ABSTRACT
Stroke is a major cause of death worldwide. Prompt treatment and decision-making is essential for good outcomes. The two major therapeutic approaches for acute ischemic stroke are thrombolytics and neuroprotectants. Piracetam, a nootropic drug aims to increase cerebral blood flow, enhance oxygen extraction, restore membrane fluidity and modulate neurotransmission. Likewise, citicoline has been shown to positively influence cerebral plasticity and neurorepair processes. The present article aims to offer insights on the current management of acute stroke and to position piracetam and its combination with citicoline in the management of acute stroke and post-stroke sequelae based on an expert panel discussion.
ABSTRACT
Child malnutrition estimates for the indicators stunting, wasting, overweight and underweight describe the magnitude and patterns of under- and over-nutrition. India is facing a major malnutrition crisis as shown in NFHS 4 data (2015-2016) that 35.7 per cent children below five years are underweight, 38.4 per cent are stunted and 21 per cent are wasted. Malnutrition is a widely prevalent health problem in Rajasthan also. However, there has been reduction in malnutrition among children from 44% NFHS-3 (2005-06) to 39.1% in NFHS-4 (2015-2016) in Rajasthan.METHODSA cross-sectional study was carried out in 25 randomly selected villages of Jaipur district, Rajasthan for a period of one month during December 2013. The prevalence of under nutrition among the age group of 0 - 6 years in Rajasthan (NFHS-2) was 40%. As per the above assumptions, the sample size calculated was 396. Weight for age criteria of WHO was used to detect the nutritional status of children. Chi square test was used, and a p value <0.05 was considered significant. Associations of nutritional status with factors like antenatal care, birthplace, birth order, birth attendant, immunization status, supplementary nutrition and sociodemographic profile were determined.RESULTSOnly 41.70% of children had normal nutritional status, 47.72% were moderately undernourished and 10.60% were severely undernourished respectively. Mother’s literacy level, mother’s age, mother ANC registration, place of delivery, supplementary nutrition, and immunization status were significantly associated with the nutritional status of the child.CONCLUSIONSEarly nutritional status assessment, identification of potential determinant factors with nutrition-specific interventions are major strategies to prevent childhood morbidity and mortality. Other affordable interventions like adolescent girls’ education and skill development programme, and mother and child health care are required to halt the deteriorating malnutrition situation in India.
ABSTRACT
Background: Cancer related anemia (CRA) is a major healthcare issue among patients suffering with cancer. In the Indian context, these figures are likely to be higher due to the prevailing malnutrition and low socio-economic status in the general population. This observational hospital-based study has been conducted among cancer patients with following objectives to assess the socio demographic profile of different cancer patients admitted at hospital. To measure hemoglobin level among different cancer patients admitted at hospital on the basis of socio demographic profile and type of cancer.Methods: The registers maintained in the department of Radiotherapy were checked and those belonging to the year 2011-12 were used to process and analyse the cancer patient抯 data in respect to age, type of cancer, hemoglobin level admitted in health care facility.Results: By far distribution of Hb level is concerned among all cancer patients, 87.56% patients were having Hb level more than 9 gm% and around 12.43 % patients were having Hb level less than 9 gm%. Majority of patients whose Hb level was less than 9gm% were belonging to age group more than 45 years.Conclusions: It is very much evident that anemia among cancer patients is a major healthcare problem and surely adds into morbidity and mortality of cancer patients. It may further aggravate the health condition of cancer patients if not corrected timely. Therefore, anemia among cancer patients should be taken and treated very seriously.
ABSTRACT
Background: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is caused by a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that weakensthe immune system, making the body susceptible to gracious diseases that often lead to death. The prevailing mode of HIVtransmission is through heterosexual contact, followed in magnitude by perinatal transmission, where the mother passes thevirus to the child during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding.Aims and Objective: This study was conducted to determine the extent of knowledge, attitude, and awareness about variousaspects of HIV/AIDS among the 1st year MBBS students studying at Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS), Patna.Materials and Methods: An observational cross- sectional study was carried out among 1st year MBBS students in the agegroup of 17-24 years of regular batch in the year 2018 studying at IGIMS, Patna. All 100 1st year MBBS students were enrolledin the study. The information was collected from them using a pre-designed, semi-structured questionnaire. All data werecompiled and tabulated in Microsoft Excel 2013 software, and descriptive statistics were analyzed using EPI info data analysisV7.2.0.1 in the form of percentages and proportions. P ≤ 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. The comparison ofthe responses among male and female students was performed using Chi-square test.Result: A total of 100 students were included in this study. Among these, 68 (68%) were boys and 32 (32%) were girls. Amongall of the study participants, majority of 97% of students have heard about HIV/AIDS. About 90% of students agreed that awoman can get HIV if she has anal sex with a man. Majority of 92% of respondents agreed that antiretroviral drugs cure HIV/AIDS. Some participants, 22%, agreed that a person can get HIV by sitting in a hot tub or a swimming pool with a personwho has HIV. About majority of 92% of students agreed that patients with HIV/AIDS need to be nursed separately from otherpatients and a pregnant woman with HIV can give the virus to her unborn baby. Media (94%) was the present leading sourceof information of participants regarding the present knowledge about HIV/AIDS.Conclusion: There is a necessity to consider the basic knowledge of the students about HIV/AIDS and accessible the misinterpretationregarding the disease by the medical educators. The knowledge about HIV/AIDS is crucial for all health-care professionals.
ABSTRACT
Background: The world health organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breast feeding (EBF) for the first six months of life while it is advised to provide adequate and safe complementary foods with breast feeding for up to two years and beyond.Methods: A hospital based cross sectional study was carried out in the immunisation clinic of IGIMS for a period of 6 months from January 2017 to June 2017.A total of 400 mothers were enrolled in the study. Children of Age group 0-12 months were included in the study. Sample size was collected by using convenient sampling from January to June 2017. All mothers who attended our immunization clinic for vaccination of their child and had children less than 12 months of age and who gave verbal consent were included in the study. Mothers were asked to stay after vaccination of their infants to look for any untoward effects of vaccination. Mothers were interviewed by using a semi structured questionnaire after getting a verbal consent from them, All data entry and analyses were carried out using Microsoft Excel and statistical software by descriptive statistics and presented as frequency and percentages.Results: The prevalence of exclusive breast feeding for up to 6 months of age was still low. Male child is having a higher percentage of immunization coverage of about 60%, where as the female child is having about 40%. 36% of the babies were started breastfeeding within one hour and colostrum was given to 40% of them, only 35% of them were on exclusive breast feeding.Conclusions: Use of expressed breast milk was low. The prevalence of EBF for up to 6 months of age was still low as per WHO recommendations. The mother's perception of “insufficient breast milk” was also the main reason for introducing other foods. We should make a strategy by making a guideline for promoting and educating about exclusive breastfeeding within the existing health care system such as the antenatal, after delivery and vaccination clinics.