Seroprevalence of HIV in pregnant women in tertiary care hospital Kota, India

Background: As HIV infection in women occur primarily during reproductive years hence incidence of HIV infection specially in sexually active women is most sensitive marker to track course of HIV epidemics. It is easy to measure prevalence in pregnant women. This study was done to determine the seroprevalence of HIV in pregnant women in Medical College, Kota, India.Methods: The study was conducted over the year January2016 to April 2017 and included women either attending ANC or unbooked and referred cases came for delivery.Results: Only 5 out of 15250 ANC were found positive while total 13 cases were positive including unbooked and referred cases. Majority of women53.84% were in age group24-29 years and 61.54% were primigravida and 38.46% were multigravida. Seroprevalence of HIV infection was only 0.00055% in my study during 16months period.Conclusions: Appropriate antenatal screening, interventions during pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding will bring down the mother to child transmission of HIV

Telenursing - A Potential Resource in the eHealth Agenda of India

In spite of wide-ranging successes that have improved population health, the call of ‘health for all’ across the globe remains significant. In India, making provision for basic healthcare to all people is a difficult task because of its large and diverse geographical terrain, and huge ethnically and culturally diverse population. Telenursing could provide better access to healthcare in communities and ensure a more effective, comprehensive and acceptable relationship of trust within communities. The focus of this paper is on availability and utilization of healthcare service types and health human resources, and factors influencing healthcare seeking behaviour in marginalized communities, and to use these findings to discuss the potential of integrating telenursing into  planning as a stimulus for inter-professional and system-wide change. Methods: The availability and utilization of healthcare services through available health systems were explored in urban, rural, slum, and rehabilitated communities through a cross-sectional survey in the Union Territory of Chandigarh, India. Primary data were collected through structured interviews, observation, checklists, and periodic visits, including reasons for preference of a particular care system by consumers and factors affecting their health seeking behaviour. Results and Conclusions: All health systems studied had a limited scope of services. This lack of a suitable range of health services led consumers to seek traditional (unscientific) care for meeting their health needs. Telenursing could stem this trend by improving clinical outcomes for chronic diseases, and thereby safeguard the interests of consumers, reduce costs associated with long-term care or delayed institutionalization, and help prevent the global threat of non-treatable hospital acquired infections

Studies on biochemical constituents of sapota (Manilkara zapota L.) at different stages of ripening during storage

Sapota fruits (Var. Cricket Ball) of three different ripening stages i.e. mature(? 13 kg/cm2), half ripe (6-7 kg/cm2), and full ripe (2-3 kg/cm2), were packed with newspaper soaked with 3 dosages (1000 ppm, 2000 ppm and 3000 ppm) of ethylene absorbent (KMnO4) along with control and stored at normal room temperature by packing in cardboard boxes. It was observed that specific gravity, ascorbic acid and total phenols decreased whereas cumulative loss in weight and malondialdehyde content increased with increasing period of storage. Fruits packed in different concentrations of KMnO4 soaked paper had less cumulative loss and retained more content of specific gravity, ascorbic acid and total phenols in all three stages. But less malondialdehyde content was observed. The effect of KMnO4 increased with increasing concentrations of KMnO4 in all three stages. As a result, more desirable content was noted in fruits packed with 3000 ppm concentration of KMnO4in mature fruits. This work relates to enhancement of shelf life of sapote so that it may be transported to far off places

A New Monte-Carlo Radiative Transfer Simulation of Cyclotron Resonant Scattering Features

We present a new Monte-Carlo radiative transfer code, which we have used to model the cyclotron line features in the environment of a variable magnetic field and plasma density. The code accepts an input continuum and performs only the line transfer by including the three cyclotron resonant processes (cyclotron absorption, cyclotron emission, cyclotron scattering). Subsequently, the effects of gravitational red-shift and light bending on the emergent spectra are computed. We have applied our code to predict the observable spectra from three different emission geometries; 1) an optically thin slab near the stellar surface, 2) an accretion mound formed by the accumulation of the accreted matter, 3) an accretion column representing the zone of a settling flow onto the star. Our results show that the locally emergent spectra from the emission volume are significantly anisotropic. However, in the presence of strong light bending the anisotropy reduces considerably. This averaging also drastically reduces the strength of harmonics higher than second in the observable cyclotron spectra. We find that uniform field slabs produce line features that are too narrow, and mounds with large magnetic distortions produce features that are too wide compared to the average widths of the spectral features observed from various sources. The column with a gently varying (dipole) field produces widths in the intermediate range, similar to those observed.Comment: 15 pages, 15 figures, Accepted for publication in MNRA

Effectiveness of a module to promote competency in adverse drug reaction reporting in undergraduate medical students

