Baba Raghav Das Medical College

About: Baba Raghav Das Medical College is a education organization based out in Gorakhpur, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Japanese encephalitis. The organization has 257 authors who have published 194 publications receiving 1589 citations. The organization is also known as: BRD Medical College.

Studies on essential oils: Part 10; Antibacterial activity of volatile oils of some spices

Abstract: The essential oils extracted from the seeds of seven spices, Anethum graveolens, Carum capticum, Coriandrum sativum, Cuminum cyminum, Foeniculum vulgare, Pimpinella anisum and Seseli indicum have been studied for antibacterial activity against eight pathogenic bacteria, causing infections in the human body. It has been found that the oil of C. capticum is very effective against all tested bacteria. The oil of C. cyminum and A. graveolens also gave similar results. These oils are equally or more effective when compared with standard antibiotics, at a very low concentration.

Knowledge awareness and attitude about epilepsy among schoolteachers in India

Abstract: Summary Purpose Despite recent advances in the management of epilepsy the efforts to assess knowledge, attitude and practice towards epilepsy are limited, particularly in the developing countries. To delineate the magnitude and scope of this problem, present study was conducted to assess the knowledge attitude and practice about epilepsy amongst schoolteachers in Northeast Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state of India. The basis of involving schoolteachers was their special role in Indian society with their larger interaction among the segment of population most affected by epilepsy. Methods Simple self-administered questionnaires were sent to the schoolteachers of primary and secondary levels. The questionnaires contained 15 questions related to awareness and attitudes towards epilepsy with details of first aid management of seizures. Results We found that 97% of schoolteachers were aware of epilepsy with majority including it as a brain disease. A substantial proportion (38.2%) was uncertain about relation of epilepsy and insanity and 31.7% felt epileptics to be of below average intelligence. Only about half of them (55.3%) preferred their children to play with an epileptic. An overwhelming no was obvious about marriage with an epileptic (86.8%). Only 27.8% of the respondents had given any first aid measure to a seizing patient with only 16.3% giving it properly. Conclusion Despite a great degree of awareness about epilepsy amongst schoolteachers in India negative and wrong attitudes still exist. Stress on proper first aid measure to a seizing child needs greater emphasis to remove fright and fear amongst the public. Besides adequate management, public education to address existing biases and fear are equally important to improve the quality of life of epileptics.

Critical analysis of cell block versus smear examination in effusions.

Abstract: Objectives: To assess the utility of the cell block preparation method in increasing the sensitivity of cytodiagnosis of serous fluids and to know the primary site of malignant effusions. Materials and Methods: A total of 190 cases were subjected to routine smear examination as well as cell block preparation. After the cytological diagnosis, each case was objectively analysed for cellularity, arrangement (acini, papillae, cell balls, and proliferation spheres), cytoplasmic, and nuclear details. Results: Out of 190 cases, 70 cases were found to be malignant and had been examined in smears and paraffin-embedded cell blocks. Using a combination of the cell block and smear techniques yielded 13% more malignant cases than what were detected using smears by themselves. The combined technique helped to ascertain the primary site of malignancy in 83.3% of the cases, whereas the primary site could not be ascertained in 17.7% of the cases. Conclusions: The cell block technique not only increased the positive results, but also helped to demonstrate better architectural patterns, which could be of great help in making correct diagnosis of the primary site. The cell block technique was also useful for special stains and immunohistochemistry and can give morphological details by preserving the architectural patterns.

Japanese encephalitis (JE). Part I: clinical profile of 1,282 adult acute cases of four epidemics

Abstract: Japanese encephalitis (JE) is numerically the most important global cause of encephalitis and so far confirmed to have caused major epidemics in India. Most of the reported studies have been in children. This largest study involving only adults, belonging to four epidemics, is being reported from Gorakhpur. The aim of this study is to detail the acute clinical profile (not viral) outcome and to classify the sequelae at discharge. This prospective study involved 1,282 adult patients initially diagnosed as JE admitted during the epidemics of 1978, 1980, 1988, and 1989, on identical clinical presentation and CSF examination. In the meantime, the diagnosis of JE was confirmed by serological and/or virological studies in only a representative number of samples (649 of 1,282 cases). Eighty-three left against medical advice (LAMA) at various stages, so 1,199 of 1,282 were available for the study. Peak incidence of [1,061 of 1,282 (83%)] of clinically suspected cases was from September 15 to November 2. Serum IgM and IgG were positive in high titers in 50.87% (330 of 649) and IgM positive in CSF in 88.75% (109 of 123) of the cases. JE virus could be isolated from CSF and brain tissue in 5 of 5 and 4 of 5 samples, respectively. Altered sensorium (AS) in (96%), convulsions (86%), and headache (85%) were the main symptoms for hospitalization by the third day of the onset. Other neurological features included hyperkinetic movements in 593 of 1,282 (46%)-choreoathetoid in 490 (83%) and bizarre, ill-defined in 103 (17%). The features of brain stem involvement consisted of opsoclonus (20%), gaze palsies (16%), and pupillary changes (48%) with waxing and waning character. Cerebellar signs were distinctly absent. Dystonia and decerebrate rigidity was observed in 43 and 6%, respectively, paralytic features in 17% and seizures in 30%. Many non-neurological features of prognostic importance included abnormal breathing patterns (ABP) (45%), pulmonary edema (PO) (33%), and upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage (UGIH) (16%). Injection dexamethasone was used in 1978 in all 208 cases, including 21 of PO. Patients were later randomized alternately in dexa and non-dexa groups. Forty-six cases of PO from the non-dexa group were transferred to the dexa group as an ultimate life-saving measure. Thus, it was administered in 737 of 1,199 patients including 529 patients from the later epidemics in doses of 4 mg IV every 8 h for 7 days. Of 1,199, 462 did not receive it. There was no significant difference in mortality (p > 0.05) between the dexa (42.47%) and the non-dexa group (42.86%). All PO cases expired; so after the exclusion of the PO cases from dexa group, the difference of 6.14% (42.86 and 36.72) became significant (p < 0.01) (511 of 1,199 (43%) expired, [320 of 511 (63%) died within 3 days of hospitalization]). Out of a total of 1,199 patients treated, 688 (57%) were discharged; 23 of 688 (3%) without any sequelae and 665 of 688 (97%) with neuropsychiatric deficits classified into nine groups. During the four epidemics, the diagnosis of JE was basically on identical clinical presentation of acute encephalitic syndrome (AES) consisting of (1) abrupt onset of fever, headache, and AS, (2) dystonias and various movement disorders, (3) opsoclonus and gaze palsies, (4) CSF findings, and (5) the presence of residual neuropsychiatric and neurological features in the survivors.

Grading complications after transurethral resection of prostate using modified Clavien classification system and predicting complications using the Charlson comorbidity index

Abstract: To retrospectively report and grade the peri-operative complications of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) using the modified Clavien classification system (MCCS) and validate whether Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) predicts the complications after TURP. Between September 2006 and 2012, data of 722 patients who underwent TURP were analyzed after excluding patients with incomplete data (n = 40). Data recorded included the age, prostate volume, operative time, mean prostatic tissue removed and duration of hospitalization while complications were recorded using the MCCS. Preexisting comorbidities were evaluated using the CCI, and patients were classified into 3 CCI score categories (0, 1, ≥2). Two hundred and forty-four complications were seen in 145 (20 %) patients. CCI score was “0” for 480 patients (66.5 %), “1” for 184 patients (25.5 %) and “≥2” for 58 patients (8 %). Significant difference was observed between patient groups with CCI score 0, 1 and ≥2 for mean age, prostatic weight, operative time, weight of prostatic chips and duration of hospitalization. Similarly, a significant difference in occurrence of various MCCS grades of complication among patients groups with different CCI score was observed. Grades I, II and III complications constituted the main bulk (90 %) while grade IV were less common (<8 %) and grade V was rare (1 %) after TURP. Men with higher CCI score had a significantly higher rate of morbidity than those with a lower score. The present study is the first to validate that CCI can predict complications of TURP recorded according to the MCCS.