Changing Scene of Mental Health Care in Shivpuri District of M.P.

Objectives: To ensure availability and accessibility of minimum mental health care for all in the future; to provide sustainable basic mental health services to the community and to integrate these services with other health services; early detection and treatment of patients within the community itself; to see that patient and their relatives do not have to travel long distance to go to hospitals or nursing homes in the cities; to take pressure off the mental hospitals; to change the attitude of people towards mental illnesses by public education. Methodology: Retrospective analysis of OPD records of GMA and District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) to find out the total numbers of patients in the psychiatric OPD of the Mental Hospital, (GMA) Gwalior and DMHP-Shivpuri. Results/ conclusions: The observation showed that with the implementation of DMHP, higher number of psychiatric patients are availing mental health facilities in the community. It was observed that the number of the patients taking institutional care is going down gradually.

Antidiabetic activity of aqueous extract and non polysaccharide fraction of Cynodon dactylon Pers.

Petroleum ether (60 degrees-80 degrees C), chloroform, acetone, ethanol, aqueous and crude hot water extracts of the whole plant of C. dactylon and the two fractions of aqueous extract were tested for antihyperglycaemic activity in glucose overloaded hyperglycemic rats and in alloxan induced diabetic model at two-dose levels, 200 and 400 mg/kg (po) respectively. The aqueous extract of C. dactylon and the non polysaccharide fraction of aqueous extract were found to exhibit significant antihyperglycaemic activity and only the non polysaccharide fraction was found to produce hypoglycemia in fasted normal rats. Treatment of diabetic rats with aqueous extract and non polysaccharide fraction of the plant decreased the elevated biochemical parameters, glucose, urea, creatinine, serum cholesterol, serum triglyceride, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein, haemoglobin and glycosylated haemoglobin significantly. Comparatively, the non polysaccharide fraction of aqueous extract was found to be more effective than the aqueous extract.

Hepatoprotective activity of Haridradi ghrita on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage in rats.

Haridradi ghrita, a ghee based polyherbal formulation, (50, 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg) significantly lowered marker enzymes (SGPT, SGOT, ALP) and bilirubin in serum and liver peroxide, superoxide dismutase and catalase in liver homogenate following CCl4 (0.7 ml/kg, ip) toxicity. The protective effect was further supported by reversal of CCl4 induced histological changes. The results demonstrate significant hepatoprotective action of H. ghrita in CCl4 damaged rats.

Changes in nutritional status and morbidity over time among pre-school children from slums in Pune, India.

OBJECTIVE:To investigate changes in nutritional status and morbidity over time among pre-school slum children. DESIGN: Longitudinal. METHODS: Children in the age group of 0-5 years from three slums in Pune (n = 845) were studied for a period of two years. Measurement of weight (up to 20 g) and height (up to 0.1 cm), morbidity (in last 7 days) and clinical assessment was undertaken once every four months. RESULTS: Peak prevalence of malnutrition was observed around 18 months and shorter period (3.5 months) of exclusive breastfeeding was probably responsible. Morbidity was generally higher in rainy season and was associated with wasting but not stunting. Gastrointestinal illness and fever contributed 50% of total morbidity days. Higher morbidity affected significantly growth velocities in weight throughout pre-school age. Height velocities were significantly low upto three years of age but there appeared no scope for catch-up growth as velocities remained similar thereafter. Higher morbidity in younger children (less than 2 years) led to deterioration of nutritional status over time in 30% to 50% children. CONCLUSION: Shorter period of exclusive breastfeeding results in undernutrition at an early age among slum children. Morbidity further deteriorates the nutritional status

Undernutrition and adolescent growth among rural Indian boys.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate impact of undernutrition on various adolescent growth parameters among rural Indian boys. DESIGN: Adolescent boys covering 8-18 yr age group were observed longitudinally for a period of 3 years. SETTING: Adolescent boys (n=673) from seven different villages within 30 to 40 km from Pune were studied. METHOD: Six monthly measurements on weight (upto 50 g) and height (upto 0.1 cm) were recorded and age assessment was done from school records with reasonable accuracy. RESULTS: Stunted and underweight boys were lighter (by 4 kg) and shorter (by 8 cm) at 10 yr age compared to their normal counterparts but this difference increased to 12 kg and 10 cm respectively by adulthood. Undernourished boys however, revealed significant height gains at later ages especially beyond 14+ yr, compared to normals suggesting slow, gradual but continual growth. Undernutrition delayed age at take-off and age at PHV by about 2 yr, and lowered attained height at PHV (by 5 cm) and adult height (by 7 cm). CONCLUSION: Normal and maluourished children from the same rural community show wide differences in their adolescent growth performance. Nutritional deprivation thus seems to affect almost all growth parameters and final adult size too.