A review of association of dietary factors in gallbladder cancer.

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is the prominent malignancy of hepato-biliary tract, being the fifth most common carcinoma for gastrointestinal tract in United States. Epidemiological studies world wide have implicated dietary factors in the development of gallbladder cancer. The ecological evidences indicate considerable geographic variation in the incidence of gallbladder cancer. However the variations in GBC incidence of different populations might be partly determined by their dietary variations. Higher intake of energy and carbohydrate possibly increase the risk of gallbladder cancer. Obesity plays an important role in the causation of GBC. Adequate intake of fruits and vegetables probably reduce the risk of GBC. This nutritional preventive effect against GBC could be attributed to high content of vitamins, carotenes and fibers. They can not be too emphatically stated as the sole determinants of GBC. It is apparently clear that a variety of essential nutrients can significantly modify the carcinogenic process. Furthermore, an attempt has been made to establish an association between dietary factors and the occurrence of gallbladder cancer.

Prevalence of HIV among low and high risk population of eastern part of northern India.

A total of 7,904 persons visiting University Hospital of Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, were screened for HIV antibody by ELISA and/or rapid test. The overall seroprevalence of HIV (3.17%) in this area was higher than that of Uttar Pradesh and India as a whole. The seroprevalence of HIV/AIDS among the high risk group (HRG) (6.42%) being significantly higher than low risk group (LRG) (0.37%). In the LRG, the prevalence among medical and surgical patients; and ANC (antenatal cases) was 1.17% and 0.14%, respectively. However, HIV infection was not detected in HCWs (healthcare workers), BHU students and foreigners. Among HRG, CSWs (commercial sex workers) had the highest prevalence (14.0%) and STD (sexually transmitted diseases) patients, the lowest prevalence (1.99%). The STD patients had significantly lower prevalence rate as compared to others in HRG. Majority of the HIV positive were found to be within the age group 15-44 years, with heterosexual mode as the main route of transmission. Seven HIV positive children were of 2-5 yr old age group. Majority of seropositive women (62.52%) were working in a low income jobs and were mainly infected by their spouses who was mostly migrating labourers of lower socioeconomic group and with less than primary level of education. Married females, being mainly the spouses of HIV positive males had the highest seropositivity (60.25%). These population people were directly transmitting the infection from the metropolitan cities to the rural areas of this region. Prevalence of HIV-2 was negligible as compared to HIV-1, the actual reason is yet to be explored.

Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus infection in and around Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection is rising rapidly in the eastern Uttar Pradesh; however no data is available regarding its positivity rate. We have screened 1239 cases of various groups. HIV seropositivity rate of 0.28% was noted. These results suggest that HIV infection is spreading rapidly in this part of the country. M. tuberculosis was the commonest co-infection amongst them (29.5%). We recommend routine HIV screening of all patients of tuberculosis, especially if the persons frequent the cities, visit foreign countries where sex tourism is encouraged or stay away from their spouses for long periods as true history of sexual contact with commercial sex workers was difficult to obtain from them.

Study of infant and childhood mortality in an ICDS block of eastern U.P.

Information on births and deaths was collected in 11 randomly selected AWW areas of Barhaj Mahen ICDS project area in Eastern U.P. by an independent survey team in 1988-89. The findings revealed that the births and deaths were under-reported to the tune of 36.6 and 13.9 percent respectively, by AWWs. The different demographic indicators generated from the data were as follows, CBR and CDR were 30.3 and 7.1 per 1000 population. Neonatal mortality rate, IMR, and MMR were 58.3, 74.7 and 6.5 per 1000 live births. 0-6 yr mortality was 16.3 per 1000 children and constituted 37.5% of the total deaths. ARI, diarrhoea and fever were the major causes of mortality in 0-6 yr old children accounting for 25.9, 22.3 and 14.8% respectively. The findings indicated that there was underreporting in adult mortalities despite the independent investigation, and a reduction in infant and childhood mortality possibly due to the beneficial effect of ICDS services.

Prevalence of ascariasis and ancylostomiasis in families: a collaborative inquiry.

A collaborative survey was carried out to estimate the prevalence of ascariasis and ancylostomiasis in random samples of 200 families in each of 3 different communities: a city slum (CS), an industrial township (IT), a farming village community (FVC). Stool examination was done by Kato's qualitative thick smear method. Ascariasis was prevalent in all the three communities; the percentage of families with multiple members infected varied from 50 to 91 per cent; the percentage of members infected within such a family varied from 48 to 74 per cent; the infection was highly prevalent (41-78%) in all age groups excepts adults in the IT. From 8 to 11 per cent of persons with ascariasis were negative on stool examination but passed worms after medication. Ancylostomiasis was arevelent mainly in the FVC and to a less extent in the IT; the percentage of families with multiple members infected was 83 per cent in the FVC and 17 per cent in the IT; the percentage of members infected within such a family was 54 per cent in the FVC and 58 per cent in the IT. All the persons surveyed received a single 10 mg/kg dose of pyrantel pamoate (Combantrin*, Pfizer) which was well tolerated.