Analysis of cognizance and practices of biomedical waste management principle rules among health professional workers in a teaching hospital with special emphasis on COVID-19 pandemic: A critical appraisal on the current state and way forward.

BACKGROUND: Hospital-generated waste materials commonly labeled as "Biomedical waste" (BMW) is a kind of remnant that includes infectious and non-infectious materials and their appropriate disposals are controlled as per the guidelines of Biomedical Waste Management (BMWM) Amendment Rules, 2018, Government of India. Periodic assessment on BMWM among healthcare workers (HCWs) is mandated to ensure quality assurance, which may be helpful during pandemic times. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted with ethical clearance by using a validated questionnaire (using Cronbach's α) covering knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) derived based on recent BMWM 2018 guidelines. The responses in context to KAP were checked by the study conductors, appropriate statistical analysis was done and discussed at end of each session. RESULTS: Nearly 279 HCWs participated in the study and cast their responses. Knowledge and attitude domain on BMWM showed statistical significance whereas varied responses were observed with practices among the health professional workers with health professional physicians having an edge over other HCWs involved in the processes with varying attrition factors. CONCLUSIONS: The present study proves novelty by extensively analyzing KAP among HCWs on BMWM in general with special emphasis on laboratory biosafety norms. The study emphasizes that BMWM should be a continuous process and that all HCWs handling BMW must undergo regular training and assessment with questionnaire surveys. Multi-tasking and cumulative efforts must be formulated to attain translational synergy in the stream of KAP of BMWM, which could be attained by incorporating BMWM in the health science curriculum.

Effects of Long Term Exposure of 900-1800 MHz Radiation Emitted from 2G Mobile Phone on Mice Hippocampus- A Histomorphometric Study.

INTRODUCTION: The advancement in the telecommunications technology with multi-functional added features in mobile phone, attracts more users of all age group. It is alarming to note that, the mobile phone use has increased amongst children and they are exposed to potentially harmful radiofrequency radiation in their lifetime. AIM: To investigate the long term exposure of 900 to 1800 MHz radiations emitted from 2G mobile phone in mice hippocampus at histomorphometric level. MATERIALS AND METHODS: With due approval from institutional animal ethics committee, 36 mice were exposed to 2G mobile phone radiation, 48 minutes per day for a period of 30-180 days. The control group was kept under similar conditions without 2G exposure. Mice were sacrificed and the brain was removed from the first month to six months period. Brain was removed from the cranial cavity and hippocampus region was dissected out carefully and processed for routine histological study. Random serial sections were analysed under microscope for histomorphometric changes. For statistical analysis, independent t-test was used for comparing control and 2G exposed groups. RESULTS: The mean density of neurons in the hippocampus regions CA1, CA2 and DGDB from first to sixth month was significantly lower in the 2G exposed groups; however, in CA3 and DGVB, the 2G exposed mice showed significantly higher density of neurons. The mean nuclear diameter of neurons in the hippocampus region of CA1, CA2, CA3, DGDB and DGVB from first to sixth months showed lower nuclear diameter in 2G exposed mice. CONCLUSION: The long term exposure to 900-1800 MHz frequency radiations emitted from 2G mobile phone could cause significantly reduced neuron density and decreased nuclear diameter in the hippocampus neurons of mice.

Intussusception Caused by Yersinia enterocolitica Enterocolitis in a Patient with Sickle Cell Anemia.

Yersinia enterocolitica intussusception is rarely encountered in patients without an underlying susceptibility and is most frequently reported in iron-overloaded patients. This is thought to be related to the unusual use of iron by this microorganism. We present a case of a 5-year old child with intussusception of the terminal ileum caused by Y. enterocolitica whose past medical history was significant for sickle cell disease. This type of presentation is extremely rare. His monthly blood transfusions may have put him at risk for Y. enterocolitica enterocolitis. The pathogenesis of this disease relates to the role of iron as an essential growth factor for Y. enterocolitica, and this patient's transfusions left him in an iron overloaded state despite treatment with Deferoxamine. Our patient's unusual presentation of intusssuception was secondary to the mass effect caused by lymphoid hyperplasia, specifically hypertrophied Peyer's patches in the ileum caused by the Y. enterocolitica infection. We believe that our case demonstrates that Y. enterocolitica should be considered a possible pathogen in patients with sickle cell disease, especially if symptoms occur shortly after blood transfusion.

Basal cell adenocarcinoma in the tongue: an unusual presentation.

We present a case of basal cell adenocarcinoma (BCAC) in the tongue in a 65-year old male. This is an extremely rare presentation. BCAC generally occurs in the parotid gland and rarely involves the minor salivary glands. Few cases have been reported in literature with a variable presentation. The biopsy was formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded. The sections were stained with routine Hematoxylin and Eosin. Immunohistochemistry was performed. Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed tumour composed of variable sized and shaped, nests and sheets of basaloid epithelial cells having hyperchromatic to vesicular nuclei. Immunohistochemistry was positive for Pancytokeratin, Epithelial membrane antigen and p53. The clinicopathological features and the cellular immunophenotype addressed the diagnosis towards BCAC of the tongue. The goal of this report is to increase awareness of this rare disease and to review and discuss the differential diagnosis and important considerations in treatment.