A socio-demographic study on seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and associated factors in a rural population in Andhra Pradesh

Background: SARS-CoV-2 is an enveloped, single stranded RNA beta corona virus that belongs to the family Coronaviridae. The S and N proteins are the principal immunogens used for the detection of anti – SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies.2 The first subunit (S1) mediates the attachment of the virus to human cells via its receptor - binding domain (RBD), and the second one (S2) mediates membrane fusion for viral entry. Antibodies that bind to the S protein can neutralize corona viruses. Methods: It was a community based analytical cross-sectional study done in rural areas of Eluru district, A.P. State. From each village 30 members were selected by using systematic random sampling. A sample of 120 was included. Blood samples from the selected individuals were taken Humoral responses (Ig G) were assessed using an ICMR approved Micro well ELISA test for the semi-quantitative detection of COVID 19 (SARS-CoV-2) neutralizing antibodies in Human serum samples. Results: In the present study 46 (28.3%) had higher education, 15 (12.5 %) belong to farmers, 84 (70%) of them belong to Hindus, 94 (78.3%) of them belong to nuclear family. History of COVID 19 (p=0.02), period from recent dose of covid vaccination (p=0.04) were found to be statistically significant. Conclusions: High seroprevalence in this study suggests that COVID-19 vaccination remains the best method to control the COVID-19 pandemic. It is necessary to encourage the public to take vaccination.

The Determinants o f Leptin Levels i n Obese Diabetics and Non - Obese Diabetics: A Population - Based Cross - Sectional Study

Background: There is an established link between Hyperleptinemia and Obesity. Leptin resistance, characterized by elevated levels of circulating leptin together with disruption of hormone signalling, is an important feature of obesity. Hyperleptinemia has been demonstrated to correlate with insulin resistance. Aims and Objectives: Evaluation of Leptin In Obese and Non - Obese Diabetics. Methods: This cross - sectional study aimed to evaluate the levels of lepti n in non - obese and obese and its relationship. A total of 30 obese diabetics and 30 non - obese diabetics were involved in the study which was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh. Collected blood samples were estimated for HbA1C and leptin levels. Body Fat was estimated using Body Stat in Non - Obese Diabetics and Obese Diabetics. Results: In this study, Leptin levels were significantly higher in obese diabetics compared to non - obese diabetics. Data presents cor relations between leptin in obese with HbA1C, BMI, and Body Fat in Obese Conclusion: Elevated Leptin Levels is a strong marker of obesity which suggests Leptin Resistance

Dosimetric analysis of intracavitary brachytherapy applicators: a practical study

Purpose@#Intracavitary brachytherapy is one of the important methods of gynecological cancer treatment. The effect of attenuation is not considered in the dose calculation method released by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Task Group No. 43 Report (TG-43). In this study, the effect of high-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy applicators on dose distribution was measured using Gafchromic films and well-type ionization chamber. @*Materials and Methods@#A plan created by the treatment planning system was first executed using a well-type ionization chamber with a water equivalent elasto-gel in place for charge collection. Again, same plan was executed using central tandems of various angulations with different diameters of vaginal cylinders and charge collection was measured. For in vitro dose measurements this plan was also executed on tandem and vaginal cylinder assembly with Gafchromic films fixed on the surface of vaginal cylinder. @*Results@#The results show that the central tandem when used with different vaginal cylinders resulted in increase in effective attenuation of the beam. The central tandem of 300 angulations when used with a 35-mm diameter vaginal cylinder results in maximum attenuation whereas the 0º tandem when used with 20-mm diameter vaginal cylinder results in least attenuation of the beam. @*Conclusion@#Due to the attenuation by various applicators used in brachytherapy for the treatment of gynecological cancers, it can be concluded that the difference between practical dose and the treatment planning system calculated dose should be considered for the correct estimation of the dose to the target and the organs-at-risk.

