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Introduction: The skin acts as the first line of defense for the body against external injuries. With aging, the architecture of the skin undergoes intrinsic changes that impair its capacity for repair. In addition, the aging skin is more susceptible to injury by external stimuli, including ultraviolet rays and environmental pollutants. The combination of these factors predisposes the elderly to a variety of dermatological disorders, including xerosis, pruritus, photoaging, eczematous disorders, and tumors. The elderly (>60 years of age) population in India accounted for 8.6% (104 million) in 2011, and the figure has been projected to increase to 19% by the year 2050. It is imperative to identify the pattern of cutaneous disorders in this population as skin care regimens aimed to improve epidermal function have been shown to be effective inthe prevention and treatment of some of these aging-associated cutaneous disorders. Objectives: The objective of the study was to identify the pattern of dermatoses among the elderly population attending the dermatology clinic at a tertiary care hospital in South?east Rajasthan. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study of patients above the age of 60 years who attended the dermatology clinic at a tertiary care hospital in South?east Rajasthan from May 2018 to May 2020. A combination of history, physical examination, and clinical investigations (when appropriate) were used to establish the diagnosis. Results: A total of 210 patients were included in this study. Most patients were between the age group of 60–65 years (40.47%). One hundred and thirty?eight were male (65.71%) and 72 were female (34.28%), with a male to female ratio of 1.9:1. Our study demonstrated that xerosis was one of the most common diagnoses seen in 126 cases (60%), followed by eczematous skin conditions seen in 82 cases (39%). Conclusion: The elderly constitute an important part of the population. Cutaneous disorders in the elderly range from mild disorders such as cherry angiomas to dermatological malignancies. Therefore, it is important to recognize the pattern of dermatosis in this population so that appropriate therapeutic and preventive strategies could be implemented.
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Context: Early childhood caries is one of the most widespread diseases affecting children in urban and rural India. Community health workers can bring about a quantum of change in improving the oral health in children. Aims: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of oral health training imparted to Anganwadi and accredited social health activist (ASHA) workers on improving the oral hygiene of 148 children aged 1–6 years. Settings and Design: The preintervention followed by oral health training and postintervention assessment were done at three Anganwadi and ASHA centers of Rajasthan. Methodology: The preintervention data included Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth/decayed, extracted, and filled teeth, oral hygiene indices (Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified [OHI-S] and Oral Hygiene Index Simplified-Modified [OHIS-M]), plaque index, and caries activity using Oratest. The oral health training consisted of PowerPoint presentations, video presentations, live demonstrations on brushing technique, rinsing, plaque disclosure, and flossing technique. They were enlightened on deleterious oral habits, emergency protocol on trauma, etc. The postintervention data included outcome measures consisting of oral hygiene indices (OHI-S and OHIS-M), plaque index, and Oratest after 2 months to evaluate the impact of training. Statistical Analysis used: The data were analyzed using Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, independent t-test, paired t-test, and one-way analysis of variance test. Results: There was a significant improvement in toothbrushing practices and rinsing (P < 0.05). There was a significant difference in debris index, calculus index, OHI-S/OHIS-M, plaque index, and Oratest after intervention (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Empowering Anganwadi and ASHA workers can be a feasible approach in India, where oral health is not a priority in primary health care as yet.
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Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) accounts for nearly one third of all major congenital anomalies. Globally the prevalence of CHD is 1.01 to 17.5 per 1000 live births. In India it is 1.3 to 26.4 per 1000 study population. CHD is an important cause of mortality and morbidity representing a global health burden. Early diagnosis and treatment may lead to improved prognosis in patients suffering from CHD. The aim of this study was to assess the pattern of CHD in Western Rajasthan, India by echocardiography.Methods: This was a retrospective study carried out at Dr. S. N. Medical College and attached group of hospitals in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. The study period was from July 2014 to June 2017. Records of all patients undergoing transthoracic echocardiography from newborn to 25 years of age were analyzed for age, sex and CHD findings.Results: In the study period, a total of 24,914 patients underwent echocardiography, of which 877 patients were identified as having CHD. Prevalence of CHD was 35.20 per 1000 study population. Amongst the total diagnosed CHD cases, 489 (55.76%) patients were male, with male to female ratio of 1.2:1. CHDs were diagnosed more commonly between 1 month and 1 year of age (41.28%). The commonest type of acyanotic CHD in the present study was ventricular septal defect (21.44%) and cyanotic CHD was tetralogy of Fallot (18.24%).Conclusions: Prevalence of CHD in Western Rajasthan, India was 35.20 per 1000 study population. Profile of CHDs in the present study was similar to that in published literature.
