Sociodemographic Factors Associated with Deliberate Self Harm in Two Different Age Groups.

Objective: To study the different demographic and social factors predisposing to deliberate self harm in young (15 – 24 years) and elderly (45-74 years) people and compare. Method: Consecutive cases of Deliberate self harm attending Psychiatry OPD and admitted to Medical, Surgical and Psychiatric wards of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital were studied. Demographic history was taken both from patient and family members. For social factors two scales were used – Modified Kuppuswamy’s socioeconomic rating scale for urban people and Pareekh’s scale for rural people. Results: Demographic factors- In the present study some factors were found to be same but certain factors were found to be significantly different in these two age groups. In young age group females outnumbered males by a ratio of 3.8:1, whereas in elderly group number of females was less than males-ratio 1:2.1 In both groups Hindus were most common; most people came from urban area and studied up to secondary level. In young group most male people were self employed or students whereas elderly males were mostly in service or self employed workers, rest were retired. Most females in both groups were housewives. In young group 54.1% were single, rest were married. In elderly group all were married, but 12% were separated or divorced, widow or widower. In both groups most people came from small (member<5) nuclear family. Socioeconomic status: In both groups most people were from social class IV. Conclusion- Apart from age and sex composition there is not much difference in sociodemographic profile between young and elderly DSH patients. The difference found in marital status and occupation was probably due to their age difference.

Evaluation of endoscopic biopsy in gastric lesions with a special reference to the significance of mast cell density.

Various studies have shown the role of mast cells in chronic inflammatory states and in tumor growth. The study is designed to have an idea of the relationship of mast cell density (MCD) to gastric ulcer and cancer, to verify whether mast cell accumulation occurred in the two conditions especially in Indian patients and thus postulate that therapeutic strategies against mast cell mediators could be useful in treatment. Also, we want to review literature and attempt to explain our findings. A total of 240 patients, who underwent their first endoscopy and biopsy for a span of 21/2 years were studied retrospectively. Out of these, 210 cases that were either gastric ulcers or cancer were chosen for this MCD study. Biopsies were sectioned and stained routinely. Toluidine blue stain and copper grid was used to calculate MCD. Student's t-Test was used to calculate the statistical significance of MCD. MCD in benign ulcers was much higher than in control subjects. MCD in well-differentiated cancers showed MCD higher than control. Poorly-differentiated adenocarcinoma showed lower MCD than well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. It was concluded that the accumulation of mast cells in gastric ulcers is an inflammatory response. MCD is increased in well-differentiated gastric cancers, which may be a mast cell mediated immune response or mast cells may have a role in tumor angiogenesis and produce factors for tumor progression. Poorly-differentiated adenocarcinoma apparently lacks mast cell mediated anti-tumor response in some unexplained way.

Conjunctival intra-epithelial neoplasia in a young Indian male with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

Conjunctival intra-epithelial neoplasia is a disease of the elderly but recently this ocular surface tumour has been observed in younger age group specially who are serologically human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive. Here a case of conjunctival intra-epithelial neoplasia of a 38-year-old male who was HIV-positive from Kolkata is reported. The patient presented with a growth at limbus in his left eye. Excision of the mass under local anaesthesia was done. Biopsy report confirmed conjunctival intra-epithelial neoplasia. The serological tests for HIV were found positive.