Neonatal mortality pattern in rural based medical college hospital

The present study was undertaken to establish priorities in neonatal care and to find out neonatal mortality pattern in a rural based medical college hospital. One hundred and twentythree neonatal deaths out of 1461 live births constituted the study material. The neonatal mortality rate was 84.2/1000 live births. The mortality in preterm, full term and post term infants was 43.13,4.02,7.02 percent respectively (p<0.001). The mortality in relation to birth weight was 100 percent (<1000 g); 71.43 percent (1000–1499 g); 37.14 percent (1500–1999 g); 7.63 percent (2000–2499 g) and 2.94 percent (>2500 g). Almost 70 percent of all deaths were because of severe birth anoxia and septicemia (including meningitis) either alone or in combination.     

G6PD deficiency in newborn infants

Five hundred consecutive newborns were screened for erythrocytic G6PD deficiency in cord blood. The overall incidence of G6PD deficiency was found to be 2.80 percent. The incidence of G6PD deficiency was higher among males (3.77%) compared to females (1.44%). The incidence of erythrocytic G6PD deficiency was higher in Muslims (16.67%) compared to Hindus (2.63%). No definite relationship of erythrocytic G6PD deficiency was observed with consanguinity. Fifty per cent mothers of G6PD deficient newborns were also found to be G6PD deficient. Among brothers and sisters of G6PD deficient children the incidence of G6PD deficiency was 50.00 and 9.10 per cent respectively. There was no significant difference in the incidence of hyperbilirubinemia between erythrocytic G6PD deficient and non deficient newborns.     

Neonatal mortality pattern in rural based medical college hospital

The present study was undertaken to establish priorities in neonatal care and to ascertain the neonatal mortality pattern in a rural based medical college hospital. 123 neonatal deaths out of 1461 live births constituted the study material. The neonatal mortality rate was 84.2/1000 live births. The mortality in preterm, fullterm, and postterm infants was 43.13, 4.02, and 7.02% respectively (P0.001). The mortality in relation to birthweight was 100% (1000 g); 71.43% (1000-1499 g); 37.14% (1500-1999 g); 7.63% (2000-2499 g), and 2.94% (2500 g). Almost 70% of all deaths were due to severe birth anoxia and septicemia (including meningitis), either alone or in combination.     

Human prion diseases

Prion diseases is another name for a group of 'transmissible spongiform encephalopathies'. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, the first prion disease described in humans, occurs in sporadic, familial or iatrogenic form. Other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies in humans such as familial Creutzfeldt-]akob disease, Gerstmann-Str?ussler-Scheinker disease and fatal familial Insomnia have been shown to be associated with specific prion protein gene mutations. In 1996, a new variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease was reported in the United Kingdom among young patients with unusual clinical features and unique neuropathological findings. This new form could be due to transmission to humans of the agent causing bovine spongiform encephalopathy. While examination of brain tissue is the key to making a diagnosis, it is not always possible antemortem. Immunological tests such as ELISA or western blot assays along with tests for 1 4-3-3 protein in the cerebrospinal fluid remain the main tools of diagnosis. Conventional disinfection and sterilization practices are Ineffective for these agents. The unusual properties of prions pose a challenge for treatment, surveillance and control of these diseases.     

Life and death signaling pathways contributing to skin cancer

Apoptosis is generally regarded as a critical regulatory event in the development of malignancies in several different organ systems (Thompson, 1995). Initially, oncologists focused on alterations in rates of proliferation and cell cycle kinetics, but more recently an emphasis on apoptosis has dominated the fight against cancer (Evan and Vousden, 2001). As approximately 1,000,000 individuals in the U.S.A. develop skin cancer each year, it is important to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that govern cell survival and cell death in the epidermis (Miller and Weinstock, 1994). Moreover, given that most skin cancers occur on sun-exposed skin, the pro-apoptotic and antiapoptotic response of keratinocytes (KC) to UV light is of particular relevance to the development of skin cancer (Brash et al, 1996). Whereas both squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) arise from epidermal KC, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the natural history of their development, their underlying molecular pathogenesis, and potential involvement of antiapoptotic pathways are significantly different. Nonetheless, as pointed out later in the text, significant progress is being made in our understanding of the pathophysiology of these relatively common epithelial-cell-derived neoplasms. In this review we will explore four topics: first, a review of the life and death signaling pathways operative in normal human skin that prevents premature apoptosis of KC with an emphasis on nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB) survival signals; second, the molecular pathways that are engaged and regulate apoptosis after normal KC are exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light; third, the apoptotic resistant mechanisms that premalignant and malignant KC utilize to avoid cell death; fourth, therapeutic strategies that can render malignant cells more susceptible to apoptosis with an emphasis on a death pathway mediated by the death ligand TRAIL.     

Weight-related body image concerns among 18-24-year-old women in Canada and India: an empirical comparative study

OBJECTIVE: Sociocultural factors are important in the pathogenesis of eating disorders. We examined some core (DSM IV) features of eating disorders, i.e., drive for thinness and dissatisfaction with the weight of the abdomen, hips, and thighs among women in Canada and India. METHODS: A total of 65 Canadian (mean+/-S.D. age: 21.4+/-2.0 years) and 47 Indian (mean+/-S.D. age: 18.7+/-4.1 years) women completed the Drive for Thinness (DT) and Body Dissatisfaction (BD) subscales of the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) and in addition rated the degree to which they believed all major regions of their body were overweight. RESULTS: After the effects of body mass index (BMI) were partialled out statistically, the DT (EDI) and BD (EDI) scores were not significantly different between the two countries. In both groups, concerns about the weight of the abdomen, hips, thighs, and legs loaded on a factor that essentially described the 'body dissatisfaction' construct. After the effects of BMI were partialled out, however, the factor scores from this factor correlated with BD (EDI) in the Canadian but not the Indian sample. DISCUSSION: In contrast to the Canadian women, the Indian women did not overestimate the 'fatness' of their abdomen, hips, thighs, and legs. Among the Indian women, concerns about the weight of the upper torso (i.e., face, neck, shoulders, and chest) emerged as a distinct body image construct. In conclusion, after the effect of BMI was controlled for statistically, the Canadian and Indian women scored similarly on some of the core features of eating disorders, as measured by the DT (EDI) and BD (EDI) subscales, however, the nature of the underlying body image construct was different between the two groups.