Anxiety symptoms in patients admitted in medical intensive care unit: A cross-sectional study

Objective: Patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit (MICU) for various medical morbidities are prone to suffer various psychiatric symptoms. Common conditions for which psychiatric consultation is sought are anxiety, delirium, self-harm attempt, and adjustment disorder. Anxiety is a commonly encountered problem and can affect the treatment outcome and compliance. This study was carried out in the MICU of tertiary care hospital to assess the pattern of anxiety symptoms in patients admitted to the MICU. Material and Methods: Sixty patients admitted to MICU were included in the study and assessed using semi-structured pro forma, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, and Faces Anxiety Scale. Data were statistically analyzed using mean, Chi-square test, t-test, and logistic regression test. Results: The majority of the participants were male, predominantly belonging to the age group of 40–59 years. Most of them had some physical, behavioral, or psychological symptoms of anxiety in a mild form. Although the extent of the anxiety symptoms in most of the patients was mild, a few also reported a moderate level of anxiety. Patients with cardiac and respiratory disorders had higher scores on anxiety rating scales than those with other diagnoses. Male gender, cardiorespiratory disease, and the presence or absence of anxiety had a negative correlation (r = ?1.79) whereas gender, disease, and presence of mild or moderate anxiety had no statistical significance. Conclusion: Most of the patients, especially those admitted with cardiac and respiratory disorders, had mild anxiety symptoms. Assessment of anxiety in MICU patients can be an important aspect to prevent or reduce the overall disease burden

Estimate of Genetic Variability and Heritability in Some Exotic Germplasm Lines in Kharif Rice (Oryza Sativa L.).

The high genotypic coefficient of variation, high heritability with high genetic advance as percent of mean was observed for grain yield per plant, total tillers per plant, productive tillers per plant and grains per panicle, whereas days to initiation of flowering, days to 50 % flowering and days to maturity had high heritability with low genetic adavance as per cent of mean.

Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis for Yield and Yield Components in Segregating (F4) Generation of Lablab Bean (Lababperpureus L. Sweet).

The genotypic correlation coefficients were slightly higher than phenotypic coefficients. Seed yield per plant was highly significant and positively correlated with number of pods per plant, primary branches per plant, hundred seed weight, days to maturity and number of peduncles per plant at both genotypic and phenotypic level, whereas it was significantly and positively correlated with days to first flowering at genotypic level only. Path analysis revealed that, number of pods per plant, hundred seed weight and number of primary branches recorded the highest direct effects in desirable direction. Their association with seed yield was also significant and positive indicating true and perfect association between these traits. Therefore direct selection for these characters would help in isolating high yielding genotypes.

Asymptomatic, isolated tubercular splenic abscess, in an immunocompetent person.

Tubercular splenic abscess in an immunocompetent person, especially when the patient is without any symptoms, is a rare clinical entity. We report a case of isolated tubercular splenic abscess in a 38-year-old asymptomatic healthy female and emphasize the importance of careful smear examination. The patient had come to the hospital for repair of vaginal vault prolapse. Her abdominal ultra sonography showed normal sized spleen with hypoechoic areas suggesting abscess. Fine needle aspiration of splenic lesion revealed tubercle bacilli on Ziehl Neelsen stain. The organisms also grew on culture. The splenic lesions cleared after six months of treatment with anti tubercular drugs at our Directly Observed Treatment centre under Revised National TB Control Programme. The patient was operated successfully for vault prolapse one year later.

Immunogenicity and safety of hepatitis B vaccine (Shanvac-B) using a novel pre-filled single use injection device Uniject in Indian subjects.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B is a major public health problem, which has now been controlled to some extent by vaccination especially with the recombinant hepatitis B vaccine, which has been proven to be safe and efficacious since its introduction in the 1990s. But problems of unsafe injection practices still persist. Now newer delivery devices like uniject are available for making vaccination very safe. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of the Hepatitis-B (Shanvac-B) vaccine in Uniject pre-filled device administered to healthy adults and infants at 0, 1, 2 months schedule. METHODS: A total of 122 healthy subjects (62 adults and 60 infants) were administered three doses of the recombinant Hepatitis-B vaccine using Uniject pre-filled device. Blood samples for antibody titer estimation were taken before vaccination and 4-6 weeks after third dose. Subjects, parents or guardians were given diary cards to record any adverse reactions. RESULTS: Protective immune responses to the vaccine were seen in 96.4% of adults and 100% of infants who completed the study. The Geometric Mean Titers (GMT) in adults and infants were 518.5 and 385.41 mIU/ml respectively. Mild fever, itching, and swelling at injection site were the most common side effects observed. CONCLUSION: The safety and immunogenicity of the Hepatitis B Vaccine in the novel pre-filled device Uniject was effectively demonstrated in the present study.

Approach to recurrent respiratory infections.

