The Leprosy Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (LPEP) programme: update and interim analysis.

Innovative approaches are required to further enhance leprosy control, reduce the number of people developing leprosy, and curb transmission. Early case detection, contact screening, and chemoprophylaxis currently is the most promising approach to achieve this goal. The Leprosy Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (LPEP) programme generates evidence on the feasibility of integrating contact tracing and single-dose rifampicin (SDR) administration into routine leprosy control activities in different settings. The LPEP programme is implemented within the leprosy control programmes of Brazil, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Tanzania. Focus is on three key interventions: tracing the contacts of newly diagnosed leprosy patients; screening the contacts for leprosy; and administering SDR to eligible contacts. Country-specific protocol adaptations refer to contact definition, minimal age for SDR, and staff involved. Central coordination, detailed documentation and rigorous supervision ensure quality evidence. Around 2 years of field work had been completed in seven countries by July 2017. The 5,941 enrolled index patients (89·4% of the registered) identified a total of 123,311 contacts, of which 99·1% were traced and screened. Among them, 406 new leprosy patients were identified (329/100,000), and 10,883 (8·9%) were excluded from SDR for various reasons. Also, 785 contacts (0·7%) refused the prophylactic treatment with SDR. Overall, SDR was administered to 89·0% of the listed contacts. Post-exposure prophylaxis with SDR is safe; can be integrated into the routines of different leprosy control programmes; and is generally well accepted by index patients, their contacts and the health workforce. The programme has also invigorated local leprosy control.

Pregnancy and Obstetric Emergencies Handled by Emergency Medical Response Services in the Dadra and Nagar Haveli: A Brick-by-Brick Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The access of pregnant women to an appropriate health facility plays a crucial role in preventing maternal deaths. In the last decade, many new steps have been taken in the direction of making motherhood safe, one of them being the availability of free Emergency Medical Response Services (EMRS). In the present investigation, various variables were analyzed of the EMRS which provides services to pregnant women of the tribal district of Western India. METHODS: This study is a descriptive analysis of EMRS provided to pregnant women from January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2020. The number of expected pregnancies was obtained from the state data center and the variables related to the benefitted pregnant women were generated with the EMRS tracking software. RESULTS: The results of this study showed that 93.59% of pregnant women benefitted from these services in the last six years as compared to the estimated number of pregnancies. Whereas in the case of obstetric emergencies, 85.02% of pregnant women benefitted. Most of the beneficiaries were tribal, in the age group of 20-35 years, with lower socio-economic strata. More than 98.0% of pregnant women decided to take the delivery facility in the public hospitals. Across the district, ambulances had to travel less than 10km to cater to 89.0% of pregnant women. CONCLUSION: The convenient access of EMRS to pregnant women can improve the indicators of maternal and child health and reduce the risk of maternal death and home delivery.

Leptospira in the different ecological niches of the tribal union territory of India.

INTRODUCTION: Leptospirosis is a widespread zoonotic disease, which has a medical and veterinary importance, and also a commonly re-emerging infectious disease. The main causes of transmission are known; however, the respective prominence of each of the components and the respective environmental risk factors are obscure. METHODOLOGY: Present study was conducted in the different locations (urban/rural/tribal) of the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli (UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli). Periodical sample collection approach was used to collect the samples from May 2016 to April 2017, to determine the persistence of leptospiral contamination of the environmental sources. RESULTS: The PCR detection and isolation of Leptospira revealed that pathogenic leptospires were present in water, soil and animal urine. The highest positivity was reported from the water of household drainage in urban areas and in the water from rice field of rural areas. CONCLUSIONS: The data obtained from the present study may help and guiding in developing preventive measures for leptospirosis in the UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

Circulation of dengue serotypes in the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli (India).

