We report a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among pregnant women and adolescent girls from a rural Indian community. Boys are relatively protected. Seasonal variation in serum 25OHD is significant at latitude 26 degrees N.

OBJECTIVES:To understand the association of antidepressant-related weight gain with various aspects of worker productivity. METHODS: Employed individuals (Ն18 years of age) with diagnosed depression (excluding bipolar disorder) completed a web-based computer-generated 25-minute survey (study population identified by Harris Interactive). Weight gain was measured using the Toronto Side Effects Scale which measures medication-related side effects in the 2-weeks preceding the survey, and was analyzed as a 4-level ordinal variable (none, Ͻϭ2lbs, Ͻϭ4lbs, and Ͻϭ7lbs), where "none" was the referent category. The Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) questionnaire was used to assess percent of impaired productivity (overall, absenteeism, presenteeism, activity impairment) during the 2-weeks preceding the survey, with higher numbers indicating greater impairment and less productivity (i.e., worse outcomes). Using distribution among current antidepressant users, each WPAI measure was categorized into quintiles, with the lowest and highest representing least and greatest impairment, respectively. Cumulative logit models were used to estimate the overall effect of weight gain on WPAI measures as well as across gender. RESULTS: Of the 1521 survey respondents, 872 (57%) reported current antidepressant use (60.6% female, mean age 49.9 Ϯ 13.5 years). Weight gain was associated with loss of productivity: Ͻϭ2lbs (odds ratio [OR]ϭ 1.54; pϭ0.005), Ͻϭ4lbs (ORϭ 2.14 ; pϭ0.0007 ) and Ͻϭ7lbs (ORϭ 2.96; pϭ 0.0009). In females, using "no weight gain" as a reference group, the odds of being in a worse overall productivity category increased with the increase of weight gain: Ͻϭ2lbs (odds ratio [OR]ϭ1.59; pϭ0.02), Ͻϭ4lbs (ORϭ2.17; pϭ0.005) and Ͻϭ7lbs (ORϭ3.13; pϭ0.01). Similar trends were observed in males: Ͻϭ2lbs (ORϭ1.43; pϭ0.15), Ͻϭ4lbs (ORϭ2.00; pϭ0.06) and Ͻϭ7lbs (ORϭ2.86; pϭ0.02). CONCLUSIONS: In employees with depression, antidepressant-related weight gain was associated with loss in overall productivity. Additional research to quantify the indirect costs of antidepressant-related weight gain in terms of productivity losses may be useful. OBJECTIVES:Health care research in present scenario is a platform wherein a range of interventions play their role to alleviate suffering and mitigate the course of diseases. Gaming console have so far demonstrated promising and considerable potential as rehabilitation and lifestyle treatments. The objective of this review was to study the advent and role of new generation gaming consoles (e.g. Nintendo Wii, Xbox, and PS3) in healthcare research in a systematic manner. METHODS: A consolidated search strategy was developed and run in EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane, POPLINE, SCOPUS, and Clinicaltrials.gov databases to identify the trials utilising gaming consoles as principal intervention or supportive treatment in various disease areas. Grey literature was also identified though Google Scholar. Data extraction was performed and results were summarized. RESULTS: The data revealed that motion senso...

Background: Carcinoma of uterine cervix is most common cancer amongst women in developing countries and rates the second most common cancer in women throughout the world. Despite possible correlation with factor like age, sexual activity, multiparity, smoking, alcohol, oral contraception and low socio economic status, suggested by various researchers, the exact role and a true causal association between these factors and carcinoma cervix has not been proved as yet.Methods: Two hundred and fiftyfour (254) patients with cervical lesions were screened for carcinoma of the cervix and 195 were found to be suffering from malignant and intraepithelial lesions. 59 patients had benign lesion of the cervix.Results: The commonest risk factor encountered in the study was early age at intercourse (84.25%) followed by multiparity (64.56%), illiteracy (64.56%), sexually transmitted disease (61.02%), bad hygiene (43.70%), low socio-economic class (42.91%), and tobacco use in decreasing order. These factors have complex interrelationship with each other e.g. low socioeconomic status is commonly associated with bad hygiene, illiteracy, multiparity and early age at first intercourse (p<0.001).Conclusions: Early detection of benign lesions and decrease in number of risk factors in an individual being minimum at lower age is probably associated with benign part of the spectrum of disease while constant presence of these factors leads to cervical intraepithelial neoplasia followed by truly invasive disease. Intervention at any point with decrease of or absence of risk factors can stop these premalignant lesions to become malignant.

average 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration rises to a peak within 2 weeks, then gradually declines towards the baseline concentration over a period of about 2 months (Armas et al., 2004;Ilahi et al., 2008). The single dose of 60 000 IU D3 administered by Sahu et al. in the 5th month of gestation would not be expected to have a perceptible effect on 25(OH)D concentrations in most women at delivery, which was the only time at which the biochemical response was assessed. Even the larger doses administered later in pregnancy would have been predicted to have minor effects on the 25(OH)D concentration measured at delivery, despite almost certainly having caused important but undetected elevations in 25(OH)D concentration during the third trimester. Therefore, it is incorrect to conclude from Sahu et al.'s report that the reported supplement regimens had little or no effect on vitamin D status during pregnancy.The interpretation of the data is further complicated by the unspecified variation in the precise length of the interval between D3 dosing and 25 ( Conflict of interestThe author declares no conflict of interest. Vitamin D replacement in pregnant women in rural north India: a pilot study. DE Roth