Global Journal of Medicine & Public Health

A comparative study of dual marker test vs ultrasonography markers for detection of chromosomal abnormalities in patients attending a tertiary care center

2024-12-03T16:03:26+00:00

ABSTRACT

Background

It becomes important to detect chromosomal abnormalities prenatally and early in the pregnancy. The

present thesis is aimed to assess the performance of prenatal screening tests for chromosomal

abnormalities detection i.e., dual marker test, first trimester ultrasound which measures the nuchal

translucency and presence or absence of nasal bone, and their correlation with diagnostic test which is the

karyotyping after amniocentesis.

Materials and Methods

It is a prospective & observational clinical study conducted in the Obstetrics and gynaecology department

of a tertiary care hospital. Two hundred pregnant females above 18 years of age attending ANC OPD

(Antenatal Check-up Out-patient department) were considered for this study.

Results

In this study we found the presence of chromosomal abnormalities in 10% of participants. Combined

sensitivity of NT and Dual marker test was found to be 83.75% in detecting chromosomal abnormalities.

Conclusions

It can be concluded at the end of the study that; prenatal diagnosis with ultrasonography for nuchal

translucency either alone or in combination with dual marker test offered good detection rate for these

chromosomal abnormalities.

Awareness and Behavior regarding Mosquito Borne Diseases and Its Correlates among Urban Slum Residents of Burdwan Municipality, West Bengal(India)

2024-12-03T16:09:58+00:00

ABSTRACT

Background

Mosquito-borne diseases are major public-health problems in overcrowded, polluted areas like slums even after

implementation of various measures under the umbrella of National Vector-Borne Disease Control Program

(NVBDCP). Information about awareness of slum-dwellers and their behaviors towards mosquito-borne diseases are

essential for their prevention. This study aimed to assess awareness, preventive and care-seeking behaviors towards

mosquito-borne diseases among slum residents of Burdwan Municipality and to check for mosquito-breeding places

in and around their houses.

Materials and Methods

A community-based, cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 226 households of urban field practice areas

of the department of Community Medicine, selected through random sampling, with a pre-designed, pre-tested

schedule from October 2022 to January 2023.

Results

The present study revealed that out of a total of 226 households, more than one-fourth (26.5%) had poor awareness

regarding the names of diseases caused by mosquitoes. None were aware about the diurnal variation in mosquito

biting pattern. More than half (56.6%) had poor awareness about symptoms of malaria and more than one-thirds

(35.4%) had poor awareness regarding symptoms of dengue. Majority had poor awareness regarding symptoms of

chikungunya, filariasis and Japanese encephalitis i.e. 93.8%, 83.6% and 96.9% respectively. More than two-third

(67.7%) had satisfactory awareness regarding preventive methods against mosquito-borne diseases. Majority (90%)

used mosquito nets as personal protective behavior. Among the households who had a history of mosquito-borne

diseases, only one-thirds (34%) sought health-care within 48 hours of symptoms onset and 83% sought health-care

from public facilities. Bivariate analysis using chi-square test revealed socio-demographic characteristics such as

gender, education, occupation had significant association with awareness regarding mosquito-borne diseases.

Conclusions

There is a need for awareness generation and behavior change communication on mosquito-borne diseases, and

enhance community participation in implementing preventive measures for the same.

Comparison of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology andHistopathology in diagnosing malignant thyroid swellings: Experience from a Tertiary Care Centre of Tripura, India

2024-12-03T16:20:39+00:00

Background

Thyroid nodular disease, including thyroid cancer, is increasingly prevalent worldwide, with significant

incidence in India. This study compares FNAC and histopathological examination (HPE) findings in

diagnosing malignant thyroid lesions in a tertiary care center in Tripura, India.

Methods

This retrospective study analyzed data from patients who underwent both FNAC and HPE between

September 2019 and August 2020 at Agartala Government Medical College and GBP Hospital. Out of 98

records, 30 cases with malignant HPE results were included. Data were abstracted using Epi Info software

and analyzed with IBM SPSS software. Qualitative variables were summarized using percentages, while

quantitative variables were summarized using mean (SD).

Results

The majority of the cases were female (86.67%), Bengali (76.67%), and aged 21-40 years (73.33%). FNAC

accurately detected malignant thyroid lesions in 73.3% of cases. Discrepancies between FNAC and HPE

were found in eight cases, primarily involving papillary carcinoma of the thyroid (PCT), which FNAC

misdiagnosed as other conditions. PCT was the most common HPE diagnosis, representing 76.66% of

cases, predominantly in females. Most patients (86.67%) underwent total thyroidectomy, with a few

requiring additional surgical interventions.

Conclusion

FNAC is a minimally invasive, cost-effective procedure with high accuracy in diagnosing malignant thyroid

swellings. However, the definitive diagnosis relies on HPE, which remains the gold standard due to FNAC's

limitations. The study emphasizes the need for precise diagnostic techniques and vigilant monitoring,

especially among females with thyroid malignancies. Further research with larger sample sizes is

recommended to enhance the generalizability of these findings.

