ROLE OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT CENTRE (ASC) ON PROFESSIONAL GROWTH OF TEACHERS-A STUDY

The present study was conducted to see the impact of Human Resource Development Centre programmes on professional growth of Assistant Professors. The sample comprised of 58 teachers who have attended the orientation programme in 2010. Being a qualitative data, only percentage (%) from the collected data, based on 5-point scale developed by the investigator himself, was calculated. The findings clearly indicated a high level of satisfaction towards the performance of Human Resource Development Centre in imparting knowledge. There was a positive response from the participants regarding brushing up of their teaching skills and inclination towards learning. Undoubtedly the programme was found to be helpful in promoting professional growth of teachers, yet some suggestions were made to make the courses more meaningful.

Prevalence of overweight, obesity and hypertension among school going children in District Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India: a longitudinal study

Background: India is undergoing a rapid epidemiological transition with increased urbanization and socio-economic development which has resulted in a dramatic change in lifestyle, consisting of physical inactivity, diet rich in fat, sugar and salt coupled with a high level of mental stress. Obesity is one of the most common diseases worldwide and the prevalence in school aged children appears to be increasing. Thus, the present study was planned to establish an association between body mass index (BMI) with hypertension among 10-16 years children.Methods: Present longitudinal study was conducted on 350 children in private schools of District Kanpur and children 12-16yrs of age have included in the study. BMI for age charts was used to assess the obesity and blood pressure was measured by sphygmomanometer and Blood pressure values were compared to the values given by the update of 1987 task force report of the National high blood pressure Education Programme Co-ordinating Committee and children who were found prehypertensive or hypertensive were followed up after 4 weeks duration.Results: In present study the prevalence of overweight and obesity was found 4%,2% respectively. Prevalence of Pre-hypertension and hypertension was found 1.14%, 2.57% respectively and pre-hypertension and hypertension were found more in overweight and obese participants.Conclusions: Prevalence of pre-hypertension and hypertension is more among overweight and obese children. Overweight and obesity are not only risk factor for hypertension but also other diseases, so health education should regularly give about the obesity and its deleterious effects in later part of life.

Status of multidrug resistant tuberculosis [MDR-TB] among the Sahariya tribe of North Central India

Background: The incidence/prevalence of tuberculosis [TB] is reported to be high in the Sahariya tribe of North Central India. The outbreaks of different drug-resistant isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis emphasized the need for continuous monitoring of resistance to anti-tuberculosis drugs. This study aimed to assess the profile of multidrug resistant TB among the Sahariya tribe and their non-tribal neighbors for first line drugs through field-based investigations.

Methodology: A total of 274 sputum positive pulmonary TB individuals were enrolled and studied for their drug susceptibility profile by the proportion method. Results: A total of 21 cases from Sahariya and 6 from non-tribes were identified with MDR-TB. Thus Sahariya tribe showed a 1.95-fold increased risk of developing drug resistance than non-tribes. Significant differences were observed for developing drug sensitivity between Sahariya males and females when analyzed for resistance developed to any drug and overall drug resistance vs. sensitive isolates, respectively

A 4.46-fold risk was found for MDR-TB among the smokers of Sahariya tribe, whereas, the non-tribes did not show any significant association

Conclusion: The drug susceptibility profile developed in the present study indicates that drug-resistant tuberculosis is emerging as a serious public health concern in Sahariya tribe. Urgent and effective control measures and better management policies are needed for the prevention of MDR-TB in the tribe

Macrophage Activation Syndrome Presenting with Pericardial Effusion, Hyponatremia and Renal Involvement.

Background: Macrophage activation syndrome is a rare and life threatening complication of childhood rheumatic disorders. Case characteristics: 6-year-old male child with macrophage activation syndrome complicating systemic onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Observation: He developed pericardial effusion, hyponatremia and deranged renal function. Outcome: Improvement on intravenous cortico steroids. Message: High index of suspicion can lead to earlier diagnosis of macrophage activation syndrome.

Determinants of Indian physicians’ satisfaction & dissatisfaction from their job.

