ABSTRACT
Background: Cancer is emerging as a major public health concern in many countries including India. Kerala state has the highest burden of cancer in the country. Objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of diagnosed cancers, warning signs and selected risk factors of cancer in Kadapra Panchayath of Pathanamthitta district, Kerala.Methods: A total of 16,391 population was covered by door to door survey using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire collected information on the sociodemographic variables of the residents, source of water supply, warning signs of cancer and details of diagnosed cancer cases.Results: The mean age of the population was 40.9+21 years. The prevalence of diagnosed cases of cancer in our study population was 776/100,000 population. Breast cancer was the most common cancer (43.5%) identified in the population. The prevalence of any warning sign among the study population was 220/100,000 population. Breast lump was the common warning sign identified. Increasing age and female gender were the factors found to be significantly associated with cancer.Conclusions: As prevalence of cancer was found to be high in this population, an active community based screening along with teaching self-breast examination to the women in the community are required. Improving community awareness could help in early diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Soil and water testing for carcinogens is recommended.
ABSTRACT
Background: The prevalence of fecal incontinence (FI) in the community is usually grossly underreported. There are very few studies done in the Asian population to assess FI. Objective: Our study aimed to assess the prevalence and the factors associated with FI in adult females aged 30–60 years in a rural community in south India. Materials and Methods: We conducted a community-based cross-sectional study among 200 people in three villages (Allivaram, Thoppanthangal, and Veppampet) in Kaniyambadi block, Vellore district, Tamil Nadu. Participants were recruited into the study after informed consent. Information about demographic details, comorbidities, and risk factors for FI was collected using a structured pilot-tested questionnaire. Revised FI Scale (RFIS) was used for evaluation and grading of FI. Results: Our study reports the community prevalence of 1.5% (3/200) with 95% confidence interval (0.05, 2.95) for FI using the RFIS scale. The women who were identified to have FI were referred to the secondary hospital for further evaluation and management. All the women who reported FI had a history suggestive of local anal conditions/surgery. Only “passing blood in stool” was statistically significant with FI in logistic regression. Multiple vaginal deliveries or associated obstetrical injuries did not show any association with FI. Conclusions: Large-scale multicenter studies are required to assess the prevalence and social burden caused by this disabling condition.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the relationship between the onset of cerebral infarction in anterior and posterior circulation and the "three high" risk factors in Guangzhou communities. Methods From Jan. 2014 to Jan.2016,367 patients from Guangzhou communities were diagnosed with new cerebral infarction by head diffu-sion weighted imaging(DWI).The data were divided into two groups of anterior and posterior circulation,and uni-variate and multivariate methods were used to analyze the relationship between the "three high" and other risk factors and the onset of cerebral infarction in anterior and posterior circulation.The data of anterior circulation cere-bral infarction were further divided into two subgroups of lacunar and non-lacunar infarction,and the same statisti-cal methods were employed to analyze differences of risk factors between the two subgroups. Results The frequen-cies of hypertension(P = 0.040)and large atherosclerotic infarction(P = 0.012)were significantly higher,and the serum high-density lipoprotein(HDL)level(P = 0.045)was significantly lower in posterior circulation than those in anterior circulation,respectively;and the onset of posterior circulation cerebral infarction was more associ-ated with the incidence of hypertension(OR = 1.767,P = 0.035)and the decrease of HDL(OR = 0.380,P =0.021). In anterior circulation,the levels of systolic blood pressure(SBP)(P = 0.011)and diastolic blood pres-sure(DBP)(P=0.000),as well as the frequency of large atherosclerotic infarction(P=0.000)in non-lacunar infarction subgroup were significantly higher than those in lacunar infarction subgroup respectively,and the onset of non-lacunar infarction was more closely related to increased SBP levels(OR=1.045,P=0.001). Conclusions Among the"three high"risk factors,the onset of posterior circulation cerebral infarction is more closely related to the incidence of hypertension and the decrease of HDL.In anterior circulation,and the onset of non-lacunar infarc-tion is more closely related to the increased levels of DBP and SBP,especially to the elevated levels of SBP.
