The sixth edition of Topley and Wilson's Principles , by Sir Graham Wilson and Sir Ashley Miles, with the help of Dr Elizabeth Asheshov and six others, has much the same arrangement and format as before. "Virology" has been added to the title, in view of its coverage in several chapters (one more than in the last edition). The production is excellent. The only misprint I detected was one in a short list of corrigenda. The index, over 7,000 entries, at the end of each volume, covers the whole book; in random tests I found no errors of commission and few of omission. Volume 1 (1,248 pp) comprises two parts, "General Bacteriology" and "Systematic Bacteriology." The latter considers only groups including at least some species important to medicine. Some minor idiosyncrasies of nomenclature, such as the uninflected form for specific names of geographical origin, eg, Mycobacterium kansas , will cause no confusion;

Topley and Wilson's Principles of Bacteriology, Virology and Immunity

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic and waterborne disease worldwide. It is a neglected, reemerging disease of global public health importance with respect to morbidity and mortality both in humans and animals. Due to negligence, rapid, unplanned urbanization, and poor sanitation, leptospirosis emerges as a leading cause of acute febrile illness in many of the developing countries. Every individual has a risk of getting infected as domestic and wild animals carry leptospires; the at-risk population varies from the healthcare professionals, animal caretakers, farmers and agricultural workers, fishermen, rodent catchers, water sports people, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel, people who volunteer rescue operations in flood-affected areas, sanitary workers, sewage workers, etc. The clinical manifestations of leptospirosis range from flu-like illness to acute kidney failure (AKF), pneumonia, jaundice, pulmonary hemorrhages, etc. But many rare and uncommon clinical manifestations are being reported worldwide. This review will cover all possible updates in leptospirosis from occurrence, transmission, rare clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prophylactic measures that are currently available, their advantages and the future perspectives, elaborately. There are less or very few reviews on leptospirosis in recent years. Thus, this work will serve as background knowledge for the current understanding of leptospirosis for researchers. This will provide a detailed analysis of leptospirosis and also help in finding research gaps and areas to focus on regarding future research perspectives.

Leptospirosis: a neglected tropical zoonotic infection of public health importance—an updated review

Although a preference for sons is reportedly a universal phenomenon, in some Asian societies daughters are considered financial and cultural liabilities. Increasing availability of ultrasonography and amniocentesis has led to widespread gender screening and selective abortion of normal female foetuses in many countries, including India. Feminists have taken widely divergent positions on the morality of this practice. Feminists from India have strongly opposed it, considering it as a further disenfranchisement of females in their patriarchal society, and have agitated successfully for legislative prohibitions. Libertarian feminists on the other hand, primarily from the United States, have argued that any prohibition of the use of this technology is a curtailment of a woman's reproductive choices and a violation of her right to make autonomous decisions regarding procreation. Using India as an illustrative case, this paper argues that in the context of what prevails in some societies, an ethical argument that hinges on the principle of autonomy as understood in the West can be problematic. Furthermore, a liberal theoretical assumption that it is always better to have more rather than fewer choices may not hold up well against the realities of life for such women. Although feminists have little disagreement concerning substantive matters, it is in the area of strategy that differences of opinion have arisen, their moral reasoning and responses shaped by the culture, ethnicity, class and race to which they belong. A view that a single 'orthodox' feminism of any variety can embody the aspiration of all women reverts to the problematic issues in the evolution of the rationalistic, individualistic, 'male' ethics against which women have consistently raised objections.

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/Delivery.cfm?abstractid=548043