The presence of chronological infection by the multi serotype of dengue virus (DENV) is a major contributing factor for the induction of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) and Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS). The results indicate that all serotype of dengue along with concurrent infection were reported from the third smallest Union Territory of India furthermore, rare serotype DENV 4, gradually spreads in new areas of India. Therefore, a need to understand the epidemiology of locally circulating serotype and accordingly the control strategy can be implemented. The study was conducted during 2014-2017 in the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli (India).

Vitamin D2-induced hypercalcemia in rat lens.

Vitamin D2 (40,000 IU) per 100 g body weight was administered daily in male albino rats. The levels of calcium and inorganic phosphate were determined in serum and lens. Lens calcium was elevated in the treated rats by 40%.

Amphibian parathyroids: morphological and functional aspects.

Amphibians living partially or totally in a terrestrial environment are the first tetrapods to possess parathyroid glands. Purely aquatic amphibians and amphibian larvae lack these endocrine glands. The parathyroids develop at the time of metamorphosis. The parathyroid glands in caecilians consist of a single cell type, that of urodeles may be composed of basal (supporting) cells and suprabasal (chief) cells, and that of anurans of small and large chief cells. Parathyroid glands of caecilians and anurans lack connective tissue, blood vessels, and nerves. The parathyroid cells become activated in response to decreased blood calcium concentration and undergo changes indicating increased parathyroid hormone secretion. Increased blood calcium concentration suppresses secretory activity. Usually, parathyroidectomy elicits hypocalcemia in most amphibians. Such operations have no effect in lower urodeles. Parathyroid hormone administration provokes hypercalcemia in most amphibians. The parathyroids of caecilians have not been studied in detail. The urodeles and anurans exhibit seasonal changes in the parathyroid glands. These changes may be initiated by environmental stimuli such as light, temperature, or alterations in blood calcium levels caused by natural hibernation.

Adverse perinatal factors in the causation of sensorineural hearing impairment in young children.

The study involves aetiological evaluation of various adverse perinatal causes leading to bilateral sensorineural hearing impairment in children born during the 5-year period of 1981-1985 (inclusive) in the Greater Manchester area of England, United Kingdom. This group comprised over 12% of the total number of hearing-impaired children in the area. Individual possible adverse factors are discussed in the light of present understanding of the pathogenesis and previous reports.

Effects of adverse perinatal events on hearing.

The hearing sensitivity for frequencies 8 kHz through to 18 kHz was compared between children with adverse perinatal factors (study group) and children without adverse perinatal factors (control group). Children in both groups had hearing at levels of 20 dB HL or better in the frequency range between 250 Hz to 8 kHz with normal middle ear pressure. High frequency hearing tests showed that the mean high frequency hearing threshold levels were worse in the study group. Statistical analysis showed significant differences in hearing levels at and above 12 kHz frequencies between the study and control groups. The hearing levels were found to be more significantly affected in females as compared to males, indicating that the high frequency hearing of females was more vulnerable to damage. The results indicate that adverse perinatal events are associated with raised high frequency thresholds in both sexes, especially in females.

Chronic toxicity of propoxur on carbohydrate, protein and serum electrolyte levels in catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis.

Alterations in the biochemical parameters of the catfish treated with low sublethal concentration (2.15 mg.L-1; 1/3 of 96 h LC50) of a carbamate pesticide-propoxur under static laboratory conditions for 10, 20 and 30 days were assayed. The fish elicited consistent hyperglycemia, concomitant with liver and muscle glycogenolysis, and hypoproteinemia in muscle and liver except 10 day post exposure to the pesticide, where hyperproteinemia was noticed in the liver. Throughout the exposure period the fish exhibited hyperphosphatemia. Hypocalcemia were recorded after 20 and 30 days, and serum magnesium level increased significantly only at 30 day exposure to the pesticide.

Pendred's syndrome with episodic vertigo, tinnitus and vomiting and normal bithermal caloric responses.

