Health & Demographic Surveillance System Profile: The Birbhum population project (Birbhum HDSS).

The Birbhum HDSS was established in 2008 and covers 351 villages in four administrative blocks in rural areas of Birbhum district of West Bengal, India. The project currently follows 54 585 individuals living in 12557 households. The population being followed up is economically underprivileged and socially marginalized.

Efficacy of alternate-day versus everyday dosing of atorvastatin.

Background: Atorvastatin has a longer duration of action than other hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors.

Objectives: The objective was to evaluate the efficacy of alternate day vs. daily dosing of atorvastatin for the treatment of hyperlipidemia.

Micro-albuminuria: a predictor of short-term mortality in acute ischaemic stroke.

We studied 89 non-diabetic patients of acute ischaemic stroke, confirmed by imaging, admitted within 24 hours of onset, to investigate the prevalence and significance of micro-albuminuria (MA) as a predictor of in-hospital mortality. Two control groups consisted of 70 patients with non-stroke chronic neurological diseases and 60 age- and sex- matched healthy individuals. Spot urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio was measured in first morning sample on days 1, 4 and/or 7.

Effect of Sonachandi Chyawanprash and Chyawanprash Plus--two herbal formulations on immunomodulation.

The immunomodulatory effects of Sonachandi Chyawanprash and Chyawanprash Plus--two herbal formulations have been evaluated. Both the drugs increased the macrophage activity and their number indicating enhancement of non-specific immune response and reduction of chances of infection. Besides that both Sonachandi Chyawanprash and Chyawanprash Plus efficiently protected Cyclosporine A induced immunosuppression suggesting the immunoprotective role of the aforesaid herbal formulations.