Prevalence of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria Among Pregnant Women Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital in Western India

Introduction: Asymptomatic bacteriuria refers to the presence of bacteria in urine having overall inci-dence during pregnancy ranges between 2%-10%. The study was conducted to assess prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women. The study also aimed to find out the most common Path-ogenic organism isolates from urine sample. Methodology: Pregnant women with varying gestational periods attending the tertiary care hospital without any symptoms of UTI were included in the study. Their urine was tested for routine microscopy, culture, and certain biochemical testing. Results: Prevalence rate of asymptomatic bacteriuria was seen 13.8% in pregnant women. Proportion of asymptomatic bacteriuria is highest 14.70% in age group 26-30 year, 23.33% in first trimester. Both gram negative and gram-positive bacteria were isolated, but gram-positive cocci isolates were higher comparatively gram-negative bacilli. Organisms recovered in order of frequency were E. coli, Coagulase Negative Staphylococci (CONS), S. aureus, Klebsiella spp, Acinetobacter spp, Citrobacter spp and Entero-bacter spp. Conclusion: High prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria demands routine bacteriological screening of pregnant women. This will help in early treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria which will help in pre-vention of acute and chronic pyelonephritis.

Prospective study of outcomes of surgically treated larynx and hypopharyngeal cancers.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the morbidity and survival of surgically treated locally advanced carcinoma larynx and hypopharynx in a tertiary referral center in South India, a prospective cohort study was carried out. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who had undergone laryngectomy or laryngopharyngectomy from January, 2006 to January, 2011 at our institute were prospectively studied for factors affecting morbidity tumor recurrence and disease free survival (DFS). DFS was calculated for the whole group and for the larynx and hypopharynx cancer subgroups separately, using Kaplan Meir Method and the survival differences of the larynx and hypopharynx groups and between salvage and primary surgical cases were evaluated using the Cox’s regression scale. RESULTS: A total of 154 patients with ages ranging from 23 to 78 (mean 56.3 + standard deviation 9.2) were studied, which included 145 males and 9 females. Pre‑operative tracheostomy and previous radiotherapy were the most significant factors contributing to post‑operative morbidity. Survival difference between the larynx and hypopharynx cancers was statistically significant and the DFS was significantly affected by primary site wound infection, primary site margin and node positivity. CONCLUSION: The results of laryngectomy can be optimized by “proper case selection and morbidity risk assessment”.

Cosmetics and health: usage, perceptions and awareness.

Objectives:Cosmetics are a multi-billion dollar industry today. The present study was designed with an objective to know the extent, purpose, type and awareness for cosmetic in people's daily life in Surat city. Materials & Methods:The study was conducted among 500 randomly selected people from the Surat city through convenience sampling. All the participants were interviewed personally, using structured questionnaire. The whole study was conducted from December, to March, 2008.Results;Around 73% of the population used cosmetics for protection purpose, while only 37% used it for attraction and 19% for fashion. Only 31% checked whether cosmetic they used were tested on animals or not. 89% of the people are concerned about the brands of the cosmetic and advertisement is an important source in the selection of the cosmetics. People still prefer ayurvedic products which comprise of 44% of the total population. Only 9% of the people use the expired products suggesting that people are aware that expired products cannot be used. 77% of the people are aware about the side effects of the cosmetics. Conclusion:Overall prevalence of cosmetic product use is increasing among both males and females. Though, associated increase in awareness regarding safe use of the same was not present widely. The use of other cosmetic services like skin specialist visits, contact lenses usage is also increasing slowly.

Issues and dilemmas in career planning of medical students in Surat, India.

