FOREIGN BODY IN AERO-DIGESTIVE TRACT: A DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS AT TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to analyze some of the key issues about the presentation, types, complications, and management arising about foreign body in the upper aero-digestive tract. Methods: All the patients presenting with or without history of swallowing or inhaling foreign bodies with symptoms such as dysphagia, drooling of saliva, stridor, and acute respiratory distress were included in study. Extraction of foreign body in airway tract was done by bronchoscopy and in digestive tract by esophagoscopy. Patient’s demographic details, types, symptoms and nature, size, and location of the inhaled foreign bodies were analyzed. Results: Patients aged more than 10 years constituted maximum number 14 (28%) in digestive tract. Patient aged 1–2 and 2–3 years accounted for most of the cases 10 (50%) in airway. Sensation dysphagia (100%) and foreign body sensation including cough (100%) were the most common symptom of digestive tract and airway tract, respectively. Currency coins (64%) were the most common type of foreign body in case of digestive tract ground nut (30%) was the most common type of airway foreign body. Conclusions: This study concluded that symptoms of foreign bodies in the aerodigestive tract are mainly nonspecific and needs high degree of suspicion, experience, and clinical acumen to diagnose and manage these patients

GENISTEIN ALLEVIATES HIGH GLUCOSE INDUCED TOXICITY AND ANGIOGENESIS IN CULTURED HUMAN RPE CELLS

Objective: Genistein, an iso flavonoid has been shown to possess many biological activities including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-angiogenic property. It has been shown to be protective in dampening diabetes induced retinal inflammation in vivo. Therefore, the purpose of the present study is to investigate the effect of genistein on glucose induced toxicity in cultured human RPE cells (ARPE-19).Methods: ARPE-19 cells were challenged with normal glucose (NG 5 mM) and high glucose (HG1 25 mM & HG2 50 mM) concentrations with or without genistein (20 µM) for 24 h. The mRNA expression of aldose reductase (ALR) and VEGF was measured by real-time PCR using SYBR green. Inhibitory effects upon ALR activity were performed. The VEGF levels of cell supernatant were estimated by sandwich ELISA. Cellular viability and mitochondrial function upon genistein treatment were assessed using dye exclusion method and MTT assay respectively.Results: Genistein at the studied concentration showed 93% of cell viability and no marked toxicity was observed on cell growth. ARPE-19 cells challenged with HG1 and HG2 showed (2.32) and (2.48) fold increase in ALR expression as compared to NG. Significant increase in VEGF165 expression was observed in ARPE-19 cells with HG1 and HG2 as compared to NG. The genistein treated cells significantly reduced the mRNA expression of both ALR and VEGF165. No significant increase in VEGF level was observed in ARPE-19 cell supernatant with HG1 and HG2 (220.68±5.24 and 228.96±7.19 pg/ml) as compared to NG (220.30±2.04 pg/ml), however, significant reduction was observed in response to treatment with genistein in HG1 and HG2 (155.51±9.33 and 122.85±4.76 pg/ml). Also ALR activity significantly reduced in genistein treated cells when compared with HG1 and HG2 concentrations.Conclusion: The results of the present study clearly demonstrate that genistein protects RPE cells from glucose toxicity. Genistein could be a prospective potent agent for treating complications linked with diabetes mellitus, such as diabetic retinopathy.Â

Australia\u27s health 2000 : the seventh biennial report of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Australia\u27s Health 2000 is the seventh biennial health report of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. It is the nation\u27s authoritative source of information on patterns of health and illness, determinants of health, the supply and use of health services, and health services costs and performance.This 2000 edition serves as a summary of Australia\u27s health record at the end of the twentieth century. In addition, a special chapter is presented on changes in Australia\u27s disease profile over the last 100 years.Australia\u27s Health 2000 is an essential reference and information source for all Australians with an interest in health

Educational outcomes of children on guardianship or custody orders

There is a lack of evidence about the outcomes of child protection services, in particular, their impact on the educational outcomes of children in the care of the state. Education makes a significant contribution to the development and well-being of children, providing an important gateway to future employment and life opportunities. For many children in the care of the state, school is their safest and most supportive environment. However, disrupted school attendance due to relocation and exclusion is also a common experience, and it has been suggested that lost educational opportunities have a cumulative effect on children in care as they move through the various stages of education and development.This paper highlights key findings from a pilot study which examined the academic performance (as assessed by literacy and numeracy test scores) of children on guardianship and custody orders. This research involved interdepartmental linkage of administrative data across multiple jurisdictions, the first Australian study in this field to have done so. The academic performance of children on orders is compared to that of all children sitting the tests, and the influence of factors such as Indigenous status, sex, living arrangements (e.g. foster care) and length of time on orders is also explored

Post-traumatic skin and soft tissue infection due to Aeromonas hydrophila

We report a case of posttraumatic skin and soft tissue infection in a patient who sustained laceration after being hit by a water tanker. Aeromonas hydrophila was isolated from pus and was identified to the species level by Vitek 2 and a battery of biochemical tests. The patient responded to thorough drainage, debridement of wound and 2 weeks of intravenous antibiotics. The patient was taken up for split skin grafting of the raw area. She was discharged with satisfactory graft uptake after 1 week without any further antibiotics advice. Follow-up after 3 weeks was satisfactory with healthy cover on the raw area and normal weight bearing on the left leg

The epidemiology of overweight and obesity among Australian children and adolescents, 1995-97

A study attempts to determine the population prevalence of overweight and obesity among Australian children and adolescents, based on measured body mass index (BMI) to determine if overweight and obesity are distributed differentially across the population of young Australians. Data from three independent surveys were analyzed and results indicate that the population prevalence and distribution of overweight, obesity and overweight/obesity combined were 79%-81%, 14%-16%, 5% and 19%-21% (boys) respectively, and 76%-79%, 16%-18%, 5%-6% and 21%-24% (girls). There were no consistent relationships between the prevalence of overweight/obesity and sex, age or SES. It is concluded that some 19%-23% of Australian children and adolescents are either overweight or obese. Only cultural background differential warrant a targeted health promotion response.<br /