A cross-sectional study to assess happiness and its correlates among medical undergraduates and interns of Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bengaluru, India

2024-12-03T16:26:23+00:00

ABSTRACT

Happiness is the fundamental goal of a human being. Medical students and Interns are less happy when

compared to others, this may be due to their hectic academic schedule and unpredictable long hours of

work.

Objectives:

To assess happiness and its correlates among medical undergraduates and interns in Bangalore Medical

College & Research Institute, Bengaluru.

Materials/Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical undergraduates and interns during the period of

410 participants are selected by Stratified Random Sampling. Happiness was assessed by the Oxford

Happiness Questionnaire. The data collected was entered in MS Excel and analysed using SPSS 26.0.

Results:

Mean Happiness score is found to be 3.6 ± 0.545. Out of 410 participants, 274(67%) participants are in the

happy group and 136(33%) of the participants are in the unhappy group. Factors such as Gender, Year of

study, Socio Economic Status and Type of stay found to have statistically significant association with

happiness.

Conclusion:

One in 3 medical students were found to be unhappy. The study revealed that differences in happiness can

be based on Gender, Year of study, Socio Economic Status and Type of stay.

ICD-10 health profiling of school-attending children in the field practice area of a medical college in south India: A Cross-sectional study

2024-12-03T16:42:06+00:00

Background

The health of school children is crucial for academic performance and overall well-being, influencing their

capacity to learn and thrive. Understanding the health dynamics in school settings can help mitigate long

term public health issues. This study aims to ascertain the health status of school children residing in slum

areas of an urban locality in the southern part of India using International Classification of Diseases-10 (ICD-

10) codes, which can inform policies and interventions to promote better health outcomes and educational

attainment.

Method

A cross-sectional study was conducted in a school in urban slum of Hyderabad city to evaluate the health

status of school children. Data were collected using a standardized proforma, capturing information such

as student demographics (name, age, sex, grade), anthropometry and physical examination findings.

Results

The study encompassed 3,157 children, comprising 1,840 girls (58%) and 1,317 boys (42%), aged between 5

to 16 years. The mean ± SD age of menarche was found to be 13.1 ± 1.2 years. Among the participants,

62.2% reported at least one health-related issue, with dental caries being the most prevalent (38.1%),

followed by skin problems (14.3%) and malnutrition (9.4%).

Conclusion

In this study, health problems were found to be more common in boys compared to girls. More than half of

the children were suffering from at least one health-related issue. Regular school health checkups help to

identify and prevent health complications.

Prevalence and Predictors of malnutrition among elderly in an urban area in Visakhapatnam (India)

2024-12-04T15:34:10+00:00

Introduction

Malnutrition in the elderly is a significant public health problem and often underreported. It has serious

implications on the overall health and quality of life of elderly population.

Objective

To assess the prevalence of malnutrition and its associated factors among elderly.

Methodology: A community based cross sectional study was done for a period of two months during

September 2022 to October 2022 in urban field practice area of a medical college. Total 186 elderly (?60

years) were included in the study by simple random sampling method. An interview schedule was used to

record the socio-demographic and relevant details of the study participants. Nutritional status assessment

was done by using 18 items (30 points) Mini nutritional assessment (MNA) scale. Data was analyzed using

SPSS version 25. Chi- square test and Fisher'sexact test was applied based on the nature of the distribution

of data. P<0.05 taken as statistically significant.

Results

Majority of the participants (84.95%) were in the age group of 60-70 years. About 61.83%were females and

38.17 % were males. The prevalence of malnutrition was 18.28 %. Those who are at risk of malnutrition were

51.61 %. There was no significant association between socio-demographic profile and malnutrition among

elderly.

Conclusion

The present study showed that the majority of the elderly were at risk of malnutrition. There is a need for

early diagnosis and management of malnutrition among elderly which will improve their quality of life.

Traumatic Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Risk Factors Associated with Progression and overall recovery in 3 month duration -observational cross sectional study

2024-12-04T15:46:40+00:00

Background

Traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage (TICH) volume increase is a well-researched phenomenon that directly

affects patient prognosis. Finding the risk factors related to the development of traumatic intracerebral

hemorrhage was the aim of this investigation.

Methods

This prospective study was done on 114 patients with Traumatic intra cerebral hemorrhage in Neurosurgery

Department, Cairo University Hospitals from 1/7/2022 till 31/12/ 2022.

Results

Our results revealed that Among the 114 patients included in our study, (82) patients were males speaking

to (71.9%) and (32) patients were females speaking to (28.01%). The most common clinical picture were, 17

of them presented mainly with headache, 18 cases with disturbed conscious level, 13 cases with visual field

defects, 24 cases with convulsions, 16 cases had behavioral changes and 26 present with vomiting. As

regard to side of the lesion, (51) patients (44.7%) had right ICHs while (49) patients (43%) were with left

lesion and 14patients (12.3%) were bilateral. As regard to Cause of injury there were (58) Patients (50.8%)

had Road traffic accident and 24 patients had fall domestic (21.05%) and 20 patients (17.5%) had fall outside

home but 12 patients had other mechanisms. According to the factors associated with progression, the

most common factors were old age, hematoma volume, multiple hematoma, hypertension, bleeding

profile disturbance, renal failure, liver cirrhosis, smoking, subdural extension and time to first CT.