Background:In recent time issues of career choices in medical student has been gaining mounting attention. Aim: The current study was planned with an aim to understand issues and dilemmas in career planning of medical students in Surat city, India Methods: This is a cross-sectional study comprising of personal interviews using a self -designed structured questionnaire among 400 simple randomly selected medical students, interns and junior residents of Surat Municipal Institute of Medical Education and Research covering issues associated with their career concerns and future life. Data analysis was done with help of Epi Info 7. The study sample comprised of students 46.5%, intern doctors 36%, junior resident doctors 17.5%. Results:Females were more content with either a graduate or a post graduate degree, whereas males were more inclined towards pursuing super specialty degrees (P<0.001). Majority 62% of the respondent stated that given another chance, they would again like to choose for medical studies only. The percentages of females interested in a non clinical career abroad as compared to clinical career in India were lower. Majority 89% of respondents agree that there is more struggle for the students who enter M.B.B.S. from a non medical background. Percentages of males in favor of increasing the postgraduate/super specialty seats far exceeded females (P<0.0001). The vast majority of the respondents wanted the specialty and super specialty seats to increase as they wanted an equal ratio of Undergraduate: Postgraduate seats (70%). Those who did not favor the increase in the seats perceived that the quality of treatment may actually worsen rather than improve if the number of seats increased (60%).Conclusion: Freshly graduating doctors do face a severe dilemma regarding their future career after graduation, which is a very perplexing situation for them and their parents, as there is absence of any career guidance cell; absence of the culture and avenues of campus placement; and there is human need to be materialistically comparable to their counterparts who are already in a job as a engineer.

Comparative antioxidant studies of cassia auriculata plant parts.

Comparative antioxidant studies were carried out for methanolic extract of Cassia auriculata flowers, leaves and roots for proving its utility in inflammation and healing mechanism. The methanolic extracts were screened for antioxidant activity by nitric oxide radical scavenging, lipid peroxidation inhibition and DPPH methods at different concentrations. Throughout the studies flowers extract showed marked antioxidant activity compared to leaves and roots extract. The antioxidant activity of the flower flowers extract may be due to stabilization of plasma membrane, thereby lowering the elevated levels of serum lysosomal enzymes. The antioxidant activity was found to be concentration dependent and may be attributed to the presence of high flavanoids and bioflavonoids content in the flowers of Cassia auriculata.

Study of ground water quality for irrigation in some villages of Surat District, Gujarat (India).

40 ground water samples of 10 villages in Surat district, Gujarat (India) were analyzed for their suitability for irrigation purpose. The mean values of 4 samples taken from each village have been reported in the present study. Ground water of the study area was classified according to sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), percentage sodium (PS), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), Kelley's ratio and electrical conductivity. The value of sodium adsorption ratio indicated that majority of samples (9 out of 10) fall in low sodium hazard category. As per classification made by Wilcox (1948), on the basis of percentage sodium and electrical conductivity, only 1 sample (Vesu) not found suitable for irrigation purpose while only 1 sample (Gaviyar) found in good category. The remaining 8 samples were in good to permissible and permissible to doubtful category. Ground water was also classified according to the classification of United States Salinity Laboratory based on sodium and salinity hazard.

Intradiploic meningioma of the orbit: a case report.

We report a case of a 12-year-old male child who presented with a gradual onset exopthalmos involving the left eye. The plain radiographs of the skull showed hyperostosis of the left orbital roof. The computerized tomography (CT) scan revealed an intradiploic orbital roof tumor with expansion of both the tables of the orbital roof. The tumor was completely excised by an extradural route using a basal frontal craniotomy. The histopathological diagnosis of the tumor was a psammomatous meningioma. A split calvarial frontal bone graft was used to reconstruct the orbital roof. The pathogenesis, radiological features and surgical technique involved in the management of intradiploic orbital roof meningioma are discussed and the relevant literature is reviewed.

Suprasellar arachnoid cyst presenting with bobble-head doll movements: a report of 3 cases.

We report a series of three patients with suprasellar arachnoid cysts who presented with a rare 'bobble-head doll' syndrome. The abnormal head movements improved after surgical evacuation of the cysts in all the three cases. Various pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the bobble-head doll syndrome are discussed. The literature on suprasellar arachnoid cysts is briefly reviewed.

