Nazia Uzma

A comparative clinical survey of the prevalence of refractive errors and eye diseases in urban and rural school children

OBJECTIVE To assess the prevalence of refractive error and common ocular diseases in school-aged children in urban and rural populations in and around Hyderabad, India. DESIGN Population-based, cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS A total of 3314 school children, 1789 from urban areas and 1525 from rural areas. METHODS The examination included visual acuity measurements, retinoscopy and autorefraction under cycloplegia, examination of the anterior segment and external eye, and ocular motility evaluation. RESULTS In the urban group the prevalence of uncorrected presenting and best-corrected visual impairment (< or = 20/40 in the better eye) was 9.8%, which dropped to 7.1% with presenting vision and was further reduced to 1.1% with best-corrected visual acuity. Uncorrected visual acuity in the rural group was 6.6%, which dropped to 3.3% with presenting vision and was further reduced to 2.5% with best-corrected visual acuity. The prevalence of refractive error was greater (25.2%) in the urban than the rural group (8%). Myopia measured with autorefraction was observed in 51.4% of urban children and 16.7% in rural children. Increased literacy rate, duration of study hours, and older age of the child were found to have contributed more to the prevalence of myopia in the urban group. Hyperopia with autorefraction was found to be 3.3% in the urban and 3.1% in the rural group. Hyperopia was associated with younger age in the study group. Trachoma was the leading cause of ocular morbidity in the rural group (3.5%) compared with the urban group (0.16%). Night blindness was reported in 3.2% of children in the rural group and 0.33% in the urban group. Vitamin A deficiency, low socio-economic status, and poor personal and environmental hygienic practice were found to have a positive correlation with ocular morbidity among rural group children. CONCLUSIONS Provision of health education, periodic visual screening programs, and primary eye care by trained health care personnel in the elementary schools will prevent the prevalence of refractive errors and common ocular diseases in school children.

Hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory activities of selenocystine in experimental liver injury of rats.

The study was evaluated to investigate the efficacy of selenocystine (CysSeSeCys), a well-known organoselenium compound, on the prevention of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute hepatic injury in Wistar rats. Forty healthy male Wistar rats were utilized in this study. Acute hepatotoxicity was induced by CCl4 intoxication in rats. Serum biological analysis, oxidative stress, immune parameters, and gene expression of COX-2 and CYP2E1 were carried out. Pretreatment of CysSeSeCys prior to CCl4 administration significantly prevented an increase in serum hepatic enzymatic activities. In addition, pretreatment of CysSeSeCys significantly prevented the formation of ROS, MDA, depletion of glutathione, and alteration of antioxidant enzyme activities in the liver of CCl4-intoxicated rats. This study also revealed that pretreatment with CysSeSeCys normalized the levels of interleukin 6 and10, IgG, and CD4 cell count. Pretreatment of CysSeSeCys significantly reversed COX-2 inflammatory response and the upregulation of CYP2E1 expression as well. Histopathological changes induced by CCl4 were also significantly attenuated by CysSeSeCys pretreatment. CysSeSeCys has a potent hepatoprotective effect on CCl4-induced liver injury in rats through its antioxidative, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activity.

Effect of henna (mehndi) on pulse oximetry reading

Introduction: Pulse oximetry is a frequently used and a non-invasive method for monitoring oxygen saturation in blood. It estimates arterial hemoglobin saturation by measuring the light absorbance of pulsating vascular tissue at two wavelengths which can be altered by various factors. Numerous factors could lead to inaccuracy or ambiguous information about oxygen saturation and might result in unwanted procedures. In many cultures, women decorate their fingernails and feet with henna. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of henna on the measurement of oxygen saturation. Methods: 100 healthy females with a mean age of 19±1.0 years with normal oxygen saturation at room air were included into the study. Individuals with cardiovascular disorders like congenital heart disease, heart failure, any respiratory diseases were excluded from the study. Henna was applied to all the participants on the distal phalanx of left index finger (test) of the individuals and kept for 2 hours whereas right index finger was left empty as control. After 2 hours of application, henna was scrapped off from left finger. Oxygen saturation in addition to radial pulse was determined on both tested and control finger. Similarly, oxygen saturation and radial pulse was again determined on 2nd day as well as on the 7th day of application of henna on both tested and control finger and were statistically compared. Results: Our results revealed no alteration in radial pulse after henna application even after 07th day (p value more than 0.05 in all the cases). However, a change in oxygen saturation was observed after 2 hours of application of henna till 07th day. Nonetheless, it must be emphasized that an increase of saturation of this minor magnitude (average 0.67%) does not translate into a clinically important change. Conclusion: Application of natural henna does not cause any major error in measurement of oxygen saturation in young healthy individuals. Keywords: Oxygen saturation, Pulse oximetry, Henna, Monitoring, Errors

Obstructive Sleep Apnea and the Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Profiles and Relationships

Abstract Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) is characterized by repetitive collapse of the upper airway during sleep. The resultant chronic intermittent hypoxia and recurrent arousals underlie many of its deleterious effects. The clustering of cardiovascular risk factors such as elevated blood pressure, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia with central obesity has been designated the metabolic syndrome (MS ; Syndrome X) . This chapter examines the clinical derangements manifesting as a result of the interplay between MS and OSA in adult persons, and explores some of the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms.