Central corneal thickness and corneal diameter in preterm and term newborns and preterm neonates at term

Purpose: To record central corneal thickness and corneal diameter in preterm and term newborns within first week of their birth and in preterm neonates at term age. Methods: Babies born at ?34 weeks of gestation period (n = 100), term babies who have a gestation period of >37 weeks (n = 100) and preterm neonates at term age (38-42 weeks) who were born at ?34 weeks (n = 100) were included in this hospital based observational descriptive study. Corneal diameter was taken by Castroviejo Calipers. Central corneal thickness was measured using portable ultrasonic pachymeter (Pachette 3). Refractive status of the eyes was measured using streak Wellch Allyn retinoscope under cyclopentolate cycloplegia. Results: Measure of central corneal thickness and corneal diameter in preterm newborns was found to be 633.5 ± 2.8 ?m and 8.1 ± 0.6 mm, in full term newborns it was 555.1 ± 2.7 ?m and 9.5 ± 0.6 mm, and in preterm neonates at term age, it was 563.5 ± 2.5 ?m and 9.6 ± 0.5 mm, respectively. Mean central corneal thickness was found to be more in preterm newborns 633.5 um then term newborns 555.1 um and the difference was statistically significant (P =0.001). Mean corneal diameter was found to be maximum (9.6 mm) in preterm neonates at term age. Conclusion: Preterm babies have thick corneas and small corneal diameters. This study is useful with respect to the analysis of glaucoma in children and using preterm corneas as donor corneas in penetrating keratoplasty.

Maternal knowledge, attitude and practices towards diarrhea and oral rehydration therapy in rural Maharashtra.

OBJECTIVE: A cross sectional hospital based survey was undertaken in rural area of Wardha District of Maharashtra, to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of mothers regarding diarrhea and oral rehydration therapy. METHODS: 75 mothers of under-five children participated [corrected] in the study. They were interviewed by an interviewer using a pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire. RESULTS: 69.3% of them had a per-capita income of less than rupees 500 [corrected]. 68% of mothers knew the correct definition of diarrhea but only 5.3% of them were aware that diarrhea leads to dehydration [corrected]. 90.7% of mothers were aware of ORT and ORS was easily available to the majority, but only 60% of mothers [corrected] practiced ORT. Nearly 1/3rd of mothers were mixing ORS in the wrong fluid. Nearly half of the mothers were not practicing adequate hand washing, 32% were using feeding bottles [corrected]. CONCLUSION: The maternal knowledge towards diarrhea and ORS was inadequate in the population studied [corrected] and there was a big gap between actual and desired practices.

Ellis-Van Creveld syndrome associated with nodular sclerosing Hodgkin's disease and nephrotic syndrome.

An 11-year-old male child presented with multiple congenital anomalies, gradually increasing swelling on the left side of neck for one month along with generalized swelling of body and passage of scanty urine for fifteen days. On examination, the child had multiple congenital anomalies and cervical lymphadenopathy. Cardiac examination revealed a pansystolic murmur grade III/VI in left lower parasternal area. Laboratory evaluation revealed significant hypoalbuminemia and hypercholesterolemia, 24 hours urinary protein was 116 mg/hour/m2. Histopathological examination of left cervical lymphnode revealed Hodgkin's disease (Nodular Sclerosing type), 2D echocardiography revealed presence of a single atrium. A diagnosis of Ellis-van Creveld syndrome with nodular sclerosing Hodgkin's disease and nephrotic syndrome was kept. This association, to the best of our knowledge has not been previously reported.

Growth and sexual maturation of low birth weight children: a 14 year follow up.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the physical growth and sexual maturation of children born with low birth weight (< 2000 g). (LBW). DESIGN: Longitudinal follow up. SETTING: Hospital born urban cohort. METHODS: Weight, height, head circumference and pubertal changes were recorded till 14 years at specified intervals in 252 LBW and 176 control (term neonates with birth weights > or = 2500 g) children. Effect of prematurity and fetal growth retardation (SFD) was studied in 79 preterm appropriate for gestation and 45 term SFD children. RESULTS: LBW boys significantly lagged behind their controls for all physical growth parameters till 14 years, while the LBW girls had a physical growth comparable to controls after 11 years. Preterms had comparable weight, height and head circumference with their controls after 11 years. The SFDs, however, remained significantly handicapped in their overall physical growth even at 14 years. In comparison to controls, menarche occured 6 months earlier in preterms and 12 months earlier in SFD girls. However, there was no change in the sequence of pubertal changes in either preterms or SFDs. CONCLUSIONS: Fetal growth retardation has a lasting adverse effect on later physical growth, while most preterms catch up with their peers by adolescence.

Giant cell tumour of ilium.

Most common tumours of ilium are chondrosarcoma and reticulum cell sarcoma. Giant cell tumour commonly presents at the ends of long bones. It is quite uncommon to find osteoclastoma in flat bones, especially ilium. This is the only case of osteoclastoma of ilium seen during the last 7 years in this institution and is reported for its rarity.