A study on the distribution of disabilities among the population residing in the endosulfan exposed area in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka

Background: Endosulphan was extensively sprayed in the cashew plantations in over 90 villages in Dakshina Kannada district for almost two decades before a ban was imposed. Areas where Endosulfan spraying was carried out, disability screening camps were conducted. The study aimed at describing the distribution of attendees of the disability screening camps among the population residing in the Endosulfan exposed area of Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka, India.Methods: A cross sectional descriptive was undertaken with the permission of district health authorities by specialists in the villages of five taluks, on the patients attending the disability screening camps conducted in the year 2014-15. The patients were consecutively listed and classified based on the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995 and analysed using SPSS version 20.0.Results: Of the 4214 patients who attended the screening camps for disability held in the taluks mentioned above, 2190 (52.0%) were males. The most common affected age groups were between 5-19 years of 1606 (38.1%). The most common disability was intellectual disability (including cerebral palsy) in 2474 (58.7%) followed by physical disability seen in 384 (15.5%). Infertility was seen among 297 (7.09%) of the attendees of the screening camps. The total number of cancers patients attending the screening camps was 71 (1.6%), and 21 (0.5%) were cancers related to the reproductive tract, and 6 (0.1%) had breast cancer.Conclusions: The most common age groups reporting with disabilities to the screening camps conducted by the district health authorities in Endosulfan sprayed villages of Dakshina Kannada district belonged to 5-19 years, and the most common disability was intellectual disability.

Performance and Carcass Traits of Broiler Chickens Reared on LEDs vis-a-vis CFL as a Growth Promotor

The present study was conducted to compare the performance of broiler reared under two different light sources and three different light colours. For this purpose, 120, two-week-old IBL-80 (Indian Broiler Ludhiana-80) broiler chicks were randomly distributed in four different treatment groups viz. TLEDB-G (first 2 wks, blue LED then switched to green LED for the next 2 wks), TLEDG-B (first 2 wks, green LED then switch to blue LED for the next 2 wks), TLEDW (White LED) and TCFL (CFL light; Control) with 3 replications and 10 birds in each experimental unit was applied. The effects of different lights on performance (BW, BWG and FCR), carcass traits and its economic impact on broiler chickens were investigated in the present study. The results show that performance and carcass traits of broiler birds of blue-green and green blue LED light group was at par to that of CFL group whereas benefit cost ratio of birds of TLEDB-G (1.13) was found highest among different treatment groups. Therefore, use of a combination of monochromatic Blue-Green or Green-Blue LED light could be a better alternative source of light than CFL light in terms of birds’ performance, economics and energy saving

Career Choice among Dental Students and Freshly Graduated Dentists

Aim and Objective: To assess career choice among dental students and freshly graduated dentists. Methods: To assess the career choice among dental students and freshly graduated dentists, a structured questionnaire consisting of 19 closed end questions were prepared and sent to 750 people who included exam going final year BDS students, interns and freshly graduated dentists from various dental colleges in Telangana. This questionnaire was prepared and sent using Google Forms through E-mail and WhatsApp and the participants were asked to submit the response in 15 days. A total 0f 515 responses were received in 15 days. Google forms automatically tabulate the submitted responses in pie diagrams. Results: The results show interesting points and highlight some significant findings on the career choice among dental students and freshly graduated dentists. Conclusion: Many students interest has been improved after joining the course. Majority of the participants are interested in continuing in the field of dentistry. Most of the students are willing to join certificate courses after BDS. Most of the dentists are showing interest to work in corporate hospitals.

A Case Report on Marfan Syndrome

Marfan syndrome (MS) is a disorder of the connective tissues characterised by various phenotypical and genetic manifestations. About 75% of the time, the condition is inherited from a parent, whereas 25% of the time, it is a new mutation. It involves a mutation to the gene that makes fibrillin. People with Marfan tend to be tall and thin, with long arms, legs, fingers and toes. They also typically have long face, prognathic maxilla, high arched palate, irregularly aligned teeth, flexible joints and scoliosis. The most serious complications involve the heart and aorta with an increased risk of mitral valve prolapse and aortic aneurysm. Other commonly affected areas include the lungs, eyes, bones and the covering of the spinal cord. Here, we report a case of Marfans syndrome with focus on oral manifestations to increase the awareness among dental practitioners to avoid complications due to infective carditis and cardiac defects.

Evaluation of normal range of mouth opening using three finger index: South India perspective study.

Aims: The frequency, with which restricted mouth opening is encountered in the clinical practice, makes it essential to establish what constitutes the normal range. This study was undertaken to evaluate the normal range of mouth opening in adult population in south India. Settings and Design: randomized clinical study conducted on dentate adult patients to evaluate the normal range of mouth opening. Materials and Methods: 500 healthy patients aged between 18-59 were randomly selected and divided into four groups according to their age ranges. The maximum inter-incisal distance and width of right and left three fingers at the first distal inter-phalanges were measured using vernier calipers. Statistical analysis used: ANOVA test, student t test and pearsons correlation test. Results: The mean value and range of maximum mouth opening of 50.3mm±6.26mm for males and 49.9mm±6.74mm for females was recorded. These values were significant and correlated with the width of three fingers. It was found that the greatest mean maximum mouth opening was recorded in youngest age group and lowest was recorded in older age group in both genders. Conclusions: The mean mouth opening value decreases with age and is lesser in females as compared to males of same age. This study demonstrated that individuals in all the four groups were able to vertically align their right and left three fingers between the upper and lower central incisors upto the first distal interphalangeal folds thus suggesting that, width of three fingers can be used as 'tool' to distinguish 'normal' from 'restricted' mouth opening.