Feminist Discourse on Sex Screening and Selective Abortion of Female Foetuses

Background To develop the culture of breastfeeding, it is needed to know the level of maternal knowledge. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate maternal knowledge and attitude toward exclusive breastfeeding in six months after birth in Shiraz, Iran. Materials and Methods This was a cross-sectional study carried out on mothers who referred to health centers. Four health centers were selected from four geographic areas of Shiraz city; finally, 201 mothers was selected and their demographic information and knowledge and attitude toward exclusive breastfeeding were gathered through a researcher made questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 14.0.  Results 201 mothers who were 18-45 years old were studied. 43% of them were 30-34 years old. 46% of maternal education level was bachelor andMaster of Science or more and 80% of them were housewives. Their level of knowledge was low (69.2%), moderate (11.4%) and high (19.4%) respectively. Regarding the level of attitude 11.4% of them were low, 15.4% of them were moderate and the others were high. There was a significant relationship between maternal knowledge with parents’ education and infants’ nutrition (breastfeeding) (P<0.05). Also, there was a significant relationship between maternal knowledge and attitude toward. Conclusion Although maternal attitude about exclusive breastfeeding was good, but maternal knowledge about breastfeeding was low. So, this problem leads them to initiate and continue breastfeeding with serious challenges. Therefore, health policy makers should train mothers to improve their knowledge for breastfeeding promotion.

http://ijp.mums.ac.ir/article_7414_c768d81b7671c221cbbb16f217227301.pdf

Maternal Knowledge and Attitude toward Exclusive Breastfeeding in Six Months after Birth in Shiraz, Iran

Background: Effective breastfeeding is a function of the proper positioning of mother and baby and attachment of child to the mother's breast. Positioning of the baby's body is important for good attachment and successful breastfeeding. The study was planned to assess mother–infant pair latch on position and its impact on health status of the child. Materials and Methods: It was community-based cross-sectional study conducted among 1267 children between age group of 0–24 months in the urban and rural field practice areas of the Department of Community Medicine, Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Mullana, Ambala, Haryana. A self-designed semi-structured questionnaire along with the WHO criteria for assessment of correct latch on position was used in this study. Results: Out of 1267 mothers, only 29.9% mothers initiated breastfeeding within 1 h of delivery. Mothers who had high parity had better positioning scores as compared to mothers with low parity. About 83.7% mothers who had parity >2 had excellent scores as compared to those mothers having one child or two children. About 56.8% and 62.7% children who suffered from diarrhea and acute respiratory infection (ARI), respectively, had mothers with poor positioning and this difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Conclusion: It was concluded that mothers who had higher parity had better positioning and attachment scores and also mothers with excellent positioning scores, their children suffered less from diarrhea and ARI. Each mother should be observed for mother's and infant's positioning and attachment at the onset of breastfeeding and if needed given counseling on correct positioning and attachment.

Effect of mother-infant pair's latch-on position on child's health: A lesson for nursing care

Background: The current study was planned to identify the epidemiological factors associated with leptospirosis in South Gujarat region using neighborhood controls. Methods: A total of 100 cases of leptospirosis occurred in South Gujarat region during the year 2012 were selected using simple random sampling. Three neighbors of the selected cases formed the controls ( n = 300). A pretested structured questionnaire was used for data collection and data were analyzed using Epi Info 2007. Results: There was significant association of illiteracy (odds ratio [OR] =1.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] =1.14–2.89), working in waterlogged fields during the reference season (OR = 4.6, 95% CI = 1.6–17.9), swimming/bathing in canals, open air defecation practices, storage of cow dung in or surrounding house, residence in the house made up of cow dung walls, households with access of food to rodents, injuries over hands/foot during the endemic season (OR = 3, 95% CI = 1.8–4.8), and history of skin disease during the endemic season (OR = 4.2, 95% CI = 2–8.5), with leptospirosis. Only 10% of individuals had gumboots for protection. A total of 83 (83%) cases and 240 (80%) controls had taken oral doxycycline chemoprophylaxis ( P > 0.05). Cases had taken chemoprophylaxis for a median 4 weeks (range: 1–8) while controls had taken the same for median 8 weeks (range = 1–8) ( P Conclusions: Although the commonly established factors appear to be associated with leptospirosis, the role of host factors seems to play a more important role in determining susceptibility to leptospirosis in exposed individuals.

A case-control study of epidemiological factors associated with leptospirosis in South Gujarat region.

