Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its relationship with thyroid autoimmunity in Asian Indians: a community-based survey

25-Hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) deficiency is linked with predisposition to autoimmune type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis. Our objective was to assess the relationship between serum 25(OH)D levels and thyroid autoimmunity. Subjects included students, teachers and staff aged 16-60 years (total 642, 244 males, 398 females). Serum free thyroxine, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and thyroid peroxidase autoantibodies (TPOAb), intact parathyroid hormone and 25(OH)D were measured by electrochemiluminescence and RIA, respectively. Thyroid dysfunction was defined if (1) serum TSH ≥ 5 μ U/ml and TPOAb>34 IU/ml or (2) TSH ≥ 10 μ U/ml but normal TPOAb. The mean serum 25(OH)D of the study subjects was 17.5 (SD 10.2) nmol/l with 87 % having values ≤ 25 nmol/l. TPOAb positivity was observed in 21 % of subjects. The relationship between 25(OH)D and TPOAb was assessed with and without controlling for age and showed significant inverse correlation (r - 0.08, P = 0.04) when adjusted for age. The prevalence of TPOAb and thyroid dysfunction were comparable between subjects stratified according to serum 25(OH)D into two groups either at cut-off of ≤ 25 or >25 nmol/l or first and second tertiles. Serum 25(OH)D values show only weak inverse correlation with TPOAb titres. The presence of such weak association and narrow range of serum 25(OH)D did not allow us to interpret the present results in terms of quantitative cut-off values of serum 25(OH)D. Further studies in vitamin D-sufficient populations with wider range of serum 25(OH)D levels are required to substantiate the findings of the current study

Energy Expenditure and Nutritional Status of Sailors During One Month of Extensive Physical Training

The present study was conducted to determine nutritional requirements during extensive physical training by sailors of Indian Navy. A total of 37 sailors who were undergoing physical trainers course at training establishment of Indian Navy participated in this study. Energy expenditure, energy intakes, nutrient status and body composition changes during one month of training were recorded. Mean energy expenditure was found to be 4035 ±733 kcal/day and an average intake of 4478 ±340 kcal/day with sufficient amount of micro and macronutrients. The level of vitamin and minerals in blood and their excretion were in the normal range. Body composition was also maintained with a marginal decrease in body fat content. Increase in grip strength of passive hand was observed (Basal: 41.5 ± 8.8 kg, after 1 month of training:  46.5 ± 6.1 kg). Results indicate adequate nutritional support from the diet and positive effects of the training on healt

Virulence factors and antifungal susceptibility profile of non albicans Candida species isolated from blood stream infections

Background: The spectrum of fungal infections, once only considered to be restricted only to cutaneous and mucocutaneous tissue has been changed. Invasive mycosis have emerged as an increase threat to mankind. Despite of the advent in both therapeutic and diagnostic modalities, invasive mycosis is associated with high mortality. Candida spp., is often the most important cause of blood stream infection. Although C. albicans is considered as the most pathogenic species from the genus, recent studies have documented the emergence of unusual, relatively uncommon and treatment resistant non albicans Candida (NAC) spp. Material and methods:NAC spp. isolated from blood cultures were included in the study. Candidaisolates were identified up to species level by standard mycological protocol. NAC spp. were screened for production of virulence factor like extracellular hydrolytic enzymes, haemolysin and biofilm formation. The antifungal susceptibility profile of these isolates was studied by Ezy MIC Strip.Results:The rates of isolation of bacterial and fungal pathogens from blood cultures were 78.4% and 21.6% respectively. Candida spp. was the only fungal pathogen isolated from blood cultures. The isolation of NAC spp. was highly significantly compared to C. albicans. C. tropicalis followed by C. glabrata and C. krusei were most common isolates from NAC spp. ICU admission and fluconazole prophylaxis/treatment were significantly associated with BSI due to NAC spp.Fluconazole resistance was observed in 40.7% of NAC spp. All isolates of C. krusei were resistant to fluconazole. No isolates were resistant to voriconazole and echinocandins. Conclusion: Hitherto rare and new fungal species and fungi once considered to be non-pathogenic are increasingly implicated in human infections.NAC spp. have emerged as an important cause of infections including candidemia. These NAC spp., produce virulence factors once attributed to C. albicans. As NAC spp. differ widely in susceptibility to routine used antifungal agents, antifungal susceptibility testing plays an important role in evaluating therapy for Candida infections

Studies on the uptake of cesium by gel [KMg₃(Si₃AIO₁₀)F₂] ordinary portland cement admixtures

922-924Sorption capacity of admixtures of hydrothermal gel close to [KMg3(Si3AIO10)F2] and ordinary portland cement (OPC) for Cs has been investigated at room temperature. The gel containing admixtures exhibit selective Cs uptake while OPC alone adsorbs negligible amount of radioactive Cs. Selectivity of the gel-OPC admixtures for Cs has been examined in presence of 500 times concentrated solution of competing cations: Na +, K+, Mg2+ ,Ba2 + ,Ca2+. The data suggests that the gel-OPC admixtures exhibit good Cs retention capacity. Large cations like K+ and Ba2+ are found to be more competing than Na+ and Mg2+ which have comparatively smaller ionic radii

Prevalence of invasive Trichosporonosis by Trichosporon asahii and other Trichosporon species and their antifungal susceptibility pattern in Chhattisgarh

