Background: There is very little data on the consequence of menopause on women in South East Asia region, especially from rural India. Importance is always given to reproductive health from menarche to menopause. Menopausal health demands priority in Indian scenario due to rising population of postmenopausal women. Objectives: The aim was to determine the mean age at attaining menopause and the prevalence of various self-reported menopausal symptoms complained by postmenopausal women (40-54 years). Furthermore, to determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression among postmenopausal women. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a rural area of New Delhi among 252 postmenopausal women from October 2011 to March 2013. A pretested, self-designed, semi structured, interview based, oral questionnaire was used. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences software Version 21.0 (SPSS) was used for analyses. Results: The mean age at attaining menopause was 46.24 (Standard Deviation = 3.38) years. Only 4 (1.6%) postmenopausal women had premature menopause. A total of 225 (89.3%) postmenopausal women experienced at least one or more menopausal symptom(s). The most common complaints of postmenopausal women were sleep disturbances (62.7%), muscle or joint pain (59.1%), hot flushes (46.4%) and night sweats (45.6%). A total of 32.1% (n=81) postmenopausal women suffered from depression and 21.0% (n=53) postmenopausal women suffered from anxiety. Conclusion: It is necessary to critically introspect health needs of postmenopausal women and specific components can be incorporated in the national health programs.

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Aim of Study: The aim of this study is to evaluate antihypertensive drug prescription patterns, rationality and adherence to Joint National Committee (JNC-7) hypertension (HT) treatment recommendations among Indian postmenopausal women (PMW). Materials and Methods: An observational and cross-sectional prospective prescription audit study was carried over a period of 1 year. A total of 500 prescriptions prescribed to PMW for diagnosed HT, were identified for one point analysis. Drug prescription patterns/trends, and their adherence to JNC-7 report as well as rationality using WHO guide to good prescribing was assessed. Results: In the monotherapy, category angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) accounted (24.8%), calcium channel blockers (CCBs) (19.4%), angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) (11%), beta blockers (BBs) (2.8%), and diuretics (2%) of the total prescription. Individually, amlodipine was maximally prescribed in 16.4%. 31.6% had double combination, whereas 2.2% and 1% had triple and four drug combinations, respectively. About 3.6% of the prescription contained antihypertensive combination along with other class of drug. ARBs + diuretic were observed in 11%, CCBs + BB 10% and ACEI + diuretic in 2.6% of the total prescriptions. Among the combination therapy amlodipine + atenolol (8.4%), telmisartan + hydrochlorothiazide (6%) and losartan + hydrochlorothiazide (4.4%) were maximally prescribed. 84.21% (P < 0.001) of the prescription showed nonadherence as per recommendations for pre-HT. 100% and 43.25% adherence rates were noticed for Stage 1 HT (P < 0.001) and Stage 2 HT (P > 0.05) patients. Conclusion: Antihypertensive prescription trends largely adhere to existing guidelines and are rational except polypharmacy, generic and fixed dose combinations prescribing, were some of the common pharmacologically considered irrationality noticed.

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Objective: Indwelling transurethral catheter is frequently used after gynecological surgeries in order to prevent urinary retention. There is controversy about the ideal time to remove the catheter after surgery. This randomized controlled study was undertaken to determine whether the immediate removal of urinary catheter after abdominal hysterectomy affects the rate of symptomatic urinary tract infection (UTI), recatheterization, subjective pain perception and febrile morbidity. Study Design: This prospective randomized controlled trial included 70 women undergoing abdominal hysterectomy with or without salpingoophrectomy for benign diseases. Patients were divided into two equal groups on the basis of timing of removal of urinary catheter (Group I - Immediate removal after surgery, Group II - Removal after 24 h and evaluated for benefits versus risks of immediate catheter removal. The results were compared by the Chi-square test. Results: Recatheterization was required in three patients of immediate removal group and none in late removal group (P = 0.07). Higher incidence of positive urine cultures (25.9%) and febrile morbidity (10%) was found in Group II when compared to immediate removal group (8%). Pain perception was not statistically different in both groups (P = 0.567). Conclusions: The early removal of an indwelling catheter after surgery was not associated with an increased rate of febrile events, UTI. Pain perception was also lower in early removal group. Although need of recatheterization was higher in early removal group, but not statistically significant.

