Clinical features and comorbidities of depression among inpatients in a tertiary care centre

Background: Background: There are few studies of depression in Indian population which have looked at depression comprehensively covering various facets in a sample population. The objective of the current study was to recognize the clinical features and comorbidities of depression among inpatients in a tertiary care centre. Method: This was an observational study in which 50 patients admitted with ICD-10 diagnosis of depression were assessed for clinical symptomatology and comorbidity. Results: The mean number of somatic symptoms was 11.44 (SD 6.66), and the mean number of stressful life events over lifetime and in past 1 year were 8.02 (SD 3.8) and 1.44 (SD 1.18), respectively. One fifth of the sample (20%) had personality disorder; among them, mixed personality disorder (12%) was the most common diagnosis. Most of the patients had suicidal ideation (62%) and 26% had attempted suicide during their lifetime. Majority (60%) had atleast one psychiatric comorbidity; the most common being anxiety disorder (46%). Physical comorbidity was present in 54% of the patients; the common diagnoses were hypertension (18%), diabetes mellitus (14%) and ischaemic heart disease (12%). Conclusion: The current study found somatic symptoms and suicide ideation to be frequent in the sample. Also, comorbid conditions including personality disorders are frequent in patients with depression.

Genetic variation and population structure in Oryza malampuzhaensis Krish. et Chand. endemic to Western Ghats, South India.

Oryza malampuzhaensis Krish. et Chand. (2n = 4x = 48; Poaceae, Oryza) is endemic to Western Ghats, South India, and shows a highly localized distribution over a small geographical area in this region. This is the most poorly understood taxon in genus Oryza and is often misidentified as O. officinalis owing to their close morphology. We assessed the nature and distribution of genetic variation among 11 populations of O. malampuzhaensis using random amplified polymorphic DNA markers. The analysis revealed low genetic variation in O. malampuzhaensis. Cluster analysis of pairwise genetic distances of populations revealed three distinct clusters and the grouping of populations largely corresponded to their geographical proximity. Restricted gene flow and a geography-dependent differentiation were evident among populations. The altitude-influenced differences in ecological factors among the natural habitats of the populations seem to be the cause of the geography-dependent differentiation. Genetically isolated smaller populations and a narrow genetic base in O. malampuzhaensis point to its vulnerability to genetic drift and genetic depauperation. Thus O. malampuzhaensis appears to be under the threat of extinction and needs to be conserved by use of suitable methods. The present study also identified molecular markers diagnostic for O. malampuzhaensis.

Evidence for oxidant stress in chronic pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Oxidant stress leading to lipid peroxidation is reported to be the common link in the pathogenesis of chronic pancreatitis irrespective of etiology. AIM: To look for evidence of lipid peroxidation in duodenal juice in patients with chronic pancreatitis. METHODS: 19 patients with chronic pancreatitis (14 tropical, 5 alcoholic) and 19 age- and sex-matched subjects with abdominal pain without any cause were studied. Contents were aspirated from the second part of the duodenum during gastroduodenoscopy. Malonyl dialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured in duodenal juice by the thiobarbituric acid method. RESULTS: MDA levels were higher in patients than in the control group (mean [SD] 42.6 [17.0] vs 29.2 [11.7] nmol/mL; p < 0.05). On linear and multiple regression analysis, none of the disease factors correlated with duodenal juice MDA levels. CONCLUSIONS: Lipid peroxidation products are increased in patients with chronic tropical and alcoholic pancreatitis.