Background: Thyroid disorders have become much more common in the present days and so are its resultant complications or sequelae. There are marked variations in thyroid function with age and sex, evident in all of the in vitro hormone and protein measurements. Objective: To correlate the thyroid status with age and gender. Methods: 500 subjects of all age group and both genders from the general population of Bagalkot, Karnataka were included in the study. Subjects suffering from thyroid disorders were excluded. Non-Fasting venous samples were collected from all the subjects, serum T3, T4, and TSH levels were estimated by microplate immunoenzymometric assay. Statistical analysis was done by ANOVA and unpaired ‘t’ test. Results: It was observed that T3 and T4 levels declined but TSH levels raised, as the age advanced. T3 and T4 levels were lower and TSH levels higher in female subjects as compared to male subjects, in the age group of 21 – 40 years. Conclusion: The variability in the thyroid status has to be borne in mind during evaluation and treatment of thyroid disorders.

Background: it is known that hand hygiene practice among medical and paramedical play an important role in preventing the transmission of infections. Magnitude of Health Care Associated Infection is very high in developing countries like India due to the numerous factors like under staffing, poor hygiene, lack of basic equipment, inadequate structures and overcrowding. Improved compliance with hand washing was associated with a significant use in overall rate of nosocomial and respiratory infections in particular. Although guidelines for hand hygiene practice among health care settings are present non compliance remains a major problem among these hospitals. Due to the paucity of studies on hand hygiene practices particularly in this area the present study was undertaken. Objectives: To assess the hand hygiene level among different hospitals in a coastal city of Andhra Pradesh. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study done among the health care settings of the coastal city. WHO hand hygiene self assessment framework, 2010 is used as a study tool. There are seventy two listed hospitals in the city and among them every second hospital is selected for the study. Data was collected from these hospitals after taking consent from the hospital authorities. The data was entered in MS EXCEL 2007 and the results are expressed in percentages and proportions. Results: Among the health care setting selected in our study 7% are government hospitals, 93% are private hospitals. After assessing the hand hygiene level 64% hospitals have basic hand hygiene level, 36 % hospitals have intermediate hand hygiene level. Conclusion: No hospitals in the current study have neither inadequate nor advanced hand hygiene level. There is much scope for the improvement of both hand hygiene levels and practices among health care settings and health workers respectively with the given recommendations

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is now one of the most common non-communicable diseases globally. It is the fourth or fifth leading cause of death in most high-income countries and there is substantial evidence that it is epidemic in many economically developing and newly industrialized nations. The mortality due to diabetes is mostly due to its complication and the most effective way to prevent complications is to impart knowledge to patient so that they can practice for prevention of complication of diabetes. Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of diabetic patients for diabetes and its complications. Methods: Data was collected using a pre-tested, validated questionnaire from a total of 170 patients attending diabetes clinic in Ram Monohar Lohia Hospital New Delhi. Results: Out of 170 patients, 91 (53.5 %) were female and 79(46.5 %) were male patients. In the study population 146 (85.9%) participants had the basic knowledge regarding what type of disorder diabetes is, and about 149 (87.6 %) participants in study population said that the know what to eat. The maximum knowledge was seen about eye problems 48.82 % and kidney problems 40%. Conclusion: There is still need for increase in IEC and BCC activity in term of campaigns on diabetic complication, awareness regarding foot care, regular exercise, and regular routine checkups.

Background: Health problems of the old people are a very important component of any healthcare delivery system. Age related changes in immune system and degenerative phenomenon render people susceptible to a variety of infections, neoplasia and other disabilities. Objectives: To study the morbidity pattern among elderly people of Venkatachalem village, Nellore. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Venkatachalem village. 290 people of age 60 yrs and above were included in the study. Morbidity was assessed by history taking, clinical examination, reviewing past medical records and medicines taken by the study subject. Result: The average number of morbidity per person was 3.5. The common morbidities were joint complaints (65.9%), anemia (56.6%), cataract (48.3%), and hypertension (34.1%) and generalized pain (13.4%). 9.3% of the elderly were found to be depressed. Conclusion: We can conclude from the study that there is a growing need for interventions to ensure the health of this vulnerable group and to create a policy to meet the needs of the disabled. Also the common morbidities among the elderly should be considered before planning for any intervention.

