Eating behaviours and perception about body shape among adolescent girls of Panjab University, Chandigarh

Introduction: Indians are experiencing nutritional and lifestyle transitions due to globalization and westernization. The study aimed to find out the current eating patterns and body shape concerns and various factors that influence eating behaviors and body shape concerns of late-adolescent girls. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 230 undergraduate adolescent girl university students from 12 departments in the age group of 17–19 years. Eating attitude and body shape concerns of adolescents were determined by using the standard eating attitude test-26 (EAT-26) and body shape questionnaire (BSQ-34). Results: The duration of the study was 6 months and participants were selected by simple random sampling. The mean age of the study subjects was 18.52 (±0.63) years. The majority of subjects had an urban background (85%). Less than half had an exercise routine (44%) which was followed daily. As per body mass index (BMI) distribution, 19.57% were underweight, 11.3% were overweight and only 2.17% were obese. An unfavorable eating attitude was found in 18% of subjects whereas 38.2% had mild to the marked concern of body shape. There was a significant positive correlation between BSQ with BMI (r = 0.387, P ? 0.01) and BSQ-34 with EAT-26 (r = 0.367, P ? 0.01). Conclusion: Current study shows that late adolescent urban females are susceptible to eating disorders and are body image conscious. Institutional mechanisms should be brought in place to address the need of improving their eating habits and modification of lifestyle.

Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with established coronary artery disease

Background:Vitamin D deficiency is widely prevalent in this part of the country, in spite of the fact that there is ample sunshine and the economic status of the people is good. Several studies have suggested possible link between vitamin D deficiency and cardiovascular disease risk. Hence authors evaluated the patients with established coronary artery disease attending cardiology department of super speciality hospital, Government Medical College Jammu, for their vitamin D status. Methods:The study was conducted in the department of Biochemistry Government Medical College Jammu and data of established cases of coronary artery disease patients attending cardiology department of super speciality hospital, government medical college Jammu was analyzed for vitamin D levels during the period from January 2019 to February, 2020.Results: A total of 200 established cases of coronary artery disease comprising of 130 male patients and 70 female patients were analyzed in the study, out of 200 cases, 190 (95%) were found to be having low levels of vitamin D in their blood (<30 ngm/dl). 123 (94.6%) out of a total of 130 male patients had vitamin D deficiency as compared to 67 (95.7%) out of 70 females patients.Conclusions:The study has revealed a very high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in established cases of coronary artery diseases. More detailed prospective studies are required to unravel the association of vitamin D and its role in prevention of coronary artery diseases in the absence of well-established risk factors like smoking, Diabetes, Hypertension and dyslipidaemias.

Prevalence of vitamin D and B12 deficiency in pregnant women in Jammu, India

Background: Micronutrient deficiency is pandemic proportions among pregnant women in India, but there is scarcity of searchable data on  coexistence vitamin D status  and Vitamin B 12 in pregnant women in Jammu and Kashmir, hence we have assessed the vitamin D as well as Vitamin B12 status in pregnant women attending outpatient department in a tertiary care hospital Jammu.Methods: The study was conducted in the department of Biochemistry Government Medical College Jammu during June 2019 to February, 2020 and after obtaining informed consent, a total of 150 pregnant women, attending SMGS Hospital Jammu were screened for their vitamin D (25 OH-D) and vitamin B12 status by using Abbott architect chemiluminescent micro particle immunoassay.Results: A total of 150 pregnant women were  screened in the study , 129 (86%) were found to be having insufficient vitamin D levels in their blood (<30 ngm/dl) and 105 ( 70%)  women showed severe deficiency with vitamin D levels below 20 ngm/dl.108 (72%) pregnant women had vitamin B12 deficiency with levels below 200 pgm/ml.Conclusions: The study revealed a high prevalence of coexistence of Vitamin D and Vitamin B12 deficiency in pregnant women, despite of abundant sunshine throughout the year and also with the consideration that people of this region are well off economically and can afford good nutrition.

Non-haemorrhagic causes of obstetrical intensive care unit admissions in tertiary care setting

Background: Management of critically ill obstetric patients involve intensive monitoring in intensive care unit. In present scenario there are significant number of obstetric patients with sepsis, tropical diseases and medical illness that require ICU care. The aim of this study was to evaluate in more detail the non-haemorrhagic causes of obstetric ICU admissions and to identify and adopt high risk strategies as prime learning objective.Methods: It is a prospective ongoing study conducted in 50 patients in SGRDUHS, Amritsar from December 2016 to October 2019, who were admitted in obstetric ICU, out of them 30 cases were attributed to non-haemorrhagic obstetric causes. All demographic parameters along with gestational age, diagnosis on admission, intervention done prior to shift to ICU and details of treatment given in ICU were evaluated. Patient outcome, review of mortality and area of improvement were also noted.Results: Majority of the patient (70.1%) were admitted in 3rd trimester. Obstetric sepsis (13.33%), infective diseases (16.66%), tropical conditions (16.66%), medical disorders (26.66%) and hypertensive disorders (26.66%) were the major causes of admission to obstetric ICU. There were 33.3% mortalities observed in present study and 40% were due to respiratory failure. In ICU mechanical ventilation was done in 63.3% cases and blood products were given in 33.3% of patients.Conclusions: A multidisciplinary approach is ideal to handle non-haemorrhagic situations especially related to medical disorders and tropical diseases. Review of the ICU admissions and periodic audit can improve management of morbidities as well as reduce maternal mortalities.

