Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Smoking in India: A Meta-Analysis

WHO estimates show chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] as a growing major global cause of morbidity as well as mortality. COPD associated mortality is projected to grow by 160% in the decades ahead. Much of this projection holds pansexual cigarette smoking, improved life expectancy, bulging ger-iatric population and high levels of small particle pollution, as major causes behind increase in COPD case burden.The aim of themeta-analysis was to investigate association between COPD and risk factors by pooled and subgroup analysis. The publications listed in the NCBI PubMed and Cochrane library were searched using the following combination of the key words “COPD”; “smokers”; “health”; “risk” or “fac-tors”; “diagnostic”; “burden”; “exposure”; “disease” or “prevalence” or “morbidity” or “mortality”; “tobac-co”; “smoking”; “smoke”, “India”. Random effects meta-analysis was applied to generate pooled SMD by using CMA software.Main risk factors for COPD were higher age [SMD=0.53, CI= (0.0018-1.05)], total pack years of Smoking [SMD=13.83, CI (10.060-17.616)], FEV1 [SMD=-13.15, CI= (-16.234 to -10.085) and FEV/FVC ratio [SMD=0.915.CI= (0.767-1.063)]. Higher age, smoking, low values of FEV1 and FEV/FVC ratio is directly associated with high risk of COPD. The finding of the study shows evidence of smoking history in terms of pack of years as a major risk factor for COPD prevalence.

Different Gestational Age Related Histogenesis Of Human Foetal Liver

Introduction: Liver is an important gland of gastrointestinal tract having both exocrine and endocrine functionsand it is having the extensive power of regeneration. Not only the adult liver, the foetal liver is an important organwith synthetic and haemopoietic functions. It develops as a ventral outgrowth During 3rd week of gestational agefrom the gut endoderm in the region of the anterior intestinal portal.Materials and Methods: We used Total of 27 formalin Preserved dead embryos and foetuses from 5weeks to 40Weeks of gestational age of both the sexes with relevant obstetric records available in the department ofAnatomy, Viswabharathi Medical College, Penchikalapadu, Kurnool for this study.Results: In the present study a total of 27 aborted embryos and foetuses of different gestational ages of bothsexes of normal and abnormal were observed (table -1). The liver specimens are categorized in to gestational agegroups of 0 – 12 weeks, 12 – 24 weeks, 24 – 36 weeks and more than 36 weeks.Conclusion: At 5-6weeks of gestational age we observed the aggregation of hepatocytes and early stage ofhaemopoiesis which is in agreement with literature. Delay in the Histogenesis and development of the liver cellsand bile duct system leads to histopathological and developmental abnormalities gives knowledge to theclinicians during clinical procedures.

The levator scapulae muscle – morphological variations

Introduction: Anatomical variations of the levator scapulae are important and therefore clinically relevant. Thelevator scapulae are now believed to be the leading cause of discomfort in patients with chronic tension-typeneck and shoulder pain and a link between anatomical variants of the muscle and increased risk of developingpain has been speculated. The results obtained were compared with previous studies.Materials and methods: The study was conducted on 32 levator scapulae muscle of 16 cadavers over a period of3 years. The dissection of head and neck was done carefully to preserve all minute details, observing themorphological variations of the muscle in the department of Anatomy, Viswabharathi Medical College,Penchikalapadu, and Kurnool.Results: Total 32 levator scapulae muscles were used. All the sample values were measured to 2 decimal places.The average age of the cadavers in the sample was 82.87 years. The oldest cadaver in the sample was 100 yearsold and the youngest 61 years. Measurements of the proximal and distal attachments and the total length of themuscles were taken. Between 3 and 6 muscle slips were reported at the proximal attachment. Differences werealso observed between sides. The first report of a levator scapula muscle with 6 muscle slips at the proximalattachment was described.Conclusion: In our study we report 3 to 6 muscle slips in our study group. In order to improve the reliability of theresults of this study a greater number of specimens should be used, either through further dissection or inclusionof results from imaging techniques. The findings of the study should still be of great interest to cliniciansassociated with this area of the body. By doing this the speculated link between muscle variation and clinicaloutcomes such as myofascial pain syndrome could be investigated further. The potential applications andexpansions of this study are exciting and may begin to uncover the unexplained mechanisms behind myofascialpain syndrome.

Cord Blood Vitamin D Levels of Term Neonates.