Background: Breastfeeding is a widespread practice in though out India. However it has been changing over the years, particularly in the past few decades. We need to keep exploring Knowledge and practices of mother regarding breast feeding for timely intervention and maintenance of his valuable age old practice. 
Objective: This study was aimed to explore mother’s knowledge, attitude and practice regarding breastfeeding. 
Methods: By using pre tested questioner, 200 mother delivered in last one year were interviewed to obtain information regarding knowledge, Attitude and practice of breast feeding. The study was conducted in area served by an Urban Health Clinic. 
Result: Knowledge on proper breast feeding technique was found inadequate in study participants. Only 10% women were aware about intitiation of breast feeding within half hour of delivery. Benefits of colostrums, importance of exclusive breast feeding and benefits of night feeding were known to 25%, 15% and 15% mothers respectively. Less than half (41.4%) mother had started breast feeding within half hour of birth while 15% were practicing exclusive breast feeding. Attachment and positioning techniques of 60% mother were found improper. None of the mother interviewed in the study got counseling on breast feeding during ANC visits. 
Conclusion: Harmful socio-cultural practices like giving prelacteal feeds, delayed initiation of breastfeeding after birth, late introduction of weaning foods and avoidance of exclusive breastfeeding are still common among the mothers.

Are Today’s Mother Aware Enough About Breast Feeding?: A Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Study on Urban Mothers -

Introduction: Gender bias is strikingly apparent in educational access, employment avenues and representation in the field of politics. In fact violation of the rights of a girl child is rampant and this extends to the whole spectrum from foeticide to neglect to labour to trafficking, rape and eventually ends with her death. This study was conducted to know perception regarding various aspects associated with female gender bias and the awareness among respondents on prevailing schemes for the benefit of women. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in Tribal District of Tapi in 2013 using a semi-structured interview schedule. Data was entered in Microsoft Excel 2003 and was analyzed in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 16. Result: It was remarkably observed that 121(80.7%) has no gender preference for their 1 st child, 17(11.3%) participants has female child preference while 12(8.0%) has male child preference for their 1 st child. 137(91.3%) participants were aware of the fact that the repeated prenatal sex diagnosis and abortions are detrimental to the mental and physical health of a woman. Conclusion: Most of the participants have no gender preference as first child. Good awareness was found regarding the prenatal sex determination test. Most common answer for the desire for male child was to run the family tree.

Perception regarding gender bias in tribal community of tapi district of south gujarat, western india

Introduction: Leptospirosis, zoonotic disease with very wide geographical distribution, is likely to be missed due to its wide spectrum of symptoms which may mimic the clinical signs of many other diseases. The present study was carried out to study the epidemiology, clinical and laboratory profile of died patients with confirm leptospirosis in Surat and Navsari Districts. Methods and Material: A household visits were done for all leptospirosis confirmed death cases of Surat and Navsari district during 15th June to 31st Oct 2012. Result: Out of 13 patients all were male, 10(76.9%) were in age group (20-45 years), 11 (84.6%) patients had history of exposure while working in farm in last 15 days and 12 (92.3%) patients had received Doxycycline chemoprophylaxis in current year. Most common presenting symptoms were fever (100%) followed by calf muscle myalgia (92.3%), jaundice (92.3%) and Oliguria (92.3%). Mean serum billirubin level, SGPT, SGOT, Serum blood Urea and creatinin were 13.7mg/dl, 111.5 IU/l, 139.7 U/l, 184.85mg/dl and 4.5mg/dl respectively. Severe anemia, thrombocytopenia and coagulopathy were found in all cases. The average duration between onset of the symptoms and first medical consultation was 3.1 days and duration between onset of symptoms and first dose of antibiotics was 3.7 days. Conclusion: Hepatic dysfunction, acute renal failure, coagulopathy, ARDS were the commonest presentation requiring artificial ventilation among deceased Leptospirosis cases. Delay in medical consultation and first dose of antibiotics may be a reason for Multi-organ dysfunction in these cases.

Death audit of leptospirosis cases in surat and navsari district of south gujarat

Suicide has become one of the leading cause of death in adolecesnt age group. In this abstract we are trying to find out causes of increasing trends and preventive stratigies.

/pdf/assessment-of-knowledge-attitudes-and-practices-of-emergency-2na15503wv.pdf

Fenil Patel

Papers

A case-control study of epidemiological factors associated with leptospirosis in South Gujarat region.

Are Today’s Mother Aware Enough About Breast Feeding?: A Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Study on Urban Mothers -

Perception regarding gender bias in tribal community of tapi district of south gujarat, western india

Death audit of leptospirosis cases in surat and navsari district of south gujarat

Assessment of knowledge, attitudes and practices of emergency contraception among college students -