Background: Adverse drug reaction (ADR) under-reporting is a hindrance to the implementation of Pharmacovigilance Program of India. This is essentially due to lack of ADR reporting culture among healthcare professionals. Thus, study was conducted to assess and enhance awareness about ADRs and strengthen reporting among medical undergraduates.Methods: This is an interventional crossover study. A total of 140 students of 2nd professional, MBBS were included and divided into two groups of 70 each. In phase 1, group A was given a didactic lecture (DL) on ADR and pharmacovigilance. Group B was also given DL with an addition of a case narrative exercise and they were asked to fill an ADR form. Both groups were assessed based on an MCQ questionnaire for knowledge and skill. After 15 days of washout period, groups were crossed and reassessed. Feedback from students was taken on a 5 point Likert’s scale.Results: The mean scores of batch A without case was 17.5±3 out of a total score of 25 marks, which showed improvement with case narrative and mean increased to 19.6± 2.4 (p 0.05). Similarly, Batch B showed improvement as well and the mean 17.7±3.1 score without case narrative increased to 19.2±2.7 (p <0.05). Student’s perception of the effectiveness of module-based teaching was positive.Conclusions: Case narrative in addition to didactic lecture enhanced awareness and may strengthen ADR reporting culture among the medical students

Control of Sexually Transmitted Infections, Reproductive Tract Infections, and HIV/AIDS in India: Current Status and the Way Forward

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and reproductive tract infections (RTIs) form an important public health problem with a huge burden of disease and an adverse impact on reproductive health of people worldwide. Caused by a variety of infectious agents and manifesting as different clinical syndromes, STIs/RTIs remain highly prevalent in India too, reportedly up to 6% in general population (and maybe higher in reality due to secrecy maintained by many people around such diseases) and much more in certain vulnerable population groups. The situation has worsened further with the epidemic of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and resultant acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Similarities of unique host risk behaviors and socio-demographic factors associated with STIs, RTIs and HIV/AIDS call for an integrated approach for their control with multipronged intervention strategies. The National AIDS Control Programme, the National RTI/STI Control Programme, the National Strategy for Elimination of Parent-to-Child Transmission of Syphilis, the National Blood Policy, and other related health programs and policies have set out clear objectives and guiding principles for phased programmatic interventions, with focus on checking the spread of these infections through health education, behavior change, targeted interventions, early diagnosis, and prompt treatment. Freely available and easily accessible services for comprehensive care, support, and treatment of patients with these infections will help reduce the disease burden and improve their reproductive health as well as overall well-being. Increased decentralization of public health services; strengthening institutional capacities; setting up of designated STI/RTI clinics, antiretroviral treatment (ART) clinics and integrated counseling and testing centers; availability of rapid test kits, color-coded drug kits for syndromic treatment and ART treatment; promotion of condoms; integrated counseling and testing; partner notification; involvement of non-governmental organizations; community mobilization; universal precautions and augmentation of voluntary blood donation; robust surveillance; evidence-based planning, and effective program implementation are major components for control of these infections. The present systematic review discusses the current situation, the key programmatic measures, and the way forward for control of STIs/RTIs and HIV/AIDS in India

Assessment of levetiracetam and valproic acid as monotherapy for quality of life in partial epilepsy patients

Background: Quality of life (QOL) is important in patients of epilepsy as it is affected both by disease as well as therapy. QOL is the most overlooked component of antiepileptic treatment.Methods: An observational analytical study was conducted in the Department of Pharmacology in collaboration with Department of Neurology of Himalayan Institute of Medical Science, Dehradun over 12 months. 80 patients satisfying inclusion criteria were enrolled and divided into two groups based on physician discretion and followed up for 12 weeks. Patients were evaluated at 0 and 12 weeks for quality of life using QOLIE-10 self-administered questionnaire, they were also assessed for seizure control and drug related adverse effects.Results: 60 patients were enrolled and divided into two treatment groups as per physician discretion, levetiracetam (30) and valproic acid (30) groups. Study groups showed significant improvement in QOL (mean change in QOL17.95±2.527 for LEV and 11.56±3.540 for VPA). Levetiracetam (LEV) group showed significant improvement over valproic acid (VPA) group (p=0.05) at 12 weeks. Patients who achieved total seizure control at 6 weeks were 93.33% patients in levetiracetam and 90% in valproic acid group, reason being non adherence which was 6.67% and 10% respectively. Adverse event recorded with levetiracetam (03), most common being drowsiness and with valproic acid (08), with most common being anorexia.Conclusions: Levetiracetam therapy has led to better quality of life and has the same seizure control as valproic acid, and has shown to have lower incidence of adverse effect