Prevalence of HIV Infection among Blood Donors in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Haryana: A Retrospective Study

Introduction: Blood is a scarce, but life saving resource. At the same time, unsafe transfusion practice also puts millions of people at risk of Transfusion Transmissible Infections (TTIs). Aim: To determine the prevalence and trend of blood borne infection namely Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) among blood donors donating blood in a tertiary care hospital of Haryana, India. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted from September 2012 to August 2014 to calculate the prevalence and trend of HIV positivity among blood donors over a period of five years (2008-2012). Results were expressed in terms of frequency and percentage. Results: There were a total of 1,59,077 donations, including both voluntary and replacement donors. The overall prevalence of HIV infection among blood donors was found to be 0.26% over a period of five years (2008-2012). The HIV prevalence among blood donors showed an increased trend from 2008 (0.18%) to 2011 (0.34%), and then there was a dip in the year 2012 (0.23%). Conclusion: The number of female blood donors were less in comparison to male blood donor. The maximum number of donors were voluntary males followed by replacement males.

Prevalence and risk factors for neurocysticercosis in children with a first-onset seizure in rural North India

BACKGROUND

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a parasitic infection acquired by consuming food and water contaminated by the faeces of a Taenia solium tapeworm carrier. It is an important cause of acquired seizures and also the common identifiable cause of new-onset seizures in children.

METHODS

A hospital-based prospective cross-sectional study of NCC was undertaken in a medical college in north-west India. All patients aged 1-15 years admitted to the paediatric emergency room with a first-onset seizure were selected.NCC was diagnosed and staged on the basis of MRI findings. A structured, pretested schedule was administered to each patient's parent for analysis of risk factors for NCC.

RESULTS

Of 79 patients with first-onset seizure, 43 (54.4% were diagnosed with NCC based on MRI findings. The association of NCC with age and pig-rearing near the patients' homes was statistically significant (p = 0.01 and 0.02, respectively). The association between NCC and other risk factors such as gender, religion, father's occupation, parents' literacy, source and storage of drinking water, the washing and peeling of fruit and vegetables and distance of refuse disposal from residential areas was not statistically significant. Although open defaecation is an important risk factor for transmission of NCC, there was no significant association with NCC.

CONCLUSION

In India, NCC is a common cause of first-onset seizure. The major risk factors are poor environmental sanitation and poor food and drinking water hygiene. NCC can be controlled and prevented by generating awareness of hygienic consumption of food and water and the provision of good sanitation.

Effect of Different Surface Treatments on Biaxial Flexural Strength of Yttria-stabilized Tetragonal Zirconia Polycrystal

INTRODUCTION

Ceramics are widely applied in dentistry owing to their excellent mechanical and physical attributes. The most popular ceramics are Lava™, KaVo Everest, and Cercon. However, it is unclear whether or not a different surface treatment along with low-temperature aging and mechanical loading (ML) affects the physical properties of computer-aided design (CAD)/computer-aided manufacturing (CAM)-machined yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP) ceramic.

AIM

The objective of this research was to assess the impact of various surface treatments as air-particle abrasion, ML, low-temperature degradation (LTD), and their cumulative effects on biaxial flexural properties of Y-TZP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Totally, 50 specimens were fabricated by CAD-CAM machining from Cercon® and divided into five groups following different surface treatments as control (C), air-particle abrasion (Si), ML, LTD, and cumulative treatment (CT) group. Results were investigated by two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey honest significant difference (HSD) test.

RESULTS

The highest biaxial flexural strength was observed in the Si group (950.2 ± 126.7 MPa), followed by the LTD group (861.3 ± 166.8 MPa), CT group (851.2 ± 126.5 MPa), and the least with ML (820 ± 110 MPa). A significant difference was observed in the two-way ANOVA test. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that the control group consists of 100% tetragonal zirconia and the maximum amount of monoclinic phase was obtained after LTD.

CONCLUSION

No negative effect on biaxial flexural strength was observed; indeed, it increases the biaxial strength. Hence, these surface treatments can be done in routine clinical practice to improve the performance of ceramic restoration.

Hepatitis C, a silent threat to the community of Haryana, India: a community-based study

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis C is a global public health problem. As many as 12 million people may be chronically infected in India and most are unaware of it.

AIMS

To determine the incidence of hepatitis C in the Ratia block of the Fatehabad district, Haryana, India.

METHOD

This cross-sectional study was carried out by house-tohouse visits over 2 weeks. After obtaining written consent, a blood sample was drawn from suspected cases by a laboratory technician maintaining all necessary safety precautions and sterilization.

RESULTS

Of the samples, 1,630 (22.3 per cent) were found to be positive for hepatitis C by ELISA, 253 (15.5 per cent) patients were previously hepatitis C positive, and adults (21-60 years) were affected maximally (70.0 per cent).

CONCLUSION

The study emphasises the need for public awareness campaigns at various levels and prevention of HCV infection. It also suggests the need to develop and strengthen evaluation methodology for the Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP).

Participatory health communication and action through women groups in rural areas

Twelve women groups in 10 villages of block Beri were identified and activized through participatory health communication actions for mother and child development. Women could undertaken responsibilities on key health problems concerning mothers and children. In these villages over 58% of antenatal mothers now used home made clean packets for delivery and chose right place for delivery. Most of them (60%) now initiate breast feeding immediately after delivery as against 23% in the year 1988. Over 54% of women now drink chlorinated water and almost same proportion used sugar salt solution in diarrheal diseases. Thus women have become self reliant in chlorination of wells and pots as also in diarrheal diseases management. Practice of hand washing has been almost universalized.

