Correlation of Life Events in Alcohol and Drug Dependence: A Case Control Study

Background: A life course viewpoint for alcohol and otherdrug studies recognizes altering forms of alcohol and drugusage over a due course of time and the status of socialcontext and life proceedings in terms of their effect on shifts inalcohol or drug use and problem trajectories. In a 3-year studyof adults who drank on monthly basis prior to baseline, theperceived adequacy of drinking and social obligations to drinkor abstain were consistency correlates of their drinkingtermination. The present study was conducted with the aim todetermine correlation of life events in alcohol and drugdependence.Materials and Methods: The present prospective, hospitalbased survey was performed for a period of one year witheffect from September 2018 to August 2019. It was carried outin the Department of Psychiatry, New STNM MultispecialtyHospital Gangtok. The type of drug abused was also notedamongst all the subjects. Any history of suicidal attempts wasnoted in a tabulated form. Details regarding the stressfulevents was noted amongst the subjects. All the data thusobtained was arranged in a tabulated form and analyzed usingSPSS software.Results: Separation was observed amongst 3 subjects and 3controls. There were 6 cases of divorce amongst subjects and3 cases amongst controls. Illness of family member was seenamongst 3 subjects and 2 controls. There were 21 subjectsand 45 controls who started at 10-20 years, 25 subjects and 4controls started at 21-30 years and 4 subjects and 1 controlstarted at 31-40 years of age. There were 4 control with opioidaddiction, 26 with cannabis addiction and 20 with polysubstance addiction.Conclusion: Amongst majority of the subjects drug andalcohol initiation began at 10-21 years of age and pleasure wasthe reason for initiation amongst majority of subjects.

Vitamin D Levels and Socio-Demographic Profile of Psychiatric Patients - A Hospital based Study

Introduction: Vitamin D is increasingly being recognizedas important for brain health, apart from its importance inendocrine and bone health. There is evidence that vitamin Ddeficiency is also related to medical problems such as obesity,diabetes mellitus, and hypertension, to which patients withpsychiatric illnesses are particularly vulnerable. Hence, thepresent study was undertaken to assess Vitamin D levels inpsychiatric patients.Material and Methods: The present study was conductedamong 108 psychiatric patients visiting out-patient departmentfor psychiatry treatment at district hospital, Namchi, SouthSikkim. Vitamin D levels were estimated using serum25-hydroxy vitamin D (25[OH]D). Data so obtained wasanalyzed using SPSS-20 and was expressed as number andpercentage as required.Results: Assessment of Vitamin D3 levels (ng/ml) amongpsychiatric patients revealed that 23 (22%) had Vitamin D3levels up to 10 ng/ml, 48 (44%) had 11-20 ng/ml and 37 (34%)had Vitamin D3 levels ranging 21-30 ng/ml.Conclusion: Assessment of Vitamin D levels amongpsychiatric patients revealed that majority of patients hadinsufficient Vitamin D levels. Thus, evaluation and treatmentof vitamin D deficiency should be considered to protectmusculoskeletal health

Vitamin D Levels and Socio-Demographic Profile of Psychiatric Patients - A Hospital based Study

Introduction: Vitamin D is increasingly being recognizedas important for brain health, apart from its importance inendocrine and bone health. There is evidence that vitamin Ddeficiency is also related to medical problems such as obesity,diabetes mellitus, and hypertension, to which patients withpsychiatric illnesses are particularly vulnerable. Hence, thepresent study was undertaken to assess Vitamin D levels inpsychiatric patients.Material and Methods: The present study was conductedamong 108 psychiatric patients visiting out-patient departmentfor psychiatry treatment at district hospital, Namchi, SouthSikkim. Vitamin D levels were estimated using serum25-hydroxy vitamin D (25[OH]D). Data so obtained wasanalyzed using SPSS-20 and was expressed as number andpercentage as required.Results: Assessment of Vitamin D3 levels (ng/ml) amongpsychiatric patients revealed that 23 (22%) had Vitamin D3levels up to 10 ng/ml, 48 (44%) had 11-20 ng/ml and 37 (34%)had Vitamin D3 levels ranging 21-30 ng/ml.Conclusion: Assessment of Vitamin D levels amongpsychiatric patients revealed that majority of patients hadinsufficient Vitamin D levels. Thus, evaluation and treatmentof vitamin D deficiency should be considered to protectmusculoskeletal health

Gangrenous sigmoid volvulus in a pregnant woman.

A rare case of gangrenous sigmoid volvulus in a pregnant woman causing intestinal obstruction is reported. The patient had intrauterine foetal death. Laparatomy for resection of sigmoid colon and hysterotomy for removal of dead foetus was carried out. Terminal iliac colostomy with closure of rectal stump was done in the first surgery. The patient underwent colorectal anastomosis 2 months after the first operation and recovered uneventfully.

Massive rectal bleeding due to jejunal and colonic tuberculosis.

A case of massive rectal bleeding due to colonic tuberculosis in advanced pregnancy with intrauterine foetal death is reported. Patient was treated with resection of the left colon and left transverse end colostomy with closure of the rectal stump. Hysterotomy for the removal of the dead foetus was performed. The patient improved in health with antitubercular treatment. The colorectal anastomosis was performed after 4 months. Massive rectal bleeding in intestinal tuberculosis, though rare should be kept in mind.

Acute effects of heat on neuropsychological changes and physiological responses under noise condition.

To examine the effects of heat and noise individually and jointly on certain physiological responses and cognitive and neuromotor based functions, 12 male participants were tested under 6 experimental conditions which resulted by combining 3 levels of heat (25 degrees, 30 degrees and 35 degrees C) and 2 levels of white noise (70 and 100 dB). The experiment was carried out in a controlled climatic chamber following two 6 x 6 latin square designs. The results indicated elevations in heart rate, oxygen uptake and body temperature due to the independent effect of heat or the combined effects of heat and noise. The independent action of noise was found to be depressive on the first two responses. On the neuropsychological effects, the heat adversely affected the speed in card sorting (by design configuration) and digit symbol tests, and also the accuracy and error rate in the reasoning ability test. The noise caused performance improvements in critical flicker frequency (simultaneous) and in error rates in card sorting (by design configuration). The combined effects of heat and noise indicated higher error rates in card sorting (by face value), decreased accuracy in reasoning ability and improvements in performance in accuracy scores and error rates in digit symbol test.