Indian J Med Res
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Background & objectives To assess the pattern of non-compliance to childhood safety practices among parents of children between one and five yr of age and to determine the reasons behind the same. Methods A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on 120 children between one and five yr of age through a questionnaire-based interview of the primary carer. Poor compliance was defined as compliance to <85 per cent of the recommended practices. ⋯ Parental perception of 'unnecessary' and 'lack of knowledge' were the main reasons behind non-compliance. Interpretation & conclusions Low compliance among families occurred with respect to safety on motor vehicles and avoidance of choking hazards. Change of parental perception and improved awareness is necessary for the prevention of unintentional childhood injuries.
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Background & objectives The global prevalence of vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) has increased two fold since 2010, accounting for 2.4 per cent of S. aureus infections. The emerging hVISA isolates and their increasing trends pose a serious therapeutic challenge. The present study investigated in vitro vancomycin and teicoplanin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) creep in S. aureus and assessed their revertants. ⋯ Revertant analysis of all the isolates that showed MIC creep phenomenon for vancomycin and teicoplanin reverted to their original MIC when the antibiotic pressure was withdrawn. Interpretation & conclusions In the present study setting, glycopeptide non-susceptibility was found in eight per cent of the isolates, and the present study found the occurrence of multiple van genes from isolates calculated from a single study center will impose a serious challenge in infection control and antibiotic policy. This study also underscores that heterogenic resistant isolates, upon exposure to vancomycin and teicoplanin at a minimum level, exhibited an increase in MIC, which will impact individuals receiving glycopeptide therapy.
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Background & objectives Food and waterborne illnesses remain a neglected public health issue in India. Events with large gatherings frequently witness outbreaks of acute diarrheal diseases due to consumption of contaminated food or water or poor food handling practices. In the present study, an outbreak of acute diarrhoeal disease (ADD) occurring among the attendees of a birthday party in rural Dibrugarh district in the northeastern Indian State of Assam was investigated. ⋯ The water samples were found satisfactory for human consumption. Interpretation & conclusions The findings suggested that S. sonnei infection could be implicated in the investigated food-borne diarrhoeal disease outbreak and that there was a potential for human-poultry cross-infection. Additionally, the study revealed concerning levels of S. sonnei resistance to recommended antibiotics and drew attention to their public health relevance.
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Background & objectives In gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST), not only genetic abnormalities are responsible for adverse clinical events, but epigenetic modifications also play a crucial role. MicroRNA (miRNA) dysregulation plays a significant role in carcinogenesis as miRNAs serve as natural silencer for their targets. Our study aimed to explore the miRNAs expression and its association with molecular and histopathological characteristics of GIST. ⋯ Additionally, miR-221/222, and miR-494 were down-regulated in most of the KIT exon 11 mutant subtypes, while miRNA-34a was associated with platelet derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) mutations. Interpretation & conclusions The present study showed that the down-regulation of these miRNAs may help better molecular classification and characterization of GISTs. Our results offer new insight into the association between miRNAs and histological features, enabling a more thorough understanding of GISTs at the molecular level.
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Background & objectives Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) manifests as a hereditary condition characterized by repeated bouts of fever, abdominal, chest, and joint discomfort, and swelling. Colchicine is the most common form of treatment, but it does not eliminate the disease. The underlying causes of the inflammatory mechanism are still not fully known. ⋯ In addition, when the gene expressions were compared between the healthy controls and FMF group, no significant difference was found for ITGA9, ITGB1, TNC, and SPP1 genes. Interpretation & conclusions The function of α9β1 and its ligands in FMF disease was investigated for the first time in this study as per our knowledge. Serum levels of these biomarkers may help identify potential new targets for FMF disease diagnosis and treatment approaches.