Effect of Listening to Music Over Ear Phones/Head Phones on Hearing

Music has always been an effective way to pass time. With the advent of cell phones, most of the people have an easy means to access music as almost all the phones are capable of playing music. Low quality ear phones are available at an affordable price. Adolescent and young adults are potentially at risk of hearing loss by listening to music with ear phones / head phones. Aim: The present study is an effort to know the effect of listening to music for longer duration through ear phones in young adults. Methods: The present study is conducted at Government Medical College, Anantapuramu on 100 subjects. 50 subjects who listened to music through ear phones for more than 2 hours/day and for 2 years or more were included in group A. 50 subjects who very occasionally used ear phones were included in group B. All subjects were made to undergo Pure Tone Audiometry in the audiometry room in both ears using pure tones of 250 Hz – 12000 Hz frequencies. Results: None of the subjects in Group B reported any hearing problem. Self-reported hearing problems in group A participants recorded. In Group A, 66% of subjects had no hearing problems and 34% of subjects had different hearing problems. There is significant increase in hearing threshold of Group A subjects at high frequencies compared to Group B. Conclusion: The output levels from cell phone are high enough to cause music induced hearing loss when phones are used at high volume for long periods. It is necessary to educate oneself about the dangers and use methods to prevent its harmful effects. Regular audiometric screening of all mobile phone users is recommended.

Meconium Peritonitis: A Rare Treatable Cause of Non-Immune Hydrops / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

Meconium peritonitis as a cause of non-immune hydrops in neonates is rarely reported. Here we report such a rare occurrence. In our case, a routine antenatal scan at 25 weeks revealed isolated ascites. By 31 weeks of gestation, all features of hydrops were observed in scans. However, antenatal workup for immune and non-immune hydrops was negative. Subsequently, a preterm hydropic female baby was delivered at 32 weeks. She required intubation and ventilator support. An X-ray revealed calcification in the abdomen suggestive of meconium peritonitis. Ultrasound showed gross ascites, a giant cyst compressing the inferior vena cava, and minimal bilateral pleural effusion. Emergency laparotomy revealed meconium pellets and perforation of the ileum. Double-barrel ileostomy was performed, and the edema resolved and activity improved. The baby was discharged after 3 weeks. Ileostomy closure was done at follow-up. The baby is growing well.

A Novel Protein C Mutation Causing Neonatal Purpura Fulminans.

Background: Neonatal purpura fulminans due to congenital protein C deficiency is a rare disorder. Case characteristics: A four-day-old neonate presented with multiple necrotic skin lesions with abnormal coagulation profile. Intervention and outcome: Skin lesions responded to repeated plasma transfusions but the neonate developed bilateral retinal detachment. A novel homozygous PROC gene mutation was noted in the neonate. Message: Molecular diagnosis and prenatal counseling in neonatal purpura fulminans are vital considering the poor outcome.

How to Choose the Appropriate Statistical Test Using the Free Program “Statistics Open For All” (SOFA).

Key Message: Statistics Open For All (SOFA) is a free, open-source statistical software. It contains a component to help choose the appropriate statistical test. This article describes that component from the perspective of a novice user. We also discuss the pros and cons of this tool, and make appropriate recommendations for its use.

Knowledge and Practice of Ante-natal Care in an Urban Area

Antenatal care (ANC) among pregnant women is one of the important factors in reducing maternal morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, many women in developing countries do not receive such care. So, the present study was carried out to evaluate the knowledge and practice of ANC among married women in the age group of 15-49 years and also to assess the association of knowledge of ANC with some selected variables of interest. A crosssectional study was conducted between January 2012 to March 2012 among 429 married women who had a delivery in the last five years in an urban area in Imphal East. Women were interviewed using structured questionnaire regarding socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge and practices on ANC. The mean score of the knowledge on ANC was 20.9+ 4.3 out of a total score of 36. However, only 42.6% women got full ANC, and the main reasons for not attending any antenatal check-up were thought of as not necessary and financial constraints. It was found that higher level of education, Hindu religion, age at marriage, and living in owned house were statistically associated with better knowledge (p<0.05). There is a need for enhancing awareness about the importance of ante-natal care and for motivating women to utilize maternal care services.

An Audit Of Bronchial Asthma Control At A Primary Public Health Care Facility

A study was conducted at Greentown Health Clinic, Ipoh to assess and classify asthma by levels of control based on the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA). The secondary objective was to identify those patients whose control was suboptimal. A total of 102 patients were included in this study based on random sampling between 25th April 2008 and 6th June 2008. Standard Asthma Control Questionnaires were used to classify asthma and levels of control. Baseline Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) measurements and PEFR at audit visits were also recorded. All data were analysed using SPSS version 13. The study showed that only 39.2 % of the patients were classified as having controlled asthma, 34.3 % had asthma that was partly controlled and 26.5 % of the patients had uncontrolled asthma. Among those patients who had inadequate asthma control, more than half of them had nocturnal attacks and exacerbations. These findings demonstrate the need by the attending doctor to improve assessment of the patient’s control of asthma by actively questioning the patients and subsequently improving management to achieve optimal control of asthma.

Assisted vaginal delivery versus caesarean delivery for term breech presentation

To review the mode of breech delivery over a 4-year period in Nizwa Hospital, and to evaluate the trend and associated complications. Computer data recordings, delivery suite and Special Care Baby Unit records of women, who delivered at Nizwa hospital between 1st January 1999 and 31st December 2002, were analysed There were 286 term breech deliveries constituting 2.8% of the entire deliveries in the hospital; 49.6% of the breeches were delivered by Caesarean section while 50.3% had assisted vaginal delivery [P = 0.93] Amongst 70 primigravidae breeches, 48[68%] were delivered by Caesarean section, while 92 [42.5%] out of 216 multigravidae were delivered by Caesarean section. Congenital anomalies contributed three neonatal deaths, one among the vaginal delivery and two among the Caesarean section group in multigravidae. The only neonatal death in primigravidae group was due to birth asphyxia as a result of late admission in late second stage of labour with severe fetal bradycardia. Thus no neonatal death or fresh stillbirth could be attributed to assisted vaginal delivery. There was one case of fracture humerus in a primigravida who delivered by assisted vaginal delivery Considering the fact that most practicing obstetricians seem to be more inclined towards delivering breeches by Caesarean section, the art of assisted delivery is still practiced in our setting with an equally favourable outcome as that of Caesarean section mode of delivery

Role of macrophages in experimental malaria: VI--Effect of Freund's complete adjuvant in Plasmodium berghei infected mice.

Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) treated group of mice when challenged with lethal Plasmodium berghei showed increased survival value; survival period (SP) and median survival day (MSD) compared to their respective control groups. K values were affected and mean parasitaemia during infection period was lower than that of control. In general survival rate after 35 days of infection was 10.5% in FCA recipients. The survival rate in a particular group of animals which received 0.2 ml FCA 3 days before challenge was 22.7%. FCA was found to contribute to increased survival of the host against P. berghei infection. The study indicates that adjuvants, like FCA induce protective immunity and future studies should include non-specific immunization against human malaria.