A clinical study of feto-maternal outcome in pregnancies with oligohydramnios

Background: The amniotic fluid that surrounds the fetus serves several roles during pregnancy. Oligohydramnios is diagnosed when ultrasonographically the AFI is less than 5cm/5th percentile. It affects 3-5% of all pregnancies. Assessment of amniotic fluid volume is a helpful tool in determining who is at risk for potentially adverse obstetric and perinatal outcome.Methods: Pregnant women with oligohydramnios reporting to Cheluvamba Hospital, attached to Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, Mysore from December 2012- June 2014 were included in the clinical study of maternal and fetal outcome. All singleton, non-anomalous, low risk pregnancies with AFI≤5cm with intact membranes and gestational age between 28-42 weeks were included in the study. Various outcomes such as mode of delivery, meconium staining, Apgar at 1 and 5 minutes, birth weight and NICU admissions were assessed.Results: A total of 130 cases of isolated oligohydramnios were assessed. 55.4% had vaginal delivery. 13.8% underwent elective LSCS and 30.8% had emergency LSCS. 18.5% had meconium stained liquor, 4.6% babies had APGAR of <7 at 5 minutes. 17.7% had birth weight of <2.5 kg and 6.9% of babies required NICU admission.Conclusions: The present study was conducted to know the feto-maternal outcome in pregnancies with oligohydramnios. The study showed that isolated oligohydramnios had no adverse maternal or perinatal outcome

A cross sectional study on immunization status of anganwadi children in a rural area of north Kerala, India

Background: The current scenario depicts that immunization coverage has been steadily increasing but the average level remains far less than the desired. Though there is increased accessibility of health care services in rural areas, its utilization is low. Hence the present study is undertaken in an attempt to assess immunization status of children between 2 to 5 years of age enrolled in anganwadi centers in a field practice area of Pariyaram Medical College. The aim of the study was to assess the immunization status of anganwadi children in a rural area of north Kerala, India.Methodology: A cross Sectional Study was done among anganwadi Children between ages 2 to 5 years from January 2013 to March 2013 at Cheruthazham. Cluster sampling method was used. Each Anganwadi centre was considered as a single cluster and all children from the selected anganwadi centers were included in the study. Data was analyzed by SPSS Version 17, Microsoft excel 2007. Results: 94% of children were fully immunized with BCG, DPT, OPV and measles. Coverage was highest for BCG, DPT-1 and OPV-1 (100%) and least for measles, 94%. The major cause of incomplete immunization was postponement of immunization due to inter current illness of the child. There is only marginal difference in immunization coverage according to gender, religion or education of parents. Conclusion: Regular health education sessions, and regular reminders and removal of misconceptions prevailing among people will solve the problems of non-immunization.

Torsion theca lutein cyst in association with invasive mole presenting as acute abdomen: a rare case

Gestational trophoblastic neoplasias (GTN) are rare tumours that constitute less than 1% of all gynaecological malignancies. Invasive mole is a distinct subgroup of GTN, which if not diagnosed and treated early, can result in serious complications like uterine perforation and haemoperitoneum. We present a rare case of torsion theca lutein cyst in association with invasive mole of the uterus, which developed following the evacuation of a molar pregnancy with features of continued irregular vaginal bleeding, persistently high βHcg levels along with acute abdomen

The risks for thromboembolism following caesarean section

Background: Maternal mortality can be due to various reasons. Maternal mortality following thromboembolism is a cause for concern. Venous thromboembolism is a very serious condition following caesarean section. Thromboprophylaxis should be given to the mothers with high risk for thromboembolism, who deliver by caesarean section. The objective of this study was to do to assess the risk status for thromboembolism among women delivered by caesarean section.Methods: A hospital based cross- sectional study was conducted among four hundred mothers who delivered by caesarean section. The study was conducted for a period of eight months from January to August 2017. The risks for thromboembolism was assessed and as per the guideline and hospital policy, thromboprophylaxis was given.Results: Out of four hundred patients, medical comorbidities were present for three patients. Patients who were overweight were 122. Two had systemic infection. The number of patients with high, intermediate and low risk of venous thromboembolism were 4,65 and 331.Conclusions: The study suggests that thromboprophylaxis is to be given for all the patients with any risk for thromboembolism, after caesarean section

