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Introduction There is a need to assess and strengthen reproductive rights-based family planning and abortion services in Indian medical schools that play a key role in medical education and service delivery. This study presents the findings of baseline assessment across nine schools in two states and one union territory with objective to assess, identify the gaps and improve the status of reproductive rights and evidence-based family planning and abortion services in Indian medical schools. Methods A convergent parallel mixed methods study was conducted in nine medical schools in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Chandigarh a Union territory in India from October 2018 to June 2019. In-depth interviews with 33 faculty from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology were conducted. The COM-B (Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation) model of behaviours was used to qualitatively identify barriers and facilitators of reproductive rights-based family planning and abortion services. Reproductive health services provided to 104 women for family planning and abortion were observed quantitatively using a pre-tested checklist. Findings Providers’ preference bias in recommending contraceptive methods to specific clients (wherein sterilisation was offered to women with two or more children and IUCD to women with one child) was observed as barrier to reproductive rights. The facilitators of rights based reproductive services included well-informed faculty regarding providing dignified and respectful care. Barriers included infrastructure gaps, high workload, insufficient human resources affecting privacy, and lower awareness and decision-making power of clients. Family planning counselling using the cafeteria approach was offered in 69.4% of cases, 31.6% of women seeking abortion services were offered counselling on both family planning and abortion. Sterilisation or IUD insertion was a pre-condition in 36.8% of women requesting an abortion. Conclusions Right-based reproductive services around family planning counselling and abortion services were delivered partially despite the medical schools’ trained faculty, mainly due to provider bias, high workload, and less autonomy and lower awareness of reproductive rights among women.

Background: Clinically challenging bacterial infections are caused by microorganisms producing extended‐spectrum β ‐lactamases (ESBLs), AmpC β ‐lactamase (AmpC), and carbapenemases, which confer antibiotic resistance and may result in treatment failure. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of ESBL, AmpC, and carbapenemase‐producing clinical isolates of Escherichia coli , Klebsiella pneumoniae , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Methods: This study was a cross‐sectional study. A total of 362 isolates of E. coli, K. pneumoniae , and P. aeruginosa from urine, blood, pus, sputum, swab, and endotracheal (ET) tube tips were obtained from patients attending Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal, during March 2022 to October 2022. Phenotypic confirmation of ESBL, AmpC, and carbapenemase was done by combined disk test and modified Hodge test. Results: The prevalence of ESBL among isolates was found to be 58.3%. Confirmative tests showed 65.3% P. aeruginosa , 30.2% K. pneumoniae , and 17.7% E. coli were AmpC producers. Among the carbapenem‐resistant isolates, 81.7% showed phenotypic evidence of carbapenemase production based on the modified Hodge test. Additionally, 9.9% and 5.2% of isolates demonstrated phenotypic characteristics suggestive of metallo‐ β ‐lactamase (MBL) and Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) activity, respectively. Conclusion: The ESBL production was the predominant mechanism of resistance to β ‐lactam drugs, followed by AmpC and carbapenemase production. Routine identification and monitoring of these organisms, followed by detection of β ‐lactamase production, optimize the effective management and prevention of antimicrobial resistance.

Background: Nonadherence in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be as high as 80%, yet studies on adherence to medications in preadolescent children are few. Recent Indian trends in prescription patterns are lacking. Aim: The present study assesses prescription patterns and adherence to medications in preadolescent children with ADHD. Materials and Methods: Fifty children aged 5-12 years with ADHD, who were on medications for at least 6 months, were enrolled. Their sociodemographic factors and prescription details were noted. Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Parents Rating Scale and Compliance Rating Scale were administered. Results: Sixty-two percent of the children had good compliance, whereas 38% showed reluctance. Adherence was better in children with shorter duration of illness, lesser severity, absence of side effects, and stimulant prescription. Non-stimulant-based combination (40%) was more common compared to stimulants (28%), with atomoxetine and risperidone being the most commonly prescribed medications. Conclusions: Adherence to medications in preadolescent children with ADHD is good. Associated factors and implications are discussed.

PURPOSE: The balance of micronutrients in soils is important in nutrient use efficiency, environmental protection and the sustainability of agro-ecological systems. The deficiency or excess of micronutrients in the plough layer may decrease crop yield and/or quality. Therefore, it is essential to maintain appropriate levels of micronutrients in soil, not only for satisfying plant needs in order to sustain agricultural production but also for preventing any potential build-up of certain nutrients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A long-term fertilizer experiment started in 1969 at Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, Odisha, India. Using this experiment, a study was conducted to analyze the balance of micronutrients and their interrelationship. The experiment was composed of ten nutrient management treatments viz. control; nitrogen (N); N + phosphorus (NP); N + potassium (NK); nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK); farmyard manure (FYM); N + FYM; NP + FYM; NK + FYM; and NPK + FYM with three replications. Micronutrients in soil (total and available), added fertilizers and organic manures and in rice plant were analyzed. Besides, atmospheric deposition of the micronutrients to the experimental site was also calculated. A micronutrient balance sheet was prepared by the difference between output and input of total micronutrients. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Application of FYM alone or in combination with chemical fertilizer increased the diethylenetriamine pentaacetate (DTPA)-extractable Fe, Mn and Zn over the control treatment. The treatment with NPK + FYM had the highest soil DTPA-extractable Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu after 41 years of cropping and fertilization. Application of chemical fertilizers without P decreased the DTPA-extractable Zn over the control while the inclusion of P in the fertilizer treatments maintained it on a par with the control. The application of P fertilizer and FYM either alone or in combination significantly increased the contents of total Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu in soil mainly due to their micronutrient content and atmospheric depositions. A negative balance of Zn was observed in the N, NP, NK and NPK treatments, while a positive balance observed in the remaining treatments. The balance of Mn was negative in all the treatments, due to higher uptake by the rice crop than its addition. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term application of chemical fertilizers together with FYM maintained the availability of micronutrients in soil and, thus, their uptake by rice crop.

