10.18639/RABM.2022.9800028
Toxicology and Pharmacology
Nov 24, 2022
Despite the implementation of pharmacovigilance centers in developing countries and the institution of Therapeutic Committees at different healthcare delivery levels, the use of official medicine safety surveillance tools among healthcare workers is not widespread. In order to provide evidence on the knowledge and practice of healthcare professionals in the public sector on the use of medicine safety reporting tools, a cross‐sectional survey using a self‐administered questionnaire to assess the use of medicine safety surveillance tools amongst healthcare workers in Eenhana State Hospital was carried out. Data from the questionnaires were entered into the statistical package Epi Info® version 7 for analysis. About fifty percent of the healthcare workers in this study have identified at least one adverse drug reaction (ADR) in their professional practice. In contrast, only 29% reported ADR using at least one officially prescribed medicine safety reporting tool. The nursing cadre seems to have the least knowledge of medicine safety surveillance tools and pharmacovigilance practice. Pre-registration healthcare workers and continuing professional training for registered healthcare workers must be strengthened to encourage the use of medicines safety surveillance tools, in particular, and pharmacovigilance, in general.
10.18639/RABM.2022.9800027
Diabetes
Oct 27, 2022
Chronic Kidney Disease
The study aims to determine the prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and its risk factors in patients with Metabolic Syndrome in a tertiary care center in India. It was a hospital-based prospective observational study where NCEP ATP III CRITERIA was used to diagnose patients with Metabolic Syndrome, and CKD was defined according to KDIGO Guidelines. Out of 172 patients with Metabolic Syndrome, CKD was seen in 52 patients, of which 29 were males and 23 were females, so the prevalence of CKD in Metabolic Syndrome patients was about 30.23%. (52/172) P Value = 0.0000204. In our study, the prevalence of hyperglycemia in CKD patients with Metabolic Syndrome was 24.41% (42/172) P Value = .0011. The prevalence of obesity was 19.18% (33/172) P Value = .00844. The prevalence of hypertension was 28.48% (49/172) P Value = 2.72. The prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia was 26.12% (45\172) P Value = 0.000002086. The prevalence of hyperglycemia, obesity, and hypertriglyceridemia was significantly high in males. The prevalence of CKD in Metabolic Syndrome is 30.23% which is quite high, and since the prevalence of CKD is rising in India, we need more studies to look into this aspect of Metabolic Syndrome.
10.18639/RABM.2022.9800025
COVID
Sep 28, 2022
This review article has tried to cover the similarities and differences between the two diseases. The immune dysregulation during COVID- 19 and Corticosteroid (CST) therapy poses a significant risk for new secondary infections or reactivation of existing quiescent infections, such as LTBI. The convergence of these two infections, especially in the developing world, is raising an alarm bell among health authorities. Can COVID-19 flare up Tuberculosis (TB)? Will the use of CST in the treatment of COVID-19 can cause a resurgence of TB? Do we need to change our outlook and use our resources in smart and diligent ways to minimize the impact of both diseases on our population? These are the questions that have been addressed in this article. Only time will tell how much success we have achieved in this regard; till then, let us work smartly.
10.18639/RABM.2022.9800024
Agriculture and Allied Sciences
Aug 29, 2022
Bamboo is a robust, relatively fast-growing, environmentally sustainable material used worldwide for centuries. It has the potential to be an extremely pleasing and a value alternative to more traditional materials like timber, as seen by numerous visually stunning modern structures. Approximately 212 insect pest species have been identified attacking bamboo, causing damage from seed to completed product. For the first time, Estigmena chinensis was seen destroying seven green-standing bamboo species in natural stands, including Gigantochloa manggog, Thyrsostachyus oliver, Bambusa balcooa, Schizostachyum dullooa, Dendrocalamus hamiltoni, Gigantochloa atroviolacea, and Bambusa polymorpha. Maximum attack incidence was observed in T. oliver (56.18%) in 2017 and minimum in G. atroviolacea (20.75%) in 2020. The maximum and minimum intensity of the attack was recorded in B. balcooa (3.16%) in 2018 and T. oliveri (1.08%) in 2017, respectively.
