Health profile of security personnel in a tertiary care hospital in Odisha

Background: Security guards/protective inspectors are a group of professional gray collar workers responsible for safety and security of general public. In healthcare institutions, they play a pivotal role in streamlining the movement of patients, healthcare workers as well as other people as well as keeping a check upon the law-breaking activities within the premises. These professionals are constantly overburdened with responsibility and many of them are under the verge of physical, mental, and emotional crisis leading to various health issues. Aim and Objective: To assess the influence of changing work patterns on the overall physical health of security guards working in the hospital. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital in the Eastern part of Odisha involving all the security personnel currently working. Universal sampling was opted and 465 personnel participated in this study. Results: Of the total, 213 (45.8%) were between 30 and 40 years of age and 398 (85.5%) were male. 179 (38.4%) were overweight and 52.2% had a waist-hip ratio above normal range for their gender. Prevalence of anemia and Conjunctival xerosis was significantly higher among night shift workers with P < 0.001 whereas hypertension (P = 0.08) and rheumatoid arthritis (P = 0.006) was significantly higher among morning shift workers. Conclusion: Being a distinctive member of the hospital, it is high time that regular health check-ups and social security measures should be made available to them in order to provide quality life which will in turn ensure better hospital safety and security.

Development Of Hplc Method For Stress Testing Of Combination Of Two Drugs Using Design Of Experiment Concept

This study was conducted to develop, an High Performance Liquid Chromatography using photodiode array detector (HPLC-PDA) method to analyse the samples generated by the stress testing of antifilarial combination (albendazole and diethylcarbamazine citrate) in the solution state. The concept of Quality by Design (Design of Experiment, DoE) approach was used for the development. For the separation of the drugs and its degradation products (DPs), DoE was applied in two stages, i.e., primary parameter stage where factors having major effect were selected. This stage gives us CQA (Critical Quality Attribute) which along with minor factors affecting were varied to get the secondary design. For each of the stage a different design was selected; for primary stage IV optimal design (Response Surface Method) was selected whereas for secondary stage, Taguchi orthogonal array design was selected. The major primary parameters affecting the HPLC method as screened by preliminary studies were the buffer pH, organic modifier (methanol or acetonitrile), initial hold time (start of gradient) and gradient time. The primary stage was completed successfully. The results were compiled in form of resolution of peak from next peak and analysed by DoE. The process fixed the values for buffer pH (4.38), organic modifier (acetonitrile) and gradient time (30 min). The CQA from primary run was initial hold time. This parameter along with other parameters: initial and final concentration of organic modifier, buffer type (phosphate or acetate), buffer strength (mM) and oven temperature were further varied and samples withdrawn were analysed. The data of secondary design was compiled in the form of resolution (R), analysed by Design Expert and final value for secondary parameter for HPLC method were fixed. The resolution of the peaks for some secondary runs was sufficient reflecting some type of interaction between the drugs and/or degradation products.

Evaluation of the outcome indicators of a Nutritional Rehabilitation Center in Eastern India

Background: Under the National Rural Health Mission all over India, in March 2011, the concept of facility-based dietary management in tertiary care hospital, which is named as Nutritional Rehabilitation Center (NRC), was started with the establishment of NRCs at district level. Objective: Our aim was to evaluate the outcome indicators of facility-based management of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) children admitted in the NRC, to identify the gaps in the NRC management of SAM, and to propose recommendations to bridge the gaps. Materials and Methods: This study is a hospital-based snap short study which was conducted in NRC, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Postgraduate Institute of Paediatrics, Sishu Bhawan, S.C.B Medical College, Cuttack, from 2014 to 2017. Patients >1 month and <5 years of age with SAM admitted to the NRC were included in the study. Results: A total of 353 children were included in the study. Mean age of the children was 12.4 ± 11.8 months. 83.6% of the SAM children were within 24 months. Mean duration of stay in NRC among all the admitted (353 children) SAM children over 3 years was 12.78 ± 7.07 days and mean duration of stay in the NRC among all the discharge cases (246 discharged children) was 15.7 ± 5.86 days. Case fatality rate was 1.5% for the year 2014–2015 and no death was recorded during the year 2015–2016 and 2016–2017. Average daily weight gain was 12.5 ± 5.61 g/kg/day. Conclusion: Implementation of the World Health Organization feeding guidelines resulted in adequate weight gain of inpatient malnourished children with adequate health-care services at the NRCs.