Background: Ancient India presented to the world a great solution in the form of Meditation. Meditation is one healthy means which control the brain electrical activity to maintain a good health and healthy society. Objective: To study the effect of meditation on electro encephalograph and on other parameters like blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate. Methods: Twenty healthy individuals who were practicing meditation regularly since last five years were compared with 20 healthy individuals who never practiced meditation. EEG, blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate was recorded on these selected Individuals before and during meditation. Results: Meditators as a group showed significant increase in Alfa actitivity in occipital region of frequency of 8 Hz and decrease of ß- activity in parietal region compared to controls. Diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate showed a significant reduction before and during meditation among study subjects compared to controls. But this was not significant in case of systolic blood pressure. Conclusion: It was found that meditation has a positive impact on the EEG changes and other parameters studied among meditators as compared to non-meditators.

Background: Blood donation is a humanitarian act to save the lives of sick and needy patients. Repeated blood donation can have some adverse effects on overall health of repeated blood donors. Objective: To evaluate cardiovascular, respiratory and lipid profiles and study the effects of repeated blood donation among repeated blood donors. To compare these parameters with persons who never donated blood. Method: A Hospital based, comparative, cross sectional study was conducted. Twenty males, who donated blood every three months in a year were compared against 20 age matched males who never donated blood in last one year as well as they were never been the repeated blood donors before that. Results: The weight (Wt), heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), respiratory rate (RR), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), chest expansion (CE), hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell count (RBC), and high density lipoproteins (HDL) were significantly lower among repeated blood donors compared to non donors. Whereas erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was significantly higher among repeated blood donors compared to non donors. Conclusion: Thus out of 25 parameters studied, 11 were found to be statistically significant. Out of these 11 parameters, Wt, PEFR, CE, Hb, PCV, RBC, and ESR have lower values and ESR and HDL has higher value and is adverse for the health of the repeated blood donors. On the other hand, HR, SBP, and RR lower values may be beneficial for them.

In Indian context, Breast Feeding is widely accepted, but early initiation of Breast Feeding is what we have to strive for. Exclusive Breast Feeding is the infant's consumption of Human milk only, in the first 6 months of life, with no supplementation of any type of food. Weaning is a process in which infants are given energy rich complementary foods, from the age of 6 months along with continuation of Breast Feeding. This study was conducted with the objectives of to assess KAP of mothers regarding weaning and to Eliminate Harmful Breast Feeding Practices, by Intensive Health Education to mothers. A cross sectional community based study was conducted during August to December 2011 in Gunturpally Village of Karimnagar. 500 Females with at least one infant were selected by Systematic Random Sampling & their KAP regarding weaning were assessed. Statistical analyses were done using percentage, Chi-Square test, Odds Ratio(OR), 95% Confidence Interval(CI) and inferences were drawn. It was observed that majority of the subjects (62%) knew that weaning should be initiated by 4-6 months of age but only 35% mother initiated it by age of 6 months. Only 18% knew about the harmful effects of delayed weaning. 81% mothers preferred liquid foods for weaning and a statistically significant difference was found among illiterates & literates (x2 = 4.747, P <0.05). Many (85%) agreed that baby should take solid food by 1 year of age. It was concluded that all mothers should be educated about Basic principles of BF & weaning during antenatal period. Literacy rate should be increased among rural females. As television influences the layman, it should be used for promotion of BF.

Global tuberculosis control report – 2012 has revealed that 3.7% of new cases and 20% of retreated cases are estimated to have multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB worldwide. Specific strategies have been implemented under the Programmatic Management of Drug Resistant TB in India (PMDT) to address the MDR-TB problem. Considering the long duration of treatment, PMDT recommends that treatment of drug resistant forms of TB should be decentralized. However, to supervise and guide the health care providers in the complex medical needs, an expert resource center called as Drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) center has been proposed. A DR-TB center plays a crucial role at different levels in the management of drug resistant forms of TB such as pre-treatment evaluation; initiation of treatment; maintenance of hospital wards & airborne infection control measures; management of severe adverse drug reactions; modification in the choice of drugs based on the drug sensitivity test results; and as a clinical expert resource for guidance to the program managers and the health care providers. To conclude, DR-TB center plays a defining role in the overall integrated model of care in RNTCP-PMDT services.

Anterior cruciate ligament avulsion fracture is commonly associated with knee injuries more commonly in high energy injuries in active productive adults and its treatment is controversial ranging from conservative treatment to arthroscopic fixation. There are many methods of arthroscopic fixation of which we tried to fix the avulsed fragment by stapels which in our view is better than the other alternatives in the ease of application and the clinical outcomes.

The root canal treatment of a mandibular molar with aberrant canal configuration can be diagnostically and technically challenging. This case report presents the clinical management of a mandibular second molar with three separate mesial canals including middle mesial canal, which was confirmed by operating microscope. There are reports that deal with three orifices in the mesial root, but very rare describe three independent canals, indicating a rare anatomical configuration. This case report highlights the very rare occurrence of independent medial mesial canal in mandibular second molar