Indian Journal of Forensic and Community Medicine

75-80

Authors: Shiv Kumar Yadav, Bhola Nath

Introduction: Fast food are being routinely consumed worldwide as they can be prepared and served very quickly. Although the list of food items which comes under category of fast food is long, but burger, carbonated beverages, French fries, cakes, pastries and pizza are most commonly consumed fast food items. Fast food items are having high fat content, low fiber and nutrients and their excess consumption causes obesity. Objective: Assessment of effect of Educational intervention on knowledge, attitude and consumption of fast food among adolescents. Methodology: Cross sectional study conducted on 100 adolescents. Initially pre tested questionnaire was used to assess baseline knowledge, attitude and utilisation of junk food, followed by educational intervention in form of a lecture by a power point presentation and then again same questionnaire was given to student next day to assess the effect of intervention. Data entry and analysis was done & Chi-Square test was applied to know the effect of intervention. Result: Educational intervention led to significant change in the knowledge about the adverse effect of fast food which was increased from 49% to 71% as well as adolescents preference for eating fast food reduced from 73% to 49%. Attitude towards non consumption of fast food was significantly changed as there was increase in number of students started bringing home prepared food in lunch boxes from 36% to 57%. Conclusion: Education intervention brings significant change in knowledge, attitude and consumption of fast food among adolescents and similar kind of intervention at regular interval will play a crucial role in preventing life style related disease among future generations.

86-90

Authors: Avinash Thakur, Murali Lalwani, Pavan Pandey

Introduction: Reducing the preventable mortality and morbidity among children is one of the core indicators of sustainable development goals. This study was conducted with the objective of assessing the epidemiology, pattern, and outcome of physical injury and medico-legal case reports among pediatric population. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in the three districts of Madhya Pradesh. All children less than fifteen years of age brought with physical injuries to the nine selected public hospitals were included in the present studies. The data were analysed for gender, age group, mode & type of injury. Results: A total of 2,533 children under fifteen years of age were included in this study. Of the total children, medico-legal reports were filed for 368 (14.5%) study participants and 82 (3.23%) children died because of their injuries. Road traffic accidents (RTA) were the most common cause of physical injury closely followed by fall from height and recreational activities. Conclusion: It is our firm conclusion that most cases of physical injuries among children could have been easily prevented. We identified several epidemiological factors which can be manipulated by various interventions to reduce the incidence of physical injuries among children.

97-100

Authors: Tanu Midha, Seema Nigam, D.S. Martolia, Samarjeet Kaur

Introduction: Hypertension or increased blood pressure is a major public health problem in India. Medical students are very susceptible to hypertension. Objectives: 1) To estimate the prevalence of hypertension among medical students. 2) To identify the determinants of hypertension. Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional study done among the students of Govt. Medical College Kannauj. A total of 558 subjects, aged 17 to 21 years, 305 boys and 253 girls were included. Statistical analysis was done using Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression. Results: Prevalence of hypertension among medical students was 18.5%. A significant association of hypertension with males (OR=0.328), family history of hypertension (OR=2.812) level of physical activity (OR=0.395) and BMI (OR=3.710) and academic performance (OR=2.611) was observed. Conclusions: A high prevalence of hypertension was found among medical students. BMI and physical activity are the modifiable factors associated with hypertension which can be addressed to reduce the magnitude of hypertension in this study group.

107-109

Authors: Sujeet Kumar Samadder, Murli Lalwani, Rajneesh Kumar Pandey

Introduction: To understand the different aspects of average rate of cooling (ARC) in detail, is very important for understanding algor mortis in order to determine time since death in early post-mortem interval, as the classic triad of so-called thanatochronological data is constituted by algor mortis, rigor mortis and livor mortis. This paper is a humble trial to show some light and to detect any relation between average rate cooling of cadaver to cause and manner of death, and hospitalisation in tropical climate of central India. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out in department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal. 173 cadavers were selected randomly which were brought for autopsy. After collecting routine data like age, gender, height, weight etc. following data were also collected – ambient room temperature, rectal temperature, cause of death, manner of death, and hospitalisation. Data were analysed using SPSS software. Conclusion: The study found that cause of death, manner of death or hospitalisation has no effect on rate of cooling (p > 0.05).

114-118

Authors: Divyesh Saxena, Manish Nigam, Pradeep Kumar Mishra, Jitendra Singh Tomar

Estimation of an injury in living as well in dead is of paramount importance in any criminal investigation. Determination of the age of injuries is crucial in clinical forensic medicine work because it is related to the time of occurrence of the crime. Doctor is required to ascertain the date of injuries while preparing an injury report. Present study illustrates the sequential changes in abrasive injuries and to compare the findings with available standard data. All the medico-legal cases brought to the emergency/ OPD/IPD /cases or for post mortem examination were selected over a period of 18 months who were having abrasions on their body. On comparing with standard data, 100% individual showed bright red abrasion for first 12hrs. Scab formation was completed within 12 to 48hrs in 7% individuals and within 24-48 hrs in 93% individuals. Healing reached another stage of scab turning dark brown on 3rd and 4th day in 41% individuals while it was seen completed on day 5 in 18% individual. Observations of this study was similar at times but not regularly often with the sequential colour changes mentioned in the available literature.

