ABSTRACT
Background: Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) causes significant morbidity andmortality among young children in India. Hib vaccines are safe and efficacious;nevertheless, their introduction to India’s national immunization programme hasbeen hindered by resistance from certain sectors of academia and civil society. Weaimed to ascertain the attitudes and perceptions of Indian paediatricians towardsHib disease and vaccination.Materials and Methods: A cross‑sectional survey of knowledge, attitude andpractices on Hib and vaccines was undertaken among 1000 Indian paediatricianswho attended 49th National Conference of Indian Academy of Pediatrics in 2012through use of a 21‑point questionnaire.Results: 927 (93%) paediatricians completed the survey. 643 (69%) respondedthat Hib is a common disease in India. 788 (85%) reported prescribing Hib vaccineto their patients and 453 (49%) had done so for the past 5–15 years. Hib vaccinewas used in combination with other vaccines by 814 (88%) of the participants.764 (82%) respondents thought Hib vaccine effective while 750 (81%) thought it tobe safe. Fever, pain and redness were the most frequently reported post vaccinationside‑effects. 445 (48%) paediatricians ranked universal use of Hib vaccine in thenational immunization programme as the most important strategy to prevent andcontrol Hib disease in India.Conclusion: The excellent profile as reported by a large number of paediatriciansfrom throughout India further strengthens evidence to support expanded use ofcurrently available Hib vaccines. These findings should encourage the Governmentof India to initiate mass use of this vaccine nationwide.
Subject(s)
Immunization , IndiaABSTRACT
<p><b>AIM</b>To determine if Yq microdeletion frequency and loci of deletion are similar in two tissues (blood and sperm) of different embryological origin.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The present study included 52 infertile oligozoospermic cases. In each case, DNA was isolated from blood and sperms and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) microdeletion analysis was done from genomic DNA isolated from both the tissues. The PCR products were analyzed on a 1.8% agarose gel. PCR amplifications found to be negative were repeated at least three times to confirm the deletion of a given marker.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Only 1 case harbored microdeletion in blood DNA, whereas 4 cases harbored microdeletion in sperm DNA.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The frequency of Yq microdeletions is higher in germ cells as compared to blood. As the majority of infertile couples opt for assisted reproduction procreation techniques (ART), Yq microdeletion screening from germ cells is important to understand the genetic basis of infertility, to provide comprehensive counseling and most adapted therapeutics to the infertile couple.</p>