Utilisation pattern of blood in a teaching hospital of Kolkata.

An annual utilisation of blood transfusion services at several depts. of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata were assessed among a sample of 3122 patients selected by Systematic Random Sampling Technique from the register made available in the blood bank there. Record analysis revealed that overall 79.4% of supplied blood units were actually transfused, wastage of 21.6%. Wastage was maximum in the Department of Gynae & Obstetrics (33.11%) and Surgery (32.87%). Only single unit of blood was requisitioned and transfused for 5.44% & 30.90% of the patients respectively. Most common indications of blood transfusion were for surgical cases (37.92%), followed by anaemia (34.80%) and haemorrhage (26.92%). The use of blood and blood products merit attention, appraisal and instructional guiding accordingly.

The geographical data of the Kāśyapa Samhitā.

One of the parameters in ascertaining the date of the Kashyapa Samhita is the data of geography referred to there in. Geography abounds various spheres like country, province, city, river, mountain and sea. The whole geographical material is mentioned in the chapter "Bhojana Kalpa" of the Kalpasthana, 22nd and 25th chapters of the Khilasthana.

Epidemiology of group-A streptococcal infection amongst children of different ethnic groups in Darjeeling.

The carrier rate of Group A Streptococcus (GAS) was studied amongst 932 children from 1+ upto 12 years of age in three major racial groups in the foothills of the Darjeeling district of West Bengal. It was altogether 13 per cent and was found to be evenly distributed in the three ethnic groups as Gurkhas: 11 per cent, Rajbanshis: 15 per cent and Cosmopolitans: 13 per cent, but the incidence of Rheumatic fever and/or Rheumatic heart diseases were unnoticed among the Gurkha children who also had significant low ASO titres.

An assessment of missed opportunities for immunization in children and pregnant women attending different health facilities of a state hospital.

The present study carried out in Calcutta National Medical College, Calcutta, has revealed problem of missed opportunities of immunisation in children and pregnant women and factors contributing to the problem. The percentage of missed opportunity in children and pregnant woman are 30% and 7% respectively. The major cause in case of children were that all the vaccines are not administered in all the days of week (71.05%) and in pregnant woman were wrong ideas about contraindication (42.86%) and indifferent attitude of the health worker (42.86%). All the missed opportunities were attributed to the health care providers.

Glimpses of the advancement of medical science as depicted in the Mahäbhärata.

The Mahabharata of Vedavyasa is an encyclopaedic work, which has got some importance from the standpoint of Indian medical science also. According to it Ayurveda was a compulsory subject which was taught to everybody. Perhaps, Mahabharata is the first epic which presents the term Ayurveda. The fundamentals of Ayurveda are discussed in it very well. Circulations of blood described here reminds us the same of sushruta samhita. Three types of poisons and a number of metals and jewels have also been given in Mahabharata.

Measuring the interactions of the determinants of health.

Considering environmental sanitation and health care services as most important determinants of health, this study was undertaken to know their impacts in an urban slum area of Calcutta. The families were studied in-depth and detail in relation to their health status in the form of morbidities and utilisation of preventive and promotive services. The health service impact was mainly assessed through comparative study between these who availed the services and to these who did not. Similarly, environmental sanitation services impact on health was measured through comparing the slum group with those who lived in Pucca houses. The criteria of priority decision on determinants was attempted through analysis of cost of these services and comparing their beneficial effects on health.

Drug consumption pattern in low socio-economic group in an urban community.

117 families, having a total population of 558 were studied regarding drug consumption pattern. It was found that the average no. of episodes per person was 0.99 of which drugs were consumed for 72% of episodes. Significant difference was observed in consumption of drugs between males and females. Allopathic medicines were consumed for 93.3% of the episodes and the major source (53.8%) of medical care was from private practitioners. It was seen that the number of drugs consumed per episode of sickness rose as the per capita income increased. Vitamins and Minerals (22.3%) were the main group of drugs consumed. Drugs acting on the alimentary system (17.5%), Respiratory System (14.7%), Antimicrobials (14.6%) and Analgesics (10.8%) contributed to 80% of drug intake.

Length of stay of in-patients of a gynaecological ward in a sub-divisional hospital in West Bengal.

Bed utilisation efficiency and hospital resource utilisation are of prime importance to remove the "Hospital Bottlenecks" which in turn reduces length of stay of in-patients. The present study on in-patient system in Gynaecology Ward of a non-teaching hospital revealed that a considerable number of bed days were unnecessarily lost during various activities related to investigation, operation and post-operative stay. Overall length of stay found in this study (14.02 days) is considerably higher than Indian optimum. Average time-lags found between admission to pre-operative investigation and post-operative stay were 3.25 days and 10.22 days respectively.

Coverage evaluation surveys amongst children in some blocks of West Bengal.

Immunisation coverage evaluation was carried out in 9 Blocks of West Bengal amongst 12-23 months old children. Fully immunised status of 5 blocks were under 16%. Poor measles vaccine coverage thought to be the reason. Other vaccine coverage was more than 60%, in most of the blocks excepting Hilly Balurghat and Tamluk. "Child ill-not brought" was the important reason for immunisation failure in most of the blocks.

Immunological status of women with prolonged oral contraceptives and occurrence of giardiasis.

Immunological status of 14 women taking oral contraceptive for prolonged period (more than 6 months, low dose pill) was studied. Phytohaemagglutinin induced lymphocytes stimulation (PILT) was found to be significantly depressed in these subjects though T-lymphocyte subpopulation was found to be normal. Serum IgA and IgG levels in these cases were found to be normal but IgM level was increased. Though incidence of G lamblia infection was reported to be high in immunocompromised subjects, it was found only one out of 14 subjects taking oral contraceptive harboured the protozoa.