Cavernous sinus thrombosis and air embolism following surgery for acoustic neurinoma: a case report.

A 55 year old male patient was operated on for a massive and vascular acoustic neurinoma in a sitting position. The tumor was completely excised. Post-operatively, the patient developed irritability and clinical features suggestive of contralateral cavernous sinus thrombosis. CT scan showed air within the dural walls of the cavernous sinus on the side of surgery. However, there was no radiological evidence of cavernous sinus thrombosis on the contralateral side. Cavernous sinus thrombosis as a post-surgery complication has not been reported. Air within the dural confines of the cavernous sinus has also not been observed or radiologically recorded in the literature.

Sinus pericranii in the frontal region: a case report.

Sinus pericranii is a rare vascular anomaly. A case of sinus pericranii at the nasion with an orbital extension is presented. The drainage was into the superior sagittal sinus. The pathogenesis is discussed and the literature is reviewed.

Primary cerebello-pontine angle malignant melanoma: a case report.

A rare case of primary malignant melanoma in the cerebello-pontine angle, in a 17 year old girl is presented. The patient presented with one month history of headache, diplopia, facial asymmetry and ataxia. The computerised tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a large cerebello-pontine angle mass with features suggestive of a melanoma. The typical black coloured, solid and vascular melanoma was excised completely. Cerebello-pontine angle melanoma are extremely rare tumours with dismal long term outcome in majority of these cases.

Intracranial hydatid cyst: a report of five cases and review of literature.

The authors present five cases of intracranial hydatid cysts managed at the department of Neurosurgery, King Edward Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, between 1984-1997. The mean age of presentation was 13.4 years. Four patients (80%) were in the first decade of life. All patients presented with focal neurological deficit and clinical features of raised intracranial pressure. Radiological investigations included computerised tomography (CT) scan in three cases, CT and magnetic resonance (MR) scan in one case and accidental cystogram in one case. Two patients had multiple intracranial cysts. One patient had a solitary cyst in the lateral ventricle. Commonest location was in the parietal lobe (3 cases). Total excision of the cyst was done in all five cases. Recurrence was seen in two cases, probably as a result of rupture of the cyst during first surgery. The features of this rare disease are retrospectively analyzed in this presentation and the literature is reviewed.

Glioblastoma multiforme following prophylactic cranial irradiation and intrathecal methotrexate in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia : a case report.

A 12 year old boy with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia had received prophylactic cranial irradiation (2000 cGy/15 days) and intrathecal methotrexate. Six years later he was diagnosed to have glioblastoma in left temporoparietal region. There is a strong possibility that the glioma may have been radiation and/or chemotherapy induced.

Atlantoaxial dislocation associated with stenosis of canal at atlas.

Three rare cases of stenosis of spinal canal at the level of atlas associated with atlantoaxial dislocation are presented. An atlantoaxial lateral mass fixation with plate and screws after posterior midline bony decompression was successfully performed in these cases.

Migration of craniotomy flap: an unusual complication.

An unusual complication following a craniotomy is reported. The free bone flap migrated over the adjacent bone four weeks following surgery and needed operative readjustment. The probable causes for such a complication are analysed and discussed.

Prolongation of action of local anaesthetic by a possible complexation: clinical trials.

Long lasting pain relief for patients of malignancy involving head, neck, face and patients of trigeminal neuralgia was sought by the use of lignocaine with addition of complexing agents. Five patients with severe intractable pain of malignancy involving the trigeminal (V cranial) nerve mainly the maxillary and mandibular divisions, two patients of trigeminal neuralgia with trigger zone in maxillary division were treated. Remarkable prolongation of action of pain relief up to 6 weeks could be achieved. The recurred pain was also of less severity especially radiation was less. An explanation of the possible mechanism is offered.