Assessment of pollution of river Ganges by tannery effluents using genotoxicity biomarkers in murrel fish, Channa punctatus (Bloch).

River pollution due to rapid industrialization and anthropogenic activities adversely affects the aquatic organisms, especially fish. Here, we assessed the genotoxicity, mutagenicity and bioaccumulative aspects of tannery effluents in freshwater murrel, Channa punctatus, an inhabitant of river Gange. Test specimens were collected from three different polluted sites of the river within and nearby Kanpur area during different seasons and blood samples of these specimens were processed for comet assay and micronucleus test as genotoxicity biomarkers. A significantly (P <0.05) higher micronuclei induction, nuclear abnormalities and % tail DNA was observed in the specimens collected from the polluted sites. Bioaccumulation studies in the muscle (1.202 µg/g) and gill tissues (<0.300 µg/g) of the specimens revealed the concentration of chromium (core component of tanning industry) above the maximum permissible limits as prescribed by World Health Organization (WHO). The findings of the present analysis indicated contamination of river Ganges with tannery effluents which induce genotoxicity in fish with seasonal variation.

Umbilical Cord Blood Bilirubin Level Measurement in Predicting the Development of Significant Hyperbilirubinemia

Objectives This prospective study was undertaken to identify the newborns at risk for developing significant hyperbilirubinemia using cord blood serum bilirubin levels. Methodology This was prospective study with total of 282 healthy term newborns delivered at MNR Hospital, were included in study with birth weight more than 2,500 grams during one year period from March 2013 to March 2014. Soon after delivery cord blood was sent for serum bilirubin analysis. The data was analyzed using t-test, ROC curve and chi test and was considered statically significant, if value is P<0.05. Results In total 282 children, 51 developed significant hyperbilirubinemia (18.09%). There were no significant differences between the cases who did and who did not develop significant hyperbilirubinemia with respect to various factors that may be associated with the risk of hyperbilirubinemia such as birth weight, type of delivery, gestational age, maternal age, gender, and APGAR value P > 0.05, while in cord bilirubin level there is highly significant difference P <0.05. In our study on the amount of umbilical cord bilirubin cut off pointof 2 mg/dl had good sensitivity(94.12), specificity(90.9%), positivepredictivevalue (69.57%) and negative predictive value (98.59%). Conclusion The present study led to the conclusion that the bilirubin levels that were equal to or greater than 2 mg/100 ml umbilical cord blood can predict significant hyperbilirubinemia with high negative and positive predictive values and high levels of sensitivity and specificity.

Tension Pneumothorax in the First Hour of Newborn Life

Pneumothorax is an uncommon occurrence at birth. We report a case of a preterm male baby born to a primip through caesarean section. He did not cry immediately after birth, but spontaneous respirations developed after successful neonatal resuscitation. However, a few minutes after resuscitation, the infant developed respiratory distress, grunting and cyanosis. On examination, decreased air entry to the left side of the chest and shift of the trachea and apex beat to the right side were observed, and transillumination of the left side of the chest was positive. Infantogram was done to confirm the diagnosis of pneumothorax on left side of the chest.

Gliosarcoma: an audit from a single institution in India of 24 post-irradiated cases over 15 years.

BACKGROUND: Gliosarcomas (GS) are biphasic brain tumors composed of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and sarcomatous component. Therapeutic approaches include maximum surgical decompression with postoperative radiotherapy. Outcomes in gliosarcoma are poor despite multimodality management. AIMS: To analyze the outcome in patients of GS treated in our institute over a period of 15 years and compare it with GBM treated during the same period. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Clinical records of the post-irradiated GS patients and GBM patients seen between 1990 and 2004 were retrieved. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Demographic and treatment variables were evaluated for their influence on overall survival (OS). The survival outcomes of GBM and GS treated during the same period were also compared. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Univariate analysis was carried out using the Kaplan-Meier method and tested using log-rank test for significance. RESULTS: During these 15 years, 24 evaluable GS patients were treated as compared to 251 evaluable patients of GBM. There was a slight male preponderance in GS (14 males vs.10 females) with a median age of 50 years. All patients underwent surgery followed by post-operative radiotherapy (median dose of 60 Gy). None of the patient or treatment related factors were found to be significantly influencing their OS. Median OS in GS was 7.3 months compared to 7.5 months in GBM patients (P = 0.790). CONCLUSIONS: The OS appears to be similar for GS and GBM. None of the demographic variables appeared to prognosticate the survivals of GS.

Extraneural metastases in anaplastic ependymoma.

Ependymoma are rare glial neoplasm, it rarely metastasize outside the central nervous system. We present a case of anaplastic ependymoma with extraneural metastases with review of literature. A ten-year-old male child presented with anaplastic ependymoma of choroid plexus and treated with craniospinal radiotherapy in 1998. He had intracranial recurrence in 2004, confirmed by biopsy. He was given adjuvant chemotherapy in form of PCV. At 10 months after completion of chemotherapy, he developed extracranial scalp metastasis and so was treated with palliative local radiation therapy to the scalp metastasis and systemic chemotherapy with oral Etoposide. Scalp metastasis completely disappeared and ataxia improved. After five cycles of chemotherapy, the patient had progression of disease in form of scalp and cervical lymph node metastasis confirmed by fine needle aspiration cytology, biopsy and immunohistochemistry. He was given salvage chemotherapy (carboplatin + ifosfamide + etoposide) at 3-weekly. He had partial response and was still on chemotherapy till May 2007.