ABSTRACT
Magnesium is an important intracellular cation [1], actually the second most abundant cation after Potassium, which has gained an essential role in normal human homeostasis. Low serum magnesium has been detected commonly in around 12% hospitalized patients and even more commonly in Intensive Care Patients as high as 60 to 65%. The link of low serum magnesium with acute coronary syndrome is being discussed widely and its actual role is being scrutinized [2,3]. Recently, Hypomagnesaemia has also been found to play an important role in the pathogenesis of a variety of clinical disorders including Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus, Atherosclerosis and Acute Coronary Syndromes [4-8]. Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has been defined as a group of conditions due to decreased blood flow in the coronary arteries. Acute coronary syndrome includes a vast spectrum like: ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI / 30%), non ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI / 25%), or unstable angina (U.A. / 38%).These are described according to ECGs and Cardiac Biomarkers of myocardial necrosis (troponin T, troponin I, and CK MB), in patients presenting with acute cardiac chest pain (Medscape). Aim: To look for any association between Hypomagnesaemia and Acute Coronary Syndrome. Materials and Methods: It’s a retrospective study involving 1198 patients who presented to the Accident and Emergency department (A & E), Trauma Center, Rashid Hospital, Dubai, with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) between April 2010 and May 2013. We reviewed the records of all patients including their clinical history and presentation. The Magnesium levels of all the patients in the ACS pathway were checked along with, Cardiac biomarkers - Troponin, CPK and CK MB and Lipid profiles were also analyzed. A Chi-Square test was performed at 5% level of significance to test the null hypothesis of no association between cardiac markers, lipid profile and magnesium level. Inclusion Criteria: All new patients presenting to A & E Department at Rashid Hospital with an acute coronary syndrome (both NSTEMI & STEMI). All new patients presenting with non-specific chest pain who test positive for cardiac markers. All the age groups presenting to A & E Department at Rashid Hospital from 11/04/2010- 30/05/2013 were included. Both the genders were included. Exclusion Criteria: Patients diagnosed initially with acute coronary syndrome that eventually had negative cardiac markers. Results: Out of 1198, 1087(91%) patients were male. 49% were between 50 and 75 years of age group whereas 46% were between 25 years and 50 years of age. 77% patients were Asians and 17% belonged to Arabic peninsula. The Magnesium level was normal in 1097(92%), low in 63(5.3%). Troponin was negative in 431(36%) and positive in 767(64%) patients with low, medium and high levels in 338(28.2%), 426(35.5%) and 03(0.3%) respectively. These results indicate that there is no statistically significant association between Magnesium levels and Troponin groups (positive and negative) (chi-square with two degree of freedom = 3.30, p = 0.192). Conclusion: Our study proves that there is no significant association between Hypomagnesaemia and Acute Coronary Syndrome.
ABSTRACT
Aims: Tuberculosis (TB) has been thought associated with developing atherosclerosis, a hallmark of ischemic heart disease (IHD) pathology. Animal studies and human autopsy & case studies have shown association of TB with atherosclerosis. There is paucity of data showing co-suffering by TB and IHD. The objective of the study was to explore the co-suffering by IHD and TB in community endemic for these diseases. Study Design: Retrospective secondary data analysis. Place and Duration of Study: Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India between January 2011 and December 2011. Methodology: Retrospective secondary data analysis done for patients admitted with IHD at tertiary hospital in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India; a setting endemic for TB and IHD both. Results: Study revealed 1.6% of total admitted cases of IHD were co-suffering with TB. Majority of these (68.2%) reported history of TB diagnosis and/or treatment. About one third (31.8%) cases were co-suffering with current diagnosis and/or treatment for TB. Cases co-suffering by TB & IHD were on average 7 years elder than cases of IHD. This difference in age was statistically significant (p=0.05). Conclusion: The study demonstrated that co-suffering by IHD and TB does exist in setting endemic for both these diseases. Patients older than 53 yrs (Mean age 65.63 yr - 2 SD 12.47 yr) age presenting with clinical features suggestive of IHD should be explored for the history or current status of TB. Studies on co-suffering by these are needed among patients attending peripheral health centres for validation.
ABSTRACT
First phase of implementation of national rural health mission was completed with 11th plan. Reviews are regularly conducted to monitor the achievements of goals which include reduction of maternal mortality ratio, which is an emerging priority. Due to inherent difficulties in definition, data compilation studies are infrequent. Maternal mortality to morbidity ratio varies from 5 to 223. The morbidities range from mild to severe almost near miss case. The criteria for inclusion of a patient in severe acute maternal morbidity on organ/system failure/dysfunction seem to be objective but availability of diagnostic facilities is the limiting factor. The simple criterion based on some diseases or conditions is widely accepted. Usually magnitude is recorded high when disease or condition criteria are used and low when failure or dysfunction criteria are used. Community-based studies are scarce. National level surveys provide limited information. In such type of studies, morbidities are self-reported and hence the magnitude is very high. The district level household survey-3 recorded morbidity in 93.3% women. Very few studies were carried out before 2001. Studies in this millennium have been deliberated. Women having some postnatal depression ranged from 11 to 33%.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics of subjects with sub-threshold mild ADHD symptoms from community samples from the views of demographic factors, socio-school function, comorbidity, character trait and family function. METHOD: The subjects were selected randomly from primary schools in Jinju. They were composed of 702 students attending ordinary school and living with parents. Based on scores from 2 scales and report from teachers in charge, they were divided into three groups; definite ADHD group (29), mild ADHD group (136) and control group (542). They were evaluated through DBDS, CBCL, FACES-III, Family APGAR, CCI by parents. Data analyses were performed by PC version SPSS. RESULTS: Compared with the definite ADHD group, the mild ADHD group showed significantly lower scores in anxious/depressive symptoms, social immaturity, aggression, ODD score, although they scored higher compared to the control group. In withdrawal, somatic complaints, thought disorder, delinquency, internalizing symptoms and novelty seeking score, the mild group was similar to the definite group. The mild group, however, had mild functional impairment in socio-school activities, family function. Distribution of frequency in SES was almost same in the mild and the control group. CONCLUSION: This study implies that children with mild ADHD symptoms seem to have diverse comorbid psychiatric disorders. Careful psychiatric attention must be paid to this group to improve their functional impairment and to prevent further functional decline.