Conclusion

The factors associated with progression, the most common factors were old age, hematoma volume,

multiple hematoma, bleeding profile disturbance, hyper tension, liver cirrhosis, renal failure, subdural

extension, mode of initial trauma and perihematomal edema. Early CT is a valuable tool in the diagnosis of

TICH and early treatment for prevention of hematoma progression. Edema after TICH plays an important

role in TICH -induced injury and is associated TICH expansion and overall worsening of the patients

outcome. There is a strong relation between Traumatic brain injury and long term development of memory

disorders especially in older patients. There is a strong relation between TICH and stroke development in

older patients.

The impact of changing environmental conditions on incidences of Alveolar hydatid disease in Taiz city, Yemen: A Case Series

2024-12-04T15:56:11+00:00

This case series was conducted to study the occurrence of alveolar hydatid cyst cases in Al Hawban district, Taiz

governorate in Yemen from 2006 to 2014. The aim of this study was to explore the demographic determinants

of the affected cases and assess the effect of the changed social environment as a result of the armed conflict

and internal displacement. A number of 25 alveolar hydatid disease cases were identified. The majority of cases

being in males. The mean age of the cases was 22 years and the peak presentation of the cases was in the years

2011 and 2012 where the conflict was intensified. The majority of the cases were from Al Hawban district

followed by neighboring districts such as Mawiah, Dimnah, Al Nagdin and Al Quaidah. Findings from this study

highlight the impact of the changing environment on the occurrence of Alveolar Hydatid disease.

Antibiotic Overuse by Jamaican Clinicians in the Treatment of Pharyngitis in Children

2024-12-04T16:17:22+00:00

Background

Overuse of antibiotics in pharyngitis management is an important global and local problem contributing to

increased antibiotic resistance. We aimed to assess clinician attitudes towards the management of Group

A Streptococcus (GAS) pharyngitis against objective diagnostic and prescribing practices.

Methods

A national cross-sectional survey was conducted among Jamaican public and private health clinicians. Their

approach to patients with pharyngitis features was assessed and compared to medical records in the 0-15

year old age group from January 1 to December 31, 2018. Antibiotic prescribing rates were calculated for

unlikely vs likely GAS pharyngitis (Centor <4 vs ?4).

Findings

337 practitioners from 19 specialties were recruited. 308 (91?3%) reported managing presumed GAS

pharyngitis (pharyngeal erythema, tonsillar erythema, tonsillar hypertrophy +/- exudates, anterior cervical

lymphadenopathy, soft or hard palate petechiae). 301 (97?7%) reported inconclusive clinical features, while

45 (7?6%) reported no diagnostic challenge. Although 244 (72?4%) reported having a standard approach for

using antibiotics, 99?1% expressed desire for local protocols for antibiotic use in pharyngitis.373 of 7,142

pharyngitis cases in 2018 were reviewed. 321 (86?1%) had sufficient documentation. Antibiotics were

prescribed in 292 (91%) cases, including 213 (93?8%) of 227 where antibiotics were avoidable.

Interpretation

The clinical and social consequences of missing diagnoses may cause practitioners to prescribe antibiotics,

even in cases of likely viral infections. High case rates of pharyngitis with concurrent antibiotic use pose a

serious threat to antibiotic safety and susceptibility. However, clinical decision rules (CDRs) can reduce

resistance risks, costs, adverse effects and promote confident management.

The mediating effect of flexible work arrangements, online wellness social responsibility and employee subjective well-being in the retail sector in South Africa

2024-12-04T16:25:20+00:00

Introduction

Two years post pandemic, there have been changes in work arrangements to allow for a greater degree of

adaptability. Flexible work arrangements in the retail sector are considered to be a practical advantage that

mostly focuses on managing employees' workload, rather than being specifically intended to enhance their

subjective well-being. However, when it is logistically and operationally viable, flexible work arrangements

(FWAs) may provide benefits to both employees and the organization.

Purpose

The study aims to determine the mediating effect of flexible work arrangements on, online wellness, social

responsibility and employee subjective well-being in the retail sector in South Africa.

Methodology

A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted among head office associates at an anonymous organization

referred to as “Company X ”. A total of 1,500 online questionnaires were distributed to employees via Google

Forms. The data analysis was performed using the SPSS PROCESS macro to evaluate the association between

online wellness social responsibility, flexible work arrangements, and subjective wellbeing.

Results

Results suggest that there was no mediating effect of flexible work arrangements on the association between

online wellness social responsibility and subjective well-being. Therefore, the subjective well-being of

employees cannot be solely attributable to flexible work arrangements.

Conclusion

The research advocated prioritizing social accountability above social duties. This involves integrating employee

well-being, organizational operations, and corporate social responsibility (CSR). Hence, establishing a robust

business culture and reputation.