Training and National deficit of psychiatrists in India - A critical analysis.

India is the second most populous country in the world, with an estimated current population of 1.17 billion. This article aims to estimate the deficit of psychiatrists in India in relation to epidemiological burden of mental illness, propose short-term and long-term strategies to tackle the deficit and emphasize the importance of modifying the curriculum of undergraduate medical education to enable the proposed strategies.

Evaluation of estrogen receptor and circulating estradiol levels in pre- and postmenopausal women with periodontal disease.

Although the presence of estrogen receptors (ERs) in the gingival tissues has been confirmed, there is as yet insufficient literature regarding its expression in periodontal health and disease. Gingival samples were collected from 40 subjects who were divided into four groups. (Group A, premenopausal health; Group B, premenopausal periodontitis; Group C, postmenopausal health; Group D, postmenopausal periodontitis).

Management of esophageal perforation: experience from a tertiary center in India.

Background/aim: The management of esophageal perforations remains controversial in large part due to variability in etiology, time of presentation, location, and underlying esophageal disease. We reviewed our experience in treating patients with esophageal perforations and evaluated the etiology, management and outcome of intervention in a tertiary center.

Methods: Between 1999 and 2007, 48 patients with esophageal perforation were treated in a tertiary referral center in southern India.

Prevalence of dental fluorosis and associated risk factors in 11-15 year old school children of Kanyakumari District, Tamilnadu, India: a cross sectional survey.

Objectives: This study presents data on the prevalence and severity of dental fluorosis in 11-15-years-old school children of Kanyakumari district, TamilNadu, India, and also the relationships between prevalence of dental fluorosis and selected risk factors.

Materials And Methods: A total of 1800 children, from all the nine blocks of Kanyakumari district, studying in classes 6-10 were examined using type III examination. The assessment form designed specifically for this study was used while examining each student.

The use of dried blood spots on filter paper for the diagnosis of HIV-1 in infants born to HIV seropositive women.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the most sensitive test to diagnose HIV-1 infection among infants born to HIV seropositive mothers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of dried blood spot (DBS) specimens for PCR and to compare it with whole-blood stored in tubes for HIV-1 DNA PCR. Five hundred and seventy-seven whole-blood infant samples were tested using HIV-1 qualitative in-house nested DNA PCR.

Topical phenytoin solution for treating pressure ulcers: a prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial.

Study Design: Prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of topical phenytoin solution in treating pressure ulcers among patients with spinal cord disorders and to evaluate the systemic absorption of topical phenytoin.

Setting: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India.

Component therapy.

The dramatic advances that have taken place in recent years in the care of sick and premature infants also have been matched by a similar increase in the use of blood transfusion therapy. Haematological features indicate that a newborn has a blood volume of 85-125 ml/kg the foetal haemoglobin is 60-85% and average Hb in full term infant is 18 gm/dl. By 2-3 months it falls to 11-12 g/dl the main cause of anemia are iron poor diet, weaning diets recurrent or chronic infections and hemolytic episodes in malarious areas.

Global aspects of tuberculosis in children.

Tuberculosis (TB) in children reflects the prevalence of the disease in adults as well as current transmission rates. Africa and South-east Asia have the largest number of tuberculosis cases and the situation there has been worsened by the HIV epidemic. Children born to HIV-infected parents, whether infected or not, are at high risk of developing tuberculosis because of the increased risk of exposure to the disease.

Eye donation movement in India.

Late Dr RES Muthiah started the very first eye bank in India and the first corneal transplantation took place successfully by him in India in 1948. From then on a movement started for donation of eyes. The prime concept of Eye Bank Association of India (EBAI) is to motivate the people for eye donation.

Detection of antibodies to HIV-1 in serum and saliva.

In this study we report the detection of antibodies to HIV-1 in paired serum and saliva collected from 118 HIV-1 infected patients and 80 normal controls in Madras, South India. Saliva was collected using Omnisal (R) collection device. All the reactive samples were confirmed by Western blot test (WB), while all the control serum and saliva were negative for HIV-1 antibodies.

Detection of HIV infection in pulmonary tuberculosis patients.

Well documented 112 pulmonary tuberculosis patients were studied for the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositivity by using two antibody screening tests along with western blot test. Nineteen of the pulmonary tuberculosis patients were HIV seropositive, 12 were acid-fast bacillus smear positive; 12 patients were tuberculin skin test positive and 15 patients were culture positive. As the incidence of HIV infection is increasing in India, it is observed that patients co-infected with HIV and TB are also on the rise.