10.18639/RABM.2022.9800023
Original Research Article
Jul 25, 2022
Severe burn injury is more challenging to sustain life than a preburn status. The situation changes drastically in terms of energy demands/ expenditure and the great degree of susceptibility to infections due to the loss of amino acids. Glutamine stimulates the immune system and prevents catabolism. The bacterial translocation from the gut can be decreased by glutamine supplementation, thereby suppressing the inflammatory response. In acute burn injury, plasma and muscle glutamine depletion is observed to contribute to muscle wasting, weight loss, and infection. Patients with 20%–50% TBSA burns presenting within 24 hours of injury to the emergency department or outpatient department were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups randomly. In group 1 (Cases), all patients were given enteral glutamine supplementation at the dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day either orally or through a nasogastric tube started within 24 hours of injury. Group 2 (Control) had all the patients in whom enteral glutamine supplementation was not given. In both groups, blood analysis for total leucocyte count (TLC) and total serum proteins (TSP) was done upon admission. On Day 4, followed by analysis every fourth day, after that, till healing occurred or the patient was taken up for grafting. Blood and wound swab cultures were done on the third day of admission, then the first week, followed by weekly cultures for 4 weeks or till healing occurred or the patient was taken up for grafting. A total of 123 patients were studied. There was a decreasing trend in the mean values of the TLC and an increasing trend in TSP in both groups. The difference became statistically significant from Day 20 onwards. The pattern of wound cultures was found to be statistically significant in Week 3 and Week 4, whereas the difference in blood culture positivity among the groups was statistically significant in Week 3. We noted, in our study, that the glutamine supplementation to the early enteral nutrition increased the TSP levels and decreased the TLC, wound, and blood culture positivity rates in the study group. Glutamine supplementation can contribute to improved immunity and reduce burn wound sepsis and bacteremia. All these combined can lead to decreased morbidity, improved wound healing, and better outcomes with lesser costs.
10.18639/RABM.2022.9800022
Original Research Article
Jun 30, 2022
The cytological examinations of serous effusions have been well-accepted, and a positive diagnosis is often considered a definitive diagnosis. The study was planned to determine the diagnostic utility of fluid cytology by conventional smear and cell block method in pleural effusion. This was a hospital-based open cohort observational study conducted on patients diagnosed with pleural effusion. The study period was one year, and patients were recruited using a nonprobability sampling method. The fluid samples were subjected to the conventional smear examination, followed by cell block preparation. The overall morphologic details, cellularity, architecture, and nuclear and cytoplasmic details were studied and compared in conventional smear and cell block techniques. The samples were categorized as unsatisfactory, benign, suspicious for malignancy, or malignancy. The study was conducted on 113 pleural fluid samples. The study demonstrated that the cell block technique improved the cellular yield and established diagnosis in malignant effusions.
10.18639/RABM.2022.1709780
Original Research Article
May 31, 2022
The aim of this study was to determine the pattern of childhood severe vision impairment (SVI)and blindness in blind schools of Himachal Pradesh. This study was carried out in 3 blind schools for children (<16 years). The vision was categorized (WHO ICD 11 classification, 2018) and the cause of vision loss was determined. A total of 96 children were examined. The main cause of SVI and blindness was congenital ocular defects (microphthalmos, anophthalmos, and coloboma in 33.33% of children). The second major cause was retinal dystrophies (20.83%) followed by optic atrophy (11.45%). The preventable and treatable causes were present in 15.63% of children attributed to vitamin A deficiency, trauma, retinopathy of prematurity, and cataract. Congenital ocular defects constituted a major cause of SVI and blindness followed by retinal dystrophies and optic atrophy. The avoidable and preventable causes of SVI and blindness were present in 1/6th of children entailing the strengthening of comprehensive eye care services, blindness preventable, and rehabilitation programs.
10.18639/RABM.2022.9800021
Cancer and Oncology
Mar 30, 2022
Basal Cell Carcinoma.
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common skin malignancy constituting 90% of eyelid tumors. Although it rarely metastasizes, it needs to be addressed with timely diagnosis and prompt treatment to avoid disfigurement of the tissues it invades. We report a case of 72 years old male with basal cell carcinoma of the lateral canthus. The patient was planned for excision of the lesion. Despite the excision of a large tumor involving the lateral canthus of the left eye (3*3 cm) and a large portion adjoining the upper and lower eyelids (1.5 cm approximately), we were able to restore the eyelid contour at the lateral canthus. There have been many proposed treatment modalities for basal cell carcinoma however excision biopsy remains the gold standard. This article outlines the etio-pathogenesis, clinical features, and various treatment modalities in the management of basal cell carcinoma.
10.18639/RABM.2022.9800019
COVID
Feb 28, 2022
COVID-19
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic has swamped the entire world. It can target any organ of the body and symptoms can vary from none or mild to even dreadful life-threatening respiratory distress or multisystem organ failure. A conglomeration of ocular symptoms and signs keep outpouring from various parts of the world ranging from conjunctivitis, uveitis to sight-threatening retinal vascular occlusions and calamitous rhino-orbital mucormycosis. Ocular manifestations can be attributed to either direct invasion by the virus or immune-mediated insult of the ocular tissues or triggering of coagulation cascade inducing prothrombotic state This article aims to delineate ocular manifestation of COVID-19 briefly which will be instrumental in early diagnosis, management, and timely vision restoration.