123-126

Authors: Radhika R. H.

Yellow oleander or cerebra Thevetia poisoning is commonly encountered from southern parts of India unlike the northern parts. Because of its beautiful flowers, people plant yellow oleander tree in their garden & compound as a hobby without knowing its poisonous action. This prospective study was carried out in the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Karuna Institute of Medical Sciences & Hospital, Palakkad, Kerala for a period of 2 year from January 2015 to February 2017. 25 cases which presented with yellow oleander consumption to emergency ward were enrolled in this study. A detailed history of patient demographic profile, number of seeds consumed, time of consumption, time of presentation to hospital, any form of treatment given before presenting to hospital, detailed clinical assessment of the patient and routine blood investigations were done and a 12 lead electrocardiogram was recorded. Patients were monitored for electrolyte imbalance every 6th hourly and a continuous cardiac monitoring was done to recognize cardiac arrhythmias and ECG was recorded at the admission and every 2nd hourly for 48 hours. Out of 25 cases studied, 9 cases (36%) did not show any ECG abnormality. Remaining 16 cases 64% showed ECG abnormalities. Various ECG abnormalities noted amongst the patients were sinus bradycardia (< 40>

136-140

Authors: Nandini R.C, Sanjay T.V, Thejaswini .P, Ramu .P, Channaraya V

Introduction: Obesity is one of the major risk factors for number of preventable non-communicable diseases (NCD’s). In adults, the combined measure of BMI and waist circumference provides better information on obesity in either sex. This gives good opportunity to predict the risk of development of NCD’s better compared to the use of individual index. In this context, present study was undertaken. Materials and Methods: Data was collected from 228 adult in-patients in a tertiary care hospital of Bengaluru, regarding socio-personal profile, dietary habits, physical exercise practices and co-morbidities. Anthropometric measurements such as height, weight and waist circumference were recorded and, BMI and waist circumference were combined as composite index. Results: The proportion of combined obesity was 32.9% and family history of obesity (p=0.01), history of alcohol intake (p=0.02), presence of two or more co-morbidities (p=0.0005) and hypertension with type 2 diabetes mellitus (p=0.001) were significantly associated with combined obesity. Conclusions: Around one third of the adult in-patients were having combine obesity and associated with family history of obesity, alcohol intake and co-morbidities. The combined use of BMI and waist circumference is a suitable and practical index for assessment of obesity in adult in-patients.

144-148

Authors: Aloke Kr. Misra, S. P. Singh, Ashok Kr. Maini, Ajay Bhagoliwal

Introduction: Every year about 800 000 people take their own life and there are many more people who attempt suicide. The second leading cause of death was suicide among 15–29 year olds globally in 2015 although it occurred in most of the ages. Suicide does not just occur in high income countries, but is a global phenomenon in all regions of the world. In fact, over 78% of global suicides occurred in low and middle income countries in 2015. Materials and Methods: Present study is carried out among attempted suicide cases admitted in last 3years between Jan 2015 to Dec 2017 at Rama Medical College Hospital and Research Centre (RMCH&RC) Kanpur (U.P). Retrospective hospital record based study carried out after obtaining ethical clearance from institutional ethical committee. Data was collected from medical record section. Inclusion Criteria: Patients admitted in the hospital and classified as ICD10 (X60-84) code for suicide under international coding of disease for whom, all necessary information were available, have been included in the study. Study Sample: Total (N=102) who were admitted at RMCH&RC and fulfilled the necessary information criteria included in study. Subjects aged <15> Results and Discussion: Most of the suicide cases 47(46.1%) were aged between 15-25 years with mean age of suicide cases being 30.53 ±12.12, with M/F ratio (1.1:1). The data shows that most common method of suicide is the poisoning in 52.9% cases just literate were 62.7% and only 11.8%were illiterate. Hospital care determinants like duration of hospital stay was <1week>3weeks for 4.9% cases only with mean duration of hospital stay was 7.60±6.24. Complications among survivors 27.5% Hepatic, 26.5% Physical disability, 17.6% Respiratory, 8.8% neurological and only 6.9?rdiacwith overall mortality (10.8%).The results are comparable with most of the hospital based studies. Conclusion: Mental health bill decriminalizing suicide passed by Parliament in India on March 27, 2017 that a person who attempts suicide shall not be punished under IPC 309.This will render misclassification of suicide cases and it will permit psychosocial counseling of survivors which in turn enhance prevention and control. Suicides are preventable there are a number of measures that can be taken at population, sub-population and individual levels to prevent suicide and suicide attempts.