A case of early-onset bilateral sensori-neural deafness with episodic objective vertigo, tinnitus and vomiting, suggestive of Menière's syndrome, was found to have a diffuse goitre. A Perchlorate discharge test was positive, indicating an organification defect diagnostic of Pendred's syndrome. The case was found to be euthyroid both clinically and on investigations. Tone decay was absent and recruitment was found, thus indicating a cochlear site of lesion. Bithermal caloric tests and clinical tests of vestibular function were within normal limits. X-rays, including petrous tomography, did not show any abnormalities.

Aetiology of bilateral sensorineural deafness in children.

The study was carried out in children born during the four year period 1981-1984 in the Greater Manchester County. The children were investigated for possible congenital infections. Perinatal assessment was carried out for adverse aetiological factors. Family histories were obtained and parents and siblings were examined for any hearing impairment. A total of 164 cases were investigated. Various aetiological groups were formed which showed the following distribution: cause unknown 36.5 per cent; genetic group 20.1 per cent; adverse perinatal factors 14.6 per cent; congenital infections 9.8 per cent; meningitis 6.1 per cent; chromosomal abnormalities 3.7 per cent; syndromal group 3.7 per cent; and miscellaneous 5.5 per cent. The findings are discussed in the light of previous studies.

Audio-vestibular manifestations of Chiari malformation and outcome of surgical decompression: a case report.

Sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, dizziness and ataxia are recognised symptoms associated with Chiari malformations but they are rarely the presenting complaints. Patients with such symptoms are frequently referred to otolaryngologists and audiological physicians. We report a case of a 13-year-old girl who presented complaining of tinnitus and impaired hearing, and was subsequently diagnosed as having a type I Chiari malformation. Pure tone audiogram showed a mild hearing impairment on the left side and the speech audiogram was normal. Auditory brain stem responses and the electronystagmography were abnormal. The patient underwent posterior fossa decompression following which her tinnitus disappeared, the hearing problem recovered and some of the abnormal electrophysiological parameters were corrected.

Thyroid calcitonin cells and parathyroid gland of the Indian rhesus monkey Macaca mulatta in response to experimental hypercalcaemia.

Rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) were subjected to hypercalcaemia by daily intramuscular injections of vitamin D2 (100,000 IU) and by providing them gram soaked in 1% CaCl2 solution for eating and 1% CaCl2 solution (prepared in tap water) for drinking. After 10, 15, 20 and 30 days of such treatment the serum calcium level recorded a rise (18.24 +/- 0.56, 26.20 +/- 1.30, 17.25 +/- 0.25 and 20.50 +/- 0.55 mg/dl respectively) as compared to those of control animals (12.80 +/- 1.00, 12.30 +/- 0.50, 12.70 +/- 0.20 and 12.30 +/- 0.30 mg/dl). Serial sections of thyroid parathyroid complex and isthmus were subjected to selective staining for lcalising the C cells. The structure and behaviour of these cells both under normal and experimental conditions has been studied. Hypercalcaemia resulted in the increase of these cells. Mitotic figures of the C cells were also encountered after 10 days of hypercalcaemia. The specimens subjected to 30 days treatment showed complete degranulation of these cells. Chronic hypercalcaemia inhibits the activity of parathyroid cells which display degenerative changes. The anterior and posterior poles, the peripheral regions of thyroid and isthmus are completely devoid of calcitonin cells.

Aetiology of bilateral sensori-neural deafness in children.

The study was carried out in the Department in children born during the four year period 1981-1984 in a well defined geographical areas known as the Greater Manchester County. The children were investigated for possible congenital infections. Perinatal assessment was carried out in conjunction with the Paediatricians for aetiological adverse factors. Family histories were obtained and parents and siblings were examined for any hearing impairment. A total of 155 cases were investigated. Cases with a positive family history with deafness in siblings or parents constituted 18.7% of cases. An even larger group (35.5%) was found to have no known positive cause and negative family history. Adverse perinatal factors accounted for 15.5% of cases while congenital infections were found to be the cause of deafness in 10.3%. Meningitis led to deafness in 6.5% and chromosomal abnormality was the aetiological factor in 3.8% of cases.