Introduction:Depression, being the most common neuropsychiatric complication of HIV, is also associated with increased health-care utilization, decreased quality of life (QOL), and poor adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Depression is a multidimensional disorder affected by a variety of biological, psychological, and social determinants and this relation becomes more complicated in HIV patients. The current study therefore aimed to investigate the sociodemographic and clinical determinants of depression and assess difference in the QOL of HIV patients not having depression and those suffering from depression.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted at an ART center in a tertiary care hospital in HIV/AIDS patients of 18 years of age. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were studied, depression anxiety and stress scale-21 was used to assess depression, and QOL assessment was done using WHOQOL-HIV BREF questionnaire.Results and Conclusions:Out of 754 study subjects, 377, i.e., 50% suffered from depression and nearly 75.9% of them were in the age group of 25–44 years. The prevalence of depression was higher in females, illiterates, and unemployed HIV patients as compared to males, literates, and employed subjects, respectively. HIV patients who were depressed had significantly lower QOL than the subjects not suffering from depression, more so in the environment and social relationships domains.

Context: On the basis of emerging evidence, it is now apparent that primary hypertension is detectable in the young and that it occurs commonly. The longterm health risks for hypertensive children and adolescents can be substantial. Early diagnosis of hypertension (HT) is an important strategy in its control. Previous studies have documented that hypertension may begin in adolescence, perhaps even in childhood. Aims: To determine the prevalence of hypertension and its correlation with anthropometric variables like height, weight and body mass index (BMI) among school-going children in Nagpur city, Central India. Settings and Design: Cross-sectional study done in one randomly selected school. Materials and Methods: School-going children aged between 12 and 16 years were included in the study. The weight and height were measured using a standard procedure. Blood pressure measurements were taken by a mercury sphygmomanometer. Hypertension was diagnosed if blood pressure was more than 95 th percentile for the age and height. The distributions of blood pressure by anthropometric characteristics were studied. Statistical Analysis Used: Mean, standard deviation, correlation coeffi cient and χ 2 test were used for statistical analysis. Results: The overall prevalence of hypertension was found to be 11.77%. Blood pressure of both genders appears to have positive correlation with anthropometric characteristics. Conclusions: Increase in anthropometric measurements like height, weight and BMI were found to be positively correlated with hypertension among school children in the present study.

BACKGROUNDHyponatraemia is the most common electrolyte disorder in children hospitalized for various reasons. India being developing country, pneumonia remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Electrolyte disturbances especially hyponatraemia (serum sodium < 135 mEq/L) have been described in a wide variety of acute infections including pneumonia.The aim of this study was to identify the incidence of hyponatraemia and its association with morbidity, mortality and duration of hospital stay in children with LRTI. MATERIALS AND METHODSThis was a retrospective, descriptive and observational study conducted during the period of 24 months with children of 2 months to 5 years hospitalised in PICU and general paediatric ward due to lower respiratory tract infection. Information on variables including the child's age and gender, clinical features of pneumonia, duration of hospitalisation, non-specific markers of inflammation and biochemical examinations (Urea, creatinine, sodium) were also recorded. The study group was subdivided into two groups based on hyponatraemia: groups with or without hyponatraemia. Frequency of hyponatraemia was calculated for the total sample and in relation to age, sex and expressed as percentage. RESULTSThe study population consisted of 209 children. The mean age of patients was 19.17±15.54 months, their age ranged from 1 to 60 months. There was hyponatraemia (serum sodium < 135 mmol/L) in 54/209 (24.88%) patients, ten had moderate hyponatraemia and three had severe hyponatraemia. Hypernatraemia was observed in 26 (12.44%) of our patients. The duration of their hospitalisation was 4.16±2.34 days. CONCLUSIONOur findings confirm that mild hyponatraemia is common among children hospitalised with pneumonia, though more common in severe pneumonia. Thus, serum electrolytes should be measured in children hospitalised for pneumonia. The appropriate fluid therapy must be carefully arranged in children with hyponatraemia. BACKGROUNDThe recent advances made in the medical field with newer antibiotics and immunisation has reduced the incidence of lower respiratory tract infection in the developed world. However, pneumonia is still the leading cause of death in children younger than 5 years in developing countries accounting for approximately 20% of childhood deaths. (1) Children admitted with pneumonia are critically ill and often times have complications, which include electrolyte abnormalities, the commonest being hyponatraemia. Studies done in the Western countries have shown up to 45.4% of children hospitalised with pneumonia had hyponatraemia. (2)(3)(4)

No abstract

Introduction: Birth weight is the best marker of optimal fetal growth and development. Apart from being an important determinant of newborn survival, Low Birth Weight (LBW) also indicates nutritional deprivation and poor health of the mother during and before pregnancy. On the other hand, Maternal nutrition and anthropometry also affect infant’s birth weight. Aim: To find out the correlation of maternal Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) and neonatal birth weight. Materials and Methods: This case-control study was conducted at Datta Meghe Medical College and Shalinitai Meghe Hospital and Research Centre (tertiary care hospital), Nagpur, Maharashtra, India, from September 2021 to February 2022. Convenient sampling method was used to select cases and control. All the mothers who had delivered full term live singleton new born with birth weight <2.5 kg were selected as a case and mothers who had delivered singleton new born babies ≥2.5 kg were selected as a control. There was a total of 100 mother-infant dyads with 50 pairs having infant with LBW (cases) and the rest 50 with infants having normal birth weight (controls). Data was collected on the socio-demographic status of the mothers using a predesigned questionnaire along with their weight (from record), maternal MUAC measurement, and birth weight of their babies. Analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0. Results: Mean age of cases was 24.48±2.757 years and that of controls was 24.52±2.255 years. Mean birth weight was 2206±200.9 gm for cases and 2934±305.79 gm for the control group. Maternal MUAC was ≤23 cm in 52% of cases and only 16% in controls (OR- 5.69, CI: 2.23-13.74, p-value=0.001) A linear correlation was found between maternal MUAC and birth weight (r-value=0.3376, p-value=0.001). Conclusion: As there was a positive correlation between maternal MUAC ≤23 cm and LBW babies, maternal MUAC can be used as a predictor of LBW, and hence, measurement of maternal MUAC should be included during antenatal check-ups.