Leukotriene Antagonists in Dermatology.

Leukotriene antagonists constitute an important group of drugs in the therapeutic armamentarium of all dermatologists. It has been quite valuable in the management of various types of urticaria and atopic dermatitis. Recently, the role of zileuton in the management of acne has been elaborated, and in the near future it could be used as a first-line agent for the same, thereby preventing adverse effects and antibiotic resistance encountered following antibiotic use.

Intensive Care in India in 2018-2019: The Second Indian Intensive Care Case Mix and Practice Patterns Study.

Background: We aimed to study organizational aspects, case mix, and practices in Indian intensive care units (ICUs) from 2018 to 2019, following the Indian Intensive Care Case Mix and Practice Patterns Study (INDICAPS) of 2010-2011.

Methods: An observational, 4-day point prevalence study was performed between 2018 and 2019. ICU, patient characteristics, and interventions were recorded for 24 hours, and ICU outcomes till 30 days after the study day.

Burden of malnutrition among school-going children in a slum area of Kolkata: A matter of concern.

Background: Malnutrition is still a great barrier to the growth and development of children, especially in India. Children from the underprivileged sections of the society like slum children are more vulnerable to both undernutrition and overnutrition. This study aimed to estimate the magnitude of malnutrition among school-going children in a slum area of Kolkata and to elicit the association of nutritional status with parental education.

Period of Sun Exposure and Vitamin D Status among the Rural Elderly Women of West Bengal, India.

Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency has been found to be prevalent among Indian elderly women. Aging has a significant association with decreased concentration of 7-dehydrocholesterol, the precursor of Vitamin D3 in the skin.

Objective: The aim is to find out the association between the period of sun exposure and serum 25(OH) D level among rural elderly women of West Bengal, India.

The potential role of mesenchymal stem cells in modulating antiageing process.

Ageing and age-related diseases share some basic origin that largely converges on inflammation. Precisely, it boils down to a common pathway characterised by the appearance of a fair amount of proinflammatory cytokines known as inflammageing. Among the proposed treatment for antiageing, MSCs gained attention in recent years.

Dissociative experiences and health anxiety in panic disorder.

Background: Dissociative experiences and health anxiety are frequently encountered in anxiety disorders and contribute to the burden of illness.

Aim: The aim was to assess and compare dissociative experiences and level of health anxiety in patients with panic disorder and normal individuals.

Materials And Methods: We recruited forty eligible patients with panic disorder and forty healthy volunteers without any psychiatric diagnoses.

Hazardous practices related to blood borne viral infection transmission among male barbers: A study in a rural area of West Bengal.

Background: Barbers are occupationally predisposed to blood borne viral infection (BBVI) such as human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and C. Unhygienic workplaces, improper disinfection and inadequate wound-care can increase the susceptibility of both clients and barbers to BBVI. There is paucity of studies on practices regarding BBVI among barbers, especially in India.

Role of written examination in the assessment of attitude ethics and communication in medical students: Perceptions of medical faculties.

Background: The study aims to record the perceptions of medical faculties regarding the effectiveness of theory-based examination to assess the newly introduced competencies of attitude ethics and communication (AETCOM) in the competency-based medical curriculum for Indian medical graduates.

Materials And Methods: This is an analytical cross-sectional study performed on the month of February 2020 where a prevalidated questionnaire consisting of components of AETCOM was e-mailed to the teaching faculties of IQ City Medical College via Google Forms. Consenting faculties responded.

Menstrual psychosis: A not so forgotten reality.

Menstrual psychosis is a rare entity, reported mostly as case studies in the medical literature. It presents with an acute onset of psychotic symptoms lasting for a short duration in a previously normal patient and occurring in rhythm with her menstrual cycle. It is usually associated with complete recovery in between episodes.

Association between duration of coal dust exposure and respiratory impairment in coal miners of West Bengal, India.

. The prevalence and severity of respiratory disorders are very high among coal miners as continuous exposure of workers in such an environment leads to accumulation of dust in the lungs. This study was designed to assess the prevalence of lung function impairment and to determine whether there is any correlation between dust exposure duration and lung function indices.

Teachers' perceptions on student evaluation of teaching as a tool for faculty development and quality assurance in medical education.

Background: Student evaluation of teaching (SET) is considered to be one of the most important as well as inexpensive resources for sustaining professional development in medical teaching. The aim of this project was to improve the quality of education in our medical college by using student feedback as a tool for faculty development. However, it is also important to obtain teachers' perceptions on SET.

