HIV-free Survival at the Age of 18 Months in Children Born to Women With HIV Infection: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Objective: To assess HIV-free survival and nutritional status of HIV-exposed infants.Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted on infants born to woman with HIVinfection born at our Institute between January 2011 to March 2016, and followed usingcurrent National guidelines. HIV transmission rate, HIV-free survival, and nutritional statuswere assessed 18 months age. Results: Of the 155 infants, 10 (6.5%) died before 18 monthsof age. Two of 145 surviving infants were confirmed HIV-positive, the remaining were HIV-negative at 18 months (HIV-free survival 92.3%). Of the 10 infants who died, one wasconfirmed HIV-positive and three negative; the rest died before their HIV status could beascertained. HIV infection rate among the 149 infants for whom the test reports were availablewas 2%. At 18 months age, 14% HIV-uninfected infants were wasted, 28% stunted, and 3%had microcephaly. Conclusions: Infants born to mothers with HIV managed as per thecurrent National guidelines have a good outcome at 18 months of age.

Respiratory Hazards to Occupational Exposure of Poultry Dust in Poultry Farm Workers in Northern India

Background: Occupational exposure of farmers are known to cause many respiratory illness and manifestgreater rates of asthma and respiratory symptoms than other workers. The poultry farm workers are exposedto organic dust, endotoxins and hazardous gases. Longer the duration of exposure to the dust, greater thehealth hazard. Therefore, the objective of this study was to record and compare the various pulmonaryfunction parameters in poultry farm workers on the basis of duration of exposure to poultry dust. Methods:The study was conducted on 66 poultry farm workers after taking written informed consent. Pulmonaryfunction tests was performed using Autospirometer (Helios 701: Chandigarh). The workers were groupedaccording to duration of exposure into five sub groups (Group A upto 5 years, Group B >5-10 years, GroupC >10-15 years, Group D >15-20, Group E >20 years exposure). Data was analyzed using one way ANOVAand post-hoc by Bonferroni test. Results: We found that the pulmonary functions started deterioratinggradually in poultry farm workers after 5-10 years of exposure (Group B) to poultry dust with maximumdecrease on exposure to more than 20 years (Group E). There was statistically significant decrease in FVC,FEV0.5, FEV1, FEV3 with normal FEV1/FVC suggesting restrictive ventilatory changes in poultry workers.There was significant decrease in FEF25-75% and FEF0.2-1.2, PEFR suggesting early small and largeairway obstruction respectively. Conclusion: Poultry dust adversely affects the respiratory function and thisimpairment is associated with duration of exposure to poultry dust. The present study intends to raise publicawareness about occupational exposure to poultry dust in poultry farm workers.

Comparison of Feeding Options for HIV-Exposed Infants: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Objectives: To compare growth, anemia prevalence, and sickness frequency in HIV-exposed uninfected infants on different feeding modes. Methods: In this retrospectivecohort study, 109 HIV-exposed uninfected infants registered atour center were categorizedintothree groups as per their feeding mode during first 6 months viz. exclusively breast fed(n=50), animal milk fed (n=40) and commercial infant formula fed (n=19). Theiranthropometric parameters, hemoglobin and frequency of sickness at the age of 6 monthswere compared. Results: There were no significant inter-group differences in the weightfor age, weight for length, length for age z-scores (P=0.16, 0.37 and 0.12, respectively);proportion of infants with underweight (P=0.63), wasting (P=0.82), or stunting (P=0.82),and mean hemoglobin levels among the 3 groups at 6 month of age. Animal milk fed andformula fed infant had increased risk of sickness compared to exclusively breastfed infants(OR 2.5 and 2.49, respectively; P<0.01). Conclusions: In circumstances wherebreastfeeding is not feasible or preferred, animal milk feeding offers a viable alternative tocommercial infant feeding formula in HIV exposed infants.

Juvenile fibroadenoma: a cytology case report.

Fibroadenomas are benign breast tumors. These tumors are commonly seen in the age group of 20-30 years. They are very rare in children. Here we are presenting a case of fibroadenoma of the breast in a 10 year old girl. These juvenile fibroadenomas constitute 4% of the fibroadenomas of the breast and comprise 0.5% of the breast tumors, in paediatric age group.

Pleomorphic adenoma of the hard palate: a cytology case report.

Pleomorphic adenoma is a benign tumor of the salivary glands that has elements of both epithelial and mesenchymal tissues. They represent about 60% of tumors in the parotid, are less common in the submandibular glands, and are relatively rare in the minor salivary glands. In our experience, this is the first time that we have come across Pleomorphic adenoma arising in the minor salivary glands of the hard palate.

Luteal Phase Estradiol & Progesterone Levels in Relation to Symptom Severity in Patients with Premenstrual Syndrome.

Premenstrual syndrome is characterized by disturbing somatic and behavioural symptoms that develop after ovulation, reach a maximum during premenstrual days and disappear four days after the onset of menstruation. The aim of present study is to investigate the relationship between serum levels of estradiol and progesterone in luteal phase and PMS symptom severity in patients with PMS. We selected sixty young healthy adult females in the age group 15 and 30 and rated them for PMS symptoms. Daily blood samples were taken in follicular phase (5-8 days) and luteal phase(22-26 days). Serum estradiol and progesterone were analyzed using commercial RIA kit. Based on premenstrual hormone concentrations patients were divided into groups with high, normal and low hormonal levels. It was found that in females with a premenstrual increase in serum estradiol and decrease in serum progesterone levels , symptoms were 70 % and 70.6 % respectively, (p<0.01for both) which is statistically significant .

Comparison of methylprednisolone with dexamethasone in treatment of acute spinal injury in rats.

Effect of methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS) and its comparison with dexamethasone in experimentally induced acute spinal cord compression in adult rats was studied. The rats were divided into group A (control) and group B, which was subdivided into B1, B2, B3 where MPSS was given after 1, 8 and 24 hr and B4 where dexamethasone was given after 1 hr of cord injury respectively. Proper neurological evaluation was done with mobility, running and climbing score. Recovery index was evaluated for 7 days. After sacrificing the rats, spinal cord was observed histopathologically. Mean recovery index and microscopic findings based on hemorrhage in gray and white matter, neuronal degeneration, hematomyelia and edema in white matter were recorded. The results suggested that MPSS was effective in promoting post-traumatic clinical and histological recovery and to a greater extent, when given 1 hr after trauma. MPSS is more effective than dexamethasone in reducing edema when both are given after interval of 1 hr.

Biodegradation of wastewater of Najafgarh drain, Delhi using autochthonous microbial consortia : a laboratory study.

There are seventeen drains, which discharge their untreated urban and industrial wastewaters into the Delhi segment of river Yamuna. The Najafgarh drain is the first and the largest drain, and it alone contributes 1667.84 mld i.e. 60% of the total wastewater discharge into the river Yamuna and as such add 81.36 tons of BOD load per day. As per the available data approximately 95% of the wastewater of this drain is biodegradable. In the present study, an attempt has been made to reduce the BOD load and COD levels of wastewater of Najafgarh drain using autochthonous microbial consortium. During this study the raw wastewater samples were treated for 6 h time interval with different concentration of consortium. It was observed that by increasing the existing microbial population in the wastewater sample by 150-200% there is a significant decrease in BOD and COD levels. Finally, BOD/COD ratios before and after biotreatment have been analyzed to assess the efficacy of the natural consortium.