We estimated cord blood 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels of 50 term healthy neonates born in a tertiary care center of Kozhikode, Kerala, India. Vitamin D levels were normally distributed with a mean (SD) value of 11.36 (4.75) ng/mL and median (range) values of 10.85 (3.9-24.9) ng/mL. Majority of babies had values between 5 to 15 ng/mL. This study shows that even in tropical climates most of our neonates are born with deficient vitamin D levels.

Development and histogenesis of human foetal lung in relation with gestational age.

Background: The objective was to study the development and histogenesis of human foetal lung in relation with different gestational age. Methods: In the present study lung specimens were collected from formalin fixed 27 aborted foetuses (14 male, 13 female) by abdominal dissection between 6 weeks to 40 weeks of gestational age. Results: In the present study we observed that there was a delay in the appearance of embryonic, pseudo glandular phase, canalicular, terminal saccular and alveolar stages of the lung. Conclusion: Delay in the developmental anatomy and histogenesis of the lung cells leads to histopathological abnormalities which gives knowledge to the clinicians during clinical procedures.

Butterfly Diversity and Status in Mandagadde of Shivamogga, Karnataka, India.

Biodiversity of butterflies in Mandagadde of Shivamogga of Karnataka carried out. Many butterfly species are strictly seasonal and prefer only a particular set of habitats and they are good indicators in terms of anthropogenic disturbances and habitat destruction. The richness and diversity of butterfly species is proportional to the food plant diversity, richness of flowers and intensity of rainfall. Unfortunately, butterflies are threatened by habitat destruction and fragmentation almost everywhere. A total of 52 species of butterflies belonging to 5 families were recorded during the study period. Among the 5 families, Nymphalidae dominated the list with 23 species, Paplionidae with 9 species, Pieridae and Lycaenidae with 8 species each and Hesperidae with 4 species. It is found that 9 species of butterflies are very common, 26 species are common and 17 species are rare in occurrence in Mandagadde.

Prevalence of mosquito species in Chhura block of Raipur district of Chhattisgarh state.

Mosquitoes act as vectors for several diseases including malaria and filaria. In Indian scenario, Chhattisgarh is endemic for both the diseases. The present study on prevalence of mosquito population in block Chhura of Raipur district of Chhattisgarh state was undertaken between August 2002 and March 2004 to asses the distribution pattern of various species of mosquitoes and their seasonal variations. Indoor resting mosquitoes were collected from five villages by aspirator tube in the morning (06:00-08:00 hr) using torchlight. Adult mosquitoes were identified using standard morphological and pictorial keys. Altogether 11 species belonging to three genera viz., Anopheles (7 species), Armigeres (1 species) and Culex (3 species) were recorded during study period. Average man-hour mosquito density was high in February 2003 (62.15) & March 2003 (69.35) and declined gradually till June 2003. From July 2003, it started rising again and reached a peak in August (94.10)-September (91.60) 2003. The vector species i.e. Anopheles culicifacies and Anopheles annularis were recorded high in rainy and winter seasons.

Is brain SPECT a suitable modality for evaluation of postradiotherapy posterior fossa brain tumours? A comparative evaluation with contrast enhanced computed tomography.

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) of the brain is exquisitely sensitive in detecting viable tumour tissue in the supratentorial region, but its efficacy has not been properly evaluated till date in case of infratentorial posterior fossa tumours. Twenty-four patients with primary posterior fossa brain tumour were included in this study. In each case brain SPECT with 99mTc-glucoheptonate (GHA) was performed for the evaluation of disease status. Contrast enhanced computerised tomography of brain was also performed in all the patients. Brain SPECT was positive in four patients with recurrence of tumour as compared to fifteen cases with computed tomography with a mean GHA retention index 5.26 +/- 1.64. Patients with postradiation gliosis (n=9) showed lower GHA retention index of 1.24 +/- 0.27. This study demonstrates that brain SPECT is not sensitive in detecting recurrence of tumour tissue in infratentorial region, as it is in the supratentorial region, with a sensitivity of 20%, accuracy of 45.83% and negative predictive value of 40% and the chance of any single study coming as false negative is about 80%.

Pure red cell aplasia associated with carbamazepine.

Therapeutic indications for carbamazepine have grown in recent years and more and more patients are taking this drug for various neurological and psychiatric disorders. Though haematological complications like aplastic anaemia etc., due to carbamazepine therapy are well known pure red cell aplasia is exceedingly rare. A 33 year old man was diagnosed to have pure red cell aplasia with positive Coomb's test following 5 months of carbamazepine therapy. He recovered completely. Carbamazepine induced pure red cell aplasia is a reversible condition if recognised early.