Effectiveness of buffy coat leucoreduced packed red blood cells in decreasing febrile non-hemolytic transfusion reactions in thalassemic patients

Background: Blood transfusions have always been associated with a number of adverse outcomes which have steadily decreased over years owing to new discoveries and technical advancements. Thalassemic patients are more prone to transfusions related complications owing to repeated transfusions. Study of these reactions and correlating them with the leucodepletion status of the transfused packed red blood cells (PRBCs) reduces transfusion complications due to the transfused leukocytes.Methods: This is a prospective study carried out on 1750 transfusions in 138 thalassemic patients at our institute between August 2015 and March 2016. The total transfusions were classified into four categories depending on the leucodepletion status of the PRBC’s. The clinical records and the reaction workup done to rule out the hemolytic reactions were recorded.Results: Reactions were recorded in 17 (0.97%) out of a total of 1750 transfusions. 14 (4.1%) reactions were recorded on transfusions of non-leukoreduced PRBCs whereas only 2 (0.16%) reactions were recorded in leucoreduced (buffy coat) PRBCs. 1 (0.8%) reaction was recorded on transfusion of leucodepleted PRBCs done by bedside filter. No reaction was documented when buffy coat leucoreduced PRBCs were used along bedside filter.Conclusions: Elimination of WBCs from donor packed cells results in reduction of adverse reactions following blood transfusion. Various methods of leucoreduction have been successfully employed in the past and shown to reduce transfusion reactions in multi transfused thalassemic patients. In resource limited settings, leukoreduction using the buffy-coat method is an effective intervention in reducing the transfusion reactions

DYSTOCIA DUE TO PEROSOMUS HORRIDUS MONSTER IN A SAHIWAL COW - A CASE REPORT

The present case study reports dystocia due to Perosomus horridus monster in a Sahiwal cow and its successful management through per-vaginal delivery

Assessment of burn-out among staff nurses working in a tertiary care health centre in North India

Background: This descriptive, cross sectional study identified the occurrence of burnout and some associated factors among nurses working in various departments at Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India which is a tertiary care health centre in the state.Methods: A total of 257 nurses screened in the hospital out of which 81 completed the study. Eighty-one nurses answered a self-administered questionnaire (sociodemographic aspects, working conditions, and Maslach Burnout Inventory). Mean scores were compared using ANOVA test. Student T-test was applied to compare mean scores between the groups.Results: All the participants were females (100%), with up to five years’ experience. High levels of emotional stress (45.7%) and depersonalization (24.7%) were identified, as well as low professional fulfilment (6.2%), and 8.6% presented burnout. The following factors were associated: high levels of emotional stress and always perform tasks very quickly (p=0.04) and receiving a salary incompatible to the effort employed (p=0.03); high levels of depersonalization and with up to five years’ experience (p=0.02) and often perform tasks very quickly (p=0.008). For 19.0%, at least two of the three dimensions pointed to high propensity to the syndrome.Conclusions: Searching for personal solutions for work problems must draw our attention, since it discourages health and work performance. Professionals may feel more fulfilled and satisfied by adjusting their work expectations. However, on a long-term basis, persisting in stressful work conditions enhances emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and feelings of low fulfilment at work

Prevalence of depression and its associated factors among medical students: a study using beck depression inventory

Background: Medical education carries with it a great burden of stress that can result in depression. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of depression in medical students and various factors contributing to depression in the institute.Methods: A stratified random sample of 280 students was evaluated using Beck Depression Inventory by investigators. Associations between depression and year of study, addiction like alcohol use, family problems, family history of depression and staying away from home were analysed by univariate analysis.Results: The overall prevalence of depression was found to be 30.0%. Among those with depression, a majority (93%) had mild and moderate degree of depression. The study depicted that 41.6% (35) of the depressed were females and 58.3% (49) were males. As per the cut-off scores, 196 students (69.9%) scored as normal (0-9), 60 (21.4%) as mild (10-18), 18 (6.4%) as moderate (19-29), 4 (1.4%) as severe (30-40) and 2 (0.7%) as very severe (>40) depression. The prevalence of depression was comparatively less among 1st and 2nd year medical students (17.1%) and the difference between the grade of depression and year of study was found to be not significant (χ2=148, P=0.13). The prevalence was found more among those with family problems and family history of depression.Conclusions: In our study, depression was quite prevalent among medical students of the region. Our findings stressed the importance of broad screening and psychiatric counselling of this vulnerable population more meticulously

