Seroprevalence of brucellosis in Western Rajasthan: A study from a tertiary care centre

Brucellosis is a significant bacterial zoonotic disease with a high seroprevalence in low-to-middle-income countries where there is a significant contact of humans with animals. This prospective study was conducted to observe the seroprevalence of brucellosis in 75 symptomatic patients with pyrexia of unknown origin (PUO) and 75 high-risk individuals (10 veterinarians, 15 milkmen and 50 healthy contacts of symptomatic patients) with possible exposure to brucellosis. Serum samples collected from these patients and individuals were subjected to rose Bengal test (RBT) and ELISA for the detection of IgM and IgG antibodies. RBT was positive in 50 samples (40 PUO and 10 high risk), of which 25 (33.3%) PUO cases had detectable IgM antibodies, whereas IgG antibodies were detected in 20 patients. None of samples from high-risk individuals was reactive for IgM/IgG antibodies by ELISA. The overall seroprevalence in this study was 16.7% (33.3% in PUO patients). Being a predominantly livestock rearing area, brucellosis is a significant health-care problem in this part of India with this entity being linked to 33% of PUO cases.

Toxic anterior segment syndrome.

In this era of topical cataract surgeries, where patients come and get operated within 15-20 minutes and walk with 20/20 vision from the hospital, there is a nightmare for ophthalmologists which is called endophthalmitis and Toxic Anterior Segment Syndrome(TASS). Despite an uneventful surgery patient may land in ophthalmologist’s outpatient department with decreased vision the next day because of TASS. Mild cases respond to treatment but severe cases may end up losing vision and may require further intraocular surgeries. Thus, steps should be taken to prevent this monstrous disease from happening. This article reviews how to diagnose, treat and prevent TASS.

Induction of somatic embryogenesis in endangered butterfly ginger Hedychium coronarium J. Koenig.

An efficient protocol has been developed for regeneration of complete plants through somatic embryogenesis in H. coronarium. Creamish white, pale yellow and brown calli were obtained on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of auxins [2, 4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2, 4-D), Indole-3 acetic acid (IAA) and 1-Naphthylacetic acid (NAA)] after 4 weeks. Creamy white calli developed on 0.5 mg L-1 2, 4-D turned embryogenic when subcultured on basal medium and produced small globular somatic embryos after 6 weeks. Further growth of somatic embryos required their transfer to medium containing 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) or kinetin (KN). BAP was more effective than KN in promoting shoot proliferation. Maximum shoot length was obtained with 0.5 mg L-1 BAP whereas maximum shoot number was obtained with 1.0 mg L-1 BAP. The plantlets thus formed were successfully hardened, and transferred to sand-soil and farm yard manure (1:1:1) with 95% survival.

Custodial deaths: An overview of the prevailing healthcare scenario.

Preventing torture in custody and ensuring strict compliance of its guidelines in custodial deaths is one of the important agenda on the NHRC’s list. Sudden and unexpected death in custody is commonly associated with allegations of torture against law enforcement agencies. Delay in providing basic medical care is one of the commonest allegations by the relatives against jail authorities. In this study we analysed the pattern of custodial deaths that had been brought to the mortuary at PGIMER, Chandigarh for medico legal autopsy and have suggested few preventive measures to reduce the morbidity as well as mortality among prisoners. Ninety custodial deaths that occurred while undergoing treatment in PGIMER, Chandigarh in the last decade were analysed, based on various factors such as age, sex, treatment protocol, etc. Of these, 95% were males and 5% were females; Sixty three percent cases were reported from the Punjab zone, 27% from Haryana, 7% from Chandigarh, 2% from Uttar Pradesh and 1% from Himachal Pradesh. Eighty nine percent deaths were attributed to natural causes, while 11% cases were due to unnatural causes, mostly suicides.

Polynomial regression model to estimate time since death in adults from rectal temperature in Chandigarh zone of Northwest India.

Estimation of time since death from rectal cooling with the help of polynomial regression model is the subject of discussion in the present study. Though in literature various models are available but their complex modeling structure and calculation, restricted their application for real life situations, particularly in climatic conditions where the room temperature varies between 60.33o to 91.97 o F like of Chandigarh zone of India. The present study is an attempt to provide a suitable model for estimation of time since death in such conditions. Nonetheless, with the help of polynomial regression model, time since death can be estimated with SE estimate of 0.12947 hours and 0.410277 hours in summer and winter respectively. Moreover, this model has produced smaller confidence and prediction intervals.

Weights of human organs at autopsy in Chandigarh zone of north-west India.

Mean organ weights in 2025 subjects who died and autopsied at Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh revealed that they in general were heavier than reported from other parts of India. Various organs continued to attain their maximum weight up to 40-50 years of age.

Prevalence of paralytic poliomyelitis in a rural and urban community of Delhi.

A community house to house survey to estimate the prevalence of paralytic poliomyelitis in children 5-15 years was undertaken from June to August, 1986 in the rural and urban field practice areas. The survey covered 96 and 93% of the houses in the rural and urban areas, respectively. Prevalence of lameness due to poliomyelitis among children aged 5-15 years was 3.5 in the rural and 2.7 in the urban area. Community health examination also confirmed that boys were more vulnerable than girls.