10.18639/RABM.2022.9800018
Tuberculosis
Jan 31, 2022
Pulmonary Tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis is one of the first most common causes of death in the world alongside HIV/AIDS, causing considerable mortality globally. Tuberculosis is also accompanied by hematological alterations although the alteration related to the disease is not well determined yet and showed variation in different studies. This study aimed at evaluating hematological profiles in pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Metema hospital and Gondar referral Hospital, North West Ethiopia. A case-control study design was conducted from January to July 2018. A total of 88 blood samples (44 from cases and 44 from control groups) were collected. The collected blood samples were tested using a Hematology analyzer (Sysmex) for hematological profiles. The mean+standard deviation of hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red blood cell count of the cases were significantly lower than the control groups (P< 0.05). However, platelet and total white blood cell counts; and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were significantly increased as compared with control groups (p<0.05). Body mass index had significant positive associations with red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit (P < 0.05). Pulmonary Tuberculosis patients in this study showed hematological profile abnormalities; where the red blood cell count, hematocrit and hemoglobin were significantly reduced. However, the total white blood cell count, thrombocyte, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate of tuberculosis patients were significantly elevated than control groups. The factors associated with hematological profile alterations require a due attention to prevent further complications and further studies should be conducted.
COVID
Nov 25, 2021
COVID-19
The unremitting COVID-19 pandemic is evoking anxiety, fear, panic, and socio-occupational stress among human population all around the globe. This cross-sectional study was planned to assess the fear and anxiety because of COVID-19 pandemic among health care professionals, patients, and general public in IGMC, Shimla. A cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted in month of December 2020. COVID-19 fear questionnaire was used to assess fear among participants. A total of 162 responses were received. Ninety-five (41.35%) respondents were males and 67(58.64%) were females. Average total score of COVID-19 fear based on questionnaire was 17.71 among the participants. The majority of respondents 67(41.4%) were afraid of COVID-19, 53(32.7%) were neutral, whereas 42 (25.9%) were not afraid of COVID-19. Sixty-two (38.3%) responders were uncomfortable thinking about COVID-19, whereas, 67(41.4%) were not uncomfortable. Only 22 (13.6%) participants felt their hands clammy when they thought of COVID-19, 78 (48.15%) respondents were afraid of losing their life, 78 (48.15%) respondents disagreed with the question of being nervous or anxious to hear news and stories of COVID-19. Thirteen (8%) participants were informed of sleeplessness, and 22 (13.5%) reported palpitations due to COVID-19 fear. COVID-19 fear was evident in 65.15% of all males and 55.8% of all females’ respondents, respectively. Seventy percent of participants of age more than 40 years were afraid of COVID-19, whereas only 54.83% participants of less than 40 years had COVID-19 fear. COVID-19 fear was more evident among non-HCW (74.42%) as compared to HCW in whom it was seen in 53.03% participants. Rampaging Pandemic has ingrained fear and anxiety among non-HCW as well as health care workers. But undeterred by COVID-19 fear, majority of participants didn’t fear death and didn’t have other effects of fear. Despite (can be used) surging pandemic when fear of COVID-19 is soaring, HCW and non-HCW could work, think, and live.
Cancer and Oncology
Nov 01, 2021
Plastic surgery and cancer.
The purpose of the study was to analyze the various causes of nasal defects seen in practice by plastic surgeons in the Department of Plastic Surgery, in a tertiary care North Indian Hospital. The study included all patients of any age and sex presenting to the outpatient department or emergency department with nose defects. The patients were enquired about the cause and history of their nasal defects. The most common etiologies of nasal defects seen were skin tumors of the nose, the most common one being the basal cell carcinoma (BCC) followed by squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and congenital naevus. Both the malignancies BCC and SCC were seen in older age. While BCC was significantly more common in males, a specific gender preference could not be concluded in SCC. Trauma was the next most common cause and included road traffic accidents, assaults, and animal bites. These were more commonly seen in the youth and less commonly in geriatric or pediatric populations. Other less common causes of nasal defects included postburn lesions.
Original Research Article
Oct 04, 2021
Plastic surgery.
Deformities in the craniofacial region are of great social and functional importance. Several surgical techniques have been used to treat such pathologies often with high morbidity and lacking the ability to address smaller contour defects. The minimally invasive technique of fat transplantation has evolved rapidly within the last few decades. The objective of this paper is to present the versatility and applicability of fat transplantation in a wide range of contour deformities in the craniofacial region. We share our experiences in treating 24 patients with autoimmune disorders, congenital malformations, and acquired defects.
Case Report
Sep 30, 2021
Priapism.
Priapism is an uncommon urological emergency. Drugs are known causes of priapism. Self-medication and use of over-the-counter drugs are very common in India. Withania somnifera is common over the counter herb used in India for anxiety, depression, boosting immunity, infertility, etc. Despite the unprohibited and over-the-counter use of drug, the efficacy and adverse events data are not available. We report a patient of anxiety and depression self-medicating with W. somnifera and multivitamins presenting with ischemic priapism.
Agriculture and Allied Sciences
Sep 30, 2021
Pest management using insecticides.
Chlorophorus annularis Fab. (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) damages cut and dry bamboo. Chlorpyriphos 0.04% yielded 39.13 per cent for the control of bamboo borer followed by chlorpyriphos 0.02%, which controlled 34.78% of borer attacks while cypermethrin and deltamethrin were found least effective. Among the systemic insecticides, imidacloprid 0.04% gave 26.32 per cent control of borer attack.