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Background: Carcinoma cervix is the second most common malignancy of women in India after breast cancer. The present study was conducted to determine the spectrum of cervical lesions by liquid-based cytology in Western Rajasthan population.Methods: It is a Prospective study on 1087 cervical samples carried over a period of 1 year. Cervical samples were taken and processed by SurePath™ LBC.Results: Of total 1087 cases 959 were negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy (88.22%). 88 cases (8.09%) were reported as unsatisfactory. Among the non- neoplastic cases- bacterial vaginosis was reported in 209 cases (21.8%), Candida in 77 cases (8.02%), both Candida and bacterial vaginosis in 12 cases (1.25%), reactive cellular changes in 193 cases (20.12%), and Trichomonas vaginalis in 01 case. Among pre-malignant and malignant lesions, 40 cases (4.17%) the distribution was as follows-atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance 16(1.67%), atypical squamous cell-cannot rule out high grade 08 cases (0.83%), Low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion 04 cases (0.42%), high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion 07 cases (0.73%), Atypical glandular cell favoring neoplastic 01 case (0.15%), and squamous cell carcinoma 04 cases (0.42%). Histopathological co-relation of premalignant and malignant lesions was further studied.Conclusions: Liquid based cytology is an effective screening and diagnostic procedure for cervical abnormalities. Among pre-malignant and malignant lesions, histo-pathological correlation increased with increased grade of severity of lesions. To the best of knowledge, this is the largest study of liquid based cytology in the Western Rajasthan.
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Background: The level of personal hygiene has a strong bearing on preventive capacity for many diseases and hence the assessment of its level assumes great significance. The school being a strong base for hygienic practices, the present study aimed to assess the level of personal hygiene and its associated factors as well as its effect on morbidity level of school children in a rural belt of southern Rajasthan.Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted among 250 students studying in classes VIII to XII in 3 different schools of southern Rajasthan from November 2018 to February 2019.The data was obtained by interview method using pretested questionnaire which included socio-demographic factors, the hygienic practices and occurrence of diseases as dichotomous questions. The association of the attributes was tested through Chi-square test, correlation and regression techniques.Results: Only 22% students scored above 75% and were categorized as good practioners of personal hygiene. The age of students, parents literacy, and household income were significantly associated with personal hygiene. The common morbidities like head lice and dental caries were found gender sensitive in the study area. The negative association between disease score and personal hygiene score implied that the disease burden of children can be minimized with higher personal hygiene practices.Conclusions: Systematic efforts to sensitize school children and parents about importance of personal hygiene, improvement in parental literacy coupled with economic empowerment of rural families can help to enhance the status of personal hygiene of students and thereby drastic reduction in their disease burden.
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Background: Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae (the influenza viruses). Swine flu cases resurfaced in month of January 2015 in Southern region of India which are continuation of pandemic 2009. Aim of this study is to summaries the clinical and epidemiological factors associated with swine flu as well as to estimate the burden of Influenza A H1N1 (Swine Flu) cases.Methods: A complete data of all the patients visiting swine flu OPDs, swine flu wards and ICU were maintained for year 2015. Each patient visiting either the swine flu OPD or the swine flu ward, who was suspected clinically to be H1N1 positive were tested for real time PCR.Results: Out of 1247 samples tested for rt-PCR 491 (39.37%) cases were identified as positive for H1N1. Maximum swine positivity was seen in the age group of 16-30 year i.e. 147 (29.94%). Overall swine positivity was significantly (<0.001) higher in females than male and extremely statistically significant (p<0.0001) higher in rural areas than urban. Cough was the most common clinical symptoms affecting 469(95.52%) patients followed by fever (92.26%) and breathlessness 402(81.87%).Conclusions: Our study will help epidemiologist and clinician to identify epidemiological factors and clinical picture of swine flu.
