Prevalence of hepatitis A virus and hepatitis E virus in the patients presenting with acute viral hepatitis in Rohtak, Haryana, India

Background: Hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) cause acute hepatitis in humans and are transmitted mainly through the fecal-oral route. They pose major health problems in developing countries. This study was done to determine prevalence of HAV and HEV in patients presenting with AVH and the co-infection of HAV and HEV in these patients.Methods: The study was conducted in the virology research and diagnostic laboratory, PGIMS Rohtak during the study period of August 2017-December 2018. The study population included sera of individuals from all age group who were suspected of acute viral hepatitis (AVH). All the sera were screened for IgM antibody to HEV and HAV using IgM capture ELISA.Results: HEV IgM ELISA test   was performed in 307 patients (mean age 34 years;), with an overall seroprevalence rate of 138(44.9%). HAV antibodies were detected in 109 subjects, with a median age of 9.5 years the seroprevalence of HAV was 34 (31.1%). HEV seropositivity was highest in the age group 20-30 years. Mean age was 34 years whereas the interquartile range was from 14-71 years. HAV infection was positive mainly in the age group <10 years. With interquartile range from 6-16 years. Out of total 34 patients positive for HAV infection males were 20 (58.8%), whereas females were 14(41.1%). HEV IgM was positive in 138 patients, out of which male were 96 (69.56%) and females were 42 (30.43%). HEV IgM was positive in 138 patients, out of which male were 96 (69.56%) and females were 42 (30.43%). HAV and HEV seen to be prevalent all with highest predominance seen towards the end of monsoons (August and September) and beginning of winters.Conclusions: The present study also points toward HEV being the prime etiological agent for outbreaks of acute hepatitis in the studied region of Haryana (Rohtak), India. A comparatively lower HAV prevalence may be the consequence of an overall declining trend due to improved living standards and environmental hygiene.

Screening by VDRL test to detect hidden cases of syphilis.

A total of 59,450 sera from January 1996 to December 2000 were subjected to VDRL testing. Overall VDRL positivity rate was 3.2% and downward trend was observed in the recent years, 1999 and 2000. Majority of the samples were from Gynaecology department, out of which 1.57% were VDRL positive. Out of 30,045 samples from antenatal females, 517(1.47%) were positive, while 304(1.8%) were positive out of 16,980 samples obtained from couples. Out of 304 samples from couples found positive, 17.4% wives had titre >R16; 27.9% wives had titre R1 to R8, out of which 15.3% husbands had titre of >R16. Also, 166 wives with nonreactive VDRL had 19.3% husbands with titre > R16. Thus, couple VDRL test plays an important role in detection of hidden cases of syphilis in the community and early detection and treatment of such cases will further reduce the perinatal morbidity and mortality.

Complicaciones Urologicas en Cirugia Ginecologica y Obstetrica / Urologicas complications in cirugia ginecologica and obstetrica

Comunicamos nuestra experiencia en sesenta (60) pacientes con lesiones del aparato urinaio secundarias a procedimientos ginecológicos y obstetricos quirúrgicos, destacando sus etiologías más frecuentes, las caracteristicas de las lesiones estudiadas, la metodología que consideramos adecuada para su diagnóstico y estadificación, las técnicas seguidas para solucionar cada lesión en particular y finalmente, para informar los excelentes resultados obtenidos con los procedimientos descritos.

Sleep pattern and night awakening in healthy infants.

Sleep pattern and night-awakening were studied in 500 healthy infants by a semistructured interview method. A total of 92.2% infants shared bed with their mothers, 6.8% with grand parents and 1% with fathers. Paternal participation at bedtime was observed to be insignificant. Infants of non-working mothers and families with vegetarian habits slept significantly more as compared to the working mothers and families with non-vegetarian habits. Night-time awakening was reported in 96% of the infants. If a child is functioning well in other areas of life, parents can be assured that the problem is not of serious concern and unnecessary medication of infants should be avoided.

Stressful family life events and nonspecific somatic complaints in school children.

The relationship between stressful family life events and somatic complaints in 477 school children was studied. There was a significant association between life events and somatic complaints, with a general trend for somatic complaints to increase in almost direct proportion to the number of family life events. Overall occurrence of these nonspecific symptoms was more in girls. The somatic complaints were significantly more in children from nuclear families and of illiterate or poorly educated mothers. No significant association was observed between somatic complaints and number of children in the family or socio-economic status. Assessment of psychodevelopmental tasks and family environment during routine check up of children by the school health teams and their appropriate training in this field should be stressed upon.

Variations in plasma trace-elements concentration during fracture healing in dogs.

The study was conducted on healthy Mongrel dogs. Fracture of Radius Ulna was inflicted with wire-saw. Subsequently repair was carried out using bone plates. Plasma Zinc concentrations decreased significantly from control values of 317.71 to 294.92 micrograms/dl at day one post-operatively and the values reached basal levels by 21st day. The concentrations of plasma Copper, Cobalt and Iron continued to decrease during the post-operative period. However, Manganese concentration increased significantly during the corresponding post operative period. Results indicate withdrawal of minerals from body reserves during bone repair.