Knowledge assessment of accredited social health activist and anganwadi workers about the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram in rural area of District Kathua

Background: The Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) program is technically known as Child Health Screening and Early Intervention Services. The main purpose of the program is to detect and manage 4Ds which are prevalent in children. Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the knowledge of ASHA workers as well as anganwadi workers about the RBSK in rural area of District Kathua using semi-structured questionnaire. Materials and Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in the zone Budhi which is a field practice area of the Department of Community Medicine, GMC Kathua. The zone consists of 24 villages with 18 ASHA workers and 35 anganwadi workers and one mobile RBSK team available at Community Health Center, Parole. After obtaining ethical clearance, all the ASHA workers and anganwadi workers were included in the study as they were willing to participate. Results: The present study revealed that majority of the workers were between the age group of 20–40 years. About 71.42% of the anganwadi workers were 12th pass and majority of the ASHA workers were 8th and 10th pass. Majority of the anganwadi workers received training related to RBSK program and knew about the benefits of the RBSK program. About 82.85% of the workers knew about the equipment used by RBSK team members for screening. Conclusion: Anganwadi workers and ASHAs need to be made aware of their perceptions and role in the program so that their efficiency is increased and the percentage of child morbidity and mortality can further be lowered.

A study of lipid profile in chronic kidney disease in pre- dialysis patients

Introduction: Longitudinal studies have established that Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) occur more frequently and are the leading cause of death in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Dyslipidemia has been established as an important risk factor in the pathogenesis of CVD in CKD patients. Objectives: Present study was aimed to evaluate (in CKD patients),Demography along with Prevalence and Pattern of Dyslipidemiaand co-relation of Dyslipidemia with various CK Dstages. Methods: Present Cross-sectional study, conducted in Department of Medicine, R.D. Gardi Medical College and CRG hospital, Ujjain, M.P. from 1st January 2015 to 31st July 2016.We studied 115 pre-dialysis CKDcases and 100 age & sex matched controls. CKD was diagnosed as per 2012 KDOQI Criteria. Result:In CKD cases,maximum 23.47% cases belonged to fifth decade. Mean age was 48.99 ± 16.74. Male to Female ratio was1.21: 1. Prevalence of individual dyslipidemias was High TC= 50.44%, High TG= 67%, High LDL-C= 42%, High VLDL-C= 67% and Low HDL-C= 73.9%. Overall, prevalence of dyslipidemia was 82.6%. Significant increase in TG and VLDL-C and significant decrease in HDL-C was observed. TC and LDL-C were non- significantly increased.TC, TG, LDL-C and VLDL-C were in increasing trend with progression of CKD stages (3-5) and increased in Subgroup II (ESRD) as compared to Subgroup I (Non-ESRD), the increase being significant in case of TG and VLDL-C. HDL-C value was in decreasing trend with progression of CKD stages and significantly decreased in Subgroup II as compared to Subgroup I.TC, TG, LDL-C and VLDL-C showed negative correlation with GFR while HDL-C showed positive correlation. TG, HDL-C and VLDL-C showed highly significant correlation. HDL-C showed strongest correlation, followed by TG. Conclusion: Patients with CKD are predisposed to accelerated atherosclerosis leading to increased CVD. This study confirms the presence of atherogenic lipid profile in CKD.

Expression of delta1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase gene during drought in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

The 45-days-old seedlings of drought resistant (N-22, CR143-2-2) and susceptible rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes (Panidhan, Pusa-169) were subjected to osmotic stress in PEG-6000 solution of -10 and -16 bar and the relative water content (RWC), proline content, and pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS) activity and its P5CS expression were studied. A gradual decrease in RWC was observed in tolerant genotypes, whereas the decrease was drastic in susceptible ones. Proline content and P5CS activity increased both in susceptible and tolerant genotypes; the increase was higher in tolerant genotypes. Higher proline levels in tolerant genotypes were due to increased P5CS activity. The EcoRI, BamHI and XbaI restricted DNA of N-22 and Panidhan genotypes were hybridized with Arabidopsis P5CS sequence and a single band (approx 2.4 kb) was observed, however, P5CS expression was more in N-22 as compared to Panidhan.

Clinical profile of polymyositis in Kashmir valley.

OBJECTIVES: The present study is a retrospective and prospective study of 24 cases of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies from Kashmir valley. The study was conducted to depict the clinical profile of polymyositis from this part of the world. METHODS: The diagnosis of polymyositis/dermatomyositis was established by following the criteria of Bohan and Peter (1975). Besides relevant clinical examination, investigations like complete blood count, ESR, muscle enzymes, LE cell phenomenon, antinuclear antibodies and rheumatoid factor were also done. Electrophysiological study and open muscle biopsy was performed in 21 and 24 cases respectively. RESULTS: The mean age at presentation was 34 years with 62.5% cases presenting in fourth decade. Pelvic girdle weakness was observed in all the 24 cases. Male:Female ratio was 1:1.4. Four (16.8%) cases had associated collagen vascular disease. No case was associated with malignancy or childhood vasculitis. Raynauds' phenomenon was seen in seven (29.1%) cases. Creatine phosphokinase and lactic dehydrogenase was elevated in 22 (91.6%) and 12 (50%) cases respectively. Electromyography revealed myopathic features in 74.3% cases. Muscle biopsy revealed features of inflammatory myopathy in 22 (91%) cases. CONCLUSIONS: The conclusions drawn from this study are as follows: a. Younger age at presentation b. Shorter duration of illness at presentation c. Increased frequency of Raynaud's phenomenon as compared to other Indian series. d. No case of polymyositis/dermatomyositis associated with malignancy or childhood vasculitis was seen. e. Biochemical, electrophysiological and histopathological features suggestive of shorter duration of illness were observed.