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Background: Mortality profile is an analytical tool used to identify the various factors responsible for poor outcome of disease and it can also use to evaluate quality and efficiency of healthcare providers. The aim of this study is to summarise the clinical and epidemiological factors as well as to identify the risk factors associated with mortality among swine flu cases.Methods: It is a cross-sectional, descriptive, hospital-based study conducted on 62 deceased patients due to swine flu reported at Maharana Bhupal Government Hospital, Udaipur, Rajasthan during the outbreak of influenza A H1N1 in the year 2015. A standardized pre-structured questionnaire with consent was filled by help of bed head tickets and by interview of attendants of deceased patients.Results: Deaths were higher among age group of 31-45 years (35.48%). Case fatality rate for male patients (13.88%) was higher. Mortality was highest in females of rural background 27(43.55%). Majority of deceased patients (70.97%) had delay of 4-7 days in admission after onset of symptoms. Diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and pregnancy was the major risk factors for poor outcome.Conclusions: Delay in diagnosis and admission may be the reason for higher mortality rate. The most common co morbid illness was Diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases (Ischemic heart disease, Rheumatic heart disease, Hypertension) and pregnancy.
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Dengue is emerging as the most common monsoon related illness in India, particularly over the last few years. Objective: To study the clinical profile of confirmed dengue cases admitted at a tertiary care hospital and to identify the seasonal variation of the disease. This would help in effective control of dengue in the city. Methods: 765 patients who fulfilled World Health Organization (WHO) criteria and admitted in the medical indoor wards for dengue fever from January 2018 to December 2018 were selected for study. All data were entered in the Microsoft Excel worksheet and descriptive statistics were analyzed. Results: The maximum number of patients belonged to the age group 21-30 years (29.28%). It was found that more cases of Dengue occur in and around monsoon period with peak in October. The most common presentation apart from fever and bodyache were gastrointestinal symptoms. Total 103 (13.46%) patients had complications. Investigations revealed most of the complications occurred when platelet count went below 20,000 cells/mm 3. Conclusion: As most cases were reported during around monsoon period, continued and coordinated efforts should be made to control the transmitting vectors to prevent dengue outbreaks.
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Dengue has become a major public health problem in the last few decades in India contributing significantly to the overall disease burden. Most of the cases of dengue from India are reported during the monsoon season. The vector population of dengue is affected by seasonal rainfall, temperature, and humidity fluctuations. Rajasthan is a northwestern state of India, which has shown several dengue outbreaks in the past. In this paper, we have tried to analyze the effects of annual cumulative rainfall on dengue incidence in one of the largest and severely affected states of India. Retrospective data for dengue incidence and rainfall for the state of Rajasthan was collected and Pearson’s coefficient correlation was calculated as a measure of association between the variables. Our results indicate that annual cumulative rainfall shows a strong positive correlation with dengue incidence in the state of Rajasthan. Such analyses have the potential to inform public health official about the control and preparedness for vector control during monsoon season. This is the first study from the Indian state of Rajasthan to assess the impact of annual rainfall on dengue incidence, which has seen several dengue outbreaks in the past.
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Background: Human skeleton is an excellent source for genetic, anthropological and forensic investigations.Pelvic bones are very important for sex determination, followed by skull & the long bones. Various parametersand indices are available based on which the sex can be determined using sacrum. These parameters and indicesvary region wise also. The sacrum has always attracted the attention of the medico-legal experts for establishingits gender, because of its contribution to pelvic girdle and associated functional gender differences. In presentstudy the sacral index in Eastern Rajasthan population is calculated and compared with the study done earlierin Western Rajasthan & North Indian Population.Objective: To study the Sacral Index in the population of Eastern Rajasthan, so that it can be compared with otherstudies on populations of Western Rajasthan & other regions of North India.Materials and Methods: Study was carried out in Department of Anatomy, Jaipur National University IMSRC,Jaipur, Rajasthan. Adult, dry sacra were collected randomly from Anatomy department of different Medicalcolleges of Eastern Rajasthan, with the kind permission of the concerned department. 87 sacra were classifiedinto 48 male and 39 female bones by observing the parameters like – Maximum length of sacrum, Maximumwidth of sacrum and Sacral index.Results: In this present study Mean of sacral index in Males was 104.39 and that for Females was 121.02. Meanvalue of Sacral Index in females was significantly higher than in males. Difference between male and femalemean was statistically highly significant.Conclusion: It was found after comparison that sacral index is more in females than males in different populations.The comparative analysis with other races showed a clear racial difference for the sacral index. Hence it is areliable and significant criteria for sex determination of sacrum
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Evaluation of Nutritive contents of two plant species of Western Rajasthan i.e. Psoralea odorata Blatt and Halb and Glinus lotoides Linn were carried out. The selected plant species collected from local area of Bikaner region, root, shoot and fruit were separated and analysed for nutritive contents. Crude protein, crude fat, total ash, nitrogen free extract (NFE), organic matter, total carbohydrates, calcium and phosphorus were analysed.
