Reproductive health awareness of school-going, unmarried, rural adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: In 1996, India included Adolescent Health in Reproductive and Child Heatlh Programme. This Task-Force Study was planned to test the awareness level of adolescents regarding various reproductive health issues and to identify lacunae in knowledge, particularly in legal minimum age of marriage, number of children, male preference, contraceptive practices, about STIs /AIDS etc. METHODS: It was a multicentre study, done in rural co-education/higher secondary schools of 22 districts located in 14 states through Human Reproductive Research Centre (HRRC's) of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). A sample of 8453 school going adolescents (aged 10-19 years) was surveyed by means of open ended, self-administered questionnaires maintaining confidentiality. RESULTS: Mean age of adolescents was 14.3 +/- 3.4 years. Awareness of legal minimum age of marriage was present in more than half of adolescents. Attitude towards marriage beyond 21 years in boys and 18 years in girls was favorable. Mean number of children desired was 2.2 +/- 1.4. However, number of children desired by boys (2.2+/-1.6) was significantly more (p< 0.000) than those desired by girls (2.0+/-1.1). More boys (23.7%) than girls (9.4%) wanted three or more children with male preference. Only 19.8% of adolescents were aware of at least one method of contraception. Only two-fifth (39.5%) were aware of AIDS and less than one-fifth (18%) were aware of STDs and most of them thought it is same as AIDS. Awareness of at least one method of immunization was present in three-fifth (60.1%) of students. It was least for DPT (13.5%) and most (55%) were aware of polio only. Awareness of all Reproductive Health matters was more in boys than girls and more in late teens (15-19) than earlier teens (10-14). CONCLUSION: The study showed tremendous lacunae in awareness of all Reproductive Health (RH) matters. There is a need for evolving information, education, and communication strategies to focus on raising awareness on RH and gender related issues. A sociocultural research is needed to find the right kind of sexual health services for young girls and boys.

Early enteral nutrition after surgical treatment of gut perforations: a prospective randomised study.

BACKGROUND: Withholding enteral feeds after an elective gastrointestinal surgery is based on the hypothesis that this period of "nil by mouth" provides rest to the gut and promotes healing. AIMS: To assess whether early postoperative naso-gastric tube feeding in the form of a balanced diet formula is safe in and beneficial to patients who have undergone surgical intervention for perforation of the gut. SETTING: A surgical unit of a Medical College Hospital. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: Prospective randomised open control study. METHODS AND MATERIAL: Patients undergoing surgical intervention for peritonitis following perforation of the gut were randomised to the study group receiving feedings of a balanced diet formula through a naso-gastric tube from the second postoperative day, or the control group in which patients were managed with the conventional regimen of intravenous fluid administration. The groups were compared for incidence and duration of complications, biochemical measurements and other characteristics like weight loss/gain. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Chi square test and "T" test. RESULTS: One hundred patients were enrolled in each group. 88% subjects in the study group achieved positive nitrogen balance on the eighth postoperative day as compared to none in the conventionally managed group. The relative risks (95% confidence interval) of morbidity from wound infection, wound dehiscence, pneumonia, leakage of anastomoses and septicaemia were 0.66 (0.407-1.091), 0.44 (0.141-1.396), 0.70 (0.431-1.135), 0.54 (0.224-1.293) and 0.66 (0.374-1.503) respectively. Average loss of weight between the first and tenth day was 3.10 kg in the study group as compared to 5.10 kg in the conventionally managed group ("P" value < 0.001, 95% Confidence Interval - 2.46 - 1.54). CONCLUSION: Early enteral nutrition is safe and is associated with beneficial effects such as lower weight loss, early achievement of positive nitrogen balance as compared to the conventional regimen of feeding in operated cases of gut perforation.

Experimental pulmonary fluorosis.

An experimental study was undertaken to observe effects of fluoride ingestion on lung tissue. The study was conducted on 15 albino rabbits of either sex and experimental fluorosis was induced by daily oral administration of sodium fluoride (NaF) solution. Rabbits were divided into three groups according to the quantity of fluoride ingestion: Group A: rabbits fed with 10 mg/kg/day NaF, Group B: 20 mg/kg/day NaF; and Group C: controls. After six months, the rabbits were sacrificed and their lung tissue was submitted for histopathological examination and fluoride content estimation. On gross examination, pale areas on the surface and dark brown congested areas on cut-section of lungs were seen in rabbits of groups A and B. Histopathological changes of alveolar haemorrhage, congestion, edema fluid, necrosis of alveolar epithelium, distortion of alveolar architecture and desquamation of epithelium of respiratory tract with damage to tracheal cartilage were observed in these groups. These changes were more marked in group B rabbits. Fluoride content of lung tissue homogenate was significantly higher in groups A and B (mean 1.206 ppm and 1.978 ppm respectively) as compared to control (0.1585 ppm). It was concluded that prolonged fluoride ingestion damages pulmonary tissues of rabbits. To the best of our knowledge, effect of chronic fluoride ingestion on lungs has not been reported in the literature, therefore, we had undertaken this study to analyse the effect of chronic fluoride ingestion on lungs.

Pancreatic xenograft survival in diabetic rabbits.

Prolonged survival of pancreatic xenografts in the muscles of diabetic rabbits was achieved. The mean graft survival time (assessed by euglycemic status) in nonimmunosuppressed (Group A) was 10 days and in immunosuppressed (Group B) was 36 days (P < 0.05). Adequate immunosuppression helps pancreatic xenograft to normalize blood glucose level (BGL) by prolonging survival time. Our study demonstrates that xenotransplantation of islet cells in their natural environment (pancreatic tissue in four of thin slices) survive and function adequately in immunosuppressed recipients. This discordant Xenotransplantation model may be useful for future xenotransplantation studies.

Level of serum and renal histamine and diamine oxidase activity in lead acetate treated rats.

The levels of histamine and Diamine oxidase activity in renal tissue and serum were determined in lead acetate treated rats. The results show a significant lowering in the level of renal histamine with a rise in diamine oxidase activity in serum as well as in renal tissue.