Background: Fingernail onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the finger nails. It is mainly produced by yeasts, dermatophytes and molds and sometimes it shows a mixed infection. It is a cosmetic issue rather than a medical problem.Aims: This study was conducted with the aim of exposing the fungal concept in nail diseases, to introduce nail testing which was underutilized as a diagnostic tool despite being involved in many dermatological conditions, as well as to introduce microbiological techniques in the diagnosis of nail diseases, based on the clinical parameters only. Materials and Methods:A total of 45 samples were tested in our laboratory by using 20% KOH and culture plates of Sabouraud's Dextrose Agar (SDA) which were mixed with chloramphenicol and cycloheximide.Results: A total of 37.78% samples were identified as positive by culture, among which 17.78% were KOH positive and 20.00% were KOH negative. 62.22% were culture negative. The predominant pathogen was yeast (64.71%), followed by dermatophytes (17.65%). A mixed infection was identified in 11.76%. Scytalidium hyalinum was identified in 5.88% of the cases. Fungi commonly presented in the middle age, between 31-40 years of age, due to trauma at the work site and in women, due to their wet work.

Introduction: More than one third of reported cases of HIV/AIDS in India are among youth and 60 percent of these reside in rural areas. Assessment of the awareness of HIV/AIDS in the youth is important for determining the impact of previous and current awareness programs as well as the need for interventions.  This study aimed to assess the knowledge of rural youth regarding HIV/AIDS and to explore the epidemiological determinants of awareness among them. Methodology: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among youths aged 15-24 years in rural areas of the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, India. A cluster sampling design was used, surveying 50 subjects from each of 30 clusters. Data was collected through house-to-house visits using a semi-structured questionnaire. Proportions and logistic regression were used for analysis. Results: Out of a total of 1,237 subjects who participated in survey, 60% knew something about HIV. Of those who had heard of HIV, more than 90% subjects knew the modes of transmission and more than 80% were aware of modes of prevention of HIV/AIDS. One fifth of the subjects had misconceptions in relation to HIV/AIDS.  On applying multiple logistic regression, age, education, occupation, and mass media exposure were found to be the major determinants of their knowledge with regard to HIV/AIDS. Conclusions: Basic knowledge of HIV/AIDS is still lacking in two fifths of the rural youth. Literacy and media exposure are factors that determine awareness of HIV among them and can be helpful to raise their knowledge regarding this scourge.

Background:The pre-marital sex and live-in relationship among young people are increasing at an alarming rate. Remote consequences of such high risk behaviors are increase in the incidence of STDs (including HIV), unsafe and illegal abortion, adolescent pregnancy and motherhood, single mother child/abandoned child, juvenile delinquency and many more.Objectives:The aim of this study was to investigate the high-risk sexual behaviors in depth, influenced by various factors including age at sexual debut, type of partners, consistent condom usage, hostel stay, socioeconomic class, etc. among college-going male youth.Materials and Methods:The study was conducted in Jamnagar among undergraduate (18-24 years) male college students. A total of 450 students were randomly selected from three colleges of Jamnagar.Results:Out of all 450 participants, 49.11% were in the age group of 18-20 years. Among study subjects, 13.78% had one or more pre-marital sexual exposures. In students with positive pre-marital sexual history, the various sex partners were girlfriends (95.16%), commercial sex workers (14.5%), homosexuals (6.45%), and multiple sex partners (33.88%). Among students, 62.9% were using condom consistently. Three-fifth of the ones indulged in premarital sex, were in the age group of 16-20 at the time of sexual debut.Conclusions:Most of the students were quite young (16-18 years) at the time of first pre-marital sexual exposure. Consistent condom usage was not uniform. The students staying at hostels, indulged in premarital sex, were found to have multiple sex partners.

Background and Methods India is one of the countries in the World Health Organization South-East Asia Region that regularly reports outbreaks of dengue fever (DF)/dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). As effective control and preventive programmes depend upon improved surveillance data, this study was carried out to report the seroprevalence of dengue virus infection in an area around Jamnagar city, Western India. [1] Methods The laboratory records of clinically suspected dengue patients from July 2008 to June 2011 were analysed retrospectively for the results of immunoglobulin M (IgM) anti-dengue antibodies, tested by dengue monoclonal antibody (IgM) capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (MAC ELISA). Variations in disease incidence by sex, age group and season were assessed. Results A total of 903 serum samples were tested, of which 253 were positive. The majority were males (72%) and in the age group of 16-30 years. The incidence of dengue peaked in October and slowly tapered by December. Conclusion Dengue cases were higher during September to December, in the post-monsoon season. This observation is useful for planning special preventive strategies. The study draws attention to the susceptibility of the male, young adult age group.