http://www.indianjmedsci.org/currentissue.asp Indian J Med Sci 2006 - 60(12) Indian Journal of Medical Sciences Medknow Publications0019-5359 I Panigrahi F Ahmad R Kapoor PK Sharma G Makharia R Saxena Original Article Indian Journal of Medical Sciences 2006 60(12):491-495doi:10.4103/0019-5359.28978 Indian Journal of Medical Sciences 10.4103/0019-5359.28978 http://www.indianjmedsci.org/text.asp?2006/60/12/491/28978 http://www.indianjmedsci.org/text.asp?2006/60/12/491/289786012 491 495 http://www.indianjmedsci.org/text.asp?2006/60/12/491/28978 I Panigrahi, F Ahmad, R Kapoor, PK Sharma, G Makharia, R Saxena

Indian Journal of Medical Sciences 2006 60(12):491-495

BACKGROUND: Hereditary hemochromatosis is commonly due to two HFE1 (Histone Family E1) gene mutations - H63D and C282Y. Mutations in the Asian Indians are less well studied. AIMS: The aim of this preliminary study was to find out the prevalence of HFE gene mutations in nonviral liver cirrhosis patients. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Unexplained liver cirrhosis cases with transferrin saturation >45%, attending the gastroenterology clinic in the years 2004 and 2005 were subjects of the prospective study. Asymptomatic individuals with negative family history of hemolytic anemia or liver disease served as controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical presentation was recorded in the patients. Transferrin saturation was estimated by standard colorimetric technique. The two common mutations in HFE1 gene and Y250X mutation of TFR (transferrin receptor) gene were studied by polymerase chain reaction based methods. RESULTS: A majority of the cases were sporadic, but family history was positive in four patients. In one family with multiple affected members, there was clear evidence of autosomal dominant inheritance. Seven out of 31 (22.6%) of unexplained cirrhosis cases were positive for mutations. One was homozygous for H63D. In healthy controls, prevalence was 8.1% (6/74). None of the patients or controls was positive for C282Y mutation of HFE1 or Y250X of TFR gene. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, in a number of cases of hemochromatosis in Indians, a gene with dominant inheritance may be involved in causation of the phenotype. The prevalence of HFE mutations in Indians is comparable to that reported from neighboring countries. It is worth studying other mutations in HFE gene and other iron overload genes in cryptogenic cirrhosis cases.]]> http://www.indianjmedsci.org/text.asp?2006/60/12/491/28978 GK Medhi NC Hazarika B Shah J Mahanta Original Contributions Indian Journal of Medical Sciences 2006 60(12):496-505doi:10.4103/0019-5359.28979 Indian Journal of Medical Sciences 10.4103/0019-5359.28979 http://www.indianjmedsci.org/text.asp?2006/60/12/496/28979 http://www.indianjmedsci.org/text.asp?2006/60/12/496/289796012 496 505 http://www.indianjmedsci.org/text.asp?2006/60/12/496/28979 GK Medhi, NC Hazarika, B Shah, J Mahanta

Indian Journal of Medical Sciences 2006 60(12):496-505

BACKGROUND: Assam is the highest tea producer state in the country. There is scarcity of reliable information on health and nutritional status among tea garden population of Assam to enable initiating public health response to their health needs. AIMS: To describe health problems and nutritional status among tea garden population of Assam. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Community-based cross-sectional survey in eight randomly selected tea gardens of Dibrugarh district of Assam. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics of participants were recorded. Health problems and nutritional status were assessed through medical examination, evaluation of medical records, anthropometry and laboratory investigations. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS : Percentage prevalence; Chi-square test was applied wherever applicable. RESULTS: Out of 4,016 participants, 1,863 were male and 2,153 were female. They were mostly illiterate, and nearly 52.9% (1,197 of 2,264) of adults were manual workers in the garden. Alcohol and oral tobacco use were common. Prevalence of underweight among children was 59.9% (357 of 596), and thinness among adults was 69.9% (1,213 of 1,735). Anemia was widespread. Worm infection (65.4%, 217 of 332); skin problems; respiratory infections, including tuberculosis; filariasis were present in a significant way. Children suffered more in various diseases. Major noncommunicable diseases like hypertension, stroke were emerging in the community and were associated with modifiable risk factors like alcohol and tobacco use. CONCLUSION: Health status of the population can be ameliorated through better hygienic practices, environmental sanitation, creating health awareness, nutritional intervention and overall improvement of socioeconomic conditions of the population.]]> http://www.indianjmedsci.org/text.asp?2006/60/12/496/28979 Manju Rahi DK Taneja Amrita Misra NB Mathur Suresh Badhan Original Contributions Indian Journal of Medical Sciences 2006 60(12):506-513doi:10.4103/0019-5359.28980 Indian Journal of Medical Sciences 10.4103/0019-5359.28980 http://www.indianjmedsci.org/text.asp?2006/60/12/506/28980 http://www.indianjmedsci.org/text.asp?2006/60/12/506/289806012 506 513 http://www.indianjmedsci.org/text.asp?2006/60/12/506/28980 Manju Rahi, DK Taneja, Amrita Misra, NB Mathur, Suresh Badhan

Indian Journal of Medical Sciences 2006 60(12):506-513

BACKGROUND: Despite efforts by government and other agencies, neonatal morbidity and mortality continues to be high in India. Among other reasons, newborn care practices are major contributors for such high rates. AIMS: To find out the newborn care practices including delivery practices, immediate care given after birth and breast-feeding practices in an urban slum of Delhi. SETTINGS AND DESIGN : Community based, cross-sectional survey in a resettlement colony (a type of urban slum). MATERIALS AND METHODS : Semi-structured, pre-tested schedule was used to interview 82 mothers of newborns in the study area. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS : Data was analyzed using Epi - info version 6.04. Fischer exact test and c2 test were applied. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION : More than half i.e. 26 (56.1%) of home deliveries, which were mostly conducted by dais (24, 91.3%) or relatives in 4 (8.7%) of home deliveries. Bathing the baby immediately after birth was commonly practiced in 38 (82.6%) of home deliveries. Finger was used to clean the air passage in most of the home deliveries (29, 63%). About 61% (28) of home delivered newborns were not weighed at birth. Rooming in was practiced in majority of the cases. A few of home delivered neonates (12) were given injection tetanus toxoid by unqualified practitioners. Use of clip, band or sterile thread to tie the cord and no application to the cord was significantly higher in institutional deliveries. Breast milk as the first feed was significantly more in institutional deliveries. There is an urgent need to reorient health care providers and to educate mothers on clean delivery practices and early neonatal care.]]> http://www.indianjmedsci.org/text.asp?2006/60/12/506/28980 Yuval Melamed Gil Ophir Yael Nechama Ruth Abramovitzh Netta Notzer Alan Apter Original Contributions Indian Journal of Medical Sciences 2006 60(12):514-519doi:10.4103/0019-5359.28981 Indian Journal of Medical Sciences 10.4103/0019-5359.28981 http://www.indianjmedsci.org/text.asp?2006/60/12/514/28981 http://www.indianjmedsci.org/text.asp?2006/60/12/514/289816012 514 519 http://www.indianjmedsci.org/text.asp?2006/60/12/514/28981 Yuval Melamed, Gil Ophir, Yael Nechama, Ruth Abramovitzh, Netta Notzer, Alan Apter

Indian Journal of Medical Sciences 2006 60(12):514-519

OBJECTIVES: We examined the quality of instruction in a continued medical education course and the correspondence between the residents and lecturers evaluations of the program. MATERIALS AND METHODS : Resident psychiatrists and instructors completed structured evaluation forms immediately following each lecture in a psychiatry course for one academic year. RESULTS : Residents' and lecturers' evaluations of goal achievement, but not general ratings of lecture quality correlated positively. Instructors' enthusiasm, clarity and appropriateness of subject matter and encouragement of independent thinking, but not audio-visual aids significantly correlated with resident's positive evaluations. CONCLUSIONS : Ongoing evaluation of classroom lectures by resident psychiatrists may provide valuable feedback to instructors and impact the quality of medical education. The "classic" role of the teacher organization and enthusiasm are the most important components of quality education.]]> http://www.indianjmedsci.org/text.asp?2006/60/12/514/28981 Nigil Haroon Amita Aggarwal Naveen Garg Narendra Krishnani Neerja Kumari Vikas Agarwal Letter To Editor Indian Journal of Medical Sciences 2006 60(12):520-522doi:10.4103/0019-5359.28982 Indian Journal of Medical Sciences 10.4103/0019-5359.28982 http://www.indianjmedsci.org/text.asp?2006/60/12/520/28982 http://www.indianjmedsci.org/text.asp?2006/60/12/520/289826012 520 522 http://www.indianjmedsci.org/text.asp?2006/60/12/520/28982 Nigil Haroon, Amita Aggarwal, Naveen Garg, Narendra Krishnani, Neerja Kumari, Vikas Agarwal

Indian Journal of Medical Sciences 2006 60(12):520-522

]]> http://www.indianjmedsci.org/text.asp?2006/60/12/520/28982 T Ravindra NK Lakshmi YR Ahuja Practitioners section Indian Journal of Medical Sciences 2006 60(12):523-535doi:10.4103/0019-5359.28983 Indian Journal of Medical Sciences 10.4103/0019-5359.28983 http://www.indianjmedsci.org/text.asp?2006/60/12/523/28983 http://www.indianjmedsci.org/text.asp?2006/60/12/523/289836012 523 535 http://www.indianjmedsci.org/text.asp?2006/60/12/523/28983 T Ravindra, NK Lakshmi, YR Ahuja

Indian Journal of Medical Sciences 2006 60(12):523-535

Melatonin is a neuroendocrine hormone secreted by the pineal gland to transduce the body's circadian rhythms. An internal 24 hour time keeping system (biological clock) regulated by melatonin, controls the sleep-wake cycle. Melatonin production is a highly conserved evolutionary phenomenon. The indole hormone is synthesized in the pinealocytes derived from photoreceptors. Altered patterns and/or levels of melatonin secretion have been reported to coincide with sleep disorders, jetlag, depression, stress, reproductive activities, some forms of cancer and immunological disorders. Lately, the physiological and pathological role of melatonin has become a priority area of investigation, particularly in breast cancer, melanoma, colon cancer, lung cancer and leukemia. According to the 'melatonin hypothesis' of cancer, the exposure to light at night (LAN) and anthropogenic electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) is related to the increased incidence of breast cancer and childhood leukaemia via melatonin disruption. Melatonin's hypothermic, antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties, attribute it to an immunomodulator and an oncostatic agent as well. Many clinical studies have envisaged the potential therapeutic role of melatonin in various pathophysiological disorders, particularly cancer. A substantial reduction in risk of death and low adverse effects were reported from various randomized controlled trials of melatonin treatment in cancer patients. This review summarizes the physiological significance of melatonin and its potential role in cancer therapy. Furthermore, the article focuses on melatonin hypothesis to represent the cause-effect relationship of the three aspects: EMF, LAN and cancer.]]> http://www.indianjmedsci.org/text.asp?2006/60/12/523/28983