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Background: Depression is characterized by persistent sadness and lack of interest or pleasure in enjoyable activities and disturbed sleep and appetite. Women suffer from depression the most, as the hurdles faced by Indian women include lack of awareness, stigma, disadvantaged position of women, multiple roles, increased levels of stress, and domestic violence. This study is to determine the prevalence of depression among elderly women and to determine the factors affecting it. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 783 elderly women (aged 60 years or more), residing in rural Mandya (South Karnataka) by interviewing them using a semi-structured proforma. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) was used to assess depression. Mean, standard deviation and proportion were used for descriptive statistics. Chi square test was used to determine association of risk factors. Results: The prevalence of depression was found to be 31.6%. The major factors affecting depression were increasing age, illness and loneliness. Conclusions: The prevalence of depression in the elderly women was high (31.6%). By identifying risk factors for depression among the elderly population and screening them on time, we can reduce the severity and burden of the disease to a greater extent.

Introduction: This is a cross sectional study conducted on cancer patients who presented at the peripheral cancer center, Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences, Mandya with an objective to find out the possible factors influencing the delay in treatment of cancer. Method: Each day the patients coming for radiotherapy treatment were selected, based on the inclusion criteria for the study and an informed consent was taken before collecting the data. Data was collected by questionnaire method and was entered in an excel sheet and analyzed. Result: The result revealed that 65% of the patients belonged to the age group 50-69 and that the delay in treatment significantly increased with increase in age, 80% of the patients were not aware and their median delay was about 60 days, 59% of the patients neglected the symptoms and their median delay was about 60 days, and 5 percent of them took self-treatment and their median delay was 60 days. Conclusion: This study, revealed that 4 important factors, all of which belonged to the patient, were responsible for the significant delay in the treatment. The 4 factors were age of the patient, awareness about the symptom, neglecting the symptom and history of self-treatment.

Introduction: Non communicable diseases are important among the adult population in developed and developing countries. Overweight & obesity are important risk factors for development of these NCDs. Healthy lifestyle measures when followed proper- ly help in the prevention & control of disease and the risk factors causing it. Awareness about the disease & healthy lifestyle practic- es is the first step in prevention and management of NCDs. This study was taken up to assess the awareness about obesity and healthy lifestyle practices among college students in Mandya. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in October 2016 to November 2016 among 321 Bachelor of Commerce stu- dents in Mandya, by interview method using a semi-structured, pre-tested questionnaire. Results: The study revealed that 205 (63.9%) knew the difference between obesity and overweight. 52 (16.2%) knew about the use of Body Mass Index for diagnosis of obesity. All the study partici- pants had heard about healthy lifestyle. 260 (81.0%) knew that healthy lifestyle includes balanced diet & regular physical activity. Conclusion: Awareness regarding obesity was poor. While the students knew about some healthy lifestyle practices, their know- ledge on the whole was inadequate.

