A Clinical and Radiological Evaluation of Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Introduction The diagnosis of rhinosinusitis is based on clinical grounds having characteristic symptoms, combined with objective evidence of mucosal inflammation. We studied the corelation between the symptoms of the patients, clinical and endoscopic findings with CT scan findings in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Materials and Methods Patients above the age of 15yrs fulfilling the criteria of Chronic sinusitis laid by European position paper on rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps (EPOS) 2012 were prospectively studied. Demographic and clinical profile were noted. Diagnostic Nasal Endoscopy was done and findings were recorded. Patients were undergone CT evaluation after giving appropriate medical management. Clinical, endoscopic and radiological findings were compared with similar studies. Data was analysed using IBM SPSS software version 20. Results This study included 118 patients of Chronic Rhinosinusitis. Patients commonly male between the age group of 21-30 years presented with nasal obstruction, headache and nasal discharge in order of presentation. Diagnostic Nasal endoscopy revealed Septal deviation in 64.4% and medialize uncinate process in 15.2% of cases. Nasal discharge (48.3%) was commonest finding. CT scan suggested deviated nasal septum (70.4%), concha bullosa (30.5%), blocked osteo-meatal complex (68.6%) in patients of CRS. Presence of Agger Nasi cell (49.2%), Haller cell (12.7%) and Onodi cell (15.7%) seen in these patients. Conclusion CT scan and diagnostic endoscopy along with detailed clinical examination are essential component for assessment of a patient with chronic rhinosinusitis. CT scan is considered as gold standard but endoscopy is also a valuable tool for diagnostic evaluation of patients with CRS

First aid knowledge among health assigned teachers of primary schools

Background: Every parents of a child knows that it is hard enough to keep their child safe at home but when child goes off to school there is a whole new set up of challenges. Parents totally entrust their children to the schools. They rely on the teachers as their second parents in the institute for learning. They know for a fact that their educators will want no harm to come their way. While they are busy working, they fully believe that their children are well cared for. On the other hand, the teachers have the responsibility to keep an eye on their students. They should make sure that they are comfortable and secured within the four walls of their school. This then calls for their ability to handle even the most stressful situations. So much more, the school staff, especially the health teacher has to be equipped with the knowledge of first aid.Methods: Non-experimental survey study was conducted to assess the knowledge of first-aid among Health assigned teacher working in selected schools of Dehradun city. Using purposive sampling technique 40 samples of different schools of Dehradun city was adopted to select the area.Results: Result shows that the majority of health assign teachers were having average knowledge about first aid i.e. 29 (72.5%) and 10 (25%) were having good knowledge and 1 (2.5%) was having poor knowledge regarding first aid. Majority of participant were female 21 (52.5%). The educational status of most participants was post graduate (67.5%). Majority of the schools were private 25 (62.5%). There is no significant association between socio-demographic variables i.e. Gender, level of schools, year of experience as a health assigned teacher and education provided by teacher, but qualifications of teachers and type of schools was found to have a significant association.(p> 0.05).Conclusions: First aid is the assistance given to any person suffering a sudden illness or injury, with care it is provided to preserve life and to prevent the condition from worsening, and for promoting recovery. It is important that health assigned teachers are equipped with strong, professional competencies. In order for health promotion actions to be sustainable in schools, teachers must be capable, competent and skilled health educators. As they are at prime position to contribute to a nations health gain through the provision of health education for future adults. Based on findings we can say that the health assigned teachers are having average knowledge regarding first aid. Therefore, the health assigned teachers must be equipped with appropriate and upgraded knowledge

Use and attitude towards assistive device among elderly population attending Outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital of Darjeeling, West Bengal

Background: Elderly suffer from age-related limitations like mobility issues and sensory impairments, depend on others for daily activities. Assistive device will help them to perform daily tasks that might otherwise be difficult or impossible. The study aims to estimate the proportion of assistive device user among elderly patients and to find out attitude and barriers towards assistive device use. Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among 161 elderly attending the outdoor of a tertiary care hospital of Darjeeling, West-Bengal. A questionnaire-based study tool was used for data collection. The Socio-demographic characteristics, use of assistive devices and attitude and barriers of assistive device use were explored. Results: The majority of the study participants belonged to 60-65 years of age (48.4%), were male (57%) and rural people (74%). 37.8% were partially dependent on others for their daily activities. 59% participants were using assistive devices. Among them 91.5% were using mobility devices and 8.5% were using hearing devices. 96.8% said they had improved quality of life after AD use. Majority agreed that using AD devices reduce stress on family care-givers (80%), enable to perform daily activities (75.2%), plays an important role in social life (72%), increases self-confidence (73.3%). Perceived barriers of AD use were regarding cost (74.5%), fear of dependency (57.7%), technical illiteracy (55.2%), embarrassment (54.6%) etc. Conclusion: Elderly reported positive experiences with ADs, barriers such as cost and fear of dependency also expressed. By addressing these issues, healthcare providers and policymakers can contribute to the well-being and independence of the growing elderly population

Temporal patterns of cancer burden in Asia, 1990–2019: a systematic examination for the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study

