Comparative study of serum ferritin and vitamin D in thalassemia patients with healthy controls

Background: Thalassemia is the most common genetic disorder in humans; they are encountered among all ethnic groups and in almost every country around the world. Mostly occur in the regions surrounding the Mediterranean sea, hence the name. These are a group of hereditary haemolytic disorders characterized by impairment in the synthesis of globin chains of Hb. The present study aimed to find out the serum ferritin and vitamin D level in thalassemic children in the tertiary care hospital in Bikaner, western Rajasthan, India.Methods: In this study 50 (27 male and 23 female) adult skulls were investigated to determine the type of asterion, its distance from important bony landmarks and also the nearby venous sinuses were measured.Results: Level of serum ferritin was significantly high and vitamin D was significantly low (p-value<0.0001 for both) in thalassemic children.Conclusions: In this study the role of serum ferritin and vitamin D has been explored. The extremely high level of ferritin was found due to the regular blood transfusion and consequent iron overload and low vitamin D was found due to impairment in liver functions among thalassemic children

Comparative study of serum calcium and phosphorus level in pulmonary tuberculosis before and after chemotherapy

Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis is a chronic granulomatous bacterial infection caused by an acid-fast bacillus, mycobacterium tuberculosis or tubercle bacillus.  It is a potentially fatal contagious disease that can affect almost any part of the body but is mainly an infection of the lungs so it is called pulmonary tuberculosis. There are many minerals synthesized in the body in an appropriate amount for specific work. If any disease occurs in the body then mineral level imbalance, like wise in pulmonary tuberculosis calcium and phosphorus levels disturb. The changes in Calcium and Phosphorus level is considered as an important factor in pathophysiology of pulmonary tuberculosis patient.Methods: The proposed study was conducted in Department of Biochemistry with association of Department of TB and Chest of S.P. Medical College and attached Hospital, Bikaner. There were 40 cases and 40 controls in the age groups from 15 to 50 years. We took fresh samples and performed required tests following standard protocol. By Analytical grade chemicals and standard serum Calcium and Phosphorus were estimated using enzymatic kit method by auto analyzer.Results: The Mean±SD of serum calcium and serum phosphorus levels were found 8.688±0.7155 and 2.833±0.6443   before chemotherapy and 9.163±0.4661 and 3.695±0.3471 after chemotherapy.Conclusions: Persons, who developed pulmonary tuberculosis disease, had increased serum calcium and serum phosphorus level after chemotherapy compared to before chemotherapy patients

Breast self-examination: knowledge, awareness, and practices among females of reproductive age group

Background: Breast cancer occurs in an observable organ, thus awareness regarding its symptoms can help in its early detection and treatment. Although breast self-examination (BSE) is an old technique, evidence reveals many of females are not aware regarding this, and those with knowledge about breast cancer examination either fail to practice it or do so incorrectly. Methods: It was a cross-sectional exploratory survey. 505 females attending outpatient department (OPD) at selected tertiary care hospital were recruited in the study using simple random sampling. Each participant was given a set of validated questionnaires to answer. The questionnaire was designed to obtain information regarding socio demographic data, knowledge, awareness, and practice regarding BSE. All data were coded, validated, and analyzed utilizing both descriptive and inferential statistics techniques. Results: The study revealed that the largest proportion (42.06%) of subjects fell within the age range of 20-30 years. Total mean score of knowledge and awareness regarding breast self-examination was 9.68±3.5. Maximum 58.42% of the subjects had average knowledge and awareness followed by 23.96% having good knowledge and awareness and least (17.62%) had poor knowledge and awareness regarding BSE. Almost half i.e., 50.49% (255) of participants reported to perform BSE and 49.51% of participants had never practiced BSE. Conclusions: The study revealed that while participants had average knowledge levels, they showed low involvement in routine BSE. This underscores the need for educational interventions to promote BSE practices, identify risk factors and warning signs, and encourage early-stage management of breast cancer, ultimately contributing to primary prevention in healthcare

