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Background: India is an agrarian country, where pesticides are most widely used in farming. Monsoon dependent agricultural practices are common in India. In present study socioeconomic class and prescribing pattern of commonly used drugs in organophosphate poisoning in indoor setting at tertiary care hospital is evaluated. The aim of the study was to evaluate prescribing trend of drugs and socioeconomic class of patients in organophosphate poisoning in monsoon season.Methods: Prospective observational study was conducted at Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) and Medicine Wards for 4 months at 540 bedded tertiary care teaching hospital.Results: Total 64 diagnosed cases were enrolled and analyzed in present study (n=64). Maximum number of cases (57.81%) were male followed by female (42.18%). Most of the cases (37.50%) were from the age group of 21-30 years. 49 (76.56%) patients were of primary intentional poisoning followed by 15 (23.43%) patients of accidental poisoning. Most common drugs prescribed were atropine, pralidoxime, cefotaxime and ranitidine. The average amount of atropine and pralidoxime used per patient/day were 37.89±63.63 mg and 10.07±26.87 gm respectively.Conclusions: Present study revealed that young male adults with low socioeconomic class from rural background were prone for intentional organophosphate poisoning in central India.
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Objective To access the value of three dimensional gradient echo two-point Dixon water-fat separation sequence (3 D-DIXON) in quantitative diagnosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) by comparing with in-phase/opposed-phase (IN/OPP)and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1 H-MRS).Methods A total of 69 patients with NAFLD diagnosed by CT were divided into two groups by the ratio of liver spleen in CT (group A,low-grade fatty liver,n=32;group B,moderate and severe fatty liver,n=37).All patients underwent MR 3D-DIXION,1H MRS and IN/OPP examination twice within 1 week after CT examination.Fat fraction(FF) was evaluated and analyzed respectively.Results Pearson linear correlation analysis showed significant positive correlation between group A and group B about FF3D-DIXON,FFMRs and FFIN/OPP.Area under ROC curve (AUC) was different:AUCsYNTHESIZE＞AUCMRs＞AUCIN/OPP＞AUC3D-DIXON.Kruskal-Wallis H revealed significant difference among the three sequences no matter in group A or group B (P＜0.05).FF values of the three sequences (FF3D-DIXON,FFMRs and FFIN/OPP) were negatively correlated with CT liver/ spleen ratio in each group.The cut-off value of 3D-DIXON,IN/OPP and 1 H-MRS to diagnose presence or absence of fatty liver was 4.9 3 9 ％,5.2 8 4 ％ and 10.4 6 0 ％.Conclusion FF values measured by MRI methods might significantly vary based on different sequences.1 H-MRS is also the main method for quantitative assessment of fatty liver,3D-DIXON showed significant advantage in quantifying moderate and severe fatty liver.
ABSTRACT
Background: Free radicals and other reactive species are constantly generated in vivo and cause oxidative damage to biomolecules. DNA is probably the most biologically significant target of oxidative attack. Among numerous types of oxidative DNA damage the formation of 8-hydroxyguanosine (8-OHdG) is a sensitive biomarker of oxidative stress, an adduct formed as a result of biochemical reaction between ROS and DNA. Chronic exposure to Organophosphorus (OP) pesticides is implicated in many health conditions that result from the induction of oxidative stress, including cytogenetic damage. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the biochemical levels of 8-OHdG in spot urinary samples under the exposed OP pesticide sprayers and farm workers. Methods: In this study, 51 male pesticide sprayers and 39 farm workers in the age group of 18-47 years having exposure ranged from 3 to 15 years in duration were selected. The referents (n=31) were selected on the same criteria as well as they were never exposed to pesticides at any time. This study was conducted during the growing season (January, 2009 – September, 2010). The most commonly used OP pesticides like chlorpyriphos, Diazinon, Dimethioate, Monocrotofos etc., were used in this study. Urine samples from each participant were taken in sterile tubes and were stored at -200C till analysed. The concentration of 8-OHdG in samples were analyzed using ELISA. Results: The urinary levels of 8-OHdG were found to be significantly higher in the farm workers and pesticide sprayers in contrast to the level observed in the control group (p<0.05). When the data was analyzed in the exposed groups in relation to duration of exposure it was found that both the farm workers and sprayers who were exposed to OP pesticides for less than 5 years showed the maximum mean values of 8-OHdG in comparison to those exposed to for more than 10 years. Conclusions: In view of this regular bio monitoring studies in target human populations are imperative necessary due to frequent changes in pesticide formulations and introduction of newer pesticides. Despite that several life style factors may influence the urinary concentrations of 8-OHdG but still this non-invasive bio-marker 8-OHdG is preferred over other invasive techniques to evaluate the environmental and occupational exposure effect of OP pesticides on the genotoxicity of the exposed workers.