Background & objectives: Physicians’ satisfaction/dissatisfaction from their job is an important factor associated with health service that deals with human life. This study was conducted to ascertain overall level and proportion of physicians’ satisfaction from their job as well as to identify those components that influenced it. Method: A comprehensive customized questionnaire was used with Section A to assess demographic profile of physicians and Section B to assess satisfaction. Response to each question was devised using Likert scale. Likert scale responses were converted to normal scale so that statistical procedures could be naturally developed. A total of 170 physicians were selected using multistage sampling. Questionnaire was administered on one to one basis to avoid non-response. Precise and contextualized descriptive and inferential statistical procedures were used for analysis. Result: Of the 140 physicians, 103 (74%) were satisfied from their job with average score of 19.15 ± 11.46 while 37 (26%) were dissatisfied with average score -09.27 ± 06.30. Nine out of 15 components were found significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: Comparative assessment of the present results with those of other studies revealed that satisfaction percentage of Indian physicians and those of the developed countries were almost the same. Perhaps, magnitude of satisfaction level (average score) of the Indian physicians were towards the lower side. Nine determinants, identified in this study can be used safely to assess any professionals’ satisfaction.

To study the oxidative stress induced by lindane in epileptic rats brains and their modulation by neurosteroids.

Background: Lindane is pesticide has been shown to affect the nervous system adversely. Previous work has shown that lindane is proconvulsant and neurosteroids (NS) has been shown to be neuroprotective against lindane-induced convulsions. As the mechanisms of lindane in epileptogenesis is not completely understood. The present study was designed to investigate the oxidative stress parameters of lindane toxicity in epileptogenesis and their modulation by NS like allopregnanolone (AP), and 4ʹ-chlorodiazepam (4ʹ-CD) in pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) kindling methods. Methods: Kindling was induced by injecting PTZ (30 mg/kg; s.c.) on alternate days i.e., 3 times in a week. Lindane was also administered (15 mg/kg p.o) on alternate days for 6 weeks. AP (2.5 mg/kg, intaperitoneal [i.p.]) and 4ʹ-CD (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) single dose was given in kindled rats before lindane. Results: Following per oral administration of lindane for 6 weeks produced signifi cant oxidative stress in epileptic brain. There was an increase in brain malondialdehyde (MDA) level and decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH) levels. AP (2.5 mg/kg, i.p.) and 4ʹ-CD (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) single dose administration were not able to reverse the effect of chronic exposure of lindane. Conclusion: The result of the present study provides evidence that oxidative stress produced in the brain after chronic exposure of lindane may be the mechanism of epileptogenesis. Though NS have been shown to be neuroprotective, but they failed to reverse chronic oxidative stress produced by lindane. Further studies are required to demonstrate interaction of NS with lindane in oxidative stress.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis in a patient receiving concurrent phenytoin and whole brain and thoracic radiotherapy

Toxic epidermal necrolysis [TEN] is a severe drug induced type IV hypersensitivity syndrome that can be caused by anticonvulsant drugs, especially the aromatic anticonvulsants such as phenytoin. Most patients with brain metastasis receive whole brain radiotherapy along with anti-edema measures and anticonvulsants either as prophylactic or for symptom control; phenytoin being the most commonly used drug. In a subset of patients, cranial irradiation may act as a precipitating factor along with anticonvulsants for the development of TEN. We report a 54-year-old patient with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer treated with palliative whole brain and mediastinal radiotherapy with concurrent phenytoin-developing TEN, which started within the radiation portals with subsequent generalization. Though a rare, but serious complication, avoidance of the use of phenytoin concurrent with radiotherapy, replacing phenytoin with newer anticonvulsants, early recognition, aggressive management and awareness of this possible complication has been implied upon in this report

Anxiety and Depression among Psychiatry Outpatient in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Meerut.

Background: Anxeity disorders are among the most prevalent mental disorders in the general population. Anxiety Disorders are associated with significant morbidity and often are chronic and resistant to treatment. Material & Methods: The study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital of Meerut. The patients attending the outpatient department of psychiatry were scdreened for anxeity (using Sinha's comprehensive Anxiety State ) and depression ( using Beck's Depressive inventory ). Results : Anxiety was commonest in 15-25 years of age group among males and female whereas depression was commonest in age group of 15-25 years in males and in age provide important clues to understanding the origin and maintenance of these syndromes and be of importance in treatment planning.

Dendrimers as anti-inflammatory agents

Dendrimers constitute an intriguing class of macromolecules which find applications in a variety of areas including biology. These hyperbranched macromolecules with tailored backbone and surface groups have been extensively investigated as nanocarriers for gene and drug delivery, by molecular encapsulation or covalent conjugation. Dendrimers have provided an excellent platform to develop multivalent and multifunctional nanoconjugates incorporating a variety of functional groups including drugs which are known to be anti-inflammatory agents. Recently, dendrimers have been shown to possess anti-inflammatory properties themselves. This unexpected and intriguing discovery has provided an additional impetus in designing novel active pharmaceutical agents. In this review, we highlight some of the recent developments in the field of dendrimers as nanoscale anti-inflammatory agents.