Insertion/deletion polymorphism of ACE gene in females with peripartum cardiomyopathy: A case-control study

Background The role of polymorphism of Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene and ACE activity in etiopathogenesis, prognosis, and many other clinical parameters in the various form of the cardiovascular disease has been established to some degree of certainty. The pathophysiology of Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) remains an area of active research. The main aim of our study was to see pattern of ACE- Insertion/Deletion (I/D) allele in PPCM and its implications on left ventricular performance indices. Methods This single-center case-control study included 45 cases and 70 controls. The diagnosis of PPCM was established clinically and echocardiographically. ACE genotyping was done by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method in all subjects. Results The II, ID, and DD genotype was present in 16, 18 and 11 of subjects with PPCM and 48, 19 and 3 of controls respectively. The odds ratio for ACE-II genotype in cases vs. controls was 0.253 (95% CI = 0.114–0.558; p = 0.007), for that of II genotype was 1.93 (95% CI = 0.86–4.3; p = 0.107) and for DD genotype was 7.225 (95% CI; 1.88–27.6; p = 0.0039). Overall frequency of D allele in cases was significantly higher than controls (odds = 4.25; 95% CI = 2.01–6.7; p = 0.0001). Moreover, ejection fraction, left ventricular volume and linear dimensions were worse in patients with DD genotype. Conclusion ACE DD genotype and overall frequency of D allele is significantly higher in patients with PPCM. Also, the presence of DD genotype is associated with worse systolic performance indices measured echocardiographically.

Protective effect of Nigella sativa against paracetamol induced hepatic and renal damages.

Background: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are very commonly used as an analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and antiplatelet agent. They have significant adverse effect on liver and kidney besides damaging stomach. Their effect on liver and kidney are of serious concern. Hence, we have decided to study the preventive effect of Nigella sativa against paracetamol induced hepatic and renal damages. Methods: Ethanolic and aqueous extracts of N. sativa were prepared with the help of Soxhlet’s apparatus. Totally, 36 wistar albino rats (150-200 g) of either sex were divided into six groups of six each. Group I was administered with distilled water, Group II-VI were treated with paracetamol 750 mg/kg i.p. Group III-VI were test groups also treated with N. sativa aqueous extract (200 and 400 mg/kg p.o) and ethanolic extract (200 and 400 mg/kg p.o), respectively. The treatment was given daily for 7 days and on 8th all the rats were sacrificed and the blood was analyzed for hepatic and renal function tests and tissue was preserved for histopathological examination. Results: Paracetamol administration caused a marked hepatic and renal damage, which is evidenced by the increase in liver and renal function test parameters in the negative control group. N.sativa extracts prevented this damage. The protective was seen maximum in ethanolic extract followed by the aqueous extract in dosedependent manner. Conclusion: Ethanolic extract showed significant protection against paracetamolinduced and renal damage.

Congenital familial erythrocytosis: a case report with literature review

Familial erythrocytosis is a heterogeneous group of hereditary conditions with an increased total red blood cell volume. The disease occurs in a familial pattern and follows a relatively benign course. The absence of leukocytosis and thrombocytosis differentiates it from polycythemia vera. The best characterized primary erythrocytosis is the autosomal dominant primary familial and congenital polycythemia. In most families, erythrocytosis is due to abnormal hemoglobin with increased oxygen affi nity. In other families, erythrocytosis is caused by an autonomous production of erythropoietin [EPO]. EPO receptor gene mutations are also responsible for erythrocytosis when no secondary causes are apparent. Presented herein is a family with familial erythrocytosis possibly due to high autonomous production of EPO, which as per the literature is the fi rst of its kind in the Indian context

Giant fecaloma causing small bowel obstruction: case report and review of the literature

Fecaloma is a mass of hardened feces being impacted mostly in rectum and sigmoid. The most common sites of the fecaloma is the sigmoid colon and the rectum. There are several causes of fecaloma and have been described in association with Hirschsprung's disease, psychiatric patients, Chagas disease, both inflammatory and neoplastic, and in patients suffering with chronic constipation. Up to now several cases of giant fecaloma has been reported in the literature most of them presenting with megacolon or urinary retention. We herein report a case of giant fecaloma leading to bowel obstruction who was successfully treated by surgery. A 30-yrar-old man presented with sign and symptoms of acute bowel obstruction. He underwent exploratory laparotomy and enterotomy. He was found to have a giant fecaloma causing bowel obstruction in the jejunum. He was discharged after the operation with good condition. Jejunal fecaloma is extremely rare condition

Histomorphometry of preterm and term human placentas / Histomorfometría de placentas de pretérmino y término

