Alcohol intake and cigarette smoking: Impact of two major lifestyle factors on male fertility.

Context: Lifestyle factors, like alcohol intake and cigarette smoking, have been reported to affect male fertility. Aims: To find out the specific impact of alcohol and smoking on semen quality of male partners of couples seeking treatment for primary infertility. Materials and Methods: From the semen samples analyzed in our andrology laboratory, results of 100 alcoholics and 100 cigarette smoker males were studied following WHO guidelines and compared with 100 strict nonalcoholic and nonsmoker males for presence of asthenozoospermia, oligozoospermia and teratozoospermia. Statistical Analysis: Data was analyzed by F- test using Microsoft Office Excel 2003. Results: Only 12% alcoholics and six per cent smokers showed normozoospermia compared to 37 % nonalcoholic nonsmoker males. Teratozoospermia, followed by oligozoospermia dominated alcoholics. Overall impact of asthenozoospermia and teratozoospermia, but not of oligozoospermia, was observed in smokers. Light smokers predominantly showed asthenozoospermia. Heavy alcoholics and smokers showed asthenozoospermia, teratozoospermia as well as oligozoospermia. Conclusions: Asthenozoospermia, the most common semen variable in our study, can be an early indicator of reduction in quality of semen. Alcohol abuse apparently targets sperm morphology and sperm production. Smoke-induced toxins primarily hamper sperm motility and seminal fluid quality. Progressive deterioration in semen quality is related to increasing quantity of alcohol intake and cigarettes smoked.

Diabetic Foot in Uttaranchal

The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical and the bacteriological profile of patients with diabetic foot. The clinical and the bacteriological profile along with the antibiotic sensitivity pattern was assessed in patients with Diabetes mellitus over 3 years period (From January 2001 to December 2004). The foot ulcers were categorized as mild or non-limb threatening and severe or limb threatening. Cultures from the wounds were sent prior to the first debridement and the antibiotic sensitivity was done in each case. The possible risk factors responsible for these ulcers were also recorded. Out of 61 cases of diabetic foot ulcers, non-limb threatening infections were seen in 38 patients (62.29%) and the limb threatening was seen in 23 patients (37.7%). Of these 23 patients with limb threatening infections, 14 (60.87%) had to undergo amputation during one-year follow-up. The organisms isolated from the cultures included Staphylococcus sp in 15 patients (28.84%), Streptococcus sp in 11 (21.15%), Pseudomonas sp in 8 (15.38%), Enterococcus sp in 30 (57.69%) and anaerobes in 27 patients (51.92%). The antibiotics to which they were found to be most sensitive included Amoxy-Clav 49 (94.23%), Ceftrioxone 48(92.30%), Ceftazidime 41 (78.84%), Cefurexime 46 (88.46%), Chloremphenicol 44(84.61%), Amikacin 46(88.46%) and Polymixin- B 46 (88.46%).

Pattern of cancers amongst patients attending Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Dehradun.

This hospital-based study seeks to find out the most common cancers amongst the patients attending Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences (HIMS), Dehradun, situated in Uttaranchal, which has inadequate health care facilities and low socio-economical status. In our study, of the 20,247 cases reported in the pathology department from July 1996 to Dec. 2003, 18.57% cases were malignant. Male to female ratio was 1.7:1.Top five cancers in males were those of lung, larynx, non-Hodgkins lymphoma, oesophagus & stomach. Top five cancers in females were those of breast, cervix, gall bladder, ovary & oesophagus. Tobacco and alcohol related cancers predominated in males. Skin and soft tissue cancers and were also common amongst both genders. Patients mostly reported with cancers in advanced stages, which could be attributed to poor medical facilities and health awareness in this region.