Evaluation of COVID-19 appropriate behavior among fully vaccinated students in a medical college of north-east India

Background: The current COVID-19 pandemic is one of the greatest public health challenges. The spread of COVID-19 infection continues unabated despite vaccination. Adherence to COVID-19 appropriate behavior is critical to prevent COVID-19 infection. Aim and Objectives: To find out the pattern of COVID-19 appropriate behavior among vaccinated medical students and to estimate the incidence of COVID-19 infection after vaccination. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study using a questionnaire was carried out for a period of 3 months. The questionnaire was prepared based on the guidelines of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. The data were collected using a pretested Google Form (online digital questionnaire) by means of a web-based survey. Results: About 96.5% of the participants wear face cover or mask while meeting someone or during visit to public places and 91.6% maintain respiratory hygiene, whereas 11.6% spit in the open, 16.1% travel unnecessarily, and 36.8% do not discourage crowd. There is significant (P < 0.05) increase in COVID-19 infection after vaccination. Conclusion: This study suggests that more emphasis should be given on sensitizing the medical students about the standard COVID appropriate behaviors because strict adherence to COVID-19 appropriate behavior is the key to the long-term management of this pandemic.

Comparative Study of Serum LDL And HDL In Alcoholics & Non-Alcoholics

Background : Alcohol abuse is one of the major form of addiction and a major threat to public health in developed as well as developing countries. Alcohol intake is increased in quantity and frequency over last few decades. Alcohol consumption pre-disposes subjects to changes in serum Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) and High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) which are associated with cardiovascular risk. Methods : 100 alcoholics were compared with 100 non-alcoholics. Alcohol drinking history was assessed by interview and questionnaire and we measured serum LDL and HDL level. Results : There were significant rise in HDL and LDL in chronic alcoholics when compared with non alcoholics with p value

Efficacy and Safety of Fluvastatin Sodium XL 80mg in Treatment of Hypercholesterolemic Patient with Risk Factor of Cardiovascular Disease.

Back ground: Reduction of coronary heart disease (CHD) risk through the modification of risk factors has a strong effect on clinical practice. The introduction of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme-A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) has significantly advanced the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and in reduction of cardiovascular events and total mortality rates. Among the available statins, Fluvastatin is a newer, synthetic, second generation, potent lipid lowering agent and widely accepted in diverse population. However the safety profile and efficacy was not assessed in Bangladeshi population, a population significantly different from Caucasian population where most studies were done. Current study aimed at evaluating the safety and efficacy of fluvastatin in the specified population. Methods: The study is an open-label, multicenter, quasi experimental study conducted among 162 adult patients suffering from hypercholesterolemia. After through baseline evaluation, the patients were given with Fluvastatin 80 mg once daily for 3 months. All the patients were assessed twice, before and after treatment. Data on demography, of relevant medical history and of physical examination were collected in the both the visit along with data on relevant lipid parameters (Total Cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C and TG) were collected at final visit. Safety was assessed by evaluating adverse events, as well as laboratory abnormalities, including liver aminotransferases. Results: Serum total cholesterol was found to be significantly reduced and across two assessments the reduction was 51.2 units (P<.001). Average reduction in LDL-cholesterol was around 40 units (P<.001). Most significant reduction (140.0±305.8 units) was seen in serum LDL cholesterol (P<.001). However; no statistically significant reduction was seen in HLD cholesterol. Safety of fluvastatin was assessed by evaluating the adverse events, as well as through laboratory abnormalities, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Comparison of aminotransferase level was done before and after treatment through paired t test, Neither ALT nor the AST showed statistically significant rise after 3 months treatment of fluvastatin (P>.05). Out of 162 study participant 4.3% had their treatment interrupted, of which 1 (0.62%) had to cease treatment due to lack of efficacy, 1 (0.62%) experienced adverse event, 2 (1.24%) didn’t return to follow-up and 3 (1.86%) patients requested their physician to cease the treatment. Conclusion: Three month treatment with Fluvastatin XL 80 mg reduces most of lipid parameter of lipid profile (Total cholesterol, Triglyceride and LDL) significantly. The drug is found to be well tolerated with minimal adverse event during the course of treatmen

Detection of Helicobactor pylori by polymerase chain reaction: A comparison in sample preparation.

Gastric biopsy samples obtained from 14 patients with upper abdominal pain, clinically diagnosed as acid peptic disease, were analysed for the presence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) using partially (template A) and completely purified DNA (template B). Antigen specific primer was used to analyse the sample by PCR method. The presence of H. pylori in the samples was confirmed by running a positive control. The presence of H. pylori was also detected by urease method using standard protocol. Among the 14 samples studied, 8 showed the presence of H. pylori with both templates A and B. Among these 8 samples only 3 showed positive for the presence of H. pylori with urease method. The present work discusses the results obtained in the detection of H. pylori in template A and B by PCR method.

Follicular carcinoma of thyroid with synchronous bony and soft tissue metastases.

A 65 years old lady presented with a large thyroid swelling along with a soft, non-tender mass over the left parietal region and a small, hard, non-tender swelling over the volar aspect of right forearm. FNAC reports from the thyroid gland and the swellings over head and forearm all revealed features of follicular neoplasm. Excision biopsy of the forearm swelling showed histology of metastatic poorly differentiated follicular adenocarcinoma of thyroid. The patient underwent total thyroidectomy followed by excision of the mass over the head, a week later. She was discharged in favourable condition with advice to attend oncology department for subsequent management. She is yet to attend surgical outdoor for follow-up.

Prospective evaluation of modified Alvarado score for diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

Modified Alvarado scoring system was evaluated regarding its usefulness in the early diagnosis of acute appendicitis and in reduction of the incidence of negative appendicectomies. One hundred and ten patients with a provisional diagnosis of acute appendicitis were studied prospectively at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, Calcutta over a period of 10 months. High score was found to be a dependable aid both in the pre-operative diagnosis of acute appendicitis and in the reduction of negative appendicectomies in men and children but the same was not true for women who had a high false positive rate for acute appendicitis.

Unusual presentation of schwannoma.

Schwannomas are slow growing benign tumours arising from the nerve sheath. Two cases of schwannoma arising from the vagus nerve are presented here. One case was found in a 6-year-old boy and another one in a 30-year-old man. In the first case the tumour was detected on the left side of the neck just below the angle of the mandible, and in the second case it was found on the lower part of the right side of the neck. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis as first one to be of Antoni-A type and the second one to be of Antoni-B type. Both the tumours were excised and on follow-up the patients were doing well.

Stromal sarcoma of breast: a case report.

A 34 years unmarried female was admitted with an ulcerated foul smelling growth in her right breast. On examination the fungating mass measured 17.5 cm x 15 cm in central and lower part of right breast involving the nipple and areola. The ulcer was covered with slough and rest part of the breast appeared bosselated. Her Hb was 4 g/dl and incision biopsy from the margin of the tumour showed histology of sarcoma. The patient was infused 6 units of blood and right sided total mastectomy was done. Histopathological examination confirmed it was a case of stromal sarcoma of breast. Chemotherapy was started with vincristine, adriamycin and cylophosphamide. The patient was doing well in next follow-up.