Introduction: In India, even with planned health services, it is difficult to reach the health goals without community participation. While Community needs assessment approach (CNAA) tools like Focussed group Discussion (FGD), Village mapping and matrix ranking have been effective in quickly gathering information, surveys have been conventionally preferred. Aim & Objective: The present study compares qualitative and quantitative methods t o understand feasibility of using CNAA tools in place of survey as an alternative tool Methodology: Mixed Method research employing Survey and CNAA methods of FGD, Village Mapping, transect walk and Matrix ranking score was carried out as a part of academic activity of National Service Scheme(NSS). Data was represented in form of percentages and frequency tables. Association was measured using Chi Square using Epi Info TM version 7.2.1software. Results: Using quantitative survey, we found that 71% used piped supply and 93.1% of the households used toilets. But 6.9% of them still preferred open fields for defecation. Amongst the participants of FGD, it was found that 90% participants preferred going to government hospitals. Comparable data found for variables like Maternal and child health indicators, Sanitation practices and burden of Non communicable diseases. Partially comparable results were found for burden of communicable diseases. Conclusion: CNAA research tools demonstrated comparability with survey in most areas of health concern and reduced the time required for conducting research without compromising the quality of results [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lack of access to rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) contributes to high rabies mortality. A recombinant human monoclonal antibody (SII RMAb) was tested in a postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) regimen in comparison with a human RIG (HRIG)-containing PEP regimen., Methods: This was a phase 2/3, randomized, single-blind, noninferiority study conducted in 200 participants with World Health Organization category III suspected rabies exposures. Participants received either SII RMAb or HRIG (1:1 ratio) in wounds and, if required, intramuscularly on day 0, along with 5 doses of rabies vaccine intramuscualarly on days 0, 3, 7, 14 and 28. The primary endpoint was the ratio of the day 14 geometric mean concentration (GMC) of rabies virus neutralizing activity (RVNA) as measured by rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test for SII RMAb recipients relative to HRIG recipients., Results: One hundred ninety-nine participants received SII RMAb (n = 101) or HRIG (n = 98) and at least 1 dose of vaccine. The day 14 GMC ratio of RVNA for the SII RMAb group relative to the HRIG group was 4.23 (96.9018% confidence interval [CI], 2.59-6.94) with a GMC of of 24.90 IU/mL (95% CI, 18.94-32.74) for SII RMAb recipients and 5.88 IU/mL (95% CI, 4.11-8.41) for HRIG recipients. The majority of local injection site and systemic adverse reactions reported from both groups were mild to moderate in severity., Conclusions: A PEP regimen containing SII RMAb was safe and demonstrated noninferiority to HRIG PEP in RVNA production. The novel monoclonal potentially offers a safe and potent alternative for the passive component of PEP and could significantly improve the management of bites from suspected rabid animals., Clincical Trials Registration: CTRI/2012/05/002709., (© The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Rabies is a 100% fatal disease but preventable with vaccines and immunoglobulins. We have developed a new purified vero cell rabies vaccine (Rabivax-S) and evaluated its safety and immunogenicity in post-exposure prophylaxis by intramuscular (IM) and intradermal (ID) routes., Methods: This was a randomized active-controlled non-inferiority study in 180 individuals (age 5years and above) with suspected rabies exposure (90 each with WHO Category II and Category III exposures). The participants received either Rabivax-S (1mL IM; five doses), Rabivax-S (0.1mL ID; eight doses) or purified chick embryo cell vaccine (PCEC, Rabipur®) (1mL IM; five doses). The IM doses were given on Day 0, 3, 7, 14 and 28 while the ID doses were given on days 0, 3, 7 and 28. Category III patients also received a human rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG) on Day 0. Adverse events (AEs) were recorded with diary cards till day 42. Rabies neutralizing antibody levels were measured on day 0, 7, 14, 28 and 42., Results: In both the category II and III patients, the geometric mean concentration (GMC) ratios of Rabivax-S IM and Rabivax-S ID groups to PCEC IM were more than 1, thus proving the non-inferiority. GMCs were similar or higher in Rabivax-S groups at all the time points. Seroresponse against rabies (RFFIT titre⩾0.5IU/mL) was achieved in all participants. Mostly mild local and systemic adverse events were reported across the three groups and all resolved without sequelae., Conclusions: Rabivax-S was well tolerated and showed immunogenicity comparable to a licensed rabies vaccine by both IM and ID routes in post-exposure prophylaxis. Registry No.: CTRI/2012/11/003135., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Perioperative anaesthetic management of the VentrAssist™ left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is a challenge for anaesthesiologists because patients presenting for this operation have long-standing cardiac failure and often have associated hepatic and renal impairment, which may significantly alter the pharmacokinetics of administered drugs and render the patients coagulopathic. The VentrAssist is implanted by midline sternotomy. A brief period of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for apical cannulation of left ventricle is needed. The centrifugal pump, which produces non-pulsatile, continuous flow, is positioned in the left sub-diaphragmatic pocket. This LVAD is preload dependent and afterload sensitive. Transoesophageal echocardiography is an essential tool to rule out contraindications and to ensure proper inflow cannula position, and following the implantation of LVAD, to ensure right ventricular (RV) function. The anaesthesiologist should be prepared to manage cardiac decompensation and acute desaturation before initiation of CPB, as well as RV failure and severe coagulopathic bleeding after CPB. Three patients had undergone implantation of VentrAssist in our hospital. This pump provides flow of 5 l/min depending on preload, afterload and pump speed. All the patients were discharged after an average of 30 days. There was no perioperative mortality.

The present paper describes the isolation of buffalo pox virus from scab lesions and its molecular characterization through B5R gene sequencing. During our study, pustular pox lesions were observed on the teats and mammary parenchyma of cattle and buffaloes, and the disease was of significant zoonotic importance since similar lesions were produced on the hands, legs, and face of people in close contact with the affected animals. The collected scab materials were subjected for virus isolation in 9-11-day-old chicken embryos by the chorioallontoic membrane route and in the Vero cell line. The virus was confirmed by a sensitive and rapid diagnostic polymerase chain reaction using the primers that amplify "A type inclusion" gene, and further, B5R gene of the virus was sequenced and compared with the corresponding sequences of other orthopoxviruses. The results showed high sequence homology of our isolates with other orthopoxviruses.

A coverage evaluation survey was conducted in Mandya and Koppal districts of Karnataka state following the Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccination campaign. The purposes of the survey were to assess coverage of children in target age group by JE vaccination and to assess adverse events following immunisation against JE, the knowledge of health care providers and community about JE & mass vaccination for JE. The study design consisted of both quantitative and qualitative methods. The quantitative data was used to know the coverage levels for children. The qualitative data collected through interviews of head of the family in the sample households, selected health care workers using a structured pretested questionnaire. The standard cluster sampling method was used for selecting the sample of children to be evaluated. In Mandya district the evaluation showed 92% coverage in the selected sample of 313 children against the reported 83.85%. In Koppal district the evaluation showed 70% coverage, among the selected sample of 251 children, against the reported coverage of 69.8%. The incidence of adverse events was 4% in Mandya sample and 6.37% in Koppal sample. In Mandya district, about 42% of households had knowledge of JE. About 68% of households had prior knowledge of the immunization day. In Koppal district, the survey has revealed that only 19.85% of the heads of household had the knowledge of JE and 48.53% had the knowledge of JE vaccination before the day of vaccination campaign.