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Introduction: Menopausal symptoms experienced by women are known to affect their quality-of-life. The symptoms experienced at menopause are quite variable and their etiology is found to be multifactorial. This study was hence done to assess the pattern and severity of menopausal symptoms and to find out the factors associated with these symptoms. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in various outreach clinics of Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore. Women in the age group of 40-65 years were included in the study by convenient sampling method. Data regarding menopausal symptom was obtained by interviewing each participant using the menopause rating scale questionnaire. Results: Mean age of the participants were 54.2 ± 7.2 years and mean age of attainment of menopause was 48.4 ± 4.5 years. Mean duration of menopause was found to be 7.5 ± 5.3 years. Commonest symptom reported was joint and muscular discomfort and physical and mental exhaustion seen in 94 (85.4%) participants. The mean number of symptoms reported by participants was 7.6 ± 2.8. Educated women reported significantly more symptoms (F = 2.218, P = 0.047). Somatic and urogenital symptoms were more among perimenopausal women and somatic symptoms were more among postmenopausal women. Fifty-eight (52.7%) participants had one or more severe symptoms. Severe symptoms were most among premenopausal women. Conclusion: The high proportion and severity of menopausal symptoms observed in this study group proves that menopausal symptoms are common and cannot be ignored. More of menopausal clinics are needed for awareness generation, early recognition and treatment of related morbidities.

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Objective: The aim of the study was to generate baseline data for indications of gynecological surgeries, and to assess route of surgery and histopathology correlation in women undergoing major gynecological surgery in a rural tertiary level teaching hospital in India. Materials and Methods: Surgical indications, route of surgery and histopathology findings were reviewed and analyzed retrospectively, in 922 patients (≥35 years age) who underwent gynecological surgery at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India from January 1, 2011 to May 31, 2013. Results: Of 922 surgeries, 65 had malignancy (7%). Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) (32.3%) and leiomyoma uterus (29%) were two most common benign indications for hysterectomy. Ovarian tumors were present in 13% (25% of these were malignant). Postmenopausal bleeding (PMB) was seen in 5.5% (55% of these were malignant). Conclusions: All except 10% surgeries were done in the absence of definite histopathology diagnosis that is dysfunctional uterine bleeding (n = 42 [45%]), chronic pelvic pain/severe dysmenorrhea (n = 34 [36%]) and recurrent PMB (n = 17 [19%]). Majority of surgeries had histopathological correlation except for six cases (0.6%) of malignancy, which were missed on initial work-up. Majority of the surgeries were done abdominally. In rural areas of developing countries poverty, lack of regular follow-up, resource constraints and lack of technical skills (with respect to laparoscopic/robotic surgeries) pose major challenge in providing quality health care.

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Introduction: Evidence from various epidemiological and clinical studies suggests that iron overload is proinflammatory and proatherosclerotic. Excess body iron has been positively associated with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and obesity. Aim of the Study: To study the relationship of body iron stores with type 2 diabetes and obesity in middle aged North Indian population. Materials and Methods: The participant population consisted of four groups of randomly selected participants (between 40 and 65 years of age and postmenopausal women); Group A: Normal individuals (controls), Group B: Obese nondiabetic individuals, Group C: Lean diabetic patients, Group D: Obese diabetic patients. Blood was examined for hematological, biochemical estimations, C-reactive protein, and serum ferritin (SF). Observation and Results: A total of 197 participants were enrolled. The mean SF levels (ng/ml) among males were: Group A (n = 18) 148.56 ± 119.90; Group B (n = 25) 129.11 ± 94.77; Group C (n = 27) 127.96 ± 109.65 and Group D (n = 22) 148.36 ± 104.94. The mean SF levels (ng/ml) among females were: Group A (n = 23) 67.44 ± 37.59; Group B (n = 25) 59.62 ± 43.56; Group C (n = 24) 77.97 ± 91.46 and Group D (n = 33) 66.46 ± 86.05. No statistical difference was found among the groups in both the sexes. Conclusions: Our observation is in sharp contrast to the earlier studies published from the West stressing that iron stores are increased in obesity and diabetes. We conclude that SF may not be a strong risk factor in the pathogenesis of obesity and diabetes in middle aged North Indians.

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Bilateral primary synchronous ovarian neoplasms are rarely encountered in clinical practice. Both ovaries harboring neoplasms is predominantly appreciated as, metastasis from a distant primary or secondary from an advanced primary ovarian neoplasm. However in both the above instances, the histomorphological evaluation is of paramount importance. We encountered an incidental left ovarian, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics grade 2, endometrioid carcinoma in a patient presenting with a right ovarian mass immunohistopathologically proven to be clear cell carcinoma. The documentation of such rare occurrence is of utmost importance for better understanding of histogenesis of ovarian cancers, which may impact management strategies.

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This is a rare case of a 35 year old multiparous lady with complaints of postcoital bleeding and foul smelling discharge for 3 months. On per speculum examination, a large irregular friable growth was seen which used to bleed on touch. A provisional diagnosis of carcinoma cervix was made, but the cervical biopsy revealed granulomatous inflammation with caseation, consistent with the diagnosis of cervical tuberculosis. The patient responded well to 6 months of antitubercular treatment. Hence, tuberculosis should be kept as a differential diagnosis of carcinoma cervix.

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