Skin cancers in chronic arsenic toxicity--a study of predictive value of some proliferative markers.

Prolonged exposure to arsenic contaminated water produces various clinical features, cutaneous features e.g. melanosis, keratosis and cancers being very common. Evaluation of such lesions by proliferative markers can provide useful information in regards to the biological behaviour of the lesions. Thus, cases with high proliferative status can be ominous sign for development of cancers. We studied skin biopsy of 42 cases. These were evaluated with AgNOR score and PCNA stain, in addition to H & E examination. Here, invasive cancer cases had mean AgNOR score of 3.56, those with severe dysplasia had 3.0, moderate and mild dysplasia scored 1.73, benign changes had mean score of 1.35 while normal control cases had 1.08. PCNA index in cancers was above 50, that of severe dysplasia 25-30, mild to moderate dysplasia 1.0-5.0, those with benign changes 0.5 -1.0 and normal control had LI of less than 0.5%. PCNA has the advantage of less chance of observer error over AgNOR stain.

An epidemiological study of the risk factors of occupational diseases in coal handling plant of a thermal power station.

Anthropometry and morbidity profile of fifty randomly selected workers of coal handling plant at a thermal power station of West Bengal having at least five years experience were studied. The mean value of their age, duration of present job and Body Mass Index (BMI) were 34.8 years, 7.86 years and 19.24 respectively. As they were exposed to coal dust (Av. concentration 300-350 mg/M3 of air), warmth (Ambient temperature 40 +/- 5 degrees C), humidity (Relative humidity 80 +/- 5%) and noise [Av. 80 dB(A)], respiratory system was most commonly (72%) effected followed by greying of hair (5.6%), Cloth dusters used by some could not render any discernable protective effect. Addiction was also prevent (62%). Use of proper protective equipments (PPE) supplemented by adequate preplacement and periodic medical examination followed by successful rehabilitation were suggested.

Growth-associated production and characterization of poly (3-hydroxybutyric acid) of Azotobacter beijerinckii DAR-102.

Production of poly (3-hydroxybutyric acid) [P(3HB)] by Azotobacter beijerinckii DAR-102 isolated in this laboratory has been optimized under batch-culture. The accumulatad polymer attained 58% of cell dry mass during mid-stationary phase with an yield of 0.58 g/l when grown in nitrogen-free medium. The optimum concentration of glucose and fructose for P(3HB) production was 3% (w/v) and 2% (w/v) respectively while that of casamino acid and tryptose was 0.1% (w/v). Phosphate at a concentration suboptimal for growth and limitation of oxygen in the medium favoured P(3HB) accumulation. The production of P(3HB) was maximum with an inoculum dose of 4% (v/v). The accumulated polymer was isolated by direct chloroform extraction of the dry cell mass and purified by precipitation with diethyl ether. The purified polymer has been characterized in terms of its solubility properties, melting temperature, and UV-, IR- and NMR-spectroscopic analyses.

Risk factors of diarrhoea among flood victims: a controlled epidemiological study.

The concept and practice of 'disaster preparedness and response', instead of traditional casualty relief, is relatively new. Vulnerability analysis and health risks assessment of disaster prone communities are important prerequisites of meaningful preparedness and effective response against any calamity. In this community based study, the risk of diarrhoeal disease and its related epidemiological factors were analysed by collecting data from two selected flood prone block of Midnapur district of West Bengal. The information was compared with that of another population living in two non-flood prone blocks of the same district. The study showed that diarrhoeal disease was the commonest morbidity in flood prone population. Some behaviours, like use of pond water for utensil wash and kitchen purpose, hand washing after defecation without soap, improper hand washing before eating, open field defecation, storage of drinking water in wide mouth vessels etc. were found to be associated with high attack rate of diarrhoea, in both study and control population during flood season compared to pre-flood season. Attack rates were also significantly higher in flood prone population than that of population in non-flood prone area during the same season. Necessity of both community education for proper water use behaviour and personal hygiene along with ensuring safe water and sanitation facilities of flood affected communities were emphasized.

An assessment of missed opportunities for immunization in children and pregnant women attending different health facilities of a state hospital.

The present study carried out in Calcutta National Medical College, Calcutta, has revealed problem of missed opportunities of immunisation in children and pregnant women and factors contributing to the problem. The percentage of missed opportunity in children and pregnant woman are 30% and 7% respectively. The major cause in case of children were that all the vaccines are not administered in all the days of week (71.05%) and in pregnant woman were wrong ideas about contraindication (42.86%) and indifferent attitude of the health worker (42.86%). All the missed opportunities were attributed to the health care providers.