Introduction: Trichosporonosis is usually known to cause superficial mycoses, but now it is emerged as an opportunistic infectious disease. Trichosporon species is fairly uncommon fungus but can cause fatal mycosis in immunocompromised patients. Objective: This study is an attempt to know prevalence of invasive trichosporonosis and its antifungal susceptibility. Materials and Methods: All patients with a culture that was positive for Trichosporon species from February 2012 to February 2015 were included. Routine mycology works up done and suspected Trichosporon sp. were confirmed by automated miniAPI system. Antifungal susceptibility test was done for Fluconazole (F), Itraconazole(Itr), Voriconazole(V), Flucytosine(5Fc), AmphotericinB (AMB) done by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method by ATB Fungus3 ( Biomerieux, France). Result: 41 Trichosporon sp. was isolated from clinical specimen. Trichosporon asahii was the most common isolate (29 out of 41, 70.7%), followed by T. mucoides (5 of 41, 12.2%), T. inkin (2 of 41, 4.9%) and other Trichosporon sp. (5 out of 41,12.2%). Out of 41, 20 cases were proven to cause invasive trichosporonosis. Most invasive infections were associated with indwelling catheter (95%), associated bacterial infection(85%), ICU stay (85% each), prior antibiotic use (75%), cancer (65%), neutropenia, steroid use (55% each) and chemotherapy(50%). Amphotericin B was less susceptible against Trichosporon isolates whereas azole had good in vitro activity. Sensitivity of T.asahii towards Fluconazole, Itraconazole, Voriconazole, Amphotericin B and Flucytosine was 72.4%, 51.7%, 86.2%, 51.7% and 66.8% respectively. Conclusion: T. asahii and other unusual Trichosporon sp.species also cause invasive trichosporonosis. For optimal therapy for trichosporonosis azoles can play a potential role

Study of effects of total and visceral fat on cardiovascular sympathetic functions

Background : Obesity is characterized by an excessive deposition and storage of fat in the body, which alters the cardiovascular autonomic functions. Autonomic nervous system through its Sympathetic and Parasympathetic division regulates and modulates most of the visceral functions of the body. Methods :This was a cross sectional study with the primary data that includes 200 healthy volunteer male subjects between 20 to 35 years of age, in and around Shivpuri. For all the subjects anthropometric data was collected by Karada scan and cardiovascular sympathetic functions were assessed by sphygmomanometry and electrocardiogram. Observation and results: Descriptive statistics was done by using SPSS software version 16 for windows with descriptive analysis done by ANOVA analysis test which suggested increase in sympathetic and decrease in parasympathetic activity as visceral fat% increases. Conclusion: Study concludes that with increase in visceral fat% cardiovascular morbidity and mortality increases as compared to increase in total body fat %

Biofilm production by uropathogens causing catheter associated urinary tract infection

Background: The microbial populations within urinary catheter frequently develop as biofilms, directly attaching to the surface of catheters. Bacteria in biofilm are protected from antimicrobial chemotherapy as well as host defence mechanisms, establishing chronic persistent infections, septicemia and death if not treated. Material and Method: The present study, includes 200 patients, catheterized for >48 hours at CIMS, Bilaspur. Urine samples were collected and inoculated in nutrient agar, blood agar and MacConkey agar plates and identification done as per standard procedure. This study was conducted to detect biofilm formation ability of uropathogens by two different methods (Tube and Congo red agar method) and compare their antibiotic sensitivity by using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Results: Out of 200 urine samples significant bacteriuria were detected in 148(74%) of samples and no growth found in 52(26%) samples and 14 samples showed growth of 2 microorganisms. A total no. of 162 microorganisms were isolated from 200 urine samples. Among these 162 isolates E. Coli was 29.62%, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 11.72%, Klebsiella sp 18.51%, Citrobactor sp 7.40%, Staphylococcus aureus 3.08%, and Coagulase negative Staphylococci 11%. Among these 162 isolates, a total of 91(56.17%) isolates showed biofilm production. Percentage of biofilm formation was highest in P. aeruginosa (63.15%). Conclusion: Tube test method was found to be more reliable method. The in vitro antibiotic susceptibility pattern of biofilm producing organisms showed less sensitivity as compared to non-biofilm producing organisms

Retrospective Audit of a Pediatric Nephrology Clinic at a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital

Backgroundand Aim: To provide basic renal data in the pediatric age group in a poorly resourced hilly state of India, which might be used by researchers and health planners. Methods: The case records of children presenting to pediatric nephrology clinic from April 2016 to March 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. Registered cases were broadly categorized into various groups and subgroups based upon clinical presentation and investigation findings. Results: Two hundred and five children presented to the pediatric nephrology clinic with renal diseases over a period of one year. Registered children presenting to pediatric nephrology clinic were broadly categorized into 10 groups. Nephrotic syndrome (NS) was the most common renal disease accounting for 45.6% of registered cases followed by congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) comprising 26.8% of the cases. Edema was the most common presenting symptom and proteinuria was the most common uri nary finding. Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis was the most common histopathological finding reported on renal histopathology and peritoneal dialysis was found to be the most frequently used modality for renal replacement therapy. Conclusion: Our data reflects geographical variations of the patterns of renal diseases in a resource poor hilly state of northern India. Improvement in pediatric renal services and targeted training of health care workers would help in early diagnosis and treatment of children with renal diseases resulting in reduction in their morbidity and mortality