Incidence and risk factors of retinopathy of prematurity in Goa, India: a report from tertiary care centre

Background: To report the incidence and risk factors leading to the development of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) from a tertiary care center in the western Indian state of Goa, India.Methods: This was a prospective observational study carried out in a level II neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for a period of 18 months. Babies born at < 34 weeks' gestation and having a birth weight of <1500gm were screened for ROP and laser photocoagulation was done for those who developed threshold ROP. Group differences between any ROP and threshold ROP were analysed using the chi-square test.Results: Out of the 244 preterm neonates screened, 37 developed ROP (15.16%), and 14 out of them (5.73%) developed threshold ROP requiring laser photocoagulation. Very low birth weight, prematurity, apnea, anemia, sepsis, respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, blood transfusions, exchange transfusions and days taken to reach full enteral feeds and regain birth weight were significantly associated with the development of ROP.Conclusions: This is the first report of ROP from Goa where less than 1 in 5 babies developed ROP. This is similar to that reported across the rest of the country. Judicious oxygen use, ventilation strategies, transfusions guidelines, control of sepsis, early enteral feeds and adequate nutrition may help prevent the development of ROP in the future.

Quality of life in children with thalassemia major following up at a tertiary care center in India (GOTQoL)

Background: This study aims to measure the quality of life (QoL) scores in children with thalassemia major following up at a tertiary care center for routine blood transfusion in comparison to healthy children.Methods: A case control study design was adopted, wherein on the QoL of 36 children with thalassemia in the age group 5 to 18 following up for blood transfusion at Goa Medical College, was measured using PedsQL' 4.0. This was compared to the QoL in age and gender matched healthy children from a government school. A higher score on a subscale indicates better quality of life on this instrument.Results: The children with thalassemia had lower mean scores on physical (67.85 vs 84.24; P <0.001), social (78.34 vs 87.95; P=0.002) and school (62.64 vs 79.48; P <0.001) functioning subscales compared to the healthy children. They also had lower mean psychosocial summary score (73.32 vs 82.01; P=0.003) and total health summary score (71.95 vs 82.57; P <0.001). The physical functioning subscale had significantly higher score among the children who were on chelation and also among the ones whose parents reported as being informed about the condition.Conclusions: The children with thalassemia have poor QoL in physical, social and school functioning domains. Improvement in QoL requires consolidated efforts on part of doctors, parents, school authorities and policy makers. These patients should be provided with low cost-effective chelation therapy. The parents need to be counselled about this disease by the treating team.

Spatial and temporal distribution of benthic macroinvertebrates in a Southeastern Brazilian river

A fauna de macroinvertebrados bentônicos é estruturada por fatores físicos e químicos que determinam os microhábitats, incluindo a disponibilidade de alimento, a existência de refúgios contra predadores e tempestades, o sucesso reprodutivo e outros parâmetros biológicos. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a distribuição espaço-temporal da comunidade de macroinvertebrados bentônicos na bacia do rio Macaé, Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. De acordo com o Habitat Assessment Field Data Sheet – High Gradient Streams (Barbour et al., 1999), os cinco locais coletados são considerados como referência para propósito de biomonitoramento. Apesar das diferenças em parâmetros hidrográficos (largura, profundidade e vazão médias), os parâmetros físico-químicos e a composição dos grupos de alimentação funcional foram similares entre os locais, com exceção da área mais preservada, onde a porcentagem de organismos cortadores foi maior. De acordo com a Análise de Correspondência, há uma clara distinção entre áreas de remanso e de correnteza. De fato, o substrato folhiço de correnteza apresentou a fauna mais rica e abundante, enquanto o substrato folhiço de fundo apresentou o maior número de táxons exclusivos. A Análise de Agrupamento considerando os dados dos locais de coleta indicou que a variação temporal foi o fator mais importante na estruturação das comunidades nos hábitats estudados.