The intra-uterine existence of foetus is dependent on placenta, a major organ of nutrition and homeostasis.The present study was carried out to compare morphometric and histological changes in preterm and term human placentas. Eighty placentas collected from Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, JNMCH, AMU, Aligarh, were divided into group first of preterm placentas up to 36 weeks (n =30) and second group of full term placentas i.e. 37 to 40 weeks ( n = 50) respectively. The samples were fixed in 10 percent formol-saline solution. The gross morphological variables of placentas were studied. There was a significant increase in the placental weight, decidual area and umbilical cord diameter of term placenta as compared to that of the preterm ones. From each placenta whole thickness tissue blocks were taken and processed for paraffin sectioning. Five µ-thick sections were stained with Haematoxylin-eosin and Van Gieson stains and processed for light microscopy. A total of 200 villi were studied in each sample under high power field and occurrence of different features was expressed as percentages for each parameter. The appearance of microvilli and syncytial bud on the syncytium were almost absent in the villi of term placentas. It was concluded that with increasing gestational age there was a gradual increase in the number of capillaries in villi from preterm to term placenta.There was a significant increase in syncytial knot count, fibrinoid necrosis, vasculosyncytial membrane and decrease in the percentage of villi showing cytotrophoblastic cells and number of Hofbauer cells in term group as compared to preterm group.

La existencia intrauterina del feto depende de la placenta, el mayor órgano de nutrición y homeostasis. El estudio se llevó a cabo para comparar los cambios morfométricos e histológicos de la placenta humana de término y pretérmino. Ochenta placentas fueron obtenidas del Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, JNMCH, AMU, Aligarh y se dividieron en grupos, el primer grupo de placentas de pretérmino hasta 36 semanas (n = 30) y el segundo grupo de placentas de término, de 37 a 40 semanas (n = 50 ). Las muestras fueron fijadas en solución de formol-salina al 10 por ciento. Se estudiaron las variables morfológicas macroscópicas de las placentas. Hubo un aumento significativo en el peso de la placenta, el área de decidua y el diámetro del cordón umbilical de la placenta a término en comparación con la de los prematuros. De cada placenta se tomaron y se procesaron bloques de tejido para incluirlos en parafina. Cortes de 5 µm fueron teñidos con HE y Van Gieson para microscopía óptica. De cada muestra fueron estudiadas 200 vellosidades, bajo campo de alta resolución y la aparición de diferentes características se expresó como porcentajes para cada parámetro. La aparición de las microvellosidades y brote sincitial en el sincitio estaban casi ausente en las vellosidades de las placentas de término. Se puede concluir que al aumentar la edad gestacional hubo un aumento gradual en el número de capilares en las vellosidades de la placenta de término. Existe un aumento significativo en el recuento de nudo sincitial, necrosis fibrinoide, membrana vasculosincisial y disminución en el porcentaje de las vellosidades que muestran células citotrofoblástica y número de células de Hofbauer en las placentas del término de grupo en comparación con el grupo de pretérmino.

Courvoisier's law revisited

According to Courvoisier's law; if gallbladder is palpable in a jaundiced patient, it is unlikely to be due to gallstones, because stones would have given rise to chronic inflammation and subsequently fibrosis of gallbladder therefore, rendering it incapable of dilatation. Conversely, the causes other than stone [principally tumours], would result in the distension of gallbladder, felt on abdominal palpation. However, in Courvoisier study of 109 cases of dilatation of gallbladder, 17 were due to impacted stones. Therefore, Courvoisier concluded that dilatation of gallbladder was rare with stones obstructing the common bile duct. Despite this fact it is always assumed that the palpable gallbladder is due to malignancy [pancreatic or periampullary etc.]. Here, we report a rare case of palpable gallbladder in a jaundiced patient due to multiple cholelithiasis and a large choledocholithiasis causing obstruction of CBD

Antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles dispersion against MSSA and MRSA isolated from wounds in a tertiary care hospital of north India.

Staphylococcus aureus, the main cause of nosocomial infection worldwide result in significant increases in mortality, morbidity, and cost related to prolong treatments. Silver compound has been in use since time immemorial for the treatment of burns, wounds and several other bacterial infections. In the present work, we explore the antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) dispersion (5-10 nm) against reference strain and clinical isolates of Methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA), and Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus (MRSA).The typical minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against standard reference strain as well as, MSSA and MRSA were observed in the range of 12-48 μg/ml and 12-96 μg/ml, respectively. The MBC/MIC ratios against all strains were found in the range of ≤1 to ≤4, which shows that Ag-NPs inhibit bacterial growth in a bactericidal rather than a bacteriostatic manner. Our finding suggests that Ag-NPs are effective broad-spectrum antibacterial agents regardless of their drug-resistance mechanisms.

