Iodine status of food and drinking water of a sub-Himalayan zone of India

Iodine content of rice (42) and drinking water (108) from a goitre-endemic belt of Assam, a sub-Himalayan zone of India, was evaluated. Iodine content of staple food (rice) and drinking water was found to be poor. Mean iodine content of rice was found to be 11.8 +/- 7.3 micrograms/100g. Lower level of iodine was also observed in drinking water samples (mean of 1.52 +/- 0.48 micrograms/l).     

Clinical patterns of congenital ocular anomalies in the pediatric age group (0 to 5 years) and its association with various demographic parameters

Purpose:Congenital ocular anomalies are rare but important cause of childhood blindness. This study aimed to observe the clinical patterns of congenital ocular anomalies in the pediatric age group (0 to 5 years) and its association with various demographic parameters.Methods:Hospital-based cross-sectional study done on all pediatric patients in the 0-to-5-year age group presenting with congenital ocular anomalies to the Ophthalmology department of a tertiary care hospital in Eastern India between October 2018 and October 2020. Thorough clinical history was obtained, and comprehensive ocular examination was done in each case.Results:A total of 5686 patients in the 0 to 5 years age group attended the eye OPD during the study period. Congenital ocular anomalies were seen in 140 patients. The prevalence of ocular anomalies was 2.46%. Average age of patients was 3.32 ± 1.42 years. There were 74 (52.9%) males and 66 (47.1%) females. Unilateral and bilateral involvement was seen in 100 (71.45%) and 40 (28.6%) cases, respectively. Antenatal period was uneventful in 92.14% cases. Decreased vision was the most common presentation (40%). Congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction was the most common anomaly seen in 29 (20.71%) cases followed by congenital cataract in 21 (15%) cases.Conclusion:Few of the congenital ocular anomalies can be prevented by increasing community awareness. Findings of the study can act as a reference guide for clinicians and health professionals for counseling and health planning.     

Cure and reinfection patterns of geohelminthic infections after treatment in communities inhabiting the tropical rainforest of Assam, India

Mass de-worming targeted at socio-economically poor communities can be considered as an option for communities living in the tropical forests of Assam who do not have access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation, and consequently have a higher risk of suffering from geohelminthic infection and associated morbidity. A random sample of 265 subjects was included in this study (134 males and 131 females). The chemotherapeutic regimen followed was a single dose of albendazole 400 mg. Stools samples were collected in 10% formol-saline for detection of infection before treatment. Post-treatment stool samples were collected 10 to 14 days after treatment to determine the cure rate. Stool samples were again collected 3 to 6 months post-treatment to study the rate of reinfection. Multiple logistic regression was used to find possible associations between age, sex and treatment failure. The chi-square test was used wherever appropriate. The cure rates for Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworms were 70.8%, 68.7% and 93.0%, respectively. Logistic regression revealed that age was associated with treatment failure in A. lumbricoides infection. Re-infection rates after 3 months of successful treatment were 19.6% for A. lumbricoides, 30.9% for T. trichiura and 11.3% for hookworms. Six months post-treatment, the prevalence of re-infection was highest with T. trichiura (43.6%); followed by A. lumbricoides (35.3%). The rate of reinfection with hookworms was lower (11.3%) six months post-treatment. The rates of re-infection with A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura was higher in children below 15 years of age, compared with adults. Hookworm reinfection was higher in the adult age group (15 to 39 years). The rates of new infection in previously uninfected subjects were lower compared with the rates for re-infection.     

Comparative assessment of osteotomy cut using bur and saw for bilateral sagittal split osteotomy of mandible: a prospective clinical study

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery - To compare the intraoperative utility of bur and saw and to examine the pattern of lingual split during bilateral sagittal split osteotomy of mandible. This study...     

Genetic diversity and gene structure of mitochondrial region of Anopheles minimus(Diptcra:Culicidae)-major malaria vector of North east India

Objective:To depict mitochondrial genetic variation for the first time among Anopheles minimus(An.minimus)(Diptera:Culicidae) species from two malaria endemic states of NE India.Methods:Phylogeographic analysis was carried at 9 out of 12 sites oi An.minimus confirmed malaria endemic places.Results:All sequences were Adenine-Thymine rich regions.Transitions were observed in 6 sequences where 5 mutations were synonymous substitutions and in 1 ease non synonymous mutation was observed.Three distinct clusters of haplolypes were generated.Haplotvpe diversity and low nucleotide diversity were studied.Overall negative values obtained from Tajima's D test and Fu'sF_S test indicate a recent genetic population expansion.Network analysis has explained sequence diversity that was also shown by mutations in 6 sequences.Conclusions:High genetic diversity observed within the populations of An.minimus species has several possible implications for vector control in the region.