Awareness and utilisation of MCH and FP services by a rural community in Maharashtra

62% of India's population is comprised of mothers and children, for whom many health agencies provide maternal and child (MCH), and family planning (FP) services. 249 adult members from three villages of Primary Health Center, Telegaon, in Wardha district, were interviewed to assess the awareness and use of these services. Each village had government and private health agencies providing MCH and FP services. Adequate knowledge of MCH and FP services, however, is one of the prerequisites for using services; 85-89.5% knew of promotive services. The awareness of nutritional programs, school health services, and health education, however, were lower in the range 7.9-36.3%. Similar findings have been reported in previous studies. The knowledge of MCH services was significantly different between educated and uneducated respondents. As for service use, antenatal care service and immunization coverages were 80-86% and 56.96%, respectively. Earlier studies found coverages of only 9.6-50% for antenatal care services and 45-69% for immunizations. FP practice was high in all three villages due to the priority given to those services by the government. This study demonstrates the ability of education facilities and services availability to increase the knowledge and practice of MCH and FP services in the interest of realizing targets established by the World Health Organization by the year 2000.     

Differentiation of ischemic from non-ischemic central retinal vein occlusion during the early acute phase

We investigated prospectively in 128 patients (140 eyes) the role of six routine clinical tests in the differentiation of ischemic central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) from non-ischemic CRVO during its early acute phase. There were fourfunctional tests [visual acuity, visual fields, relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPID), electroretinography (ERG)] and twomorphologic tests (ophthalmoscopy and fluorescein fundus angiography). We found that none of the six tests had 100% sensitivity and specificity in such a differentiation during the early, acute phase, so that no one test can be considered a gold standard; however, combined information from all six is almost always reliable. Overall, the four functional tests proved far superior to the two morphologic tests in differentiating ischemic from non-ischemic CRVO: RAPID was most reliable in uniocular CRVO (with a normal fellow eye), followed closely by ERG in all cases; combined information from RAPID and ERG differentiated 97% of cases; perimetry was the next most reliable, followed by visual acuity. The two morphologic tests performed worst; fluorescein angiography provided either no information at all on retinal capillary nonperfusion (in at least one-third of the eyes during the early, acute phase) because of multiple limitations, or sometimes provided misleading information. Ophthalmoscopic appearance is the least reliable, most misleading parameter.A preliminary summary of this was presented at the Macula Society Meeting, Cannes, France (June, 1987) and at the XVIth Meeting of the Club Jules Gonin, Bruges, Belgium, 4–8 September 1988. This investigation was supported by grant EY-1151 from the National Institutes of Health and, in part, by unrestricted grants from Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc., and from Alcon Research Institute     

Elevated serum PAR-1 levels as an emerging biomarker of inflammation to predict the dengue infection severity

The present study was designed to check the serum levels of protease-activated receptor (PAR-1) in patients during different phases of dengue severity. Moreover, a correlation between serum PAR-1 levels and hematological parameters, inflammatory cytokine levels, and liver functional changes was also determined. Based on the World Health Organization criteria, the study population was divided into: nonsevere dengue fever (DF; n = 30), severe dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF; n = 19), and severe dengue shock syndrome (DSS; n = 11). The platelet count (PLT) and hematocrit (HCT) were analyzed using an automated hematology analyzer and liver function enzymes aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and alkaline phosphate (ALP), bilirubin were checked by auto-analyzer using diagnostic kits. Moreover, the levels of inflammatory mediators C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-17 (IL-17), and PAR-1 were determined using respective ELISA kits. The HCT levels were elevated and platelet count decreased significantly during dengue complications (DHF and DSS) compared to the DF patients, while the levels of liver functional biomarkers AST, ALT, ALP, and bilirubin remained elevated in DHF and DSS groups than in the corresponding DF group. Similarly, the inflammatory cytokine levels of CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-17 in DHF and DSS subjects were markedly increased when observed against DF subjects. Notably, the PAR-1 levels were significantly elevated in DHF and DSS groups than in the DF group and positively correlated with changes in HCT levels, inflammatory biomarkers, and liver enzymes. Our findings conclude that PAR-1 levels persistently increased with the severity of the dengue infection and are strongly associated with various clinical manifestations. Thus, PAR-1 levels can be used as a diagnostic marker for assessing dengue severity.     

Pattern of vitamin deficiencies among the malnourished preschool children in ICDS blocks of Jaipur city

In India, researchers compared data on 1000 malnourished preschool children from ICDS blocks of Jaipur slums with data on 5000 well-nourished preschool children attending well-baby clinics of Zenana Hospital and Mahila Chikitsalya and from kindergarten classes of 2 public schools of Jaipur. They aimed to compare the prevalence of vitamin deficiencies among the 2 groups of children. The well-nourished children had a much lower prevalence of vitamin deficiencies than the malnourished children: vitamin A deficiency = 1.8% vs. 15.7%, vitamin B = 0.4% vs. 7.6%, vitamin D deficiency = 2% vs. 11.9%, and vitamin C deficiency = 0 vs. 1.1%. Sex did not affect vitamin deficiency status. Vitamin D deficiency manifests itself in severe malnutrition only when dietary improvement causes a growth spurt.     

Acute transverse myelitis: MR characteristics

Magnetic resonance imaging findings in 13 patients with acute transverse myelitis are reviewed. In 12 cases centrally located high intensity signal extending over few spinal segments was noted. The lesion occupied more than two thirds of the cord's cross-sectional area in 8 patients. Central dot sign was noted in 7 patients. Variable cord enlargement was seen in 5 patients. Contrast study in one patient showed peripheral enhancement. The MR characteristics that help in differentiating transverse myelitis from spinal form of multiple sclerosis are discussed.     

Pyomyositis - clinical and MRI characteristics report of three cases

We report three patients with pyomyositis due to Staphylococcus aureus. Magnetic resonance imaging aided in the accurate diagnosis of the infection and of the extent of involvement. Incision, drainage and antibiotic therapy eradicated the infection in all the patients. We suggest clinical or subclinical bacteraemic seeding of the diseased muscle, as the most likely mechanism for pyomyositis.     

Capillaria hepatica parasitism

Capillaria hepatica is rarely encountered in humans, with fewer than 30 documented cases. The clinico-pathological features of capillaria hepatica infection, diagnosed on liver biopsy of a 6-year-old child are discussed. Pathologically, it is characterised by prominent granulomatous lesions in the liver surrounding the eggs, which on cursory examination may be confused withSchistosoma mansoni.     

Complications of ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy peripheral zone only versus combined peripheral and transition zone biopsy

The main objectives of this study were to reassess complications associated with transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsies (TRUSBx) of the peripheral zone (PZ) and to compare morbidity of exclusive PZ biopsy to morbidity associated with two additional transition zone (TZ) biopsies. We distributed a self-administered questionnaire assessing TRUSBx complications to 883 consecutive patients who underwent two systematic TZ TRUSBx in addition to systematic sextant PZ TRUSBx, and to 383 consecutive patients who underwent exclusive PZ TRUSBx. Of 316 (35.8%) patients subjects to TZ and PZ TRUSBx, 71% experienced hematuria, 63% hematospermia, 39% rectal bleeding, and 2.2% temperature elevation greater than 38°C. Of 137 (35.8%) patients who exclusively underwent PZ TRUSBx, 57%, 62%, 36%, and 1.4% reported these complications, respectively. Symptom duration and severity were similar in both groups. Although we report a substantially higher incidence of biopsy complications than previously published, these complications are self limited and require no intervention. Furthermore there appears to be no significant difference between complication rates associated with exclusive PZ biopsy compared with those associated with two additional biopsies of the TZ.