HEALTH AWARENESS VERSUS ECONOMIC AFFLUENCE AS DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH STATUS : A COMMUNITY BASED EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

A community-based cross-sectional analytic epidemiological study was undertaken to compare the health status of school children from two villages and to see the association of the school children''s health status with the level of health awareness among parents and teachers. The two villages had only one major difference, i.e., one had an agriculture-based economy and was more affluent than the other village. The study, however, revealed that the overall morbidity and nutritional deficiencies were significantly less (p < 0.01) and immunization status significantly better (p < 0.01) among school children of the less affluent village, possibly because level of health awareness was significantly higher among parents and teachers of this village as compared to the more affluent one (p < 0.01). The importance of health education has been reinforced by this study.KEY WORDS: Health status, Health planning, Health education     

Somatic mutation of PTEN in vulvar cancer.

PTEN, a candidate tumor suppressor gene located at chromosome 10q23.3, has been shown to be mutated in approximately 40% of endometrial cancers. Such mutations have also been identified in endometrial hyperplasia, indicating that inactivation of the PTEN tumor suppressor gene is an early event in the genesis of some endometrial cancers. In this study, we have extended the analysis of PTEN in gynecological cancer to include adenocarcinoma of the cervix and vulvar carcinomas. Microdissected tissue (including normal tissues), preneoplastic, and neoplastic lesions were analyzed from 9 patients with cervical cancer and 10 patients with vulvar cancer. Only 1 cervical adenocarcinoma displayed a PTEN mutation. In contrast, five of eight vulvar carcinomas studied harbored PTEN mutations. Alterations were identified in carcinoma in situ as well as squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva. In two patients, PTEN mutations were identified in mucosal regions with mild or focal dysplasia. These results suggest that PTEN is frequently altered in vulvar carcinomas and can be found associated with early dysplastic changes in vulvar mucosa.     

Deep venous thrombosis of the lower extremity: US evaluation

The sensitivity of duplex ultrasonography (US) for detecting deep venous thrombosis of the lower extremity was compared with that of venography in a prospective study of 54 patients. Doppler analysis of the common femoral vein and US imaging of the deep venous system from the common femoral vein to the popliteal vein was performed. Common femoral vein response to the Valsalva maneuver was recorded. Sonographically visible thrombi and abnormal vein compressibility were 91% sensitive for the common femoral vein, and 94% sensitive for the superficial femoral or popliteal veins, with no false-positive examinations. Abnormal Doppler flow and abnormal response of the common femoral vein to the Valsalva maneuver enabled thrombi to be detected only in the common femoral and iliac veins. Combined data allowed accurate diagnoses in all patients with deep venous thrombosis proximal to the deep calf veins. US should be the screening examination of choice for evaluating patients with suspected lower extremity deep venous thrombosis.     

Cohort Study on the Recurrence Rate of High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema

Keeping in view the importance of High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema (HAPO) as well as the absence of published evidence as regards recurrence rate of this disease, a cohort study was undertaken, based on data available with the Central Diseases Registry. The inception cohort consisted of all cases of HAPO occurring over a one year period, This cohort was followed up for another 12 months, to observe any recurrence. The study revealed that the recurrence rate of HAPO in terms of Incidence density was 1.83 per 1000 person-months of those who had an initial episode (95% confidence limit 0.53 to 3.13 per 1000 person-months). The cumulative incidence was 32.9 per 1000, over an average follow up of 18 months (95% confidence limit 4.55 to 61.25 per 1000). The time gap between the initial episode and recurrence was 115 to 208 days. All recurrent cases had their initial as well as recurrent episode at the first stage of high altitude (9000 to 12000 feet), with the onset being within 48 hours of entry into high altitude. Based on the findings, some recommendations for prevention of recurrence of HAPO have been submitted.Key Words: High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema, Incidence rate, Recurrence rate     

Virchow-Robin space: a path of spread in neurosarcoidosis

Three cases of documented sarcoid meningoencephalitis were reviewed. Computed tomography (CT) showed enhancing, perivascular, linear, and nodular areas along the subarachnoid space, extending deep into the white matter. In one case the perivascular granulomatous infiltration, which caused small vessel periangiitis, gave rise to a CT pattern closely resembling that of arteriovenous malformation or infarction with gyral enhancement. This infiltrative pattern might be seen in other chronic meningeal processes. The pathophysiology responsible for the unusual CT appearance and the differential diagnosis are discussed.     

Right ventricular tardokinesis in cardiac contusion: a new observation on phase images

The usefulness of gated blood pool (GBP) scintigraphy in evaluating cardiac contusion among trauma patients was examined. In ten of 62 patients who sustained blunt chest trauma, phase images of GBP studies demonstrated delayed onset of right ventricular (RV) contractions (RV tardokinesis). Clinical charts of these ten patients were reviewed to determine the significance of this finding. Only one had no supportive evidence of cardiac injury. Four patients were determined to have clinically significant cardiac contusion on the basis of the occurrence of arrhythmias of cardiac failure during their hospital course. These patients had ventricular histogram widths greater than 30 degrees of the entire cardiac cycle at half maximum height and had a bifid peak in their ventricular contraction histograms. Of the 52 patients who did not have RV tardokinesis, only one had a clinically significant cardiac contusion, resulting in a false-negative rate of 2% for the test. This new observation of RV tardokinesis may be clinically useful in establishing the difficult diagnosis of cardiac contusion.