A study on nutritional status of Anganwadi children in a rural area of North Kerala

Background: Malnutrition being the biggest contributor to child mortality and morbidity is highly prevalent among preschool&nbsp;children in India. The state of Kerala which tops the list in most of the health indicators in India is no exception to wide prevalence&nbsp;of malnutrition in children. Objective: To assess the nutritional status of Anganwadi children aged 2-5 years in a rural area of North&nbsp;Kerala. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was done among Anganwadi children between 2 and 5 years of age from&nbsp;January 2013 to March 2013 at Cheruthazham, Kannur district of Kerala. Cluster sampling method was used for the study. Height&nbsp;and weight of the children were measured using the standard anthropometric equipment, and body mass index was calculated. Data&nbsp;were analyzed by SPSS version 17, Microsoft Excel 2007. Results: In accordance with the WHO criteria, 14.6% of children were&nbsp;underweight; 10.6% stunted and 16.6% were wasted. Underweight, stunting, and wasting were most prevalent in 2-3-year-old&nbsp;children and minimum among 3-4-year-old children. Underweight and wasting were more prevalent among female children than&nbsp;their male counterparts. Stunting was more in male children. Conclusion: Results of the present study showed that the nutritional&nbsp;status of the children in studied population was good comparing with other studies. Nutrition, health education and good access, and&nbsp;utilization of healthcare can be very effective interventions which could result in substantial reduction in undernutrition in children

Prevalence study of tuberculous infection over fifteen years, in a rural population in Chingleput district (south India)

As in the earlier BCG trial against tuberculosis conducted in Chingleput district in south India (in 1969), the entire study population was tuberculin tested (Survey I), a study was undertaken subsequently to see whether in this population there was any change in the tuberculosis situation in terms of prevalence of infection in children. For this purpose, in two of the panchayat unions, in a random sample of panchayats, tuberculin testing was repeated twice at an interval of 10 yr (Survey II) and 15 yr (Survey III) after the initial testing in children aged 1-9 yr. High coverages were obtained for tuberculin testing and reading. Data from 8,703 and 9,709 children at Surveys I and II respectively was used for comparing the prevalence of infection over a period of 10 yr and from 4.808, 4,965 and 4,889 children at Surveys I, II and III respectively for comparing the prevalence of infection over a period of 15 yr. The results showed that although the prevalence of infection varied in the two panchayat unions, within each panchayat union it did not differ significantly at the three surveys. The overall prevalence of infection at the three surveys was 9.0, 10.2 and 9.1 per cent respectively. The average annual risk of tuberculous infection was estimated to be 1.7, 1.9 and 1.7 per cent at the three surveys respectively. Thus, the results clearly showed that, over a period of 15 yr, there was no change in the tuberculosis situation, in terms of prevalence of infection, in the study population

Assessment of seedling traits of rice landraces under different saline conditions

Salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses affecting rice growth and yield worldwide. In rice, the most critical stages which affect salinity at a greater level are germination, vegetative and reproductive stages.It is very important to know the genotypic variation among landraces under saline conditions at the seed germination stage to reduce the harmful effect of salinity. The present study conducted on Petri plate was mainly for assessing germination, relative water content and seedling parameters of eleven rice landraces with check landrace Pokali under three different salt concentrations (75mM, 125mM and 150mM). Two-way ANOVA gave the variations among the genotypes, treatments and their interactions. The present study showed that Mundan, Odiyan, Muttadan, Kallimadiyan and Vellimuthu had less percentage reduction in growth parameters at the germination stage. Odiyan and Mundan showed less percentage reduction in fresh weight (36.09%) and  shoot length (25.61%) respectively, in relative water content  (10.70% and 16.07%, respectively) at higher concentrations of salinity (150mM) compared to control. Pokali, Chembakam and Odiyan showed good germination parameters under three different saline treatments compared to other genotypes. Biplot analysis showed 65.4% variation between the treatments, whereas the variation between the genotypes was around 13.3%. Screening of landraces for salinity tolerance at the seed germination stage is the most reliable method to identify the salt tolerant line at the early seedling stage. The present study can be used for further screening programme at the vegetative stage for the identification of potential salt tolerant lines to improve breeding and gene introgression studies

