North Bengal Medical College

About: North Bengal Medical College is a other organization based out in Darjeeling, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Cancer. The organization has 624 authors who have published 691 publications receiving 5492 citations.

Risk factors for coronary heart disease in Indians: a case-control study from Eastern India.

Abstract: We conducted a hospital-based case-control investigation (150 cases and 176 controls) to examine the putative role of conventional risk factors in subjects with and without coronary heart disease from Eastern India. Multivariate binary logistic regression revealed the following as significant risk factors for coronary heart disease: male sex (OR = 4.6, p = 0.001), elevated total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein ratio (OR = 4.0, p = 0.001), systolic blood pressure (OR = 3.0, p = 0.004), diastolic blood pressure (OR = 3.6, p = 0.002), fasting plasma glucose (OR = 3.0, p = 0.05), post-pondrial plasma glucose (OR = 3.2, p = 0.005), Impaired fasting glucose (OR = 3.7, p = 0.002), elevated triglyceride (OR = 3.1, p = 0.018), increased total cholesterol (OR = 3.0, p = 0.029), low-density lipoprotein (OR = 3.1, p = 0.001), low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein ratio (OR = 3.4, p = 0.004), central obesity (OR = 3.0, p = 0.006), smoking (OR = 3.7, p = 0.001) and urban residence (OR = 3.1, p = 0.003). In this study, the discriminant analysis showed that 77.2% of all entry for cases and 72.6% of all entry for controls were correctly classified using conventional risk factors and warrant early intervention for conventional risk factors.

A Study on Gender Preference and Awareness Regarding Prenatal Sex Determination among Antenatal Women in a Rural Area of Darjeeling District, West Bengal, India.

Abstract: Introduction Sex ratio is one of the major indicators to find the gender preferences in the community. Change in sex ratio reflects underlying socioeconomic, cultural patterns of a society. Aim The present study was conducted with the aim to find out the knowledge of antenatal women regarding the prenatal sex determination and the Pre Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PNDT) Act in a rural area along with assessing the gender preference in family among the study population. Materials and methods A community based, descriptive, cross-sectional study was undertaken in the villages of Matigara Block of Darjeeling district of West Bengal, which serves as a field practice area of North Bengal Medical College & Hospital for two months. A total of 116 pregnant women were included and a pre designed pre tested questionnaire was used to collect the socio demographic details. The data were analysed by SPSS 20.0 software for proportions with chi-square tests. Results Knowledge of sex determination and the PNDT Act were found to be 44.82% and 18.10% among antenatal women. Knowledge regarding assessment of gender preference showed 52.58% expect a boy in this pregnancy. It was found that the determinants for gender preference were caste, sex of the last pregnancy and current gender composition. It was found that the determinants for knowledge of sex determination are age of the mother and the gravida of the mother. It was also found that the factor for the knowledge regarding the PNDT Act is age of the mother. These associations are statistically significant. Conclusion This situation calls for a strategy which includes community based awareness campaigns, women employment, education, and empowerment and by ensuring effective implementation of PNDT Act by the government so that families find it difficult to undertake sex determination.

Vaginal Misoprostol for Cervical Priming before Gynaecological Procedures on Non Pregnant Women.

Abstract: BACKGROUND Misoprostol has been extensively researched for its use in obstetrics and has proved to be a very effective cervical softening agent before termination of pregnancy. The beneficial effects on cervical ripening may make misoprostol a desirable agent for helping cervical dilatation on non pregnant women also. The objective is to study the efficacy of preoperative vaginal application of misoprostol as cervical priming agent before gynaecological procedures on non pregnant women. METHODS DESIGN A randomized controlled trial. SETTING Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of two medical colleges. PARTICIPANTS 468 non pregnant pre-menopausal nulli-parous or parous women scheduled to have diagnostic D&C or diagnostic hysteroscopy operations. INTERVENTIONS 400 mcg intravaginal misoprostol (229 women) in the study group and 400 mg intravaginal metronidazole as placebo (231 women) in control group. OUTCOME MEASURE The main outcome measures were baseline cervical width at the beginning of the procedures, the number of women who required further cervical dilatation, time taken for dilatation, side effects and other complications. RESULTS Base line cervical width in the study group was significantly higher than control group (4.6±0.8 mm vs. 3.8±0.7 mm, p < 0.0001). 141 (61.57%) cases required further cervical dilatation in the study group compared to 206 (89.18%) in the control group (p < 0.0001). Time taken for further cervical dilatation was significantly lower in the study group compared to control group (48.3±18.4 sec vs. 68.6±17.3 sec, p < 0.0001). Cervical injury and uterine perforation occurred in 12 and 3 women respectively in the control group compared to 1 and 0 women respectively in the misoprostol group. Two most common side effects of vaginal misoprostol were mild lower abdominal pain (21%) and slight vaginal bleeding (09.2%) which were within tolerable limit. CONCLUSION Preoperative vaginal application of misoprostol before gynaecological procedures on non pregnant women decreases the cervical resistance, facilitates the cervical dilatation and operative procedures minimizing cervical or uterine injuries.

An epidemiological survey of carcinoma cervix in north Bengal zone.

Abstract: This paper presents the findings of an epidemiological survey aimed at detecting and recognizing women at high risk for cervical carcinoma with special reference to social habits economic background and educational standard in sub-Himalayan region West Bengal India. Analyses revealed that cervical carcinoma forms the largest group (73%) of all malignancies affecting the female reproductive organs. Significant correlations between cervical carcinoma and being 41-50 years old being of low socioeconomic status having had the first coitus before age 17 and having low literacy have been established. The authors suggest that the oncology and radiotherapy departments of North Bengal Medical College and Hospital be utilized as the center for the National Cancer Registration Project in North Bengal.

Profile of malignant lesions amongst children in North Bengal.

Abstract: in the incidence, type, response to therapy and mortality rate of some malignant neoplasm. For example, the Chinese Americans revealed a significantly lower mortality in leukemia but a higher mortality rate in nonHodgkin lymphoma (NHL) than for the Caucasion population(l). It is well known that acute lymphoblastic leukemia in black children is less responsive to therapy than in white. Keeping this in mind and also noticing a very high incidence of retinoblastomas and acute leukemias among children of different ethnic groups in the sub-Himalayan region of North Bengal, this study was conducted.