Search

Background: Out of Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) are expenditures directly made by households at the point of receiving health care. In Telangana State the average OOPE per delivery in public health facility is Rs. 3846. The study helps to know the OOPE among mothers undergoing institutional deliveries and emphasise on the expenditure even after utilising the government financial assistance. Objectives: To estimate the OOPE among women undergoing institutional delivery and to find its association with government financial assistance utilization and socio-demographic factors. Methodology: A community based cross sectional study was done among 200 mothers who delivered recently residing in an urban slum under our health and training centre. Ethical clearance was taken before the conduct of study. Results: The median direct out of pocket expenditure among mothers in our study was Rs.500 i.e., 6.6 $ (0 to 1600). OOPE was present among 68.5% of mothers. Availability of government financial assistance, age and occupation of the mother and type of delivery was found to be significantly associated with p value

Key Clinical Message: Left‐atrial septal pouch (LASP) is a newly described anatomical variant caused by incomplete fusion of the septa primum and secundum. This case visualizes LASP as a potential nidus for blood stasis and cardiac embolism and highlights the need for consideration of TEE in the work up of cryptogenic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vaccination campaigns against COVID-19 are allowing the progressive release of physical distancing restrictions in many countries. Here, the authors assess the impact of the vaccination program in Italy and evaluate possible prospects for reopening the society while at the same time keeping COVID-19 under control.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in neonates is an emerging challenge to pediatricians. The majority of the neonates with COVID-19 reported so far are suspected to be infected due to postnatal transmission. Vertical transmission has already been reported in two case-cohort studies. Case report: A 32-week preemie with a birth weight of 2 kg was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit due to respiratory distress. The case was born to a primigravida mother with a history of preterm premature rupture of membranes. The neonate developed arterial thrombosis on the first day of life and subsequent gangrene of the right foot and tested positive for serology and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with elevated inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, D-dimer, serum ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase). Since the mother was asymptomatic, she was not tested for SARS-CoV-2 antenatally. After the confirmation in the neonate, the mother was also tested for SARS-CoV-2 and tested positive by RT-PCR as well as serology. Conclusion: This rare presentation calls for further research in transmission patterns either antenatally or vertical transmission. This report emphasized the possibility of vertical transmission of COVID-19 in neonates from asymptomatic mothers, with significant, early-onset neonatal infection in the form of thrombosis.

Natural farming system (NFS) is one of the traditional cultivation methods to cut down production costs as well as dependence on external inputs. Being considered as an agro-ecologically diverse farming practice, it brings a host of ecological and social benefits. In order to know the sustainance of natural farming practice, field experiments were conducted at Zonal Agriculture Research Station (ZARS), V.C. Farm, Mandya, Karnataka, India for consecutive years (2019 to 2022). The experiments were laid out in a randomized complete block design comprised of five replication and four different farming practices as treatments namely, absolute control (AC), organic production system (OPS), Natural farming system (NFS) and recommended package of practice (RPP) of UAS, GKVK, Bengaluru. The pooled data of farming practices indicated significant variation in growth, yield and nutrient uptake, among farming practices significantly higher growth, yield and nutrient uptake were recorded with RPP both in green gram and paddy. The results of four years pooled data indicated that compared to conventional farming practice, natural farming recorded decreased yield of 134 (23.53%) and 3350 kg ha-1 (74.49%) in green gram and paddy, respectively. Also recorded 33.38% and 30.23% weed control efficiency by mulching in green gram and paddy, respectively. Based on this study we found that low nutrient demanding crops such as green gram (Pulses) are more suitable under natural farming compared high nutrient demanding crops viz., Paddy. Yields under natural farming can be enhanced by application of Farm yard manure and other natural sources for plant nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The majority of the neonates in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) would be on respiratory support either invasive or non-invasive ventilation. Therefore, it is difficult to measure anthropometries, such as weight, length, and head circumference in these sick newborns. This study aimed to determine the correlation of foot length with occipitofrontal head circumference (OFC), crown-heel length (CHL), and weight of the newborn. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the level IIb NICU of Shri B M Patil Medical College Hospital and Research center, Vijayapur, India. The foot length, OFC, and CHL of the neonates with gestational ages of 28-42 weeks were measured between 12 hours and 7 days of life. Results: Out of 350 neonates enrolled, 61% and 39% of the newborns were preterm and term, respectively. The correlation between foot length and birth weight (r=0.90) and foot length and length (r=0.89) was pronounced in premature neonates. Moreover, a positive linear correlation was observed between foot length and weight in neonates of all gestational ages. To identify the low birth weight (LBW) neonates (

Background: Medication errors (MEs) in the pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) are common, predictable, serious, and preventable. Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) are more vulnerable to increased MEs due to the complexity of underlying critical illness. Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the incidence, types, adverse effects, and outcome of MEs identified by a clinical pharmacist in the PICU. Subjects and Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in the PICU of Dr. Bidari's Ashwini Hospital, Vijayapura, using daily observation of medical records from February 17, 2018, to November 30, 2019, using NCC-MERP guidelines to define the ME. Results: The incidence of MEs was 250/1000 patient days. Prescription errors were most common with 59.3% (3007), followed by administration errors with 21% (1100). Dispensing and transcription errors were 10.4% (528) and 8.6% (441), respectively. In prescription error, dosage error was predominant with 76% (2286), followed by documentation error in 15% (451), In transcription errors, incorrect drug dose was the most common error with 47% (208), followed by the wrong drug in 23% (102). In the case of dispensing errors, a supply of incorrect medicines was most common with 61% (321), followed by the unavailability of medicines with 24% (126). In administration errors, medicines given at the wrong time duration were observed in 55% (603), followed by orders not carried by nurses at an appropriate time in 23% (255). National coordination committee for ME reporting and prevention index severity classification includes Category B, the most common with 61% (3096) incidence, followed by Category C with 34% (1725).Total 23 patients developed probable adverse side effects. The mortality was only 1% (28) in this study, which was crude mortality of our PICU. Conclusions: (i) Prescription errors were the most common MEs followed by administration errors. (ii) The role of the clinical pharmacist was vital in identifying and avoiding the existing burden of MEs in the PICU. (iii) Reinforcement of structured training of the medical and paramedical staff is essential regarding the safe medication practices.