Background: Children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have severe impairment in their social functioning, and such literature from their sibling relations is limited. Sibling relations have several dimensions to them and a more detailed assessment into their impairment in ADHD is needed. We compared quality of sibling relations among ADHD sibling dyads and healthy controls. We also correlated the quality of sibling relations with severity of inattention and hyperactivity in ADHD. Materials and Methods: The present case-control study enrolled 30 cases of ADHD and 30 healthy controls from a child guidance clinic. The quality of their sibling relations was assessed by parent-rated version of the sibling relationship questionnaire (SRQ) on four domains of warmth, power struggle, conflict, and rivalry as well as their respective sub-domains. Their severity of inattention and hyperactivity was assessed using the Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Parents Rating Scale (VADPRS). Results: ADHD sibling pairs had significantly lower warmth, prosocial behavior, affection, companionship, and competition as compared to their healthy counterparts. ADHD child was admired less by the sibling, and they were also seen to nurture each other less. The most significant difference was seen in affection (r = 0.59), followed by nurturance (r = 0.56). Intersibling conflict correlated positively with hyperactivity scores on VADPRS (ρ = 0.410, P = 0.04). Conclusions: Sibling relations are significantly affected in ADHD, with lower warmth and nurturance. Most significant impairment is noted in affection followed by nurturance. Intersibling conflict correlates significantly with severity of hyperactivity.

The appropriateness of spirometric reference value depends on all its features matching those of the person being assessed, like ethnicity, environment, nutrition, absence of disease, measurement protocol, as well as equipment used. The present study determines the lung function parameters in normal young healthy Indians and derives reliable prediction formulae for Indian population. Computerized spirometry was done in 298 nonsmoking medical students of both genders studying in MKCG Medical College, Berhampur. All the data were statistically analyzed, and prediction equations for the young Indian population were derived. All the lung parameters showed significant gender difference. Height showed the greatest effect on the predicted value of FEV and FVC in males and females. Height has the greatest effect on the predicted value of FEV % in females, whereas weight has the least effect. We formulated univariate and multivariate regression models for prediction of lung parameters in the young Indian adults. The predicted values of pulmonary function parameters for men were 4%–17% higher than most studies, except for Kashmiri population where it was 9% lower. For females, lung parameters were 1%–29% higher in comparison to study groups in other Indian studies. The lung parameters for males were found to be lower than Iranian and Caucasian population study, but higher than Pakistani population. For females, lung parameters were 3%–8% lower than Iranian and Caucasian population, but higher in comparison to Pakistani population. The computed regression norms may be used to predict the spirometric values in young Indian population of similar age group as the study population.

Absorption and emission spectroscopic studies of (dibenzoylmethanato)boron difluoride (1bf) in various polar and non-polar, protic and aprotic solvents are reported. The solvatochromic shifts of the spectral bands were examined in terms of solvent properties, including donor and acceptor numbers, followed by multilinear regression in which several solvent parameters were simultaneously analyzed. This π-conjugated positively charged system exhibits excellent solvatochromism. Variations in the electronic absorption spectral characteristics of 1bf were studied in solution in the presence of zinc perchlorate. Absorption spectral studies indicate stable complex formation between the zinc ion and 1bf in the ground state in aprotic dipolar benzonitrile rather than in protic polar solvent methanol. Zinc ion binding of 1bf was theoretically rationalized through frontier molecular orbital interaction.

Background: The role of peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) has been emphasized both in diagnosis and management of patients with asthma. Aims and Objective: The present study was undertaken to derive the prediction formulae to determine the PEFR in normal, young, healthy, nonsmoking Indian population in the age group of 1825 years. Materials and Methods: Computerized spirometry was done in 298 nonsmoking first-year medical students of both genders. All the data were statistically analyzed and prediction equations for the young Indian population were derived. Results: PEFR showed significant gender difference. Both height and weight showed positive correlation with PEFR in males. In females, height was positively correlated with PEFR, but age showed negative correlation. We formulated univariate and multivariate regression models for prediction of PEFR in the young Indian adults. The matched value for PEFR was found to be higher by 6%9% in males and 2%25% in females, in comparison to previous Indian studies. In males, the predicted PEFR was higher (26%) than Pakistani study group, but lower (1%8%) than Iranian and Caucasian population. The value was almost similar to African-American population. In females, the matched value was found to be higher (5%28%) than Caucasian, African-American, and Pakistani population studies, but lower by 28% compared to Iranian study. Conclusion: The computed regression norms may be used to predict the PEFR in young Indian population of similar age group as the study population. [Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol 2016; 6(3.000): 200-204]