Association of Nutritional Status with Depression and Cognitive Function of Older Women Residing in Old-age Homes of Kolkata, India.

Introduction: Depression and cognitive function are said to be the foes of the nutritional status of the older adults. Depression is the most common psychological problem in old age, while deterioration of cognitive function is also observed in this age group.

Objectives: The main objective of the study is to find out the association of nutritional status with depression and cognitive function of older women.

Mobile phone involvement and dependence among undergraduate medical students in a Medical College of West Bengal, India.

Introduction: Mobile phone dependence has become an emerging public health problem. This cross-sectional study was conducted to find out the mobile phone involvement and dependence among undergraduate medical students in a Medical College of West Bengal, India.

Materials And Methods: A study was conducted at IQ City Medical College, Durgapur, District Burdwan, West Bengal, India, during July-August 2015 among 252 undergraduate medical students.

Combined effect of coal dust exposure and smoking on the prevalence of respiratory impairment among coal miners of West Bengal, India.

Accelerating prevalence of coal workers pneumoconiosis is considered as a serious occupational health problem. This cross-sectional study was designed to determine the prevalence of lung function impairment of underground coal miners in West Bengal, India. A total of 230 underground coal dust-exposed subjects and 130 nonexposed subjects were examined for lung function test and also information on sociodemographic characteristics, addiction, respiratory morbidity, personnel protective equipment and dust exposure were collected.

Private sector involvement envisaged in the National Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis Elimination 2017-2025: Can Tuberculosis Health Action Learning Initiative model act as a road map?

Tuberculosis (TB), one of the oldest diseases known to mankind has become a notifiable disease. Public private mixes guidelines for TB programme managers had already been published by Central TB Division in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. One of the tremendous challenges that impede private sector involvement in TB care is delayed diagnosis, treatment of variable quality, surveillance, adherence monitoring, contact investigation, and outcome recording.

Awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension among adult population in a rural community of Singur block, Hooghly District, West Bengal.

Background: Hypertension is an important treatable public health problem both globally and in India with an increasing prevalence significantly in both urban and rural population. It is one of the leading causes of adult mortality and morbidity, but poorly controlled hypertension remains a major health problem.

Objective: The objective of this study was to find out awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension among study population and association of hypertension awareness with sociodemographic factors, if any.

An Epidemiological Study of Blood Pressure and Its Relation with Anthropometric Measurements among Schoolboys of Burdwan Municipal Area, West Bengal.

Background: High blood pressure (BP) is often an underdiagnosed problem, because of the asymptomatic nature in early phases of onset during adolescence. This increases the chances of developing complications later during adult life.

Objective: The objective of this study was to find the relationship of BP with anthropometric measurements among school-going adolescent boys.

"Near-Miss obstetric events" and its clinico-social correlates in a secondary referral unit of Burdwan District in West Bengal.

Near-miss obstetric events (NMEs) refers to the situations where women experience severe, life-threatening obstetric complications during pregnancy, delivery, or postpregnancy (up to 42 days) which they survive either by chance or because they receive good care at a facility. A cross-sectional study was conducted from May to June 2016 at the subdivisional hospital of West Bengal. The WHO near-miss criteria were followed for case identification.

Tobacco-related morbidity and nicotine dependence: An experience in an urban slum of Burdwan district, West Bengal, India.

Tobacco use causes many diseases irrespective of age and sex. More the addiction, more is the occurrence of morbidity in terms of frequency and severity. This community-based study was conducted to find out any relationship between the morbidity associated with tobacco use and nicotine dependence.

Research submission: Some technicalities and vital links.

Publishing allows the author to share with the world his original findings, reasoning, important breakthroughs and it also creates the avenue for mandates of promotion and career upliftment. In an endeavour to publish an article, the first vital technicality that the authors face is selection of an appropriate journal. There has been steady increase in the number of predatory publishers and journals.

Nicotine dependence and its correlates among the adult tobacco users in a slum of Burdwan district, West Bengal, India.

Background: Tobacco kills half of its users, with smoking and smokeless tobacco killing nearly 6 million people worldwide - one death every 6 s in each year. Use of tobacco over time causes a physical and psychological addiction due to the presence of nicotine. To find out the level of nicotine dependence among adult (18 years and above) tobacco users and the factors responsible for it.