Risk factors associated with childhood asthma

To identify the risk factors associated with childhood asthma, in children attending Isra University Hospital, Hyderabad. Case-control study. Isra University Hospital between September 2005 to August 2006. The study included 398 age-matched children [200 asthmatic and 198 non-asthmatic]. Information was collected concerning their familial history of atopy, birth weight, environment, breastfeeding, disease and treatment history. Odds ratio was calculated for determining the risk. The children were aged between 12 months and 8 years and 60% were male. The asthmatic children were hospitalized more frequently than the non-asthmatic children [p < 0.0001]. Most of the asthmatic children lived in the urban areas of Hyderabad [odd ratio [OR] = 16.7, 95% CI = 3.1-14.6, p < 0.0001], had a parental history of asthma [OR = 26.8, 95% CI = 10.8-68.2, p < 0.0001] or allergic rhinitis [OR = 4, 95% CI = 1.2-13.4, p= 0.01], 38.5% had at least one person who smoked, and were weaned earlier than the non-asthmatic children [OR =12.4, 95% CI = 1.3-4.4, p < 0.01]. Childhood asthma was strongly associated with a family history of asthma and allergic rhinitis, the urban place of residence, having smokers as parents and early weaning from maternal breast milk. The results highlight the need to educate the parents about the risk of smoking and early weaning in the development of asthma

Role of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the management of acute cholecystitis

To evaluate the safe technique of surgery in patients with acute cholecystitis and to highlight the better method in which patient can be prevented from complications. A descriptive study. This study was conducted at Larkana, Sindh from February 2002 to August 2004. A total of 504 patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Out of these, 398 patients were treated by elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy and 106 patients underwent emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystectitis. Among 106 patients, females were double [73.1%] than males and most of these patients were received within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms. In 56 [52.83%] patients, ultrasound revealed odematous gall bladder, mucocele, empyma, contracted, perforated and gangrenous gall bladder. Per-operative complication was encountered in 71 [66.98%] patients including bleeding, minor injury to common bile duct [CBD] and liver, adhesions of gall bladder with omentum, stomach, colon, CBD, and distorted anatomy of Calot's triangle. The minimum time taken during the procedure was 50 minutes. In 5 [4.72%] patients, the laparoscopic procedure was converted to open and reasons for conversion were bleeding, tight, dense adhesions and perforated gallbladder leading to biliary peritonitis. Emergency cholecystectomy is reliable and safe modality in the management of acute cholecystitis. Certain factors are responsible for the conversion, which include delayed arrival of patient, patients with perforated gall bladder, bleeding and adhesions. Hence, emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy seems to be safe, cost effective, and timely surgery with modern conception. This timely surgery prevents the complications associated with acute cholecystitis

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy experience of 100 cases at a teaching hospital of Sindh

To study the complications, conversion rate and hospital stay during the initial experience with the laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A case series. Chandka Medical College Hospital, Larkana - Sindh from March 2003 to February 2004. Total 100 patients suffering from symptomatic gallstone disease were admitted for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Out of 100 laparoscopic cholecystectomies performed, 85 [85%] patients were females and 15 [15%] males. Age range was 25 to 70 years. Only 8 [8%] patients were converted to open surgery. Mean operative time was 60 minutes. Post-operative hospital stay was 24 to 48 hours for uncomplicated cases. Post-operative complications included biliary leakage 3% minor and 1% major, duodenal perforation 1% and port site infection 8%. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the ideal procedure for gallstone disease. However, the complications and conversion rate can be minimized by the appropriate training and experience

Serum uric acid levels in patients of ischemic heart disease

A comparative study of serum uric acid in 90 patients of lHD with 31 age and body mass index matched control subjects was carried out at Basic Medical Sciences Institute, JPMC, Karachi to find out the possible relationship between serum uric acid and incidence of ischemic heart disease. Serum uric acid was found to be significantly high [P < 0.001] in patients of ischemic heart disease as compared with control subjects

Symptomatic meckel's diverticulum

A study was conducted to look out for the incidence and management of symptomatic Meckel's Diverticulum at Peoples Medical College Hospital, Nawabshah [Pakistan].Twenty-two patients admitted between January 1996 and December 1998 over a period of 3 years were included in the study. Fifteen Patients presented with acute / subacute intestinal obstruction, 3/22 with peritonitis due to perforated Meckel's Diverticulum and 4/22 with bleeding per rectum 17/22 patients [77.27 percent] had wedge resection of Meckel's Diverticulum's and 5/22 [22.72 percent] were treated with segmental resection. The incidence of complicated Meckel's Diverticulum is fairly common in our area. Though laparoscopy is a preferred diagnostic as well as therapeutic procedure, laparotomy still remains the procedure of choice for both purposes in case of suspected or complicated Meckel's Diverticulum when Laparoscope is not in practice