ABSTRACT
Background: Pneumonia is a common disease with significant morbidity and mortality. There is evidence that vitamin D deficiency can be associated with an increased incidence of lower respiratory illness requiring hospitalization. The objective of this study investigated the impact of vitamin D status on the susceptibility of pneumonia in children the design is Case - Control study, Duration of this study is One year (October 2016 -November 2017) and Setting is Niloufer Hospital, Hyderabad, India. In this study participants are 50 children aged 5 months to 5 years with pneumonia and 50 healthy children of the same age were studied.Methods: In this case-control study, children aged 5 months to 5 years with pneumonia were compared with healthy children of the same age as the control group. Serum levels of vitamin D in both groups were measured by chemiluminescence method. Mean serum levels of vitamin D in patients with pneumonia and control groups were compared using t test.Results: The mean serum levels of vitamin D in the group with pneumonia and the control group were 25.98'14.8 ng/mL and 31.18'15.81 ng/mL, respectively. The difference between the two groups was significant. However, this difference was more significant in the age group of 24 to 60 months.Conclusions: According to findings, a low level of Vitamin D is associated with a higher incidence of pneumonia and more severe disease. It is recommended to pay more attention to vitamin D deficiency in infectious diseases, particularly in pneumonia patients.
ABSTRACT
Study was conducted to assess the sensitivity and simplicity of various pain rating scales in patients of osteoarthritis with chronic pain so that most appropriate scale can be identified. Scales included were Wong- Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale (WBS), Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Faces Pain Scale- Revised (FPS-R), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Verbal Rating Scale (VRS). Patients were asked to indicate their pain on these scales and comment about the simplicity of scales. Median mark for WBS, NRS, FPS-R, VAS and VRS was 10, 10, 10, 9.1 and 10 respectively. P value between WBS, NRS, FPS-R, VAS and VRS was insignificant. Most simple, easy to answer scale (83%) was WBS followed by FPS-R (17%). We conclude that all the scales are sensitive for assessment of the chronic osteoarthritis pain and are not different from each others. The most simple and preferred pain rating scale is WBS for the regional population.
ABSTRACT
Background: A teacher with voice disorders is displaying a form of limitation in the teaching activity. Aims & Objective: To assess the magnitude of voice disorders among teachers and to identify the possible risk factors associated with voice disorders. Material and Methods: A total of 380 teachers were included. The researcher developed a questionnaire for data collection which comprised personal characteristics and symptoms of voice complaints during the last scholastic year. The Voice Handicap Index was used for assessment of voice and its effects on the life of a teacher. Results: Most teachers experienced voice related symptoms during the last year (80.9%). Some had 1-2 symptoms (43.2%) while others had more than two symptoms (37.6%). The most frequent voice-related symptoms were dry throat (42.1%), sore throat (33.5%) and hoarseness of voice (32.9%). More than one third of teachers consulted a physician for their voice-related problems (35%). Moderate to serious severity of voice handicap index were reported by 8.2% of the teachers. There was an increasing prevalence of moderate to severe grade of voice handicap according to age group (p=0.004). Practice of non-healthy habits (e.g., smoking of cigarette, sheesha or moaassal and qat chewing) was associated with significantly higher prevalence of moderate to severe grade of voice handicap (p<0.001 for each). There was an increasing prevalence of moderate to severe grade of voice handicap according to experience in teaching (p=0.013). Teachers’ workload was significantly associated with grade of voice handicap (p=0.047). There was a higher prevalence of moderate to severe grade of voice handicap with depression and anxiety (p=0.009 and p<0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Most teachers have voice related symptoms. The most frequently reported voice-related symptoms are dry throat, sore throat and hoarseness of voice. More than one third of the teachers consult a physician for their voice-related problems. Moderate to severe voice handicap index are experienced by 8.2% of teachers. Risk factors associated with moderate to severe grade of voice handicap are old age, practice of non-healthy habits (e.g., smoking of cigarette, sheesha or moaassal and qat chewing), longer experience in teaching, higher teachers’ workload and presence of psychological disorders.
ABSTRACT
Chronic lymphoproliferative disorders [CLPD] are a diverse group of malignant disorders with a high incidence and a soaring prevalence affecting mainly the elderly population. The prevalence in the developing world is quite high but the scope and burden of these disorders has not been studied, especially in our locality. We hope that this study could lead us in the right direction in establishing the magnitude and burden of different malignancies in our nation. In this retrospective study, 237 cases of CLPD who were diagnosed and recorded from January 1[st] 2007 to December 31[st] 2008 in Hiwa Cancer Hospital, Sulaimaniya, IRAQ have been studied. Cases included chronic lymphocytic leukemia [CLL], multiple myeloma [MM], Hodgkin lymphomas [HL] and all other types of chronic B and T cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas [NHL]. Special consideration has been given to CLL and MM regarding clinical and laboratory data analysis at initial presentation, since other diseases were critically analyzed through parallel projects. One hundred and sixty of the patients were from Sulaimaniya and 77 cases came from the nearby areas. NHL was the commonest kind of CLPD with 99 patients and a relative frequency of 42%. Hodgkin Lymphoma, CLL and MM formed 26%, 2 1% and 11% respectively. Mean age at diagnosis was 63 years for CLL, 61 for MM, 43 for NHL and 3 1 for Hodgkin Lymphoma. Male to female ratio was almost double for NHL, 2.5 for CLL, near to equity for MM and just above unity for HL. Results are available in detail regarding clinical, laboratory data for both multiple myeloma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia; outcome was found comparable to that of internationally published studies. NHL was found to be the main type of CLPD, especially if the new WHO classification is used, where CLL is included with small lymphocytic lymphoma in one category within the entity of NHL. Sex ratio and mean age at diagnosis for each entity were nearly similar to Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results [SEER] in USA and some other countries like Greece and China. Clinical, laboratory data analysis for both multiple myeloma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia were comparable with those published internationally