Impact of antiepileptic drugs therapy on thyroid profile in epileptic patients of Punjab origin

Background: Epilepsy requires lifelong therapy with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and having medical and psychological consequence. So, the present study was conducted to evaluate the role of different AEDs on thyroid profile in epileptic patients.Methods: 50 epileptic patients receiving AEDs for minimum 1 year were recruited as study group and 50 healthy subjects considered as control group. These subjects were recruited from general (rural or urban) community of Punjab. Fasting blood samples were drawn from patients and healthy subjects for the evaluation of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels.Results: Significant increase in TSH levels were recorded in epileptic patients while no significant change was found in T3 and T4 epileptic patients treated with different AEDs with respect to healthy controls. Maximum increase in TSH was seen in phenytoin, treated epileptic patients and maximum fall in TSH was recorded in levetiracetam treated epileptic patients. Maximum increase in T3 and T4 levels was found in phenytoin while a maximum decrease was recorded T3 and T4 levels in carbamazepine treated epileptic patients in comparison to other drugs treated patients.Conclusions: Aforementioned observations suggested that epileptic patients treated with phenytoin, valproic acid, carbamazepine and levetiracetam for long time could cause initiation of subclinical hypothyroidism further could leads to overt hypothyroidism which in turn responsible for pathophysiology of various coronary heart disease. Routine screening of thyroid profile during chronic use of AEDs is recommended.

Adenomyosis: correlating clinical suspicion with histopathological diagnosis in a retrospective study

Background: Adenomyosis and leiomyoma are the common causes of abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB). In this study it is aimed to evaluate the correlation of clinical and histopathological examination (HPE) of these entities leading to abnormal uterine bleeding.Methods: This retrospective study was carried out on hysterectomy specimens of subjects who presented themselves in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology of Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of medical sciences and research, Amritsar with chief complaints of AUB not responding to conservative treatment.Results: A total of 100 women with clinical diagnosis of AUB in which hysterectomies were performed, leiomyoma was found in 42% cases, adenomyosis in 22% cases. The most frequent combination of diagnosis was leiomyoma and adenomyosis i.e. 26%. In 9% cases chronic cervicitis and ovarian cyst were detected. In one case endometrial malignancy was found.Conclusions: Though adenomyosis and leiomyoma are clinically diagnosed along with other pathological conditions of the reproductive organs but their confirmation is still to be relied upon HPE; a most important investigation.

High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in school children in Jammu: a whistle blower

Background: Vitamin D deficiency prevails in epidemic proportions among school going children in India, but there is scarcity of searchable data on vitamin D status in school children in Jammu and Kashmir; hence we have assessed the vitamin D status in school going children attending outpatient department in a tertiary care hospital Jammu.Methods: The study was conducted in the department of Biochemistry Government Medical College Jammu during June to December, 2018 and after obtaining informed consent, a total of 104 school going children between the age group of 6 years to 12 years, attending SMGS Hospital Jammu were screened for their vitamin D (25 OH-D) status by using Abbott architect chemiluminescent micro particle immunoassay.Results: Out of a total of 104 school going children screened in the study, 91 (87.5%) were found to be having insufficient vitamin D levels in their blood (<30ngm/dl) whereas 63 (60.5%) children showed severe deficiency with vitamin D levels below 20ngm/dl.Conclusions: Despite of abundant sunshine throughout the year and also with the consideration that people of this region are well off economically and can afford good nutrition, the results of our study revealing  high prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in school going children can be taken as a whistle blower for the health policy makers of the region.

Effect of Antiepileptic Drugs on Thyroid Profile in Patients of Epilepsy

Antiepilectic drug is the main stay of treatment for most patients with epilepsy. These may cause Patients with epilepsy are often required to take antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) for a long period of time. However, prolonged use of AEDs is known to be associated with adverse effects such as metabolic and organ toxicity, endocrine disturbance, negative cognitive effects, and psychiatric problems; particularly with alterations in thyroid function in patients with epilepsy and is thought to correlate with type of AED taken. Objective: To study the effect of antiepileptic drugs on serum thyroid profile in epileptic patients and to compare the relationship of change with type of drug intake. Study Design: A Case Control Prospective Study. Methods: A total number of 80 subjects presenting with epilepsy in the OPD of Medicine of Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, attached to Government Medical College Amritsar, were selected. 40 epileptic patients taking Antiepileptic Drugs for a minimum period of 1 year constituted case group and 40 normal healthy individuals constituted control group. They were again divided according to type of drug intake. Results: AEDs causes significant increase in TSH levels and this increase is further related to type of drug intake. Conclusion: ?

Characterization and optimization of fruit body yield in Volvariella volvacea white strain

The paddy straw mushroom [Volvariella volvacea (Bull.) Singer] normally forms dark grey or brownish coloured fruit bodies, and it leads to lesser acceptance in market compared to button mushroom with white or off-white fruit bodies. In the present study, we attempted morphological and molecular characterization of the white strain of V. volvacea vis-a-vis brown strains, standardization of its cultivation technology and nutritional profiling of fruit bodies. The white strain (GVv-01) formed a separate clade in phylogenetic tree deduced from the 5.8S rRNA gene sequences compared to brown strains along with a 21 nucleotides long deletion in ITS-2 region. It exhibited highest downward mycelial growth on paddy straw and formed morphologically distinct colony on malt extract agar medium. It gave highest fruit body yield both at 25-28 and 30-35°C conditions with shortest first harvest period. It also yielded well on cotton ginning mill waste, cotton ginning mill waste + paddy straw (1:1, w/w) and paddy straw based substrates. Its mean fruit body weight (16.89 to 23.31 g) on different substrates was also higher compared to brown strains. The fruit bodies had higher crude fibre, ash and contents of calcium, potassium, sodium, zinc, magnesium, copper and iron compared to brown strains.