Evaluation of Vitamin D Status among Known Paediatric Population at a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Clinical Study

Background: Deficiency of vitamin D causes osteomalacia,leading to growth retardation and skeletal deformities inchildren and osteoporosis in adults. There is growingrecognition of the role vitamin D plays in health impacting theinnate immune system to prevent infections and the adaptiveimmune system to modulate autoimmunity. Hence; we plannedthe present study to assess the vitamin D status in a knownpaediatric population.Materials & Methods: We planned the present study toassess status of vitamin D among known paediatric population.A total of 150 paediatric subjects were included in the presentstudy. We recorded complete demographic and clinical detailsof all the subjects. A certified paediatrician was employed forcollecting the capillary blood from all the subjects after prickingthem on their fingertip. From all the subjects, approximatelyfour to five drops of blood was collected, stored and was sentto laboratory for assessment of means serum Vitamin D andwas expressed in terms of 25(OH)D levels. All the results werecompiled and were evaluated by SPSS software.Results: Among 150 subjects, 100 were males whilethe remaining were females. Mild deficiency of vitamin D wasfound to be present in percent of the subjects. Moderate andsever deficiency of Vitamin D was found to be present in 20and 16.7 percent of the subjects respectively.Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in significantproportion of paediatric population.

Laparoscopic Management Of A Giant Prostatic Utricle: A Case Report And Review Of Literature

Prostatic utricle is a Mullerian duct remnant with an incidence of 1 %. Excision of utricle is challenging because of the close proximity of seminal vesicle, ejaculatory ducts, bladder, rectum, ureter, and nerve plexus. Here, we report the case of a 23-year-old male presented with complaints of painful terminal hematuria associated with clots along with retrograde ejaculation. The abdominal and local examination was within normal limits. MRI pelvis showed a large non-communicating cystic structure present in the pelvic cavity, compressing posterior wall of the urinary bladder, seminal vesicle, anterior wall of the rectum and also causing left hydroureteronephrosis. After evaluation, the patient was diagnosed with giant prostatic utricle cyst. Laparoscopic excision of prostatic utricle cyst was done successfully. Postoperative period was uneventful and the patient was discharged in satisfactory condition. Laparoscopic excision of prostatic utricle cyst is technically challenging but with acceptable complications and good surgical results

Use of nitric oxide in thoracic surgery for a high risk cardiac patient.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a selective pulmonary vasodilator especially in the presence of pulmonary artery hypertension. With right ventricle (RV) dysfunction, inhaled NO may increase RV ejection fraction and cardiac output. The main advantage of NO over intravenous therapy is its inability to decrease systemic pressure thereby maintaining the coronary perfusion pressure and the myocardial perfusion. In this case report, we discuss the use of NO in a routine thoracic surgery patient suffering with severe left ventricular dysfunction and a potential candidate for a very high cardiac risk.

Compression of undiagnosed aberrant right subclavian artery during transesophageal echocardiography probe insertion.

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has become an important monitoring tool for the anesthesiologist during repair of intracardiac defects. Although the incidence of reported complications associated with its use is low, one should be careful during the insertion and use of TEE probe, as it may result in potential devastating problems. We present a case of undiagnosed aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA) that got compressed by the TEE probe during its insertion. It was noticed because of the presence of the right radial artery catheter, else it would have passed unnoticed.

Trends of maxillofacial trauma at Tertiary Care Hospital in rural area of southern Punjab.

A four years retrospective study from was conducted to analyze the pattern and magnitude of maxillofacial trauma in medico-legal cases coming to the casualty of a rural hospital of Punjab. The study revealed that out of 1237 medico-legal cases 130 (10.5%) suffered maxillofacial trauma. The commonest age group prone to maxillofacial injury was between 16-30 years. Male preponderance was quiet evident (6:1). The commonest cause of such injuries was road traffic accident including 83.1% of the total cases. Soft tissue was the most common type of maxillofacial trauma (52.3%). Most common bones involved were nasal bone and mandible (18.5% each) and the commonest associated injury was involvement of limbs (30.0%). Most common weapon involved was blunt (90.8%). Drawing public attention and awareness towards the traffic rules especially use of helmets by the motorcyclists and separation of pedestrians from motor vehicles could possibly reduce the number of maxillofacial trauma cases.

