Dermatological Conundrum: Puzzling Pigmentation in Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Addison's Disease.

We report a case series of two patients who had similar skin pigmentation but were caused by vitamin B12 deficiency and Addison's disease. We further discuss the pathophysiology of skin hyperpigmentation in both of these disorders and the response to treatment. Our case report highlights the importance of the identification of simple bedside clinical signs to diagnose reversible causes of skin pigmentation.

Role of vaccination in COVID-19.

Immune response after first and second dose of covishield vaccination is studied. Both doses stimulate the immune response. We report here that there is rise in herd immunity. Third or booster dose is essential only in compromised patients.

Newer onset of diabetes mellitus and thyroid dysfunction in COVID-19: Study from rural India.

Background: Cytokine and bardykine storm plays important role in then pathogenesis of COVID-19 diseses, as result there are raised inflammatory markers and blood sugar. Patients and Method: Patient with RTPCR positive with signs and symptoms of COVID-19 were investigated for fasting and postprandial blood sugar and glycoted hemoglobin percentage, inflammatory markers TSH and Covid antibodies. Result: All the 17 cases detected newly onset of diabetes with normal HBA1c and raised thyroid stimulating hormones in five cases. Significant raised levels of inflammatory markers and D-diamer. All cases showed bilateral pneumonias in the lungs. Conclusion: Newer onset of diabetes mellitus due to COVID-19 disease should be mangled with insulin therapy.

From quarantine room: Physician perspective.

This write-up is a brief reflection of a rural doctor couple, Dr. Himmatrao Saluba Bawaskar (HSB) and Dr. Pramodini Himmatrao Bawaskar (PHB), working in the remote area of Maharashtra state of India during COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, rural doctors are routinely exposed to symptomatic COVID-positive cases in the outpatient as well as indoor setting. The authors, both husband and wife, were in compulsory quarantine for twice at home and experienced social stigmas attached to a positive case. Here is a report the details of COVID-19 pattern and its management learned from the published scientific papers on COVID-19, and severe acute respiratory syndrome due to SARS-CoV-2 from December 2019 and their own experience in rural setting and the current literature shared in the form of personal narration. Apart from the personal experience of patients experience regarding quarantine period, COVID-19 is discussed in detail for the benefit of rural practitioners.

Emergency care in rural settings: Can doctors be ethical and survive?

We describe below the pressures of running a small private hospital in an underserved rural area, while providing emergency healthcare for victims of poisonous stings, accidents, and other acute health conditions. Both ethics and law demand that payment is not asked for upfront in emergency cases. Yet patients and their families often fail to pay normal dues for months or even years. It is disturbing to encounter such behaviour even in villages; and doctors in small communities are easy prey. In these conditions can one be true to ethical principles and ensure one's own survival?

Diagonal ear lobe crease: A premonitory diagnostic sign of impeding ischemic heart disease.

INTRODUCTION: In India, significant number of individuals suffers from ischemic heart disease (IHD). Majority of chest pain victim initially report to his family physician. At times, sudden death is the first and last manifestation of IHD. Doctors are aware of various risk factors for IHD. The diagonal ear lobe crease (DELC) has been characterized in medical literature as a surrogate marker which can be easily identified as high-risk case for impending IHD. We report here the incidence of IHD accompanied with DELC in rural population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eight hindered and eighty eight patients attended to general physician Mahad during January 2012 to December 2015 with complaints of chest pain were investigated for presence of DELC. Presence of DELC was correlated to varies risk factors including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus (DM), body mass index (BMI), occipital baldness, and tobacco consumption. RESULTS: Out of patients studied, 645 (72.6%) had hypertension, 508 (57.2%) had DELC, of these 486 (95%) suffered from IHD, 246 (48%) had DM, 246 (48%) had occipital baldness, and 325 (64%) had hyperlipidemia. Significant association between BMI > 25+ in male >50 years old with odd ratio 2.08 (95% CI: 1.27-3.39; P = 0.003). INTERPRETATION: Presence of DELC with or without risk factors is a simple clinical observation easily noted during examination by family physician to investigate and to rule out IHD.

Authors' response to commentaries on "Emergency care in rural settings".

We are grateful to Kattula and Jain, Patil and Phutke for their comments on our article on rural emergency medical care and our real problems in rural practice, their management and the threat to our survival. We agree with most of their points and the solutions they have advocated.

Profile of Vitamin D in patients attending at general hospital Mahad India.

BACKGROUND: Despite abundant sunshine, Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in urban India. However, reports on analyzing Vitamin D status from rural Indian population are scanty. Here, we have evaluated Vitamin D status in patients attending outpatient department (OPD) in a rural Indian hospital setting. METHODS: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at a secondary level rural hospital in patients attending medicine OPD. After obtaining informed consent, demographic information was collected from consecutive adult patients along with 3 ml blood sample for Vitamin D analysis using electro chemiluminescene on cobas elecys E411 fully automated system. Vitamin D levels were compared across various groups by using Mann-Whitney or Kruskal-Wallis tests, and multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify the predictors of Vitamin D level. RESULTS: A total of 640 patients were enrolled in the study, and the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/ml) was found to be 65.4% with 95% confidence interval of 61.7-69.1%. On univariate analysis, Vitamin D levels were statistically significantly lower among younger age group, those who have dark complexion, wearing Burkha (veil), and those who were not adequately exposed to sunlight. After multiple linear regressions, dark complexion, wearing Burkha, inadequate exposure to sunlight, and presence of diabetes were identified as statistically significant predictors of Vitamin D deficiency. CONCLUSION: We report a high prevalence of Vitamin-D deficiency in patients attending medicine OPD. Thus, patients with generalized complaints may be evaluated for serum Vitamin D levels.