Pathological Changes Associated with Natural Outbreak of Swine Pasteurellosis

Swine pasteurellosis is usually observed in descript as well as nondescript pigs imparting in huge economic losses to the pig producers. The disease is characterized by pyrexia, dullness, staggering gait, anorexia, serous nasal discharge and dyspnoea. Case fatality rate may as high as 95% in adult animals and 100% in piglets. Typical lesions of oedematous swellings may remarkably visible in the pharyngeal region, these swellings spread to the ventral cervical region and brisket of pigs. Gross lesions include severe pneumonia and haemorrhages in lungs, petechial haemorrhages on serous membranes and other visceral organs. Lymph nodes usually get enlarged, oedematous and haemorrhagic. The blood smears from heart blood and tissue impression smears reveal teaming numbers of bipolar organisms indicating the presence of Pasteurella spp., the etiological organism. The bacteriological isolation and characterization of causative agent should be ruled out to identify by Gram’ staining for purity and bipolar morphology and biochemical characterization of the organisms. Molecular characterization necessitates to confirm Pasteurella multocida along with capsular types of the organism. Histopathological examination of lungs usually reveals typical fibrinous bronchopneumonia, multifocal suppuration and pleural thickening. Heart of some pigs may show presence of thrombi, haemorrhages and necrosed myocardium

Colposcopic evaluation in cases of persistent inflammatory Pap smear

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the colposcopic evaluation in cases of persistant inflammatory Papanicolaou (Pap) smear.Methods: This was a prospective analytical study, conducted amongst 78 women attending the outpatient department of obstetrics and gynaecology at Subharti Medical College. Pap smear was performed by the conventional method and colposcopy was done for all 78 sexually active women who came with complaints of pain abdomen, irregular cycles, white discharge per vaginum and urinary tract infections. Final correlation of Pap smear and colposcopy were based on histopathology and human papillomavirus deoxyribonucleic acid (HPV DNA).Results: In this study of 78 women, 21% of women had normal colposcopic findings whereas 79% had abnormal colposcopic findings. Histopathological examination (HPE) findings revealed that 69% women had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 1, 23% had CIN II, 6% had CIN III and 3% had SCC. 25% women tested positive for HPV DNA and 75% women tested negative for HPV DNA.Conclusions: Patients with persistent inflammatory Pap smear despite undergoing treatment show changes on Colposcopic directed biopsies.

Doubled Haploid Technology in Maize (Zea mays): Status and Applications

Not AvailableMaize is the third most important staple crop after rice and wheat with enormous diversity and adaptation ability. Hybrid breeding is the most important approach for developing high yielding cultivars in maize. It relies upon the generation of pure inbred lines with desirable traits in quick span to achieve higher genetic gains. The rapidly rising global population and climate change necessitates the development of innovative technologies that can help to safeguard the food security in future. Doubled Haploid (DH) technology is the best approach for rapid development of new inbred lines. DH technology has contributed immensely in the rapid generation of inbred lines and hybrid development. In addition, the use of molecular markers with DH technology resulted into mapping of genomic regions for different traits. The recent development in identification of alternative markers for haploid selection and genome editing approaches will further strengthen the DH technology for commercial maize breeding. This review describes important landmarks of maize DH technology, its applications, and recent advances in utilization of emerging technologies, viz. CRIPSR-cas and genomics approaches for DH technology.Not Availabl

Meta-QTL analysis for mining of candidate genes and constitutive gene network development for fungal disease resistance in maize (Zea mays L.)

Not AvailableThe development of resistant maize cultivars is the most effective and sustainable approach to combat fungal diseases. Over the last three decades, many quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping studies reported numerous QTL for fungal disease resistance (FDR) in maize. However, different genetic backgrounds of germplasm and differing QTL analysis algorithms limit the use of identified QTL for comparative studies. The meta-QTL (MQTL) analysis is the meta-analysis of multiple QTL experiments, which entails broader allelic coverage and helps in the combined analysis of diverse QTL mapping studies revealing common genomic regions for target traits. In the present study, 128 (33.59%) out of 381 reported QTL (from 82 studies) for FDR could be projected on the maize genome through MQTL analysis. It revealed 38 MQTL for FDR (12 diseases) on all chromosomes except chromosome 10. Five MQTL namely 1_4, 2_4, 3_2, 3_4, and 5_4 were linked with multiple FDR. Total of 1910 candidate genes were identified for all the MQTL regions, with protein kinase gene families, TFs, pathogenesis-related, and disease-responsive proteins directly or indirectly associated with FDR. The comparison of physical positions of marker-traits association (MTAs) from genome-wide association studies with genes underlying MQTL interval verified the presence of QTL/candidate genes for particular diseases. The linked markers to MQTL and putative candidate genes underlying identified MQTL can be further validated in the germplasm through marker screening and expression studies. The study also attempted to unravel the underlying mechanism for FDR resistance by analyzing the constitutive gene network, which will be a useful resource to understand the molecular mechanism of defense-response of a particular disease and multiple FDR in maize.Not Availabl

