MRIMS Journal of Health Sciences

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Background: The majority of adolescents lack basic knowledge about puberty, growth during puberty, safe sex, and hygiene. Unawareness about safe sex and protection and contraceptives may increase the risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), unwanted pregnancies, etc. Objective: The objective of this study was to study knowledge, attitude, and practices related to reproductive and sexual health among adolescent girls in a rural community of Telangana. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in secondary schools which were located in the rural field practice area of a medical college. All schools in the village were included in the study. Study participants were 6^th–10^th standard adolescent school girls, with the age group of 10–19 years. A questionnaire regarding knowledge, attitude, and practices related to reproductive and sexual health was used. Results: The mean age was 13.6 ± 1.386 years. Eighty-four percentage were from nuclear families and only 10% were from below poverty line families, with a mean per capita income of 2626 ± 1708 international normalized ratio. Seventy-five percentage were aware about puberty; source of information was mothers (67%). Ninety percentage did not know how women become pregnant, STDs, and HIV/AIDS. Only 30% said that oral pills were effective against pregnancy and 95% did not know that condoms prevent STDs. Sixty percentage said their schools covered classes regarding normal anatomy, physiology, menstrual hygiene, and reproductive health, of which only 52% attended this topic. About 82.4% of the subjects felt that it is necessary to maintain cleanliness during menstruation. Seventy-five percentage were using sanitary napkins, and 80% were washing hands after changing sanitary napkins with soap and water. Twenty percentage were throwing directly into drainage or dustbin. Conclusion: Knowledge related to reproductive and sexual health among adolescent girls in these adolescent girls was poor and their attitude and practices were also poor.

Background: Alterations in biochemical and hematological are found to be dependent on type of parasite of malaria, endemicity of the area, various demographic factors, and nutritional status of the person, immunity to the malaria, and presence or absence of hemoglobinopathies. Hence, if these parameters are monitored during clinical illness of malaria, they are of great importance to the treating physician to take a decision on prognosis and further management of the cases. They can even assess the severity of the malaria based on changes in these biochemical and hematological parameters. Objective: To study the effect of malaria on biochemical and hematological parameters. Methods: During the study period, 40 confirmed cases of malaria and 10 negative controls were investigated. Their hematological, biochemical, and liver parameters and electrolytes were compared. Unpaired t-test and analysis of variance were applied to study the intergroup comparisons. Results: Hemoglobin, red blood cells, platelets, lymphocytes, basophils, and monocytes were significantly decreased in cases, but neutrophils were significantly more in cases (P < 0.05). Sodium, potassium, and chlorides were significantly decreased in cases (P < 0.05). Creatinine, total cholesterol, total bilirubin, and direct bilirubin were significantly increased in cases (P < 0.05). Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase were significantly increased in cases, but total proteins and albumin were significantly decreased in cases (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Malaria had a significant impact on biochemical, liver, hematological parameters, and electrolytes. Hence, they should be regularly monitored in all admitted cases of malaria, which will help the treating physician to take appropriate decision on clinical management of the disease.

Background: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has protean clinical presentation, influencing almost every organ. The number of COVID-19 patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) is expanding, and the incidence of kidney injury in COVID-19 patients with severe disease is higher than in patients with mild disease. Objectives: The objective of the study is to find out the association of AKI with COVID-19 deaths. Methods: A case–control study was designed with a total of 172 patients. This included 92 death cases and 80 discharged cases in a dedicated COVID-19 hospital, critical care and fully intensive care unit equipped, in the peak of the second wave of COVID pandemic. Various biochemical parameters and inflammatory markers were studied to find out the mortality indicators in these severe COVID-19 cases. Results: Significantly elevated AKI markers such as urea (mean 58.5 vs. 37.1, P < 0.05), uric acid (mean 5.67 vs. 4.18, P < 0.05), and blood urea nitrogen (mean 26.9 vs. 17.3, P < 0.05) were detected in the death group compared to discharge group. This was accompanied by significantly elevated markers of inflammation such as total leukocyte count (TLC) (mean 16082 vs. 12100, P < 0.05), interleukin (IL-6) (mean 194.9 vs. 58.7, P < 0.05), C-reactive protein (mean 28.45 vs. 9.73, P < 0.05), and ferritin (mean 761.4 vs. 608.2, P < 0.05) in the death group. Conclusion: Significant AKI was noticed in the death group and AKI was further positively correlated with inflammatory markers C-reactive protein, ferritin, IL-6, d-dimer, and TLC levels.

Odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs) are developmental odontogenic cyst of epithelial origin. Multiple OKCs are often associated with a syndrome, especially nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome. The present article presents a series of two nonsyndromic cases of multiple OKCs. The presence of multiple OKCs and their recurrence can be attributed to factors such as the friable cystic lining, and daughter cysts. However, a comprehensive evaluation of any patients reporting multiple cysts/OKCs always has to be undertaken and the syndromic association should be ruled out.

Online since 5^th November 2020