Rational approach to diagnosis and management of recurrent respiratory infections is needed, or else the child is subjected to unnecessary investigations and multiple drugs. Repeated respiratory symptoms do not mean a respiratory infection. A diagnosis of viral infection does not justify prescription of an antibiotic. Recurrent viral infections are part of the growing up process of any child. Giving antibiotics at every episode to cover "so-called superadded bacterial infections" will lead to "recurrent antibiotics" and adverse effects on growth. Systematic approach should be used to find the underlying cause. An otoscopic examination of a child should form part of a pediatric examination in all cases of respiratory infections. Antibiotics should be judiciously chosen depending on age, socioeconomic status, severity of infection and the type of organism expected and always given in adequate doses and proper duration. Treatment should be specific and symptomatic. Adequate drainage of the sinuses is an important adjuvant therapy. Use of cough syrups with various combinations should be avoided. Efforts should be made to diagnose and treat manifestations of hyperactive airway or allergy, role of CEA (cough equivalent asthma) and WLRI (Wheeze associated lower respiratory infections). Investigations are needed in recent lower respiratory infections and adverse effect on growth, school performance, abnormal physical findings. CBC, CRP, ESR, nasal smear, appropriate cultures, tests for TB, X-Rays, barium studies, milk scan, ultra sound, CT, MRI, bronchoscopy in selected cases.

Pediatric parenteral nutrition in India.

Nutritional support to patients in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units is critical not only to minimize negative nitrogen balance but also to promote growth and development. Continuous technological and logistical advances in the Western countries have improved the efficacy and reduced the complications of parenteral nutrition (PN) to the extent that despite the constraints of cost and infrastructure, PN is now fast growing in India. Although widespread availability is very much desired, it is important that the technique is developed with considerable expertise and used judiciously with full knowledge of its indications, limitations, dangers and benefits. Indications for PN include surgical conditions (short gut syndrome), very low birth weight infants (particularly with necrotizing enterocolitis and surgical anomalies), malabsorption syndromes, conditions requiring bowel rest (acute pancreatitis, severe ulcerative colitis and necrotizing enterocolitis) and several non-gastrointestinal indications (end stage liver disease, renal failure, multiple trauma and extensive burns). Provision of PN is associated with significant and sometimes life threatening complications. The possible complications are technical (thrombosis, perforation of vein, thrombophlebitis), infections, metabolic disturbances, hepatobiliary stenosis, cholestasis, fibrosis, cirrhosis or cholelithiasis and bone related complications like osteopenia and fractures. Meticulous monitoring is necessary not only to detect complications but also to document clinical benefit.

Fulminant hepatic failure: etiology, viral markers and outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the etiology and outcome of fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) in children. SETTING: Hospital based descriptive. METHODS: 36 children (22 males and 14 females) presenting with FHF over a period of one year were investigated. The ages ranged from 1.5 to 9 years. FHF was defined as occurrence of encephalopathy within eight weeks of onset of jaundice with no evidence of pre-existing liver disease. Detailed history, clinical examination, routine biochemical parameters and relevant diagnostic tests were carried out. Viral markers studied were anti HAV-IgM, HBsAg, anti HBc-IgM, anti-HCV and anti HEV-IgM. RESULTS: A viral etiology could be established in 22 children (61.1%). Hepatitis A (n = 12), Hepatitis B (n = 3), Hepatitis A and B (n = 2), and Hepatitis A and E (n = 4). Two children had enteric fever (1 with associated HEV), 2 children had Wilson's disease, 1 child had Indian Childhood Cirrhosis (ICC) and 2 children had drug induced hepatitis. Etiological diagnosis was not possible in 8 children (22%). Fourteen children (39%) died. Poor outcome was associated with spontaneous bleeding, raised prothrombin time, lower transaminases and higher bilirubin on admission. CONCLUSION: Viral hepatitis is the commonest cause of FHF in children. HAV alone or in combination is responsible for upto 50% of all FHF in children. Chronic liver disease can also present as FHF. Etiological diagnosis is not possible to upto one-fourth of all cases.

Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine in India: need and timing, immunogenecity and tolerance.

OBJECTIVE: (i) To assess the natural immunity and susceptibility to Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) infections in children in India. (ii) To study the immunogenecity and tolerance of Hib vaccine (ACTHIB) in young infants. DESIGNS: (i) Cross sectional study. (ii) Prospective trial. SETTING: Well baby and immunization clinics. METHODS: (i) PRP antibody titers against Hib estimated in 172 healthy infants and children aged 1 month to 10 years. (ii) Antibody titres estimated before and after ACTHIB vaccine given with primary immunization (age group 6 to 8 weeks) in 50 babies. RESULTS: (i) Naturally protective levels of Hib antibodies found in less than 20% of infants under one year, but in over 80% above 4 years. (ii) Seroconversion after ACTHIB vaccination was 100% with very high protective levels. There were no significant adverse reactions. CONCLUSIONS: ACTHIB vaccine proved to be safe and highly immunogenic. As susceptibility to Hib is highest in the first year of life, the vaccine should be recommended in the primary immunization schedule (combined with DPT). The very high titers achieved suggest the possibility of decreasing the number of doses or the amount of antigen to reduce the prevalent high cost.

Parenteral nutrition (PN) in the management of very low birth weight (VLBW) babies--a randomized controlled trial.

