Clinicopathological Study on Uterine Fibroid in a Medical College Hospital

Uterine fibroid are the most common benign pelvic tumor in females. Its occurrence in reproductive age group makes it important. Methods: The present hospital based cross-sectional study was done to find the clinicopathological features of fibroid of uterus at a tertiary care center. Histopathological examination was done to observe the type and morphology of these lesions. Results: Uterine fibroids are commonly seen in females of <40 years age and present with menorrhagia (55.2%) and abdominal pain (27.1%). The most common location was intramural (63.5%) and the most common degeneration was hyaline change (12.5%). Conclusion: Routine histopathological examination of hysterectomy specimen is needed to rule out tumor or infective pathology.

Study on Clinico-Aetiological Profile of Bicytopenia / Pancytopenia among Pediatric Patients

The common causes of bicytopenia or pancytopenia include either marrow suppression or marrow infiltration. It may be due to aplastic anemia, megaloblastic anemia or hematological malignancies. The present study was done to find the clinico-aetiological profile of bicytopenia & pancytopenia among pediatric patients. Methods: The present hospital based cross-sectional study was done on children suffering from bicytopenia or pancytopenia. Detailed clinical history, thorough physical examination and hematological tests were done. Appropriate statistical calculations for summarization of data were done. Results: Bicytopenia was seen in 58.2% and pancytopenia in 41.8% patients. Megaloblastic anemia (43.6%), infection (23.6%), aplastic anemia (14.5%) and leukemia (10.9%) were the aetiological factors. Patients presented with pallor (85.5%), fever (76.4%), petechial haemorrhage (43.6%), hepatomegaly (38.2%), splenomegaly (23.6%), anorexia (21.8%) and lymphadenopathy (18.2%). Conclusion: Non-malignant causes were responsible in majority of cases (89.9%) and can be treated.

α-L- rhamnosidases Produced under Solid State Fermentation by Few Aspergillus Strains

The production of α-L-rhamnosidase from Aspergillus ochraceous MTCC -1810, A. wentii MTCC- 1901, A. sydowii MTCC- 635, A. foetidus MTCC-508 under solid- state fermentation using easily available agro- industrial residues such as corn cob, rice bran, sugarcane bagasse, wheat bran and citrus peel as substrate. Among these, sugarcane bagasse in combination with naringin and sucrose were found to be the best substrate. The α-L-rhamnosidase production was highest after the 4th day of incubation at 30ºC and a substrate to moisture ratio of 1:1 w/v. Supplementation of the medium with 10% naringin caused the maximum production of the enzyme. The temperature optima and pH optima of α-L-rhamnosidases were determined in the range of 50-60ºC and 4.0-5.0 respectively. The α-L-rhamnosidases secreted from the above fungal strains is suitable for the debittering of orange fruit juice.

Study on Obesity and Overweight among School Going Adolescents of Nalanda District

Obesity is associated with many health problems. Obesity rates are gradually increasing. The present descriptive study was conducted to find the prevalence and factors of overweight and obesity among school children of Nalanda. It was seen that 5.3% children were overweight and 1.7% were obese. Living in urban area, being female, less outdoor activities, lesser indoor activities and habit of fast food eating are associated with higher chances of obesity. Health education is needed to control the situation.

Study of factors associated with open defecation in a rural area of Nalanda District

Open defecation has many health hazards. Still, it is rampant in different parts of the country. The present study was conducted to find the prevalence of open defecation and factors associated with this behaviour among residents of rural area of Nalanda District. Open defecation was practiced by 35% of rural population. It was significantly associated with age (p=0.02), sex (p=0.01), education (p=0.00) and occupation (p=0.00). Association with caste (p=0.23), type of family (p=0.63) and type of housing (p=0.053) was not significant. Open defecation has strong roots in our culture and access/ availability of toilets poses many challenges.

Protective effect of alcoholic extract of stem of Entada pursaetha in dextran sulphate sodium-induced colitis in mice.

Oxidative stress has been shown to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC). Entada pursaetha has been demonstrated to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we investigated the effects of stem of alcoholic extract of E. pursaetha (PSE) in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. The protective effect of PSE was determined at three different doses of 30, 100 and 300 mg/kg body weight by oral gavage for 7 days. Morphological (colon length and colon weight/length ratio), clinical (disease activity index) and macroscopic (damage score) features were determined using standard criteria. Lipid peroxides (determined as malonaldehyde; MDA), enzymatic (superoxide dismutase; SOD and catalase; CAT) and non- enzymatic antioxidants (reduced glutathione; GSH), nitrate and nitrite (NOx) levels and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in colon tissues were determined. The DSS damaged the colonic tissue, increased MPO activity, lipid peroxidation and NOx levels, reduced the antioxidant enzymes and glutathione and lowered the body weight. PSE significantly reduced the inflammation of colon and reversed the increase in MPO activity induced by DSS. It also significantly increased the SOD and catalase activities and did not elicit any effect on depleted levels of GSH in the colonic tissue. In addition, PSE also significantly decreased colonic NOx and MDA levels compared to DSS-treated mice; reduced both infiltration of inflammatory cells and the mucosal damage in colon on histopathological examination. The results suggested the protective potential of PSE in DSS-induced colitis and this might be attributed to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities.

Empowerment and engagement of SHGs against RTI/STI in Karnataka, India: an interventional study.

Background: Reproductive Tract Infections (RTIs) including Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are ‘silent’ epidemics and are recognized as public health problem and rank second as the cause of healthy life lost among women of reproductive age after maternal morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Development and use of IEC material along with active participation by the community ensures delivery of appropriate information and knowledge to people which in turn empowers them to make informed decisions about their health. Methods: This was a ‘Multi-centric action research demonstration study’ to empower and engage the Self Help Groups (SHGs) women by creating awareness and sustaining interest through lesson plans in the IEC material regarding prioritized problem, required interventions and their access for syndromic recognition of the RTI/STIs. As an intervention, series of workshops were conducted with the help of pre-developed IEC material. 400 households (200 from each intervention and control sites) of SHG women were interviewed for baseline and endline each. Results: Intervention was found effective in the form of a significant improvement in the level of awareness about RTI/STI, correct knowledge about white discharge, capability to identify the symptoms of RTI/STI and health seeking behavior of the respondents. Conclusion: This study provides experience of the feasibility, efficacy and impact of health education interventions and point out that cost-effective strategies for prevention of RTI/STI are needed through information, education, and behavior change.

Protective effect of alcoholic extract of Entada pursaetha DC. against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

The alcoholic extract of stem of E. pursaetha (PSE, 30, 100, 300 mg/kg body weight, po for 7 days) showed hepatoprotective activity against CCl4 (2 mL/kg body weight, ip)-induced hepatotoxicity. The extract exhibited a significant dose-dependent hepatoprotective effect comparable to standard drug silymarin, by preventing increase in serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total protein, and total bilirubin, lactate dehydrogenase; by lowering hepatic levels of malonaldehyde, nitrate-nitrite, myeloperoxidase activity; enhancing activities of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase, catalase and increasing reduced glutathione levels in liver, which suggests the antioxidant property of PSE. Histopathological studies also supported the above biochemical parameters. The results suggested that alcoholic extract of E. pursaetha possesses significant hepatoprotective activity in CCl4-induced acute hepatotoxicity in rats and this is likely to be mediated through its antioxidant activities.