Polio eradication in India: current status.

India has reached the final stage of polio eradication. The polio partnership in India, under the leadership of the Government of India, mounted tremendous response to the outbreak. The progress since 2003 is the most significant in the history of polio eradication in India. Surveillance sensitivity was increased to reach the goal for polio eradication. Since nearly all polio cases now occurring in India are caused by type 1 poliovirus in children, monovalent oral polio vaccine type 1 (mOPV1) was introduced in select high-risk districts of UP, Bihar and Mumbai-Thane during the April and May 2005 National Immunisation Days and the June and August 2005 in 6 sub-national immunisation rounds. Strategies were also being implemented to improve the impact of supplementary immunisation activities in the high-risk areas. As a result of supplementary immunisation activities targeted using surveillance data, India has made striking progress towards polio eradication.

Use of oral polio vaccine for polio eradication.

The experience in three of the world's six WHO Regions (the Americas, the European and the Western Pacific Regions) shows that OPV is the right choice for stopping wild poliovirus transmission. Polio can be eradicated by carrying out SIAs to supplement routine vaccination and by placing added emphasis on reaching every child during every polio round. Monovalent OPV will be key tool in helping us to achieve the goal of polio eradication. The task of global eradication of poliomyelitis is uphill but well within our reach. A strong will and political commitment by the Government of India and effective contributions by each one of us will make our nation polio-free world in the near future.

study of paraneoplastic syndrome patterns in patients with bronchogenic carcinoma

Paraneoplastic syndromes, which are the distant effect of underlying carcinoma, which can present early, well before the primary lung lesion produces local symptoms and even when the tumor is undetected or very small. Paraneoplastic syndromes are common in patients with bronchogenic carcinoma. They may be the presenting finding or the first sign of recurrence. To assess the incidence and pattern of paraneoplastic syndrome [PNS] in patients with bronchogenic carcinoma. Peripheral Hospital in Kuwait. Retrospective study. A retrospective study of 52 confirmed bronchogenic carcinoma patients occurring from January 2000 to June 2004 in our hospital was carried out. The Medical records of all the confirmed cases of bronchogenic carcinoma admitted between January 2000 and June 2004 were reviewed. The clinical and biochemical parameters recorded were: age, sex, underlying medical illness, presentation complete blood count, blood urea, electrolytes and serum calcium levels, and appropriate hormone levels where indicated. The localization of the tumors was done by chest x-ray and CT scan. Tissue biopsy was obtained by bronchoscopy or under CT scan guidance and histopathological examination of the specimen was carried out. The type and pattern of PNS if any was noted. These parameters were entered into a database and later analyzed. The data management and statistical package used was Epi Info version 6 provided readily by the CDC [Centre for Disease Control] Bethesda USA. Forty-nine patients were male and 3 were females. All were heavy smokers or exsmokers. The histological types were 12 [22.4%] small cell carcinoma and 40 [67.6%] nonsmall carcinoma. The mean age 67.46 +/- 12.15 years. Associated illness found was diabetes mellitus [DM] ' 24 [46%], hypertension - 33 [63.6%], and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] - 14 [27%]. Almost all the patients presented with cough - 52 [100%], shortness of breath [SOB] - 51 [99%], haemoptysis - 22 [42%], pleural pain - 16 [31%] and fever - 22 [42%] and weight loss - 39 [75%]. The PNS found were: Hypercalcemia - 22 [42%], thrombocytosis - 5 [9.6%], limbic encephalitis - 3 [5.8%], SIADH - 3 [5.8%], peripheral neuropathy - 2 [3.8%], GBS - 1 [1.9%], pancytopenia - 3 [5.8%]. There was no case with ACTH secretion or Lambert-Eaton syndrome. Hypercalcemia, thrombocytosis, SIADH, pancytopenia, limbic encephalitis and other unexplained neurological problems occurring in the middle aged or elderly smokers should arouse the suspicion of an occult bronchogenic carcinoma

Severe chronic neutropenia--a case report.

Severe chronic neutropenia (SCN) is a very rare disease with around 650 people worldwide known to have the condition. SCN is a serous condition with a considerable morbidity and mortality if not treated. We hereby report a case of SCN which had repeated admissions to the hospital with severe neutropenia and high grade fever. We also review the literature elucidating some of the mechanisms and consequences of SCN ( e.g: the neutrophil elastase gene mutations and the risk of progression to myelodysplasia and acute leukemia) and the role of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor.