Natl Med J India
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The attainment of universal health coverage (UHC) is incomplete without achieving respectful maternity care (RMC). While planning for UHC, the need and importance of RMC should be considered. In India, the government has started a health scheme on UHC, namely the Ayushman Bharat Scheme. RMC being an important component of UHC, if not achieved, will result in failure to achieve UHC in the true sense.
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Background Paraquat is an inexpensive herbicide used in agriculture because it is easily available and the cost of labour for manual clearance of weeds is prohibitive. Paraquat is toxic to human beings and is also used for committing suicide. We studied the reasons for under-reporting of paraquat poisoning including those related to the training of doctors. ⋯ Most of the casualty medical officers and residents were unfamiliar with the symptoms and signs of paraquat poisoning as was evident by their answers to the questionnaire. Knowledge of medical students about paraquat poisoning was not assessed in the theory examinations and viva. Conclusion Factors contributing to the limitation in establishing the diagnosis are illiteracy and ignorance of the patients, lack of specific signs and lack of training of medical officers in treating patients with paraquat poisoning.
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Hydropneumopericardium is defined as the presence of air and water in the pericardial cavity. Several causes have been postulated which can lead to hydropneumopericardium including trauma, infections secondary to gas-producing bacilli, fistula formation, positive pressure ventilation or even spontaneously without an underlying cause in healthy adults and rarely after pericardiocentesis. ⋯ Hydropneumopericardium is an uncommon but easily diagnosable and avoidable complication of pericardiocentesis. It should be suspected whenever the patient develops increasing dyspnoea following a temporary relief by pericardiocentesis.
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Background An increase in epicardial fat thickness (EFT) has been associated with increased cardiovascular risk and the development of atherosclerosis. Transthoracic echo-cardiography provides a reliable measurement of EFT. We evaluated the relationship of EFT with carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and ankle-brachial index (ABI), in patients with metabolic syndrome. ⋯ Interestingly, only 1 patient with an EFT <3 mm had a CIMT >0.9 mm. Conclusion We found that the EFT correlates with CIMT in patients with metabolic syndrome, which explains, at least in part, the higher risk of atherosclerosis in them. Measurement of EFT should be part of the cardiovascular risk evaluation in patients with metabolic syndrome.
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We report a patient with flagellate dermatitis (shiitake dermatitis) appearing 48 hours after consumption of shiitake mushrooms in a previously healthy 37-year-old man. The skin lesion resolved completely within a week following treatment with antihistamine and topical steroid cream (dexamethasone 0.1%).