Eighty five very low birth weight (VLBW) babies with birthweight less than 1250 g were randomly assigned such that 43 received parenteral nutrition (PN) with amino acid based glucose electrolyte solution (Vamin) and lipid emulsion (Intralipid) in the first 16 days of life. The other 42 (control group) received conventional intravenous dextrose with or without electrolytes plus enteral milk regimen. Baseline clinical parameters and neonatal problems encountered in the two groups were similar. There was no significant difference in the mortality rate in the two groups (48.9% in PN group and 42.9% in control group: X2 = 0.3, p > 0.05). The commonest cause of mortality in both the groups was septicemia (16.3% and 26.1% in PN and control groups, respectively). Local complications, sepsis and fluid electrolyte disturbances were similar in the two groups. Azotemia (25.6%), hyperlipidemia (9.3%), metabolic acidosis (9.3%) and prolonged cholestasis (14%) were commoner in the PN group but were reversible with early recognition. Time taken to regain birthweight was also similar in the two groups (X2 = 14.2 and 15.2 days for PN and control groups, respectively). Thus, PN failed to improve the survival or early weight gain in the routine management of the VLBW babies in our unit.

Catch up growth and its determinants in low birth weight babies: a study using Z scores.

Two hundred and forty seven low birthweight (LBW) survivors of our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and 164 normal birthweight controls were followed up longitudinally from birth to 4 years and their growth trends (weight, height, head circumference) were expressed as mean Z scores in 500 g birthweight categories. Whereas LBW's demonstrated rapid growth in the first 6 months of life, followed by generally parallel trends with some tendency to rise, controls showed distinct growth faltering especially after one year. Only 30.8% of LBWs (and 49% of controls) were within the designated catch up levels for weight by age 4 years. The corresponding number for catch up of height and head circumference in LBW's was 22.8% and 26.5%, respectively. On multiple regression analysis, the most important determinants of catch up (at 4 years) in LBW's were weight at 1 year (beta = 0.51), height at 1 year (beta = 0.31) and mother's weight (beta = 0.04). Thus, Z scores enabled the demonstration of changing growth trends, simultaneous comparisons with local controls and international standards and comparison within indices. Growth charts incorporating Z score should be made available in a simplified manner for use in the community.

Parenteral nutrition in the management of severe protracted diarrhea.

Seventeen children aged 3 weeks to 19 months with severe Protracted Diarrhea (PD), and who were deteriorating on our standard management protocol (including special diets) were given Parenteral Nutrition (PN) for 4 to 19 days with crystalline aminoacid solution (Vamin N) in 10% dextrose and lipid emulsion (Intralipid 10%). Peripheral lines were used in majority (84%). Enteral feeds were started early and rebuilt as per tolerance. The mean daily protein and caloric intake achieved by hyperalimentation was 2.2 +/- 0.7 g/kg and 106 +/- 41 K cal/kg respectively. Diarrheal control and improvement in nutritional status was achieved in all but 4 who died (2 of refractory diarrhea and 2 of sepsis, 1 of which was probably PN related). Other PN related, treatable complications included thrombophlebitis (11.8%), sepsis (17.6%), and metabolic imbalance (17.6%). PN solutions and accessories alone cost an approximate average of Rs. 280/day, with extras for biochemical monitoring (Rs. 70/day) and special nursing (Rs. 200/day). Only 5 of the 13 survivors had a significant relapse of PD, within 5 to 80 days of discharge, necessitating further PN in 2. There were no further deaths. PN was therefore, found to be of life saving value in 13 of 17 children with severe protracted diarrhea and therefore, must be available in specialised units caring for such children.

Vegetable oil fortified feeds in the nutrition of very low birthweight babies.

Two kinds of oils (i) Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) rich Safflower oil, and (ii) Medium chain triglyceride (MCT) rich Coconut oil were added to the feeds of 46 very low birthweight (VLBW) babies to see if such a supplementation is capable of enhancing their weight gain. Twenty two well matched babies who received no fortification served as controls. The oil fortification raised the energy density of the feeds from approximately 67 kcal/dl to 79 kcal/dl. Feed volumes were restricted to a maximum of 200 ml/kg/day. The mean weight gain was highest and significantly higher than the controls in the Coconut oil group (19.47 +/- 8.67 g/day or 13.91 g/day). Increase in the triceps skinfold thickness and serum triglycerides were also correspondingly higher in this group. The lead in the weight gain in this group continued in the follow up period (corrected age 3 months). As against this, higher weight gain in Safflower oil group (13.26 +/- 6.58 g/day) as compared to the controls (11.59 +/- 5.33 g/day), failed to reach statistically significant proportions, probably because of increased statistically significant proportions, probably because of increased steatorrhea (stool fat 4+ in 50% of the samples tested). The differences in the two oil groups are presumably because of better absorption of MCT rich coconut oil. However, individual variations in weight gain amongst the babies were wide so that some control babies had higher growth rates than oil fortified ones. The technique of oil fortification is fraught with dangers of intolerance, contamination and aspiration. Long term effects of such supplementation are largely unknown.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)