Dendrímeros constituem uma classe intrigante de macromoléculas que apresentam aplicações em diversas áreas incluindo biologia. Essas macromoléculas extremamente ramificadas com esqueleto planejado e grupos de superfície foram extensivamente investigadas como nanotransportadores de genes e de fármacos, por encapsulamento molecular ou conjugação covalente. Dendrímeros têm proporcionado uma plataforma excelente de desenvolvimento nanoconjugados multivalentes e multifuncionais incorporando uma variedade de grupos funcionais, incluindo fármacos que são conhecidos por atuarem agentes antiinflamatórios. Recentemente, os dendrímeros mostraram propriedades antiinflamatórias. Esta inesperada e intrigante descoberta tem proporcionado um impulso adicional no planejamento de novos agente farmacêuticos ativos. Nesta revisão, nós destacamos alguns dos desenvolvimentos recentes no campo dos dendrímeros como agentes antiinflamatórios em nanoescala.

A QSAR study on a series of N-methyl pyrimidones acting as HIV integrase inhibitors.

A quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) study has been performed on integrase (IN) inhibition activity of a large series of N-methyl pyrimidones [Gardelli et al. (2007) J Med Chem 50, 4953-4975)] having varying heterocyclic ring substitution at 2-position of pyrimidone ring. The activity is found to be significantly correlated with surface tension and molar volume of the molecules. The whole series of compounds is divided into two subsets: a training set and a test set. A significant correlation is obtained for the training set, which is then used to predict the activity of compounds in the test set. The predicted activities of compounds in the test set are found to be very close to their observed activities. The predicting ability of the correlation obtained is judged by leave-one-out jackknife procedure. The correlation shows the effective role of the surface tension and molar volume of the molecules. From the correlation obtained, the integrase inhibition activities are predicted for some new prospective compounds.

Final visual outcome following re exploration of cataracts performed by trainee surgeons in India.

Objective: To investigate the outcome of secondary intraocular lens implantation, compare final visual outcome between different categories of surgeon, and evaluate care provided by teaching hospitals to patients with capsular complications. Materials and Methods: Setting: Teaching hospital. Design: Retrospective study. Subjects were recruited by examination of electronic medical records. All patients operated for corrective surgery following capsular complications during cataract surgery were included. All patient medical records were reviewed, and data were collected for 359 eyes. Main outcome measures: Visual acuity and major complications. All collected data were entered into Microsoft Excel and analyzed by SPSS 17 software using cross tabulation and Chi-squared tests. Results: Surgical intervention made a significant difference to the final visual outcome (P < 0.001). The category of the trainee had a significant effect on the final visual outcome (P = 0.021). Conclusion: Capsular complications during cataract surgery should be surgically treated to improve outcome.

Secondary signet-ring cell adenocarcinoma of urinary bladder from a gastric primary

Primary bladder tumor is a frequent urological malignancy, whereas the incidence of secondary bladder tumor from a distant organ is quite rare. Secondary bladder neoplasms represent 1% of all malignant bladder tumors, of which distant metastases from stomach account for about 4% of cases. We present the case of a 30-year-old male who underwent partial gastrectomy for Signet-ring cell carcinoma of the stomach and presented 2 years later with hematuria. On computerized tomography scan, a bladder tumor was found which was resected cystoscopically. The histopathological examination revealed secondary Signet-ring cell adenocarcinoma of the urinary bladder

Resection and reconstruction of mediastinal great vessels in invasive thymoma.

Objective : To evaluate the safety, feasibility, and outcome following radical excision of thymoma with resection and reconstruction of invaded mediastinal vessels. Study Design : A retrospective study. Patients and Methods : Six patients with thymoma invading the superior vena cava (SVC) and/or the brachiocephalic veins (BCVs) were reviewed in this study. All the patients underwent radical excision of the tumor along with invaded mediastinal vessels followed by vessel reconstruction or repair. The clinical presentation, operative details, postoperative course, and follow-up were reviewed and analyzed. Results : Three patients presented with features suggestive of SVC syndrome. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the chest was the primary imaging modality, which detected a tumor with invasion of major mediastinal veins. WHO type B2 was the commonest histologic type, which was seen in 4 cases. Intraoperatively, SVC invasion, SVC and BCV invasion, and BCV invasions alone were seen in 1, 2, and 3 cases, respectively. The vessels were reconstructed with a prosthetic graft in 3 patients, and autologous pericardial tube graft was used in 1 patient. Two patients had primary repair of the wall of the involved vessel. Postoperative course was complicated by ventilator support requirement in 2, graft thrombosis in 2, acute renal failure in 1 and pneumonia in 1 patient. All patients are alive at the end of follow-up period ranging between 18 and 24 months. Conclusion: Thymoma excision with the reconstruction of SVC or BCV is safe and feasible in experienced hands.