BackgroundCancers represent a challenging public health threat in Asia. This study examines the temporal patterns of incidence, mortality, disability and risk factors of 29 cancers in Asia in the last three decades. MethodsThe age, sex and year-wise estimates of incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of 29 cancers for 49 Asian countries from 1990 through 2019 were generated as a part of the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries and Risk Factors 2019 study. Besides incidence, mortality and DALYs, we also examined the cancer burden measured in terms of DALYs and deaths attributable to risk factors, which had evidence of causation with different cancers. The development status of countries was measured using the socio-demographic index. Decomposition analysis was performed to gauge the change in cancer incidence between 1990 and 2019 due to population growth, aging and age-specific incidence rates. FindingsAll cancers combined claimed an estimated 5.6 million [95% uncertainty interval, 5.1–6.0 million] lives in Asia with 9.4 million [8.6–10.2 million] incident cases and 144.7 million [132.7–156.5 million] DALYs in 2019. The age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) of all cancers combined in Asia was 197.6/100,000 [181.0–214.4] in 2019, varying from 99.2/100,000 [76.1–126.0] in Bangladesh to 330.5/100,000 [298.5–365.8] in Cyprus. The age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) was 120.6/100,000 [110.1–130.7] in 2019, varying 4-folds across countries from 71.0/100,000 [59.9–83.5] in Kuwait to 284.2/100,000 [229.2–352.3] in Mongolia. The age-standardized DALYs rate was 2970.5/100,000 [2722.6–3206.5] in 2019, varying from 1578.0/100,000 [1341.2–1847.0] in Kuwait to 6574.4/100,000 [5141.7–8333.0] in Mongolia. Between 1990 and 2019, deaths due to 17 of the 29 cancers either doubled or more, and 20 of the 29 cancers underwent an increase of 150% or more in terms of new cases. Tracheal, bronchus, and lung cancer (both sexes), breast cancer (among females), colon and rectum cancer (both sexes), stomach cancer (both sexes) and prostate cancer (among males) were among top-5 cancers in most Asian countries in terms of ASIR and ASMR in 2019 and cancers of liver, stomach, hodgkin lymphoma and esophageal cancer posted the most significant decreases in age-standardized rates between 1990 and 2019. Among the modifiable risk factors, smoking, alcohol use, ambient particulate matter (PM) pollution and unsafe sex remained the dominant risk factors between 1990 and 2019. Cancer DALYs due to ambient PM pollution, high body mass index and fasting plasma glucose has increased most notably between 1990 and 2019. InterpretationWith growing incidence, cancer has become more significant public health threat in Asia, demanding urgent policy attention and guidance. Its heightened risk calls for increased cancer awareness, preventive measures, affordable early-stage detection, and cost-effective therapeutics in Asia. The current study can serve as a useful resource for policymakers and researchers in Asia for devising interventions for cancer management and control. FundingThe GBD study is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.This work is supported by: - University Grants Commission - Chandigarh University - National Science and Technology Council - grant no. [112-2410-H-003-031] - Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation - grant no. [OPP1152504] - Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities - grant no. [30923011101] - Social Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province - grant no. [21GLD008] - National Natural Science Foundation of China - grant no. [72204112

Wage Gap Between Formal and Informal Regular Workers in India: Evidence from the National Sample Survey

This article elucidates the wage differential between formal and informal workers across different sectors, gender, occupation, and industry by using the 61st (2004–2005) and 68th (2011–2012) Rounds of National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) unit-level data. The study emphasizes two things: first, identifying the existence of the absolute wage gap between formal and informal workers and, second, finding the intensity of discrimination in wage between formal and informal workers. The vast body of literature available on this issue identifies gender, caste, religion, and region as the factors causing wage discrimination. This literature makes a shift from these traditional concepts by explaining the importance of job contract as a basis of wage discrimination. This study utilizes the percentage relative gap (PGR) to work out the absolute wage gap between the two types of workers (formal and informal) and thereafter decomposes it to arrive at the source of the wage gap. The study applies the threefold Blinder–Oaxaca (B–O) decomposition method, which categorizes the total wage gap into three parts. The dependent variable chosen for the equation is the natural logarithm of daily wage. While the wage gap between formal and informal workers did not significantly fall during the study period, the results, on the other hand, indicate that the component of discrimination is larger than the component of endowment. This explains the discrimination perpetrated against informal workers in the Indian labor market. Tackling such discrimination necessitates implementation of more proactive policies for achieving wage equality in India. </jats:p

Investigating Environmental Kuznets Curve: A Panel Data Analysis for India

The main objective of this study is to examine the relevance of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis in describing the relationship between air pollution and development of a panel of 21 Indian states, using data for the period 2001–2016. This article attempts to use panel unit root, the panel cointegration test and panel dynamic ordinary least square approach to examine the relationship among various variables, including the atmospheric concentration of sulphur dioxide (SO2)/nitrogen dioxide (NO2), net state domestic product, social sector expenditure and other variables used as a proxy for the composition effect and development effect. The empirical analysis indicates that there exists a long-term relationship between the concentration of SO2 and NO2 with per capita income and other variables. In terms of the EKC hypothesis, the findings recommend the existence of a cubic relationship in the long run and emphasise the need to bring environment-friendly structural changes in economic activity and to enhance sustainable development through technological innovation. </jats:p

CO2 Emissions and Economic Growth of SAARC Countries: Evidence from a Panel VAR Analysis

The paper examined the causality in both static and dynamic framework between CO2 emissions and economic growth of SAARC countries over the period 1972-2010 using panel approach. The paper presents the facts obtained on the basis of panel unit root test, panel-co-integration test          , panel VECM and Impulse Response functions (IRFs) and Variance decomposition (VDs). IRFs and VDs analysis indicate that CO2 emissions, GDP have positive impact on each other. The result from the application of VECM analysis suggests unidirectional causality running from economic growth to CO2 emissions. The result found contradicts the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis. </jats:p