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Extract of flavonoids from plant parts and callus tissues of Glinus lotoides (molluginaceae) and Psoralea odorata (fabaceae) were screened against microbes’ viz., Bacillus cerus, Escherchia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans adopting disc diffusion method. Results were compared with the zone of inhibition produced by commercially available standard antibiotics. Maximum activity was observed in flavonoid of callus tissue as compared to plant parts of both plant species.
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Evaluation of mineral contents from three selected plant species of Fabaceae family growing in arid region of Rajasthan Desert was carried out. The roots, shoots and fruits of Clitoria ternatea, Sesbania bispinosa and Tephrosia purpurea collected from two different areas Chhatargarh area (Bikaner district) and Ratangarh area (Churu district) were analysed for mineral contents. The maximum Calcium (3.86%), Phosphorus (0.48%), Potassium (0.92%) and Sodium (1.08%) contents were found in roots and shoots of Grewia tenax collected from study area.
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Evaluation of sterol contents from three selected medicinal plant species of Fabaceae family growing in Rajasthan Desert was carried out. The roots, shoots and fruits of Clitoria ternatea, Sesbania bispinosa and Tephrosia purpurea were analysed for sterol contents. b- Sitosterol and Stigmasterol were isolated and identified. Maximum sterol contents were observed in shoots of Sesbania bispinosa (0.29 mg/g.d.w.), whereas minimum in roots of Tephrosia purpurea(0.15mg/g.d.w.
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Ascorbic acid contents of stems, leaves and fruits from four selected exotic tree species like Colophospermum mopane, Holoptelea integrifolia, Kigelia pinnata and Putranjiva roxburghii have been analysed. Maximum ascorbic acid contents were found in the fruits of Colophospermum mopane (42.10mg/100g.d.w.) while, minimum in the stems of Kigelia plnnata (22.15mg/100g.d.w).
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Evaluation of flavonoid contents from four selected exotic tree species like Colophospermum mopane, Holoptelea integrifolia, Kigelia pinnata and Putranjiva roxburghii growing in Rajasthan Desert was carried out. The leaves of selected trees were analysed for flavonoid contents i.e. Quercetin and Kaempferol. Flavonoid contents like Quercetin and Kaempferol were isolated and identified. The maximum total flavonoid contents (17.10mg./gdw) was found in leaves of Putranjiva roxburghii while minimum (9.20mg./gdw) in leaves of Holoptelea integrifolia.
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Antimicrobial screening of ethyl ether and alcoholic extracts of leaves of four selected exotic tree species growing in Rajasthan Desert was carried out. Colophospermum mopane, Holoptelea integrifolia, Kigelia pinnata and Putranjiva roxburghii showed positive reactions against bacterial pathogens i.e. Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and a fungal pathogen Candida albicans.
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Ascorbic acid contents of roots, shoots and fruits of three selected medicinal plants like Capparis decidua, Cleome gynandra and Cleome viscosa of family Capparidaceae have been analysed. Maximum ascorbic acid contents were found in the fruits of Capparis decidua (108.12mg/100g.d.w.) while, minimum in the roots of Cleome viscosa (62.25mg/100g.d.w).
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Antimicrobial screening of ethyl ether and alcoholic extracts of leaves of three selected medicinal plant species of capparidaceae family growing in North–Western Rajasthan was carried out. Capparis decidua, Cleome gynandra and Cleome viscosa showed positive reactions against bacterial pathogens i.e. Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and a fungal pathogen Candida albicans.
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Evaluation of flavonoid contents from three selected medicinal plant species of capparidaceae family growing in North–Western Rajasthan was carried out. The leaves of Capparis decidua, Cleome gynandra and Cleome viscosa were analysed for flavonoid contents i.e. Quercetin and Kaempferol. Flavonoid contents like Quercetin and Kaempferol were isolated and identified. The maximum total flavonoid contents (1.16mg./gdw) was found in leaves of Capparis decidua while minimum (0.71mg./gdw) in leaves of Cleome viscosa.