Experience of management of abdominal cysts

Benign intra-abdominal cystic masses in children are rare and they have diverse etiopathogenesis, clinical presentation. The present study highlights the experience in the management of benign intra-abdominal cysts pertaining to the diverse etiologies associated with these lesions. The medical records of our hospital between November 2016 to November 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with cystic abdominal masses were studied with respect to less different clinical presentations, localization of masses, diagnostic tests, surgical aapproaches, histopathological examinations and outcome. Out of the 55 cases, most common lesion was a choledochal cyst. Miscellaneous diagnosis includes an omental cyst, urachal cyst and a pedunculated bile duct cyst. All the cystic lesions of the abdomen need to be considered as close differentials in clinical practice due to the common presentations and similar symptoms produced by these lesions. All the lesions were managed by exploratory laparotomy except two ovarian cysts which were managed with laparoscopic approach.

Length-weight relationship, feeding traits and nutritional value of mahi mahi (Coryphaena hippurus) in the south-eastern Arabian Sea

Aim: The present study was conducted to investigate the length-weight relationship, food and feeding behaviour and proximate composition of an oceanic epipelagic fish, Coryphaena hippurus landed along Karnataka, south-eastern Arabian SeaMethodology: Length-weight relationship, feeding and proximate composition of C. hippurus was studied for a period of one year. The size composition, feeding intensity, frequency, occurrence and index of relative importance (IRI) was determined for each diet component in the stomach. Monthly proximate composition in the dolphin fish was estimated. Results: The fork length of the specimens of C. hippurus collected along Karnataka coast ranged from 30- 123 cm and fishes having length range from 33-73 cm represented 79% of the total fish sampled. The estimated b values of C. hippurus for both males and females were less than 3 which indicated negative allometric growth; the fish grows faster in length than weight. The most dominant item recorded in the gut of C. hippurus was pelagic and mesopelagic teleosts. Cephalopods (squids, cuttlefish and octopus) were the second important food constituent while crustaceans consisting of crabs and shrimps formed very less quantity. Interpretation: Information on length-weight relationship, feeding behaviour and proximate composition of mahi mahi would be useful for developing suitable management plans for the conservation and judicious exploitation of this commercially important resource.

Prevalence of dengue viral and malaria parasitic co-infections in an epidemic district, Angul of Odisha, India: An eco-epidemiological and cross-sectional study for the prospective aspects of public health

The co-existence of dengue and malaria infection in an individual and the primary and secondary dengue infection during co-infection were assessed. Over 1 year, 1980 blood samples were collected from suspected cases of dengue fever and analyzed by rapid diagnostic test [RDT], enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] and polymerase chain reaction [PCR] methods to detect dengue infection. RDT and microscopic methods were used to detect malaria. Of the 1980 samples, only 22 [3.0%] cases were identified as dengue-malaria co-infection cases, out of which 13 were male and 9 were female. The highest number of confirmed cases were found during the hot and humid months of September and October [7 cases, 31.8%] and within the over 15 years age group. Of the cases of co-infection, dengue primary infection [21 cases, 95.5%] was significantly more common than dengue secondary infection [1 case, 4.5%] among all of the age groups. There were 12 cases of Plasmodium falciparum and 10 cases of Plasmodium vivax infection among malarial cases. A high prevalence of concurrence of dengue and malaria infection was recorded in this ecosystem. In light of the severity of co-infection and overlapping symptoms, a multidimensional diagnostic approach is suggested

Perceptions Of Dental Stress And Social Support Among Malaysian Dental Students

Objective: To explore the association between socialsupport and stress levels in preclinical and clinical dentalstudents in Malaysia. Method: A cross sectional surveyof dental undergraduate students was conducted at theFaculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, UniversitiKebangsaan Malaysia and Universiti Sains Malaysia.Stress was measured using the Dental Environment Stress(DES) questionnaire. A DES-32 item was used to measurestress for the clinical students and DES-16 item for thepreclinical students. Four questions were used to measuresocial support. The total stress scores were standardizedfor comparison purposes. Results: A total of 357 (79.7%)preclinical and 417 (71.8%) clinical undergraduate dentalstudents responded to the questionnaires. The clinicalstudents experienced higher stress [mean standardizedDES score = 72.63, SD = 10.64] than preclinical students[mean standardized DES score = 70.19, SD=12.01]. Thetwo most stressful items reported by preclinical studentswere “fear of failing” and “examination and grades”.Among clinical students, the two most stressful items relatedto academic were “completing course requirement” and“fear of failing course” and items related to clinical sessionwere “fear of being barred due to the clinical schedule”and “patients late or absent”. Multiple regression analysesrevealed that low stress levels among preclinical studentswere significantly associated to a lot of contact withstudents of the same course. Conclusion: To some extent,social support does play a role in explaining differences inperceived stress, in particular among preclinical students.