Rhabdoid variant of lung cancer: clinicopathological details of a case and a review of literature.

Primary rhabdoid tumor of lung is a rare histological and clinical entity. Lung tumors with rhabdoid features have been included as variants of large-cell carcinoma in the 1999 World Health Organization (WHO) classification of lung tumors. A large-cell carcinoma with a rhabdoid phenotype (LCCRP) is unusual, with only 38 cases reported till date. We report the clinical details of one such case that was treated with pneumonectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy. We also present a review of the literature. To identify relevant articles, we searched PubMed, Ovid, and IngentaConnect databases using the key words 'rhabdoid,' 'lung cancer,' and 'primary rhabdoid tumor of lung.'

Central motor conduction in brachial monomelic amyotrophy.

BACKGROUND: Prevalence of subclinical involvement of motor pathways in clinically diagnosed Brachial Monomelic Amyotrophy (BMMA) is unknown. AIMS: To determine the prevalence of subclinical involvement of central motor pathways in BMMA using transcranial magnetic stimulation. SETTING AND DESIGN: Prospective case-control study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Central motor conduction time (CMCT) was determined by 'F' wave method using figure-of-eight coil attached to Magstim 200 stimulator, in 17 patients with BMMA. Motor evoked potentials were recorded from first dorsal interosseous of the affected (AFF) and unaffected upper limbs (UNAFF) at rest and during partial contraction. Comparison was made with data from 10 healthy controls (CTRL). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Descriptive analysis and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). RESULTS: Compared to controls, the mean CMCT of AFF was significantly prolonged, both at rest and contraction: (a) Rest: AFF-6.68+/-1.78 ms, UNAFF-6.36+/-1.16 ms, CTRL-5.71+/-1.02 ms; Fisher's PLSD for AFF vs. CTRL: P =0.037, (b) Contraction: AFF-5.78+/-1.62 ms, UAFF - 4.86+/-1.38 ms, CTRL-4.06+/-0.80 ms; Fisher's PLSD for AFF vs. CTRL; P =0.0002, AFF vs. UNAFF- P =0.044). Prolonged CMCT (>mean+2SD of controls) was observed in 29.4% of AFF and 6.25% of UNAFF at rest, and in 47.1% and 23.5% respectively during contraction. CONCLUSIONS: Dysfunction of central motor pathways was observed in both affected and unaffected upper limbs of some patients with BMMA of upper limbs. The dysfunction was more pronounced during voluntary contraction. A larger study is needed to validate the significance of these findings.

Attenuation of the effect of lindane on immune responses and oxidative stress by Ocimum sanctum seed oil (OSSO) in rats.

Present study was done to evaluate the effect of Ocimum sanctum seed oil (OSSO) on the immunotoxicity and oxidative activity of lindane in rats. Rats were divided into four groups (n = 8) and were treated with lindane (10 mg/kg, po) and/or OSSO (1 mg/kg, po) during the study period. Humoral immunity was assessed by measuring haemagglutination titre to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) was assessed by measuring foot pad thickness. Lindane showed significant decrease in anti-SRBC antibody titre and also decreased percentage change in foot pad thickness in DTH response as compared to control group. OSSO per se produced significant increase in anti-SRBC antibody titre, but did not produce significant change in the foot pad thickness as compared to control group. However, it significantly antagonized the effect of lindane on the anti-SRBC antibody titre and foot pad thickness parameters. Lindane produced oxidative stress as indicated by increase in the levels of MDA and decrease in GSH levels. Treatment with OSSO per se showed antioxidant activity and also reversed the oxidative stress produced by lindane. The results suggest that OSSO can attenuate the immunotoxicity and oxidative stress produced by lindane.

Accessory breast tissue in axilla masquerading as breast cancer recurrence.

Ectopic or accessory breast tissue is most commonly located in the axilla, though it may be present anywhere along the milk line. Development is hormone dependent, similar to normal breast tissue. These lesions do not warrant any intervention unless they produce discomfort, thus their identification and distinction from other breast pathologies, both benign and malignant, is essential. We report a case with locally advanced breast cancer who presented with an ipsilateral axillary mass following surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Subsequent evaluation with excision biopsy showed duct ectasia in axillary breast tissue and the patient was continued on hormone therapy with tamoxifen.