage peanut

O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o valor nutritivo do consórcio forrageiro entre gramíneas do gênero Cynodon (cv. tifton 85 ou coastcross) com Arachis pintoi (amendoim forrageiro). O experimento foi conduzido na Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Câmpus Dois Vizinhos, em área de aproximadamente 3000m2. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos ao acaso, com quatro tratamentos e três repetições. Os tratamentos foram: tifton 85 e coastcross em cultivo estreme, tifton 85 + AF e coastcross + AF. Foram avaliados os teores de PB, FDN, FDA, DIVMS, MM e MS das lâminas foliares, colmo+bainha, amendoim forrageiro e da MF disponível da simulação de pastejo. Foi observado que a coastcross tem menor teor de fibra, independentemente do tratamento. O avanço das estações do ano proporcionou menores valores de PB e DIVMS em todos os tratamentos. A simulação de pastejo demonstrou que a tifton 85 tem maiores teores de MS, assim como valores inferiores são encontrados para os consórcios. Quando consorciado com as gramíneas, o amendoim forrageiro reduziu os compostos fibrosos na pastagem, acrescentando maiores teores de PB em pastagem de gramíneas no final do ciclo produtivo.(AU)

The goal of this study was to evaluate the fodder performance and production of Cynodon (Cv. Tifton 85 or Coastcross) mixed with Arachis pintoi (Forage peanut). The experiment was conducted at the Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Câmpus Dois Vizinhos, at an area of approximately 3000m2. A completely randomized block design was applied, with four treatments and three replicates. The treatments were: Tifton 85 and Coastcross in pure crop, Tifton 85 + AF and Coastcross + AF with rotated and successive implantation of one line to the grass and three consecutive lines to the legume. The content of CP, NDF, ADF, IVDMD ashe and DM of the leaf blades, stem of grasses forage peanut and total forage mass available of grazing simulation was evaluated. Coastcross has lower fibrous contents, regardless of treatment. The changing of the seasons during the year provided lower values of CP and IVDMD for all treatments. The evaluation of the grazing simulation showed that Tifton 85 has higher DM values just as the lower ones are found for consortia. When mixed with grasses, forage peanuts reduce the fibrous compounds on pasture, increasing the CP levels in grass pasture at the end of productive cycle.(AU)