Tuberculosis prevalence survey in Kashmir valley

A tuberculosis prevalence survey was conducted in about 18,000 persons in Kashmir valley situated about 1650 m above the mean sea level. All persons were tested with 3 IU of PPD-S and 10 units of PPD-B. Persons aged 5 yr and above were X-rayed (70 mm X-ray), and from such persons whose photofluorograms were interpreted as abnormal two specimens of sputum were collected and bacteriologically examined. In addition, a large X-ray of the chest was taken for children aged 0-4 yr who had reactions of 10 mm or more to PPD-S. They were then clinically examined by a paediatrician, taking into account all available data, for evaluation for any evidence of tuberculosis. The results of the survey showed that the prevalence of non-specific sensitivity (59%) in the Kashmir valley is significant. The prevalence of tuberculous infection was 38 per cent. The prevalence of culture positive tuberculous patients (3 per 1000) and that of abacillary X-ray positive patients (14 per 1000) were found to be similar in the two sexes contrary to the usual experience of a higher prevalence among males. Results from studies of phage typing, susceptibility to thiophen-2-carbonic acid hydrazide (TCH) and virulence in the guineapig of strains obtained from patients diagnosed in the survey showed that most of these strains belonged to phage type A, were resistant to TCH and were not of low virulence. Regional variations in the prevalence rates were seen, the- problem of tuberculosis appeared to he more in the Baramulla district as compared to Srinagar and Anantnag districts. A comparison of results obtained from the present survey with those obtained from the BCG trial in Chingleput (Tamil Nadu) revealed that the tuberculosis situation in the two areas was quite different

Prevalence survey of filariasis in two villages in Chingleput district of Tamil Nadu

A baseline survey of filariasis was conducted in two endemic villages in Chingleput district of Tamil Nadu, to obtain the prevalence rate of microfilaraemia and that of clinical filarial disease along with its various clinical patterns. Of the 2921 dejure population registered, in 2735 a comprehensive clinical examination for filariasis was carried out by a physician. In 2658 persons of those clinically examined, night blood samples were collected by finger prick. The results of the survey confirmed that the two village were highly endemic for filariasis, the prevalence rates of clinical disease and microfilaraemia being 20 and 12 per cent respectively. The endemicity rate was 31 per cent. Nocturnally periodic Wuchereria bancrofti was the only species identified. The major manifestations of clinical disease were lymphadenitis in the acute phase, hydrocele and oedema of the lower limbs in the chronic phase and involvement of the lower limbs in the elephantiasis phase. Among males with disease in the chronic phase, genital involvement was more than that of the lower limbs. The distributions of the patients by age in the three phases, although overlapping, suggested that the disease generally progressed with age from acute to chronic to elephantiasis phase. The microfilarial rate among persons with clinical disease was lower as compared to that among persons without disease. An entomological survey of one of the villages showed that Culex quinquefasciatus was the vector with high infection and infectivity rates

A Profile of Bacteriologically Confirmed Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Children

Objective: To describe the clinical profile of children with bacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis. Study Design: A multicentric study was conducted in three hospitals in Chennai city between July 1995 and December 1997. Children aged 6 months to 12 years with signs and symptoms suggestive of tuberculosis were investigated further. Clinical examination, chest radiograph, tuberculin skin test with 1 TU PPD and, sputum or gastric lavage for mycobacterial smear and culture were done for all and, lymph node biopsy when necessary. Results: A total of 2652 children were registered and tuberculosis was bacteriologically confirmed in 201. Predominant symptoms were history of an insidious illness (49%), fever and cough (47%), loss of weight (41%) and a visible glandular swelling (49%). Respiratory signs were few and 62% were undernourished. Over half the patients with confirmed TB had normal chest X-ray. Abnormal X-ray findings included parenchymal opacities in 47% and hilar or mediastinal lymphadenopathy in 26%. The prevalence of isoniazid resistance was 12.6% and MDR TB 4%. Conclusions: Children with tuberculosis present with fever and cough of insidious onset. Lymphadenopathy is a common feature even in children with pulmonary TB. A significant proportion of children have normal chest X-rays despite positive gastric aspirate cultures. Drug resistance rates in children mirror the pattern seen in adults in this geographic area