Trends of Maxillofacial Trauma at Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Bathinda, Punjab.

A four years retrospective study from April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2011, was conducted to analyze the pattern and magnitude of maxillofacial trauma in medico-legal cases coming to the casualty of Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Bathinda, a rural area of Punjab. The study revealed that out of 1237 medico-legal cases 130 (10.5%) suffered maxillofacial trauma. The commonest age group prone to maxillofacial injury was between 16-30 years. Male preponderance was quiet evident (6: 1). The commonest cause of such injuries was road traffic accident including 83.1% of the total cases. Soft tissue was the most common type of maxillofacial trauma (52.3%). Most common bones involved were nasal bone and mandible (18.5% each) and the commonest associated injury was involvement of limbs (30.0%). Most common weapon involved was blunt (90.8%). Drawing public attention and awareness towards the traffic rules especially use of helmets by the motorcyclists and separation of pedestrians from motor vehicles could possibly reduce the number of maxillofacial trauma cases.

Trends of poisoning in rural area of South-West, Punjab.

The study consists of poisoning cases admitted in the emergency department of Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (AIMSR), Bathinda, situated in rural area of South-West Punjab. Out of all 784 medico-legal cases admitted during the study period of two years (Apr 1st, 2007 to Mar 31st, 2009), 95 (12.1 %) cases were that of poisoning. The cases were then analyzed on various parameters to find the trends and other significant feature of poisoning in this region of Punjab. There were 76 male and 19 female victims involved in this study and maximum cases belonged to second and third decade of life (21.1% and 43.2% respectively). Most common manner of poisoning was suicidal and their attempts (65.3%). Maximum incidences took place at home (64.2%). Most incidences of poisoning occurred between 0801-2000 hours (73.7%) and in the month of August (29.5%). Aluminium phosphide was the leading cause of poisoning (36.8%) followed by insecticides (31.6%). Maximum suicidal/attempts were reported with aluminium phosphide (56.5%) and accidental poisoning with insecticides (48.5%). Out of all 95 cases admitted 70.5% were discharged in a clinically satisfactory condition, 27.4% died and 2.1% were LAMA.

Profile of medicolegal cases at Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Bathinda, Punjab.

Drawing public attention and awareness towards traumatic casualties is important to prevent unnatural deaths, this possibly could reduce incidence of such cases. A two years retrospective study from April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2009, to analyze causative agents, manner of cases and their outcome was carried out in the Department of Forensic Medicine, Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Bathinda, a rural area of Punjab. This study was conducted to understand the magnitude and pattern of medico-legal cases in this region. The study revealed that road traffic accidents (59.4%) constituted the majority of the medico-legal cases out of total 784, followed by poisoning and fall from height (12.1% and 9.4% respectively). Male preponderance was quite evident (5:1). People between the age group of 21 – 30 years (33.8%) were most prone to such casualties. The peak time of the incidences was during 1601 to 2000 hours (33.5%) and the maximum cases admitted in the month of September (11.7%).

Color blindness: forensic perspective.

Color vision deficiency is a condition in which certain colors can not be distinguished, and is most commonly due to an inherited condition. Being color blind does keep one from performing certain jobs and makes other difficult. Compared to persons with normal color vision, they have some trouble differentiating between certain colors, but the severity of the color deficiency is variable. Color blindness is normally diagnosed through clinical testing- Ishihara color test is one of the most common tests used. It is mainly useful for quick screening. From a practical stand point though, many protanomalous and deteranomalous people breeze through life with very little difficulty doing tasks that require normal color vision but in some professions a normal color vision is a necessary requisite. This article focuses on the forensic perspective of abnormal color vision and future research and guidelines for assessing an individual for colour vision.

Changes in the levels of vitreous potassium with increasing time since death.

This study was done to know the changes in the levels of potassium in the vitreous humour of eye with increasing time since death by flame photometry method. 200 cases brought to the mortuary of Govt. Medical College, Patiala, formed the material of this study. The cases were divided in 2 groups, burn cases (24) and non-burn cases (176). The data thus collected was analyzed statistically. It was found that the vitreous humour potassium concentration was increasing in a linear fashion with increasing time since death and this increase in the level was independent of the factors like age, sex, environmental temperature and humidity.