Arpita Singh

Study of 222Rn concentrations in some dwellings of Rajasthan.

Total potential alpha energy concentrations due to radon progeny were measured in 143 dwellings of Udaipur, Bikaner, and Banswara towns of Rajasthan province of India with LR-115 type II detectors. The geometric mean values of total potential alpha energy concentrations in these three towns were found to be 1.9 x 10(-7) J m(-3), 1.2 x 10(-7) J m(-3) and 1.7 x 10(-7) J m(-3) with a geometric standard deviation of 2.2, 2.2, and 2.5, respectively. The estimated lifetime risk of lung cancer due to indoor radon exposure for a total population of study area was estimated to be 6.7 x 10(-3) or 0.67%. The mean relative loss of life expectancies were 0.20%, 0.12%, and 0.18%, respectively.

Impact of psychiatric profile and personality trait on directly observed tuberculosis treatment outcome

Background: Psychiatric morbidity in tuberculosis (TB) patients is well-known and its impact on treatment compliance needs to be evaluated. Objectives: To study psychiatric profile, personality trait of TB patients registered on directly observed treatment-short course (DOTS) and to evaluate their impact on treatment completion and default. Materials and Methods: Psychiatric morbidity and personality traits were assessed by Cornell Medical Index and 16PF personality questionnaire, respectively. Patients with psychiatric comorbidity were randomized into two groups. Group A: DOTS with psychiatric intervention and Group B: DOTS alone. They were followed-up till treatment completion. Results: Out of 214 patients registered, 176 (82.2%) had psychiatric comorbidity. 150 (85.2%) had anxiety neurosis, and 26 (14.8%) had depression. On personality assessment, 54.1% were neurotic, 26% introverts, 15.8% extroverts, and 4.1% had other traits. Forty-one (23.3%) patients defaulted. Default rate was low (13.6 vs 33%, P = 0.002) and patient retrieval was good (67 vs 24%, P = 0.01) in group A. Patients with neurotic trait defaulted more ( P = 0.006). On multivariate analysis, smoking (odds ratio (OR) = 3.76, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.7-8.28); alcoholism (OR = 15.4, CI: 6.67-35.72); and neurotic personality (OR = 3.54, CI: 1.61-7.79) were strongly associated with default whereas age, sex, social class, literacy, and psychiatric morbidity type were not. Conclusion: Pretreatment psychological assessment and intervention reduces default rate.

Rifampicin-induced thrombocytopenia.

In the treatment of tuberculosis there are special therapeutic problems related to adverse effects of drugs, compliance to treatment, and microbial resistance. Thrombocytopenia is an uncommon but potentially fatal adverse effect of certain anti-tubercular drugs when the incriminating drug is taken by a susceptible individual. We report a case of rifampicin-induced thrombocytopenia, which although rare, needs attention.

Effects of pulmonary rehabilitation on secondary polycythemia in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A pilot study

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major health issue worldwide. Secondary polycythemia is common in COPD. There are reports of improvement in pulmonary functions by various rehabilitatory pulmonary exercise programs. However, the effect of pulmonary rehabilitation on secondary polycythemia has not yet been fully assessed. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the effect of a short course (10 weeks) of pulmonary rehabilitation program (PRP) on secondary polycythemia in 26 subjects, divided into cases ( n = 14) and controls ( n = 12). In cases (those who received PRP), the percentage decrease in hematocrit was significant compared to the controls (who did not receive PRP). This pilot study suggests that PRP could be beneficial in the treatment of COPD especially for decreasing hematocrit.

Allergen immunotherapy: Basic concepts

Allergen-specific immunotherapy is the therapeutic approach for allergic disorders with dysregulated immune responses, working through down-regulation of predominant T-cell and IgE mediated reactions by inducing immune tolerance by long-lived decrease in allergen-specific T-cell responsiveness through administration of allergen extracts in incremental doses. The potential candidates include mainly those with uncontrolled symptoms despite avoidance measures and medication use. Traditionally, immunotherapy is administered subcutaneously, although sublingual, mucosal, intranasal, intrabronchial, intralymphatic, and epicutaneous routes are also in existence. Currently, it has an established role in the treatment of allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, allergic asthma, and insect sting hypersensitivity. Other disorders demonstrating significant improvement on immunotherapy include atopic dermatitis, food allergies, etc., Newer therapies, such as anti-IgE (omalizumab) used in combination with immunotherapy, have improved the safety and efficacy of immunotherapy. Future studies involving scientific research with the aim of improving patient outcome using safer forms of immunotherapy through recombinant technology, including allergens with reduced allergenicity and T-cell epitope based allergy vaccines without reducing immunogenicity, are in process.

Tubercular round pneumonia simulating a mass lesion in an adult

Round pneumonia, a benign cause of spherical lesions seen on chest imaging, can many a times be difficult to distinguish from bronchogenic carcinomas. Although relatively less common in adults, this entity is seen in most pulmonary medicine and radiology practices and may lead to computed tomography and biopsy. Because round pneumonia can be easily managed with antibiotics and antitubercular drugs, this diagnosis should be considered in all patients with a spherical lesion, keeping in mind that bronchogenic carcinoma can be a diagnosis as well.

Assessment of awareness towards pharmacovigilance programme of india and reporting of adverse drug reactions among nurses in a tertiary care hospital

The core purpose of pharmacovigilance is to enhance patient care and generate the evidence-based information on safety of medicines. It is increasingly gaining significance in pursuit of safe-guarding public health by monitoring and prevention of adverse drug reactions. The mission of PvPI is to safeguard the health of the Indian population by ensuring that the benefits of use of medicine outweigh the risks associated with its use.

Retrospective analysis of adverse drug reactions reported at ADR monitoring centre under PvPI in a tertiary care hospital

According to latest WHO definition, ADR is “a harmful effect suspected to be caused by a drug”. The morbidity and mortality associated with ADRs have a great impact on health of the society and poses great economic burden on the health care system of the county but the major concern is that the reporting of ADRs is considerably less due to lack of awareness and improper communication. So spontaneous reporting of ADR is very important for future health prospects of the society. Pharmacovigilance helps in early detection of ADRs, identification of risk factors and understanding the mechanisms underlying the ADR. Pharmacovigilance is defined as, “The science and activities relating to the detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of adverse effects or any other possible drug-related problems”.

Crizotinib in treatment of lung cancer

Lung cancer is one of the most common malignancies and is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality throughout the world. Despite advances in surgery and chemotherapy, survival is still poor. Crizotinib is an oral inhibitor of multiple kinases, including anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), and is indicated in the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic? non small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) harboring ALK mutation as a targeted therapy. This is short drug review of crizotinib in the treatment of advanced lung cancer.

Atomic structure calculations of He and Li-like Ti ions for interpreting astrophysical spectra

Study of physical processes in astrophysical and fusion plasmas consists of detail analysis of high resolution atomic spectra obtained from such plasmas. The X-ray spectra from Ti, Cu, Ni and Fe K-shell and L-shell ions are particularly important for astrophysics as they are in wavelength range covered by telescopes on board space observatories like Chandra and XMM-Newton. To conduct the astrophysical plasma diagnostic studies of Active galactic nuclei (AGN), solar corona and other similar astronomical entities, a large number of accurate transition data both from theory and experiment are indispensable. Here we have calculated similar atomic data in use for these studies by multi-configuration Dirac-Fock (MCDF) formalism used in Grasp2K code. Calculations consists of ground and few low level excited states in He-like and Li-like Ti ions and some important transitions connecting these levels.