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Introduction. The trends of β-lactamases producing Enterobacteriaceae is ever increasing, and limited studies have reported investigating coexistence of β lactamases in Enterobacteriaceae. A cross-sectional study after approval from the Institutional Ethical committee was conducted between June 2014 and May 2016 in community-acquired infections due to multidrug-resistant organisms in our tertiary care. Nonrepetitive clinical samples from the out-patient department (OPD) were processed for bacteriological culture and identification of Enterobacteriaceae. An antibiotic susceptibility test, screening, and phenotypic confirmation for ESBLs and carbapenemases and AmpC producers were performed to check for coexistence of these enzymes. Results. Nonrepetitive clinical specimens processed for culture and identification in our hospital revealed 417 positive isolates in community acquired infections which were multidrug-resistant organisms, and on screening for β-lactamases, 293 isolates were positive for one of the three beta lactamases, ESBL, AmpC, or carbapnemases. Coproduction of ESBL and MBL was seen in 5 isolates, 35 isolates showed coproduction of ESBL and AmpC enzymes, and AmpC and MBL coproduction was exhibited in only in 5 isolates. Conclusions. Coexistence of ESBLs, AmpC producers, and carbapenemases has been described. Continuous monitoring and surveillance and proper infection control and prevention practices will limit the further spread of these superbugs within the hospital and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Juvenile chronic arthritis is a heterogeneous disease, having different subtypes. Among our 89 patients with juvenile chronic arthritis, we did not find even one patient with early onset pauciarticular disease with uveitis and antinuclear antibody positivity. Further, the prevalence of anti-nuclear antibodies and anti-histone antibodies was very low whereas the prevalence of rheumatoid factor was similar to that reported from Western countries. Thus, the spectrum of juvenile chronic arthritis in India differs from that seen in the west. Larger population based studies of the disease are thus needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescence is a crucial phase characterized by significant physical and psychological changes and the provision of adequate nutrition assumes a central position in influencing the overall health and welfare of individuals in this age group. This study specifically focused on examining the impact in both rural and urban regions with 100 adolescents. A cross-sectional comparative study was undertaken in a sample of schools with the participation of 200 teenagers aged 13-18 years. The sample was divided equally between rural and urban locations. The intervention encompassed testing KAP by using information and communication tools, leaflets with recipes rich in protein and iron and an exhibition on balanced diet and nutrients. Pre-test and post-test questionnaires were employed to evaluate participants' nutritional knowledge and awareness. Subsequently, the collected data was evaluated to ascertain the efficacy of the intervention. The results showed that both rural and urban adolescents' nutritional knowledge and awareness were enhanced. It was observed that urban adolescents' cognitive achievement increase was 33.3 per cent, whereas rural adolescents' increase was 24.4 per cent. Urban adolescents' awareness increase 32.1 per cent, while rural adolescents' was 36.9 per cent. Both boys and girls improved their knowledge and awareness. Adolescents aged 16-18 years had slightly stronger pre-test knowledge than those aged 13-15 years, although they improved similarly. Thus, the study demonstrated the positive impact of intervention and hence recommends the need of nutrition education for adolescents to improve their dietary pattern and thereby health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study that uses a nitrate reductase assay (NRA) to test the rapid and inexpensive drug susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from western India. The study compares 80 strains of M. tuberculosis isolated from sputum samples of pulmonary tuberculosis patients through NRA and absolute concentration method. It reveals the potential of the NRA to be a useful tool for rapid DST of M. tuberculosis.

This paper presents the mental well being of rag pickers of Lucknow City. Rag picking is a severe and worst form of child labour. It is the most unhygienic, dangerous job in scrap collection. The children of poverty stricken classes or slum dwellers are engaged in such activities. They collect waste or broken articles and glass of plastic, tin, iron, from garbage and dirty places of urban areas. The glass, metal, iron pieces may injure their bare feet. Children engaged in rag picking, face various health problems like tetanus and skin diseases. Mental well being describes your mental state-how one feels? And how well one can cope with dayto- day life? As the study is exploratory in nature, survey method was adopted to collect the information from the target population. The main tool in the study was a self prepared interview schedule which consisted of general and specific information of the respondents targeted for the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Typhoid fever continues to remain a major health problem in the developing world, and the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains has further reduced therapeutic options for treatment of the disease. The National Salmonella and Escherichia Centre in Kasauli, India received 128 Salmonella Typhi isolates during 2008-2009. These were evaluated for antimicrobial resistance, prevalent resistotypes and the proportion of MDR strains, using standard methods for 11 antimicrobials. An abrupt decrease in the proportion of MDR strains was observed. Only 4.7% of the isolates were found to be MDR with resistotypes chloramphenicol-ampicillin-streptomycin-nalidixic acid-trimethoprim (C-A-S-Na-Tr) and chloramphenicol-ampicillin-nalidixic acid-trimethoprim (C-A-Na-Tr), which is very low compared to other studies from India. Nalidixic acid resistance was found to be present in 93.8% of the isolates. Moreover, the difference in the mean minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ciprofloxacin for nalidixic acid-resistant and nalidixic acid-sensitive strains was found to be statistically significant (p<0.001), which calls into question the further use of ciprofloxacin for the treatment of typhoid fever because of potential treatment failures. The low proportion of MDR strains increases the possibility of first-line drugs for the treatment of typhoid fever. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This issue's feature column reports on the findings of a small survey of library users carried out in an Indian medical college with a traditional curriculum. The study found that the main reason a student visited the library was to consult text books. Although the majority of students were satisfied with the library facilities, the study suggests that more needs to be done to promote self-directed learning. JM [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article situates Vishwakarma craftsmen in the socio-economic milieu of early medieval Peninsular India. It seeks to analyse the dynamics of social change among craft groups with particular reference to the smiths, masons and carpenters constituting the Vishwakarma community. This is attempted by locating the dynamics of social change within the processes of temple building and urbanism in the Chola-Pallava period. The essay looks afresh at concepts like caste, guild and community in the speci fic context of technological and economic changes and craft mobility. In so doing the article cuts across conceptual categories in the light of empirical evidence. The study is based on epigraphic evidence, essentially from the Tamil country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Explores the impact of early trade between India and Southeast Asia on the socio-political development of early Southeast Asia. Interaction between the two countries in the fourth century Christian Era; Interpretation of the Indian influence on the socio-political complexity in Southeast Asia; Details of the evolution of early trade and contract between the countries; Description of Southeast Asian socio-political condition.