Knowledge and awareness regarding stroke among general population: A cross-sectional survey

Background: Stroke is one of the major causes of loss of quality-adjusted life years and inflicts varying degree of physical deficits, psychological distress, and strained social relationships among stroke survivors. However, knowledge regarding risk factors, warning symptoms, and first aid management of stroke can help to minimize this burden. Aim: This study aims to assess knowledge and awareness of general population regarding risk factors, warning symptoms, and first aid management of stroke. Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted to collect information from general population regarding risk factor, warning symptoms, and first aid management of stroke by administering a pretested questionnaire. Five hundred patients attending Outpatient Departments of Selected Hospital were selected using simple random sampling. After explaining purpose of the study and taking written consent from the participants, the participants were requested to fill the questionnaire. Results: The findings revealed that only 22.6% of participants were having good knowledge, 56.6% were having average knowledge, and rest 20.8% of them had poor knowledge regarding risk factors, warning symptoms, and first aid management of stroke. The mean knowledge score was 11.86 ± 3.651. 31.4%, 36.2%, and 33.6% of participants were not aware about even single risk factors, warning symptoms, and first aid management of stroke, respectively. Conclusion: The low level of knowledge regarding risk factor, warning symptoms, and first aid management of stroke indicates immense need of initiatives to implement stroke education

Multiple Daily Injections OR Insulin Pump Therapy:Choosing the Best Option for Your Patient—An Evidence-based Approach

Achieving optimal glucose control with minimal hypoglycemia and minimizing the impact of diabetes on quality of life are the aims of management of type 1 diabetes. The main therapeutic options for patients include multiple daily injections (MDI) and continuous subcutaneous insulin therapy (CSII). It is important to differentiate fixed dose MDI with more flexible use, based on carbohydrate counting and structured education programmes, often termed functional insulin therapy (FIT), shown to deliver better outcomes. A significant proportion of patients can achieve optimal glucose control with either therapy, and for those who are unable to achieve desired glucose control with MDI, there is a large body of observational data showing CSII enables them to reduce HbA1c and hypoglycemia, with associated improvements in diabetes-related quality of life. However, in many healthcare systems, guidelines restrict the use of CSII on the basis of cost, with only 20–35 % of patients with type 1 diabetes across Europe using CSII. Although data support improved glucose control and quality of life with CSII, we must recognize that insulin pump therapy is not for everyone and has some downsides such as being attached to a device or issues with cannulas. When we sit down with our patients, we have a responsibility to support those patients with the therapeutic strategy that is best suited to them. In this paper, we review some of the literature that informs this decision-making, highlighting areas where CSII offers clear benefits and also some areas where it may not be appropriate

Home management of intestinal stoma: An evidence based review

Shortened hospital stays for clients with an intestinal stoma have shifted the focus from institutional care in hospitals to self-care of ostomies to the home setting. Clients with intestinal ostomy experience numerous changes in physical functioning, psychosocial health, and in their sexual life after creation of stoma. This enhances the importance of a guide for home management of intestinal stoma to assist home care clinicians and stoma care nurses, who are determined to make ostomates self-reliant. This evidence-based review focused on published articles from the Medline, CINAHL, Social Sciences Citation Index, Psych INFO, a hand search through selected journals published since 2000, and from references lists, to prepare home management guide for intestinal stoma. This article provides information regarding measures to protect skin around stoma, daily care management for ostomates, and ways to prevent peristomal skin complications