DYSTOCIA DUE TO CEPHALO-THORACO-ABDOMINO-PYGOPAGUS MONSTER IN MURRAH BUFFALO

A case of dystocia due to Cephalo-thoraco-abdomino-pygopagus monstrosity condition in a Murrah buffalo was brought to the clinics and the fetus was removed by caesarean section

DYSTOCIA DUE TO LIPOMATOUS FETUS ACCOMPANYING WITH MUSCULAR PSEUDOHYPERTROPHY AND DROPSY OF FETAL MEMBRANES IN A BUFFALO

The present case report deals with the per-vaginal delivery of a lipomatous fetus associated with pseudohypertrophy (steatosis) of shoulder and dropsy of fetal membranes in a river buffalo

DELIVERY OF MACERATED AND REABSORBED FETUS THROUGH FLANK APPROACH - A CASE REPORT

The current case report gives the brief information about fetal maceration in a non-descript six years aged cow and its successful management through lateral oblique (flank) approach of laparo-hysterotomy. The animal had a history of eleven-month gestation without any sign of parturition. Initially, the animal was suspected for mummification since there was no genital discharge and completely closed cervix. Upon transrectal ultrasonography the case was confirmed with fetal maceration. Lateral oblique laparo-hysterotomy was decided to perform for delivery of macerated and reabsorbed fetus. Animal recovered uneventfully after proper post-operative care and management

MUCOMETRA ASSOCIATED WITH CYSTIC OVARIAN DISEASE AND UTERINE UNICORNIS IN SAHIWAL COW

Present study reports successful management of a case of mucometra associated with cystic ovarian follicles and uterine unicornis in a Sahiwal cow

Effect of Smartphone Use on Sleep in Undergraduate Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Smartphone use, particularly at night, has been shown to provoke various circadian sleep–wake rhythm disorders such as insomnia and excessive daytime tiredness. This relationship has been mainly scrutinized among patient groups with higher rates of smartphone usage, particularly adolescents and children. However, it remains obscure how smartphone usage impacts sleep parameters in adults, especially undergraduate college students. This study sought to (1) investigate the association between smartphone use (actual screen time) and four sleep parameters: Pittsburgh sleep quality score (PSQI), self-reported screen time, bedtime, and rise time; (2) compare the seven PSQI components between good and poor sleep quality subjects. In total, 264 undergraduate medical students (aged 17 to 25 years) were recruited from the Government Doon Medical College, Dehradun, India. All participants completed a sleep questionnaire, which was electronically shared via a WhatsApp invitation link. Hierarchical and multinomial regression analyses were performed in relation to (1) and (2). The average PSQI score was 5.03 ± 0.86, with approximately one in two respondents (48.3%) having a poor sleep index. Smartphone use significantly predicted respondents’ PSQI score (β = 0.142, p = 0.040, R2 = 0.027), perceived screen time (β = 0.113, p = 0.043, R2 = 343), bedtime (β = 0.106, p = 0.042, R2 = 045), and rise time (β = 0.174, p = 0.015, R2 = 0.028). When comparing poor-quality sleep (PSQI ≥ 5) to good-quality sleep (PSQI 0.05), five PSQI components declined significantly: subjective sleep quality (β = −0.096, p < 0.001); sleep latency (β = −0.034, p < 0.001); sleep duration (β = −0.038, p < 0.001); sleep disturbances (β = 1.234, p < 0.001); and sleep dysfunction (β = −0.077, p < 0.001). Consequently, public health policymakers should take this evidence into account when developing guidelines around smartphone use—i.e., the when, where, and how much smartphone use—to promote improved sleep behaviour and reduce the rate of sleep–wake rhythm disorders