Basal cell carcinoma-clinico-pathological study in Eastern India in correlation with different risk factors

Objectives: To study the histological variants and mimickers of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) alongwith different risk factors among a group of patients from eastern India. Methods: The specimen for the study was sent by the dermatology department for histopathology after skin biopsy. Results: Out of 42 patients, 15 patients studied were males and the rest of the cases were females. The male to female ratio was 0.55:1. Maximum (15 cases) cases were in the age group of 50–59 years. Apart from sunlight, chronic arsenic exposure is an important risk factor of BCC. Basal cell hyperplasia and squamous cell carcinoma are the histological differential diagnosis of nodular BCC and basosquamous BCC. Conclusion: BCC is a disease of the older age group and with female preponderance in our study. Nodular basal cell carcinoma was the most common histologic type of basal cell carcinoma. The face was the most common site for BCC followed by the scalp. UV radiations and Arsenic do play role in the pathogenesis of BCC. CD10 helps differentiate superficial BCC from basal cell hyperplasia.

Nutrition assessment of elderly residing in urban areas and urban slum: A hospital based comparative study

Background: In Maharashtra the elderly population is 9.9 % of the total state population (Census 2011). There is a need to highlight the nutritional problems being faced by the elderly in India. Early detection of malnutrition and timely interventions can help to reduce morbidity in the long run. Aims &Objectives: To find the prevalence of malnutrition in elderly and compare nutritional status of elderly residing in an urban area and urban slum. Material & Methods: This was a cross sectional hospital-based study. Data was collected from the civil OPD and ex-service men OPD of the hospital each having a catchment population from urban slum and urban area respectively. A total of 331 patients > 60 years of age were included. Nutritional status was assessed using the MNA, MUST and GNRI. Serum albumin levels were measured using colorimetric method. Results: The overall prevalence of malnutrition and at risk as per MNA score was 168 (50.7%). Out of 331 subjects, 209 belonged to urban slums and remaining 122 were from urban area. The gender and age distribution were comparable in both groups. The mean BMI of subjects from slum area was significantly lower as compared to urban group (22.3+ 5.3 vs 26.3+ 4.5) p<0.001. Proportion of elderly who had MNA score below 24 was significantly higher in the slum area (p<0.05). Proportion of elderly with mid arm circumference and calf circumference below the cut off of 22 cm and 31 cm respectively was significantly higher in slum area (p<0.05). Serum albumin levels were comparable in both groups. Mean BMI of elderly in urban area was >25Kg/m2. Conclusion: The overall prevalence of malnutrition was high. The nutritional status of elderly in urban slum was significantly worse than that of elderly in urban area.

Multivariate analysis of groundwater quality data of District Jodhpur, Rajasthan (India).

Multivariate analysis can be successfully used to determine the dominating constituents, which control the groundwater quality of a region. The ground water quality data of district Jodhpur was grouped as shallow aquifer (< 40 m depth) and deep aquifer (> 40 m depth). Principal Component Analysis was used to predict the dominating water quality constituents and it revealed that five principal components are accounted for the total chemical variability in the ground water quality of both aquifers. The common constituents-fluoride, nitrate, pH and potassium have perceptible influence on the quality of ground water of both aquifers of district Jodhpur.

Delayed death in a case of attempted strangulation mechanism of cerebral thrombosis and infarction -A case report.

Throttling is usually a homicidal act and generally the assailant continues the compression until the victim is dead. Pressure applied on the neck for about 3 -4 minutes consistently or more, is considered to be sufficient to cause death; the survival time depending upon the degree and duration of compression of the neck. The death may either be instantaneous or may be delayed for a few hours to a few days but in rare circumstances, the victim may survive, if rescue measures and treatment are promptly instituted. One such case of a male aged about 60 years, who was hospitalized after attempted manual strangulation for about 19 days and died thereafter, is being discussed. Medico legal autopsy findings of such a case are being evaluated in the light of existing literature.

Effect of hypoxia on the circulating levels of essential mineral elements in rats.

Changes occurring in concentrations of certain trace metals and electrolytes viz. chromium, copper, zinc, sodium, potassium, calcium, magenesium and chloride in plasma of rats exposed to intermittent hypobaric hypoxia were evaluated. Batches of Sprague-Dowley rats (12 in each group) were exposed for 1, 7,14 and 21 days to a simulated altitude 7,620 m for 6 h per day and one group of unexposed animals was kept as control. There was a significant rise of 153% in plasma chromium levels of 1 day exposed group in comparison to the unexposed group which tends to normalise on subsequent exposure. There was a gradual increase in plasma copper levels of 9.0, 28.2, 62.6 and 65.6% respectively in 1,7,14 and 21 days exposed rats in comparison to unexposed rats. On the other hand plasma zinc levels were seen to be decreasing during entire exposure. Plasma sodium levels decreased initially in 1 and 7 day exposed rats and increased in later groups whereas plasma potassium levels of exposed groups remained low in comparison to unexposed group. Chloride levels were found to be elevated in 14 and 21 day exposed groups.The plasma calcium and magnesium levels were higher in all exposed groups over unexposed groups. Changes in chromium, copper and zinc observed in the present study during exposure to hypoxic stress may be responsible for the hyperglycemia and anorexia encountered during intial phase of high altitude acclimatisation.

An automated annotation tool for genomic DNA sequences using GeneScan and BLAST.

Genomic sequence data are often available well before the annotated sequence is published. We present a method for analysis of genomic DNA to identify coding sequences using the GeneScan algorithm and characterize these resultant sequences by BLAST. The routines are used to develop a system for automated annotation of genome DNA sequences.

A community-based study on the effect of hexachlorocyclo-hexane (HCH) exposure in spraymen and general population.

The study was carried out in Allahabad district, (Uttar Pradesh) with 260 spraymen as test subjects and 50 persons as controls from a sprayed and unsprayed village respectively. Majority of the spraymen (44%) had worked for 3-4 years (seasons) and 31% had worked in the programme for 5-10 years. The spraymen were relatively healthy with no complaints in 77% whereas the figures were 76% for the Community living in the sprayed village, and 50% for the Community in the unsprayed village. A comparison of the biochemical parameters revealed lowered Cholesterol more than 150 mg % in 38% of the spraymen and 58% had altered A:G ratio. Other biochemical estimations were not significantly different from the control population. The mean residue of Alpha, Beta and Gamma Isomers and the total Alpha, Beta and Gamma isomers were 0.0317, 0.2254, 0.0288 and 0.2859 mg/1 respectively; the corresponding mean values in the control population were 0.0211, 0.1112, 0.0197 and 0.1520 mg/1 respectively. The values in spraymen were twice those of the general population. A significant association (p < .05) was observed between their length of exposure and the levels of Cholesterol and HCH isomers in blood of spraymen. No significant morbidity was evident in spraymen due to HCH exposure.