Craniofacial growth in clefting from one month to ten years as studied by P-A headfilms

Craniofacial growth of 64 children with a unilateral cleft of lip and palate, 32 children with a bilateral cleft of lip and palate, and 78 children with a cleft of palate only were studied at the ages of one month, three months, six months, one year, 18 months, two years, and annually till the age of 10 years. Nine width and 12 height measurements are obtained from the tracings of p-a X-ray headfilms and analysed. It was found that the cleft type differences were mainly restricted to the base line width, interorbital width, optic foramen width, basal maxillary width, interorbital height, optic foramen height, and gonial height. For all these measurements except basal maxillary width, the means are in the order BCLP greater than UCLP greater than CPO. For basal maxillary breadth it was UCLP greater than BCLP greater than CPO. Sex differences are restricted to base line width, basal maxillary width, bizygomatic width, interorbital height, and optic foramen height. For these width measurements, males have larger means than females. For the height measurements, females have larger means than males.

Cleft type and sex differences in craniofacial growth in clefting from one month to ten years

Craniofacial growth of 145 children born with a cleft was studied by analyzing the sex and cleft-type differences for 11 linear dimensions and three angular relationships as observed on lateral x-ray headfilms. The sample consisted of 58 children with complete unilateral cleft of lip and palate (UCLP), 29 children with complete bilateral cleft of lip and palate (BCLP), and 58 children with cleft of palate only (CPO). None of these children had any syndrome at the time of birth. The growth was studied for the first postnatal decade. The data were analyzed by stepwise discriminant analysis and univariate analysis of variance. The results show that differences in cranial base size are associated with sex and not with cleft type. Differences in cranial base angle are associated with cleft-type but in case of females only. Face heights do not differ across cleft types but they do differ across sexes when CPO is involved. Cleft type differences are observed for midfacial depths and basifacial angle but sex differences are observed only when CPO is involved. The mandibular dimensions do not differ with cleft type. Gonial angle shows sex differences for BCLP only. The body length also varies with sex when CPO is involved.

Possible sex-discriminant variables in craniofacial growth in clefting

In this investigation, 174 patients with orofacial clefts were examined for identification of possible sex differences in craniodentofacial measurements. The patients were selected from the longitudinal growth files of the H. K. Cooper Clinic. Records available for analysis were serial lateral cephalometric radiographs from the age of 1 month to 10 years. Patients were grouped by cleft type and sex within each cleft group (78 cleft palate only, 64 unilateral cleft of lip and palate, 32 bilateral cleft of lip and palate). Stepwise discriminant analysis of fourteen linear and angular craniofacial dimensions was used to identify those variables which contributed to sex differences within each cleft group over the growth/time intervals examined. Results suggested the possibility of sex-related differences in growth timing, that is, earlier maturation and growth in females in several craniofacial areas which did not appear to be related to the presence, absence, or type of cleft but which could possibly modify cleft-specific responses to treatment (cranial base dimensions, face heights). Other sex-related differences appeared to be more specifically related to known sex differences in original cleft type and severity (mandibular size and position, midfacial dimensions). The manner in which these various sex factors interface with environmental and therapeutic influences in producing the ultimate craniodentofacial morphology in a given sex and cleft type is discussed.

Craniofacial growth in different cleft types from one month to ten years

This study is based on serial cephalometric radiographs from one month to ten years of 64 children with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP), 32 children with bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP), and 78 children with cleft palate only (CPO). Eleven dimensions and three angles were measured in the cranial base, the midface, and the mandible. The 10-year period was divided into infancy (birth to one year), early childhood (one to six years), and mid childhood (six to ten years). Growth differences for each measurement at each age for the three cleft pairs (UCLP/BCLP, UCLP/CPO, and BCLP/CPO) were evaluated by analysis of variance. Cranial base was not affected by cleft-type in males, although sellar angle was found to be significantly larger in BCLP females. Upper face heights in BCLP were different from UCLP and CPO in both sexes. Midfacial depths Ptm'-ANS, Ptm'-A, and anterior segment of palatal length KR-ANS were different for each cleft type. The same was true for the basifacial angle S-N-A. The mandible was relatively unaffected by cleft-types.

Sex differences in craniofacial growth from one month to ten years of cleft lip and palate

This study is based on serial lateral X-ray headfilms from one month to ten years for 64 children with unilateral cleft of lip and palate (UCLP), 32 children with bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP), and 78 children with cleft palate only (CPO). Measurements for eleven dimensions and three angles were obtained. These included measurements for the cranial base, facial heights, midfacial depths, and the mandible. The 10-year period was divided into infancy, i.e., birth to one year; early childhood, i.e., one to six years; and mid childhood, i.e., six to ten years. All measurements were evaluated on the basis of growth time and growth velocity. The shape of the cranial base as seen in the sellar angle was influenced by clefting whereas the size, i.e., the clival length and the anterior cranial base length were affected by sex. No sex differences were observed for the angle S-N-A. Face heights, midfacial depths, and mandibular body length were all found to be larger for males.

Fundus changes in incontinentia pigmenti (Bloch-Sulzberger syndrome): a case report

A case of incontinentia pigmenti is reported with fundus changes in 1 eye. She had microaneurysms temporal to the macula, with an abnormal branch of inferior temporal vein. There was extensive retinitis proliferans in the upper temporal equatorial region, which showed leakage on fluorescein angiography.