Search

Background: Cancer is not a notifiable disease in India. The data pertaining to liver cancer and hepatic lesions are very limited in India. Aims and Objective: The current study was intended to observe the proportion of different types of liver lesions reported from private hospitals in Mizoram and also to study the association of liver malignancies in relation to gender and age. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study design. The data were collected from the cytopathology data base of a private laboratory (Genesis Laboratory) in Aizawl, Mizoram. Data regarding 204 patients with hepatic lesions, who have been referred from three private hospitals to a private laboratory in Mizoram from January 15, 2018, to November 31, 2021, were included in the study. Details regarding cytopathology reports of image-guided fine needle aspiration cytology of liver mass, age, and gender were collected. Air-dried smears received at a private laboratory were routinely stained with Leishman-Giemsa and Papanicolaou stains, Ziehl-Neelsen staining was done wherever needed. From the cytopathological diagnosis made, the frequency and patterns of various hepatic lesions were then analyzed using SPSS Version 22. Results: Out of 204 cases, 15 (7.35%) cases were reported as inadequate samples and 4 cases (1.96%) were inconclusive in diagnosis. Hence, remaining 185 study participants were included in the final analysis. The mean age was 58. Majority 122 (65.40%) were males and in the age group 41-60 years (49.19%). Majority of the lesions were malignant 145 (78.37%) and remaining 40 (21.62%) were benign lesions. The most common malignant lesion found was hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) 87 (47.02%), followed by metastatic carcinoma 31 (16.75%). Liver malignancies were found to be higher among males (74.5%) as compared to females (14.3%), but were not statistically significant (P=0.08). The proportion of males (52.5%) versus females (36.5%) diagnosed with HCC was statistically significant (P=0.03). Conclusion: The most commonly reported liver malignancy was HCC. The proportion of males diagnosed with HCC was higher than females in the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although there are innumerable studies on vitamin D deficiency in India, there is limited data in Mizoram. Keeping this in view the aim of our study is to find out the deficiency of Vitamin D in our region, Mizoram (NE India). Our study population included patients attending Genesis Laboratory, Aizawl, Mizoram (November 2021 - November 2022) for various ailments who were advised serum Vitamin D level estimation. The study population was grouped according to gender and age in decades. Blood was collected in plain vials and serum obtained was used for vitamin D estimation. Out of 480 patients, 180 were male and 300 were female. Age of the study population ranged from 11 - 79 years. 17% of the total study population had normal values, 62.7% was vitamin D Deficient and 20.3 % showed Vitamin D insufficiency. The prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency was high in all age groups, there were a higher percentage of females in the vitamin D insufficient and deficient groups. Maximum numbers of patients with vitamin D deficiency were in the age group of 60-69 years with a female predominance. Prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency is very high in our region that is in Mizoram, as is reflected from our study. This pattern is seen in other parts of our country too. Also, the deficiency is high in the age groups N - N years and females outnumbered male. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The impact of COVID-19 pandemic has shifted the livelihood of the global community including Mizoram which is located in the north-east region of India. Universal preventive measures have been implemented to reduce the spread of the virus. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study is the epidemiological and clinical characterization of patients infected with SARS-COV-2. The aim of the study was to examine the sociodemographic determinants and risk factors of the disease severity with COVID-19 patients. Materials and Methods: A multicenter and cross-sectional study on patients who have been diagnosed and confirmed of SARS CoV2 infection of the Mizo Community. The data were collected by professionals from April 2020 to May 2022. Sociodemographic determinants, clinical presentation, comorbidities, livelihood, alcohol, and tobacco consumptions were described. All data were analyze using SPSS 22 version. The association of the variables with ct value (=25 and >25) of COVID-19 was examined using Chi-square and logistic regression model and P<0.05 as statistically significant. Results: A total number of 19,25,885 samples were tested among which 2,27,849 cases were diagnosed with COVID-19 from March 24, 2020, to May 12, 2022, in Mizoram. The mean±SD age of the analytic population was 30.10±19.64 years. Female was more infected and patients between the age of 16-30 years represent the most frequent age group in the population study. About 55.2% were symptomatic patients with mortality rate at 0.30% as of May 12, 2022. Conclusion: In this cross-sectional study, a wide range of sociodemographic risk factors, including socioeconomic status, racial/ethnic minority status, household composition, and environmental factors, was significantly associated with COVID-19 incidence and mortality. To address inequities in the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic, these social vulnerabilities and their root causes must be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a very virulent and contagious coronavirus and has caused a pandemic of acute respiratory disease, named “Coronavirus disease 2019” (COVID-19) that emerged in the late 2019. In breast milk (BM), presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus and its antibodies have been examined. Aims and Objectives: The current observational study was conducted over a period of 1 year in the state of Mizoram to investigate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus and antibodies in pregnant mothers and their newborn along with breast milk. Materials and Methods: A total of 115 breast milk samples and 70 breast swabs (before or after breast washing) from 115 women who were recently diagnosed with COVID-19 were collected. Samples were analyzed for SARS-CoV-2 RNA using RT-PCR. Breast milk was also analyzed for SARS-CoV2, IgA, and IgG receptor binding domain (RBD), S2 subunit of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. Results: BM RTPCR was found to be positive 78 and 37 BM samples were found to be negative for RTPCR. Among the infants, 32 were exclusively on breastfeed and 83 were mixed feeding infants. Post-breastfeeding four infants were shown the signs and symptoms of COVID-19. IgA and IgG RBD and S2 subunit of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were positive in 17, 16, and 12 BM samples which show that maternal antibodies to be developed in BM take time for production and the mothers infected almost 10 days ago, only showed presence of those antibodies. Conclusion: Our findings have shown increase admissions of COVID-19 infected antenatal mothers with positive outcome despite the requirement of intensive care. SARS-CoV-2 was detected in BM which was significantly high, but there was no transmission to the babies during the postnatal period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]