Impact of visual impairment on day-to-day visual functioning: A cross-sectional study among geriatric population in a rural area of West Bengal.

Background: Visual impairment is a phenomenon which plagues many a human being be it of any age. It occurs all the more when the concern is the geriatric population. They seem to face many difficulties in their day-to-day life when they suffer from visual ailments and when they go undiagnosed and undetected. Aim: The objectives of the study were to determine the socio-demographic characteristics, to assess the visual impairment of geriatric population and its association with various task oriented domains of daily visual functioning, emotional well-being and social functioning in a rural area of West Bengal. Material and methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was done by measurement of visual acuity by Snellen’s chart (for distance vision), Jaeger’s chart (for near vision), torch light examination, interview by visual function questionnaire and determination of socio-demographic and economic characteristics on 110 geriatric people equal to or greater than 60 years of age. Observations: 42 (38.2%) people had visual impairment. The number of females was higher than that of males. Most of the visual impairment was found in people over 70 years of age. Visual impairment was significantly associated with gender (4.765, 95% CI 1.614-14.067) and religion (4.031, 95% CI 1.011-16.075). It was also significantly associated with difficulty in near vision activities (0.280, 95% CI 0.112-0.700), limitations in social functioning (2.700, 95% CI 2.111-3.453), mental health symptoms (0.273, 95% CI 0.092-0.106) and role limitation (0.266, 95% CI 0.075-0.946). Conclusion: Visual impairment is quite prevalent in the geriatric population and it significantly impacts the daily visual functioning of the elderly population which demands further concern.

Original research paper comparative study of hepatic injury and its different aspects in medicolegal autopsies.

Liver being an important and highly vascular organ, hepatic injury causes huge blood loss from the body for which the condition of victims becomes grave. So it is important to know which type if force or trauma causes which type of injury and also its extent to the liver. This paper deals with different types of injuries to the liver following trauma of different origin. In case of unnatural death resulting from trauma there are many authors who worked with injuries over different part of the body but a few of them has highlighted over hepatic injuries. That is why we liked to give our attention over hepatic injury. In present study we have dealt with 100 dead bodies with mechanical injuries in Calcutta Police Morgue under Medical College Calcutta during June 2008 to December 2009. This paper can also assist the care givers of the victim with the knowledge of the golden hour of management and also to find out the site of primary injury over liver.

Medical audit and death audit.

A good death is not a single event; a good death is a series of events, relationships and preparation that takes place over time (Evans and Walsh, 2002). [1] There is no gold standard for what constitutes a good death, the definition varies between individuals and therefore quality care must be negotiated to incorporate the individual patient values and preferences (Steinhauser et al, 2000).[2] Death audit meetings are infrequent in Government hospitals in India to analyse the circumstances which led to death of patients and what are the possible steps if taken might have prevented the death(Times of India 2004).[3] Medical audit determines the quality of medical care provided to patients from analyzing the clinical records and hospital services. In the present article we have given Idea about history, purpose, and maintenance record and analysis process. Government is planning to make infant and maternal death audit by clinical team compulsory as a part of efforts to ensure that no women and child will died in state (Andhra Pradesh) in want of medical attention (The Hindu 2010).[4]

A case of Goldenhar-Gorlin syndrome with unusual association of hypoplastic thumb.

A case of Goldenhar-Gorlin syndrome in a seven-month-old male infant presented with the features of epibulbar dermoid, microtia and hemifacial microsomia associated with thumb defect. The dermoid was bilateral and microtia was unilateral. Preauricular appendages and pits were double and single respectively on both the sides. Hemifacial microsomia was unilateral and was associated with cleft lip, macrostomia, dental misalignment, large tongue and high arched palate. The association of hypoplastic thumb with Goldenhar-Gorlin syndrome has not been documented in the past.

Conjunctival intra-epithelial neoplasia in a young Indian male with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

Conjunctival intra-epithelial neoplasia is a disease of the elderly but recently this ocular surface tumour has been observed in younger age group specially who are serologically human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive. Here a case of conjunctival intra-epithelial neoplasia of a 38-year-old male who was HIV-positive from Kolkata is reported. The patient presented with a growth at limbus in his left eye. Excision of the mass under local anaesthesia was done. Biopsy report confirmed conjunctival intra-epithelial neoplasia. The serological tests for HIV were found positive.

Klippel-Feil syndrome: a case report and current understanding of molecular genetic background.

A case of Klippel-Feil syndrome in a 12-year-old boy presentingwith the features of low set posterior hairline, short webbed neck, scoliosis and Sprengel's deformity associated with upper eyelid coloboma and pre-auricular appendages is described. Radiologically there was evidence of maldeveloped cervical and upper thoracic vertebrae associated with elevated scapula. The association of the eyelid defect and pre-auricular appendages has not been documented in the past. The current literatures based on the recent advances in understanding of molecular genetic control over embryonic development of the cervical spines were reviewed.