Effect of tripod position on objective parameters of respiratory function in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Objective. To examine changes in respiratory dynamics in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) sitting leaning forward with hands supported on the knees (tripod position), a posture frequently assumed by patients in respiratory distress. Methods. Spirometry, maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures (MIP and MEP) generated at the mouth, and diaphragmatic excursion during tidal and vital capacity maneuver breathing measured by B-mode ultrasonography were studied in 13 patients with stable COPD in sitting, supine and tripod positions. Results. Mean±SD age of patients was 52.2±6.8 years. Median disease duration was three years. There was no statistically significant difference in spirometry for sitting, supine and tripod positions (FEV1: 1.11±0.4L, 1.14±0.5L and 1.11±0.4L; p=0.99), respectively, (FEV1/FVC: 49.2±11.0, 53.7±8.5 and 48.5±11.3, p=0.37), mouth pressures (MIP: 102.9±28.9, 90.6±29.1 and 99.2±32.9 cm H2O, p=0.61 and MEP: 100.8±29.9, 100.4±34.4 and 90.6±32.6 cmH2O, p=0.74) and diaphragmatic movements during tidal (16.1±5.9, 20.1±6.8 and 16.6±6.2 mm, p=0.22) and forced breathing (33.9±11.0, 43.1±19.6 and 37.4±17.1 mm, p=0.35). Conclusion. Commonly measured indices of respiratory function were not different in the tripod compared to sitting and supine positions.

MSCT angiography diagnosis of thrombosis in external jugular venous aneurysm: case report and review of literature.

True venous aneurysms are rarely-observed causes of neck swelling reported in children. We describe a 59-year-old female with a history of left-sided neck swelling due to external jugular venous aneurysm diagnosed by MSCT angiography. Thrombosis in external jugular venous aneurysm as in this case is extremely rare. Incidental note was made of the coexistent right internal jugular phlebectasia. A brief review of literature of this entity has been discussed.

Vesicovaginal fistulae: a 12-year study.

Repairs in 49 cases of vesicovaginal fistulae were performed during the last 12 years. Obstetric cause for vesicovaginal fistulae was noted in 81.63% cases and the most important being obstructed labour (73.46% cases). Repair was successful in 71.42% cases. Factors favourable for success were a non-obstetric fistula, small size fistula (< 10 mm) and absence of fibrosis. Repair operations were performed mainly by vaginal flap technique. The fistulous track was not excised. Polyglactin suture gave the best results.

The epidemiologic significance and clinical pattern of HCV induced chronic hepatitis in India.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) ribonucleic acid (RNA) was tested for in a group of 16 defined non-B chronic hepatitis patients using specific reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). These were chosen from amongst 56 biopsy proven cases of chronic hepatitis of which majority (40) were positive for hepatitis B virus infection. Hepatitis C virus RNA could be demonstrated in 12 (75%) of remaining 16 cases. These include all seven patients positive for antibody to HCV. Two of these patients had past history of blood transfusion and in another two the clinical course started with severe acute liver disease. This study establishes the association of HCV with severe liver disease. The clinical and biochemical profiles are also discussed. In view of limited sensitivity of the antibody assays it is justified to develop diagnostic testes based on local strains.

Tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate induced neurotarget esterase inhibition in brain and peripheral nerve effectively monitored by lymphocytes.

Tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate ester (TOCP: 10-100 mg/kg)--an organophosphorus compound (OP) inhibited brain, peripheral nerve and lymphocyte neurotarget esterase activities in a dose related and time-dependent manner. There was a good correlation of inhibition between brain, peripheral nerve and lymphocyte tissues taken from adult hens treated with 3 different doses of TOCP and sacrificed 24 and 48 hr after exposure. The results suggest that lymphocyte can effectively monitor OP compounds for investigating inhibition of neurotarget esterase activity in brain and peripheral nerve tissues.

Postcaesarean wound infection: a review of risk factors.

In a prospective study of 431 cases delivered by caesarean section, wound infection developed in 54 (12.52%) cases. In 2.55% cases, infection was deep with drainage of purulent material. The factors associated with a high risk of wound infection were anaemia, multiple pelvic examinations, prolonged rupture of membranes and handling by dai. General ward cases had a significantly higher wound infection rate than the private ward cases.