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Background: Allergic rhinitis is a common disorder characterized by sneezing, rhinorrhoea, nasal congestion, itching and lacrimation which adversely affect quality of life to a substantial degree. Evidence suggests that low serum vitamin D3 has correlation with severity of allergic rhinitis. The objective of the study was to evaluate whether vitamin D3 supplementation has any role to reduce the severity of disease spectrum among allergic rhinitis patients.Methods: This prospective analytical observational study was carried out in 6 months in ENT OPD of Midnapore medical college and Hospital. Only the persistent moderate to severe allergic rhinitis patients as per ARIA-WHO guideline, aged >12 years were included in this study. 64 subjects were randomised into two groups. The test group received oral vitamin D (60000 IU/week for 2 months) along with levocetirizine, fluticasone spray and montelukast while the control group received three drug therapies without vitamin D3. Allergy symptom score (ASS) was assessed at the start and end of the study period.Results: The study population (n=64) was predominantly female (37) and had a mean age of 39.79 years. The ASS score was 14.06±1.01 in Test group and 13.93±1.01 in Control group and the Post treatment ASS score was 2.65±1.12 and 6.06±0.87 respectively. This difference between groups was significant (p<0.001).Conclusions: There was significant reduction in the Allergy symptom score after vitamin D3 supplementation which alters the course of disease towards clinical improvement.

Introduction Oral steroids currently represent the standard treatment for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of intratympanic dexamethasone injection for treating ‘Idiopathic sudden sensori-neural hearing loss’ (ISSNHL) not improved with conventional oral steroid. Materials and Methods A prospective study was conducted on 30 patients refractory to oral steroid therapy between June 2017 to May 2018. ‘Intratympanic dexamethasone injection’ (ITDI) was given every week for 3 consecutive weeks. Hearing was assessed by performing pure tone audiogram before every ITDI and also 1 week after the completion of treatment. Results Hearing improvement was found in 19 out of the 30 cases (63.3%).   Conclusions Intratympanic dexamethasone significantly improves the prognosis of ISSNHL and is a safe, inexpensive and effective treatment.

Frontline demonstration on potato (Kufri Sindhuri) was conducted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, East Sikkim, India. A total 158 nos. of demonstration were conducted in rice-fallow (farmers’ practice) at farmer’s field in nine numbers of villages during the year 2019-20. Results revealed that average yield of rice and potato recorded was 2.09 t/ha and 14.13 t/ha, respectively. Higher system rice equivalent yield (REY) was recorded 16.22 t/ha in rice-potato and 2.1 t/ha and rice-fallow system. System production efficiency (SPE) was also higher in rice-potato (62.14 kg/ha/day) as compared to rice-fallow (14.51 kg/ha/day). Land use efficiency (LUE) was recorded 71.51 % and 39.45 % in rice-potato and rice-fallow system, respectively. Net return was found Rs.16032/ha in rice-fallow and Rs.183952/- with rice-potato system during the years of demonstration. Higher benefit to cost (B: C) ratio was found 2.82:1 in rice-potato than in rice-fallow (1.62:1) system. Economic efficiency was also recorded higher in rice -potato (704.80 Rs/ha/day) than rice-fallow (111.33 Rs/ha/day) during the demonstrated year. Hence, it may be concluded that the inclusion of potato in rice -fallow is an option for increasing the additional income of the farmers for their livelihood improvement.

Introduction   Chronic sinusitis with chronic rhinitis affect the patients’ quality of life significantly. Aim of this study is to assess the outcome of Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (ESS) in terms of Quality of Life (QoL) in patient with Chronic Sinusitis with Chronic Rhinitis (CSCR), non-responsive to medical therapy.     Materials and Methods Prospective study was conducted among 75 patients of CSCR non responsive to medical therapy in the age group of 15 to 80 years over a period of 18 months (January 2018 to June 2019). The subjects were randomly grouped into two, namely Group 1- CSCR with Polyp and Group 2- CSCR without Polyp. Subjects were asked to complete SNOT-22 score and Visual analogue scale (VAS) and conventional medical treatment was given for 2 weeks. Those failed to respond as per EPOS guideline were subjected to ESS and followed up at 6 weeks and 12 weeks, re-assessed by SNOT-22 questionnaire and VAS. Data was analyzed by using Paired t- test.   Results Statistically significant (p-value <0.05) improvement in symptom score assessing QoL after Endoscopic sinus surgery.   Conclusion Patients with CRS non- responsive to medical treatment, the decision for surgery should be guided by their pre-operative QoL impairment, as measured by SNOT-22 and VAS.