ABSTRACT
Background: Malaria is a protozoal disease caused by infection with parasites of Plasmodium species, such as P. vivax, P. falciparum, P. malariae, P. ovale and P. knowlesi through female Anopheles mosquito. Plasmodium vivax alone causes 60 to 65% of infections in India. The main objective of the study was to observe various complications in the patients affected with P. vivax malaria and to analyse the clinical, hematological and biochemical profile of these patients.Methods: A non-randomized prospective study was carried out on 170 patients with acute febrile illness admitted in the department of Medicine, SMS Hospital, Jaipur during period from October 2011 to September 2012 presented The infection was confirmed by detection of parasite (for P. vivax) in peripheral blood film by thick and thin slide methods and rapid diagnostic test (Optimal test).Results: Male preponderance was seen in the study. Death was noted in 5 (3%) patients. Thrombocytopenia (85%) was the most common finding observed. Level of serum creatinine was more than 1.5 mg/dl in 34.7% patients. Thirty-one patients (18.23%) had severe anaemia (Hb <6 gm/dl). Severe hypoglycemia was observed in 19 patients (<40-60 mg/dl). Acute renal failure was common comorbidity observed in majority of the patients. Mean LDH value was significantly higher in patients with hepatitis and anemia.Conclusions: The clinical pattern of P. vivax monoinfection has changed recently. Every patient of P. vivax malaria should be evaluated thoroughly for clinical or biochemical evidence of any complications and patients presenting with complications should managed as per guidelines of severe malaria.
ABSTRACT
Background: Osteoporosis is commonly associated with chronic liver disease. Pathologic fracture in osteoporotic patients affects quality of life as well as decrease life expectancy. Around 40% of patients with chronic liver disease may experience osteoporotic fracture. The present study was undertaken to observe the relation of bone mineral density (BMD) with severity of liver cirrhosis along with effects of smoking and alcohol.Methods: A total of 187 liver cirrhosis patients who were admitted in SMS Hospital were taken for study and were classified into class A, B, C as per Child Turcot Pugh’s classification, after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. All patients underwent standard laboratory testing and bone densitometric studies of the lumbar spine using dual X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan. Statistical analysis done.Results: The bone mineral density was significantly low in Class C. Class C have 41 patients of osteoporosis out of 62 whereas only 16 patients have osteoporosis in Class B and only 1 case of osteoporosis in class A. Hypocalcemia and hypophosphatemia were more in class C as in comparison to class A and B. Also, chronic smoking and alcohol intake were strongly associated with the severity of cirrhosis.Conclusions: The prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis is higher in cirrhotic patients and significantly increases with severity. Hypocalcemia and hypophosphatemia are also associated with the cirrhosis. Thus, patients should undergo routine bone densitometry assessment and, if necessary, to be treated for osteoporosis
ABSTRACT
High severity of Alternaria blight disease is a major constraint in production of rapeseed-mustard in India. The aim of this study was to investigate the suppressive potential of chemicals viz., zinc sulphate, borax, sulphur, potash and calcium sulphate, aqueous extracts viz., Eucalyptus globosus (50 g l-1) leaf extract and garlic (Allium sativum) bulb (20 g l-1) extract, cow urine and bio-agents Trichoderma harzianum, Pseudomonas fluorescence in comparison with the recommended chemical fungicide (mancozeb), against foliar disease Alternaria blight of Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. and Coss] under five different geographical locations of India. Mancozeb recorded the lowest mean severity (leaf: 33.1%; pod: 26.3%) of Alternaria blight with efficacy of garlic bulb extract alone (leaf = 34.4%; pod = 27.3%) or in combination with cow urine (leaf = 34.2%; pod = 28.6%) being statistically at par with the recommended chemical fungicide. Chemicals also proved effective in reducing Alternaria blight severity on leaves and pods of Indian mustard (leaf = 36.3- 37.9%; pod = 27.5-30.1%). The effective treatments besides providing significant reduction in disease severity also enabled increase in dry seed yield of the crop (mancozeb = 2052 kg ha-1; garlic = 2006 kg ha-1; control = 1561 kg ha-1).